Many of you have seen the Bead Soup Blog Hops hosted by Lori Anderson, well, she came up with another blog hop. Memories and Thanks Blog Hop. I thought it was a really cool idea and wanted to do it. When I first heard about it, I sat right down and started to create, but my idea was a HUGE flop. I put it away, and guess what!? I forgot all about it until today when I saw what the date was. OH NO!!!!
The idea behind this blog is to make something that has a deep meaning toward an individual in your life. I have so many wonderful people in my life, that it was really hard to choose. Lately, though, I've been doing a lot of thinking about one special woman that I know.
My youngest sister...
First off, I have to say, I am one lucky woman, as I have two wonderful sisters. I know that if I really needed something...any thing, they would be there for me. But my baby sister, well, she is a very special gal! Why? Well, there are a number of reasons. First off she has some very special little boys in her life. Her and her dear husband have been blessed with two beautiful little boys, both with autism. She runs into daily challenges with them and boy, is she ever a trooper. They say that mothers who are blessed with special needs children are angles...this is VERY true.
Not only does my sister have challenges with her boys, but she also has challenges with her own health. She has scleroderma. Even though she has this health issue, she is still blessed with pretty good health; and we are all very grateful for that!
So what to make with her in mind? First off, I would like to eventually give this to her. She can't really wear a lot of jewelry, so I needed to come up with something else, and this is what I came up with.
A key chain.
I did a little research on the ribbon colors for scleroderma and found that they use a blue butterfly. That is why I used these blue butterflies for this piece. You will also notice the rainbow colored flowers, the ribbon color for autism. I crocheted three strands of beads and braided them together to make this key chain. If she doesn't want to use it as a key chain, she can hang it off her rear view mirror, or hang it wherever she likes. Well, I'm sure you will want to visit the other ladies' blogs..there are about 135, so take your time...visit a few each day for the next week or so, and enjoy all the beautiful pieces...
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
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
Christina Hickman Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Chrizette Bayman Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson It's My Sea of Dreams
Crystal Thain Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin Beading Arts
Debbie Rasmussen A little of this, a little of that
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
Jacqueline Marchant Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp Celebrating Life!
Jean Yates Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!
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
JuLee Wolfe The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean Blue Pig Blog
Karen Mitchell Over the Moon Designs
Kelly Hosford Patterson The Traveling SideShow
Kim Ballor Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity
Kim Dworak CianciBlue
Laren Dee Barton Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus First Impression Design
Linda Florian Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations
Linda Inhelder Must-Haves Jewelry
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
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
Pam Farren re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister The Crazy Creative Corner
Rebecca Sirevaag Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson a creative chelle
Sabine Dittrich perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff Creative Chaos
Serena Trent All Things Made Jewelry
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
Tracy Martin Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin Beads, Tea and Sweets
Very kewl key chain! I love that you researched the "ribbon" for scleroderma. God bless her for raising 2 autistic children and dealing with her own health problems! You are lucky to have such a wonderful sister! I'm sure she will love her key chain!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea, and yes, our baby sister is an angel and a heck of a mom. I seriously don't think I could do half of what she does on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteHow thoughtful, and so pretty. I bet she is going to love it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice tribute to your sister!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely piece and a sweet tribute! Blessings to you all.
ReplyDeleteVery nice!
ReplyDeleteThat was very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteA heartwarming story - and a wonderful tribute for your sister. If she can't use it as a key chain, maybe she'll use it as a purse chain! Either way - she'll love it, I am sure. You're a wonderful sister!
ReplyDeleteYou have made a beautiful triblute to your sister and made beauty from challenges. I have two sons with autism as well.
ReplyDeleteYou rock! Very lovely key chain! I love all that it represents, eespecially your love. jean xox
I love hearing stories about the sister bond!! I don't have any sisters but always wished I did! Awesome tribute to your sister!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your sister with me through this story.I love the keychain you made for her and the reason behind it. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful gift for a special sister, beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful tribute to your sister - I love the keychain!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty - nice tribute!
ReplyDeleteA great piece in tribute to your sister. Thanx for sharing your story with us.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute to a special sister. She will definitely treasure it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice way to honor your sister with something she can use each day and bring her cheer. Thank you for sharing your story and your creation. Enjoy the day! Erin
ReplyDeleteYour sister sounds like an amazing person. I am a mother as well as a school counsellor. I can only begin to imagine the day to day challenges your sister faces. Your nephews are blessed to have an angel as a mother and she is blessed to have a wonderful family and great sisters. Lovely tribute.
ReplyDeleteI also have a son with autism (and severe mental retardation)...he is almost 40 years old now, but I remember all too well the daily drama and trauma. Thank you so much for honoring your sister...I almost feel as if you've honored all mothers of kids with "special needs"!
ReplyDeleteThank you for such sweet words, yes, I guess you can say, I have honored all families with special needs children. Each of them are extra special!
DeleteYou found all the right elements for your key chain. A wonderful tribute to you sister and her boys. I believe the puzzle piece is the symbol for autism. I have a few friends who's children have varing degrees of it. Scleroderma is a rare disease. I've only met one other person who had it. She was exceptional as I am sure from what you have shared with us ...your sister is too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit to my blog...this memories and thanks blog hop is the most touching hop I have participated in. Looks like I totally commented in the wrong area! Please forgive me.
Hugs
Terri G.
No problem, Terri, I'm just glad you come to visit my blog. You are right the symbol for autism is the puzzle piece. I have a really cool bracelet my sister gave me with a turquoise puzzle piece. Rainbow is the color too, that is why I put rainbow flowers on the piece. I figured they went really well with the butterflies for scleroderma. When I looked the color up for Scleroderma, they showed the blue with butterflies. I thought that was really cool.
DeleteGreat idea. I am not sure I know what scleroderma is, but I will look it up. Way to pull it together even during a busy time.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing..Very Pretty..
ReplyDeletePeace and Love..