Friday, October 14, 2011

Welcome to B'Sue's Blog Sari Ribbon Party Hop

My name is Mary Deis and I decided on a very simple three strand necklace for this hop. I was inspired by the song/poem "Bread and Roses," for several reasons. The colors that were wound up in the silk that I received were a deep rose pink, a teal and an olive. I have been very concerned about decisions that are being made in this country by all parties--some in which men are making decisions for women about wage and their bodies--some which are smaller in nature. All are of a concern for my ever thinking brain and too sensitive nature. So, as I was preparing this writing during an all day conference yesterday, debating of whether I should put out there that this was a semi political statement for art, I decided to include part of my thought process. It's always about the word for me--I teach English and am a writer, so my creative children usually spring from that platform.

The lyrics that struck me as I started this piece were:

"As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too."

So--this is the roses part. All of the craft we bring to making the world more beautiful in spite of what is going on in that big old crazy world out there. I have come to realize, for my part, that I can only add beauty--I can't stop poverty or hunger or wars. . .but I can make sure that others can enjoy their time, I can make sure that I am putting out things that are useful and lovely and I can have fun while I do that. WE have all been in the good fight for far too long. So maybe it's time we shut off the t.v.'s and get back to those messy craft rooms and turn on some great music and "fight for roses, too"in the way that we can--color--style--texture. . .

I want to share the lyrics of the full song and then I want to share how I made this necklace.


Lyrics--

As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses!

As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.

As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.

As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.

How I did it: This three tiered necklace was made with teal aluminum chain maille for the top strand simply joined. The second chain was chain maille aluminum circles in yellow having sari ribbon woven in and out of the thread. The longest and must bottom of the three chains was made of one larger braid made up of three single braided strands of sari ribbon to make on chain combined with two pieces of chain , braided to make one chain and to create texture and interest.

Please leave a comment if you wish! Thank you for dropping by!

Pictures of my Blog Hop Sari Silk Necklace



Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Sari Silk Blog Hop Ala B'Sue's Boutique

So excited. I have to take the photos of the necklace that I made for the blog hop and post them. It is the first one I have worked on so I hope I do all correctly.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Steampunk in the Garden



This is something new for me. I am referring to it as Steampunk in the garden as it combine elements of the Victorian, steampunk elements and flowers galore in that Tiffany's turn of the century look. Tell me what you think.