Flaming Knot Cloak Clasp from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 29, 2015
Posted in: Celtic Jewelry, Cloak Clasps. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

It’s cold! Break out the big warm cloaks! This clasp will help keep your warm!

The Flaming Knot Cloak Clasp is composed of two bold panels of knot work, each made of a single strand forming many tongues of flame, interlocking, twisting and spraying out like wings.

Much like the construction of the Double Song cloak clasp I have placed behind the knot work three loops at the tips of the flames to stitch into your cloak, cape, jacket or coat.
Clasping them together at the center are two stout hooks
to lock into the eyelets on the opposing side.

Merlin's Flaming Knot Cloak Clasp

Merlin’s Flaming Knot Cloak Clasp

In bronze it hold a warm glow,
in sterling silver it shines like cold flames.
This is a bold clasp: 2 inches high and four inches wide when clasped together;
when opened they hang “straight” because of the placing of the stitch loops.

Close your cape with a clasp of fire over your heart.

More Cloak Clasps may be seen at the
Cloak Clasp Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Double Song Cloak-clasp from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 28, 2015
Posted in: Celtic Jewelry, Celtic Lore, Dragon Jewelry. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Many years ago m’Lady Tony did a painting of a dragon.
It was immense.
The painting took up the entire wall.
The image of the dragon is of a wren:
a kind of dragon with two arms
and a fierce comb studding it’s back between two wings.
She named it “Song” because it is a dragon that “sings”.
It was one of many dragon designs that have disappeared over the years.
In fact her entire dragon portfolio
was stolen from her in Hawaii in the mid Eighties.
Apparently some one who was somewhat disreputable
took her artwork and sold it as his own.
You can still find her dragons:
simply look for her name in the dragon itself:
“Tony”.

Merlin's Double Song Cloak-clasp

Merlin’s Double Song Cloak-clasp

About 22 years ago she requested I create one of her favorite dragon designs:
“Song” as a pendant.
After some time I decided to augment the Song Dragon
into a cloak clasp and added three loops
to the back of each side and two hooks to lock them into place.
The result is very close to the original painting Song
(and her echo)
weave music together as close your cloak, cape or jacket.
With the three loops behind the wings and tail,
even when not hooked together they hang straight on the garment.

The Double Song Cloak Clasp continues to be one of my favorite pieces.
If you look closely,
like the original paintings and drawings
Tony created years ago,
her signature is in the scales of the tail,
and on the other side: opposing.
Like Mirth, the Flame Dragon
and the Baby Dragon,
Song is one of Tony’s designs in Amulets by Merlin.

More Cloak Clasps may be seen at the
Cloak Clasp Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Balanced Star Amulet from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 27, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Jewelry design, Multi Faith, Pentacles. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Merlin's Balanced Star Amulet

Merlin’s Balanced Star Amulet

Two woven stars interlocked: the six point star:
a composite symbol of the elements:
triangles with point up and down illustrating the alchemic glyphs of Fire Water Air and Earth;
and the five point star of the Adam Kadmon:
the first Man (hermaphrodite)
or “Father Time”;
Humanity in its primal,
perhaps perfected state of existence.

Together these two images represent the balance of forces:
Male (active) and Female (passive).
This is not to say that “all men are active and all women are passive”,
not at all.
In the material world,
we all contain these kinds of energies,
qualities and potential.
The terms are considered “classic” in the sense
of how our cultures have perceived the world
and provided descriptions of what has been observed.

Within the glyph,
I have provided the blending of the two in hope
to develop a “more realistic” manifestation of what is actually there.

In another sense
it is the material world
(six point star with all of its elements)
and the five point star
(what we decide to do with it,
the ability of proactive choice
(the five point star).
The amulet may be a reminder of how we affect the world,
the power of intent,
the purpose of our actions and their result.
A reminder that our “purpose” in the world
is what we decide it is rather than what is dictated by outside forces.

The symbol is intended to transcend the preconceived illusions
of separate religious,
sociological
and philosophical differences
and blend awareness of things into a single symbol.
The symbols are woven together:
just as the earth is a weaving together of awareness,
perspective and ability.

The Balanced Star Amulet
is intended to anyone to wear,
everyone who wishes to embrace divergence of ideas
and capability and bring balance to a troubled world.

Other Amulets may be seen at the
Amulets Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Ankh of Peace from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 26, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Multi Faith. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 1 Comment
Merlin's Ankh of Peace

Merlin’s Ankh of Peace

As I was growing up,
my brother created paintings incorporating symbols he found interesting.
One of my favorite was a combination of the peace sign,
the Maltese cross and the ankh.
He worked in vivid black light poster paint
(it was the sixties, after all…)
and it hung on our wall for years.
I recall looking at it as I drifted off to sleep.
In spite of the brilliant colors,
I found the image soothing and offered a sense of comfort.

Years later
I created an amulet that represented the image and dubbed it the Craig,
naming it after him.
Recently I came across the old charm and decided to add a small change:
the lower emanation extends lower than the classic Maltese cross,
symbolizing an emanation of blessings
to both the person who wears the amulet
and to all one surrounds oneself with.

The Ankh of Peace,
for me a logo of the sixties;
but for the world it is a new image:
a culmination of many lands,
many cultures all focused on life,
vitality, stability and peace.

Other Amulets may be seen at the
Amulets
Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Rune Casters from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 25, 2015
Posted in: Celtic Lore, Runes. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

After completing the Tarot Casters
I began to consider the Runes.
In most cases one finds Rune sets with the various glyphs
painted on stones or carved into wood.
I began to visualize the various possibilities
and Tony suggested what was needed:
simply the Runes themselves,
letters with no borders cast in bronze of silver.
In this way one could use them much like the Tarot Casters:
simply drop them and see how they fall.

Merlin's Rune Casters

Merlin’s Rune Casters

The first set I created was the basic twenty four letters
from the Elder Futhark.
When the Set was first released,
Laura Jackson found me on the internet and was quite take by the work.
Following a review on her website she later asked me
about expanding the set for those people who wished to develop
new reading techniques.
By her prompting, I then “finished the set” to include the Younger Futhark,
the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc
and the Northumbrian/Frisian Runes,
the Expanded Rune Caster Set; 42 in all.

Because the set is “simply the runes” cast in metal,
the reading techniques have expanded to many forms:
from throwing the entire set,
taking a “pinch” of runes and dropping them
to simply pulling one at a time and placing them in patterns to create “words”.

The set includes a hand made casting cloth
with a pouch in one end to keep the Runes safe;
this may be rolled up for traveling or spread out for a reading,
just like the Tarot Casters.
A book with a very brief summery of the names of the runes is included.

I would recommend looking to the Rune Masters
to study the Lore of the Runes for a more complete understanding of the subject.
As always,
I invite those that use the tools I make to write of their experiences and insights.
Like the Tarot:
the Runes are a “living system”
improved upon with every generation.
May it be so with yours.

Both Rune and Tarot Caster sets may be seen at the
Rune and Tarot Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Drummer Amulet from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 24, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Drum Circles, Drum Jewelry, Sculpture. Tagged: , , , , , , . 1 Comment

I know you have seen this guy at the drum circle, I have!
He is the guy that walks into the circle,
straps on his drum and changes the sound from a basic pulse
to music that sends the dancers flying.
Other drummers crowd around him as he plays that Jimbay like it as a full orchestra.
Dancers prance before him as if filling themselves with his rhythm
– yet he seems unconscious of the fact he is drawing so much attention,
caught in a wave of music himself.
I saw him too…

Drummer Amulet

Drummer Amulet

In my attempt to capture the moment in a tiny piece of jewelry
I created this three dimensional sculpture of the Drummer Amulet
is only one and a half inches tall.
I tucked a lock of hair behind his head to create a bail
so you can wear him or hang him on your drum.
His hands are in the midst of playing a roll as his palms
stroke the goatskin drum head,
invoking the sound of the drum circle.

This amulet is the first of many tiny drum circle drummers,
dancers and guardians,
each of the same scale,
all three dimensional sculptures,
all may be worn as amulets or charms on a drum
marking a particularly good drum circle or as a dedication to music itself.

Other Amulets may be seen at the
Amulets Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Gye Nyame Collection from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 23, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Earrings, Multi Faith. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Gye Nyame Set

Gye Nyame Collection

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.
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).
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;
the symbol of the Omnipotence and Omnipresence of God.

In the development of the Gye Nyame Set,
I made the earrings “flat” to frame the face with a flash or two;
the main pendant holds the curves to accentuate the flow of the Gye Nyame Amulet;
a deeply carved three dimensional amulet (both sides)
with a bail through the top point allowing a chain or cord to pass through.

Wearing these amulets connect one to a tradition
well over 5000 years old.

Other Amulets may be seen at the
Amulets Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

DNA Jewelry from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 22, 2015
Posted in: dna, Jewelry design, nature Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Based on the molecular theories of DNA construction,
Amulets by Merlin has created a line of jewelry harnessing the double helix motif.
Instead of using the classic construction
of sugars and phosphate groups joined by ester bonds,
the pendant, bracelet and earrings
are made of silver (or gold if you prefer).
Using the classic shape of the balls and rods,
the pendant is over two inches long with the pattern moving up over the bail;
the earrings resemble icicles tapering down from the ear
and the bracelet is created
with tiny interlocking hinges
allowing it to flow over supply over your wrist.

DNA Jewelry

The DNA Jewelry Collection

DNA is often compared to a set of blueprints,
recipe, or code, containing instructions
needed to assemble other components of cells.
Metaphorically DNA may also be considered as a way
to keep and transmit information
or perhaps messages in small and compact places.

Dina Emerson’s nickname is DNA
and upon commissioning a ring for her partner
we developed a DNA ring.
Originally intended as a “one of a kind ring”
for her “one of a kind Bo”
but we thought it an interesting idea
to extend the ring into a full line of jewelry.
A new ring design for public release is forth-coming.

Dina is a Force of Nature with the Art of the Theater:
on and off stage
she blends into the fabric of
Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère
as if conjuring the images with her voice.
Twice nightly she sings mezzo-soprano
across the theaters of Treasure Island in Las Vegas
and the miracle of Mystère manifests fresh as an opening night.

With the blessings of Dina Emerson,
Amulets by Merlin now presents a full line of jewelry:
the DNA Sequence:
pendant, earrings and bracelet.
Perfect for Microbiologists
and other folks who work with the tiny encoders.

Other Amulets may be seen at the
Amulets Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Pan Pipe Penannular from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 21, 2015
Posted in: Brooches, Celtic Jewelry, Celtic Knot Jewelry, Celtic Lore, Cloak Clasps. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Mixing metaphors
(and cultures)
combining ideas that seem to go well together:
Music, Grapes and a Celtic Cloaking Device.
It is said that the grape was on of the gifts of the gods
(Southern Europe is notorious for embracing the Grape and the Olive)
Grapes produce a fine fruit that may be pressed into juice
in turn fermented into wine producing spirits.
The Grape also creates a leaf that may be used for a variety of uses,
even served in dishes….
The cane it creates tells stories all of their own.

Pan Pipe Penannular

Pan Pipe Penannular

The Penannular is a brooch used by the Celts in traditional garb.
It was incorporated as a fastener for fabric: from light scarf to heavy cloak.
For Men it is a solid ring where a tuft of cloth
drawn up and a pin was thrust through the tuft:
the ring securing the pin.
For Women: a horse shoe shaped frame is created and a pin
is fastened to the frame.
The pin travels on the frame to capture,
hold and release the fabric.
Still used today in both re-enactors and SCA,
the Penannular is a brooch that stands out from the more common pin.

The Pan Pipe is unusual for a Penannular because of the design.
Unlike the traditional Penannular which has bold lines,
knot work and stones:
this brooch harnesses the ancient technology of the fastener
enhanced with detailed grape vines on an arbor;
loaded down with fruit.
The pin head itself is the pan pipe with still more leaves and grapes.
Highly detailed,
this is both a work of art and a fully functional Penannular brooch.
The page I created for the Pan Pipe Penannular
contains a description and
a short video demonstration of how to use a Penannular for your cloak, jacket or cape.

Other Penannulars may be seen at the
brooch Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin

Toasting the Moon Amulet from Amulets by Merlin

Posted by Amulets by Merlin on October 20, 2015
Posted in: Amulets, Moon Jewelry. Tagged: , , , , . 1 Comment

When Allyn was attending collage,
he received an assignment to create an educational video.
Allyn had been helping me in my shop off and on since he was 11 years old,
so he knows the process quite well.
One evening he burst into my home with a borrowed Video camera
and told me of his assignment.

Toasting the Moon Amulet

Toasting the Moon Amulet

Within minutes
I found myself the subject of a class project,
first sketching a design
and then under the glare of a lens
and I carved the piece.
We were letting the investment set up
when we noticed it was 3am.

The following day Allyn was at it again,
this time balancing precariously in the rafters of my studio
as I melted the silver and cast.
Laughing the entire time
we finished up weeks ahead of his deadline
and he was pleased with his grade!

I came across his footage and decided to clean it up a bit.
A little lute music, new titles and a logo,
a short tutorial for your pleasure.
To view it,
please visit my:

“How to order custom jewelry Page“

It clarifies the lost wax process
and perhaps a peek at the rhythm of this art.

The amulet itself is of a crescent moon,
a relief of a tree and under the tree is a man toasting to the Lunar Light.
Before Allyn asked me to create this piece for the video,
I was musing over the idea as a design I wanted to do.
Allyn gave me the excuse!

Other Amulets may be seen at the
Amulets Page
created and developed
by Kirk McLaren
of Amulets by Merlin