I rarely enter a giveaway challenge, but I took a chance this time, because autumn is my favorite time of the year.
I am not very familiar with the holiday, Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead so I researched it and this is what I found:
"Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico (and by people of Mexican decent living in other countries) to honor the dead. While it used to be celebrated centuries ago in the beginning of Summer it is now celebrated on October 31 - Nov 2. The families get together and pray for family members and friends that have passed away. Typically they build personal alters to honor the deceased by putting a photo of the deceased along with their favorite food and beverage, some of their belongings, marigold flowers, and the notable sugar skulls. The sugar skulls have really become very popular these days as well as sugar skull beads and other decorations. The sugar skulls that are placed on the alters are handmade by the families using sugar, meringue powder and water pressed into skull molds and then decorated using bright colored paints or dye. "
I am from Africa, we celebrate a person's death during their funeral and the funeral used to last a month or more in the old days. Now, it only last 2 or 3 days and on the first anniversary of their death, we will celebrate the person's life by doing what they like. We don't have any particular day of the year to honor them like Dia de los Muertos.
I was Lucky to be picked and I received this beautiful sugar skull lampwork bead from Jennifer Cameron
I made a necklace using a recycled vintage key, on which I dangled the sugar skull lampwork with colorful ribbon, irish wax linen, bright colorful czech and Greek ceramic beads.
Very colorful, like Mardis Gras in New Orleans!
Please check out the other designers post
Guest Designers
Art Elements Team
Caroline Dewison
Susan Kennedy
Laney Mead
Claire Fabian
Diana Ptaszynski
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Cathy Spivey Mendola
Lindsay Starr
Niky Sayers
Lesley Watt
Cooky Schock
Jen Cameron
As always, thank you so much for stopping by/ Merci
What a wonderful necklace, I love how you have hung the bead from a key and all the colours are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to explain your own cultural reference. I have several African friends, and I think they would love your piece as much as I do. I think your own cultural aesthetic, along with the Mexican holiday are both perfectly represented...and it looks like a fun piece to wear too! Thanks for playing with us!
ReplyDeleteI love that the death is celebrated, I once attended a Jewish family funeral and the wake was a lovely time filled with stories and laughter about the person who we had just lost, it was a beautiful experience and treasured memory of my now late foster grandfather. I love your finished piece, the colours and the key, maybe unlocking the past for the wearer to remember....
ReplyDeleteWe were both thinking very similarly when we designed our pieces! I also hung my sugar skull from a key. I love how you added the brightly colored ribbon around and behing the skull. It really accentuates the skull. Thanks for playing with us!
ReplyDeleteLovely! the ribbons create a curtain, and the white cord frames the skull bead so well! Thank you for joining us! And I think the celebration of a life on the first anniversary of the death is a beautiful tribute, and healing type of remembrance.
ReplyDeleteLove your use of the colorful ribbon! Beautiful piece!
ReplyDeleteI love what you have created Solange! The bead is wonderful and now it is really showcased. I love the traditions of celebrating a person's life after death. It is a perfect way to heal.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your traditions, I love the idea of celebrating a person's life, not mourning over their death. Your design is simple and colorful, two elements I love when looking at jewelry.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Lori in Blue Ridge, GA
Lovely design Solange - very original.
ReplyDeleteMagnifique Solange! Les couleurs se combinent parfaitement et j'aime beaucoup la clef, beau symbole.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous design. I love the ribbons, the colours are stunning.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your own traditions for death, they are beautiful. We don't have a lot of traditions, and it seems to vary widely from family to family. Your design is lovely, the colorful ribbons create a background that makes the skull pop. Thank you so much for participating in the challenge and for reading Art Elements!
ReplyDeleteI really love the addition of the fabric to this piece! Very bright a fits the skull
ReplyDeleteYour design is unique and well balanced. You post is interesting and reminds us to celebrate the cycle of life.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, and it definitely says Africa...I love the combination of cultures.
ReplyDeleteI was in Texas for two weeks, so I finally get to leave comments. Wow, Solange, really love what you made! The fabric is an awesome accompaniament!
ReplyDeleteI love what you made, very pretty!! <3
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