Thursday, January 28, 2010

A Heart Story…

I surely believe in fate, some how it brings people together for the right reasons. Yesterday, I received an email from a young woman named Rachel who had wrote to tell how much she loved this particular Flourish Sacred Heart necklace and the story behind it. Later I found out her story, she has heart failure and will soon have surgery to correct it. She has always been drawn to anything in the shape of a heart, at the time she was even wearing five various heart-shaped pendants. We got to talking about custom necklace for her, and I had the perfect answer for her: Tin Man's Heart, for it truly fits her heart story.

It is quite a mystery to me, the body is a fascinating machine, muscles and organs working in rhythm like cogs of a clock. The idea of the heart beating perpetually is but a dream, man is mortal, with but a single thump stopping our body would cease. We are but fragile creatures, never knowing when death will become our companion.

After such eerie words said; I am truly thrilled to be creating the Tin Man's Heart for her. I was interested to find out that hearts are truly significant to her as well as healing stones such as lepidolite, rose quartz and tourmaline. Lepidolite actually aids muscles, improves circulation, helps balance mood due to the high lithium content and helps to express ones inner light and joy. I am eager to find out more about such healing stones/materials and look forward to sharing the creation process, for her story has really struck my soul. I am honored to create such a necklace for a woman who is in search of a healing heart herself; truly fate has brought us together.

TOP IMAGE: Custom / Commission Original 5x7 - Star Map Heart by artist Shannon Rankin of Selflesh.
Self  |  One's own person as distinct from all others.
Flesh  |  The body as distinct from the soul.
Her work combines the connections among geography, anatomy and botany, by combining the visual elements of maps, anatomical illustrations and natural forms to explore themes of travel, healing and time.
SHARE:

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Suicide Forest at Aokigahara on Mt Fuji

At the foot of Mt. Fjui lies the suicide forest named Aokigahara or Sea of Trees as it is sometimes known, it is a notorious place where people who wary of life can exhale their last breath. Frighteningly a large number of people travel there making the foot of Fuji their final resting place. This popular spot is filled with strange masses of moss and volcanic rock, it is the world's second most popular suicide location after San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

Since the 1950s, more than 500 people have lost their lives inside the forrest. In 2002, 78 bodies were found within it, replacing the previous record of 73 in 1998. By May of 2006, at least 16 new suicides had been reported and more than a few of them were carrying Wataru Tsurumi's bestselling book The Complete Manual of Suicide, who quotes "The perfect place to die." In the depths of the forest warning signs are nailed to trees reading "Please reconsider" and "Please consult the police before you decide to die!" The locals can always tell the difference between who is planning a nature walk and those who are on a macabre journey to death.

Jyukai, The Sea of Trees Behind Mt. Fuji was made about the forest, by director Takinoto Tomoyuki. The film was based on four people who commited suicide at the forest. During production the director reported he found a wallet that had 170,000 yen ($3,760).  

Legends surround the land, one being that underground iron deposits can cause compasses to go haywire, trapping innocents along with the purposely suicidal. Spiritualits say that the trees are filled with malevolent energy built up from centuries of suicides. Aokigahara is considered the most haunted location in all of Japan, for the unsettled ghosts of Japan howl in the winds. Bodies have been found in various states of decomposition, usually hanging from trees or partically eaten by animals.

It is a place filled with the supernatural calling to the living, hopelessly ending their melancholy lives… it is believed to be very bad luck if the corpse is left along, for the "yurei" (ghost) of the suicide will scream throughout the night, and the body will move itself on its own.

"Aokigahara", Wikipedia. January 19, 2010.
Hawkins, Craig. "Aokigahara", MP Most Paranormal: Information & Resource. February 28, 2009.
"Aokigahara Suicide Forest", Atlas Obscura: A Compendium of the World's Wonder, Curiosities and Esoterica. 
SHARE:

Saturday, January 23, 2010

New Years Hello

Hello my friends, it has been a while, I'm back after my hiding. Towards the end of December I was preparing for the Femme Noir art show this month at the Toothless Cat. Things have been more wonderful than I could ever have imagined and I've met so many talented artists that have opened doors for me. Tis the new year filled with magic and happiness. While taking a breather from painting, I've been extremely busy with creating new pieces for my shop and also for the 1st time will soon be offering Skeleton Krew prints, along with new paintings.

My little shop is sort of under construction and in the works of preparing for spring. I've been exploring new backgrounds and objects to shoot on, it still isn't just right but over the past couple of weeks I've introduced about 20 new arrivals and still in the process of listing five more this weekend. Below are just a few that are new this week, for more please check out the new arrivals section.



















~ Tusk Earrings are quite elegant mixed with an exotic disposition. Made of plastic  and topped with silver, the tusks are matched with vintage cream faux flat beads.



















~ Arteries Stone Bracelet: darkened chain is matched with two truly stunning pale translucent stones with amazing mauve crackles that remind me of splendid flowing arteries of the body.



















~ Black Lust Earrings: darkness with a companion of elegance, originally designed in 2008, these black beauties are back with vengeance.



















~ Willow Tree Earrings: the willow has always been known as a tree of dreaming and enchantment, the dangling chains reminds me of the organic form of the willow.
SHARE:

Monday, January 18, 2010

Black 13 Collection








Amongst all the intriguing predictions of 2012, this be all, end all of doomsday has stimulated me to create a becoming jewelry collection called Black 13, inspired by Armageddon, mourning, death, destruction and the Book of Revelations. Over the past year I have begun collecting wonderful vintage pieces that relate to the symbolism in the Book of Revelations and even scientific predictions of natural disasters. Recently I've listed four pieces from this collection, and hope to have more soon!

Currently I am working on piece that revolves around the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, they symbolize the evils to come at the end of the world. The figure representing conquest rides a white horse, the red horse is war; famine is the black horse; and plague is the pale horse. I've found this lovely vintage brooch in a gold with four horses riding, I'm in the works of making it much darker and blackened.






















~ Blood For Blood NecklaceIn the coming rivals of man, a reign of blood is birthing in the depths. A talisman of sorts to lead the way through troubled times and blood against blood and for survival of man. Features three swooping chains, a unique amulet pendant and hidden religious medal.






















~ Cosmic Madness Rhinestone NecklaceAn explosion of the cosmic galaxies of fire and destruction, fire red rhinestones and dying stars of extinction. A vintage rhinestone brooch has been transformed into a bold pendant that radiates blood red and white light, it truly reminds me of a gamma ray burst or the exploding milky way.






















~ Midnight Mourning EarringsDark talismans in jet black of a mementos past; of a soul lost brings faded happy memories and a token of ticking life.






















~ Armageddon Empire NecklaceThe final battle between God and Satan, the end of the world cometh. An end to the world for 1000 years, a glorious explosion of stars and a twinkle of their death. Clear rhinestones embedded into a black enamel pendant, a sparkle of infinity.

Stay tuned for more pieces! ~ You can read my original posting on my thoughts and some interesting articles plus websites, called Doomsday 2012.
SHARE:

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

FRESH BLOOD from the Skeleton Krew























I've been in hiding the past couple of weeks, preparing for my art show. My little pink studio is filled with haunting faces and demons a plenty, I still have some details to attend to and am finishing up this particular painting inspired by the Black Death. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a new painting entitled 'Phantom Dancers'; twin sisters masked in black, lure the innocent audience in the Black Parade. This painting will be featured this Saturday at the Femme Noir art opening at the Toothless Cat Gallery from 6-10PM. (Click for details of show.)

I hope to see your beautiful faces!
(To all my darlings, new jewelry coming next week, many new supplies!)
SHARE:
Blog Design Created by pipdig