Bedroom Demos

MUSIC!  Yet another one of my many inspirations! I've been involved with music one way or another for the last 20 years, but when I started playing the guitar a few years ago, I knew it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship!  Since then, I have grabbed for my guitar in every thinkable situation, from wallowing in complete confusion to basking in the epiphany of a lifetime!  Playing never fails to fill me with solace, inspiration, and intrigue. For me, it's the perfect medicine!

This is just one of many Bedroom Demos, I hope you enjoy!

Original Chords & Lyrics By Selena Martino 

And you can bet your BUTT I'm wearing Three Corners!  

Today I'm rocking my one of a kind Brass Cage with a hand tumbled river rock I gathered from the American this summer.

As well as my staple lately-The Spiral Chain Bracelet I made as a class project last year at California Institute of Jewelry Training.  What an amazing opportunity THAT was!!

I made the wire and the sheet metal completely from scratch! 

The sister clasp is actually a super simple design using two pieces of sheet metal riveted together.

I have to say, it was tedious making and filing all those little links, but the finished product is well worth the better part of a day it took to make it!

AMETHYST TANGENT

Forgive me while a tangent about Amethyst for a bit! There seems to be a common thread in my life and I believe it deserves some illumination!

It all started this Christmas when I was asked to cage this beautiful chunk of amethyst as a surprise for my friend for his wife. It came off of a larger Geode and was a key element in his marriage proposal!

I think this was a super great gift idea, and I was so psyched to be able to do it for them!

Here is the beginning of the cage. For this one, I am using 3 lengths of hammered round wire.

Now the 13 base solder joints have been finished and its time to close it up!

Just after the first and second solder joint on the top of the pendant. I coat the stone in a mixture of denatured alcohol and boric acid to protect it from the intense heat of the torch.

Custom caged Amethyst Chunk

Here's the finished product! =)

A stone of the mind, amethyst is said to bring calmness and clarity where there is confusion and anxiety. Amethyst crystals are said to bring serenity and calm, to enhance one's ability to assimilate new ideas, and to assist during meditation. This stone is also said to give strength and mental stability, and to provide balance between one's physical, emotional, intellectual states.

OTHER SWEET AMETHYST STUFF!

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Laccaria amethystina is a small brightly colored mushroom commonly known as the Amethyst Deceiver. And yes, as a mushroom fanatic, I had to find out... It's EDIBLE!

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South Lake Tahoe Jewelry Designer Mark Garbarini does some interesting things with Amethyst.

This amethyst pendant is illuminated by a small LED insert!

Illuminated Jewelry by Mark Garbarini

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Kick-ass Amethyst Cuff links by ElseeTee on Etsy

The Humbling River

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny....

—Lao-Tze

We are surrounded by SO MUCH BEAUTY!

Just wanted to share a bit of what is inspiring me at the moment!

This tree was captured here in Auburn, CA by

my friend and bad-ass photographer Anthony Peterson

of AJPN Photography

Quartz is Essential!

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the world. Sand is mostly composed of Quartz. Even dust in the air is high in quartz!





Yes, CRYSTALS REALLY DO VIBRATE!! At the beginning of technology, natural quartz crystals were used, but they are now manufactured to achieve specific frequencies. Synthetic crystals are higher in purity, lower in cost, and more convenient to handle. Crystals have been used for a long time to stabilize frequencies in radio transmitters, receivers and watches!

A crystal used in hobby radio control

equipment to select frequency

Synthetic Crystal grown by
hydrothermal synthesis

Metaphysically, clear Quartz Crystal is the symbol of elemental wholeness. It assists to amplify, focus, direct, transmit and store energy. It assists the wearer to think intuitively, and works on all levels - strengthening, cleansing and protecting.

Humility has buoyancy, and above us... only sky.

A few of my favorite pictures I took this year at Burning Man... Along with one of my favorite Poems by one of my favorite people.

Swirl Love

Thought I would throw this up since I've been making so many of these lately!  This is the process that all my little swirls go though!  At this point, I make EVERY SINGLE ONE!  

From raw brass wire, I use my torch to bead up the ends. 

Then I bend each one up, solder them, and then hammer each a little. After polishing them, they are ready to be any number of my pieces!

I like having a bunch around so I can put something together right when I think of it!

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Feather Jewelry Care Guide

It’s pretty simple… just keep your feathers safe from dust, bright light and moisture!

• DUST & BRIGHT LIGHT- Just use common sense when you store them! Ie: Don’t hang them in the rear view mirror of your car for a month, and don’t store them in a dusty corner on your vanity!
  
  


• MOISTURE- We all forget- I did it yesterday! When I got out of the shower I realized I still had one of my feather necklaces on! If they DO happen to get wet, grab a hair dryer and use low heat while you gently fluff them back to life! They WILL be beautiful again!
  

And one more thing!

• THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS-Keep your feathers away from your pets! Cats and dogs seem to be magnetically attracted to delicate little tufts of feather! And I am unfortunately speaking from personal experience here! Grrrrrrr!

Just a few simple things and you will be able to enjoy your feathered adornment for decades!

Cheers!
-Three Corners

Nevada City Winter Bizarre Promo Video

December 19th-DON'T MISS OUT! This is going to be a ridiculously fun day! =)





Click Here for more info!

Mighty Storm

Now THIS is what I'm talkin' about! All around kick ass song! And Jessica Havey's vocals make my soul swoon!

'>Mighty Storm

Awww Yeah!

Source

It's too bad you can't have feathers on the playa, 'cause I would ROCK this wig from bellaregalo at Burning Man! I'm gonna have to design something to go with it and wear it for a night on the town! I would still fit right in, I'm sure!

Inspire!

Cheezy, maybe...

I still want a Looping Pedal!   =)

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Two In The Bush?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

OR

It's better to have a small real advantage than the possibility of a greater one.

*This proverb refers back to mediaeval falconry where a bird in the hand (the falcon) was a valuable asset and certainly worth more than two in the bush (the prey).

Interesting little tidbit!

Another little before and after...

This is a custom sterling silver caged fluorite necklace that I did a few months back.  It is actually the necklace that first inspired the filigree like swirls which continue to be a main theme in my current collection!

It feels so good to see the finished piece, knowing all that went into it!  

*Fluorite, a mineral that melts easily, derives its name from the Latin word "fluere" meaning "to flow" or "to flux" and refers to its use as a flux in the steel and aluminum smelting process.  The word "fluorescent" comes from the word Fluorite, as Fluorite crystals were some of the first fluorescent specimens to be studied.  Its fluorescence is thought to be due to Yttrium, Cerium or organic matter in the crystal structure.  

Everything is going to be amazing.

NO REGRETS! All this time... and here I am!  All this time, getting lost in the chaos!  Sometimes you need to lose yourself a little to truly find yourself though!  I am definitely one who has more often than not ended up learning my lessons the hard way.  But most of my creative drive comes from some confusion, some general upset of the standard order... so I'm not complaining!  And regardless, isn't that how revolution begins??  So, Don't worry. Everything is going to be amazing.

Here goes nothin'!

Lost in the Chaos...

Inspiration comes slowly and quietly... but...

Sometimes cluttered minds can begin to unwind when they stand the test of time... in solitude.  Be present, be free, be full of danger!  For wherever we are is HERE... and we must treat it as a powerful stranger.

-Selena

The Greatest Pleasure in Life

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do!

Now & Then

As an artist, I have always been intrigued by the process by which things come to be what they are.  

This is just a little sneak peak of the way this beautiful Carnelian ring looked before it was finished.

*The picture below was taken after all the soldering was done but before it was hammered, set or polished.