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.