Hand Engraving: Amulets by Merlin

I have always been fascinated by hand engraving. One may see evidence of the art on platters and markers as well as jewelry pas the colonial times in to ancient works of art. The process is “simple”: one takes a very hard and well sharpened implement known as a “graver” made of steel and cuts a fine line into silver, gold or other “soft” metals. The way the graver is sharpened depends on the kind of cut. One can go from a fine line to a wide slice depending on the angle of the cut. Often this is used in pavé or other stone settings. The art is developed over years of practice. There are some that spend their entire career doing nothing but engraving.

Another part of my work is the actual design of a piece: knot work is common in many Celtic designs available elsewhere, but typically they are reproductions from the book of Kells. Although I am capable of re-creating these knots, I am also able to design knot work that have never been seen before.

By combining hand engraving and the art of knot work design I can produce unique pieces of jewelry that stand out from the mass produced and machine designed pieces. The latest work is an original knot I developed for a client’s sterling collar. This one of a kind piece holds a knot derived from the treble clef and tied together in the center.

To see more examples of my Engravings, please visit my site. If you are interested in having something unique made for you, you need only ask.

Dragon-Butterfly

A Cloak Clasp that is a one of a kind. The request was for a cloak clasp that combined her two favorite things: Dragons and butterflies. With a rather limited description we worked through a series of renderings and then developed the final piece.

The main wings are in Bronze while the body of the Dragon is of Sterling Silver. Opals were places in the tips of the wings with garnets and amethysts set into the Mandala of knot work and spirals. Amethyst and garnets are set into the body of the dragon. The stones were set with sterling tube and prong settings. The piece was made to clasp with two hooks to steady the design while wearing it. Three button loops were placed on each side of the wings.

The proud owner of the one-of-a-kind Dragon-Butterfly Cloak Clasp displays her creature on her cloak at DragonCon every year! See the website for the close ups of the mechanism!

If you have a concept of a piece that you want created, you need only ask!

Ouroboros Penannular Brooch

One of my favorite activities is to create things never made before; this was one of them! I have already been producing the Ouroboros Ring for some time, however a fellow wanted to have something specially made that touches both his Celtic Heritage and his love for the Ouroboros: the Ouroboros Penannular Brooch!

The Worm Himself is a solid carving with the ability to be viewed from both sides, a fully detailed face and the traditional diamond scalded spine. Unlike the Ladies’ Penannular, this is a solid ring with a “free” pin. By his request I created the pin without a head and to replicate a sewing needle. The way it is worn is that the ring of the Ouroboros is placed on the cloak (or Great Kilt) and the needle pierces the material underneath after bunching it up though the ring thus securing the Brooch and cloak together.

This is a one-of-a-kind piece with no mold taken for reproduction, however if you wish to have something similar made (or anything of the kind) simply ask!

The Rite Way Amulet

The classic image of a “witch on a broom” is much like the picture at the beginning of the TV series “Bewitched”: a lovely woman in a witch costume riding sidesaddle (see “Away!”). However some years ago it was pointed out to me that in the old Rites the use of the Besom was with the bristles up.

Keeping in mind the more traditional use of a broom is cleansing a home (or other space) and while you are actual sweeping you are blessing your home and driving out negativity. Hence the actual “business end” of the broom is the bristles.

To celebrate the “use” of the broom I have created an amulet of Blessing: “The Rite Way”. The Lady holds her besom with the bristles up blessing and protecting Sacred Space.

The Rite Way Amulet is intended for those that are both serious about their efforts to make the world a better place and a sense of humor that one would wear a “witch on a broom” that would be more “authentic”.

The Dark Angel

In the spine the top most vertebrae is the cervical atlas, nick named “The Dark Angel” commonly because of its position: it connects the spine to the skull and is the pivot between the head and the body. Also because of when viewed in an isometric position, it looks like a head and wings and is never seen unless in autopsy or considerably after the demise of the subject. For such a small bone, we rely on its position for movement nearly every minute of our waking (and at times sleeping) lives.

As a subject for an amulet, this represents many things: health and healing, vitality, protection and the ability to “pivot” both literally and figuratively. Being as that it is so rarely seen while “in use” it may also represent assistance that we both rely on and never see. It connects the Mind to the Body in a very physical way.

The Dark Angel Amulet is intended to be of assistance to those in Health care: Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Nurses and all care givers and body workers. Here is an amulet that is rooted in reality and extended into the realm of the arcane for those who wish to bring healing to a troubled world.

Away!

One of the classic images of Halloween is a witch riding on a broom stick. However since the sixties and the hit series “Bewitched” the images turned from the “old crone” to a beautiful woman riding side saddle on her besom.

Like most people in my age group, the icon stuck with me for years: the sense of freedom to ride with ease across an inky sky with the full moon framing a beautiful face, a Witch to remember!

In my later years I have met many women that have “come out of the closet” most of them tend to resemble Samantha: beauty, talent and a great sense of humor.

As a dedication to this vision of loveliness, I have created the amulet: “Away!” 1 5/8” by one inch tall with a bail behind the moon: positioned to give the sense of “floating” on your chain or cord. Not just for Halloween, the Beauty may be worn year around to spice up your day “I’m feeling Witchy!”

Blossom Star

I make a wide variety of Pentacles: a symbol that is found in every culture. The five pointed star has been seen in nature forming the core of the apple, blossoms, and minerals and in the random patterns of branches and trees. It has been adopted as a symbol of strength and purity: featured in the drawings by Leonardo da Vinci of the “first man” representing “life in balance” and even associated in renaissance paintings with Christ.

The individual points represent the four elements: fire, water, air, and earth with the point of spirit pointing up, again illustrating the balance of nature with the perception of spirit.

In celebration of the five pointed star, I have developed the symbol made of the branches of the apple tree. The branches are woven as a sign of eternity. The weaving of the branches is in the sequence of “creation, starting with the top point of “spirit” and proceeding to the point of “transformation (fire) then Wisdom (air), Consciousness (water) then grounding in the material world (earth) and resolving in Spirit. An apple blossom on the side: the promise of fulfillment. The apple is often a symbol of living knowledge, wisdom and abundance: though knowledge tend to foster options that tend to lead to trouble, it is up to the individual to choose to be “right minded” when choosing a path.

I offer the Blossom Star as “the Teacher’s Star”, perfect for those on the path of all faiths dedicated to truth, wisdom and virtue.

One in Spirit

There are few things in life that can inspire such joy. It is one thing to perform while an audience watches: expectations, stage fright, critics… it is quite another when a group of people create music for the sole purpose of making each other happy. Many music groups describe sessions where it was “just the band” that were jaw dropping, pure beauty and healing in just the experience. In a healthy Drum Circle, one can see an entire community gather together and create something that is fresh, unique and joyful. Each drummer “holds” the down beat which provides a “floor” where the community dances both figuratively and physically.

I have taught “Drum Circle Dynamics” to children for years, helping them to realize how to interact through rhythm. On more than a few occasions a little one would approach and want to play my drum with me. In those moments I felt a bonding with the younger generation that transcends nearly every other experience.

In an attempt to capture these moments, I sculpted the piece: “One in Spirit” which features a drummer and a small boy learning the down beat, a moment that erases gender, age, generational perspective and sync the two into a single moment: Playing as One in Spirit.

The Drum Mom

For many years I spent a great deal of time at various Drum Circles. If you have never attended an Open Public Drum Circle, you have missed a great deal of fun! One of the many things to watch is how children respond to the experience. They naturally move with the beat and want to participate in every way they can. As the older ones can dance and drum just as well as many of the adults, some are still a bit too little and could be easily stepped upon by spinning bodies and the like.

Typically, the Drum Mom is a position often held by one of the mothers attending. She supervises the water and snacks and watches over the health and welfare of the Drum Circle: as drummers tire and take a break through out the night (if we are doing an “all nighter”) the Drum Mom make sure that they are cared for and makes a safe place for the dancers to gather to share snacks and words.

I have attempted to capture the many aspects within the Drum Circle through my work: mostly jewelry, however I still love to revel in my first love: sculpture. I indulged myself in this one: The Drum Mom.

This piece holds an aspect of the tiny struggle between the Drum Mom and a pair of little ones who are more exuberant then for their own good. One struggles to climb into her lap while the older of the two wants to break away into the circle, armed with a shaker. The Sculpture is a tiny moment, a single beat in the Drum Circle, in fact in one’s life; yet it is an iconic position, one of honor. Every healthy Drum Circle has such people looking after each other; in this way the drummers and dancers may focus on their purpose: to generate Joy and Bright Blessings.

Academy of Judaic Christian and Islamic Studies

Some years ago (back in the Eighties) my Father: Dr. Robert B. McLaren was a Professor in the Humanities Department of California State University Fullerton. At the time, tensions between the east and west were extremely tense. In order to bring a better understanding between the three “faiths of Abraham” as my father put it, he assisted in the creation of and assumed the role as Vice President of the Academy of Judaic Christian and Islamic Studies. The goal was to develop line of communication between the religious leaders in Orange County, California.

The Academy sponsored meetings that gave a forum to clear misconceptions, air out differences and reach mutual understandings between the Faiths. Feeling the importance that the Ideals were to be grounded in some material form, my Father asked me to create some kind of Amulet that would symbolize their efforts. “It needs to be comprehensive: start with the letter A” he told me.

The result was the simple block letter, the two sides solid and in a form of the triangle, one of the most stable structures in architecture. The ribbon holds the letters “JCI” representing the tenuous lines of communication and a reminder of the effort required to keep those lines open to each other.

As the first Iraq War heated up, the Academy became a hot bet of controversy; however it kept the religious community in close touch and provided them with the necessary links to defuse many misunderstandings.

With the passing of its founders and a hose of other problems, the Academy of Judaic Christian and Islamic Studies eventually dissolved as an organization, however the friendships continued. It is my hope that the amulets are a reminder of how open communication and honesty is a step towards peace and prosperity.