Blue Fin

Did you hear that I was at Times Square the night of the failed car bombing attempt?  My husband and I had just attended a live performance of Prairie Home Companion.  We left the theater on West 43rd and planned to head north through Times Square to reach the restaurant where we had dinner reservations.  The crowds seemed quite thick, and we confirmed that something was very wrong when we hit the barricades and the line of police officers.  At the time, we were told that there was a “suspicious car”, so we took the long way around and made our way to the restaurant.  We didn’t know just how serious the situation was until we saw the news that night.  Scary!

But, this isn’t a story about car bombs, closed streets or close calls.  This is a story about a wall with an incredible texture and the jewelry it inspired.

Our dinner at Blue Fin was excellent.  In between savoring the delicious food and gazing into my husband’s eyes, I spent a good part of my time there staring at the wall behind our table. It was covered with ridges that undulated like ripples on a lake or gentle waves lapping at the shore.  I could hardly look away, so captivating was this wall. My trusty travel sketchbook (always in my purse) captured a few quick ideas, and this great photo of us (see above) provided a permanent reference.

Once we returned home, I couldn’t wait to get my hands in the clay to explore ways to interpret this look in metal.  I did a quick prototype in copper, just to work out the kinks.  This was the first piece I created in silver.  It includes several topaz czs, which were fired in place.  Since this creation, I’ve made several more in different shapes, and I’ve further refined the technique.  You can expect to see more of this look from me in the future as it just keeps bouncing around in my brain.  I’m thinking of developing a full line with pendants and earrings in both organic and more formal shapes.

One of the really cool things about this piece is the heft of it.  Once the ridges and spheres are built up on a thin foundation, the piece is quite substantial.  I also LOVE the way the colorful patina settles into the crevices of the design.  The photo doesn’t entirely capture the gorgeous golds, purples and blues that live in these nooks and crannies.

Perhaps you’ll become the lucky owner of one of these pieces from my new “Blue Fin” line, but don’t count on wearing this one.  It’s dedicated to my personal collection to help commemorate a very special night.