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Merlin’s Acorn Brooch

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 12, 2015
Posted in: Brooches, nature Jewelry. Tagged: Acorn Brooch, Acorn Brooches, Acorn jewelry, Autumn Brooches, autumn jewelry, oak brooches, Oak Jewelry, silver acorn brooch, silver Acorn jewelry, silver oak brooches, silver oak jewelry. Leave a comment

A spray of Autumn: Acorns, oak leaves, pine cone and other flora makes this brooch a classic adornment for cloaks, capes, scarves and jackets.

The Acorn Brooch

The Acorn Brooch

A hinged pin with a secure catch behind the piece provides a secure fastening to your garment. One and one half inches wide, this deep carving of Autumnal leaf and seed adds class to any ensemble. To get yours, please visit my Acorn Brooch page.

To see more of my brooches, pins and Penannulars, please visit my Brooches, Clasps and Pins page

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Merlin’s Custom Pocket Wand

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 12, 2015
Posted in: Magic Wand. Tagged: custom copper and sterling silver magic wands, custom magic wands, magick wands, one of a kind magic wands, small custom magic wands, Small magic wands, Wand. Leave a comment

The Pocket Wand,
A tube of copper gilded with a silver run of oak leaves in a clockwise spiral.
A clutch of holly holds a quartz in place,
The pummel set with a Moonstone in the grounding end.
The piece was designed to hold a rolled scroll with a blessing, inserted before completion.

The Custom Pocket Wand
The Pocket Wand

A wand to be easily carried and discreetly used. The person for whom I made it has harnessed the wand’s shape to help her stop smoking, hence the “shape of a cigarette”. Each time she want to smoke, she would take it out and hold it – remembering not to light the business end!

Currently in a private collection.

If you wish to have a wand made, please visit my How to order custom page

To see other custom jewelry, sculpture and more, please visit my Gallery of Custom Works

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Merlin’s Custom Gye Nyame Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 11, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Custom Jewelry, Multi Faith. Tagged: Amulet, custom African Amulet, custom African Jewelry, Custom Amulet, custom Amulets by Merlin, custom Ghana amulet, custom Ghana jewelry, custom Gye Nyame, custom Gye Nyame amulet, custom Gye Nyame pendant, custom Gye Nyamejewelry, Custom Jewelry, Gye Nyame, Gye Nyame Collection Page, Omnipresence Of God. Leave a comment

This unique and beautiful symbol is omnipresent in Ghana. It is the most popular in decoration: a reflection on the deeply religious character of the Ghanaian people.

Custom Gye Nyame Amulet
Custom Gye Nyame Amulet

Symbol of the Omnipotence and the Omnipresence Of God. From the Akan aphorism: Abode santann yi firi tete; obi nte ase a onim ne ahyease, na obi ntena ase nkosi ne awie, Gye Nyame. Literal translation: This great panorama of creation dates back to time immemorial; no one lives who saw its beginning and no one will live to see its end, Except God.

Gye Nyame is a symbol meaning “I am afraid of none but God,” or: “Nyame biribi wo sor” suggests that good things come from above. More information about this symbol and it’s back ground may be found in an earlier article.

I have within my jewelry line the amulet in two sizes, one larger deeply carved piece, a smaller flat version and matching earrings. A client who has enjoyed her set requested the larger piece modified to accommodate a much larger chain. The result was to turn the Custom Gye Nyame Amulet into a more leaf-like shape.

This is a one-of-a-kind piece currently in a private collection. Because I specialize in custom, I am able to modify any of my pieces to fit your ideas and needs. To learn more about custom jewelry can sculpture please visit my How to order Custom page.

If you wish to have the main necklace and earrings as a set, please see my Gye Nyame Collection Page

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Merlin’s Custom Dragon Money Clip

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 10, 2015
Posted in: Custom Jewelry, Money Clips. Tagged: custom dragon money clips, Custom Jewelry, Dragon Money clips, Face off, Face off money clips, Money clip, spring loaded money clips, Sterling silver dragon money clips. Leave a comment

Some years ago I was commissioned to create a version of the Dragon Money Clip seen in the movie: “Face Off”. I developed my own version of money clip. Not quite a serpentine Eastern Dragon, nor the more “boxy” Western version but indeed my own kind of dragon complete with eyes of jewels and a working jaw to “bite” the bills.

Custom Dragon Money Clip

Later I developed a second, larger version: Flame the Dragon Money Clip. I added a touch of the Eastern Look by including tendrils of flame along the face but it has the stylized scales for of cranium containing the spring that works the jaw. The Ocular cavities where the stones are set are a part of the design itself: the design is not detracted by an obvious setting.

Custom Dragon Money Clip

A gentleman saw Flame the Dragon Money Clip and wanted an even larger version: four inches! The result is this vary large Dragon Money Clip. Like my original version it is a spring loaded clip with a working jaw to bite his cash. With a red stone to fit the iris the piece weighted out to nearly four ounces of sterling silver.

If you are interested in my money clips, please visit my Money Clip page. If you would like a custom piece, please go to my How to order custom jewelry and art page.

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Merlin’s Caduceus of Fire Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 9, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Custom Jewelry, Greek Mythology Jewelry, Multi Faith. Tagged: Amulet, Caduceus amulet, caduceus medallion, caduceus necklace, caduceus pendant, caduceus symbol, Roman mythology, staff of Hermes. Leave a comment

The classic caduceus symbol of wings framing a pair of serpents climbing the staff of Hermes.
In Roman mythology it is a staff carried by Mercury the messenger.
Also a recognized symbol of commerce and negotiation,
two realms in which balanced exchange and reciprocity are recognized as ideals.
In North America associated with Medicine and Health Care.

Caduceus of Fire Amulet

Caduceus of Fire Amulet

Caduceus of Fire Amulet

The classic symbol of the caduceus over the Elemental symbol of Fire.
Silver and Bronze,
two inches on a sterling rope chain.
The original piece is now in a private collection.
If you wish something similar, please visit my How to order Custom page.

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Merlin’s Zeus Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 8, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Greek Mythology Jewelry, Pagan Jewelry. Tagged: gold lightening bolt jewelry, Greek God amulet, Greek God jewelry, lightening bold pendent, old god jewelry, Zeus amulet, Zeus Jewelry, Zeus silver talisman, Zeus sterling silver jewelry. Leave a comment

“That Zeus is king in heaven is a saying common to all men” – Pausanias

The Zeus Amulet

The Zeus Amulet

Ruler of Mount Olympus, gatherer of Cloud, the might of the thunder bolt. The name Zeus is the Greek continuation of “Sky Father” and “Cloud Gatherer”. The Cyclopes gave him thunder and the thunderbolt which had previously been hidden by his mother Gaia.  She resented the way Zeus had overthrown the Titans: her children. Soon after taking the throne as king of the gods, Zeus had to fight some of Gaia’s other offspring: the monsters Typhon and Echidna. He vanquished Typhon and trapped him under Mount Etna, but left Echidna and her children alive.

Zeus: consort of Hera, sired Ares, Hebe, Hephaestus, Eileithyia, and Eris. The conquests of Zeus among nymphs and the mythic mortal progenitors are numerous. The god played a dominant role, presiding over the Greek Olympian pantheon and fathered many heroes and worshiped in many cults. The god of the sky and thunder is the embodiment of Greek religious beliefs.

Several attributes of influence are attributed to Zeus:

  • The patron of hospitality and guests, ready to avenge any wrong done to a stranger.
  • The keeper of oaths
  • Zeus watched over business and punished dishonest traders.

For the Zeus Amulet, a small figure in a swirling cloud of Power, holding a Thunderbolt in his hand: ready to strike. The image does not revel his entire form, rather it shows him emerging from the depths of Cloud. A back bail is mounted behind the piece so it will give the illusion of being suspended on your chain or cord. For more, please visit my Zeus Amulet Page

For more jewelry of Gods, Goddesses and creatures of Myth, please see my Mythological Jewelry Page

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Merlin’s Drummer Girl Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 7, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Drum Circles, Drum Jewelry, Music Jewelry. Tagged: Drum Amulet, Drum Jewelry, drum pendant, girl playing djembay jewelry, Girl playing drum amulet, girl playing drum jewelry, girl playing drum pendant, Goddess Rhythms, Sterling silver girl playing drum jewelry. Leave a comment

If ever you attended a drum circle, you will have noticed there are both men and women with shakers, tambourines and drums. In a traditional setting, the circles of Africa incorporate women with their kind of drums and rhythms. Here in the US, there is a cross over in both instrument and music. You will often see the boys and girls standing right next to each other matching beat for beat in musical conversation. In addition to The Drummer Amulet, I wanted to make sure there was a good representative of the “Drummer Girls” at the fire.

Drummer Girl Amulet

The Drummer Girl Amulet

The Drummer Girl Amulet has a skirt, a short buttoned vest and covered head with a bandanna. She leans forward adding Goddess Rhythms as she steps into the Drum circle mixing in her own flair to the fire! 1 1/2″ Tiny statue with bail in the back of her head for hanging.

To get yours, please go to the Drummer Girl Amulet page.

To see more drum circle jewelry, please view my Dancers Page and Music Jewelry Page

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Merlin’s Winter Awen Belt Buckle

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 5, 2015
Posted in: Belt Buckles, Celtic Jewelry, Celtic Lore, Druid Jewelry, Jewelry design, Pagan Jewelry. Tagged: Ancient Order of Druids, Awen, Belt Buckle, bronze winter awen belt buckle, Bronze winter awen jewelry, Holly Awen Belt Buckle, Holly Awen Jewelry, Isaac Bonewits, Order of Bards Ovates & Druids, Sterling silver Winter Awen Belt Buckle, Sterling silver Winter Awen Jewelry, United Ancient Order of Druids, Winter Awen amulet, Winter Awen Belt Buckle, Winter Awen Jewelry. Leave a comment

The Awen is an ancient design used by the Druids of Olde.
This symbol has been recognized and harnessed by the Neo-Pagan movement
to symbolize the emanation of the Light,
brought into manifestation in the material world.
In his research Isaac Bonewits wrote about it’s use and lore:

In his words:

    “The sign of “the Three Rays” is used by members of the United Ancient Order of Druids, the Ancient Order of Druids, the Order of Bards Ovates & Druids, and many other followers of Druidry. It can be seen as symbolizing Sky Father Energy in balance with the Earth Mother energy of the Druid Sigil, as well as any of a thousand other sets of three ideas.”
Winter Awen Belt Buckle

Winter Awen Belt Buckle

The Awen,
both an Winter Awen Amulet and this Belt Buckle.
A Druid from the East Coast who loved the original look of the Awen
designed by Isaac,
however he wanted to have a different version.
From his description I changed the leaves from Oak to Holly and included the berries.
I exchanged the acorns for pine cones and the staves match the cones with pine wood.

In the original design, the central “ray” of the Awen is exposed,
here in the new Winter version,
the Holly covers the stave and it appears below.
This additional feature reflects the idea
of how the light is obscured in the Winter
only to re-emerge “un-looked for”;
the Triumph of the Light.

The Winter Awen Belt Buckle is three inches tall
and may be modified to fit the belt of your choosing,
simply place the size of the belt on which you wish to mount
in the “special instructions” option of the page when ordering.
If you wish,
I can enamel the berries for a more festive look,
(as seen in the image above)
To get your copy of this piece,
please visit the Winter Awen Belt Buckle page.

More Awen and other Druid designs may be found on my Druid Jewelry page

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Merlin’s Winter Awen Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 3, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Awen, Celtic Jewelry, Celtic Lore, Druid Jewelry, Pagan Jewelry. Tagged: Ancient Order of Druids, Awen, Awen amulet, Holly Awen Jewelry, Holly Awen Pendant, Isaac Bonewits, Order of Bards Ovates & Druids, pine cones, sky father, Sterling silver Winter Awen Amulet, Sterling silver Winter Awen Jewelry, Sterling silver Winter Awen Pendant, United Ancient Order of Druids, Winter Awen amulet, Winter Awen Jewelry, Winter Awen Pendant. Leave a comment

The Awen is an ancient design used by the Druids of Olde. This symbol has been recognized and harnessed by the Neo-Pagan movement to symbolize the emanation of the Light, brought into manifestation in the material world.

Winter Awen Amulet

Winter Awen Amulet

In his research Isaac Bonewits wrote about it’s use and lore:

    “The sign of “the Three Rays” is used by members of the United Ancient Order of Druids, the Ancient Order of Druids, the Order of Bards Ovates & Druids, and many other followers of Druidry. It can be seen as symbolizing Sky Father Energy in balance with the Earth Mother energy of the Druid Sigil, as well as any of a thousand other sets of three ideas.”

A Druid who loved the original look of the Awen designed by Isaac wanted to have a different version of the piece. From his description I changed the leaves from Oak to Holly and included the berries. I exchanged the acorns for pine cones and the staves match the cones with pine wood.

In the original design, the central “ray” of the Awen is exposed, here in the new Winter version, the Holly covers the stave and it appears below. This additional feature reflects the idea of how the light is obscured in the Winter only to re-emerge; the triumph of the Light.

The Winter Awen is one and a half inches tall, considerably heaver the the Large version of the Awen designed by Isaac; the bail is behind the cluster of berries to be hung by a chain or cord. If you wish, I can enamel the berries for a more festive look. To get your copy of this piece, please visit the Winter Awen Amulet page.

For more Awen jewelry, please visit my Druid Amulet Page

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Merlin’s Transcendence Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 2, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, music amulet, Music Jewelry, music notation jewelry, music notation pendant, music pendant. Tagged: g clef, Music Amulet, Music Jewelry, music pentacle amulet, music pentacle jewelry, point star, power of music, treble clef, treble clef and pentacle amulet, treble clef and pentacle jewelry, treble clef and star amulet, treble clef and star jewelry. 1 Comment

Few would argue about the power of music.
Many times in my life
I have heard music which inspires images,
sensations, new ideas…
My earliest memories tied
to a piece of music,
whether it be a song,
a sonata or
instrument playing in the distance.

Now I listen to music when I am carving,
sketching or sculpting;
it provides more than a background.
More a flux helping
to merge ideas which would not normally go together.

Transcendence Amulet

Transcendence Amulet

The Transcendence Amulet
is about the power of music.
Combining a Treble
(or “G” clef)
over a five point star.
The Star is a universal symbol
which represents the Ideal:
more than the sum of it’s parts,
it symbolizes the balance of the elements in unity with the spirit.
The Treble Clef enhances the star:
it’s center a spiral moving up,
ascending beyond the Ideal:
Transcending.

The Transcendence Amulet
is for musicians and people who love music
whether it be a Doxology or a drinking song.
If you wish to own one,
please visit my Transcendence Amulet page.

For more music Music Jewelry please visit my Music Jewelry Page

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