Danse Macabre Blog Hop

One of my favorite holidays has always been Halloween but not the dark and gloomy part with all the vampires and ghouleys.  I prefer to celebrate the changing of the year and the visits with my ancestors.  It is part of the season of contemplation while I rest and recharge from summer.

It  is any wonder that I couldn't resist this blog hop being hosted by Lee of Strega Jewelry?  Especially when she puts it so eloquently.

Danse Macabre illustrates the universal aspect of death.   It comes to all, regardless of station in life.  Paintings were created with skeletons dancing their way to the grave, sermons were preached cautioning people that the material side of life was unimportant, death is a fate we must all meet, peasant, pauper, priest, pope or noble.  So, enjoy life, make the most of it for we are all on our way to the same fate.   Life, after all, is a glorious dance with the grave as the finale, dance through it with joy!

 Since it a celebration of life and the end of life, I wanted bright colors.  I wanted flowers and skulls.  And I found all of that with a focal I had been hoarding from Blu Mudd ceramics which has sadly closed down.  Yeah I know.  All in the circle of life.

I really wanted to play up the orange color of the flower in her hair so I went with carnelian beads which I hand-knotted on waxed linen thread.  And to bring in a sense of playfulness, there is also a tiny skull at the clasp.

Now a lot of my favorite designers are also joining in on the danse so be sure to check them out also.

Lee Koopman                           Strega Jewellry

Sam Waghorn                           Pale Moon Creations

Dini Bruinsma                            Angaza by Changes

Mowse Doyle                              Mouse Made This

Lori Blanchard                            Alainn Jewelry

Robin Showstack                        Hearts Desire Jewelry for You

Amy Jorgensen                           Hoarders Corner

Nan Smith                                    Wired Nan

Tammy Adams                             Paisley Lizard

Catherine King                              Catherine’s Musings

Michelle McCarthy                         Firefly Designs Studio

Betony Maiden                             Beadwenches Blog

Becca White                                  Morgana Fey Creations

Kim Dworak                                   Cianci Blue

Tami Norris                                   Tamis Creative Spot

Inge Von Roos                               Inge’s Blog

Terry Jeanette Carter                    Tapping Flamingo

Deb Fortin                                       Mohti Studio

Melissa Trudinger                           Bead Recipes