Bird on a Wire

September 7th, 2007

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I love all the nests I make, but the way hanging them on chain transforms them from merely beautiful to magical astounds me. Sterling nest with metallic blue pearls, with sterling rollo chain, $60.

Commission a similar nest.

Sun and Moon

September 6th, 2007

Sun and Moon

I love the striking difference between the same pearls in differently colored nests. These Black Peacock pearls are nestled in tightly-woven artwire nests: Gunmetal Bronze (left) and Silvertone (right). $33 each.

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On a chain

August 24th, 2007

On a chain

How I love these delicate blue pearls nestled in sterling! I had a wonderful time working with the woman who commissioned this nest, and I learned to work with chain, which was a real treat. The chain somehow makes the nest seem even more delicate, more otherworldly. Sterling wire nest, medium aqua pearls, with sterling rollo chain connected to the nest in two places.

Nest, $50; chained, $60.
Commission a similar nest.

Happy Family

August 24th, 2007

happy family

Words cannot adequately describe my glee in making these nests. The pearls contrast so well with the silver, and it seems to make both materials something more magical than the sum of their parts. These were commissioned to celebrate the birth of a child into a loving family. Sterling silver wire nests, with deep blue metallic pearls.

Commission a similar nest, $50.

Tsoureki Nest

August 21st, 2007

Tsoureki Nest, Natural

The colors of this swirling nest remind me of the Greek Easter bread, τσουρέκι, a tradition that can crassly be stewed down to “edible Epiphany.” I’m not Greek Orthodox, nor do I suggest ritual or secular devouring of jewelry, but the rich colors of this nest are so lovely, it too invites us to be partakers of the natural divine.

Tsoureki Nest

This is my favorite color combination, so I’m glad someone bought the original before I decided to hide it away and not make any more. Gunmetal bronze art wire nest, with burgundy pearls. $33.

Commission a similar nest.

Robins in a Shotgun Shack

August 16th, 2007

Robins In A Shotgun Shack

The proceeds from this nest benefit ARRF,
a no-kill shelter in Leland, Mississippi.

 

 

 

 

Once upon a time, there were two thrushes working a juke joint in New Orleans. Mister Blue was a piano player, Robyn was a waitress with dreams of being a torch singer someday. Blue began oiling his coiffure into a pompadour, and Robyn would lean all-too-closely on his piano, her scarlet breast fluttering as she sang an enthralling melody. As so many songbirds are wont to do, they soon became lovebirds. Within weeks, they had moved in together.

They made plans to travel the world together, trading song for soup, living on music and adventure. These plans were not to be: one day, there was a nest tucked into a dresser drawer, and two eggs, huge with the beginnings of a different life. They didn’t have a lot of money and they never got to see the world, but they had a wealth of the important things, like love, jazz, and the wondrous contents of those two brilliant eggs.

Solid sterling silver wire nest with robin’s egg blue pearls.

Purchase Robins in a Shotgun Shack, $45


Purchase Robins in a Shotgun Shack, “cooped,” $48


Nest of the Golden Goose

August 16th, 2007

Nest of the Golden Goose

Proceeds from the original nest benefited ARRF,
a no-kill shelter in Leland, Mississippi.

Once upon a time, there was a strange little woman with an even stranger goose. Every morning, the woman would wander out into her yard to feed her animals, and every day, she was delighted to find a breathtaking golden egg in her dear goose’s nest.

This was a learned woman, as wise as she was strange. She had read of Aesop’s ill-fated goose, of the generous Mallard with gilt plumage, and the other unfortunate golden fowl of faraway lands. She proceeded with patience and love, and through this remarkable gift, grew wealthy beyond imagination.

I acquired these lustrous eggs from a mysterious woman with a knowing smile, and the most delicate jewelry fashioned of hammered gold. Her companion was very polite, but appeared to have a cold, as he could not speak, but honked discreetly into a handkerchief.

Gunmetal bronze art wire nest with golden pearls. $33.

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Lady of Kildare

July 4th, 2007

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This set was commissioned by a fiery woman whose grace and eloquence has fascinated me for years. We share many similar themes in our lives, and when she asked for a nest, it all but made itself.

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Commission a similar set, $55

Blackbird Earrings

July 1st, 2007

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Commissioned piece.

Sterling silver, with black and grey peacock pearls.

Commission a similar pair, $22.

Blackbird Brooch

July 1st, 2007

Blackbird brooch

Blackbird Brooch

This was made for one of my dearest friends, an amazing woman and a tremendous talent.

Sterling silver, with black peacock pearls and a brooch backing. $50.