I do love to blog hop and am participating in yet another blog hop swap. This time around it’s a button swap, and the ring leader is Cindy Wimmer from Sweet Bead Studio. My partner for this round is Jeannie from jkdjewelry. Stay tuned for future posts.
The Art Bead Scene Challenge for the month of March was painted by one of my favorite artists, Vincent Van Gogh. I admit, I’ve never been to France, but I did have a pen pal from Paris when I was a youngster. The correspondence didn’t last very long. I didn’t know French and she didn’t know English. So it goes. Later on, I did study French in high school and I remember certain phrases, but I’m far from conversational with it. I do like the sound of it and would travel to France if the opportunity ever presents itself. Meanwhile, I’ll just travel vicariously via art and paintings and hang out in the Mojave eating bonbons and sipping french wine.
Street Scene in Montmartre: Le Moulin a Poivre by Vincent Van Gogh
Oil on canvas
34.5 x 64.5 cm.
Paris: February-March, 1887
Bead Table Wednesday, time to post what’s on your bead table today. I melted some glass last week and put together some sweet little lampwork glass bead pendant necklaces. I picked up these Tim Holtz Pen Nib findings at the craft store and thought they might work into something easy and different. Here’s the final outcome of this little project >>>>>>>>>
Because I’m sort of a visual gal myself, I’ll cut to the chase. But before I do, thanks to Lori Anderson (Pretty Things) for hosting the Bead Soup Blog Party Hop. My wonderful trading partner for this round, Morwyn Mullins (Another Country Beads). And, all you fabulous jewelry designers and artisans who make this fun party a success.
Get hoppin’ – “Visit Pretty Things for the complete list of participants”
Here’s a small sampling of some of the beads that Morwyn sent my way. Saved a few for a rainy day (not sure when that’s gonna happen around these parts.)
One more for the road and wishing you safe travels to the next blog. Enjoy!
She is… my latest find. I found her hanging around in an old 5th wheel RV. Just goes to prove that you find the strangest things out in the desert (like that time I found Jesus in an old double wide.) She required a paint job. After painting her, I decided she needed some more body work, so I layered her with tissue from old sewing patterns. Much more vintage looking. However, I’m still contemplating giving her an artwork tat. Then I found her the perfect bryn WALKER natural heavy linen tunic (for $ 1 at a local thrift shop – I’m sure she won’t mind if I borrow that tunic once in a while.) Of course she needed a name and as serendipity would have it, a name did surface in the nick of time… Sarepta. I’d never heard of that name before, but I was looking at some old family photos that my s.o. had just received. There it was, his great-great-grandmother’s name. Looked up the meaning, and it means tranquil, serene and peaceful. In the background, the soup continues to simmer for the 5th Bead Soup Party Blog Hop on March 3, 2012. Stay tuned.
I was really hard pressed to choose a favorite song, a favorite artist, or even a favorite music genre for this design challenge. I’m one of those types who like almost every type of music; with the exception of hard core rap. I enjoy listening to alternative, blue grass, folk, classical, R & B, and on and on.
I do have a favorite live music genre and that is kirtan. Some folks know this as “yogi” music. It is a “devotional” caller/response style of music and I love it because of the joyous audience participation and trance like quality that can often times be slipped into when attending a kirtan. It is also said that the Sanskrit language and musical style of the ancient yogis affects the energy centers of the body, both the physical and the subtle body. The name for this is Nada Yoga, or the yoga of sound. It is thought that sound can carry divine vibrations and is used to reach a state of peace and silence.
But surprise, Nada Yoga is not what inspired my design for this Challenge of Music Blog Hop. As I said earlier, I do have varied music tastes. My felted, micro macrame, turquoise necklace was inspired by the tune “Throw Me A Rope” by KT Tunstall. A melancholy tune, evoking very strong emotions for me. Emotions of loss, feelings of emptiness and sorrow, but perhaps also of hope. This song is a bit on the dark side, but also hauntingly beautiful and tender. “”’Throw Me a Rope”'” was the first single released by KT Tunstall. It was released as a single in 2004 and was limited to 300 copies. It is on her 2006 acoustic album, KT Tunstall’s Acoustic Extravaganza.
I want you between me and the feeling I get when I miss you
But everything here’s telling me I should be fine
So why is it so, above as below
When I’m missing you every time
I got used to you whispering things to me into the evening
We followed the sun and its colors and left this world
It seems to me that I’m definitely hearing the best that I’ve heard
So throw me a rope to hold me in place
Show me a clock for counting my days down
‘Cause everything’s easier when you’re beside me
Come back and find me, ’cause I feel alone
And whenever you go, it’s like holding my breath under water
I have to admit that I kinda like it when I do
Oh, but I’ve gotta be unconditionally unafraid
Of my days without you
So throw me a rope to hold me in place
Show me a clock, for counting my days…down.
‘Cause everything’s easier when you’re beside me
Come back and find me
Whenever I’m falling, you’re always beside me
Come back and find me
‘Cause everything’s easier when you’re beside me
Come back and find me, ’cause I feel alone
—
“Throw Me a Rope” as written by Katie Tunstall
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Thanks to Erin Prais Hintz ( Treasures-Found Blog) for hosting this design challenge.
See more Challenge of Music designs here at this link.
Yet again, messing about with hemp cord, stones, rocks, charms and beads while enjoying the view from my work area. I really like the feel and texture of these necklaces. They are very “grounding”. Off to search for some more rocks. Enjoy your day.
Dive In…
Enjoy The View…
Black Heart…
A follow up post to show what became of those bits of recycled metal tins. A bit of sanding, filing, hammering, add a little patina, a few choice sentiments, punch a hole, a jump ring, and a bail. Instant pendant.
It’s Bead Table Wednesday again and here’s what is on my table this morning…
HEART BEATS
Lying low this past week, trying to shake off a down right nasty cold. Thank goodness this type of thing trips me up and slows me down enough to explore playing around with some of my toys and stash. These were made from old food tin containers using the Vintaj Big Kick. I love to be able to recycle material. Now I think I’m just under the weather enough to stay in one more day and explore some patina options…
I almost opted to take a nap yesterday afternoon. It was one of those blustery, crazy wind days in the Mojave and as luck would have it, I’m fending off a head cold, hopped out on Zicam. After dropping off plants at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center, I decided to take the afternoon off and head home. Had a warm beverage and hunkered down to troll Etsy, just window shopping (you know.) Instead of napping, like a sensible person might choose to do, I pulled out some wool roving to play with and made some cords. Then I wandered into my “bead cave” and started flipping through my stash looking for some bone beads that I swore I had in a box somewhere (again, you know.) Never did find those beads, but I found some other interesting stuff that I thought might work for the February Art Bead Scene challenge this month.
The Conference of the Birds by Habiballah
I love it when a design magically falls into place, and fast. This only happens every so often, where the combination of beads and materials seem to effortlessly blend together in a split second and I know something bigger than myself is guiding my hands. That’s what happened in a very short time frame during the creation of this necklace. It’s a very simple design, but I like it. Thinking I may need to hold on to this one for a spell.
Materials used: waxed cotton cord, antique lampwork key bead, lampwork glass beads, wooden beads, ceramic beads, clay bird beads, wooden bird focal and some wire wrapping. See what others have created this month on the flickr group.