Semper Fi

Something a little different than my usual. This was commissioned as a gift for a retired marine.

The black lacquer finish is so shiny that you see some odd reflections from the light fixture in my office. There is a dark red shadow around the outside of the crest that barely registers unless you see it in person.

The paper inside is a patchwork of marine slogans. My husband, who is also ex-military, loved it so hopefully the recipient will too.

Gilded Autumn

This little American beauty is based on Charles Dana Gibson's illustrations. Her auburn hair has metallic copper highlights swirled into her Gibson style pompadour. Her wings are bases on the Queen butterfly and are glazed in the same metallic copper. A tiny rhinestone glitters from the band around her neck.

Her companion is based on a cat belonging to the recipient but I have to admit that his facial expression reminds me more of my furry little helper, Angus, who is a brown tabby instead of a golden Bengal. In the foreground of their resting place are cut paper leaves that echoes the autumnal paper inside.

The box's sides are sponged with layers of copper and several metallic golds then wrapped with real black lace accented with more rhinestones.





In other news - This is the first batch of pictures from my new camera. I can already see some improvement in detail and I'm sure as I figure out the ins and outs of how it works I'll be able to offer better images of my work for your viewing.

The Sailing Moon

This indigo haired mermaid has come up to the surface to get a better view of what appears to be the silvery crescent moon in her world, only to find a shimmering fairy sailboat with metallic silver sides and a mast made of a giant black narwhale horn.

Much of this box is pearlized when you see it in person. The sandy sides are layered with pearl and both the tiny boat and the mermaid's flesh and scales are accented in pearl. Her hair and the inside of the box are a deep indigo created with layers of midnight blue and royal purple. In her hair it is swirled with a metallic black.

My inspirations for this were my favorite fairy tale, The Little Mermaid (the old sad version), a print of John William Waterhouse's Miranda that hangs in my bedroom and the eventual recipient's love of sailing. She was originally intended to be a redhead like Miranda but at the last second she changed my mind.

Keep your eyes peeled for a very different companion piece to this one:)