Autumn Cabochon

This beautiful chalky green cabochon gave me a bit of a challenge with choosing a colorway, but I think I was successful in the end. Greens and blues, pumpkin and root beer with a hint of gold came together to make this cabochon pop. I am thankful for Autumn, the cooler days and nights, the beginnings of turning leaves and the beauty of the season as inspiration for creativity.

Autumn Inspiration !

Autumn is here, my favorite time of year !
To celebrate, I whipped up these fun brick stitched hoops. 
Their colorway is so pretty, turquoise, deep blood red and shades of pumpkin and gold. I am planning some open house events to showcase beautiful creations for holiday gift giving (and wearing) ! Starting in October, I will have one or two events per month with mulled cider, beautiful holiday tunes and a welcoming atmosphere for shopping. I will even giftwrap ! Stay tuned for updates !

Feelin' Groovy

I have been working on some bead embroidery "vignettes" and I am really pleased with the way this one evolved. It is full of life and happy colors.I like the way that the millefiori beads and turquoise nuggets work with this piece to give it some textural dimension.

Be Still My Heart ~ Lampwork Heart Necklaces

I have a new obsession with lampwork glass hearts ! A friend of mine bought the one above and asked me to do bead a necklace for it. I decided to needle weave a variation of a spiral rope and it turned out so well that I wanted to do another one (for ME). They are beautiful and easy to wear. Since my focus lately has been on "unlocking my artist's heart" through a course that I am taking, I wanted a keepsake of this time. Be still my heart, and know that He is God.

A Creative "Date" 05/15/12

 In the art course I am taking, one of the assignments is to go on a weekly "creative date". Yesterday I drove around Lincoln and Catawba counties looking for things that inspired me. The first photo I took was of a barn at Cline Farm in Lincoln County. I love the color and texture of the wood. What a grand farm this must have been. There are many old barns and silos here and they are beautiful.

 This is a photo of a stained glass portal at the top of Daniels Lutheran Church in Vale, NC. I adore the colors and the message. "Your ears will hear a word behind you,This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Years ago, I was driving past this church and I heard the Holy Spirit say "Go and look that verse up!" I did, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. This photo is very meaningful to me, because of that. 

 This is a very old memorial stone at Daniels Church Cemetery. I couldn't read the name because of the moss. I wonder how old it is. The church was founded in the 1700's. I thought it was interesting and the texture of the moss caught my eye.

 This is a side view of Daniels Church and the cemetery. I love the shape of the windows and the stone work.

 This is the entrance to Daniels Church. I like the way it was designed. I don't know the architectural lingo to describe it, but it is beautiful.

 This is top of the monument at the entrance to Bethel Cemetery in Vale, NC. This is a place I have gone to pray. This is a front veiw of the Angels at the top, although this is actually the back of the monument. The angels face the gravestones, not the road.

 This is the back view of the Angels on the monument, but this is actually the front view of the monument itself. This is the view that greets visitors to the cemetery.

 This is the front view of the middle angel on the monument. I think she is beautiful.

 This is a view of the cemetery in the pastoral scene of the Lincoln county countryside. One day these graves will open.

 This is a magnificent tree at Bethel Cemetery.I love the color and the way the branches provide a canopy of shade.

 This is the back view of Saint Paul's Reformed Church in Newton, NC.

This is the stormy sky that cropped up at the end of my creative date. What a beautiful way to end it !

Effervesce !

Effervesce !

This is my first piece for a class I am taking called Unlocking the Heart of the Artist. 

It is painted on stretched canvas with craft paint. The painting is representative of a word and picture I saw while praying for every participant in the course. During the study, I am studying the book of Proverbs, in the Bible, and especially the scriptures that speak of the heart.

Cosmic Cuff

This cuff was inspired by the heavenly bodies, stars, planets and such. I love the colors ! The heavens declare the glory of God and the stars sing out His name !

Cherry Blossom Bridal Collar

It is Spring, and I am thinking of weddings. The pink Dogwoods and Cherry Blossoms are in glorious array and I was inspired to embroider this collar in representative hues. Can't you just picture it, adorning the graceful neck of a beautiful Spring Bride ?

HOPE

Kay's Collar

This beautiful bead embroidered collar was designed with a very special lady in mind, and she loves it !
I really enjoyed working on this piece and am so pleased that she enjoys wearing it.

Second Wind

 

This page is about not feeling shame about growing older. I'm ashamed to admit that I have felt that way, but it's the truth, even though some of the most beautiful women I know are much older than me. As I age, I want to be fearless and free, radiating the love that has been poured into my heart by the grace and mercy of God. I want to always be growing and learning and experiencing new things!

Sometimes I am just too much ! Captivating Art Journal Entry #3

This pretty much says it all. And to quote Forrest Gump, "That's all I'm going to say about that."

I Will Take Heart....I Am Enough

My heart has been rescued, transformed. In my journal there is a pocket which contains an image that represents my old heart and one that represents my new, redeemed heart.


The next image represents a feeling (a lie, really) I, and many women, am tempted to take in and believe. The lie is, "I am not enough". I am not thin enough, I am not pretty enough, I am not smart enough, blah, blah, blah.

So far, I have made cameo appearances in my journal pages, as I have been led to use them. This is a photo of me at a close friend's wedding back in the 80's.

I was feeling particularly out of place. I was pregnant and had not been chosen as a bridesmaid. I was very hormonal and emotional and under attack, as expectant women often are. I was vulnerable to the lie that I was not pretty or loved enough to be in the wedding. Silly, I know, but isn't that how so many offenses start ? 


I have had many occasions since, to feel the very same way. Though I am His miracle child, I am tempted (daily) to believe this lie. Through careful study of The Holy Scriptures and through prayer in this study, I hope to break free of this lie, forever. 

My Tender Shepherd

I have recently joined a group of women on facebook, created by my friend Pattie Ann Hale and One Tree Village www.onetreevillage.org for the purpose of reading the book Captivating by Staci Eldredge, and journaling our experiences in visual images. 

I have read the book in the past, but it is even more rich and compelling this time around. This week, we are reading chapter one and creating images to share and talk about. 

My first entry is not especially artistic, but it says exactly what I needed it to say, and I was very blessed by the Spirit's outpouring of love as I pieced it together. 
I started with a magazine photo of a lamb, because I am grateful that the Tender Shepherd always had his eye on me, His lost lamb. 

I included some sheet music from a hymnal that talks about Him being a tender Shepherd ,and the Shepherd of tender youth. I put a photo of me on top of the sheep. This image was taken when I was about 12, at a time when life became very confusing and disorienting for me. I did not experience salvation until I was 25, but I can see how The Tender Shepherd had His eye on me and kept me from all kinds of evil during those dark days. 

He rescued me (His princess)
He loves me.
I was lost and He found me, His lost little lamb. 
I have guaranteed approval, secure attachment and His compassion. 
I will take heart, rain or shine, for I trust that my Daddy knows what He's doing. 
I have identity in Him. 
I am safe and protected. 
Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder, and He sees beauty in me, His lamb. 


Jesus makes my heart rejoice !

I'm His sheep and know His voice !

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Circular Brick Stitch Earrings

I really enjoyed making these circular brick stitch earrings onto a shell ring. They work up fast, are lightweight to wear, and the colorway possibilities are endless. These are a very nice twist on the classic hoop.

Fifth Entry Art Journal 2011

This is my fifth entry of my art journal. It was a snowy day and I doodled this all cozied up in bed with colored pencils. I enjoyed the simplicity of that medium.

Fourth Entry Art Journal 2011

Mercy and Truth. Plain and simple. More, LORD !

Third Entry Art Journal 2011

I had fun making this background by dribbling paint on the page and dragging it around with a plastic card.

I used a gesso foundation, acrylic paints and markers. The colors remind me of a sunrise. 

The scriptures in Proverbs, with reference to the heart, are so rich !

Second Entry of Art Journal 2011

 

I like the colors in this page, the coolness of the background contrasted with the warmness in the heart.