Saturday, March 3, 2012

Welcome To The Party!!! - The Postman Bracelet...



Through rain and hail and sleet and.... well, you know the rhyme. 
Although for me and mine, it's been Hell as well as hail and we've yet to see sleet and snow.
(Sssshh! Diana!)
I excitedly signed up for the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party because I wanted to challenge myself. 
Little did I know the challenges would be external
and have nothing in the world to do with my beading skills. 

As I'd made my sketches and had the components configured,
I received word just last Friday morning that my sweet, funny 21 yr old nephew
had been in a traffic accident on his way to work and didn't survive. 
Levi thought me being an artist was 'cool'. 
I had told him about what I was doing and he said, as he always did, "can't wait to see that!"

Well, baby boy, here it is. 
I am proud I got something done at all. 
More proud still that I got something finished that I will wear. 
I thought about wrapping the focal stone, but I like the weight of it
and the 'cool'ness as it lays on the top of my hand.

My bead partner, Ann Sherwood, chose beautiful stones and beads and a clasp that I absolutely love.
I used copper wire in 20 gauge, 24 gauge as well as copper and gunmetal finish jumprings.
The bracelet wraps twice with the focal bead and the clasp close so they lay together when worn.
I have plans to go back and add more of the tiny pearls to the links,
and make earrings from the leftover soup. 
This is a keeper.  Thanks, Ann! 

Also visit Ann's blog to see what she did with the lace agate focal bead
enclosed in Delicas that I sent her...
http://ann-sherwood.blogspot.com/
She and I seem so alike... right down to the wire girls... I like that about her. 
It means she runs at life headlong just like I do...
with an enthusiasm for filling, or over-filling, her life to the brim. 
Take on everything because you don't want to miss anything. 
I think if we sat down over a cup of something
- soup, I am sure, is too tame for the likes of us -
we would find a friendship.

Coming late to the party because of a nasty storm that flew through Kentucky last night,  
I am just happy to be online again and on my way to the blogs! 
You may notice little X's on some of the thumbnails in the LinkyTools below...
click there anyway...
not sure what I did, but there are awesome treasures hidden in the boxes! 
Join me, won't you?


 
Hostess, Lori Anderson

Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer

1. Adlinah Kamsir (Kingdom of Bahrain) and Hajer Waheed (Singapore)

2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)

3. Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)

4. Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman



7. Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu









15. Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)

16. Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)






21. Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski

22. Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)


24. Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)

25. Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs








32. Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)

33. Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)




37. Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)





41. Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)




45. Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)



48. Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent







54. Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)

55. Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)











65. Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)

66. Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)











76. Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)


78. Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)





83. Michelle Jensen (Canada) and Sandra Young (Canada)











93. Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick


95. Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)


97. Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)

98. Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)


56 comments:

  1. Great job Diana, how long is it? Can you wear it as a necklace as well as a bracelet?

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    1. It is about 15" so not a comfortable necklace for me but after i make earrings , i'm thinking of making another bracelet that will be an extender so i can wear it as a necklace. Im more of a bracelet person so we'll see.

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  2. hugs to you and your family

    It's a beautiful bracelet and a beautiful tribute.

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  3. Your bracelet is so beautiful! I am sure Levi would have absolutely loved it. I'm so very sorry for your loss. But I hope that since you were working on this during this time, you will always look at it and remember your nephew and the wonderful memories you have of him.
    Big hugs!

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  4. Very very nice indeed. You're the third participant I've read about suffering a tragic loss. Sorry for your loss. I'm glad you were able to rise above your loss and create something beautiful and meaningful for you. Great work!

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  5. First I am so so sorry for your loss. I hope you wear this with pride and love as I think he would call it "cool" too. I am sending hugs your way!

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  6. Your bracelet is wonderful! Copper is my new favorite material and you did a beautiful job using this earthy component. I'm so very sorry for your loss. I find working with beads very therapeutic and calming. I hope this lovely bracelet will remind you of the wonderful time you spent with him.
    Best Wishes,
    Lori D.

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  7. The bracelet is gorgeous! you did a great job! I'm so sorry for your loss!

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  8. Wow, this is news everybody is afraid of. I am so sorry for your loss. It is even more tragical when someone that young has to leave...
    I think your bracelet should always remind you of good memories, most of all because you've done a wonderful job. I like the idea of wrapping it twice.
    Best wishes,
    Sabine

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  9. I am so sorry for your loss. Such an awful loss.
    Your bracelet is beautiful.

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  10. Such a bittersweet creation for you, I'm sure. It really is gorgeous!

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  11. Beautiful job, Diane. I'm so sorry about your nephew, but I am certain he would love your bracelet. :)

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  12. Your piece is just gorgeous! I love the contrast between the dark elements and the silver components. I'm so sorry for your loss, but I know that your nephew would have loved this piece.

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  13. sorry for your loss, but you channeled into some beautiful work

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  14. Heard about the nasty storms through Kentucky - glad all is okay.
    Love the bracelet - wonderful job!

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  15. I am very sorry for your loss and amazed that the beauty your created. That bracelet sounds like a wonderful tribute. Levi's words about it will be a good memory.

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  16. Diane, so sorry for your loss. This is a wonderful bracelet - Levi would be proud of your work. Warm hugs!

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  17. I'm so sorry for our loss. It's terribly hard to stay focused in a situation like that. You did good, and the piece looks like it would feel good.

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  18. Love the bracelet! Such an honor to your nephew! (((( ))))

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  19. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Hopefully, this bracelet will be something you can cherish always in memory of sweet levi.

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  20. What a special bracelet! Your nephew would really be proud!

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  21. Your bracelet is beautiful. Your nephew would be proud, I am sorry for your loss...

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  22. I adore it, so wearable, it's my style!
    ciao dall'Italia

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  23. I am so sorry for your loss. The bracelet is beautiful and so special.

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  24. I love what you made with your beads! And I am so sorry for your loss, this is such a bitter moment for you

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  25. Thank you for all the kind comments! Today is sunny with snow... Can't wait to finish my committments for the weekend and spend my extra time checking out your creations!

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  26. Love the use of the mixed metals the rich colors make this bracelet pop. It's so my style, something that I would wear often.

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  27. I'm so sorry for your loss, Your bracelet is beautiful!

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  28. Oh no! I'm so sorry. I hate not knowing the right words to say when things like this happen.

    Your piece is beautiful, and I hope you know your nephew would love it!

    Thinking of you.

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  29. Beautiful bracelet!

    I'm so sorry for your loss. *hugs*

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  30. Diane I am so very sorry for your loss! I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
    Your focal and clasp are way cool and I love that they were incorporated into a bracelet...it truly is gorgeous!!

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  31. so sorry about your nephew - a beautiful piece!

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  32. What interesting beads you received. I love what you created with them!

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  33. What awful news to read on your post...truly a tragedy. I really am at a loss for words and just want to tell you how sorry I am to hear about your young nephew.

    I absolutely loved the bead soup that you sent to Ann. It was one of my favorites with the beadwork and the color combination. I love the creations that both of you made...and how you have found similarities between yourselves and a new friendship. I think I can relate with both of you, taking off running and living life to the fullest all the time.

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  34. Great pieces. Love the way you used the focal and clasp.
    So sorry to hear about the loss of your nephew. I'm sure he would have loved what you made and thought it 'way cool'.

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  35. Levi would have been so proud of you. Finishing this beautiful bracelet made it special. Thinking of you, best wishes to you and the family.

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  36. Diane, I am so sorry for your loss and I am amazed that you turned out this beautiful piece through your grief. I bet he would be proud of his cool aunt.

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  37. I am so terribly sorry for your loss...I have no words. However, your creation is simply beautiful! He is proud of you, I am sure!

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  38. I'm so, so sorry about your nephew!
    Your bracelet is beautiful!

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  39. Beautiful work. I love your choice and the way you did it. I am so sorry to hear about your nephew. I hope you feel better. My prayers. Dita.

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  40. So sorry to read about your loss. I think your nephew Levi had it right when he defined you as an artist. Your design as well as your wonderful spirit shines through in this post.

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  41. I am so very sorry for your loss. I love your bracelet and I am sure that your nephew would have loved it too, may it always remind you of all the great memories you have of him. I applaud you for being able to focus and create beauty during your time in Hell. Blessings to you.
    Sonya

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  42. I am so sorry for your loss, you are such a strong person to continue on with your design, which is stunning to say the least

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  43. Oh, my, I am so sorry. Reading about your nephew just broke my heart. I don't cry easily, but I teared up. When I hear of something like that, I realize how thankful, no THANKFUL, that my nieces and nephews are all okay. God, I would just die if anything happened to them. How do you go on? I'm so sorry.

    The jewelry is gorgeous and I know he is looking at it. He probably sneaks in at night and tries it on, just for kicks.

    I'm sorry. I've got to go. YOu did a great job! In more ways than one.

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  44. I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. I think you did great to find time and space to still make something with your bead soup - everyone would have understood if you hadn't. Wonderful work on the bracelet - I think it has an understated elegance that's very attractive.

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  45. I'm so sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing your story and your bracelet

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  46. OOOH, I love that elegant soup and your elegant creation. So wearable!

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  47. sorry to hear about your loss, he would have loved how lovely your necklace came out, its gorgeous & elegant...

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  48. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I LOVE the idea of a double wrap, which for some reason I never think of when I'm doing bracelets (note to self...). Actually, I love the single pearl drop, which I think is very symbolic and I'd hold off on the others if I were you....but I'm not. :-)
    My sympathy to you and your family!

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  49. Really beautiful work! thank you for sharing it with us!

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  50. It's a lovely necklace.
    I am so sorry to hear about your nephew. I don't know how you are even blogging right now with all that you must be dealing with. Sing you and your family lots of positive thoughts and prayers.

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  51. How beautiful!
    Blessings to you & your family!!

    I recently read 'The Medium Next Door' by Maureen Hancock - a WONDERFUL read! She's spent time doing stand up comedy, so it's funny, poignant, uplifting ... she also lost a young (19 yr old0 nephew unexpectedly, & tells about the message she received from him from 'the other side' (about the work he's doing with other souls! & asked her to tell his mom 'my contract was up!' ....

    What a lovely project to be part of - love the bracelet!

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