Many things came to mind when I thought of this area: the natural beauty of the land, quilting, bluegrass music, small country churches, tight knit families...but the two things that I kept coming back to were coal and fall leaves.
Coal is the main industry here, and it's rare to find a family without at least one coal miner (my father is a retired miner), or take a trip to town without seeing men in their mining uniforms. Fall is my favorite time of year, and the mountains come alive with brilliant yellows, reds, and oranges. I love the colors, the crisp fall mountain air, and the various festivals that take place in the surrounding towns.
This is the necklace I created with these two things in mind.
The black stone in the pendant isn't actually coal, but it looks exactly like it. I added leaves in browns, oranges, and deep reds, then added chips in similar colors to form the chain. The necklace is simple, much like the way of life in this area.
I hope you've enjoyed a peek into rural southwest Virginia. If you enjoy mountains, small towns, lakes and creeks, grab a pair of hiking boots and come visit!
Be sure to head back to Erin's blog to see what inspires other bloggers.
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Very nice necklace and the coal looking piece is fantastic, fits perfectly! I enjoyed your blog post, you are only a few hours from me.
ReplyDeleteWhat great colors! You might call the design simple but it is oh so wearable and just cries out for a matching bracelet.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous necklace - love that you incorporated the colored leaves and black stone to represent the town! Love your tour of your hometown!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, warm colours in your necklace. I love the 'coal' pendant!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a wonderful place to raise a family. My uncle and grandfather were both coal miners here in my home town though the mines have all been closed for many years.
ReplyDeleteYour necklace is just gorgeous!!!
You've beautifully captured Fall in the mountains with your necklace. I was born in a coal mining town in Pennsylvania and share your memories of small country churches, tight-knit families, and quilting...no bluegrass music -- our loss!
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I loved how anchored your design was to two such powerful elements of your town. Great combination of beads. Thanks for sharing the story of where you live...very evocative!
ReplyDeleteGreat necklace and representation of your home!
ReplyDeleteI love the necklace and I love how it represents your town. Fall is a favorite time of the year for me also and I love those leaves.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Love the story behind your design and the way you have captured the essence of your town in the piece. Beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteI know how beautiful fall can be in the mountains and I know the simple life of a small town. I love the simplicity of your piece and the quiet way it reflects the life where you live.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful representation of your hometown! The two elements work beautifully together!
ReplyDeleteYour piece looks like Virginia! My family is from nearby your area and I am familiar with all of its beauty - especially in the fall. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThough we are many states apart, the Appalachian Trail connects our homes! I'll bet it's lovely raising a family in a small town! I think your necklace is great and will be a perfect accent for fall!
ReplyDeleteI so love the fall colours that you put into your necklace, and linking the leaves with stones that echo those colours and the coal in your area made a great necklace. Andrea
ReplyDeleteLovely autumn necklace! I like that inclusion of "coal", both because it adds a beautiful, dark earthy element to the lighter leaves and autumn colours and because I enjoyed seeing an hommage to something not often seen in jewellery. It might feel dirty and mundane, but it's also been an important backbone in the industrial revolution and the wealth of many countries.
ReplyDeleteLove it! I think I need to come visit. I love your necklace, and you're right, that black bead does look just like coal. Beautiful theme to your necklace and a very wearable design!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful necklace Miss Stephanie! I love that you are honoring the rich tradition of mining with your necklace. And I bet the fall is beautiful there. Thank you for sharing your hometown. Sorry that it took me so long to get around to all the hometowns. With this fundraiser I am doing it has taken all my free time this past week. I want to savor every one! Thank you for joining me on the journey! Enjoy the day. Erin
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