ABS December Challenge

Winter Landscape by Wassily Kandinsky, 1909

Oil on cardboard 75.5 cm × 97.5 cm

The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

This art is our inspiration for December.  I don't use much yellow except for spring or summer pieces. I had a hard time making the pinks and yellows play nicely with the various shades of blues, and I was not successful with making the pink work at all. So here is my piece.

Polymer focal from firefly myst, 2 yellow and teal polymer spacers from Heather Powers, glass beads, Vintaj flourish swirls representing the swirling winter winds, and a Vintaj chain.

I've been trying to do these challenges all year long but I think this is the only one I actually did.  I hope to do better in 2014.

Thanks for Stopping by. Check out the Art Bead Scene Blog Tuesday to see what others have made.

52 weeks Saying Good Bye

Saying Good Bye to 2013 with Sally's Focusing on Life Photo Challenge. But have no fear, Sally has big plans for next year and I quickly signed up for the 2014 challenge.

Our last assignment is to say good bye.

Wishing you HOPE

And JOY

And to see the world like a child with wild-eyed wonderment.

Blessings to you during the holidays,

and a Happy New Year!

Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge

We are nearly done with the AJE year long earring challenge for this year. I have enjoyed doing this challenge and seeing all the wonderful earring designs from other artists.  I hope this challenge continues in 2014, but if not, I will try to keep doing it myself.

'Copper Mountain'

Beaded beads from Kristen at Bead work by KAS, lampwork beads by Frog Song Jewelry, hammered brass rings from Vintaj and brass earwires.

'Irish Lass'

Enameled drops by bluhealer, tiny Czech beads, brass 'Bangalore Detail' connectors from Vintaj.

thanks for stopping by. be sure to check out the AJE blog on Sunday to see more earrings.

52 Weeks Together

Our assignment this week is Togetherness

A small act that lifts our spirits and brings us together.

 

Our daughter came home from North Carolina and our son came home from Denver.  My husband and I were thrilled they could be here if even for a short time and our youngest daughter was happy to see them as well.  We did lots of things like making cookies, eating, visiting grandparents, cousins, aunts an uncles and watching TV and the youngest play basketball while they were here.

Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of any of this because I was simply enjoying these moments before they ended.  And they did end much too soon.

So I'm sharing photos from our summer trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway which includes all three of our kiddos.

 

 

 

We love to travel as you may have guessed from previous posts, and I love that we are together enjoying each other and this great big beautiful country.

 

 

52 Weeks A Pop of Red

It stands to reason that our assignment this week is to find a pop of red. After all December has lots of potential for finding red.  So here is my pop of red.

 

Us girls each got one of these Santa mugs when we were young.  I remember drinking hot chocolate or milk out of these mugs, and sometimes even Pepsi--my mom's favorite drink.

I'm so glad these mugs were kept and later passed on to us.  They bring back lots of fond memories.

 

 

Beautiful books about Christmas, all in red.

 

 

And a book from my childhood. It still has some flocking on the red parts but as I took photos I noticed the book is falling apart. I remember reading this book over and over as a child and later reading it to our own young children.

 

I love the whimsical art and the bright cheery vintage colors.

 

 

As I write this post I have to wonder if the children today will cherish such things from their youth.  New toys and electronic gadgets are being spewed out into the market so fast, and in the blink of the eye they are already old news.  E-readers are taking the place of books, and Christmas cards are sent electronically. What memories will our children remember as they grow older......what possessions will they cherish?

 

 

And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 

Blessings to you through the Christmas Season!

 

52 Weeks A Little Sparkle

I can't believe it's week 49 in our year long photo challenge!

This week our assignment is to add a little sparkle.
I am a sucker for all the things Christmas, especially the ones I remember from when I was young; vintage ornaments, Santa mugs, and those woodland elves that are up there in my blog header.

 Long ago my dad, (who keeps everything) got rid of the vintage ornaments we used to have on our silver tree, which made me sad. 

So this year I began hunting for similar ornaments in antique shops and etsy and found quite a few. Also I purchased a small tree to display these ornaments, which is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door.

So here are just a few of the vintage ornaments I purchased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

And  of course a topper!

 

"For unto us  a child is born. To us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace."

 

 

 

 



 





 

 

 

 

Is This Creepy?

So today I was in the basement getting out Christmas stuff and sorting the things I no longer wanted.  I came across this box and looked inside.......... and found this!

 

 

I have no idea where it came from, but later I found these.....

 

 

These little woodland elves were part of our Christmas decorations when I was  a kid. I loved these and managed to grab them away from my sisters when dad was cleaning out after mom passed. Some might think they are as creepy as the blood spatter kit, but to me they are a happy memory of my youth. The little trees are new but they fit right in.

Do you have Christmas decorations you cherish from your past?  I would love to hear about them.

 

AJE November Component of the Month

I was happy to get a chance to play with Kristen Steven's darling beaded beads as part of the Art Jewelry Component of the month for November.

When the beads arrived in the mail I was so excited that I forgot to snap a photo of them, but I'll bet you can guess which ones they are.

I wanted to do a bracelet or necklace with them instead of the obvious earrings. I tried several designs, none of which turned out the image I had in my head.

It seems these beads were destined to be earrings after all.

 

'Shenandoah's Daughter'

Kristen's beaded beads, polymer beads from Heather Powers (which I've been hoarding for some time) Vintaj curved tubes and brass earwires.

 

My inspiration came from two places. When I was young we would visit my grandparents on my mother's side every Sunday evening. We chowed down on salty popcorn while watching the Lawrence Welk Show and I remember them singing a lovely song 'Oh Shenandoah'.  And recently I heard it again on TV as they were showing re-runs. I don't think that kind of talent is around anymore.

Wait, I just realized I'm showing my age with that bit of information!

 

The second inspiration was our trip to on the Blue Ridge Parkway this summer. We had intended to get all the way up to the Shenandoah Park but were unable to due to heavy fog.  But the beautiful green trees and rugged trails and lovely waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway were awe inspiring and I wanted to incorporate that beauty in these earrings.

 

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

Please check out the Art Jewelry Elements Blog to see what everyone else made.

 



52 Weeks Giving Thanks

Our assignment this week is all about giving thanks.

I have a long list of things to be thankful for:  A nice home, a great family and in laws, 

a caring church family and a wonderful community that pulls together when anyone is in need.

I'm most thankful for our little family--a wonderful husband and wonderful children who are kind and caring, intelligent and not afraid to strike out on their own.

Our kiddos at the Blue Ridge Parkway this summer

The kids and my husband.

I do believe if I were to make a list of all the things I am thankful for the list would never end.  Each and every day I am blessed with something new: a wonderful sunrise, or a box of my favorite chocolates, or a call from one of the older kids who are out of state, a hug from my youngest, or a day just to do nothing.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1

I'm in a magazine

 

Thanks to Jo Tinley who asked for some photos and a little write up about my jewelry, which the magazine expanded on with some very nice comments.

I'm so thrilled to be in this magazine!

I'm on page 38.

 

Thanks so much Jo!!!!!

 



52 Weeks Reflect

Week 46, can you believe it?  

As Sally indicated in her email, the holiday season is coming quickly, whether we are ready or not. Our assignment is to take a moment and reflect on all the joy, peace and happiness and love before the hustle and bustle is upon us.

I love the season of Advent almost as much as I love celebrating Christmas. 

Advent is as much reflecting as it is looking forward.

This is a  "Li Bien" Ornament from Pier One.  I have been purchasing them for several years now, for keepsakes for our kids, for myself and also as a gift to my Sunday School teachers who sacrifice their time to teach our little ones.

The art of Li Bien-or 'inside painting originated in China during the Qing Dynasty-a respected art for over 200 years. These ornaments are blown and hand painted by a master artist. Every year Pier One offers a variety of ornaments which are all lovely.  This one is for our own tree.

I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

and on earth peace among those whom he favors!

~Luke 11

Rim Rock Farm Lawrence Kansas

Our youngest daughter runs Cross Country and recently qualified for State.

The Rim Rock course in Lawrence Kansas is absolutely gorgeous, especially in Autumn. On the other hand the course is the most challenging Cross Country course in the country and can be brutal for the runners. One hill is named Suicide Hill, and another is so steep and sometimes muddy they  put ropes for the runners to help pull themselves up.

 

Here are some of the things that make this so beautiful. The only editing I did was cropping and a bit of  fill light.

 

 

 

If you look closely you can see tombstones in the cemetery.

 

 

 

 

Our daughter on the left with the goofy hat, along with her coaches and team mate.

After a long illness at the start of the season our daughter worked hard to get in shape. She placed 29th at state.

Yep, we are very proud parents.

 

You can read about the history of the place and the generous donation of the Timmons Family.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Goodies in the Mail

Source

 

I love it when I get goodies in the mail, don't you?  Here are a few I recently received.  Please try not to drool all over your keyboard.

 

After participating in the Autumn Design Challenge I fell in love with Caroline Dewson's beads and just had to have more of them.  These wonderful beads arrive today. Aren't they yummy?

 

 

These gorgeous ceramic cuffs are from Cindy Kovar at Captured Moments.  Cindy makes all kinds of wonderful things.  Go check out her shop.

 

 

These gorgeous enameled drops and pendants are from bluhealer. But she also makes gorgeous glass beads.  I've already made a pair of earrings with another set of drops.  You can see them here.