Wednesday's Word

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

I wish you all a wonderfully Merry Christmas many many creative dreams for the New Year. May you be filled with Health and Joy and Happiness.

See You Soon

Are you a Planner, or a Doer?

I couldn't resist this title. It stems from a question I asked myself after a long fun conversation with my sister. She suggested that I get a sketch book and some colored pens and design my jewelry ( and doodles and etc) and keep the designs in a book. My problem is that I don't really plan out ahead of time what I am going to create. For years I designed (home) landscapes and flower beds (on golf courses Like this one at LCC)

and even then I never drew out designs or plans. I always kind of joked that I liked to design on the "fly". (I once even designed her flower boxes ( disclosure-this flower box isn't hers, but I couldn't find my pictures of her boxes)

while she worked all the while never putting pen to paper) . I like to see what I have available and use that to create whatever I am working on. I never know when I sit down to make something, what I am going to actually do. It seems like even when I have a picture or pattern in mind, what I make never looks like what I thought I was going to make.  So I guess my question is:

Do you plan out what you are going to do, or do you let the wire and beads, or paint and brushes, or even flowers and shrubs decide what the end product will be?

If like me, you don't plan anything, do you find it frustrating trying to follow a pattern?
I appreciate all of your answers to last week's question about preferences, and I hope you don't mind more questions... ( I promise this is not a quiz). I just really want to know are there others like me who don't plan, or should I start trying to be a little more methodical.

I'm your Fan... Friday

Hey check out these earrings! These gorgeous earrings are by Melissa. Don't ya just love these?

  These gorgeous earrings are by Melissa. Don't ya just love these?These are incredible. I have been forging a few things lately, but nothing like these. I think I need lessons getting them as even as Melissa does. I love all of these in her post, but this pair is my favorite.
Melissa, I'm your fan.

I also love these "snowflakes".

 This would be the only time that you might find 2 exactly alike. I don't know how  Philippa does it, when I try to make chain maille pieces, I never seem to get the aspect ratio just right.but..She does get it just right and these are gorgeous.
Silverheart, I'm your fan.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I am planning to stretch mine out a bit, then on Monday, I will post pictures of the pieces I have been working on.

Wednesday's Word

Which do you like best?

Lately as I have been trying new ideas for jewelry and other creative endeavors I have wondered, What do ya like best?

Silver or Gold

Gemstone or pearl?

Greens, blues, reds, pinks and or yellows and oranges?

And colors? monochrome? or a pallete?
Also 1 more question...
do you prefer things "folky and rustic" or  refined and precise?

Just wondering you know how these inquiring minds can be.............

It's getting colder....

Well, it is finally beginning to get cold now. Not that I would have been disappointed if it had not, it's just that being a gardener and wanting to grow things year round ( or whenever it suits me) the first frost is something that is looked forward to and yet dreaded at the same time. Is it just me, do any of my other gardeners out there feel this way too? I know there are places where this little event happened months ago, but for us, it really is right on time and I feel as though I haven't saved/cut to root enough plants just yet. There is still room in the greenhouse to walk between the plants so I can't possibly be done right?
Today, as I bought firewood I thought, ok what else can I cut and root before Sunday.  Sunday  (when our temps will really drop) is scheduled to be our first "killing frost" so I am trying to cut and root everything I can between now and then. I really should be outside and writing this later, but right now I think I will stay cozy or maybe I meant to type lazy.

I am starting lots of lantana ( 4 varieties)

this time and camellias ( this is an experiment, I have only ever rooted them in summer)

   and Azaleas.

Have any ideas? I am experimenting with flats, seeding trays, and I really want to try jelly rolling some cuttings with plastic and sphagnum moss. Have you tried this method? I really don't want to have heat mats running all of the time, but depending on the temperatures, I may have to. ( really I can't get to my water heater and the top of the freezer doesn't get warm, thanks to the energy star ratings.)

Maybe it's just me, but are any of you out trying to save plants before the cold zaps the life out of them? I will keep you posted, maybe my experiments will be successful this winter and in the spring, I can show you lots of new ways to propagate things......................

I'm your fan Friday!

Yahoo! it is finally Friday! It seems like it has been a long week and I am not really sure why. It wasn't overly packed with things to do, or as chaotic as some weeks have been lately, it just seems like it has been a "toughy. "

I'd like to start out by saying Thank You so much! to all of my followers and to those who have featured me on their websites. I really appreciate all of your comments and the encouragement you have given me. 

As the Crackerhead Crumbles featured one of my photos on their website in a sites to see post. I appreciate that so much! This particular photo is one of my favorites ( yes, you know I can't choose just 1) showcasing a big beautiful Monarch butterfly on some raspberry colored bee balm. It really was so nice to see that in my inbox this morning! 

I haven't kept up with my I'm your fan Friday postings in a couple of weeks, so today I decided, it is definitely time to introduce you to some of the things I like ( and think you might like too).

Check out what's new at Beautifully Broken Me  I really like the color pallete for this challenge and I really like Molly's necklace.

At confessions of a junque Junkie I found this spectacular use of old family photos. I've been knee deep in a genealogy project lately and being fascinated by photography I was just totally amazed by this bracelet. 

Brenda and Molly I love your work and this Friday, I'm your fan!

Thursday's Thought

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.
Harvey Fierstein 
            

New Attitudes and Philosophies

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Can't seem to work and Blog at the same time?

I don't know what has happened to the last 2 weeks. ( Wow!, doesn't that sound redundant?) but even though I haven't blogged, I have been busy. The next few weeks will be incredibly busy too, but I hope to do a better job. In the meantime, here are a few things I have been working on. These pieces will be listed for sale right after Thanksgiving, but if you like them, let me know which pieces you like best. These earrings and the bracelet to match are made with sodalite and sterling.

This set is light green aventurine and frosted glass with silver plated accents.

Who doesn't love deep green Canadian jade?

A Girl's gotta have pearls, right?

I have a special little girl in my life who just loves yellow and blue.

 This is one of my new favorites. I picked up the sea shell on the island and mixed it with hemimorphite, hematite, sterling and abalone. I need to take another photo because the beauty of this one doesn't show up in this one.

At least some of my time has been spent on the beach lately can you tell? This necklace uses Picasso jasper, blue crazy lace agate, brown spiral shells, freshwater pearls and topaz crystals. You can almost smell the suntan lotion here. LOL

Here again, I need to take these photos in much better light because this necklace is really pretty,( IMHO) and this photo doesn't show it off. I used a seashell I picked up on a trip to Fort Fisher, NC and surrounded it with tourmaline, carnelian, red aventurine and smoky topaz. My hubby and son both like this one a lot.

Opals are like pearls right? You just gotta have them!

I love this little bracelet, the cornflower blue kyanite with the pearls is just mesmerizing. I feel like the longer I look at the blue, the harder it becomes to look away.

There will be more to come hopefully very soon too. In mean time, have a wonderful week, don't eat too much and remember life is better with an attitude of gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Wednesday's word

I lift my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the slaves look to the hand of their master, and the eyes of a maid look to her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us mercy.

Psalm 123:1-2

I'm your fan Friday...

It is Friday again  and it seems like the weeks just go faster and faster. For the first time in my life I am really able to relate to " Stop the world... It's spinning too fast".  In my blog travels this week, I have really enjoyed these little hats from Girl in Air. I can just  see a bunch of little children wearing these hats and having tons of fun. I had thought I would make one for 1 of my nephews, but I was just told that he doesn't like hats and they even had to bribe him to wear his halloween costume. Girl in air, I am your fan!
I love this tip about growing onions indoors too. My sister told me about starting them in a dish of water, but mine just rotted. I like this idea. ( maybe it is just getting to keep a little pot full of dirt in the house all winter. LOL) My Byrd house, I am your fan too
This post about growing an indoor herb garden is right up my alley too. I really need more light in my kitchen, but I am sure if I try I can find a stray clamp light. This post talks about basil, thyme and sage, but I would have to add oregano to my list too. If you have a sunny ( or bright) spot in your home check this post at re-nest.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, I am hoping to get into the studio and work out a few designs.

Thursdays Thoughts

I like this philosophy. Do you think I can talk my teenager into liking this philosophy as well?

Nicest Canadian couple in world dole out lottery winnings | The Upshot Yahoo! News

Wednesday's Word

Make a Joyful Noise!

Tuesday's tip

I have never been very talented when it comes to shopping with coupons. I know and understand the idea of stocking up when things are on sale, ( although the idea of hoarding kind of scares me...  I do have a few packrat tendencies) and doubling up coupons with sales, but somehow it just wasn't very profitable for me before. Things have changed. Today I made out my grocery list and checked the sale paper and for some unknown reason, decided I would check out the coupon site. I ended up at Southern Savers and started reading and printing out coupons. I actually used 90 % of those I printed and when all was said and done, I  had shaved $68.00 from my grocery bill by using the coupons and buying what was on sale or a store brand when it was possible. I was almost doing the happy dance right there in the check out line. ( not really the best mental image right?) However, if you don't actively use coupons, or plan your lists according to the sale, check the sight out anyway. You just may get motivated.
I am thinking $ 68. would buy some new flush cutters and round tip pliers, not to mention some wire and beads and all kinds of " toys" to use in my studio.

Happy Savings.

Monday's Motivation

Ok there are less than 60 days until Christmas, but then who's counting?

What? less than 2 months? Just think if you are paid bi-weekly, there are only 3 pay checks left between now and then. ( That is a scary thought). Anyway it is incredibly motivating for me. I have to get busy.  My sister and I have decided that handmade is the way to go for us this year. She is wonderfully creative and loves to make all kinds of things, and I love to make things, so this year we have agreed to go handmade. The girls in the family of course will get jewelry, but what about the guys and the children?
Well, "almost" all of the guys in the family are now able to drive, so I am thinking maybe a key chain like this

would make a great stocking stuffer and hand made book markers like these would be an ideal gift for the avid readers in the bunch.
The children though are a very different story. We have 5 little ones ( under 10) on the Christmas list this year. What do you make for little ones from 1-8 years old? Any ideas? Are you motivated yet?

I'm your Fan Friday

I don't know where this week went, or how it got to be Friday so quickly without my noticing, but I have found some favorites for this week. Hope you like them.

I love this bird!

 Check out Jean's post at the joy of bird watching. I have seen one of these gorgeous birds only once, and at the time I had no idea what it was. Jean's photo is just awesome.   This bird is not as rambunctious as a Quaker parrot and didn't have the outgoing personality of the Conures I used to raise, but it's spots and coloring are no less spectacular. Congratulations Jean on catching a shot of such a gorgeous bird. I am definitely your fan this Friday.
By now all of my gardening friends know I love Lantana! It has a weird smell and the little hairs on the stems can be very irritating, but from late spring until the final killing frost, it blooms non-stop. Butterflies love it and skipper moths find it irresistible and this shot

 from Mom Snaps captures it's charm. ( don't tell my hubby, but I am secretly seeding it in any available space in my garden). Lantana stays full of flowers of all colors and ready to provide a meal or just a resting spot for some breathtakingly beautiful creatures. Mom Snaps, it's Friday and I am your fan too.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.

October Surprise

This morning was probably the coolest morning we have had, but I had the most wonderful surprise. This iris is called City Lights and although I knew it was a re-bloomer, I had no idea it would bloom again this late in the year. After the busy couple of weeks I have had, this was just kind of a little gift for me when I walked out today. What's blooming in your garden?

I'm Your Fan Friday

One of the things I have really enjoyed since I have started making jewelry and Blogging, is that I see what other designers and bloggers are doing as well. I love commenting when I can and getting comments, and so often I see so many things that I really, really like, but for some reason I can't share them at the time. I'm your fan Friday came out of that need to share pretty things and great ideas. On Friday's I am planning to gather some links to things that I have really enjoyed during the week and feature them here. This friday I am your Fan:

Bits n Beads by Gilliauna

I love a lot of her work but I think the knotted pearl and Jade necklace has to be one of my favorites. The funny part is, I don't usually like necklaces. I love this one though. Check out her blog at and her website.


I am also a big fan of Dana over at  Dana's jewelry designs. I love tutorials of any kind and Dana posted one this past week that made swirls and curls look easy, ( I am still having a hard time keeping them even.) Dana also makes awesome jewelry pouches and Gem Trees. You can find her work at Artfire. Take a minute to check out their shops. I think you will be certain to find something you like.

Take a minute to check out their shops. I think you will be certain to find something you like.

Thursdays Thoughts

Fable of the porcupine:

 

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of 
the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together. 
This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one 
wounded their closest companions even though they gave off heat to each 
other.

 

After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the 
other and they began to die, alone and frozen.

 

So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of 
their companions or disappear from the Earth.

 

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. This way 
they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the close 
relationship with their companions, but the most important part of it was the 
heat that came from the others.  This way they were able to 
survive.

 

Moral of the story:

 

The best relationship is not the one that brings together 
perfect  people, but the best is when each individual learns to live with 
the imperfections of another and can admire the other person's good 
qualities.

Wednesday's Word

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.

Augustine
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Tuesday's Tip

Unlike most other tips I have posted on Tuesdays, this one isn't really about saving money. Well, maybe it is depending on how you look at it. I recently took a trip to Gatlinburg, Tn to meet some family and I had a great time while I was there. Everything was decorated for the fall season and as I was shopping in the "Village" for some cinnamon bread from the Donut Friar, I couldn't help thinking how creative some people are. I know that decorators are paid to design displays and it is a year round job, but I never would have thought to make scare crows like these...

I guess the tip I had in mind is to look around and see what can be used in place of something else ( in this case silly "store bought" scare crows.)

 This is definitely a tip I need to practice. 

I can't decide which scare crow I like best. Can you?

Monday's Motivation

OK, it is Monday, I have taken off almost 2 full weeks, having a blast, going on road trips, meeting family etc, but now, it is time to get some new projects going. The weather has turned cooler and there is nothing in the world like October at the beach, ( unless maybe it is April at the beach). I have been picking up shells,

rescuing star fish,

watching pelicans and sandpipers dive and play.

I have even used my entire memory card to make a video of the beach for my sister only to discover that I have no clue how to compress a file, and the video was too large to send via email and or you tube!

I am trying to get started making a few things for the  Christmas Season, and I need to get much busier. Hopefully the rest of this week it will rain and I can get creative.