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Dolphin Designs Artwear
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About Dolphin Designs Artwear

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I will respond to questions and orders within 24 hours of receipt. I will give you great customer service with wonderful packaging. When you need me to ship within seven days of payment, please tell me in a message. Thanks.

About Us
About Leather Surfer Bracelets.

Since I listed my last one I found out from both my collaborator in Perth, Australia, and the owner of "Daytona Beach," Florida's largest locally owned surf shop that they aren't ever worn in the water, but they are very much a part of the surfing culture. Gerry said "I's like this: There might only be five good waves and there will be two hundred of us out there in the water trying to catch them. We can't get too close to each other and so only a few of us catch them. When the surfing day is done it feels better to put on our leather surfer bracelets and necklaces, because we are advertising we are surfers even if we didn't get that wave. Further inland, where people never even get to see the ocean even more leather surfer bracelets are sold."

THOUGHTS ON BEADING FILAMENT:

What do I consider the "best draping material" which I also term "superior". The answer really intrigued me when I first learned about it. What I and most of my contemporary artisan jewelers consider to be the best is something that looks like thick thread, but behaves with much more cooperation. It's staggering to consider what that material consists of both within and without: Forty-nine strands of stainless steel wire wrapped in nylon is what it is. How anyone could put forty-nine strands of steel into a product whose end result is so thin is beyong even MY imagination ( which has been called extreme at various points in my life, mainly early childhood when I thought closet monsters really did exist). Several companies make the beading filament. It comes in different numbers of stainless steel strands. Paradoxically, the 49 strand variety is much more flexible and gives a better drape than the seven strand or nineteen strand "wire". Sometimes these fewer wire items are actually in total thicker. In order to get across just how flexible this 49 strand wire is, let me tell you something: If I tie a knot in it so the beads I'm stringing on it won't fall off that end, suspend the project and return to it a long time later, I can untie that knot and the strand will look like it never had a knot in it at all. That cannot be said of the seven strand option. Now, I find that to be very cool. I use the forty-nine strand almost exclusively. Sometimes if I'm stringing freshwater pearls I may use 21 strand wire, also a good choice. It is expensive, but for the security and added qualtiy of a great drape I've never shirked at putting out the funds for it.

KAPPAS
Kappas are mischievous creatures plentiful in Japanese folk tales and mythology. I will tell you about their natures in a minute, but first I want to say that they are an enormously popular and frequently seen motif in hand carved Netsuke art. Our benefactor had many in his collection when he passed them onto us, and I found several more in the eleven I unearthed about two months ago when sorting through more of the "stuff" Norman dumped into my dining room over a year ago when Uncle Ken died. I was quite giddy to find MORE vintage Netsukes AT ALL to list here, but to find a number of Kappas, one of my favorite creatures of all time, made me jump for joy.

I don't know what the white wood is called from which a few of the Netsukes carved. I suppose it's a variety of boxwood. This piece is 2" tall and 1.75" across at it's widest part. The artist's initials are carved in the bottom, a typical convention. This Netsuke depicts a Kappa holding onto a thick river reed. He looks tired. Some of the others you will see in my listings this week are actively engaged in humorous activities.

Surface information regarding Kappas: They tend to be carved to look like a cross between turtles and humans. They have scales on their arms and legs and "turtle" shells on their backs. Their hair is often long and covers the backs of their necks. Many Kappa Netsuke carvings have dents in the tops of their skulls. The are unbearably cute. The "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" of cartoon fame are a contemporary revival of these venerable folklore creatures, whose stories are much more mysterious and less gabby than the grandiose exploits of their movie counterparts.

The REALLY important facts about Kappas: Children all over Japan hundreds of years ago were protected from drowning in that noble country's numerous rivers by their parents' Kappa stories.

Kappas, children were told, were MONSTERS to little kids, because (according to the folk tales that the grownups knew were not literally true) if a child got too close to the natural habitat of a Kappa (the water in a river) that rapacious creature would grab the child's legs and pull him or her under water to death by drowning. HOW HORRIBLE. The Kappa might be not much taller than the child, but Kappas had superhuman strength.

Over the centuries stories about Kappas became more benign, and according to the most recent accounts I've read, Kappas began to be viewed as beings with personalities somewhat like those of young teenagers labeled "oppositional-defiant". Many adults (me for instance) love the "bad" middle school teens the most: We can FEEL that they need us more than their peers, have deep stores of love and loyalty, and come up with delicious practical jokes. (Anyway, any incorrigible behavior didn't start out being the young person's fault.) If such an American young adolescent meets an American adult he or she can absolutely trust, there are no ends to which that teen will not go for that elder. (I KNOW. As a professional counselor for decades specializing with this demographic, I have experienced the fierce loyalty about which I write.)

Kappas NEED water, and so in many of the Netsuke carvings you may come across they will have dents in their heads to hold the water that is necessary for their survival if their insatiable curiosity causes these solitaries to wander away from the river "block" they claim as their own.

Usually a Kappa will take leave of his river dwelling to make trouble for a human. But like wise humans interacting with "defiant" adolescents, the human who is targeted by a Kappa will be firm, take no nonsense and will set limits.

Generally a Kappa will sneak up on the elder human and seek to trip him or fight with him. The human will ONLY win in a battle with one of these beings of super human strength IF enough of the water spills out of the cup in Kappa's skull bowl to weaken him. Most people are kind and won't try to spill ALL of the water out of a Kappa's holding vessel, because most people are not cruel, nor do they want to commit murder.

In these cases the human will win the battle with the Kappa. THEN the Kappa will be loyal to that human for the rest of the human's life: (Kappas are immortal) and will watch over him or her and provide constant protection: "Someone to watch over me." I wonder if one reason is that Kappas are in transition toward becoming humans, and they've developed gratitude. If so, they must be deeply grateful to the human they've picked on for NOT spilling out all the water from their head bowls.

If the human loses the battle, the Kappa just runs back to the river and finds another human to pick on later. It seems something like gratitude in a mortal situation is necessary to produce something like a protective life-long bond.

Now you know how wonderful Kappas can be. I hope you will meet one some day, so that you can get acquainted with the superhuman strength, mischieviousness and loyalty they can offer to us.

TESTIMONIALS:

Hi Pamela,
The necklaces arrived. Oh....my....God!!!!!! They are both gorgeous. I opened each box with literal squeals of delight. The Madonna pendant is even bigger than I expected, which is a good thing. I'd never seen the particular painting you used and I love it. It's so different from other Madonna portraits, yet so moving. It really captures the feel of the Great Mother. I've never pictured her as a mature, grandmotherly type. She's always been a young mother to me.
The dragon pendant is so beautiful. The beads are even more magnificent than you described. Wherever did you find them? (That's a rhetorical question. I wouldn't know what to do with them if I had them. You're the artist here.) Thank you so much for such beautiful works of art.

Hello Pamela,
I received the larimar earrings today together with
your gift pair. And how beautiful they both are! I am so very
pleased! Thank you. Pamela, the clips you provided with both pairs are not only pretty but so comfortable on the ears. I'm sure you must
know from others' feedback if you don't wear clips yourself, that
it is quite difficult to find a pair you can wear painlessly. Yours
are those pairs. I can't thank you enough. I love the larimar earrings, and the turquoise! Blue and green are my favorite colors! I also appreciate your lovely notes, and the wonderful gift boxes! Have a prosperous and great weekend! Until the next time,

Pamela, I received the necklace today and it is really lovely. The
larimar is beautifully complemented by the blue stones which
capture so much light. The earrings are so nice - and so
thoughtful of you. Thank you! Peace and light,

Pamela, I received this necklace and it is more impressive than
the pictures suggest - it really feels reverential to wear it.
Peace,

Pamela,
I'll be checking your shop often; your customer service is fabulous and for me, that's a big part of any shopping experience and keeps me
coming back. Have a wonderful day in sunny Florida and I'll be talking
to you.

Dear Pamela,
I keep thinking and feeling so happy that you have been so kind to me, just a stranger in this big wide world.

Dear Pamela,
I received the necklace today. So beautiful. Can't wait to wear
it. Thank you so very much for the earrings. TWO pairs! OMG,
again...beautiful. So very generous of you to include the
earrings. You are definitely an asset to Ruby Lane. I will be
visiting your shop regularly. Thank you.

Hi Pamela,
Both dresses are beautiful. You didn't have to do that and I am very grateful and impressed.
I have 2 daughters, both small: one's a size 4, the other a size 6.
I think they'll each find one of the dresses that fits!
I'm sending you the final payment on the necklaces tonight. I can't wait to see them. They both look so beautiful in the pictures.
Thank you again for going so far above and beyond on the dress order.

Pamela,
Thank you! I have a "thing" for earrings:) I can feel your passion for design and creativity when you describe your pieces! I look forward to wearing each pair:)

Dear Pamela thank you ! thank you ! My box arrived today in
perfect condition. The bears are great and I love my earrings and
your gift is beautiful. I will cherish it always One Jersey girl
to another. Happy Holidays

Pamela,
You continue to create very beautiful jewelry. . . . You are a "powerful woman" and you are a spiritual, creative unique person who has the ability to mesmerize with words. You are a true healer, and the healing comes through in your jewelry.

Dear Pamela,
I'm writing to say thank you so very, very much. The gift was
wrapped beautifully, but nothing could prepare me for how
gorgeous the actual necklace is. I was speechless when my friend
opened the package and showed me. The pictures simply don't do
your work justice -- it was lovely beyond belief!! Needless to
say, my friend was overwhelmed and said it's the most beautiful
necklace she has ever seen. It's so perfect for her, and we're
both now devoted to your work. Your service goes so far beyond
what anyone could reasonably expect. You are absolutely the best
and I appreciate all you did to help me, as well as your patience
with my questions before purchasing.
Thank you again; I look forward to purchasing from you again.

Hi Pamela
Last evening when I removed the tangerine earrings from their case to try them on, I noticed that you had tucked in another pair of pink earrings behind the foam packaging.
Thank you so much for this gift. It was a wonderful surprise. The color of these briolettes are beautiful too.
You stock very pretty earrings in your store and I look forward to many more great purchases from your shop.
Thank you once again and Happy New Year to you.

Pamela,
I am going to share your card and your jewelry with all my friends when I return to work next week.
You are a very special individual and it is revealed in your writings, your jewelry, and your willingness to be open to life and other people.

Hello my dearest pamela!!!!
I received my turquoise necklace!!!!!!!!!
The post man brought it in this week tuesday!
It is sooooo beautiful! It feels so lovely and calming in my
hands and I want to keep looking at it so often...
I carry it with me wherever I go...

Dear Pamela,
I just wanted to compliment you on how beautiful your designs are
and very well prices for the materials.

Pamela,
What a great necklace!

Dear Pamela,
I just had to write to tell you how much I love the new necklace and special earrings!!! The necklace is even more beautiful than the picture and has all of my favorite colors. I also love the earrings. They are a perfect match for the necklace. Thank you so much for everything - I hope to be visiting your shop again soon, and I wish you all the best!!!
Take care,

Dear Pamela-
Your pendant / homage to Bob Dylan arrived in Friday's mail. It's wonderful! Will have to think of appropriate moments to wear the jewelry. Thanks for sending it in such a nice presentation box and including the perfect chain. I will wear this piece with pride and gratitude for the great musician.
May you keep on "... like a rolling stone."
Hugs

Pamela,
I received your package in Monday's mail, and ripped it open once I sat on the sofa. I love "Heroes in the Seaweed." I can wear it everyday. I love the stones, the mermaid, the proportion of it all, and the little silver dolphin bead. You must have fun finding all your beads and other embellishments. Thanks a heap for two pairs of turtle
earrings: I finally have the ones matching the necklace; it was heroic
that you located the two turtles in that wonderful peachy-pink-terra
cotta color. And the other pair of earrings is divine: I am very fond
of enviro-themes in jewelry. You are much too kind.

Dear Pamela,
I just opened your package today. The bracelet is great as are the earrings, both sets. I collect frogs so these are very appropriate for me. Thanks for the bonus gift. Good luck in your endeavors.

Pamela,
I was attracted to looking thru your shop just because
of your stories. You shouldn't have to stop writing them! Vendors like you make Ruby Lane a place people like me who buy a lot of things return to. I will continue to return to your store remembering the days of your longer inspirational stories, try to be content with the paragraph of meaningful prose tales you seem only allowed to write at this point, and when I purchase artisan jewelry, it will be the wonderful items that come from your huge fount of creativity. Like others have said in the testimonials, the spirit in your stories and personality comes through in your jewelry designs. Thank you.

Pamela,
So excited to get the pants and thanks again for the bracelet. Picture me in Dayton, Ohio this summer wearing them with a colorful tank top, a rope belt and flip flops! I will be the hit of the city. Everyone hear LOVES Lilly Pulitzer but NO ONE will have jeans like those. I expect a lot of questions about where I got them and I'll
send them to you shop. Of course, they won't be able to have MY jeans,
but I hope they'll find other things that they'll love.

LARIMAR INFORMATION:

On the web there are guides with pictures that can help you determine the authenticity of any Larimar in which you are interested. The best is on the biggest buying and selling site on the web. You all know it, but I'm disallowed from naming it here. I want you all to be reassured that when you buy Larimar from me, you are buying genuine Larimar too.

My renewed research was motivated by reading elsewhere on Ruby Lane that some sellers are substituting "reconstituted Larimar" for genuine Larimar. If I read it, you might have, too. I felt a need to reassure us all that my Larimar is always top notch.

I used to think that smaller stones with dark matrix spots made them less valuable. I learned that isn't true at all. For a lot of us they may be less DESIRABLE, but, some people prefer varied stones with red, brown and even black inclusions when buying Larimar jewelry, because it confirms its authenticity and highlights the heavenly blue.

I googled "Fake Larimar", "Reconstituted Larimar", and "Counterfeit Larimar". All of the best articles directed readers to the Larimar Museum in the Dominican Republic. I also read that Edgar Cayce believed Hispaniola, the Caribbean island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, was part of the ancient Atlantis. Larimar was "officially" discovered ihn 1974 on Hispaniola in ONE MINE in the Dominican Republic. It's the only place it's ever been found, and the mine is running out.

Apparently the natives gifted Christopher Columbus with Larimar. It has been known about for a long time. I read that it is becoming astoundingly popular NOW, because three famous actresses or music superstars are wearing it. I'll come back with their names for this paragraph when I remember them or find them again on the web. We've all heard of at least one of them.

The most professional article was written by a gemologist who wrote that Larimar is so hard to mine, that there have been miner deaths. That saddened me. He said there are only two veins left (vertical, deep, and half the year in water) and that the only reason Larimar has been plentiful is because people haven't known about it. Because that is changing, he wrote, it is going to really become rare. He said it has always been valuable, but value is not only determined by money.

The gold standard on Larimar (or the popular standard) is that light blue pieces with rivers or clouds of (sometimes hard to see) white is the most desirable by newcomers to the stone. Stones with inclusions like you'll see in some necklaces I'll make in the future are more beloved by people who've known and collected Larimar jewelry for a long time.

For more information, you all know to google "Larimar". I'm happy to have provided this summary.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MADONNA OF THE STREETS:
Below are facts about the portrait of a Madonna and Child I use in almost all of my religious pendants. The original portrait was rendered by the Italian painter, Ferruzzi, in the last part of the seventeenth century.

The art work began after Ferruzzi saw an eleven year old pauper/peasant girl caring for her baby brother as she foraged for food. She looked hungry and older than her years. Ferruzzi, who lived in a palace, never felt above anyone else, and he had deep feelings of sorrow for the poor.

In the young girl's devotion to her baby brother some think that Ferruzzi witnessed the incarnation of the Virgin Mary deep within the core of his own being.

Perhaps he wanted to MOVE US TO HELP by showing the desperation of hunger. He strengthened the message by pairing the depleted girl with an opposite; trusting, protected, sleeping contentment. The parents agreed to allow these two children to model for the painting. Ferruzzi would have graciously paid the family handsomely in return.

The artist named the work, "Madonnini" (little Madonna). It was displayed for the first time in 1897 and garnered instant fame for both the artist and the painting itself.

Within a short time "the people" (who could easily have included you or me), were calling Ferruzzi's art work, "The Madonna of the Street". Generous in every way, the kind Ferruzzi renamed the painting for us. Uncharacteristically, he created THIS work using an anachronistic style: The genre had been gone for over fifty years. Clearly Ferruzzi was an INDIVIDUAL who didn't care about being in style. That is usually the case with people intimately connected to their souls (What Carl Jung would call "the Self Archetype", the mystical center of every human personality).

I believe the artist was GRIPPED by the Virgin Mary. Some readers might rather I declare, "the Spirit of the Divine Feminine." That's okay with me, though I think the former words are more moving and accurate on the level of soul mentioned above. I sense that the openness and FEELING on the face of the girl came "FROM ANOTHER WORLD". (Bob Dylan lyrics): That extraordinary realm where everything is Eternal.

Rhetorically I ask: Was the ordinary every day working world behind the time lapse in the way Ferruzzi painted Madonnini, and in the surprise he felt when the artist faced the VIRGIN MARY after he finished painting a contemporary pauper girl?

Was the here and now behind all the people unknown to each other calling the art work by a different name that the artist gave it once it awakened THEIR compassion for the poor--- and it was the SAME NAME?

And was carnal reality behind the fact that no one has seen the original painting since 1924, and no one knows where it is, or if it even still exists?

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
When I was in the fourth grade I recognized that time stood still during art class. My first painting that year was chosen for a United Nations Worldwide tour of the art of American Children. It won many prizes, but I was onto a beautiful mosaic with thousands of differently toned tiny blue squares.

The next year I wrote a short story that eventuated in an unprecedented action taken by the Morris Township, NJ, Board of Education: My story was considered so valuable that it was inserted into the following year's official reading curriculum for all ten sections of fifth grade classes. I had little energy for noticing, though, because it took everything I had just to "keep on keepin' on." (Dylan).

To best reveal myself as the designer and creator of an item you might purchase from my shop, please allow me one more story. (I thank you for any attention to my brief autobiography).

A dolphin ark-ed high out of the water in my first adult dream. It dove back down under the soulful blue deep on the inside of the Golden Gate Bridge.

I was standing on the deck of a stationary ferry boat. The others aboard were inside talking, taking notice of nothing besides themselves and the morning's financial news.

I was the only person on the (purposely stalled) ferry who witnessed the ENORMOUS dolphin, a creature who evoked tremendous AWE and INSPIRATION. Its sudden appearance, potent majesty, and indescribable shimmering beauty proved to be the symbol for the meaning and scope of my life's journey.

The dolphin is a soul image for many and certainly for me. That dream portended a future in which the soul would be visible and would take center stage: Most of the people I'd meet along the way wouldn't want to invest their time and resources into learning how to "see" the soul, because it hold sno reality or interest for them. Money is more the interest of most I've met. But money doesn't sparkle and shine for me. It is devoid of the sparkling drops of soulshine the dolphins know.
Qualities of soulshine are things like intuition, feeling, loyalty and art.