Biker Chick Wanna Be

"Biker Chick Protection Necklace"

Long ago, and far away, a young lady dreamed some silly thoughts about what it would be like to fly across the states on the back of a motorcycle.  She imagined the wind through her hair and all the incredible sights she would see.  Oh yeah, and the way-cool biker chick boots she would wear.  Instead, she became a barefoot jewelry maker.

This piece was made with a biker chick-ish, Southwestern-y feel ( loving the Western influence).  This amazing, pewter focal, by Lynn Davis, is what set me off into dreams of riding.  For me, it just has sort of a biker feel.  I've long loved the symbolism of skulls.  Certainly, they remind me of death, but, more than that, they make me think of the life after death. 

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  John 17:3

To the pewter focal, I added an old cross, chunky faceted iolite, sodalite heishi and some carved bone skulls.  It's all connected to the necklace with handmade twisted sterling rings.  The cross provides the suggestion of protection.  After all, riding can be dangerous!

For the body of the piece, I used strands of more sodalite with chunks of faceted iolite and a few more carved bone skulls thrown in for good measure.  The blue and white sodalite remind me of denim...I'm definitely a denim girl.

I finished it off with a sterling toggle clasp.

No self-respecting biker chick can be without earrings.  These are made with vintage religious medals and faceted iolite drops.  These two medals are really exceptional.  The one on the left is a vintage, French, Saint Christopher...Patron Saint of Travelers.  Legend has it that St. Christopher was a giant who met up with a hermit who trained him in the Christian faith.  St. Christopher wondered how he might serve the Christ.  One day, a small child asked St. Christopher to carry him across a river.  During the turbulent crossing, the child became extremely heavy and when St. Christopher stated that it felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, the child replied "You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but him who made it. I am Christ your king, whom you are serving by this work."

The flip side of the St. Christopher is in French.

 This necklace now resides across the sea with my online friend Shuku, for whom it probably conjures different visions.  No matter the dreams, I hope she wears it in good health!

Comments

[esther]

beautiful!! it's the first time i see a message like this one on the back side of medal!! we can read: I am a Catholic, in case of accident call a priest; Awesome!!

[Maija Lepore]

That necklace ROCKS!!!!

[Lotus]

Hello!
Wonderful work! I'm glad someone told you what the french said in the back of the medal.
Not sure if you know, but the other medal is St. Dismas- the thief on the cross who went to paradise... ; )
Lotus

[Karen Burns]

Oh, biker chic in your daydreams, huh? I'm more at home with denim and being barefoot, too. I do love the necklace, though. Lynn certainly conjured something special for you to work with. Lucky Shuku!

[Tammie]

Fantastic!!

[Kelly Jeanette]

What woman has never dreamed of taking off into the sunset on the back of a Harley?Skulls and denim do kinda conjure up the bad boy culture. I love this necklace. It's a beautiful peice.

[Lynn Davis]

Deryn, I've always liked the wonderful combination of gems and skulls that you used with my pewter, this is one of my favorite designs you've created. I should make more focals like it, right now it's one of a kind, and it makes me happy to think of you wearing it, with ideas of being a biker chick in your thoughts. I need to send you a pair of skully beads so you can have some earrings, too.

Thanks for the mention, it means the world. Hugs!

[Cindy]

Deryn
I agree with the comment left by the above poster...you do look quite full of grace in your photographs... very photogenic, indeed. What a spectacular necklace - seems so different but yet full of your classic style. Thank you for sharing the beautiful story behind the St.Christopher medal...what an inspiring one.

[Sharon]

I remember those carefree days on the back of a roaring Harley and I most certainly would have worn this gorgeous Protection necklace! Too chic, my dear!

[diane cook]

Oh, I am sure she will be lovin' it, because it is soooo beautiful =)
Really love the earrings, AND the decayed skull pendant by Lynn reminds me of the days I lived on the ranch, when we would find animal skulls in the woods.....
Different people....different dreams =) Ahhhhhhh.......

[Renate]

Oh, now you have done it! Now I am thinking of days gone by, when I was a biker chick...
Great necklace, Deryn!!!

[Thespoena McLaughlin]

Gorgeous work!

[Molly Alexander]

Hi Deryn - I, too, long to travel the States with the wind running through my hair on the back of a chopper. As I am fairly certain that this won't happen anytime soon, I will live vicariously through this beautiful necklace!

:-) Molly

[Lelainia Lloyd]

That is a gorgeous piece Deryn. I love the denim look of it. It makes me think of something someone in New Orleans would wear-it reminds me of the cemetaries there where there are lots of skulls and crosses in the same place. I don't see skulls as sinister things...I rather like them.

I never knew Catholic religious medals had "I am Catholic, in case of accident, please call a priest." on the back. Interesting.

[Emanda]

Hi Deryn,

I love the biker chick necklasce and your story. It reminds me of the comic strip called "Rose is Rose" the main character, Rose Gumbo, has an biker chick alter-ego who helps her though dangerous things, like eating jalepanos.

Emanda

[Kay Hobbs]

Deryn, what a beautiful writer you are. I felt the desire in my being to be that biker chick, to feel the wind on my face, the road beneath my bike, and HIM all throughout my everything.

[Shuku]

Deryn, that necklace has gone with me to about 3 places now - two rehearsals and one dinner! It's beautiful and it conjures up so many beautiful things - funnily enough, I wanted to be a biker too when I grew up. But hey...it's not too late to try is it now? EEEEEEEE! :)

[Kim Gibson]

On a somewhat off topic note (!) who takes your beautiful photographs Deryn? The ones of you I mean? They always have you looking just a bit mysterious and very graceful. Or rather full of grace would be a better way to say it, since graceful seems to need movement, and you are always very very still. Anyway, I know you are a photographer extraordinaire and wondered if you found a way to photograph yourself like that... I wanna do it too!