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Friday, April 24, 2015

Briar Rose

I am proud to present my 2015 Bead Dreams entry, "Briar Rose" and happy to edit my post to announce that it placed first in Ms. Maddie's Fabulous Florals.  This category honors Merle Berelowitz, and is generously sponsored by her family and CJS Sales, specialists in vintage jewelry supplies in NYC.

I did not know Merle Berelowitz, but I believe I share a love of all things floral with her.  I hope her family finds the amazing collection of works presented in her memorial category pleasing.

My entry was the result of several ideas. First, I planted a new succulent ground cover in my garden last summer and the sweet, prickly little thing was happy enough in its new spot to bloom. The flower had a flat brown face, and five pointy golden petals that curled away.  I loved it!



The basic shape of my rose components, and the idea of thorns came from this adorable plant.  I started with three 35mm cathedral jewels, which appealed because of the Pantone color of the year for 2015, Marsala.


Then I fiddled with various petals.


And finally created some I liked, and tested colors and application.


Then, I played with leaves, thinking spike-y, and rose-like.


Which were created from long oval Swarovski jewels and diagonal peyote.


Once I had leaves and flowers, I wanted to further pursue the bas relief branch technique I created last year for "Ka-Bloom", which involved couching satin cord to bead backing and beading over it.


But this time, I wanted to make thorny vines.  I sketched, trying to create a sort of dangerous looking growth of rose vines, that might have served as protection for "Briar Rose" herself, (aka Sleeping Beauty) as she lay sleeping in her castle, awaiting her true loves kiss.


I carefully plotted leaf and thorn placement, and then, began beading away... 



But I struggled with color, and made THREE versions before I could decide which I preferred.  Jeez. For what this is worth, I don't find using color challenging.  I have a pretty good idea of what I want.  It's getting the combination of beads, thread and backing that will produce that result that is hard!

 Reject #1
Reject #2
Until finally... I found a combination I liked!





Pretty happy with my little clasp too.

Surprisingly, it seems I took no picture of the backside, always a point of pride for me.

But I quietly begin to wonder.  Why do I work so hard at this?  Particularly when what I make seems somehow not to belong to me, but instead to those who would show it, if they choose?  Or to those who would see it, but only when they are ready, and on their terms.  Some little thing in my heart is broken, and I hope I can mend it.  I think my competition days might be drawing to a close.

I wrote the above paragraph on a difficult day.  I leave it here because I imagine I will need to be reminded of how I felt on some other day, when I am doubting myself and others.  I participate in competitive beading because I find it pushes me to reach for MORE in every way.  It's not easy.  And it can be emotionally draining, but it can also be a very good thing, and I hope that I can remember to keep that GOOD at the top of my heart and mind going forward.

Thank you Kinga for the photo!

61 comments:

  1. You keep at it, because there is so much beauty in your soul, and making these bigger and more beautiful than life pieces is setting that beauty free in the world. Sure there is limits to how and when things get viewed and by whom. But that has nothing to do with the fact that the world is better for this piece existing in it. Nothing else matters. Circumstances change, competitions get forgotten, beauty remains, and since you have so much of it, I say keep it coming.

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  2. Incredibly beautiful Marsha. The world would be less without your marvels. I say do it for you. I imagine a exhibition full of your beautiful pieces.

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    1. Jenny, thank you. Both for your kind words, and for taking the time and making the effort in the midst of your own personal difficulties. <3

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  3. Breathtakingly beautiful! Thank you do showing your art and sharing your process. Your work is always a delight.

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  4. Oh My! Stunning! Beautiful! I always know that I can view a Marsha piece and it will be breathtaking. Competition coming to an end. Oh please no! You are one of my Muses and you keep challenging me to step up my game - try new things. The beauty is always there and this is just beautiful.

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    1. Thank you so much. I was having a tough afternoon, and the support is so keenly felt. :)

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  5. Marsha, wow! I am absolutely blown away by this piece. It's honestly one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen... one of those I-can-die-happy-because-I-saw-it kinds of pieces. Bravo. <3

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  6. Wow, I'm stunned. Really incredible! ♥♥♥

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  7. Amazing and gorgeous necklace!
    Awesome work in progress!

    Regards,
    Marta

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  8. Oh ! marshall , quelle belle pièce , je. suis complètement sous son charme 🌼 , je vous en prie Chère amie , continuez de nous éblouir ...

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  9. Superbe travail,j"adore,ça me donnerai même envie de reprendre les perles ;)

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  10. Thank you so much to each of you. Your reading and comments mean so much to me!

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  11. Replies
    1. Lol, maybe you are questioning how it can be self-supporting? I fused Lycra to pellon to stiffen the vine-y bits, and the cord and beadwork offer support too. :).

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    2. :-)))))))))) I meant incredible!!!!

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    3. Ah! Of course! Silly me. Thank you from my heart!

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  12. beautiful beyond belief!! What talent! <3

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  13. Glorious! When you pick up a needle, the world gets just that little bit prettier - simple as that!

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  14. I think you compete to push yourself- it is as good a reason as any to create those pieces which are too big to wear. :) I do, however, think that this piece is very wearable.

    It really is breathtaking.

    I am glad you referenced the Ka-Bloom piece. I recognized the technique and I just love it. It does fit amazingly well with the current piece.

    Whether you are competing or not, I know you will continue to create beautiful things. I will look forward to each reveal and the process details you share with each post.

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    1. KJ, you are exactly right. Competition does push us to exceed our own boundaries. I was having a down day, and probably should have kept my mouth shut. But I also am finding myself healed in all a the lovely support. As always, thank you!

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  15. This is your first piece I've seen. Needless to say, I am in love! Then my heart cracked a little as I read your words questioning why you do this... It's beauty such as this with positive energy that goes out into the world drawing the same back within it self, building and cascading to lift others to a higher, more beautiful and positive plane. Please do not give up, perhaps create these gorgeous designs for another purpose other than competition, but do keep sending your beauty and positive energy out to the world :)

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    1. Rachel, the lovely reception and kind comments were very healing. Thank you!

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    2. Very welcome! I am enjoying looking through your past posts :) Enjoy!

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  16. What a beautiful piece of work! Thanks so much for sharing with us!

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  17. I love it! I think it's drop dead gorgeous!

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  18. So beautiful and perfect in every way. Your work has something quite magical Marsha, you are a true artist and a kind and generous soul to share your process. Thank you and good luck! :)

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    1. Interesting your use of magical, Joanne, I think there is something magic in getting elements to coalesce into a whole... Things happen in human brains, while we are not looking for answers, but just asking questions that somehow transcends. I love working with ideas, like the Sleeping Beauty legend that include magical elements too. And sometimes, we just get lucky. :). Thanks for commenting and reading.

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  19. And thanks so much to each of you who offered kind words! They are deeply appreciated!

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  20. Marsha, not only do I appreciate the finished product, which I definitely consider artwork, but your willingness to show your process to the world. I have learned so many things from your posts and freebies...more than I've ever learned from the very few classes I plunked down my food budget money on and was very sorry for doing so afterward. You've generously shared your learning and skills and showed us how you work....and the magic comes about with the image of the finished product you hold in your head...and heart! Continue please...we need to see you working!! Jeanne Evans

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    1. <3 Jeanne! I am so honored that you find my drivel useful!!!

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  21. Oh, what for breathtaking beautiful roses!
    And every rose has her thorns...
    I hope You will nevernever stop to make such glorious things.
    Your roses brings light into my world like little suns. I wish, I would be able to stitch such wonderful things. So I look at Yours and feel happy to read what You tell about the process of making.
    Sorry, my english isn't good enaugh to tell my exaltation, but I'm afraid, my german too.
    Best regards
    Heidi

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    1. Your words are eloquent in any language and I am honored. My German is meager, and I have no idea how to form an umlaut with my keyboard, but Danke Schon!

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  22. Wow, just scrolling as you do and than whow, this amazing colour burst on the screen,and as an extra bonus you can See how it all is put together, please don,t stop doing what you do so well ,the world can do with this beauty, thank you for sharing,

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  23. What a wonderful, impressive masterpiece in techniques, shape, and colors. Thank you for sharing the single working steps and good luck for the contest. I hope, you will win!
    With best greetings from Lower-Austria:
    Uli Jez

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  24. Eva Maria, Uli, Anke, thanks to each of you for reading and your kind words!

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  25. Amazing. And thanks for a tutorial.

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  26. This is stunning. What a wonderful piece! I found you because I am a fellow finalist, in the polymer category. This piece just REALLY speaks to me! best of luck to you!

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    1. How interesting Staci! I stumbled Cross your pieces on fab, when you were trying to decide which color display form to use. I love both pieces, the one Looks like bits of bone and seems African to me, and the turquoise stripes one I and just in love with! I commented on your fB boost that I thought the white form allowed the awesome details to be more visible. So glad you like my work too!

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  27. Just saw you won- congratulations. It is good to get that kind of positive feedback.

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  28. Wow, Marsha.... what an intense emotional workout you go through... this is why I can not do competitions :( You do such an incredible job on things, far above anything I could ever imagine doing.

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    1. LOL! You know Bev, I am maybe a little insane, I am deeply introverted, and way more sensitive than is necessary. Hyper self-critical and perfectionistic to boot. You should see my photographer/stylist/model and I work together. It is completely nuts, because we are both pretty similar in temperament, working really hard to get what we think we need without inflicting any unintended damage... It's probably not so darn hard for everyone else! I hope it don't make the process look ridiculous! :)

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    2. No, it doesn't :) When you're looking for the best, you work as hard as you can to do perfection - which is impossible for imperfect us. But I understand that desire and need. I'm introverted as well and suffer the same things... self critical and OCD.

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  29. Congratulations Marsha on your placement of this wonderful work!
    -Eva Maria

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  30. Marsha,

    This is so inspiring! Thank you so much for walking through your process with us and sharing your personal thoughts. I am new to bead weaving and have found a passion in it that I've never had for anything else and seeing artists like yourself only fuels my fire.

    This piece is probably the most beautiful I've seen in all my research up to this point and I hope one day I can see one of my own creations in the same light.

    Sincerely,
    Rebecca

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    1. Rebecca, thanks so much! I'm so glad my work connected with you! Off to see if you have a blog yourself! <3

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  31. I am delighted. It is very hard work. Wow.

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    1. I probably make it hard than it needs to be. :) Thanks for reading and commenting!

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  32. Супер, я в восторге:)

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