The Doni Goddess Ring

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on July 27, 2011
Posted in: Pagan Jewelry, Rings. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Some time ago I created a version of the Venus of Willendorf; or the Doni Goddess Amulet: the original was a simple stone carving of a woman’s body sans arms, face and the feet narrow down to a point. A great deal of writing and lecturing by the late professor Joseph Campbell describes the image as not a “realistic” rendering of a woman, rather the Force behind the archetypal Feminine Attributes, focusing on reproduction and providing nourishment for the young and innocent (and many other concepts).

The piece was well received by archeologists as well as those who are focused on developing the feminine within themselves and honoring those around us who manifest those qualities.

Doni Goddess Ring
Doni Goddess Ring

I decided to create a ring of the Doni Goddess, however I have modified the design a little: Placing the arms over the head draws from above and blesses everyone around her. I have also placed the swirl on her belly denoting eternal manifestation and renewal (among many other things).

The ring itself holds the Doni as the central figure, the shank (the part of the ring which wraps around the finger) is solid and sturdy, not a “light and dainty” shank, this piece is solid and will hold up to wear.

To view this ring and order one for yourself, please visit the Doni Goddess Ring page.

Twin Dragons Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on July 19, 2011
Posted in: Amulets, Dragon Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Two serpentine dragons in one amulet, facing each other and holding a stone between them; the settings are in the shape of dragon’s teeth. Their wings frame the piece touching on top and below. Their claws weave their magic between them.

Twin Dragons Amulet
Twin Dragons Amulet

This Amulet of Dragons is about balance: a balance of energy suspended in mid air. Fierce dragons are known to fight each other, however these twin dragons hold their own space and provide a balance for each other: recognizing their differences, they support each other in flight, speaking to each other they credit each others perspective. They are the balance of opposites, yet they seem exactly alike: their scales, position and movement are dissimilar and because of those differences: support each other. This amulet is a reminder of how opposites attract, how different views expand perspective and how diversity strengthens us all.

Where to get your Twin Dragons Amulet is one and a half inch tall amulet is designed for a stone set between each other and comes with an 18” chain permanently attached at the wings.

The Dream Catcher Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on July 12, 2011
Posted in: Amulets, Custom Jewelry, Jewelry design, Multi Faith, nature Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

In making custom jewelry,
I am sometimes challenged to re-create
the vision of someone’s dream.
In the case of the Dream Catcher Amulet,
an artist manifest her idea into a painting
and wanted the design to be re-created as an amulet.
To accomplish the effect I was requested to cut stones into delicate shapes.
Unfortunately some stones simply do not hold up well
when cut into tiny shapes:
the corners get caught
or easily chip due to their nature.

Dream Catcher Amulet

Dream Catcher Amulet

For this Amulet,
I had to shape Turquoise into a star shape:
however turquoise crumbles easily
once it gets small enough.
She also wanted a small crescent moon of Lapis Lazuli,
also a problem.
Once the design was developed for the piece
I had suggested we shape the amulets “face”
to provide the stones to be set from the back,
giving the illusion of the various shapes
and still keeping the integrity of the stone and setting:
this gives the amulet a much longer lifetime.
A blood stone was also set below the frame of the catcher,
it too has a special custom setting
individually cared and cast for the amulet.

With Phoenix and stones set into the “web” and hoop of the Dream Catcher
(matching the sketch she developed and sent to me),
the Amulet was complete
and now resides in her private collection.

Should you wish to have a piece of your own design made specially for you,
please visit my How to Order Custom Jewelry page.

Lady of Oceans Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on July 6, 2011
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, nature Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

Polished Agate is an amazing mineral. It reveals shapes and patterns which appears like tiny scenes. I came across a green agate and found layers of deep water in the sedimentary layers. Shaped like a water-drop it seemed appropriate to frame it with sterling waves and crown the amulet with a sculpture of a Sea Spirit. The Lady of Oceans Amulet is hung with a back bail, a kind of loop hidden behind the head of the spirit, making the piece appear to float on a chain or cord. This one of a kind amulet was purchased days after completion and resides in a private collection.

Lady of Oceans Amulet

If you would like a one of a kind amulet (or pendant) inspired by the images in your favorite stone, please visit my how to order custom page.

A Priestess Circlet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on July 3, 2011
Posted in: Custom Jewelry, Jewelry design, Pagan Jewelry, Pentacles, Wiccan Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

Some time ago I was asked to make a circlet for a Priestess. Circlets are typically “earned” as a Priestess goes through her “steps” in training. The criteria is different from circle to circle, yet the meaning remains the same: it is a mark of success in her training.

A Priestess Circlet

This Priestess Circlet is of original knot work: each bend and fold of the knot was specifically designed for the Priestess and was not re-created for anyone else. The central star is the classic woven Pentacle beginning and ending at the top representing that all thing come from and rely on the Spirit. The knot work on each side is of flames, representing the transformational qualities of the work involved when wearing it in circle: both of the focused tasks and the transformation of the Priestess Herself.

This now resides in the collection of the Priestess Herself, the image she took for me to share with you. Should you wish something like this made for you, be sure to see my How to order Custom page.

Druid Wedding Rings

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on July 1, 2011
Posted in: Celtic Jewelry, Celtic Lore, Druid Jewelry, Rings, Wedding Rings. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

I truly enjoy creating wedding rings. Once folks realize that I can make what they want, the images begin to fly: combinations of animals, geometric designs, people and even small scenes. Many people have a design and developed perfect renderings of exactly what they want. Sometimes I take rough sketches of what they have and render them into something they enjoy, then hand carve the rings the couple designed themselves: each a one of a kind.

Druid Wedding Rings

A couple of the Druid Faith wanted special rings reflecting their lives and where they wanted to go from there. Knowing Gold is not considered a metal associated with the Religion, they chose it because of what it meant to each other in a more personal way.

Her ring is a classic Celtic weave and the circle of life set in it’s tendrils. Each knot develops a weave which is definite and precise, yet has the fragility of fibers For Him I created a knot similar to hers; additionally I carved an Oak tree with the Moon breaking over it’s crown; the branches and roots extend into the surrounding design, bringing the knots to life. The Tree cast in yellow gold and set into white gold knot work.

The Druid Wedding Rings are for very active people who work with their hands. Thus the rings are heavy with bold design, textures which will hold up for many years and strong shanks for daily wear. If you wish to have wedding rings made to fit your personalities, please see my How to order Custom page.

St. Christopher Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 17, 2011
Posted in: Amulets, Celtic Jewelry, Celtic Lore, Christian Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

A little while ago a fellow wrote to me asking if I could make a special amulet for him: a St. Christopher Amulet of a kind I had never hear of before. He wrote:

“As you may or may not be aware, ancient Christian tradition regarded St. Christopher as a dog (or as a member of a race of dog-faced humanoids).  I have speculated, as a result of having done research on this subject (one of my advanced degrees in theology), that St. Christopher was a dog who saved a child from water and, in a manner similar to St. Gwinifort, was venerated by a group of local Christians (in antiquity, the acknowledgment of a person’s (or dog’s) sanctity was made from the bottom up rather than from the top down as is the case today).”

St. Christopher Amulet

He then sent me an image of his beloved friend who had passed and wished for me to give the amulet his likeness.

I was honored and set to work on the project and created a St. Christopher Amulet in sterling silver, framed as the ones in the Olde Days: the central figure of Saint Christopher offering a benediction of peace, holding a cross with the countenance of his blessed canine. If you would like a special amulet made for you please visit my How to order custom page.

Z and Merlin Collaborate on Skull Ring Designs!

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on June 10, 2011
Posted in: Custom Jewelry, Rings, Skull Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Some time ago M’Lady received (as a gift) a special Leather Jacket designed by Soeren Joensson or “Z” as his friend call him. The design was unlike anything I had ever seen. Instead of the typical cuts which make a jacket, the materials were cobbled together into a very unique pattern. It had loops all over it. Years after she received it, I made for her a series of clasps made of dragons: interlocking, solid rings of scales and teeth, wings which hooked into each other and the leather loops in which they were intertwined.

Upon several occasions, M’Lady was complemented, stalked and even assaulted to get the jacket and it’s hardware. Finely, at a Drum Circle the jacket was stolen off the chair where she was sitting: we found it weeks later: stripped of it’s sterling and left in a heap. Again I looked at the jacket and considered: what an honor it would be to be able to collaborate with Z.

A few years ago I was introduced to him through a good friend: Luna Shimada. Z is a force unto himself: For over 20 years he has produced leather and jewelry for bikers and rock musicians such as Ozzy Osborne and the Foo fighters. Other clients include J Leno, Cher and Dirk Losander. Z’s line of “Illegal Luxury Leather” is beautiful: skirts, jackets, vests corsets and more. Be sure to check out his website! It includes everything from T shirts to intense coats.

Over the past several years Z and I worked on several designs: pendants, rings, buttons and other ideas. Recently we settled on releasing our first piece: the Z-Skull Ring. The Skull Ring seems to change it’s mass: when you hold it in your hand the Ring feels very heavy, when you wear it the ring feels light. Deep set eyes in a very realistic skull which includes the famous “Z” logo in the temples and inside the ring itself (accompanying the “Merlin” logo!). The new Skull Rings now available in Copper, Bronze, Sterling silver; also now available: clad in 18k Yellow gold and a deep rich 14k Rose Gold. Each ring is hand made (my hands!), not mass produced: rare and carefully crafted especially for Z.

Skull rings

Now available only in a select store in Las Vegas and through the Friends of the Desert Pyrate!

Amber and Gold Ring

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 30, 2011
Posted in: Custom Jewelry, Rings. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

I got a request for a ring of gold with an amber cabochon stone. It concept was very simple,: she wanted to be able to see a pentacle under the amber. The ring itself was designed for a bezel setting for the stone to set in, allowing for a high dome for the stone, however actually finding the stone was a trick. Size of this kind had to be specially ordered and specially cut.

Custom ring - side view

After a lot of searching, I found a source for amber: rough cut at the right size, however I found no pre-cut stones that would fit it properly. And so with a bit of research from phone calls and reading I began my first attempt to cut amber.

Amber is a soft material: petrified tree sap to be precise, however I was not prepared for how it “changed” my work shop. The smell of amber dust permeated the place providing a sense of calm to my efforts. After cutting and sanding the stone, I used rough and then smooth materials to develop a mirrored surface for the stone: all done by hand. Sad to find I was complete when I tested the stone in the ring’s wax model, (the state the ring is in before casting) the stone felt good to the touch, and actually felt like it was emitting a “tone” that was inaudible, yet still reverberating in my workshop.

When I finished the casting and polish to set the stone, the two seemed to be happy to be put together, yes they were made for each other, they seemed to “want” to go together.

After I was complete, the star I carved in the ring’s bed was only partially reviled at a time: the center of the star was quite visible but the amber acted like a lens: magnifying the star so only a part could be seen at a time. However the star had full contact with the finger when worn.

This was a custom, one of a kind ring made specially for the person who designed it, she sent me sketches of the piece and described the materials involved. The Lady who ordered the ring was pleased and continues to enjoy her ring to this day. More about custom jewelry may be found on my How to order custom page.

Dolphin and Manta Ray Amulet

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on May 17, 2011
Posted in: Amulets, nature Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

I made an amulet of two of the most favored of sea creatures, the Dolphin and Manta Ray. While they are not commonly seen together in the wild, the two graceful creatures seem to glide through the water as if they are dancing.

Dolphin and Manta Ray Amulet

Dolphins are extremely intelligent sea faring mammals: able to communicate with whistles and click, they also have a culture: something long believed to be unique to humans. In May 2005, a discovery in Australia found Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins teaching their young to use tools. They cover their snouts with sponges to protect them while foraging. This knowledge is mostly transferred by mothers to daughters where knowledge is generally passed on to both sexes. Using sponges as mouth protection is a learned behavior.

The graceful Manta Ray is a filter feeder (plankton, fish larvae) with no stinger (like the Sting Ray) and has at times been refereed to as a “devil fish”, however they are considered gentle and often seen in captivity at water parks such as Sea World.

Combining these two sea faring creatures, I have arched the dolphin behind the Manta as if cresting for air, the Manta swims below in a graceful arc. For those who love the sea and wish an amulet to combine the gentle social creatures, this on is for you!