Saturday, January 12, 2013

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop


Did I know Marianna Adams? Not personally, but I know something about her. How did we meet? Through the warm and wonderful community of jewelry designers and crafters and their blogs, is how. There was another talented designer, Judy Glende, who lost her battle with cancer back in the spring of last year, whom Tania Spivey wanted to honor with a jewelry fundraising blog hop. I felt compelled to enter it, and the subsequent auction brought me to meeting Marianna. She bid on, and won, a pendant necklace I did with a component that Judy had in her Etsy shop. Hence, my Facebook conversations with Marianna started.

We talked about the problems with her health, which she never complained about, just dealt with in her own way. We talked about her work, a Hospice Nurse, of which I could completely relate, as I had been one as well, before retirement. Best of all I came to realize what a selfless and caring lady Marianna was, helping her friends, even when it took time away from her own family.


Meanwhile, Lori Anderson of Pretty Things, had helped Marianna to get her blog page set up so she could join in the hop fun we all have.  Unfortunately it was not meant to be, and this tribute is the result, a vision of Lori's to her, and all others we have lost too soon, paying homage.

 
 

She so wanted the pendant I created, but several attempts to get the sale completed did not come to pass. I put it aside, as I never did get her address, and assumed when life settled down for her, we would finally work it out. Then came the news.
Every time I looked at that pendant, thoughts of Marianna came filling my head again, of the strength she showed in her life, of the level of caring she had for all in her life, of the immense sense of loss her family must have. I knew what I had to do with it.

It isn’t red and there are no cardinals on it. It is a butterfly garden, full of wings. The ones she now owns, I am sure are more resplendent than I could ever make. So the pendant is in the hands of her loving daughters, a gift, I hope they realize how much it meant to their mom, but an even greater gift to me, of having “met” their dear mother, Marianna Adams.

Most of us have felt that profound sense of loss, or will someday, but my hope for all is that you will have that one special way to keep them in your memory, and close to your heart.

Please use this link to Pretty Things for the list of other participants in this blog hop.

25 comments:

  1. Good Morning, Marlene, friend of mine!!! This is a lovely post! I never met Marianne, but she sound like a Wonderful person. I think we are all really BLESSED if we get to "know" someone like Marianne I have been just so BLESSED getting "know" you and others here. I love your Butterfly Garden it is soooo pretty! i am sure she would have cherished it now Lena will be able to. What a Great gift!! You are Amazing!!!

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  2. I'm glad Lena will have that. What a lovely gesture. Beady people are so generous and have kind hearts. I'm honored to get to know so many talented people.

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  3. A lovely tribute to a special lady that I never had the opportunity to meet or interact with. Her daughters will treasure this.

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  4. Such a beautifully written post! I never had the chance to 'meet' Marianna, but have recently gotten to know Lena. What a lovely & special young lady she is! And such a beautiful tribute for her & her sister of their wonderful mother.

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  5. A beautiful tribute for a special lady: I never met Marianna, but I feel I know her a little through Lori's and your notes, as well through Lena's notes.
    The butterfly garden is gorgeous - and I know her daughter will cherish it! Wonderful work, Marlene

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  6. What a gorgeous pendant, and I know that her daughters will think of you and the many people in the beading community who loved their mother.

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  7. Really lovely, and well written. That pendant will be treasured, I am sure.

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  8. What a beautiful way to honor Marianna...and as butterflies are symbols of new life and hope, what a fitting piece to use.

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  9. Your story was very touching. Thanx for sharing more about Mari with us. The tribute that you created for her is wonderful & Lena will treasure it.

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  10. I know Lena and her sister will cherish this. So sweet of you, and a great post! xxoo

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  11. What a lovely necklace, one I am sure that her daughters will treasure. And thank you so much for sharing your memories of Marianna with us. She sounds like she was a very special lady.

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  12. I loved reading your post about Marianna...and the fact that you're going to send the pendant you created to her daughter is a beautiful gesture. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  13. A beautiful butterfly garden pendant and a wonderful tribute to Marianna. Thank you for introducing her nature a little bit more, she surely was a exceptional and warm-hearted lady!

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  14. It's wonderful that Marianna's daughters know what a beautiful friend you were to their mother and how your friendship grew through your lovely pendant...the world needs more people like you!

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  15. I didn't know Marianna....I can say from all the wonderful post and shares I have read she was a wonderful person. Heaven's gain is our loss. It was such a wonderful thing you did to give her daughter the necklace that her mother had fallen in love with.

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  16. What a beautiful post and your jewelry piece too. Thank you for sharing.

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  17. A lovely post and a lovely necklace that you have made in honor of Marianna. Now a thoughtful gift as well!
    Hope you enjoyed the hop
    Hugs
    Terri G.

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  18. Thank you for sharing how your lives touched. I did not know Marianne but I can feel a surge of love and light around this hop in her memory. Thanks for sharing your story and creation. Enjoy the day. Erin

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  19. Beautiful necklace and lovely tribute.

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  20. Thank you for sharing how you 'met' Marianna. Your pendant, and finished necklace, is beautiful. A lovely way to honour the beautiful spirit she must have been. How thoughtful also of you to gift it to her daughters. It must give them comfort to know how much their mother touched and helped others.

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  21. What a wonderful story to share Marlene. I'm sorry of course that it has such a trajic portion. I'm happy to hear though that her daughters have this now.

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  22. Oh my word...her daughters are so blessed to have this. What a wonderful pendant you created for her.

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  23. Lovely tribute and Lovely necklace too..
    Peace and Love.

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  24. It was a lovely gesture to give the necklace to Marianna's daughters. I am sure they will treasure it.

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  25. Thank you for sharing a little more of Marianna - she was a remarkable woman. The necklace you made for her daughters is beautiful!

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