Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop Reveal

PART 1:  The Thought

I have had my mom on my mind quite a bit again lately, as I related in my last couple of posts.   As you likely know by now, my mother passed away about 3 years ago.

The reminiscing probably started near Christmas, as that was always a special time for our family growing up.    I got to thinking about the jewelry I had made for my mom over the years.   When I look back on it now, it wasn't very good, technically speaking.  I didn't know about the wonder of handmade art beads!  I hadn't learned yet how to harden wire, so things always ended up a bit bendy!    I mostly made her long pendants she could slip over her head--she liked that--and attached to sterling silver chains.   (Who knew the price of those would shoot up so!)   Regardless of my skill level, she wore the jewelry proudly and that gave me confidence to keep trying.

My recent thought was that I wish my mom could see how my jewelry making has progressed the last year or so.   I still have so very far to go, but I've come a long way too.   It would be so nice to make her something now.

Along came the announcement of Lori Anderson's "Memories and Thanks Blog Hop," and I immediately thought, this is my perfect opportunity to make something inspired by the memory of my mother!

PART 2:  The Planning

I set myself to planning for this necklace immediately.  I searched and searched for the "perfect" beads...and finally found them!

Beautifully rich colors of deep pink, gold, 
green, black and white
in a lovely floral pattern.
9 handmade round polymer clay beads by 

I planned a simple design, using bright brass chain:





And every so often  inserting one of the polymer beads surrounded by  various shades of pink Swarovski bicone crystals.

The more I plotted, I decided I wanted to include this lovely piece by Rebekah Payne of "Tree Wings Studio" as a focal with chain and crystals dangling from it.   I was so excited at my finds, each of which I thought would be perfect for a piece of jewelry in honor of my mother.

But it was not to be...

As I started to work, an eye condition I have worsened again, and I couldn't see the chain well enough to work with it, couldn't see the wire well enough to find the bicone holes and to wrap the fine wire required for this project.   I was frustrated beyond words!   Frustrated to tears...

And after several hours, I picked myself up and started all over again.

PART 3:  The New Plan
...and What I Remembered About My Mom

I dug through my bead containers, searching and searching for something that might work in its place.  I felt like this was a gift for my mom, and I had to have SOMETHING I could offer.     I knew the beads must be large, no requirement for wire wrapping, and it still had to look like something my mom would want to wear.

I came up with this instead:


Large gray multifaceted beads, with amber-colored glass bicones, 3 silver plated-lintel beads with a leafy pattern....

and smoky gray clear faceted crystals on the sides

I used a silver ox chain chain in the back with plenty of room to slip over the head without using a clasp,
just the way Mom liked it.



This necklace reminds me a bit more of my Mom in her younger years, when she dressed up more.   The necklace I had planned was more for her later years when she loved brighter colors like pink and blue and aqua.

While I was so disappointed I couldn't make the necklace I set out to make, I realized as I worked that it really didn't matter.    It wouldn't have mattered to her.   No matter whether there were artbeads, no matter if there was twisted wire or a strung necklace, no matter what, she would have worn what I made and proudly told others I had made it.   And I would have felt so good about her approval and sincerity.  

I miss my mom for so many reasons, this is just one.   But I loved her so, and offer this necklace in memory of her.

My thanks to Lori Anderson for organizing this event.   I hope you will take time to visit the blog sites of the other participants listed below.  I'm sure they all have beautiful jewelry to show and heartwarming stories to share.

~Sharyl

If the links below do not work for you, please go to Lori's "Pretty Things" blog so you can quickly link to each site  Thank you!


Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things

 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs
 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems
Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods
Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space
Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams
Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas
Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey
Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found
Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston                 CSW Designs
Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog

Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne                   josjewels1
Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs
Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue
Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design
Lena Adams (Mari's daughter) -- TBA
Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert                      Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo                           Ornamento
Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.
Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren                           re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner

Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle
Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets
  




31 comments:

Unknown said...

I enjoyed your post. Moms are on our minds!

Jean Katherine Baldridge said...

How wonderful you are; what a wonderful daughter! What you wrote was so loving it made me cry. And your creation "which was not to be", and your creation "which was to be", both taught me so much about the different kinds of beauty there are in the world.They are radiant with love and both ARE BEAUTFUL! Thank you for a lovely post! xox jean

Karin Slaton said...

Like Jean, I also was moved by your beautiful words and tender memories of your Mom. The love comes through in your thoughtful planning and very personal bead choices in these pieces.

Lori Anderson said...

I love that you had such a strong relationship with your mom. My first jewelry sales were to the ladies who worked with my mom and while I've replaced a lot of the things I made in the early days with "do-overs", I'm pretty sure she still has some of the early creations.

I'm so glad you joined this blog hop.

Anonymous said...

Despite your own difficulties you have created a beautiful necklace that pays tribute to your mum

Sharyl said...

Thank you all for such very dear words! I'm glad the love I intended comes through in this. It means so much that you took time to leave your thoughtful comments.

Alicia said...

Sharyl - this is such a beautiful post, the love pours through it! I hope you'll feel better soon and come to share your original vision with us. The necklace you made is gorgeous - I love it, and I am sure your mom would have too; isn't it wonderful to know we are loved truly unconditionally by our moms?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and memories!

Natalie -- NKP Designs said...

What wonderful memories you made with your mom with your mutual love of jewelry. Beautiful necklace, Sharyl!

Anonymous said...

Funny how things work out sometimes, so different from what we originally had in mind...yet, your final piece is perfect for your mom. I'm sure when you wear it you will treasure beautiful memories.

Moobie Grace said...

Yellow & gray!! My favorite color combination EVER! I know exactly how you feel...I lost my Mom almost 8 years ago! Hugs!

one-eared pig said...

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your mother with us.

Sheila Davis Designs said...

I'm so glad you found your muse for the necklace that was meant to be!

adlinah said...

Thank you for sharing about your mother. What a wonderfully loving and supportive woman she must have been. Whatever your initial plans, the necklace you eventually created is beautiful, and a touching tribute to your mother's memory.

A Polymer Penchant said...

I'm so glad you stuck with it and made her, her younger self necklace. Hey, beads keep, you can always make the original you had planned some other time, perhaps when you are wanting that connection, missing her. My mum is the same, has always worn whatever I've made her. Still has a ceramic piece I made in High School hanging on the wall, it was my first, it's not terrible, but it's not great either.

Christine said...

I'm so glad you were able to come up with the New Plan - your necklace is beautiful! What a lovely tribute to your mom.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tribute to your Mom, Sharyl - the necklace is lovely!

Unknown said...

A beautiful and touching tribute to your mom, who is surely smiling down on you as we speak. Love the necklace. Sometimes less is more as is the case with that lovely piece.

Becky Pancake said...

Thanx for sharing your story with us. I love your color choices, Your design is beautiful. I fitting tribute.

Unknown said...

A very sweet post. You are very blessed to have had such a good mom, one who was proud of you and let you know. Blessed!

Tanya said...

Sharyl, your necklace is beautiful. I love the amber with the gray and the bit of metal is a wonderful pop! I know your mom would have loved it.

I have enjoyed getting to know your mother through the last few posts. She sounds like an amazing woman.

I hope your eyes are doing better. Please let me know if you need anything.

Leanne said...

Such s nice tribute to your Mom! I'm sure she would have loved the beautiful necklace.

Unknown said...

A beautifully written post from a beautiful lady about an equally beautiful soul. Sure you can envision her slipping your creation over her head.

la mar de bonita said...

What a lovely story - I'm sure your mom is proud of you. Proud, you've made so much efforts to honour her. Moms are simply the best!

TesoriTrovati said...

It truly is the thought behind the creation that counts more than how or what it was made of. I think that your mother would be honored to wear this and I am sure that she is living on in spirit through your creative yearnings! Thank you for sharing your story and your creation. Enjoy the day! Erin

Terri said...

Thank you for taking us on your bead planning journey and what you ended up doing..isn't that the way it goes. That creative inner voice seems to win. Your necklace turned out beautifully. A very loving tribute to your mom.
Hugs
Terri G.

Kepi said...

Lovely story and the necklace is perfect even if your second choice. Hope you eye condition get better soon so we can all see your first creation come to life.

Tara Jewelry Lover said...

Thank you so much for sharing your story! It has brought me so much comfort and inspiration!

Kimberly said...

What a pretty necklace! I am sure your mother would love it, no matter it wasn't what you originally had planned. A nice tribute to your mom!

Andrea said...

I too honored my mom in this blog hop. What you said about your mom loving what you made no matter reminds me of mine as well. Your piece, while simple, represents something so precious, it will be treasured by you or anyone else who wears it.

april grinaway said...

Love your story and your necklace is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Peace and Love.

Lisa said...

Hi, Sharyl! I loved your memories of your mom, she sounds a lot like mine--pleased and honored to wear anything and everything given to her or made for her by her daughters. That makes a fantastic mom, for sure! I love the necklace you eventually decided to make! It is very elegant! I also love the other colors you said your mom liked in her later years. Hopefully you will get to work with those pretty beads soon!