lovinganvil

[lovinganvil]

emotional geometry : arbol

emotional geometry line . arbol

a tree a tree a portal a passage

53mm × 45mm agate slice with druzy inclusion

sterling and fine silver setting on a 21in handmade sterling chain . handmade front facing hook closure, catch can be at any spot allowing to wear at multiple lengths and styles.

[lovinganvil]

storm : the sheltering sky

50mm x 27mm x 6mm

maligano jasper

sterling and fine silver ring, size 9.5 . the setting of this piece is encrusted with a hand stamped excerpt from the sheltering sky by paul bowles.

this ring cannot be resized, larger or smaller. i can make a similar ring in your ringsize, please reach out for details. (a deposit and approx 6-8 weeks studio time required)

Maligano Jasper connects you with your center, enabling a greater sense of balance and a feeling of empowerment and known for its nurturing properties. It has a soothing and calming effect on one's energy, due to its grounding ability, deeply tied to its connection with the Earth. As a grounding stone, it is believed to balance emotional, physical, and intellectual energies, bringing stability and calm. It’s said to provide comfort and security, strength and healing. Its presence balances the aura to a level of wholeness and peace. Maligano Jasper helps one shed layers within that no longer serve, removing additional weight whether it’s emotional, mental or psychological.

from the wikipedia: The Sheltering Sky is a 1949 novel of alienation and existential despair by American writer and composer Paul Bowles.

-a black star appears, a point of darkness in the night sky's clarity. point of darkness and gateway to repose reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

paul bowles. i love his work and it sends me in to almost a trance when i read it - i want to incorporate it what is complicated, tho, is pinpointing a passage. i’m coming to understand what sends me is built over pages and pages and rhythm and hypnotic pattern or . something…that i cannot quite put my finger on.

[lovinganvil]

cauldron : whip poor will

lyric + literature line . cauldron

47 x 29 x 5mm petrified palm root

set in sterling and fine silver - size us 8 (also very comfortable 7.5) . the setting is encrusted with full lyrcs of the the song whip poor will by jason molina

this ring cannot be resized, larger or smaller. i can make a similar ring in your ringsize, please reach out for details. (a deposit and approx 6-8 weeks studio time required)

whip poor will. urf. it’s so mournful. i love it deeply. it is a song that played over and over one of the last nights of my pa’s life. i’ll be working with this song a lot in different formats.

I've got my window open in the southern cross hotel It's been my longest night i can tell By the way i'm not surprised To see the desert cover over paradise Now count every rhododendron in this cool mountain light I made more mistakes than that just tonight Now all of you folks in heaven not too busy ringing the bell Some of us down here ain't doing very well Some of us with our windows open in the southern cross hotel

Still waitin' For you to sing that song again The one you were singin at the very fall of man It ain't hallelujah but it might as well have been

sing it brother one more time sing it sister one last time one for everybody who got left behind

whip poor will

petrified palm root

agate fossilized palm wood - 

fossilized palm wood is good for grounding and stabilizing one's emotions and is particularly useful in calming ones fears.

known to possess practicality power, it infuses the same the wearer. A stone of success, evokes tranquility and acts as a guide to action by accepting the present.  Its dark mystic patterns are useful in calming one's fears, soothes troubled minds, and assists to restore the balance of body and spirit. It lends a courage to speak from the heart.   By boosting deep meditative state, it encourages to release all the emotional bonds and free the mind to explore a higher consciousness. Allows one to be in the flow of life. 

 fossilized palms further assist to feel a greater degree of patience and to stay with a plan of action through to completion. Aids to determine positive financial decisions, and historically carried to increase the enjoyment of life, it brings in the positive energies. Considered to be powerful in removing obstacles, it opens up new paths to set foot upon.

[lovinganvil]

depths : innocent when you dream

46 x 29 × 5mm

turquoise

ring size 8 . the setting of this piece will the encrusted with a hand stamped excerpt of the song innocent when you dream by tom waits

this ring cannot be resized, larger or smaller. i can make a similar ring in your ringsize, please reach out for details. (a deposit and approx 6-8 weeks studio time required)

you’re innocent when you dream - tom waits. sigh

and

excerpt/edit: Running through the graveyard We laughed my friends and I We swore we'd be together Until the day we died It's such a sad old feeling The fields are soft and green It's memories that I'm stealing But you're innocent when you dream

TURQUOISE helps the wearer relax, which can help with pain .  it’s a master healer stone.  This is a stone of peace, serenity and tranquillity. Increases protection, meditation energy, wisdom, balance, honest communication, strength, friendship and love. Shields the wearer from harmful influences, attracts friendship. In healing this stone connects the spiritual bodies with the other levels: the physical, emotional, and intellectual.

It has tremendous skills as a regenerative power and can transform darkness into light. Aid to resolve blockages and crisis that can cause degenerative diseases. Attracts luck, gives security and self esteem. It's relaxing and quiet community in adversity that cause depression and suffering.  Fifth chakra. 

Turquoise is a most efficient healer, providing solace for the spirit and well-being for the body. It benefits the overall mood and emotion by balancing and inducing a sense of serenity and peace. Holding or wearing Turquoise helps restore depleted vitality and lifts sagging spirits. It relieves stress and brings focus back to the center heart.It is empathetic and balancing, helping one to recognize the causes of happiness and unhappiness, and to master them. 

As a stone of purification, Turquoise dispels negative energy and clears electromagnetic smog from the environment. It promotes self-realization and aids in creative problem-solving, thus calming the nerves when speaking in public. It helps stabilize mood swings, and dissolves a martyred attitude of self-sabotage.  It is also empowering if you feel bullied or suffer prejudice.

Turquoise is a strengthening stone, good for exhaustion, depression, or panic attacks. It enhances physical and psychic immune systems, supporting the assimilation of nutrients, alleviating pollution and viral infections. It is anti-inflammatory and detoxifying, reducing excess acidity and benefiting gout, rheumatism, and the stomach.

Turquoise enhances the ability to see all aspects of ourselves, good and bad, and to integrate these aspects into a cohesive whole. While it is tempting to try and rid ourselves of the traits of self that are not entirely enlightened, Turquoise, like an ancient Grandfather ally, reminds us that all experiences are valid and that mistakes are simply another experience. 

[lovinganvil]

iii of v

five crystals .

so similar at first glance . so very much revealing their individual own selves - opening with time invested.

iii.

of the earth . with joyous depths

clear quartz crystal 54mm x 18mm, set in sterling and fine silver, size us 8

clear quartz is a stone of light. 

these crystals have the ability to guide  one in connecting with archetypal energy and in giving birth to ones dreams through action.  it is a powerful ally  to help one regain ones power and take charge of making changes or decisions in ones life.  it can help prevent one from feeling disempowered or otherwise unable to act.  Clear Quartz to aid concentration and memory. it also stimulates the nervous system and regeneration of cells.

Clear Quartz draws off negative energy of all kinds, neutralizing background radiation, including electromagnetic smog or petrochemical emanations.  It balances and revitalizes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual planes.  Cleanses and enhances the organs and subtle bodies and acts as a deep soul cleanser, connecting the physical dimension with the mind.  It aids concentration and unlocks memory.  Stimulates the immune system and brings the body into balance.  The Clear Quartz crystal is especially powerful for setting and achieving new goals. It helps to drown out the noise from the outside world or any internal distraction so one can more clearly see ideal life in your mind’s eye and work toward making it a reality.

The clarity of the stone assists one to achieve a similarity clarity of mind, eliminating all mental clutter and reaching a higher state of being. 

From this place of awareness, clear quartz assists one to make decisions in alignment with ones goals. The stone acts as a constant reminder to evaluate choices and behaviors to ensure they are consistent with the outcome wanted to achieve.  After assisting to understand ones desires, clear quartz is a powerful guide to manifestation.   They are useful to supercharge and amplify the power of intentions. Focus intentions for manifesting new possibilities- holds intention and sends it out to the universe. 

The Clear Quartz crystal allows one to see their path and live it fully. when uncertain or unclear, quartz crystal can assist to focus in on the life one desires. 

[lovinganvil]

Dr Christine Blasey Ford- Glow in the Dark hand pulled screen print

Strength and Courage. Dr Blasey Ford. Individually hand pulled screen print of Dr Christine Blasey Ford The series includes:

Representative Maxine Waters.  Maestra Frida Kahlo Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dr Christine Blasey Ford Women's March CoFounder Linda Sarsour Luchador Superhero El Chicharron Queen Beyonce

Limited Edition print run of 500.  individual variations occur making each print one of a kind.

ink on paper, signed, titled, edition numbered, unframed. 14 x 11in - will ship in a protective cardboard envelope. 

Peace, Love and Resistance,

Los Corrals

[lovinganvil]

bruja de invierno - seraphs green quartz crystal

seraphs green quartz crystal beauty -

30mm x 14mm crystal set in sterling and fine silver with two 14k gold satellite details. on an 18in sterling silver chain and set so the crystal can rest against the skin for the most direct energy exchange.

xoxoxo y mas coco

seraphs green quartz

it helps the wearer ground in a powerful way - through love for the material world and ones place within it.  reminds to bring ones attention to the present moment and how this experience is exquisite.  connects to the natural world.  

earth element. and cardinal healing stone for the planet and the physical body.  it channels healing energy and also good to wear while gardening.  it is useful in healing the heart.  it activates and energize the base and heart chakra, allowing one to be more loving of life, including ones physical body.  it carries the regenerative energy of nature.  it helps one feel more nurturing toward the earth, oneself and all life.  it can be used to remove psychic hooks from the emotional body and seal aura leaks that cause emotional exhaustion.  

[lovinganvil]

for jn only

vera cruz amethyst 55mm x 20mm set in fine and sterling silver.  us size 8.5

two 14k white gold satellite elements decorate one side of the setting

vela constellation can be viewed through the crystal, on the inside of the band.

xoxoxo y mas coco

Metaphysical: This Amethyst runs at a higher vibration than most other varieties. It has a strong spiritual focus. Used on the third eye, it activates the pineal gland – connecting you with your higher self, while also bringing balance and conflict resolution between the left and right hand hemispheres of the brain. The clarity, luster and Laser Wand focus this crystal projects makes it a good candidate to use for crystal protection purposes. Vera Cruz Amethyst helps people that have traditionally struggled to achieve meditative states. This special variety of Amethyst activates the heart chakra promoting universal love within oneself bringing a deeper sense of appreciation of seemingly non-important every day activities.

Amethyst

Chakras - Third Eye Chakra, Crown Chakra Birthstone - February Zodiac - Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces

Amethyst is a powerful and protective stone.  It guards against psychic attack, transmuting the energy into love and protecting the wearer from all types of harm, including geopathic or electromagnetic stress and ill wishes from others.  It is a natural tranquilizer: relieves stress and strain, soothes irritability, balances mood swings, dispels anger, rage, fear and anxiety, alleviates sadness and grief, and dissolves negativity.  It has strong healing and cleansing powers.  Amethyst encourages sobriety, having a sobering effect on overindulgence of alcohol, drugs or other addictions.  It calms and stimulates the mind, helping you become more focused, enhancing memory and improving motivation.  

Amethyst is used as beneficial when dealing with legal problems and money issues, which can lead to prosperity and abundance.  It is also used to protect one from thieves, and to protects travelers. 

Emotionally, amethyst is used in crystal healing  to help heal personal losses and grief, bringing one gently past. Amethyst has a gently sedative energy that can promote peacefulness, happiness, and contentment. It also is said to bring emotional stability and inner strength. 

It assists in the creative arts and is an excellent stone for diplomats, negotiators and business people. It calms angry temperaments and gives a distinct advantage in situations where debating is required. Wear or hold Amethyst to bring in spiritual insights coupled with intellectual reasoning.  

Amethyst is especially supportive of the emotional body, bringing those who are overworked, overstressed, or overwhelmed back to center. It eases the mental anxieties that lead to physical tension and headaches, and is a great crystal to calm those who tend to be hot-headed and easily angered. 

[lovinganvil]

bbs. just fyi

huh. i didn’t even know about this slighly obnoxious banner option. and it may be more than slightly obnoxious. i like it.

AT ANY RATE. i’d be remiss not to mention, we have digital gift cards that arrive to your inbox super quick. so you know.

and if you’re in the area, in stock items are available for studio pickup - we’re not far from dtown biddeford. xoxo

[lovinganvil]

into the unknown

ten years. ! ten years ago today! over the garden wall first aired on cartoon nework. nov 3, 2014. we’ve always been (and absolutely still are) big big BIG fans of adventure time here at the hogfarm. and over the garden wall has some of the same folks involved so we thought it would be special when settled in that first night to watch - and i can remember the MAGICK breath taking heart breaking magick stunningly poignant …simultaneously this beautiful familiarity and like nothing i had seen before and it’s bringing those same tears to my eyes - warmth and awe and melancholy and joy and magick.

it aired for a half hour each night for five nights. even that felt so dreamy old school harkening to times past. that week we made sure we didn’t miss an airing. and we’ve watched it every year since, usually earlier in november but now that cv doesn’t get home from school until later in the month, we wait until we’re all together. cartoon network has been absorbed and revamped and changed some behind the scenes - but the over the garden wall artists just released a ten year celebration gift to the fans of a beautiful stop animation - you can find it on the cartoon network ig, and the wide screen version is on youtube.

sooooooo much of the music from over the garden wall has stuck deep in my psyche and firmly in my ribs. adding to the body of work of lyrics and literary passages important to me. i’m writing a dissertation of sorts as i create - the correlation between the pieces coming in to view/presenting itself. not ready to share that yet BUT i’m excited that i’ve started to incorporate other mediums to the (incredibly laborious) metalwork. i’ve always been wild about pen and ink and allowing myself to return to that expression has felt AMAZING. point of all this is, i’ve been working with two songs, or really two versions of one song, from over the garden wall. potatoes and molasses and potatus et molassus. the first being a fabulously whimsical, catchy tune. the second, an ominous, exceptionally foreboding reprise of the same song sung in latin. never a good sign, songs in latin.

in the new section of our website, i’ve added the latin potatus et molassus pen and ink drawing available on a mug and soon to be on a few other items as well. check out the prints etc page on lovinganvil - it’s kind of great. a good spot to find gifts that are less expensive AND still a great way to give original art, support ardtists, and help us continue to do what we do.

plus. latin on a mug. and not just the ever ubiquitous veni vidi vici.

xoxo c

[lovinganvil]

espooooo00ooo0oooky 🔮

xooxxo lovers + fighters

and happy all hallows eve. it’s a spooky warm day over here in southern maine. and a downright horrifying vibe in general - i’m having a difficult time focusing tbh.

but i do love this time of year - and i’m absolutely enjoying our decorations. i think i’ll leave them up for a couple weeks past halloween and dia de los muertos - just needing their joy and the playfulness they provide.

i’ve also just taken a slew of photos with them to celebrate the day. got the new work posted (whoosh finally) - see it all in one spot here: (www.lovinganvil.com/shop?category=bruja2024)

and then i picked the field of flower line, the crystal bones line and cosmic galactic line for a espooky season whopping 31% off with code ESPOOKY2024 **the code ONLY works on field of flowers, crystal bones and cosmic galactic lines. and only works until NOV 3rd so get it while the gettins good. as it were.* * and i gotta ask. are you familiar with timber timbre? i cannot recommend them enough. i don’t think there’s a song in their catalog that i don’t at least like. mostly i’m pretty wild about their work - it’s hard to choose which to share right now. i’ll figure out a way to incorporate more in my posts…for now i’ll add a good, concerning classic appropriate for the day.

yey! and i’m sure i don’t need to say this to you but i’ll say it anyways PLEASE VOTE . boo!

[lovinganvil]

🌍 hello world {sanity check} 👾

an idea / design hatched during a breakfast conversation with our pip . i learned some things and got inspired.

solid sterling silver, two sided necklace - wear either side facing out depending on mood : hello world or sanity check

choose 14.5in, 16in, 18in length. 20in or 24in available for additional charge. ring, earring, and cuff available - images coming soon.

xoxo coco

a great gift for the computer programmer, computer science major, or any inquisitive mind running sanity checks.

from the wikipedia: A "Hello, World!" program is generally a computer program that ignores any input, and outputs or displays a message similar to "Hello, World!". A small piece of code in most general-purpose programming languages, this program is used to illustrate a language's basic syntax. "Hello, World!" programs are often the first a student learns to write in a given language,[1] and they can also be used as a sanity check to ensure computer software intended to compile or run source code is correctly installed, and that its operator understands how to use it.

and:

A sanity check or sanity test is a basic test to quickly evaluate whether a claim or the result of a calculation can possibly be true. It is a simple check to see if the produced material is rational (that the material's creator was thinking rationally, applying sanity). The point of a sanity test is to rule out certain classes of obviously false results, not to catch every possible error. A rule-of-thumb or back-of-the-envelope calculation may be checked to perform the test. The advantage of performing an initial sanity test is that of speedily evaluating basic function.

[lovinganvil]

knowledge is power

today i learned something about myself.

i learned that i did not know how to spell either carrion or shellac.

or maybe i should put a different spin on this. today i learned how to spell both carrion and shellac. the second statement would operate under the assumption of retention. which could be an issue as i can’t clearly recall the last time i’ve used either of these words and this is the sort of thing that repetition and familiarity would be key. altho this …errr… conversation (with myself) might do the trick. we’ll see.

for carrion i didn’t see the double r coming and wasn’t confident enough in my vowel combinations. for shellac the last letter (outside of the s, apparently) i doubted was an ending k. so no matter what i shuffled i could NOT get the little red dash lines to GO AWAY.

both these words have french origins.

and all of this just because i just wanted to share this line from the following song -

- with my hair slicked back . with carrion shellac -

who else, but tom waits.

[lovinganvil]

lunar new year, auspicious new moon + a view from my window

xoxoxox lovers + fighters. it really does feel like a good start a good swell a good vibe cresting. a quiet energized move towards hope and strength and … all these things.

i mean my goodness it’s been a hard year over here and i think in general. after talking with so many in our circle and beyond our circle. i know i’m healing and refocusing. it’s a process and i’m looking forward to streamofconsciousness journaling here again. that’s the goal. if not daily (urgh i keep thinking daily but resisting setting myself up for frustration and falling short) posts, something close to that. we’ll see. el chich is involved in a very cool class where he is journaling daily so maybe i can sip off that inspiration.

i do want to keep this very - hmmmm stream of consciousness. i can get overwhelmed or stymied by too much planning or pre-writing in my head. following a line or sticking to a theme, so to speak. i did have some ideas of what i wanted to write today but then kept finding other things to search or browser tabs to open so . so let’s just knock that off. just writing. like in the early days of the interweb when it was so much less …pointed. it felt more like we were all OH HEY! look at this wizardry - i’m here, you’re here except that we aren’t actually, and not even at the same time really - isn’t that just the darnedest thing. - do you remember that vibe? i guess that’s expecting you to be of a certain age. it’s no matter.

really, i just want to say hi.

and also not so much peel back layers but get back to my ease and focus. over the past couple of (insane pandemic) years my pa’s health failed and so much around that - and then when he left this mortal coil last summer and all that that was and is. then our pip stepped out for college at the end of last summer and my goodness it was so very important and monumental and a LOT. i haven’t been in my body for a while. so much more to process around all of this and let me tell you my dreams have been BONKERS the past few days/weeks/months especially and one thing that is so amazing and so good and so important and so exciting and so thrilling and so familiar and so GOOD is getting back to my bench. i am seeing things in working with metal and stone that feel so very . good . - it’s a thrill.

and all of this with the year of the rabbit and a beautiful new moon - such auspicious astrology aligning (i wont’t try to summarize what ms j. mcarthy in particular says so very very well.) and you may or may not know that i am not necessarily the biggest fan of snow and winter weather. but of all things as more lessons pour in and more my heart stretches and opens, this snow is just charming me to pieces. it’s so beautiful. it’s clinging to everything THICK even a few days later. and the SKY some might find it dreary but my most favorite part is the sky - it is the same VERY SAME color as the snow for the past three days now. the monochrome surround is so soft and perfect and quiet and dreamy. even the photos i took can’t quite capture the small hue steps between terre and ciel. the camera lens wants to pull in the sky glow, overemphasizing what is.

AND the forecast says we’re to get more snow today. as i write the sky just deepened it’s gray two (sure let’s go with that) more steps. well. settling in for a midwinter art-steeped creative hibernation under a steely new moon sky - set those intentions, lovers and fighters, and sending you alllllllll the goodstuff vibes from the hogfarm.

xoxo coco

[lovinganvil]

stopping by the woods on a snowy evening . set of cards or individual

. expanding and expounding on words as visual art and visual rhythm .

these are not prints - each poster/card set a is individually hand lettered on uniquely patina-ed, thick printmakers paper . labor of love .

the poem is hand written in full with brush and ink

the sheets are cut to create 4in x 5in cards. a set of cards includes five one of a kind cards with five kraft paper envelopes. each card has a plain paper insert for letter writing.

this art piece is created at the time of order. while the passages on the card sets will be chosen at random, it is possible to order a 9 card set with the complete work of stopping by the woods on a snowy evening, as well as full size posters (uncut) - please contact us for pricing and details.

[lovinganvil]

black velvet painting - blue footed booby

black velvet portrait in carved wood antique oval frame

oil on velvet 12.5in x 14in gil corral 2018

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aaaaaand we're back!

wowie zowie savannah is LOVELY. yep. consider us smitten. our pip is settled in at her new school. el chich, poli and i stayed on for a couple weeks to make the transition easier and soak up the awesomeness of the low country. and now we’re back in the studio focused and working long, but good, creative hours on all sorts of things i can’t wait to share.

FIRST - i want to mention that cv is safe! the dorms are a great place to weather out tropical storm. we are SO grateful savannah isn’t having the full hurricane ian experience. SECOND be sure to watch this space or read the newsletter i’m about to send out for details on two hogfarm events this weekend. THIRD check out these photos from our savannah sojourn - in no particular order.

LOVE Y MAS, c