The May issue of Bead Trends features a Southwest Style pin I created. It combines copper wire, beaded dangles, leafy chain, and a Vintaj charm with the word "wish." The pin bar on the back is horizontal, so it may be slipped over a thin purse strap. (I couldn't resist the humor in creating a purse-shaped pin for a purse!)
In the magazine, I said that my inspiration was a trip to Tucson, Arizona, which was true, but it wasn't the whole story. The inspiration for this pin was the porcelain purse/basket by Off Center Productions that makes up the bottom of the pin.
A couple of years ago, I had created a necklace with one of their porcelain vessels for Stringing magazine. (It was later picked up for Best of Stringing.)
When I visited the bead shows in Tucson, Arizona for the first (and so far, only) time, I stopped by their booth. As a thank you, they asked me to pick out another piece of theirs as a gift. Isn't that nice?
So while this pin does feel Southwestern to me, it also represents the generosity of the the beading community: the more you give, the more you get back. Thank you!