available now, in my little etsy shop....along with a few new pieces that i've added from my time in colorado... What a year this has been - losses and gains great and small, travels far and wide, milestones galore. now, here we are at the fading end of this year, and i find myself settling into the coming colder months with a desire to do quiet things right here at home - to sit of an evening and stitch or embroider or knit, while the house is still and i am cozy and calm. there are a lot of things i could tell you about this pendant/keyring - about its many symbols (heart, compass, key), the story behind the words (my father's), about how a month ago i came across a bit of vintage tooled leather buried under a folded bit of barkcloth in the studio...about how my travels to the wilds of colorado and australia and new zealand have affected the way i see things in a more rugged way, how the play of colors in autumn light come out in these pieces...i'll leave it to your imagination.
i began by designing a limited edition of what i envisioned to be a keyring - something that both men and women could actually use, something that would fit in a pocket, that would speak of travel and also of being at home. i wanted to use the vintage tooled leather and barkcloth together somehow, and it all began to blossom around the cast brass heart with my father's words regarding travel. and the more i worked on what was supposed to strictly be a keyring, the more a piece of versitile jewelry it became.
now? it can be used as both, simply by slipping a bit of silk ribbon (included) through the ring, or by easily removing the ring and slipping the barkcloth loop onto one of my simple vintage watchfob chain necklaces, or one of your own. the antiqued bronze ring holds one of my little sterling cast keys from my 1995 collection (removable, for embellishing however/whatever you choose, if you wish), and i've displayed it in these photographs with a few of my own treasured antique keys to inspire you (you'll have to supply your own; these keys are only for photo purposes only, but the little sterling one is yours for keeps). dangling from the bottom of the hand stitched leather is one of my brass compass charms (yes, it truly works) for those who need a little direction, paired with a lovely faceted amazonite bead in a soft sea blue/green (stitched embroidery thread is the same sea blue/green). the pendant measures 5" from the top of the bronze ring to the bottom of the compass.
please keep in mind that the barkcloth varies from piece to piece (all have either a bit of turquoise or salmon color to them, from the same print), and i thank you for letting me choose for you.
this is a limited edition; i only had a small amount of the lovely tooled leather, and once these are gone, there won't be any more that are tooled. so go, take a peek - and thanks for being here, for being there, for sticking with me through this wild and wooly year.
xo
oh my. i was just catching my breath for a minute from a BOOK i'm reading and here are these treasures and now i am breathless again...
xxxooo
Posted by: sheila | October 15, 2011 at 08:16 PM
These are truly wonderful...
Posted by: sandra | October 15, 2011 at 08:47 PM
These are beautiful!
Posted by: Linda | October 16, 2011 at 12:21 AM
from things already made
you Lovingly make heart~inspired
New Things
which
will B worn
and
then who knows
What
will
happen
next...
{{ i so love this Making
and Releasing
that supports your Artistic Life }}
Posted by: somepinkflowers | October 16, 2011 at 05:27 AM
Beautiful work! And I love the saying on them.
Posted by: Kelly Jeanette | October 16, 2011 at 02:56 PM
You never EVER cease to amaze me.
Posted by: Lee | October 17, 2011 at 08:28 AM
what a great idea, and lovely! i'm sure your dad is smiling and nodding his head as he watches over what you are doing with his words. and fyi...your quiet evenings at home sound absolutely perfect!! almond cookies and hot tea, hmm? hugs to you....xoxo
Posted by: Tina in McLeansville | October 17, 2011 at 10:45 AM
beautiful!
Posted by: Sabrina | October 17, 2011 at 11:43 AM
I love how your creation evolved. That leather is absolutely beautiful! The photo with the leather in the background is wonderful. I have an old briefcase that looks like that, and I never thought of it as a photo backdrop. What a great idea. I guess you won't be using it as a backdrop much longer, as you're cutting it up? Well, you're putting it to very nice, good use.
Posted by: Suzanne | October 17, 2011 at 07:43 PM
Love these new pieces! :)
Posted by: Judy H. | October 17, 2011 at 10:36 PM
What amazing treasures you have crafted here Nina. Your dear Daddy was so right. I feel I should be wearing one of these!
Tomorrow I start my journey to the places you love so much. New Zealand and onward aboard an expedition ship to the sub-Antarctic islands for 2 weeks. Then Tasmania, Sydney, and Brisbane. My first visit to these far away countries.........an adventure awaits.
Glad you are doing well - will catch up more when I return next month.
Happy Autumn mountain days to you and Walter. It's pouring with rain here in Raleigh!
Hugs - Mary
Posted by: Mary | October 19, 2011 at 10:36 PM