To Colorful New Beginnings

Welcome to my new blog for Cheshire Cat Jewelry aka Smoky Soup Designs. Here you will find posts about my inspirations, current projects, designs, and other jewelry related topics. Let's begin with my current work.

Lately, I have been drawing inspiration from Mexican folk art and "Dia de los Muertos" related designs. "Dia de los Muertos", or "Day of the Dead" falls on October 30th and continues on through November 2nd. Aside from Fall being my favorite season and Halloween my favorite holiday, November 1st is also my birthday.

Plaza Fiesta (above) curtesy Los Muertos Fine Art Works

The celebrations are held in honor of deceased loved ones and similarly to Japanese grave tending customs, the favorite items of the dead are brought to their graves as offerings. Some also say that this is the time when the veil between the worlds of the living and dead is the thinnest. In Mexico, "Dia de los Muertos" is celebrated with elaborate sugar sculptures and colorful altars with bright marigolds, skulls, and candles.

Sugar Skulls from:
http://mexicansugarskull.com/sugar_skulls/instructions.html
A great resource for holiday history, folklore, and instructions

Further inspiration comes from similarly colorful and magical things. I'm a huge fan of HBO's True Blood and  have always been intrigued by the collection of magical and folk dolls in Lafayette's house. I couldn't find a better picture of his apartment but those of you who watch the show will recognize the below images:

Lafayette's living room with a shrine to the Virgin Mary and his scattered collection of folk dolls

One of Lafayette's dolls that seemingly came to life on his V-trip

Colorful glass lanterns, sparkly holiday lights, and harvest moons have always induced inexplicable feelings of happiness and comfort in me.

Photo copyright belongs to David Kozlowski:  http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/mexican+restaurant+lights/interesting/

Photo of Jefferson,TX:
http://jefferson-texas.us/page/2/

I think they play rather well with the above elements when I translate them into jewelry. So far, I have made a collection of "Sugar Skull Earrings" in mixed colorful designs. I'm waiting for the weather to get sunnier tomorrow so that I can take pictures and post them in my shop. In the meantime, I am off to make more festive jewelry!

Colorful Glass Lanterns