Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories and Thanks

First of all I want to thank Lori Anderson for being the hostess of this amazing Blog Hop.  If you are just happening upon this post and do not know about the Memories and Thanks Blog Hop you can read about it here.

This was a bittersweet project for me, as I created this bracelet in memory of my niece, who I miss each and every day.  She was the first child born of my siblings, and as such, created and maintained a very special place in my heart.  I was there the day my sister gave birth to her (I actually drove her to the hospital while she was in labor); after she came home to live, I was in charge of the midnight feeding - a lovely quiet time of the day when it seemed as though we were the only two in the world awake........we talked about everything in those hours.......but mostly my hopes and dreams for her future.  Although I moved away, my bond with her never wavered - it was always a joy and a blessing to see her and spend time with her.  I watched with pride her grow into a beautiful young woman, one who was sweet, kind and so very loving.  We lost her when she was so, so young and I miss her big wide smile every single day. 




That smile was the thought behind every single wrapped aquamarine on this bracelet.  Her smile was as bright as a beautiful blue sky - it brought joy and brightened every corner of me.
The silver discs are actually pennies that I fired with some silver PMC - I love the texture of them - sort of rough but shiny - which is also reminiscent of my niece's personality.



 They are not dead, 
Who leave us this great heritage of remembering joy.
 
They still live in our hearts,

 In the happiness we knew, in the dreams we shared.
 
They still breathe,

 In the lingering fragrance,windblown, from their favorite flowers.
 
They still smile in the moonlight’s silver, 

And laugh in the sunlight’s sparking gold.
 
They still speak in the echoes of the words we’ve heard them say again and again.

 
They still move,

 In the rhythm of waving grasses, in the dance of the tossing branches.
 
They are not dead; 

Their memory is warm in our hearts, comfort in our sorrow.
 
They are not apart from us, but part of us,

 
For love is eternal, 

And those we love shall be with us throughout all eternity

-Anonymous

Please visit the other participants in the blog hop:
Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things



 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs
 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems
Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods
Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space
Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams
CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ
Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas
Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey
Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found
Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston                 CSW Designs
Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog
Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier
Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne                   josjewels1
Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs
Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue
Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design
Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert                      Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo                           Ornamento
Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.
Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren                           re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner
Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz 
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle
Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya
Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets

16 comments:

Kim said...

The bracelet is gorgeous, my Dad's birthstone is aquamarine too. I loved the way the pennies turned out too. Beautiful tribute.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous...your workmanship is lovely. The bracelet is a beautiful tribute to your niece.

Sea of Dreams said...

Wonderful tribute to your niece and you created a beautiful bracelet in her memory

Becky Pancake said...

Your tribute bracelet is very unique & awesome. Thanx for sharing with us.

Shai Williams said...

What a gorgeous bracelet and such a tribute to your niece.

la mar de bonita said...

She's still with you, smiling at you from wherever she's at the moment, thinking about her beloved aunt. You've made a lovely bracelet in honour to her!

Unknown said...

Beautiful tribute, lovely piece of jewelry! Bless you!

Terri said...

Gorgeous bracelet! Full of rich meaning and memories. Thanks for sharing your story of your niece with us. Hope you enjoyed the hop.
Hugs
Terri G.

TesoriTrovati said...

A penny looks like that? It is worth far more than 1 cent! I love this tribute to your sweet niece. So sorry for the loss of someone so young, but your memories will burn like a flame in your heart. Thanks for sharing your story and creation. Enjoy the day. Erin

Kepi said...

Beautiful bracelet, beautiful tribute to someone so special. I love the pennies.

A Polymer Penchant said...

Oh that is so so gorgeous! I'm an aquamarine girl myself so I really feel this. The pennies are incredible, and you were so generous to share the process. I'm so sorry for the loss of your niece.

Kimberly said...

I am so sorry for the loss of your niece. Your tribute piece to her is just beautiful!

Karin said...

What a lovely bracelet - a true tribute to your niece.

april grinaway said...

Totally love your work!!!
Peace and Love

MaryL said...

Your bracelet and the meaning of each component is so touching. Thanks so much for sharing your tribute to your niece and the very beautiful poem.

Christine said...

Your bracelet is gorgeous!! I've never seem that poem before - thank you!