How fitting that my first post involves birth. New website. New blog. A new phase for HauteMetals as our collective expands and becomes more sophisticated. I love new beginnings. I love babies and everything about them... their beauty, their smell, their promise of endless possibilities. They are simply awe inspiring. The empowering births of my own children, now 14, 11 and 8, had such a profound effect on me that I became deeply involved with our local birthing center when the hospital it was affiliated with decided to discontinue the program. Several of the center's clients, including myself, worked together to build a new center and ensure that the women in our region have choices when it comes to the birth of their babies. It was truly a grassroots effort and we managed to build Pittsburgh's only freestanding birth center, The Midwife Center for Birth and Women's Health. I was on the Board of Directors of the center for several years and it really holds a special place in my heart.
Today, I made this piece to give to a very special midwife, Nancy Niemczyk, the former clinical director for The Midwife Center. She is leaving midwifery for now to pursue a Ph.D. Without her expertise and her complete willingness to make what many would feel were tremendous sacrifices the center probably would not be in existence today. We had the privilege of having Nancy assist us at the birth of our daughter.
The sweet little carved moonstone face cabochon was a gem I bought at a gem show many years ago. I could never come up with the right design for it. I think it was really waiting all this time for this particular piece. I tried to pack as much symbolism into this pendant as possible. The six petaled flower is a representation of the logo of The Midwife Center. The moonstone represents women and fertility. I set the little face just slightly off kilter to be somewhat reminiscent of a baby crowning. I hope it reminds her of all the women and babies she has helped throughout the years.
Here's to new beginnings.........
