Lori Anderson is hosting a blog hop in honor of a friend of hers, Marianna, who passed away unexpectedly. The theme for her hop is "Memories and Thanks" and she wanted to take it further than one person. She wanted each of us to blog about someone in our lives who means or meant a lot to us. Marianna's favorite color was red and when I heard that, I knew right away who my special person would be: my Gramma Blanche.
This is Gramma and I at Christmas last year. We were decorating cookies and having such a good time. As much as I hate to share pictures of myself (or look at them, for that matter), here's another from that day that includes my mom and my daughter, too. Four generations of trouble makers and cookie decorators.
I have the best memories of my grandmother when I was growing up. I used to spend nearly every Saturday night with her and my Papa, watching the Carol Burnett show all snuggled in clean jammies (they got cable!). We'd get up the next morning and put a roast in the oven before we went to Sunday School and have a big Sunday dinner after.
She and my grandfather apparently had the patience of saints, too - they took me on a road trip from Nebraska to San Diego, California when I was around six or seven years old. We stopped to see the sights on the way and she bought me charms to put on a charm bracelet. We went to Disneyland and Mexico and I had the best time!
Gramma had a ceramic shop when I was growing up - the Nic Nac Shelf Ceramic Shop. I remember working in the shop with her up until the time I was in high school, although I'm not sure how much help I was in the earlier years. She taught me all about slip and molds and stains and glazes. She always liked to make things whether it was ceramics, sewing, crochet or cross stitch.
Gramma Blanche is 87 years old now and red is still her favorite color, so
I thought I'd do a soutache piece in red for her. This is the palette I pulled to start:
The cab is from Fallen Angel Brass on Etsy. I surrounded it with soutache and beads and came up with this brooch:
I really love the sinuous curves of the soutache.
I hope you've enjoyed my little trip down memory lane, and my brooch. I also hope you will take time to check out the other participants' blogs:
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
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
Christina Hickman Vintage Treasures Jewelry
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
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!
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
JuLee Wolfe The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell Over the Moon Designs
Kelly Hosford Patterson The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak CianciBlue
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
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
Pam Farren re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister The Crazy Creative Corner
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
Serena Trent All Things Made Jewelry
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
Tracy Martin Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin Beads, Tea and Sweets
Absolutely gorgeous! You do a beautiful job with your soutache designs and the cab is lovely, thanks for sharing your source! Love the pics and story!
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful and such a fantastic photo of you and your gramma (you have a stunning smile)!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! (You are always leading me astray. :) Thank you for that.)
ReplyDeletehahaha - follow me..... (in my best mesmerizing voice...)
DeleteBeautiful! I may have to try soutache... it is sinuous! I like that word. Your Grandma sounds delightful and so full of love!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful story (thank you for sharing your memories and those special pictures too!) with a gorgeous piece! I love everything you made - but I love this broche the best: bold, rich, warm colours and a perfect technique. Simply beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your memories and that broach is gorgeous. I loved the pictures too, especially the one of your 4 generations.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder you are so creative and talented; what a lovely legacy she gives to you. Great choices in design for this. Good job.
ReplyDeleteSo many happy memories for you. Love the brooch. Good for you, trying your hand at soutache. Looks like you have mastered it well!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous - the brooch, the memories, and the four generations of smiling faces around the table!
ReplyDeleteYour brooch is stunning, and am sure Grams will always treasure it. Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful piece! I'm sure your grandmother will love it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous....I love red just like Gramma! The soutache is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOOOOOOOOO! I love it and I love YOUR style, and your delightful Gramma!
ReplyDeletexox jean
I think I'm jealous of your Gramma!! How I would have loved to grow up with her! Gorgeous brooch!!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading your story, seeing pics of your family, and the beautiful red brooch! You always do such lovely work!
ReplyDeleteSherri I love the piece you made you have such patience!The story and pictures made me smile and I know momma would have LOVED the red!Thank you for sharing your story :)
ReplyDeleteGramma Blanche sounds like an amazing woman! You are blessed to have such a wonderful grandmother with whom you can still create memories. Your brooch is stunning, and I imagine it's now one of Gramma's favourite pieces of jewellery.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work.
ReplyDeleteHow fantastic! My family is quite spread out in ages, large family so we don't have the trill of 4 generations in one picture - truly gorgeous espcially how happy your Gramma looks. What wonderful memories you have together. I love poppies and your brooch is a great finish to that cab
ReplyDeleteYour brooch is fabulous, just like your Gramma Blanche. I love the 4 generations picture!
ReplyDeleteYour post brought tears.. I so miss my Grammy's :( I learned so much from each, they both lived to be 94. What a great story, and lovely brooch! How could she not love such a beautiful and thoughtful gift. She must be so proud of you & the wonderful creations you make, thanks for sharing your story (and making me cry lol)
ReplyDelete~Erika
Beautiful! Your story reminded me of my grandparents - I would stay with them almost every weekend until I started high school. They were so good to me in every way. Thanks for the wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteThe brooch is beautiful as is all your work, but THIS one IS special. You are getting very good with that soutache girl! And I chuckled when you said "four generations of trouble makers"! hahha XXOO Shelley
ReplyDeleteOutstanding. I love your piece. Thanx for sharing. I also appreciate your soutache tips, I'm thinking of trying it.
ReplyDeleteThe brooch is beautiful (soutache is one of those things I want to explore, and you've inspired me!), and the stories of your Grandma Blanche are great. My grandmother was named Blanche also -- it's a name for very special ladies!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful brooch in honour of your grandma, I'm sure she will love it!
ReplyDeleteYour grandma looks so sweet! I am sure that she will love wearing this special piece. Thank you for sharing your story and your creation. Enjoy the day! Erin
ReplyDeleteGorgeous soutache, maybe I will have to try again because like you the first time was really hard. Yours turned out truly stunning.
ReplyDeleteYou should try again. I really didn't like it - it wasn't easy and it didn't look right - the first time. It gets much better!
DeleteWhat a great tribute to your grandma! I love your brooch, it's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely photo of 4 generations of women! Your brooch is beautiful and a wonderful tribute to your lovely Gramma.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to spend your childhood in a ceramic shop. My grandfather owned a shirt store in Philadelphia and I spent a great deal of time there. Your piece is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your lovely pendant and memories of your grandmother.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work...Amazing...Wonderful !
ReplyDelete