Thursday, May 31, 2012

Challenge of Literature Blog

Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati started this challenge at the beginning of the month, and today is reveal day via a blog hop on her site.
Now let me say this was indeed a challenge for me, in more than one way. Not even sure why I decided to enter. Have had an idea for a piece since that day, but it has taken me until 3 days before the reveal to even start on it. Why? Not because I have had lots of other projects (well just a few), and not because my vacation cruise got in the way (but it did), because I REALLY didn't want to write this blog. It is confession time.
I am so NOT a reader!
There I admit it. The last book I read cover to cover was the Bible and that was ions ago (well except for the bedtime stories I have read my grandchildren when they slept over. Does "The Giving Tree" count?). If it weren't for Cliff Notes, I would NEVER have passed high school English! So why on earth with a non-reader enter a literary challenge? That's the word - CHALLENGE!

It is not something I am proud of, and keep trying to make it happen. I love interviews of fascinating people and want to know more. Right now, I have two biographies on my coffee table, that I bought at a library sale, "Front Row at the White House" by Helen Thomas, and "Fatherhood" by my favorite comic and humanitarian, Bill Cosby.They look nice there, but have I opened them? (well yes, a couple of pages of the Cosby book)

BUT, I do still have a favorite, actually a series. "The Lord of the Rings " Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. Do I have it in my home, yes. Have I read it, no. However, my son has, and that also was ions ago. He was very much like me ("I don't want to read it"), until he picked up the first of the three volumes, and didn't finish until he closed the cover on the last of them. He has never stopped since. His horizons have been broadened and his imagination has soared to the point of wanting to write his own novel (which is still in the works),

Yes, reading is a fantastic thing. I applaud anyone with a love of it. And perhaps some day when my hands are too arthritic to pound my clay, I just may take it up. I could even start with one of the classics I missed in high school!

For now, though, here is my tribute to J.R.R., and his gift to my son.


Lord of the Rings Bracelet
A rough-hewn bracelet of oval hammered links and a braid made up of three strands, one brown leather, one red hemp, and one brown cord. It holds polymer clay charms formed into the shapes of two plaques, holding the Middle Earth Map, and an Arwen Butterfly on Elvish Script.
The center charm is my depiction of the wire wrapped Elvin Leaf, and it is flanked by golden rings with the Lord of the Rings Inscription.

Thanks Erin for a TRULY challenging Challenge.

Now go check out the participants who have worked hard to bring their literary inspirations to life by clicking on the link to Tesori Trovati.

20 comments:

  1. Your bracelet is very cool! I love all the different elements! FUN! You can see the love you have for your son!

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  2. Marlene, I was never fond of reading much either except for when I was in elementary school. Somehow I never caught the bug. I always feel less intelligent when others are talking about the classics, or the newest best book that came out.

    Anyway, I just love your piece and the inspiration for it. Your handmade components are fabulous!

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  3. Marlene - for someone who doesn't read often, you sure did a good job with this challenge. I love this bracelet and the charms absolutely evoke the Lord of the Rings!!! Glad you joined the challenge (your post cracked me up!)

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  4. For someone that doesn't read you did a wonderful job in the challenge. That bracelet is spot on!

    And I loved your blog post. Just what I needed to set the tone for the day.

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  5. LOVE the bracelet. What a great design! I do love to read but have seen the movie trilogy rather than read this one. You did a great job on the leaf and I really like your Arwen butterfly. I wonder how you would represent some of the other characters if you made another one?

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  6. I can see that bracelet being perfectly at home in middle earth and hopefully it's powers don't create a hubbub like those rings!

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  7. That is perfect for the piece! Love it!

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  8. Hi Marlene,
    I'm not an avid reader, but every once in a while I like to read a book to give my poor hands a rest from sewing those little beads. I have not read The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I have seen the movies. I agree with the others, your bracelet is spot on. I love your Elf leaf pendant charm.
    Therese

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  9. For someone who has never read the novels you created a perfect companion piece :). There is nothing wrong with being a non-reader, and I think you are amazing for pushing yourself to do this challenge! Bravo!

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  10. very nice work on your bracelet, for someone that doesn't read you made each of the identifying elements from the books. what a nice thing that you son is now writing a book

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  11. LOL! I am a reader and I'm STRUGGLING with Lord of the Rings. Oh, I love love love the movies. When I'm not listening to an audio book, I have the movies playing in the background as I work (mouthing lines here and there). I even got the audio books and it is STILL a struggle for me. So strange.

    Your bracelet is lovely. It's as if Frodo put together a charm bracelet of his journey. Love it!

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  12. Your bracelet is gorgeous, love your components!

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  13. Miss Marlene! I love the design that you came up with. And I am glad that it was indeed a challenge for you... good to stretch yourself! I do consider "The Giving Tree" great literature and I have read "Fatherhood" (very funny). I think that anything you read is important as reading is a building block to a better life. Truthfully, I rarely read anything that isn't a letter from school or a how-to book on some technique. But I do love when I can immerse myself in a good book. Thank you for playing with me in this Challenge! Enjoy the day. Erin

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  14. I love your bracelet, and how funny that we both picked the same book! I think you did a wonderful job and I love the elvish script. Wonderful job!

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  15. You have included quite a lot of detail for having second hand knowledge of the books! Nice job. They are truly wonderful, try them some day...

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  16. Lovely bracelet! I have not read the trilogy, but I could visualize it from your bracelet. I am not an avid reader either, although I read a great deal as a child.

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  17. I wish I could say I am a great reader, but I really do struggle with how slowly I read so I don't find it something I reach for as a pleasurable pastime. Oh well, I'm not alone :) I think the ring especially that you created are really great

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  18. A lovely piece of Middle Earth you have created there! You have obviously absorbed a lot of the book's ideas from your son.

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  19. Aren't challenges great - it gets you out of your box and expands your horizons! Love your bracelet and the different elements you created for the Lord of the Rings. Gorgeous work!

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  20. Excellent job! I have to admit I have never had an interest in reading those books, as well, and I'm an avid reader! I think you did a fantastic job!

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