Something Sublime

Thanksgiving By The Sea

 There is no better place to spend the Thanksgiving holiday than at the beaches of Florida.

Our extended family (which is fairly huge!) gathered in a large rental house which, at first, was unfamiliar, but quickly became home.  We kicked off our shoes, settled in and soaked up the sun and sand.  The water is so amazing...a million shades of blue and green and crystal clear.  The beaches are covered in brilliant sugar sand.

It's a wonderful, refreshing place to give thanks.  Just being here, with family we rarely get to spend time with, was an enormous blessing.

But, it's also a beautiful place to come and warm up when much of the rest of the country is slipping into cold weather.

We talked and laughed, shopped and played...and, of course, we ate.  It's a great escape and it's over all too quickly.

Wherever you were this last week, whatever you were doing, I hope the same abundance and blessing for you...

 

Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.  It's a way to live.
Attributed to Jacqueline Winspear

Give Thanks

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

Shady Ladies Altered Art Workshops

Interested in taking a class with me?  I'm really excited to be teaching in Texas a few times next year.  Shady Ladies Altered Art Retreat is a new event, hosted by Jeri Aaron.  It will be held in the charming town of Salado, Texas which promises to be a wonderful, intimate setting.  Salado is known as "the best art town in Texas" and downtown features shops filled with antiques, crafts and galleries.  I hear it's a really fun place.  The retreat will be held April 24-25, 2010.

I'll be teaching two classes.  My Wrapped in Silk Bangle Bracelet class is Saturday, April 24, 2010.

My Winged Things class is set for Sunday, April 25, 2010.  For a few more photos of my projects, click here.    For the Shady Ladies site, click here.  There will be a lot of fun things going on at the retreat including raffles, mini projects, giveaways, a catered bar-b-que and a vendor event.  Of course, there's a fabulous list classes and instructors including Lisa Renner, Sharon Tomlinson and Angie Platten.  Click here to see class descriptions and instructors.  Registration has begun.  I'd love to see you there!

Echo-Abundance

Our Echo photo prompt from Susan and Chrysti is "abundance" and above you see my interpretation...the abundance of the cross.  I've been enjoying these photo prompts so much, and working with DJ is, of course, a delight.  Here's her interpretation....

"A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."  Luke 12:15 

Make sure you check DJ's blog for our second set of photos from the prompt.

Whatta Weekend!

What a fantastic time I had at the Houston Bead Society Show!  Sally was a fabulous assistant and  cheerleader (of course!) and we met some terrific people.

My neighbors were most talented and fabulous.  I just couldn't resist Eric Mort's incredible glass hearts.  He was kind enough to let Sally and I dig through every one of them at least three times!  For a long time, I've wanted to learn to do lampworking but that would involve a whole new set of tools and skills.  Maybe one of these days... Eric only sells at shows and a few select shops so check out his schedule to see where he'll be.  Believe me, his glasswork is spectacular.

Another new friend, Jennifer Ionta, of Spotted Moon Designs, suggested a trade, which is much more fun than just outright buying.  I think I got the better end of the deal....just look at this gorgeous bracelet.  It was delightful getting to know Jennifer and her sweet mother.  Jennifer's work is meticulously done and so beautiful.  She also sells kits (check her etsy site), teaches and makes amazing lampwork beads.  That metaly looking focal is one of her beads.

Thanks to all of you who stopped by my booth.  Quite a few of you are my blog readers and it's so much fun seeing you in person! 

A Weekend At The Show

I'm off to the Houston Bead Society Show this weekend.  Got my table covers, jewelry boxes, santos/angel, mirrors and...oh, yeah...jewelry.  I feel ready to "show" for three days.  I'll have Sally there helping me so it's sure to be great fun, although, I get antsy when things are slow.  So, I'm hoping for big crowds and lots of excitement!  I've finished a few more new pieces to take with me.  Here's a little preview...

I created these sweet, enameled birds using Objects and Element's copper birds.

For the longer necklace, I used denim-blue sodalite.  For the shorter piece, calcite, rutilated quartz and blue crystal rondells.  It's hard to see in the photos but the faceted calcite and quartz are really luminous.

I made these pieces to be a little more delicate to be worn together.  I really like the idea of layering and plan to continue doing pieces that can be worn this way.

Even the backs are pretty, layered! 

"French Medals and Garnets"

I'm seeing Christmas ads and starting to feel a bit of that joyful, Christmas mood.  It's coming through in reds...garnets, rubies and red silk...

"Rubies and Rhinestones"

"Ornament"

I won't be posting these pieces on my Etsy site but, if you're interested in them, email me and I'll let you know if I still have them.  Stop by and see me at the the show, if you're in the area!

Shaping Up For Fall-Sixth Day

"Sixth Day:  Today I will indulge myself in prayer!  I have worked very hard on this program and I must rest and ask for new energy."

June Masters Bacher

I found this lovely, six day devotional by June Masters Bacher and was impressed with the idea of a spiritual "shape-up" program for fall.  Her quotes and wisdom are insightful...short and sweet...and I tried to keep them in my mind each of the six days.  I'm feeling a little more fit and hoping you enjoyed the "work out" too!

Thank Our Veterans

photo by Todd Heisler

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men." -- Samuel Adams

 

"(W)e here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." -- Abe Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address 

"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children (America), the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done." -- Ronald Reagan

Shaping Up For Fall-Fifth Day

 "Fifth Day:   Today I will drink from the cup of forgiveness--even when the dregs are bitter..."

June Masters Bacher

Shaping Up For Fall-Fourth Day

"Fourth Day:  Today I will nibble away until I find something good in each member of my family and friends..."

June Masters Bacher