Signs of the Times: Woolen Mills, Blarney Castle, and Metapolies!

I took this photo in Ireland, 

and wish I could add one more sign pointing to MY store!  

Metapolies™ SALE!  

Come celebrate!

 Get 17% OFF  

with code:  IRISH.   

Good on all items through 3/17/17.

 Come celebrate a bit of Ireland with us!

(From garden at Blarney Castle)

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All photos by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson

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ABS Monthly Challenge: Dec. 2014 Cathedral Arches in Polymer

It may be hard to imagine how a painting of a nearly empty building could inspire in so many ways.   But when I first saw the latest piece of art for the monthly Art Bead Scene challenge, I was immediately drawn in!   It's no ordinary "empty hallway."  It's a painting of an amazing piece of architecture, full of history, with interesting shapes, and many variations on the color gray!

Some of you know, I used to frequently participate in the ABS monthly challenges, but have taken a self-imposed break from blog hops for a while.  Then I saw this, and couldn't stay away!

Choir of Sint-Bavokerk, Haarlem" 1635
by Pieter Jansz Saenedam
Read more about this painting on the ABS page.

Once I saw the photo, I couldn't get it out of my head!  It reminded me of some of the  architecture we saw this Spring in Europe! 

Notably terrible photography on this one,
but look at the similarities!

So I immediately went to work on a design!

I'd like to claim that I made each of these beads just for this challenge, but it's not true.   I've been into a "gray" mood lately and making lots of polymer clay beads in shades of gray and a granite-like glittery gray.   Some I leave as is, some I paint with metallic acrylic paints, then seal.    I made this batch and more just before seeing this month's Art Bead Scene Challenge photo.

I had intended them for pairs of earring charms, but looked at them all spread out on my counter and started picking the ones that reminded me of the curves in the architecture, the arches, the round pillars, and the multiple shades of gray.

 

I strung the beads on gray Irish waxed linen thread (from WhiteCloverKiln, Mary Hubbard), some with antiqued brass jump rings. There are dark metallic seed beads used as spacers.  Then I added a bit of antiqued brass chain in the front.    

A lovely soft bit of gray Sari ribbon for the back.   (The ribbon crosses through another handmade polymer bead in granite working as a tube bead so that the length is adjustable, and can be tied to keep in place.)  This lovely soft Sari ribbon comes from TheJewelleryQuarter (Anne Betenson, Cardiff, Wales, UK). 

I used Wooly Wire by Eleanor Thomas on the pendant and at the rings where the ribbon loops through the large jump rings. Wooly Wire is also in shades of gray and serves a practical as well as ornamental purpose.   

I just loved this month's challenge and also that's it's now posted on Pinterest too!   It's inspiring and so much easier now to share our creations!  Thanks to all involved with ABS!   

I made this pair of earrings too,
using many of the same beads and materials.
It doesn't have the "sleek lines" of the painting,
but could be worn with the necklace!

I am proud to say that I think this is the first challenge where
I've made all the beads myself!

Listed in my Metapolies™ store on Etsy!

UPDATE 12/31/14:
Challenge recap and video now on
ABS page!

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Beads, jewelry design, and photos by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Metapolies™, Dec. 2014.

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Fire and Water

I'm not a big fan of fireworks, which seems to set me apart from much of society.   Call me a curmudgeon. I just don't care for loud, banging things, whether that be a fire cracker on the 4th of July or a cabinet door slamming in the kitchen.   I'm all about peace and quiet and calm.

However,  the right colorful fireworks in just the right setting (think over a body of water rather than over the roof of my house) can be lovely!    

On our recent trip, one European city (Liverpool, England) gave us a special send-off before we left port that night-- a beautiful view from the top deck of the ship!  I admit, it was lovely (and not too loud), and very enjoyable!  :-)

So,  in honor of the Independence Day holiday, I'll include a few here!

Even as a kid, I loved the colorful ones,
more than the noisy ones!

I'm not sure I ever tried to photograph fireworks before,
so I confess, it was a bit of an experiment!

But even poor photography
can have artistic results! 

Sometimes a single glittering light would appear in the dark.

And other times, a fabulous display would light up the sky!

They appeared to be just over the heads of the crowd here,
but were a nice safe distance away, over the water. 

Green, blue, gold, white, and bright pinkish-red,
they all had their turn in delighting the crowd!

Until the Grand Finale,
and time to leave port for the wide-open seas again! 

Wishing each of you a very safe, relatively quiet, and very happy July 4th!

~Sharyl

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Images:

http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/4th_July/firecracker_2.png.html

http://www.wpclipart.com/buildings/homes/homes_4/house_purple_roof.png.html

All photographs by Sharyl, Liverpool, England, 2014.

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The Gift of Blarney

And now... on to County Cork, home of ...

That's it, one of the most famous landmarks in Ireland, the Blarney Castle!  (Of course it has quite a history!)

I admit, I wasn't so keen to go to this site, thinking I had read all about it and there would be more interesting sites to see.   WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

There were quaint cafes (which I didn't stop in, but enjoyed from outside)...

The best gift shops we saw the entire time in Europe...

Irish musicians,...

Beautiful grounds with creeks and streams...

The most amazing gardens and trails...

(I think I'll have to do a separate post of the flowers at Blarney!   They were so gorgeous, I took too many to include here!)

And finally, yes, the Blarney Castle itself,... which was MUCH more imposing and impressive than I had ever imagined!

(One of us kissed the Blarney Stone, but it wasn't me!)  

Every step taken leads to another scenic view! 

(Maybe I'll show you some of the fabulous nooks and crannies with the garden photos next time!) 

We all agreed.  There couldn't have been a better way to spend the day!    So glad we went!

Go raibh maith agaibh!  (Thank you!)  Sláinte mhaith! (Good health) 

~Sharyl

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All photos by Sharyl, c. 2014.  

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Sale on all-things-Celtic 

ends Sun, 6/29/14!

Sale prices already marked.  

No coupon code needed!

Click here for Sharyl's Jewelry 

(and components) 

Celtic collection!

Thanks!

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Home again, home again!

I've just spent two weeks away on my dream vacation, visiting Europe!

I've wanted to go since... well, since forever!   While I've done a bit of other world traveling, I had never been to Europe, so my family finally took me on a cruise to see the British Isles and France.  Loved it all!

I'm going to be posting some of the highlights from my trip in a separate section of my blog under the "Travel" tab.   

I fell in love with the architecture!

Currently, I only have photos from our first stop, Paris, up but I'll update you as I add more locations and I'll sneak a few shots in my blog posts too!

Notre dame Cathedral

As I snapped photos of architecture and flowers and ocean views, I kept thinking of ideas for new jewelry and bead designs!   So expect to see future entries about how my trip inspired me too!  

Hope you all are doing something that makes you overjoyed and inspired this summer too! Please feel free to share stories of your summer plans or past/future trips in the comments!

Sharyl

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All photos here by Sharyl, 2014.