Blue Antiquities

Welcome to the FINAL Reveal of 2013 
Bead Soup Party!

Charlotte De La Tour Necklace BSBP by Laura Guenther
Sari silk-fibers, ribbon, pearls, pendant,
handmade copper component-"grow"

Be sure to see the bottom of this post for details of my give away!

I was glad to have a little extra time with the postponed date.

A big thank you to Shay for the wonderful soup she sent me!
Visit Shay's Blog HERE for her reveal. I am so excited to see what
she has been cooking with the soup I mailed her!
Oh and please visit my other partner Linda,  who is revealing what
she created as well.  I have been waiting, impatiently!
Click here. Oh I cant wait to see it!

Another huge thank you to the KIND Lori Anderson for her
amazing Bead Soup Parties!

Well, My reveal is all about flowers!

(Scroll down here  to go directly to pictures of my pieces,  : )

Floriography -The Language of Flowers

Last year I read the current fiction book entitled The Language of Flowers. It sparked my interest in the subject.  I did look around for information after finishing the book, but I didn't spend much time on it. With my curiosity tickled again by my green pendant with  purple flowers, (the must use focal!)I had to find out! 
The pendant is so pretty, by the way.

What do purple flowers mean, does it mean your a creative type like I have heard, when you where a purple shirt?  

Anyway, the history behind the language of flowers has some very old roots in Turkey, but generally it began as a literary tradition in Victorian England, France, and then America during varying times in the 1700-1800's.  By the 1800's, the " language of flowers" was a commonly used phrase in Europe.  Hand written lists were circulating in France. Besides the Language of Flowers Book, there were a group of small floral books which had roots in the almanac, an annual publication with a calendar,
think, " Farmers Almanac".

As of late, there is a common thought that there was a set of meanings for flowers that everyone knew. Although the inclination to associate flowers with sentiments is universal, there were many sets of meanings. Which begs me to question, how many women got the wrong message? 

There is also the thought that people used flowers for secret communications, and at first glance there is information that this was so.  But, my further research showed this was not the case.  However, the popularity of the Language of Flowers books and meanings were well loved,
and were used by poets, writers, artists and designers.
 And still today, the language of flowers is a popular topic.
 I found many floral shops, blog postings, and lists on the subject.
 The original books have been
reprinted and can be purchased on Amazon!

A special painting I received
on the day I was finalizing
this floriography post!

Purple Flowers and the Focal Pendant- (See below photos)

The pendant was made by Sharleen Newland 
who sells her beautiful ceramics on Etsy. 
 These flowers are generic, but here
 are some purple flower meanings.

Purple carnation-whimsical
Purple Lilac- first emotion of love
Purple Violet-Daydream

Some flowers on these lists that I viewed during my digging, have 2 sets of meanings. Negative and positive, which begs another question, how would one know which meaning the giver was sending in the sentiment?
 A black ribbon for a negative expression, perhaps?  Ah, kind of fun to imagine.
Shall we add a skull and cross bone charm to the Tussy Mussy? I know, silly thoughts.

Lavender- Devotion- ( Positive) Mistrust (Negative)

It is believed that the all of the Language of Flower books derived
from a book by Louis Cortambert, under the pen name of Madame Charlotte De LaTour.
This was a small book with what seems to be the first dictionary of
flower language.

Charlotte De Latour Necklace

Charlotte De Latour Necklace
Created By Laura Guenther
Partner-Shay Williams
BSBP 2013

Please visit Shaterra Clay Studio, on Etsy . You will find wonderful ceramic beads, leather, and pendants.
I wasn't sure what I was going to create with my soup ingredients,until I visited Sharleen's shop.  Her photos and colors are what got me inspired.  I knew I was going to use the pearls, and the pendant, but I didn't know from there, what I would do.  I played with the ingredients for a long while, mixing and matching. It was actually quite fun to look at them in different ways, after being frustrated with myself! With each challenge I am doing, I am realizing I can enjoy the process of ... "How can I?" rather than fight it.

Detail-Copper Bail Component-Grow

I came up with the copper envelope tube component,
(bail thingy! ) because I wanted to tie in the copper chain with the rest of the design. I liked the copper because of its contrast and unexpectability.  Is that a word?
I wore the necklace yesterday for a bit, and it feels really nice on, it has a nice weight, and the
twisted strands hang well together, staying in place.

Bead Soup ingredients- freshwater pearls, blue ribbon cording, and focal pendant.

Floriography Key Chain

Red Daisy-beauty,unknown to possessor
Daisy (general)- innocence, faith, simplicity

For this key chain I added some very old African trade beads, copper, ribbon, and made the chain tassel.
I love these big lobster clasps on key chains and book marks.

Floriography Keychain- BSBP
Laura Guenther-Shay Williams

Bead Soup Ingredients- Large Lobster Clasp, Large copper toned bead, glass beads

Wildflower Dreams Book Mark (Give-Away)
Honey Suckle-Devoted affection
Buttercup-Riches
Thistle-Nobility

Wildflower Dreams Bookmark
BSBP 2013
Laura Guenther-Shay Williams

Bead Soup ingredients- Purple, clear, green glass beads, 
silver "Dreams 're made of love" connector.

If you would like to participate in my Give Away, 
please follow my blog,  leave a comment on this post, and your entered. 
Contact me if you need help to follow my blog! lkguen@comcast.net  
  
Sorry for the long post!  Thanks ahead of time for your visits and comments.  I love to hear from everyone, and I value each and every comment, even tho I can't reply to each one. 

I cant wait to see everyone's creations!
All the best! 
Laura