New Blog on my Website

I can't believe that it's been a year since I've updated this blog. But I've started a new blog that is on my website for Gentle Spirit Creations.
Please go there to stay up to date!

During the past year, I have been so blessed. I am so glad that God continually bestows His grace on me. So, I made this pendant. I need the constant reminder that God will give me the grace that I need for each moment of each day. And that's all I need.

I hope to see you over at the website with the new blog! God bless!

Janine

Who Are You Listening To?

My husband and I went to Longwood Gardens last weekend. It was so beautiful!! The tulips were amazing. And planted in such gorgeous ways. Large patches of similar colors and varieties together. Almost like a patchwork quilt in some places.

And then there was this one red tulip in the field of fuchsia ones. I wondered how in the world that ever happened. Everything at Longwood is done with such precision....perfection. Did it happen by accident? Or did they intend to make us smile? Or maybe one rogue Longwood employee enjoyed a joke?

No matter how it got there, it did bring a smile to my face and we enjoyed the proud way that the red tulip swayed in the wind above the others. But it made me think. Often I feel like that lone tulip. Like I never quite measure up. That I'm not good enough. Or that I'll never make the team.

But why do I feel that way?! God is so gentle and kind. He keeps working in my soul....drawing me closer to Him. He loves me....more than I can ever grasp....so much that He gave His all on the cross for me. He has made me whole, complete and clean. Because of Jesus, I have been reconciled to Him. So, God is not the one that is making me feel that way.

So, is it people? When I think of those around me, they are so kind and loving. I have been blessed with a family that loves me and encourages me. My friends are the best. Yes, I have been hurt by others, but all in all, I have been blessed. Those around me seem to build me up.

Is it society? I don't fit in in many ways with society. I really am like that red tulip. But do I care what society thinks of me? Not really. :)

So, who am I listening to when I feel like I don't measure up...like I am a failure...like I'll never be good enough? It is that lying serpent. He's been doing this since the Garden of Eden. And I still fall for it! Satan, the accuser of our souls, is active in our minds. He loves to make me insecure and depressed. He loves to see me squirm. He knows that I am God's child...His beloved Princess. And yet Satan can make me live in defeat if I listen to his messages.

I suppose most of you fuchsia tulips out there learned this lesson long ago. But this tall, red tulip feels lighter and blessed today! I don't have to listen to those thoughts anymore. God has made me His own and He loves me!

So, who are you listening to today?

Raven Beauty

My creative juices are beginning to flow again! For awhile there, I just didn't feel like making anything. Maybe it was just the gloomy weather. But this past weekend, I just felt like making another bracelet.

This one was little tough on my hands. I need to get stronger muscles! And maybe yet another set of hefty jewelers piers. The wire of the bracelet is thick and difficult to work with. But I made it subject to my will. Lol. After shaping it, I hammered it to bring out it's beauty.

The swirls were fun to make too. I started out making ones like I usually do and then went a little crazy. It reminds me of the swirling waves of the ocean.

Then the beads. I knew I wanted to make it black and clear so that it would go with a lot of outfits. It is always exciting at this point because I just start wiring beads on. I'm never sure how exactly it will turn out until I'm done.

Now I'm thinking about a matching necklace and earrings. What do you think?


Item # 1277 $119

If you are interested in this item, please email me at janine@gentlespiritcreations.com. Credit cards are accepted

Add a caption

Raven Beauty Cuff Bracelet This was a fun one to make! I started with heavy sterling wire and formed the frame of the bracelet. Then I used finer sterling wire to attach the beads and coils. The beads are black onyx, Swarovski crystals and pearls. Very sparkly! This bracelet will fit a small to medium wrist. I have added a safety chain to ensure that it won't come off accidentally. A one-of-a-kind piece. Includes exclusive, sterling, handstamped Gentle Spirit Creations tag. Item # 1277 $119 If you are interested in this item, please email me at janine@gentlespiritcreations.com. Credit cards accepted

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More info is also here.

Just Keeping Warm

This sweet female cardinal sat on a branch in wind with gusts of 11 mph in 15 degree weather. It's hard for me to believe that she could keep warm! But she sat there calmly, surveying the scene about her.

Why can't I be calm like that when the fierce winds of life assail me? Why do I get worried or depressed when things look bad?

Maybe it's because I doubt. I forget the Lord's provision.

Matthew 6:26
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

I put my trust in the wrong place.

Isaiah 26:3
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

I can't believe that things looked great to that cardinal. How could it? The ground is frozen. Plants aren't yielding any seeds or fruit. Those little feet had to be freezing. And yet, maybe things looked great!? God was caring for her. She just had eaten some seed from our feeder and there was more there. And for that moment, she was even safe from enemies.

And I think that's the key. For that moment....

God is teaching me so much through this hobby of photography. I'm taking a closer look at what He has created. He DOES pay attention to the details of the lives He has created. And we created beings can trust Him. He will give us what we need for each moment.

So, in this cold winter day, I'll snuggle up in something warm and bask in the light of God's love and grace.

Salvation for All who Believe

I started making these Salvation Bracelets after a short-term mission trip to Brazil. While there I made Salvation Bracelets with the Brazilian children using leather straps and plastic beads. They loved them! And they loved hearing about Jesus' great love for them.

After returning home, I kept wearing my bracelet as a memento of the trip. But I decided to find out if it was possible to make a pretty Salvation bracelet. This is what I came up with. It is Sterling Silver and Swarovski crystals. (Available in small, medium or large for $63) It is a Salvation Bracelet that I can wear and feel pretty at the same time.

It serves as a reminder of God's great love for us. Each crystal color stands for a part of the Salvation message:

Black: sin. Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Red: Jesus’ blood. Rom 5:8&9 “…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Clear: clean. 1 Cor 6:11 “…you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ…”

Blue: baptism. Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Green: growth. 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.”

Yellow: heaven. Rev 21:21 “…The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.”

If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, pray and ask for His forgiveness. He loves you and gives Salvation to all who believe in Him.

Anya Handbag

I haven't sewn anything for 7 months. But I needed something to do that would take my mind off of waiting for my first grandchild to be born! So, I decided to make another handbag.

This is a pattern that I have wanted to make for months. I love the design. The pattern is called "Sandra Sue's Purse-O-Nality" by Palm Harbor Patterns. I bought some cotton fabric that is coffee themed. The fabric is really fun, and I'll have to use it in a purse soon.

But I really wanted to make a handbag out of the cheetah print microsuede again. The first one I made was too small for me and found a new home.

Here is the new Cheetah bag. The microsuede seemed a little easier for me to use this time since I had sewn with it before. This was the first time that I have used a satiny fabric for the lining. I love it. The whole bag has a gleem to it, and it also feels so soft!

I've named it the "Anya Handbag" after my granddaughter that is yet to be born.

Ok, Anya, now that I've finished the handbag, you'd better come soon. If you don't, I may have to begin another project!

Maryland Autumn

What a fabulous show we had this Autumn. I so enjoyed the colorful leaves, especially since I had a goal of capturing them with my camera.

It is sad to see the leaves on the ground now. But I have so much to look forward to! My first grandchild is due at any moment. In fact, the due date is today! I can't wait to meet that sweet, little one and to hold her.

And Christmas is right around the corner! What a joy to know Jesus and to be able to worship Him. I will love celebrating His arrival.

So, even though the leaves are just about gone, there is much anticipation in my soul!

Dream Big

I dream about things I want to do. Then I think, no, I should just be content. But I think it's good to dream, as long as you are also content. lol.

So, I made this pendant from fine silver. To me it says, "It's okay to dream. Go ahead and dream big. And while you are at it, go for it. Maybe you'll actually see those dreams fulfilled."

That's how I feel about being a jewelry artist. I always dreamed about being able to sell my work and see others enjoying it, and it has become a reality! I'm so grateful to those around me that allowed me to dream and go for it.

The beautiful, lustrous pearl just adds beauty to an already lovely thought. Enjoy dreaming!

If you are interested in this item, please email me at janine@gentlespiritcreations.com. You can also see more of my work on Facebook.

Photography

Wow! It's been a long time since I updated my blog. Sorry!

I've taken up a new/old hobby. It's new because I've renewed my interest in it. I've loved photography ever since I was a child. My parents bought me a really little camera as a girl and then a Nikon EM as a teenager. Oh, I had fun with that Nikon. I even took a Black and White photography course in college. Got an "A" in the class too!! lol

But then life got busy with marriage and kids. And most of my photos were of the babies!! Developing the film was expensive.

Then came digital cameras. I hated the first ones! The photos from them looked awful!! But they have sure improved. I could only afford the point and shoot versions and I enjoyed them.

But, this summer I was able to get a Nikon D90. What an amazing camera!!!! My interest in photography has been renewed with a passion. And there is no expense of film development.

Mostly, I seem to be drawn to nature photography. I'm learning so much about God's creativity and his attention to detail. He is amazing!!

If you would like to see more of my photos, check out my Flickr page. I'll try to do better keeping up the blog too!

Solar Quartz

When I saw these big, round beads at the gem show, I just knew that I had to buy them. And then I looked at the tag and saw the name. They are called Solar Quartz! Isn't it gorgeous?! My husband, Matt, is an amateur astronomer. He often has me look through the telescope at deep sky objects that he has found. And this stone DOES remind me of several of them. Here's a photo that I found online that looks like these stones. You can find it here.

Then the challenge was to make this stone into a pendant and necklace. These crackle quartz beads look great with it! And I added some white jade and sterling silver beads. But it still needed something to bring out the color in the nucleus of the pendant. I tried several stones, but they just didn't work. Finally I thought of trying some of the pearls that I have on hand. They are absolutely perfect!

This made into a lovely necklace. The stone pendant is so intriguing. Really a great piece. Of course, I made a bracelet and earrings to match.

Show-stopper Earrings

Black Shell, Swarovski Crystal and Pearl, and Sterling Silver Earrings.

These lovely earrings are a real show stopper! The black shell oval beads really reflect the light as do the crystals. I made these from Sterling Silver wire that I shaped and hammered. Then I used extra fine Sterling wire to wrap each bead to the frame. Lots of work, but so worth the results! A real touch of class. One-of-a-kind. Item # 1230. $95


Swarovski Crystal, Pearl and Sterling Silver Earrings
Item # 1229 $38

Daylily Pendants

I have a dear friend, Chris, who loves daylilies! It is such a joy to watch her speak of them. Her eyes sparkle and she gets so animated. And her daylilies are beautiful! Last year I enjoyed strolling through her garden and admiring the precious flowers that God created and she tended. I decided to capture daylilies in a pendant. But I couldn't do it in one. I made two, but even so, I think this is a concept that I could explore for a very long time! Such beauty in those flowers!

She described her daylilies like this, "Adam Eaton is a creamy white that sparkles with 'diamond dust' when the sun hits it. And Derrick Carr is a purple so rich and deep it is almost black." The pendant shapes signify a petal from a daylily.

In the first pendant, which I named Daylily Delight, I chose to use gold-filled wire swirls and the sparkly gold-filled bead to represent the diamond dust. There are some daylilies that have lovely creamy petals that become purple and then yellow inside called Doodle Bug. I included a black pearl bead to represent the dark ends of the stamens and a green crystal for the leaves of the plants. The Sterling has a beautiful patina that makes this pendant look like an antique treasure. The gold-filled wire is bright and sparkly. Amethyst, Pearl, Swarovski crytals and pearls, Gold-filled beads and wire, and Sterling Silver wire and bail. 52mm long. Item # 1219 $105

The second pendant, Divine Daylily, was inspired by another of my friend's daylilies called Derrick Carr. This divine pendant features deep garnets and onyx. Crystals too, so it is very sparkly. This is a dense 3-dimensional pendant that looks very rich. Garnets, Onyx, Pearls, Swarovski crystals and pearls, Sterling Silver. 45mm long. Item # 1218 $98

These are photos of Chris' daylilies. Aren't they gorgeous? I can't wait to see them this year. And, of course, I really love to see her too!!

Thanks, Chris, for the inspiration!

Family Bracelet

What a lovely way to celebrate a family. This bracelet features large (8mm) Swarovski crystals for each family member's birth month. Gorgeous Sterling silver beads and 14K Gold-filled beads make up the rest of the bracelet. The toggle is a heart to show the love you feel for the family. Complete with a "Family" charm and a hand stamped Gentle Spirit Creations tag.

These bracelets make great gifts for those special women in our lives. But it's also a wonderful way to celebrate our own families. I love wearing mine. I included crystals to represent Matt and me, as well as our boys, in my bracelet.

This design shows 5 birthstone crystals. Designs will vary for each family. Will need wrist measurement. Please allow 4 weeks for special orders. Item # 1189 $125

My Ode to Spring

I'm so thrilled that Spring is here! Today we went for a walk and enjoyed sunny, warm weather. I saw signs of Spring.....crocuses, daffodils, trees budding and little flowers in the grass.

I made the above pendant and named it, Flower Song. The amethyst reminds me of the crocuses and the rose quartz, crystals and pearls make me think of tulips. Oh, I love the tulips!

I've enjoyed making pendants that incorporate wirework and stones. I plan ahead what I'm doing, but as I make it, each piece takes on a life of it's own. This Flower Song Pendant, I didn't antique but left it bright silver. It's a bright, sunny Spring day.

But this blue set, is darker, like a rich evening. These pieces I didn't plan entirely in advance. I just went with it and saw where it would lead me. When I look at it, it just seems like it is joyous in wild abandon! I've named it Unbridled Joy. This set is mine. It signifies the joy that Jesus has put in my heart. And if I let Him reign supreme in my life...it's an Unbridled Joy!

I'm so grateful for Spring. And I love that God has put this creativity in my heart. I hope you enjoy it too.

Wild Safari Bag

I'm ready to go on a safari! Well, at least I have a stylish bag for it. I fell in love with this fabric. I used to keep a nature journal and this fabric looks like a journal from a safari. Can you imagine what it must be like to go on a safari and see these majestic animals in their natural habitat?

And I used to have a bag when I was a teen that was a basic canvas bag with a large giraffe printed on it. I loved and used that bag until it needed to be thrown away! So, I really enjoyed using the giraffe print fabric too. The lining fabric has lots of giraffes on it.

This is yet another different pattern. It has the drawstring effect as a design element, but the real closure method is a magnetic snap. I had to learn to install eyelets. Matt helped me figure it out. Took quite awhile to install all 24 of them, but it was worth the effect.

I was hoping to find a giraffe charm to embellish with, but couldn't find any. But isn't that a great elephant? I wanted to do more embellishments, maybe some Swarovski crystals, but they just didn't seem to go. Sometimes I just have to leave well enough alone.

So, what do you think, too wild?

Black and Shiny!

This is one set that is indispensable! It would go with almost everything. You'd reach for it to go with that little black dress, but also to go with a black tee shirt and jeans and so much more!

Onyx, Hematite and Sterling Silver. I hand wired the Onyx pendant. I hammered the wire and it sparkles. The Onyx is shiny and the Hematite sparkles! Very pretty.

Necklace is $95, Bracelet is $68, Earrings are $35.

Flying Jewels From Heaven

Here is my Spring bag. I decided to feature butterflies, which I think of as jewels from heaven...that fly! I found most of the vintage artwork on the Graphics Fairy blog. I made the collage in my publisher program. Then I printed it on the printable fabric an appliqued it. My sweet mother-in-law had given me some vintage buttons. They look great with it! Of course I had to add some sparkle with Swarovski crystals.

One the other side I used embroidery done by my new machine. It is an amazing thing to watch. And I am so pleased with the results.

I redesigned my tag to include a butterfly. And then I copied my niece, Tiffany's, idea of putting a surprise picture inside the bag. I love extra details and embellishment.

And this pattern is just the best! I love it. I think it is stylish and yet very functional. Many pockets. It's called the Brentwood Bag.

So.....today I bought jungle fabric! I'm in a quandary. I love this pattern, but feel like I should make a different one. Still deciding.

My New Machine

Well, I had another birthday. Can't believe how time is flying. And it seems that the older I get, the less I know!

Anyway, my sweet husband, Matt, blessed me with an amazing new sewing machine for this birthday. I've been using my mom's old Kenmore circa 1972. It worked great. But once my friend, Jennifer, showed me all the cool things that machines now do, I was hooked! One great feature is the automatic needle threader. My aging eyes were having difficulty with that, and now it is a breeze!

And this machine, Husqvarna Viking Platinum 955E, also does embroidery! I love to embellish things, so this feature will be so much fun.

Thanks, Matt! What a wonderful gift for me.

Merry Christmas!

I found a book of Vintage Christmas cards. These girls called out saying they wanted to be on the side of a handbag! I had heard of printable fabric, but had never tried it. It works great! It is actual fabric that works in an inkjet printer. Amazing! I had also never appliqued, but decided to try that too. Used fusible web and satin stitch with metallic thread. This project was a stretch for me with so many new techniques! But the sales lady at Patches (Mt Airy) was so helpful. I think her advice saved me from disaster in many instances. I still need to go and show her the finished product.

Look at the fabric that I used for the lining. It is absolutely gorgeous. What a sweet surprise when you open the bag! I made a label for inside the bag too. Just having fun!

Now I am really festive, every time I leave the house with my handbag. Such a wonderful time of year....remembering how much God loves us! So much that He left heaven to come as a baby to a poor couple. All so that He could show His infinite love by dying on the cross for us. What an absolutely amazing thought! Thank you, Jesus!

Speculaas Cookies

Lovely, lovely cookies! Thanksgiving weekend we went to a craft show and a man was selling these cookie molds. They came with a recipe for Springerle cookies, which I had never heard of. But I was fascinated and just had to try it.

Well, the recipe calls for oil of anise, which I can't find anywhere. So I ordered it online at a really cool site that has these molds. But in the meantime, I found another recipe that uses these molds and it's called Speculaas. I modified the recipe slightly. Used nutmeg instead of mace and orange peel instead of lemon.

Speculaas originated in Holland, which is where my ancestors are from. So, making these really seemed special. And then I read more about them online and found out that they are traditionally eaten during the Feast of Saint Nicholas, which, get this, is on December 6th! I actually made the cookies on the right day! That just made the whole experience even more fun. And we all really like the flavor too!