almost here

It's getting closer.

Only four more days...

Marburger Farm 

here I come!

 

etched & layered

'"Grace"

"Fly Away"

"Quiet Glitz"

I love designing these!

I could layer all day and all night, and not get tired!

These are (a couple) of my newest Etched & Layered Cuffs.  

They'll soon be stuffed into my vintage jewelry boxes,

headed to Marburger!  

I am so excited, as I am actually listed on the site as a vendor, 

for the first time.  (Thank you Agnes =)

See you there....just over a week now!

in the dark

 "Rhinestones and Rosaries"

 I was not familiar with Jet, until I bought a multi-strand necklace which contained much of it.  I really liked the necklace for the chain it contained...lots of vintage, gold-toned chain that went well with brass.
But then I found out it was the Jet bar shaped beads where the real deal was made.  

And, the clasp....ah! I loved the clasp.

I have used the chain for just about everything the last couple of months, and now it is almost gone.  Yikes!  I have been frantically looking for more online, but none to be found.  That's the way it works sometimes.  Actually a lot of times.
Maybe I'll find some at the festival.... =)

But it was just about a week ago, I also started digging into the rosaries I have been hoarding (for myself and my future classes), and found a faceted Jet rosary with the most wonderful brass cross.  Now, I remember....THE cross was the reason I bought the rosary, as I usually don't use much black in my designs. 

Isn't it stunning?  Love the detail.

So, I decided the two must go together for my next Rhinestones and Rosaries necklace.
I hadn't made one since the Art Walk last May.
Once completed, I remembered why I was so excited when I finished the very first one, and why I sent it in as a class proposal for Adorn Me! 2011.  I loved mixing the two original pieces of jewelry~one necklace/one rosary~
is now ONE.
This process is always like a puzzle to me, which totally blows me away,
and is exactly why I love doing what I am doing.   
This one will be coming with me to Marburger,
along with a simple pair of earrings.  

Understated and elegant.  I like that.
I think that best describes (what I strive for) in my style of jewelry.

"Jet Dangles"
Faceted Jet rosary beads, some of my (very limited stash) vintage chain, vintage rhinestone buttons and dainty rhinestone dangles,
which I don't have many left of either!

And here is what I found about about Jet, just in case you too were "in the dark".
Jet, which is actually fossilized coal, as a gem material was highly popular during the reign of Queen Victoria, during which the Queen wore Whitby Jet as part of her mourning dress. Jet was popular for mourning jewelry in the 19th century because of its somber color and modest appearance, and it has been traditionally fashioned into rosaries for monks. In the United States, long necklaces of Jet beads were very popular during the 1920s, or Roaring Twenties, when women and young flappers would wear multiple strands of jet beads stretching from the neckline to the waistline. In these necklaces, the Jet was strung using heavy cotton thread; small knots were made on either side of each bead to keep the beads spaced evenly, much in the same way that fine pearl necklaces are made. Jet has also been known as black amber, as it may induce an electric charge like that of amber when rubbed.

I also found out, when burnt with a red-hot needle, Jet smells like coal. Black glass and plastics are often used to imitate Jet (glass is much heavier and harder than Jet) - Jet is warm to the touch.

Well, I haven't given it the burn test.  Maybe tomorrow.  

The Gift

"Brave Heart"
 ~~~~~~~
Neglect not the gift that is in thee....

I Timothy 4:14

 ~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been thinking about gifts lately.

No, not because I just crossed over another birthday threshold at the end of August, which is why I have been visibly gone from blog land for awhile.

Not because I don't love gifts, and in fact if you knew me really well,
you'd know that I celebrate my birthday for the entire month of August! 

And, certainly not because I spent precious time with my husband, and my daughter and my granddog in the wide open spaces atop a bluff in an oak filled RV Park near Leakey, Texas; where we sat each morning drinking our french roast and watching the birds fly to and fro, and the squirrels jump from tree to tree chasing after each other,
only coming close enough to see if we had food to share.

No, not because we spent one very full and wonderful week in the gorgeous hill country of Texas, where each day we sat in the clean, clear flowing water of the Frio River; and ate till I almost couldn't (because the guys did all the cooking).
And not because we had one great day of golf in Utopia~yes, Utopia!
And, ate that afternoon at the historic Lost Maples Cafe.

No, not because we paddled up stream in our kayaks one day, only to find ourselves all alone with no other person in sight...sitting in the Frio's beautiful crystal clear cool water, watching a nearby gushing waterfall.

And, not because the next day we floated down stream, and found another place once again ALL to ourselves, where we stacked rocks in the river
which then diverted the flowing water in a totally different direction;

 then sat quietly watching thirsty dragonflies sit on rocks nearby hoping they could catch just one gentle spray of water!

And certainly not because each night we could sit outside to hear the crickets call;
and smile as we looked at our party lights shining brightly under the RV canopy.

I dare say it.
I have received so many gifts (in my life). 
Why would I ever want anything money could buy,
when there is all this and so much more in this world to enjoy?
Did I mention I like to celebrate my birthday the entire month of August?
I better get past that if I am going to retire at the end of the year!
LOL.
~~~~~~~
Oh, yes, back to..... "Brave Heart".

 I would like to share more of what I've been working on before our vacation, and now once again since returning home.
But can't....not just yet =) 
It will be revealed in time.
I have to tell you that I came to realize, in between class proposals, designing new jewelry, and magazine submissions, what a gift I have been given. 
The gift is to realize I have a gift.  
A gift to love what I see.  Love what I do.
And, to love all that I am. 
How profound is that? 
To accept a gift, even of the smallest proportion, with humility, grace and gratitude, using it wisely and then giving it back ten fold.  
That is what makes a gift worth way more than anything this world has to offer.

So, now my fellow Brave Heart, here I am
reminding you to not forget....
that you can find me at the Marburger Farm Antique Show in just a little over two weeks,
September 28th to be exact, in Tent W.
It is there I will have "Brave Heart", and more of what I have been doing.
I will be there Opening Day (Sept.28) and for sure closing day (Oct.2).
However, in between, I don't have a clue.
I will be wandering the fields, looking for treasurers as much as I can.....I'm sure!