Totem Inspired Salmon Pins

Here are some more salmon pins I've been making in a different style to sell at the Salute to the Sockeye at Adam's River this year.  The technique is a spin on Julie Picarello's "lizard tails" and even though each fish was created individually in the same way, no two come out exactly alike.

They are in the same bright red and green as the spawning salmon as they turn this color by the time they reach the end of their trip where they spawn.  This style was inspired by the first nations native style art in our area.  The spawning grounds where the salmon return to is very important and sacred to them.  The salmon symbolize dependability and renewal as well as a provider of food.

Totem necklaces

We enjoyed spending time this past month with family and we were fortunate to have our oldest grandson stay with us for the past week.  Between dips in the lake and water balloon fights in the yard to cool off we managed to find some clay time together.  He wanted to make some "Totem" symbol necklaces -- an eagle totem for himself and a bear totem for his brother.

We ended up creating a mould for each one from a drawing and then created the pieces from the moulds we made together.  We then added mica powders to highlight the details.

I think they turned out quite well and here is a picture of him and his granddad (Dave) wearing them....