KALIalkemi

I want to introduce my friend Simbi Kali...artist, photographer, writer, actress, alchemist (Qgong4life@aol.com).  She has just started a new product line "KALI alkemi" that features essential oils, bath salts and fragrances.

Over the years she has gifted me with oils and sprays (for the home) that were just what I need, when I needed my mood altered.







Simbi has been such a support to me...taking  many photos of my jewelry as well as being a patron of my work.   Back in July of 2009 I featured a ring I made for her.  I had one trying time finding Hessonite Garnets.  But it was a pleasure also.

 When Simbi began to coordinate her "looks" for promoting "KALIalkemi" she asked me if I had any pieces that might work with the image she was trying to create.  As we talked a memory was pulled out of the back of my mind of very organic vine like jewelry that I saw and tried to recreate a few years ago.  That night I began to pull out incomplete pieces; a focal of copper and brass that featured a Labradorite briolette, veining earnings and necklace that I had cut up so I could use the beads on another project.   I pick this focal because Labradorite is for me the physical manifestation of the word--alchemy.

I had some quality Critne chips I brought years back from Silver Sky in North Hollywood.  I had organized the Citrine on loops of copper wire by color.  The richest color on one loop, palest on another and all of those in-between on a third wire loop.  When Simbi saw these she automatically put the loops and focal together as if the loops were an element not just a way to organize some of the chaos in my work space.



On the vining side of the adornment I decided that my color pallet would include every copper,  green copper,  gold copper,  cream and clear bead and fresh water pearl I had in my stash.

 The other side of the adornment is hand crocheted to create a soft--yes the metal wire is soft and flexible, as many of you know who crochet or knit with wire.

While Simbi wore the adornment as a head dress it can also be worn as a necklace...as soon as I add a closing.

Simbi's Ring

This ring was commissioned by Simbi Kali a brilliant comedic actress--3rd Rock from the Sun--and moving dramatic actress--Mississippi Damned--for which I am sure she will generate tremendous acclaim.

I thank Simbi for photographing the ring for me. Simbi is also a photographer who's work goes straight to the soul and is deeply moving. Simbi wore the ring to an opening of her show Fleur's d' Amour. . . take some time and enjoy her images and the music. . .but come back.

I also need to thank my sister, Sharon Terry, for her graphic work on the image to highlight the ring. Her work on that image doesn't begin to tell you about the depth of her talent so just click over to her site and take look. As sisters and artists we have collaborated on a graphic novel "Into Me See"please leave a comment while you are there, it will help develop the upcoming episodes.

Finally a little about the ring. The structure and support of the ring is copper. A small tumbled variegated amethyst is surrounded by tiny amethyst that reflect the color range of the center stone and form the first flower in Simbi's ring. Snuggled next to the amethyst are orange-red hessonite garnets and tourmaline in shades from pink to purple this group of stones echo the flecks of contrasting color in the tumbled amethyst. The orange reds, pinks, and purples form the center of a second flower with petals of citrine. At the end of the citrine petals are pale green Swarowski crystals. At the top of Simbi's bouquet of gemstones and cooper is a tiny cluster of flower buds of tourmaline in shades of yellow, green gold, purple, and dark red.