Today I tried to pick beads as if they were flowers, and turn them into a bouquet that I can wear on my arm! I tried to hold images of my Mother in my head as I was playing this together, and take my cue from her exquisite taste… I often pick beads more for their aesthetic than their meaning, but for today’s bracelet I really wanted to think hard about each addition, and to include both elements for greater meaning.
I knew there must be flowers, for my Mother’s amazing garden. “Van Gogh” brings blossoms into the design. The Sparrow is for the bird feeders in Mum’s garden, and their flocks of feathery visitors. Mum used to love sitting at her kitchen table, watching the birds enjoy her beautiful garden – and she waged a quiet war against the fat
squirrels who grew even fatter on her luxurious bird seed. The “Bee on Hive” is for the bumblebees who loved her garden so well, buzzing amongst the tea roses, clematis, bergamot and honeysuckle. All these silver designs seemed perfectly “Mum” to me… but the “Sweater” and “Ball of Yarn” are perhaps the most meaningful of all.
My Mother could make incredibly perfect things with her hands… she spun, wove, knit, embroidered, quilted, and crocheted with love, creativity and passion, creating textiles that truly were art. I’m very lucky to still have and enjoy many of the beautiful pieces she made. On a previous Mothers Day I wrote about a very special Sweater of hers… If you’d like to see her work, take a peek. The “Ball of Yarn” and “Sweater” beads are an homage to my Mother’s skilled hands.
Finally, after taking care over the selection of very special silvers… it was time to pick a palette of colours that would be equally meaningful. I toyed with several possibilities, but in the end I found that a subtle, soft array of apricots, blues and greens felt right. It brings to mind the natural colours of the flowers and foliage in her garden, as well as the timeless Liberty prints that she favoured for Summer dresses and scarves.
Clockwise from clasp: “Dichroic Flower Lock” (retired), “PInk Prism”, “Bee on Hive”, (retired), “Limited Edition Kimono Series”, “Azure Bubbles”, “Heart”, “Unique Amber”, “Unique Glass”, “Unique Glass”, “Ball of Yarn”, “Unique Glass”, “Aurora Flower”, “Unique Glass”, “Sweater” (retired), “Unique Glass”, “Unique Glass”, “Unique Amber”, “Sparrow” (retired), “Light Blue Shadow” (retired), “Unique Glass”, “Limited Edition Van Gogh” (World Tour Netherlands Series), “Rosa Pearl”.
To all of our very special ladies… those of you who are Mothers and Grandmothers, caring for your families – as well as those of you who quietly mother so many others, taking care of loved ones as if they were your own – thank you for all you do. We see how hard you work, and how much you care. You are appreciated, cherished and loved.
Happy Mothers Day!
C.
