Etsy Shop for pbcohen

Monster Earrings - sterling silver

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:44:34 -0500

$35.00
The "Face" series started as little monsters of all shapes and sizes. Sure, some of them smile, but most of them grimace, or frown, or at best look like they just found half a worm in their freshly-bitten apple. Yeah, they're cute, which isn't usually my style. But I also know I can't stop myself. The Monsters Make Me Do It.

The monsters don't get any smaller than these earrings - but they don't get any more menacing, either! Why? Because they hang right near your EARS! They eat brains for breakfast, you know. And whisper things to you, all about how they're trying to take over the world.

No two faces are exactly the same, and the earrings rarely match each other (although they could, just contact me). All materials, including the ear wires, are sterling silver. The background plate has been patinated. The circles are 3/8" (about 10 mm) in diameter, and the earrings are 7/8" (about 2 cm) from the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the circle.

(ME #1)

Tres Amigos Pendant - sterling silver

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:44:34 -0500

$60.00
In real life I'm a little...cranky. With good reason, of course: the lottery seems to be stacked against me, I never had a pony as a child, Winter in Michigan lasts forever, the treadmill isn't magically erasing pounds, my car doesn't fly. The list goes on.

The "Face" series started as little monsters of all shapes and sizes. Sure, some of them smile, but most of them grimace, or frown, or at best look like they just found half a worm in their freshly-bitten apple. The thing is, when I see a group of them looking up at me from the bottom of the pickle pot (a mild acid bath used to clean things up after the blowtorch), I can't help smiling.

Aw, aren't they cute?

Yeah, I can't quite believe I'm making things that are cute. But I also know I can't stop myself. The Monsters Make Me Do It.

The Tres Amigos pendant is made of sterling silver that's been patinated to make the monster's faces stand out. And stare at everybody walking by. The pendant comes with a delicate 18" (46 cm) sterling silver chain, although it might be different than the one in the photo. No two faces are alike, so no two pendants will be alike, but the faces are 1/4" in diameter (6.4 mm), and the oval is about 1 1/4" long by 3/8" wide (about 3.5 cm by 1 cm).

(Tres Amigos #2)

Monster Ring - sterling silver

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:38:35 -0500

$150.00
The Rings started it all. Of course. And they're a little unhappy that so many other monsters have started showing up. But considering the economy these days, they agree that any monster, even a tiny one, is better than no monster at all. (Of course, they think the Rings are the best. They would.)

They say, "Collect us all."

They say, "The more the merrier."

They point out that the Rings really prefer to travel in groups of three. At least. (It's true, you should SEE all the attention you get when you wear a few of these guys at a time. They're better people magnets than puppies!)

The "heads" themselves are hollow, but the Ring has a nice heft to it. The face is 1/2" in diameter (1.27 cm), the head is about 1/4" thick (6 mm), and the Ring shank is a substantial 10 gauge round wire. The "arms" are made from 16 gauge wire that's been balled up at each end. The arms slip back and forth when you wear them, and make a satisfying "click" when you shake your hand around.

The Rings are made of sterling silver, that's been patinated. Well, you don't expect monsters to stay clean, do you?

This slightly frowning Ring is size 7 1/4 (US/Canada). That's British O 1/2, Japanese 14 1/2 (between 14 and 15), and Swiss 15.875 (between 15.25 and 16.5). There are a few ring size conversion charts out there if you want to check, such as this: (http://www.onlineconversion.com/ring_size.htm) and this: (http://www.niceice.com/ring_sizes.htm).

The Ring will be mailed Priority Mail with insurance and delivery confirmation included to US addresses. It will be mailed First Class to international addresses; contact me for more information.

Tiny Menacing Monster Pendant - sterling silver

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:38:35 -0500

$35.00
I understand it must be a little hard to believe that these little faces are menacing. They're tiny, shiny, and some of them even smile. But trust me, they're not as cute as they first appear.

They peek out at the world, staring, thinking, plotting....

The real problem? They are perfect reflective domes - making it almost impossible to take decent photographs of them. Like aliens, Yeti and Bigfoot, lots of people see them, but few photographs exist. They're sort of the opposite of vampires, who - according to many legends - can't be seen in mirrors. These little guys ARE mirrors, and reflect everything around them. Particularly the camera, and sometimes even me.

I've tried some photography tips and tricks, but in the end the monsters win, so I've taken a few different angles to try to show the little guy off at his best. The face is shiny silver, on a patinated background: black spots are reflections of the camera, and white blurs are reflections of the white paper I'm using to hide the tripod. Not to mention the shine from lights.

All sterling silver, including the 16" (40.6 cm) dainty chain (although the chain you get may be different than the one pictured). The pendant is about 1/2" in diameter, or 1.27 cm. All the monster's faces are unique. And they're watching you.

(TMM #1)

Tres Amigos Pendant - sterling silver

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:38:35 -0500

A Heart With A Twist - sterling silver

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:38:35 -0500

$40.00
People who know me personally would be surprised that I spent some time on Valentine's Day making a heart. I am cynical, at best, and have never (well, hardly ever) celebrated a day marked by greeting cards and idealized expectations, romantic or otherwise. There were several Saints Valentine, after all, at least one had his head chopped off on "Valentine's Day," and we have Chaucer - not a saint - to blame for the "love" associated with the day.

Nevertheless, though perhaps in reaction to all the modern commercialism of the day, I made a heart. Out of silver. On Valentine's Day.

Take a close look, though. It is a stylized heart, not a traditional shape; not flat, not evenly rounded; bashed repeatedly with a hammer; "dirt" (well, planned oxidation) is showing despite some shine; and it looks like it almost got melted at one point. Well, actually, it almost did. No cupids or fluffy bunnies here. This is a heart that has been places. This is a heart that has lived a life.

And on the back, hidden unless the wearer chooses to reveal it, the ever-so-slightly-twisted phrase: BECAUSE I SAID SO.

I can imagine related phrases:
* Because YOU said so.
* Because SHE said so.
* Because HE said so.
And then the options for personalization:
* Because [insert name of loved one here] said so.
* Because [insert name of dog] said so.

The sterling silver pendant comes with a delicate 18" (46 cm) sterling silver chain, although it might be different than the one in the photo. The heart is 1 1/4" long (3.5 cm), and an inch wide (2.5 cm).

This listing is for a heart with BECAUSE I SAID SO on the back. Please convo me if you'd like something different.

Please note the curves of the pendant make it difficult to take photographs: the black seen in some of the photos is the reflection of my camera.

Mad Cow Pendant - sterling silver

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:22:34 -0400

$45.00
Cows seem so calm and peaceful out in the fields (especially the ones that live in California). But the truth is, they have an evil little secret. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy? No, no worries about these cows' brains! But they are vampires.

Can't you tell? All sneaky and wanting to "lick" you? And so many of them have teeth!

Still, I can understand if you don't believe me. Cows seem so relaxed, so even-tempered, so tranquil. But underneath, they're pretty mad that no one takes them seriously. Mad, I tell you.

The Mad Cows are made out of sterling silver, pierced and cut to give them personalities, and the metal is patinated to help bring out their personalities. No two cows are exactly alike, but the faces are about 3/4" square. Hand-made in my home and studio, I put the cows on a 16" chain - although possibly not the one seen in the photograph. If you'd like a longer chain, just let me know.

The Mad Cows come in a pretty kraft box made with recycled materials, ready for gift-giving.

MC #1

Mad Cow Pendant - sterling silver

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:54:12 -0400

Mad Cow Pendant - sterling silver

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:26:14 -0400

Mad Cow Pendant - sterling silver

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:55:47 -0400

Mad Cow Pendant - sterling silver

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:58:16 -0400

Mad Cow Pendant - sterling silver

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:07:01 -0400