The Ponyboy Necklace

Some of you might've seen this pendant on my table at City of Craft last month. It's one of the first new things I've tried in a while: hand-lettering in metal! It is one piece (i.e., nothing soldered together) sawed out by hand out of an 18 gauge brass metal plate. It is, of course, an homage to S.E.Hinton's The Outsiders. Here's a picture Becky took at the show: I read The Outsiders in grade two, at the tender age of seven. Some of you might think that's a bit young to be reading a novel about teenage rebellion, violence, class struggle, and references to Robert Frost, but that's what happens when you grow up with a sister who's eight years older than you and the only books around the house were her young adult novels (my folks didn't buy me any age-appropriate books because, much like clothing, they knew I'd outgrow them quickly, whereas any of my sister's books would be read at least twice). Also, by that time, the 1983 film adaptation was always on television and I have memories of sitting on the floor gazing at the tv with a tattered copy of the book in hand, following the dialogue with my finger running along the text. Obviously the experience has stayed with me (moreso than my encounter with Great Expectations in third grade, when I was all like, what?), and paved the way to a life of reading. Since making this necklace I've been thinking a lot about the books I read as a child, among other "formative experiences." Holy nostalgia. I hope it turns into something interesting; more literary bling, for instance. When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home. (It's still awesome).