i-love-handcrafts.com - creative meandering !

   Another variation on the Tree of Life using  green Malachite chips and a swarovski teardrop wrapped with gold fill wire. I love this ! Also see my previous blog  https://www.i-love-handcrafts.com/2018/07/the-tree-of-life.html Work in Progress !

A s I delved deeper into the craft of wire wrapping, I've noticed a recurring pattern - the variations are a diverse and complex metaphorical representation of the 'Tree of Life'. The lush, full and bountiful tree, is ubiquitous to many spiritual movements; for instance Eastern and Mediterranean myths and religions; in Christianity, appearing in the books of Genesis and Revelations; in Judaism in the Torah, and in the symbolism of Kabbalah. The Tree of Life is also represented in Hinduism, Islam; and Persian mythology, where I've found some of the most beautiful and colourful depictions in art and craft form - for example carpets and hand painted scrolls. As art gets its inspiration from...and imitates life, so the beautiful wire wrapped pendants and jewellery that I've seen by many modern wire crafters on my online travels. The sometimes bejeweled branches and leaves, at times embellished with an oval stone to represent the moon; rise from many wire roots, t...

A beautiful day, August 2017,  on a beautiful beach - Salamanca, looking out to the Atlantic ocean from the Sao Vicente/Mindelo shoreline;  picking up shells and granite type black pebbles;  spending time with friends - a young family with a gorgeous daughter , hope spread before them...this is their favorite place . I'm treated to  a spectacular sunset , and then head off in the direction of distant music in the air , and anticipate more congeniality ,that is the Baia das Gatas annual music festival,  at the neighboring beach. I came across my sea shells today, and after various iterations -  I've decided wrap it simply with cooper wire to convey the warm and colour of the sand and sunset...a coil for harmony and music, and straight lines for the shoreline. The black cord picks up the shadows. I decided to back the hot mess I'd created on the inner shell with felt - I may yet change my mine !