Kuriosities

City Lights (final scene, Charlie Chaplin)

Just as I was getting ready to go out to my guitar lesson today my theremin arrived! Oh! I was so excited – I have been meaning to buy a theremin kit for many weeks now, months even, and finally bought one off of Ebay. (This is where I got mine…) They range so much in price, depending on what quality you are looking for. I just wanted one to play around with for a bit to see if I liked it, so I bought a cheapomatic version with just one antenna for tone.

What is a theremin? You can read about them on Wiki, but basically they are an electronic musical instrument that has an antenna. You control it by moving your hand closer and further away from the antenna, but without actually touching anything. It changes tone depending on your hand’s proximity, and makes terrible haunting, and as I discovered, screeching noises.

It was very tiny, so I popped the kit into my purse and brought it along to my lessons where I showed my excited teacher the wondrous bit of circuitry and wires. We looked over the instructions hastily without paying much attention to them, and started plugging things together, and then hooked it with a great deal of anticipation, into his amp. We were like kids on Christmas morning. What now, what now?!!

It started growling at us like an angry cat about to leap with its claws extended. Really, it was the most horrible skin crawling sound. The closer we got to it, the angrier it sounded. We would move our hands close, it would screech and we would jump back and laugh at ourselves, it sounding like it would eat us up for dinner. At one point, the antenna fell over and we had to touch it. Holy smokes. The noise it made, I’ve never been so frightened to pick something up – it sounded like it had just travelled here from the outer realms of hell.

At some point he managed to make it sing a horrific, spine tingling version of Happy Birthday, as we giggled. And then we hooked it into his mixer for guitar sounds and made it make all sorts of otherworldly and awful sounds. It is a wonderfully horrible device. I will be taking the battery out of it before going to bed, that is for certain. It sounds and feels like it taps into some other dimension…and not one that is pleasant.

So now, I have the task of making a proper house for it. I am thinking some Victorian, cherry stained box with a crank handle, somewhat resembling an old organ grinder. We’ll see how it goes… but it most definitely requires something suitably sombre, distressed and overall creepy, to contain it. After that, I will set about trying to make it make sounds that actually resemble some sort of music, and not quite so (although perhaps a little) demonic.

I will take and post pics of the inner workings tomorrow, when there is proper light, and will update as I go in making the cabinet.

Some nifty theremin links:

Gnarls Barkley Crazy Theremin Jam (how a theremin can sound if you know what to do…)

Mother, A Word That Means The World to Me …we call this guy the theremin guy, he is so erm….intense… about his theremin playing. But he can truly play, and has some lessons too, so despite the ah…intensity… I’ll be watching them to see what I can learn.

I recently attended the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee, WI for a week’s worth of metalsmithing classes. It was an incredible experience…and as I am just now catching up with all of the other things that were waiting for me on my return, I will be blogging about it over the next little while. About the projects, people, and new things learned.

One class that stuck out for me in particular, and the one in which I created my favourite piece of the week, was Mary Hettmansperger’s class entitled “Stacked and Stitched”. It promised to teach different weaving and stitching techniques with wire and sheet metal – as well as applying heat patinas. I almost did not take the course, and it was a last minute addition to my list – as the techniques did not look overly complicated, and like something I could work out myself. I am so glad that I went ahead with it, it was a highlight of my week.

Upon entering the class, and during our first demonstration, Mary told us that she does not use conventional jewelry making tools. That she did not even use a saw??!? She said instead, she sharpens screwdrivers and uses them with a hammer to cut out inner shapes in the metal, and snips to cut out the main shape of the piece. Huh!? This seemed crazy to me. Then she said that she also did not use a drill, but instead used leather punches. I’m sure my face registered my dismay, even though I tried to hide it. A voice inside my head said “Erm, I think I’ll be a-usin’ my jewelry saw, thank-you.”

But I fought the snotty voice inside my head that was entrenched in traditional metalsmithing tools and training, and decided to go along with the way Mary did things. And I am so glad that I did.

Mary’s class was like stream of consciousness poetry in metal and multimedia form. I gave myself over to the process and the materials, and turned off the logical planning part of my brain. I took the techniques that she taught us and let my hands take the lead. I had no plan for the piece that I made at the outset, it revealed itself to me layer by layer, bit by bit, and even I was surprised by it at the end.

Usually I spend a great deal of time in planning and researching my pieces, imbuing them with meaningful symbols, and stories to tell. I am usually quite deliberate in what I create. So I was surprised at the story that revealed itself by the end. That there were meaningful symbols in it, that there was a story, although the story was not altogether clear, and perhaps a bit mysterious, and certainly open to interpretation. Perhaps a little darksome. You can decide your own story for it…for me, it changes by the day.

After I created the piece, I wore it the next day when I went out. I was wearing a new sundress that was not altogether revealing in a tawdry way, but certainly plunged at the neckline whilst remaining within decent boundaries. People stopped me several times on the street and asked to look at the necklace. They wanted to touch it, and turn the pages. Each time, so engrossed in discovering the bits of metal, that they seemed oblivious to the fact that they were reaching in towards my bosom and bringing their faces closer than what is usually publicly acceptable. At first I was a bit uncomfortable, but then decided to take it as flattery that they were completely unaware of the awkwardness of the situation, and just drawn into the little book and its story.

I hope to take what I have learned here, and let my hands serve to guide me to new places every now and then…

A StoryBook Pendant: “The Oldest Story in the Book“

A primitive storybook in copper that has been texturized with hammers, stamps, and punches. It has been coloured by applying flame to the metal and quenched in water. The front window punched out with a screwdriver. Text from a vintage newspaper ad has been sandwiched between copper and a sheet of Mica, using sterling rivets to hold. Handwoven wire creates the bail…

Cut from an old playing card. Holes were punched through and riveted with copper eyelets.

Rivets hold the page together. A window cut out with a sharpened screwdriver. The “glass” is made of Mica – a sheet of mineral. Clipping from a vintage newspaper advertisement. Copper has had a heat patina applied.

Sterling silver eyelets on copper with a heat patina applied. (Made by torching the metal and quenching, torching, and quenching). The back of page three is also shown, handstamped with the exclamation “oh!”.

Coloured with a heat patina. Riveted with sterling silver eyelets (bubbles). Handstamped with the word “deeper” and a tiny seahorse. Copper and assorted findings.

Handwoven fine copper wire hold the paddled pieces of the bail together, to give the piece a primal feel. Free mving hanger and beads add movement. A mysterious modern artifact piece.

Spring has finally descended upon the Island, and with it the freedom of the outdoors. I have been taking advantage of the weather and spending as much time out of doors as possible wrangling ponies and rambling about the farm.

I fixed the back fence that had been overcome during winter by snow, and put the ponies out in their summer home. It is a long stretch of land, and they love to gallop at top speeds from one end to another. When I go out for the evening feed it seems to never fail that they are at the far end of the pasture, and upon seeing me emerge from the barn with the hay, they come galloping towards me. Although I trust their rambunctious selves, it is still somewhat unnerving to have a herd of 4 horses come straight at you at a gallop. The ground shakes, and the sound of hooves in the air. It happens every day, and yet it still makes my heart skip a beat when Lyric slides to an eager stop a mere two feet away from myself.

I have also been riding (hurray!) both my Lyrical pony (trusty and loyal steed that she is and co-conspirator in all of my cowgirlish daydreams), and my daughter’s little naughtypants pony, Sophie. Ms. Naughtypants actually ditched me the other day, having spooked at a plastic bag rattling in the breeze. I was bareback, and although the little jump and rear she gave would never unsettle me with a saddle, I had decided to ride bareback that day. When I went to cling with my leg, the fat of her chubby little sides just rolled and bump down I went. Which really, is much like falling off a chair, she is so small. But she stepped on my arm! Ouch! My first time falling in 18 years, and it was off Miss Naughtypants. The shame of such a thing!

Here is Ms. Naughtypants, Sophie, with my kind and sweet old mare Hill. She looks all innocent…but she is a clever and mischievous girlie. I am training her right now so that she behaves better when my little girl rides her. Right now she is keenly aware of the difference between myself, and B. She will behave like an angel when I am astride her chubby self, but the second I hand the reins to B it is an entirely different story. She tries to walk off with her, and tries to rub her off of her back by walking too close to trees and fenceposts. So she is in pony bootcamp. Ha.

My pony injury…Sophie is small, but she still weighs 600 lbs. And anything 600 lbs stepping on your arm $%#&$ hurts. I’m just glad that it did not break, and that it was my arm, and well, not my face or ribs. yikes.

The kiddos and I had fun the other day with a cowboy(girl) dress-up and photo shoot. They are having a Carnival Week at their school, which means that they dress up as some different theme each day. One of the days was Cowboy Day, so I went shopping at some second hand / vintage stores and managed to turn up this nifty cowboy hat. So we pulled out the cap guns and played cowboys for the camera. So much fun. I wish I could post the pics of them all scowly and mean lookin’, but internet being as it is, I don’t post pics of the little ones. You will just have to trust me on the cuteness factor, or if I know you well, ask and I’ll send you some. But how nifty is this hat?! (I need to work on my mean face)

Stick ‘Em Up, Mister ! Ha.

Not too many new jewelry pics right now. I have been busy with a multitude of things, and will have more pics soon. But here is a recent set that I made for frequent client. She was looking for something special for her sister’s 50th birthday, and wanted something with the birthstones of her sister’s children. I came up with the following sketch, and after it was approved, the following jewelry set. She was over the moon happy with it, and I feel honoured that she chose me to make something for a milestone birthday bash…

Faceted blue topaz, garnet, and quartz in sterling settings. Matching bracelet, charm necklace and earrings.

I bought a new mic that I have been busy with…still getting the hang of recording things, and will be picking my guitar teacher’s brain for all of his tricks on making things actually sound good…but here is a small poem of mine that I posted a while back.

Upcoming projects: a new Paiste cymbal pendant, spoken word audio, and a multitude of soldered sterling pieces. Perhaps even a song or two… if I get truly brave…that remains to be seen.

first draft

Storm(s)
by K. de Montbrun

-I-
the first,
swarmed like bees
the sting, the openeyed
shock of it, there, and
then again, here, again. the
flood that followed
swelled the banks
for days, foul!
it cried and loudly.

beneath the roil
and boil
                            a calm
that whispered
stay.

-II-
the second,
spoke betrayal, blood
pounding head,
arms tore the sky
pulled the storm down
spun it, wild
and fierce. the
rain pummelled
left nothing unbruised.
(the fruit quivered
ruined on the branch.)

in the silence
of the whirling eye,
i held my breath
                        and followed
your footsteps
home.

-III-
the third,
black gleam of crows
swooped down
from the birches
their wings beating
adieu, each
feather a sigh, each
a different name,
goodbye _ , and goodbye _ ,
and goodbye _
the air thick with
loss, and shattered silk
promises dusted
the frozen ground.

the stick in my
hand traced words in
the snow

come

back

-IV-
the fourth,
sealed the deal
so to speak, three
time’s a charm, but
four? four times
is something bigger
than that. it overflows
the edges, it pools
in every pore, every
chamber filled echoes
with the roar,
the rhythm changes,
the blood reknits

the fourth, is
the coveted bird
returned after winter.
the fourth,
is a gift.

take it
or leave it

or both.

I have decided….Spring is a tease. She arrives and flaunts herself for a day here and there…just enough to make you believe she might actually stick around this time, might coax the buds from the branches, might plant the sun in the sky to delight you. And then she disappears, without a word, without a trace. And suddenly you are back in the lonely depths of Winter, wondering how the snow could be falling so hard around you again when just yesterday it seems like your world was finally melting under her fond gaze. 

We are destined to get yet another 5-10cm of snow tonight, and I am displeased – to say the least. Perhaps I am overly eager, and need to learn patience (good things come, and all that jazz), or to appreciate what Winter has to offer. Need to wait for Spring to pick her time, make her grand entrance, and be enthralled when she finally arrives with her dizzying gifts. But it has been a long, cold, Winter of waiting and waiting. I am not very good at waiting at all, not when the end is uncertain in its timing. It is torturous.

In the meantime, my fingers have been busy with making. And my mind wrapped up in daydreams. This morning I awoke to the news, complaining of crows. How can anyone complain of crows? Apparently Victoria Park in Charlottetown has a crow problem – thousands upon thousands of crows have decided to make their homes there, and cause a great raucous. The surrounding residents are complaining of the noise, and the mess, and say that the crows are causing mayhem and destruction. I am, however, absolutely enchanted and delighted by this notion. A massive clan of crows causing mischief! I must see this with mine own eyes. They say that when the crows return at dusk, the sky is thick and black with them…so I will make it my mission this week to see such a sight. Thousands of crows gathering to welcome the night!

from the pendant series “A Storytelling of Crows”
Crow #1: One is for Sorrow
“My love she’s like some raven
 At my window with a broken wing.”

My love she's like some raven, At my window with a broken wing

The message hidden inside...

This particular pendant was inspired in large part by the Bob Dylan song “Love Minus Zero/ No Limit“. I had been searching for Crow #1 for quite some time, but she had not yet come to me, when I happened upon this song – and immediately I recognized her. This is what I wanted her to be – this beautiful, wise and strong crow – wounded temporarily from life’s heartbreaks, fragile. At the window of her lover, waiting to be healed. And the gift of finding her dark self, waiting there…

It was important to me, that the window could open. That the wearer could feel that act of participation in the story, the act of opening the window, of finding the crow, of bringing her inside. I also wanted that moment of discovery, of finding the hidden story, of it drawing the wearer in. So…hinges! My first set of hinges – which are tiny and a little tricky to get just right, but in the end they were nowhere near as difficult to construct as I had let myself imagine. Fiddly, yes. But certainly not impossible. I plan on incorporating them into my work more often.

The Trickster

This fellow is not part of the storytelling series, but is a storyteller none the less. He is a mischievous fellow, this particular crow… full of strange tales, and sordid adventures. He could charm the stripes off a snake, charm the devil himself I think, and the coin from your hand while he is at it, and all the while you would thank him for it. But there is something in these tales he tells, a method to the madness, and a message in it if you listen closely. And as much of a raggamuffin scoundrel, this crow who hops from branch to branch, there is a certain redeeming something that draws your eye, begs it follow.

Maybe it is Spring in the air, or the after effects of a whimsical Valentine’s Day, or days lost in fever dreams…but I’m feeling that strange lingering effect of dreams carried into daytime hours. A mind that won’t quite focus, and is tripping further and further into fanciful thoughts. So I decided to put it to work for me… I hope you find it enchanting…

Hand chased and pierced masquerade mask in copper, sterling silver rolo chain, and faceted grade A garnets (the stone of love and passion).

Just finished this piece for a client from Detroit. The “D” is the Detroit “D”, etched into sterling silver, to represent the Detroit music scene, and its importance to the wearer. There is a tiny garnet in the record player arm, which is her birthstone. I also added three tiny garnets to the clasp (again, her birthstone), to dangle delicately at the nape of neck, as an extra detail – and also to tie in some White Stripes symbolism, she’s a huge fan,  (red, and 3) into the piece.

Custom record player pendants are $65 for a copper backing, $75 for sterling silver. Handstamping engraving is included, custom etching of images or special fonts +$20. How do you get one for yourself? Just email me! kimberly@kuriosities.com.
 

I stayed up late last night making this piece…the little faceted labradorite stones were telling me that they needed to be used in something, so I had to listen.

I have been thinking a lot about Hope lately, and how beautiful and horrible it is at the same time. How fragile it is, and how we cling to it. How sometimes that helps us, and other times it leads us astray. How we all have that need to believe inside us – that vulnerable longing for something.

This pendant is tiny – only 13mm in diameter (0.5″). I stamped it with the word “please” in a script font, so it looks italicised. I wanted it to be a whisper, a fragile, vulnerable thing.

The stone is a faceted labradorite, my current stone obsession – which is a wishing stone, fabled to bring you what you ask it. The pendant is slightly cupped to hold the wish, and has been hammered and beaten slightly to give depth and age. The whole has been oxidised and then buffed to a shine. It is strung on a choker length leather thong, so it sits in the hollow of the throat, where voice begins, and emotions swells.

Plea

Corvus VI
#6 in the series ” A Storytelling of Crows”

“Six is a Thief”

Crow is known throughout different mythologies as both a Trickster and a Thief, two archetypes that intrigue me to no end. He is drawn to all that is bright and shiny, and as I take my pieces out of doors to photograph, you can often see him plotting his thievery from the treetops. He hops from branch to branch, pretending not to be up to devious behaviour, but there is a certain glint in the coal black eye that too quickly looks away.

What is Crow up to this time? He appears to be trying to make off with a bauble of some sort. Is he swooping down to catch it up in his claws, or has it slipped free of his clutches and falling? I wonder if somebody left it out there for him to find, or if he has been watching quietly and swooped in at just the right moment? And what will Crow do with it if he succeeds? Would he cosset this new bauble, keep it safely and shine it up, or discard it for something new? Who really knows the way of Crow?

Hand pierced (sawn) sterling silver plate, bezel set in a sterling silver frame whose back has been hammered to lend Crow texture, and oxidized a sooty black. A rose quartz cab (the bauble) has been set between the plates. Two iolite crystals adorn the bail, a symbolic continuation throughout the crow series. The heavy sterling rolo chain has been oxidized and antiqued, finished with an s-clasp.