Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories and thanks - blog hop

Lori described the 'reason' for this blog hop beautifully: "You never know what you might mean to someone" - and the story is a sad one, but one we can learn from. Lori is right, you never now - and the reverse it's usually true: people that mean something in your life might never know either.

We tend to shy away from properly thanking the people who touch our lives: we mean to do, but it's always 'tomorrow' and we are so sure tomorrow is going to be there... and we are sometimes reminded in a brutal way that it might not be. I know that's true for me - I have many people I mean to say 'thank you' and the moment passes for one reason or another and I feel it'll be silly now to do that... and... I find more excuses to go on like this.

There are many people to thank and some to remember too... I chose the 'thanks' part of the blog hop (although there will be a memories one soon).

Who am I going to thank today? My mom. We are far away from each other (she's in Europe, I am in North America) and our relationship is a complex and complicated one. But she is and will always be my mom, the one who raised me as well as the context allowed her. Of course I went through the youth rebellions (when nothing your parents do is good enough) and of course I saw many things in a different light as soon as I grew up enough to mature. We talk often and I am always surprised how little she thinks I think of her - which only proves I haven't done a good job of thanking her lately :)

But I do: I am thankful for everything she did for us, the kids, and I know it wasn't easy. I am grateful for all the memories she managed to create for us in conditions less than ideal. Of course there were ups and downs - but that's what relationships are, after all: a complex mix of ups and downs. At the end of the day I hope she will recognize some of what I am as her love and doing. I hope she can see that I truly love her and I am thankful for how she shaped my life.

What can say 'thank you' better than a heart? I don't know - that's why I made a heart :)


"Thank you" heart: silver, wire weaving :: All Pretty Things

A wire woven heart. Simple and delicate, but strong and beautiful. Just like love is.

Thank you, mom!

I hope you'll find some time this weekend to visit the other participants - and learn of what they created with a memory or thank in mind. If you don't - I hope you will take the time to pick up the phone, a pen, or get to the keyboard: and thank someone (or many more!) in your life. Tell them now what they mean to you, make them happy knowing they make a difference.

Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs
Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures
Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents
Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems
Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods
Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space
Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams
CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ
Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas
Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey
Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa
Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found
Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry
Heather Marston                 CSW Designs
Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog
Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier
Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne                   josjewels1
Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs
Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue
Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design
Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental
Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean
LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert                      Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo                           Ornamento
Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.
Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth
Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren                           re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner
Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz 
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle
Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya
Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame
Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels
Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets

59 comments:

  1. First blog I visited, Alicia. BEAUTIFUL!

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  2. I love the heart pendant you made. It certainly looked beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story.

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  3. Gasp again! That's gorgeous!

    I hope your mom reads this and knows how you feel :)

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  4. The necklace is beautiful, Alicia, and so are your words...

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  5. Beautiful weaving and lovely to read the honest and thoughtful story behind your gift

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  6. Wonderful post - and your wire working skills are amazing!

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  7. It is amazing as we age how much our Mothers mean to us. The heart is perfect and your wire work is lovely.

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  8. Beautifully written and a gorgeous heart, love it!!

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  9. stunning in it's simplicity and strength- love it!

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  10. Your post was very moving. The heart that you created is Awesome.

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  11. Wow, wow, wow! I LOVE that heart. Gorgeous work. And a lovely post about your mom. All so true for many mother/daughter relationships.

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  12. You crafted your words as beautifully as your heart. Wonderful post!

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  13. Great post Alicia, I agree that we need to thank the people we love and we are close to much more often than we do! Thank You for the timely reminder. I love the Heart, it is elegant and wonderful!!!

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  14. It's so easy to just let the days slip by...beautiful way to thank you mom! The heart you created is just amazing, too!

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  15. What a lovely heart! I think that relationships are always complex, mine is with my own mom, but that doesn't diminish the love that we feel for our family members. Thank you for sharing! Enjoy the day! Erin

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  17. A gorgeous piece! You do beautiful work! A wonderful way to show how thankful you are. Thanks for sharing. Hope you enjoy the hop.
    Hugs
    Terri G.
    Misspelled - had to delete the other comment...so let's try this again.

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  18. Your wire wrapping is beautiful! I'm sure your mom will love this piece as well as this post.

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  19. What a delicate & beautiful heart pendant you weaved out of love with wire.

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  20. The heart is beautiful, and so is the post.

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  21. Simply beautiful. I love your work !
    Brooklyn Bead Goddess

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  22. Your heart and wire wrapping are absolutely beautiful! I hope your Mom gets a chance to read your post!

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  23. What an exquisite piece! I know your mother will be so proud, and happy to read what you wrote from your heart.

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  24. Beautiful work. I'm sure your mom will appreciate your heartfelt words.

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  25. What a beautiful work of art! I'm feeling the love!

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  26. I sure hope that your Mom sees this post. What a beautiful way to express your love to her.

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  27. No words needed ..your beautiful heart radiates love.
    m.e. :)

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  28. Oh that is perfectly beautiful. She will see that here or printed out, and she will KNOW.
    love, jean

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  29. That heart is beautiful! Such talent. I hope your mom sees this post (perhaps you should email her the link!)

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  30. Your wire wrapped heart is exceptional, and will surely express the love you fell for your mom.

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  31. What a beautiful thank you to your mom, and your wire wrapped heart is fantastic. I love how you compared it's characteristics to those of your mom. Wonderful!

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  32. That is one beautiful heart. I'm a sucker for wire weaving.

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  33. I love your heart, prayers for a stronger relationship with your mom. blessings

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  34. Make sure your mom reads this post. I love the heart you created.

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  35. Your heart is beautiful! Someday, I plan to learn wire-wrapping! I'm sad that your mom lives so far away. You honored her well!!

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  36. What a beautiful tribute to your mother, the heart is lovely!

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  37. Wonderful... absolutely wonderful! You are right a heart is a universal symbol for love. It is a beautiful heart and there is no doubt that you appreciate your mother, and the love and life lessons she instilled. I know it must be difficult to be so far apart. Thanks for sharing - be sure to let your mother see this wonderful tribute.

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  38. Wow, the heart is beautiful! I love it. Isn't all Mom-Daughter relationships complicated? :)

    Bead Soup Mix

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  39. Beautifully done! I hope you get the chance to visit, or have her visit.

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  40. Beautiful story written with a beautiful heart!

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  41. What a beautiful post and a lovely heart, Alicia!

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  42. beautiful heart and a lovely tribute.

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  43. What a beautiful post and I love your Wire work heart. Beautiful work, Alicia...As I am fiddling with wire too I know how precious your wire work is.

    It is interesting to see so many of us wrote about our moms!

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  44. Oh hearts and love hand in hand perfect! Your wirework is always so beautiful and neat. I really adore how you ended your post too. Thank you friend!

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  45. A beautiful heart for a heartfelt tribute!

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  46. Wonderful wirework, very gallant! Mom's are the best, aren't they?

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  47. Alicia I have a similar relationship with my daughter and I know if she had written such a post I would have felt a "healing" from all that had past. The heart you created is wonderful but the words " spoken from YOUR heart" are even more beautiful.Beautiful, honest post. XXOO

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  48. My relationship with my mom is rather complicated, too... I need to thank her for the work she did.
    What a beautiful heart you created! I do wire-work as well, but am totally intimidated by wire-weaving. I like the clean elegance of your weaving.

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  49. Mother and daughter relationships can be complicated at times. Lovely post and a beautiful heart.

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  50. The heart pendant is beautiful! Your explanation of the hop was well put.

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  51. Your heart is beautiful-a lovely tribute to your mom.

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  52. Thank you for sharing your story, Alicia! it touches me especially since I recognize myself in many of your words and I also think I haven't made a good job in showing my mom how much I care for and love her! The good part for me is that i still have the chance to make it better, since she's living with me at the moment! I want this year to make a difference! Your heart is indeed perfect and strong, just like the bond between you and your mother! And even if there are seas and mountains that keeps you apart, love has the power to surmount them and still keeping your heart, souls and minds in a deep strong connection, don't ever doubt that, just let it free!

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