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.
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!
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
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
Christina Hickman Vintage Treasures Jewelry
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
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!
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
JuLee Wolfe The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell Over the Moon Designs
Kelly Hosford Patterson The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak CianciBlue
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
Liddy McLaughlin Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder Must-Haves Jewelry
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
Pam Farren re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister The Crazy Creative Corner
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
Serena Trent All Things Made Jewelry
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
Tracy Martin Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin Beads, Tea and Sweets
31 comments:
I enjoyed your post. Moms are on our minds!
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
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.
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.
Despite your own difficulties you have created a beautiful necklace that pays tribute to your mum
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.
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!
What wonderful memories you made with your mom with your mutual love of jewelry. Beautiful necklace, Sharyl!
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.
Yellow & gray!! My favorite color combination EVER! I know exactly how you feel...I lost my Mom almost 8 years ago! Hugs!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your mother with us.
I'm so glad you found your muse for the necklace that was meant to be!
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.
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.
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.
What a beautiful tribute to your Mom, Sharyl - the necklace is lovely!
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.
Thanx for sharing your story with us. I love your color choices, Your design is beautiful. I fitting tribute.
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!
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.
Such s nice tribute to your Mom! I'm sure she would have loved the beautiful necklace.
A beautifully written post from a beautiful lady about an equally beautiful soul. Sure you can envision her slipping your creation over her head.
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!
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
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.
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.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! It has brought me so much comfort and inspiration!
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!
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.
Love your story and your necklace is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Peace and Love.
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!
Post a Comment