A new version of an old favorite, originally made for myself. Look for the details soon!

Delivered on the morning of New Year’s eve - complete with final custom fittings for her headdress -  just in time for a night to remember!!! From stories Paul shared with me later, it appears they were the talk of the town….

My father photographed me as I worked one day - my parents came east for a visit to celebrate the end-of-year-Christmas-family love - and so I thought to share a selection with you. His eye always captures the essence of whatever is in the frame! I hope you enjoy.

Above, screengrab from the segment. My interview begins around 2:20.

After its scheduled airing, I received a number of emails from curious and interested people, from as far away as Alabama! Thanks to the broadcast, I forged new relationships with clients from places as diverse as Chicago, Boston, and Norfolk, Va., and created a series of new tailor-made commissions. Look for the results of these projects next.

I took an extended leave from my work in 2009 to pursue more stable income and unfortunately left the series after this first piece. The theme continues to engage me however, and there are mind-sketches for other members in this body of work. I hope to have the opportunity to flesh out the ideas and articulate them into metal. Thank you for your support!

And another piece… There was a ring I had long envisioned for myself, to which I decided to make some alterations. Made for someone else for an exhibit at the Wexler Gallery in Philadelphia, the original was ideal for a person with deeper skin tone, to make the hue of the ring *pop*:

I loved this stone but it didn’t work on my hand. Since the piece didn’t sell during the show, I opened the setting - I’d hand-fabricated all parts in  round and square sterling silver wires - and set a piece of azurite, saved especially for this ring.

Its new look was fabulous and I wore it only for a week before a collector laid eyes on it and decided she wanted it for herself! At least this beautiful ring has a wonderful new home. It never fails that a new piece of wearable sculpture-jewelry which I make for myself becomes the new love of someone else! It’s best that way, really.

At long last, I had the great fortune to create a new Medieval-City-on-My-Knuckle, Modern-Day-Protection-Device ring. After wearing this favorite for over 10 years, and having people stare at it wherever I was, despite themselves — compelled to the point of making conversation with me in many cases –  someone finally had the moxie to commission one for themselves. For his fabulous wife. A mother of two in lower Manhattan decided she needed one of these fantastic finger sculptures to enhance her daily life, and her husband, being the great man he is, agreed it would make her even more lovely.

This image depicts the two side-by-side; can you tell which one is mine, happily worn day after day?

I hear she wears it well: another bird of a feather adorned with something personal and extraordinary to take along this path of life.  Thank you!

Another gorgeous piece I had opportunity to make was a pierced sterling armlet - the assignment was something with references to Art Nouveau, but also with the recipient’s initials prominently placed. Normally I do not like to include words or letters - preferring the abstract - but here the collaboration came to an incredible result.

The Brazilian beauty wears this special piece everyday…

It is a feature today, so look for December 16th. If you have trouble finding it through the volume of their listings, here is the direct link:

http://2modern.blogs.com/2modern/2007/12/melina-hammer-a.html

The first image listed is from my recent commissioned work, now at the boutique BrigitteNYC, and the second is a piece commissioned from my dear client and friend Aya Kiyono in Japan. I hope you’ll have a look–it’s a short piece–and enjoy the 2Modern Blog!