This is one of my favorite bracelets and it’s very difficult to give this one up. The colors and textures in this piece do look the part and it looks van-damn-tastic on the wrist! So let’s get into the inspiration of this bracelet. The Channel Islands in the English Channel (off the French coast of Normandy) isn’t on the radar for most folks. It’s a photographer’s dream and has so much to offer from history, to maritime to island living at its finest. Many poets and authors, such as Jack Higgins, John Hanley and Victor Hugo, have spun their yarns about these pieces of rock in the sea. The “channel islands” is a geographic term started in the 1830’s by the Royal Navy. They are divided into two Crown Dependencies which are the Bailiwick of Jersey (largest of the islands) and the Bailiwick of Guernsey (Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm and some smaller islands). Basically Jersey and Guernsey are the two main islands with most of the land and 98% of the population. They are not part of the United Kingdom, but they do look after their defense. Man first stepped onto the islands 250,000 years ago and have been occupied by the Romans, Normans, French and British crowns and even by the Germans who occupied them briefly in WW2 (still lots of remnants remain there today). The islands are absolutely stunning and a couple are ideal for long hikes around the islands with a number of fantastic pubs to duck into. The rugged terrain is spectacular and the coastline is teaming with birds and marine life. If you’re a painter and the wind is calm, you’ll enjoy the blues and greens. And if the wind is up, you’ll be in the pub anyway. This bracelet was made to fit into the landscape here. The Gray Pyrite and Aged Ox Bone resemble the colors and textures of the rocky sea cliffs. The Amazonite and Dragon Blood Jasper Stones look like the minty green sea colors along the coastline. Included is a Buri Nut Bead that has been carved into a square---it looks like the top of a lighthouse to me. The 2 Large Bone Mala Skulls represent the British and French interwoven connection to these islands. BTW, spending a day meandering on one of these islands and then spending your evening in a pub with a great stout during a fierce storm is as cool as it gets. Get here and be cool!
 
Check out the Island of Jethou Bracelet as a companion piece.