Saturday, January 12, 2013

memories and thanks blog hop reveal


hello, friends! and welcome, visitors!

today is the reveal for lori anderson of pretty things' memories and thanks blog hop. lori, brain-child-extraordinaire, came up with this hop idea in honor of marianne, a fan of lori's who died quite unexpectantly. go read pretty things to learn what marianne meant to lori.

in turn, lori proposed to those of us in the bead soup cafe on facebook to choose either marianne to honor, or someone in our own lives that has touched us deeply. a blog hop as a circle of gratitude? count me in! i really am so very honored to be here in the midst of such a lovely group of women.

those of you who have visited my little corner of this interconnected, virtual highway, may know of my sister, rebecca. i mention her often. she is, in fact, my most favorite person in this whole wide world.



i utterly adore her.

we moved around quite a bit, because of my father's job. he was a forester and botanist for the bureau of land management. i went to eight different schools! that's a lot of moving! so, really, my only consistent friend was becca. we knew each other's baggage and we knew our family's secrets. we were the victims of sexual, physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. we are each other's witnesses. we are the survivors, wandering through this desert, looking for a fresh spring and a cool tree. we are each other's springs and each other's shady place.

i love this story; when my mother brought me home from the hospital, becca couldn't wait to hold me. and the photo mother took of becca holding me is sooo adorable. she has this humongous grin on her face, me spread across her tiny lap. she had decided that i belonged to her. and that's just the way it was. we belonged to each other. sure, okay, we argued occasionally. but never seriously. we are each other's repositories of memory. she is, honestly, the only reason i'm still here today. so thank you, becca, my beloved sister. you ground me. you hold me. you remind me of who i am and why i want to stick around.

you gave me two gorgeous nieces; deborah and abigail.


i utterly adore *them* now, too. so becca, you have brought more love to my life. i couldn't be complete without all of you. thank you, thank you, thank you. i don't think i'll ever be able to express what you've meant to me, becca. you were the person who showed me there was good in the world, that there is light here on earth, even in the midst of this dark night. you showed me what hope looks like. you pointed me to the Light of the World; Abba-Father, Jesus, Son of God. you led me out of the wilderness. and you held my hand when i was afraid, in the midst of the wilderness.

i decided to make something green, because becca's favorite color is green. i used freshwater pearls, because her favorite stones are pearls.


please forgive my terrible photos. my camera is in the throes of death. the macro button no longer registers, so i'm hovering over the work, shaking dreadfully. at least i can still turn off the flash, right?


here is my button and peanut sead bead ring clasp. i love making my own clasps!!!


the wire work is in honor of my sister's a-maz-ing wirework art necklaces. here is one of them.


she was inspired by the irish mermaids who rescue drowning sailors, instead of the more common vengeful mermaids you read about from elsewhere. i love her work!!! we share a business; two sisters, and sell our jewelry at the local farmers market. it's such a treat to spend all day with her twice a week in the summer. i look forward to those days, since she is so busy most of the time, with her little family and her teaching job.


here is the bulk of my piece. all of the pieces were chosen especially for becca; her favorites colors and stones and things and some of what she means to me. i'll try to explain everything.

first; the leaves. there are several, in different materials and colors. since our father was a forester and both of us were born in oregon, we both have *exceedingly strong views* on our land resources, specifically the trees. when we lived in oregon it was the early to mid-seventies, when they were wisely managing the forests. when they moved dad to california to work in the deserts, the blm shifted their focus. maybe lost their focus. i don't know the politics of it. suffice it to say, the powers that be switched from wise management to cutting down huge swaths of old-growth forests. you could say rebecca and i are deeply troubled by this decision. you wouldn't be anywhere near the root of our anger. so; leaves for our childhood camping trips to the woodlands that are now gone. there is a striated  stone on the top there that was gathered, cut, polished, and drilled by a friend of ours from farmers market. my father was also a rockhound. i remember weekend trips out to the desert to dig in the sand to find garnets and trips to the beach to find agates and trips to the forests to find petrified wood. both my sister and i have a deep and passionate love for rocks and an affection for those who call themselves rockhounds. the key symbolizes how she knows the quickest way to unlock my heart. i trust her. i freely gave her that key. the magic polymer clay bead is one i made myself, and refers to the rich imaginative worlds we created together throughout our whole lives. her favorite beads are crystals, so i put several in, just for sparkle. she does love her sparkle. :) there are several briolettes, because that's her favorite bead shape. and the long brass drop is for whimsy. everyone needs a bit of whimsy, especially becca, because she tends to go all serious much too often. i guess we both tend to do that!


there it is, my homage to my beloved sister. let me leave you with the signifigance of the wing, probably the most important part.


becca, i want you to remember to *fly* this next year. *fly* *free.* for you carry my heart in your hands, and that heart is often quite heavy. so fly free, dear one. you don't have to carry it anymore. i've got yours, for now. so fly free. and feel the release of blessed, blessed quietness in your soul. God is your rest, and your hiding place. he makes you to soar on the wings of eagles.

my sister is participating in this blog hop! please visit her blog here.

here is the list for the rest of the hop. happy memories everyone! and thanks, for stopping by.

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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  ******you are here******
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
  


37 comments:

  1. Lovely sisterly love and I adore your necklace. That winged clasp is great and fab work from your sister too.

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  2. Beautiful and touching. I love your design!

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  3. Gorgeous work! Your sister should be honoured.

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  4. Beth - this is a moving story: heartbreaking and full of hope at the same time, and incredibly honest too (I like it that way). Thank you for sharing your memories with us, and thank you for sharing your love with us. Your sister is a special human being and the love you share is precious and unique and timeless.
    I love your piece - it's perfect in every way and I know your sister will cherish it. To share your passion with your best friend is a gift not many can have: I am happy you do!

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  5. Outstanding. You packed a lot of memories and thanks into your piece. I really like Becca's necklace too.

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  6. Great tribute to your sister! The necklace is amazing...and even more so for all of your sister that you put into it

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  7. What a beautiful way to celebrate your sister - with your words, your art, and your heart!!

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  8. A lovely tribute to your sister. I especially love the idea of the wings and flying free. Thank you for sharing! Enjoy the day! Erin

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  9. What it must be like to have such a sister. I know I would be thankful too. Your necklace is soo cool and "wrapped" with meaning. I hope you enjoy the hop!
    Hugs
    Terri G.

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  10. What a nice tribute to your wonderful sister!

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  11. That is a lovely tribute to your sister.

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  12. Love your style ~ Great post and thank you for sharing your story.
    Peace and Love.

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  13. I love your piece. It's big, bold and full of personality! A very nice tribute to your sister.

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  14. Your homage necklace to your sister is absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing the meaning behind every piece in your necklace. Your sisters necklace is absolutely beautiful, too - two very talented sisters!!

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  15. I just love your tribute to your sister. I envy you your close relationship to her as me and my sister rarely even talk.

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  16. WOW!!! You and your sister both make wonderful jewelry .
    I love your Creative tribute to your sis !
    m.e. :0

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  17. Absolute wonderful tribute to your sister. I have three sisters and feel truly blessed.

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  18. You are the best sister a person could have. I have a sister too. She is a grandmother now with two granddaughters! I bet they end up having the same close relationship that you two did, as I have the photos already of big sister with little sis on her lap.
    You have made a lovely, mindful, beautiful piece for becca, FULL of love!
    jean xox

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  19. You are very lucky to have Becca...and she is equally fortunate to have you! What a beautiful tribute to your sister.

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  20. I love this piece! I loved it before I knew it was about me... Thank you, my sweet sister.
    What a beautiful homage. I am blessed by the love pouring from these words.
    God gave me my word for the year last night: "freedom" How fun/appropriate that it should reflect your thoughts for me, too!

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  21. This was one of my favorites! What a wonderful tribute to your sister, and your necklace is beautiful and so meaningful.

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  22. What a beautiful tribute to your sister. I love that each and everything you put on the necklace has a special meaning. Cherish that wonderful relationship.

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  23. Such a moving story of survival and support between sisters. Your necklace for Becca represents that so well. And I love what I see you sister writing back in comments just above mine!

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  24. I agree with Becca - this is a beautiful piece!! And you honored your sister well! What a beautiful story of bonding and survival! Thank you for sharing such beautiful and not-so-beautiful memories.

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  25. Amazing, what a great idea to share a business with your sister! From this post, I can see you are the best of friends

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  26. Love these two sister blogs! You both did a great job and created beautiful necklaces. I wish you both the BEST for 2013. Be well ~T

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  27. Wow. so happy you have such a close and special bond with her :) I grew up with trees as a central part of my life too, and my happiest memories are of being in the forest :)

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  28. you both are incredibly fortunate to hold each other's hands through life. A beautiful tribute and loving explaination of all that she means to you!

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  29. Wow! What a story you made it through and are stronger now! I like your necklace it's beautiful! I also liked your sisters necklace. I also have a close sister like you but she lives far away from me so I don't get tosee her. It's wonderful to have a sister!

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  30. Such a nice way to tell your sister, how important she's for you! Your piece tells a story of a strong affinity between you both!

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  31. So beautiful to read of your close relationship with your sister. What a meaningful way to share your love for her. The necklace you created is so beautiful.

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  32. Wow! Those are amazing :) If I tried something like that I'd end up with a piece resembling barbed wire gone wrong LOL

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  33. This is one of the most loveliest posts I've read so far. The jewelry -- fantastic. Inventive, beautiful, lovely. But the story -- I just am enamored with it. You're so lucky to have a sister like that. I haven't seen my sister in 20 years. Two more different people you couldn't imagine. So it inspires me to see two family members so close to each other.

    Love you.

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  34. Sisters are our "other halves", that can say the words for us we can't say for ourselves. I don't know what I would have done without my sister, and I'm the eldest! You've made a lovely piece for her!

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  35. Your necklace is a beautiful tribute. So nice to have a sister who is also your best friend.

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  36. What a fun piece! I love the variety of colors.

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