Contrary..................

I am Contrary....Fact! My favourite word is Contrary..... Kon-trar-ee. I like being Contrary.

 There is a long line of Contrary woman in my Family.............

Personally I think that it is not a personality flaw.....

The word comes from Native Americans...

A Contrary was a member of a Native American tribal group in North America who adopted behavior that was deliberately the opposite of other tribal members....wikipedia.

There is nothing wrong with delibrately going against the flow....or for being different. ...............

It got me thinking about being delibrately opposite....dancing to the beat of a different drum and forging your own path in life, and how I could develop this concept in my jewellery.....???????

Another of my favourite words is Juxtaposition......To delilberately put together two different things to compare or contrast............................................................

These two words are my new guidlines for making my jewellery....................

JUXTAPOSITION

&

CONTRARY

Sounds nice doesn't it?

'''''''''A piece of Contrary Jewellery By Louise O'Dwyer....where she places stones and silver in Juxtaposition to each other.......HEE hEE hhheee!'''''''''''''  This is really tickling my funny bone.

The following are some new stones in my collection that I intend to contrast with my darkened,  rough silver and organic forms............

Swizz Blue Topaz

Pink Topaz

Citrine

Peridot

Peridot 6mm

Garnet....................

Are you getting my idea now????

I am going to make a range where these pristinely cut, wonderfully colourful, sparkling high quality gems are contrasted and 'Juxtaposed' with oxidized silver and organic flowers, in a wonderfully CONTRARY way  :-)

Don't hate me because my shoes are Purdy!!!!

Doing my daugtherly duty, I accompanied my Mother to the Hospital for a check up.  Because we were a little early we popped into TK MAXX .

I adore and love bargain shopping so it was with a tummy flutter and big smile that I skipped in.

The first section that I ran over to was the Shoes!

I need new shoes!

And boy did I get some bargains.

The first was a pair of black leather, knee high boots, with lovely details on the front and were oh-so-comfortable!

 

 

Would you believe that these were a recession bustin' 21 euro!  Thats around $30 U.S dollars. Flippin' hell!

The second pair that I spied in my size was a pair of Shoe-boots from POSH  Shop Osprey London

I was in near state of feverish excitement when I found these for..........18 euro ($27/28 dollars!!!)

I had forgotten what a rush retail therapy was....and just had to share my excitement with you my friends.  I will be the most elegantly shod filly in the stables!

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and because this is meant to be a jewellery blog I thought I'd throw in some freshly made goods from the attic.....

 

 

A Pink Tourmaline ring in an Art nouveau inspired setting.  Custom order.

 

Blue  Chalcedony, Sterling silver flower ring!  In my shop.

Chrysoprase set on a patterned band....custom order.

And finally....a set of three 'Fat bangles'  These were a custom order, but are also available in my shop to buy.

XXX

Welcome back!

• Firstly I would like to welcome my Muse and my Mojo back. They ran off to Tijuana in Mexico to try and get some sun into their bones and rediscover some of their Zest. It was only when they arrived home that they realised that all their passion and inspiration comes from being around people that you love, and a place where your roots dig deep in the dark soil.

Speaking of deep dark soil. Autumn has taken hold with a vengence. Ireland has a temperate climate so the seasons kind of 'melt' into each other. But the garden is decaying wonderfully and is providing inspiration that knows no bounds....
There is something terribly poetic about the dying of nature, and it is suiting my sombre mood.

 

We haven't had a frost yet though.....so there are still some tender patches of colour.

Where the 'ever optimistic' nature is not giving up hope.

And of course the ever-present rain keeps everything smelling sweet and and shiny and slick.....

 

My work in the studio has been invigorated  and the results are starting to trickle in the shop.

Bracelets Galore!

and a custom order.................

Those of you who have spoken to me about custom orders....I'm sorry about the delay.  Poor little Ru hasn't been well the last week or so....and my Mother, who is the backbone of my jewellery enterprise and provides the support that I need to create (eg. minding the children, grocery shopping etc.)..is also sick with an ear/throat infection.  So life has become a serious juggling act.....a few balls have been dropped the last few days, but I hope to be back on schedule by the weekend.

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And finally.....(as if I haven't covered enough topics !!!)

Thank you all for your kind wishes on my Birthday.  I was wonderfully spoiled,  and made a fuss of.

Birthday bouquet (can you see the little fun ladybird?  adorable, right?)

Because of the resident babysitter being sick.  My birthday dinner has been postponed until next weekend.  So I still have this to look forward to.

Lucky Me!

As pooh bear says......ta ta for now!

Mojo?.......................................

I think I've lost my Mojo.

Has anyone seen it?

If so, please return to its original owner.

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On a happier note my 'Blackcurrant Garnet Earrings' have made it to the front page of Etsy!

Its ALWAYS a thrill to see your items on the front page.....thank you eparent. xxx

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I'm off now to make Chicken Fajitas for dinner.  Its the family's favourite dinner (and a really sneaky way for me to get loads of vegetables into the kids without them realising!!!)

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Keep an eye out for my Mojo please?

Flower Fairy House and Home Magazine.................................................................................................

If youve ever wondered what my industrious Fairy's home at the bottom of my garden looks like????

Well there it is.....photographs taken yesterday courtesy of 'Fairy House and Home Magazine'

(They were doing a feature on her 'Eco Chic' abode.)

The light coloured toadstool (to the front) is her house and the darker, smaller one to the back is her Studio/workshop.

She harnesses 'green' energy...the cap  of  her toadstool is a solar-panel and all electricity is provided by 'windpower'.

Isn't it nice to see where your Flower Fairy Earrings are made?

xxx.

The 'Millicent' turquoise pendant

Irish people have a special place in their heart for America.  It has long been the land that we look to for hope, dreams, fortune and adventure. A quarter of the Irish population died or emigrated during the Great Famine ,
(1842-1852)
most went to America where the land of opportunity became a saviour to many.

Therefore it is not surprising that we here in this little small Island on the Edge of the Atlantic has had a romantic love affair with everything American since.

*****

I am currantly reading a wonderful book....a tiny part of American Social history....the story of Millicent Rogers.

Millicent Rogers Collected a vast collection of Native American Silver work During her lifetime, and her collection is housed in 'The Millicent Rogers'  museum in Taos, New Mexico.

This book has given me inspiration, visual and spiritual..... ideas for designs......knowledge about how silversmithing has evolved, a renewed passion for Turquoise.....an interest in the plight of the Native Americans and hours of gazing on beautiful pictures of objects that I  can dream and imagine about.

'Millicent Rogers in a Charles James linen Blouse, a Russian Brooch, modern rings with Native American Turquoise and silver bracelets.  Harper's Bazaar, 1948.'

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My admiration of the Woman and her amazing collection inspired me to create...The Millicent Pendant.....a homage to vintage native american work.

One of the most touching passages in the book was a letter that she wrote to her Son Paulie, towards the end of her life .................

Darling Paulie,

Did I ever tell you about the feeling I had a little while ago?  Suddenly passing Taos Mountain I felt that I was part of the Earth, so that I felt the Sun on my Surface and the rain.  I felt the stars and the growth of the Moon, under me, rivers ran. And against me were the tides.  The waters of rain sank into me. And I thought that if I stretched out my hands they would be Earth and green would grow from me.  And I knew that there was no reason to be lonely that one was everything, and Death was as easy as the rising sun and as calm and natural - that to be enfolded in Earth was not an end but part of oneself,  part of everyday and night that we lived, so that Being part of the Earth one was never alone. And all fear went out of me - with a great, good stillness and strength

What a beautiful passage............................it brought a lump to my throat.

The letter continues..........

Life is absolutely beautiful if one will disassociate oneself from noise and talk and live it according to one's inner light.  Don't fool yourself more than you can help.  Do what you want - do what you want knowingly.  Anger is a curtain that people pull down over life so that they only see it dimly - missing all the savor, the instincts - the delight - they feel safe only when they can down someone.        'Fine Indian Jewelry of the Southwest......The Millicent Rogers Museum Collection....Shelby J. Tisdale.

This strong lady is my new heroine!

Who knew that silver would become such a journey for me?

Work and randomness...........

 

 

 

All custom orders........

A itty bitty ladybird from my garden.

I feel an idea for a pair of ladybird earrings fermenting in my brain!