Moonstone Zanshin Drop Earrings

Often times when I come up with a new jewelry design, it is without conscious effort.  Many times I will wake in the morning with an idea in my head almost as if it had come from a dream.  The drops of these earrings came to me in just that way.  They are inspired from the "zanshin" acupuncture tool.  When I awoke with the design, it was a zanshin that was coiled and it resembled a sort of machinists version of a shell.  For this particular design I preferred them being straight plus I have a few details of the coiling that, technically, will be challenging.  Often times our ideas are simple but the execution of them not so.  These times of challenge are one of the reasons I enjoy metalsmithing so much and they drive me to become more skillful.

Ode to Iron

Here are a couple pendants that are made of iron, silver and stone.  The iron discs were formed red hot and given a dimpled texture. The silver settings and bails are attached with rivets.  I very much like the dual texture and color of the forged iron and polished silver.  Iron is very much under appreciated but our bodies know better.  Not only does iron make up hemoglobin, but is an important component of many crucial enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and amino acids in our bodies.  Iron oxide (yes rust!) is what makes our blood red and carries oxygen to our cells.  Its oxidative ability is what allows it to freely exchange oxygen with carbon dioxide which would quickly acidify and poison our system.  After the hemoglobin's short 3 month life, our liver breaks down these cells and clings onto every molecule of iron for eventual generation of new blood cells.  So is the intelligence of our bodies.  Although iron is, by mass, the most common element, our bodies know it is also the most valuable and would not trade it for gold.