In 2009 I was involved in a challenge titled 'The ladies of Camelot'. It was the challenge I needed to push me in the direction I have evolved in. So I found the poem by Lord Tennyson tilled "The Lady Of Shalott'. and it held so much imagery for me that I created my first collar.


Here is an excerpt from that poem:

'On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the world and meet the sky;
And through the field the road run by
To many-tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.
Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.


Lying, robed in snowy white
That loosely flew to left and right --
The leaves upon her falling light --
Thro' the noises of the night,
She floated down to Camelot:
And as the boat-head wound along
The willowy hills and fields among,
They heard her singing her last song,
The Lady of Shalott.
Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.

From these 2 stanzas I derived the image of Elaine, as she floated down the river, dying, and having her energy, life force and blood drain from her body. As she passed the flowers by the towers, her blood drained down to the depths.



I'm trying to add my Etsy Store gadget to this blog and it wont let me. So I've added it as a link.

So the challenge piece has been posted to the Beading Forum, so I can now show you. I've named it Aurora..... a selection of Light Ocean Agate NiftyGems (gemstones made by me from polymer clay), Swarovski Rivolis, seed beads and Chinese Crystals.



I think I've finished my Twisting By The Pool Challenge piece.....I'm pretty happy with it too. But I can't show you guys yet....viewing date is the 12th.

I'm currently working on a challenge found on the Beading Forum. Its called Twisting By The Pool..... its designed to be a mixed media challenge where we have to create 2 of the mediums used.....you can find more details via the link. Anyhoo.....my piece is well under way I think.....I have made the major components, and just need to work out how I'm going to join them..... I've unpicked quite a few times till they were just right, and have also bled for my art...LOL....guess I'm on the right track. Hopefully I'll be finished this weekend and then I post pictures up. Until then...heres a snippet (doctored of course)