A Wonderful Time of the Year

This is my favorite time of the year.  It is so busy with all the joys of the season I forget to update what is going on in my jewelry world.  I have been working on so many projects at once my work station looks like a bead monster came and vomited (gross but true visual).  I try and make something special for different people in my life.  Coming up with the design, colors and time to sit and work on the projects is all the fun and chaos I love. 

So far I have finished a bracelet I call Mermaid.  No one in mind for it yet but I really love the way it turned out.

Then I finished the center piece to a bracelet for my niece Courtney.  She wanted something really girlie in purple and pink.  I think this hits the nail on the head.  I am working on the band now.

Remember to enjoy the time you have with your family and friends.  It is easy to get caught up in the fury of presents and shopping.  Time can never be purchased and life is a one time shot. 

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well things have been very busy for me.  Trying to get all my patients seen, taking care of the boys, and trying to get my Christmas presents that have to be shipped ready.  It is truly amazing this year I will not have to break the bank with express shipping because I didn't ship out on time.  I made this cute purse for our niece in Toronto.

Then I have made so many hair clips all to add as wrapping or a little extra for each gift.

Last but not least, I found this great piece of lapis and I knew I wanted to make a necklace out of it.  It wasn't until I started it occured to me to put Turquoise in it too.  When I was finished with this I had found memories of my Grandma Mary (she was a Native American princess) and I just miss her so much.  So this is dedicated to her. I just listed it on Etsy

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means (Official Music Video)

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Wow where has the time gone?  I thought I just put away my Christmas tree...but here we are again with much excitement.  I have been over my Christmas list a hundred times, finding just the right thing for each of my special people. Every year our family has each person give a "What I am thankful for" speech prior to eating and after we pray.  Last night in among the sorting of ideas for gifts and decoration I remembered I need to get my thoughts together for my  tribute of thankfulness.  I sat for a long time just looking at a blank paper; What I am thankful for and why kept going round and round my head.  For me trying to make people feel good and making everyone happy, I had forgotten just how blessed I am. This is a brief synopsis of my speech:

I am thankful for all the little things in my life.  The blessing of 2 wonderful children.  They are typical boys and I can't believe how fast they have grown. I am thankful that Justin is  opinionated and goofy, it gives me opportunities to talk with him and shape him.

I am thankful Connor is persistent and excited, it helps remind me not to give in on the things that are truly important.

 I am thankful for my sisters both in Christ and blood.  I am blessed to have such loving women in my life.  Thankful for their opinions and knowledge.  Giving me opportunities for thought, love, and sometimes even irritation :), but always thankful for their loving arms to rest in when I am out of steam.

Thankful for loving parents.  I am blessed to have both parents living.  When you get to a certain age all of a sudden people have lost one or both parents.  I am so very thankful to have them within reach of me daily.  To have parents to help and support me raising my boys.

Most all I am thankful for a loving God who places each and every person in my life for a reason.  For creating me and supporting me in the darkest of places.  For reminding me that I am exactly the person he created and that is really cool. 

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble Happy Thanksgiving

A Crafters Delight

Well the last craft fair of the season was a moderate success and I felt really good about it.  As I looked at all my jewelry laid out for all to see, it occurred to me just how far I have come as a jewelry maker/designer.  I was truly proud of the things I accomplished.

It made me think about how I came up with some of the pieces I did.  I look at beads and see people, flowers, designs, and it all flows into a piece of jewelry.   For example last night as I am sitting looking through my beads working on another project (I tend to have many projects going at the same time, but that insanity is for another time :) ) I saw an Carnelian rectangle bead and thought of Cleopatra.  After a few minutes this is what I thought of and by this morning I finished this piece. 

Queen Hair Clip

I never thought of hair jewelry before and I really enjoyed making it.  I also made this cute rose hair clip and loved the way it turned out. 

it is a little dark in the pic since m 13 yr wouldn't be the model only the photographer

 

 

And finally a few snap shots of the booth for Georgetown Market Days.  I love doing craft fair and talking to all the people that come by the booth.

I loved this I made it for out booth

  And the day was made perfect when my beautiful sister and niece stopped in to say hello.

Market Place

Busy trying to get everything ready for the Georgetown Market Place in Georgetown, TX.  Finishing last minute projects and working out a new booth design.  Thankful my lovely friend Denise is doing most of the work on the booth layout.  Our joint venture will be semi up this weekend.  We have created for craft fairs and market place a combined craftiness called The Birds and Beads.  She make lovely items associated with gardening and mine will be jewelry of course.  

Big Night

Tonight seem to be a big night in our house.  First finished my latest cuff bracelet I have been working on "The other side of the rainbow".  It was so much fun working on it but finishing made me realize how far I have come in jewelry design and making. I put a collage of my bracelet on my blog.

Then I got to use my photo box I made to take the pictures of my stuff and I have to say it turned out pretty good and I am sure with more practice and rearranging the lights I will get it down with no problems.

Last but not least I showed my 13yr old son how to shave and it was quite the moment.  

Christmas it a coming..

I know it isn't even Thanksgiving yet but when you are planning to make beaded gifts for people you have to start planning early.  As I was flipping through a great new for me beading book that I got at a garage sale today; there is was inspiration for Christmas.  I immediately sketched out my design on paper then right on to Lacy's Stiff Stuff.  I find it important to sketch out your designs, studying them, and work any problems in your head.  Then take carbon paper and retrace on to your beading medium. 


Planning out your color palette is sometimes the hardest part.  I start by laying my colors together.  Keep it simple silly (KISS), that is my philosophy.  Use colors that compliment each other and keep them to a minimum.  Don't be afraid to use color but to many colors take away from the design instead of enhance it. 

Possibilities are endless with designs and the beads you use.  Beads will go where ever you put them and live happily there forever :).  Your imagination is your guide, listen to it and happy beading.

Focus

Today starts a new day of watching my eating and exercise.  A feeling of renewal has come over many aspects of my world and life style is a big one.  I read something the other day it is has been running through my mind ever since; "10 daily task of a Christian" the article talked about praying, exercise and lots of other stuff.  So I decided I would make up my own list to remind me of my commitments and priorities.   This is the first 5, tomorrow I will post the last 5. 

1. Pray-Get up everyday at the same time and before you facebook read your bible and pray
2.  Exercise-God made us he wouldn't like the way we take care of us
3. Pray-Through out your day pray.  Pray for the people on the road, the church you just drove past, pray for the people how drive you crazy, Just Pray
4.  Be kind-Do on to others and you would have done to you.  Remember it.  Think about how and what you say to people.  It doesn't matter if the don't get it or are rude to you.  That may be the moment that changes their life.
5.  Get God's purpose in mind-Even if are having a bad day remember how God would treat you.

Focus on this today!

 

Falling toward winter

Fall is here!  The weather is got a chill in the air and on some days it is just cold.  The trees are turning beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange. Yesterday I  blogged about having so many ideas but no inspiration and then as I was driving yesterday it occurred to me Winter!  When I got home I started to look at, think about, and started jotting down ideas winter is my inspiration.  Fall has beautiful colors but winter is a time to bundle up and spend time with the family.  Time to work on the crafts that have been sitting there waiting to be started but had no time to do when fun could be had by the pool. 

The beautiful shades of reds, greens, purple, gold, whites, and crystals are swirling around in my head.  As stood talking with Denise last night I whipped out a lovely bracelet.  I have another design ready to be born and will start on that tonight.
 

 Crystal and Reds are very winterish to me

All in a nights work. I made the wine stopper, bracelet, 2 rings and 2 earrings last night

When you feel as though you can not get motivated or inspired.  Step back stop trying and look at the beauty you have been missing.  A simple weed may be your inspiration.  Live life and enjoy it.  Don't let life get in the way...live without regrets.

A wandering mind

I have lots of ideas wondering around in my head but no inspiration.  I think of different patterns or should I make a necklace or bracelet, maybe a broche.  I have sat and looked at beads admiring them and wondering if I should use this one or that one. 

I have found sometimes it will be the strangest or most simple thing to give me inspiration.  Keep an open mind and enjoy every facet of life.  I will start out my day with prayers and grateful for what God has opened up to me today; then maybe I will have that inspiration.  If I don't then I will have enjoyed all God's gifts for me.

Dining Room

Today  I finished the first 2 stages of a dining room makeover.  Next will be new floors.  I am very excited and happy with the results.  We where going for a Tuscan theme and I think it turned out pretty good.