I have always been filled with wonder when holding a tintype photograph for many reasons. The antiquity, the small size, the ingenious design and the rarity all intrigue.I always wonder about the person in the photo, who was she, what was her life like, how old was she, where did she live? Always expressionless, holding very still for the photographer, the faces are mysterious. All tintype photographs are beautiful in muted tones and seem to be in the shadows where our true selves often live.
Mark Twain once said that we are like the moon. We all have a dark side that no one can see. So what do we do with the tintypes we find in antique stores? Some one's lost relatives - will we end up in an antique store someday? Our family photos cast to the wind? If so, I want my photo to be used in jewelry or art in some way. I want to be worn and enjoyed. Please....not in someones basement in a box, or stuffed in a drawer. Live with me and let my image give someone pleasure. A great conversation piece - that's the legacy I'd like to leave in my wake.
This fascination with tintypes lead me to this assemblage necklace. The woman in the photograph can be labeled in any way as she is a mystery now to all of us.
I chose "BUMPKIN" as it seems the opposite of her demeanor in the photograph. My sense of humor and love of the absurd has a tendency to show up in my work quite often. The tintype is riveted in place on a hammered brass plate with a stamped copper plate attached to the front. I like the mix of metals in this pendant. Gold, copper, and grays of the tintype seem to blend so well. The pendant dangles from a vintage skeleton key and has a vintage rosary bit dangle with a vintage round jet glass button attached to the end. A tiny sterling silver cross dangles beside the rosary bit.
The vintage key is attached to a string of slate blue pearls. The closure is handcrafted. The necklace hangs 28" in length. A true one of a kind piece. The only one on the planet - I like that idea.
You can purchase this piece of jewelry in my online store - click this link - http://estore.websitepros.com/1438707/Detail.bok?no=278>
How many eggs are in your nest? Alot of gals have requested a bird's nest with three eggs to represent each child in their nest.
or...One little little egg as you welcome your first baby home to your nest. Additional pearls can be added as you add little ones to your nest in the future.
This little nest has two little eggs. All of the bird's nests feature genuine pearls. The pearls come in an array of colors. Nest's can be made in silver or copper.
Two little eggs in turquoise pearls tucked safely into their nest. How tweet!
Another necklace made specifically around the vintage Gerber baby spoon I found at an antique shop. It's aged so wonderfully to a great patina that I knew it would be perfect for a future piece of jewelry. I made a little wire bird's nest for the bowl of the spoon with three sky blue eggs tucked inside.
When I found this vintage reproduction medallion with Saint Mary I knew she belonged with the Gerber baby spoon. Pearls were a natural choice seperated with tiny glass turquoise and clear seed beads. I love the carved turquoise bead in this necklace and it repeated the turquoise seed beads used with the pearls.
I added Jasper beads and an amethyst bead for interest and color.
This is JJ's necklace with bright cherry quartz, swarkowski crystals in cobalt blue and lime green turquoise. I hand wired each bead and added the spoon bowl as a focal point with GARDENING FOOL stamped inside. I giggled the entire time I was hammering it out on the anvil.
This is the bracelet I made for her friend. She has a very small wrist so I had to modify the spoon so that it would fit her petite wrist. The bracelet has cherry quartz, a crystal in cobalt blue and a lampwork bead in green..
Flipped it over and on the reverse side I decoupaged the printed paper and added the dancing goddess on top. I found "gloriously courageous" in an old book from the late 1800s that was aged to the perfect shade of gold. I added a couple of rhinestones for sparkle and attached the two plates with silver jump rings.
