Good Day

Today has been such a nice day full of friendship, iced coffee, and a wave of creativity.
I met a friend for lunch who is having a hard season in life. We chatted and had a real good honest talk about our friendship and the struggles she is having at the moment. I can relate to her in that I feel like I am stepping out of a hard season and entering into a nicer one. Thank you Lord! Would we appreciate life if it weren''t for the hard, dry, bare times that add contrast to the happy, easy, fun times? Also, the hard seasons seem to mold us and shape us into better people if we allow it. Allowing us growth if we choose it. Just thinking...

After, I grabbed an iced coffee to-go from my favorite local coffee shop. I just adore this place-The Red Lark cafe and the owners (also my neighbors). It's a small little shop that resides in a 100 year old house. So cozy and they always play music from the 1940's. They also allow me to sell some of my stuff there which I really appreciate. I sipped on it while driving home and once I got home I had sort of an -I have no idea what to do with myself moment. I sat at my little silver-smithing work station and decided to work on an idea that rolled over an over in my head while laying in bed last night.-side note- Why is it that I ALWAYS have lots of ideas while I am trying to go to sleep, but don't want to wake my husband by turning on the light to write the ideas down. So, I try with all my might to remember a few and this was one of them.

I am still very new at silver-smithing and am not always sure if I can make an idea actually work. I know it's not a complicated ring at all, but I knew I wanted a 3-d sort of flower and it took some finagling to make it work how I pictured in my mind. I am really happy with how it turned out and I think it's my favorite thing that I have made so far. I think I might play around with some more 3-d type flowers in future stuff. Another side note- I want to turn every stone into a ring. Not a necklace or bracelet-just rings. I don't know why, but I love making rings.

New Jewelry

Here are a few new pieces that I have made in the past two weeks.
I decided to keep this ring for myself along with the necklace that follows. I am finding it hard to part with the silver items I make, but I suppose to keep feeding my habit it would be a good thing to let a few things go....

I am not quite sure what I am doing with these next pieces. I might do a give-a-way for the ring below.

This necklace will probably show up in my Etsy store eventually.

And then there is this little ring. I secretly call it the Jelly Bean ring. The two stones remind me of little jelly beans and the polk-a-dots are just fun.

Just a Few Things

It's been such a long while since I last made a post and I have so many random things that I would like to share. Can I fit them all into one post??? I may try.

* We spent about a week in Branson Missouri visiting family. It was a really fun time. Uncle Chris and aunt Lindsey(that's me) took our nieces and nephew roller skating one day. None of them had ever been to a skating rink before! I hadn't been on skates since maybe 8th grade so I was a little nervous, but it all came back to me and it was a blast.
side note-One of my nieces said to my other niece," I know uncle Chris is the cool uncle, but who is your favorite uncle?"   hahahaha......I love it!

* I have made a few new jewelry pieces from silver. 3 rings and 2 necklaces. I will probably show you those in the next post. I also recently went to a Bead and Jewelry show in Nashville which was supposed to have ALL KINDS of things. I knew it was at the fair grounds and I thought it would be huge. I coaxed my husband into going with me and when we got there it was only one rooms worth of beads. There were only 2 people selling cabochons(which is what I came for) and even they hardly had any to choose from. It was only a dollar to get in and I did buy 3 cabochons so I guess it wasn't a total loss.

* I have been thinking about starting another blog totally unrelated to crafts or jewelry making or any of that type of thing. Here is the thing-and I think this is why I haven't posted lately. I am a Christian and there is a whole other side of me that doesn't really get seen on this blog. Actually, I really don't share many personal things on here at all because for some reason I don't feel free to. It's like I have already established this blog, this place, as a place where I show new work and throw in a recipe every once in awhile. Where I keep things light. That is all fine and dandy, but lately there has been a lot going on in me spiritually. A huge stirring of the heart-maybe you know what I mean. I just sort of feel compelled to write out some of those thoughts and this just isn't that place. So, if you might be interested in joining me on another blog I will give you the web address as soon as I start it. I will keep posting on this one though because frankly I am OBSESSED with making things and love to share with you. Did I mention to you that I want to try and learn quilting...oh boy.

* I have been reading a lot lately. I never really grew up reading for fun. It felt like a chore. My husband has always been a reader and it has finally rubbed off on me. I love to read! The funny thing is that lately I have somehow found myself really interested in novels about Amish people. I didn't know they even existed because I really didn't think an Amish love story would make for a good read, but I am wrong. It's been interesting too to learn more about their beliefs and culture through these books. I just finished Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long. I think years ago if someone recommended something like this to me I would have made a point to NOT read it. This book really has a great love story and a great message about what it means to really love someone.

Alright-I think this is long enough, wouldn't you say? Have a wonderful Tuesday!

PS. I bought new sandals yesterday. I feel like a post needs a picture so here is this ones. Ha ha....don't mind my crooked toes. Feet are so weird aren't they?!?

Mother's Day Gift

Many months ago I was out shopping at a flea market with my mom and we came across a woman who was selling cabochons. My mom really liked the stone above and she bought it for me to make into a piece of jewelry for her.
 I thought it would be fun to make her something special for Mother's Day and this is what I came up with.

PS. My mom is awesome by the way. I am beyond blessed to have her as my mom!

Chop Chop

I can't tell you how many times I have tried to grow a pixie haircut out. I always get to about chin length and then cut it back off. I hate hair blowing in my face, getting into my mouth when I eat, and poking me in the eyes as I walk. Problem solved. It can no longer reach most of my face and it pretty much stays put thanks to some pomade and hairspray.
I will never be a long haired kind of girl I guess. sigh...

Stones

I bought these stones recently! I can't wait to make something with them!

Nature

 I did not alter the colors on the photo above. They really are that green and that orange. My husband brought them home for me for our 8th year wedding anniversary. Oh ya-along with dinner and my favorite dessert and a sweet card. Guess who is the worst wife in the whole world? You guessed it -me! I TOTALLY forgot it was our anniversary. Can you believe that?!? I am not sure where my head has been. I don't know why, but I often don't even know what month we are in or what day it is. So, it just wasn't on my radar. I suck! Sorry husband-if you even read my blog-which I don't think you do. So sorry!

 On to other things:
I love this time of year because I always find nests in all my trees( like the photo above. Do you see how the mommy bird has her wing tucked over the baby bird? Too sweet!) and this year even in my door wreath.

Every time I would open my door a bird would be flying away. One day my screen door was mostly shut and the poor thing couldn't get out before I opened the door and I totally freaked out. I just couldn't figure what the deal was. Then I found this! It totally blends in with the wreath from the front because the wreath is basically made out of sticks. Such a clever bird!