Re-Launch of Lyra Parrish

A year ago I launched Lyra Parrish, a line of wedding or special occasion jewelry. I thought that I would be able to balance two separate lines on Etsy, but found that I just didn't have the capacity to focus on both.

Will still be creating Lyra pieces inspired by the beauty surrounding me in New England, but all will be listed in the Parrish Relics Etsy Shop under the Lyra Parrish section.

To re-launch the line I am adding the three necklaces already created to the shop and will feature them at 10% off the original pricing. This will happen on Monday Sept. 12, along with one brand new piece that I am really excited to share with you!

I have always been fascinated with Luckenbooth jewelry, a Scottish symbol of love featuring two intertwined hearts topped with a crown. Usually seen as a pin, I have created my own version as a  necklace with opalescent Stained Glass, antiqued filigree beads, and moonstone.

As with each Lyra necklace, I travel to one of the many beautiful natural or Architectural gems in New England to photograph the necklace on my model form, symbolizing Lyra's adventures.

Today I visited Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Sanctuary. It was a perfect day~ so many beautiful birds and long winding paths through gorgeous peaceful surroundings.

A little woodpecker (I believe, I am still working on my bird indentification!) even landed on a branch for our shoot. Love!

Here are a few images taken today in this tranquil sanctuary. 

Snow, Glass, Apples

Have been working hard on this project for the past few weeks, so sorry for the silence! Back to Etsy updates very soon, looking forward to adding some recent work to the shop.

...and Hey!

Tickets are on sale for Snow, Glass, Apples!

I had so much fun creating jewelry for the three main characters.

Inspired by the incredible short story by Neil Gaiman 

& theatrical script interpretation by Lisa Stock.

Looking forward to seeing them on the beautiful & talented cast, look for photos coming soon!

a behind the scenes rehearsal video

Treasures of Heaven introductory video

The British Museum just posted an incredibly exciting video previewing the upcoming Exhibition that is opening in just a few weeks!

 My jewelry arrived safely for the gift shop thankfully after a bit of a stressful wait, will show more of the designs made specifically for this exhibition very soon. Really wish I could see this dream of a collection! Can't wait to hear all about it from my UK friends.

preview of work for the British Museum Gift Shop

Etsy Birthday!

It is my two year anniversary on Etsy today
 and to celebrate I am offering

free shipping starting now until the end of the month~! 

Just use the coupon code "2YEAR" while checking out on Etsy...

_______

Having so much fun utilizing the quartz crystals that I have had for ages but now started playing with again after rearranging my studio.

 Glad to find you like them too, there will be many more to come

~ as you can see I have quite a collection!

spring cleaning

Deep in the last weeks of one of the largest production orders of my life. Yesterday took some time to re-organize my studio's work area with better shelving and easier to reach bead/stone organizers. Half the time I have Galatea on my lap and couldn't reach the higher bead drawers, now I won't have to disturb her at all...everything within reach.

Now re-energized and ready to make those last 2 necklaces and 16 pairs of earrings~ ~tag, ship, release, breathe.

Viola inspects her favorite bed, now on a pedestal 

so that she can watch the birds out the window . 

or the dogs that visit during the week here at Walk-About!

Emerge ~ Enchanted April

Emerge...

 Spring Editorial  & Interview with New Brahmin!
There are links to all of the jewelry that is currently for sale on Etsy,
everything else is will be up later today.

I am so in love with these photographs and will be sneaking

them into just about everywhere PR with much gratitude to

 Photos: Gillian Leigh Bowling

H&MU: Rose Fortuna

Styling: Liana Krupp

Model: Amanda Gordon

For anyone curious about the High School Art Teacher I mention who sent me in the direction of jewelry design (I still owe her a piece of jewelry ~ "not snakes or crosses" as she teased all those years ago) Anytime Rosalie!

http://www.rosaliesidoti.com/

Before Sundown ~ Rosalie Sidoti

On her website I learned that she studied at Oxford University’s Ruskin School of Fine Arts! I would love to have heard about her experiences there but didn't know or didn't ask, being a self-involved and painfully shy teenager back then. The PRB were not officially in my view yet, and was much more obsessed with music than art at the time  ~ 

Duran Duran, Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, Adam Ant, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Marilyn, Berlin, Marc Almond and on and on. I think I spent most of my less engaging classes writing band names on my notebook, making sketches, daydreaming of the next concert!

Ok, I'll admit to still being obsessed with music, and many of the same bands.
Duran Duran's latest is REALLY GOOD! A great mix of retro sounds and new production, catchy tunes. I never tire of Simon's voice and my teen idol Nick Rhodes is still very dear to my heart. 

Still deep in production on the latest gift shop order from 

The British Museum for the upcoming "Treasures of Heaven" Exhibition  

Oh, to be able to get to London for this...a girl can dream. And play the lottery!

Nature Inspired Work & Cabin Fever

Sometimes looking out the studio window is my only connection to nature, the outside world for days. I am grateful to the many birds and squirrels that stop by to find shelter in the old pear tree.

This winter has been so hard on so many people, I'm sure the animals have had it bad but they seem to flourish and thrive all the same.  Survival. Hope. Cycle of Life.

Here is a group of creatures coming with me to the show on Sunday... 

if they don't find homes there they will be appearing on Etsy soon!

new bed

new bed
Originally uploaded by parrish relics

Rearranging my studio during the busiest time of the year!
Galatea is enjoying her new cozy bed for the winter...

Fragments of Time

So excited to finally unveil this collection I have been working on with a friend for more than a year!

Medieval Incunabula Jewels

Wanted to do this amazing project justice, and as you can imagine the first test was an intense one! I am really happy with what I have created with the beautiful fragment supplied by Michael Laird Rare Books, and hope you enjoy the first four of hopefully more to come!

treasures found

Had a lovely exploration of the Sister Thrift shop in Burlington, found a few treasures and will definitely go back. Brought three bags of donations, and all things purchased go to a no kill cat shelter. Win win!

first found, a small Nouveau frame, perfect for my favorite Galatea photo.

two matching prints that are perfect in our Greco-Roman themed hallway

Galatea has found a new place to sleep in my studio, under the draped display table. She is a stowaway in the bag that I store all my show supplies in. Do not disturb!

Tomorrow I am heading to the post office to mail out long overdue custom orders, and will drop off a necklace for the Stone Zoo's A Wild Affair auction. 

detail of "Two Leopards Playing in the Exeter Change Menagerie"

by Jacques-Laurent Agasse (1767-1849)

natural acai seed beads from the Amazon

Long Weekend

Had a lovely Memorial Day weekend..still working here and there to keep up. Also made some time to tend to family graves, do a bit of gardening, and to sit in the yard eating veggie hot dogs. So happy to see the first hummingbird of the season visit our honeysuckle vine.

Three guest dogs kept us and the cats company, I love that I get to spend time with visiting animals through my husband's business: Walk-About Animal Care Services~

Tonight I added a sneak preview of "The White Rose", an iridescent stained glass version of my Tudor Rose necklace to the main page of the site...more details later!

The White Rose

Fairy Twilight Garland Necklace

now up on Etsy~

Galatea & Fin

Two of our beloved animals had birthdays this week, Galatea turned two and Fin turned somewhere between 16 and 18, we really don't know for sure.

This photo was taken in 2008, when Galatea first came to live with us, and Fin could still make it all the way up the stairs to my attic studio :( Poor old dog.

Tudor Rose Embroidery

a little image of inspiration

Working on my first Pearl colored Tudor Rose necklace,

and I am so excited about the results! Found the perfect

Swarovski to match the pale, iridescent/opalescent glass.

Colette Crowned Vessel

Colette Crowned Vessel on Etsy

Archangel Michael Arch

detail of Hans Memling's Last Judgement

Archangel Michael Pictorial Arch Stained Glass Window necklace

three bracelets: wishes for the new year

hope, peace & love

http://www.etsy.com/shop/parrishrelics

Baba Studio Collaboration

Recently, I was lucky enough to work with the beautiful creations of Baba Studio. For this photo shoot that took place in Prague, I sent them three necklaces with images from their Bohemian Cats line. Lucky me, as I have been a fan for some time and get so much pleasure from pouring over each card in their Tarot Deck.

more: Baba Studio on Facebook

close ups of the jewels: Parrish Relics

one week from today: FaerieCon!!

tapestries and glass

sneak preview of some of the one of a kind pieces that will

be with me this Sunday at NYC's Cloisters Faire!