Something Sublime

Echo-Surprise

I'm running a little late with the most recent Echo photo prompt given by Susan and Chrysti.  The theme is "surprise" and I had several photos to choose from.  When DJ sent me her photo for the prompt, what ran through my head was:  nature, autumn, animals, outdoors.  This photo of flowers seemed to meet all of those criteria (except animals!)  I remember being surprised, at the time that I shot it, by how much they reminded me of a Van Gogh painting.

Here's DJ's wonderful photo.  At first glance, these two photos don't seem to mesh well but, after further consideration, they made a better fit than I thought, at first.  Maybe that's the surprise!

On The Tenth Day Of Christmas...

The tenth day of ornament swapping is reserved for my vivacious and talented friend, Kelly.

As evidenced by her packaging, Kelly's ornament is always  as lighthearted and vibrant as her personality.

When I got this box, I had no doubt there would be something colorful and wonderful inside...just look at this shiny blue paper...

I'm never quite sure what to expect from Kelly, except that it will be fabulous and whimsical...

...and, oh!...down the rabbit hole we go!  Just look at this adorable snow bunny.  In true Kelly style, she has given us a lovable, precious, little pet to add to our Christmas tree.

I can't even imagine the amount of work that went into these sweet bunnies.  They're fairly large, about 4 inches, and each is enameled...front and back.  I know that Kelly's hands must be worn out from sawing!

 

The front is snowy white and the back, ooh la la!...is deep crimson.

This enormous jingle bell explains the mysterious tinkling coming from the package...ok, ok, I did shake it before I opened it...just a little...gently!

Jude Thaddeus

Thaddeus, also known as Jude or Jude Thaddeus, was the brother of the apostle James the Less.  Some versions of Matthew list him as Judas the Zealot.  All of these different names may have been an attempt to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot.  It is not known for certain how Thaddeus died except that he was most probably martyred.  Possibly, he was beaten to death with a club, then beheaded.  In any case, he was instrumental in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ after His death.

 

On The Ninth Day Of Christmas...

Oh, happy ninth day...it's time to open Joanna's ornament!  I love the way Joanna wrapped hers, this year...revealing, in a clear plastic bag but shrouded in a bit of red and white fabric and strips of vintage text.  When I opened the bag, I was greeted with the scent of the cloves Joanna had sprinkled inside.  Tantalizing!

What a delightful, feminine ornament was hidden in that fabric wrap. 

This is the sweetest thing...a small bodice, made from patterned metal and backed with red velvet. 

The skirt is charming strips of vintage lace and fabric, tied with bits of red velvet.  Joanna comes up with the most inventive ideas and every year I look forward to seeing what she's thought up.  Pure inspiration!

James

Our apostle for this ninth day of Christmas ornaments is James, son of Alphaeus, also known as James the Lesser (as opposed to the older, James the Greater, son of Zebedee.)  Nothing more, for certain, is known about this apostle except that Jesus chose him to be one of the 12 pillars of the church.  Tradition shows James martyred for his faith;  thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple and beaten to death with clubs while praying for his attackers.

On The Eighth Day Of Christmas...

Day eight of ornament exchanging belongs to my dear friend, Sally.

 

Sally wrapped her offering in something very special...her exceedingly gorgeous, hand decorated paper.  I've had the privilege of learning how to make this fantastic paper, right from the master.  You'd never guess what it started as...

...a brown paper bag.  Very humble beginnings, indeed!  I've seen Sally's finished sheets of these papers in many different colors and it's dazzling.

Turns out, the inside of this package is even more beautiful than the outside.  I know that Sally worked long and hard on these stunning ornaments and the payoff is evident.

 

From it's glowing, luminous paint to it's lovely, vintage jewelry parts...everything about this ornament is elegant.  My favorite part:  the crackly image of the holy family.

Matthew

Matthew, whose name means "gift of the Lord, was also known as Levi.  He was a tax collector who left his work, sitting at the tax collector's booth, immediately when Jesus called him.  Tax collectors often cheated people by collecting unfair surcharges, or extra taxes, and pocketed the proceeds.  They were very much looked down upon and grouped amongst the "sinners."  Also, Matthew was a Jew but was hated by the Jewish Pharisees because he collected taxes for the non-Jewish government.  Upon his calling, Matthew created a stir by having Jesus in his house for dinner.  This caused the Pharisees to question Jesus' disciples asking how their teacher had the audacity to eat with such motley crew of tax collectors and sinners.  Jesus' reply:  "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."  Jesus was not interested in appearances but in the heart.  Matthew was thought to author the biblical book of Matthew with reliance on Mark's account.  Matthew is thought to have spread the gospel of Christ in many places but most sources list Ethiopia and Persia.  It is not known for sure if Matthew was burned, stoned or beheaded but he was martyred for his faith.

On The Seventh Day of Christmas...

On the eighth day of Christmas ornament exchanging, I was thrilled to open this lovely gift from my friend, Crystal...

I am SO happy that Crystal went with one of her signature techniques to make this year's ornaments.    Crystal created a larger version of her encaustic jewelry pieces for her ornament.

Crystal is one of the most original and talented jewelry artists I know.  I'm lucky enough to have a few of her jewelry pieces and am crazy about each one so I'm over the top to have this larger piece.

 

I'm especially fascinated with the mottled, center heart...I really love the organic look of it.  I know the time, care, and thought that Crystal puts into each of her works of art and am amazed by it every time I see her work in person.  Crystal and I share an affinity for worn, cast off objects and she has a special talent for finding unique pieces.  If you like the same, make sure you keep an eye on Crystal's supply store...here.

Thomas

Our seventh apostle is Thomas, also known as Didymus (the twin).  Not a lot is know of Thomas but there are a few incidents involving him, recorded in the book of John.  Most well known is his unbelief in Jesus' resurrection from the cross.  Seeing was believing, for Thomas, and he would not believe that Jesus was, indeed, alive until he saw and touched Christ for himself.  From this incident comes Jesus' proclamation: "...blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  Thomas was a follower, disciple and apostle of Christ.  He was there with Him in person for much of His teaching and healing, and yet, Thomas required proof for his belief to be made complete and upon that proof exclaimed "My Lord and God!"...an explicit statement of unwavering faith.  There is a special blessing for those of us who have not had a chance to see and touch Christ for ourselves...and yet, we believe.  Thanks to Thomas, Jesus told us this in no uncertain terms!  Thanks to Thomas, we also can exclaim with confidence, "My Lord and God!"

 

Thomas was killed for his faith;  stabbed to death, with a spear, or spears, while spreading the gospel in/around India.

On The Sixth Day Of Christmas...

Day 6 of Christmas ornament swapping is brought to you by the sweet Maija Lepore.  I never thought to squeeze this package until I talked to my friend, Sally, who is a very bad influence!  When I did give it a little squeeze, I was totally mystified as to what could be inside...roundish, lumpy with a soft part.  Hmmm!  Knowing Maija, it would be something totally delightful.

Sure enough, when I opened the package, there was this wonderful party girl, complete with flouncy silk skirt and glittery party hat!

Maija is such a lovely and creative person, I can just see her creating these beauties...surrounded by piles of silk ribbon, glitter and  bisque baby doll heads.  This pretty girl is ready to join her friends in a Christmas party on the art tree!

Bartholomew

Bartholomew is our apostle for this sixth day of Christmas ornament swapping. Bartholomew is also known, in the Gospel of John, as Nathanael.  Bartholomew was an old friend of Philip and his name is coupled with Philip's in Matthew and Luke and found next to it in the list in Mark.  Philip is the one who brought Bartholomew to Jesus where he then became a disciple.  Bartholomew (Nathanael) is the one who famously asked, "Nazareth!  Can anything good come from there?"  Not a lot more is known about him for certain.

It is thought that Bartholomew died at Albanopolis in Armenia, possibly by beheading.  Legend says he was flayed alive and crucified, head down, by Astyages, after having converted his brother, Polymius, King of Armenia, to Christianity.  Thus, Bartholomew is represented in Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" as flayed and holding his own skin.

On The Fifth Day Of Christmas...

Day five of Christmas giving is brought to you by...

...my extremely talented friend, Ruth Rae.

 

Ruth's ornament came wrapped in layers of fabric, joss paper, vintage Bible pages and waxed paper.  She has a special talent for layering and combining materials and stitching...the wonderful stitching!

 

Ruth has stitched up a beautifully, layered, textured treasure in typical Ruth Rae style!

  With each ornament, Ruth applies her considerable talent...and heart.

My favorite part of Ruth's delightful offering...the stitchery word "home"...with a tiny stitched heart!

 

Philip

Philip is the apostle for day five of our Christmas countdown.  His name is mentioned fifth in the lists of apostles in the Gospels.  Philip was a follower of John the Baptist and, like Peter and Andrew, was from the small town of Bethsaida.  After gathering the first disciples and leaving Galilee, Jesus found Philip and said to him, "Follow me" which Philip promptly did.  Philip then found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus where he too became a disciple.  Not many facts are mentioned regarding Philip in the Bible but we know, from Acts, that he became a part of the Apostolic College of the 12 who carried the Word to the world.

Tradition has Philip martyred for his faith in Hierapolis, Phrygia.

Christmas Offerings

Christmas is coming!  With that in mind, I'm listing a few things in my Etsy shop.  I'll be adding brand new designs in the next few weeks. 

I love including mica into my designs.  These earrings are a style I've been making for a long time now and are a favorite of mine.

The drusy stones I used for this pair of earrings is absolutely stunning.  I liked these so much, I made several pair.  They're great with jeans or dressed up.  Love the sparkle...

Speaking of drusy...these precious drusy pearls are so unique.  I've paired them with faceted garnet drops.  These are perfect for the holidays.  

This is a necklace that I can't believe I still have.  I've worn it and it's really striking.  The faceted heishi garnets on this piece are so incredible.  They were hard to photograph so the sparkle and luminescence doesn't translate well but, believe me, these garnets are gorgeous.

This should give you a little better idea of what they look like.  This necklace just sparkles on your neck.

The locket is vintage...

...and filled with the sweetest, tiniest, antique, German bisque doll and antique text.

The back is as fabulous as the front with antique watch chain, clasp and fob....and a silver resin bezel.

Photos don't do justice to these beautiful earrings either.  I've never seen mabe mother of pearl beads so I snatched these up and paired them with some lovely, faceted mother of pearl drops and vintage rhinestone head pins.  These earrings glow mellowly in your ears.

I have one more of these pieces left, made from antique Victorian elements.    This one is really incredible...made almost completely with antique parts.  The focal is from an antique Victorian belt, as are the drop, chain and filigree.  The clasp and rosary chain are vintage.

Check my store for other pieces and for the new designs I'll be adding for the holidays!

On The Fourth Day Of Christmas...

It's day four of our 13 day Christmas ornament extravaganza and it's Melissa David's package that we open today.  Melissa amazes me with her creativity and attention to detail.  She combines things in ways I would never think to!

Melissa's packaging is beautiful but her ornament is even more so!  I'm not sure what all the materials are but it's a gorgeous plaster heart, with a crown, attached to some wings, attached to a piece of screen, attached to some vintage text attached to another thing...  Well, you get the idea;  layers and layers of luscious elements PLUS dangles and rusty fabric.

This is my favorite part, the grungy heart with its grungy crown thingy and wings.  I'm a sucker for sacred hearts and this reminds me a little of one.  It's gorgeous!

John

On the fourth day of Christmas ornament swapping, we're taking a look at the fascinating personality of John.  John was a fisherman; the son of Zebedee, brother of James.  As I wrote in my last post, John and James were nicknamed, by Jesus, Sons of Thunder for their impetuous and passionate characters. It is thought that John was the younger of the two brothers and in many places in the Bible, John is referred to as, "the disciple whom Jesus loved."  This reference doesn't mean that Jesus loved any of the other disciples less but merely indicates a special relationship between Himself and John.   Of the disciples, John was the only one to remain with his beloved Master, at the foot of the cross, with Mary, mother of Jesus.  In a touching and heartbreaking moment just before Christ's death on the cross, He entrusted the care of His despondent mother, Mary, to John.  John faithfully took her into his home.  John, with Peter quick on his heels, was the first disciple to reach Jesus' tomb after the resurrection.  Can you imagine his excitement and bewilderment upon hearing the the tomb was empty?  In the book of Acts, we see him taking a prominent part in the founding and teaching of the Christian church.  John is the author of five books in the Bible:  The Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and The Revelation of Christ.  Christian tradition shows John taken to Rome where the Emperor Dometian persecuted him and threw him into a vat of boiling oil from which John miraculously emerged unscathed.  John, an old man, was then banished to the small Greek island of Patmos where he wrote his prophetic book of Revelation which is a message of encouragement, hope and second chances for everyone.  I highly recommend it for exciting reading!  John survived all the other apostles and was the only one to die peacefully, although he suffered much during his life in his quest to spread the gospel.

On The Third Day Of Christmas...

My friend, Jackie Allison's ornament arrived at my doorstep in a festive box, decorated for the season.  Inside was this tantalizing little bag, surrounded by red tissue and a lovely, vintage style tag.  Most of the time, the tags are so beautiful, I end up putting them on my Christmas art tree right along with the ornaments.

Jackie's always creates the most detailed and meticulous ornaments.  Her work is really stunning.  Just look at this year's offering...a beautiful German china doll head mounted on a vintage candle reflector, complete with my favorite...rhinestones.

Jackie's ornament always elicits a gasp from me...this year, a double gasp!  I love everything about this dolly...including the fact that she has a fine crack running right through her face.  It makes her all the more vintage and perfect to me!

James

Our apostle for day three of  my Christmas ornament countdown is James, son of Zebedee.  James was a fisherman and brother to John, the beloved disciple.  They were fishing in a boat, with their father, when Jesus called them.  They immediately dropped their nets...left their father...and followed Jesus.  What would it take for you to drop your nets, leave your loved ones, and follow Jesus?  They didn't discuss it.  They didn't put it off until the fishing was finished.  Not only did they drop what they were doing but they left their father...and went after Christ to become a fisher of men.  Jesus gave these two disciples a special nickname:  Boanerges, or, Sons of Thunder...a fitting name for these two loyal, hardy, manly characters.  In an incident where Jesus was not welcomed into a  Samaritan village, the brothers response was:  "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"  Of course, the heavenly fire did not come but isn't it just like us to want to push the "smite" button on someone we don't agree with?!  James and John were important disciples and, in New Testament lists, their names are amongst the first four.  James was put to death by the sword of Herrod Agrippa I, during his persecution of the church.  James was probably chosen for beheading because of his zealous temper for the church.  Early church histories show that the accuser who led James to judgment was so moved by James' confession that he, himself, became a Christian and was beheaded alongside James.