Friday, September 30, 2016

Art Charm Swap for Beads-of Courage and Fundraiser Auction

Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?

Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to thE Galaxy (1979), Chapter 16

I am very excited to be participating in an Art Charm Swap and Charity Event with the theme --fairy tales! Simply put, a fairy tale is a children's story about magical creatures. Fairy tales can have dwarves, elves, fairies, giants, gnomes, goblins, mermaids, trolls, or witches, and usually magic or enchantments.

I selected fairies as my magical creature to use as an inspiration for an art charm. The term fairies can describes any magical creature, including goblins or gnomes. At other times, the term only describes a specific type of more ethereal creature. In modern fairy tales, fairies are usually depicted as tiny human-appearing creatures with wings and the ability to perform magic.

I wanted to build a house for a fairy. The above photo serves as an inspiration for where my fairy house would be located. I wanted to make a fairy house that blends in with this setting. I designed one that looks rustic and made from nature. I created an acorn like roof. The house looks like it could be made from clay found in the earth. The colors I used are colors found in nature with a magical sparkle added.

Fairy House created by BayMoonDesign

I began by cutting dark annealed steel wire 22 gauge. I love the rustic and earthy look it gives. I used round pliers and wire pliers as well as carving tools. I cut 4 to 5 inches of steel wire.

I then made a loop at the bottom and attached one of the tiny, rustic acorns that I purchased from Maya Honey. I love the small size and the fact that the design is on both sides.

To create the fairy house, I mixed a tiny bit of emerald green color polymer cay with a yellowish green shade of clay. I rolled the clay into a round ball and put my steel with the charm through the bottom center to the top center. I squeezed the polymer clay ball gentle to form an oval shape and used one of my tools to press down the clay on the bottom half of the oval. I ended up with a mushroom like top for a roof.

I textured the roof with this part of a pine cone and applied bronze PearlEx that I had on hand for the caps of the acorn. Next I used brown, yellow, and orange clay for the door, windows, and door knob. I made the doors and windows and then applied them onto my fairy house. The bronze PearlEx was then applied with tools. I heated the charms for about 45 minutes at 265 degrees.

11 Fairy House charms ready to ship

Each participant makes 10 charms to swap, plus 1 extra to be auctioned off later with 100% of the bid price going to Beads of Courage. If you would like your very own fairy house like this one and want to help this good cause, you are in luck. This fairy house is being sold for this Beads of Courage fundraiser. I love their mission, which is "providing innovative, arts-in-medicine supportive care programs for children coping with serious illness, their families and the health care providers who care for them." What's not to love about this?

Here are the 10 charms that I received in this exchange.

I love each charm that I received in the exchange and I can't wait to see what else folks made. There were lots more than 10 participants, but 10 is all I received in the exchange. I will need to checkout all of the blogs below to see what else is being auctioned and to see the rest of the charms that were created. I will give the details of the auction in a future blog.

A special thanks to the organizer of this event --Jen Cameron.

Please visit each participant's to find out about their experience and to see what they made for the auction:

Alenka Obid

Kathy Lindemer (here)

Do you believe in fairies? If you believe clap your hands.

Don't let Tinker die.

J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan (1904); "Tinker Bell" thought she could get well again if children believed in fairies.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

September Art Jewelry Elements Challenge Theme Is Trees

The September Art Jewelry Elements challenge is to create something using beads, jewelry or make a decorative item inspired by the subject. You could choose felting, polymer clay, ceramics, beads… the media and finished piece is entirely up to you. Trees is the theme for September.

I love this theme because I am inspired by nature. I admire John Muir for his ability to see the beauty in nature and influence others to appreciate it.

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. --John Muir

I also admire Teddy Roosevelt. As president, Roosevelt created five national parks (doubling the previously existing number); signed the landmark Antiquities Act and used its special provisions to unilaterally create 18 national monuments, including the Grand Canyon; set aside 51 federal bird sanctuaries, four national game refuges, and more than 100 million acres' worth of national forests.

Yosemite National Park

I have enjoyed visiting a number of our National Parks and I appreciate what these two men did to insure that some of the best wilderness sites in the United States are preserved for future generations to enjoy. The above photo above shows the very spot in Yosemite National Park where the two men discussed the notion of creating National Parks.

Sequoia trees at Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is spectacular. The sequoia trees in this park are amazing to see. It is hard to comprehend the size of these giant trees. These trees are earth’s largest and longest-living trees.

A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.-- John Muir

photo credit --https://unsplash.com/@pgreen1983

I used a tree pendant and round blue bead by Brooke Bock to create a copper tree necklace that reminds me of a tree during a snow storm. Along with Bock beads, I added a copper bead to a length of copper to create the loops in this one of a kind focal. I also made the copper clasp. I combined copper chain, blue agate, and white shell beads to give the blue necklace an earthy look. It is available for purchases HERE.

Tree Necklace by BayMoonDesign

Christmas Tree Earrings by BayMoonDesign

The photo of the winter snow scene brings Christmas to mind. Awhile ago I bought some rustic ceramic trees by ceramic artist Mary Harding. I made them into a pair of Christmas tree earrings. Each earring has a handmade ceramic green tree and a red crystal shinning on the top. The ear wires, jump rings and headpins are made from sterling silver. They are available for purchase HERE.

photo credit--https://unsplash.com/@amirhamdi

This challenge also inspired me to try something new. I was gifted some green paper with a tree on it along with some other prints and I thought this paper would be perfect to cover a cigar box that I had sitting in a closet. I also had some scrapbook paper that looked like old newsprint that I used to line the inside of the box. I have never done this before and I am pleased by how it turned out. I plan to put feet on the box, a knob, and hinges. It is going to be a gift for my son.

Outside Tree cigar box by BayMoonDesign

inside of Tree Cigar Box by BayMoonDesign

I was so pleased by how well it turned out that I made one for my son-in-law which also needs to have the hardware added. I have plans to do one for my daughter also. I really enjoyed working on them.

Thank you Carolyn, for the inspiration behind the necklace and tree box. Please see what all of the participants were inspired to create. Kind words are appreciated!

AJE Team

Jennifer Stout Cameron

Guests

Allison L Norfleet Bringer

Melissa Trudinger

Kathy Lindemer (here)

Friday, September 16, 2016

We're All Ears September Challenge Sept

[Photo credit :: Lee Aik Soon :: Singapore :: Unsplash]

The September We're All Ears Challenge is to pick one of the spectacular city images from their blog that captures your imagination and make a pair of earrings inspired by the image. I live in a small-sized town. The tallest building we have might reach up to 3 stories. There are hardly any elevators in the town and no escalators. We joke that children from here have to go out of the county to experience escalators.

I love the glitter and large scale of city buildings. Obviously, there are no sky scrapers to be found here in Lewes, Delaware. I was fascinated by all of the photos that were offered as inspiration, but I was drawn to the photo of the city of Singapore. The orange, grays, and blacks just jump right out.

City inspired earrings by BayMoonDesign

I captured the colors in the photo with my choice of beads are wires for this pair of modern urban earrings. These long black earrings have black and gray square Czech beads paired with small orange Chinese crystals, black Czech beads and tiny square metal beads. I used square beads to mirror the square and rectangular lines in the photo and gunmetal ear ear wires for an industrial look. These earrings are available for purchase HERE.

How do you think I did capturing the spirit and colors of the photo?

Friday, September 9, 2016

My Trip to Savannah and the Midnight Garden of Good and Evil

Front cover art for the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. The book cover art copyright is believed to belong to the publisher, Random House, or the cover artist.--from Wikipedia

This summer, I had the pleasure of reading The Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. This nonfiction book is Berendt's first and was published in 1994. It became a New York Times Best-Seller for 216 weeks following its debut and remains the longest-standing New York Times Best-Seller. The book depicts a wide range of eccentric personalities in and around the city of Savannah, Georgia. The center of the story line is the killing of Danny Hansford, a local male prostitute by an important Savannah socialite, respected antiques dealer Jim Williams. This results in four murder trials of Williams, with the fourth ending in acquittal after the judge finally agreed to a change of venue to move the case away from the Savannah jury pool. The book describes Williams' version of the killing, which is that it was in "self-defense" and not murder, pre-meditated or otherwise. The death occurred in Williams' home, which was originally built by West Point graduate and US Army and CSA Colonel Hugh W. Mercer, grandfather of songwriter and Savannah native Johnny Mercer, and grandson of Hugh Mercer of Pennsylvania, who was a hero of the Battle of Trenton and adjutant to General George Washington of the Continental Army.

The book was made into a movie in 1997. It was based loosely on Berendt's story. Prior to reading the book, I had seen the movie many years ago. I remembered that I liked the movie, but not too much else.

My daughter lives in Atlanta and visits Savannah often. I had never been there, but I have wanted to go. The opportunity came shortly after a conversation with my daughter about this book. She was reading it for the first time and invited me to go with her to Savannah. I jumped at the chance and I began to read the book in preparation for my trip.

I became so engrossed in the book that I made it my mission to visit some of the places in the book.

Bird Gin Statue

I had to go see The famous Bird Gin statue, originally designed both as art and as a birdseed holder. A Savannah photographer, Jack Leigh, was commissioned to take a photograph for the cover of the book, and the photo subsequently became quite famous, as did the statue. The statue was originally located at Bonaventure Cemetery, in Savannah, but was later moved to its present location in Jepson Center for the Arts on West York Street, in Savannah. It had to be moved to avoid the cemetery being disturbed by the number of visitors interested in seeing the statue.

Tree lined path in Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery was a must see on my list. The peaceful setting rests on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah. The site on a former plantation was purchased for a private cemetery in 1846 and became a public cemetery in 1907. This historic cemetery has been a world famous tourist destination for more than 150 years due to the old tree-lined roadways, the many notable persons interred, the unique cemetery sculpture and architecture, and the folklore associated with the site and the people.

Aiken Grave and Scene of Martini Drinking

A famous spot at the cemetery is the grave of author Conrad Aiken. There is a scene in the book where 2 characters in the book sit on the bench over Conrad Aiken's grave and drink martinis.

author Conrad Aiken and wife

Wilson's house was built by songwriter and Savannah native Johnny Mercer and he and his family are mentioned throughout the book. The Mercer family has a plot in Bonaventure. The Mercer family plot became another spot to visit.

Johnny Mercer's grave

The visit to this cemetery made me think about a statement in the book, “But I never think about dead people. Looking at these old graves makes me think how generation after generation of the same family are all gathered together. And that makes me think about how life goes on, but not about dying. I never think about dying.” ― John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story

The title alludes to the voodoo notion of "midnight", the period between the time for good magic (11 pm to midnight) and the time for evil magic (midnight to 1 am), and "the garden of good and evil", which refers to the cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina, where Dr. Buzzard, the husband of Minerva, the voodoo priestess who figures in the story, is buried. It is over his grave that Minerva performed the incantations to provide a more successful result in the retrial for murder of which Jim Williams is accused.

Grave of Little Gracie

There were a number of graves that made me wonder if some of the sights in the cemetery were related to voodoo. A example is the grave of Little Gracie who had all sorts of stones, toys, coins etc. by her grave.

Mercer House

No visit could be complete without a tour of Wilson's house, the Mercer House. The art work and furnishings in it can put the holdings of some small museums to shame. Wilson had great taste and wealth to create an impressive collection. Wilson also saved many historic homes from ruin in his short life as well.

Olde Pink House Restaurant, Savannah Georgia

One such home that Wilson saved is now the Olde Pink House Restaurant. No trip to Savannah can be complete without a visit and a meal there. It is Savannah's only 18th century mansion. It is famous for memorable dining experiences featuring seafood caught daily in local waters, prime aged beef and traditional southern fare.

A fountain in Forsyth Park

There is a lot of green space in Savannah. The city was developed with 4 original squares and as it grew more squares were added. They are lovely spots to stop and enjoy the views. There is also a large park called Forsyth Park. It occupies 30 acres in the historic district and it t is close to the Mercer House. These squares and the park are mentioned in the book.

Chartreuse green earrings by BayMoonDesign

These green spaces served as an inspiration for a pair of earrings that I made after returning home. The variety of greens inspired a charteuse green earrings are made with handmade Ming porcelain beads by artisan Scorched Earth. Sterling silver ear wires are used to compliment the gray in the chartreuse porcelain beads. I love the rustic look of these handmade boho earrings.

Folkorico

Now, being a beader, I looked for some bead shops while there. I found lots of jewelry, but not too many beads. I did manage to locate an interesting shop called Folkorico. It is an eclectic shop that is full of items from more than 30 different countries. There are artifacts, iconography, accent furniture and wonderful collections of folk, traditional and contemporary art which includes ceramics, pottery, blown glass, textiles and jewelry, and beads. These are fair trade items which means that artisans are paid a fair living wage, have safe and healthy working conditions, engage in environmentally sustainable practices. All the items in the shop are either purchased directly by the owners on buying trips or through Fair Trade and socially conscious importers. “The shop is our way of helping and giving our customers an opportunity to help as well each time they make a purchase.” I bought some interesting metal beads made from scrapes of metal found on the streets. I intend to use some in my jewelry.

Fair trade metal beads made in South America

I highly recommend the Pulitzer Prize winning book and a trip to Savannah!