thankful

:adolph & josie:

This is a picture that includes my mother's father and mother.
They stand together on the right side of this photo.
Before two weeks ago, I had never even seen this picture.

I absolutely love it.

The only picture I have of my grandmother when she was young, is the one you see up on  the right top corner of my blog header.

This picture is an example of everything I love about old pictures and cabinet cards.

It has that look that only vintage pictures have about them.

That eerie dark pearly glow.  

Yes, this picture fits the bill perfectly.

It is not faded, but is still crisp and clear.

But, I am the one who always wants to know more.   More about the details.

Like, how old are my grandparents here?

I e-mailed back, asking my second cousin who shared it with me, 

"Do you know any details about this photo?"

"Sorry"...she said.  

The only thing her mother told her, is that it was the other couple's wedding day. 

Oh, well...it really doesn't matter.

What does matter, is that I now have it in my possession.

I am so thankful. 

So as I begin to take a closer look at the photo.  I stare at their feet.   
I look at their shoes. 
They look like they have walked a many a mile don't they?  
All except my grandmother's.
Did you notice how two of the four are curling their feet?
I notice things like that.
Always have.
My cousin sent one more picture.

The description:  

"Josie on Grandpa Charlie's buggy".

I have no clue who Grandpa Charlie might be, as he is not my Grandpa...

or my Great-Grandpa.

Thankfulness floods my soul.  

My eyes begin to burn, and I try not to cry.

My Grandmother has been gone for over 23 years.

I don't think I ever heard her complain.  If she did, I do not remember.

I miss her.  

I am thankful ....

I have these pictures.

Thankful I had a Grandmother who loved me, and I her.  

Yes, thankful.

a class with mary hetts

I had the privilege of taking a class with Mary Hettmansperger about a week ago at Wired Designs Studio in San Antonio.

It could not have been more convenient, or more FUN!

It was one very full day, learning her method of working with 
metal & wire.  
I decided I did not have to finish the project, 
but instead focus on the process of:

:enameling:
and

:wire weaving:

and

 :embossing:

When I signed up for class, I also asked my great friend Charlene to join me, knowing she would love be exposed to the torch!  Right Charlene??  LOL.

Mary was so patient, and really took so much time with each and everyone of us.
That's the beauty of a small class, as we had less than ten that particular day.

After it was all said and done, Charlene left class as a master with fire!

"two peas in a pod"

Lookie what Charlene designed with us in mind, 

using the techniques Mary taught in class.

While in San Antonio, Mary taught four days of classes~two mixed metal (which we took) and two mixed metal and clay~all were FULL.

She has a great new book, which was released earlier this year.

Charlene and I had a great time together, staying with my daughter while in San Antonio.

The next day we traveled to a restaurant that Charlene loves and had suggested.

If you ever have the opportunity, you really should try it, as it is just gorgeous and full of San Antonio history, great food and MORE!

The Guenther House

This was the home of C.H.Guenther, the founder of 
Pioneer Flour Mills, built in 1860.
And, where you can find goodies such as these!

Pecan Nut Rolls
Which sold out way before we even ate breakfast that morning. 

What fun we had!

I was go glad Melanie came along with us.
It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend =)

 BTW....just in case you didn't know, this is how snowmen look in Texas!  

♥LOL♥

{Echo} Week 25 - Homestead

" Sugarcane on the Prairie"

I have a good friend named Agnes.  You may remember her from the Marburger Farm post.  She is a most talented lady who owns a business called Wilde Weedze.  Agnes  grows  a beautiful assortment of flowers, ornamental grasses, trees, and more.......all located in and around her home.   She is also an antiques dealer, who has a great space in Nothing Ordinary Antiques & Oddities, in Bellville, Texas.

She and her husband Michael own a 72 acre farm on the Katy Prairie.  The property, which at that time was about 1,100 acres, was purchased by Michael's great-grandfather H.F. Granau.  Later Michael's grandmother, Lottie Strauss, inherited the property, then passing a portion of it down to Michael.  Agnes & Michael now own 72 acres of the original property, and have lived there for 25 years.  They raise healthy fat Texas cattle,  but during the 1970s, like much of the Prairie, rice was raised in most of this area, 
as well as corn in the 1990s.

This part of Texas is also part of my life, as I too live on the Prairie, just much closer to Houston, in the small growing larger, town of Katy.  The unincorporated parcels of the Prairie, continues to be home to all things that the Katy Prairie Conservancy is trying to save, which includes native quail, dove, deer, and of course, geese (in season).

In autumn, just after the huge rice crops have been harvested, the Katy Prairie become the site of one of the most incredible natural spectacles in North America, as thousands, then millions of migratory birds arrive~especially waterfowl.  For most of them, the Katy Prairie is a winter home until March, when they return to nesting in the upper Midwest and Canada.  Others use the Prairie as a staging area on their way south, or may choose to remain here for the entire year.

"Lacecap Hydrangea" 

Be sure and check out Susan & Chrysti's diptych for this echo prompt, and look for more pictures from the group here. 

I must say......this was one of my favorite prompts to date!

just saying

I spend most of my time as a minimalist in my jewelry designs.

 I feel safe there.

That is what I “believe”.

 But, I do continue to “explore”.
As there are always so many more possibilities.

Styles.

Techniques.

Mediums.
Kate shared this video. 
Simply captivating.

Next month come “explore” with me.

More details can be found here.

Halloween FuN

There's a pie in there somewhere!

A Jeep ride on Halloween spells FuN to me!
.....have a safe one.....

it's a jeep thing

My husband could not wait to get our grandson his first Jeep, so last Saturday he did!

Once Alton learned he could reach the pedal, it was off to the races.

  Going forward was a bit easier than learning how to put in into reverse.

The tree in our backyard got in the way a time or two.

My daughter's chocolate lab, Jake, loved chasing them both around the yard.

I think Alton loved working the knobs more than driving.

 How do you like those seat belts?

It was a super great day!

 Alton....Jeep owner before 2!

my ♥ is full

 I just received the winter issue of Artful Blogging, which by the way, is one of my favorite Somerset Studios magazines. Did I say that? 

ALL of the Stampington magazines are my favorites!

I am so excited and feel so very blessed, that I really don't know what to say.
I am so grateful that Jennifer Jackson gave me the opportunity to be included in this issue.

The photos, as always, are just amazing, and taken by the featured bloggers themselves, which makes them all the more special.
There are so many GREAT photographers out in blog-land, I must tell you that I feel a bit intimidated.

The art of photography, just a tad behind designing jewelry,
really is a secret passion of mine!

"My Art-Filled Life"
I cannot begin to tell you how much it means for me to be living a life I've dreamed of living for more years than I can even remember.

Whether it's designing jewelry, taking photographs, or blogging....it is a wonderful life filled to the brim with exciting possibilities of having that life....one I have always dreamed of.
I just had no idea it could really happen.
***************

Most of you know I love rhinestones, and using them in my jewelry designs has just come natural.  There is absolutely nothing that makes my ♥ skip a beat faster than a gorgeous vintage rhinestone brooch.  Just like the one I bought at Marburger Farm last Spring.  

It is a vintage Mariam Haskell, 

and it will not be taken apart or used in any of my designs.  

I just could not do that, nor would I want to.

"Finding my Way Back"
I am so thankful I found my way back, not only to Marburger Farm,
but to art.
I have dabbled in so many "artful" things in my life, not sticking to one "thing" as long as I have now been designing jewelry.

I know I have found my way home, and for that, I so very thankful.

But enough about me.

Here is just a tiny sample of who else you will see in this issue.

♥ kiss the groom ♥

Elizabeth's photos are surreal.  

She tells of her first kiss, and shares this~

"Kisses are like good photographs~they transcend language, culture, and time".

I love that thought.  I love that her photographs, and perhaps mine,
can touch another person's life.  

I know that great photographs have touched me.....in so many ways. 

She tells of her grandparents,
and their secret to a long marriage of 60 years!

I can appreciate her story, as both sets of my grandparents had long marriages.

And, if you go to her website, you can design your very own 

♥ kissing tree ♥

And, then, there is

Sherry Mattia-Welch of Glamarella Junk.

Sherry says, 

"Blogging is such a positive way of reaching out to so many people that have a creative passion to share with others".  

How true is that?

Dream It

Share It

She has a drawing right now to celebrate
all of her fabulous blog friends!
Live It
That is what I intend to do. 

Someone at my (real?) work place once said, "You know Diane, you are spoiled".
I beg to disagree.
Yes, I have a good life.  I have a good husband...who is a great cook!
(which is why she said I was spoiled~LOL!)

My children are doing well.  I live in a comfortable home, drive a reliable vehicle, have good health, a mother who is still with me, and so much more...

I do not believe I am spoiled, no, because if I were I would be ungrateful.
I would take life and all I have for granted.
I don't.  I won't.....not for one minute.
That simply would be a waste of time.

♥

p.s. thank you faerwillow
 ♥
~ This issue will be out November 1st ~
♥ The plaster heart you see in my photos was made for me by Stephanie Lee. If you have the time to read her post you will understand just how special this heart really is.....♥

Resin Love

"Heart of Love"
I love to layer necklaces.
This piece is one (layer) of two necklaces I finished just before Marburger.

I did not begin with this layer.  This is layer number two.

The technique I used is one (very similar)
to that I'll teach this December in College Station.
(See link for class details just to the left on sidebar).
The focal was made using a piece of signature "damask" etched brass from my stash, brass filigree and connectors.  But before connecting, I hammered the edge, then added a brass eyelet to place a Puffy Heart below it as a dangle.  I wire wrapped my favorite vintage baroque pearls, adding bead caps.
I added two layers of chain, one being oxidized brass infinity chain and the other, an oxidized silver link chain.  I often mix brass and silver in my jewelry, this one being no different.  I added three of the Mini Puffy Hearts to the silver chain.

"Strong"
This was the first layer I designed of the set.

I poured ICE resin.
One of MANY resin pieces I designed just in time for the festival.

This one was special.  It was for me.
This is my Grandmother's wedding picture.
(psss....watch for her in an upcoming Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine)
You will recognize it from the picture you see on the left side of my blog header, as this is Rosa.  My father's mother.

Rosa had a Czech mother and a German father.
She didn't speak much English.  Very little in fact.

She was a small woman.  She was a strong woman.  

I wanted to wear a special resin piece at the festival. 
I designed this piece to be worn long.  It is what I refer to as the bottom layer of the set. 
I used a flex shaft to drill thru the resin charm to place a double layer of eyelets.

I wire wrapped my favorite vintage baroque pearls, then added a double layer of Cable Chain, a vintage bead cap, an oxidized crystal rondell, oxidized brass infinity chain, using the simple hook that came with the infinity chain, as the closure.
I decided to use brass Heart-Lets in a way that does not say charm.
I designed a connector using two, putting them together with 2-4mm jump rings.
I really like how it turned out.
A nice delicate link, with a great vintage feel.

Now it's time to put the two layers together.

Love it.  

I can wear one or the other. 

I can wear them together.

I'd love for you to join me in College Station on December 18th.
Contact me for more details.
It will be a fun class.

3rd Anniversary Sale at BB

"Vintage Crystal Dangles"

A new post at BB*D!

Hope you can join in the fun =)

it's just me...

"Buttons & Bones"

Probably by now you realize I am not the shy type.  

Call it being a Texan.  

My mother's daughter.  

My father's "I never meet a stranger" side!

*******

I've made a small group of skull earrings just in time for Halloween. 

Carved bone and oxidized crystal rondells, hung on a pair of my lovely oxidized sterling silver ear wires.

These have a delicious pair of vintage shoe buttons at the bottom!

And, as my dear friend Susie says....don't be ascared!

Oh, and here are two more pairs...one with long vintage rhinestone dangles and one with shorter vintage rhinestone dangles.

Can you imagine hand-carving these little guys?

Boo!

(If you likey any, just let me know here....they are $46 each....which includes shipping =)
p.s.texture compliments of one of my favorite Shadowhouse Creations!