So here's that cuff I've been going on about, the one with the cracked stone. It is all heavy sterling with a matte picture jasper (foreground) and a fossil tree fern cab behind it, both Gary B. Wilson stones. I am extremely happy with the way it turned out; it's getting to the core of the Desert Primitive aesthetic I've been reaching towards for some time now. I took my time with all of the elements and ensured that they're all balanced and integrated. For years now I've been looking at stone and primitive ceramic surfaces, in particular those Anagama-fired pieces with the fly ash deposits and deeply encrusted surfaces. This is finally getting there.
The only flaw is that I should have used heavier silver in the backing for the stone's bezels. I was afraid it would make an already heavy bracelet even heavier, but the price I paid was having the picture jasper crack between the tab and opposite side. I've repaired it according to a professional recommendation and it looks and feels fine, but I am a bit leery of selling this piece due to the potential for further breakage.
If I were to put it up for sale it would be well over $500...there's a lot of time and heavy silver in it. But the truth is I have become attached to it and want to hang onto it for a while to use as a touchstone for further pieces...and they will come. I would love to hear any feedback you might have and if a piece like this would interest you.
Today I worked on carving some new desert Archaic style petroglyph stamps for my boxes and so on. I looked at the DIY rubber stamp kits and they seemed very high-tech and toxic to me, but one day at the art supply I stumbled on some rubbery printing block material that you can carve, and have been having luck with that, and it may last longer that those jelly-like clear rubber stamps. You've probably already seen the first ones, the large and small spirals. I've pulled out my rock art books--must have two dozen of them now--and am finding a lot of ideas.
More to come...I'm off to work on a new listing...