Well I’m sitting in hospital unexpectedly - nothing too serious. I was going to post this last night but I was in too much pain.
So this is a proof of concept. The word “magical” is used far too much but that was my ambition. Something of unknown use and unknown provenance.
Proof of concept is the build I make all the mistakes on - motor too fast, planets too large and high, LEDs wiring wrong and ugly battery packs. Internally this might not be saleable quality.
The video isn’t great, sorry. When I get home I will take some still photos of all the decorations and detail. It was inspired by those magnetic ballerina jewellery boxes from the 1960s. She would dance around a mirror when the box was opened.
I initially covered the neodymium magnets and attached the planet on a post. Wrong. They fell down, stuck to each other with such force they ended up broken. So I’ve gone for simple using the magnetic force to hold the metal spheres. I will include several spare magnets and planets.
I’ve been waiting to make these for a long time. Finally had all the ingredients and a bit of bravery. What many people don’t realise is making something new is always a risk, possibly ruining expensive supplies. Fortunately these turned out well. A simple glass locket filled with a vintage pocket watch spring, tiny metallic “planet” spheres, a half round golden “sun” all fixed in place with clear resin. It makes for a subtle yet intriguing piece of jewelry. Understated.
The tiny ones are seriously small - the lockets are under an inch wide. I’ve attempted some reality to the planets: Mercury is tiny and silver, Venus earth’s sister planet is gold and the same size as Earth, Earth is silver, Mars smaller than Earth and copper. The giants start with Jupiter large in copper, Saturn slightly smaller than Jupiter and silver tone, Uranus is gold, Neptune is smaller and silver and finally, Pluto, tiny and metallic black. I can’t keep any accuracy in relation to the size of the sun - it’s seriously huge in comparison.
The larger one, just over an inch wide, was gold but arrived very scratched. Instead of it sitting in my pile of rejects I decided to “distress” the patina to a brushed copper with the original gold poking through in places. It works. It also has a very light dusting of holographic glitter as a star field.
If there is the demand I thought about customising these. With a birth date, time and place I can generate a natal sun chart - where the planets were at the time of their birth. If there is serious clumping I might have to take some artistic license when positioning all the planets. It would require a 2 week build time for supplies and for the resin layers to cure.
If you are looking for a masculine gift I can put them on a black rubber or leather cord.
To paraphrase the great Carl Sagan “we are all made of space stuff”. The carbon atoms that make us existed when our solar system first formed. This piece is designed to make us think about our existence on our planet in our little corner of the Milky Way galaxy.
This is made backwards, layer upon layer over 4 to 5 days. I can’t see the end result until the final layer is cured and the resin is polished to transparency on her forehead. I leave the facial features slightly frosted so they can be seen. There are air bubbles but I think they work within this piece.
All the planets are there - in order and relative size within reason. The sun and planets are sitting above a vintage copper clock hairspring. The black background was necessary for dramatic contrast. She will be available in my Etsy store.
my dad has this crazy ass huge camera lens so we went out during the eclipse last night and got maybe one of my favorite photos i’ve ever had a hand in taking
{ID: a picture of the night sky during a total lunar eclipse- the sky is black, with a few stars, and the moon is big and red./end ID}
CHIRON*: The wounded healer. Shows your deepest wound and how to heal others. Strength and understanding through suffering. Salvation for the self through aiding others. Perseverance, wisdom, and teaching. Associated with Virgo and Sagittarius.
CERES*: The earth mother. Unconditional love. Shows where you feel most nurtured and how you demonstrate love and care to others. Mothering, tenderness, and support. Associated with Cancer.
PALLAS: The independent strategist. Shows source of intelligence, creativity and personal power. Courage, justice, and wisdom. Father/daughter relationship. Associated with Leo.
JUNO: The committed lover. Shows capacity for forming and maintaining meaningful relationships. Personal boundaries, intimacy, and sharing. How you demonstrate commitment and deep affection. Balance of authority and submission, power and vulnerability, giving and sharing, in relationships. Associated with Libra.
VESTA: The virginal self. Shows capacity for self-sufficiency and where you direct your devotion. Sense of trust, love and respect for the self. Personal potential, your pure essence. Chastity, intimacy, and sexuality. Integration and focus. Conscious self will in contact with the other, both people and environment. Associated with Virgo and Scorpio.
*Not technically asteroids. Chiron is classed as a minor planet and Ceres as a dwarf planet.
