Glad to close this one out.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

That was yesterday. it's bright and sunny today, but that will probably change after 5PM or so. It's fine; we can always use the rain.

Not a particularly good day otherwise, which is fitting, I guess, for the end of what an absurdly and unnecessarily difficult month July has been. August has never been my favorite month, for a whole host of reasons, but right now, I'll just be glad to close this one out. Especially since it took two of our giants today alone. Add to that Wings having injured his knee a couple of days and thereby being decidedly not-happy and in no small amount of pain, and all the crap I'm dealing with courtesy of the lupus meds I now can no longer take and what that means (hopefully no longer blood glucose readings in the unconsciousness zone, on the good side; on the not-good side, the contractures are already worsening). I'm just sick of all of it, and knowing that I have new tax payments coming up (to a country that would rather see us dead and shows us that every day), I need to bring in more scratch immediately.

Meanwhile, Wings is still cranking out new inventory when he can. The last in his gemstone bead Elementals series posted last Sunday, here (and you do want to click through each entry and see the other angles). Three nights ago, I posted his four brand-new pieces, one cuff and three rings (one of which is already sold), here. And he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. That's especially true with the holidays coming; these silver spikes are going to make this fall a crisis point for a lot of jewelers. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain, another side effect that has forced me to discontinue my lupus meds entirely (dangerously low BG). I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                              

Small Spirits, Forging New Paths

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a masterwork to honor the small but remarkably strong spirits of summer and what they have to teach us. It's Butterfly as you've never seen her before, one of the migratory messengers of our already vastly-altered world — small spirits, forging new paths for their own survival, and for ours.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We badly need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

All trying to outlast the others.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Uneasy, but they're tolerating each other. We got a bunch of bones fro the dogs from the local meat processor; some of the pieces included the kind of fat that Wings thought would not be especially good for them, so yesterday morning, he tossed it up where only the birds could get at it. One of them did, and then dropped it, right in the middle of the horses' pen. We had about a half dozen each of vultures and ravens, plus a few young crows and magpies, all trying to outlast the others to get it.

We have a lot of youngsters this year; not so many adult birds. We also have some that have historically been only winter residents, but here they are in the heat of the summer. And in the storms, which have become a little on the violent side the last few days.

I expect we'll see more of all of that today.

Meanwhile, Wings is still cranking out new inventory when he can. The last in his gemstone bead Elementals series posted Sunday, here (and you do want to click through each entry and see the other angles). Three nights ago, I posted his four brand-new pieces, one cuff and three rings (one of which is already sold), here. And he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. That's especially true with the holidays coming; these silver spikes are going to make this fall a crisis point for a lot of jewelers. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain, another side effect that has forced me to discontinue my lupus meds entirely (dangerously low BG). I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                              

The Bringers of Rain Are the Bringers of Medicine

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a masterwork by Wings from some years back, a perfect tribute to one of the signifiers of prosperity that deserves more gratitude than the world typically affords her. It's Spider Woman as you've never seen her before, bold in shades of blue and particularly powerful, a symbol of prosperity and healing that perhaps reminds us now that the bringers of rain are the bringers of medicine, too.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We badly need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

So much work.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Even on a day like today, the work is endless.

By "day like today," I mean the fact that it's POURING. Think cloudburst, only for an hour and a half straight so far. I got caught outside in it, trying to get the chickens into their coop and get the dogs out of the dog run and into the house, and the insulated winter "waterproof" jacket I grabbed, because it had a hood? Was soaked all the way through; the inside is as wet as the outside. I didn't even know that was possible.

Wings got caught in it on the way home. He's back out in the studio now, because there's so much work to get caught up on, and given that August is under three days away, he needs to get a jump on the holiday season, too. Up there are two from the former category; hopefully he can turn his attention to the latter after a couple more weeks.

Meanwhile, he's still cranking out new inventory when he can. The last in his gemstone bead Elementals series posted Sunday, here (and you do want to click through each entry and see the other angles). Three nights ago, I posted his four brand-new pieces, one cuff and three rings (one of which is already sold), here. And he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. That's especially true with the holidays coming; these silver spikes are going to make this fall a crisis point for a lot of jewelers. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain. I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                             

Friday Feature: A Storm Born of Water and Light

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

It's our Friday Feature at The NDN Silver Blog, with a trio of works built around a single (and fourth) extraordinary masterwork, each illustrating a different aspect of its substance and spirit. It's a necklace and three pairs of earrings, all perfect for this day in a new summer's moon with rain coming down in torrents, a storm born of water and light to keep our world alive.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner. 

All that storm.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Two drops. That's all we got out of all that storm yesterday, which otherwise completely passed us by. This, despite three separate breathless emergency-services texts, two of them in Spanish, with dire warnings about flooding.

There's flooding, but it's all in the burn scars on the other side of the ridgeline. At least two people have lost their lives in them so far; last I knew, one person is still missing.

Here, though, the skies have looked like this pretty much all day so far, and I think we might get a little more out of it than yesterday. Meanwhile, we're keeping a punishing pace, although Wings is far more productive than I am right now, because the contractures are worse and they're hobbling me in a not-insignificant way. [Yes, I go back to the doctor in a couple of weeks.]

The last in Wings's gemstone bead Elementals series posted Sunday, here (and you do want to click through each entry and see the other angles). Three nights ago, I posted his four brand-new pieces, one cuff and three rings (one of which is already sold), here. And he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. That's especially true with the holidays coming; these silver spikes are going to make this fall a crisis point for a lot of jewelers. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain. I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                             

#ThrowbackThursday: A Pair of Perfect Raindrops

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

It's #TBT at The NDN Silver Blog, with a #ThrowbackThursday featured work that dates back only to the very beginning of this month, and a gift for a relative who shares Wings's birthday. It's one in Wings's revived informal series of self-adjustable rings, this one manifest in a pair of perfect raindrops and all the abundance and prosperity that such weather brings.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. This work will never be duplicated exactly, but if the style speaks to your spirit, simply inquire via the site's Contact form; Wings can create a version uniquely your own. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.   

Hard to think about winter when it's ninety degrees outside.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

More detail work, this one for a commissioned piece. It occurred to me today that Saturday is August first, which means that we have only two months between now and the start of our holiday season, because it takes two full months' lead time for him both to build inventory and fulfill orders to be completed and shipped in time for Christmas.

I guess that means that if you've been contemplating the prospect of commissioning gifts for the holidays, it's no longer too early to start getting our orders in.

Hard to think about winter when it's ninety degrees outside, but such is the nature of this work. At least he doesn't have to get Christmas inventory done and shipped six months early every year to satisfy a dealer's catalogue schedule.

Everything's terrible in the outside world, but yesterday's hassle wound up getting rescheduled, so at least there's that. The next two weeks are going to be a mess, and I can't seem to get a single day to myself to catch up on any of the work that's been piling up. And whatever else is going on at any given moment, including my own body failing me repeatedly on the autoimmune front, I always, always need to make some sales.

The last in Wings's gemstone bead Elementals series posted Sunday, here (and you do want to click through each entry and see the other angles). Two nights ago, I posted his four brand-new pieces, one cuff and three rings, here. And he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. That's especially true with the holidays coming; these silver spikes are going to make this fall a crisis point for a lot of jewelers. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain. I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                             

A Rain to Save the Life of the Land

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a pair of complementary works to embody all the power and medicine of the best of the summer season. It's a reminder to us to be grateful even for extreme conditions, for in this harsh environment, such storms are what deliver a rain to save the life of the land now.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We badly need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

Sometimes, you get a surprise gift.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Sometimes, you see a little spirit, like the chickadee, moving at lightning speed through the cedar branches, and you get a chance to capture him settling for a moment.

And sometimes, you get a surprise gift: the tiny siskin directly opposite, who was camouflaged so perfectly that I couldn't even see him even though he was right in front of me.

There's a lot that we don't see, even when it's right in front of our eyes. Our world is paying the price for that refusal, and it's mostly refusal, not inability. We're paying it, too, even if people refuse to engage with that truth, either.

Meanwhile, everything's terrible in the outside world, but today's hassle wound up getting rescheduled, so at least we're back home in our sanctuary again. And I need to make some sales.

The last in Wings's gemstone bead Elementals series posted Sunday, here (and you do want to click through each entry and see the other angles). Last night, I posted his four brand-new pieces, one cuff and three rings, here. And he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain. I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                             

Red Willow Spirit: What the Water Asks of Us

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's an edition of Red Willow Spirit for a season of unexpected gifts, of the medicine of the water and of the messages inherent in its arrival. Today, it's four images of better days linked by three works of wearable art, all of them reflecting our responsibility to heed what the water asks of us, to reclaim and restore a better world.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We will still need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.      

Four new works by Wings

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

All right, it's late, but I did say I would have four new works by Wings, and I do. It's a new entry in his ongoing informal series of solid sterling silver heavy-gauge cuffs, and three new entries in his revived series of two-stone self-adjustable rings. First up is the cuff shown above, called The Old Ways. Nine-gauge sterling, entire top surface of the band texturized with a single tiny divot-end stamp and hundreds of strikes of the hammer, plus an elegant overlay and gentle texturing of edges and inner band, too. You can read its full description here.

Now, the rings:

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

The first of the three is set with a pair of malachite rounds. This is Toward Life, made of sterling silver half-round wire with a stylized arrowhead pattern repeated directionally around its convex surface. You can read its full description here.

The second ring is set with squares:

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Also formed of sterling silver half-round wire, the convex surface on this one, called Beneath the Sun's Red Eye, is stamped freehand in an old Eye-of-Spirit motif. The square garnet cabochons are beveled lightly at the corners to show off their deep scarlet fire to best effect. You can read its full description here.

And last but not least, it's the third and final ring, this one to honor the work of the moon:

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Again, the band is convex half-round wire; the stampwork on this one evokes the flow of light and the pull of the tides, fitting for a spirit whose role is found in the name: To Light All the Corners of the Dark. The stones are beveled squares of rainbow moonstone, but these are unusually highly domed and they refract al lot of brilliant blue light. You can read its full description here.

As always, Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We badly need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

Not even a dent.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Last evening's early storm: a cloudburst, short, quick, and to the point. The bigger one came in overnight, beginning just before 11 pM and continuing for apparently three or four hours. Third night in a row of filling the rain barrels completely, which is certainly a welcome development, but it's not even a dent in this drought.

There's not even a dent in all the crises besetting the world, the country, and our peoples, either. 

And there's no time to contemplate it, really; we just have to do what we can where we can, because it's all so goddamned expensive and there's no end to the work. The last in Wings's gemstone bead Elementals series posted yesterday, here (and you do want to click through each entry and see the other angles) and he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain. I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                             

Monday Photo Meditation: Skies Painted By and With the Rain

Photo copyright Wings, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's a photo meditation for a Monday now seemingly at the heart of a true rainy season once more. It's a contemplation, too, on the nature of the beauty and medicine delivered via skies painted by and with the rain.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, his photos are available in any of the usual three formats; simply inquire via the site's Contact form. We badly need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.     

Then again, not everything is a gift.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

So I said yesterday that the day before was a gift? Yeah, that was true as far as it went. Then again, not everything is a gift, witness the results of that evening's storm, and yet another section of fence downed. I have no idea when he's going to find time to fix that. It's been too hot to do anything like that, although today is topping out about 20 degrees cooler than the last few days, so far, anyway.

That's entirely due to the first wave of weather arriving earlier; it's sitting just off our boundary due south, and should be here any minute now. As long as it doesn't take the power with it, I'm all for it.

It's been a brutal week, the one that just ended, I mean. This kind of heat is usually reserved for June, and not nearly so humid. The difference is that we've been getting storms in the evening or at night, and while they do the land more good that way, what they don't do is cool that daytime air, and it's been absolutely suffocating. Lupus and my other autoimmune conditions mean I have issue already with body-heat dysregulation, so every moment that I have not been able just to sit in the cool adobe downstairs has been frankly miserable.

Today, though, it's back to work. Wings finished the last in his gemstone bead Elementals series today, posted here (and you do want to click through each entry and see the other angles) and he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain. I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                             

The First Medicine of Summer Is Always the Water

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's the final entry in Wings's signature series of gemstone bead trios, this one collectively entitled The Summer Elementals:  Water. It's necklace, earrings, and coil bracelet manifest in shapes and shades and animating spirits of the season's greatest gift, a reminder that the first medicine of summer is always the water.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We badly need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

Some days are just a gift.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Sometimes, the spirits celebrate with you.

Yesterday was a marker for us, a good one, for once: the anniversary of the day we met, nearly two decades ago now. We've essentially been together ever since. 

And near day's end, in defiance of the forecast, the weather produced an absolutely torrential rain, enough to fill the rain barrels entirely (and snow on the peaks!), and then an hour-long light show courtesy of the rainbows.

Some days are just a gift.

Today, though, it's back to work. We're hoping that Wings will have the last in his gemstone bead Elementals series tomorrow, and he's got a whole host of other pieces in the works. But he's suddenly having to be much more mindful of what he creates, given the crisis-level spike in silver prices.

As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain. I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.                                             

The Embers of the Day, the Sparks of the Summer Night

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's newest works, a self-adjustable ring set with the shades of the summer twilight. It's the amethyst glow of the stormy season in that liminal space, the embers of the day, the sparks of the summer night, and the violet shimmer that envelops them all.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Inquiries via the site's Contact form. We badly need to make consistent sales to make it through this third year of pandemic and loss (and a spectacularly costly couple of months, with much more to come), so shares of the site links are much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.    

We could use a little prosperity now.

Photo copyright Aji, 2022; all rights reserved.

Yes, I posted this late yesterday, but it deserves to have more eyes on it. This is Wings's newest, shown from the vantage point of the actual uncoiling of the name (and the cuff, and the snake). The full entry is here.

To him, snakes symbolize prosperity (no, they're not negative in all cultures), and Spirit knows we could use a little prosperity now. As I said earlier, we just learned that both silver suppliers in this state have more than tripled their silver prices (for some types of silver, much more), which has left me pretty badly shaken. And it's across the board; even small things, like findings and earring wires and backs, have gone way, way up. He's got enough for now to do what he needs to do, but nothing's going to change anytime soon, given that the justifications for it will be "supply-chain issues," "fuel prices," "war in Ukraine," and "inflation"; these prices are here for the foreseeable future. It's going to put a lot of Native smiths and jewelers completely out of business, and to make sure that Wings does not become one of them, I have GOT to make some sales. Unfortunately, I'm being hobbled by everything else, not least of which is this flare that is making the progression in my illness much worse: numbness, muscle contractures, crippling pain. I'm going to need help to do this. All the links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (priority is first and foremost, the other ladder);
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

We're still hoping to put aside enough for a new well when the ground thaws enough to drill in the spring, too, Nah, we've given up on the well. No one's available to drill before late next year at the earliest, and this year's tax burden means we would never be able to afford it anyway. But it's even more of a good time to make a purchase, because Uncle Sam is a vindictive colonizer, and my current stress levels about paying it all are off the charts. And there's lots of fabulous work, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2022; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.