Summer days are for adventures, lounging in the sunshine, and soaking my body in the ocean. My favorite part of the day is driving home from the beach, as the sun is starting to dip low into the sky. That feeling of the gentle evening sun on my skin as the breeze whips through the car, carrying with it the smell of the ocean- of home- fills me up. Summer days help heal me, but Oh Those Summer Nights....those are what set my soul on fire.
This piece is part of the Heirloom Mandala series. All pieces in this series are made of broken and repurposed jewelry handed down from my late mother and a dear friend of mine's late mother. It is my way of giving life to heirloom jewelry that is broken, discarded, and unworn. It is my way of expressing and giving form to my cyclical thoughts around grief. When those thoughts begin to spin in my head, I know it's time to create. I love that It is still possible to showcase pieces of jewelry and relieve memories from loved ones who have passed. Instead of letting these unworn pieces collect dust, I turn them into mandalas, celebrating the cyclical nature of life.
This piece is made of up-cycled red coral beads, heirloom scallop shells from the Caribbean, shells from a broken necklace and upcycled beads. Set on a sand textured background in a 1" deep black frame.
6" x 6" (with frame 6.5" x 6.5")