A Few Valentine's Pieces

I am having a major polymer slump, folks.  I am at the point that I can't even bring myself to go into my studio.  It's a bummer which is reaching epic proportion.  I have read books and magazines and cruised lots of websites for inspiration, but nothing. 

My friend Lupe Meter sent me some photos of a few faux bone and ivory creations she made using my tutorial, and I was so excited about them, that I thought I felt the creative juices start to flow again... but nothing.   Almost everything I have tried has gone straight to the trash pile. 

I think writing the faux bone tutorial just took all the oomph out of me.  It took so long to finish, almost three times as long as my mammoth faux jade tutorial!  I made so many revisions trying to get it just right for all my wonderful customers who were waiting so patiently for it, that I have lost my way with polymer. 

I did manage to create a couple of polymer pieces in the Ancient Romance series, and I did a few Valentine's day transfer pieces, but most of my free time in the past two months has been spent creating non-polymer jewelry.  I am having a lot of fun with the Scottish Tartans.  It's become an obsession, researching and learning the different patterns and the significance of the colors.  I was especially pleased to learn that tartans have been created over the years to commemorate and honor several of the U.S. states and some lineage societies and other public companies and societies.   

My mother, bless her heart, put in a custom order for a necklace in her Forrester tartan.  It's not a recognized tartan because "we" don't have a clan chieftan.  I keep telling my Forrester Uncle he needs to step up, but I don't think he wants to move to Scotland.  Hee Hee.   I haven't come across a Scottish Forrester castle, so it might be for the best.  Imagine what the taxes on a castle? 

My mother wanted to incorporate her birthstone, the Opal, into the design, so I added a sand opal Swarovski flatback rhinestone in the bail.  Not my first choice, but you know the old saying, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."  Yes, Momma, whatever you want, Momma, even if it doesn't match, Momma.  She'll wear it to a Red Hat to-do next week and show it off. 

I was particularly pleased to find the New York Firemen's Emerald Society Pipes and Drums Tartan pattern featured in this necklace. 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the charter for the FDNY's Emerald Society, and the tartan was created for them in the 1960s, too.  

So if you are interested in a Scottish Tartan necklace, let me know.  I have virtually every Scottish surname tartan, several Irish district tartans, and a few company and commemorative tartans created for U.S. states, companies, societies and commemorative events.  I have sold several of these since I started making them, and they make wonderfully unique gifts, no matter the occasion.   The tartans look best with the antique silver components, but I can frame them in antique brass, too.