Fingal Frolics

The theme for the latest Seed-It Challenge on the Australian Beading Forum of which I am a member is "Rockpool". The piece was to be created using only one colour and using seed beads.

Here is the story behind my piece.

As a child our family had a caravan at Fingal Bay in Port Stephens in NSW. We would visit the caravan nearly every weekend and I would spend hours and hours down at the beach frolicking and fossicking in the rock pools.

One day I found the most amazing starfish and I begged my dad to let me keep it. Of course he said no but luckily for me that same day I found a hermit crab with the most beautiful shell so he let me keep him instead... you know I still have that shell too!

So when I saw the theme for this Challenge I just knew I had to create a piece that included a starfish to commemorate my cherished days at Fingal Bay.

The piece is created using seed beads, delicas, Swarovski crystals, Czech glass beads, Indian glass beads as well as a selection of glass fused cabochons which I made myself. The gorgeous large cabochon that takes pride of place in the centre of the largest starfish was made by Alan.

I really enjoyed creating this piece as I adore the many shades of green and also because every night when I was working on the piece Spencer would come up to me and say "how is your beading going mummy... how is your little starfish...awww he is so cute".

Now that the piece is finished his very first question to me was "so who are you giving it to mummy...nanna?" .... after the countless hours I have spent on this piece I think I might just hold on to it for a bit longer!

Alan, Spencer and I spent four days at Fingal Bay back in 2006. We stayed in a little cabin in the very same caravan park and I can't describe how wonderful it was to return there. I honestly felt like a child again and felt so happy and content to be there.

Although we didn't find any starfish my real treasure was being able to take Spencer to this special place where I spent many cherished hours as a child.

♥