Artisans: Copper with a Southwest Flavor - "Fishes in the Garden"

Forum: Artisans Replies: 40, Views: 386 Print -

Author Content UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 09:44 PM Post #2969323 A fellow DGer requested that Connie and I create a copper garden sculpture with a "Southwest Flavor". Her birthday is in January, so we incorporated stones for her birthstone and her zodiac sign into the sculpture. Connie and I thought and thought about it. We googled Southwest. We googled Native American. We googled anything that we could think of with a "Southwest Flavor". We decided to try and make a Native American Lady for her garden. We've taken the liberty to name her "Fishes in the Garden". We didn't take photos while creating this sculpture, but would like to share with you all the finished sculpture. I will be mailing her tomorrow morning, if the Good Lord's Willing and the creeks don't rise. :-) I'll tell you more about her as I post the photos, so please be patient and I'll let you know when I get to the end. Janet UniQue Treasures Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 09:47 PM Post #2969334 Fishes in the Garden Malachite was used on the fringe of her blanket and her necklace. Malachite has long been prized in many cultures as a powerful healing stone. It was once believed that a piece of malachite worn on the body would break into pieces to warn the wearer of impending danger. As with many green stones, malachite is associated with wealth and is thought to bring brilliant success and happiness in every circumstance of life. Malachite is worn as a protective amulet from evil spirits and symbolizes creativity and change. Malachite is found in many locations around the world. There is an interrelation between certain constellations (the zodiac signs) and gemstones. Malachite is associated with Capricorn and Aquarius. Garnet was also used in her jewelry. Garnet brings constancy and fidelity to relationships. It bestows cheerfulness and combats depression and lethargy and ill thoughts. This stone of passion stimulates the sexual drive. It gives energy and courage, and it enhances the imagination. It also offers protection to the traveler. It should be carried or worn close to the body. Garnet is associated with Scorpio, Sagittarius and Aquarius. Carnelian was used for her arms and legs. Carnelians are traditionally associated with courage. Some believe that carnelians can help dispel sadness and fears, and help people achieve a positive outlook. It is also supposed to dispel envy and rage. The stone was sometimes used as a charm to prevent wicked sorcerers from reading one's mind. Carnelians are also associated with sexual appetite, especially in men, and are traditionally used in charms for love and seduction. It strengthens courage and helps timid speakers become eloquent and confident. Carnelian gives contentment and friendship and promotes astral vision. It is a legendary stone of good luck and helps overcome anger and establish self-control. Carnelian is symbolic of the warm, vitalizing and positive energy of the earth. It is a good grounding and anchoring stone. Many believe that it creates a bond with man and nature. Click the image for an enlarged view. pepper23 KC Metro area, MO (Zone 5b) December 04, 2006 09:48 PM Post #2969338 Love it!!!!!!!! UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 09:49 PM Post #2969341 You can see the Carnelian beads in this photo. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 09:51 PM Post #2969348 Here's a closer shot of her necklace. We tried to use things that Fishes in the Garden might have used, if she was the one making her jewelry and clothing. The shell bead reminds me of a fish head. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 09:54 PM Post #2969363 I chose Chevron beads for her eyes. The white "nose" was the closest thing I could find with a good nose shape. :-) Connie made the beautiful copper feathers for her hair. She had to have some beads in her hair also. Originally, we weren't going to "turn loose of her hair". Then we decided that by doing so, it would give her more dimension. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 09:56 PM Post #2969371 Connie made her a beautiful blanket to wear, as a shawl. We wanted it to drape over her dress and that copper worked beautifully. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 09:58 PM Post #2969377 I added the small brown seed beeds and the malachite to the bottom of it for fringe. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 09:59 PM Post #2969382 Connie drew this handprint on the back of the blanket. The handprint, found on the back of the blanket, was a signature of the maker of a symbol and a prayer to the Spirits to bring about the object that was drawn such as clouds for rain. The handprint had supernatural importance. The handprint is a symbol of a human's life, achievements and legacy, the creative spirit, channeled energy. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:00 PM Post #2969389 The Back View Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:02 PM Post #2969393 I didn't get any good outside photos of the bottom of her dress. We wanted it to look like an animal skin. Connie took this one last night. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:04 PM Post #2969401 We made her some mocassins. Oh they were so much fun to make. You all should have seen our grins for over an hour as they "came to life". I'm sure we looked like idiots! HAHAHAHA Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:07 PM Post #2969403 She's holding 3 fish in her left hand, which also holds the blanket to her body. Looks like a mighty fine dinner to me! This is the inspiration for her name. "Fishes in the Garden" Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:08 PM Post #2969409 We added a few more fish and some feathers to the garden stake that will hold the sculpture in the garden, and engraved her name on the feathers. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:10 PM Post #2969416 And so, There you have it... Fishes in the Garden Janet & Connie Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:11 PM Post #2969445 Another shot of her, without the greenery around her. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:12 PM Post #2969447 Happy Birthday Anita! Click the image for an enlarged view. maidentheshade Beaumont, TX December 04, 2006 10:15 PM Post #2969496 :^D Might I add that she had a tad of movement. Her mocassin's wiggle in the wind and the fishes on the feathers sway with the breeze as does her right arm . Pics turned out great Janet! UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:17 PM Post #2969499 That's the end of the photos. We hope you all like her as much as we do. Click the image for an enlarged view. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:19 PM Post #2969505 Doggoneit, I knew I was forgetting something. Thanks Connie for mentioning that. I was extremely pleased with the photos. Only had to ditch 3 out of about 20. Some were duplicates so I didn't post those. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 10:22 PM Post #2969518 One more thing... Those fish came from a necklace I bought many years ago. I didn't like the necklace, but loved those fish. They are made of a substance like terra cotta. Not positive about the materials. balvenie Marysville, WA (Zone 7a) December 04, 2006 10:53 PM Post #2969590 Beautiful !!!! You two are amazing. This piece is as exciting as Penelope and that neat Golfer. Keep up the good work. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 04, 2006 11:17 PM Post #2969646 Thanks Pepper and Balvenie. We really had a good time working on this one. It was very cold in Connie's shop the night we began working on her. We didn't stop until almost midnight that night. She was about 90% complete at that point. One thing just led to another. As usual, the plans for her were within our heads, so she was a work in progress from start to finish. We have 2 more golfers to make in the near future. Christmas is coming and we still need to make one for each of ourselves. I'd also like to make something for my husband for Christmas with a hunting theme. We'll post photos of the sculptures when they are finished. azreno Mesa, AZ (Zone 9b) December 05, 2006 06:52 AM Post #2970109 That was really fast! She's pretty cool you guys. zenpotter Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) December 05, 2006 08:30 AM Post #2970299 Wow, how tall is she? cach357 Fairhope, AL (Zone 8b) December 05, 2006 09:25 AM Post #2970452 Janet, Love it! - you really nailed the southwest flavor, right down to the turquoise. I definately think southwest when I look at her. Great job! Amy UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 05, 2006 10:27 AM Post #2970585 Thanks folks! Neither Connie nor I were very familiar with the Southwest, other than the stereotypical thoughts of cactus and baying at the moon dogs, so this was especially challenging to us. There's nothing quite like a challenge to bring out the best in the two of us. :-) Zen, She's already boxed up to be mailed and I didn't measure her. I'd estimate that the sculpture is approximately 15 inches tall. She is inserted on a 24" garden stake making her overall height about 35-40". Janet grampapa Wheatfield, NY (Zone 6a) December 05, 2006 01:27 PM Post #2971071 Another sisters success, you guys. no challenge too big or too small. she's wonderful! gram GD_Rankin San Antonio, TX (Zone 9a) December 05, 2006 08:07 PM Post #2972159 Very nice ladies :) Love the details and the whole *feel* of this one :) :) zenpotter Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4b) December 06, 2006 09:19 AM Post #2973444 Janet, thank you that gives me the general idea. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 06, 2006 01:18 PM Post #2974235 Thanks everyone! We really like the "feel" of it also GD. Wouldn't ya know it... I was up in the attic, trying to find my Christmas tree skirt and I ran across a box labeled "Dream Catcher Stuff". Many years ago, my oldest daughter, Jennifer started making dream catchers. I found all kinds of "paraphanelia" in that box this morning that would have been perfect to use for our sculpture. I guess we'll just have to make another one. Connie... do ya think James would like a Native American Sculpture for Christmas??? tango88 Tomball, TX December 11, 2006 05:43 PM Post #2990865 Well Guys --- You've done it again. Simply wonderful! And so very much more appealling than all those worn out howling coyote & Kokopeli things. And the Mocs are just way too cool. Keep it up and do have a wonderful Holiday Season. All my best --- Tango UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) December 11, 2006 05:55 PM Post #2990898 Thanks Tango! We tried our best to "be different", cuz that's what we're good at. :-) We do love those Mocassins. Wish they'd fit something besides my little toe! HAHAHA Hoping you have the merriest of Christmases! WayBigO hugs! Janet imapigeon Gilroy (Sunset Z14), CA (Zone 9a) January 14, 2007 07:51 PM Post #3084440 LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing! Silly_Sane January 14, 2007 08:03 PM Post #3084487 what talent! & really cute! UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) January 14, 2007 08:10 PM Post #3084509 Thank you Ima! We appreciate your taking the time to check it out. I've been working on a website for us. Having to learn the program has been time consuming for me. But I'm sure it will be time well spent (in the long run). I'll post a link in the forum when I am ready to go live with it. I'll be depending on honest opinions about it. There's much nit picking and administrative "stuff" still to be done, so that's a ways away. I had a glimpse of an idea (in the back of my mind) the other day for my own sculpture. I thought it would be cool to have a dragon that moved (think - like an inch worm would with a jointed body) and have my 3 grandbabies riding on it. It would be really cool to have flames coming out of his mouth... but that might be asking a bit much. Then again... {wriggling eyebrows here} I read a book recently where this guy was fascinated with a dragon at the end of a bannister that was hooked up to a gas outlet. When you moved his tail, flame came out of his mouth. I've thought about that in my mind several times in the past few weeks. If Jude Devereaux can think up something like that, we can surely accomplish this! HAHAHAHA UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) January 14, 2007 08:12 PM Post #3084518 Thanks Silly Sane! You were typing the same time I was. We really had a blast making that sculpture. Connie and I have been busy getting ready for a freeze in the next day or two. We've been building a greenhouse... OK Connie's been building it and I've been really good at getting in the way and nit picking it. {evil grin} I'll find a link to it so you all can see how truly talented Connie is. I wanna be JUST like her whenever I grow up... if I ever do! HAHAHA Janet UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) January 14, 2007 08:15 PM Post #3084533 http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/671593/ is the link to Connie's Greenhouse. She had a wild hair less than 2 months ago and it's already got plants in it. Incredibly beautiful greenhouse, if I do say so myself. Janet pepper23 KC Metro area, MO (Zone 5b) January 14, 2007 09:38 PM Post #3084816 You grow up??? NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Connie's greenhouse!! She can come up here and build me one anytime. LOL. UniQueTreasures Beaumont, TX (Zone 8b) January 14, 2007 10:05 PM Post #3084916 LOL Pepper You're right. What wuz I thinkin'? As for the next greenhouse...You'll have to get in line. If she's gonna build any more of them, I live closer! HAHAHA A thought popped into my head today that the GH would be an awesome place to create our sculptures. Then I thought about the soot from the welding torch. POOF There went THAT thought! HA pepper23 KC Metro area, MO (Zone 5b) January 14, 2007 10:10 PM Post #3084936 LOL

You cannot post until you register, login and subscribe.

Other Artisans Threads you might be interested in:

Subject Thread Starter Replies Last Post My mother's art Dinu 32 Sep 21, 2009 12:35 AM Welcome to the new Arts forum! Terry 76 Oct 20, 2009 1:08 PM Georgia Swampland ....from my watercolor quick sketch pad Eufaula 14 Sep 9, 2008 8:37 AM Frisket Illustrated GD_Rankin 14 May 14, 2009 3:19 PM Sculpted Concrete tango88 37 Dec 23, 2008 10:26 PM