Silver Sparrow Designs: specimens

after quite a long period of low inspiration, i am delighted to say that i have once again been feeling very much inspired. i wouldn't even argue with you if you were to call me, say, prolific as of late. i don't know if the cleaning out of the shop prompted this new wave of productivity. but i'm not going to question it; i'm going with it and it's wonderful. i am amazed at how therapeutic beading has been for me recently as well. i know i mentioned it before, but it is so soothing and comforting and mediatative to me, and, as you can see there are beads incorporated into most of my new pieces. from simple stringing to wire-wrapping to hand-knotting, i have been truly loving beading again.

when the beads are all layed out on my tray i feel like a painter with a palette, choosing the next bead for its' various qualities- stone, size, shape, color, texture. the flow of design just makes its own way.

i've also been really enjoying working with pmc again. these new specimen pieces are really speaking to me. the organic patterns, textures and imprints are very grounding. specimens are collected as samples, for further study, to examine to determine genetic make up, classification, genre, etc. they are used to further knowledge, to better understand. information is extrapolated from them to answer questions or determine further study. collected specimens are more than mere keepsakes; they have a purpose and a value beyond the sentimental. they tell us something of origin, place, roots. these specimens do the same. they are earthly remnants represented in silver. they symbolize inner study and definition, collection, classification. i've been asking myself a lot of these questions lately, looking at my thoughts and feelings in new ways, trying to see patterns in my mind, my thinking, tracing my thoughts, seeing where they come from and where they go and what feelings they triggger. as someone very dear to me put it, "who are we and why we are, in the moment, how we are?" who are you and what does it mean? how do you classify yourself?

specimen necklace no. 1, moonstone

my usual photographer (the amazing hazelnut) was otherwise detained, so i've got these strange selfie photos happening here.

specimen necklace no. 2, prehnite

with a prehnite, labradorite, green garnet, smoky quartz, and pearl wire-wrapped chain

specimen necklace no. 3, amethyst

with a moonstone, iolite, prehnite, and amethyst wire-wrapped chain

the prehnite trio necklace,

with a large chunk of prehnite, a wire-wrapped labradorite briolette, and a tab charm that says "intend", suspended from a handmade silver ring.

the necklace chain is in three parts. on one side is a conglomerate of large wire-wrapped beads- prehnite, labradorite, kyanite, aquamarine, iolite, and moonstone. on the other side is one strand of hand-knotted beads- prehnite on brown string- and a strand of wire-wrapped iolite rectangles with one of my rectangular charms mixed in. because prehnite is a stone for dreaming and remembering, it says "dream" on one side and "remember" on the other.

the iolite star necklace,

with iolite, moonstone, and london blue topaz

"if the stars should appear but one night every thousand years, how man would marvel and stare." -ralph waldo emerson

your very own little shining marvel here, a fine silver heart with a tiny little faceted iolite set into it, suspended from a textured square with a london blue topaz and rainbow moonstone floating on it. the necklace is made of gorgeous faceted iolite rondelle beads, with a few moonstones mixed in for good measure.

the garnet heart necklace,

a small fine silver heart with garnet beads

the harmony heart necklace,

a very large pmc heart is surrounded by a beautiful chorus of color. on one side of the heart, tiny garnet beads are wire-wrapped alongside hand-knotted lepidolite, peridot, turquoise, garnet, kyanite, aquamarine, labradorite, and amethyst. on the other side, green garnets, chrysoprase, apatite, and rhodolite garnet sit beside wire-wrapped turquoise, rainbow moonstone, carnelian, garnet, and amethyst. a wire-wrapped green garnet briolette dangles from a small ring. the back of the heart says "harmony".

the knowing she has wings necklace,

with a gorgeous pale pink and purple banded laguna agate

the chain is made up of wire-wrapped pale pink and purple beads- rose quartz, lepidolite, and chalcedony- that coordinate perfectly with the stone.

be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she has wings. -victor hugo