B Harrison Arts – Quiet Mind Studio – Blog

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My Jewelry written up in OmYogazine.com

brian mala3

Amethyst Mala

brian wrist mala

Wood and bone wrist mala

brian wrist mala2

Bodi seed and copper wrist mala

 

Brian Harrison the artist behind Quiet Mind, a web shop on Etsy, creates prayer beads and other jewelry with a variety of intentions for enhancement of your meditation and spiritual practice. Each piece is made with care and thought. The selection of the materials and their combination are the first step in creating the perfect piece.

When creating his malas, Brian likes a quiet setting, listening to some meditative music or simply nothing at all. Brian states ‘during the selection process the design usually works itself out, the material sometimes dictate the design’. Once the beads are strung he carefully knots and finishes the mala; in cases where a tassel is used, he makes the tassel himself from cotton or silk threads. Brian likes to create his own tassels so they can be color coordinated with the beads perfectly. The final step is activating the mala with energies of benefit to all sentient beings and any special intentions for the piece. With use the practitioner grows a connection to their mala. It accumulates the energies of their intentions of their practice. Holding it each time is a reminder of these focused intentions. Wearing your mala can serve as a constant reminder of your practice as you go through your daily life.

brian mala2Brian’s malas are made in the Buddhist and Hindu traditions of 108 beads for full malas, half malas with 54 beads and where bead size permits 27 beads for a wrist mala, sometimes less.

Brian Harrison also creates a full line of jewelry under the Quiet Mind label. From fine jewelry made with sparkling gems and/or pieces from antiquity to add flash and style to your evening out to earthy pieces made using wood, seed, stone, shell, bone and other natural materials for casual everyday wear by men and women. Every piece is a unique design and hand crafted. Many of the jewelry pieces are finished with hand forged silver, copper or gold clasps made by Brian.

Quiet Minds yoga jewelry makes wonderful gifts full of positive intention weather for yourself or someone special.

Links:

Quiet Mind on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/QuietMind

Quiet Mind Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/QuietMind.Arizona

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BriAZ861

Blog: http://bharrisonarts.com/wordpress/

Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/quietmindonetsy

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Hand forged copper heart in time for Valentine Day! Taking a length of heavy gauge copper wire my hammer, torch and anvil this rustic asymmetrical heart pendant was formed. Using fine copper wire I’ve attached some red Czech glass beads down one side adding to the asymmetry. I can make this pendant with other color beads and in a bright copper finish as well.

Hand forged copper heart pendant

Heart pendant

 

 

 

Before all this technology or the prevalence of color imagery in books there were teaching aides such as these. Looking a these conjures up thoughts of how and what we learn has changed over the century since these pictures were published. The collection I have is rather extensive. I do not know if there are more to this series but what I have spans from Series A all they way to Series III, covering many periods in art, styles of architecture, men of arts and letters and statesmen and politicians. 

Cosmos Pictures for classroom instruction circa 1900

Used for classroom instruction 100 years ago today I think these would be great for art projects such as: scrap booking, collage, shadow boxes, altered art and decoupage. I’d be interested in hearing any ideas from readers on uses for these. 

Images from Series A

Great Statesmen and Soldiers - Series RR

English Cathedrals - Series XX

 

 

Vermiel walking Buddha necklace

Kwan Yin necklace

Buddha Mala

Serpentine Kwan Yin and Prehnite Mala

 

New year clean up and preparation for my 3 year anniversary of selling on Etsy I’ve cleaned up the sections in Quiet Mind. Some time last year I created a section for “fine jewelry” ultimately this muddied up the shopping experience as items such as earrings or bracelets would be found in multiple shop sections. So with the sections earrings, bracelets/wrist malas and necklaces all containing like items they are now together within the same section. You will still find necklaces, bracelets and earrings made with skulls in the Day of the Dead section and I have kept the malas (prayer beads) in the same sections: full 108 bead malas, and 54 bead half malas.

With that done be on the look out for new listings and specials for my anniversary. Who knows maybe a give away or two are in order? Any ideas? Let me know…

Turquoise 1/2 mala


Like I commented in a previous post on this novel, a very interesting read in these times. George Orwell’s 1984. The similarities are very interesting, the differences as well. One observation is the restriction of goods to the citizens of Oceania in 1984 the comment that shoe laces and razor blades were in particularly short supply, obtainable only on the black market. Nothing decorative or luxurious if available at all could be had via Party approved means.  Food and clothing scarce, limited access to heat and electricity. The only things that seem to be in ready supply are ‘victory gin’ and bad cigarettes. In our current society the direct opposite, excess, many many choices just about anything you can think of is available. The supply of virtually everything is or at least is given the appearance of being in inexhaustible supply. This makes me wonder how we as a society might react if faced with scarcity the citizens of Oceania have accepted as normal? How would we react if the fragile food supply chain were to break down and food deliveries to urban areas were stopped? A scary thought however possible. The over supply which in turn, I am of the opinion, feeds over stimulation and fosters distraction. Scarcity creates the same end of distraction by the opposite means. The distracted populous is easier to control, easier to manipulate. Weather focus is on need due to scarcity or distractions via game, TVs, advertisement, foods, drugs etc from a never ending supplies that we are made to believe we need to be happy. The resulting society is the same dumbed down, complacent, selfish, separate.

Newspeak, the new language being developed in Oceania is a deliberate dumbing down of  language. Homogenizing it through the removal of unnecessary words. No need for antonyms when ‘un’ placed before the word can express the opposite. For example good and ungood. Although this may not be exactly what is happening today. It seems to me in our current culture we engage in many forms of Newspeak. Although euphemisms and political correctness have their places and need for focus and attention. There can be a point where it becomes censorship, misleading and so dilute the message is lost. I see use of terms like recession, and economic adjustment as avoidance of what is happening, an economic depression. Watch closely to news casts, politicians and officials at every level as they engagement in Newspeak, also know as double talk and lying. Perhaps not in as overt a was as the Party in 1984 is however the manipulation of the language is real and is being used to mislead the public.

The book club will be meeting a few more weeks on this book. I may have more thoughts to post about this… My original post on 1984 is at this link: http://bharrisonarts.com/wordpress/?p=2222

You can get a free download of 1984 at this link: http://www.planetebook.com/1984.asp

This bracelet is made with about 100 faceted briolettes of deep purple amethyst. Each briolette is hand wrapped with sterling silver wire and attached to sterling silver chain finished with a lobster claw in sterling as well. This bracelet is adjustable from 6 to 8 inches.

Faceted amethyst and silver bracelet and earrings

Faceted amethyst and silver bracelet

Amethyst like other purple stones being a combination of red and blue, have the ability to ground and act upon the crown chakra at the same time. This makes amethyst a good stone for spiritual exploration and transformation. Along with being a thing of beauty this bracelet and earrings set can aid as a reminder of ones spiritual journey when worn.

See the rest of my jewelry collection, prayer beads and art at Quiet Mind on Etsy.

Viktor Schreckengost

Viktor Schreckengost lived from June 26, 1906 to January 26, 2008. Viktor was a well know industrial designer as well as a sculptor and teacher. He has applied his designing mind to bicycles to dinner plates and many things in between. A graduate from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1929 and had a career of teaching there that lasted 50 years.

Some of Viktor’s designs are now iconic representations of what we now call ‘mid-century modern’ design.  Using sleek lines and the ever popular atomic inspired patterns for all types of housewares.

Viktor Schrekengost Designed Tea Pot

Hop Scotch Pink - Sale China Co. Ohio

In the 1950′s Viktor Schrekengost designed table ware for the Salem China Company of Ohio. The Constellation pattern was released in 1954. A set of dishes in black and white with a straight line pattern in white, turquoise and black.  Another pattern inspired by the atomic / space era. These plates were a limited production and are now hard to find. I was surprised to find so many pieces in such great condition.

Viktor Schrekengost Constellation Dinner Ware from Salem China Co of Ohio

Viktor Schrekengost Constellation Cups and Saucers

Viktor Schrekengost Constellation Berry Bowls

Viktor Schrekengost Constellation Bread Plates

Offered now in my Found Around vintage shop on Etsy or see them in person at Indie Arthouse in Phoenix, AZ.

 

 

February’s birthstone is amethyst, not necessarily why I made this piece now, it does have a timeliness however. Amethyst has an ancient history being prized though out the ages.

Much of today’s amethyst is mined in Brazil. The amethyst beads used in this mala are from Brazil. The beads are beautiful large and natural. The subtle variations of purple and striations within the stone can be seen. This mala is finished with my own hand made silk tassel in shaded of lavender and purple to accent the variations in the stones.

Amethyst and copper mala

I like the way the combination of the copper and the amethyst worked out. They contrast and compliment each other nicely. A note about the copper beads they are hollow and therefore light weight.

This mala glides through your fingers when used for practice. The subtle vibrations of the amethyst awakening your crow chakra opening you to divine dreams. This mala is made with the intention of aiding the user in good restful sleep with pleasant dreams.

 

Happy New Year! 2011 will be a year to remember! A long list of events including disasters, economic upheaval and world wide protests. As we head into 2012 economic upheaval and protests are sure to continue. We can only wait and see in regard to disasters…

So the New Year for me usually brings a spurt of creativity. This year being no different. I poked around some of my stored supplies and objects. When I came across this bronze casting of piece of a Cholla skeleton I thought this was going to be the focal of a new piece.

Casting of Cholla cactus spine

I just love this casting very natural and organic in its look and feel. The piece called to be made into something earthy with a traditional feeling. Keeping in mind these current time and general uncertainty I felt the piece needed to be grounding, protective, something that connects the wearer to their past lives, deeper intuition and innate knowledge.

Cholla Spine Protection Necklace

The elements used in this necklace are hand carved wood skulls. They represent those that have past before, our ancestors with their protection, knowledge and wisdom. The white are ostrich shell beads that are hand made by the San people in Namibia, Africa. Their rustic nature add to the shamanic/tribal overall look. For accent and contrast, as well as tradition, I added turquoise and coral red. The turquoise is Nacozari. Mined just south of  Bisbee, Arizona in Sonora Mexico. The red are glass beads. The red and the turquoise are traditional color combinations used since antiquity from the Himalayans to the Americas. I finished off this piece with my own hand forged copper “S” clasp.

Hand forged copper clasp

This necklace is 18 inches. The cholla pendant measures 3.5 inches long.

 

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