tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80922531524488370012024-03-12T21:05:23.903-07:00A Beader's Eye View of the USAlauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-52536309152437959042013-02-27T09:28:00.000-08:002013-02-27T09:28:07.427-08:00Here's a picture of all 48 contiguous states. Alaska and Hawaii to follow.... sometime.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9EIuINnUrk6mtHTeUw1G0LJVrkxNjtKvetpt9Y0o9C95FldZ_ujZ7bJxcWuEX1vVdIN82kCBxo34FqhOziSM8vBDuIODQL_Zl15BHDgrORGtfXv4BVZBXP0xuixq8XEW-W7ihszwa1dk/s1600/48States.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9EIuINnUrk6mtHTeUw1G0LJVrkxNjtKvetpt9Y0o9C95FldZ_ujZ7bJxcWuEX1vVdIN82kCBxo34FqhOziSM8vBDuIODQL_Zl15BHDgrORGtfXv4BVZBXP0xuixq8XEW-W7ihszwa1dk/s320/48States.JPG" /></a>lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-6968025720975601552013-02-19T21:26:00.001-08:002013-02-19T21:26:02.805-08:00(48) South Carolina
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFSreJWLDP3FOK3RxMyDc_ZF2zZo2YUUeI1Gtq1Xhv3Ba5pZyL9AbM7gxtL4uC5VBqh5KxhUA0Lwozp3IdTe1FPXWuBLAMclebpJJqeVejvUTHNBNbq0pN7D_egRBh272RJSqIpQ_Nm5t/s1600/South+Dakota.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFSreJWLDP3FOK3RxMyDc_ZF2zZo2YUUeI1Gtq1Xhv3Ba5pZyL9AbM7gxtL4uC5VBqh5KxhUA0Lwozp3IdTe1FPXWuBLAMclebpJJqeVejvUTHNBNbq0pN7D_egRBh272RJSqIpQ_Nm5t/s320/South+Dakota.jpg" /></a>
<p>Capitol: Columbia
<p>Coming up with an idea for South Carolina was a real struggle, which explains it's position in the pin project. I have been to and through SC, but couldn't think of anything special. I did find some information on basket making being a traditional South Carolina art form that has been passed on from generation to generation. Not a bad idea. But then I discovered "Messie".
<p>Every now and then, Irmo, SC, has a sighting of some kind of water monster that inhabits Lake Murray. The monster [Messie] first 'surfaced' in 1933 when residents of Irmo and Ballentine (the famous Gilbert Little sighting) saw a cousin of the Loch Ness Monster. (A cousin of the Loch Ness Monster!!! Top that!). Sightings have continued almost every year since then.
<p>It was described in The Independent News in 1980 as "a cross between a snake and something prehistoric." Many folks around Lake Murray claimed to have seen it and, to make matters worse, the Lake Murray Monster was said to be very aggressive. Bingo!
<p>So, I give to you "Messie", beaded as a grainy, black and white photograph.
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-77153924508746902812013-02-19T21:25:00.000-08:002013-02-19T21:25:06.061-08:00(47) Virginia
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPHnl6GFvJABYCfpK17am2KW9qY5q2B9t5qtXTEDPCBRbyYnFbXK7LrGPO0MwLFQSG0248M_teGgpfb0NQ6lSJ-La7YZC1yiZaIUBw31nW3a_U1NkFLGLCjqkle2StPHJdCu6JoDy0z3N/s1600/Virginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPHnl6GFvJABYCfpK17am2KW9qY5q2B9t5qtXTEDPCBRbyYnFbXK7LrGPO0MwLFQSG0248M_teGgpfb0NQ6lSJ-La7YZC1yiZaIUBw31nW3a_U1NkFLGLCjqkle2StPHJdCu6JoDy0z3N/s320/Virginia.jpg" /></a>
<p>Capitol: Richmond
<p>Despite living in Maryland for 10 years, right next to Virginia, I didn't have any idea what to do for VA. The only thing that popped into my head was that insidious ad campaign, "Virginia is for Lovers". Wasn't really inspiring. So I thought and thought and thought.
<p>Then I started thinking about my dad, who we lost January 4th. From there I thought about how the Navy sent 2 guys to play taps and present the flag to my mom at the funeral, because my dad was in the Navy in WWII. It was so moving. From there my mind wandered to Arlington National Cemetery, where we could have had my dad buried, if we hadn't cremated him and decided to spread his ashes in his favorite place, Conesus Lake. WAIT! Back up... Arlington National Cemetery, isn't that in Virginia!?!? It takes awhile, but eventually I get there!
<p>So, I decided to pay tribute to all those who served our country, and in particular, my dad, by beading a view of Arlington National Cemetery...the rows of stark, white gravestones.
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhdQ58rDRVHyD9GUxPEusReLj_pUrqWqjlKIs7zmpXtVWCwvguO-uZy-Mz7_BToKQGOpz09zroew4lo80bx6GX1fG6tgSohyphenhyphenRl2CPqF-f3obc_HWyuJHSWVaCRWzMzkME9KgsaCTru7LE/s1600/stock-footage-zoom-in-of-arlington-national-cemetery-arlington-virginia.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhdQ58rDRVHyD9GUxPEusReLj_pUrqWqjlKIs7zmpXtVWCwvguO-uZy-Mz7_BToKQGOpz09zroew4lo80bx6GX1fG6tgSohyphenhyphenRl2CPqF-f3obc_HWyuJHSWVaCRWzMzkME9KgsaCTru7LE/s320/stock-footage-zoom-in-of-arlington-national-cemetery-arlington-virginia.jpg" /></a>lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-86511829780662543652013-02-19T21:20:00.000-08:002013-02-19T21:20:54.435-08:00(46) New Hampshire
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wkhL3etiA1s7-Kj35XnUiReduIaGSBpjiaHNqaZmrjkZdaRsf4eF_L_6rxsABA0tM5gzsbAZxF8LaG_xFDb2quf4nKcbn_QMTKhYnimjSMvfms5aXpi55z-QzjhtCz4sKL6X24xcSyGR/s1600/NewHampshire.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wkhL3etiA1s7-Kj35XnUiReduIaGSBpjiaHNqaZmrjkZdaRsf4eF_L_6rxsABA0tM5gzsbAZxF8LaG_xFDb2quf4nKcbn_QMTKhYnimjSMvfms5aXpi55z-QzjhtCz4sKL6X24xcSyGR/s320/NewHampshire.jpg" /></a>
<p>Capitol: Concord
<p>New Hampshire, another tough one. Small, and mostly known for trees and scenery.
<p>The main thing I think of is "The Old Man of the Mountain", also known as the Great Stone Face or the Profile. It was a series of five granite cliff ledges on Cannon Mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, that, when viewed from the north, appeared to be the jagged profile of a face. The rock formation was 1,200 feet above Profile Lake, in the town of Franconia.
<p>The first recorded mention of the Old Man was in 1805. It collapsed on May 3, 2003.
<p>How to bead this on a 3/4" x 1/2" canvas? Well, as luck would have it, New Hampshire chose to put the Old Man on the back of the New Hampshire state quarter. So, I sharpened up my metal sawing skills and cut the Man in the Mountain out of a quarter. I guess you could say the Old Man collapsed twice!
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnF7Y1vTpVSauc_wmRnswbJNFJyBGKYsZIWqpdlaIQgzom1ie_wvDaeKWVcPjInZY_XjuLjt7Ue4FT31TIqSA_meWgd0ZjZpq4vcqTpwdRkMt16PrnVPWn6jmncD-MHgGK29ZF6bqpc2o/s1600/nh_old_man01.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnF7Y1vTpVSauc_wmRnswbJNFJyBGKYsZIWqpdlaIQgzom1ie_wvDaeKWVcPjInZY_XjuLjt7Ue4FT31TIqSA_meWgd0ZjZpq4vcqTpwdRkMt16PrnVPWn6jmncD-MHgGK29ZF6bqpc2o/s320/nh_old_man01.jpg" /></a>lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-35167955173233448042013-02-11T20:31:00.001-08:002013-02-13T08:56:23.002-08:00(45) Michigan
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBlhQfJFHIhyyuiNOOh1pLIQV9z8Q11N1Sf-e-TlJC1oxAovk08vsYo4N1BDvQLqmrVI595-JTwj5JM_FHrCivQPIoBWOA4JokO_R_vEMzKppu_MpqQ90sJXiCJ-lKNAZ7STzBrOYzHI0/s1600/MIchigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBlhQfJFHIhyyuiNOOh1pLIQV9z8Q11N1Sf-e-TlJC1oxAovk08vsYo4N1BDvQLqmrVI595-JTwj5JM_FHrCivQPIoBWOA4JokO_R_vEMzKppu_MpqQ90sJXiCJ-lKNAZ7STzBrOYzHI0/s320/MIchigan.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Lansing
<p>I was soliciting ideas for Michigan and got an earful of ideas about the car industry. Since I already beaded a camper on Iowa, I had no desire to bead a car on Michigan. My daughter's boyfriend hails from Michigan, so she suggested I bead his face. Uh, no.
<p>I found several fun facts about Michigan. For instance, the Kellogg Company has made Battle Creek the Cereal Capital of the World. The Kellogg brothers accidentally discovered the process for producing flaked cereal products and sparked the beginning of the dry cereal industry. Interesting, but not really beadable. Another interesting fact, Michigan has 116 lighthouses and navigational lights. Trouble is, Maine won the beaded lighthouse contest.
<p>Then I discovered that Colon, Michigan is home to the world's largest manufacturer of magic supplies. Whoa! The possibilities are endless! Hence, a rabbit in a hat!
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-68913550320225465622013-02-09T09:21:00.000-08:002013-02-09T09:21:15.557-08:00(44) Missouri
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl06jV_H8CA4kSY1eZp6eZVhkN1NSNhiXQ7V5JPctmaqx-Z2ydf3rvT47QoRAJozSMmNUbb1FphyphenhyphengRLBCvm5Y5GqldXl1PYJPBlgxYku2CITLKeqcWLSMmpWdgrRonSOAGJsEw-X2NR2-/s1600/IMG_1094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl06jV_H8CA4kSY1eZp6eZVhkN1NSNhiXQ7V5JPctmaqx-Z2ydf3rvT47QoRAJozSMmNUbb1FphyphenhyphengRLBCvm5Y5GqldXl1PYJPBlgxYku2CITLKeqcWLSMmpWdgrRonSOAGJsEw-X2NR2-/s320/IMG_1094.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Jefferson City
<p>Getting down to the wire here, and the ideas are few and far between! Still struggling with ideas for Virginia, South Carolina, Michigan and New Hampshire. (Alaska and Hawaii are on "hold", while I finish the contiguous states and their display).
<p>I had always planned on doing the Gateway Arch (construction started in 1963) for Missouri, but I needed something else too. Then I discovered that the first Olympic Games hosted in the United States were the 1904 Summer Olympics, held in St. Louis, Missouri. So I paired the Olympic rings with the Gateway Arch.lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-58675491128899944052013-02-06T19:28:00.002-08:002013-02-06T19:28:41.586-08:00(43) Minnesota
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2llOXcGDcAf2AaSCh0CE2bK4hLbnhk7kcxSfKTju0JU79W_a7yPA_6Uo3vSyLNkzVqCrX6Y5Z6ohb0WHnD1hlRzb_Pxy9WQ2KX2hu44K5ZGUXO_1KIn1PSsw-srOi6x_3KCjt3LaSGI6/s1600/IMG_1092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2llOXcGDcAf2AaSCh0CE2bK4hLbnhk7kcxSfKTju0JU79W_a7yPA_6Uo3vSyLNkzVqCrX6Y5Z6ohb0WHnD1hlRzb_Pxy9WQ2KX2hu44K5ZGUXO_1KIn1PSsw-srOi6x_3KCjt3LaSGI6/s320/IMG_1092.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: St. Paul
<p>OK, this is a weird one. My husband says this is too obscure, but this is what I think about when I think about Minnesota. So, let me try to explain.
<p>David Lefkowitz is my husband's cousin. David is an Associate Professor of Art at Carleton College in Northfield, MN, so naturally, he is an artist. I searched David's website (http://www.davidlefkowitz.net) for a piece of art that I could represent in my project. There is lots of wonderful art on David's site, but most is much to complicated to reduce to this size. Then I found "The Best Painting of Its Kind". This painting immediately made me smile, first for its simplicity, and second because it truly is the best painting of its kind! Also, it's simplicity lent itself to beadwork.
<p>So, I present to you, "The Best Beadwork of the Best Painting of Its Kind" (above), and "The Best Painting of Its Kind" (below).
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF0HPQ-s7GwG_Lhd1vEzPps7fVmxcmFESsEa_W6PE2wLaKDTLkzivki9_xwF6t1oX9vR8z3YzKsuNIb16G7vjax27c028eOoDUbGUSxNZ7n9z42-kCkR9ASPhCHe9B6WUQ8v5n-CO671B/s1600/5-Best-Painting-of-Its-Kind-1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="273" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYF0HPQ-s7GwG_Lhd1vEzPps7fVmxcmFESsEa_W6PE2wLaKDTLkzivki9_xwF6t1oX9vR8z3YzKsuNIb16G7vjax27c028eOoDUbGUSxNZ7n9z42-kCkR9ASPhCHe9B6WUQ8v5n-CO671B/s320/5-Best-Painting-of-Its-Kind-1990.jpg" /></a></div>
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-91423192592947543432013-02-04T09:52:00.000-08:002013-02-04T09:52:03.388-08:00(42) Maryland
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwUjzxb8FgA_1yZWI1o_7ikyK_KA0PGMlklqFlVyMs-1-9TUJnj-QhdrapnbXjG346GRUo5uNr5lSkCDGi7PzyFYyCOxJyZuRYvi7slUd-ExB3VGJp260uH12Dcx3C83wC3Px34o2aMMo/s1600/Maryland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="268" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwUjzxb8FgA_1yZWI1o_7ikyK_KA0PGMlklqFlVyMs-1-9TUJnj-QhdrapnbXjG346GRUo5uNr5lSkCDGi7PzyFYyCOxJyZuRYvi7slUd-ExB3VGJp260uH12Dcx3C83wC3Px34o2aMMo/s320/Maryland.jpg" /></a></div>
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<p>Capitol: Annapolis
<p>Wow, this was a hard one. First, size and shape made cutting out the base and working with this piece incredibly challenging. In this scale, MD is about 3/4" tall, and 1/2" - 1" wide, including the Chesapeake Bay. Normally I wouldn't include a body of water in the piece, but every time I tried to cut the state out without the bay it fell apart. So, bay included.
<p>Second, I spent almost 10 years living in Maryland, so naturally I have many fond memories that could be represented. I worked at IBM, met my husband, got my first dog, 2nd and 3rd cats, bought our first house, learned to mountain bike, started beading, the list goes on and on. All very hard to bead on a mostly 3/4" x 1/2" canvas, split by the Chesapeake! So, off to research.
<p>An interesting fact about Maryland, and one that really lent itself to "bead interpretation" is: "On the morning of August 10, 1813 residents of St. Michaels, having been forewarned of a British attack, hoisted lanterns to the masts of ships and in the tops of the trees. The height of the light caused cannons to overshoot the town. This first known blackout was effective and only one house was struck, and is now known as the "Cannonball House". The town has been know as the town that fooled the British since this historic event".
<p>I beaded the Chesapeake blue, and the rest of the state black, to represent nighttime. Then I added some upright black bugle beads with sparkly crystals on top to represent the raised lights. lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-47908810060589507332013-01-31T21:13:00.000-08:002013-01-31T21:13:38.732-08:00(41) Maine
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPronJwqyTgfg-hNGtmEXaGIjPqqXuzmz8aDRnwjA9inSs0DFZTAN8S5tIzxiLpZLMa3ePGYNtykluAeeOm3X-GpR98Xbn36UA5ZMi1O1t2zAb9_FppcZMhZFQPo0FnSGJKMU9KM-HRbL/s1600/IMG_1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPronJwqyTgfg-hNGtmEXaGIjPqqXuzmz8aDRnwjA9inSs0DFZTAN8S5tIzxiLpZLMa3ePGYNtykluAeeOm3X-GpR98Xbn36UA5ZMi1O1t2zAb9_FppcZMhZFQPo0FnSGJKMU9KM-HRbL/s320/IMG_1080.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Augusta
<p>Maine. Lobsters. Yumm. Can't figure out how to bead a lobster though. So I went for my second idea, lighthouses. I figured Maine had to have a lot of lighthouses, which it does. But do you know what state has the most lighthouses? Michigan! Who knew. Michigan has 116 lighthouses and navigational lights, and it's not even on the ocean! Maine only has a measly 66. Ha!
<p>But, Maine does have the only candy-striped lighthouse in the U.S.A., in West Quoddy Head. This is Maine’s most famous light and the easternmost point of land in the United States. That certainly seems noteworthy (or at least Jeopardy-worthy!).
<p>I put a sparkly little gem in the lighthouse, looks much better in real-life.lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-28025015073092217582013-01-31T21:02:00.000-08:002013-01-31T21:02:04.996-08:00(40) Washington
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<p>Capitol: Olympia
<p>I really struggled with this one. Originally (and finally) I had planned to bead Mount Saint Helens, but couldn't figure out how to bead it. I tried to come up up with another idea. Lots of people suggested beading the Space Needle, hmmm., or Starbucks, but it just wasn't happening.
<p>Bill and I spent a wonderful weekend in Seattle years ago, but the only things I remember from that trip are Mt. Ranier and eating at a restaurant with a "maritime theme". The inside of the place looked like an old ship. The lights that dangled from the ceiling swung back and forth to make you feel like you were out at sea! (Didn't work). I don't know how we ended up there, but on the plus side we discovered creme brulee there, because the desert was included with the meal... yum. But I digress...
<p>Back to the pin. Finally I decided to bead Mt. St. Helens, because that is what I think of when I think about Washington state. It is one of the first major natural disasters that I vividly remember tv coverage of. I beaded a 3-D Mt. St. Helens, with the pyroclastic flow (swift avalanches of hot ash, pumice, and gas) spewing forth. At the base, long black bugle beads represent the trees that were ripped from their roots by the blast. The pictures of destruction I found online were amazing.
<p>Here is a side view of the pin, so you can really see the mountain/pyroclastic plume.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WGL-QKmHpyOFd6LMdiOCBvif_je4XpxFQgzUVLHL7eq-KddoI3fqcn0a2RauWw1Amf2Z7WH0r1S1mhTX4btvy8OhNgHjWkmcAVZWZ6kulDs94FKILnrcdCJo1SNvlxHRp2staJTpeTxK/s1600/IMG_1078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WGL-QKmHpyOFd6LMdiOCBvif_je4XpxFQgzUVLHL7eq-KddoI3fqcn0a2RauWw1Amf2Z7WH0r1S1mhTX4btvy8OhNgHjWkmcAVZWZ6kulDs94FKILnrcdCJo1SNvlxHRp2staJTpeTxK/s320/IMG_1078.jpg" /></a></div>
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-84750686706690601922013-01-24T12:29:00.000-08:002013-01-24T12:29:00.065-08:00(39) Illinois
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLAx4JX1VpCRhJ_5HmaYj0kvXX3dinxP6y2WJLd04SROj83AdqNAfaR7h-nZ8e-WwD-Au3xiRjfSKaWx0BKiRyyxOaUAAmZAiU-sFiD2hnOgRRNU6ZiUBaOX0BKHOw6ye2ylIp-iYqSLO/s1600/IMG_1070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLAx4JX1VpCRhJ_5HmaYj0kvXX3dinxP6y2WJLd04SROj83AdqNAfaR7h-nZ8e-WwD-Au3xiRjfSKaWx0BKiRyyxOaUAAmZAiU-sFiD2hnOgRRNU6ZiUBaOX0BKHOw6ye2ylIp-iYqSLO/s320/IMG_1070.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Springfield
<p>Like most non-Illinois residents, when I think "Illinois", I think "Chicago". I really shouldn't do this since it drives me insane when I tell someone I am from NY and they say "Really, you don't have an accent". That is because I am from Western NY!!!! There is a whole state attached to NYC, but most people think NY means NYC. So, my apologies to the rest of Illinois.
<p>I have spent a few different weekends in Chicago. Once with my mom to go to a Museum to see the "Colleen Moore Dollhouse", and another dollhouse exhibit in another museum. Yes, my mom builds and furnishes dollhouses. The second weekend was with my spouse, to attend one of his cousin's weddings. Both visits were wonderful, and now that I am done with Illinois I wish I had worked dollhouses into it. Unfortunately this information didn't pop into my head until just now. Darn! Next time.
<p>To understand the first idea that I incorporated in this pin, you must understand my love of St. Patrick's Day. It is right up there with Easter as one of my favorite holidays. Easter = Chocolate. St. Patrick's Day = Beer. What's not to like? Well, every March 17th a group in Chicago dyes the river green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. I felt duty-bound to portray that on the Illinois pin.
<p>I needed something more that green though, so I decided to also pay tribute to the "Great Chicago Fire". I didn't know much about this fire, except that it was supposedly started by O'Leary's cow, who kicked over a lantern. (I was going to incorporate the cow into the pin, but Wisconsin already has the cow theme going.) A little research showed that around 300 people died in the fire, and the heart of the city was devastated. I decided to just bead flames, to remind me of the danger of fire. I think it looks pretty cool, but I could do a better job on the flames next time.lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-66715684712701705882013-01-22T17:43:00.000-08:002013-01-22T17:43:05.262-08:00(38) Nebraska
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qxTvwxJRawlniTcUyX968lCOhTbCQ6L5bhDG8ULN-pYHo0sjiA8DdJ2NefYAFcWhCjuyikuBUXniXLYHjMgY6xLmHA3083cVaS5vfSu1m5rt_DvDC2sFXtMsRZ35bQofgFX80VyFy1d-/s1600/IMG_1061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qxTvwxJRawlniTcUyX968lCOhTbCQ6L5bhDG8ULN-pYHo0sjiA8DdJ2NefYAFcWhCjuyikuBUXniXLYHjMgY6xLmHA3083cVaS5vfSu1m5rt_DvDC2sFXtMsRZ35bQofgFX80VyFy1d-/s320/IMG_1061.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Lincoln
<p>Nebraska is another state of which I have an unfavorable view. In the early 80's my college sweetie and I flew to California to pick up an MG from my brother Larry, and drive it back to NY to deliver it to my brother Fran. Well, being an MG it broke down frequently on the drive... at least a few times a day. Something to do with the fuel pump I think. Many people were helpful, but NOT in Nebraska. They mostly yelled out the window of their car: "Buy American"! And don't even get me going on the truck stop! Grrrrr.
<p>Well, I put that behind me and tried to find something about to Nebraska to bead. Most people mentioned the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Didn't really stir my creative thoughts. Off to Google. And what did I find? Center pivot irrigation. Huh?
<p>You know when you look out the window of a plane and see farmland that has all sorts of circular fields? Well, those are the result of center pivot irrigation. Nebraska is both the nation's largest producer and user of center pivot irrigation.
About 72% of the irrigated land in Nebraska is irrigated with sprinkler systems which are predominantly center pivots. Nebraska's Center Pivot Water Conservation Project is helping pivot irrigators become more efficient in their water management. Fascinating, right?
<p>I liked the idea of a bunch of circles... aka polka dots. Mainly because I have a fabulous polka dotted bike, "Dot". She is blue with pink and white polka dots. So, I decided to view Nebraska's center pivot irrigation through rose colored glasses! (and pay tribute to Dot in the process.)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcVujJ17uRmzPA5WhVQYQMdRD02IcuCj9U86d83956UfwYFVuzDnYWSq-rI1H5DzCCHFBFrF7ELlWg7ydqldpdTCBmRuIQcQDvM7A4QNzpW7aSyDpW0H6EW_B3pehTCsz5BhVZupjfxV0/s1600/cruiser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcVujJ17uRmzPA5WhVQYQMdRD02IcuCj9U86d83956UfwYFVuzDnYWSq-rI1H5DzCCHFBFrF7ELlWg7ydqldpdTCBmRuIQcQDvM7A4QNzpW7aSyDpW0H6EW_B3pehTCsz5BhVZupjfxV0/s320/cruiser.jpg" /></a></div>
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-67375375293908057482013-01-22T17:25:00.001-08:002013-01-22T17:25:59.208-08:00(37) Arkansas
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGAA8XOn_RX9qYTmvkepPZLVusKoPj_4g7vTK0x8EkFUapTFeh-rdaE3_qns2am7BenyvO1hL7Cw7qT3pOHBTZinQQOOyW6RO8oSVfyftuqqBWy9PyhOxkgWIHCU3rrDGzOl7lggA2uEr/s1600/IMG_1059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="284" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGAA8XOn_RX9qYTmvkepPZLVusKoPj_4g7vTK0x8EkFUapTFeh-rdaE3_qns2am7BenyvO1hL7Cw7qT3pOHBTZinQQOOyW6RO8oSVfyftuqqBWy9PyhOxkgWIHCU3rrDGzOl7lggA2uEr/s320/IMG_1059.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Little Rock
<p>My niece, Kelly, went to the University of Arkansas. When I asked her for ideas (besides a razorback!) she mentioned the rolling hills, trees, etc. Everyone I quizzed mentioned the greenery, forests, lakes, parks. I wanted more, so, off to find something more.
<p>And then I found it... located just outside of Murfreesboro, Crater of Diamonds State Park. <b>CRATER OF DIAMONDS!</b> I just had to bead that.
<p>Crater of Diamonds State Park allows dedicated prospectors to search for precious gems including diamonds, amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, and quartz. A little research showed that the crater of diamonds is actually just a field. A 37 1/2-acre plowed field, the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic crater that 100 million years ago brought to the surface the diamonds and some of the semi-precious stones lucky visitors find here today.
<p>Facts shmacts I say. I'm beading a darn crater of diamonds! I built up a crater of peyote stitching, then filled it with Swarovski crystals. The crater is surrounded with rolling green hills. lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-54200232892212726562013-01-19T09:36:00.000-08:002013-01-19T09:36:09.947-08:00(36) Delaware
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDsElNcbAnJdvSVgamA0x54DaUtKiujOymPRmgi7pBelJkPXdUj3vtKVZy1zzbRKvXyWyVS0pKaOtxR54PzpPYdKnyM9g2Tl8jG0kBfW-DObcbpqoFi-sTGkfiNanxbHfaua09glKeQWc/s1600/IMG_1040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDsElNcbAnJdvSVgamA0x54DaUtKiujOymPRmgi7pBelJkPXdUj3vtKVZy1zzbRKvXyWyVS0pKaOtxR54PzpPYdKnyM9g2Tl8jG0kBfW-DObcbpqoFi-sTGkfiNanxbHfaua09glKeQWc/s320/IMG_1040.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fOuBe_JkU1q0xU42RWQ78Yi73soYKXIUBAKrcdqnZZNHkf4X3kOFqy7mOZ_ZE_HoCnS-EPnk_fGIfg0eWRHP8D-qF2XBjqJKnZJQNYE4rEEDfznWrYsoGawuh2F_hqMmVVA3gqSrOPiz/s1600/IMG_1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fOuBe_JkU1q0xU42RWQ78Yi73soYKXIUBAKrcdqnZZNHkf4X3kOFqy7mOZ_ZE_HoCnS-EPnk_fGIfg0eWRHP8D-qF2XBjqJKnZJQNYE4rEEDfznWrYsoGawuh2F_hqMmVVA3gqSrOPiz/s320/IMG_1041.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Dover
<p>OK, Delaware is really pushing the limits of my ability to create teeny tiny things. In this scale, Delaware is 1/2" x 1/8". C'mon!
<p>Yes, I feel better now.
<p>Now for a little Delaware trivia. Did you know that the log cabin originated in Finland. (Ha! you thought I was going to say Delaware didn't you!!). Finnish settlers arrived in Delaware in the mid 1600's and brought with them plans for the log cabin, one of the enduring symbols of the American pioneer. One of the cabins has been preserved and is on display at the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover.
<p>Well, you certainly can't bead a log cabin on 1/2" x 1/8"!! No matter how small the beads. So, how about a pile of logs? Ooops, I also have to include the silver bead for the state capitol, which divides the state in half. Ok, two piles of logs! I know, desperate. Well, Desperate times call for desperate measures!lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-21902110072364733282013-01-15T20:04:00.000-08:002013-01-15T20:04:17.327-08:00(35) West Virginia
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2Y3cEYq5Cw8Edddr5-S5DQxVDaHC2Yieey5jg5bQT_IBoe9r-4gLNOT2aZZAhruoa_tr3FSRbCQUR1aURCMxL2Y-hWPFp_7iHhfsKbNEWpuxxFMZq9UNXx8WrxVaBiAXXXXiXAoUy8BG/s1600/IMG_1032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="247" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2Y3cEYq5Cw8Edddr5-S5DQxVDaHC2Yieey5jg5bQT_IBoe9r-4gLNOT2aZZAhruoa_tr3FSRbCQUR1aURCMxL2Y-hWPFp_7iHhfsKbNEWpuxxFMZq9UNXx8WrxVaBiAXXXXiXAoUy8BG/s320/IMG_1032.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Charleston
<p>When I first started dating my spouse we went white water rafting on the New River in WV. I was going to bead a tribute to rafting, but it is hard to represent 5 hours of sheer terror! So, instead, I opted for another fun fact: did you know the first brick street in the world was laid in Charleston, WV, on October 23, 1870, on Summers Street, between Kanawha and Virginia Streets? lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-59451631977687123622013-01-14T19:25:00.000-08:002013-01-14T19:25:36.869-08:00(34) Mississippi
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EBvaX07KE33cnhHdseLSKOg1k5rUmaO_Eva4_CV7HTszmcflKZV9i7pB7hvzmwk_Z4Hx219vzDu-K-KD9AHnHYidl4vM5CvF_60L4QOASnUVC_eMIdYl8qZODwAM05-bsMJ38tUpfY8X/s1600/IMG_1028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EBvaX07KE33cnhHdseLSKOg1k5rUmaO_Eva4_CV7HTszmcflKZV9i7pB7hvzmwk_Z4Hx219vzDu-K-KD9AHnHYidl4vM5CvF_60L4QOASnUVC_eMIdYl8qZODwAM05-bsMJ38tUpfY8X/s320/IMG_1028.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Jackson
<p><p>Found lots of fun facts on Mississippi. For instance, in 1902 while on a hunting expedition in Sharkey County, President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt refused to shoot a captured bear. This act resulted in the creation of the world famous teddy bear. However, after the Raggedy Ann on Indiana, I wasn't ready for another stuffed animal.
<p>Next I discovered that the first heart transplant was in Mississippi... although, further research found some challenges to this, but I'm sticking with it.
<p>And then the big find... The International Checkers Hall of Fame is in Petal, Mississippi!!! Who knew? So, I chose a checkerboard background with heart checkers.
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-31906958780652201232013-01-14T19:23:00.000-08:002013-01-14T19:23:40.017-08:00(33) Oklahoma
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSU9K_26464ndvMC0enpy1YRcOP1X6hC63OMsEQnsLtTJ6JVzeHGpOWK9p7HiFhrErUkmDFw97oHcn9IOMM6NXWU2i3sCesGohnadjtbwFmj6ZDUc71P2i8C6ErsclLcYpJD1PVatfe-1/s1600/IMG_1027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="181" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSU9K_26464ndvMC0enpy1YRcOP1X6hC63OMsEQnsLtTJ6JVzeHGpOWK9p7HiFhrErUkmDFw97oHcn9IOMM6NXWU2i3sCesGohnadjtbwFmj6ZDUc71P2i8C6ErsclLcYpJD1PVatfe-1/s320/IMG_1027.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Oklahoma City
<p>Not a whole lot of luck finding fun facts on Oklahoma. I am in the midst of reading a book about the survivors of the dust bowl (The Worst Hard Times), and that didn't give me any happy ideas. Digging a little deeper I discovered that the National Weather Center is at the University of Oklahoma.
<p>Thinking about weather made me think about the different seasons, so I decided to represent the four seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. I also decided to mess with different bead textures for each season. The blue in the lower right is Winter. I beaded in concentric circles, instead of a spiral like in the Arizona pin. Unfortunately, the snowflake in the middle of the design is hard to see because the white beads are too close in finish to the blue ones. Oh well, live and learn.
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-63705809327298310602013-01-12T09:06:00.000-08:002013-01-12T09:06:00.967-08:00(32) South Dakota
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<p>Capitol: Pierre
<p>The first time I drove across country with my college roommates, Sue Shepler Blum and Debbie Conroy Quinn I was surprised at all that South Dakota had to offer. First we hit the Badlands which were absolutely fabulous. Such foreign landscape for people from Western NY. Then it was off to the Black Hills, more amazing beauty. From there we went to see Mt. Rushmore... WOW. What an amazing feat. Next we saw Crazy Horse, which was just in it's infancy. When I saw it again a few years ago I was amazed at the progress that had been made. I suggest seeing Mt. Rushmore before Crazy Horse, because as amazing a feat Rushmore was, Crazy Horse's size just dwarfs it.
<p>Lots of pondering, and a drawer full of various face beads and cabochons led me to bead Mt. Rushmore. The picture I based this piece on had the sun shining on the faces, making them look golden. Beautiful.lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-11728244568134184762013-01-12T08:31:00.000-08:002013-01-12T08:31:02.441-08:00(31) Iowa
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<p>Capitol: Des Moines
<p>Iowa is another one of those states I have driven through, but don't remember much about. My original plan was to bead a mini-tribute to the "American Gothic" painting. The artist, Grant Wood, hailed from Iowa. However, I got bogged down in the details again. Back to the drawing board.
<p>Did you know that Winnebago campers and motor homes are manufactured in Winnebago County, Iowa? Neither did I! Now I do, and I felt that a camper would be a good representation of Iowa. This pin is based on the road sign that indicates "motor homes/camper welcome".
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-88153646377988613882012-12-29T15:21:00.000-08:002012-12-29T15:21:18.881-08:00(30) Texas
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<p>Capitol: Austin
<p>Hallelujah!!!! I finally finished Texas!! WAHOOOO!!!! Texas has been taunting me since the beginning of this project.
<p>First problem... size. With so many of the Northeast states, this scale proved to be too small. Not the problem with Texas. It is 4 1/4" x 4 1/4"!!! That's not a pin, it's a breastplate!!!
<p>Second problem, Texas. Not a big fan. Early in my marriage (like the week after our honeymoon!) I had to spend a month in Dallas for IBM Marketing Training. Didn't like either Dallas or the training. Had to do this a few more times before the torture was over. While I started with a negative impression of Texas, it has improved a little. I have an uncle and cousin in Houston, and enjoyed my visit with them years ago. I also have in-laws and good friends in Austin. I thoroughly enjoy Austin.
<p>Once I got past my hard feelings for Texas, I really struggled with the design. When I first started this project I was going to use several types of media, not just bead embroidery. I had planned on cutting Texas out of metal, then riveting little stars all over it, so it wouldn't be the Lone Star State any more. Still may do this someday, makes me giggle.
<p>Everyone suggested cowboy themed ideas... boots, hats, cattle, etc. Wasn't interested. Then, for some reason the song "The Yellow Rose of Texas" popped into my head. Off to Google. From Wikipedia:
<p><b>Legendary account</b>: The song is based on a Texas legend from the days of the Texas War of Independence. According to the legend, Emily D. West (also known as "Emily Morgan") was seized by Mexican forces during the looting of Galveston. She seduced General Antonio López de Santa Anna, President of Mexico and commander of the Mexican forces. The legend credits her supposed seduction of Santa Anna with lowering the guard of the Mexican army and facilitating the Texan victory in the Battle of San Jacinto waged in 1836 near present-day Houston. Santa Anna's opponent was General Sam Houston, who won the battle literally in minutes, and with almost no casualties. West was a mulatto, of mixed race ancestry. The song refers to her as the "yellow" rose, in keeping with the historical use of term "high yellow" as a description of light skin among people of color in the South.
<p><b>Historical account</b>: Historians assert that if West was with Santa Anna, it was not by her choice, nor did she play any part in deciding the battle. The seduction legend was largely unknown until the publication in the 1950s of a version of the lyrics based on William Bollaert's account. Bollaert, a British subject, spent two years in Texas—1842 to 1844—and was a prolific writer, publishing more than 80 articles on various subjects.
<p>The basic facts are that Emily West, a free person of color, migrated to Texas from New York City in late 1835 as an indentured servant under contract to the agent James Morgan. She was born free in New Haven, Connecticut. Sources describe her as a teen or as a woman of twenty. She was to work as a housekeeper at the New Washington Association's hotel, near what was then called New Washington and is now Morgan's Point. Historians say she became known by West's surname, as was the custom at the time for indentured servants and slaves.
<p>Santa Anna reportedly saw West in April 1836 when he invaded New Washington prior to the Battle of San Jacinto. West and other black servants were taken to his camp, along with some white residents who were captured. According to legend, Santa Anna was with her when Texan General Sam Houston's troops arrived, forcing him to flee suddenly without weapons or armor and enabling his capture the next day.
<p>Works for me.
<p>The background took awhile too. I was going to do it red, because it looks pretty. My spouse wanted white. Daughter - pink... nope. Son - red... (because he is smart!). So, I decided to use all three, and place the rose on the Texan flag. I have never been so happy to finish a pin!
<p><b>Lyrics</b>(Original version, from the MS in the University of Texas archives):
<p>There's a yellow rose in Texas, that I am going to see,
<br>No other darky [sic] knows her, no darky only me
<br>She cryed [sic] so when I left her it like to broke my heart,
<br>And if I ever find her, we nevermore will part.
<p>Chorus:
<br>She's the sweetest rose of color this darky ever knew,
<br>Her eyes are bright as diamonds, they sparkle like the dew;
<br>You may talk about your Dearest May, and sing of Rosa Lee,
<br>But the Yellow Rose of Texas is the only girl for me.
<p>When the Rio Grande is flowing, the starry skies are bright,
<br>She walks along the river in the quite [sic] summer night:
<br>She thinks if I remember, when we parted long ago,
<br>I promised to come back again, and not to leave her so. [Chorus]
<p>Oh now I'm going to find her, for my heart is full of woe,
<br>And we'll sing the songs togeather [sic], that we sung so long ago
<br>We'll play the bango gaily, and we'll sing the songs of yore,
<br>And the Yellow Rose of Texas shall be mine forevermore. [Chorus]
<p>More than 25 years later, the lyrics were changed to eliminate the more racially charged lyrics. "Soldier" replaced "darky." And the first line of the chorus was also changed to read, "She's the sweetest little rosebud ...."
<p>Sometimes "Dearest May" has been replaced by "Clementine".lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-5436489083812471502012-12-21T16:46:00.000-08:002012-12-21T16:46:49.283-08:00(29) Massachusetts <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYDCwUUzeWQ45VHCnCSxaStoRtaphe00KYh2c3EijLwiLWC8ddGJHDsVzRYbGHrV5TehVGUbLbg1SlFLgL0i3kv3Fc3UnRkCF1Dwv1KQe3L0WUs5YTnnm41n4Hi_ipatxGI3GIzhwZ0SV/s1600/IMG_0969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="294" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYDCwUUzeWQ45VHCnCSxaStoRtaphe00KYh2c3EijLwiLWC8ddGJHDsVzRYbGHrV5TehVGUbLbg1SlFLgL0i3kv3Fc3UnRkCF1Dwv1KQe3L0WUs5YTnnm41n4Hi_ipatxGI3GIzhwZ0SV/s320/IMG_0969.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Boston
<p>Massachusetts is a state I have spent a little time in, and have many ideas to bead. Unfortunately, once again size does matter. This pin is 1" x 1/2" at its widest spot. Not much you can do with that, especially since my eyes aren't ready to use my antique size 22 seed beads again! So, I had to really work on this idea.
<p>On the evening of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was sent for by Dr. Joseph Warren and instructed to ride to Lexington, Massachusetts, to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were marching to arrest them. And so began Paul Revere's famous ride. Seems like a good representation of Massachusetts. However, I'm not going to fit a horse, lantern, or Paul Revere on this workspace. Then I remembered the classic wedding gift that many of us have received... Revereware copper-bottomed pots and pans. I still have mine and use them every day!!! So, I present a copper-bottomed Massachusetts. lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-46747838020301086552012-12-21T16:36:00.000-08:002012-12-21T16:36:49.489-08:00(28) Alabama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LuDWRX-iG7af_NHTc0-SyOVUQsv1-XWdD5JKbDziQHLv3vUrvHiGevYZzD5XxqMYQ4m8_fn9sq_wxXsdaq8oNPfwyDAEYiXMq9MbhPgK0GFgfUjM7kXYA2VhjR2JZIYSxI0Fgoz0Vyp5/s1600/IMG_0968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LuDWRX-iG7af_NHTc0-SyOVUQsv1-XWdD5JKbDziQHLv3vUrvHiGevYZzD5XxqMYQ4m8_fn9sq_wxXsdaq8oNPfwyDAEYiXMq9MbhPgK0GFgfUjM7kXYA2VhjR2JZIYSxI0Fgoz0Vyp5/s320/IMG_0968.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Capitol: Montgomery
<p>Well, another little sabbatical to go back to NY to visit my folks. Had a wonderful time with my parents and brother and his family. I did some beading, but couldn't actually finish the pins until I got home.
<p>Alabama is another of those states that I have been to, but didn't have an idea floating around in my head. Years ago we spent a weekend visiting friends in Birmingham. We had a wonderful visit. One thing I remember is that the city had a surprisingly international flavor... lots of great restaurants. I didn't expect that when we headed to Alabama. A nice surprise.
<p>Chatting with friends from Alabama I discovered that the first manned spaceship to the moon was built in Alabama. Bingo! So, here is my latest pin, with a rocket ship heading toward the moon. The "moon" is a bone "face" cabachon. I love it!lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-30055957894247218372012-12-09T09:42:00.001-08:002012-12-09T09:42:39.971-08:00(27) Indiana
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<p>Capitol: Indianapolis
<p>This pin was looking so cute I had to get up early today to finish it!
<p>There are several states I have been to, but didn't actually experience. Many of them, Indiana being one, were passed through while on one of my 4 drives across country. So, while I can claim I have been in the state (which, according to Marcum rules, means you either stayed the night or ate a sit-down meal -- airports not included), I really didn't know much about Indiana.
<p>Fortunately, the internet once again came to my rescue. I little bit of research and I discovered that Marcella Gruelle of Indianapolis created the Raggedy Ann doll in 1914. SCORE! I loved my Raggedy Ann doll!! What a treat to be able to include a piece of my childhood in this project. Kind of put a new spin on the project for me. It's not just the United States of America... it's MY United States of America. Seems with every pin this project gets more special to me.
<p>This pin is about 1" x ! 1/2", which means I once again had to pull out the size 22 seed beads to capture the detail of Raggedy Ann's face. Those little buggers are so much harder to work with. They are old, before the days of quality control, so the beads are very inconsistent. Many don't even fit in the incredibly fine needle I use. I will probably have to take a break from beading for the day and give my eyes a rest.
Christmas shopping it is!lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-86671354020540074052012-12-05T19:00:00.000-08:002012-12-05T19:00:11.011-08:00(26) Wyoming
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<p>Capitol: Cheyenne
<p>Earlier this year, in April, I attended one of my favorite bead shows, the Rocky Mountain Bead Society show. I was in search of ideas for my pin project. At Patti Leota Genack's booth I found this wonderful lampwork bead in the shape of a skull. I had to have it. I thought I would be using it for Texas, but decided it looked better on Wyoming. A little research online, and I decided it looked most like a Buffalo skull, and coincidentally, the Buffalo is the Official State Animal of Wyoming. Karma.
<p>I felt that I needed to pay tribute to the Indians of Wyoming, so the background of this pin is a section of an old horse blanket I found. I love the blanket colors with the skull.
<p>On to the next pin!
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8092253152448837001.post-42338664244891148922012-12-02T08:44:00.000-08:002012-12-02T08:50:45.697-08:00(25) Tennessee
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Capitol: Nashville
<p>YAHOOOOO!!! I am half way done with my pin project! Too late to turn back now!
<p>All along I figured my Tennessee pin would be some sort of tribute to Elvis, and/or Nashville. Once again the size was intimidating, 2 1/2" x 5/8". Not much you can do with such a long, skinny piece. Then, while perusing the inventory at my favorite Boulder bead shop, "Nomad Bead Merchants" (1909 9th St), I found these wonderful guitar beads. They put Tennessee in line as the next pin to work on.
<p>Once again, what to bead as a background posed a problem. My main visual memory of Elvis (besides the bad movies), is him decked out in a white jumpsuit embellished with lots of bling. A google search turned up www.ultimate-elvis.net. The creator of this site has photos of a history of Elvis stage wear from 1969-1977. There are pictures of Elvis in over 100 jumpsuits. OVER 100!!! The man liked his jumpsuits.
<p>So, in honor of the King, the Tennessee pin has an acoustic guitar, and the background brings to mind a tacky, white jumpsuit. I threw in the electric guitar in honor of some Nashville stars, and because the bead existed! FYI, Elvis apparently never played electric guitar. Who knew? And yes, I know most Nashville starts play acoustic. But some play electric~
<p>Elvis has left the building.
lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02026651855051766501noreply@blogger.com0