Guinea pigs have been pets in Europe for centuries! Some evidence discovered just a few years ago points to this…a guinea pig skeleton was found in the backyard cellar in a district of Belgium (which at one time had been part of the Spanish Empire.) With radiocarbon dating of the bones, it was revealed that this little piggie lived at the beginning of the 17^th century, just after the Spanish made their discovery of South America.

And Flemish guinea pig paintings from the time show multi-colored guinea pigs, obviously pets. The wild cavy, of course, is a brown color.

The newly discovered guinea pig was apparently buried on the property, an act typical of an affectionate human companion.

It makes sense. These little guys are so cute, so companionable that they have been winning the love of humans for a very long time.

I have never had a guinea pig for a pet, but so many of my customers have them. And I’ll bet my guinea pig jewelry is up there with the top 10% of popular items I create! This surprised me at first, but then I learned some interesting things about guinea pigs. Like:

• ·         Guinea pigs make excellent family pets
• ·         They rarely bite
• ·         They are fairly long-lived for rodents (5-7 years)
• ·         They make some very cute sounds! Customers have described their vocalizations as humming and purring
• ·         They respond well to handling

Guinea pigs sound like a wonderful way to introduce responsible pet care to a child. Of course, you as the parent would need to oversee this and make sure the guinea pig was being treated properly. But since they are so gentle, they might be a good start for a child old enough to actually keep the cage clean, feed the guinea pig and so on.

So it makes sense that guinea pigs have been pets for so long…I can imagine a Renaissance era maiden holding a little guinea pig in her hands, perhaps inducing it to take a bite of some delicacy. And it’s kind of humorous imagining a painter sitting at his easel, trying to capture a little piggie as it moves around. I’ve seen at least one painting from the 1600s with a couple of little guinea pigs in a central position. (They were black and white)

It has been postulated that it only took a couple of guinea pigs brought back from South America to be the parents of all the little pets in Europe that resulted. But I imagine more than that had been collected by the travelers. I like to think they were given as gifts by the people of South America, and that they enjoyed a pleasant journey across the water.

Who knows? Maybe that guinea pig you now have as a pet had “ex-pat” parents in Europe, and their progeny ended up back in the Colonies, to be bred once again, and become the great great many great grandparents of that little guinea pig you cuddle today! I get a little creative sometimes… If you do like the little guys, stop by The Magic Zoo and see what guinea pigs I have come up with, and make a suggestion or two.

Artistic Designs are spinning all around me these days (as possible creations). It’s almost time to sail into my new jewelry design phase, and I’m not sure where to start! I only have a few kitty designs, so maybe that would be a good one? On the other hand, I have had a lot of requests for artistic designs of collie, border terrier and other dog breeds.

Then there’s the platypus. Now if there were ever an artistic design that rarely gets asked for, that would be close to the top of the list. Yes, I have had a few requests for the unique little guy. Like 3 in over 15 years. But wouldn’t a platypus make a great pendant? Does anyone out there think I would get any orders if I designed one?

I have a confession to make. The animals that fascinate me the most are the ones that live in faraway exotic places, like Madagascar and Australia. You know, lemurs, chameleons, marsupials and oviparous mammals. (The ones that lay eggs) Of course I love dogs, cats, guinea pigs and all the rest. But the Scientist in me (didn’t know there was one, did you?) really loves the oddball critters of the earth. Yep, an artistic design of a Tasmanian devil or ring-tailed lemur…now that’s the stuff of which excitement is made. At least for this artist.

But back to reality.

Where should I go from here? What artistic designs are you hankering for? I do have a list, of course. Starting with a redo of my Shih Tzu (I need to make one with a “puppy cut”). I am looking forward to that one. Cute little guys.

And an otter gets asked for a bunch. I’ve had a lot of sad-eyed customers look in my display case at the ferret, and then wistfully ask if I’ve ever considered an artistic design of an otter. When I knowledgeably mention that ferrets and otters are related, and maybe in silver the ferret could pass for an otter, they just give me the “look.” So I better get busy on that one. An otter holding a baby? Holding a sea urchin? Which should it be?

Now I do have two marsupial designs, so maybe I should let well enough alone. Yes, I have a koala and a Virginia Opossum in my line. Both were lots of fun to make, and both relatively popular. The possum more so than the koala, interestingly enough!

Every time I get an email requesting something or other, I add it to my list. And every show has an extra page in the sales book just to list all the animals I get asked for. It’s a tough job, but someone has to come up with all these animal jewelry designs. It’s my burden in life. (Pretty nice burden, actually)

But… I must throw in something different and unexpected this year. Maybe it will be a platypus. I know ONE person who would wear it, and maybe even in 14K gold. Yes, that would be me.

You can go to my new design page and see what I’ve been up to (although we are sometimes a bit behind on photographing the new stuff) or just email me (or better yet, comment on this blog post!

Your Animal Loving Artist,

Merry

There is something kind of appealing about this little Santa dog pin. I think it reminds me of the adorable, long-suffering look our puppies give us when we dress them up. Or maybe that’s just my imagination, at least the long-suffering part. But a Santa dog dressed up in a red and white Christmas hat amuses me. And I don’t think they mind terribly.

Recently I had a contest on my FB page for the dog with the cutest Halloween costume. Not too many people were willing to share this, but I think it’s probably time for a Santa dog contest! Now honestly, how many of you ask your 4 legged family member to don the red and white Santa hat every year? Of course for you, the human companion, a Santa dog pin or pair of earrings isn’t something you wear all year. That would make you the human version of the Christmas Store. But I have lots and lots of dog jewelry, in many, many breeds. That’s why I picked a kind of generic little pooch to be my Santa dog.

I hope your holidays with your pets are safe and happy. Just make sure to keep your pets away from the chocolate! I doubt if cats would be very tempted by truffles, but I have heard of some sick pups resulting from their gobbling up of chocolate candies, especially around the holidays. And if you live in the colder climes, of course watch out for overly chilly weather. Their natural fur coats are good protection, but still…

Let me know if you are looking for something extra special in the way of dog jewelry! I recently returned to my roots as a jewelry artist and started making one of a kind custom work again. So if I have a photo of your dog, I can make you a pair of earrings, a necklace or a pin in his or her image. And that could become a treasured possession for sure. Dog jewelry is not hard to find, but your specific best friend in a piece of jewelry? I don’t think it can get much better than that!

So whether you’re looking for something whimsical, like a Santa dog, or something approaching more “serious art,” let me know. But really none of my work is particularly serious. After all, why not just have fun? Any given lifetime is too short to pack in enough smiles, laugh and quirky humor. (my favorite kind) I hope you have tremendous holiday fun, and hope you decide to visit The Magic Zoo to pick up something special for the dog lover on your Christmas list. And, of course, don’t forget to check out my entire line of silly Santa Dog jewelry!

Enamel Owl Jewelry

What do I mean by inspired jewelry? Well, my owl pendants and charms are a good example of that! When I create any of my designs, I consider them inspired jewelry. I have always loved nature, and that is where I draw my inspiration. And to me, one of the most amazing animals in the world is the owl. Pendants and charms crafted in their image have always fascinated me. So an inspired jewelry piece depicting any owl species is a personal favorite.

And what owl pendants do I carry? Well, not too long ago I designed a new silver owl pendant of a barn owl. It’s one of my favorites, and really doesn’t look like any other inspired jewelry item in my line. Most all of my designs have each individual part as a separately crafted unit, but the barn owl pendant has its detail carved with a special tool I reserve for adding specific texture by hand. That owl design of my favorites, probably because of that distinction. (But the owl jewelry design in the photograph on this blog post is another fav!)

A couple of years ago, a little horned owl appeared just outside my studio window, and perched on the sill. I don’t know my owl species well enough to positively identify it, but it was a thrill! Luckily my husband was in the studio too, so I got to share that delight. I guess just because owls are nocturnal I think of them as being rare. Actually they are probably very common, but since we daytime creatures don’t see them too often, they seem rare. See what I mean about making inspired jewelry?  What artist wouldn’t be inspired by that? Or any other nature lover, for that matter.

I know art is a very personal thing, but I am amazed by how many people collect owl pendants, owl charms and owl earrings. And I believe there are quite a few vintage owl designs available as well. My new enamel owl has a bit of that vintage enamel look, I think. This is an owl design in pewter, which has been hand painted in some lovely jewel-toned colors. (I say “has been hand painted” because I actually have a team of US artisans that paint my enamel designs. I am proud of their work, and don’t want to take credit for it myself.) Of course I choose the colors, but they do the actual painting.

Are you a lover of inspired jewelry? And what actually inspires you in your artistic selections? I am always curious to hear what my customers and any animal lover looks for in a jewelry design. Whether you love owl jewelry, or are a fan of another animal entirely, I enjoy hearing your thoughts. One of the best parts about being an animal jewelry artist is the feedback I get. I don’t think designing owl pendants or any other kind of animal jewelry would be nearly as fun without the comments and phone calls I get. Not to mention the customers I get to meet in person at my shows! Please let me know what what inspires you in your jewelry purchases!

animal charm

A unique animal charm can be a particularly meaningful gift, and with the holidays coming up soon-why not see what’s available? Of course, I have hundreds of lovely charms, in both 14K and sterling silver. But an animal charm that represents someone’s beloved pet is not always so easy to come by. Particularly if the pet is not a dog or a cat. That’s not to say I don’t carry dozens of dog and cat charms, too! (Like this cute little guy just above)

What should you look for in a classy animal charm? Well, one of the things you might want to keep in mind is the quality of the workmanship. I personally like a charm that has a bit of weight to it, and one that you can actually tell what it is! I once spent some time looking at an animal charm on a silver charm bracelet and  did not have the slightest idea what the creator was trying to depict. But then again, the appreciation of art is very individual, and just because one person sees no redeeming artistic value in something, does not mean it isn’t there for someone else. Oh, I know this very well!

I have a charm bracelet with over 30 of my charms on it, and I have customers that collect my charms, and even have different silver bracelets for individual types of animals! You know, a cat bracelet, dog bracelet, favorite pets of all time charms and so on. But all of them have this in common: they love a good animal charm! I consider it a great honor that so many of my collectors will only put my charms on their bracelets. But of course, I find nothing wrong with a Magic Zoo charm finding its way onto a mixed bracelet, full of all sorts of fun trinkets.

My grandmother had a gold charm bracelet, with each of her grand kids’ names on an individual 14K gold round disc. I remember looking at it as a child, and touching the one with my name. Grandmother Eva was a wonderful lady, and her charm bracelet certainly reflected her care for all of us. She also loved animals, and I bet would be proud to see my selection of animal charms! Unfortunately, she passed away before I became a professional artist.

But I did inherit her love and fascination for animals, so in a way her legacy has been passed down and into each and every animal charm I make. So if you are looking for a cat charm, dog charm or even a possum charm, you might want to stop off at The Magic Zoo and see what’s available. I think you’ll be surprised at my huge selection, and I would be surprised if you didn’t find the perfect animal charm for your or for someone you love.

Are you a charm collector? What is your favorite pet or animal, and what kind of charm would you like to see represent him or her? I am always curious what people need and want, and love to design new pieces of jewelry that reflect what you are looking for.

Dog paw print jewelry and cat paw print jewelry are some of the best loved designs among animal and pet lovers. I noticed this when I created my first paw print designs a number of years ago. Then several years back, the ASPCA asked me to design some special dog paw print jewelry that they still carry in their online shop. (Yes, I am proud of that !)

A dog paw print jewelry piece combined with a heart motif is an especially sweet design. So of course I had to add that to my line as well. It goes so well…it expresses  the love and good times we have shared with our four legged friends. It seems perfect!

I wouldn’t say my dog paw print jewelry pieces are only for dog lovers…in fact, cat paw print jewelry lovers purchase them as well. To me they express the love we share for both dogs and cats, and wearing them is certainly a way to keep memories of those sweet animals alive. And if you have a current best friend in your life, it’s a way to keep her or him with you no matter where life’s travels may take you.

The dog paw print jewelry I especially love are the 14K gold pendants. I was never much of a gold person until I designed some of it myself, but now I find it irresistible! One of my favorite pieces is the round paw print pendant, which I wear proudly on one of my gold chains. I always feel especially dressed up when I wear that one!

A few years back I even made a paw print key chain… It has a nice feel, and is the perfect size to keep those keys from getting forever lost in a purse or pocket. So even if you are not a jewelry wearer, you can have dog paw print jewelry in the form of a key chain. Great for guys, too!

Oh, I forgot to mention the paw jewelry I have in pewter and enamel. This pet paw design idea is one I have taken to heart, literally! My pewter and enamel designs all combine a heart shape with a paw print in the very middle. Some of them are colored, which gives a nice contrast to the shiny pewter.

The other nice thing about a paw jewelry design is that it covers all the different breeds. By that I mean if a dog is a mixed breed you can wear dog paw print jewelry (or a bone jewelry design) and still express the affection you have for your dog. And it makes it especially easy for people who wish to give a dog lover a gift, but can’t find anything they particularly like in the breed jewelry available.

Overall, paw print jewelry is a fabulous way to announce to the world “I am an animal lover,” and keep the connection to your dog alive wherever you go. It has long been one of my favorite designs, and I’m sure it will continue to be one in the future. If you would like a peek at my paw print designs, stop by! And let me know what you think of them by posting a comment here.

Death of a Pet-Pet Memorial Jewelry Honors their Life

The death of a pet is always painful, and sharing a life with a beloved animal is something to treasure forever. My mom used to talk about cats and even a cow she shared her girlhood years with. She would speak of the death of a pet and the tears would flow, even 60 years later! But all of us kids understood…we were raised by animal lovers to be animal lovers ourselves. And our own pets held very special places in our hearts.

But when the death of a pet eventually occurs it is always difficult.   I have found a very effective way to deal with the hardest few days, and even beyond that time. It may sound almost too simple, but it does help. What am I talking about?

Believe it or not, you can help ease the grief   by taking a good, long walk. You can go by yourself or go with a friend. The key is to look around at your surroundings. Don’t think too much. Just watch the sky, the trees, the bushes, houses, anything in the environment. And you can do this several times a day, actually as often as you wish.

The most intense grief from the death of a pet will eventually ease, and all those wonderful memories will have a chance to resurface. Games played, walks on the beach together, sharing a peaceful evening watching the fireplace or enjoying a TV show, cuddled together. Of course your wonderful pet will always be loved.

A couple of years ago some of my customers asked me to create some jewelry that would be a  pet memorial for their dog or cat. This led to several designs I was happy with, in sterling silver and 14K gold. Both of them depict a cat or dog asleep, with a pair of angel wings. I also made a rainbow bridge with some little paw prints “walking” over the bridge.

Finally,  I decided to create some pieces that would be even more affordable, so I made some sweet dog and cat angels in pewter and enamel. All of them have very sweet expressions, just like the angels they are meant to be! It makes me feel good to have some designs that might be able to ease the death of a pet, and give a little comfort at the same time. I have heard from people who are going through the pet loss period, and they have thanked me for creating a symbol that they can hold, and one that reminds them of their wonderful companion.

I know what it is like to experience grief, and losing a pet can be very difficult. Whether your pet that has recently passed on is a cat, a dog, a bird, a guinea pig or a reptile (or one of many other pets) I understand how you are feeling. And I hope you take me up on the idea of taking a walk and observing your surroundings. You might be surprised at how much that will help ease the death of a pet.

And of course,  I can also make you a custom polymer clay jewelry design of one of your favorite pets, either living or one that has “gone over the rainbow bridge.” Here is the custom clay jewelry link for that.  I would love to hear from you and about your own beloved pets, both present and past. Feel free to comment, and share your story.

Well, at least this member of the jewelry artisans club does. And no, there is not an actual club for jewelry artisans. At least not that I know of. But sometimes you find yourself grouped with other people who share your interests, and I think that is not necessarily a bad thing! Artists are some of my favorite people. And not just jewelry artisans. I am not prejudiced in favor of my particular art form.

Of course when I’m exhibiting at an art show, I  feel especially chummy with the other  jewelry artisans, painters,  potters, woodworkers and so on. It is sort of an exclusive club, even though most of us look a little ragtag. Aging hippies, I guess some would refer to us as. But I never did feel like a hippie, even though I may have dressed the part. “I am,” I would say, or at least THINK with great dignity, “an artist.” As if you couldn’t be both. Maybe growing up with a couple of artists for parents led me to feel especially dignified about the whole thing.

Now it seems funny. And one of the things I’ve learned over the years is that we are all artists, and most everyone has an area he or she can create in. Cooking is an art. So is building things. So is raising a happy and sane child. And of course, you could be harboring a truly artistic ability that just needs to be let out of the bag. My sister is a latent artist of that variety. A couple years ago her husband gave her a professional drawing class as a birthday gift and you should have seen what she produced! I never would have guessed it was the first time she had seriously worked on her art.

I love all sorts of creating. Early on, I was half-way serious about being a musician. And I made a bit of progress in that area, getting up on my share of stages and even performing on local TV and radio. But my love of animals and my need to be a mother at home as much as possible with the kids led me towards a “quieter” field, that of jewelry artisan. Not to say I don’t still love to belt out a traditional folk tune or so during a family party.

And a year ago I published my first book! Now that was an accomplishment. I love to write, and suspect I will head in that direction again one of these days. I always create a book about fairies for my 7 year old granddaughter at least twice a year, so that keeps me involved in writing and little Ada amused at the same time.

And did I mention how much I love drawing cartoons? By the way, if you’d like to see my cartoons, you are welcome to enter your email on my mailing list, get a free paw print necklace with your first Magic Zoo order, as well as my weekly cartoons! Yep, I have an ongoing series! All you have to do is enter your first name and email, under the little dog and kitty cartoon on the right!

Throckmorton the Kitty

I would love to make a polymer clay jewelry design of your pet! I have been creating custom polymer clay jewelry for  years; but most people have heard of my clay jewelry work through word of mouth. Even that has kept me pretty busy. But…

I thought it was time to open up my custom jewelry design section, and do a lot more of this sort of thing. After all, it’s why I started The Magic Zoo way back in 1989! Now I know thousands of pet and animal lovers, and it seems to me there’s always one special little cat, dog, bird or small pet that really captures the heart. My polymer clay jewelry is one way to share that especially endearing soul with the rest of the world.

Here’s what a few of my customers have about my custom polymer clay jewelry throughout the years:

“I wanted to let you know that I received a name badge this week that I ordered for my friend, Laura, who is graduating from veterinary school in a few weeks. I had you design two cats for the badge to resemble her cats, Iris and Jupiter. Laura is such a special person and she deserves a special graduation gift. Both cats were adopted from difficult situations: Iris was an abused barn cat that Laura had to do eye surgery on and then kept as her own, and Jupiter came to the vet school as a rescue to really “rescue” Laura right after her dog passed away. I believe that Laura touches every animal and person that she meets in a special way and I’m glad that she is going to have a special gift to commemorate her graduation from vet school.”

-A. Smith, DVM

“I just received my name tag that I ordered with my name and the polymer clay African Grey Parrot.  It is beautiful work and thank you very much……. Merry’s work is some of the most beautiful work ever….. “                                                                                                             -B. Klein

The pin that you made of Penelope my guinea pig is perfect!!
I love wearing it! Thank-you very much for capturing
my little friend so well.”
-E. S.

“Thank you very much for the outstanding necklace that you produced from the pictures that I sent you of my daughter’s pug, Bailey.  It will be a very unique Christmas present for her, and one that I know that she will treasure for many years to come.”
-B. H., DVM

“Received my cockatiel necklace & have already worn it twice.  It is quite a conversation piece especially from fellow bird owners. It’s unique since one doesn’t see cockatiel jewelry floating around.  You may see Macaw or Cockatoo items but the smaller birds seem to be left out.  I am very pleased with how it looks & especially if worn with a BLACK top.  That really sets it off.  Very original.”
-Gayle K.

Now you know why I do what I do!

So send me a photograph of your favorite pet or animal, and I will put my heart and soul into making you an absolutely unique polymer clay jewelry design. What do you think of that?

Custom Cockapoo pin

Polymer clay daily – wear them every day, every week or once a month. It matters not! I have been creating custom polymer clay jewelry for over 25 years, and I still get tons of  comments on those pieces whenever I wear them. And my customers tell me the same thing. It’s funny,  since I began working in sterling silver and gold, I  forgot how fun the polymer clay daily creation can be. But now that I’m back at it, I feel like I’ve recaptured the old joy.

Here are some of the best things about polymer clay daily wear:

• The pieces are so durable- you can wear them on a daily basis for years and years
• If your polymer clay jewelry gets a little dirty, all you have to do is gently scrub it with a little dish soap and an old tooth brush!
• The colors never fade, at least as far as I can tell
• Polymer clay jewelry is lightweight. Even the weight of a large necklace is unnoticeable

When I first discovered polymer clay back in the early 80s, I couldn’t get enough of those beautiful, bright colors. And when I started to work as a professional polymer clay artist, it only got better. There is something very special about getting paid to create beautiful things, and I felt like I had really found the medium I wanted to work in for a very long time. Which is exactly what I did.

I think it’s funny now, but back in the late 1980s I actually took my polymer clay jewelry around to offices in little towns and cities in Marin County, California to sell. And people bought from me! I gained quite a following there, and some of my customers from that era are still with me today. (Luckily they didn’t just decide I was nuts) Or maybe they did, but they thought I was an endearing kind of nut.

Anyway, after all those many years, I seem to have come full circle. In between the 1980s and now my main focus shifted to sterling silver, gold, pewter and enamel jewelry. And the polymer clay sat on the back burner. The only pieces I created were for people who had heard about my polymer clay jewelry from someone else. I didn’t promote it. I didn’t really have very much about it on my website.

Funny how things can change!

On September 28th, here is what is happening:

1. I’m having a big revival of my polymer clay jewelry

2. Anyone interested can order a custom design and get a second custom design for free (done from the same photograph)

3. In other words, you can order a custom pair of earrings, and then a custom pin to go with it for no additional cost

4. Sign up on my email list now, to get the information on how to get a custom jewelry design, plus a second one for free

All you have to do is click on this link, which will take you to The Magic Zoo homepage. There is a cartoon there of a little dog and kitty, along with an offer for a free necklace. (Which you can ALSO get when you order) Now enter your email, and you’re all set!

I hope to see your own cute cat, dog, guinea pig, bird, etc. photographs soon. And you, too will have some polymer clay daily to wear!

I’ve decided to put some custom polymer clay jewelry back in my jewelry line and on my website!

Only this time, I’ll make whatever animal or pet you would like to see, customized for every single person. I’ll create your favorite dog, cat, lizard, bunny-you name it. Any and all pets and animals in a one-of-a-kind, custom polymer clay jewelry design.

These designs will be  miniature, handcrafted portraits of your pet that you can actually wear. They are something to treasure for a lifetime.

Lots of work goes into each and every one of my custom polymer clay jewelry pieces. And then I guarantee them  on top of that!

Anyway…I’m having a very special sale next week, and if you sign up on my email list on my website, then you will get all the information as it comes out.

But basically, when you order one custom pin, or one pair of custom earrings, or a custom hair clip or necklace, I will make you a second design (from the same photograph) at no cost at all. There will be a special code to enter in order to take part in my sale.

But basically, you can  have me create an entire custom polymer clay jewelry set for the price of one custom design.

I will probably kick myself next week, but I really wanted to “cut the ribbon” on my new custom polymer clay jewelry section in a big way, and I thought this would be a nice way to get started. Plus, I was born in the Midwest in the 1950s. I’m not afraid of a little work.

So get those pet photographs ready…I will need really clear dog photos, cat photos and so on. They don’t have to be professional quality photos, but just nice and clear. Our custom order sale will begin on September 28th, and that’s when the polymer clay jewerly will finally be back on my website. I’m so excited about it, that I’ve started wearing my custom designs around again. And I tell you what, they get a LOT of comments and admiration.

So I do listen to all my customers. I want to create what you are interested in, and this custom design section should be a lot of fun. Even if you can’t order a custom polymer clay jewelry design right away, come on by next Wednesday and take a look around.If you have a favorite pet or animal, and you just never see them represented in jewelry, this might be kind of fun for you.

And remember, if you are interested in the sale, come to my website and sign up where you see the little puppy and dog on the left hands side of my website. You can also get a free pawprint necklace when you order, if you have never purchased anything from me before.

So many of my customers have had (or have) a really special little furry, feathered or scaled pet, and would love to wear a representative piece of jewelry. This is a great way to get an entire set of custom, one of a kind polymer clay jewelry for a very modest price. I hope to see you at my website!

The first bunny necklace I made was  in polymer clay. I remember it well! It was a silvery and white colored little fellow, and I put a couple of matching polymer clay beads on either side of the  pendant itself. That little guy is no longer in my line, but my current bunny necklace (or should I say necklaces, plural) have not such a different look. I mean, rabbits and bunnies are hard to improve on for general cuteness, and the expression that attracted me over 15 years ago is still there. So even my silver bunny has a look that reminds me of that earlier, slightly more organic version.

I know a lot of lovely ladies that do rabbit rescue, and I absolutely love the idea of a house rabbit! Not for me, mind you. No, I just create the bunny necklace (and earrings, pins, charms and so forth) But the idea of having a little hopper in the home amuses me. But from what I understand, you really have to keep an eye on those electrical cords! I’m sure those bunnies are worth all the looking over, though. And is it true they can be housebroken?  Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?

It’s funny how some animals end up inspiring me to create dozens of designs. For instance, I have a rabbit charm and an entire line of rabbit jewelry as well as a whole slew of bunny designs. This was not really intentional. I just ended up making a whole lot of extra work for myself by calling some of them bunnies and some of them rabbits. It’s hard to explain, but if you happen to have an online store, you would know exactly what I’m talking about.

So my dilemma is that I don’t want to show a lot of prejudice by creating even more rabbit jewelry, but at the same time, they are pretty irresistible and might just be worth it. What to do, what to do… I wonder how long it would take me to come up with some enamel bunny and rabbit jewelry in black and white? I have the brown painted rabbit and the all white with red eyes bunny stuff, but I think before I branch out too much more, I need a bit of feedback on this. It’s not like the old clay jewelry making days, when I could whip up a new design, and try it out at a show. NOW I have to make the original bunny charm or necklace in clay, send it to my caster, and go through a lot more pre-production in general.

So if you have a feeling about this one way or the other, I would love to hear what you have to say! Help out your bunny jewelry artist by letting her know if you would be interested in a bunny necklace designed in some other colors. Here’s where you can peek at my current line of rabbit designs to give you a feeling for what I have already!

Teensy baby guinea pigs…I really don’t think it can get any cuter than that! Being an animal jewelry artist, by necessity I have an eye for cute animal poses, expressions and so on. When I was browsing the internet recently (and since I do make some guinea pig jewelry) I thought I’d give this particular little critter a good looking over. And yes, it is true and you can take it from me- baby guinea pigs rank in the top 10 of adorable baby animals. And that is one competitive group!

Think about it…there are elephant babies, kittens, puppies, hippos and so on. So for guinea pigs to end up on that list (of course this is a survey of one, meaning me) there has to be some exceptional cuteness going on.

When I first started making guinea pig jewelry, I worked from a great photograph of a head-on shot. You know the look? Outrageous, right? If you are a guinea pig breed lover, then you know exactly what I mean. Those slightly questioning dark eyes, set far apart. The inquisitive pink nose and the tiny expressive mouth. And one more thing about these pocket pets…I know a LOT of veterinarians, and every one of them is crazy about this rodent! With the exception of their tendency to urinate any old time, they seem like a champion pet no matter what age you are. It got me thinking, and if I weren’t so maddenly busy designing and selling my jewelry, I’d probably have one of these furry little fellows to keep me company in the studio! And oh yes, did I mention the adorable sounds they make? Yes, that could clinch the deal right there.

Their laid-back feature is kind of enticing as well. I’ve read in a couple places that it doesn’t even matter if Daddy guinea pig is present when the big event occurs. Imagine, a papa guinea pig present at the birth! I think my son (who has been present and an active participant in all three of his baby’s births) would appreciate that. According to one source, Papa guinea pig may even clean the newborns! Now that is one 21st century dad. I love it!

And the guinea pig/human relationship can start immediately. You can pick up and handle the babies when they are still newborn. What a way to form an attachment. And since guinea pigs are born with their eyes open, they are kind of advanced little guys. They even start eating solid food (hay and so forth) when they’re tiny!

If you have a male and a female guinea pig, I reckon you better be expecting some little ones. Apparently Mom has her cycle every 14-18 days. And she can have 2-3 babies in a litter. The babies can be separated from their mom 3-6 weeks after they’re born. I’m not sure why there’s such a huge span in there; I would always err on the longer wait, myself. Then again, I approve of home schooling, too!

Now of course I would love to hear your personal baby guinea pig experience…and if you’d like to see something special I’ve created for guinea pig lovers, you’re just a quick click away!

Baby guinea pigs are on my top ten cuteness list. So, several years ago I decided I absolutely had to create some guinea pig charms, earrings and pendants. The design process started out a little bit slow, but before I could turn around, I found myself making different guinea pig breeds in all kinds of jewelry. Now I have a full range in pewter, sterling silver, enamel and 14K gold. Seeing that silly little piggy face in a piece of expensive gold jewelry still makes me laugh. And the really funny thing is that my gold guinea pig pendant is one of the more popular of all my 14K designs! But I still notice more sterling silver than gold versions leaving The Magic Zoo studio.

I did a little research on the reproductive habits of guinea pigs, and discovered that a mama pig has a relatively long pregnancy! (For an animal her size, anyway) It lasts 3 months, just 1/3 the length of a human pregnancy. And think how dinky these little mamas are! It must be a load to carry around a litter of baby guinea pigs for that long.

I also learned that their babies are born with their eyes open, and that  they are weaned in about 6 weeks. I’m wondering if I read this right: females can get pregnant at 6 weeks. How could you possibly be weaned off your mother’s milk and become pregnant on the same day? Pretty strange.

If I were thinking about getting  a guinea pig, I would go for two. Apparently they get lonely, and another pal to play with makes all the difference. And they love to be handled! In fact, ignoring a guinea pig is quite cruel, as they are social little critters and love to be played with and will grunt and squeak with happiness when petted.

Guinea pigs are said to be the most gentle of pets. One writer mentioned that he found it hard to believe that these quiet, inoffensive little creatures ever lived on their own in the wild! Not sure how many cavies still live this way, but I would imagine they are holding their own down there in South America. The wild cavy is a lovely brown color, all the better to be camouflaged by his rocky surroundings.

Are you a vegetarian? Guinea pig feeding will not be a painful chore for you. They eat no meat, and love a diet heavy on leaves, grass, flowers, chickweed and so on. Be sure and research exactly what your guinea pigs should eat to remain healthy before you bring them home. And because they are so small and relatively frail (compared to a dog or cat) you have to look after them carefully. They can fall off  furniture, and possibly eat something that could make them ill. They aren’t particularly long-lived pets, but with good care they  live about 4 years. But the Guinness Book of World Records in 2006 reported  a guinea pig that survived for 14 years!

So when you bring that baby guinea pig home, create a clean and safe home, and you’ll be friends for quite a while to come. Have a guinea pig story to share? I would love to hear it! And if you have a hankering for some cute guinea pig jewelry, feel free to stop by my cute guinea pig designs sometime!

The Magic Zoo Elephant necklace

When my elephants  traveled to Africa and were a hit amongst local shop owners (according to my adventurous customer) I was on top of the world! According to her, these local entrepreneurs attempted to trade her all sorts of items in their stores for the hand crafted Magic Zoo elephant necklace  and earrings.

If the people who have African elephants as part of their daily life appreciated mine that much, I reckon I must be doing something right … It was a huge complement, and  it put a big grin on my face for three or four days after I received her letter. And you know what? My customer did not trade them. I think for me the temptation would have been way too much. After all, The Magic Zoo is in her very own country, and her pieces could have been replaced, but how often do you get to shop in an African gift store? (Of course I’m assuming the work they had there was from local craftspeople.)

One of these days I would love to travel to Africa. It is one of the continents on this planet I must see for myself. I do know some lovely people from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. And of course being who I am, I am completely fascinated by the native wildlife there. I can only imagine the thrill of watching lions, zebra, giraffes and of course the amazing pachyderms as well bounding about on the wild and rugged Savanna.

Visiting animals from across the globe in my local zoo does have its wonderful moments. But I don’t see how it can possibly compare to coming face to face, or at least within visual range of their wild counterparts.

However, there was the time I got to hold my (then) 2 year old granddaughter Ada while she fed a specially formulated cracker to a giraffe at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. This gentle giant bent her head over Ada’s pugdy little hand and scooped up the cracker with a whisk of a surprisingly blue tongue. Ada giggled and wiped the giraffe spit off on her dress.

Yes, that was a moment to treasure!

And once I had a conversation with a zoo keeper who took care of the hyenas. “They are,” she told me, “Very sweet and intelligent animals.” I wouldn’t have been surprised at their intelligence, but sweet? That’s just not a word I  would have associated with a hyena!

I would imagine there are a handful of people from the United States who have made the journey to beautiful, wild Africa.  If you are one of them, I’d love to hear from you! And if you have photographs to share, you can email them to me as well. (My email address is on my website.) I might even ask if you would guest blog and tell your own personal elephant encounter in a future blog post!

And if you are curious as to what sorts of elephant jewelry I actually have created, you can come on over to my site and see for yourself!

An adorable pit bull puppy picture was shown to me by a proud owner (or should I say human companion) at a Veterinary Conference several years ago. Courtney pulled out her cell phone, searched a few moments and then squealed, “See how adorable he is!”

Now, a lot of pet owners show me their favorite companion animals in my jewelry booth. But this snow white little bundle of pit bull cuteness was over the top. I held the phone for a few minutes, drinking in what had to be one of the cutest pit bull puppy pictures ever. “How old is he there?” I asked. She said just a few months old. But not a he, a she. And sure enough, this little girl had a sort of softness about her personality. Obviously a female!

This reminded me of the time I oohed and ahhed over someone’s new baby boy. Only the baby boy was a baby girl. Oh for the days when girls wore pink and boys wore blue. I suppose you could color code a dog collar…

Anyway, that was the turning point for me. I’d been asked by my customers for years to design a pit bull pendant and earrings. But that little sweetie pushed me over the edge. After returning from the show, I sat down at my studio desk and started researching pit bull faces. I enjoy designing dogs, but I must say that some of them are really handsome. They have good bones, and strong pleasant faces. In other words, they make very good subject matter. In that area, I put the pit bull right up there at the head of the class.

The cool thing about designing in silver and gold  is that you can represent any of the pit bull color variations, even the blue pit bulls. Personally, I think silver and blue are complementary. And of course there are so many different shades a pit bull may come in; white, blue, black, brindle and so on. Have I left any out?

My first pit bull design was the larger head. I was proud of it, but realized it was a little over the top for a pair of earrings. So I made a second design, a little smaller. Perfect! By virtue of this happy accident, I now have a pittie pendant in two sizes plus a larger pendant.

Do I have a pit bull terrier myself? No. But I appreciate the breed, and feel like it has been much maligned. Hundreds of my customers are pit bull owners, and I get to admire their sweet temperaments and beauty through their colorful stories and photographs. One of these days perhaps I’ll move to the country and have all sorts of animals gracing my land. But until that time, I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with pit bull puppy photographs, and my own artistic vision of this wonderful breed.

Have a pit bull yourself? Tell me about him/her, and what your favorite thing about this breed is. One of the perks of being an animal jewelry artist is getting to hear everyone’s fabulous animal stories! And you can take a look at my pit bull jewelry creations any time you choose!

Creative name tag ideas are something I’ve never had trouble coming up with. If there’s a liability to being an artist, it’s the problem of shutting off the creative process once in a while, not keeping it going!

Way back in the early 1990s, I thought my veterinary professional customers needed some unique name badges. Those early efforts led to the ones I now make, like this custom name badge with an iguana I designed for Dr. Fitgerald of Animal Planet’s Emergency Vet show a few years back. (Anyone out there remember him wearing it on the show?)

The funny thing about my earliest name badges (from 20 years ago!) was that I made them completely out of clay. Yes, even the part the name is engraved on. Only back then I didn’t have the names engraved-I wrote them out with a long string of skinny black polymer clay, completely by hand! Oh, to have a photo of those primitive badges! (Actually I think I do have one somewhere.)

Funny story: A few years ago I had the experience of walking into a local vet clinic  in Florida (I was delivering a lost cockateil that had flown into my yard) and discovered that one of the veterinarians was wearing one of my name badges! I said something like “Hey, I made that name badge!” and received the sort of look you would give a crazy person on a street corner. Quite possibly she’d never met me, and had ordered it online! It was so funny to me that I wasn’t even embarrassed.

All my name tags are engraved on sturdy brass or aluminum, and my customers have a choice of over a hundred different animal designs in pewter. You can also mix and match animals, say one dog, one cat and a bird or iguana. Three critters on one badge is about the limit, but I have made custom designs in clay with up to 6 different animals on them. (Not particularly recommended, unless you really don’t care about your clients seeing your name.)

But  I still make custom animals in sturdy polymer clay. Just last week I had an order for a tiger salamander name tag! I crafted this squiggly little guy out of black clay and added a bunch of yellow dots. Nice!

But definitely one of my favorite and funniest projects was when Dr. Fitzgerald, who loves iguanas (as you may know if you’re one of his fans) ordered name badges for his  friends at Alameda East. He wanted all of them to be iguanas, even Dr. Holly Knor’s badge! I tried talking him into some other animal designs, but he had made up his mind. So I got a little inventive and did at least 6 different species of iguanas. So everyone had a distinctive badge.

Come to think of it, it may have been seven.

Creative name tag ideas at The Magic Zoo are alive and well! Let me know if there’s a special name badge you would like for yourself.

Hawaiian Sea Turtle pin

Hawaiian sea turtles are absolutely gorgeous. I would love the experience of swimming with these wonderful reptiles some day- but I would definitely settle for meeting up with one on a snorkeling adventure. I better put that on my bucket list!

Since I make turtle jewelry in my reptile line,  I recently designed some Green Sea Turtle jewelry. They are painted  in a watery green-blue epoxy on fine pewter,  reflecting the image of a turtle gliding through the waves.

If you happen to be a turtle lover, and have actually experienced the wonder of seeing them in their native waters, let me know! And of course, feel free to visit my website to take a look at my Hawaiian sea turtles  (in the reptile jewelry section of The Magic Zoo.)

My dog  jewelry (and cat, bird, lizard jewelry and so on) found new homes in St. Louis! The Magic Zoo just attended the recent AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) where I exhibited my work. Veterinarians from all over the world attend this conference, and I met up with old friends and customers from years past.

One of the best things about being an animal jewelry artist is forging relationships with like-minded animal lovers. So many of my customers have shown me their furry, feathered or scaled friends’ photographs.  And I have been honored  to create many custom dog jewelry designs for many of them.

The AVMA show was a long way from Florida, and my husband and I had a few adventures along the way. (On the way home, we drove 100 miles out of the way to see one of our favorite bands at their CD release party in Indianapolis ) It felt like we were playing hooky!

So  my dog jewelry is settling into  new homes, and I am back in my own and ready to create even more!

I love designing new jewelry…this spring I got busy and created 20 or so new designs. In a perfect world, I would make one new design  every single week. As it is, early spring seems to be the time I most often devote to designing.

The amazing thing is how often my little animals end up with their own personalities. Their expressions vary and their “personalities” are unique. Just like real animals!

I love to hear what my readers create-so if you would like to tell me about your favorite form of art-be it cooking, sewing, writing or something else, I would love to hear from you!

Meanwhile, splurge on the joy of creation!

Best Wishes,

Merry

Hello! I am Merry Rosenfield, the animal jewelry artist.

Obviously, this site is still under construction.

However, right now I’m having a big Mother’s Day Jewelry Offer (including a way to receive some of my handcrafted animal jewelry for free) Click the link to see the details.

A Few of Merry Rosenfield's Designs

It is only a 4 day event, so if you’re interested, don’t wait too long!

Best Wishes,
Merry

Merry Rosenfield, Artist

Watch for a new Jewelry Animal website coming here soon! The previous site said something like:

“Welcome to JewelryAnimal where animal lovers can find beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins and pendant jewelry with animal themes like horses, dolphins, butterflies, bearded dragons, elephants, frogs, ladybugs and much more.”

The new jewelry animal for pet lovers will also bring you some entertaining material and opportunities to find great deals on animal jewelry.

Like its predecessor all jewelry is 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Orders are generally shipped within 2 business days.