Horse For Bonnie-A tale of gratitude

I apologize in advance for this long post.  It is the last post before I leave for vacation and I just wanted to let you see what I’ve been up to since the Emmys!

Several years ago, I cast some animals in Resin.  Not sure what to do with them, I took them with me to France last year hoping to be inspired.  I knew I wanted to mimic the look of "trophies" but was not sure how to do that.  I had cut out several "trophy mounts" and attempted to bezel set the animals, but they were to big.  When we started to work in the studio, I was looking at one of SLK's rings she had prong set a large stone in.  I have been prong setting for years but never crossed my mind to use this setting for the cast pieces.  It was perfect! I don’t know why I did not think of it.  That is why Susan is the Master of connections!!   Susan brought along some crackle nail polish and showed use how to use it as a patina.  This created the perfect aged look to my "mount"  I prong set my Buffalo and carried him home.  When I got home, I finished the piece with an antler tip, bronze wire and chain and one sari scraps Susan had given us in France.  I used a large swarovski crystal to hang from the bottom

 I love this piece.  Its exactly what I wanted and all it took was going all the way to France to get the right Western look!!

I wear him all the time, often with one of my animal rings.  I have a Moose, sheep, dear and horse.

While at a recent art show in Durango Colorado, I wore my Buffalo and Horse ring.  To my surprise, they received lots of attention.  I LOVE them, but who else wants a Deer or horse head on there finger?  Turns out, there are a few other nuts like me out there!  I really took them just to show off what you can do with ice resin, not to sell them.  I had several people ask about price, but I told them they were not for sale.  Finally a lovely mother and young daughter (maybe 13-14) showed a lot of interest.  They bought a cast baby with butterfly wings (nutty) and my cast door knocker from our neighbors in France (even nuttier!)  They really wanted the rings and lived in the area where these animals live.  I pulled the horse ring off my finger and sold it along with the deer. (I could not part with the Buffalo) I was so sad to see them go, but happy to know that someone else out there loved them the way I do. (and I may have created 2 new Ice Resin addicts, as they left talking about all the things they can cast in resin!)

A bit later in the day, a long time customer, Bonnie,  came by and saw my necklace. She asked if I had any other pieces.  I showed her the sheep....not her style.  But when she heard I sold a horse ring she was disappointed.  She asked if I could make another one but as a necklace.  A horse is not the kind of animal you hunt and mount as a trophy, so I was not sure how this would work.  I told her I would give it a go.

She called me daily to check on the progress.  I immediately hit a road block: my granddaughter has discovered my stash of animals and has been secretly  playing with them.  Looks like my perfect horse is gone forever, or at least until we excavate the play room!!  I had to sculpt and bake a new horse head. (thank you Linda Mcnulty for giving me this valuable skill.  Great sculptor and even better teacher. Amazing what she is able to teach)

Anyway, Bonnie wanted the necklace "just like" mine.  I don't make anything twice and I try to push myself each time I make a new piece.  The antler did not fit with the horse theme so I used some beautiful Mountain Jasper.  This stone gives the illusion of a landscape, often looking like our local landscape with mountains, trees and rivers.  Bonnie had expressed how much she loved horses, so I found a beautiful bronze heart chain.  I used a small piece of organza ribbon and secured it with metal clamps that mimicked the bridles used for horses

I used the same prong settings I used for My Buffalo

I feel like I should have only used 3 prongs as it looks like he is being chocked instead of gently held in place!

I used amazonite stone to complement the blues in the mountain Jasper.

 I know these are shitty Pictures.  My husband just bought a really nice camera for vacations so maybe if I'm really nice and I don't leave him stranded at the Metro station(I have the tickets and the map and knowledge of the city!), he will start taking pictures for me

  Bonnie was THRILLED.  And when I told her  it was finished, she made the hour drive down to pick it up. she immediately put it on and walked around the restaurant showing all the diners!!

She also called the next day to report that the piece was proudly laid out on the kitchen counter where she could stare at it all day!!! I do the same thing with some of my pieces.  (Susans druzy heart necklace for example!!)

I know this has been a long post, but this interaction is why I love to create art.  I have had those rings for a year.  I love them, I wear them often (to my husbands dismay..he does not understand why I need a 2 inch deer with antlers on my finger to go out for ice cream!) But Bonnie does understand why someone would need a deer along for an Ice cream date!  Its the feeling we get from having personal adornment. Real PERSONAL adornment.  Not what 100 other people bought from target.   Each of our styles are different and what acceptable to me may not be right for another. But those of use who love jewelry and love to create, know the joy it bring us to have that special piece.  I’m satisfied with creating things I like and wearing them myself.  But to be able to give that feeling to another person is beyond words.  I have always had a passion for handmade items and I’m always drawn to the odd and eclectic so my art reflects that.  Last weekend I was able to connect with others who have similar passions and appreciations for wearable art.   

I LOVE being a member of the Ice Resin Design team for this reason.  Its a group comprised of amazingly talented women who have the same passion for creating as I do.  Our Fearless leader SLK and Jen Cushman have allowed us to create what we feel is ascetically pleasing and gave us a forum to present it.  That is an amazing gift and if someone out there likes what your doing, thats just a bonus.  I was so blesset to share with Bonnie this week and create something for her that she will forever cherish.  So to all my fellow art sisters (and brothers)  Keep on your creative path and one day someone will buy that freaky dear head on a sterling band!!!

Check out all the amazing artist at the Ice Resin ice queen blog site