Collect and Gather....

I find that I love to collect and gather little gems that speak to me. When these little gems make their way into a piece of jewelry it is very satisfying and makes the collecting all the more fun. In honest...I never dreamed I would be making jewelry of any kind and do not consider myself a jewelry designer. I simply play with the materials that work for me and am always surprised by the end result. I find pleasure in taking apart an old jewelry piece and giving it new life! I enjoy materials like wooden beads, Milagros, copper, hemp, Afghanistan dress flowers...and of course a lot of recycled anything just to name a few. My pieces tend to have a funky flair and sometimes I think I am the only one that really likes them. Then, a gentle gratification comes when a piece sells. An encouragement to keep creating!

Cross Roads....

As we go through our lives we are constantly hitting cross roads. Some are a normal part of life……others are complicated and painful. In all instances it is a chance to change and grow. If we look closely most times a clear path is already open for us to take. The ones that cause our hearts turmoil and an internal sadness need intimate soul searching.

This is a deeply personal piece to me…it represents Faith…Music…Love. The challenging crossroads require all three.

I used muslin, felt, embroidery thread and many hours of hand stitching.

La Virgen de Guadalupe.....

The Virgen de Guadalupe is my saint of saints! I have said countless prayers to Our Lady over the years for guidance. I open my heart to her and in return she helps me overcome. She gives me strength to get through the times that are clouded with my tears and sometimes bad judgment. We are small in this world of sorrows and unjust times.....at times difficult to keep faith in people, moral principles, and religious beliefs.

My Virgen de Guadalupe art consists of hours of handwork that sooths my heart. Since she has been my guidance through prayer it is only natural I have poured many hours into these art pieces.
I use natural slubby muslin for the center in which the Virgen image is embroidered. Other materials I used are cotton and metallic embroidery thread, felt, painted recycled frames and passion for Our Lady.

The Virgen de Guadalupe is more than just an image, it is a history lesson. Symbols of her dress hold a special meaning to the indigenous people of Mexico.

• The mantle (her robe) is blue/green, the color reserved for Ometecuhti/Onecihuatl who are the divine couple considered the creator and unifying force of all creation. The mantle is covered with stars and these reflect the eras of this civilization and the relationship to Ometeotl the god of all duality.
• The dress/robe is red with symbolic “writings” that tell a story to the Nahuatl people.
• The belt worn by the Virgin is a maternity band, explaining expectant birth or new expectations.
• The virgin is stepping on the moon, indicating greater importance in relation to the sister of the sun, Coyolxauhqui.
• The golden rays of the sun point to the presence of the “sun” god, Quetzalcoatl.
• The angel who “carries” the virgin is perceived as the symbol for a new beginning, and also denotes Nahuatl nobility since royalty were carried.