This is just a taste of the beauty from our temporary home on the farm this summer.  Though the little house left something to be desired, we felt grateful to have a comfortable place to stay while we worked on our home across town.  We resided a stone's throw from a large cotton field.  The first shot is in July and the last is in October.  You can see the growth of cotton.  Every morning we had spectacular sunsets, even more beautiful than the ones we've experienced in our permanent home.  Sometimes God allows us to share in His majesty, especially in trying or troubling situations, and that is enough to get us through them.  We certainly felt His presence during our interim on Johnson Grove Road.  It was an experience we will not forget.

BUSY is the word

Our house almost looks like a home.  We have most of the kitchen cabinets and appliances, the walls painted, most of the trim up and the flooring and carpeting down.  Now, just more coats of paint on the doors and door frames--which has been my sole job for a month now--buy a new refrigerator (the one we purchased last year that has been at my daughter's waiting for us is way too big---boo-hoo), hook up the dishwasher (yeah!), wait on the counter top and another cabinet that had been mismeasured.  My poor husband has done plumbing, trim work, ceiling and wall painting and electrical work--plus numerous other odd jobs that have to be done.  He's really been busy.  In the meantime I have a job as staff accompanists at Union U and have been substituting at FBC as organist during a leave due to ill health.  Both are paying jobs but due to the mileage necessary to get to the school, I make diddly-squat.  The only thing worthwhile is the contact and the foot-in-the-door possibilities that the job at the school may bring.  My husband is hoping to sell some of his bows as soon as we have room in the storage shed for his shop.  No other steady income is in the offing.  We wait.  The Lord provides.  All is worth it when I get to see the faces of all my 14 sweet grandchildren.  Pictures of all the above are pending.

We Know How To Have Fun!

Awakening at 5:30-6:00
Hitting the road with me putting makeup on in the truck
Having loaded the truck with the "Equipment of the Day"
sweeping the floors
washing the floors
priming walls
priming ceilings
priming trim
painting walls
painting ceilings
painting trim
after having washed all of it first:(
sweeping the floors
washing the floors
ordering kitchen cabinets
ordering tub kit
ordering toilet
ordering sink and vanity
ordering mirror
ordering stove
ordering dish washer
ordering microwave
dealing with people who are in the business of knowing what they're doing and don't
sweeping the floors
washing the floors
cleaning windows
cleaning more windows
sweeping the floors
washing the floors (Did you know that sheet rock dust does not clean up well?)
cleaning blinds
power washing the deck
setting mouse traps
catching unsuspecting mouse
sweeping the floors
washing the floors
going to the city dump
going home at dark
rustling up some dinner
bleary-eyedly watching zombie-style whatever our little air-driven receiver can get on tv
showering
falling into bed
Yep, it's remarkably fun.  Who would have guessed...and we get to do it together!

Making Progress

Our house is beginning to look like one now.  All the paneling is out, all kitchen cabinets are gone, all floors are triple-cleaning, sheet rock is in, floors are washed twice more after sweep-up, primer is painted in LR and Kit., all paint is purchased, all cabinetry is purchased, new bath tub is installed, new bath vanity, mirror and toilet are purchased, outside has been power-washed, smokers' inside windows are being cleaned three times each to remove tar and stains, trim is ready to be painted.  I'm imagining my furniture being placed in the rooms for the first time.  Yes, this building is becoming home and Bill and I have done all the work except for the sheet rocking so far.  We can't do the flooring or carpeting but that will be all we contract out.  There is a strong sense of ownership in a house you redo yourself.  Can't wait until I can show some pictures.

I'm Back!  We've finally received some internet where we've temporarily moved so it's been a long time since I posted.
I still don't have my pc with all my pictures and ability to download new ones yet.  Who knows when?  Not me.  However, I do feel I'm back in the 21st Century now--until my air card flies away.
It's been an uphill battle getting established but this little farm house is becoming "home."  It's a 30 minute drive from my daughter in one direction, a 30 minute drive from mega shopping areas and a 50 minute drive from the little house we are redecorating.
I've been able to fill in as accompanist two Sundays out of the three we've been here at a local church and am scheduled for next Sunday as well.  The organist has been sick and is now in the hospital.  I'm glad I was here to help out and don't want to assume anything but God does put people in the right places at the right times and I was available.  It's a Baptist church with traditional leanings--right up my alley and I've enjoyed playing there.  It was also good to visit my daughter's church last week--totally different in style but just as worshipful.  We were going to join her church immediately and then wait until God called us to another but we got caught up in subbing so we will be a bit delayed in finding our church family.  Until then, we go where God sends us.
We're making progress on our "home to be" as the dry wall is going in today.  We had to basically gut the whole house so it's going to take much more money than we figured--isn't that always the case when one remodels?  I think we'll like it but we have to DRASTICALLY DOWNSIZE!  And I thought I already had--Nope.  More later.  I have to clear about 150 emails now--hopefully.

Try, Try, Try Again

Well, finally.  I tried three times and ways to download this photo and finally had to close google chrome and open it again.  Something went haywire with the connection, I guess.  Who knows?  Anyway...here is the other necklace I made last weekend.  My friend loves it.  I used very inexpensive beads from WalMart, no less, but they made up very pretty.  She's a small older lady who loves wearing big jewelry and she looks so cute.  I can't wait to see her in it.

VBS is over and it was a very good week.  There is SO much preparation for a productive week and we had excellent leaders.  It was a bittersweet time when the large group leader recognized that it was my last VBS in that church.  I'm looking forward to what the future brings and can't wait to see where God places us in his kingdom's work.  

A wedding rehearsal looms tonight with the wedding tomorrow--onward and upward.

Busy Week

It's been a busy week--Vacation Bible School Week at our church.  Well, I guess you might say I've been busy for a few weeks now learning the music.  Tomorrow's our last day and tomorrow evening I have a wedding rehearsal and Saturday is the wedding.  Never a dull moment for a church musician in an active church.  That's what I was called by God to do--church music.  God has also given me a desire--to create.  I did manage to make two necklace and earring sets last weekend, for which I was grateful.  Blogger is acting up today and messed up my first photo.  I'll have to try again tomorrow on that one--maybe. The one above is Czech glass aquamarine crystals with clear crystals in between.  My friend loves it and so do I--so dainty and pretty.

Happiness

Psalm 27:1 says:

"The Lord is my light and the one who saves me."

That makes me happy.

Safe

I'm going to be posting close-ups of some of my artwork while I'm in the "gettin' ready to move" phase of my life now.  Hope you enjoy them.  This is one that I kept for myself.  It says much of what I'm feeling right now.  Though things around me are chaotic, I realize that I'm always safe in the loving arms of Jesus.  Thank you, God.

So Much To Do...

I've tried to bring a color palette to life here.  I love these color combinations

Strawberry creme

Muslin

Earthenware

White and

Caramel.

My posts are going to be few and far between because of the move.  

The major problem is my hoarding over the last few years.  I've let things get out of control and letting things go has been a bit overwhelming.  I believe things are coming around now a little better.  More boxes are being packed and dents are being made.  Good for me.

The Big Refashion

My friend, Amy, is getting married and wants to use her mother's wedding dress.  Amy's a vintage remake lover and wanted me to "do something" with this dress.  The first two photos are the before and the last are of the remake.  It took a while to think things through since I'm not a veteran dressmaker but Amy had definite ideas and I just incorporated them.  She wanted the underskirt more fitted but I still think it turned out nice.  I loved making roses again.

Sacrifice

A new antiqued silver cross, a decorative bale to hold it and 

a long chain from which it swings make up the base for this 

necklace.  I've added a vintage key and a rose charm with a

blood-red glass drop, symbolic of the sacrifice given at the 

cross when Jesus died. The key signifies opening the door 

of eternity through faith in Christ.

If he had offered himself every year, he would have suffered many times since the creation of the world. But instead, near the end of time he offered himself once and for all, so that he could be a sacrifice that does away with sin.

Hebrews 9:26

Birds of the Air Have Nests Bookmark

"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Matthew 8:20

Charm Tassel Necklace

Tassel necklaces are popular today.  One can find them in 

any shop  that sells jewelry.  Sometimes I place too much

 emphasis on how I look, what I own and where I go.  It all

 belongs to God and that's something I don't need to forget.

‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
Haggai 2:8



I've used a combination of vintage and new beads and bangles to create this charm tassel. The vintage gold and silver items are a key, a rose charm, a filigree bar and a fleur de lis charm. The new components are a rose-gold patterned bead, a grape-colored faceted bead, a silver heart charm, a rosy glass bar, a deep red glass drop and the findings to hold them all together. I love combining old with new into a cohesive whole.  This is in my Etsy shop: sallylsmith

Vintage Crystal Pendant Necklace

I found these lovely vintage crystal pendant-sized beads quite a while back.  They've made lovely earrings so I thought I'd try a necklace.  To this one I added a vintage rhinestone rondelle and hung it on a ring from which are crystals, pearls, metal beads and glass beads on beading wire.  It closes with a lobster clasp and is about 28" long.  I don't know why I love this style so much--guess it's just that the exposed wire makes it look so delicate.  This is just another example of combining vintage with new.

I'm going to call this one "Early Morning Sunrise."  I love when the sun is just rising and the sky is turning pink.  Some say, "Red sky in morning, sailors take warning" but I love a pink sky.  God is the ultimate painter.

Little Blue Heart

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart.

Proverbs 15:30

Little Blue Heart Bracelet.  Can you see it?

I made this bracelet a while back and am just getting it on Etsy.  It's so delicate and pretty and hiding among the pastel beads is a tiny blue heart. 

 My family is leaving today and that makes my heart blue--hopefully for only a short time, though.  We hope to be moving near them very soon but things haven't been working too well.  Just when we think we have things figured out, something else comes up and our plans change.  That can make one blue as well.  My hope is that the Lord will allow us to relocate but we've come to realize that He is in control and we're not.  Maybe the house, the town or the distance from children is not right for us.  Just maybe God has other plans.  We're listening.  

(You know my blue heart, Lord, and I know your ever-giving one always leads us in the right direction if we respond to your leadership.  May my heart tune in to yours and may I start singing Praise Songs instead of The Blues.)

Layering Necklaces

I had a super jewelry making time a while back and whipped out numerous pieces.  These two necklaces are a couple of the things I did.  The pink, black and silver beads are crocheted on black waxed cording and the light pink and black on gold is a more traditional style necklace.  I love them together, however, it is a bit much for me though I've observed photos of others wearing multiple necklaces and it looks lovely.  I think the weight of numerous necklaces would be too much for me, especially since I am a relatively new jewelry wearer.  Would you wear something like this?

They can be seen in my Etsy shop here: etsy.com/shop/sallylsmith

Made For Creating

I feel incomplete when my day doesn't include some kind of creativity.  I feel guilty many times because I put "making things" ahead of cleaning, organizing and general house-keeping.  Reading scripture like this helps me realize that I was Made For Creating.  I can't help myself because God gifted me with the insatiable desire to produce beautiful, and sometimes useful, items.  Here's one of the verses to which I refer:

Then the Lord said to Moses, ² “See, I have chosen Bezalelson of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³ and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills —⁴ to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,⁵ to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 31ver o cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.  Exodus 31

What a calling!

The little necklace above was made from many little vintage pearls, some a little worn though precious.  I attached a silver earring given to me by a friend.  I think it's lovely.

Revision and Wedding Bracelet

Altered Untroubled Heart

Wedding Bracelet

I've changed the Troubled Heart Necklace.  The more I looked at the original (last post) and wore it, the more I didn't like the "bat." I removed it, moved the star down from the side making it more symmetrical and added a dark red glass drop to it then added it to the other charms.  Now maybe I will list it.

Yesterday I listed a wedding bracelet with handmade charms. My listing gives this description:
Each handmade charm represents a certain characteristic of love: Large vintage crystal--pure love; new Czech glass bar--united love; new mother-of-pearl ring--forever love; and vintage faux pearl--treasured love. 
All these characteristics come from God and I believe more marriages would survive if the couple would put God first and act more like God wants.  Not that I'm a marriage counselor but I'm one who has made it through my marriage only because of God's grace and help.

Untroubled Heart

 I made this necklace the other day before my company got up and placed it on my dress form to take photos.  The 3-yr old twins said that the large vintage silver drop looked like a bat.  I can see that.  Jesus bats for us when things get hairy and scary, if we let him.  We could take it all on ourselves and worry our hearts to death--truly!  Why not let him do the worrying?  Scripture says:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27 (NIV)

Guard Your Heart

I love hearts and bought this silver one at a sale somewhere.  I've beaded vintage small faux pearls of varying sizes and hues with the heart centered.  It makes a lovely necklace.  My little model loved it and wants one like it.  Unfortunately, it's a one-of-a-kind but I will make her another--of a kind.

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

(You can find this in my Etsy shop.)

Vintage Drop Necklace Into Bookmark

Here's another jewelry remake:  A vintage silver drop from a necklace made into a bookmark.  I added a vintage oval pearl from a necklace a friend gave me, a vintage crystal spacer bead, a lavender crystal bicone and a couple of small silver beads.  The ribbon is also a vintage find and I added a new ribbon crimp.

One of a Kind Shell Earrings Like Sand on the Seashore

I was trying to find a scripture to go with these lovely mother of pearl shell earrings I made a while ago.  The word "seashore" popped in my head and sent me to 13 different references of "sand on the seashore."  This must have been the common way of defining multitudes of something.  I had a number of teardrop shells like this but only two even closely matched enough to make a pair of earrings.  Each is so vastly different, like people.  Though they look similar, they are totally unique.  How wonderful that God would make us a one-of-a-kind.

I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.

Jeremiah 33:22

(My husband is a Minister of Music--a Levite, according to the scripture's definition.  It's good to know that there will be another one standing in the wings when he retires.  Thank you, God, for preparing the next generation to do your will.)

Watching The Flying Raven

Sometimes we take the Scriptures for granted and don't look past the obvious.

 After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. 

Genesis 8:6-7

We usually think of a sweet dove leaving the ark, flying around and returning holding a branch.  However, God sent the ugly, carnivorous raven out first, probably the stronger of the two birds.  If I were to choose the most beautiful bird, it would be the dove.  I'd send it out first because I liked it more but God has a purpose for everything on this earth--even the lowly and not so beautiful.  Everything and everyone has a purpose on God's Green Earth.

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16

Wishing for Blue Skies

Blue Skies

Cloudy Day

I'm wishing for the blue skies.  We saw a peek of them for a brief time yesterday.  Though we need this rain, today makes four days of rain and 4-5 more to come.  This jewelry gives me brightness in my day.  I love the little dainty bracelet and it reminds me of the the blue skies just after a rain.  If you look closely, you can see the clouds being dispersed by the blue.  The crystals and pearls are vintage, the blue frosted beads are recycled and the little seed beads, silver spacers and toggle clasp are new.  I love the blend.

Some days we just need the clouds because it makes us appreciate the sun.  The earrings remind me of cloudy days.  Have you ever been in a plane, traveled up through the gray/black clouds and reached the clear, bright sky?  These earrings also remind me of that trip.  Sometimes when we have bad, it makes us grateful for the good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Trinity Necklace

Trinity Necklace

The Bible never uses the word "Trinity" but there are strong implications that the Godhead consists of a combination of three unique individuals--The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.  All three are mentioned numerous times in Scripture.  Jesus said that the Father and he were one and that he would send another when he was resurrected.  This necklace denotes the Three in One.  The white stands for The Father, the red stands for The Son and the blue represents The Holy Spirit.  The key means we have to open the door to all.  They are waiting to come into our hearts.

1000th POST !

I just realized that I posted my 1000th post.  Yeah for me.  Hope you have been liking my blog and have received some inspiration from it.  I'd like to hear from you.

Earrings In Shop

My sweet model, Taylor, with a Vintage Drop

Vintage Crystals, Gemstones and Glass

Vintage Rhinestones on Brass with Brass Birds

Czech Glass Flowers 

Green Glass Clips

Yellow Glass and Pink Crystals

As you see, I've been putting earrings in my Etsy shop and I have more to post.  I've been trying to post an average of one item a day since about 2 1/2 weeks ago when I reopened my shop.  There is so much jewelry on Etsy that mine is probably getting stomped on but I'm trying.  I have my shop on Facebook and if you are there, stop by and "Like" my shop: SallyLSmith.etsy.com.  Then when I remember to post my contribution of that day, you will be sent a little blurb about it on FB.  I'm not into marketing myself, never have been.  My Mom bought all my Girl Scout cookies and not because she was a cookie hound--because I was too shy to go door-to-door and so was she.  Nobody's going to sell my wares but me so, again, we'll see.  Lydia was a seller of "purple," the fine cloth of the day and I'll bet she had to market her wares by herself and that was then.  It's been an uphill battle for women in business since then.  Of course, nothing worth while is easy.

Back In Business

Sold

New packaging

Jewelry for Auction

Yay!  I'm back in business. I sold my first item, the cameo bookmark, in my Etsy shop since last December and it feels good.  I even had someone else interested enough in this item to ask questions about it as well.  So, I'm back to my stash to find another cameo in hopes of making another sale.  I'm including new packaging for my items that I sell on Etsy--white box, sheer ribbon, paper flocked flower and vintage button.  I love how it looks.

I've been busy making jewelry for a youth auction that's coming up this Sunday.  We have a "kid bid" during the auction and the items go anywhere from 25 cents to five dollars and only the children can bid.  The church donates baked goods, handmade items and donated tickets for area events and the money goes to help individual youth who cannot afford to go on the mission trips our church offers in the summer.

I'm also busy packing.  We are planning a move in the near future and I've started in earnest to pack the things I won't be using in the next few months.  You know those items: Christmas stuff, books, stemmed glassware, Grandma's china, wok, craft stuff (oh, boy, I hate to decide what I won't use in that category.)  It feels good to get things in boxes.  More on the move later.

Robin's Egg Blue Necklace and Bracelet Set

I bought this gorgeous robin's egg blue Amazonite a couple of weeks ago and have looked at it on my table since, imagining what to do with it and these are the results.  Amazonite is a gem variety of feldspar and has layers of different colors--from green and cream to light browns.  I love pastels and the blending of these colors makes me smile.  I've used mostly vintage beads, pearls and mother-of-pearl rings to accompany it.  There's also one surprise ring mixed in.  I like to do that, too.  I'm always ready for a little surprise at times, aren't you?

Book Marks

Vintage Cameo

Vintage Button

She Asked For Blue

I made a couple of bookmarks the other day and will be putting them in my Etsy shop soon.
I've been saving cameos for a long time now and decided on this one--a very vintage one with a great old patina.
The button is a beautiful polished, antiqued bronze with a silver layer under it.  Of course, I doubt that it is truly bronze and silver but it looks like it and it's definite that it's been around a while.

My friend made an afghan for me, just because, and I thanked her with this bracelet--free--that she had ordered from me.  I put it together one night when I couldn't sleep, which are many lately.  I might as well do something productive in my waking hours.


Words are very important as seen many times in scripture.  Here is one example:

"Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments."
Exodus 34:28

Statement Wedding Necklace

I made this fiber/fabric and beads necklace to sell in the wedding section of the shop in which I've been selling for the past three and a half years but the shop closed, leaving me with this little lovely.

It's so beautiful and I would love it to grace the neck of a bride.  All the details are in my Etsy listing if you are interested.  Not getting married but want something unusual and OOAK, then have fun planning where you could wear this.  

Inspirational scripture:

Song of Songs 4:8

"Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me."

Silver Leaves on Black

Silver leaves and gray pearls will surround your neck or wrist when you wear this crocheted-on-waxed-linen-thread piece.  This is an extremely long necklace--70"--so it will wrap forever, well, maybe not forever but you get my drift.  It's light weight and easy to wear.  I try all my jewelry for endurance and then make sure it's cleaned before it's sent to the buyer.  
Exodus 31:4 extols the artisans to "make artistic designs in...silver"-- so I did just that.

Old and New

I've been experimenting with photography by setting up a light box (I think that's what it's called.)  It's just a large opaque plastic container that I've set by my window.  I've lined it with white paper and I'm liking the results on some of my photos.  What do you think?

This piece was fun to set up and make and I used both vintage and new beads.  Since I like making old things new, this is a perfect example.  There are over 125 beads, some buttons, and handmade dangles, spacers and rings.  More than one-third are vintage.  The four stacked layers measure about 1 1/2" high.  Since it's on memory wire that doesn't lose its shape, it's like four stack bracelets in one.

My inspiration came from one of my favorite Bible verses:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here." 

2 Corinthians 5:16

Lime and Black

She wore a lime and black jacket.  It was so pretty but she wore her favorite pink rose, black and crystal necklace and earrings with it.  Not that it looked bad, I just thought, "She needs a lime and black necklace and earrings set."  Yep, she has one now.

God provided the lovely crab apple flower, one of the last that the wind blew down today.  Love it!

"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come...."

Song of Solomon 2:12