This necklace was inspired by my love of early American gravestone art. Winged death's head motifs were a favorite among the headstone carvers in New England, and they are certainly one of mine. This particular design is my own take on the theme and incorporates an hourglass. The phrase "memento mori" is a Latin token enjoining us to remember death. The symbolism of this imagery need not be as morbid as it seems as death gives poignancy to life. The wings hint at levity, freedom, and transcendence.

True to the hand-carved headstones of old, this piece is not perfectly symmetrical. It has been colored to suggest that like its boneyard counterparts, it has been worn and weathered by time. The mossy green in the main portion is accented by olivine freshwater pearls and turquoise roundels with heavy brown matrix. Delicate sterling silver chain and a handmade hook clasp links the whole necklace together.

The main chest piece was carved from vegetable-tanned leather and then dyed and painted. The front of the carved leather portion is sealed with an acrylic coating.

measurements • the leather chest piece is approximately 6" (15.2 cm) across by 2" (5.1 cm) wide at its greatest points; the entire necklace is about 19" (48.3 cm) in length including the chest piece and clasp

materials • hand-carved & painted leather; sterling silver chain & wire; freshwater pearls; turquoise; glass beads

price • $55.00 US plus S&H: Available at my Etsy shop!

Maybe they're love letters, notes from a long-lost friend, or birthday cards from a relative. (Then again these little envelopes may just contain your latest credit card statements, but I'd like to think they're too whimsical for that purpose!) We'll never know for sure, but they contain the potential to symbolize any sort of mail that you might wish to send or receive.

Each miniature, sealed envelope was carved out of vegetable-tanned leather and then subtly stained. They dangle along with olivine freshwater pearls from hand-crafted ear hooks of sterling silver.

measurements • envelopes are approximately 0.875"(2.2cm) long by 0.5"(1.3cm) wide; they dangle about 1.5"(3.8cm) from below the ear hook

materials • hand-carved and stained leather; sterling silver; freshwater pearls

price &149; $14.50 not including S & H SOLD!

Each version of this bracelet I make is unique. Not simply because each one is handmade and of course varies a bit from its sisters, but because I try to do something a little different with each variation. In this version the swallow is soaring through a backdrop of stars which have been dusted with a metallic sheen. The color scheme of this swallow is also a little bit different: instead of being primarily turquoise, this swallow is in shades of cerulean and pale blues with a golden underbelly. The swallow's back is also decorated in delicate swirls.

This adjustable bracelet features a handmade hook clasp which you simply slide through the appropriate link of the antique silver-toned chain. The chain is adorned with beautiful glass and metal beads as well as a piece of pink coral, all of which compliment the color scheme of the leather portion of the cuff, so this bracelet is lovely to behold from any angle. It is signed by the artist on the reverse.

measurements • the leather portion is about 4.5" in length and 1.5" in height; the chain allows this bracelet to be adjusted from about 6.5" to 10" around

materials • hand-carved & painted leather; silver-toned chain, wire, & eyelets; glass beads; coral bead

price • $35.00 US plus S & H SOLD!

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Clearance Sale:
I reduced the prices of virtually everything currently for sale at my Etsy shop in the desire to do some much needed 'spring cleaning.' Most pieces have been reduced by $5.00 or more.

A swallow soars through a backdrop of roses, carrying a banner which flutters in the wind. Perhaps the little bird will line her nest with that slip of paper, or maybe she'll place it somewhere for an unsuspecting person to find.

The style of the imagery is based on traditional American tattoos. The necklace is designed to fall over the breastbone, a location where many choose to tattoo something very near and dear to their hearts (both literally and metaphorically).

The swallow is painted in sunset colors: rich red, gold, and a hint of purple. The undersides of her wings are a paler version of a similar scheme. The roses are in a dusky shade of some hue on the verge between violet and cocoa brown with leaves of teal. These colors are complimented by the variety of beads which dangle below the leather chestpiece and those which connect it to the encircling chain.

The main portion of this necklace was hand-carved from vegetable-tanned leather and then dyed and painted. The front of the carved leather portion is sealed with an acrylic coating to ensure that it stays vibrant for a long time to come, but please keep it dry to ensure its longevity. It is signed by the artist on the reverse.

measurements • leather chestpiece is approximately 4.5" wide and 2" tall at its greatest points; the overall length of the necklace is about 18.5" including the handmade hook clasp closure

materials • hand-carved & painted leather; sterling silver wire & chain; freshwater pearls; garnet; glass beads; brass skeleton key pendant (the key was purchased from Etsy's own PatinaQueen: http://patinaqueen.etsy.com)

price • $65.00 US plus S & H SOLD!

Mortal Geisha is a hand-crafted leather cuff bracelet inspired by my love for the Japanese tradition and by tattooing.

The design was originally slated to be part of a series of tattoo flash I was working on, but I decided that I liked it so much that I wanted to use it in a leather piece. A woman's profile superimposed with that of a skull is a common motif in American old school style tattooing (likely derived from calaveras, sugar skulls, and other Day of the Dead imagery).

My unique twist incorporates an influence from Japanese woodblock prints of geisha and courtesans of the floating world. Perhaps it represents the "Lady from Hell," the courtesan Jigokudayu who achieved enlightenment upon gazing at herself in a mirror and seeing a skeleton reflected there instead of her own youthful form. A gnarled pine tree curves around her neck, clouds swirl about her head, and a flame licks up from her collarbone. She is silhouetted by a dusting of metallic gold.

The main portion of this cuff bracelet was hand-carved from vegetable-tanned leather and then dyed and painted. A strap of supple mahogany-colored leather is affixed to one side of the pictorial panel using two gold-toned rivets and on the other with a gold-toned snap closure. The front of the carved leather portion is sealed with an acrylic coating to ensure that it stays vibrant for a long time to come, but please keep it dry to ensure its longevity. It is signed by the artist on the reverse.

measurements • bracelet is about 3.75" wide at its broadest point and approximately 7.5" around

materials • hand-carved & painted leather, gold-toned rivets and snap

price • $55.00 US plus S & H; SOLD!

While crafting these earrings I kept on getting this vision of looming, dark rain clouds reflected in a small, still pond below. Waiting in anticipation of a sudden downpour, there is an exciting tension which links the two elements together even before the rain falls. It is an image which seems like it would be quite at home as a hexagram of the I-Ching.

The storm cloud is comprised of pale opaline faceted beads and freshwater pearls in a brooding shade of dark blue-grey, backed by inverted raindrops of supple leather. Delicate links of sterling silver chain connect the storm cloud to the pond, represented by turquoise glass drops with an iridescent olive shine.

measurements • each earring dangles approximately 2.25" long (not including handmade French hook style ear wire) and is about .5" wide at its greatest points

materials • sterling silver wire & chain; leather; glass beads; freshwater pearls

price • $16.00 US plus S & H SOLD!

In light of the recent status of the economy, I've decided to reduce the prices of some pieces of jewelry and original ACEOs. Look for the word "SALE" in the item titles at my Etsy shop to see specially reduced prices!

Some of the pieces included in this sale are:

Drum Solo in Blue: $20.00 now $17.00 SOLD!

Sword Dancer: $20.00 now $17.00 SOLD!

Web Nouveau Necklace: $65.00 now $55.00 SOLD!

I hope everyone had a wonderfully spooky Halloween!

The five-pointed star has long been a sacred and powerful symbol in many philosophies and magical traditions. In current times, it has become the representative symbol of Neo-Pagan religious Witchcraft and other contemporary Pagan and Earth-based faiths.

This pentagram is created from organic, interlocking lines and at its heart is a five-petaled flower. Additional petals float beyond the star. The star itself is a rich shade of antique gold, the flower and outlying petals are in graduated shades of green, the entire design is dusted in metallic gold.

It would make a great gift for the magical person in your life who has (or wishes to have) a green thumb or who seeks a touchstone to connect to the Faery realm!

This key fob was hand-carved from vegetable-tanned leather and then dyed and painted. Both the front and back of the leather portion is sealed with an acrylic coating to ensure that it stays vibrant for a long time to come, but please keep it dry to ensure its longevity. It is signed by the artist on the reverse.

measurements • the leather portion is about 2" in width by about 2" in height at its greatest points; the key ring is approximately 1.25" in diameter

materials • hand-carved and painted leather, gold-toned rivet, key ring

price • $10.00 $8.00 US plus S & H Available through my Etsy shop!

* keys not included

A stylized skull emerges at the heart of a bloom in rich autumn shared of red, orange, and gold. This tattoo-inspired design arrives just in time for Halloween, Samhain, and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) when the leaves turn brilliant colors and our thoughts turn to somber, wistful subjects.

This key fob was hand-carved from vegetable-tanned leather and then dyed and painted. The edges of the flower petals have a slight metallic, golden sheen. Both the front and back of the leather portion is sealed with an acrylic coating to ensure that it stays vibrant for a long time to come, but please keep it dry to ensure its longevity. It is signed by the artist on the reverse.

* keys not included

measurements • the leather portion is about 1.75" in width by about 2.25" in height at its greatest points; the key ring is approximately 1.25" in diameter

materials • hand-carved and painted leather, silver-toned rivet, key ring

price • $10.00 not including S & H; SOLD!

This set of lovely, hand-woven spiderweb earrings coordinate with the Web Nouveau necklace which can also be found in my Etsy shop, but they are certainly beautiful in their own right.

The sinuous curves in these petite webs are inspired by the Art Nouveau era. The thicker wires are hammered to provide an interesting texture as well as to evoke the calligraphic quality of fluid lines in Art Nouveau artwork.

The beaded dangles are primarily in shades of turquoise, aubergine, and burgundy with more subtle accents throughout. Glittering swarovski crystals and the ghostly bluish flash of moonstone offer delight from every angle.

Since each earring was crafted by hand, they are not exactly alike.

measurements • each earring is approximately 2" long (including the dangles) and 1" in width at its greatest points; the french hook style ear wire is incorporated into the overall design of the earring

materials • sterling silver wire & chain; freshwater pearl; garnet; moonstone; turquoise; swarovski crystal; glass beads

price • $18.00 not including S & H SOLD!