Forgotten Flowers

Today the world seemed cruel, but evening hours
Were filled with perfume from forgotten flowers.

–Eva Sparks Taylor, Prayer in a Garden

A very vintage 1940’s rhinestone pin takes on new life, and death, and a certain spirit that is both unique and cunning. Patina grunge abounds, and some stones may be missing but this adds to the ancient charms and powers of this wearable art. The back has been artfully treated as well. Pin is 1.75″ across, a really perfect lapel size. Although this has been carefully created to be quite stable, dropping or banging it could cause breakage. I would not pin this to a purse or backpack. I’m sort of loathe to let go of this one!

One of a kind, ready to ship.

Click photos below to enlarge.

In the Permanent Collection

A collection of memories, once fluttering, now still… cherished. You are a museum.

This exceptionally detailed and delicately beautiful miniature work of art features a baroque frame that has been given the patina and grunge of time, a group of tiny brass flutters, and one central butterfly that is a very vintage Czech glass button. A mosaic of the tiniest beadwork and glittering rhinestone chain surround these treasures. The frame is 2 3/4″ x 2 3/8″, substantial but very wearable. The back has been lovingly textured and treated with special effects. A 17″ aged brass chain is looped through the focal and ends with a lobster clasp.

Due to the somewhat delicate nature of this piece, I recommend that you wear it shorter rather than longer, so that it sits upon the flat part of the chest, rather than bouncing around at a longer length. I’m happy to make adjustments. While this piece is very stable, there is some fragility, with tiny beads and glass that could fall out or break if dropped, banged, or otherwise abused. Not recommended for children, or a night out slam dancing. Ths would be lovely hanging on a wall when you’re not wearing it.

One of a kind, ready to ship.

Remember to click on images below to enlarge.

Dia de los Muertos

Do not stand at my grave and weep. 
I am not there, I do not sleep. 
I am a thousand winds that blow. 
I am the diamond glints on the snow. 
I am the sunlight on the ripened grain. 
I am the gentle Autumn’s rain. 

When you awaken in the morning hush, 
I am the swift uplifting rush 
of quiet birds in circled flight. 
I am the soft stars that shine at night. 
Do not stand at my grave and cry: 
I am not there, I did not die. 

–Author Unknown, Native American, North America

The four Day of the Dead necklaces pictured here are offered individually, as priced below. Teal with copper metallic is SOLD. Please let me know which of the others (baby blue with pink metallic, bright red with blue, smaller white baby skull) you would like. Each necklace features gorgeous glass Czech focal sugar-skull bead, with a Frida Kahlo floral crown, surrounded by a mosaic of tiny beads and sparkles, both vintage and new. Brass or silver heart charm is a little over 2″ long x a little over 1″ wide, so quite small. My default chain is a nice 24″ brass or black chain with lobster claw clasp; I can reduce (but not lengthen) to your specification. I do recommend wearing these shorter, upon the flat part of your chest, due to some level of fragility. Although the pieces are extremely stable in their creation, they will break or fall apart if dropped or banged hard. So no slam dancing while wearing.

Each is one of a kind, ready to ship.

Click photos below to enlarge.

Be Drunk


You have to be always drunk. That’s all there is to it—it’s the only way. So as not to feel the horrible burden of time that breaks your back and bends you to the earth, you have to be continually drunk.

But on what? Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But be drunk.

–Charles Baudelaire, Be Drunk

A smashed yellow bottlecap forms the base for this incredible concoction… embellished with a tiny clay skull, vintage and new beads and bits, a vintage beaded bow. Back is embellished as shown with a secret bee. About 1.75″ across and 2 3/8 from very top to very bottom. Made with care, love and is very stable, but could break or shatter if dropped. Perfect for a lapel, probably should not be pinned to a purse or backpack where it might get banged and bumped. You may get some extra super powers wearing this; but I can’t be certain about that.

One of a kind, ready to ship.

Click photos below to enlarge.

Forever Held #2

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

e. e. cummings

This tiny wearable work of art includes a Victorian brass hand, a red glass flaming heart, and many tiny vintage and new glass beads. The frame is a mere 1 1/4″ x 1 7/8″ and has been hand-treated with grunge and a beautiful patina. Strung on an antiqued brass chain that is 24″ with lobster clasp. The back has been texturally treated with embedded treasure as shown. Although these pieces are crafted for stability, there is a certain inherent fragility in the tiny glass bits and pieces; if dropped or banged breakage could occur. For that reason, I do recommend wearing these shorter, on the flat upper part of the chest. Please let me know if you’d like the length adjusted at time of purchase.

ee cummings was one of the first poets I ever read; I’ve loved his work since I was a very young girl. Carry the hearts of all those you love, including your own dear heart.

When not being worn, this piece would be happily stored on your wall, or in the lovely box it will ship in.

Remember to click on images below to enlarge.

Under the Crescent Moon

There’s that feeling you get when you look at the moon, that someone you love–someone perhaps far away–is gazing at the same sliver of glowing white and maybe, just maybe, thinking of you.

Treasured bits and pieces come together into this necklace, which features a slice of ancient tin ceiling tile, a glass eyeball, rivets, vintage and new beads and findings, and deliciously grungey patinas throughout. The clasp is vintage, one of those slidey things, as shown.

Please note, it’s possible that the paint on the front of this tin contains lead, since it is likely as old as turn of the century, up to the 1940’s. The back does not contain any paint. Rust is always a part of these found objects.

The crescent itself is about 3.5″ across. The length of the necklace is about 17.5″ total. Due to the somewhat delicate nature of this piece, I recommend that you wear it shorter rather than longer, so that it sits upon the flat part of the chest, rather than bouncing around at a longer length. I’m happy to make adjustments. While this piece is very stable, there is some fragility, with tiny beads and glass that could break if dropped, banged, or otherwise abused. Not recommended for children, or a night out slam dancing.

One of a kind, ready to ship.

Click photos below to enlarge.

Neon Forever

Wanted to share this Voodoo Candy necklace in its finished state. Detail above shows focal, clasp and some of the crazy beads.

In its entirety… very allsorts candy and licorice. This may not be everyone’s favorite colorway, but I’ve always loved the high contrast and the dark playful aspects of using lots of black with neon.

This view shows these strange natural black coral beads that are so scary and freaky.

Here’s a piece made/sold several years ago, a handknit cuff thing using neon potholder loops that were made into yarn. This is one of those pieces I miss and keep thinking I need to make another for myself.

Detail. Looks like a strange futuristic mutated sea creature.

And, one last picture of the first batch of Unstrung Hero beads, all grouped together before they come apart for use in jewelry. More beads to come soon… as Steph warned (and now you’ve been warned too): HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

Lover’s Eye (brass heart)

The pieces in this series were born of a fascination with the ancient tradition of Lover’s Eye jewelry. Updated with an additional sense of the mystical all-seeing or all-knowing eye, and surrounded by other evocative elements including new and vintage glass beads, love, and magic, these miniature works of art have a unique irresistible power.

Experts believe that there are fewer than 1,000 “lover’s eyes” in existence today, based on an ancient secretive tradition, in which lovers would wear an image of the eye of a secret beloved. In the 18th and 19th centuries, wealthy British and European lovers exchanged “eye miniatures” — love tokens so clandestine that even now, in the majority of cases, it is impossible to identify their recipients or the people they depict. Experts believe that there are fewer than 1,000 “lover’s eyes” in existence today.

This Lover’s Eye has an ornate baroque frame that has been treated with patina and grunge, a gorgeous glass blue eye, tiny brass heart and my signature vintage Czech glass bleeding heart bead. The frame itself is a mere 1.5″ x 2 1/8″. Strung on an antiqued brass chain that is 24″ with lobster clasp. The back has been texturally treated with embedded treasure as shown. Although these pieces are crafted for stability, there is a certain inherent fragility in the tiny glass bits and piece; if dropped or banged breakage could occur. For that reason, I do recommend wearing these shorter, on the flat upper portion of the chest. Please let me know if you’d like the length adjusted at time of purchase.

When not being worn, this piece would be happily stored on your wall, or in the lovely box it will ship in.

Remember to click on images below to enlarge.