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!

One-of-a-kind Pendant

So many stones so little time...... I have a weakness for pretty stones. It is so much fun to take a slab of stone and cut and polish until a gem appears. I'm never sure how a stone will turn out because as I cut it, the stone changes. In the picture below I am using my lapidary machine. As you can see, I hold the stone by hand onto the rotating laps. The laps start out very coarse and I continually change them to finer grits until there is a shiny polish.

I do enjoy having my hand in each part of the jewelry making process. I wasn't content to buy pendants and then incorporate them into necklaces. No... I had to learn lapidary and wirewrapping. Each process is quite time consuming, but there is such satisfaction in holding a completed necklace and knowing that I worked at each step!

The stone pictured above is Sage Amethyst. It has a bluish cast to it. It reminds me of a snowy winter day. It would look lovely with so many outfits. Very versatile. The pendant and heavy sterling chain is $109.00.

When you look at my jewelry, you can be sure that I have enjoyed each process and have done it to the best of my ability. It's a joy to share my creations with you!

Mom and Me

My wonderful mom just recently found this picture. Don't I look happy? I guess I've loved jewelry all my life! I'm laughing and my little hand is a blur as I reach for Mom's lovely necklace. I must say that I have come to my love of jewelry honestly. My mom has always been a classy dresser and she wears just the right jewelry for each outfit.

Now she wears jewelry that I have made for her. (I just hadn't made any yet in the first picture or I'm sure she would have been wearing it!) The second picture was taken at my son's wedding. Mom is lovingly wearing the jewelry that I made for her for the event. She has always been such an inspiration to me. She is my biggest fan and loves the jewelry I make.

But, she inspires me in so many ways. She loves Jesus with her whole heart and lives each moment for Him. She loves her family and makes sure that we know it. And on top of all that, she keeps herself healthy and beautiful! What more could I ask for in a mom? Nothing...she's the best!

Thanks, Mom, for being you. And thanks for letting me play with your necklace!