Angel Wings - Remembering Mom ~ ♥ ~

Rosary for Mom - May 21, 2011

I feel like I have come back around to "me" in my art. These pieces are truly calDESIGN Natural pieces... made from nature, with specific person(s) in mind, and the ability to pour my soul into the pieces.

Last year at this time I was working to finish a Rosary I started for my Mom. I had to keep my hands busy while my mind was spinning at the fact that we were losing her. Tomorrow (May 21, 2012) it will be 1 year to the day that Mom passed away.  

A Fine Silver Painted Leaf

At the end of April 2012 we had a "Create a Fine Silver Leaf" class at the Memphis Botanic Garden. I have done this a number of times but love the camaraderie of the people there so I signed up again. From the selection of leaves that we had to pick from one was called an "Angel Wing" and it hit me. I knew what I wanted to do. My heart was aiming at creating a necklace for my sister and something for my Dad from the Angel Wing leaves as a remembrance of my Mom...

I painted the fine silver metal clay paste in many layers over the two leaves and they fired out to fantastic, completely Fine Silver (.999) versions of the leaf - perfect little Angel Wings.

Angel Wing Begonia

I came home expecting to put them on chains and then it hit me...I have a pair of Mom's birthstone earrings that she use to wear - OFTEN. I took the Topaz stone out of the gold settings and added a fine silver prong setting to the wings, refired, patina'd to bring out the texture even more, tumbled to work harden and shine, and then set Mom's Topaz stones into each leaf.

Add some sterling silver rope chain and a logo leaf to my sister's smaller Angel Wing, some heavier chain (the logo leaf hangs on the back of it ... Dad looks for that logo! ;o)) and a book mark to Dad's Angel Wing and you have two pieces that bring me back to my roots. Creating pieces from nature, for loved ones - with the added benefit of being a remembrance piece I think they will both enjoy.

Angel Wings... Remembering Mom

(Note... if Dad decides he wants to hang his somewhere other than on the book mark, I left the lobster claw on the chain so it could easily be removed.)

~ ♥ ~ We miss you Mom - It's been over a year since we've been able to hear your voice but know that we love you and you will never be forgotten. ~ ♥ ~