Simple Wrap

Don't have much time or money?--Just take a plain brown paper sack, add a copy of an old photo, make two slits in both front and back of bag, run ribbon through each slit and tie in the front. Simple, yet beautiful. Add more ribbon, lace, buttons and/or other goodies to dress it up, if desired.

With the Children

We're going to be with some of our family for Thanksgiving. It's always fun to share holidays with any or all of them. As we age, so do they and schedules and in-laws sometimes hinder our gatherings so we cherish any time we have with them. Can't wait to see our little grandsons and granddaughters. I love their hugs!

[Credits go to Shabby Cottage Studio for the little girl postcard above and my notes to myself are sketchy on the boy postcard (my source is bmp--whoever you are, thank you). Both are in the public domain so help yourself to these cuties.]

Close Up of Card Published

Here's the close-up of the card that was published recently. See more information below.

I Made It in A Publication

I'm in the 2010 Winter edition. Look! I received my art card back months ago with a regrets notice and low and behold, I'm in there anyway. What a surprise.

It was submitted to the Black and White issue the first of this year, I think. Mine is the "three" card on the far right side and is a picture of my grandmother and her sisters. The scripture I used was, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken," Ecclesiastes 4:12. I etched in gel medium on cream paper and highlighted it with black acrylic paint. Click on the photo for a close-up if you wish.

Interesting Christmas Card

I made this little card last week to give to a shop owner who liked my Halloween cards. I used one of the same images only Christmased it up a little with the border--antique red and green--and added the "Peace" sign. Oh, that we would have "peace on earth!"

Luke 2:14--"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

How are we favored in God's eyes? --By accepting his Son as our Savior. That's the only way. Call it narrow-minded if you want but I don't argue with God when he plainly states it this way in his Word. Jesus is the one who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," John 14:6. Remember the age-old truth stated in John 3:16--"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." No other sage, prophet or holy man ever claimed this except Jesus. Have peace on this earth by knowing him.

Two More Bracelets

I made these two bracelets last weekend for a friend who had seen my bracelet at church and wanted one for herself and her sister. There are many duplicates. I made earrings into charms, added glitter glue for missing stones, altered pins, turned posts into hooks--an all-in-all 4-hour span of time. I think they turned out ok and you can't see too many faults from this angle. I enjoyed doing this and have started making "dangles" for earrings and bookmarks now. I'll show pictures later if I don't forget to take them before they leave my house to be sold (I hope.) Jewelry has been around for a long time--since way before Bible days. We girls just like to be pretty.
Numbers 31:50--"So we have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord."

Simple, Beautiful, Unique

A snowflake. Each is unique, all have the basic six componets--simple and beautiful. I made this little lovely as a thank you to a friend. It's a dollar store sparkled plastic snowflake with a remade rose on cheese cloth and the computer-generated word, "love." Sometimes "simple" is better.
Job 37:6--"He says to the snow, ' fall on the earth.' "

Many Flowers

I made quite a few flowers this week and many of them are in the shop, S'More Couture. These are made from vintage lingerie, pretty pinky/beigey, with centers of vintage crystal beads except one that has vintage pearls gleaned from an old necklace.
Isaiah 40: 8--"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

What Is This?

Remember way back when Reader's Digest Books were folded and turned into snowmen, carolers and Santa and Mrs. Claus? I've always wanted to do that and lately I've been noticing a number of artists doing the same things but on a different level. This is a small example of a present-day folded book. I love the cover on this but can't decide what to do with the book now. I don't have a place big enough to display it and--oh, well. I'll hold on to it until I decide. You can still read it but you have to unfold the pages as you go.

Christmas Tags

I used some little tags offered by Carolyn Peeler on her blog last Christmas season. I used glitter glue, old lace, muslin strips and pink sheer ribbon to decorate them. You can find them at S'more Couture.

Christmas will be here before we know it--Remember the reason.

Luke 2:4-7--"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Encouraged

Encourage by the works of many artists lately, I've made a bracelet. I've been collecting little doo-dads for ages now and have wanted to try to make jewelry, other than domino necklaces. So I finally did it. I saw one today that struck a chord and--here it is. I think it turned out cute and I love the trinkets I put on it. One comes from an earring of my Mom's (the turquoise and green round thing) and the others are found objects. The crystals used are also from my Mom's necklace. I'm going to be wearing this for a while even though I don't like dangly, clunky jewelry, to see if it stays together before making another one to sell. Sometimes it only takes one bit of encouragement to turn the tide.
Acts 13:15--" If you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."

Renewal

I've had this poor coat for over 20 years. It's long and wool and just the right weight for mid-seasons. I've mended, replaced the lining and buttons, and trimmed the frayed edges and retacked the trim numerous times. I just can't give it up. This year I'm updating it by adding a flower I made from vintage lingerie. The center is a big crystal--part of an old necklace my Mom had a long time ago. Now if the coat will just stay together one more year then, maybe, I'll have it remade.

2 Corinthians 4:16--"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

Snow Globe

This pretty little snow globe went to the shop around the corner, S'More Couture, where I sell many of my handmade items. We decorated for Christmas two weekends ago so I'm in the Spirit of Christmas now. I made this from a open-ended Christmas ornament from which I removed the plastic innerworkings and replaced it with what you see: batting, sparkled baby's breath, copy of vintage image, mica snow, plastic snowflakes, and a plastic icicle. Above hangs a little chandelier crystal and below I've used a ribbon spool and flat cardboard disc, both covered with old music and around which I've glued more sparkled baby's breath. Now I need to find another ornament to take apart. I wish I'd bought more last year but who was to know I'd actually use it? I've got too much stuff as it is and am getting rid of lots in my sallylsmith.etsy shop (see side bar). November and December are slow months on Etsy so I don't anticipate much action but those months are usually big in the retail shop market so I'm hopeful I'll actually make a profit this year. All is in the Lord's hands.
Proverbs 16: 3--"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."