necklace stories

'Wired' sterling silver, patina;
Kathleen Faulkner

 Necklace from a long time ago made for a past 

Museum of Northwest Art Auction.

'The Dictionary Necklace, Aardvark to Azure' 38"

Sterling silver, dictionary paper beads, ink, glass lenses; Kathleen Faulkner

 

This necklace was an exercise in patience. 

It includes the entire 'A' section of the dictionary.

'Love Me' 20" sterling silver, colored pencil, gouache, mica;
Kathleen Faulkner

Ode to the only mammal that can fly.

'Illuminated Kelp' 20" Sterling silver, gouache, 

watercolor; glass lenses; Kathleen Faulkner

I live by the Salish Sea. 

Benefits of kelp

'The Volcano Necklace' 18" sterling silver, gouache,
glass lenses; Kathleen Faulkner

I made this necklace for my Daughter who was born one 

week to the hour before Mt St Helens erupted.

'The Journal' 18" sterling silver, fossilized ivory, ink;
Kathleen Faulkner

This is the story of the flora and fauna discovered along the 

route that Lewis and Clark took to and from the West Coast.

'Childhood Landmarks' 30" sterling silver, ink, gouache,
colored pencil, glass lenses; Kathleen Faulkner

I grew up in Seattle. Many of my childhood haunts are gone now. 

Some are still around and are represented in the drawings. 

The links are name tags acknowledging places that are no longer.

This necklace acknowledges the place that shaped my childhood.

more necklaces

On Display

I am pleaaed to announce that three of my brooches are included in the 

10th Anniversary Exhibition, BIMA Spotlight

This exhibition runs from June 30 through September 24th, 2023

'Lip Srtvice' 4x3" sterling silver, drawing, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

'Berg' 2.25x4.75" reticulated silver, plastic shard, acrylic paint;

Kathleen Faulkner

'Good Schooling' 4x4" sterling silver, drawings, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

I am also pleased to announce that two of my neckpieces will be on 

display at the Bellevue Art Museum Store throughout 2023 in 

collaboration with Northwest Designer Craftartists

'Wish Rocks' sterling silver, drawings, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

'Botanical' sterling silver, drawings, mica;

Kathleen Faulkner

My work can also be found online here

and at the wonderful Museum of Northwest Art Store in LaConner, WA

things we remember

'Childhood Landmarks' necklace 30" sterling silver,
gouache, graphite, ink, mica, glass lenses;
Kathleen Faulkner

I was born and raised in Seattle 

It seems like a very long time ago

or just yesterday

depending on the day.  

Many places are gone now. 

Some still remain. 

The links in this piece are names of meaningful

places from my childhood that no longer exist.

The drawings are of some places and things that we can still visit. 

It's just a  glimpse. 

'Childhood Landmarks' detail;  Kathleen Faulkner

just a thought

'Flora' necklace 18-22" long  sterling silver
paper, ink, graphite, watercolor, mica;
Kathleen Faulkner

It is the Season.  

Today is 'Black Friday'.  

People are rushing in hoards to the big box stores.  

There is an alternative:

Support your local artists, craftsmen, galleries, 

independent book stores and shops.

Consider spending locally and let's keep the money in our communities.

  Here's wishing you a stress free and joyous Holiday Season!

Cheers!

Did you know?

'Indicator Species Series: Illuminated Kelp'
18 - 20" chain, 2 - 2.5" diameter discs
Neckpiece, sterling silver, paper, gouache,
watercolor, glass lenses;  Kathleen Faulkner



http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/kelp.html

invitation

Various necklaces, sterling silver;
Kathleen Faulkner

You are cordially invited to the Annual Holiday Party and Ornament Giveaway at Facere Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle,  December 3rd, 2014, from 5 to 8pm.

Come and share a glass of cheer, celebrate the season and view amazing jewelry. 

The gallery artists have made handmade ornaments that will be given away that evening with the winning names drawn out of a hat.  

It is always great fun.

Please RSVP to be included in the Ornament Giveaway.

Cheers!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain

a helping hand

'Safety First' 20" milagro necklace, sterling silver,
paper, gouache, ink, graphite, mica; Kathleen Faulkner

We never know what lies ahead.

Some say that we create our own reality.

Whatever is true, it can't hurt to have a helping hand.

Ex-Votos from Mexico, Girard Collection, Museum of International
Folk Art (DCA) Santa Fe, NM A.1981.42.694V.1 Photo by Paul Smutko.

Louder than Words

'Stick' pin 3.5x1" sterling silver,
gouache, paper, mica;
Kathleen Faulkner

Remember the old adage: 

'Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me'.

True courage consists in doing what is right, despite the jeers and sneers of our companions.     

Christian Recorder, March 1862

'Volcano'  18-20' chain 2- 2.25" discs,
sterling silver, gouache, paper,  glass lenses;
Kathleen Faulkner



'Louder than Words'

BooM!

'Volcano' necklace 18-20" chain 2-2.5" discs,
sterling silver, gouache, paper, glass lenses
Kathleen Faulkner

It's almost a new year.

Although the days now will be getting longer, they're not there yet.  

Heavy rain, short days make for some good pondering.

Career:  I have a plan.  My new year is already full.  It is what I've wanted.

Personal:  I also have a plan.  I'm breaking loops.  It feels good.  

Resolution:  be kinder.

“I see a vision of a great rucksack revolution thousands or even millions of young Americans wandering around with rucksacks, going up to mountains to pray, making children laugh and old men glad, making young girls happy and old girls happier, all of 'em Zen Lunatics who go about writing poems that happen to appear in their heads for no reason and also by being kind and also by strange unexpected acts keep giving visions of eternal freedom to everybody and to all living creatures.”
― Gary Snyder

bats in the belfry

'Love Me'  Necklace 18"long, bat 3x5"; sterling silver,
colored pencil, mica;  Kathleen Faulkner

Here's what the average human thinks:  Bats are ugly and scary and carry rabies.

Here's what scientists think: Bats are necessary for pollination of over 300 species of plants.  A single brown bat can consume 500 or more mosquitoes in an hour. The economic impact of the loss of bats in North American agriculture is anywhere from 3.7 million to 53 million annually.

Here's what the bat thinks:  I'm as afraid of you as you are of me.  I won't hurt you.  I just want to take care of my babies and eat bugs.  

Thoughts on community

'Our Town' Necklace 30" sterling silver, colored
pencil, paper, glass lenses;  Kathleen Faulkner

This is about another type of community: the one most of us don't see much or think about. 

We really can't say what a hungry white tailed deer's thoughts are as she's run out of someone's urban garden.

Can you imagine the stories and memories a spotted owl might have as he watches his home be destroyed so we can have toilet paper?

Consider the wolf, running for her life from the giant flying monster that's shooting to kill.   Maybe she's thinking,  "Please don't murder me.  I deserve life just like anyone else."

Everyone has a story to tell.

We do what we need to do

'Her Eyes a Bashful Azure'
sterling silver, colored pencil,
paper, mica; Kathleen Faulkner

I read Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, 'The Brook'.

I had been working on the Dictionary Necklace.  Azure was the last word of the 'a's' and I was trying to figure out how to draw the word without using the color.  I didn't figure it out and ended up drawing the word as it looked in the dictionary, all the while thinking about a line in Tennyson's poem.
I kept thinking about it.  I liked it so much I decided to make a necklace about it.

'Her Eyes a Bashful Azure' Back;
sterling silver, colored pencil,
paper, mica; Kathleen Faulkner

building blocks

'Construct' Necklace 36"
found materials, sterling silver;
Kathleen Faulkner

One day, while walking home from town, I saw a pile of construction debris in an alley.  It looked interesting so I had to investigate.  I found these shards of concrete lying in the rubble.  

They made my day.

'Construct' back; Kathleen Faulkner

Museum of Northwest Art's annual auction is coming up
June 15th.  This is my contribution courtesy of the wonderful Facere Jewelry Art Gallery in Seattle.

and now a word..

'Webster's New World Dictionary,

Aardvark to Azure' Necklace, 38"

paper ('a' words), sterling silver, ink,

colored pencil, mineral glass;

Kathleen Faulkner

Webster's New World Dictionary: my companion for many years.

One day I open the book and the spine splits apart.  I stand there with a piece in each hand.  I continue to use it this way for many months.  I think about replacing it but I wonder what to do with this 'two part' book.  No one will want it.  I can't throw it away or even throw it in the recycle.  That is not what one does with a book.

I'm thinking about all those words.  I'm preparing for the show 'Women Working Words'.  I decide to recycle in a manner that does not leave me guilt ridden.

The story continues

'Dickinson' necklace 5.25x1.25" Chain: 24" doubled,
FRONT; sterling silver, paper, oilpastel, mica,
Kathleen Faulkner; photo: David Scherrer

When I am working on a body of jewelry, there is no such thing as planning designs as a group.  Ideas are scattered,  designs sometimes don't mix.  It is a conglomeration.  I just start with an idea and end up wherever it may lead.  Because of this, I sometimes end up over my head.  I guess that's good for growth.  

Fortunately this body of work came together and the overwhelm was overcome.  

The inspiration for this necklace began with a piece of scrap from an old oil pastel painting and a snippet of a poem by Emily Dickinson. her lovely words tell the story.  

'Dickinson'  necklace BACK;  sterling silver,
oil pastel, ink, paper, mica, Kathleen Faulkner;
photo: David Scherrer

'Women Working Words' at Facere Jewelry Art Gallery will open February 6th. Lecture at 4pm (RSVP) and champagne opening from 5-7pm

A story of unkindness and murder

'Birds of a Feather' Neckpiece, 20" sterling silver,
 colored pencil, paper, glass lens, onyx beads;
Kathleen Faulkner

A shrewdness of apes

An exaltation of larks

A battery of barracudas

A troop of monkeys

A kaleidoscope of butterflies

A parliament of owls

A quiver of cobras

An ostentation of peacocks

A murder of crows

A rookery of penguins

A convocation of eagles

A prickle of porcupines

A charm of finches

An unkindness of ravens

A skulk of foxes

A shiver of sharks

A troubling of goldfish

A pod of whales

A smack of jellyfish

A descent of woodpeckers

A mob of kangaroos

A zeal of zebras

Thoughts on time management

'Octopus' length 36", diameter 2";   sterling silver,
paper,  colored pencil,  mica;  Kathleen Faulkner

Octopus has four pair of arms.  Less time needed to accomplish things.  

Octopus is intelligent and uses tools.  More gets done.

Mysterious and beautiful, in my view.

I am envious.  

Then I remember: the life span of an octopus ranges from six months to five years.  

glimpse

'Low Tide' Neckpiece 24x2" sterling silver, oil pastel, paper,
glass lenses, pearls;  Kathleen Faulkner

We've had low tides these past few days 

Our weather has been below par  
glimpses of winter.

Today is a breath of fresh air    light breeze    warm sun    

another low tide.  

I watch the bumble bees pollinate the raspberries.   

Days like these will be remembered years from now.

The whole equals more..

I love the fog horns.  

The thick white blanket slowly burns off  

slivers of lovely sunshine warm the back of my head 

I pick the blueberries in the garden..

It's been an interesting week.  All weeks are but sometimes life becomes Enhanced.

Artwork created at Smoke Farm: artist unknown 

I recently spent a day at Smoke Farm.  The experience opened my mind, pried open an area I haven't visited for awhile, reminded me that the world of ideas is very large and anything is possible and the world, although small, can be quite large as well.

I've been thinking about it all week.  I want more.

Neckpiece; 18"  found glass, sterling silver;
Kathleen Faulkner

I spent the rest of this week finishing up a body of jewelry work for  Artisans on Taylor Gallery whose grand opening in a new location is September 1st in Port Townsend.  This is a new gallery for me and the pressure has been on.  

Of course other life events such as a broken computer, again, distractions, sad news, happy news,  and surprising news all mixed together to create a unique reality.

A new week, new day.  

A bowl of blueberries from my garden.  

Inspiration and a mind full of new thoughts and ideas 

Living by the Salish Sea: fog, sunny, sweet, salty sea smell,  my favorite.  

Life is good.

Organic blueberries from my garden.. yum

Bits and pieces..

Neckpiece; 7"+ chain; found objects;
Kathleen Faulkner

An old friend is on my mind a lot lately.  He has been gone at least a decade yet I still run into bits and pieces of  him here and there when I least expect it.

Yesterday evening, for example, a dear friend of his  (that we all thought was dead)  came walking down the dirt road where I live.

Earlier in the day I had toasted his memory with a friend in Bellingham.  That encounter, too, was serendipity.

I found these shards recently at the beach by his old house.  

It is the same every time I walk by:  I always remember and it always aches a bit but I would rather have an aching heart than an empty one.

  

Friends make us fuller.

When friends leave, their light stays behind.

It is like the blue sea

that supports the white breakers 

that come and go.

No matter how far I go

I long to return and be with friends.

It is never the same fire I left,

but beneath it are the ashes

of all our meetings that have gone before.

                     Robert Sund