VIVA LA VIDA

Posted on Instagram on January 30, 2018

A tribute to Frida Kahlo, hand fabricated in sterling silver, featuring her bird-brows and a teardrop.
Viva la Vida is the last painting she created, and a few days before her death she wrote these words on it - words that are impressed in the back of this pendant.
I put all of myself into this pendant, this declaration of love for life despite the pain; for once I find I have no more words to describe it, but I hope you will FEEL it.

SHELTER

Published on Instagram on January 28, 2018

Early this morning, while struggling with high anxiety, trying to breathe despite a rib cage that felt like steel for too much tension, I found relief in the Vision.
I was craving comfort.
In the darkness I started to see this amulet, feel its soft warm power. I explored it, thinking about how to make it. The technique. The material. Every aspect of its surface.
The mind lost in this task, I found some calm.
And then I went on with this medicine making, moving to the bench, melting, carving, sawing, soldering. Allowing the sadness and fears to wash through me, while my hands worked to create this image of safety. Of shelter. A refuge for a tender heart.

Needle felting a little buddy...a short video (Part one)

I finally put my mind to make a video for my little felted creatures.
Many don’t know what the needle felting technique is, or how sculptures are made from wool fiber, so I filmed myself while making one of my little buddies.

As usual, my film making skills are far from superb, but I think this video allows you to have a glimpse into the technique - both its soothing nature and its demand of time - and…who knows? Maybe you will be inspired to try it yourself!

This is part one, where I go from wool fiber to a body shape.

Coming soon the coloring and accessories of course ;)

(The video was originally made for my Instagram IGTV, hence the vertical format.)

Needle Felting

I have been needle felting.

I was so sick and I couldn’t do much, not even sit at the wheel or focus on knitting, and, as usual, I feel way too restless and anxious when my hands are not busy…So I figured I could spend a little time making sweet tiny sculptures.

I used to needle felt years ago, but I had to stop quite abruptly because it was a sure trigger for heavy tendonitis.

This time around, I did my best to take long breaks and be mindful of my death grip on the needles, to avoid the worst to happen haha!

And I was transported into this place filled with tenderness and magic.

Creating these little dolls, their soft bodies all comfort and cuteness overload, their little clothes and funny hairdos…it was really good for my soul.

So far, there is the blue baby dragon and a few little Sprites with coats of wings or clothes of forest.
And I must admit I am having quite some fun taking pics of them as well!

And a little mermaid!
Mermaids were my childhood crush. I was totally obsessed.
It makes so much sense that they would show up, right? The picture you see here is of the start.
I use white wool to create the base shape, by poking (poking poking poking) it with special felting needles, until it becomes solid and of the shape I desire.
Then, I use finer needles to coat it with a layer of soft merino wool, giving it the shades of pink and such.
Finally, color! Hair, clothes, and beading.

Even if they are quite small creatures, the process is time consuming, and I must be very mindful to take breaks often - I am just keeping a book nearby and reading a few pages here and there, and so far it worked.

It feels SO good to be able to do this again.
I missed it.
I missed the magic and the tenderness.
I am really really hoping my wrists will hold up so that I can make more of them in the future.

For now, these and a few more will be up for grabs in my shop on May 10th, when I will have the big update - including the jewelry pieces I have been able to work on in between the bouts of flu.

Carving the pearl skulls

The first days of April, I carved a few of my pearl skulls.

They seem to be quite the beloveds of my patrons, since the jewelry pieces that feature them are always quick to go.

I don’t carve them often, I’d rather carve a batch and then go on until I feel the impulse again…because it’s messy. There is a lot of fine white dust flying around everywhere, which means I have to cover everything in plastic, which is booooooring! :p

But I have a few done, even a few that I carved on the April New Moon!
I will be ok for a while.

Since I was carving them anyway, I also attempted some filming.
Mind you, my filming and editing skills are really low, but I wanted to give you a chance to see how they are made - and how time consuming the little ones can be!

Here is the video that I uploaded on my IG TV and on Youtube.

On a side note, after I maniacally carved all of the skulls, I got a not so nice case of tendonitis on both arms. Ugh.
I know my wrists need some care, I know I need to remember to take breaks and stretch and all…but what can I say? I was too immersed in the project.

And this is the reason why it took me so long to post the video here…I have been playing catch up with everything once my wrists could move again.

I can’t wait to see what pieces will come out of these skulls, and to show you!