susan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by susan on Nov 7, 2011 11:40:27 GMT -5
My uncle Roger is a member of the Tucson Herpetological Society and has been involved with reptile research for years. It seems that his favorite reptile is the rattle snake and has the fangs marks to prove it!! When his wife asked me to make a necklace for a fun raiser for the Herp Society it seemed that the most natural thing to make was a rattle snake necklace. This photo is the result. The tongue (garnet tube set) moves, the eyes are taxidermy eyes from Van Dykes and the metal is LOS sterling and fine silver. I studied the rattlesnake for days and sketched the thing over and over until I came up with the final design. I'm not an artist, so this didn't come naturally to me. SSSSSSSSSSSS ~Susan Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by Tela on Nov 7, 2011 11:55:00 GMT -5
Susan, this guy is so awesome! I love the shape, the texture, the patina, the design, the craftswomanship and everything else. He is so original. You achieved an artful snake, versus a "cute" or cartoony snake. He seems real and could be dangerous  I love that his tongue wiggles. That's such a nice touch and one that surely must grab attention. There's a French term for that, but I can't think of what it is right now. You have achieved excellence! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by glenda on Nov 7, 2011 13:49:55 GMT -5
Oh wow his tongue moves!! Brilliant! Tela: Did you mean La piece de resistance!!! (Spelling is wrong I am sure!) ;D The best I can go in french is Tres Bon!! Susan you are sooo talented....back to my netting ;D  |
|
|
|
Post by Tela on Nov 7, 2011 13:54:52 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by marytucker on Nov 7, 2011 16:32:11 GMT -5
I saw this on JL. I am so happy to be able to comment and tell you how much I LOVED it!! There are not enough words to describe my joy upon looking at it!!
|
|
|
|
Post by christine on Nov 7, 2011 16:38:10 GMT -5
Susan, This is incredible. I have to say I abhor snakes but this one instantly won me over. The detail in your wire work is so intricate. Your study achieved beauty.
|
|
susan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by susan on Nov 7, 2011 20:10:57 GMT -5
Thank you, Tela. He is dangerous. That tongue poked me a few times during wire wrapping. When that happened I looked at the evolving snake with great suspicion.
And hey, look at you, Glenda and Tela speaking French. Not my best subject in school, but I think that you may have it described correctly. Fun!!
Mary, you are so kind to say these words.
Christine, you can not like snakes and still like this one. He is pretty harmless, for the most part. I'm glad that he won you over. Your kindness is palpable.
~Susan
|
|
|
|
Post by Renate on Nov 8, 2011 10:37:50 GMT -5
Ssssssssusan, you really created a piece of art!
Beautiful, yet very dangerous looking.
|
|
|
|
Post by marytucker on Nov 8, 2011 11:56:52 GMT -5
Susan, your snake belongs on the cover of a book!! What an awesome cover for a book about jewelry!
|
|
susan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by susan on Nov 8, 2011 14:39:57 GMT -5
Mary Tucker!! I do hope that you are a publisher!! Wink. This is exactly what every wire twister wants to hear!! Thanks.
Susan
|
|
susan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by susan on Nov 8, 2011 14:44:16 GMT -5
Thanks, Renate!! He only bites if you don't feed him.
SSSSSSusan
|
|
susan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by susan on Nov 8, 2011 14:50:19 GMT -5
Oh, you have got to hear this story that my uncle, who was on a research field trip for the Herpetological Society, just shared with me today. He doesn't usually tell me about his reptilian sojourns, so this made it extra special. This story is why I spent so much time and care into making this for the society. Now I want to make a turtle necklace for him to donate to the fund raiser. Please read what he wrote and see the photo he sent to me!! LETTER FROM MY HERP UNCLE: Upon visiting a tortoise den that I've been watching since 1994, my heart sank when I saw a young ~2 year old tortoise upside down on the apron. I thought it was dead, and began the grim task of photographing it. By the time the second image was taken, Slone piped up with the magic words "It's still alive." Sure enough, it had withdrawn its head when the flash went off. We of course then flipped the poor little fella over, and he wandered right into the known tortoise den. Very cool! I don't know how long the little creature was upside down, or if he could have eventually flipped himself over. I doubt it, he had a pretty high-domed shell, and the weather was still quite cold. I do know the hole he entered, and look forward to visiting it whenever time permits. I'm thinking it will stay there. Time will tell. Attachments:
|
|
susan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by susan on Nov 8, 2011 14:52:46 GMT -5
And the turtle after my uncle's flash went off!! Going home to his sister and brother turtles!! Happy ending!! It is stories like this that makes this such a special forum. I needed to share this with friends. ~Susan Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by Tela on Nov 8, 2011 18:43:55 GMT -5
Thank you, Susan for such a cool story! I love turtles. I wonder how long the poor thing was there like that??
|
|
|
|
Post by maryalece on Nov 14, 2011 11:46:30 GMT -5
FABULOUS snake, Susan!!! Really, really magnificent work!
|
|
|
|
Post by janaita on Nov 16, 2011 9:59:48 GMT -5
The snake is beautiful!
And the turtle story is heartwarming.
Love it! Thank you for sharing it.
Jana
|
|
susan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by susan on Nov 18, 2011 20:01:14 GMT -5
Thanks, Mary and Jana. Jana, I'm glad that you found this story heartwarming. Me too!!
Susan
|
|
|
|
Post by glenda on Nov 19, 2011 9:55:35 GMT -5
Wow! What a great story Susan, Thanks for sharing  |
|
|
|
Post by sarahsequins on Nov 26, 2011 23:08:53 GMT -5
Susan,
Wow! The snake is stunning. You did an excellent job.
My eccentric uncle met up with rattlesnakes on an almost daily basis when he lived in rural California. To my knowledge, he was never bitten, but he had plenty of close calls!
|
|
susan
Junior Member
Posts: 51
|
Post by susan on Nov 30, 2011 19:02:38 GMT -5
Sarah, thank goodness your uncle was never bitten. Ouch. Thank you for the compliment, Sarah.
Susan
|
|
I love that his tongue wiggles. That's such a nice touch and one that surely must grab attention. There's a French term for that, but I can't think of what it is right now. 
