Saturday, August 4, 2012

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.


8 comments:

  1. Beautiful piece. Fits the theme very well. Love that pop of color with the big red bead.

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  2. Such a fun, beachy necklace - matches the challenge perfectly!!

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  3. Beautiful! Mary Ellen, you have successfully translated Homer's watercolour into a lovely piece that mirrors the fluidity of his art. Your love of and intimacy with the open water is obvious in your choice of elements. How awesome that your special coral bead could be a part of that!

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  4. Thank you.Lovely stuff.Love and hugs Tanya

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  5. Happy belated birthday, Mary Ellen! Congrats on being featured designer at ABS this week... I was slow getting started again this month, and the PC gave me all kinds of "attitude", but I finally got done and posted.

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  6. I love this necklace. When I saw the painting this month my mind went blank but you more then met the challenge.

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  7. Very fun and beachy. I love the beads you chose. Great work. Congrats on being the featured designer. Kim @ Kimisjewelryandgifts.blogspot.com

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  8. Great necklace! I really like how you photographed it with the Homer painting too! Perfect!

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