Kathy’s Blog

The sun stretches across an antique ivory tab, and mounted by two sterling rivets to an architectural arched piece that is pierced by two circles.  Below the sun, hang a sunflower disc, and other sun totem charms and dangling beads.  On either side of the central piece are two sterling tubes that hold the strand of smokey Czech glass beads in blue-grey hues that seem to have been colored by the sun itself.   This 20″ piece ends in a hand made sterling toggle clasp that is safe and functional and easy to maneuver behind your neck!  Made for a sun worshipper!

$275

A Guinea Hen feather is etched on old ivory and mounted to a rounded brass backing.  A strand of delicate, blue tube glass and silver beads hang at about 16″ and end in a handmade sterling toggle clasp. Very easy to clasp behind your neck. 

$140

A detailed view:

A native dancer in a blue dress dances beneath the stars and moon.  She is etched on an old ivory piano key, and riveted by silver to a brass tab.  Beneath her are soft bronze colored beads hanging from wrapped silver wires.  Around the neck are tiny “liquid silver” tube beads, accented with carnelian tubes.  A hand made sterling toggle clasp , formed by melting a disc just enough to uniquely form the surface, makes an attractive finish to this 18″ necklace. 

$275

detailed view:

A delicately detailed kestrel feather is scribed on an old ivory piano key.  Pinned by two sterling rivets onto a flared brass tab, it hangs by a sterling tube on  a black rubber cord.  Capped by hand made sterling ends and a large, easy to handle toggle clasp.  Rugged, simple, comfortable, and very striking.  18″

$275

These totem earrings symbolize “The good path”:  a reminder to travel on the path that will bring higher good for all!   Tiny, 3/4″ old ivory discs centrally mounted on brass backing.  Sterling french hook ear wires, that are very comfortable and easy to put on.  

$90

Good Path Shield necklace:

This totem necklace symbolizes “The Good Path”:  A reminder to seek the better way  for all.  A 5/8″ old ivory disc is centrally mounted by a sterling rivet to a brass backing.  A wrap of sterling wire forms an eye for the beaded section with tiny sterling “liquid” silver tubes and delicate round silver ball beads.  A spring ring clasp finishes the 16″ necklace.

$120

 This antique piece of ivory is a 100 year old piano key, with a delicate, scrimshawed flower.  Backed with NuGold , it hangs on a 17″ strand of green Czech glass beads.  At the end, rose quartz beads and a hand made sterling toggle clasp.    $275.

 This is an antique piece of ivory from an old piano with a scrimshawed Queen Bee with her crown hovering over her.  Set with tube rivets to a golden piece of NuGold metal with a sterling tube attaching it to a chain strung with liquid silver tube beads, tiny honey-colored brass beads, and blue rounds.  Hand made toggle clasp.  I’ll try to get a better photo up here, showing the whole piece.  Made for a queen, and honoring the honey bee!    This piece has sold.

Antique Ivory with scrimshaw Honey Bee design set in sterling in a domed, skep-shape.  Beautiful , translucent carnelian tubes and honey-colored amber nuggets and brass beads.  This piece has a richness of color!   The  handmade sterling hook clasp has stamped pattern on it.  17″in length.  $275

A Pin!  A Broach!  Antique Ivory set on NuGold:  $112

A skep-shaped piece of old ivory with a honey bee set in sterling, hanging from an oxidized sterling neck ring with friction fit closure.   $275.       Antique (100 yr. old) ivory salvaged from an old junk piano.         16″neck ring

From an old 100 year old piano, these keys were etched with a Maori design.  Sterling ear wires.

$65

 A friend gave me her old piano keys.  They are ivory.  I have started another line of jewelry using these pieces, combining them with sterling and brass metals.  Scrimshaw is an old mariner’s traditional technique using a scribe to etch lines in the highly polished surface of the ivory.  Inks are then rubbed into the etched lines and re-polished.     It takes time to prepare the surface. Almost as much time as it takes to do the artwork.

Here is an informational blurb I have been including with the sale of a piece:

About this ivory:

This “pre-ban” ivory was salvaged from a one hundred year
old piano from a local church that was
destined for the junk heap.
I cleaned, shaped, and polished the keys before etching
in the old scrimshaw technique to make this jewelry.

While working with the pieces, I was reminded of
the great, sentient beings from which this
material originated,  and how they moved across this
earth with their kin .

These salvaged pieces hold their essence.
I have worked with them in reverence
and sorrow for the taking of their lives..
It feels right to create beauty from their loss.

Imbued with the energy of music from an old
piano played in worship for one hundred years,
please wear these ivory pieces
and continue their life in beauty.

Written music on an old 100 year old piano key!  Suspended by sterling wire wrapped segments with a grey seed bead.  The rest of the 16″ piece is strung with pewter-grey colored seed beads and ends in a handmade sterling hook and eye clasp.

Imagine a special score of music inscribed on a piano key.  It makes it personal!

$76

 This peacock feather was etched on one of the larger ivory piano keys.  It is riveted onto a Nugold, (a brass alloy), backing with a high polish.  The piece is about 3 inches long and slightly flared at the bottom of the tab shape.  Small dots are stamped in the top, just under the sterling tube which holds the tab to the sterling silver chain.  All connecting pieces are securely wrapped to withstand movement of the necklace and there are no jump rings to come undone.  It hangs at 16″ and is finished with a handmade sterling clasp and a silver feather charm that dangles delicately at the back of the neck.  Nice from the front and back!

Here are a few views with different backgrounds.  The colors are vibrant, with a metallic gold “eye-ring” in the center of the feather.

Priced at $ 120

 A wild woman dancer!  She is etched in 100 year old ivory from an old church piano. The ivory piece is riveted with sterling rods to the Nugold (a brass alloy) backing.  Silver tubing at the top has wrapped wire securely fastened to a chain of liquid silver heishi beads with navy blue seed bead accents.  It hangs at 22″ and is finished with a handmade hook and eye clasp that is easy to fasten behind the neck.

This piece has sold.

 A native dancer is etched on this 100 year old piano key  from an old church piano.  It is riveted onto a Nugold (brass alloy metal) backing. It hangs from a horizontal sterling silver tube, with wire wrapping connectors to a 16″ sterling chain.  The outside of the tab measures approximately 1″ x 2.5-3″.

$100

This ivory was salvaged from a one hundred year
old piano from a local church that was
destined for the junk heap.
I cleaned, shaped, and polished the keys before etching
in the old scrimshaw technique to make this jewelry.

While working with the pieces, I was reminded of
the great, sentient beings from which this
material originated,  and how they moved across this
earth with their kin .

These salvaged pieces hold their essence.
I have worked with them in reverence
and sorrow for the taking of their lives..
It feels right to create beauty from their loss.

Imbued with the energy of music from an old
piano played in worship for one hundred years,
please wear these ivory pieces
and continue their life in beauty.

This “pre-ban”, 100 year old ivory piano key is etched with a turtle and full moon.  The ivory is backed by Nugold, a brass alloy metal, which has been stamped with triangle and circle designs.  Wire-stitching, with a red bead slipped in,  and a scrolled wire pierce the metal to add texture and pattern.  From the base, assorted shapes hang with bright, antique glass beads, silver and brass beads, and miniature shields and discs–all adding movement and color.  The chain is attached with sterling tube segments and 5/8″ brown mother-of-pearl disc beads, liquid silver beads and a hand made clasp section.    It hangs beautifully at about 22″.  A striking piece!

This design came from a Navajo blanket pattern. It is etched onto a 100 year old ivory piano key.  It hangs from an adjustable black leather cord, accented with turquoise and coral beads.   It adjusts from a choker, to about 20″.

$60

This fern and fiddlehead design was etched into the surface of a large ivory (“pre-ban”) piano key that came from a 100 year old church piano. It is attached with a sterling section holding a mossy colored bead on a 20″ sterling chain.

$112

This beautiful , elaborate necklace has a  central ivory piece that has been pierced with three triangular shapes at its base.  The feather has been etched on the ivory and colored with inks.   A Nugold (brass alloy metal) backing has some intricate line and circle stampings and a “wire-stitched” section on the left side.  From the base of the piece hangs symbolic shield charms, discs with arrows, another feather, beads and wrapped wire.  No jump rings to come apart and fall off.  These are securely wrapped with wire, to the base of the central piece.    The pendant is attached by sterling tube links and the rest of the necklace is strung with grey seed beads.  It hangs at about 18″.  This “pre-ban” ivory comes from a 100 year old piano.

This is an attractive, symbolic, one of a kind piece!

$180

The front paw of a bear is etched on this 1/2″x 1.2″ piece of ivory from a 100 year old  church piano.  It hangs from a 20″ sterling chain.

$78

A shield and feather, cut from a 100 year old piano key.  This scrimshaw piece is about 2-3″ long and hangs from a 20″ sterling chain.

$80

Dragonfly Necklace:  A delicate wingspan on a large piano key.  Scrimshaw design on 100 year old ivory from an old church piano.

Sterling silver 16″ chain attached to the ivory by sterling handmade links with silver beads.  Dated and signed on the back.

$100

Symbolizing bounty, a corn maiden dances with corn stalks in each hand.  She is etched onto a 100 year old ivory piano key.  A backing of Nugold, (a brass alloy metal),  compliments the ivory to give both contrast and strength.  The metal has stamped patterns. Ears of  ivory corn dangle from the bottom. The chain consists of various lengths of  vintage brass with brass beads. A nice, easy-to-use hand made clasp. It hangs at about 22″.    This is a striking piece that will have a lot of admirers!

$ 125

A piano key with a scrimshaw design of a native dancer.  Etched on 100 year old ivory.

$95.