Flat Turkish Bead Crochet

I was recently intrigued and inspired by this post http://jewelsinfiber.blogspot.com/2012/12/turkish-flat-bead-crochet-bracelet.html on another favorite artist's website, so I decided to give her tutorial a try ! The results were quite satisfactory ! This is a fun project. I plan to use these as Valentine gifts this year.

Moody Blue Ombre Bracelet

I like to play around with color and I am always looking for freeform ways to use up extra, or small bits of beads that are leftover from other projects. This bracelet has a square stitch base with size 6 seed beads and them was embellished with lots of loops in size 11 seed beads. next time I will add some other things, like various crystals or odds and ends that fit my color scheme. I used a silver button and a peyote stitched loop for the clasp. 

Beautiful Bronze Bead Embroidered Stone Caobochon

This stone cabochon contains flecks of green, bronze and gold. I chose a khaki matte AB seed bead to set off all of those qualities and paired them u with root beer colored seed beads and another seed bead of which the name escapes me ! At any rate, the effect was successful, don't you think ?

Baroque in Blue Bead Embroidered Cabochon Necklace

This lovely Robin's Egg Blue cabochon needed a nest ! I chose matte 11 seed beads in lilacs green and blue and "Earth" delicas to surround it. I added a few jet AB 4mm beads and teardrops for some bling. The necklace is a spiral rope variation and I created a peyote stitched toggle and loop to finish it all off. 

Neither Do I Condemn You

This is the twelfth doodle in my journey. I confess, this one was done in church. 

I always doodle in church, as it helps me retain the message. 

These are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ to the woman caught in the sin of adultery. 

My primary medium is beads and fibers and I have created bead embroidery collars. 

As I look at this doodle, it reminds me of a collar that might grace the neck of a redeemed woman. 

I am such a one. 

A Cry To The Heavens

This is the eleventh prayer doodle in my journey. This is a picture of intercession that I did when I heard about the suffering of a friend of a friend. Who have we in heaven but the Lord? Who can we call on for help? Who is all powerful and sovereign? Who works all things for our good?

Psalm 73:25 & 26:

Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

This is the tenth "soodle" in my soaking prayer doodling journey. 

This speaks of the glory of the Creator being seen in the heavens. 

I wonder what the sky looked like the night that David penned Psalm 19. 

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God

And the skies the works of His hands

Blossom Like A Flower

This is the ninth soodle on my journey of soaking prayer doodling. When we belong to God, He promises to sustain, strengthen and bless us. The scritptures declare that the promises of Israel and Abraham belong to the heirs of Christ. I love this scripture from Hosea 14:5

I will be to the people of Israel
    like rain in a dry land.
They will blossom like flowers;
    they will be firmly rooted
    like the trees of Lebanon.

Like A Watered Garden

This is the eighth drawing in my soodling journey.This speaks to me of life, growth, dimension, abundance, growth and fluidity. 

Isaiah 58:11

"And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

Celebration Heart

This is the seventh "soodle" in my journey of soaking prayer and doodling. 

This speaks to me of a heart that is in celebration. The streamers speak of great joy and thanksgiving. 

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” ~ C. S. Lewis

I Lift Up My Hands

This is the sixth drawing in my "soodling" journey. This is a hand lifted in submission and praise. 

Psalm 28:2

Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

Be Like A Tree

This is the fifth drawing in my soaking prayer, doodling journey.This speaks to me of a promise in the Psalms 1:3

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Merry Hearts

This is the fourth "soodle in my prayer journey. This drawing speaks of having a merry heart !

Proverbs 17:22 says "A merry heart doeth good, like a medicine"

Happiness depends on happenstance. JOY comes from within. If Jesus Christ lives in you there is an unquenchable supply of joy available to you. 

No matter what your circumstance, you can know that God is with you. He is for you and not against you. We, who are in Christ, always have something to be merry about, and that is the promise that we have eternal, abundant life in Him. This knowledge, when applied and acted upon by faith, has the power to make us very merry, indeed !

Sunflowers

This is the third drawing in my "soodling" journey. I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to draw sunflowers. 

I have read that sunflowers always turn their faces to the sun. I believe that the Creator created all things to reflect as aspect of Himself as a message to us. Should we not, also, turn our faces toward Him, the only True Light that came into the world ? 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace. 

Psalm 91: 4 He Will Cover You With His Feathers

This is the second drawing in my "soodling" journey. Soodling = Soaking Prayer + Doodling

When the drawing begain I wondered if it was a wing and then it began looking more like a feather in a wing. Either way, it speaks to me of angelic protection, and the promise in Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

Doodling in Prayer

As an experiment, I have taken to picking up some pens to doodle during my prayer time. This drawing was the first of several, which I shall post. I usually put on some worship music and grab my pens and a tablet and start praying and drawing. When I did this drawing, the first in the experiment, I was praying about laying the foundation for a local creative community, where Christian artists could experience fellowship, training and collaboration on creative projects which will glorify God, our Creator. 

I had no preconceived idea of what my drawing would be, but as the images emerged it spoke to me of organic beginnings and people on the outside being drawn in. 

I think many artists feel irrelevant in the church today. They feel like a square peg in a round hole. Many church leaders do not know how to utilize creative people, with the possible exception of the role of the "worship leader."

I believe that God wants His artists and creative people fully integrated into His body. 

My prayer is that the ones on the outside will be encouraged to cross the barriers that have kept them at bay. 

Blues & Grays In Circular Brick Stitch

I can't get enough of blue and gray these days, and I really enjoy the simplicity and serenity of working this stitch. I was commissioned to do a similar necklace and earring set for a friend. When I was finished with it, I wanted to do another. Here it is ! The shell ring centers are iridescent and compliment the matte gray seed beads and the blue. The color blue is associated with the heavens, and when I think of gray I think of doves. These are lovely things to contemplate, don't you think ?

Home Is Where Your Heart Is ~ Winston-Salem Memories

Today, Dad and I drove around in the town where I grew up, and I thought it would be fun to snap some photos of the places we lived, my high school and the place where my faith journey began. 
This is the apartment where we lived when we first moved to Winston-Salem, when I was a baby. It is at College Village. 

This is the house where we moved next. I was about two years old. 
It is on Lawndale Dr. 
I have a few memories of playing in the back yard with the neighborhood kids. Those were fun days. 

We moved into this house when I was around five. My younger brother was born while we lived here. My grandfather lived with us here for a short while. Dad finished the basement and made him a lovely apartment. I loved playing cards with "Pop." He always let me win. When I was seven years old, I was bitten by a copperhead as I played in a vacant lot up the street. My neighbor helped me get home and my mom took me to the hospital. I enjoyed living here and had lots of friends to play with. I remember playing hopscotch in the driveway. This house is on St. Claire Rd.

We moved to this house on Reynolds Drive when I was fifteen. I thought I had died and gone to heaven ! I had my OWN bathroom, and I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen with the green shag carpet.  There were yellow daisy cornice boards around my bedroom window and the groovy bathroom had  an avocado green toilet sink and even a matching tub. We had lots of wonderful memories in this house. I remember coming home from the hospital when my oldest son was born and my Mom took care of me for a week or so.  My other three kids spent lots of time here with their grandma, too. 

This is a photo of my high school, R J Reynolds. My dad also went to this high school. When I went there, it was not air conditioned. I didn't love high school, but I did love my drama class !

This is the R J Reynolds High School Auditorium, where I grew up attending "Gospel Sings" while my Dad ushered for them. 
Later, I went to high school here, and in my junior year I played Vera Claythorne in our high school play "Ten Little Indians" right here, on this stage. I was officially a drama queen. 

This is Reynolda Church, the place where I met Jesus Christ in 1983. That was the most important event of my life. Our three oldest children were born while we were members here. It is a beautiful place, in so many ways. 

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 !