Friday, November 20, 2009

Guadeloupe

OUR LADY...  
The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is often read as a coded image. Miguel Sanchez, the author of the 1648 tract Imagen de la Virgen María, described the Virgin's image as the Woman of the Apocalypse.  "Arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars."  

Our Lady spoke to Saint Juan Diego in 1531, and said: 

 "Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you: let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?" 

~To Our Lady Dark Yet Fair~ 

O hail, thou Virgen de Guadalupe! Unfailing refuge, our solace in days of grief, Radiant Queen so kind, our Mother of sweet relief ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! Lovely Maid, fairest star above the sea! Advocate e'er gracious of clemency and love, Deign to listen to our pleas, O mother above ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
 Yea, O Lady of Guadalupe; O meek and gentlest One, take heed to our groaning; For oft we stumble and raise to thee our moaning ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! Golden gate of heav'n, thou radiant portal; Unstained by sin, blissful queen of heav'n and earth, Aid me that I may love Him whom you did give birth ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! Daughter of God, thou queen of royalty, Ave Maria! With joyful hearts we hail thee! Look on us so kindly, O Blessed Virgin Mary! ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! Unfailing refuge and sweetest Mother; Pearl of grace so fair, fail not thine children to care, E'er our sweetest Advocate who did God once bear ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! -- Jeong-Bo Shim

Jeong-Bo is a thirteen year old boy who lives with his family in Corvallis, Oregon. 
 

THIS PIECE... 

This pendant is REALLY exceptional. It's a beautiful rendering of
 Our Lady of Guadeloupe in a petit silver metal frame. It's a really colorful and detailed image, and whether you like it for it's kitsch value or it's Catholicism it's hard to not like the beautiful aesthetic qualities of this charm. it can be made into a necklace if preferred... Just let me know when you order it.  I love Guadeloupe on many levels, a penchant for saints angels and their renderings aside I truly believe she has been with me for a long time - coming in and out of my life at different times and pointing the way... helping me along the path if you will. Her glorious image is something I've always connected with.  When I met the love of my life he told me how at his place of work there was a beautiful painting of her and a plaque that quoted the words Our Lady spoke to Saint Juan Diego in 1531. 

I thought this was a beautiful statement and as it turned out our paths had crossed before at an earlier time before we met under this same painting. I am not a religious person, but this saint has definitely been watching over me and my love. I hope this piece brings you joy. 

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Rock Out With Your Lock Out


~ NeVeR MiNd ThE BoLLocKs... HeRe'S ThE LoCKET~

ThIs PiEcE...

Was inspired by the glorious Sid Vicious. As a High School Student growing up on the L.E.S. of NYC I was completely dedicated to the 1970's punk movement. We spent class periods in the girls room smoking cigarettes and singing "God Save the Queen," drawing anarchy symbols on your locker, and curling our lips to look like Sid & Johnny.

People like Sid Vicious, Johnny Rotten, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Joe Strummer, and Joey Ramone were all my heroes. When I met Patti Smith years later I said "Thank you... you made High School better."

I still very much love the Punk Rock movement and keep it in my heart... even though I'd probably hesitate to let some guy with a Mohawk pierce my lip with a safety pin at C Squat. Perhaps I'm getting soft.

I made this piece in fond remembrance of that time and sometimes I just want to 'rock out with my lock out.' It a metal lock, which hangs on a delicate metal chain. the lock has petit stones in it, "diamond-like" Kind of Punk Princess style I guess. It can be worn as a bracelet or a necklace -- Just tell me which you would prefer and I'll make it any way you like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bmBYRrHpJc


A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH SID VICIOUS

Interview by ROBERTA BAYLEY

{The Sex Pistols American tour ended at Winterland in San Francisco, January14, 1978. Two days later the band had officially broken up. On January 20, Sid Vicious boarded a plane for London via New York. He passed out en route, an apparent drug overdose, and was taken unconscious to Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York. The biggest blizzard of the year had immobilized New York, so we spoke to Sid that night over the phone. He sounded very weak, but anxious to talk. He was lonely and bored.}

Sid: Hello.

Roberta: Hello, Sid?

Sid: Hello.

Roberta: Sid?

Sid: Yeah?

Roberta: This is Roberta.

Sid: Oh yeah, I remember…will you come visit me in Hospital?

Roberta: I would but it’s snowing.

Sid: Oh.

Roberta: I don’t have a car and you can’t go on the trains.

Sid: I’m lonely.

Roberta: We’re gonna come tomorrow. Do you think you’ll still be in tomorrow?

Sid: I’m supposed to be going back to London tomorrow.

Roberta: How are you feeling?

Sid: Weak.

Roberta: Nobody’s been up to see you or anything?

Sid: No.

Roberta: It’s so miserable outside. I guess you can see it on television.

Sid: Yeah, I’m just sitting here on my own.

Roberta: How long you been in there - just last night?

Sid: Umm, yeah.

Roberta: What happened to everybody else? Who was on the plane with you?

Sid: Boogie. (Soundman for the Sex Pistols) What happened was, I done 80 milligrams of methadone, right? And when you get - and about 6 or 7 valiums -- and when you get high in the air it has a much greater effect on you than it does when you’re on the ground. You know you get pissed a lot quicker in the air.

Roberta: Yeah, you get drunk faster.

Sid: So, that’s what happened...I wouldn’t expect anyone to go on a train all this way just to see me anyway.

Roberta: Do you have a TV at least?

Sid: Yeah. What I could do with would be something to read.

Roberta: Yeah, magazines or something, huh?

Sid: What I really want is like a very very large pile of Marvel comics.

Roberta: I’ve got some great comic books.

Sid: Yeah, so do I, but Boogie’s got them, the asshole.

Roberta: You don’t have any way to get in touch with him?

Sid: No. He said he’d call me later today, but he hasn’t bothered. And he won’t be bothering either. He’s a cunt.

Roberta: Well, what happened with this group of yours anyway?

Sid: I left them.

Roberta: Yeah, it seems like everybody left them.

Sid: Well. I don’t think anybody really wanted to continue, but no one had the guts to actually say it. So I just phoned John up and told him what I thought of him and where I thought he was at and ummm...I mean I still think I’m pretty good. I think I was better than any of the others.

Roberta: But what do Steve and Paul want to do?

Sid: I don’t know. They’ll probably try and get another band together and fail. John’s completely finished.

Roberta: That seems to be the general consensus.

Sid: (Cheerfully) Does it?

Roberta: Well, everybody’s just saying well what can he do now and nobody can figure out anything that he can do.

Sid: Yeah, right and he’s finished as a person as well. He’s just not what he used to be.

Roberta: Well, maybe this will shake him up a little bit?

Sid: Yeah, that’s what I’m hoping. That it’ll shake him up and then he’ll be able to do something, that’d be goad if he could do that, but otherwise if it doesn’t shake him up and get him out of it, then as a person, not only will he not do anything, but also nobody will even want to know him. They’ll say, oh didn’t you used to be ‘Johnny Rotten”?

Roberta: Yeah, I guess in England everybody’s gonna be really upset about this. How do you feel about it?

Sid: I’m glad that it’s over now because it was like...I feel like I was the only one still putting any real energy into it. Did you see our show at Frisco? I mean John wasn’t doing very much was he?

Roberta: The shows got worse instead of better.

Sid: Yeah. I think the one we did in Dallas or something was….

Roberta: San Antonio. I thought that was best.

Sid: (Excited) What, was that the one when I got butted in the face?

Roberta: No, that was Dallas. But I liked the one when you hit the guy with the guitar. (Randy’s Rodeo)

Sid: Was that the one when I was going really nuts?

Roberta: Yeah, and John was jumping around a lot and the people were throwing lots of beer cans (at the band). That was a really exciting one.

If the planes go out in the morning will you go back to London tomorrow?

Sid: Well, I said I would go. Sophie’ll have booked the ticket.

Roberta: But they may not be letting the planes go…

Sid: I hope they don’t in a way ‘cause I wanna like stay in New York for at least one day.

Roberta: Yeah, you should. All kinds of people want to see you and everything. You’ve never been here before. You could have a good time. I mean you’re healthy enough to do it.

Sid: I don’t know whether I am. I can’t drink. I can’t like…The doctor said that if I drank anything like vaguely remotely like the way I’ve been drinking for the past…however long, that I’ve got about six months at the absolute outside to live, and like the drugs as well, so I more or less can’t do anything so if I went out anywhere I’d just like…sit there. If I went out anywhere I wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation – that’d be the trouble. Like I’d end up just boozing myself out.

Roberta: Well, what’re you going to do? If you go back to London, it’s just the same thing.

Sid: Yeah. I probably will die in six months, actually.

Roberta: You have to straighten out for a while.

Sid: I can’t straighten up. I just can’t be straight.

Roberta: You could. Just as an experiment.

Sid: I suppose I just have to. I haven’t figured out yet quite how I’m gonna do it ’cause I haven’t been straight in like four years. I had hepatitis and when I got out of hospital I just really fucked myself up as badly as I could. I don’t know why, but everybody said you can’t do it, so I just went ahead and done it. It’s my basic nature.

Roberta: Well, your basic nature’s gonna get you in a lot of trouble.

Sid: My basic nature’s gonna kill me in six months.

(From DOA Film Book. 1981)

Friday, November 13, 2009

Achelois Pendant
















Achelois means "she who drives away pain". She was a Moon Goddess, which wasn't really that uncommon. The Dodonian Oracle ordered sacrifice to her. But according to Tzetzes (this old Roman dude), Achelois was one of the seven Muses said to be the daughters of Pierus.

THIS NECKLACE...
This necklace is a special healing / energy piece. It is made from a very special old button with a Goddess image Achelois, she washes away the pain of the one who wears this pendant, and help them release their anger. I paired this piece with two Art Deco inspired green glass leaves in green and pale green, and hung it on a sturdy 20" silver chain. A very interesting and funky piece.



Thursday, November 12, 2009

Petit Fleur Locket


From the earliest beginnings of civilization, people have sought out ways to keep their loved ones close. For some, it is not enough to harbor their dear ones in memory alone, they crave symbols to represent their love. Jewelery has always had a place in our culture as both an ornament, and an expression of personal feeling. The locket, is no exception...


This locket, is a pendant, on a chain long enough to suspend it over the heart. Inside pictures of loved ones are contained on each side of the locket. Other small items, such as a lock of hair could also be kept inside. To further emphasize the precious nature of the locket, they are made from precious metals, like gold and silver.

Lockets are found in many different shapes and sizes, the most common, being the circle, oval and the heart.

The locket was popularized during the Victorian era. Now, lockets are designed to hold anywhere from 2 to 8 pictures inside, and come in all shapes and sizes. Hair is no longer the only personal item kept inside, some opting to keep a bit of a loved ones blood inside.

Lockets are commonly given for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentines Day, etc. They make a wonderful gift, for so many occasions, and will likely be treasured and passed onto generations to come.


THE MEANING OF LOCKETS IN DREAMS...

* If a young woman dreams that her lover places a locket around her neck, she will be the recipient of many beautiful
offerings, and will soon be wedded, and lovely children will crown her life. If she should lose a locket, death will throw sadness into her life.
* If a lover dreams that his sweetheart returns his locket, he will confront disappointing issues. The woman he loves will worry him and conduct herself in a displeasing way toward him.
* If a woman dreams that she breaks a locket, she will have a changeable and unstable husband, who will dislike constancy in any form, be it business
or affection,

ABOUT THIS LOCKET...

* This Locket is a vintage locket I found which has a circle with tiny delicate pressed flowers inside of it on a pale pink background. The circular locket measures 1 and 3/4th inches and has plenty of room for two nice sized pictures on the inside. The chain has a beautiful matte gold finish and is extra long, hanging 15" on at 30" Chain. there is also a gold dragonfly charm hanging from the chain to remind you that you loved ones are never far, and to help guide you on you're path.

For more info on Dragonflies:
http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html

The Meaning of Dragonflies





Double Dragonfly Soul Mate Self Necklace

Double Dragonfly Soul Mate Self Necklace Double Dragonfly Soul Mate Self Necklace
Description
The meaning of a dragonfly changes with each culture. The main symbolisms of the dragonfly are renewal, positive force and the power of life in general. Dragonflies can also be a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity. Also, as a creature of the wind, the dragonfly frequently represents change. And as a dragonfly lives a short life, it knows it must live its life to the fullest with the short time it has – which is a lesson for all of us.

There are many different representations of the dragonfly; it all comes down to which culture you happen to be in. For instance, if you are in Japan, the dragonfly symbolizes a new light and joy. Some animal symbolism has the dragonfly representing good luck, prosperity, swiftness, purity, harmony and strength. Some Native Americans believe dragonflies are the souls of the dead. There are also many cultures that believe that the meaning of a dragonfly is happiness, courage and subconscious thoughts. It is also believed that IF YOU SEE TWO DRAGON FLIES PAIRED TOGETHER THEY REPRESENT LOVE & MATURITY

The dragonfly has been a symbol of happiness, new beginnings and change for many centuries and even though the representation of the dragonfly seems to change throughout the cultures, there are still a few things that are similar; the dragonfly means hope, change and love. Since cultures vary, others may see the dragonfly as a symbol of financial wealth like savings. With the constant changing of the world, it is no wonder that more and more people are adopting the dragonfly as their totem and admiring this beautiful insect.

* When Dragonflies came into my life they brought my Soul Mate Andrew to me. I believe they carry the souls of our loved ones who had passed and they act as little spirit guides. In this necklace there are two Dragonflies facing East and West to look out for you and guide you. The shiny brass circle in the center is polished to a mirror finish so you can have greater clarity into your true self, and other can see themselves reflected through your eyes. The pendant is set on a delicate gold plated chain.


* All items are lead & nickle free