The Tarot Garden in Metaplace

I have created a video illustrating the Tarot Garden: a virtual world in Metaplace: a social hub of various VR worlds where people create games, demonstrations, exhibits and other Virtual experiences. The Tarot Garden is a series of environments featuring the Tarot Casters. Each of the Tarot pieces has its own point of interest, description, associated tone and short video demonstrating it’s location on the Tree of Life.

The video is embedded in my website for your review. It demonstrates the functions of the Garden including animation, environmental sounds and videos teaching aspects of the Tarot.

Metaplace is free to join and browse the various worlds created by its users. After a brief introduction to the VR platform, you may see the Tarot Garden and experience its sights and sounds. Experience the first Tarot Virtual Reality at Metaplace!

Pan Pipe Penannular

Mixing metaphors (and cultures) I combined ideas that seem to go well together: Music, Grapes and a Celtic Cloaking Device. It is said that the grape was on of the gifts of the gods ( Southern Europe is notorious for embracing the Grape and the Olive) Grapes produce a fine fruit that may be pressed into juice and in turn fermented into wine producing spirits. The Grape also creates a leaf that may be used for a variety of uses, even served in dishes…. The cane it creates tells stories all of their own.

The Penannular is a piece of jewelry used by the Celts in traditional garb. It was incorporated as a fastener for fabric: from light scarf to heavy cloak. For Men it is a solid ring where a tuft of cloth was drawn up and a pin was thrust through the tuft: the ring securing the pin. For Women: a horse shoe shaped frame is created and a pin is fastened to the frame. The pin travels on the frame to capture, hold and release the fabric. Still used today in both re-enactors and SCA, the Penannular is a brooch that stands out from the more common pin.

The Pan Pipe is unusual for a Penannular because of the design. Unlike the traditional Penannular which has bold lines, knot work and stones: this brooch harnesses the ancient technology of the fastener enhanced with detailed grape vines on an arbor; loaded down with the fruit. The pin head itself is the pan pipe with still more leaves and grapes. Highly detailed, this is both a work of art and a fully functional Penannular brooch. The page I created for the Pan Pipe Penannular contains a description and a short video demonstration of how to use a Penannular for your cloak, jacket or cape.

The Pixie Flame Chain

After designing the Phoenix Head piece (now an amulet and brooch) I wanted to expand the motif to a necklace. I carved a series of six flames: each a tongue of fire, each holding loops at each end to be joined into a chain. The result was very interesting: after assembly the feel of the chain as it glides over the hand gives the allusion more of water than fire: smooth and silky.

After attaching it to the phoenix, I then developed the flame sprite from the chain, laying down the links and seeing what was being suggested. The flame sprite was one of my first “free form” pieces: instead of the normal process of sketching out drawings and mulling over design, I simply took up wax and carved her.

I also experimented with earrings and bracelets with the flame chain. Each time I worked with the links they suggested even more ideas. Years later I saw that the links could be modified into tiny sprites and thus the Pixie Flame Chain was born. I took the separate links and worked the design into tiny figures of the sprites, sizzling and extruding from fire. Again, no sketches were developed before carving: and I didn’t use “carving wax”; I used simple soft injection was – something that the “jewelry industry” frowns upon.

Most of my training I received in art was through my family: both of my Parents were educators in the Humanities: both trained musicians, scholars and in the case of my Mother: artist. One of the more pragmatic approaches I was taught was “what ever works: works”. Even though I follow the formula as taught in “old school” art (first you create a series of renderings and examine the concepts and then re-create drawings that work out details and over come obstacles), there are times when the wave of inspiration catches you and you ride it until you are done. It is often so with sculpting. One learns to “think with your hands” in the creation of art.

One finds this in all the arts, music is the same way: the basic melody or rhythm sets a foundation and the process of working the pattern with your hands will then yield new and interesting ways to develop design. I have found that switching media helps me to develop new ideas that would not occur to me otherwise.

One way to circumvent this obstacle is to develop several works in different media at the same time: imagery seems (at least for me) to require sound and touch to manifest completely: I listen to music and stories while I sculpt; I play the piano to think about shapes. I also use time to set aside one project and work on another, all the while the incubation process continues while I go for a walk or talk to a friend.

Art itself is a way of life: continually developing shapes, colors and sounds that amplify each project, developing hybrids of expression; forming experience into tactile objects, sounds from inspiration that in turn inspire.

The Phoenix Amulet

This is one of my first pieces. Originally designed to be the front portion of a circlet, this design highlights the Double Headed Phoenix: a creature that rises from the ashes of the previous incarnation; a two headed manifestation; much like Janus the God that sees into the past: learning from the lessons of experience; looking into the future. The God of the gates and passages; of beginnings both abstract and concrete.

These ideas are combined into a single piece to produce a hybrid of ideas: renewal, vision, knowledge from experience and the ability to begin again with vitality and the promise of success.

The Phoenix amulet is 2 ½” across and is available as a brooch or necklace. The brooch has a long pin between the win tips for a secure fastening while the necklace harnesses the flame chain: completing the motif of fire and renewal.

The somewhat massive piece is for those that are working on the steps required in starting a new life, beginning a new project or career or simply taking a new look to life and the possibilities it holds.

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!

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”.

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.

The Epona Amulet

Epona or the Gualish “the Great Mare” is the protector of horses, donkeys, and mules. A Roman goddess of fertility, Eponia and her horses were leaders of the soul in the after-life ride much like Rhiannon of the Mabanogian. Unusually considered a Celtic deity, most of whom were associated with specific localities, the worship of Epona was widespread in the Roman Empire of the early centuries.

Among many songs and stories both classics and modern fiction, Epona was celebrated in Llewellyn’s novel: The Horse Goddess. A Celtic woman who possesses a curious talent. When her community attempts to force her to be a druid, she runs away. Her adventures become folklore and in time she is herald as a Goddess.

Through out my life I was drawn to the image of a Goddess of Horses and decided to create an amulet expressing my love for all Horse-Women and the Goddesses they are. The Epona Amulet holds a portrait of a Mare and the towering Goddess, each looking in different directions denoting their ability to see farther than most, understand better than many. A bas relief sculpture of the Goddess of Horses is presented with mane and hair of each braided together illustrating the blending of Her manifestation. Blessings to all who see and know the grace of Epona.