Wildlife Series Collection || pt. 1

I can’t believe that January is here already!

One of my new year’s resolutions for 2019 was to create cohesive collections – with pieces connected with one another under a common theme. But on top of it all, in the new year I want to prioritize creativity over productivity – create less, but truly inspired pieces of wearable art instead of many pieces that don’t really speak by themselves.

With this assumption, it was clear that the first collection of 2019 had to be something special, something that resonated deeply with my soul.

If I had to chose something that has always whispered to my heart since I can recall, that is the natural world – wildlife – all the incredible creatures that live in the water, in the air and on the earth.

So the ❌ Wildlife Series Collection ❌ began.

A little collection of animal portraits – made to last -, each one unique and significant, each one created as an ode to the beautiful singularities of the Animal kingdom.

❌ The owl ❌

His velvet wing sweeps through the night: with magic of his wondrous sighth he oversees his vast domain, and king supreme of night doth reign.

The king of the night – the owl – was the first animal chosen for the series.

Detailing was a main part in this design. Each little mark of the plumage was hand carved, and the body and wings of this majestic bird were hollow formed to give the owl a feeling of tridimensionality and dynamicity.

Two owls will be up for grabs, each a little different, with its own character – hanging respectively on a 14″ and on a 20″ sterling silver chain.

As drops of winter, two dendritic agates hang under the owls’ feet, held by 6 prongs, to emulate talons, as if the owls themselves were carrying those snowy depths around with their flight.

❌ The swallowtail butterfly ❌

Then came the butterflies.

And they flew on my mind with grace, driven by a breath of wind.

As many of you already read from my Instagram page, the butterflies have a background story that makes them so near and dear to my heart.

When I was a child I would jump around my garden in ecstatic mood from April to October, like a butterfly myself, flying from flower to flower looking for my precious friends. The variety of shapes, colours, attitudes and flights of all those butterflies enchanted me deep in my soul, but it made me so sad that I could only appreciate that delicate beauty for a moment. Just like a metaphor of a butterfly’s life, I couldn’t stand my inability to capture those whimsical creatures in a more durable form.

So it’s to you, my good ol’ winged friends, that I offer an eternal silver portrait. May your wings always ride the light air and your short lasting magic resist the wheels of time – upon lavender bushes.

Each detail of the wings was hand pierced and sawed out of sheet metal, then soldered onto a second layer of silver.

So far I’ve only made a dainty hinged necklace and a pair of earrings – as these require a lot of time and focus to make. But I’m surely planning to make more!

The earrings feature lovely Tibetan turquoise drops underneath. They’re very lightweight and comfortable to wear, yet they really add some elven-fairy vibes to your day.

❌ A c̶a̶g̶e̶d̶ ???? bird ❌

A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

– Maya Angelou

From an idea, a concept, a dream was born what may be the most intricated piece I’ve made so far.

An empty bird cage – with the bird flying away towards a turquoise blue sky – left alone with only a feather as evidence of past confinement.

A message on the back: “FLY FREE”.

Never looking back, fly free bird, surfing the golden sun rays of the dawn.

A hinged bale allows the rotation of the cage – to play with while wearing. On the inside a tiny perch dangles solitary.

That’s it for the first preview of the

❌ Wildlife Series Collection ❌

– available on the shop on February 11 at noon pst.

Next up – the habitants of the waters.

Love yous, Alea ♥️