Breath of life
I swear I was on time this week! I had all my photo setup ready, the lights were lit, and all, but when I pressed on the power on button of the camera, nothing happened. The batteries were dead! Same for the extra set... So I had to wait until this morning to take the picture with full charged batteries.
You know that France has started to apply a No Smoking policy last week. Same thing happened in 2006 here in Quebec, and because of that, over 230,000 persons have quit smoking in less than a year! This is something to celebrate. No smoking = clean lungs = life!
My first idea was to make a 3-D No-Smoking sign, knitted with seed beads. Click here to see my sketch. However, when I started working on it, the 28ga silver wire kept breaking, and I lost patience. Here is a picture of the cigarette tip sample I first made in brass on the left, the final one in GF on the right (not yet straightened), and the cigarette tube still in the spool with wire attached (a failed rescue).
Then I decided to try my second option. This was the one I preferred, but when I showed them the sketch, my son and husband were extremely doubtful about wearing a pair of lungs around the neck! LOL! Anyway this is the project that finally came to life. Spool knitted in 26ga sterling silver with a bigger spool, both lungs contain small flowers made of garnet and rhodochrosite. The flowers are attached to long tendrils of silver that come out into the air, first swirling in a stylized bow shape at the top of the lungs and finally sprouting into a tree, symbolizing the gift of life.
Johanne from Quebec
Un Bijou de Cameleon
Wow, Johanne, you certainly win the prize for creativity! Clean lungs sprouting into a tree -- what a great idea! This necklace would make a wonderful and very meaningful gift for someone who has finally quit smoking after a long struggle!
Ellen
Posted by: rubystar | February 05, 2007 at 10:57 AM
Ingenius, as always. You have so much imagination and so much artistic ability!
Posted by: Sorcie | February 05, 2007 at 12:23 PM
I think that this is not only creative and unique but beautiful! I also enjoyed your sketches and your cigarette butt piece as well. Excellent!
Posted by: Marianna Boylan | February 05, 2007 at 01:47 PM
What a truely unique, wonderful design!
Sheila
Posted by: Sheila02 | February 05, 2007 at 07:13 PM
Gotta tell you - when I saw the piece, I saw baby booties!!! Whatever it is, it's light and airy and sweet looking! -Randi
Posted by: Dax58 | February 05, 2007 at 09:23 PM
A wonderful piece! Canadian metalsmith Paul McClure did a series of pieces a few years ago that incorporated cells and lungs. Some photos here:
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/paul-mcclure.htm
Tell your DH & DS your idea is not as outlandish as you think!
Dianne
www.wrapturewirejewellery.on.ca
Posted by: faeriiidust | February 05, 2007 at 09:27 PM
This is a fantastic piece, on many levels.
Posted by: Angie S (weirdlywired) | February 08, 2007 at 09:50 AM