Recipe for Resurrection

This is truly fascinating, but I have mixed feelings of bringing animals back from the dead.

The most recent issue of National Geo features several articles on the relationship between humans, animals and our environment.  The one that really worries me is the possibility of bringing the wooly mammoth back to life.  Currently hunters from Russia scour the Arctic circle for tusks hidden or buried in the arctic ice.  Finding a tusk for these hunters brings them much needed money to survive in their homeland, which I understand the necessity to live however if the wooly mammoth is brought back from extinction I'm sure it wouldn't be just for research purposes but to feed the tusk business.  Ivory is already killing elephants in Africa and it is so disturbing.  

This brings me back to the ethics of animal parts and the policies regarding their usage.  I posted yesterday on my Facebook page about my own policies.  All of my jewelry is made from the remains of animals that have been either found in the wild and was shed naturally.  None of it has been from animals that have been killed purposefully.  

I have profound respect for animals and the wildlife of eastern North Carolina and the animals of our planet.  It's so easy to forget that the balance of our world is dependent on the relationships between animals.  That is one of the principles behind my jewelry is to become atune and bring awareness to the powerful capabilities of animals.

I hope that after reading this post you are brought to the awareness of animals in your own life and the world.
Thanks for reading!


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Venom that heals

National Geographic is one of my top sources of inspiration.  I've been getting their photo of the day for awhile now but never really looked at the email.  I finally did yesterday.  This is a poisonous mamba snake from Cameroon that may actually save lives. 

I find snakes incredibly fascinating and beautiful to observe.  The patterns of their scales, how they move and wide variety of them is awe-inducing. 

So drink in this graceful photo and click on the link  for more information.

Thanks for reading!

Photograph by Mattias Klum

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Ural Owls of Estonia

National Geographic has always been a wonderful resource of inspiration for me and I'm so happy my parents got me a subscription.

Last month there was an insightful article and stunning photographs on the Ural owls in the mountains of Estonia.  Sven Začek reported that it is never easy to get so close to the owls and that he received more than a few beatings to the head from the mother owl he photographed.  Sven goes on to say that after his beatings he was 'allowed' to photograph her doing her thing.  

Owls are truly amazing creatures, they are able to fly without making any sound due to their specialized feathers and their heart shaped head provides the perfect way to zone in on prey.  I think it'd be very special to see them in the wild.  Lucky Sven!

The magnificent owl in flight.

 A mother nurturing her baby owl.

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed the photographs and article.

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Inspiration resource: National Geographic

This past Christmas I received a subscription to National Geo from my parents, and it's been such a resource for me. Their photographs, and stories, feature some of the most intriguing creatures and landscapes.

I like to tear out the photos and paste them in my notebook for references and ideas. As my previous blog post/quote states - nature is the ultimate creator or better said, evidence of the creator offering wonder and awe.

And as cliche as it is, butterfly's have beautiful design patterns...

A peacock butterfly

New photos of space and the universe.

A terrifying volcano.

Pattern on the back of a cobra hood.

Rattlesnake. *awesome power and repeating design.

I'm finding that much of the work I'm making is so related to my own habitat and geographical location, example using deer antler from local hunters, and black coral from Panama. I think it's my own need and being raised as a youth across the globe to connect with where I live and find meaning in it.

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