Celtic "Fis" Pictish Stone Ceramic Pendant

Celtic "Fis" Pictish Stone Ceramic Pendant

There are many representations of the ancient old Gaelic Pictish stones and this is mine! This earthenware clay ceramic pendant has had the old Irish word "Fis" meaning "Secret Knowledge" carved into it. I have glazed it with a rich, earthy blue color and attached a sturdy Aanraku bail. You can easily remove the dark brown suede cord if you have a chain you prefer to use.

Shipping is free for this item that is currently for sale in my Etsy shop, and a gift box is included!

~Who were the Picts?~

According to Wikipedia, the Picts were a confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from before the Roman conquest until the 10th century. They lived to the north of the Forth and Clyde rivers. They are assumed to have been the descendants of the Caledonii and other tribes named by Roman historians or found on the world map of Ptolemy. Pictland, also known as Pictavia, gradually absorbed the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata to form the Kingdom of Alba. Alba expanded absorbing British and Bernician territory and by the 11th century the Pictish identity had become subsumed under a new term for this amalgamation of North British peoples the "Scots".

Pictish recorded history begins in the Dark Ages. It appears that they were not the dominant power in Northern Britain for the entire period. The Gaels of Dál Riata controlled their own region for a time, but suffered a series of defeats in the first third of the 7th century. The Angles of Bernicia overwhelmed the adjacent British kingdoms, and the neighbouring Anglian kingdom of Deira (Bernicia and Deira later being called Northumbria), was to become the most powerful kingdom in Britain. The Picts were probably tributary to Northumbria until the reign of Bridei map Beli, when the Anglians suffered a defeat at the battle of Dunnichen which halted their expansion northwards. The Northumbrians continued to dominate southern Scotland for the remainder of the Pictish period.

Three Graces Ceramic Cameo Ring

This graceful Three Graces adjustable ring features a handmade ceramic cameo that I have formed from earthenware clay. I made the mold for this piece by using an antique cameo. This cameo has been glazed a pale purple and has been set in a beautiful adjustable ring base.

I have just lowered the price on my Three Graces ceramic rings just in time for the holidays! Click here to view them in my Etsy shop.

A gift box is included with your purchase and shipping is FREE!

Ceramic Bobby Pins

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Looking for an affordable artisan made holiday gift? I have just added some new ceramic bobby pins to my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop!

New Celtic Druid's Eggs

New Celtic Druid's Egg Pendants

I have had several inquiries about my Celtic Druid's Egg ceramic pendants, and here are a couple fresh out of the kiln! The two eggs featured above were created using white earthenware clay. A rich pale purple glaze and an earthy moss green glaze are two new colors for these pieces. I have also used a few more new glazes, so be on the look out for those in coming days! (I'm waiting on some more Aanraku bails).

These two newest eggs can be found in the "Ceramic Celtic Jewelry" section of my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop. Don't forget, a gift box is included with every order and shipping is FREE!

*What Are Druid's Eggs?*

The Druid's Egg (also “glain,” “serpent's egg,” or “snake stone”) was a talismanic object sacred to the Druids. Tales about it resemble those of the Philosopher's Stone sought by the alchemists. Its myths may also be related to those of the Omphalos, a meteoritic stone which was kept at Delphi and was thought to be the egg of the serpent-monster Python. In legends, the Druid’s Egg is credited with endowing its possessor with the ability to obtain almost all he might desire. The Druid's Egg was also believed to create a favorable outcome in courts of law, so much that the Romans outlawed carrying one into any courtroom. In truth, the Druid’s Egg was an egg-shaped talisman made of stone. This consecrated object served as a tool for meditation and magickal focus, and symbolized the promise of renewal and rebirth. They could be made from any stone, and were generally small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand (about the size of a chicken's egg). In lore, the Druid's Egg was a magickal egg produced by serpents. It could be obtained only on St. Johns Eve, when snakes were supposed to gather in a ball and form an egg from their spittle. As the snakes twisted and writhed, the egg emerged from the mass of vipers and would then float upward into the air. Many species of snake do form such a ball in the cold months, but the few species of snake native to Britain are not egg-layers. A snake which does lay eggs is the python, not found in Britain, but which was kept in the goddess temples of the Aegean; this may be taken as further evidence of an association between the Druids (or their predecessors) and the Delphic cult which kept the sacred Omphalos stone. In legends, the Druid who caught the Druid’s Egg after its creation was advised to take instant measures to prevent being robbed of it: as soon as the egg had been obtained he was to throw himself upon a horse that was kept waiting for him, as he would be pursued by the snakes; he was further instructed not to halt until he had gotten to the other side of the first running water to which his flight brought him, across which the serpents would be unable to follow. The Druid’s Egg appears to have been an object of interest to the ancients, some of whom describe having actually seen and handled it. Among those who have specially described it is the Roman historian Pliny, who claimed he was shown one of these by a Druid from Gaul and called it an "anguinum." "There is also another kind of egg, of much renown in the Gallic provinces, but ignored by the Greeks. In the summer, numberless snakes entwine themselves into a ball, held together by a secretion from their bodies and by their spittle. this is called anguinum. The Druids say that hissing serpents throw this up into the air, and that it must be caught in a cloak, and not allowed to touch the ground; and that one must instantly take flight on horse-back, as the serpents will pursue until some stream cuts them out. It may be tested, they say, by seeing if it floats against the current of a river, even though it be set in gold. But as it is the way of magicians to cast a cunning veil about their frauds, they pretend that these eggs can only be taken on a certain day of the moon, as though it rested with mankind to make the moon and the serpents accord as to the moment of the operation. I myself, however, have seen one of these eggs; it was round, and about as large as a smallish apple; the shell was cartalaginous, and pocked like the arms of a polypus." Of all the historic sources who have testified to seeing this legendary egg, none claim to have witnessed its creation. While the Druid's Egg is not a widespread tool in modern Druidism, it is used by some as a ritual implement for grounding and to protect its owner from manipulative magick or other harmful intents by acting as a magickal “shell,” absorbing and transforming any destructive energy. In Wales, there is still some belief in the objects; they call them mân macal ("snare stones") and glain y nidir ("the snake's jewel").

A Friday Feature!

Be the Mermaid on Athenas Amoury Blog

I had a lovely surprise waiting for me this morning when I logged into my Etsy.com account! Janine, of AthenasArmoury, had written to say she had featured my "Be the Mermaid" pendant shown above in her blog! AthenasAmoury's Etsy shop has a wonderful variety of chainmaille jewelry, so be sure and take a look!

Ceramic Bobby Pins

I finally got around to taking photos and listing some of my ceramic bobby pins in my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop. I sold several of these at our last show and had the best of intentions of getting them listed as soon as we returned from Yachats. We all know what is paved with good intentions ;)

Back and Forth!

It's nice to have several online selling venues. I'm doing a little house cleaning and am in the process of moving some pieces back to my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop. Several of my international customers have been inquiring about buying some of the Celtic, Norse and Druid jewelry that had been listed in my 1000markets.com shop and since Amazon is the only payment system allowed there (and not available to international buyers) I thought I would move them back to Etsy. Wow, that was one long sentence! LOL All apologies to my past English instructors :)

You can now find my Druid's Eggs and Celtic Oghams in my Etsy shop, with more pieces to come in the future :)

New Handmade Ceramic Cameo Pendants!

Handmade Earthenware Cameo Pendants

I have recently added some new handmade by me earthenware cameo pendants to my Grizzly Mountain Cache supply shop on Etsy! So far, I have added three of the floral cameos seen above in the photo and will try to get the rest of them uploaded tomorrow :) All of my handmade cameos have Aanraku bails, and can be used as you see fit in your fabulous jewelry creations!

If you would like to view more photos of these new pieces, please click here, or on the link above.

Oregon Pictograph Ceramic Pendant

Oregon Pictograph Ceramic Pendant

Ancient cultures and their symbols is a favorite subject of mine to study. Oregon is rich in archeological art and this earthenware pendant shows an example of a pictograph found in Harney County.

I have glazed this pendant to have the appearance of an old weathered rock, with the pictograph created with a glaze close to the color that may have been used to create the original image. More photos of this unique pendant can be found in my Good Dirt Jewelry shop on 1000markets.com.

*What is the difference between a pictograph and a petroglyph?*

A pictograph, which is usually found on the surface of a light colored rock, is an image that was created by painting with a variety of pigments made up of soot and/or local minerals that had been made into a powdered form. Red could have been made from hematite or iron oxide, and orange could have been made by adding limonite. Malachite provided the green, azurite the blue, and turquoise probably came from ground up turquoise. Other sources of pigment included white clay, silica, gypsum, chalk, calcium carbonate, and charcoal. Pastels were created from clay mixed with other minerals. Thanks to the arid climate found in central and eastern Oregon, many examples can be found today of this early artwork.

A petroglyph is an image that has been chipped, chiseled or pecked into the surface of a rock. These are typically found on exposed rock surfaces. They depict hunting scenes, religious or magical symbols, ancient astrological symbols and other surreal symbols whose meaning is only known to the ancient cultures that created them.

Introducing.....The Swallowtail Tatting Shuttle

The Swallowtail Tatting Shuttle

Here in central Oregon winter is still in full force, but that doesn't prevent us from dreaming of spring. Dave's newest line of tatting shuttles, the Swallowtails, makes us think of spring!

Sometime back we fitted new wooden blinds in our house and we ended up with slats left over. Since we often like to “re-purpose” things we find, Dave made some lightweight tatting shuttles out of the extra blinds.

These shuttles are 3 1/4 inches long by 1 1/8 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick. Each has been adorned with a graceful swallotail using pyrography (burn etching) and has been initialed and dated by Dave, the maker. Beeswax was used to finish each shuttle.

You can find four of our new Swallowtail Tatting Shuttles in our Etsy shop.

Old Irish Blessing Stone Ceramic Pendant

Made with love on Grizzly Mountain!

This unique 1 1/2" diameter pendant has been made to look like the Buckquoy spindle whorl, which was excavated in Buckquoy, Birsay, Orkney, Scotland in 1970. The old Irish Ogham inscription is believed to date back to the 8th century. My pendant was created with earthenware clay and has been glazed with an earthy iron ore colored glaze. No two pieces ever come out of the kiln the same!

The cord is a wonderful faux suede material that doesn't shed all over your clothes like real suede can. It can be tied to accommodate any neckline.

More photos of this piece and other Celtic and Norse ceramic pendants can be found in my Good Dirt Jewelry 1000markets shop and in my Etsy shop.

According to Wikipedia, the inscription was once used as positive proof that the Pictish language was not Indo-European, being variously read as

E(s/n)DDACTA(n/lv)IM(v/lb)

(e/)(s/n/)DDACTANIMV

(e/)TMIQAVSALL(e/q)

however, in 1995 historian Katherine Forsyth reading

ENDDACTANIM(f/lb)

claimed that it was a standard Old Irish ogham benedictory message, Benddact anim L. meaning "a blessing on the soul of L.". The stone from which the whorl was made, and on which the inscription was written, is native to Orkney.

Old Irish Blessing Stone Ceramic Pendant

Old Irish Blessing Stone Ceramic Pendant

This unique 1 1/2" diameter pendant has been made to look like the Buckquoy spindle whorl, which was excavated in Buckquoy, Birsay, Orkney, Scotland in 1970. The old Irish Ogham inscription is believed to date back to the 8th century. My pendant, which is now available in my 1000markets.com shop, was created with earthenware clay and has been glazed with an earthy blue tinted glaze. No two pieces ever come out of the kiln the same!

The cord is a wonderful faux suede material that doesn't shed all over your clothes like real suede can. It can be tied to accommodate any neckline.

According to Wikipedia, the inscription was once used as positive proof that the Pictish language was not Indo-European, being variously read as

E(s/n)DDACTA(n/lv)IM(v/lb)

(e/)(s/n/)DDACTANIMV

(e/)TMIQAVSALL(e/q)

however, in 1995 historian Katherine Forsyth reading

ENDDACTANIM(f/lb)

claimed that it was a standard Old Irish ogham benedictory message, Benddact anim L. meaning "a blessing on the soul of L.". The stone from which the whorl was made, and on which the inscription was written, is native to Orkney.

Ansuz Norse Rune Ceramic Pendant

Made with love on Grizzly Mountain!

I created this ANSUZ rune pendant from earthenware clay. It has been glazed with a rich blue glaze. No two pieces come out of the kiln the same! This pendant hangs from an 18 inch ball chain, which can be easily removed if you have a favorite chain you prefer to use. A gift box is included with your purchase.

The ANSUZ rune, symbolizes wisdom, truth and communication. It is often thought of as the rune of poets.

Whether you are a practicing Druid, or just love the art of ancient traditions, this pendant would be a unique addition to your collection.

This runic pendant and others can be found in my new shop on 1000Markets.com.

Good Dirt Jewelry Now on 1000Markets.com!

Have you heard of 1000 Markets? Well, now you have! 1000 Markets is an amazing new online art gallery that combines sleek styling with hassle free Amazon payment services!

I've been selling online for a little over six years now, and I know there are many buyers that just don't feel comfortable sharing all of the personal information required by PayPal to sign up to use their payment services. 1000 Markets has partnered with Amazon.com to allow it's customers to pay using their pre-established Amazon account! How cool is that?! You can shop on 1000 Markets with confidence knowing each seller there is backed by the power of Amazon.com.

I have begun adding ceramic pendants to my 1000 Markets shop, so please stop by for a visit!

Celtic Love Ogham Ceramic Pendant

Made with love on Grizzly Mountain!

This is another of my handmade Celtic "Love" Ogham pendants. The Ogham has been glazed with a dark blue glaze and the pendant has been given an aged look by washing the glaze over it. This piece is now for sale in my Etsy shop.

Celtic Mother Earth Ogham Ceramic Pendant

Made with love on Grizzly Mountain!

This "Mother Earth" Celtic Ogham has been glazed with an earthy blue glaze to give it an aged look. Each individually hand carved piece comes out of the kiln with it's own unique color! The Ogham writing on this pendant has been glazed with a dark brown glaze. More photos of this pendant can be found here.

Be the Mermaid!

Made with love on Grizzly Mountain!

Have you ever had one of those days when you wish you could get away from it all? Well, reach up, clasp your fingers around this pendant, close your eyes and Be the Mermaid!

Each of my "Be the Mermaid" pendants are individually hand carved by me. This pendant has been glazed with a gorgeous blue glaze. No two pieces come out of the kiln the same! This pendant has been accented with a carved bone bead that I lightly stained with blueberry juice.

Starfish Ceramic Pendant

Starfish are my favorite things to find when visiting the Oregon coast. This starfish pendant is made of earthenware clay and has been glazed with a beautiful bluish glaze. No two glazed pieces ever come out of the kiln the same, so each hand carved piece is truly unique. This pendant hangs from an 18" ball chain. A gift box is included with your purchase.

All items in my Good Dirt Jewelry shop ship for FREE, even worldwide!

Oregon Petroglyph Ceramic Pendant

Studying ancient cultures is a hobby of mine and I like to use their symbols in my pieces. This petroglyph is located in Harney county Oregon. He/she has been carved into earthenware clay and glazed to have the appearance of an aged rock.

Spiral of Life

This large spiral pendant has been glazed with a beautiful blue glaze. No two glazed pieces ever come out of the kiln the same, so each hand carved piece is truly unique.

**What does the Spiral symbol mean?**

According to Wikipedia, the spiral plays a certain role in symbolism, and appears in megalithic art, notably in the Newgrange tomb or in many Galician petroglyphs such as the one in Mogor.

While scholars are still debating the subject, there is a growing acceptance that the simple spiral, when found in Chinese art, is an early symbol for the sun. Roof tiles dating back to the Tang Dynasty with this symbol have been found west of the ancient city of Chang'an (modern-day Xian).

The spiral is the most ancient symbol found on every civilized continent. Due to its appearance at burial sites across the globe, the spiral most likely represented the "life-death-rebirth" cycle. Similarly, the spiral symbolized the sun, as ancient people thought the sun was born each morning, died each night, and was reborn the next morning.

The study of spirals in nature have a long history, Christopher Wren observed that many shells form a logarithmic spiral. Jan Swammerdam observed the common mathematical characteristics of a wide range of shells from Helix to Spirula and Henry Nottidge Moseley described the mathematics of univalve shells. D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson's On Growth and Form gives extensive treatment to these spirals. He describes how shells are formed by rotating a closed curve around a fixed axis, the shape of the curve remains fixed but its size grows in a geometric progression. In some shell such as Nautilus and ammonites the generating curve revolves in a plane pirpendicular to the axis and the shell will form a planer discoid shape. In others it follows a skew path forming a helico-spiral pattern.

Thompson also studied spirals occurring in horns, teeth, claws and plants.