Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric: beach

Way back, when the temperatures were quite a bit warmer, Jen Cameron, Glass Addictions, put out a call for a fun charm swap. I love participating in swaps and a bonus! The swap is also going to benefit Beads of Courage, an organization providing support and strength for children with serious illnesses. The criteria was that we were to a charm for everyone in our group plus create an extra charm to be auctioned off for the Beads of Courage auctions. The theme is laughter, after all what better theme to benefit kids and what a joyous sound...kids laughing.

There were a ton of ideas swimming around in my head for this theme. Then one day, while my toes were in the sand and I was relaxing in the sun listening to my children play in the surf, it hit me. There's one place where everyone laughs and has fun, kids and those of us that are young at heart...the beach!

All the other ideas were swept to the back burner, and I decided to create a charm that is a sand pail and shovel. Gotta have a sand pail and definitely a shovel for the beach! I cut the pail from copper sheet and sawed out a starfish design, added a little brass shovel, and a sturdy silver handle. The pail is oxidized to make the starfish motif pop. Finally, a piece of sari silk is tied to the handle, simply to add some color. I was gently reminded that people don't tie ribbons to sand pails, but hey, I thought it was fun!

A super big thanks to Jen for coordinating this event!

Don't forget the auctions, it's for the kids...laughter is the best medicine!

Auction Site: http://myworld.ebay.com/glassaddictions

Alenka Obid http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchage-reveal.html

Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-auction.html   

Babette Cox http://babettecox.com/blog.htm

Carol Watson http://www.carolwatsonartglass.blogspot.com

Carolyn Chenault  http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage-auction/ 

Cassi Paslick http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-charm-swap-reveal.html

Charlene Jacka http://clay-space.com/2012/11/early-christmas/

Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/

Cheryl McCloud http://cherylmccloud.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-blog-hop-and-beads-of.html

Deb Kauzlarich http://debkauzlarich.blogspot.com  

Denielle Hagerman http://somebeadsandotherthings.com  

Emma Todd  http://apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-in-aid-of-boc.html

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-laugh.html

Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-2012.html

Inge vonRoos http://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Jean Peter http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/ http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-charm-swap.html

Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/2012/11/12/beads-of-courage/

Jennifer Cameron http://wp.me/p1xIa0-wn

Kia Dallons http://kiadallonsstudio.blogspot.jp/2012/11/laughter-is-best-medicine.html

Kimberly Roberts http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap.html

Kristi Bowman  http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal-hop.html 

Lea Avroch http://lajewelrydesign.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-beads-of-courage-art-charm-swap.html

Leslie Schenkel http://twistedchicken.wordpress.com/

Linda Florian http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com/

Lori Greenberg http://lorigreenberg.com/blog

Lynnea Bennett http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com  

Mallory Hoffman http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-time-has-come-art-charm-blog-reveal.html

Marcy Lamberson http://studiomarcy.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-by-minions-im-sure.html

Marsha Neal Studio http://marshanealstudio.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-exchange-and-beads-of-courage.html

Maureen Connolly http://mrsbeadsley.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-reveal.html 

Melissa Meman http://melissameman.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-swap-blog-hop.html

Monique Urquhart http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/2012/11/charmed-im-sure.html

Natalie McKenna http://www.grubbi.co.uk/ 

Perri Jackson  http://shaktipajdesigns.com/11/blog/reveal-the-laughter-art-charms/

Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-exchange-auction-and-reveal.html

Robin Koza http://www.robinkoza.com  

Shaiha Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-charm-hop.html

Shannon Hicks  http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Shelby Foxwell http://sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/charm-swap-reveal.html   

Shelley Graham Turner http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/2012/11/reveal-2012-charm-swap.html

Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-art-charm-reveal.html

Stephanie Haussler http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/2012/11/beads-of-courage-charm-swap-reveal-and.html

Toltec Jewels http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/2012/11/BOCArtCharmRevealBlogHop.html

Vanessa Gilkes http://culturezine.com/blog/

Shelby

I have long been intrigued by many sea creatures. Things can get a little hairy when we visit the aquarium. I'm the one you're running into and pushing out of the way when you're trying to get a glimpse of the jelly fish, coral, starfish...you get the idea. I love to gaze into the tanks and take in all the vibrant colors, textures, and how graceful all these little creatures are. Same goes for the beach, I especially like to walk the beach after a storm to gather, and sometimes rescue, the starfish, conchs, sand dollars, sorry, I leave the jellyfish unless I can find a stick. I'm not the only one who love the little sea buddies! No surprise there, during local art shows I frequently get ask "Do you have anything ________?" Take your pick: beachy, with starfish, seahorses, shells, and the list goes on. And most of the time, yes, but it's usually a piece with Thai silver beads, or lampwork beads. Nothing that I actually fabricated, only put together. So recently I wanted to create my own beachy.

This pendant has been in the making for a couple months. Well not really, I just sawed the pendant out a couple months ago and it sat on my bench until I could decide what to do with it. And, just like that one day it all came together. I had the perfect Chrysocolla stone to set as the belly, added a silver ball for the eye, and textured the base. It's quite substantial at 2 3/8" in length. And I'm thrilled to pieces with it!