Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop

Well, it's been far too long since I've updated this blog. But today, I have a good reason: Lori Anderson's Memories and Thanks Blog Hop!

I didn't know bead artist Linda Jones for very long. I "met" her after her diagnosis with a brain tumor, but I had been an admirer of her incredible beadwork for many years. She was one of those artists that knew how to combine fine art with beadwork. Her beadwork is absolutely amazing, sublime, ferocious - I can't think of any more superlatives to throw in there.

And the more I got to know her through our chats and postings on Facebook, the more I realized that she was just a beautiful person, inside and out.

I learned so much from Linda, both about art and beadwork and life, and about death and dignity. After her diagnosis, she started a blog called How Public Like a Frog to document her battle with brain cancer.

Linda passed away at the end of August. A couple of weeks later, as I was meditating one morning, a vision of her face came into my mind, followed by a beautiful and radiant sun. Later that morning, I pulled out this face by Diane Briegleb from my stash and started to sketch and bead around it, thinking about Linda the whole time.

I remember one post she wrote in particular about how she was looking at the mums in pots on her patio and thinking that they were singing to her. So I started stitching up a bouquet of beaded mums to include in the piece as well.

Even though this as only as far as I've been able to get in the last few weeks, I *will* have this piece finished before the end of the month. The working title is simple, "She Loves...", and I have dedicated it to Linda and everything that she taught me about beading, art, and life in the short time that I knew her.

Take a couple of hours and hop around to see what other wonderful thanks and memories other jewelry artists are sharing today on their blogs! And a special thanks to Lori Anderson, once again, for finding another way of bringing the jewelry making and beading community together.

THANKS AND MEMORIES BLOG HOP PARTICIPANTS:

 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

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Unique, truly. As I go thru the postings, there are many pretty pieces but after a while they tend to fall into a few basic types. Not this piece, and I mean that in the best possible way. I would finish the edges and call it done.

Sea of Dreams said...

What a gorgeous work of art! And a beautiful story that makes it so special

DVArtist said...

Thank you Jen. This is a beautiful post as is your inspiration and your work in progress.
Nicole/Beadwright

Sarah Sequins said...

Wow, what a gorgeous piece! I never got to know Linda, sadly, but I've seen her work, and I know she'd love it.

-- Sarah

Becky Pancake said...

Your necklace is a real show stopper. Thanx for sharing

Christine said...

Gorgeous - I can't wait to check back to see how you finished it. This is truly a special piece!

april grinaway said...

Love your work ~ Thanks for sharing.
Peace and Love

Donetta said...

Your piece is vibrant and full of life...a wonderful tribute to a good friend.

re-maker said...

Your piece is big, bold and beautiful. A very fine tribute.

Terri said...

Another brief yet impact-ful encounter. This is going to be one amazing necklace a beautiful tribute to Linda! Thanks for sharing your story.
Hugs
Terri G.

Kepi said...

What a beautiful tribute, your necklace is going be spectacular.

Deelitful Boudoir Photography said...

Gorgeous work! Your story is very touching. Thank you for sharing.

MaryL said...

What a beautiful necklace and beautiful tribute to your friend.

TesoriTrovati said...

I am really amazed at how intricate the details are on this piece. I know that my best ideas all happen as flashes of a vision. And this will be a wonderful tribute to your friend and mentor. Thank you for sharing your story. Enjoy the day. Erin

mrs beadsley said...

what a beautiful tribute and a toucing story. thanks for sharing.

A Polymer Penchant said...

What a beautiful story I can see the inspiration in your peice. It's is already stunning