May Inspired By Reading Blog Hop...

Today is the blog hop reveal for the Inspired by Reading Book Club.  For May, we read, "An Object of Beauty" by Steve Martin.  The book follows the rise (and eventual fall) of an ambitious woman in the tumultuous New York art world.  Although a work of fiction, the book relates real life events, people and artworks.  The core of the story involves a mysterious misdeed, a high-profile art theft, and the blurred lines between right and wrong, beauty and commodity, and passion and ambition.

Most of the participants agreed that it was an enjoyable read.  I lived in New York and was involved with the art world (at least peripherally as someone trying to break into it), during part of the time the book spans, so it took on an extra sentimental flair for me.  I think everyone appreciated and delighted in the pictures of the works of art mentioned in the book.  It was another layer to get inspired by!

CLICK HERE to check out the full list of selections for the latest cycle.

We got a cake to celebrate Laurel's birthday.  It features Andy Warhol's Flower print.  The print was an important work of art in the book.  The cake was made by Chad from Johnstown.  He did a great job!

Here's a quick snapshot from the first part of the evening.  It was a lot of fun!  I always look forward to the meet-ups.  Not only do we get together to share what we've made and talk about the book, but we also get to catch up.  In the foreground, Alison and Amy chat over apples and warm brie.  In the mid-ground, Laurel talks with Constance.  In the background is the back room of our new space!

Alison brought the warmed Brie with crostini and apples.  She said it was to represent the City, where the book took place, because it's a "melting pot" and "the Big Apple".  It was delicious and very fitting!

I made this piece.  It has freshwater pearls, Canadian jade and a polymer clay pendant by Heather Wynn Millican.  It says, "art is a jealous mistress".  It is a Pablo Picasso quote.  I took the colors from one of the Picasso pieces mentioned in the book.

Alison made this wrap bracelet.  It is made of dyed howlite beads that she wired into flowers, a vintage button and recycled sari silk ribbon.  It was inspired by Andy Warhol's Flowers.

I made this necklace.  It was inspired by "Daybreak", a painting by Maxfield Parrish.  The painting was another important piece in the book.  The necklace is made up of vintage Czech glass, peachy-colored vintage "moonglow" lucite, carved bone, and freshwater pearls.

I also made this bracelet.  It was fast and easy and just goes to show that what one makes doesn't have to be overly complicated.  I used brightly colored millefiori glass beads that represents the repetitive floral theme of the Warhol Flowers.

Laurel made this multi-strand necklace.  The bright colors of the synthetic calsilica were used to represent the bold colors of Pop Art paintings.

She also channeled her inner Jackson Pollock and got all Action Painty.  Laurel decorated these PRADA shoes with splattered pink paint.

Alison made this to represent the Moon Over the Bay of Naples painting, another important painting in the book.  It is knotted silk with freshwater pearls, peanut/barbell beads, and a handmade polymer clay lentil bead by her.

Here is a picture of Laurel cutting the cake.  We had two new members join us!  Laurel's cousin, Constance, is in town for the summer after graduating from Yale with a masters in architecture.  Dawn also came by after the BPW meeting and brought some beach glass and stones collected in Erie to embellish a cuff bracelet.  I love that our little group is growing.

Karen Hiatt doesn't have a blog, but wanted to share this bracelet that she made.  She said that it was inspired by the unexpected evolution of the characters.  Just like the story, it started off one way and it turned out another.

Check out what the others made:

Jeanne Steck

Ann Schroeder

Sarajo Wentling

Mary Harding 

Andrew Thornton, Alison Herrington, Laurel Ross, and Karen Hiatt

The next book is "The Drunken Botanist" by Amy Stewart.  CLICK HERE for the list of books for this year's selections.  CLICK HERE to take a look at last year's books.  If you're interested in keeping up with what we're doing, CLICK HERE to visit our Facebook group.  CLICK HERE to check out our Pinterest page for supplemental inspiration.  The meet-up for June is scheduled for June 24th and the Reveal is scheduled for July 2nd.