When the idea for the stag hanging came to me, I started with a smaller version of the embroidery on black linen, backed with white silk. Then the gold shot woven silk came to my attention, and I started stitching the waving lines … and realized the black and white stag was all wrong for the gold background. A dig through my fabric supplies brought up that lovely green woven fabric, so I stitched a second stag and set aside the black and white one.

As I worked on the hanging for my shrine, I kept looking at the black and white stag and wondering what he might like to become. I felt, from the beginning, that the piece had a strong will of its own, if I could just hear it. Then the “self expression” prompt came up on my list, and I understood he wanted to be a necklace, a special piece of jewelry to carry the energy of my spiritual life with me when I go out into the world. What better form of self expression could I find than a piece of sacred wearable art? 

But, I thought, I never wear white. I’m too prone to spilling my beverages. So I thought, I wonder what would happen if I dunked that whole piece in some tea? What happened surprised me: the silk took on the most gorgeous, deep coppery tone, and I was absolutely thrilled.

Over the course of the next few days, the appropriate components for the piece presented themselves to me, each one a revelation accompanied by a shiver of excitement. That scrap of beautiful leather, with a slight sheen, that I’d been hoarding for years. The amber and jasper beads on a piece that was never quite right, but that I couldn’t let go of because the components were so lovely. I made a simple clasp with heavy copper wire, and the piece was complete. And I love it so much.

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