"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I love my girls!!!!

And to celebrate my love for them & who they are as people; for Mother's Day, I made them each a necklace....a "soulful" necklace. I wasn't able to complete their necklaces by Mother's Day however so we met up for sushi & martinis last week & I gave them to them then.

I saw this thimble necklace design, by the extremely talented Diane Cook, in the current Belle Armoire jewelry magazine by Stampington. Her designs were based on a heart, birds & religious icons though. I wanted to make my girls one, using soul as the theme.

And I know there's been a lot of controversy & discussion in blogland about the ethics of copying an artist's work & I'm gonna give you my 2 cents worth. I have big reservations about copying an individual's work that they were generous enough to share on their blog but if you publish a tut & I pay for it (whether it's online, an in-person workshop or in a magazine), then I am then free to "copy". I've purchased the knowledge so I am free to use the knowledge. *crossing my fingers that the marvelous Ms Cook agrees* Cause she is FULL of marvelous ideas!!! *grins*

This is my version of Diane Cook's Heartstrings....I call them "She's Got Soul".



I strayed from Diane's designs in many ways. I didn't age the silver as my girls don't like old stuff (I know!!!!!), I used heavier fabrics & I went easy on the bling & left off the lace completely, as neither Stacie nor Shilah are into that kind of stuff. (again I know!...but I love them anyway! LOL) This first necklace is for Stacie. I used a beautiful blue & tan upholstery weight fabric, torn into a frayed strip & faded vintage blue ribbon. For both necklaces, I used charms symbolizing things that are important to each of them...adding a few "pearls of wisdom", a crystal drop, a bottle of "dreams" (the bottle is full of mini-rhinestones) & a couple strands of rhinestone chains.


The poem Footprints in the Sand has had special signifigance to Stacie, ever since Clifton's accident, when after a particularly bad day, a social worker at the hospital gave her a charm w/ it. So I made her a mini-book out of resin. (just spread the resin front & back on the paper & allow to dry. It drys pliable like leather!)



Since Stace is an optometrist, I thought it would be fun to make the letters so small that you need a magnifying glass to read them. I was able to get the entire poem in a tiny book, just a bit over an inch and a half.


Her bottle of dreams, a cross to symbolize her love for God and a mirror ...the mirror is to encourage her to see her own beauty.


And of course, being an optometrist, she needed a pair of glasses.


And because she is officially a Texan now, I included a cowboy boot charm. A couple of Christmases ago, she told me a story of how she wanted a pair of red cowboy boots as a little girl & never got any....so I took both my girls boot shopping for their Christmas present. She didn't pick out red ones though so I guess I still owe her a pair. ;)


I added a key to a heart locket....


and added pictures of the "keys to her heart".


For Shilah's necklace, I went w/ a nubby floral fabric, using yarn trims, faded pink ribbon, etc.


She has collected angels most of her life so I added an angel wing.


and a sterling wineglass cause she is her mother's daughter. ;)


She also has a love for our God so a rhinestone cross was added to her's as well.


The keys to Shi's heart.....


She is known to have a major shoe fetish so I added a high heel.


Her bottle of dreams....may they all come true!


And I had to include a butterfly...she knows why.


Here's how the necklaces look hanging...like beautiful, jeweled tassels!



My girls & I; taken Mother's Day of this year....Shi is on the left, Stace on the right. I am so blessed to have them in my life.



I LOVE MY GIRLS!!!!!


11 comments:

Laurie said...

OMG, Cami!! Those necklaces are just gorgeous -- I love them like crazy, and I'm sure your girls did, too! Wow!! Did you make one for you, too?

Unknown said...

absolutely wonderful...and how special!
xojana

Sharon Morrison said...

Cami...your necklaces are wonderful.
I may have to create 3, for my grown daughters.
Love readying your blog.

Dorthe said...

Dear Cami, they are really wonderful, and so filled wit their small treasures, and dreams, I love that,you added all those personal toutches.
xo,Dorthe

Grace said...

You are lucky to have them and they are so lucky to have you!! All 3 of you look gorgeous and those necklaces look beautiful. What great gifts. Grace xoox

Suzanne said...

Your two girls are so lucky to have such a creative, wonderful mom like you. The necklaces were made with so much thought and love.
Simply stunning!
Love, Suzanne from Bird Song

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

OH Cami!! I LOVE those sweet necklaces. I bet your girls flipped over them! They have not only the things that are special to your girls hanging from them, but they also are full of a mother's love!!

Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Melissa/Piney Rose said...

So pretty!

FredaB said...

This is a lovely post and how you feel about your girls comes through loud and clear.

The necklaces are just beautiful and I am sure they each love how you personalized them.

Hugs

fredaB

mirandachiop said...

Those are absolutely gorgeous. I am continually amazed by your talent! Such love going into your gifts!

Diane said...

I love them both Cami....great job =)
I just finished teaching a Heart Strings class in Fullerton, and the ladies made the most beautiful Heart Strings~it almost made me cry! I am still buy unpacking loads from our trip...so I hope to post about the two classes next week =)
Thanks again...I just might forward your link to Stampington =) I think they would appreciate knowing what you did!
diane
xo