Studio Musings

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Sping Ring Fling May Day Celebration and Blog Hop

May Day Posy with Apple Blossom ring by Karen Williams
A little May Day posy of Spring blooms
Happy May Day! 

I've always loved the idea of hanging little posies on friends and neighbors' doors to celebrate the optimism of the season on the first day of May.  I've never actually run around the neighborhood hanging mini-bouquets off of neighbors doors, but it always seemed like fun.  Instead, this year, I'm hosting a virtual May Day celebration with my first-ever freeform peyote Spring Ring Fling Blog Hop and Challenge.

Many, many thanks to everyone who accepted the challenge to make a ring or rings inspired by the season: 

* Svetlana, Svetlana’s Gallery
* Lori Finney, Using My Beads
* Monika Burzyńska, Sztuka Magiczina
* Teresa Shelton, KeyGirl Designs
* Vanessa Walilko, Kali Butterfly


'Trees Budding' freeform peyote ring by Karen Williams
Trees Budding celebrates the first signs of spring, as buds emerge on the trees
April found me traveling from Boston, to mid-Missouri, and back to Seattle.  I was struck by how much Spring's timing differs from place to place.  The wisteria and cherries had just begun blooming in our yard in early April.  Later that day, I discovered spring was just starting to unfurl in Boston.  It had snowed in Boston earlier that week and the snow had just melted!  So my first ring is for my friends over there on the 'other' coast. 




Backside view of 'Trees Budding' freeform peyote ring by Karen Williams
A view from the back/underside of the ring
Trees Budding (I'm still working on the name) celebrates one of the earliest signs of spring, as the buds swell on the trees.  So many of these early buds have a lovely red-orange cast.

Dyed jasper rounds nestle into a background of soft greens and the coral of dogwood stems. "Magic Apple" Riso seed beads remind me of the texture of the spiky maple 'flowers'.  (I checked on wikipedia, and they do call them flowers!)


This photo of apple blossoms from my yard started the ideas peculating for my second ring.  I snapped the photo as I was heading to the airport on my way to visit family in mid-Missouri, where I discovered my parents' cherry tree covered with snow white blooms.

Combine that with a foray to Itchy's, my father's favorite thrift shop where I picked up a 100yard spool of 3/8" white satin ribbon for a grand total of $5.00, and my second ring was born.


side view of Karen Williams' Apple Blossom freeform peyote ring
a side view of Karen's Apple Blossom ring

This ring was a little blast from the past - old favorites meets new(er).  I've always loved ribbon worked flowers, and used to teach how to make them back in the early nineties when my focus was more on crazy quilting and embellished embroidery.

I made three little blossoms and an apple bud, then set them aside and worked on my freeform peyote ring base.





 Once I had the base, I stitched each of the flowers in place, using apple green, transparent magatamas and 6mm bugles to add additional textures to the bouquet.

Karen Williams' Apple Blossom freeform peyote ring, worn
Worn, the blossoms almost complete hide the structure of the ring
alternate side view of Karen Williams' Apple Blossom freeform peyote ring
The beading is almost a little secret for the wearer
So there are my little spring posies.  Now it's time for me to go see everyone elses' lovely creations in this May Day Celebration! Here's the list again:

Karen Williams, Baublicious (you're here)
Svetlana, Svetlana’s Gallery
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Monika Burzyńska, Sztuka Magiczina
Teresa Shelton, KeyGirl Designs
Vanessa Walilko, Kali Butterfly





5 comments:

  1. omigoodness, I LOVE those! Great inspiration process, Karen and lovely results!

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  2. so much fun Karen! and those blossoms! those are fantastic

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  3. Karen, I love your rings so much! And I love what you did with the satin ribbon. So clever. <3

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  4. Oh, my gosh, I love the ribbon flowers! They're so dainty and beautiful -- a perfect addition to the freeform, and a perfect ode to spring. Wish I could have participated in the hop this time. Next time, for sure!

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  5. Thank you all! I had such a fun time, both creating my own rings, and seeing what everyone else created.

    It's also such fun to wear my freeform/ribbon worked flowers ring!

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