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 

Rhonda of DramatiKDesigns

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

  

Mom Followup + "This and That" About Components

Thank you, my dear friends, who took the time to read my last post, "Remembering Mom's Birthday"  and the previous one I linked to, "Making Jewelry for Seniors with Special Needs."   The responses that came in warmed my heart.     Hopefully it's clear that my mom was very special to me and had an influence on my love of jewelry.    I was all about my bracelets and necklaces and rings by at least the age 2-3.   I have photos to prove it and stories abound!

I'll be posting another blog entry soon that will have another connection to my mom, so maybe now you will feel like you know a bit more about her when you read the coming entry.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In the meantime, I've been working the last day or two on adding more handmade and hand-altered components to Sharyl's Jewelry.

I keep throwing those terms around but I'm unsure if people know what I mean when use them.  So briefly, here is the difference.

1) When I create a component such as a bail, clasp, pendant, or earring dangles by hand, my own original design, then I refer to those as "hand-made."    

Examples would be these earring dangles:

brass and copper textured and domed pieces

or...

Ancient Native Sun Image Copper Pendant

Purple and turquoise diamond copper components

Large copper components for earrings or pendants

From time to time, I also have a few findings in this section:   earwires, eyepins, headpins, and beadcaps I've made by hand.

2) When I take a piece of metal, most commonly a raw brass stamping, and alter it with patina, I refer to that as "hand-altered."   I didn't make the piece from scratch, I purchased it from a supply store and changed it's appearance.

A few examples of these would be:  

Pale blue-aqua large brass leaf components and beadcaps

Plum Silver Flower Dangles and Beadcaps

Blackened Brass Earring Dangles and Beadcaps

And then there are these....      Every once in a while, I hit one and can't decide what category to put it in!    I've been putting these into the "handmade" section, but thinking recently they should go in "hand altered."   They are unique in that they contain a handmade component (typically pottery) by a bead artist (whose name I mention in the description and tags),  then I've added a metal or wire addition to turn it into to something new.  

Artisan made pottery and twisted copper wire toggle

 Pottery piece by Cindy Kovar of "Captured Moments."

Cinnamon Roll Button and Copper Component

 Brown swirl clay button handmade by "'Fey Designs"

So they are handmade, but not all parts were made by me.   See my dilemma?    What's your opinion on category placement?

And while I'm seeking advice,... I'd like to say that I've gotten 3 suggestions for colors for various altered components in the last few days--some here and some on Facebook!    I can't thank you enough for that type of feedback!    Please continue to let me know what you think or if you have special requests regarding components.    

I still love making jewelry, but I'm also enjoying learning more about metalwork and sharing my components with you and other jewelry designers.   So it's vital I hear what kinds of things you are seeking!  The more feedback, the better!

As always, I greatly appreciate your ongoing support!   

Hope you have a happy Friday!   See you back here Saturday, I hope!

~Sharyl

• Graphics made from Colorbok punch-out kit then scanned. Visit www.Colorbok.com for more information.

• Jewelry components and photos by Sharyl.

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Remembering Mom's Birthday

I've been thinking a lot about my mom again recently.  Of course she is never far from my memory (and the same for my dad), but today, Jan. 7, would have been her birthday so she's nestled in my heart close again.   She passed away 3 years ago, at the age of 85.  

Two years ago, we did a series on this blog about creating jewelry for a special purpose with guest writers, and my piece ended up being a sort of tribute to my mom.

So in memory, I thought I'd share that entry about Mom again today.  

Comments, Raw Brass, and Goldilocks...

I love hearing from you all and reading your comments.  I was recently flattered that Shirley Moore, author of the  "Beads and Bread" Blog, made this comment on my last post:  "I wish I could've seen that brass flower before you started, I bet it was such a huge contrast...."

Well, it just so happens that the raw brass flower pendant came from a packet of 4, and was the first one I tried.  

So thanks for speaking up, Shirley!  Here is a comparison photo for you and anyone else who is interested!

** Does anyone have color suggestions 

for the other 3 flowers?! **

I should do more of showing my works in progress.  

I did take these two as I was making the necklace:

I was planning to add some black stone beads, 

but decided it seemed too crowded.

Then I played with omitting the red beads, 

but decided they should go in!  

It was a bit like 

"Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

There was a lot of experimenting 

to get to the feel of

"just right!"

The necklace was done for the Art Bead Scene Dec 2012 challenge.  You can click here to take a look and read more about it if you missed my last post.

You may also want to take a look at the ABS Blog Tour for this event that was prepared by Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati.   You'll be able to quickly see all the fantastic entries and read a brief description.   I think we were all duly inspired by this piece of art! 

Sleeping Beauty by Erté, 1983

I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to join and read my blog this year, those who have left comments and suggestions, participated in give-aways and challenges, and shared in so many ways!  It means so much to me that you are here!

Happy New Year 2013 to each of you!  I'm excited for this new year and sharing it with you!

~Sharyl

Sharyl's Jewelry   

(Reminder:   Jan. 2 is last day of holiday sale!  

Components are included!)

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