The Thanksgiving Table

My daughter made these delicious Stuffed Dates to munch on before dinner on Thursday. We traveled to San Antonio, then on to south Texas to hunt. My husband helped her prepare her very first Thanksgiving Dinner, and we all had the best time! What a blessing to be able to enjoy cooking together as a family.

Above photo was uploaded for this week's theme, The Thanksgiving Table, Shades of Inspiration.

(Melanie's Stuffed Dates~Medjool Dates, Raw Almonds, Fromage Blanc)

Thankfulness

A word we should keep in our hearts and share often~thankfulness~ seems to be forgotten by most of the world. Each and every day is a gift from God, and not to be taken lightly. I am so thankful for so many things, it is hard to type them down. First, I am thankful that I was saved by the love of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for a wonderful loving husband. I am blessed by a loving family, children & friends. I still have my mother in this world to love, and who loves me. My husband and I are about to be given a wonderful gift~a grandson, in February! I live in a comfortable home in a nice town. I have a wonderful job, and great transportation. I am part of a loving church family. I have been given a desire for creating art. And, I have been given the gift of gratitude. (Realizing all this could be gone in a blink of an eye makes me even more grateful). What more is there? I cannot think of a thing.......

The gift of sharing also comes to mind this morning. I believe sharing is an outward expression of an inward thankfulness. It is amazing how easy it is to connect to like-minded friends in the blog world. A passion to create drives us to share each others talents and knowledge. I have made many new friends this past year, including Tammy, who I was blessed by this past week with a jewelry swap! I dearly love stars. How could I not love stars, living in the LoneSTAR state of TEXAS? When I saw these on her blog, I thought about a swap~she agreed, and look what I received in the mail! I asked only for the earrings, BUT she also sent a matching necklace! Wasn't that the most kind hearted thing? My blog friends are like that.


I will leave you with a couple of pieces I worked on this week for a new friend. Crystal Petals ~ made using some gorgeous Czech beads I bought at the quilt festival, shaped to look like petals of a flower. The dangles are Colorado Topaz colored Swarovski crystals. These earrings make me think of the most delicate flower, made to be given to someone very special.
Crystal Blossoms ~ the matching bracelet, has an added sprinkle of creamy freshwater pearls.
*****
One more thing I am thankful for this day ~ the joy of seeing beauty in everything. For this I am most thankful.

Note: This set is now for sale, as my friend picked another pair! Bracelet and earrings are $62 (plus $2.00 shipping).
(sold)

Grace

a.k.a. "Grace"

Each time I design a Crystal Princess, I find myself thinking of Grace Kelly. She was the most beautiful actress. A refined beauty both inside and out. (My favorite movie of hers was one of Alfred Hitchock's, Rear Window, with Jimmy Stewart). She became a true princess, AND it was NOT in Hollywood.

Perhaps it's the feel of the perfectly cut chandelier piece, polished smooth as silk, that brings me back to her each time. ....This is why I've enjoyed making several in the last two months. I do not duplicate, always changing it by just the smallest detail. All are different, and all are original. This will be Pam's. It was made using a larger vintage crystal chandelier piece. I am partial to this one. But then, I must say, I am partial to all of them~

cranberry red

"tammy's swings"

"blessed"

~~~

The last couple of months have been filled with designing new jewelry pieces, filling commissions, writing magazine submissions and enjoying committed jewelry shows. I have met some wonderful new friends along the way.

One of my favorite colors keeps showing up, everywhere I look, I see it. Could it be....my anticipation of Christmas, one of my favorite times of the year?

But no, it is not only in my jewelry, as it is here with me everyday in the stained glass "poppy" that hangs in my bathroom window. In the early morning light, it gives off the most beautiful glow.
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I am so thankful for the many blessings I have experienced this past year. I have been blessed by some wonderful new friends. Wonderful kindred spirits found in this big blog world. And, I have been encouraged by a a new friend and designer, Cindy Forrester, and her Thanksgiving Give Away Post. You must go visit, and tell her what you are thankful for today~you just might win one of her amazing designs!

i have been inspired

~by the beautiful Sara Duckett. I had totally forgotten reading her Q & A article published in the Autumn issue of Artful Blogging. And, now she has another featured article in the Winter issue of Artful Blogging, with her I Saw Red challenge! It was just last week that I decided to spruce up my simple blog layout; and found her, sadie olvie~le journal, via Sandra Evertson's blog. I was totally mesmerized with her photography, her story, and especially her design work. So, via several e-mails, I determined I would like to use her talents, and asked her to be a part of my journey in the blog world. So, the near future (after December 19th), will bring about a new blog look for me. I am so excited about the possabilities. In the meantime, I also joined her Flickr group, Shades of Inspiration, as I am forever stretching my wings thru my photography.

She publishes a weekly challenge, and this week it is ~ tarnished silver ~ How cool is that?

So, using a simple and rustic cream & sugar set I bought at Warrenton's antique festival last Spring, I went outside and caught a couple of shots in the evening light. I find this exercise is also helping me put together thoughts, pictures and ideas for my new blog banner and business cards. (I continue enjoy using PSE6 and picnik in the process, of course).

The only thing now is that I am having to re-think my love affair with rust.

It may just have to move over

~as tarnish may be taking its place.

I had the best time at Eagle's Trace. I have always loved people of "age". They live at a slower pace, and have seen and done most all they have wanted to see & do at this point in their life. Many were Christmas shopping for their daughters, or their granddaughters; and I was glad I was able to help. They asked my opinion, and I tried my best to be objective. Some actually shopped for themselves.

There were snacks & punch; and door prizes! Oh, if you could have seen the smiles on their faces when they won a door prize, then possibly you could begin to understand how I felt that day.

I do have to tell you about the crystal swings above.....I had not intended to take these to the sale, as I had made them for a friend's mother. She ordered a pair of chandelier earrings to match the Crystal Princess, to wear to a party she will be attending this week. She loves large earrings, and these totally fit the bill. However, I did decide to bring them along, as I could easily make another pair in time for her party, if I sold them. (Which I have, of course!)

Well, I sold the earrings to Pam, Director of Sales & Marketing.

She had a business trip this week, and fell in love with them. I received the most precious note from her, after sending her a gracious "thank you" for inviting me as a vendor to their Misteltoe Market.

Here is what she said:

I can’t wait to wear my earrings! I am traveling to Baltimore for meetings on Sunday and through the first part of the week and have been planning my wardrobe of course. It is too funny I have totally planned an entire outfit around the earrings!

I was totally humbled by her words, and so grateful for her little message. It meant the world to me, and a still small voice said even more.

Have you ever thought how just one simple act can bring about a change of acts by another? In this case, I made a very sweet (& pretty) lady very happy. She loves the earrings, and they will give her joy to wear.

I want to always have a positive affect on others. I chose it. Joy is a choice.

Just as the joy I felt helping the residents last week, passing slowly by my booth. Leisurely looking and asking questions. Making comments about the family cabinet cards I had mixed in with my jewelry.

I must say, I saw both pain and joy.

I felt alot of both that day.

Do You Remember?

"Cross my Heart" ~ (sold)
The Gem & Jewelry Show comes to Houston four times a year. I never let it pass without going, as it is my best opportunity to find unusual beads, gemstones, turquoise, pendants of all kinds~shapes and sizes. This cross was bought there.
The necklace also has turquoise nuggets, crystal quartz, Swarovski crystals and a couple of vintage chandelier pieces.
Tomorrow I have been invited to participate in the Mistletoe Market, which will be held at Eagle's Trace. I am looking forward to meeting Pam and Ashley.

I've always had them

"stars in my eyes" ~ (sold)

*******

I have been tagged by two dear blog friends~

So now I must share six quirky facts about myself and tag six of my blog friends. Thanks alot Tammy and Diana!
Here are the official rules....1. link to the person who tagged you 2. mention the rules 3. tell six quirky, yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself 4. tag six other bloggers by linking to them 5. go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged.

Here are the six people I am tagging (don't feel obligated or stressed if you don't want to participate or have already been there & done that or have been tagged with this fun little exercise before!)

********
Susan
Catherine
Molly
Meg
Dawn
Mary Ann

******

1. When I was a child, I wanted to be an actress.

2. I love music, and it makes me happy. And, I sing~alot.

3. I love to dance, and waltzes are my favorite. But, I two-step (Texas, of course) and have been known to polka from time to time.

4. I love to do laundry. And, I never let laundry sit in the dryer. It must come out upon "hearing the buzzer", or I will start the dryer again to get it warm before I take it out.

5. Bugs do not scare me. In fact, I am the official roach killer where ever I may be, and am often called upon to do so!

6. I love to fish. In ponds, and creeks and rivers~freshwater please.

Bonus: I say love alot!

Odd Shots on Monday

Odd Shots ~ hosted by Katney each Monday morning.

When my daughter and I saw this sign at the antique festival, we had to see it. The vendor was nice enough to take one out of the freezer to show us. And, you wouldn't believe the choice of toppings-

hot chocolate syrup, Smucker's Sunday Toppings~caramel and strawberry, AND any kind of sPrINklES you can imagine.
They will put anything on a stick!