Feathers, Stone, & Glass

Welcome to my gallery

2005-08-16T20:21:00.000-04:00

I make ritual items, artwork with meaning, and jewelry. Those categories overlap.

I try to design using the traditional of my own ethnicities (mixed European), but like most Americans, I am a born eclectic. I use feathers, glass, stone, and metal to create wearable and usable art, with meaning and tradition.

Here is some of my work:

Earrings
Shell boxes
Pens
Other jewelry
Bookmarks
Articles on ritual and meaning

Pens

2005-08-16T20:17:00.000-04:00

White quill with rainbow beads
Copper peacock feather

White cascade

2005-08-16T20:14:00.000-04:00

Image003
Originally uploaded by rch.

This hair clip is inspired by the white firebird in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series. In those books, a firebird gives off sparks. Even ofter the feathers are shed, they sparkle in the sunlight. This albino peacock feather is decorated with clear glass beads that sparkle like fire.

Other jewelry

2005-08-16T19:31:00.000-04:00

Necklaces:

Hair clips

White cascade (inspired by Mercedes Lackey's firebirds)

Dragonflies

2005-08-16T19:12:00.000-04:00

dragonfly3
Originally uploaded by rch.

Another lovely fired clay vessel from Andi Fasimpaur, this one stamped with dragonflies. Brass dragonsflies, clay, glass and stone beads complete the necklace and earring set.

Dragonflies are messengers.

Cocoon

2005-08-16T19:08:00.000-04:00

cocoon
Originally uploaded by rch.

This fired clay vessel was made by Andi Fasipaur. I added feathers, shells, and glass beads.

The cocoon is a symbol of transformation.

White quill with rainbow beads

2005-08-16T19:02:00.000-04:00

Image006
Originally uploaded by rch.

This pure white turkey feather is decorated with a rainbow of glass beads and silver wire, with a caligraphy nib.

Peacock feather pen

2005-08-16T18:58:00.000-04:00

Image007
Originally uploaded by rch.

Yes, this coppery feather is from a peacock. It is decorated with peacock and phesant feathers and glass beads. Any standard caligraphy nip can be mounted so that this pen can actually be used.

Blue Roses

2005-08-16T18:52:00.000-04:00

BlueRoses
Originally uploaded by rch.

Blue glass lampworked beads with roses atop blue parrot feathers.

In fairy tales, blue roses are the impossible task that must be accomplished to win the hand of the beautiful princess. When two hearts meet, reality can change, even something as concrete as the color of a flower.

Earrings

2005-08-14T21:58:00.000-04:00

Aqua
Blue Hearts
Red, white, & black
Tribal masks
Fire

Fire

2005-08-14T21:56:00.000-04:00

Handmade lampwork beads in red, yellow, and black hover over brillant yellow macaw feathers.

Fire is the element of passion, action, and warmth.

Blue hearts

2005-08-14T21:53:00.000-04:00

Blue glass hearts on blue parrot feathers.

The heart represents the part of us that connects to the world and others in it. Blue is the color of serenity.

Tribal

2005-08-14T21:49:00.000-04:00

Blue glass beads like tribal masks hang above white feather "skirts".

Masks allow us to express archetypes and to move beyond ourselves.

Red, white & black

2005-08-14T21:45:00.000-04:00

Red and black glass beads set off white, red and black pheasant feathers.

White, red and black represent the colors of three ages of women: white of the maiden (bride), red of the mother (birthing blood), and black of the elder (wisdom and mystery). The three colors have echos in fairy tales, such as Snow White: skin white as milk, lips red as blood, hair black as coal.

Aqua

2005-08-13T18:58:00.000-04:00

Aqua blue and metallic glass beads with blue/green parrot feathers.

Shell boxes

2005-08-13T16:30:00.000-04:00

The premade boxes are made of tropical shells and hinged with brass. I have lined them with fabric and attached beads and feathers to emphasize a particular purpose for each box.

If anyone has a source for similar boxes, I love to hear, since I no longer have access to my original source.

White and Gold--Sparkling gold and dazzling white, this box holds the essence of the sun. The charms include a brass hummingbird, for communication as clear as sunshine.