My final Echo Creative Club reveal

Yes friends this is my final post for the Echo Creative Club.  Jeannie had made some necessary changes to the club that will surly benefit her and her amazing artistic creations.  This is such a hard post for me to write that I am writing it over several different days as each time I have thought about it bittersweet tears have fallen.  I couldn't even bring myself to do the post earlier this month to show you what I will be working with because it was just too hard.  I am sorry for that my friend.

2 years ago Jeannie took a chance and selected me to be a part of this amazing club.  I not only had the extreme pleasure to play with her beads, she helped me grow as an artists and go on to start expressing myself through my creations.  Each time I received one of her beads I was in awe.  I thought I always wanted to create artisan beads for myself but as I began working with them I found that my place in this community is to appreciate artistic talent and put my own talent to work with them. To thank Jeannie for this would take a lifetime.  And do you want to know the best bonus?  She has become a friend.  Even if our interactions are few I know that she is there to give me that boost and reassurance to move forward.  I hope she feels the same.

So I wanted to show you where this journey began.  I received my first gin blossom and frankly I was a bit intimidated.  I loved the color and texture but it was the biggest bead I had ever worked with at that time.  As I looked at it and played with it and searched my small stash to find the right beads the design began to take shape.  Here is my Denim Blossom in all its glory.

I was beyond thrilled that she liked it.  And this year at Beadfest I was able to wear it and share her creation with so many artists.

Over the last 2 years I have made so many beautiful enhancements to her beads.  Here is a collage just for you Jeannie!

So I should tell you what I am working with this month right?  Well I am working with this beautiful Peace Dove. 

I have to tell you I was having a very hard time coming up with what to create.  There is so much emotion involved in it that I needed it to mean something incredibly special just to me.  A lot of thought has gone into this as well as some failures because it just didn't do it for me or pay tribute in the way I wanted it to. Then it hit me.  You know I am also part of the Art Jewelry Elements team and this was my month for the Component of the month.

Look at that gorgeous nature palette.  Adding Jeannie's Peace Dove to that would be perfect!

Yes I made an ornament.  You have to know how special my ornaments are to me to appreciate the meaning behind this.  I decorate my tree with my handmade, my children's hand made,  or precious handmade ornaments from my friends.  Each year as I put my tree up I remember the memories of receiving or making each and every one.  It is a celebration of my life to me.  Jeannie needs to be a part of that.  I will take it out of the box every year from now on and as I place it on my tree it will be a reminder of a woman who took a chance on a new seed bead designer and helped her grow.  It will remind me of the conversations between us and how I cherished each one. 

Jeannie I truly do love you and have cherished being a part of this club for the last 2 years.  For the club I wish you the best and that it brings more to know your artistic talent.  I know this is not the end for us!  This friendship is forever.

Please Check out what the other members have created this month!

Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca/

Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Maureen Connolly http://mrsbeadsley.blogspot.com/

Hugs

Kristen