Thursday, November 21, 2013

Rolling Blog Hop :: Squash Blossoms

I know I said I'd be back in a week, but Christine's Rolling Blog Hop is, well... hopp'n! I posted two of my spools 2 weeks ago, and I was waiting for a lull to post my third spool reveal. But looks like I'm going to need to squeeze back in.

The posts are just roll'n in, and we've seen some fantastic designs! I have all the links to everyone's reveals so far at the end of this post so you can check them all out.    

For my third design, I was working with this large, more irregular shaped spool. I did struggle just a bit with it trying to figure out what direction I wanted the design of the spool to be until I remembered an image I saw of a young Native American girl. She had beautiful dark hair tied up on either side in what is called a "Squash Blossom" style. The hairstyle is a Hopi custom which represents the sign of a girl's marriageability. The young girl will twist her hair in the shape of squash blossoms, which is the sign of fertility for an unmarried girl in the tribe. 

I wanted natural colors and fibers in this piece, so I used a linen colored silk from Darn Good Yarn, a mix of seed beads, Czech beads and howlite. I am loving this howlite stone with native designs. It has subtle tan-cream veining throughout the stone, which gives it a natural look. I also stained the spool so it had a deep color. The focal is long (6 inches!) and has a good weight to it. I envision it being worn waist length.

Ok, I know this is an irreverent move on my part, but once I started putting this blog post together I simply could not get an image out of my head. Is it just me? or do those squash blossom twists remind you of Princess Leia in Star Wars... I always thought of her hair as more of a Danish pastry swirl, but maybe that is just the recollection from the Ross and Rachel scene in Friends. Once I started googling images, both the Native American girl and Princess Leia kept coming up together. It was all over for me; the image stuck. The one I can't get out of my head is Nicolas Cage dressed like Princess Leia ... that is one that cannot be unseen... Gah!

We're almost through the rolling blog hop! Check out all the links and projects already revealed. Our host: Christine (Christine's post), and all the rest of the rolling bloggers: 
Janet (Janet's post), Hope (Hope's post), Bobbie (Bobbie's post), Tanya (Tanya's post), Maryanne (Maryanne's post), Cynthia (my first post), Liz (Liz's post), Lisa (Lisa's post), Kim (Kim's post), and the bloggers still to post: Therese (Therese's post), Karin (Karin's post) and Erin (Erin's post)

25 comments:

  1. Danish pastry? haha. That made me laugh, Cynthia :)
    I've never seen an empty spool used in jewelry making before...that's genius!

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  2. Brilliant! So beautiful and raw. But Princess Leia? hahaha

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  3. Love this! I love the way you incorporate fabric and fibers in your jewelry! This is really beautiful!

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  4. Oh my Nicolas Cage as princes Leia I just had to peek...and laugh! I love your creativity.

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  5. Oh Cynthia it is just beautiful!!!

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  6. I know I should be commenting on your beautiful and creative jewelry, but this will serve you right to hint on Nicolas Cage ever again :) I just love that man (God knows why) - and you have to give it to him: he has such a versatile face!

    And of course I love what you made with the spool - absolutely gorgeous!

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  7. The squash blossom is such a fantastic and unexpected thing for you to see in this spool! But I should know by now to expect anything from your mind. What great images you have here to support what you did with your spool. The sari looks like the clothing on the Native woman and on Leia. The rag doll/folk art style and the reclaimed spool and sari make this piece seem old as the hills. I just love it! The beading fringe is awesome! And Phoebe and Nicholas crack me up :-D

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  8. Girl, you knew I'd just have to check out Nick, right? Man, that's just...weird!
    Anyway, I do love how you showcased the spool on this one. It fills many styles of jewelry for me, from a vintage look, to a Native American twist, to mixed media loveliness. Well done!

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  9. Funny where inspiration can come from! I'm not going to be able to get Nicolas' photo out of my mind now either. lol! Love your new necklace - Bohemian!

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  10. Wonderful and unique design! I love the sources of your inspiration!!!!!

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  11. That is so lovely. I love the ribbon and the beaded edges. You did a beautiful job.

    When I started reading about the hair rolls, Princess Leia was my first thought also. :)

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  12. Very beautiful ;)


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  13. Haha! Whatever it takes for inspiration huh! It turned out great but I'm really wanting a danish pastry now!

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  14. Cool necklace! The Sari Silk reminds me of what the Native American girl is wearing actually - very neat. Oh, and Nick - LOL!! Thanks for that image that's now in my brain! ;-)

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  15. Oh my! I had not seen those images of Nicholas Cage as Princess Leia before. Hysterical and oh so disturbing! What a great analogy you picked up on with the spool resembling the Hopi hairstyle. Of course am loving your design too!

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  16. Cynthia you have done it again I have said this before, but your creativity is awesome. Love the Squash Blossom spool.
    Therese

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  17. Danish pastry swirl - now you've made me hungry. Well, until I saw the photo of Nicholas Cage as princess Leia. That was just plain spooky. Your third spool is quite wonderful. The linen colored silk, the fringe and the spool all complement each other sooooooooo well. Bravo!

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  18. Your creativity never ceases to amaze me! You come up with such fun designs!
    LOL on Princess Leia :)

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  19. Nicholas Cage as Princess Leia! LOL! Too funny! Your pendant is stunning! So unique!!!

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  20. I would never have aligned the spools with those hair styles - loved this post!

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  21. Great inspiration, and fantastic interpretation! Love it!

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  22. GAH! That is absolutely amazing! You're killing me with the awesomeness.

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  23. The soft silk is so beautiful. I would have never know you were inspired by Princess Leia! Gorgeous necklace!

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  24. Your Indian maiden with her Squash blossom hairdo is just fabulous! I love how you honored her with your design.

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