New Iridescent Flutter Earrings (and Facing Some Insecurity)!

 

I've been working with Kraft*Tex and iridescent films for awhile now with the DreamCuffs, but I've got ideas for other kinds of accessories as well.  

The past few weeks I've been working on some new earrings, and as usual, they surprised me!

I expected the cool color-shifting iridescent effect, but what I didn't anticipate is the way they move and reflect.  They are almost feather-light, and flutter in the breeze and as you move around - like shimmering aspen leaves!  

And as they are fluttering, they are casting sun-dappled reflections (the iridescent film shows on both the front and the back sides), as well as looking transparent from certain angles, creating a stained glass effect - flashing and glowing and generally creating an effect more magical than I'd ever hoped!

 

These earrings are also helping me face my insecurity about photos of myself.  

I am, as many of us are, quite self-conscious about this kind of thing.  I'm plump, I'm pushing 43 years of age, my hair is thin and fine and the gray has been creeping in for years, the wrinkles are starting to appear, the dark circles are chronic and hereditary. I'm no supermodel!

I know intellectually, and truly in my heart, that I am beautiful as I am (double chins, nascent wrinkles and gray hairs and all!), and that I don't have to be a supermodel to be beautiful.  

But when it comes to my business, I want to present my products well, and having professionally photographed, pretty girls modelling your fashions is apparently how successful designers present their work.  But paying for a pro photographer and having to arrange for a younger, thinner, hotter friend to model would require more patience (and $) than I possess when in a creative frenzy.  

My demand for instant gratification is overcoming my insecurity!  Whoo-hoo!

To be honest, I'm pretty put off by a lot of the fashion world, and how people are presented.  I don't really want to perpetuate the impossible, sometimes outright deceitful beauty standards that have been dominating.  My definition of beauty is WAY bigger than that.  I find beauty in people of all types!

So I've been modelling the earrings myself, and at first I cringed, having to look at so many images of my own face.  All I could see were the flaws. I DID manage to refrain from doing any Photoshopping beyond some cropping and general color correction.  In the first set, I didn't even put on any makeup, since I don't generally wear it unless I'm going "Out".

The more I faced these images, the more it sank in that I don't look half bad.  Good lighting, head position and camera angle can do wonders! And when I posted the pics, friends commented on how great I looked in the pictures.  So perhaps my pathetic, body dysmorphic, hyper-critical, b.s. Self Image is losing it's grip.

They liked the earrings, too.  :)

Check out my available selection at my Etsy Shop!:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/cristinamcallister?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Introducing DreamCuffs!

Okay guys, here’s a first glimpse of the Crazy New Thing I’ve been obsessing over for the last few months.

Introducing DreamCuffs(TM!): Original Wearable Art That’s Armed and Dangerousssss…ly Fabulous!

Wear them on bare arms, or over sleeves or gloves. Accessorize your favorite costumes, or build a whole new outfit around them! There’s something empowering about strapping on a pair of bracers…like you can deflect any obstacles that come your way and let your most fantastic self shine!

It all started with an idea I’ve been kicking around recently; “If I were a fashion designer in the Faerie Realm, what would I design?”.
This idea made my brain a’splode, in a really good way. One insomnia-wracked night I envisioned faerie bracers made with iridescent wing-like shapes and textures, with graceful designs and shifting colors. I had to get out of bed and do some sketches. They looked really neat. Then I thought: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like that in physical form. How would you make something like that?”

I started doing some more drawing and research and experimenting and discussing with Dore and ultimately we decided to invest in a supercool (but somewhat expensive) machine that allows me to electronically die-cut my own original designs out of a variety of materials. So far, I’m loving this thing. It’s called the Zing, but Dore keeps calling it “The Zinger”, which cracks me up every time, which is probably why he keeps calling it that.
But seriously…there are SO my things I could do with this new art tool that I feel like I could be busy with it for the rest of my life!

But the thing that is really bringing down the Muse Hammer is this bracers idea. It combines my intricate design style with iridescence (something I’ve always wanted to play with!), it’s a way to get back to my fantasy-art roots in a new and exciting way, I can integrate different textures and finishes and embellishments to create truly unique and striking accessories for freaky people like me to wear to fun places. And not just armwear…I have some ideas for other accessories as well.
I was suddenly consumed with a burning NEED to make these things real and see people wearing them and feeling amazing.
I started thinking about other design themes besides the faerie one. I could do steampunk, cyberpunk, high fantasy designs, sci-fi/anime/video-game/pop-culture-inspired designs, punk and goth and tribal and urban fantasy, mythical figures, abstract geometrics, organic, nature-inspired designs, as well as applying my “gypsy mystery” style to them. Pretty soon, every cool or beautiful thing I saw became fodder for a design idea and I’ve spent many a late-night/early morning hour sketching out ideas and scribbling notes. I’ve got a TON of ideas to develop.

So who would wear these weird things? No one wears bracers anymore! Well, you know what? I think we should, because they are freaking COOL-LOOKING, amiright???

Whether you’re a man, woman or child, a Dreamer or a Dancer, a Performer or a Party Monster, a Burner, a LARPer, a Raver or Cosplayer, a Masquerader or Fearless Fashionista…here’s a fun, funky, fantastic “new” fashion accessory to add the perfect, eye-catching touch to your crazy-amazing adventure attire!

These are my first three successful prototypes, crafted from non-animal materials using an original construction method I devised after much research, trial and error. I’m currently field testing them, which usually involves me bopping around the house getting things done while my body is wearing pajamas (don’t judge me!), and my forearms are dressed like a dark sorceress and a steampunk adventurer, respectively. It doesn’t make for a very cohesive look, but it is giving me an idea about how they feel, function and hold up to wear, which are all essential elements of a quality product that I’m willing to sell to folks.

I’m still perfecting my method, so I’m not sure how long these will end up taking me to make. It is a multi-step process involving graphics design software, a machine that makes strange sounds, something called "weeding" that doesn't actually involve weeds, ironing, taping, cutting, painting, gluing, stenciling, sealing, riveting and lacing. But I think once I get my techniques and workflow down it’ll be worth the time and effort.

So – what do you guys think of my crazy DreamCuffs? Be honest. Would you wear something like this? Or more to the point – would you BUY something like this? Please post your feedback! And thanks for reading all of this, if you did.<3

Star Snake

Snakes have always been a source of fear and fascination for us.  Their form and movement is so alien, yet mesmerizingly beautiful. Their venom can be deadly, but can also be used to heal.  This paradoxical nature has captivated the human imagination, making snakes and serpents symbolic figures in nearly every culture and religion throughout time.

Early people who observed the careful, cautious and deliberate way snakes stalked and hunted their prey came to see them as shrewd creatures.  They are focused, patient and thoughtful – valuable attributes of wisdom. The ancient Celts, Egyptians, Greeks (and many more) linked them to wisdom, divine and secret knowledge, oracles and revelatory experiences. The serpent is often seen as a guide through the spirit realm in shamanic cultures.

In the Bible, the snake tempts Eve with a taste of knowledge and self-awareness, at the cost of innocence and blissful ignorance.

Snakes are also associated with healing and medicine, as evidenced by the snake-wrapped staff, which represents the medical profession to this day.  They have also been used in Chinese medicine for millennia.

Their fierce threat displays have also made them popular Guardian figures, protecting mystical portals, temples and treasures from those who are unworthy.

As snakes grow, they shed their skins periodically. This sloughing off of the old to make way for the new connects them to the ideas of rebirth, renewal and transformation.

They are also associated with fertility, both male (with the obvious phallic imagery) and female (in its sinuous, curving movements).  In Hindu traditions, the feminine creative (kundalini) energy is imagined as a snake coiled around the base of the spine, which rises during arousal like a conduit through the chakras to join with the divine above.  The Native American Snake Dance celebrates the union of Snake Boy (a Sky spirit) and Snake Girl (an Earth spirit), bringing life-giving rain to the land.

Snakes and serpents are often depicted as part of Cosmic mythology.  The Greek ourobouros symbol of a snake eating its own tale represents eternity and the cyclic nature of the Universe. Norse mythology has a similar figure, the Midgard Serpent, which surrounds the Earth. The Australian Aboriginal people consider the great Rainbow Serpent to have created the Earth’s landscape from the void of the Dreamtime.  In Central America, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, was seen in the glowing path of the Milky Way.

The depiction of two snakes together holds its own symbolism of entwining, of balance, integration of opposites and the joining of primal forces.

 

These are only some of the many symbolic meanings that this amazing animal has inspired.

My "Star Snake" design celebrates the snake as a potent symbol that has fired humankind’s imagination since the dawn of our species. 

 This cuff bracelet can be purchased from my Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/196649901/star-snake-cuff-bracelet-rustic-antiqued

DragonWings Cuff Bracelet; A Splash of Fire!

 

Alcohol inks have a lovely, luminous transparency that lets the light glow through the color.
They can be tricky to work with - they have a mind of their own, and you're never quite sure how the colors will flow and mix together, so there's always an element of chaos involved.
I like that. :)

For this piece I've combined brown, cranberry, bright red and a butterscotch gold to create the impression of swirling flames.

Once the colors dry, it's time to pull out the sandpaper, polishing cloths and elbow grease!  The color is abraded from the raised parts of the design, so only the etched recesses are highlighted.

 

Next comes polishing, to bring out the sheen of the copper.  I like to leave it somewhat rustic, so the light glints off the metal in dynamic and unexpected ways.  I love how when the bare metal is shadowed, the brighter colors in those areas really glow in contrast.

Shiny Things!!!

Winged Triskelion/Om Necklace

I haven't been posting on my blog lately, but I have a good excuse!  I've been making the heck out of stuff!

I've been honing my metalworking and jewelry making skills, perfecting my working process and generally having a blast designing unique adornments.

I've been playing with some of my favorite symbolic motifs; wings, the lotus, the celtic triskelion and the Om symbol, as well as delving into some fantasy themes like dragons and fairies.  So much fun!

I've got lots of ideas I want to explore, and new pieces coming out every week. 

Here are some of the jewelry pieces I've created so far. 

Visit my Etsy shop to see what's available:

Gypsy Mystery Arts Etsy Shop

If you want to keep up with new items, add my shop to your Favorites on Etsy, or join my Facebook Page:

The Art of Cristina McAllister Facebook Page

Double Dragon Necklace

Dragon Queen Earrings

Sacred Blue Lotus

 

Draconis Celtica Necklace

Om Earrings

 

Winged Hamsa Necklace

Draconis Arcana Necklace

Draconis Rosa Necklace

Fairy Priestess Necklace

Hamsa Pendant Necklace

Radiant Lotus Earrings

Sacred Lotus Torq Necklace

Sacred Feminine Beaded Necklace

Celtic Triskelion Earrings

Celtic Triskelion Teardrop Pendant Neckalce

Winged Tribal Triskelion Necklace

Visit my Etsy shop to see what's available:

Gypsy Mystery Arts Etsy Shop

If you want to keep up with new items, add my shop to your Favorites on Etsy, or join my Facebook Page:

The Art of Cristina McAllister Facebook Page

New Handmade Jewlery!

Lotus Om with Spirals

 I'm very excited to present some new jewelry pieces I've been working on.

I've spent the last couple of months learning some new skills and experimenting with new materials and techniques that would allow me to bring some new jewelry designs to life.

These pieces feature my original art designs etched into copper and hand-antiqued with colorful metal inks.  

The central pendants are backed by a layer of polymer clay, which gives them a nice weight and a smooth, non-tarnishing surface against the skin.  I sign each piece by etching my initials into the clay.

Hammered wire spiral accents and sparkling iridescent glass beads complete each piece.  

Necklaces connect at the back with a barrel clasp that screws together. 

 

Sacred Feminine with Spirals

Triple Lotus Om with Spirals

Celtic Om with Spirals

These One-of-a-Kind pieces are now available at my Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/cristinamcallister?ref=l2-shopheader-name

This whole Working with Metal thing is new territory for me...I think I'm in love!

Gypsy Jewelry in the Works!

I haven't been posting much lately - my father passed away last month, and experiencing that loss and the responsibilities of gathering up and tying off all the strands of a long life ended have been dominating my life of late.

But I am starting to feel like I'm finding my groove once again, and have been channeling my energy into learning some new artistic skills and developing some new pieces.

After many years of doing digital art almost exclusively, I was inspired by a PBS documentary series called Craft in America, to make something with my hands again.  Jewelry is something I've explored a bit, but not in a truly hand-crafted level. So I've been exploring more possibilities for applying my design skills to this new medium.

Thusfar, I've been playing with polymer clay, stamping designs, hammered wire jewelry construction and mosaic.

I got deep into mosaics several years ago, but instead of the traditional glass or ceramic materials, I used bits of cardboard and paper cut from recycled packaging.
It's intricate work - cutting the pieces, playing with the colors, laying out the design and meticulously placing every piece perfectly, but I find it meditative and enjoyable, and the results very satisfying.
I love the texture of mosaics, the way the light constantly dances and shifts over the uneven surface.
Another thing I love is iridescence - an effect that's just not possible to truly achieve with paint or ink.  So my latest idea is to use iridescent glass beads as mosaic tessera (tiles) on jewelry.

I've got my basic idea figured out.  Now I'm working on making them sturdy enough for wear and honing my new skills so I can translate my concepts into quality pieces. There's a bit of a learning curve, but I love learning, so I'm quite enjoying myself!
The way the light plays on these shimmering bugle beads is just breathtaking - the photos don't do them justice, they must be seen moving and alive to really appreciate the effect.

Stay tuned for further developments!

New Designs Added to my Art Pendant Line

Click to see larger image

I've added several more of my designs to my line of handmade art pendants, including "Shaman", "Sacred Mother", "Love" and detail images from "Mystery" and "Love".

I've also added "All-Ages" versions of my designs that originally had bare breasts.  The original, au naturel versions are still available for those brazen enough to wear them!

You can peruse the collection here:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/cristinamcallister