My own, personal "Ewe"........

A recent photo I posted of myself in a tuxedo----AND a news posting of President Obama golfing on the "Caddyshack" golf course, strangely enough, combined to bring back a memory from my life in Hollywood years ago. Let me explain.......

   I was living in an apartment in Beachwood Canyon back in the 70's (which happens to have the Hollywood sign tucked up at the top hill above it) and one day received a phone call from my friend Suze Randall inviting me to a party--and asking for my help. Now Suze was known at that time for her photos for Playboy and Penthouse magazines. She seemed to always have a bevy of beautiful women around her ---either women she had photographed or the next ones she was thinking of shooting. So the idea of joining her on an evenings "outing" was a very attractive one. The "help" part was that she had more girls that she wanted to take with her and not enough car space. She explained that the party was at some estate up in the hills and she wanted to keep all the girls together and make sure they all got there with her---so---could I help? Dumb question.........
  On the "party evening", I drove my Citroen over to her house and, loaded up with 4 stunningly beautiful women, followed Suze up to a house on top of Mulholland Drive overlooking Los Angeles. As we all walked up the drive to the party, I found myself in the enviable position of being with one of the most famous (some would say "infamous") erotic photographers at that time AND a dizzying variety of attractive women! As we entered into the house and were introduced, one of the ladies grabbed my arm, and placing her arm through mine said "Let's get some champagne!" She had ridden up with Suze, so I had not seen her before, but, with a heavy Swedish accent, she said "I'm Anna" (pronouncing it "On ah") and hugged my arm. She had a way of inhaling her breath when she spoke that reminded me of ANOTHER buxom Hollywood blonde but I soon realized that in Anna's case it was more excitement than created "breathiness." She explained that she had just arrived from New York and had been referred by a friend to Suze. She also explained that she did not want anything to do with Suze's "speciality" and was more interested in pursuing an acting career, did I know of anyone? She was refreshingly open and direct about what she was after. Mix that in with that glowing healthy Northern European vibrancy ---and I was totally charmed! (But I also realized that her "attaching" herself to me so immediately allowed her to "check out the crowd" without appearing available----AND sent the message to Suze that she had other interests other than being one of HER little followers.) Suze got the "hint" and at one point came over to say "Get her home safely, " with a wink---and that was that. As it was a typical warm LA summer night AND Anna's first night in that amazing city, we decided to leave the party and allow me to show her some of the sights. Through our long evening of driving from one side of LA to another, we got everything fairly clearly understood about just what she was after and what she intended to get out of her new life. First thing on the list was an apartment of her own. It just so happened that there was one available in my apartment building---in fact right upstairs above me---so I arranged for her to meet the landlord, and a few days later, I had a new upstairs neighbor!!

 (Anna had NO portfolio or anything other than her good looks and determination, so we started out our friendship by my taking this photo of her out behind our apartment building. Too much flash with cinder blocks in the background and nothing fancy about it---but she said "Perfect" and away she went!)
  And so began our friendship. At that time, I had numerous different lady friends who were my "go to" pals for different activities. My best friends Cindy was my concert gal. Every show I got tickets for, she was the one I would call---knowing she would love every one and be the perfect companion. I had different "party" ladies, different "movie" ladies and different dinner dates. Anna let it be known that she wanted to be included if there was any "meet & greet/movie business" gatherings and she LOVED some of L.A.'s famous restaurants. She had been a fitness trainer and was in great shape, so she also was included in any "Sunday Brunch/swim party" get togethers. She was not against a little crazy fun too, as I found out one memorable night (actually early morning) when she talked me in to going "skinny dipping" with her in one of the city fountains in Beverly Hills! Let's just say that her "charms" were probably responsible with us only getting a "warning" when the Police drove by --and then stopped to ask us what the hell we thought we were DOING!!
    She was surprisingly comfortable in coming downstairs at any given time to hang out with me and, as I was using my apartment as my workshop AND meeting place for jewelry customers, she was my model or assistant with customers and helped with many a sale.
   We had gotten very comfortable with our living arrangement and I thought nothing of it when she came by one evening in shorts and a bikini top to ask if I thought it was a good idea for her to try out for the Los Angeles Rams football team new cheerleader team. At that time, the "Oakland Raiders" had abandoned Oakland and moved to LA in direct competition with the LA Rams. Also---the Dallas Cowboys had created quite a sensation with their "Cowgirl" cheerleading squad. The Raiders now had the "Raiderettes" and the Rams were going to do the same. With Anna's good looks, great figure and blonde/blue eyed features AND her natural athletic ability she was perfect---and I told her so!
  About a week later, I was meeting in my living room one afternoon with an engaged couple, deciding on a design for their wedding rings---when,  bursting through the door, came Anna! In the TINIEST dark blue and gold sequined top and shorts and pom-poms with her blond hair flying and ---attributes?---just about breaking loose of the "restrictive" clothing---and she announced (while doing high kicks and jumping all over the room) that she had been selected as one of the first members of the newly named "Embraceable Ewes" (much better than the rumored "Ramettes") The couple sat there with stunned looks on their face while Anna asked for our opinion on her "uniform" and ran out saying she had 2 more to show us and she would be right back!

(Though NOT Anna, this is a similar outfit to one she wore that day---this one actually covers a bit more)



 This couple........watched her go.....and I said some lame "oh ...she does that..." kind of explanation...and I tried to steer them back into the designs we were talking about......at the same time listening to Anna upstairs dancing around in her boots and preparing to reappear in who knows WHAT kind of "2nd choice" outfit. Realizing that our little meeting was over, I quickly said "I'll put together some sketches and ideas for you and we can meet up maybe later this week and finalize the design after I have located some gems to show you", blahblahblah.......doing my best to wrap the whole thing up safely and get them out of there happily. (they both seemed to see the humor in it but DID look a little "stunned")
   Anna went through weeks of rehearsals and training and would do the same routine every once and a while with the latest "uniform" or different colored pompoms or whatever. She literally came running in the door and did a cartwheel in my living room one day!! Her energy and fun spirit was a daily treat BUT---she then announced that she had arranged a part for ME to play in the "opening day" festivities. In the endless attempts by the Rams to create some excitement about their team and assorted efforts, they had decided that the new cheerleaders needed to be escorted one by one onto the field, as they were announced, by gentlemen in tuxedos (like some kind of Busby Berkeley film)---and then "handed off" to allow them to get in a line. Anna----had decided that I was going to be the one who did this for her! SO! I was told to go to a wedding rental shop on Hollywood Blvd. and fitted for a full tuxedo--with tails, gloves and top hat.
  The first time was in a black and white version (no--- sadly, I do not have any photos) I walked Anna out on to the field from the sidelines on the 50 yard line---and stopping in the middle, she reached up and gave me a perfect movie pose "smooch" on the cheek (with her one leg thrown up behind her) and then ran off with pompoms flying to join the other girls in a line. We men had been instructed to continue walking across the field to the other side and to line up there until all the girls were out on the field. They then lined up and bowed to us while we tipped our hats---and that was it.
   The first time went off as planned (and in typical Hollywood overdone style) but they then decided that they needed us to be in matching colors to the girls. SO I was then fitted to a dark blue tuxedo with gold vest and tie version. This was getting a bit weird. These looked a bit "cartoonish." We wore those for the second home game but it had rained and there was a few goof ups on the field as far as when to do this and the announcer flubbed it a bit---and that was it.
   Anna arranged for me to have tickets for a few more of the games ---and the Rams continued to attempt promotional stunts (my brother Dave joined me for one game and we were almost "rammed" ourselves by 3 skydivers that came sailing into the stadium---one of which got off course in his attempted landing and crashed into the seats a few rows down in front of us, breaking both of his legs!!) Anna honored me in her usual fashion at these games by locating me in the crowd and putting on her own over-exuberant bump and grind dance just for me!! She was fearless and I remember just standing there shaking my head with a huge smile on my face......
   Anyway---what does all of this have to do with my opening mention of President Obama playing at the "Caddyshack" course? Well, that is included because after numerous TV show appearances (most notably on "CHIPS") and TV commercials, Anna got a job-----as "The Blonde Bombshell" in a movie being made at the time called "Caddyshack." She'd done exactly what she intended to do and met someone who knew someone who referred her to the casting agent for the movie---and she was the perfect foil for Rodney Dangerfield's character in the movie and allowed him to roll his eyes and mug over her appearance.

  (here in a still from the movie------with Rodney doing his thing!)

She soon moved into another apartment but used to call me for advise or to come to her rescue when her little VW Bug convertible would break down. She continued to be my "event" companion and accompanied me when I was invited to the premier of "The China Syndrome" at the Cinerama Dome years later. She eventually married a movie producer and we used to all get together for dinner ---and laugh about how things turn out sometimes. It IS funny how things turn out sometimes..........

Guardian spirits.....and our connection to them.

I've been designing and creating jewelry for over 45 years. I learned early in the development of my style that I had particular shapes and symbols that repeated themselves in my designs. Where those ideas came from and any meaning behind them was something I, honestly, did not want to know. I enjoy allowing the creative process to flow freely, and felt that any precise knowledge of "where and how" might just create an attempt to define or copy---both of which I did not want to do. So---many of my designs are as much a mystery to me as they are to anyone else. People often ask "Where did this idea come from?" or "What is this a symbol of?"----and my response is always, "I have NO idea."

But------at some point, I DID have customers begin to ask for their own ideas of what they would like. That is exactly how I began creating my "Octopus" pendant. A customer, knowing my interest in and understanding of the Art Nouveau style, asked if I could create a "sealife" Art Nouveau pendant for her. One of the features and most recognizable components of Art Nouveau was the use of the natural flowing lines of hair and vines. That organic "S" curve was an inherent part of my style, so I thought that an Octopus would lend itself to this request. In making the pendant (and subsequently a matching ring for the same client) I had no idea that it would become a major part of my jewelry "image."

With the continued success and demand for this type of jewelry, I was reminded of my own background in "guardian spirits" from my time in Tahiti, or, what is known as "aumakua" in Hawaiian. I was introduced to the "idea" of an animal being the guardian or guide to a person or family by Tahitian friends. They believe that ancestral spirits returned to help and guide them in the form of certain animals. Traditionally, every family had it's own spirit guide. When I initially heard this in Tahiti, I was reminded---and mentioned it to my Tahitian friends---that the American Indians had the same belief. American Indian names like Crazy Horse, Yellow Dog and Gray Bird were not just by chance. They were chosen names connecting that person to their animal "guide." And---in conversations about this, I related to them that all the way back to ancient Egypt, we can find the use of  Cat or Dog Gods or deities like Horus---with the body of a human and the head of a Falcon.
 Here is a wonderful painting by Bobby Holcomb that shows the guardian spirits of Tahiti.

When I lived in Maui and would take my dog Lani (an almost all white Australian Shepherd) for walks, we would repeatedly see the Hawaiian Owl or "Pueo." One time in particular, a large one came flying out of the trees down in a ravine and flew directly at me while watching Lani chase the ball up the street in front of me. It only saw me at the last minute and gave me a long clear "look" before flying off over my shoulder. I called and asked my dear friend and Hawaiian "kupuna" (teacher/elder) Charles Kaupu about this. He answered me in his usual "you must be kidding me" style----"Duh!!" he said, after I told him of my continuous sightings, "NO ONE sees them that much, Thomas! That's your aumakua! It is there to guide you and direct you. 

Pay attention to the signs!

So. When I moved here to Oregon and found that my sister-in-law was volunteering for the Cascades Raptor Center AND had been working with Owls, I remembered what Charles told me, "Pay attention to the signs!" We all have things occur in our lives that we may think happen randomly but many times---at the edge of our thoughts---is the idea that "this is all connected."

Michele and I had discussed my creating an "Owl" pendant for her. At first, I simply could not wrap my ideas around the correct way to "present" the design. After a long time of puzzling over this, I woke up one morning, and looked at the large photo of an Owl that a friend had given me in honor of my departed dog Lani---and there the image was!

When I went to the Cascade Raptor Centers website to read up on what they were doing to help Raptors, I came across the image of "Archimedes" shown below......and knew that he was the one who was supposed to be "connected" to my latest creative "guardian spirit" pendant project.

I have been involved with many charities in the past and have donated thousands of dollars in jewelry sales to worthy causes---but I never really knew where the money was going. And certainly never had a direct connection TO where it went. 

With the creation of this pendant---and the idea to donate a portion of each sale to the sponsorship of Archimedes (and other birds to follow)---I feel I am actually doing some thing direct to help a very worthy cause. The plan is this: Archimedes annual sponsorship is $250. Each sale of this pendant will provide $20 toward that total. I am personally donating $50 to begin. I have already sold the first pendant from my Etsy site---  https://www.etsy.com/shop/SauveJewelry

(and here's a very slight explanation as to the funds-----each item takes about 5 hours of work to create. The cost of metal and gems used amounts to approx.$35-40 my cost. Though I ordinarily charge $50 hr to create a one of a kind item, the more I make of these, the easier and quicker it becomes---so let's say I pay myself $100 to create each one. You can see that the $159 asking cost on Etsy provides a "maybe" profit, after costs and labor, of "about" $20. That means that the $20 donated with each sale is basically profit/labor that I would use to keep my business alive---but in this case---it helps keep Archimedes alive......)

That leaves 9 more to sell before the end of the year to provide the total cost of Archimedes sponsorship. And the idea is----I will then create another NEW design for a different bird and start the whole process again. 

We have all felt some connection to an animal or even the reverse---had an animal seemingly have an attachment to us. It is something with a deep, profound meaning. I have learned to accept it as part of my being and am trying my best, through my talent and ability, to keep that magic alive. 

If you wish to learn further about what the Cascades Raptor Center is doing, go to:  www.eraptors.org