Honing In On Other Skills

This week I have been focusing on honing in on my sewing skills. I am not the perfect sewer yet, but I am looking forward to being able to sew some things that I have been wanting to wear.

So today's creation is a jean skirt that I made out of an old pair of jeans. Ha! I guess I am still in the same vain...finding something old, and making it new! But really, I was excited about this one. I have been wanting to do this for quite some time.

The pair of jeans I purchased a long time ago...let's say 7 years ago. I had to either throw them away or finds something to do with them as they were starting to get holes. And you all know me, I am always looking for ways to make old things fabulous again!

As you can see, they are sort of utility like (they have the carpenter look at the bottom, and in the back), but that is what gives them such great character! I decided to leave the buttons on at the bottom to allow the skirt to remain super long, and to keep the flare. I opened up the seams in the middle, closed the front, and stitched it back together. I needed to do a little bit of hand stitching at the bottom to avoid from breaking or changing the needle on my machine.

I picked out fabric that I absolutely love. I got the fabric a while ago, but didn't know what to use it for. I didn't notice that the pattern was a leaf motif at first, but I like it anyway! I sewed the fabric on the back of the skirt to fill in the gap that was left from opening the seam, and then sewed the bottom to match up with the skirt, and VIOLA...we have a skirt!!!


Front of the skirt


Back panel with fabric. I used the same fabric for my journal!


Me, after rocking my skirt to a Christmas party with my church fam! I love you guys!

I have been super lazy about taking before pics of things, and I do apologize. I will do so for the next creation I will be making very shortly.

Have a great weekend! If it's snowing or hailing or anything of the sort where you are, please take your time and be careful!

I look forward to updating you on more creative adventures next week!

Pearls of Wisdom:
Honing in on different endeavours can expand your horizons for the passions of life! Wet your appetite for something different, and try something new!!!

Be Blessed!

Doing It Afraid!

Last night I had the privilege of speaking in front of my class members. I was shaking in my boots...afraid. These are all people that I admire for their various gifts, talents and strengths, and I was just sheer nervous.

A friend of mine told me not too long ago though, if it something that you know that you are supposed to do, just do it afraid! That was later confirmed by another friend, and I took it to mean that this is something that I must simply get used to...just doing it afraid!

Last night, I did it afraid, and praise the LORD, things went well!

I am starting to realize that it is only me that stands in the way of my success. I guess I fall into the category of those that are more afraid of success, than failure...although I have had my moments of being in limbo between the two.

So creatively, I was able to get another pair of earrings made. I made them late last week, but was unable to get them posted due to other obligations. The round gilded pewtered like bronze piece is from a bracelet, and the hanging chain from a necklace. Neither of the pieces were broken when I received them, but I wanted to add my little flair to them, as usual :)

The original bracelet

New pair of earrings! I'm into the chains people!

I also made a bracelet out of the same pieces. I have a few finishing touches to put on it, and then I will post.

Pearls of Wisdom:

If you are called to do it, DO IT AFRAID!!! A little nerves is not a bad thing. It shows the value of the MASTERS strength, and not your own!

Be blessed!

Definition Of A Friend

It's rare that you have friends that have the ability to tell you just how it is, whether that "is" is lovely or not so great. They care about your feelings and take measures to make sure that they express their care for you in a multitude of ways. They are honest and although the truth they state may hurt, they are looking out for your best interest...always.

I am truly blessed to have an arsenal of friends that have my back. They speak the truth in love and desire to see me flourish to what God desires.

Thank you all for being who you are! My prayer is that I give and sow into you as much as you give and sow into me.

Today's creation is two pairs of earrings. I decided to show them in the same entry since they are so similar. Both pairs derived from a broken necklace. With a little bit of handy work, I was able to salvage some of the pieces. These four pieces ended up being earrings. I don't normally go the bling bling route, but knew I couldn't allow these pretty pieces to go to waste.

I arranged the pieces differently to create two different pieces!

I do pray that you all enjoy, and continue to make this artistic journey with me. Thanks, and have a great evening. Until next time...

Pearls of Wisdom:

"Much of the vitality in a friendship lies in the honouring of differences, not simply in the enjoyment of similarities." ~Anonymous

Be blessed!

And The Winner Is...

Hey beautiful people!

I decided to video blog this entry. It has taken me some time, but I finally have gotten to choose the winner of a piece of jewelry for the quarter.

AND THE WINNER IS.....

PATSY

Patsy blogs about her artwork over at heARTwork (www.patsypat.blogspot.com)! She does some really good stuff while keeping the mindset of Christ! Congratulations Patsy! I will be sending you a follow up email.

So there you have it folks. I pray that you all have had a fabulous Thanksgiving, and I look forward to sharing some more creations this week!

Pearls of Wisdom:

Remember to give thanks for all things large and seemingly small daily. Your small may be someones large!

Be blessed!

Truth Is...

The truth is, there have been times where I wished I was someone other than who I am. Perhaps a queen on a remote island, a traveler of many lands who speaks a multitude of languages, a wife with a plethora of children, or even living the glamorous life, withholding none of my goodness unto men.

After brief daydreams, the simple truth is that I am who I was created to be. I am well equipped to reign on this throne that I have been given at this moment, moments to come, and decades more. And when my reign has come to an end, I will have left a legacy for my children to pass on. One that will accomplish even greater things that I have! And then, I will have lived the glamorous life, one that withheld no good thing!

So, I have decided to make another pair of earrings. I have to say, I enjoy making earrings the most. I like the challenge of making two things look exact, and the therapeutic comfort that comes along with repetition.

The square piece came from either a bracelet or a belt. I can't quite remember and to my dismay, I did not take photos of the original piece from the purchased broken lot of jewelry. I took it's original studs off, and replaced them with pearls. I re-strapped them on with wire, and hung chain from the necklace I used to make the earrings I posted about last.

I took off the studs and replaced them with pearls

The finished product!

There you have it! I pray you all have a great day filled with endless possibilities that only your creativity plugged into the Creative Source could bring!

Pearls of Wisdom:

You don't need to know where God is taking you. You just need to know what to do next, and then the next things after that. Enjoy each moment with Him, allowing Him to guide your every step! ~Someone other than myself, with my tweek :)

Be blessed!

Back In The Swing of Things

It's been a rough few weeks, but thank the Lord, I am back in the swing of things!

Today's creation I have been thinking about for a few weeks. Although I didn't sketch it out in my journal, I sketched it out plenty of times in my head. The execution was pretty effortless, and the finished product was what I hoped it would be.

The main oval shaped piece hails from a belt that was purchased from a broken lot of jewelry. The chain pieces came from a necklace that was in the lot of jewelry given to me by one of my mentors.

The original necklace

The finished product!

So there you have it folks! I look forward to keeping you all abreast of the creative things that are on the horizon!

Pearls of Wisdom:

"Art is beauty, the perpetual invention of detail, the choice of works, the exquisite care of execution." ~Theophile Gautier

Be blessed!

November Already?

Hola Compadres! It is hard to believe that we have passed the fall months and are now approaching old man winter. I wasn't particularly fond of last winter. I had to do much of the shoveling (by choice). Who in the world would have their 60 year old mother outside shoveling snow by herself. That would be oh so cruel.

Anywho, it's been more than a week since I have blogged last. Last week was extremely busy. I spent most of my time editing close to 200 pictures for my friends that are expecting twins. I was going to bed at approximately 3am and waking up at about 7am. Then, I danced at a baby shower on Saturday and sang until I could sing no more on Sunday.

Since the last time I blogged, I have had many great things take place. A mentor of mine gave me plenty of broken jewelry that I will be able to put in my arsenal of products. Thanks Sis. Naffessa! I may have gained a few customers as a result of my friends baby shower I attended. People were really pleased with their photos and inquired about having theirs taken.

So, that is what has been going on amongst a few other things!

Today's creation is a ring. This is actually something that I was sort of re-vamping. My mentor was in love with the ring and didn't want to give it away, but wasn't happy with it beginning to tarnish. I decided to burnish the edges where it was tarnishing to bring out the copper tone that was underneath the plated silver. It's now a copper accented ring.

The copper undertone makes the petal like structure pop!

I was glad to be able to make this ring new for it's owner. It just goes to show that sometimes you don't have to get rid of old things, but just have a mind to restore them to fit what you want them to be for you today!

Have a great evening! Until next time....

Pearls of Wisdom:

Let's make sure that we are looking at the treasure in what some call trash. Underneath it all, you might just find a gem!

Be blessed!