Whew! Got this kind of wild idea and then I had a local show looming on the horizon so I decided to pile all kinds of pressure on myself and throw the two together.
The idea: started with a string of rough, sponge coral nuggets that my mother found at a bead show and handed to me, knowing I wouldn't be able to resist them. My first thought on seeing them was that they looked like a spine. My next thought was that I could make a dragon skeleton out of them that looked like a fossil dug up at an archaeological site (I love the look of artifacts).
I got the piece completed and framed (in a shadow box with a printed info sheet under it describing what it was and where it was found, etc.) in time for the show. I am still working on the "documentation" for it which will consist of photos of it being "uncovered" from 1947; a printed copy of the information on where it was found with comments, etc.; and a Certificate of Authenticity from the IDCA (International Dragon Collectors Association--hey, "we'll" even have a website here soon if I can find the time to put it together).
I'll try to add more pics once I get them taken and edited.
