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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Yes My Deers, This One is For You

May I tell you a story of leather and intentions?

What if there is a Totem Cameo Cuff for you at the end?

Well then, let's begin.

* * * * *
I'm fairly certain I began accessorizing while still in the womb and, like many creative types, began making my own jewelry when "recess" was still a part of my daily vocabulary.  I loved it big and bold, I loved it piled high, I loved wearing the pieces that others said "I could never get away with wearing that."
In short, I amassed a great jewelry collection and just kept adding to it.
Then, several years back something clicked.
I opened my jewelry box one day and was struck by the sad lack of soul, the mass marketing, the cheaply fabricated pieces, the void of feeling I experienced when I laid them against my skin.

I tell you true:
I purged that box like wildfire.

Because I suddenly realized how important it was to ME that if I was to place art on my body, well then it better be ART and not some knock-off (no matter how cheaply or expensively it came).  I'm no Tiffany's girl, you can keep your produced-by-the-thousands tennis bracelets and diamond solitaires.  I'm no plastic bangles or stamped-out imports either, I want to follow my pieces back to the two hands that created.  I'm the girl who wants to feel some soul, who wants to wear a story, who wants to walk into her closet each day and decide what truth she will wear and accessorize from there.

Fast forward just a little bit in time.
Something stirred in the farthest reaches of my overactive mind, building speed and mass until the drawings began pouring forth from my fingertips.  What if, just if, I could take the emotion and meaning of my paintings and wear them on my own body?  What if these lessons I learn, these truths and beauties I discover could wrap themselves on my skin in the most intimate understanding, nearly art through osmosis?  The funny thing is that I'm almost more interested in finding ways to physically connect with art than to beautify my body, however if the two can become one, well, now we're onto something.

So I bring you to today, and the first of my offerings in leather.  A Totem Cameo Cuff, Doe Edition, absolutely, positively, one of a kind.  A painting for your wrist.  A reminder for the woman who intrinsically understands what it is to move like wind on delicate feet, to know the power of gentleness in her cellular makeup, to feel the push of love radiating from within her.  A slice of art to wear in the freshness of this new year and for many years to come.

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In the painting shop momentarily...

Cheers my does and deers!

12 comments:

Cat said...

Awesome!


there's a whole lot of soul and excitment in that one word, let me tell you!

p.s. WHERE did you get that belt??? Envy-swoon!

Allisunny S. said...

Smiling huge right now: gorgeous and then some!!!

xoxoxox,
Allison

tattooedblogger said...

Greatness

MrsLittleJeans said...

I had the feeling you accessorized in the womb : )
...beautiful Miss Dove, you have done it again xoxo

Anonymous said...

UM
HELLO!
DAMN GIRL!
WHAT-THE______!
CRAZY COOL

yup thats what I gots to say

CRAZYCOOL!

love and light ; )

resolute twig said...

Love it!!

Linny Kenney Leather said...

Oh man!! I just love this! Your style is so unique and stunning!

UmberDove said...

Eee! THANKS ALL!

Carrie said...

How beautiful you words are, I too have always loved the unique, the different. But it is only in recent years that I have allowed myself to be openly expressive. Your art is beautiful and should be seen by all just as your soul is beautiful and should be shared with love.

Snailentina said...

This is so beautiful Kelly, I cleaned my jewelry box recently, too... and was just writing about the lesson a deer taught me over Christmas, I love your perception of the doe and I wish so bad I could wear her on my wrist! I am sure you will keep on making them and the perfect one shall be mine when I'm not in saving mode :) and :( at the same time.

Abigail Jasmine said...

Gorgeous! ~ You are so talented Miss Dove!

emilyclare said...

Its beauty is so quaint and mesmerizing... much like you Umber. I love seeing you play your brush upon different mediums - I love there's more to come of these beauties xx