October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Recently, I went to the Ocean City Bead show in Ocean City, Maryland.  I spotted these pretty breast cancer awareness beads.  I purchased enough to make multiple sets of earrings and necklaces.  Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, I thought this weekend would be the perfect time to do something with these pretty beads. I am also getting ready for a local arts, crafts, and collectables show at Baywood Clubhouse on Rt. 24 in Long Neck, Delaware,  which is a beautiful location any time of the year.  The event will be October 15, 2011 and it begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 1:30  p.m.  You can enjoy a lunch there while you get a head start on holiday shopping and help with some fundraisers.   There will be :
-50/50 Drawing benefitting Long Neck Elementary Center

-Draw for Dinner for 2 at Baywood Green Restaurant ($150 value) Benefitting Sussex County Habitat for Humanity
-Draw for 2 Rounds of Golf at Baywood Greens ($240 value) Benefitting Sierra Hall, a local 9 year old recovering from major heart surgery and infection

I want to help. $1.00 from the sale of these sets or single pairs of the earrings. I  will donate to the Susan G Komen Foundation for furthering Breast Cancer research and treatment for the sale of these awareness items.  It could happen to any of us. I made this pretty set with the hope of helping more victims become survivors. A symbol of strength, support and honor, stand up for women and fight for a cure with a breast cancer awareness pendant and earrings.  Proudly wear the ribbon.

My Inspiration for this Unique Raven Necklace

Raven Necklace by Bay Moon Design

Inside The Tower of London

A  Raven with a Legend

Focal Features a Raven made by Humblebeads

This is a long 25 inch (63.5 cm) raven necklace that captures the spirit of the legend behind the ravens in the Tower of London.  I created it  with the use of a detailed raven focal by bead artist Humblebeads and a variety of gorgeous freshwater pearls, unique beads, and sterling silver. I want to capture the beauty in nature with the use of elements from nature like a variety of freshwater pearls, black wood beads, and silver. Nature motifs include the black raven and silver leaf clasp. There are a variety of shapes and textures used in this stunning necklace. The beautiful keishi pearls combined with the black lacquered beads help add an interesting texture.

This edgy necklace has great color combinations. I used large black lacquered pearls, long, thin, black wood beads. The silver used has black embellishments, and the oxidized sterling chain has a hint of black. Some purples are used in the focal and necklace to add a pop of color. There are bright white pearls and white pearls with hints of silver. Every bead used in this necklace was selected for a specific feature.

 I thought  this necklace would make an interesting Halloween necklace because I always think of  Edgar Allen Poe's horror stories and his famous poem "The Raven" around this time of the year. I have to admit that I began my quest to make a raven necklace back in the spring when I saw the  ravens in The Tower of London and I heard the legend behind them.

Legend says that the kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the fortress.

It was Charles II  who first insisted that the ravens of the Tower should be protected.  This was against the wishes of his astronomer, John Flamsteed, who complained that the ravens impeded the business of his observatory in the White Tower. 

When I spotted the raven bead made by one of my favorite bead artists I new it was time to finally make my raven necklace. 

Inspired by the Sea and Irene

Inspired by the Sea and Irene

After preparing my home for hurricane Irene, I used my time to create this necklace.  With all of our focus on Irene and my goal of making a weekly contribution Humblebeads'  new challenge,  my thoughts turned toward the sea.   The greens and browns that I seleced remind me of a stormy, churned up sea--just as I picture Irene as she heads up the east coast. The necklace contains elements of the sea such as a variety of pearls, a star fish and shell. There is a special green bead that is I made from paper wrapped with gold and green threads. One again I am thankful to my cousin Sandy for her Sewing by the Sea retreat for the class on making beads from fabric and paper. 


 I love to use pearls because they are classic and are from nature.   I usually include pearls in my creations.  I have had these gorgeous green blister pearls stashed away for almost a year.  I finally decided I had a design worthy of them.   Jasper is another favorite of mine. It is a nurturing stone.  We can all use some extra comfort as we wait to see the impact of Irene.   I combined these green jasper with antique brass filigree.  The colors compliment one another.  I love all of the different textures that this variety of beads, metal, paper and thread create  in this necklace. 

The focal is made up of one of Heather's beads--the polymer clay star fish.  I have had that bead stashed away for a few years waiting for the right necklace.  I combined it with some new filigree and an antique shell charm that was waiting for the right occasion . 

Good luck to all on the east coast.  I am hoping we will be spared major damage and loss of electric.  One piece of luck at my house is that our cupola already blew off and smashed apart on our driveway during our last major storm.  Procrastination pays.  We haven't replaced it yet.  No worries there!

Inspired by a Zen Garden

Zen garden by Bay Moon Design

Humblebead's Inspired by Nature theme for this week is Zen Garden.  To me the main purpose of a zen garden is to establish a place to clear your mind.  It is a place to create peace of mind.  Meditation is a way to create this peace.  In yoga class, we use the om breathing technique to help focus our mind.
It is said that when OM is spoken loud, brings human voice closest to universal vibration.  When rating my zen garden necklace I decided to use the om symbol as the centerpiece.  I hung an owl, some red and blue flowers, a lady bug, snail, and leaves on a silver branch anchored by a zen charm to create my garden.  I decided to use pearls in this necklace because pearls are associated with honesty, innocence and integrity, concentration, focus, meditation, serenity, tranquility and wisdom. I combined large red lacquered pearls with navy blue freshwater pearls.  Blue is peaceful color.  Red suggests power. I included a special denim bead that my cousin Sandy taught me how to make at Sewing by the Sea, a sewing retreat in Ocean City, Maryland.   I connected everything with silver chain and links to create my zen garden.