I Hold the Moon by Deby Henry

When I saw this piece of titanium on Holly’s website, the first thing that jumped out at me was a little blue elf like baby holding a moon. Silly I know, but it caused a series of events. I found myself making a little story out of what I saw and it just kept racing around in my head, so I typed it out, made a photopolymer plate of the words, and used that as my texture for the piece. The first part of the story is on the front of the lentil; the rest is on the back. Of course the print is small. y for the wanderer and traveler in us all-secret whispers to all living things. I hold the moon and if you look closely on a bright winter night, you will see me with my sister stars…. sharing our colors all around you, showering you with love. I hold the moon. It is my gift to you.”

When I was a child, I used to go and spend time with my Great Grandma who lived in Corbin, Kentucky. Cumberland Falls is there and has long been known as one of the only places in the western hemisphere where you can see a moonbow, created by the mist off the falls whenever there is a full moon. I can remember how wonderful I thought this was as a child, so maybe that memory triggered writing this story.

The lentil bead measures 1.50 inches in diameter. I textured both sides with the photo polymer plates and cut an opening in the front piece of the lentil. I then made a small strip of textured metal clay, and mounted it on 4 small metal clay posts on the inside of the back lentil, for the Titanium to rest on after firing. I then put the lentil together; added stars and syringe work for interest, refined the piece, and fired at 1650 degrees for 10 minutes. I used liver of sulfur for the patina, but removed most of it because I felt it distracted from the Titanium on this particular piece. I then secured the Titanium with epoxy and beaded a necklace with Swarovski crystals, two types of freshwater pearls and sterling silver Bali accent beads. This piece was great fun.

The story to "I hold the Moon"

I Hold the Moon
I am a moon baby shaded by the colors of the night. I was born under a moonbow on a cold winter night long ago. I hold the moon high for all to see. It is my gift to you. My shimmer blue color is deep like the night. A rainbow of light…like cool water…water that touches and washes everything clean. I whisper to my sister stars that sit at my side. They shine bright winter night, you will see me with my sister stars…. sharing our colors all around you, showering you with love. I hold the moon. It is my gift to you.”