Monday, February 23, 2009

Creativity Spurt

Caution: creativity spurt is ready to occur!

I have been so busy doing other things that my creativity release gauge is about ready to explode. I can only go so long without creating something before all that stored up stuff starts to bog me down and I can't get the regular everyday things accomplished. I have tried to concentrate lately on getting organized, physically and electronically, and that has taken up most of my free time. Of course, I haven't had much free time lately because I have been spending it with good friends and family! So I am not complaining, but the creativity release gauge is going to have to be seen to pretty soon or the outcome won't be pretty.

"I am so ready for spring and so tired of cold weather". That is what most everyone I know has been saying and I agree. Seems the older I get, the more I notice the cold and this winter I think I've been cold most of the time. Now I know what my husband, Don, has felt like all these years, poor baby! Even the dog, Maggie, has gone without a haircut for longer than usual because of the cold. She looks like a woolly bear. I did trim her eyebrows on Saturday so she can see better! Still, this isn't a complaint. I know the cold has to come in order to enjoy the Spring. Just want it to hurry up!

We had a wonderful visit with a group of friends on Friday night - we had breakfast for supper and packed about 20 people into 3 small rooms. I forgot how much I like to have groups of people over to visit! We mostly ate and sat around telling tales. It was great.

On Saturday I spent the day with a friend sewing and teaching her to make purses. We talked about sewing and quilting and had a pleasant time together, just the two of us. Sometimes it is nice to just be two together so you can really get to know each other better. It was great, too.

On Sunday there was a missionary from Lebanon speaking in the morning and evening services. It was very sobering for me. In this country most of us have no idea what it is like to really live in a war torn area. We see it on tv and we hear it talked about on the radio, but I think we see so much on tv and in movies that is made up drama that it desensitizes us to the true reality of what is happening in the world. We got a little taste of it on 9/11 but even that soon fades into the past and isn't constantly remembered by most until it causes us some inconvience. The speaker on Sunday told us many truthful accounts of life in Lebanon, including times when his own life was in peril and he was beaten and jailed, just for welcoming someone into his home. I found his presentation to be very serious and thought provoking. I thank God for this country, even though at times it seems awfully far from being a godly country.

On a lighter note, here is one of the cuff bracelets in Rosevine Design's etsy shop. This is one big bracelet! I started to name it "Inspired by Elvis" but instead it is named "Southwest Vegas" because the colors are southwest but the bling is all Vegas. It is surprising comfortable to wear, even though the rectangular cabochon is a little hefty.

I love to make big jewelry because it gives me more room to play with the beads!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Cultivate a gentle spirit.......

I happened upon a wonderfully inspiring site that I would like to share. Here is an excerpt from one of its pages:

Cultivate a gentle spirit...

-Spurgeon, "Thou Art Now the Blessed of the Lord."


I do believe that there is nothing that has such power over
ungodly men as gentleness of spirit, quietness of behavior,
patience of character, and the continual conquest over an
evil temper.

If you grow angry when people are angry with you,
you will have lost your witness.
But if you can be patient under persecution,
if you can smile when they ridicule you,
if you can yield your rights,
if you can bear and continue to bear,
you are greater than the man who has taken a city.

Let the meek and lowly Christ be your example,
and seek to be a partaker of his Spirit.
He prayed even for his murderers, "Father, forgive them,"
and he ever sought to return good for evil.

I pray you to do the same, cultivate a gentle spirit.


This, along with many other gems, is found at Grace Gems. Please take time to look around there, you will find it very interesting, I think!

Ode to Spring Treasury

Here is an etsy treasury
that will make you pine for spring.
Everything that's in it
is a very nice shade of green!

Thanks, GrandmaMarilyn's, for including my Green Eyed Cat bracelet. Please visit her etsy shop where you will find lots of beaded beauties!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Brag Time



Here is the sweetest baby I know, Olivia. The top pic is from Christmas time 2008 and the bottom is from her vacation to Myrtle Beach, after taking a dip in the ocean. Isn't she a bathing beauty?

Monday, February 16, 2009

Finally - New Items








I have finally made the time to add some new jewelry items to my etsy shop. I am still in the process of adding more, as time allows, but here is a preview of the newest.


Yes, they are similar in color. I have a tendency to work in the same color groups for awhile! I think it is because the beads are already on my work surface and as I am working on one project another comes to mind and it is just easier to keep going in the same color! So I keep going until I run out of that color or another color combination grabs my attention and off I go in another direction.

The top necklace is named "Bottom of the Sea". The chain reminds me of coral and the dangles include various shapes, sizes and colors of beads, including the shell discs.

"Old Fashion Pendant", the bottom picture, is reminiscent of victorian jewelry. I could imagine it being worn by a Gibson Girl with a high necked collar edged with picot lace. This necklace has a spiral and stranded chain and a polymer cabochon surrounded by seed beads.

They can be found at my etsy shop, Rosevine Design. Please come by for a visit!

St. Louis Handmade


In a couple of months I am scheduled to be a featured artist at St. Louis Handmade, and I am very excited about it although I hope I didn't say anything really stupid in the interview! I am not really from St. Louis but about 35 miles south of there. Even so, I have been graciously included in their group by the leader, creator, wonderful person - Tammy Tutterow.

I am fairly newly acquainted with St. Louis Handmade so I am still learning a lot about it but I can tell you this, the St. Louis area is FULL of wonderfully creative artists and artisans! Just go to the site and see for yourself, when you have some time. It is pretty awesome!

Also, do yourself a favor and visit Tammy Tutterow's site - Fairy Davis. There are lovely heirloom items with ribbon embroidery, baby bonnets, and other pretties. Her blog is also a great place to visit!



Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Everyone deserves to be rewarded. Who doesn't like to be pointed out by their peers? I was just given the" Marie Antoinette Award" from Brenda of The Jewelry Box. No one knows what the award is really for (maybe someone saw me sitting on the couch with my feet up eating bon bons the other day) but it is nice to be singled out (with 6 other people) even if the reason is unknown! Brenda is a new friend and she makes really wonderful pieces, especially earrings! Brenda has a creative, sharing heart and her jewelry reflects that. You can find Brenda's creations at her Etsy Shop, and her 1000 Markets shop. Thank you Brenda for the award. If you every figure out what the award is really for, just let me know!!

Now for the rules of this award. The rules are as follows...
1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them. And that's it!
I hope this award will make the following artists as happy as it made me!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Featuring handmade jewelry by etsy seller Patty of Broken TeePee Designs


Well, it has been a while since my last entry! There has been way too much going on around here including weddings, illnesses, weather and other busy stuff. I haven't had much time to bead because I have been sewing, but I have listed a few new items at my etsy shop and I have made new friends with the Artisan Beaders by becoming a member of their team. I would like to feature one of those new friends and fellow beader's shops in my blog today. At Broken TeePee Designs you will find beautiful and creative beaded jewelry that you will find as wonderful to wear as it is to look at. Not only does Patty, Broken TeePee Designs creator, make jewelry, but she also has a destash shop and a soap shop that has yummy looking soaps! She is a busy gal so click on over and she what Patty is up to. To see the wise words of Pricilla the goat just go to her blog.