06 December 2009

mission accomplished!

'always do what you are afraid to do.'
~ ralph waldo emerson

it all started here... with the making of a bezel from copper pipe and sheet... and then, a trip to my grandparents' home...when erin issued her challenge - 'inspired by hardware stores' - i knew i wanted in... my first thought was of my dad and grandfather... sir fix-a-lots for sure... so i went in search of something interesting...
 
what i found was these - hold-tite numbering tacks made in 1948... i knew they would fit beautifully in the bezel... for which pipe and solder fit the challenge already!

in preparation for the resin, i also made some headpins... they seem to be all over the place and were perfect for my love of words... i had such a hard time ripping a page out of a book, really... but i did copy them and put them back in it!
ice resin takes 3 days to cure... that means by tomorrow night these will all be done... i have things i want to try with them, but still have to wait... 
what couldn't wait was my entry for erin - the deadline was midnight tonight and the daylight only really lasts until about 4pm for photographing... 

this necklace really became about my grandparents... i was so happy that my first object put into resin was the number 40... they were married in 1940 and without them, none of us would have been here... i was really lucky to have grown up 2 blocks from them - because of this they are/were indescribable anchors... the weight of the pendant is, i think, reflective of this... certainly i would not be who i am today without them... it would have been very easy to go vintage/soft on this... 

but because of the people they are/were, it just didn't fit... what worked were strong colors and stones with healing properties... the fabric of life as woven daily thru joys and trials... a wrapped ring connector to symbolize that as we go through things together we become ever more closely joined... they were ethical & practical people who taught me so much... liberal in their thinking, fair minded... my grandmother took me to register to vote the day i turned 18 yrs old, embedding in me the importance of that privilege... my grandfather called himself my taxi driver... for after he retired, it was often my abba that i called when i needed a ride or was sick at school... i was constantly at their house as it felt just as much home to me as where my nuclear family was... gram helped me make my freshman prom dress and a prairie skirt... and the engineer who graduated from m.i.t. baked... it was in their home that holiday memories were cast in stone... and  where ideas were discussed, never gossip... 
thanks, erin, for this great opportunity... 


18 comments:

  1. You did it...congrats! I love your pendent and the special story behind it!

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  2. great job! I love the colors and the way you've put it all together with the wire elements...and the grandparents' memories are so nice! i read, a long time ago, that the connection between grandparents and grandchildren can be even stronger and more special than the connection to the parents. i have some really nice memories of my grandparents, too.
    oh, and tearing a page out of a book, i know, the really good ones are the ones you want, but it's hard to destroy it unless it's already falling apart.

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  3. Fantastic bezel! Fantastic necklace! But the story behind it IS the piece! This will be a wonderful momento for you, to remind you of your strength and your families, all connected, always close! Just beautiful...I may cry.

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  4. What a lovely necklace and an even more loving story to go with it. Brought tears to my eyes as my parents are long gone. Hope my grandchildren think as much of me as you obviously do of yours.

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  5. Wonderful, Maire! Beautiful necklace for the challenge and so powerful, because of the story and emotion behind it!
    Funny thing - I made a very similar bezel just a couple of weeks ago.

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  6. Beautiful work, Maire. What a tribute to our grandparents. It must have been wonderful thinking of them as you worked on this piece. You've inspired me! I worked yesterday making a bezel that will be filled with sea glass. It's for a customer that wants to give it to his wife for Christmas. He remembers their search for the sea glass and how proud she was with the cobalt pieces he found. I hope I can measure up to the feelings he has for his wife!

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  7. Maire - not at all what I was thinking! I just sent you a mail to elaborate!

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  8. Oh MJ! You have me crying with the sweet tale that you told about your grandparents. How fitting to make this tribute to them. And I am so very pleased that you joined in the challenge! I love seeing what inspiration does to people. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful inspiration! Enjoy the day! Erin

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  9. Wow, I just love the bezel! Great idea...and the necklace is so wonderful! Can't wait to see the finished head pins.

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  10. thank you guys! i am keeping this one... it was kind of profound to sink that tack in the resin and know it was preserved... i am/was lucky to have these people in my life...

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  11. Thank you so much for sharing your grandparents with us. I also have a special bond with my grandparents and I would not be the person I am today without them. Your beautiful necklace is a tribute to them that will last generations.

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  12. As always, I'm moved by the stories and inspirations behind everything you do! So happy to see that you've decided to break out the Ice Resin. I've been wanting to fiddle with resin for years, but just keep forgetting to find the time to do it. Maybe this next summer when I can work with it without being pregnant or preoccupied with crazy production stuff...

    It took me 4 or 5 years to break open a box of my ceramic chocolate clay body, and now I can't stop using the stuff!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  13. Inspirational piece with so much sentimental value. How creative to use the number 40 in the center and I love all your recent work with fiber.

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  14. What a very exciting necklace. I love your ideas and design!

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  15. beautiful MJ, you know that i love that kind of work, specially yours!! !! love your headpins too..

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  16. LOVE the nod to grandparents! I was raised by my Gran, and they don't call her Grand for nothin'! Hey, I've got an award for you on my blog!!

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  17. Wow Mary Jane! Every time I come here- I am just blown away! Your work is so artistic and incredible! I wish some of you would rub off on me! :) Can we hang out? :) Beautiful piece! Thank you for sharing!

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