Category Archives: Nature

Fossil Follies and Trilobites

Trilobites are an extinct marine arthropod and a distant relative to horseshoe crabs, spiders and lobsters. Over 20,000 trilobite species existed over 300 million years ago and are found on every continent on earth.  The thousands of trilobite species are geographically … Continue reading

Posted in Design projects, Jewelry, Nature, Stones | Comments Off on Fossil Follies and Trilobites

Snake Inspiration at Marty Magic

Here at Marty Magic, we have great appreciation, fascination and respect for snakes. As the only child of a field geologist it was only natural that desert reptiles were my playmates. My father would often return from a day mapping … Continue reading

Posted in Nature, Travel | Comments Off on Snake Inspiration at Marty Magic

What is an Ammonite?

Each February Alisha and I fly to Tucson to attend the Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show.  The show covers much of Tucson and two sets of eyes are an asset. We have our synced shopping lists and we start each … Continue reading

Posted in Design projects, Jewelry, Nature | 2 Comments

Marty Magic – Obsessed and Inspired by Giant Lizards

Art recently returned from Tokyo with two Godzillas to add to our collection. Giant lizards of any kind have been and will continue to be an inspiration and obsession at Marty Magic.               Below … Continue reading

Posted in Fantasy, Nature, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Marty Magic – Obsessed and Inspired by Giant Lizards

Chameleons – Super Heros of the Old World Lizard Clade.

Chameleons are just about the coolest animal on this planet. They have super powers and can make themselves invisible and look in two directions at once!  They have ballistic tongues that project with incredible speed and impact to catch prey; … Continue reading

Posted in Jewelry, Nature | Comments Off on Chameleons – Super Heros of the Old World Lizard Clade.

Marty’s Frogs Hop to Shedd Aquarium

Many of you know that nature is my greatest design inspiration. I have traveled to jungles and rain forests, archipelagos, coral reefs, deserts, plains and mountains. Spotting a heard of elephants or a pride of lions in Africa is exciting but … Continue reading

Posted in Jewelry, Museums and Shows, Nature | 2 Comments

Baja Inspiration

Many of you know that traveling is a passion of mine and Baja is one of my favorite destinations. As the daughter of a field geologist, I spent much of my childhood camping in both the deserts of Southern California … Continue reading

Posted in Nature, Travel | Comments Off on Baja Inspiration

Paradise Lost

Lost wax casting is a challenging and often an uncertain process.  I spent two full days carving the original wax for my Bird of Paradise Pendant but unfortunately the wax did not cast completely. The photo below right is of … Continue reading

Posted in Design projects, Nature | Comments Off on Paradise Lost

Anglerfish Lurks Beneath Monterey Bay

The Black Sea Devil Anglerfish is a fearsome critter that lives deep in the undersea canyons in the Monterey Bay. Aptly named for its monstrous fangs, it becomes a little less scary when you realize it’s only a few inches long. Back … Continue reading

Posted in Jewelry, Nature, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Anglerfish Lurks Beneath Monterey Bay

Scorpio Rising

In August we wrote about Marty’s childhood spent in the Mojave desert of Southern California, and how the critters she encountered there have inspired her jewelry. Scorpions were common in the desert by her family’s adobe cottage, and their strange, … Continue reading

Posted in Jewelry, Nature | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Scorpio Rising