Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Mostly Metal Challenge!

Ah, it was such a GOOD idea.  Michelle Mach, former editor of Beading Daily, was having a challenge.  Kits were mailed out for a small price and I could test the waters, dip my toes so to speak, in the world that I see in the beading magazines:  Designer Challenge.  Yes, no credentials required although I notice we have some pretty impressive names participating in the challenge.  It did seem like a good idea at the time and I had a brilliant idea for my piece.  In fact, it was INSPIRED!  I couldn't wait to get started and I found just the right Stuff in the Romance Kit as well as my stash recently received from B'Sue Boutiques. Thank you so much Michelle.

I should have known it was just too easy.....

2 weeks ago, my beloved aunt and constant terror of the Forest Hills Nursing Home, 94 year old sharp-tongued, endless bundle of energy Aunt Irene, became extremely ill with an infected kidney.  My cousin and I are her guardians.  She was not expected to recover.  After all, she is 94 years old and her kidney was so swollen and infected that it blocked her colon and extended her abdomen.  My cousin and I spent hours in the hospital the first and second week and she fooled the doctors and survived. However, the prognosis isn't good long-term and  the illness has taken a toll on her.  I've not had time to do much of anything besides attend her in the hospital.  (And Read.  There is a point of light in every dark cloud! )  We hope to move her to a lovely hospice facility in our area soon.

So, I spent today throwing together my project.  It isn't what I initially imagined but I feel good that I got anything done.  My initial idea was to cover the background painting with seed beads...a nod to the Pointillist artist, George Serault: Beads of light and color instead of brush strokes of light and color.  No time for that, so I leave it to you to use your imagination and think...what if she had the time?


There's a nod to Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine in there somewhere.  I hummed the song "Sunday" the entire time I worked on the project. Love that song.  It is inspiring.  You can take a look at the kits we had to choose from here:


Please visit the other blogs participating in Michelle's great challenge.  They are spectacular.

Antique Brass Romantic

Filigree Fun

Gunmetal Love
Thanks to B'Sue Boutiques where I find so many of the different elements for my work  In this piece the brass scalloped blank backing, the monkey,and the lovely paper flower as well as the elements in the Romantic Kit are from her online shop.  http://www.bsueboutiques.com/  I bought the painter's palette from her too on her Etsy shop BSue1441. 

And thanks as always to the members of the Oklahoma Bead Society for their constant encouragement.

Thanks again Michelle Mach for allowing me the privilege of participation!
Happy Hopping!

Pam

18 comments:

JeannieK said...

That's so scary about your aunt. So happy to hear she is ok.

Pam for being so busy attending to your aunt this piece is a work of art and so soulful. I could have never pulled this off. Bravo!

Jenny said...

Your necklase turned out really lovely!

Hope you can find somewere nice for your aunt to stay...

Michelle Mach said...

So sorry to hear about your aunt! How lucky she is to have someone like you nearby.

I love the idea of using a painting as a necklace centerpiece. I never would have thought about doing that. Thanks for joining the challenge! I hope to see you in another one.

Jean Katherine Baldridge said...

what jeanniek said. you are a wonderful person. xox
lovely piece! jean

Lola said...

Pam ~ your aunt is very lucky to have you and your cousin taking such good care of her! I hope you find a new place for her that everyone will be happy with.

Your necklace is amazing for having just been “thrown together” and that painter’s palette is so very cool! As a bead-a-holic who loves to put beads on just about everything, I can totally see how you would have wanted to cover the painting in seed beads. Just beautiful!

Unknown said...

Pam I love it you did a wonderful job even with all you have had going on. keep your chin up and we are all with you during your time of need we just love you.

Jan and Shane Rogers

Lutka And Co. said...

Wow, Pam, I'd love to see what you would have come up with if you had the time! What you came up with is just amazing! So creative! And I'm sorry to hear about your Aunt, I hope she is comfortable - God Bless!

Cyndi L said...

Pam, so many times my pieces haven't turned out as I planned, or I run out of time or something. I think that your necklace is fantastic. I pray the hospice will be a very positive experience for all of you.

salla said...

I was a little thrown at first, as the leaves on one side made it look a little like a fish. But on closer inspection, I can see the many elements that went into this. Very nice!

Tesori Trovati said...

So sorry to hear of your Aunt. But that is what life does, throws us curveballs, and we have to keep on swinging! I love what you did, and even though it was not what you intended, I think it is great!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

Anonymous said...

Pam, your submission is beautiful. I love the colors and the painting theme is perfect. I"m terribly sorry to hear about your Aunt. I hope she is well, and that you are , too!!

Andrew Thornton said...

Sorry to hear that your aunt wasn't doing well! She was in good, capable hands if she had you to attend to her.

I love the mixed-media vibe of the piece and how you've playfully used your elements to create a lovely Sunday afternoon in the Park. I don't think that you need to seed bead the background. It speaks for itself and a lot of it would get covered up by your other elements. You have enough going on in it to generate that artsy Parisian energy. Nicely done!

Alice said...

Pam, I clicked on the photo to get a closer look. This is a wonderful piece! I love al the different elements, which come together so nicely.

I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt.

bwheather said...

I really appreciate how difficult it is to create in difficult times, but I'm glad to see your thrown together piece. It has a real joy in it, which is something that must come from you. Love it. ;-)

Stephanie LaRosa said...

I am so sorry to hear about your troubles, but the necklace that you put together is just beautiful, great job!

Shai Williams said...

I love it. So romantic

Beetique said...

Love the necklace. It's lovely for just being done in a day.

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

I don't know, Pam. Somehow I think it turned out just as it was supposed to. It's gorgeous!!