FLANDERS FIELD

I guess it's very fitting, that my long awaited poppy blooming has occurred this weekend, in remembrance of the people who have served us in times of war. The poppy holds a lot of symbolic meaning for Memorial Day. It represents the blood lost by soldiers on the battlefields.
In 1915 a woman by the name of Moina Michel sold poppies as a way to encourage recognition of Memorial Day. The poppy is a wildflower, and it's seeds do not produce growth until they are disturbed. It is thought that in times of war, the soldiers marching through the fields turned the earth with their boots and poppies bloomed abundantly in places of desolation.

Let us all say our own type of pray for those who have sacrificed their time, work, and lives for our freedom!

USE THE MUSE II

Scarlet Lanson has launched her 2nd Use The Muse contest, and it looks very inviting to me. I missed the first one, so I'm anxious to jump in and give this one a try! She has teamed up with a few select sponsors for this , and they have put together a beautiful kit!! Scarlet's blog and website are a treasure to look at, and there is sooooo much information on it I suggest you visit it for yourself. An added bonus is that every week she is giving away a prize for spreading the news about her contest, and judging by the photo of this first week's prize, they are all going to be great as well!!! I just want to say thanks to Scarlet for all the hard work she must have to put into this, in order to share creativity with all of us. THANKS SCARLET! Here's a photo of this week's blogger rewards!!

SLOW SUNDAY

I finally have two days off in a row, since I usually work Saturdays, so my plan is to RELAX!
Sometimes I really have a problem doing that, but I'm sure going to try. More photos of my yard, which helps me to relax!

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday!

FLAPPER

The Vincent Price movie really inspired me the other day , so I continue on with my vintage, retro motivation. That combined with some new and easy techniques from Mary Hett's book have given me a look I really like. I made my own headpins with silver and a torch for these and I really like the subtle patina, they way they look all aged , the balls sometimes dimpled and worn looking, in other words.... not so perfect. I really like when things are not perfect, maybe that reminds me of me.

The second pair of earrings I made the other day, and I just wanted to show you how my mood and feelings change from day to day, and what the end product is from that. That's the Gemini coming out.

I was equally happy with the two results.

I FEEL PRETTY

Last night I combined Kristen's chabby chic lampwork beads and my own little funky feeling that's been going on with me these days....something like, french, vintage, rustic, pretty??? I don't know, like I've said before, I feel how to do it, I can't really say it all the time. This little pc makes me feel pretty good today about going to work until 8:00 tonight!

WITHIN REACH

Continuing on in Mary Hett's book, "Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet", I am certainly discovering something about myself and my style, that I had not noticed before, but maybe never had the opportunity, or maybe it's just developing. A few times now a number of people have referred to my work as pretty, and rustic together. I have never thought as anything I did as being pretty, but I'm starting to embrace that terminology. I told Kristen of Waking Beauty Designs that I thought her work looked chabby chic, it has that airiness about it. I think my work looks heavier than that, but I don't exactly have a word or term to describe it. I would be interested to know if you do?! Please leave a comment if you care to share.

available on etsy

p.s. I will be in the fall issue of Stringing, and July, August, and September issues of Bead Trends

GHOST

Last night, my daughter and I watched an old episode of a Vincent Price movie, and I guess you can say I was inspired!! It was very entertaining!! I used to watch these as a kid and thought Vincent was pretty neat then, and actually think he' s pretty neat now! I love the black and white, the drama (no gore!!), the imagination, the music, what an atmosphere!! So here's to ghosts!!

chalcedony drops, vintage brass chain with glass bead, sterling silver

available on etsy