Hometown Inspiration

The first 24 years of my life were spent in Racine, WI - right on Lake Michigan. When I was little, my Dad owned a sailboat - Oasis was it's name. He participated in races and on the weekends we would often go out on the lake for leisure. To be honest, I didn't really like it. When the lake was calm, it was okay. But if anyone has had experience on a big lake, you know it can get really rough. I didn't have sea sickness or anything, I was just scared of the huge waves and how the boat seemed like it was going to tip over. I can remember when one side of the boat would be in the water if the wind was strong - that's how far it would lean over!

Now that I have not lived directly on Lake Michigan for 8 years, I do miss it. I miss the huge beach, and sitting out on all of the restaurant patios. Maybe I would like boating on it now that I am older. But for now, I enjoy boating and water sports on small inland lakes in Michigan.

Here is a photo of the Wind Point Lighthouse, at the north side of my hometown.

And here is a picture of the marina at the south side of town. When I was a teenager, a bunch of us would climb up that red lighthouse and sit and talk for hours. Movies and bowling only occupied us for so long I guess.

So, when Jade Scott came out with her sailboat pendants, they really spoke to me. I was able to snag a few earlier this year, and I just let them sit on my work table so that I could really think about their designs. I started pulling components I had and added them to the pile of sailboats, and then collected a few items when I would spot something out shopping. When getting inspired for these necklaces, I was thinking about water, rope and sailors knots, shells, anchors, compasses, beach glass......... Before I knew it, the designs just came together effortlessly. I immediately knew what was going to go with each boat.

DREAM BOAT: This long necklace that slips over the head features a ceramic "dream" bead from Diane Hawkey in the most perfect turquoise blue. I mixed together components from 2 different necklaces - one from American Eagle and the other from The Limited - starfish, a disk shell, and a length of rope to name a few. I very rarely work with yellow, so I love how it makes this piece "pop"!

STILL WATERS: I had this "still waters run deep" pendant from Heather Wynn, and in order to make it into more of a connector, I poked some silver wire into the bottom of the soft polymer clay. From it, I hung the boat and then had these shimmery glass beads in the perfect palette. They remind me of beach glass.

SHE SELLS SEASHELLS: This boat features my most favorite color combo - pink and green! I found the most perfect mix of faceted stones at Michael's - I am thinking they are jade - that had the same fuchsia pink, olive green, creamy yellow, rusty brown, and black colors. They are strung with thin brass rings in between them. Up the other side of the necklace is brass shells, wired together with smaller round versions of the same stones.

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART: This last design is truly for the fashionista who loves to sport big, bold jewelry. From left to right, here are the components: Vintaj seahorse, Jade Scott boat in a ring I wrapped with twine, fossilized ammonite from Tika, anchor from American Eagle, shell slice, compass from Hobby Lobby, silver starfish. The chain of charms is held together with additional braided twine around the back. The twine was very nautical to me.

Closer detail.......

I hope you enjoyed this trip to the lake with me! Sure gets you in the mood for summer! Happy boating!