train tracks & treehouses

This past weekend was so much fun! I had a long planned photo shoot with the very talented Shannon Grant at a gorgeous defunct railroad station, surrounded by trees and a lovely lake.  Just from peeking at the images on her camera, there are going to be some very golden moments captured. I am so excited to have been a part of this amazing team: photographer, models, hair and makeup artists and lots of help styling. It may be a while before I can share, but will do so here when I can!

Here are a few camera phone captures of the serene location, it felt a bit like a ghost town that I would like to inhabit. We had a pizza delivered to us and ate it out front on the very same benches that were once bustling with Victorian travelers and waited out the passing thundershowers under the generous eaves. Magic.

Designed by H.H. Richardson, the very same architect who built my beloved Trinity Church in Boston! Hidden dragons and lions can be found in this deceptively simple building. There are a few other buildings by H.H. in the area that I would love to go back to view up close and get to know a little better.

On Sunday,  came across this wonderful abandoned treehouse while visiting a cat who's people were in Florence~ I wanted to climb up and decorate! Lots of dreaming could be done up there...

So many things to do before vacation in Los Angeles & points North in a few weeks...

must get back to studio time! Looking forward to making jewelry & hopefully listing more on Etsy.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week! 

photography

For anyone looking to improve their skills at small object photography, I highly recommend Steve Meltzer's  Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles . I just purchased it the other day, and haven't delved very deep into it, but have already seen an improvement thanks to his explanation of how to best light a piece of jewelry with reflective surfaces.

Here is an example: the Lumina Window Necklace from my Etsy shop. I was never quite happy with how my photo captured the beauty of the stained glass and patina of this necklace.

now, with Steve's lighting suggestions and a more textural background

Here's to learning and improving! I'm sure to do both with further reading of this in depth book.

The Danaides

The Danaides
Originally uploaded by parrish relics

Listed on Etsy this afternoon after testing out some newly learned photography techniques...hope to keep improving!

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

Tapestry Cat

Medieval Tapestry ~ "The Noble Lady Spinning Wool" 

Lots of cats on my mind today. Sending healing thoughts to Queen Mab, exited to meet my mother's new foster cat, and finally a visit to Sister Thrift this afternoon to donate and hopefully shop benefitting MetroWest Humane Society.

Sleeping Giant

Had the extreme honor and pleasure to watch my friend Lisa Stock in action yesterday, filming the prequel to her Titania film at Sleeping Giant state park in CT. Not only was the location magical and green (complete with a stone tower and the most breathtaking views) but meeting the crew and witnessing the work and love that goes into her creations was something I will never forget.

Brought the headpiece that was auctioned for Hippolyta to wear, wish I was there to see it on her today! And the three necklaces that will be worn by the Fates, two of which I got to see yesterday and could hardly contain my excitement at how beautiful they were. Grecian goddess.

was lucky enough to see a doe on the drive into the park up close as well.

 no photo...just a magical memory.
just a sample of the beauty witnessed and never forgotten. 

Thank you Lisa!

Visiting friends

One of my biggest pleasures during the day is taking a break to look out the studio window, or go down a floor to our balcony to view the visitors to our yard. Today one of the wild rabbits stopped by to nibble on the grass for a while.

So very happy that our two new trees (not seen from this view) seem to be doing well, I am determined to make this small green space a private oasis.

...for us and for our visitors!