August ABS Challenge

Key West Waters

Time for the August ABS challenge !

http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2012/08/august-monthly-challenge.html

I was so excited when I saw this month's inspiration, 
Fishing Boats ,Key West  by Winslow Homer

Key West is my favorite place on earth !!!
I have a HUGE stash of beads in  colors to match the water surrounding the Florida Keys.
I pulled out every last one!  Which to choose?
 I settled on either some rough cut aquamarine chunks or some glassy smooth amazonite rondelles.
When I simply could  not pick one or the other , I decided  I 'd use both.
Smooth for the clam morning ocean and rough for the little white caps the afternoon breezes bring.
I found some white recycled silk ribbon that reminded me of the sails.
My white pearl polymer clay perfectly matches that silk .
I made some shells and a big starfish  clasp to "go with "
Now I  wanted that pop of red .  I had plenty of nice red ribbons,
plenty of nice red beads.But, nothing really seemed just right......
then I remembered !!!
I had been hording a big piece of red coral. It was way to large for the bracelets I usually make myself. For some reason it had never found a necklace home either .I decided it would be the perfect thing !

My scuba diving hobby has left me with first hand knowledge of the plight of the coral reefs http://www.coral.org/
 I rarely buy coral beads .When  I do, I try to be very careful of their  source. Almost all the corals I use are pieces I have picked up on Key West beaches . But, I did have that Big red bead ! After years of sitting sad and lonely on my  bead shelf, it has finally found a home .

I think this will be a great necklace for Summer .
But I  do believe I'll enjoy it even more on Winter days.
A good reminder of my beloved Key West waters. Thank you  ABS !
this week
Give a lonely bead a home
and
Bead Happy !

m.e.