I spy

'After the Bath' 2.75x4" Brooch,

sterling silver, found asphalt shard;

Kathleen Faulkner

We see things.

HAMLET

Do you see yonder cloud that is almost in the shape of a camel?

POLONIUS

By th'Mass and 'tis, like a camel indeed.

HAMLET

Methinks it is a weasel.

POLONIUS

It is backed like a weasel.

HAMLET

Or a whale.

POLONIUS

Very like a whale.

Be prepared

'Wish Rock' brooch 2x1.5" sterling silver, mica, 

graphite, paper; Kathleen Faulkner

 It's always good to have a wish rock or two 

hanging around.

I keep several. 

You never know 

when you might need one.

bucket list

'Iceberg' 4.5x1.4" sterling silver, reticulated 

silver, plastic, oil paint; Kathleen Faulkner

I have never seen an iceberg in real life. 

Maybe I never will. 

thoughts and prayers

'Lip Service' 4x3" brooch, sterling silver, paper, colored pencil,

graphite, watercolor, mica;  Kathleen Faulkner

 

empty talk  hollow words

Iceberg

'Growler' 1.75x2" brooch, sterling silver, paint, plastic;

Kathleen Faulkner

a large floating mass of ice 

detached from a glacier or ice shelf

an emotionally cold person

iceberg lettuce

that is just the tip of the iceberg

here's a thought

'Thought Bubble' brooch 2.25x1.25" sterling silver, paper, ink, mica
Quote by Henry David Thoreau;
Kathleen Faulkner

...or don't see. 

carry on smartly

'Good Schooling'  Brooch, 4x4.5" sterling silver, gouache, 

graphite, mica;  Kathleen Faulkner 

 

The power is in the numbers.

 

Fly by Night

'Fly by Night' brooch with converter,  2x3" sterling silver, colored pencil, mica;  Kathleen Faulkner

I put the umbrella in it's stand and began to open it.  

I saw something small and furry in the folds.

As I got up close for a better look it suddenly hissed.  

I was taken aback

 and then it flew away.

Small, mysterious bug eating mammal

Our world is a better place with this little bat in it.

Here it is.

Poem: Anne McDuffie, brooch/pendant  Kathleen Faulkner,
Photo of brooch:  Larry Bullis

'Branch' Anne McDuffie

This says it.

'Signs of Life' journal cover, neckpiece
Kat Cole,  Facere Jewelry Art Gallery

anomaly

'Trillium' brooch 2" diameter, sterling silver, gouache,
paper, glass lens,  Kathleen Faulkner

My family spent a lot of time in wilderness.  That was a long time ago when there was a lot more wild.

I remember finding trilliums in the woods and being thrilled:  the Find.  Now one can buy the plants at nurseries and plant them in the shady part of the yard.  

Times change.

It's a what?

'Indicator Species Series: Mussels'  2.5" diameter, sterling
silver, paper, colored pencil, mica;  Kathleen Faulkner

'An indicator species is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment.  For an example, a species may delineate an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition or climate change.  Indicator species can be among the most sensitive species in a region, and sometimes act as an early warning to monitoring biologists.'  

Wikipedia

Here is a short list:

Mussels, clams and oysters are susceptible to toxins, pollutants and minute changes in environmental conditions.

Mosses often indicate acid soil.

The northern spotted owl indicates old growth forests.

Lichens are indicators of low air pollution.

Tubificid worms are indicators of sewage seepage. (does Victoria, Canada have an abundance of these?)

Adult frogs and toads absorb through their skin and are indicators of water pollution.

Salmon are an indicator species for wetland ecosystems

Non-Alaskan grizzly bears are indicators of mountain ecosystems, measuring the health and diversity of the ecosystem.

In the pacific northwest, the environmental health of estuaries is monitored by the indicator species of eel grass.  

Kelp is a foundation species and can be used as an indicator of other species occurring in the environment.

Maybe this is something you'll give a little thought to as you go about your day.

Life as we know it.

'A Red Herring' 2x4" brooch, sterling silver, paper, gouache,
watercolor, mica;  Kathleen Faulkner

So many distractions and so little time.

I'm grateful to be focused on art these days; It took a long time to get here.  

Life's been a roller coaster ride.

Signs of Life

'Indicator Species Series: Northern Spotted Owl'
4x3" Brooch/Pendant, gouache, paper, mica,
sterling silver,  Kathleen Faulkner; photo by
Larry Bullis

I am invited to be in the show, 'Signs of Life' at Facere Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle October 7th through the 27th, 2015.
This show features the work of nine jewelry artists, each paired with a writer picked by the gallery. The journal, 'Signs of Life' combines stories with jewelry art and is in conjunction with the exhibit.

 I don't know yet, who the writers are.  I'm really looking forward to it all.

stick it

'Branching Out'  brooch 7x3" coral, sterling silver;
Kathleen Faulkner

I found several odd shaped branches and wondered what I should do with them.  

One thing led to another and, before I knew it, I had a slew of stick pins.  Then I decided to draw the sticks.  Then I remembered this piece of coral.  

I guess you could say that I'm branching out.

'Stick' pins various sizes, wood, sterling silver;
Kathleen Faulkner

'Stick' pin gouache, mica,
sterling silver;  Kathleen Faulkner

'Stick Pin, Too'  gouache, mica
sterling silver;  Kathleen Faulkner

we are all salmon people

'Something's Fishy'  brooch, 2x3" sterling silver, gouache, pigment,
ink,  mica;  Kathleen Faulkner

I remember standing on the bank of the John Day river watching the salmon heading home.  

There were so many that I imagined I could walk across them to the other side.

Things are different now. 

Maybe

'Hemingway' sterling silver, paper, ink, mica;
Kathleen Faulkner;  photo:  David Scherrer

I look out my window at the school playground.  It is empty except for the girl.  I watch her swing in the hard rain,  singing

Another day I work in my garden. Evening approaches and I hear the girl singing as she swings,  alone

She is there often, most every day, for long periods.

I hear the swing as I write this.  I look.  She is there.  It is getting dark now.  It rains hard.

Something about it makes me sad.

I wonder.

The Sky's the Limit

'Skyworld' brooch, 3x4" sterling silver, moonstones;
Kathleen Faulkner

Early morning 

sun coming up over the Cascades 

another beautiful day here on the Salish Sea.  

This is the time of year when things change.  

A substantial shift is taking place in my world.

It is good to know that things change.  It is good to make them happen.  

Ode to a Bird

'Ode to a Bird' sterling silver, brass, graphite, patina;
Kathleen Faulkner

There is an owl that graces my world now and again.  It's been awhile since I've heard it's hoot.  It is always an excellent surprise. I wake this morning wondering if I remember, in the night, a dream or the return of a friend.

In the Ether world, Owl is medicine and clairvoyance..  Owl can see that which others cannot.  

Owl helps us see the truth which is always helpful.

Progress

Thids in progress..

Thids' bezels are soldered now.  She can, technically, wear clothes but there really is more to do.  I think the next step will be to get rid of the excess.

Thids is dying to interview for the guest blogger position.  Who knew?  She mentioned how she's always wanted have a radio show or to own her own station.
That tells me something.

Interviews won't begin until the characters are finished.

I forewarned her,  "no politics".
She asked,  "Is being an advocate for the earth political?"

Auction for the Artist

Matzke Fine Art Gallery
Presents the Second Annual Art Auction for the Artist
Saturday, April 23rd.
Preview April 16th, 17th and 23rd from 11am to 5pm
Bidding starts promptly at 6pm

'Landscape' brooch, sterling silver, paper,
colored pencil, mica; Kathleen Faulkner

'Webster's Woods' 17x17" oil and soft
pastel, charcoal; Kathleen Faulkner

With over 50 artists, this live auction has something for everyone:  Great art, wonderful conversation, tasty bites and an amazing sculpture park and gallery.  

Please support the Arts, Artists and this event.