Kj's Wishes and Dreams for the Holidays

I'm quickly typing this post before heading down to Singapore for a few days! Just wanted to let you know that my good friend kj of Options for a Better World blog is again raising funds for 'Wishes and Dreams for the Holidays' a fund she has set up for some needy youngsters she works with in the US. You can read more about this year's project on kj's blog.

Kj will soon be hosting an auction to raise funds on her blog . Let's raise some money!!! Please head on over to her ranch for details! I have donated a print of one of my watercolours and a necklace. Do you have something you can contribute? Let Kj know!!

Cherries ©Caroline Soer 2009

My print has been made from one of my original watercolour paintings - 'Cherries'. It has been printed on high quality Somerset enhanced 100% cotton paper with archival inks. Size approx 21 x15 cms. (Not mounted or framed). There will be no watermark on the print!

SOLD

And the necklace is a lovely spicy combination of handmade lampwork beads, black onyx, coral, Thai silver, tiny Swarovski crystals and glass beads.

It measures 18" / 46cms in length and is fastened with a sterling silver clasp. It would make a lovely gift for someone special or why not treat yourself and help someone in need at the same time?

SOLD.

Please hop over to kj's for more information about the auction. Any contribution is most welcome, auction items, bids or even a small donation - a link for this can be found on the side bar of kj's blog. Thank you - every little helps!

Trinkets from Oman - part III

Here's the last installment in my little series about Omani silver jewellery.

If you like your jewellery BIG, then you'll love this kirsh kitab (coin or disc with writing). To give you and idea of the size, the disc measures about 7 cms in diameter and the bar across the top is 10 cms in length! I drew this piece for the Illustration Friday prompt of 'Talisman' which you can find here. It would have been worn by women throughout Northern Oman not only for protection, but also to bring gladness and cheerfulness to life.

A close-up of the inscription

This is a Hirz , or amulet box and chain which was worn by women of Northern Oman. To protect the wearer, a piece paper with writing from the Koran would have been inserted into the box.

This is a brooch called Shoka which means thorn. It was worn either to fasten the head cloth or the top of the dress and like many decorative pieces it also has tinkling bells attached.

A Marie Theresa Thaler (or dollar) pendant. Several of these often made up large, very heavy necklaces interspersed with other silver and/or coral beads.

This is a new necklace made of old beads and a silver hair ornament (several of these would have been attached to the end of an Omani girl's long plait, the little bells jingling as she walked). Here they have been combined with hematite to fashion a long necklace that I wear a lot!

A big handful of old silver beads and pieces from an incomplete head band. One day I'll get around to giving them a new lease of life!

To finish off, this is a pen and ink picture of Fanja, an Omani town, by Peter J Ochs. Though not the best quality photo as I've taken it through the glass, if you click for a closer look you may just see that it has been painstakingly stippled with millions of tiny dots!

I've discovered that the artist has also written this guide to Oman which would certainly come in useful if you're ever fortunate enough to travel to this wonderful country.

Illustration Friday - Talisman

Posting this at the 11th hour for this week's IF! The theme is Talisman. This is a pencil (with a touch of colour) drawing of an silver Omani necklace called a kirsh kitab (coin or disc with writing) which was worn by women throughout Northern Oman. Such necklaces were worn not only to offer protection, but also to bring gladness and cheerfulness to life. This necklace is part of a small collection of Omani silver I gathered whilst living in Muscat in the 1980's. I'm going to make a post about that soon!

My ETSY Shop

I've finally re-opened my ETSY shop and will be stocking the shelves over the next week or so. Please drop by! The store is sporting a new banner for the New Year and to celebrate re-opening I'm offering Free International Shipping on all items!! I have spent the last few months whilst the shop was closed dreaming up new projects and hope to start working on these soon. In the meantime here are a couple of pics of a lovely necklace and album I've just listed.

Tibetan Silver and Carnelian Choker

Seashells Accordion folded Album