My Country Blog Hop

inspired by:  http://beadedlaughter.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith of Wired Nan is hosting a challenge to make a piece of jewelry that reflects national pride.  Originally I thought I would do something related to the USA.  However, I think the USA will be adequately represented. Therefore, I wanted to choose a different country.  I am a relentless fan of the underdog.  Therefore, after a little bit of research I picked Pitcairn.

Pitcairn?  Where is that?  Well, it's an interesting story.  I searched for the country with the smallest population on earth and found Pitcairn.  It is actually a group of islands that is a British Overseas Territory.  There is a population of around 50.  Yes I said 50.  The population lives on Pitcairn island, a small volcanic outcrop which is approximately 2 miles long and 1 mile wide in the South Pacific.  It is one of the remotest inhabited islands on earth, halfway between New Zealand and the Americas. 

The people of Pitcairn are descendants from the mutineers of the HMS Bounty and Tahitians.  For those of you that don't know about the Bounty mutiny I will recap briefly.  In 1798 after departing Tahiti with over 1,000 breadfruit plants some of the HMS Bounty crew mutinied.  To elude future capture by the British Royal Navy, 9 Bounty crew, 6 Tahitian men and 19 Tahitian women set sail eventually landing in January of 1790 at Pitcairn island.  According to a journal kept by one of the mutineers all but 3 of the women were basically kidnapped.  It was not until 18 years later (1808) that the island was actually visited by another ship.  It was recorded that only 1 mutineer, 9 women and several children still lived.  Wow.

Flag of Pitcairn

There is an interesting website for the Government of the Pitcairn Islands, if you have some time you might want to take a look:

http://www.government.pn/index.php

Okay, on to what I made.  Originally I intended to make two pieces, one to represent the mutineers of the Bounty and the other to represent the Tahitians.  However, I went on vacation and only managed one piece.  I still have to finish the edge, but here it is:

I had the perfect little sailboat charm that said "pick me".  

I also unearthed Poseidon from my stash.  He was a button.  

I'm glad you made it to my little corner of the internet.  A HUGE thank you to Nan for being our delightful hostess!  I can't wait to see what she has made, along with all the other participants.  Here is the list:

Nan Smith (host): wirednan.blogspot.ca   Canada


Dini Bruinsma: http://angazabychanges.blogspot.ca   The Netherlands


Stephanie Weiss : http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com   USA


Ana Cravidao (ACBeads) :http://acbeads.blogspot.com   Portugal


Liz E :beadcontagion@blogspot.com   USA  <~~~~ you are here


Vera: veradesigns.blogspot.com   Germany (USA)


Andra : http://bijouxdemonange.blogspot.com   Romania


Delilah: http://mssdelilah.wordpress.com   Romania


Jessica Murray: http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com   USA


Mischelle: http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com


Rebecca : http://www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.ca/    France (USA)


LiliKrist: http://pcbylik.blogspot.com   Indonesia


N Vakentine Studio : www.nvalentine.blogspot.com   Canada


Karin: maverickbeads.blogspot.ca   Calgary, Canada


Diah Anggreni : http://pernik-manik.blogspot.com    Indonesia


Karen : www.overthemoon-design.com   Australia


Cath Thomas : http://samohtac.blogspot.ca   Switzerland


Asri Wahyuningsih : http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com   USA


Crysalis Jewelry Design   Denmark ( Canada)


Jasvanti Patel: www.jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com   USA


Lola: http://beadlolabead.blogspot.ca   USA


Beccy Peterson    Sweden (USA)


Paula Hisel : http://www.simplybeadiful.weebly.com USA


Inge von Roos:  ingetraud.wordpress.com  Germany


Laurie Vyselaar: Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com USA


Toltec Jewels: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com USA


Anindita Basu: www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com  USA