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Moonspinner

Artisan Jewelry by Michaela Batstone

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Archives for October 2017

Medusa Collection

October 15, 2017 ·

October is the perfect time to release a small collection of viperous jewelry, don’t you think?

This series is named “Medusa” after the mythic Gorgon. Classically, she was described as a terrible, winged monster with living venomous snakes for hair and a visage so hideous that onlookers would be instantly turned to stone. Though Medusa being an archetypal monster is appealing in its own right, I prefer the late classical telling by Ovid in The Metamorphoses.

Ovid depicts Medusa as a beautiful maiden, the only mortal among the three Gorgon sisters, and “of all her beauties none was more admired than her hair.” Her loveliness attracts the attention of Neptune and she is raped by him in the temple of Minerva. Learning of this, Minerva punishes Medusa for violating the sanctity of her temple, losing her chastity, and being careless with her beauty. She transforms Medusa’s hair to vipers and renders her great beauty terrible and fatal to behold. Medusa flees to an island, alone and estranged. She lives there until the day when Perseus follows the path comprised of the remains of stone animals and men, finds her in a deep slumber, and strikes her head from her neck. From thereon, Medusa’s head is used as a weapon in battle.

I prefer this telling because it gives Medusa complexity. Rather than a vile monster filled with hatred for men just because, Ovid grants her texture. She becomes a woman embittered by the injustice done to her, yet finds power in her punishment. Medusa sits within the depths of her rage and terror, and conquers the twisting, rough magic inside her. Once she has screamed out into the starkness of her new landscape, she quiets the hissing and begins life anew.

I find this Medusa entrancing. And so, I have made a small collection of jewelry to wear in solidarity with her, wounded but powerful.

The pieces in this collection are comprised of labradorite gemstones in snakey colors, such as bottle green and chartreuse, dark goldenrod and olive. These are the colors that would flash above Medusa’s head.

Below a few of the pendants are swaths of hand-cut and assembled snake scales to rest upon the sternum, rendering the wearer part Gorgon.

Other pendants have detailed snake bands gliding around the gemstones, securing them.

All of the necklaces have small windows to the backs of the stones in the shape of snakes in movement, like Medusa’s hissing vipers ever protective of their keeper.

The rings are all bold in design, featuring labradorite in talon, marquise, and coffin cuts. Some are faceted, some are smooth, each one entirely unique. The ring bands feature a detailed, continuous scale pattern. They are darkly oxidized and then hand-polished, making the pieces look brooding, particularly when contrasted with the bright, flashing stones.

While working on these pieces in the studio, I thought on Medusa as the wounded mortal that she was. I watched as she forgot the sound of her own voice, still as a stone in her throat. I heard her cooing to her adders in the night, as one does to a sleeping child. I felt the suffocating rage winding its way around her heart. I watched as she pricked her finger, letting drops of blood land in the dust at her feet, each roiling and twisting itself into a tiny asp before slithering off into the night.

These pieces are for her, and for me, and for you. They are for finding power in metamorphoses. These are for shedding that which does not serve, embracing individualism, and uncovering strength, especially when forsaken. Because Medusa came to understand that scales are also armor.

These pieces will be available in the shop Monday, October 16 at 6:00 p.m. EST. See you there, gorgons!

Filed In: Jewelry / Tagged: artisan, Halloween, Jewelry, Medusa, metalsmith, metalsmithing, moonspinner, snake

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Unless otherwise noted, all images, designs, and writing is property of Michaela Batstone. All rights reserved.

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You know when it gets quiet around here, I am usua You know when it gets quiet around here, I am usually swimming through a sea of gemstones and bending silver like a titan. I have so much goodness in the works for you. 

I am also nearly finished with all the commissioned orders, yay! By this afternoon, about 3/4 of all the custom pieces are in the mail. 

All I have left are the Winter Berry Tea Rings (because the garnets took a bit longer to get cut than I was anticipating), and a few of the more intricate designs that involve more steps than the others. But I am hoping to have everything all buttoned up and flying through the mail by this weekend, if all goes well!

Thank you for your patience, sweet friends!
Today is definitely a book and giant dinosaur mug Today is definitely a book and giant dinosaur mug kinda day. 📚🦖☕️
I am plucking dozens of rosebuds out of sterling s I am plucking dozens of rosebuds out of sterling silver for you! 
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✨ Hessonite Garnet Rings, Earrings, and Necklaces: Release Date TBD ✨
When working on a new collection, I often like to When working on a new collection, I often like to pair the work with books or media that embody the imagery, sentiments, and inspirations. 

(Which is how my Mossflower Collection morphed into a love letter to J.R.R. Tolkien's works.)

And so with these romantic Hessonite garnets, inverted heart bezels, and furtive rosebuds, I have begun dipping into Shakespeare's sonnets and "Cyrano de Bergerac." 

And now my mind begins to match my bench! All rose petal testaments and secret garden bowers. 
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✨ Hessonite Garnet Rings, Earrings, and Necklaces: Release Date TBD ✨

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#artisanjewelry #birthstonejewelry #birthstonering #bookishjewelry #garnet #garnetring #gemstonejewelry #handmadejewelry #handmadering #instajewelry #januarybirthstone #januaryring #jewelrydesign #jewelrydesigner #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #madewithlove #mainemade #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #rhodolitegarnet #supportlocal #valentinesday #valentinesjewelry #valentinering
Favorite break is book break. 📚💚 What have y Favorite break is book break. 📚💚 What have you been reading lately? 

I am positively devouring books lately, recommend me something! I always write down your suggestions and keep an eye out for them at my library. 
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#bookstagram #igreads #reading #booktube #reader #booksandbeans #flashesofdelight #nothingisordinary #thatsdarling #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #ardentfinds #theartofslowliving #pursuepretty #darlingweekend #livesimple #beautifulthings
This was a few weeks ago, an evening stroll by the This was a few weeks ago, an evening stroll by the river. The evening sky really does have the very best color palette. 

And when the sky looks just like the stones on my bench, well, that is even better. 🎨🌙 💎

(If you sent me a message and I haven't responded yet, just know I am on my way!)

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#artisanjewelry #bohemianjewelry #crystaljewelry #etsyjewelry #femalemade #gemstonejewelry #girlsthatmakestuff #handmadejewelry #heytheremaker #instajewelry #jewelrydesign #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #justmyart #ladysmith #madewithlove #mainemade #makersvillage #modernmaker #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #prettylittlethings #purplering #supportlocal #uniquejewelry #womenwhocreate #tanzanitering #tanzanitejewelry
Friends, what can I say, but my endless thanks! Ev Friends, what can I say, but my endless thanks! Every tanzanite ring was claimed last night, and I cannot WAIT for you to see them. I might be biased, but I believe they are even more beautiful in person. 

I was so nervous for the collection release, and it was such a relief to know that it wen't relatively well for everyone. 

The most important thing to me was that all the pieces showed up at the same time for everyone, and I believe they did. The rings landed in the shop for me at the same time (7:01) as some of you all the way in Antarctica! (Hi Rebecca!) 

It did seem that a lot of people trying to pay with Paypal got errors, but the odd part is that there were a few people that it worked for, which means it wasn't a totally universal problem. My plan today is to troubleshoot with Paypal and Shopify customer service. Thank you to those who sent me screenshots, those will be so helpful while I try to fix it. My hope is that once this gets ironed out, it wont be a problem again. 

Thank you for all your feedback, it is invaluable. There are a few things I would still like to add/tweak. I am determined to get a search bar so that you can quickly search for particular sizes or design names, which will be sooo useful for the larger collections.

This was something I had tried to add a few days ago, but I fudged up the coding and broke the shop entirely, resulting in my having to restart with a blank theme and a sulk-watch of "The Hobbit." 

Anyways, I am so excited for future releases, I have so much planned for you! But next, some gorgeous, glowy garnets accompanied by some dainty secret rosebuds.

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#artisanjewelry #bohemianjewelry #crystaljewelry #etsyjewelry #femalemade #gemstonejewelry #girlsthatmakestuff #handmadejewelry #heytheremaker #instajewelry #jewelrydesign #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #justmyart #ladysmith #madewithlove #mainemade #makersvillage #modernmaker #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #prettylittlethings #purplering #supportlocal #uniquejewelry #womenwhocreate #tanzanitering #tanzanitejewelry
Tonight, tonight, friends! (Link to the shop in my Tonight, tonight, friends! (Link to the shop in my profile.)
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#artisanjewelry #bohemianjewelry #crystaljewelry #etsyjewelry #femalemade #gemstonejewelry #girlsthatmakestuff #handmadejewelry #heytheremaker #instajewelry #jewelrydesign #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #justmyart #ladysmith #madewithlove #mainemade #makersvillage #modernmaker #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #prettylittlethings #purplering #supportlocal #uniquejewelry #womenwhocreate #tanzanitering #tanzanitejewelry
✨ A quick tip for if you are trying to catch som ✨ A quick tip for if you are trying to catch something quickly ✨

The “Shop All Available” tab on the home menu takes you to everything that isn’t sold out. 

The “Shop by Collection” option will show you everything from the collection, including what has sold. 

I thought I would leave the sold items on the collection pages for a little bit on each release night, so that if you are looking for a certain piece, you can actually see whether it has been sold on the collection page. 

Whereas if you just want to see what’s currently available in order to catch a piece more quickly, you have that option too.
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✨ TONIGHT at 7:00 p.m. EST in the new Shopify Shop! (Direct link inmy profile) ✨
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#artisanjewelry #bohemianjewelry #crystaljewelry #etsyjewelry #femalemade #gemstonejewelry #girlsthatmakestuff #handmadejewelry #heytheremaker #instajewelry #jewelrydesign #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #justmyart #ladysmith #madewithlove #mainemade #makersvillage #modernmaker #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #prettylittlethings #purplering #supportlocal #uniquejewelry #womenwhocreate #tanzanitering #tanzanitejewelry
The full preview is up on the blog, sweet friends! The full preview is up on the blog, sweet friends!
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✨ Tanzanite Rings Release: TOMORROW, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. EST in the new Shopify Shop! (Direct links soon!) ✨
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#artisanjewelry #bohemianjewelry #crystaljewelry #etsyjewelry #femalemade #gemstonejewelry #girlsthatmakestuff #handmadejewelry #heytheremaker #instajewelry #jewelrydesign #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #justmyart #ladysmith #madewithlove #mainemade #makersvillage #modernmaker #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #prettylittlethings #purplering #supportlocal #uniquejewelry #womenwhocreate #tanzanitering #tanzanitejewelry
Not going to lie, looking at these tanzanites as I Not going to lie, looking at these tanzanites as I size them on the mandrel and sort through photos has been such a balm to my tech anxiety. They are soothing and calming and just what my frayed nerves need.

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✨ Tanzanite Rings Release: Sunday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. EST in the new Shopify Shop! (Direct links soon!) ✨
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#artisanjewelry #bohemianjewelry #crystaljewelry #etsyjewelry #femalemade #gemstonejewelry #girlsthatmakestuff #handmadejewelry #heytheremaker #instajewelry #jewelrydesign #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #justmyart #ladysmith #madewithlove #mainemade #makersvillage #modernmaker #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #prettylittlethings #purplering #supportlocal #uniquejewelry #womenwhocreate #tanzanitering #tanzanitejewelry
I have a gemstone cabinet, which is really a very I have a gemstone cabinet, which is really a very old printmakers cabinet that a friend of mine found for me at an antique shop. It has dozens of little shelves and rows that I lined with felt and put dividers in. That is where most of my larger stones and bigger collections live.

But sometimes, I pull stones from the cabinet with plans to make something for you, and then the bowl of selected stones gets a little lost in the shuffle of my overcrowded studio. 

And that is what happened to about ten fancy cut tanzanites. I think I pulled them several years ago for something and never used them. And then a few weeks ago as I was pulling stones and checking stock for a few commissions, I found a little glass salt dip with these stones in it. Just in time for this tanzanite offering! 

They must be meant for very particular people, because the timing was uncanny. 
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✨ Tanzanite Rings Release: Sunday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. EST in the new Shopify Shop! (Direct links soon!) ✨
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#artisanjewelry #bohemianjewelry #crystaljewelry #etsyjewelry #femalemade #gemstonejewelry #girlsthatmakestuff #handmadejewelry #heytheremaker #instajewelry #jewelrydesign #jewelrygram #jewelrymaking #justmyart #ladysmith #madewithlove #mainemade #makersvillage #modernmaker #moonspinner #natureinspired #natureinspiredjewelry #prettylittlethings #purplering #supportlocal #uniquejewelry #womenwhocreate #tanzanitering #tanzanitejewelry
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