It started with a rabbit. And a pocketwatch. There are so many iconic images from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, but to me it all starts with the rabbit. Yes, I think caterpillars, vials of potions, cards, roses, tea parties and top hats, even flamingos and croquet. But I have a thing for rabbits…
(In case you just fell down the rabbit hole – you are currently on a Blog Hop. There was a challenge presented by Staci and Genea to create a piece inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Twas brillig – the idea, that is!)
This is the rabbit I pictured in my piece – a Japanese carved ivory netsuke ( as noted below) Its a full moon hare – myths of the moon hare abound in cultures across the world, between cultures and over time. But thats another story for another day. This story is a white rabbit… The round shape had me thinking of the gears IN a pocketwatch, and the face of a pocketwatch. Suddenly it was not a rabbit WITH a watch, but a rabbit IN a watch.
Ivory Manju Netsuke – Rabbit in full moon shape
Kyoto School, Circa 18th Century
The pocketwatch casing I decided to use – I have a few – was open on both sides. I wanted to be able to fill the space and keep the weight of the piece down. But I had to create a back that would be completely sealed as I planned to pour resin at the end stage. What you see here is a antique glass lens holding enameled gears & vintage gears embedded in resin and layered with paper. The sticker on the lens is original – I left it as it reminded me of the Mad Hatter’s hat size stuck in the brim of his hat. I have fabricated copper wire into a prong setting – as the lens is too small to fit completely.
The polymer hares after baking, awaiting an acrylic stain to add the patina of time. ( The owls are for a mixed media piece inspired by the Greek Goddess Athena…)
The lens in place – epoxy putty as the bezel. It was a sticky mess, like sculpting with molasses. Once cured it had to be sanded and painted. You can see on the right the prongs supporting the piece from the inside. The paper created a visual barrier seperating the front items and the back items.
The rest came together quickly. The hare, gear and watch parts, and an antique enameled watch face from my favorite antique store in Austin TX. ( I live in DE. Long distance!)
The entire piece is currently filled with resin. Lets see how it cures over night, and hopefully I can add an update in the morning! I haven’t addressed how to wear this piece yet. That would depend quite a bit on the wearer, I think. Velvet ribbon; choker length? Chunky chain, worn long over the chest? What do you think ?
Saturday morning: resin for the win!
Thanks to Staci and Genea for hosting the Hop! I had a great time with this piece; I had a chance to play, to think outside the box, to experiement. Please take some time and see what my fellow participants have creatied! Curiouser and Curiouser!
Ginger Bishop
www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Staci Louise Originals (hostess!)
www.stacilouise.blogspot.com
Genea Beads (hostess!)
www.geneabeads.blogspot.com
Jenny Davies-Reazor (Thanks for stopping by!)
www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Heidi Post
www.expostfactojewelry.blogspot.com
Donna Bradley
www.strandedbeads.blogspot.com
Linda Hanes
www.craftygallindadesigns.blogspot.com
Birgitta Lejonklou
www.lejonklou.blogspot.com
Libellua Jewelry
www.libellulajewelry.com
Lori Anderson
www.prettythings.blogspot.com
Linda Florian
www.lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell
www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Nicole Valentine Rimmel
www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
Jo in Wonderland
www.joyblonde.blogspot.it
Jenny Davies-Reazor 