Artist's Sunday #9: Delicious, Rich, Creamy, Sensual...

...Amber. 

I bet you were expecting something like "lotion" or something foodie-related... but instead today is about Amber.

Amber is a fossil; tree resin (sap) that hardened and fossilized to form the delightful gemstone that ranges in shade from an almost-white cream to a deep brown that is nearly black. There is also Green Amber and Blue Amber, which is the most rare, and found almost exclusively in the Dominican Republic. In fact, blue amber only looks blue in certain light, because of its inclusions. Some of the most desirable pieces have preserved insects or small lizards captured within. Its colors are perfect for harvesttime, blend seamlessly with silver, and go with nearly any other color imaginable. It's the perfect statement accessory, and can be found in so many varieties of color and shape that the possibilities are endless. It is easily carved, polishes beautifully, and even looks gorgeous in the raw! When in the raw, it exudes an oil that is mildly anesthetic, hence its popular usage as a teething remedy, effective for both moms and babies. Essential oils and perfumes can be made from it.

This is, in my opinion, *the* gemstone for autumn. If you've ever seen it or touched it you know what I mean. The colors mirror the changing leaves. The texture is smooth when polished, like a misty autumn day... and it's one of my favorites, if you couldn't tell.

Now, on to the arts!

I have featured this artist before, but these wearable sculptures were too perfect for this edition of Artist's Sunday, so I had to feature another piece:

Hand Carved Wooden Bracelet with Natural Amber by AmberSculpture on deviantART

Amber Phoenix Egg Pendant by fairyfrog on deviantART

Kat French's Amber Spindle by Yonaka-Yamako on deviantART

Amber and Amethyst by kitten-of-woe on deviantART

Amber and Copper Acorn Necklace by AmberLeaves on Etsy

Natural Baltic Amber Bracelet by BalticAmberGiftShop on Etsy

Premium AMBER RESIN 5 Grams Natural Perfume Incense by DewberrysHerbal on Etsy

Genuine Baltic Amber Teething Necklace by AmazingAmberLove on Etsy

Blue Amber Pendant by LarimarAndSilver on Etsy

Until next time...
-your Artful White Fox

Foxfire Daily: Worktable

 Fox's work today: some crystals, a chunk of raw (unpolished) amber, some painted bone bits, an ear cuff, and a delicate little labradorite pendant. Still practicing the basket-weaving technique. Better photos coming, I promise!

And a Wyrmling Interlude... the 2-yr-old decides it's time to practice her color words with Mommy's pens. This is what homeschooling looks like for an artist.

Foxfire Daily: Cut and Shape the Bones

Fox is working on a new Rune set, cut from whitetail deer rib bones. It's a pain in the fuzzy tail when all she has to work with is a hand saw and some detail files, but the bones whisper and sing, and she works until her hands ache and her skin is raw...

She forgets, while she works, sometimes to breathe, or eat, or drink. She communes with her materials and mediums, and they nourish her, body and soul, until she doesn't need anything external to sustain her...

And then when she finishes, and comes back to herself, she realizes she's ravenous, and thirsty, and aching... but it was so worth it.

And as a bonus: a 10-song excerpt from Fox's Muse Playlist, as she works with the bones today: 
The Root of All Evil by Abney Park
Berlin by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Blue Alice by Ayria
Anthem of Our Dying Day by Story of the Year
Joy by VNV Nation
Black Sheep by Metric
Skin is Burning by Burlap to Cashmere
The Wrath of Fate by Abney Park
The Living Daylights by a-Ha
Savin' Me by Nickelback.

New Directions - update (again)

Got the supplies for the FDA samples and the initial batches today. So progress will be made shortly, and the donator (Fox loves her wicked stepmother) will be getting her first free samples soon.

The rest of you still have time to donate and get your own free samples too :) There are four donation listings up on Etsy - you can see them on the widget to the side, or better yet go look at them directly.  The donation increments are $20, $50, $75, and $100.  If you would like to donate a different amount, let me know and I can put a custom listing up for you.

Here's to the future...
Blessings,
White Fox

New Directions - Update

So after some research, it turns out that the Studio will need to meet two startup cost requirements. First is the initial sample batch for FDA testing and showing to businesses. Second is the full materials and tools cost.

Our first expense - the sample batch - is going to cost us around $120.00 US. This need has been met.

Second expense - the full materials + tools startup costs - will be around $1600. Little more to deal with.

Why is this being posted here?  Well, it's simple.  The Studio is making an offer to anyone who wants to donate a little to help us get started.  We will offer free sample portions of anything we make, excluding jewelry or other similar items, for up to a year after our startup date, to anyone donating a minimum of $20.00 US. 

If you are interested in making a donation, there are a few different ways for you to do so.  There will be a listing up on Etsy with "donation" in the title; you can send us a check or cash (we can give you an address upon request).  If you'd like to discuss a different option, let us know.  If you would like to make a donation through Etsy for an amount different than the one listed, we can create a custom donation listing.

Consider this an investment in a local small business, as well as your own stress relief future.

New Directions

The new addition to our family has started us thinking in new ways as far as the Studio is concerned.  Metalworking and Jewelsmithing are our passions, but there isn't much money to be made these days in those particular fields, in large part because neither of us have the training or tools (especially the tools) to make it worthwhile now.

So! There is a field in which we both have experience and knowledge and skill enough to work together on it and make it work now.  What is this field, you ask?

Handmade Artisan Aromatherapeutics.

Excuse me, what?  You know - bath salts, herb sachets, scrubs, massage oils, body butters, scented candles, soaps, incense, lotions... also teas, herbed culinary salts, cooking oils, and spice blends.  These are products we had planned to eventually expand to, but we thought, why not start with those instead!?  Dragon has taken courses in massage therapy and he was a professional chef for several years; Fox has 3 years of college under her belt for alternative therapies, including the use of herbs and scents in a therapeutic setting.  You'd think it would have occurred to us months ago!

However, we wanted to get our friends' and families' opinions first (and see who might just be interested in being among our first customers).  Some of you are familiar with the things Fox has made before - some teas, bath salts and sachets, incense.  How does it sound to have those available as a matter of course?  Thus the inauguration of (drumroll):

Twinflame Studios Handmade Artisan Aromatheraputics: affordable home luxury from the bath to the kitchen and everything in between, made using wholesome and wholistic Organic, Wildcrafted, and/or Fair Trade ingredients, per availability.

As a basic plan, we will probably start with bath salts and sachets, incense, massage oils, and teas, and expand from there.  For example - we'll offer two sizes of bath salt jars: a single-bath sample size for $5 and say, a 7-bath size priced from $20 to $50 depending on what goes into it.  In fact, everything will probably be sold the same way - a small sample packet and a larger "bulk" amount.  It simplifies things for us and for our customers :)

In point of fact, we are already taking orders for bath salts! 

And don't worry! Fox's jewelry will still be available in the Etsy store and she will NOT cease to create it!  This is an effort to have product that's easier on the pocket for ourselves and for customers these days.  We can all use a little luxury in the face of national economic problems, and what better way to do that than to spoil yourself a little and take a moment to breathe in something good for you?  Twinflame Studios' Handmade Artisan Aromatheraputics. 

Studio News: Life Surprises Everyone

So, right on the heels of managing to pull old jewelry and materials stock out of storage (thanks to an old wolf), the Studio may (read: probably, unless something drastic happens) have to move in the next couple weeks, a month at the most. We are still exploring options but this is how it stands as of this moment:

First, we don't have rent money.  Trying to scrape one more month's worth together but not sure yet how that's going to turn out.

Second, not sure how long the landlady will tolerate us being here without rent.  How long before we have to bug out? Who knows.

Third, if and when we do have to move, it will be states away back to North Carolina, in with Dragon's folks until we can get our own place again.  Dragon has a job waiting for him (probably) should this be the case... The worst part of it is that Fox will be away from her 2 girls for an as-yet unknown amount of time....

Shop details: on a happy note, this move will be a little less complicated than the last 3, and we will still have our materials and most of our tools within easy reach rather than in storage, so if/when the move occurs, the Studio should be able to set up shop again fairly quickly.

More updates as we get them...
Thoughts, prayers, etc appreciated
Wish us well
Fox&Dragon

Fox and Dragon's blog: Handmade jewelry and other crafts.

Also on Facebook, Pinterest, deviantART, and Etsy for convenient access. Photos of our work can be found on Facebook and deviantART. Purchasable items can be found on Etsy. Also see links at the top of the sidebar. Please visit our various and sundry pages, add us, and tell your friends and family!

We use whatever mediums happen to be at hand.  Fox prefers gemstones, antler, bone and metals, but has been known to try her hand at sculpture with polymer clay, and the occasional bit of wood or leather work.  Dragon will put his hand to whatever strikes his fancy next, though he has done a little of everything from wire pendants to metalsmithing and woodworking.  His latest - polyclay and bonecarving.

What's upcoming in the Studio's plans? We'll be exploring our own lives in sculpture and carving, with items such as offering bowls, wands, prayer beads, jewelry, spiritually inspired art... and whatever else strikes our fancy.