A Phalange Filled Week and some Arrow-Garble

Some rings have been added to the Etsy shop today-and a few more are coming tomorrow! The majority of the newer pieces from the last post are now in the Muses Window Boutique on Main St., in Concord, MA. Joining them were some main pieces of the Etsy shop (snooze you loose!) including the Thunderbirds and Turquoise bird dangles, as well as all turtles. These sweet little wampum dangles also made their way into the boutique…

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In the Etsy shop tomorrow will be these two fat cats, as well as the Turquoise Compass Ring (size 7 1/4)-I know, I know. It has been a long time coming, but it’ll finally make it’s appearance tomorrow!

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I normally only post about stone or jewelry related things on the blog, but I know many people like to share, and share, and over share. To change things up a tish, how’s about a little music sharing? I’ve been listening to the Milk Carton Kids (they’re a throw back to Simon&Garfunkel and Donovan), and The Devil Makes Three-who are officially the best Bluegrass band with an edge to rock out in your car to. No, really. Do NOT let the term “Bluegrass” scare you away from a listen, this three piece plays raw and dirty music with lyrics that dig down deep into untapped themes. Being a very short person, I’ve decided to make their song, “Ten Feet Tall“, my theme song. One band I’ve been completely enthralled with (and admit though they’re growing in popularity VERY fast I’d only heard about them last week) is Of Monsters and Men, from Iceland. They’re music video for their single “Little Talks” captured me with all of their interwoven mythological references (two headed ravens, fire birds, and Krackens, anyone?). They smartly used them all to make their own mythology to explain their song through visuals. Not to mention, the song itself is all bounce&groove! How could they not be found adorable? I’m loving the little legs on the band members.

xx Stray Arrow

Stone Adorned Digits….

Well, its been awhile. I have essentially been knocking out commissions and custom orders these past few weeks, thus the lack of new items in the shops (no complaints, though!). I also have brilliantly hurt my right wrist (possible minor sprain? something pulled? who knows), so I have been sawing away with a brace. Speed has been picking up! The weather has been lovely- perfect for open windows and doors with blaring tunes in the studio! The snow from storms has slowly melted and dim sunlight has lead to creepy and inspirational views…

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Just before my Business trip to Tucson, AZ for the gem show, I was able to make myself two pairs of earrings to wear down there. These lovelies are the first things I’ve made myself in years! Both feature birds from my “Stormy Night” series styles…

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I have several piercings on each ear, so these Wampum Birds fit my first and fourth piercings~the tips of the wings has *detachable* studs through them! The wampum was carved by Native artist Mark Changing Bear of buffalocarvings.com. The beauties below feature natural Royston teardrop turquoise stones…

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Other recent completions include a (surprise!) Bird ring for a friend, featuring a STUNNING and deep boulder opal that almost crackles with energy!

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AND NOW:

A PREVIEW

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SHOP UPDATE THURSDAY EVENING!

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A bunch of new fancies for the fingers! Stones include petrified wood, landscape jasper, wild horse magnesite, raw turquoise, Nacozari blue turquoise, old stock Kings Manassa turquoise, and what I’m going to call lily pad jasper (its been called many names):

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IN THE WORKS:

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For the Gauged by Stasia Etsy shop: more BIRDS! A slight difference from the Stormy Night style of having birds flanking round moon-like stones or gems. Featuring HUGIN & MUNIN from Old Norse mythology. They are Odin’s ravens and are often seen each to a shoulder. One stands for Thought, the other for Memory

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and, some new further development of…

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Watch the Etsy shops for updates THURSDAY! A future notice that I WILL NOT be taking any commissions or custom orders for the month of April. If I have not at least started conversing with you on ideas for a custom piece by April 1st, you’ll just have to wait…..and see what I create that month 🙂

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xx Stray Arrow

Tucson Gem Show…

So, I have returned from Tucson with a TON of new rock goodies to share and use. This post is going to be L.O.N.G….

I’ll start with photos of lovely stones, then show off all the turquoise, and wrap up with all *matching* pairs for earrings or plugs. Tomorrow I’ll post some extra photos as well, so stay tuned!

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Below, from left to right, we have: Blue Biggs Picture Jasper, Plume Agate (looks like snow!), a STUNNING piece of petrified wood, and a primo piece of Mohawkite! Mohawkite comes from the Mohawk Mine in Michigan. Within the snow white quartz you’ll find a shiny mix of copper arsenates with nickel, cobalt, silver and iron. The stones are a by-product of silver and copper mining.

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Below from left to right: graveyard plume agate, ocean jasper, agua nueva agate, and petrified palm wood!

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Below from left to right: two different kinds of LOVELY petrified wood, and a primo cut of Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper/Guadeloupe Jasper!

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Below from left to right: primo Imperial Jasper Nodule, two lovely landscape jaspers, and two Mexican Bird’s Eye Ryholites!

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Below is a large and super duper lovely Medicine Bow Dendritic Agate! 

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Next up-Mini cabs! Perfect for little rings or necklaces. From left to right, top row, we have: a sweet round mini Turritella Shell Fossil (perfect ring size!), red plume agate, and lace agate. 

Bottom row from left to right: picture jasper, plume agate, lace agate, and a beautiful little Imperial Jasper (lovely lovely olive and rust colours)

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Also new are some sweet Wild Horse Magnesite cabochons:

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In the picture below we have a great high quality dendritic quartz (plant fossils trapped in clear quartz), and a STUNNING mini Golden Rutile Star Quartz. This is one of the nicest and rarest quartz types out there (on par with Medusa quartz). This is the only one I’ve been able to get my hands on, and its a FULL STAR! Usually you just see half of the design or a part of the design in a cab. This little full star lovely is perfectly round, small, and calling for a ring!
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The jasper stones below I’ve heard called many names. The most popular are bird’s eye rhyolite, or ollithic limestone. Either way, whatever it is, it is definitely jasper, and fantastic! They remind me of lily pads, or rose gardens. The two stones on the right are slices of Montana Agates:
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TURQUOISE TIME!
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The amount of high quality natural turquoise I found was so exciting, especially because I found hardly any after diligently hunting the entire first day I was at the Gem Show. For those unfamiliar with “The Gem Show”, it is held in Tucson, AZ at the beginning of each year. There are several major gem/mineral/jewelry shows, and dozens of other mini shows. I only attended two-the major Gem Show at the Tucson Convention Center, which is more for gemstone dealers, and the larger tent/trailer gem show at the old Electric Park. Last year I met the nice Mr. Jim, who actually remembered me this year! The majority of my new turquoise (and all Fox Mine and #8 Mine turquoise) is from him. My darling niece patiently helped me pick out matching pairs. The Electric Park show was like an open candy store! Behold my newly found treats:
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The pictures below are all from assorted mines, if you fall in love with one of these stones or are even a tad curious-ask me and I’ll tell you which!:
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Other turquoise scored included a single piece of turquoise from the ever popular and rare Damale Mine! This fat cab (really, like a bubble), is more minty as opposed to the yellowish hues the Mine is known for. It reminds me a little of the Peacock Mine, and has a fantastic web to it. The two stones to its left are OLD STOCK Carico Lake Mine turquoise. These little guys are the real deal, and have deep tight webs with extremely saturated colour:
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Another rare mine that I was surprised to find so much of out there is one of my favourites: the Apache Mine. Known for its minty turquoise and black matrix, I’ve only ever had two cabs of this that had immediately been sold in pieces. This is extremely original material, and only comes from one mine! I got Apache Mine turquoise from two different vendors….the second batch below being the Mine Owner! She was a pistol!
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This huge one is calling for a cuff bracelet, what do you think?
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Below is from the Mine Owner, top grade turquoise! The colours are even more intense in person. The two cabs on the top right are currently reserved for an earring pair:
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MATCHING TURQUOISE AND GEMSTONE PAIRS!
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The pictures below are all of matching turquoise pairs, mines as labeled, all from the fantastic Mr. Jim:
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These are my favourite catch of anything by far. These three matched pairs are all natural, *old stock*, #8 Mine turquoise. These are the tightest webs I’ve ever seen. They are all top grade, smooth, high polished, exquisite little beautes. Ain’t nothing better:
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OTHER GEMSTONE PAIRS~
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From left to right in the picture below, we have: two pairs of NATURAL rounded trillion cut drusy! Perfect for elegant plugs or earrings, especially fitting for events and weddings! Next to them is a pair of oval shaped Mastadon Ivory (which would look nice with wampum beads, non?), and a great pair of lemon chrysoprase.
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Finally we have, from left to right: 

snowflake obsidian, super tall Four Peaks Mine amethyst gemstones, STUNNING square blue chalcedony gemstones, and sweet little red sponge corals (their detail is a little lost in the photo, but they are sponge-patterned)

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Well, that’s all folks! Everything you see is currently up for grabs except the matching Apache Mine cabs. Stay tuned for a Post of newly completed commissions…

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xx Stray Arrow

Preview Pieces for Tuesday’s Shop Update!

Time for a sneak peak! These newbies shall hit the shop Tuesday afternoon…

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A touch of gemmy greenery will embellish the shop with the “Emerald Sweet Heart” ring, featuring a rose cut faceted emerald gemstone and mini silver heart on oxidized sterling band….currently in a size 5, can be sized up to a 6 or “made to order” in your own size!

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And of course, what would an update be without a vast amount of turquoise pieces? The Green Grasses No. 2  ring features a huge stunning green piece from the Crow Springs Mine:

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Another beauty from the Crow Springs Mine features a strange and unusual deeper teal colour: the Ocean Bird Turquoise Ring, with feathered band stampings:

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The White Sands-Buffalo Turquoise Ring features a grand ribbon cut piece of turquoise from…you guessed it! the White Buffalo Mine of Nevada. It reminds me of all the old beach stones I’m sure most of us collected as children…

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In addition to the recent Thunderbird necklace, I’ve added another little guy to the “TOTEM” collection: a turtle! The Turtle Totem necklace features a freeform piece of Kingman Mine turquoise, and to match the cutie pie-a turtle totem ring! The ring has a piece of Royston turquoise as his shell. The ring is a size 6.5, but I will be offering custom turtles with stones of your choosing in your own size once listed on Etsy!

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Little Royston Turquoise Drop Necklaces will also be available in different shaped turquoise stones for simple and classic wear:

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Look for all of these lovelies and a VERY SPECIAL Turquoise Directions Ring this Tuesday in the Stray Arrow Etsy shop!

xx Stray Arrow

Kingman Mine Conquest

That’s right! 64 mini natural Kingman Mine turquoise cabochons are now in my treasure chest. All are currently up for grabs! These tiny sweeties are PERFECT for earrings-gauged or otherwise. I’ve matched up 23 possible pairs. The leftovers can either be matched by you, or used as mini turquoise stackers….BEHOLD:

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A few new goodies will be hitting the main Etsy shop within a day or two!

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xx Stray Arrow

Digit Adornments and New Stones…

Its preview night time! The new goodies below will hit the Etsy shops at various times on Friday…

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First, a ring featuring a beautiful watery variscite from Australia (Not Utah!). The lovely gem features a bubbled white pattern that, when paired with the gold fill bezel, gives off a nice and dreamy tropical feel….

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The bezel has a high polish, while the band remains stamped, patinaed, and sanded for a nice satin flash. 

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Next, another take on the “Dark Water Ring”. This ring is in the same style as the previous Royston Mine Turquoise Dark Water Ring, with a larger stone set in a horizontal oval position. The sterling has been patina darkened, with a polished flash around the bezel to frame the stone. The ring band is stamped with feathers, glazing the surface of dark waters…

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The following are two of my current favourites. I adore green turquoise, and solid green colours are hard to come by! These two lovelies are of a set of 3 green turquoise stone rings that will hit the shop Friday, all in different sizes. First off, the “Turquoise Home” ring, featuring a ribbon cut Royston Mine stone shaped like a house!

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This fatty has a very wide band and is extremely comfy to wear. 

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The second green turquoise ring holds a very high quality stone I have been hoarding for a few years from the Crow Springs Mine. The colour is a very intense grass green, thus the name, “Green Grasses Ring”. The molten rose gold fill droplets on the ring shank and intentional rose fire scale on the ring band combined with the green have me longing for spring….when the weather is still cold before the blooming period sets in…

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With all of this love of turquoise and stones going on, I recently realized all I have been wearing lately are silver bands. Sometimes, all someone wants is a little unique spin on an everyday piece. With that in mind, I’ve started making little cigar band sterling rings. These lovelies are called “Friendship Rings”. Crossed arrows are a symbol of friendship, so these make the perfect gifts  and have a vintage feel to them. Soon available in darkly oxidized or oxidized and sanded patinas. 

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For the Gauged Folk…

Why not spread the vintage inspired love?

Made to order, in any gauge size…

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Of course, more turquoise! These babies are FACETED. YES. THEY ACTUALLY FLASH AND SPARKLE. I am enamoured with these faceted *stabilized* turquoise from Arizona. Currently made in a 0 gauge, I have one more pair of these that can be made into any other size…

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That’s all for now. Coming soon in the near future (in the new year!) we have more turquoise plugs, gemstone plugs, and dangles for tunnels (gagagagold!) on the way.

For the main jewel shop we have turtles, more turquoise drop stackers, and a couple very ornate Romantics line pieces in the works.

Have a grand New Year (if this is the New Years you celebrate). Check back to the Shops Friday!

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xx Stray Arrow

DECEMBER GIVE AWAY!

This month, everyone needs a little reward of their own. For the past year and a half I’ve been doing jewelry and selling via Etsy, trying hard as a one lady business to get my feet off the ground. Through hard work, amazing customers, and sheer dumb luck-I’ve managed to do it. Now its time to share some of my happiness with a lucky customer.

This give away will be from anything purchased from EITHER of my two Etsy shops, from December 1st to December 25th, 2011. It doesn’t matter how many items you purchase or their amount, once you purchase something your name goes into the hat! Literally. On December 26th, I will draw out a name from the hat and contact the winner via Etsy for their shipping address to mail the gift to.

What is the prize you ask? Behold:

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If you recognize this bracelet, its because its been in the works FOR.EVER.

This is a very old piece of mine, and it is still only 80% finished. I still need to re-patina and seal it. When it is finished, it’ll be sent to its new owner who I hope will wear it with affection.

This bracelet will fit a small to medium wrist size. It is all hand made from scratch of sterling and fine silver, patina, and a colorful natural turquoise from the Crow Springs Mine in Nevada,Southwest. The main design is of little dragonflies. This is a $300 value! I most likely will not be doing another giveaway…

Please feel free to email or comment below with any questions

(stasiaarts@yahoo.com)

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GOOD LUCK!

xx Stray Arrow


Royston Conquest in the Treasure Chest….

Isn’t it wonderful how there are always new goodies to share? I’ve recently acquired a vast amount of beautiful, natural, turquoise from the Royston Mine, Southwest…

~Royston Turquoise Mine~

Royston is actually a district that contains 3 different mines in Nevada. Royston mines, along with the Pilot Mountain mine, are known for their extreme color variations. Blues, greens, rusty bronze browns and dark colors spin together with or without matrixes to make these lovely stones look like landscapes. This rare turquoise is still being mined today and continues to be one of the most popular.

***all cabs below are great quality, no pits,

and currently all are up for grabs!***

for extreme stone detail-double click on a picture. please excuse the working hands…

this lovely especially is of very high quality, and features a stunning colouring and patterns:

the darlings below are great for matching (earrings or gauges):

The Royston Mine is similar to the pilot Mountain, Crow Springs/Bluebird, and Ajax Mines in that they all have some serious variation in colours, patterns, and quality. They are all roughly around the same area and the more variation on one stone, the more desired.

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Other new turquoise conquests have led me to matching pairs! These NATURAL BEAUTIES are from the White Buffalo Mine in Tonopah Nevada, and the Nacozari Mine in Sonora, Mexico. The round Nacozari pair would be perfect for any gauges 00 gauge or larger, or just huge statement earrings….all of these pairs are perfect for dangling earrings or hoops, see examples below that are in the GaugedbyStasia Etsy shop,

the White Buffalo hoops have already sold and are being worn with love ❤

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In other news, two new pieces have been added to the Shop today~

a sweet little pair of wampum studs, and a new necklace featuring wampum and Kings Manassa Mine turquoise…

the “West of the Woodlands” necklace

a blending of Woodlands Native (wampum) and Southwestern Native (turquoise)…

~*more jewelry coming next weekend*~

xx StrayArrow

“Low on the Sand, and Loud on the Stone”…

Before I post new work to be added to the Etsy shops tomorrow, and recently completed work,  Etsy has made a few changes to their hosting websites where my shops are. They have recently added the option to change a Shop Name. While my shop for the gauged folks will remain “GaugedbyStasia”, my shop name for my StasiaSalvucci account will now be “TheStrayArrow”, permanently. All bookmarks and URL’s will be forwarded to http://www.TheStrayArrow.Etsy.com

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Tomorrow, in The Stray Arrow shop…

a new addition to the Grave Series, featuring sweet little silver and copper Momento Mori studs:

Also new, an addition to the Stormy Night miniseries in the form of a splendidly fat ring of substantial size and weight, inspired by Alfred Lord Tennyson

This lovely features a square flashly labradorite gemstone flanked by two hand sawed sterling black birds. The back is adorned with a raven and the quote..

“SILENCE FELL WITH THE WAKING BIRD”

from Part 1 of Tennyson’s “Maud; A Monodrama”…

Come into the garden, Maud,
      For the black bat, night, has flown,
Come into the garden, Maud,
      I am here at the gate alone;
And the woodbine spices are wafted abroad,
      And the musk of the rose is blown.
   For a breeze of morning moves,
      And the planet of Love is on high,
Beginning to faint in the light that she loves
      In a bed of daffodil sky,
To faint in the light of the sun she loves,
      To faint in his light, and to die. 
   All night have the roses heard
      The flute, violin, bassoon;
All night has the casement jessamine stirr’d
      To the dancers dancing in tune;
Till a silence fell with the waking bird,
      And a hush with the setting moon.
   I said to the lily, “There is but one
      With whom she has heart to be gay.
When will the dancers leave her alone?
      She is weary of dance and play.”
Now half to the setting moon are gone,
      And half to the rising day;
Low on the sand and loud on the stone
      The last wheel echoes away.
   I said to the rose, “The brief night goes
      In babble and revel and wine.
O young lord-lover, what sighs are those,
      For one that will never be thine?
But mine, but mine,” so I sware to the rose,
      “For ever and ever, mine.”
   And the soul of the rose went into my blood,
      As the music clash’d in the hall;
And long by the garden lake I stood,
      For I heard your rivulet fall
From the lake to the meadow and on to the wood,
      Our wood, that is dearer than all;
   From the meadow your walks have left so sweet
      That whenever a March-wind sighs
He sets the jewel-print of your feet
      In violets blue as your eyes,
To the woody hollows in which we meet
      And the valleys of Paradise.
   The slender acacia would not shake
      One long milk-bloom on the tree;
The white lake-blossom fell into the lake
      As the pimpernel dozed on the lea;
But the rose was awake all night for your sake,
      Knowing your promise to me;
The lilies and roses were all awake,
      They sigh’d for the dawn and thee.
   Queen rose of the rosebud garden of girls,
      Come hither, the dances are done,
In gloss of satin and glimmer of pearls,
      Queen lily and rose in one;
Shine out, little head, sunning over with curls,
      To the flowers, and be their sun.
   There has fallen a splendid tear
      From the passion-flower at the gate.
She is coming, my dove, my dear;
      She is coming, my life, my fate;
The red rose cries, “She is near, she is near;”
      And the white rose weeps, “She is late;”
The larkspur listens, “I hear, I hear;”
      And the lily whispers, “I wait.”
   She is coming, my own, my sweet;
      Were it ever so airy a tread,
My heart would hear her and beat,
      Were it earth in an earthy bed;
My dust would hear her and beat,
      Had I lain for a century dead,
Would start and tremble under her feet,
      And blossom in purple and red
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New to the gauged shop tomorrow…
one pair of 10 gauge faceted rainbow moonstone ornate plugs
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one pair of 4 gauge Stormy Night plugs with black pyrite fool’s gold
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and these:
12 gauge dangles for tunnels that feature a MATCHING PAIR of natural, genuine,
White Buffalo Turquoise
These lovelies have been oxidized, brushed and filed for serious contrast and are a comfortable weight so that they will swing in the most amusing arc, and still not weigh your ears down in the slightest…
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Recently completed is a necklace made with a turquoise I had posted in recent months…
featuring a museum quality webbed piece of natural Pilot Mountain Mine Turquoise, a cabochon of Kings Manassa Mine Turquoise, and four beautifully micro-faceted genuine emeralds…
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check the shops out tomorrow (Wednesday) for new goodies!
xx Stray Arrow

The Fire Still Burns…

Not only do I have new jewelry pieces to share before they hit the Etsy shops on Tuesday, but I also have a short story for you all, which will be at the end of this post….

I have been banging out made to order items and commissions, while at the same time making a few new pieces in time for Samhain (All Hallows Eve/Halloween). As always, silver skulls are aplenty. Now, I am currently working on expanding my “Stormy Night” Black Bird series in the Gauged by Stasia shop. These feature gem and silver plugs with 3D black crows or ravens that spread their wings from the gems. This style will also be on a ring within the next few weeks…

Story Night Part Two. 00 gauge. Larvikite gems.

New to the Jewelery shop are more bronze skull dangles, and a new series…

The new series is “The Grave Series”, based on Old Puritan gravestones in New England. Many of these graves would feature skulls flanked by angel wings at stone headers, with the phrase “Momento Mori”. This is a modern term for R.I.P.=Rest In Peace, and literally means, Remember Your Mortality. This doesn’t have to be interpreted cryptically. Momento Mori could just be a little boost to appreciate all and everything. The Puritan gravestones were all carved by hand back in the day, and each one has a unique (some goofy) expression. Each piece of this new mini series will have its own personality, hopefully you can find one that suites your own….

currently there are one pair of plugs, and this necklace in the series. Coming soon are more plugs, necklaces and rings….

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IN OTHER NEWS:

My artist friend Tory, of Tory Nova Couture,has recently made some new goodies for Halloween as well. These are just too adorable and delectable not to share! Illustrating different skeletons and monsters she has created the perfect quick costume idea: unique and humorous quality pull over masks. These cuties come in kid and adult sizes, perfect to snag you the “coolest grown up” award! These are illustrated 360 degrees…check them out in her ETSY shop : http://www.torynova.etsy.com

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Well folks, I believe its story time…

As I have posted before, “Atsenhaienton” is translated to “The Fire Still Burns” in Mohawk Iroquois. This is the name of a mini jewelry line I had started with a pair of dangles featuring genuine wampum. From these dangles sparked interest, and now one pair of plugs has been made in this style, another is in the works, and talk of a possible Atsenhaienton necklace may come into being.

Each piece of this collection highlights a little shard of a history. Whether it be your own or another’s, histories and mythologies can be how we define ways of life and being and seem to always stay with us.

From this inspiration, I have made a ring based on one of my favourite Iroquois tales (specifically Seneca Iroquois, or Haudenosaunee). Please note that although I am an enthusiast, I am not a scholar or…known for my accurate spelling. The names in this tale are phonetic, and are approximate…

Ga-oh, Spirit of the Winds, chose his aids from the terrestrial because of their knowledge of the earth; and when his reverberating call had ceased its thunderous echoes, he opened his north gate wide across the sky and called Ya-o-gah, the Bear.

Lumbering over the mountains as he pushed them from his path, Ya-o-gah, the bulky bear, who had battled the boisterous winds as he came, took his place at Ga-oh’s gate and waited the mission of his call. Said Ga-oh, “Ya-o-gah, you are strong, you can freeze the waters with your cold breath; in your broad arms you can carry the wild tempests, and clasp the whole earth when I bid you destroy. I will place you in my far north, there to watch the herd of my winter winds when I loose them in the sky. You shall be the North Wind. Enter your home”. And the bear lowered his head for the leash with which Ga-oh bound him, and submissively took his place in the north sky.

In a gentler voice Ga-oh called Ne-o-ga, the Fawn, and a soft breeze as of the summer, crept over the sky; the air grew fragrant with the odor of flowers, and there were voices as of babbling brooks telling the secrets of the summer to the tune of birds, as Ne-o-ga came proudly lifting her head.

Said Ga-oh, “You walk with the summer sun,and know all its paths; you are gentle,and kind as the sunbeam, and will rule my flock of the summer winds in peace. You shall be the South Wind, Bend your head while I leash you to the sky, for you are swift, and might return from me to the earth”. And the gentle fawn followed Ga-oh to his great gate which opens the south sky.

Again, Ga-oh trumpeted a shrill blast, and all the sky seemed threatening; an ugly darkness crept into the clouds that sent them whirling in circles of confusion; a quarrelsome, shrieking voice snarled through the air, and with a sound as of great claws tearing the heavens into rifts, Da-jo-ji, the Panther, sprang to the gate.

Said Ga-oh, “You are ugly and fierce, and can fight the strong storms; you can climb the high mountains,and tear down the forests; you can carry the whirlwind on your strong back, and toss the great sea waves high in the air, and snarl at the tempests if they stray from my gate. You shall be the West Wind. Go to the west sky, where even the Sun will hurry to hide when you howl your warning to the night”. And Da-jo-ji, dragging his leash as he stealthily crept along, followed Ga-oh to the furthermost west sky.

Yet Ga-oh rested not. The earth was flat, and in each of its four corners he must have an assistant. One corner yet remained, and again Ga-oh’s strong blast shook the earth. And there arose a moan like the calling of a lost mate, the sky shivered in a cold rain, the whole earth clouded in mist, a crackling sound as of a great horns crashing through the forest trees dinned the air, and O-yan-do-ne, the Moose, stood stamping his hoofs at the gate.

Said Ga-oh, as he strung a strong leash around his neck, “Your breath blows the mist, and can lead the cold rains; your horns spread wide, and can push back the forests to widen the path for my storms as with your swift hoofs you race with my winds. You shall be the East Wind, and blow your breath to chill the young clouds as they float through the sky”. And, said Ga-oh, as he led him to the east sky, “Here you shall dwell forevermore.”

Thus, with his assistants, does Ga-oh control his storms. And although he must ever remain in his sky lodge, his will is supreme, and his faithful assistants will obey.

All text of this tale was taken verbatim from a version written and translated by Harriet Maxwell Converse (Ya-ie-wa-noh). Converse lived  and studied with Seneca in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s.

This ring is simply made with sterling silver, patina, and a beautiful little round wampum featuring both its purple and white colouring. Four arrows have been stamped to represent the four wind directions. The ring band is stamped with “Atsenhaienton”…

check back to the Etsy shops Tuesday for these new items, and more…

and…coming soon…

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xx Stray Arrow