Could they possibly be related?
Before I get much further into this blog post, what do you think Axolotls and Scottish Fold Kitties could possibly have in common? Let me explain…
First off, a little history of the amazing Axolotl. This aquatic salamander, besides being adorable, is super interesting! And…it has the nearly unpronounceable name of Axolotl. After several weeks of trying, I STILL have to look up the pronunciation online!
This amphibian is only native to the freshwaters of Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in Mexico. But…Lake Chalco was completely drained as a flood control measure. So that body of water no longer exists. And Lake Xochimilco is just a bare remnant of its earlier existence. Needless to say, these salamanders are very endangered in the wild.
But, they are flourishing in the pet trade as well in the laboratory.
They are beloved as pets, largely because they are so darned cute. The wild version of this little fellow looks a little different (I don’t think a white salamander would last too long in the wild), but all of them retain the feathery gills of their extreme youth into old age.
Scientists study them for the many unique abilities they have. Their “super power” is in regenerating not just tails, but limbs, central nervous systems and tissues in the eye and heart. They’ve also been known to restore some parts of the brain.
They are also masters at accepting transplants from other axolotls, restoring these transplanted organs to full functionality.
I briefly entertained adopting one of these little fellows, but found out they have some temperature requirements that wouldn’t work well in changeable New Mexico. So instead, I designed an Axolotl pendant and earring set! Here is the original clay model for the pendant. It is currently at my caster’s shop and will be available on my website soon, along with the earrings (not shown)
The Scottish Fold Kitty
Another pet I fell in love with recently was the Scottish Fold cat. Their adorable folded ears are the result of a mutation. And cute as they are, this mutation affects the cat’s cartilage throughout it’s body. So again, not a pet I would be willing to take on due to health concerns. But they are so sweet looking and so popular I finally agreed to make some jewelry depicting them! Below is the earring version. I’ve also designed a larger pendant with the kitty sitting in the iconic “Buddha position” these cats often adopt. I forgot to take a photo of the pendant before sending it to the caster, so that one will have to be a surprise!
All four of my new models are currently at my caster. Thus, I’m waiting anxiously to see how these little ones come out.
Being an animal jewelry artist is a little like being pregnant. Although I don’t have to wait nine months to see the final result (more like two weeks) it’s still a little nerve wracking. Luckily, the final result usually turns out well.
So wish me luck on these new ones, and I hope to be showing them to you soon on my website!
Your Animal Loving Artist,
Merry
P.S. So really, the only thing Axolotls and Scottish Fold Kitties have in common is that they are my two latest designs. LOL and sorry for the trick!