Family Tree

Our church secretary resigned and I made her a little going away present--a fiber art domino necklace.

I free-stitched a tree on linen and beaded it--the dark pink is her, the blue is her son and the light pink are her three daughters and I added small green beads for the leaves. Small baguette beads fill in the rest of the flowers. Scrapbook paper is the background and the words are cut from an old dictionary. I added the word, "faith," to the little key.

Hebrews 11:1--"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

The Last of the Lace

One of the consignees at Amy's shop, S'More Couture, asked me to make a journal for her mother's birthday. She requested pink, roses, birds and gardens as theme material--some of my very favorite things! So, I got busy and created this journal, similar to one she chose in the shop as a prototype. (Thank you, Dawn Edmonson from The Feathered Nest for the digital collage.) This was so fun to make but I've had to part with my very favorite of all time lace that I bought many years ago at a yard sale. I've been very stingy with it but this piece kept calling for it. It's so beautiful, coming stained like it is from many years of storage and non-use. It's interesting to me that something so small and temporal can grasp me so strongly. I have many beauties and baubles that I have to "live with" before I let them go and if you saw my house, you'd understand of what I speak. The Lord considers us to be his precious possession; when I relate that thought to my feelings about my "precious things" and "precious ones," I feel so honored.

Psalm 147:11--"The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love."

Memories Journal

I love Rebecca Sower's works and I got this idea from one of them. I chose an embroidered duck fabric where the right side curved which made it perfect for the heart shape. The base journal I used had a metal label holder attached that could not be moved so I worked around it and incorporated it into the heart design. Yes, I used her title as well but what better title for a journal? My book already had a burgundy binding edge so I added lace to soften it and a ribbon, trim and lace for pretty. It seemed a little right-edge lop-sided so I added some button lace. I think it turned out very cute. This went into S'More Couture around the corner--hope, hope.

I'm not a journal-er. I do well to keep up with one blog and have never been a good letter-writer so making journals is what I do. I do take pictures and have many of our children and grandchildren--some of which I share on Facebook--all wonderful memories of our visits.

Philippians 1:3--"I thank my God every time I remember you."

Here Today Gone Tomorrow

Some call them weeds but I call them flowers. As I was walking today (getting back in the groove from my vacation), I observed the lovely grass heads and Queen Anne's Lace and thought what a beautiful bouquet they would be. So, I headed for my backyard and picked a few lovelies and put them in an old prune juice bottle I bought at a flea market. Bet you can't tell the lip is cracked. You know, we only have so much time on this earth so we have to make the most of it even if we have to make do with weeds. grass and broken bottles.

Isaiah 40:8--"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

Book of Ephemera GATHERING

This is what I was working on the yesterday. I put this book of vintage papers together quite a while ago and decided to add to it to sell in my sallylsmith Etsy shop. It's incomplete as it stands but I'll show you a few pages. (Click on the photos to enlarge.) This book is the third I've made and it is fun to "gather" pages from all the examples I have collected and hopefully have it be useful to someone else. I call this journal "Gathering."

Here is a strip of scrapbook paper, a couple of stickers, a vintage image and a velvet flower on an old calender page and a page from a vintage book.

A little girl named Marcy of long ago contributed this spelling test and it looks like she made a B. I changed the sepia-colored image to pink and added a sticker. Across from it is the last page of a book--Peg-O-My Heart.

I've included one of my ATCs with gold thread and a piece of brocade (hope the blue glue dries clear :( Beside it is a piece of fly leaf from an old school dictionary.

I'll have more I'll share after a short hiatus.

Leviticus 19:9-10-"9 "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God."

Hats, Hats and More Hats

Do you find yourself the Wearer Of Many Hats? I've been making these to put in the shop. I made a couple and the shop owner wasn't too pleased to see more hats since she already has a hat maker there. Mine were different and I thought they might sell. She reluctantly agreed and I sold the two I took there last week. She called while I was away and requested 3 or 4 more since she had someone interested. Who knew? She's out of town now and her substitute gladly accepted these and asked for more. People are wanting them to take on their vacations. Of course, I think they are sweet and I guess otheres to too. I made a few more yesterday but that's about all. I have a relapse of a bad cold I thought I'd knocked and felt puny yesterday and not much better today and I have to prepare the Wed. meal for church tonight. Yikes!

Ok, I just talked to my daughter and she suggested I stay home and order supper out for the church for tonight and I think she's right. Sigh.....I'm relieved. One more hat I don't have to wear tonight. I'll be happy to make it to choir practice (I play the piano). I'll just "be still" today.

Psalm 46:10--"Be still and know that I am God."

Home and Arting Again

1 Corinthians 13:13--"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

This is a commissioned piece I completed for a returning client. I'm so privileged to have someone like my works enough to buy them, much less commission a work from me. She requested neutrals, beiges and browns--some of my least favorite colors but that is the chance one makes when agreeing to make art for someone else. She did chose a beautiful photo, though, that makes the piece. With it I've used a piece of even-weave "dirty" linen, an old lace doily, ribbons, a strip of doll dress, a buttonhole placket from a vintage blouse, old buttons, a corner of a hankie, a mother-of-pearl one-holed rectanglular button and a pearl, cheese cloth, an old plastic buckle, a sprig of dried baby's breath tied with a piece of measuring tape and iridescent beads--all placed on a vintage book cover with leather corners and edge. The buyer asked that I use "Faith, Hope and Love" as the theme and I added the words cut from a vintage dictionary and glued them to the buttons. Click on the picture to see a close-up.

New Bracelet

Here's a new Cufflet I made late yesterday afternoon. I'm so inspired by Rebecca Sower's creations, how she puts things together and in a simple way, they work. I've added this to my Etsy store.

Today at Vacation Bible School we're learning that "God Does What He Says He'll Do." The story is about the final plague upon the Egyptians and how Pharoah's heart was so hardened that it took death of his first-born child to bring him around--for a little while. Then he went back to his old ways--but not for long. His time was coming, too.

So many times, I do things in my own power without even a thought about God. I'd save myself a lot of anguish if I'd go to Him first. I race around chasing my tail so much that I don't heed God's bidding to "Be still and know that I am God." Many times I don't even trust all His promises that He provides for us everyday. I'm always looking for more....Pitiful me. Why don't I truly believe that God keeps his promises?

Exodus 17:42--"The Lord kept his promise."

Tweeking

I'm realizing that somethings missing on yesterday's artwork. I'm going to give it a tweeking today and post the results tomorrow (if time permits). Until then I have this "Cufflet" I made at the end of last week that's going to my Etsy shop.

We have much needed rain today. Even though it is a detriment to VBS, it comes from our all-powerful God. Thank you, God, for the rain.

Exodus 7:17--"I will show you that I am the Lord."

Real Art Finally

I've finally made a "real" piece of art just because I wanted to do it. Ever since I picked up this rusty piece of metal whatever, I've been itching to make something-- but didn't know what. It all came together after a long nap (I had Vacation Bible School today). Since I was rested and unstressed, it seemed to just flow. Our Bible Point for today was "God Is With Us" through all the ups and downs. He's my shelter and my rock and I depend on him for everything. I call this "Shelter" but I'll have to live with this for a while before I put it up for sale.

Psalm 31:19-20--"In the shelter of your presence you hide them (those who take refuge in you).

I collaged a kid's canvas and made the back the front. I cover the wood with book binding material, a spine from a pamplet, sandpaper, old text margins, an image of bird eggs, string and cheese cloth. I edged the canvas with the gathered waists of a child's and a doll's dresses and old lace. A corner of an old hankie is the background. I hammered the metal piece with an old upholstery tack and used two more tacks on the top edge around which I tied two sheer ribbons. I added the word, "shelter" and its definition, feathers, lace, old towel edges and a Paper Whimsy photo.

A Little Headband

I haven't done much art this week. It's been a full one getting ready for tomorrow's Vacation Bible School --purchasing, practicing and planning. Sometimes life doesn't lend itself to another p word--pleasure--and art is my pleasure. It's also work, for those of you who are not artisticly inclined. I have thoughts running through my head and notes on the page of art I'd like to do and don't have the time to do it. It's something like not having enough time to read, work puzzles, do handwork or quilt, write letters, play with the kids, make a new recipe, take a vacation, visit with friends--and the list goes on. Unfortunately, spending time with the Lord and his word also goes on the back burner. Life drastically changes when I spend time with the Almighty--for the good. I think I'll do that right now!

Friendship Journal

Proverbs 27:9--"The pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel."

Springtime c 1300

It's a beautiful day. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and I made some art--a small journal. I love this picture of the two friends and I used the title of an old English poem gleaned from an old brittle, falling-apart book of literature. I'm thinking these ladies are a little more contemporary than 1300, but it fit. Again, I love using old things on new works. Look closely and you can see the gathered part of a skirt I cut from a faded and well-worn child's dress. Don't gasp; it was torn and stained and worthless and wasn't old enough to be a relic. I'm grateful that God doesn't throw out the old and stained, aren't you?
2 Corinthians 5:17--"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come."

New Necklace Idea

I made a bunch of these little flat marble things using old dictionary pictures and then didn't know what to do with them. Do you ever craft like that? I just got on a roll and they were fun to make and then...? So, I decided to adhere one to an old domino and add lace and buttons and there it is. I've made a few decorated hats, head bands and sunglasses to put in the shop for summer and they've gone pretty well. I just add vintage jewelry and flowers--no pics yet, I keep forgetting to take them. Hope your day goes well. and that you get to do the things you love to do today.

Psalm 118:24--"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Home Again

I'm home again with a few projects in the making. We hit the ground running since visiting grandchildren. I played for a funeral today and have to take my husband for a routine procedure and a doctor's visit tomorrow. That pretty much shoots my day but I'm glad it's not worse. I praise God for what and who I have.