Monday, February 13, 2012

Alas... A Tale of Woe

Hello all,

The post title has you wondering, doesn't it?  Is she actually going to tell us the tale of the amphora- finally?  Why yes, folks, I am!  First thing too, so your eyes don't glaze over before I get to it.  Pull up a comfy chair.  Grab yourself another cup of coffee.  Here goes....

I think those of you who are jewelry makers reading this, will understand what I'm talking about in this here tale of woe.  You know those projects that you labor over?  Putting thought into each and every tiny detail until you get it just exactly as you envisioned?  Well that is the situation surrounding this amphora necklace





You are probably asking yourself why?  Why am I so taken with this assemblage?  Cuz you're just not seeing it, eh?.....Let me start at the beginning....



This necklace is filled with components that have special meaning or memories for me.  It was a joy to work on and it came together so smoothly.  It began with finding the amphora shaped bottles.  Score!  I am completely crazy over anything amphora shaped.  Me thinks I should have been an archeologist.  Anyway, I found these bottles at that same store I referenced in my last post.  The store where I bought those photos that were confidential and had that scary warning.  You know, the paper that the four dioramas were sitting on. Oh you didn't read the post that thoroughly?  See what you're missing?  Anyway, I found them at that store!  Yes, it's my favorite store!  However, the jars are a bit big so the necklace had to be dramatic to make it work.  Or so I thought.  ( * remember this point later cuz I'll come back to it).  I made some wire handles on some and foiled and soldered others.  But this one, just this one, I constructed this delicious wire cage around it and soldered it up.  The cage isn't perfect.  One of the wires is a little wonky.  Just as you would expect from something that has been buried for hundreds if not thousands of years.  And that is precisely the look I was going for.
I had it all soldered and patinated for months, ready to go.  Waiting .....waiting..... for inspiration to strike.  Finally it did.  I gathered up the bits and parts and began to assemble. Notice the stopper



If you can't take a sappy tale stop reading now.  Cuz this one is about to get very touchy feely. My husband who prefers to remain nameless and faceless on this blog and who I shall refer to as my man of mystery  (how fun is that?)  (and yes, I do believe I have free license to insert a picture of anyone I want as a faux husband if I can't use his picture, right? Yup, that's what I thot too)  So here is my faux husband.  Dreamy, eh?



  so anyway.... he's a dream of a husband.   He actually traveled with me to another state to accompany me to a bead show.  I mean really, who does that?!  He does, that's who!  Ok I'll quit bragging on him, I know how obnoxious that is.  But the point is, he is ever patient, as I look at everything, he doesn't get "shopping face" and he says "you need that, get it!"  Even if I don't need it, but just want it. Such is the case with that beautiful little double sided face bead. (and yes, me being the more practical one of this duo, bought just one of them!  argggghhh)  And the faceted labradorite briolette at the bottom of the stopper, right there under the RUBIES!!!! As well as the tiny little pearls around the rim of the amphora.  I did mention that I looked at every single thing, right?







 But those aren't the only wonderful memories wrapped up in that stopper.  You all know the mythical Kathy.  See that awesome mottled ancient looking bead there above the rubies?  Well, that's from a bead show, one of only two, that I got to attend with Kathy.  She found them!  The last four strands and ran over to me exclaiming "Look at these!  I got all they had!"  Then proceeded to let me have half of them.  And she LOVED them, and let me have half of them.  Wait while I wipe this tear from my eye.............ok I'm back.  And I'm not done yet.  That verdigris disc that the head is resting on, well that was a gift from the amazing fanci of fanciful devices!  So you can see why this amphora is so special.  But people, that was only the stopper!  Ok how many times did I use the word "stopper" in that paragragh?  hmmm  Did you notice the toggle?  This one here





Might not look like much to you guys but let me tell you why it's awesome........are you sick of hearing about Kathy?  Well she's all over this place like white on rice sooooo.  You know the rockhounding trip out west where I got those incredible dendritic slate pieces in the Lace of the Desert earrings that I explained in a previous blog?  hmmmm.  You have no idea what I'm talking about?  None at all?  :(.  You would know the ones I'm talking about if you would just read the words typed into my blog.  It's not like I run on and on and on and on......ok I do run on, but still.  C'mon guys, I'm not writing this for my own amusement.  See all the fun facts you're missing?  So anyway, we went on that trip with Kathy and her husband.  I found this jagged little piece of rock in a dry riverbed as we were searching for ammonites (which we didn't find any of, btw).  Don't know why I picked it up exactly.  Except that the way the layers were stacked on each other reminded me of the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde. Which I have visited many times.






  I know it doesn't look much like that now after I grinded it smooth, just smooth enough to be comfortable, but it started out that way and is still a really cool rock.  Yes, I just wrote that sentence.  I'll try to pick up the pace here, cuz I just heard some of you yawn.  Remember the gift from fanci?  Well those awesome ancient looking blue-ish beads were part of that gift. And remember the man of mystery?  How could you forget?  Yowza! See those uber cool black dagger beads, the matte ones? Well those matte black dagger beads are some he picked up for me at.....are you sitting down?  He happened to be in another state and there was a big bead show going on there.  So I asked if he happened to have some extra time (as if) and had nothing better to do with said free time (as if), and if he would please run into that show and go to this one exact booth (yes I gave him the booth number and the name of the company to make it really easy for him) and get this one particular brand new tool that I had been waiting for and that had just been released and that was available there and would he mind?  Did I mention he's a sweetheart?  Not only did he go into that bead show and get that tool for me, but while he was there, he also looked around and bought me some beads he thought I would like. The black daggers among them.  Sigh.  When he saw my reaction, he lamented that he bought only one strand of them!  He's awesome!  So that my friends, is why this amphora is a truly special piece, dear to my heart.   So why is it a tale of woe?    You still with me here?   Ok the sentimental stuff is done, I promise.  Now the nuts and bolts of this story.  My work room is upstairs.  It's my "clean" brahahahahahahaaa workroom, where I do the non-messy parts of jewelry making brahahahahahahahahah.  Are there any?  And my "messy" workroom is in the basement, where I do the patinas and soldering, etc.  Pop quiz.... where do I do my lapidary work?  If you actually read my blog, and don't just look at the pretty pictures,  you'll know the answer to that!  Not that you'll care about it, but you'll know about it.   Anyway...I got the very last wire wrapped, and jump ring closed and chain attached and was completely delighted with every detail.  Last thing to do, age it!  So tra la la off to the basement I go, carefully of course so that I don't fall down either set of stairs and break my precious amphora.   Tra la la apply the oxidizer and wait...... la la la...... love my amphora necklace........ apply the wax to seal in the oxidizer...... hum de dum.......buff the wax and set it down on the table while I put the buffing rag away.............  So you all get how much care I've put into this piece by now, right?  And yes, I do realize that at this point I'm whining self-indulgently.  Thank you for allowing me to do this.  Cheaper than therapy.  So as I turn away for a brief moment........the amphora slides off the edge off the table.........as if in slow motion.........it falls..........but I was sooo careful.........We all know what basement floors are made of, don't we?  ( I now think concrete is made for jewelry not floors).  Don't be confused for a second that your basement carpeting will protect your amphora when it rolls off the table either.  Just saying.




  A piece missing!  Arghhhhhhhh  I might be able to camouflage that.  After all, lots of ancient vessels have bits missing.  I just need to get a bit creative and figure something out, right?  That's when I saw the crack.......



no disguising that.  And I'm not sure of the structural integrity of the amphora itself because of the crack.  It's probably fine because of  all the soldered wire surrounding it, but it's not perfect enough to offer for sale anymore.  Funny thing is, I don't mind flaws.  They add character.  I like things with a history.  Things that have a story to tell.  So my reaction was unexpected, to say the least.  I was surprisingly bummed out by the sad turn of events.  Now, though, I've come to think of it as a happy accident.  Because I would have offered it for sale.  Possibly it would have sold to never be seen by me again.  As our dear, sweet, understanding, sympathetic Petra said when it happened, that it just needed to stay with me anyway.  Now, I guess, all things considered, it's become even more dear to me.  It really does look like it lay buried under the earth, countless moments in time swirling above it.  Activities filling the daily lives of unknown people traveling to and fro, compacting the earth ever so slightly over the years, finally resulting in the stress fracture.  By Jove, I've got it! I need to concoct an elaborate tale of how it got broken, don't I?  Something a little  more exciting than "it rolled off the table and hit the concrete floor".  Aww see!  You guys are better than a therapist!

How about we do a little un-eye-glazing now?  My amphora met it's semi-demise, but remember that I said I worked up handles, etc on some others?  Well I sent one to fanci and she had hers put together and listed in her shop before I even had a plan for mine.  (but then, doesn't she always? yes, because she's an android) Here's the lovely job she did with her amphora.....




It's available for sale.  just click on "fanci" to visit her store and see it in all it's glory.  I love that we  had such divergent visions and yet they both turned out so well.  * Notice that hers isn't dramatic.  It's simple and lovely. 

Ok Ok I'll switch gears now..sheesh.  C'mon, humor me a bit here.  You know you wanted to know what all the amphora chatter was about.

I made a pair of earrings out of some of those resin pieces I showed you last post.  It's so hard to capture the resin bird in pictures but I absolutely adore how these earrings turned out. 








They're listed in my etsy store.  I named them 'The Ice Sparrow'

I also listed these


I made that pair while I was sick along with these two, but I kept forgetting to photograph them!


Spring Fever




 
I have no idea what it was about feeling bad that resulted in these dramatic yet delicate earrings!  Maybe cuz I was feeling so dramatic yet delicate myself, eh? 

Also finished up two more dioramas.  Wanna see?






Hard to see in this photo but these guys have just discovered the long lost treasure of.........
The Merchant Royal.  Possibly the greatest hoard of sunken treasure still waiting to be found on the seabed around Great Britain.  The Merchant Royal went down on September 23, 1641.  Carrying a king's ransom in Spanish treasure, she went down in bad weather "ten leagues from land's end".  In her hold lay masses of silver, gold, rubies, emeralds, diamonds and pearls by the hundreds, along with heavy pieces of jewelry set with precious stones.  These divers are amazed at the hoard of rubies, emeralds, pearls and gold laying at their feet!  Could this possibly be the treasure of the Merchant Royal?  Could it?
I'm thinking Petra should go take a look see.

I also finished this one.






Carved bone beads, some more of that dendritic slate, a textured copper bar with verdigris patina, amazonite,  some sort of seeds, a segment of a fossil crinoid (fossilized sea lily stem),  glass beads and delicious sea green beads of an unknown stone.

Day at the Beach



Amazing how much sand and surf one little fun-loving guy can kick up, isn't it?

Thank you all for stopping by my blog and for leaving your wonderful comments! I'm enjoying them so much!   Hey did you all notice that I actually responded to your comments on the last post when you left them?  How's that for prompt?  :)  Please keep in mind that my prompt gene is only semi-functional.  So don't go getting your hopes up or anything, k?

 Please stop by Tribalis's new blog and say hello!  Lots of scrumptious pictures of her gorgeous earrings for you to feast your eyes on.

here it is, what you were waiting for, why you suffer through all my ramblings...........



Well that's it for now! Have a fabulous week!

Valete (Latin)

33 comments:

  1. I adore, just adore the work you've been doing! And that amphora, as much as I wanted to hear the story and truly feel for you, it was *meant* to stay with you. :)

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    1. Thank you, Juliette! I agree with you. As I re-read the story, I'm thinking I should have always intended to keep it. I don't usually spend that amount of time on items I intend to keep! I might want to rethink that, eh?

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  2. (Insert thought bubble with light bulb)
    Would filling the amphora with resin stabilise the crack and hold the little treasure together?

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    1. That's an excellent idea Vintajia! (it's Greer, isn't it? Hope I got that right) Thank you for sharing it with me! Even if I just rolled a small amount of resin around on the inside of the amphora to coat the inside, it would act just like glue. That didn't even cross my mind! Thank you!

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  3. I love how your work is both delicate and rough, if these are the correct english words for meaning what I mean.... and these diorama are just tremendous!

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    1. Yes Lucie, those words describe my work exactly! Thank you for visiting my blog and for the lovely compliment! Appreciate it! :)

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  4. I feel for you, it's that nagging thought in your head that you once new it was perfect, but why shouldn't you just let this little lovely stay with you,especially since it holds such great memories. I had a disaster with a fragment of Victorian metal, it had Queen Vic's head on it and I thought I could just punch a little hole in it to make a dangle and to quote Scotty from Star Trek "Captain she canna take it no more" it shattered. It hurts!

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    1. Arrghhh that had to hurt! Sorry to hear that happened to what sounds like a really great little bit of metal. That's beyond disappointing! I've gotten to the point that I just make little wire bezels to hang anything old and valuable cuz I'm too nervous to take the drill bit to them anymore. I'm going to replay that quote in my head over and over! hahahaha

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  5. You did have me on pins and needles for a bit there... I was so sure that final photo was going to show your beautiful amphora in teeny bits and pieces, so I guess it's not all bad...?
    Love the new work!!

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    1. Yes, it was not quite so dramatic as it felt when it first happened! And normally I take stuff like that in stride. It happens. But for some unknown reason this one really upset me. I wish you had been at my side, whispering "it's not all bad" and helped me keep it in perspective. So next time I break something, can I call you to talk me off the ledge? :)

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  6. As I was reading down through your post I was wondering how you could ever let go of the amphora that held such a special place in your heart. It was a cliff-hanger I tell you. I'm so glad you are keeping it--which is where it should be anyway.

    I love the new pieces you made. Thanks for sharing your tale of woe with us. I do hope you have a fabulous week!

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    1. Thank you, Alice! I think that I've purged all the angst surrounding it, so now I can wear it without even a twinge! How sweet you are to sympathize.

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  7. So it's a cracked vial now? Sorry that happened to you. I love the stories about the components. That toggle action is super. I'm just starting to play around with some of my new goodies from Tucson. Now if they would just photograph themselves.
    Yes, keep the blogs coming!
    xoxo Kim

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    1. Yes, which is different than a crack vial. But thank you, you made me laugh! But STOP! You're killing me! Ladies, you might have missed Kim's comment about riding her bike to the gem mall at Tucson! Her neighborhood bead show! Now that's just mean to torture us that way. I gotta ask, though. I understand riding your bike to the show, but how did you manage riding it home with 400 pounds of beads hanging off the handlebars? Please explain.

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  8. I hope there's not a test.... You lost me at tale of woe.. But I sure enjoyed all the purty pitch and I study your work like I do all of our other stellar ladies in fd's posse.

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    1. Of course there's a test. That's the whole point! Don't cha know? But all that studying you're doing should pay off eventually! :) And are you saying you want more pictures? Is that what you're saying? Great! I'll load the next post up with em just for you!

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  9. You're stepping up your pace!! No, no - I can't keep up!!! See, I said it was meant to stay with you, and after that LOOOOOONg tale of woe(!!), I'm now completely convinced - even if you could fix it with resin, which I'm sure you could. But then, it still looks so beautiful, that i don't think it matters.
    All these new pieces!!! Are you getting a tad android on the side yourself?? You're scaring me now.All the earrings are fantastic!!!Congratulations on the other diorama! No surprise at all to see it get snapped up straight away, as I'm sure the others will too. They're like nothing else I've seen before, and are completely enchanting.
    God, I thought I'd been really busy, but I feel like a complete slouch now!!

    xoxoxoxoxoxo

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    1. Not to worry, Petra. This post quick on the heels of the other one was an obvious fluke. Thank you for being so understanding when I was whining to you about the broken amphora in our convos. Hahahah. seems rather ridiculous now, eh?
      Yes, I am becoming a bit bionic. So glad you noticed. One part of me is busy writing blog posts, while the other frantically makes new jewels and finally my third arm effortlessly takes care of all of my domestic duties. Oh wait! I wasn't supposed to divulge that! No no, I'm just joking. I have no third arm. Just kidding people! All you have to do is look around my house to know that there's no arms taking care of any domestic duties around here!
      Thank you for the always wonderful compliments! You do know how to make an android feel, well almost human! :)

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  10. when you first mentioned your tale of woe, i wrote that it didn't sound like it ended well and you said it didn't. i pictured some piece of horrible wreckage. after reading your story, i felt relieved. i look at it that you now have a fabulous necklace that needs a story to tell. this is where you create an intriguing short story about the time you when you were on that famous archaeological dig,on your honeymoon with that gorgeous hunk of man. see where this is going??? i love the chips and crack (my that doesn't sound good does it??) that the tumble created. You would have always regreted selling a piece that has such wonderful personal memories attached. obviously so did whoever initiated the fall.....

    love all your new works of art! especially a day at the beach. it reminds me of my mother chasing me as i used to make my mad dashes to the ocean before i learned how to swim.

    happy valentines day everyone.

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  11. martini, oooohhh I like the sound of that archeological digging honeymoon. hmmmm sounds fun. Yes, I see where that's going and I like it! Tell me more! You're right, of course! What was I thinking? Sell the amphora? Momentary madness, I tell ya!

    Aw thanks for the nice compliments. :) I can imagine you squeeling with delight making that mad dash, but oh, your poor mother! That's an exhausting day at the beach! I remember it well, from the mother's point of view, that is. :)

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  12. dude. come ON. sell that sucker as is-the glass is totally thick and its fine. i mean, keep it til you get bored of it then sell it. is it just me that has no emotions and just sells anything and everything? i really like how you constructed that stopper- never wouldve noticed thats the disk i sent- and the fact that the most valuable goodies are on the inside like a secret. not unlike your dioramazingness! but the goodies out of view on the inside? very sexy.
    but im really loving your wacky overthetop razzmataz earrings! (tho i wish you'd pull those crystal leaves off the tree display thing- i keep thinking they're part of the earrings. ) those spring fever ones are killing me!

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    1. hahaha yeah, I'm a sentimental fool. Yay! you noticed the hidden gems aspect of the amphora stopper. Since I love secret gardens and hidden treasures, you're likely to see (or not see) alot of that sort of thing around here!
      And thank you for coming up with an accurate, yet colorful name for those earrings I made when I was sick. As you noticed, I had nothing. You, though, hit the nail on the head! They are officially my "wacky overthetop razzmataz" earrings, or WOTTRER for short. That's perfect!
      Sorry, I like those confusing little crystal leaves right where they are.

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  14. Perhaps it is this cold I am battling (see I posted twice on accident) but I had to hold my breath the entire time while reading your tale of woe, I am an absolute consummate sentimentalist, and your amphora piece is amazingly crafted. Whether you decide to hold on to it or sell it in the future, it is all the more precious for its cracks. That was always the crux with me and patinas while starting off with jewelry, I wanted my customers to put the patina in on my work over time rather than cheat and pre-oxidize, yes I have converted since, but still there is a great Steve Earle song about worn things. Ok great I am rambling.. Dramatic and delicate is one of the best genres and not easily pulled off successfully. I am loving all the earrings, my eyes are feasting looking at your work.

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    1. Corvid, I hope your poetic self is feeling much better! You all are making me look at the crack in the amphora with new eyes. Thank you-I sure appreciate it! Your ramblings are welcome here anytime! You're too kind. :)

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    2. Corvid, I'm going to reply twice too! It really was me who replyed there above this one. I was using my alias, 'ole grey blog face' as Fanci likes to call it.

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  15. LOVE the crack in the amphora. What if you buried it for a while and got it even funkier? Thanks for sharing your tale of woe. I've been following your fabulous work in Belle Armoire for awhile and was real happy to find your blog.

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    1. Welcome Maggie! What a wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing it with me. I just might try that. Of course, if and when I do, you'll hear all about it! At length, cuz apparently I like to give every excruciating detail as you now know after reading about the amphora. :) I'm tickled to know you've enjoyed my articles. Thank you for letting me know. How thoughtful!

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  16. Geez Louise, I was on pins and needles waiting for the horrific mess of broken glass and shattered beads! So glad it was not that bad, and I agree with the other ladies, the piece was meant to stay with you. It appears you have been pretty darn busy, and just a note, housework is not mandatory or even really important until you run out of coffee cups and underwear! The new diorama is fabulous, the outside of the case is beyond cool. I am looking forward to seeing the inside of the "secret" diorama you are making. Twisted, unexpected, odd, whatever, sometimes it is too tempting and must be done! Not that I made any Valentine stuff, but I was imagining a funky little heart with a spear through it and blood dripping into a small vial.............probably doesn't convey the correct sentiment for most folks, hehe, but it sure looked funky in my brain!

    I must remember to show you the compact I have from my aunt. It is not as cool on the outside, but the inside is interesting. It has the sentimental issue, so whatever I make will be mine.

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    1. hahaha yes, I can draw out a story, eh? Um yeah, we won't discuss the running out of things, ok? Thank you Coffeefreak! I think you'll like the inside of the big one. I finished up the very last details on the inside yesterday. So now I just have to assemble it. I know, those things take forever! But so worth it. I think it's my very fav of all. Even better than "Oh Cruel Fate". Hope you won't be disappointed, though, not a drop of blood in sight!

      Check out what Keith LoBue does with compacts! You won't believe his amazing talent and ingenuity. I so want to be him when I grow up. Yes, your aunt's compact belongs with you. Especially after you jazz it up. :)

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  17. OH! I'm so sorry to hear about the basement floor incident. boo :( But I have to agree that you could sell it. Your piece has such soul and that shows regardless.
    I LOVE your diaramas. So freakin' cute! I also adore the upside down bird earrings. Gorgeous clasp in the first photo too. :)

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  18. ... and that two face bead is to die for.

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  19. I love the necklace. and the little amphora. Hope you don't mind you're inspiring me to make some in transparent glass and etch them. And I'm making little skull heads and etching them... little fairy heads... and little acorn heads. So I'll try something that looks like a greek statue's. thank you!!! But not until it warms up outside!!

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