Be glad as children

"My friends, ask gladness from God. Be glad as children, as birds in the sky. And let man's sin not disturb you in your efforts, do not fear that it will dampen your endeavor and keep it from being fulfilled, do not say, 'Sin is strong, impiety is strong, the bad environment is strong, and we are lonely and powerless, the bad environment will dampen us and keep our good endeavor from being fulfilled.' Flee from such despondency, my children! There is only one salvation for you: take yourself up, and make yourself responsible for all the sins of men. For indeed it is so, my friend, and the moment you make yourself sincerely responsible for everything and everyone, you will see at once that it is really so, that it is you who are guilty on behalf of all and for all. Whereas by shifting your own laziness and powerlessness onto others, you will end by sharing in Satan's pride and murmuring against God." (Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, Book VI, Chapter 3)

For this necklace I was inspired by father Zosima the elder's teachings, from the Brothers Karamazov. And today it's also a very happy, glorious, sunny day... Perfect! Have a nice weekend everyone :)

Goethe quote necklace

These last few weeks have been rainy, stormy, cloudy, windy or, in the best case dull. So yesterday I was looking outside the window, thinking about what an unhappy day Valentine's must have been for some people. I remembered a book from one of the top shelves in my library, about young Werther. It was in Greek, quite an old publication. And I began to read.

This is the book in its original German publication, the first print, in 1774 (image from Wikipedia). So, I suppose, if I wanted to make a jewelry piece with a quote from this book, it wouldn't be special if it was in Greek, or English. It would have to be in German, the language that Goethe wrote it in.

This is what I came up with. It is a gold heart locket, hanging from a black beaded choker. The locket reads 'Mein Herz habe ich allein', the phrase that struck me as quite strong and which I felt like using for this piece. The necklace is available here.

Les Mis Necklace

I love it when my customers come to me with a specific idea in mind for a custom order. This was the case a few days ago, when a woman asked me to make her a necklace with three lines from the song 'A Little Fall of Rain', from the musical Les Miserables. You can imagine my enthusiasm!

Les Miserables is one of the most popular musicals ever, and it is based on Victor Hugo's novel. Here is part of the song which inspired this necklace, trust me, if it brings tears to your eyes, it's normal:

Eponine
Don't you fret, M'sieur Marius
I don't feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that's all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow.

Marius
But you will live, 'Ponine - dear God above...
If I could heal your wounds with words of love...

Eponine
Just hold me now, and let it be.
Shelter me, comfort me...

Marius
You would live
A hundred years
If I could show you how
I won't desert you now...

Eponine
The rain can't hurt me now
This rain will wash away what's past
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
I'll sleep in your embrace at last
The rain that brings you here
Is Heaven-blessed!
The skies begin to clear
And I'm at rest
A breath away from where you are
I've come home from so far...


You can watch the video here.

Not for timid bodies

In a room—empty, small, four walls only,
covered with green cloth—
a beautiful chandelier burns, all fire;
and in each of its flames a sensual fever,
a lascivious urge, glows with heat.

In the small room, radiantly lit
by the chandelier’s hot fire,
no ordinary light breaks out.
Not for timid bodies
the rapture of this heat.

Translated by Edmund Keeley/Philip Sherrard

(C.P. Cavafy, Collected Poems. Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard. Edited by George Savidis. Revised Edition. Princeton University Press, 1992)

A few weeks ago I discovered some links from a vintage gold gilt chandelier. They were bright gold and just way too beautiful to be thrown away, they had this wonderful palmette decorative motif, so I put them inside the box for when the inspiration would be right. And a couple of days ago, I came across this poem by Cavafy, called 'Chandelier'. If you read Greek, here it is in the original:

Σε κάμαρη άδεια και μικρή, τέσσαρες τοίχοι μόνοι,
και σκεπασμένοι με ολοπράσινα πανιά,
καίει ένας πολυέλαιος ωραίος και κορώνει·
και μες στη φλόγα του την καθεμιά πυρώνει
μια λάγνη πάθησις, μια λάγνη ορμή.

Μες στην μικρή την κάμαρη, που λάμπει αναμένη
από του πολυελαίου την δυνατή φωτιά,
διόλου συνειθισμένο φως δεν είν’ αυτό που βγαίνει.
Γι’ άτολμα σώματα δεν είναι καμωμένη
αυτής της ζέστης η ηδονή.

(Από τα Ποιήματα 1897-1933, Ίκαρος 1984)


Then it suddenly struck me. I had the finished piece in front of me in a few seconds. And I got to work.

I think the result looks sultry and provocative, just like the poem is. I love how an architectural salvage, like this chandelier chain link, gives this piece its character and is then quietly complemented by the black brass chain and the black Czech glass bead. Its provocative element is thus even more stressed! 'Not for timid bodies' indeed...

What do you think?

Antigone's Love Ethics

Available here.

Lord of the Rings Tolkien quote crown necklace in gold brass

'The crownlass again shall be king' is the last line of the famous Tolkien poem from The Fellowship of the Ring. This necklace is very versatile. You will want to wear it every day, because it's such a precious thought to be carrrying with you always, but it may also serve as a great piece to wear with a wedding dress. After all, one of the meanings of a wedding is that the couple is actually made King and Queen in their own home, which is interesting!

 Available here. Magnificent!

Shakespeare Day

April 23 is celebrated as the day of both Shakespeare's birth and death. It is no secret that I adore the Bard, and I was just looking for a pretext to make more things inspired by him and his work. Here are my new listings for today.

Shakespeare Bookmark

Shakespeare King Lear Quote Necklace

And this is the famous, so-called 'Dance of the knights', from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet... Enjoy!

The Athena Andreadis Collection: Looking At Me, Looking At You

how many eyes must i have
a telescope, a magnifying glass
before it becomes obvious
that you’re looking at me looking at you

(Athena Andreadis - Looking At Me, Looking At You, from Peeling Apples)

I really loved making this, it's so simple yet so stunning! The perfect help to discovering all the little miracles going on around us, while we often sit worrying about insignificant things.

This beauty is available here. And this is the amazing Athena in an incredible song!

Valentine's Day Giveaway Alert!!!

This beautiful necklace with Dante's romantic quote features a long, lovely crocheted cord and a long tassel hanging at the bottom. For a chance to win, if you already like my page, leave a comment under the photo. People who are going to like my page from this moment on, will enter automatically. Good luck to all!

Introducing the Amoronia Initial Letter Necklace

This must be the cutest personalized gift I can think of, for all occasions!

Notice the Greek letter, equivalent of the English 'X', in the necklace I made for a girl named Xenia. You could always ask for Latin characters, but a necklace with the initial in Greek would be so fun!
 

Skull Bracelet or Necklace

I have an obsession with skulls lately. I wear a lot of skull jewelry that I have made for myself, and I can totally identify with it. Sometimes it's the gothic version, sometimes I need something to cheer me up. Since I am often inspired by what I would wear myself, this piece belongs to the second kind.

 Skull Bracelet or Necklace

 You can wear this piece either as a triple wrap bracelet or as an asymmetrical, adjustable length necklace. Truly wonderful!

Art Nouveau Necklace

I called this necklace Art Nouveau, long chain necklace with recycled part, antique brass and white rhinestones. It is one of a kind of course, and it's so easy to style. Just think of all the vintage fashions this season! Fabulous!

Eros Bridal Locket Necklace

I am really proud of this! A bride can sure use a locket on her wedding day! This was a custom order, but I intend to make the design available for everyone within the next couple of days. And the price is 28.79 USD (that's around 22 euros).

Meanwhile, after I had started working on this necklace, I happened to be writing the Victorian Charm fashion trend report article for the EGST blog, which you can also read here in my personal blog. While looking for relevant runway photos -I like to select them one by one- I came across this:

Elle says that this necklace, from Dior, marries both Victorian worlds: London’s dark, dirty streets and the royal court’s pretty fashions. It is the Dior 'Poudree' large lace necklace, $3,100. Found at dior.com. Indeed it is gorgeous. But no mortal can pay that amount. Plus, I don't think it is that wearable. By mortal people, that is. Anyway, just thought I'd share it with you. The photo is of course courtesy of Dior. May rich people around the world buy it! The rest of you, who want original designs, are kindly advised to visit my Etsy shop.

The Empty Frame Collection: Art Deco Necklace

Find it here

Inspired by the lines of Art Deco, this modern, sleek design makes for a conversation piece that you will wear with pride! Featuring a real dollhouse miniature frame in gold, the necklace can be combined with everything in your wardrobe. There are more designs in my Empty Frame collection, which you can find in my Etsy shop. Oh, and I should probably mention here that, for the name of my collection I was inspired by the Empty Frame, the music band... Enjoy!

The Amoronia Paper Beads Fringe Necklace

The Amoronia Paper Beads Fringe Neckace

Made from pages of a Nicolai Gogol book in Greek, these paper beads in combination with faceted smoky quartz and copper wire are typically Amoronia! After the earrings, it was about time I created a necklace, and a mini fringe seemed perfect: Fashionable, elegant and intellectual. What do you think?

Love Unconquerable in Battle Necklace with Vintage Black Lace Ribbon

 Love Unconquerable in Battle Necklace with Black Lace

This necklace is a OOAK. It is done in a black metal frame, and there is no closure to the ribbon. You simply tie it around your neck -or have someone else tie it for you...

Fairytale Bohemian Necklaces

If you follow this blog, you already know how much I love fairy tales. I made these one of a kind necklaces the other day, using hand-dyed silk cord, which adds a luxurious element, and semi precious stones, which are very bohemian... Plus the images are amazing, the Rapunzel illustration was made a very long time ago by an anonymous illustrator, and the Mermaid is of course a painting by Waterhouse, whose body of work I cherish.

The Mermaid Necklace

 

Rapunzel Necklace

I just love how rich the agate stones are! And there is also bloodstone, rutilated quartz, tiger eye, jasper. Magical...

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I know most of us don't actually believe in Valentine's Day, but I think you would agree that we all LOVE to be spoilt once in a while!

I created this necklace from vintage lace and Swarovski aurora borealis, combined with brass chain, and wanted to dedicate it to all of you reading this post! You deserve this and so much more! ♥

 

Happy Happy Day!!!!

Emerald Amulet

The Dark Ages weren't called dark for nothing. People used to be very superstitious, and if you happened to be a woman, life was particularly harsh. An emerald pendant was thought to afford women protection against assault.

Emerald Amulet, Long Chain Pendant Necklace

I created this neckace to enter the EST challenge, hosted by viltalakim, entitled 'Middle Ages'. I used extra long heavy brass rolo chain, as well as a very old emerald green plastic bead charm. This is an OOAK. Enjoy!