Carolyn Tillie

I Scream for Ice Scream Bracelet

Carolyn Tillie — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:36:54 +0000

“I” Is For Ice Cream

17.5 x .5 x 4.5 cm

Originally commissioned by Facèré Gallery’s May 18, 2011 to June 4, 2011 exhibit ABeCeDarian, this daring one-of-a-kind bracelet is an elegantly hinged cuff of framed and nestled ice cream cones, each cone given a water-resistant protective coating that will ensure years of wear.

Gratitude Abounds!

Carolyn Tillie — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:44:28 +0000

A wonderful surprise arrived yesterday via ArtfulHome! A customer to whom I sent a pair of cupcake earrings sent me a beautiful thank you card and tin of cookies from Hawaii. I was so touched and grateful to have my work mean so much to someone…

Still a bit of dusting and tidying to do, but we’re back!

D L — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:23:10 +0000

Watch this space for future delights! This site is in the process of becoming fully integrated with Facebook, so be sure to visit and like Carolyn Tillie, Artist there too!

Sandals of Yesod

D L — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:01:07 +0000

My mind soars, the Universe opens up before me!
Arise I upward upon the wings of spirit
shedding the clay that has weighted me down.
But how shall I walk upon the Firmament of Nu?
By binding on the sandals of this Holy Ground!Yesod means Foundation and it is here where the aspirant begins conceptualizing the spiritual work to be accomplished. Because Ganesha is one of the gods who appear in Yesod, around the base of the sandals I have included some of the holy names of Ganesha in Sanskrit. Also, please note that the front of the sandals have toe-nails, another allusion to the great elephant god. The sandals are constructed from steel, purple heart wood, sterling silver, nickel silver, and amethyst cabochons. Using the color scale within Yesod, the sandals are primarily purple in color.

Part of the installation exhibit The Magickal Tools of the Kabbalah.

10″x4″x2.5″

(In the collection of Mrs. Vinetta Burton)

Lamp of Netzach

D L — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 07:57:14 +0000

I am armed, I am strong
but I am blind and in darkness.
How shall I find my way on the road that I pursue?
Thus do I lay spark to the Lamp of Understanding.
Light blazes before me, the Path to Heaven is Illumed.The magickal tool in Netzach is the lamp and its purpose within the aspirant’s temple is to throw light and illuminate the way towards the desired victory. Utilizing the correspondences of Venus I forged the lamp in copper and colored it according the color scales in shades of green and amber. The lamp’s pulchritudinous is an overemphasis of the sensuous and seductiveness of the feminine form as well as the allusion towards the feminine correspondence to the “Vision of Beauty Triumphant.” The flame burns at the chakra point of Netzach, the solar plexus and placed on the underside of the lamp is a sterling silver rose, another allusion to Netzach.

Part of the installation exhibit The Magickal Tools of the Kabbalah.

17″x9″x8″

(In the collection of the artist.)

Apron of Hod

D L — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 07:54:24 +0000

And with my feet shod with resolve,
I then gird my loins with focused intent.
Thus do I bind about me the lambskin apron;
Symbol of mastery, Expression of direction.
White of purity, Lambskin of innocence.

The tool within Hod is both the Apron and Versicles, the call and response part of a religious ceremony. To incorporate both tools into my project, I made paper in three of the four colors of the color scale and printed upon those sheets of paper versicles from various ceremonies including the Gnostic mass. The apron was constructed as indicated by traditional Masonic tradition, 12×16 inches with a cord of 108 inches. On the flap of the apron is the image of a Hermaphrodite from the alchemical text, Rosarium Philosophorum. The hermaphrodite is an obvious reference to the Greek god Hermes, a Mercurial god who appears in Hod.

Part of the installation exhibit The Magickal Tools of the Kabbalah.

12″x16″x.25″

(In a private collection)

Spider of Tiphareth

D L — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:37:50 +0000

Into the Center of the golden Sun
Its eight spider legs leading in and out.
I look into its Heart and see that the Lamen
shows me that far from being over, my journey has only started.
Shows me I’m only at the intersection of Macro and Microcosm.

Traditionally, the tool which lies within Tiphareth is the Lamen which is the focal point of the spider itself, a lamen-shaped Precious Imperial Topaz which was custom cut to have eight pavilions instead of the standard six. A spider was chosen because of its eight legs which represent the eight paths which lead into Tiphareth. It was constructed entirely of 14k gold, the alchemical metal of Tiphareth. The image of the golden spider also alludes to a glistening sun. It is in effect the sephirothic equivalent of the Sun in our solar system in that the rest of the Tree appears to revolve around it.

Part of the installation exhibit The Magickal Tools of the Kabbalah.

5″x5″x1″

(In the collection of Michael Strader and Sandy Brautigam.)

Wand of Chesed

D L — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:34:43 +0000

And now the point of demarcation.
Do I arise to the task or fall into the reason why?
Here is my Will, my Fire, My Wand.
Here is my blind leap of faith across the Abyss,
Do I fall into the bottom, or cross into the beyond?The tool of Chesed is the wand or hollow tube which transmits the influence in its positive form in an intelligible manner. With its hollow-tube reference, the wand has been constructed entirely from sterling silver tubing, hand-colored in the blues and purples of the color scale of Chesed. The tube is also important as an allusion to that which would was through it, water or semen. Water is the elementary ruler of Chesed and as it lies on the more masculine Pillar of Severity, its dominant male influence cannot be overlooked. Several of the tubes and both ends of the wand are set with quartz crystals, fluorite, amethyst, and tourmaline points, through which energy can flow.

Part of the installation exhibit The Magickal Tools of the Kabbalah.

12.5″x1.5″x2″

(This piece is still available and for sale.)

Sword of Geburah

D L — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:26:43 +0000

Before me arises the Lady of the Lake
with the Sword of Justice offered for me to grasp.
But Beware when wielding the blade of judgements weapon,
for its sharpness lies on both sides to teach me
that as I cleave, so am I cloven.The sword is the tool within Geburah and one of the many of its correspondences include the god Mars. Because of the fiery energy of Mars, I constructed the sword from hardened steel, but utilized stainless steel, copper, and brass in the hilt, emulating flame itself. The pommel of the sword has oak leaves and acorns which correspond to the plant within Geburah. A unifying image of oak and flames was etched upon the blade and the handle, cut from curly maple, was colored bright red, yet another allusion to Mars. If you are interested in obtaining a custom sword, I heartily recommend contacting Tony Swatton at the Sword and the Stone.

Part of the installation exhibit The Magickal Tools of the Kabbalah.

36″x8″x3″

(In the collection of the artist.)

Lingam of Chokmah

D L — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:20:34 +0000

Onward, Backward, IO Pan! IO Pan!
Procreative might stands before me.
This is the primal creation! My quest is done!
So then why does The Fool in me laugh at my folly?
And say, “Discernment is two, and not One.”The tool for Chokmah is the lingam and while Binah is blatantly female, the Chokmah must be blatantly masculine. This piece was forged entirely from aluminum and colored the Color Scale of Chokmah, greys and blues. Because of its male association, I chose the traditional Hindu lingam-yoni design which emulated the supreme symbol of vital principle, representing male and female genitalia in conjunction. A sterling silver ring was forged to fit around the shaft as a symbolic wedding ring for the union of lingam and yonic forces.

Part of the installation exhibit The Magickal Tools of the Kabbalah.

8.5″x1.5″x2″

(In the collection of the Ordo Templi Orientis.)