Spiral Hoop Earrings

These are my newest creation. Spiral Earrings in Pumpkin and Lime. They are made of yarn which is knotted around metal hoop earrings using the forward knot which is the knot used in many "friendship bracelets." You can find them in my shop.

New Beginnings

I've recently moved from New York to Richmond. Here are some photos of my new place, work space, walls and the stuff that I finally had time to finish...

These jewels and accessories are in my shop now.

Salt and pepper shakers bought from Books, Bikes and Beyond Thrift Shop on Saturday. 

 

My work space.

 

A detail of the pictures above my workspace--my collection of vintage postcards of mountains.

A sitting area with vintage photographs, among them, my husbands great grandfather.

New Embroidered Neckaces

Australia and San Francisco can be seen and bought at my etsy shop (IL GATTO SELVATICO).

Christmas in July Sale

IL GATTO SELVATICO is having a Xmas in July Sale from now until July 29. Receive Free Shipping by entering the code XMASINJULY at checkout. I hope you all have some winter's fun on a summer's day.

Happy 4th of July 50% OFF Sale

I hope that you are all enjoying your long Forth of July weekends and having many bar-b-ques and lots of fun. Tomorrow, before going to your Independence Day party, getting drunk and watching the fireworks...Buy an embroidered America necklace, patch or wall hanging for 1/2 price. Or maybe you will want to order a custom city or state necklace, patch or wall hanging (that's 50% off too). From midnight tonight to midnight tomorrow all American Maps are 1/2 price. So pass by my shop tomorrow IL GATTO SELVATICO.

New Chevron Neckaces and NYC Trains

 

This black chevron necklace and these other two chevron necklaces have been inspired by the gate of the New York subway trains that is placed at the front and back of each train in front of the the doors (see the photo above of the 7 train) and in between the cars. Next time you are in New York take a look and see if you see it.

As you can see, the black chevron necklace looks most similar to the train gate and the other two are more loosely inspired by it.

 I need a name for these two chevron necklaces, any ideas? I will be adding them to the il gatto selvatico etsy shop this week.

Google Image Search

I was doing an image search of il gatto selvatico and I found all kinds of interesting things. For those of you who don't know, il gatto selvatico means the wild cat in Italian but it also refers specifically to a breed of small (but larger than the domestic cats) striped wild cats with bushy tails called Felis Silvestris Silvestris, they live in parts of Europe. Here is a map of their domain.

This is what the cat looks like.

 

I also found an Italian magazine (no longer in print) published by ENI, an Italian gas company, that has the name "Il Gatto Selvatico."

And I found some blog entries about my jewelry that I feel I should talk about here.

Proud to be An American featuring my America necklace as well as other cool crafty America themed stuff on Cracker Jack Scraps and Wild Cat featuring my America and British Isles necklaces and talking about me and my name on Love Independent.

Red Houndstooth Gig Bag

I recently made a gig bag for my husbands baritone ukelele for his birthday. It has a red leather handle with velcro and two straps in the back so that it can be worn on the back like a back pack. It is lined with quilting batting and another layer of the houndstooth to give it some extra padding. It has a zipper on the side and a pocket the closes with velcro on the front.

MIlwaukee, WI

Here is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin necklace made for a friend of a friend. She picked a beautiful color combination, subtle yet bold. 

Here are some vintage postcards of Milwaukee. (I've never been to Milwaukee or Wisconsin).

New and Old Worlds or Maps

 The British Isles

Murfreesboro, TN: A new version of Tennessee with a blue palette instead of a yellow one and a heart over Murfreesboro rather than Knoxville.

United States 
Go check these embroidery necklaces and more out and don't forget that there is a 20% off Gemini sale happening.

The Piano Book Locket

Several weeks ago I saw The Piano for the first time and was inspired by it in many ways. I saw the possibility for future art and jewelry projects which I talk more about in this post. Now I've finally made one of those jewelry ideas. I made a Book Locket which was inspired by the necklace that Holly Hunter's character, Ada McGrath wore. She was mute and had a gold necklace which contained papers that she would use to communicate with when her daughter who translated for her was not around.

Detroit Michigan

 Detroit Michigan necklace

While I was making this necklace which was a custom made necklace, I was thinking a lot about this beautiful Red House Painters song, Michigan.

Augustin Lesage

 Composition symbolique, oil and graphite on canvas, 1928

 Composition symbolique, oil on canvas

oil on canvas (date and title unknown)

 (date and title unknown)

Diligently working in his studio (date unknown)

I just found out about this French outsider artist, Augustin Lesage (Saint-Pierre-Lez-Auche, 1876 - Burbure, 1954) and I'm wondering why I didn't already know his name. He was a coal miner who believed that spirits were guiding his hand and would come home from the mines every evening to work on his paintings. I think these works are amazing because he was way ahead of his time. Google him, his paintings are amazing and he was a really fascinating guy too.

Gemini Sale

In honor of the zodiac symbol Gemini which is quickly waxing upon us. I will be holding a 20% off Gemini Sale in my shop ∆IL GATTO SELVATICO∆ that will last for the entire Gemini Month (May 21 to June 21). Just enter the code GEMINI at check out to receive 20% off your entire order.
A side note: This is my favorite period of the year, maybe because I'm a Gemini and so is my husband or maybe because I love the weather at this time of year. The trees are finally fully in bloom and everything is green and pulsing with life. It's such a magical time.

Rene Magritte

 La Cascade, 1961

 The Blank Check, 1965

Castle in the Pyrenees, 1959

Song of Love, 1964

 

Clear Ideas, 1955