Jewelry design

The Phoenix Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 10, 2009
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, Multi Faith, Pagan Jewelry, Wiccan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 5 Comments

This is one of my first pieces. Originally designed to be the front portion of a circlet, this design highlights the Double Headed Phoenix: a creature that rises from the ashes of the previous incarnation; a two headed manifestation; much like Janus the God that sees into the past: learning from the lessons of experience; looking into the future. The God of the gates and passages; of beginnings both abstract and concrete.

The Phoenix

These ideas are combined into a single piece to produce a hybrid of ideas: renewal, vision, knowledge from experience and the ability to begin again with vitality and the promise of success.

The Phoenix amulet is 2 ½” across and is available as a brooch or necklace. The brooch has a long pin between the win tips for a secure fastening while the necklace harnesses the flame chain: completing the motif of fire and renewal.

The somewhat massive piece is for those that are working on the steps required in starting a new life, beginning a new project or career or simply taking a new look to life and the possibilities it holds.

Flame Sprite Necklace

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 9, 2009
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design. Tagged: , , , , . 2 Comments

As the heat of summer wanes

and we huddle around our fires to keep warm through the cold of autumn,
we often watch the flames flicker and pop,
perhaps unconsciously deciphering the images in the flames.
Some of us see dragons curling through the logs…

Flame Sprite Necklace

Flame Sprite Necklace

More often than not,

I have seen the presence of the fire elementals:

the flame Sprites dancing in the fire place or the fire circles.
Composed of fire herself:
she catches tiny sparks
and releases them up into the pops and sizzles
of the surrounding flames

I have attempted to capture the heart of the Flame Sprite’s dance

in the flames and freeze her in sterling silver.
The Flame Sprite holds a flame in one hand
and releases it in the other.
I have placed her on a flame chain:
a hand fabricated chain composed of flame shapes
long enough to fit an 18 inch length.
For those that want an additional flare,
I can create a custom setting
and extend the motif of the fire:
holding a flame stone.
I have also created Flame earrings,
bracelet or the Flame Chain
that may be worn sans the sprite.

Fire is consuming,

transforming and passionate.

This is a necklace designed for the fiery personality,
the warm hearted, and dancers of the fire circle.

Hand Engraving

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 5, 2009
Posted in: Celtic Jewelry, Jewelry design, Pagan Jewelry, Wiccan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , . 1 Comment

I have always been fascinated by hand engraving. One may see evidence of the art on platters and markers as well as jewelry pas the colonial times in to ancient works of art. The process is “simple”: one takes a very hard and well sharpened implement known as a “graver” made of steel and cuts a fine line into silver, gold or other “soft” metals. The way the graver is sharpened depends on the kind of cut. One can go from a fine line to a wide slice depending on the angle of the cut. Often this is used in pavé or other stone settings. The art is developed over years of practice. There are some that spend their entire career doing nothing but engraving.

Another part of my work is the actual design of a piece: knot work is common in many Celtic designs available elsewhere, but typically they are reproductions from the book of Kells. Although I am capable of re-creating these knots, I am also able to design knot work that have never been seen before.

By combining hand engraving and the art of knot work design I can produce unique pieces of jewelry that stand out from the mass produced and machine designed pieces. The latest work is an original knot I developed for a client’s sterling collar. Engraved Collar
Silver Collar Necklace

 If you are interested in having something unique made for you, Please Visit my How to order custom Page.

Custom Dragon-Butterfly Cloak Clasp

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 4, 2009
Posted in: Dragon Jewelry, Jewelry design, Pagan Jewelry, Science Fiction Convention, Wiccan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , . 1 Comment

A Cloak Clasp that is a one of a kind.
The request was for a cloak clasp that combined her two favorite things:
Dragons and butterflies.
With a rather limited description we worked through a series of renderings
and then developed the final piece.

Dragon-Butterfly Cloak Clasp

Custom Dragon-Butterfly Cloak Clasp

The main wings are in Bronze
while the body of the Dragon is of Sterling Silver.
Opals were places in the tips of the wings
with garnets and amethysts set into the Mandala of knot work and spirals.
Amethyst and garnets are set into the body of the dragon.
The stones were set with sterling tube and prong settings.
The piece was made to clasp with two hooks to steady the design
while wearing it.
Three button loops were placed on each side of the wings.

The proud owner of the one-of-a-kind Dragon-Butterfly Cloak Clasp
displays her creature on her cloak at DragonCon every year!
See the website for the close ups of the mechanism!

If you have a concept of a piece that you want created,
you need only ask!

Ouroboros Penannular Brooch

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on November 1, 2009
Posted in: Celtic Jewelry, Dragon Jewelry, Jewelry design, Multi Faith. Tagged: , , , , . 3 Comments

One of my favorite activities
is to create things never made before;
this was one of them!
I have already been producing the Ouroboros Ring for some time,
however a fellow wanted to have something specially made
that touches both his Celtic Heritage and his love for the Ouroboros:
the Ouroboros Penannular Brooch!

Ouroboros Penannular Brooch

Ouroboros Penannular Brooch

The Worm Himself
is a solid carving with the ability to be viewed from both sides,
a fully detailed face and the traditional diamond scalded spine.
Unlike the Ladies’ Penannular,
this is a solid ring with a “free” pin.
By his request I created the pin without a head and to replicate a sewing needle.
The way it is worn is that the ring of the Ouroboros is placed on the cloak
(or Great Kilt)
and the needle pierces the material underneath after bunching it up
though the ring thus securing the Brooch and cloak together.

This is a one-of-a-kind piece
with no mold taken for reproduction,
however
if you wish to have something similar made
(or anything of the kind) simply ask!

The Dark Angel Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 30, 2009
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, nature Jewelry, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

In the spine the second vertebrae is the axis vertebra (C2),
nick named “The Dark Angel”
commonly because of its position:
It forms the pivot upon which the first cervical vertebra
(the atlas),
which carries the head, rotates.
Also because of when viewed in an isometric position,
it looks like a head and wings and is never seen
unless in autopsy or considerably after the demise of the subject.
For such a small bone,
we rely on its position for movement nearly every minute of our waking
(and at times sleeping)
lives.

The Dark Angel

The Dark Angel Amulet

Dark Angel Amulet

As a subject for an amulet,
this represents many things:
health and healing, vitality, protection
and the ability to “pivot” both literally and figuratively.
Being as that it is so rarely seen while “in use”
it may also represent assistance
we both rely on
and never see.
It connects the Mind to the Body in a very physical way.

The Dark Angel Amulet is intended
to be of assistance to those in Health care:
Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Nurses
and all care givers and body workers.
Here is an amulet that is rooted in reality
and extended into the realm of the arcane
for those who wish to bring healing to a troubled world.

Academy of Judaic Christian and Islamic Studies

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 5, 2009
Posted in: Amulets, Christian Jewelry, Jewelry design, Multi Faith. Tagged: , , , , , , . 3 Comments

Some years ago (back in the Eighties) my Father:
Dr. Robert B. McLaren
was a Professor in the Humanities Department
of California State University Fullerton.
At the time,
tensions between the east and west were extreme.
In order to bring a better understanding
between the three “faiths of Abraham”
as my father put it,
he assisted in the creation
and assumed the role as
Vice President of the Academy of
Judaic Christian and Islamic Studies.
The goal was to develop line of communication
between the religious leaders in Orange County, California.

Academy Amulet

The Academy sponsored meetings
giving a forum to clear misconceptions,
air out differences
and reach mutual understandings between the Faiths.
Feeling the importance that the Ideals
were to be grounded in some material form,
my Father asked me to create
some kind of Amulet
that would symbolize their efforts.
“It needs to be comprehensive: start with the letter A”, he told me.

The result was the simple block letter,
the two sides solid and in a form of the triangle,
one of the most stable structures in architecture.
The ribbon holds the letters “JCI”
representing tenuous lines of communication
and a reminder of the effort required
to keep those lines open to each other.

As the first Iraq War heated up,
the Academy became a hot bed of controversy;
however it kept the religious community in close touch
and provided them with the necessary links
to defuse many misunderstandings.

With the passing of its founders
and a host of other problems,
the Academy of Judaic Christian and Islamic Studies
eventually dissolved as an organization,
however the friendships continued.

It is my hope that the amulets
are a reminder of how open communication
and honesty
is a step towards peace and prosperity.

If you are interested
in learning more about custom work for your organization,
please visit my How to order custom page

The Leaf Chain

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 2, 2009
Posted in: Jewelry design, nature Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Some years ago I wanted to enhance some of the amulets and pendants I created with a chain that would carry the motif. When I designed the Green Man it came upon me: what was needed was a chain of leaves.

leaf chain

Popping open a botanical book I then stared carving small leaves that could be then be attached together to make a chain: maple, oak, apple, larch and several others: eleven in all (so far!). I now offer the leaf chain as both an enhancement to other pieces and also bracelets, necklaces, hand flowers and waist chains (like belts for dancers). Each chain is unique in that the order of the leaves vary according to the time of their creation. Most do not “repeat” a pattern; they are composed in a completely random fashion. Some of the leaf chains are “custom”:they are created in the order of the client’s desire. Every link is held together by a silver jump ring that is in turn soldered to make the chain solid. I have in the past created “eternal” chains with no clasp but designed to simply put over the head; but typically they are accompanied with a lobster clasp for spring loaded security.

The Leaf Chain is an original design by Amulets by Merlin; each chain is made one at a time by the artist.

The Epona Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on September 28, 2009
Posted in: Amulets, Celtic Jewelry, Jewelry design, Pagan Jewelry, Wiccan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

Epona or the Gualish “the Great Mare” is the protector of horses, donkeys, and mules. A Roman goddess of fertility, Eponia and her horses were leaders of the soul in the after-life ride much like Rhiannon of the Mabanogian. Unusually considered a Celtic deity, most of whom were associated with specific localities, the worship of Epona was widespread in the Roman Empire of the early centuries.

The Epona Amulet

Among many songs and stories both classics and modern fiction, Epona was celebrated in Llewellyn’s novel: The Horse Goddess. A Celtic woman who possesses a curious talent. When her community attempts to force her to be a druid, she runs away. Her adventures become folklore and in time she is herald as a Goddess.

Through out my life I was drawn to the image of a Goddess of Horses and decided to create an amulet expressing my love for all Horse-Women and the Goddesses they are. The Epona Amulet holds a portrait of a Mare and the towering Goddess, each looking in different directions denoting their ability to see farther than most, understand better than many. A bas relief sculpture of the Goddess of Horses is presented with mane and hair of each braided together illustrating the blending of Her manifestation. Blessings to all who see and know the grace of Epona.

Cernunnos Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on September 25, 2009
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, Pagan Jewelry, Sculpture, Wiccan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

This is a god of the Old Cletic lines through out Europe. Cern means “horn” in Old Irish and related to similar words carn in Welsh and Breton, and is the origin of “Kernow”, meaning horn of land. The depictions of Cernunnos are strikingly consistent: stag’s horns, and portrayed as a mature man with long hair and a beard wearing a torc to denote nobility. He often carries other torcs in his hands to signify wealth and prosperity. He sits and cross-legged in meditation.

    Cernunnos

The Horned God reflects the seasons of the year in an annual cycle of life, death and rebirth. Cernunnos is the guardian of the forests, the defender of the animals and the source of the deep forest wisdom, and the male aspect of creative energy. He is called upon for vital, non-violent masculine divinity. In the Wheel of the Year, His time is between Samhain and Beltane as the Goddess’ time is between Beltaine and Samhain. During these High Holies, the come together in a balance of energies, union and blessings.

I created an interpretation of Cernunnos Amulet as depicted on Gundestrup Cauldron. The Celtic design dates from the La Tene period. Here he is shown holding a serpent in one hand signifying knowledge and connection to the Ancients; and a tork in the other, the symbol of holding power in the world of mortals. This piece is 5/8″ and can be worn as a pendant and may also sit like a statue on your shelf… or where ever you wish!
on a coin