Peacocks in the rain earrings

There are been no rain this year so far in Chennai. Last year’s November monsoon was a failure as well. With summer at its all time high and water bodies drying up, water scarcity has become imminent. That being said, I am increasingly becoming scared of rains. Even a single shower seems to bring with it a plethora of diseases and life gets ghastly. So when Earrings Everyday put up the storming the weather challenge, I was stumped. After a lot of thinking, I finally thought of two positive ideas- swirly storm clouds and Peacocks in the rain.

We’re All Ears :: June Inspiration :: Storms

Ms. Erin listed storm clouds, lightning, raindrops, rivulets on the window, umbrellas, puddle jumping, and rainbows as potential inspiration. All it reminded me was getting stuck in rain outdoor during travels. I have been caught in the rain as a traveller all over the world – from Nepal to Orlando, from Kuala Lumpur to Kerala. It is one of the worst things to happen when travelling but it also shows you the true character of the people around you – black and white. The illusion goes away.

My first pair of earrings is inspired by thunderstorm clouds. They are fluffy (and heavy fro mall the water vapour?) and sort of dense. They move very quickly. So you think you have time to get to a shelter but you don’t. If I see such clouds while travelling, something gnaws and moves inside me unsettling me. That is what this pair – Illusion is all about. I have used lampwork glass and glass rounds along with artistic wire.

Megh Mallar

I remember going to a local deer park as a 3-4 years old kid as they would have all sorts of animals housed there. Fluffy rabbits, deer, porcupine, monkeys and yes peacocks. I still remember someone (my parents?) telling me about how the peacocks dance before a rain. Opening of the feathers by the peacock was supposed to denote that beautiful and bountiful things will come from the earth soon. For a long time after that I would look for peacocks outside the house during the rainy season. Many years later, I eved up seeing one right there in my garden. Sadly, it did not dance but flew away with a Peahen.

While I was thinking about peacocks in the rain, I remembered the Megh Mallar Raga. I had worked on the Megh Raga family as a part of my Ragamala collection in 2014. I deem it one of my best collections till date . It was both intellectually fulfilling and profitable. Visually, the Megh Raga family is depicted with the colours of blue, gray and black with accents of bright yellows and oranges. Lord Krishna, Women playing stringed instruments, peacocks, geese and even snakes can be seen in these visuals.

Peacocks in the rain earrings

I made two different earrings based on this concept. However only one turned out nicely. This is one of the simplest designs I have made in a long time. I put together a dancing peacock and a rutile stone set in sterling silver and added a handmade hook. This is the 3rd reuse of the rutile charm in the last five years. Only after I made and wore the earrings for a full day, I realised that I put a silver + gemstone charms with pewter peacocks and artistic wire which is just coasted copper. But technicalities aside I like it.

I bought these gemstones charms for the Sudya collection. I think I know, why they did not sell. People did not understand what rutile is or why it is special. I don’t know about others, but rutile is special tome. My dad being an electrode expert often spoke about it on his numerous work calls and discussions while making rutile electrodes. It was something that I heard all the time growing up. It is one word that would get him really excited. I hope to wear these Peacocks in the rain earrings for a long time and remember E6013, E7014, E7018 forever. For he is my rock in stormy weather.

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Cheers