Saturday, August 13, 2011

The Long Days of Summer Challenge

This month Charlene Sevier at The Bead Dreamer presented a challenge of what does the long days of summer mean to you.  The concept is to select a photo of a summer day memory and make a piece that represents the memory.






It is so hot this summer just about everywhere, but in the Southeast where I live it is sweltering hot.  So because I wanted to feel cool, all I could think of is the cool water of a mountain lake.  Last summer I went on an Alaskan cruise with some family members.  Those of us coming from Alabama chose to drive to Seattle, WA.  We made several stops along the way doing the tourist thing.  I'm so glad we drove, this is such a beautiful country we live in.  Although I took hundreds of pictures on this trip I chose these three pictures of this mountain lake on the way to the Paradise Inn on Mt. Rainier, WA.

For the challenge I made a simple strung necklace that represents the cool water of the above mountain lake.


Most of the beads and finding for the necklace were purchased at Hobby Lobby, with the exception of the glass butterflies I purchased those at a little bead store in San Antonio, TX last month when I was there visiting family, and the 3mm dark topaz Czech crystals those were purchased at High Strung Beads a LBS.
The focal glass beads to me represent the shimmering blue water of the lake with the sun reflecting off of the wind caused waves on the water.  The copper beads represent the summer sun. The glass butterfly beads are to add a bit of whimsy, they glow in the dark, so by day they are butterflies, but in the dark they are like fireflies. Last but not least the rose beads representing all of the flowers of summer.

I hope that you were able to get out and enjoy the summer in some fashion, whether it was a vacation away or one at home.  Most of all I hope that you were able to stay cool this unusually hot summer.

Now take the time to go and visit the others in this "The Long Days of Summer" challenge:

Charlene Sevier - http://thebeaddreamer.com/blog/
Andrew Thornton - http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank - http://heavenlanecreations.wordpress.com/
Mary Ellen Parker - http://beetreebyme.blogspot.com/
Tara Linda - http://taralinda.wordpress.com/

Happy beading Y'all
Therese

9 comments:

  1. Great interpretation of those photos. Those focal beads really do capture the cool clear blues and greens of the lakeview. Very cool how the butterflies will turn to fireflies, very clever!

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  2. I love the way you picked each bead to represent a part of your picture.

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  3. This is wonderful and your selections of beads were so thoughtfully done. I love the butterflies by day and fireflies by night!

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  4. What a beautiful tranquil inspiration!
    Lovely choice of beads to represent it too !
    I am entranced with those butterflies that glow as fireflies at night !
    This is The Perfect Necklace take someone from day at the office to Romantic dinner!!!
    m.e. :)

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  5. Hi Therese; gorgeous photos.
    I LOVE the glass butterflies!- cooling just to look at ;) and that they become fireflies at night- just magical! Simple & striking.
    Thank you!
    -tara

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  6. oh how pretty is that, love the colours you picked out of the photos. Great take on the challenge....

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  7. Thank you for taking us vicariously with you on your vacation! What a wonderful adventure you took us on with your words, pictures, and jewelry.

    You've done a wonderful job at capturing the different elements of summer in a necklace full of whimsy and delight!

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  8. I love the butterflies and swirled blue beads beautiful interpretation of the water!

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  9. Lovely piece Therese. I feel like you really did a good job on working with your chosen pictures (all wonderful by the way), to represent the essence of the lake and the sky in summer. I especially love the idea of the butterflies turning into fireflies.

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