A literal wedding...
Brainstorming for a table decoration for my literature nerd bride and groom to be. Not there yet... I'm thinking we need to cover the books with an airy marbled paper. In the second photo I lightened it up by using fewer books and no book ends.
New bridesmaid earrings!
Working up new design for our newly engaged daughter's bridal party.
The Giant Despair, Dancing on Crutches, and Pretty Maids all in a Row...
My bride-to-be daughter was wanting something kicky for her bridesmaids to wear and we came up with these octagonal crystal earrings. The bead chain slides through the middle, so they are sort of 'kinetic', going cutely wonky the more you dance the night away. I love designing for special occasions. It nudges my creativity in new directions, like the architectural look of these earrings. Danielle insisted they be short, not chandelier, giving them a throw-back to the '40s vibe.
I had knee surgery shortly before the holidays, expecting to be up and about in a couple of days. Now in my fifth week of 'no weight bearing' I have new sympathy for anyone confined to a wheelchair. Thankfully I only have one week left after which I should pick up a paintbrush to repair all of my banged up walls. I have broken glasses, a rice cooker, spilled innumerable food items, knocked over a lamp and water glass onto a power strip, and almost fallen a hundred times. I am clumsy at best. Put me on crutches and I am a deadly weapon.
All of this has made me quite cranky, but my friends and family are bearing with me. I think they will be as happy as I when I can put one foot in front of the other again. I am reminded of a character in Pilgrim's Progress that I fell in love with as I plowed through Bunyan's work many years ago in seminary. Ready-to-Halt my kindred spirit, joins the journey on crutches. After a great victory against The Giant Despair, he and Feeble-mind celebrate with Christiana:
"Now Christiana, if need was, could play upon the viol, and her daughter Mercy upon the lute: so, since they were so merry disposed, she played them a lesson, and Ready-to-halt would dance. So he took Despondency's daughter, Much-afraid, by the hand, and to dancing they went in the road. True, he could not dance without one crutch in his hand, but I promise you he footed it well: also the girl was to be commended, for she answered the music handsomely."
Here's to a New Year of dancing, dancing, dancing even if it's on one crutch.
Wedding Bracelet
I was invited to a bridal shower and asked to bring something I find indispensable. I made this pearl and sterling bracelet with love bird charm. I think glass is a must, don't you?
Indie Bride Feature!
I just remembered the nice folks at Indie Bride an Oh so cool web site offered to feature me. I forgot all about it until this morning. Here is the link to the gorgeous page they did back in July on my work.
Something borrowed something blue...
My friend Melanie was wearing a glass heart necklace on a very long chain. I was admiring it and she had a great idea to make long pearl bridal necklaces for brides who with edgier taste. I played around with it and this is what I have come up with so far. Blue quartz chain with or without pearls, a mother-of-pearl pendant with a key a dove, transparent glass with a dichroic center, and a piece of branch coral. You can wear it long (it hangs close to waist length) or you could wrap the chain in layers to your preferred length. I was contemplating a name for funky bridal jewelry and Natalie came up with 'Bowerbride.' What do you think?