Something Sublime

Resolve

I'm not a big fan of new year's resolutions.  Honestly, I gave them up many years ago.  It's not that I don't have them, but the more determined I am to keep one, the more slippery and elusive the whole operation seems. I'm not deluded enough to think I can keep any kind of commitment to overhaul this body into that of a twenty year old or completely abolish my hoarders tendency. Oh, the pressure!  It seems the more determined I am to fulfill that kind of pledge, the quicker things go south.  

I let myself off that hook, long ago but I still feel the need for a fresh start at the beginning of each year.  So, instead of a resolution I won't keep, I commit myself to something necessary:  a renewal of the soul.  To look up.  To walk a closer walk.  My goal, for years now, has been to live in closer proximity to the Spirit,  the visible consequence being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The thing that I've learned is that it doesn't happen overnight.  It's a process, day by day and step by step.  Sometimes, it's an uphill climb but, in those moments when I hit the summit...the view is spectacular!

Thank you, for sticking with me this year...for your encouragement and your friendship.  For coming back to see what's happening in my corner of the world.  Whatever your hopeful new resolution may be for this upcoming year, I wish you well!

Gifted

Here it is...a picture of my feet.  I'm not all that fond of random foot photos posted to blogs but this one has a purpose.  See those Chuck Taylors?  Those are the perfect gift.  Not because of their coolness factor or their fab color (which are both great)...because of something less showy but way more important;  the look on Number One's face when I wore them for the first time.  It was my pleasure to see that look of expectant anticipation turn to a wash of excitement and happiness as he watched me open his gift.  Repeated when I wore them for the first time.  That satisfied feeling of knowing you've found just the right offering for someone you love is something even more important than the gift itself.  The giving.  The act of sacrifice of thought and time.  The greater gift.

How were you gifted this season?

Birth Story

 

I snagged this from Michelle, who snagged it from someone else...etc...

Christmas Peace

May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus this Christmas Season.

As I am surrounded by the scents of evergreen and baking, and the sounds of music and family, I'm thinking of that silent night, so long ago.  I stargazed last night.  The heavens were velvety dark with just a wisp of cloud and twinkling light.  I wonder what this same sky looked like for a young woman and her husband, holding that newborn babe in Bethlehem.  A shining star in the night.  A shining Light to the world.  Intense and triumphant.  What amazement and love must have filled her heart...and then, the world.  What love and comfort might fill ours.  Joy.  Hope.  Peace.

Art Unraveled 2011

My guys are home for Christmas and we're in full Christmas vacation mode around here.  I'm getting my full dosage of family game night,  dinners at the table, Christmas movie watching and "mom-you're-prying-into-my-business."  It's my job...right?  Amidst Christmas preparations, cooking, shopping, wrapping, I'm thankful.  And, I'm thinking of next year.

I just got the good news that I'll be teaching at Art Unraveled in August of 2011.  If you're not familiar with it, Art Unraveled is a terrific event.  The organizers, Linda and her husband Chuck, team up every year to offer the best in mixed media, jewelry making and art instruction.  The lineup of instructors for 2011 is outstanding...click here to see the workshops.  I'm really excited to be teaching two brand new classes:  Balance Bronze Bangles, which will involve (among other things) shaping and forging...

...and Little Garden of the Soul, which is a class that will produce some amazing works...I have no doubt.  I'm excited to share both of these classes.  The Art Unraveled website is up so I hope you'll take a look at all the amazing offerings.

Chuck and Linda are also putting on Adorn Me, which is a huge jewelry event, right here in Houston. Amazing classes, talented teachers and a wonderful relaxed vibe, defines Adorn Me.   Actually, that defines both events.  Chuck and Linda are consummate professionals and do a great job of making everyone feel at home.  I taught in 2010, for their inaugural event, and will be teaching again in 2011:

Link Love, Crowned Gems, Wrapped in Silk Bangle Bracelets, Little Garden of the Soul

Adorn Me is held in March...right around the corner.  In the meantime, I'll be putting together class kits and gathering supplies...not the funnest part of teaching but being with my students makes it so worthwhile.  I know a lot of you online but it doesn't compare with meeting you in person and having the opportunity to pass on a little of what I do.

In the meantime, I'm feeling so very blessed and I hope you're enjoying this season as much as I am!

Handcrafted Jewelry Studio E-mag

Interweave has a brand new thing going on:  Handcrafted Jewelry Studio is a totally digital magazine, complete with videos (see Susan up there on the left?) slide shows, tuorials and tons of fantastic goodies.  It's really, really well designed and is so much fun to navigate and read. Honestly, it went way beyond my expectations.  It's available right now...here.  I'm thrilled to have another of my Ice Resin pieces included...

Altered Cabinet Cards-Christmas Ornaments

I've been digging through my collection of antique cabinet cards and cartes de visites and come up with some lovelies to alter for Christmas.  These old photos carry so much history...there's a story behind each one.  Altering them gives them new life and meaning and I love adding them to my Christmas tree.  Maybe you will too...

 
I've just added a few to my shop and have only a few more to add.  Holiday preparations, company and party throwing are keeping me away from the studio so these will be the only ornaments of this type for the year.  I also have a few of these to add later...

 
Merry, merry!

Holiday With Matthew Mead

Have you seen this?  My copy just came in the mail and it's fabulous...the best Christmas magazine, ever!  I can tell you that I feel qualified, with my immense Christmas magazine collecting obsession, to say that.  Find out how to get your own on Matthew's blog:  Holiday With Matthew Mead.  Here's a little hint at it's Christmas-liciousness (is that a word?)...

Again, thank you for visiting my shop, over the weekend.  I pour my heart and soul into what I make and I can't tell you how rewarding it is that you appreciate that little fact.  I'm in the throes of mailing and am off to the studio this morning to work on ornaments to list...a first for me.  They're so much fun...I can't wait to show you!

The Twelfth Day Of Christmas Ornaments 2010

Here we are, at the very last day of our 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments swap.  It's been a fun journey!  My sweet friend, Pilar, has day 12 and her ornament is obviously going to be one of those two-for-the-price-of-one deals.

Not only will Pilar's ornament be hanging on my art tree, but this way-cool handmade tag, as well. A lot of Pilar's work has a Christian/spiritual aspect, which really draws me in.

Her ornament for this year is exactly what I was hoping for...one of her gorgeous fabric milagros.

I'm the happy owner of several of these in the larger size and am thrilled to have a mini for my tree. Take a look at the amazing pieces Pilar creates:

You can see Pilar's work, and maybe get one of these for yourself, at her Etsy shop, here.  I hope you've been loving these twelve days as much as I have.  Every year it's an amazing swap amongst friends that just gives me such warm fuzzies.  I treasure each lovely creation.

Advent:  The Nativity

No Advent, or Christmas, celebration would be complete without a nativity scene.  It's a common way to depict the birth story of Christ, all around the world.  A very basic nativity scene is made up of the primary elements of Christ in a manger, Mary and Joseph.  More elaborate scenes include angels, shepherds, wise men and animals.  I can't tell you where this practice originally came from but, in a church that I attended years ago, their tradition was to set up a moving nativity.  The manger is set out, empty, with the accompanying characters far away from the scene.  With each passing day of Advent, the characters are moved a bit closer to the manger with the Christ child finally being added on Christmas Eve. The shepherds are added after this with the wise men being added to the scene last, on January 6th, Epiphany.  This is an especially delightful way for children to participate in creating a nativity scene.  If you're interested in learning a little about Advent, I've been researching it and writing about it for the last eleven days...just scroll down through my posts.

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."  Lk 2:16-18

Huge, heartfelt thanks to those of you who've visited my Etsy sale.  It's exciting to see y'all excited!

Today is the last day of the sale.  Make sure you use the coupon code  SUBLIMEHOLIDAY for your 20% discount.  Merry shopping!

The Eleventh Day Of Christmas Ornaments 2010

Day eleven of ornament swapping brings this intriguing little take-out box from my friend Maija.

Maija is one of the sweetest, most generous and enthusiastic people I know.  She's one of my Arizona peeps so I rarely get to see her but, when I do, it feels like we never parted ways.  She always comes up with something very special for our swap...

...like this tiny, adorable, hand stitched house.  I've always been attracted to the shape of houses and the meaning behind the form;  safety, security, love and family...

...qualities embodied in the stitched heart on the back.  Or is this the front?  What a sweet, whimsical thing!

Advent:  The Jesse Tree

Since our ornament swap coincides with Advent, I thought I'd blog about both, this year.  One way of celebrating Advent is to decorate a Jesse tree.  The name comes from Isaiah chapter 11, verse 1,  of the Old Testament:

 "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots."

This verse is a prophecy of the coming King, Christ.  Jesse was the father of King David, from whose family line Jesus descended.  Christ is the branch, sprung from the roots of Jesse, therefore it's appropriate for a branch (or a small tree) to be used for the Jesse tree.  The branch, or tree, is decorated with ornaments depicting Christian symbols representing Bible characters..for example;  Noah: rainbow, David: harp, Jesus: manger, and so on.  One ornament is placed on the tree for each day of Advent.  Although I'd never heard of this tradition, anything involving bringing yet another Christmas tree into my house sounds good to me.  I don't think Wife Whisperer will mind...

Quick reminder:  today and tomorrow I'm holding my last sale of the year in my Etsy shop.  All jewelry is a whopping 20% off.  Now's your chance to shop for Christmas!  Use the coupon code SUBLIMEHOLIDAY at checkout to get your discount and...thank you!