Thursday Favorites: Nielloware From Mom

When I was a girl my mother had a necklace that I always loved. It was of a dancing lady that I found so pretty and exotic. Years later my mother gave me the piece and I noticed that it said "Siam Sterling" on the back. I new that it came from Thailand, and that it must have come from the Mid Century time frame given the silver stamping. But that was all that I really knew about it. 

A quick search online identified it as Nielloware. Specifically it is vintage sterling silver (c. 1940s, Siam). The process involves first engraving the silver design, then carving out background areas which are then filled in with a sulfur power mixture. The piece is baked at very high temperatures and then polished. The final step is to re-engrave the silver. In Thailand it is call khruang thom. This process dates back hundreds of years, and was especially popular in the 13th and 15th centuries in places like Russia, India, Japan as well as Thailand. 

Nielloware became popular in the US from the 1950s to 1970s when it was introduced by US servicemen during the Vietnam war who sent jewelry home to their sweethearts. My father was in the Airforce during this time, and no doubt how it ended up in my mom's jewelry box.

The woman on the piece from my mother is known as Mekkala, the Goddess of Lightning (an atmospheric diva whose power comes from the gem in her hand which creates lightning) ... one of the many mythological characters that show up on Nielloware. Mekkala plays an important role In Thai's version of The Ramakien (Hindu legend of Ramayama). The story is told through dancers with elaborate costumes and masks. It is about a prince, his wife, his parents (the King and Queen of Siam) and the evil King of Ceylon. The prince struggles with mortal flaws to endeavor to find the right path. Mekkala steps in and helps the young prince at one point in the story when he is struggling in the waves after the wreck of his ship. She carries him in her arms back to his home. Your usual epic. 

For me this piece of jewelry reminds me of being a young girl and sneaking into my mother's jewelry to marvel at the things inside the box.

Inspiration Board: Adirondacks

We've just returned from our time in the Adirondacks, or as we call it 'camp.' It is a wonderful place to unplug and forget about all the things that stress you out at home. One of the favorite places is sitting on the dock watching the water and the kids swim. It is just stunning.

I did get the chance to work on quite a few projects, so I'll be posting them over the next week or two. This is the first one, Antique Pearl Cuff, which is finally completed. The pearls in the cuff were my Mom's. Nothing too fancy, just nice glass pearls. I finished up the pearl cuff with antique mother-of-pearl buttons. I found these in a forgotten sewing machine drawer at my mother-in-law's. I'll bet they were there for 50+ years! So they were a nice finish to the bracelet. I added a simple beaded loop to hold it in place and it seemed to come together nicely. 








I thought I'd leave a little Adirondack inspiration board for anyone stuck at work in this heat! It's Monday, I'm back and work, and will be thinking of sitting at the dock.


What patterns do you dream when you've got the luxury of a lazy day?

Thursday Favorites: My Outdoor Workshop

Once a year we make it up to the Northern part of the Adirondacks, near the Canadian border. It is time to forget about the world, my day job, and the demands in my life. I get to sit on the screened-in porch, bead and listen to the wind and birds. 

Occasionally I get a burst of energy and get out on the lake for a paddle in the kayak, but mostly I get to bead. I love my time in the mountains.

I brought a stash of books with me; inclusive of my favorite bead books. I’ve been revisiting a few patterns that I’ve had book marked for some time. I thought I finally try out some bead stitches I’ve been meaning to practice.

This pretty little pattern is one I’ve looked at for a while, but just never got around to giving it a try. It is from a book that I LOVE called Beaded Allure by Kelly Wiese. There are some amazing beading projects in this book, including this one.

I recently pulled apart several strands of glass pearls my mother gave me a few years ago that she never wore. I hesitate to call them 'antique' just yet. But they are close enough. I wanted something that was sort of 'dressed up-Bohemian' so I used yellow seed beads and a mix of glass pearl sizes. I haven't yet decided how I want to finish the closure as the patterns calls for using a bead, but with the weight of this pattern I doubt that would hold. So I'll sift through my buttons once I'm back home, and perhaps some pearl buttons will do the trick.

Once I've finished up this pattern, I'll re-post it complete with a few modeling shots from my favorite model. My daughter.

Flap Your Wings Blog Hop: Double Rainbow

A fellow blogger over at Moobie Grace Designs has organized this Blog Hop in honor of Judy who recently lost her battle with cancer. Many of us are planning to sell and donate our proceeds to charities. I will be donating the proceeds of this bracelet, and 4 more below, to breast cancer research.

When I was trying to decide what to create for Judy, the first thing that came to mind was a double rainbow. I decided to use a double pattern with multi-color Swarovski for that sparkle rain has on a rainbow. A double rainbow is thought to be about transformation in your life: the material world is represented by the first rainbow while the second is the spiritual world. No matter your beliefs, I thought this was a perfect way to honor Judy. 

I have been working on a collection of bracelets to donate with Lyne who creates these fabric buttons, and who donates a portion of her sales to breast cancer research. She too lost her mother to cancer, and this is her way of honoring her mother. 

Back in February, Lyne and I decided to create a series of bracelets with her buttons. This is the 5th and final bracelet in our collection. I wanted to do something to honor my mom (read here for our first blog post) who I lost in March 2011 when she lost her battle with PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy). Death always seems to be about the people you leave behind. I hope this tribute is heart warming to Judy's family.    
Materials:
1. Navajo: Miyuki seed beads, Beauty button
2. Elizabethan: black banded agate, onyx, Miyuki seed beads, Beauty Button
3. St Petersburg: Miyuki seed beads, Czech beads, Beauty Button
4. Neptune: coral, Miyuki seed beads, cowrie shells, Beauty Button 
5. Double Rainbow: Miyuki seed beads, Swaroviski crystals, Beauty Button

Inheritance: What Our Mothers Give

I suppose this should be written closer to Mother's Day, but Mothers have no time or boundaries.  I read a wonderful blog this weekend from The Gossiping Goddess who not only shared amazing photography from Southern England, but did a beautiful remembrance of her Mom who past a year ago.


It got me thinking about the anniversary of my Mom's passing a year ago March.  It has taken awhile to organize my emotions about it, and well, that will likely be a work in progress for some time.  But in honor of my Mom, I'd like to help someone else honor their's.  


I recently connected with a lovely woman from Israel who has an on-going fund for breast cancer research dedicated to her Mother.  Seems very timely with the recent dust up about the Susan G Komen controversy.  No matter which side of this debate you're on, what really matters is making sure the people who are still with us, that mean so much in our lives, get the help they need. 


When I saw that she had created her Facebook page, her Twitter and her Etsy for this cause with a portion of her Beauty Buttons going to this research, I felt compelled to ask how I could help. She jumped right in and sent me samples of her beautiful, custom, handmade buttons (right).  And as my first piece I created a bracelet (top left), which we will auction off to raise money for the cause.  We'll be sending details in March for anyone who would like to participate, so check back.


My Mother passed due to a rare condition called PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy).  Little is known about it, or its origin. But as a memorial to my Mother, I'd like to honor her by supporting research and causes for all Mothers. In hopes that they are with us longer. My Mom gave me independence, curiosity and a strong sense of perseverance. If your Mom is still with you, remember to tell her how much she's influenced your life. 

Inheritance: My Turkish Coral Project Continues

As a second installment to this story, my Turkish friend took one look at the first version of this necklace and with a  bit of a sigh said "I don't know, do you think this looks like me?" as she held it up against her shirt.  First version you can find here How I met my Turkish Friend. I did know right away that I was in for a second version of this necklace.  In my defense, she was admiring a very similar necklace done in all pearls and so seemed somewhat logical to me that she'd like this style.  Silly me.  Now my other train friends and I just laugh and shake our heads because this is a very common theme with my Turkish friend.  

"Do you think you can just make this 1 inch shorter?"  "Could you change out the clasp?"  "I think the color should be more grey-blue - don't you?"  I've learned not to finish the project until she has a good look at it as I simply end up ripping it all out and re-stringing it. 

So if you read my last blog entry you know that she asked for me to rework the necklace to have just 3 simple strands.  I kept the bead variations within the same color tones.  The combination uses coral, orange agate, rust-colored jasper coins and carnelian (a very popular Indian stone seen throughout the inlays at the Taj Mahal). Check out this link to see just how beautiful the inlay is within the Taj, and how prevalent the carnelian orange color is throughout the patterns: Taj Mahal inlay work.  

The graduated necklace hangs down to her mid-section in an 'opera' style length. She had this one on the other day and she tells me that as she is sitting at her desk and someone at the office is admiring it, one of the strands slowly pulls apart and the beads pop off one, two three ....  My friend has a tendency to be rough on the jewelry.  One pair of earrings she was looking at she literally twisted off the charm on the earwire right in front of me.  I usually need to make sure I use some heavy-duty materials for the projects I make for her.  

So this one I restrung with a wire called 'fireline' something that is nearly indestructible.  But if it is possible, she'll find a way.  I may need to have yet a 5th go at this project!

At the end of this project, I still had quite a few of my friend's coral beads left over. So I created a bracelet with the same color pattern, but not too 'matchy-matchy' as she she said. She never wears the two together, but separately they really are very pretty. Beading Daily

Inheritance: How I met my Turkish friend

A friend of mine who grew up in Turkey asked me to give new life to strings of coral she had inherited from her mother.  The beads are simply stunning.  You can still pick up bits and pieces within that show the natural coral patterns.  

It all started with a train ride.  I take the train from Connecticut to Manhattan every morning where 'standing room only' is very common.  So if you can find a seat then you 'squeeze in' and attempt not to elbow anyone, get elbowed by anyone, or literally knock knees through your hour+ ride into the city.  Needless to say, if you ride the train daily you get to know people; probably way better than you expect.  Another fellow rider, now good friend of mine, was flipping through a Sundance catalog (highly recommend checking it out for those of you that like a little Southwestern style in your jewelry)  My Turkish friend and I were looking over her shoulder as she flipped.  Yes this was before we really knew each other ... but that is sort of how it happens on these train rides.

Our other friend, a clothing designer who works for Walmart --- yes that is a head scratcher, but she does have amazing style and can pull off just about any outfit. So our Designer friend points to a multi-strand turquoise necklace noting how much she wanted it and how lovely it would look with a flowing white summer dress for her upcoming trip to the Mediterranean.  Of course we agree, as long as it is her rock'n this outfit, but I notice the price and say wow it really doesn't cost that much to make a necklace like that.  And so it begins ... I am known as the personal jeweler of my train crowd.

The next day, or maybe it was a week later ... our time together blurs as the ride is pretty monotonous.  My Turkish friend shows up with a zip lock bag full of these gorgeous coral beads and says .. can you do something with these?   It's a 'classy' operation I run as the Train Jeweler.

I created a multi-strand necklace that starts at the collar and graduates the 5 strands. This has become an on-going saga about the length of the pieces I create for my friend. Anyway, for this version (yes I had to do multiple versions) I used diamond-shaped, flat connectors to graduate the strands. The color tones I used were inspired are from jewelry I saw all over India; including some coral tube beads I inherited from my mother-in-law who got them in India where she grew up. I did include a combination of beads from her mother and mine in this necklace --- thus the name of the piece. The neckalce is made from a combination of coral, orange agate, rust-colored jasper coins and carnelian (a very popular Indian stone seen throughout the inlays at the Taj Mahal), gold and gold vermeil Beading Daily

This version was completely taken apart, so the only thing left is the picture.  She decided that she wanted 3 simple long strands.  See Inheritance for the final version she now wears. Beading Daily