I recently took Kimberly Affleck’s weekend class. She told the story of how her seahorse beads came to life…how she had looked at a technique she had been doing for a while (I’m paraphrasing, of course) and that it reminded her of something. I think she was talking about the intricate twisted cane that she used. It took her a long time to realize that it reminded her of the texture/look of a seahorse spine/body.

I just had a similar experience with something that I have been doing for a long time and it’s like a lightbulb went off.

For years I have made what I call pod beads. They have been a popular item for me. Not everyone sees them as pods but it seems like most people do see something in them. I have gotten comments that the poked dots I use on them look like eyes and I got it but I didn’t fully get it.

Recently I’ve started dabbling in silver glass (also thanks to Kimberly) and thought I’d give it a try with the pod beads. It’s a fun way to try little bits of this expensive glass but still get a big bang.

It’s hard for me to make the same thing over and over not because I don’t like the process but because I feel like I bore people with the same thing over and over at shows. But, this brought the freshness back.

on with the story…

Part two in this is thanks to a work friend of my husbands who invited us to a local concert of a band that he and his wife love.  The way they explained the music to us was “Swamp Rock.” Having no idea what that was, I was intrigued and walked away with a new favorite artist: JJ Grey and MoFro. (Thanks Derek!) I even created a Pandora station for that type of music and I’ve been obsessed listening to it while making beads.

As I listened to the ‘swamp rock’ I reflected on the fact that there has always been something intriguing to me in a real, raw, grimy way about swamp life.  The people, the terrain, the wild life…untamable, mysterious beneath the surface and deep deep in where man can’t, or shouldn’t go.

I recently read the book Swamplandia! and remember being captivated by Okie Noodling. I started thinking about the swamp and the people. I started to related it to beads and how I could capture and convey it. Molten, dripping, oozing together in a way that is not controlled…

Then it hit me. Those poked dots. Reminiscent of so many things…alligator eyes emerging through the textured surfaces that I always fall back on. Some have called them barnacles, some have seen them as grapes.

As I worked I knew what I had to do. Throw myself into swamp culture. Well, not literally, but immerse myself in whatever media is out there that I can get my hands on. Except, I don’t know where to look. I watched the first season Swamp People last year and that’s good but it’s edited in a reality-tv way, not as much documentary. I’ll try it again though.  I’m searching for books, movies, music, anything. (send me any recommendations you have). And now I want to visit the Everglades too.