One world One Heart is here again!!!!

It is that time of the year again! One World One Heart is in full swing! Sadly, from what I am reading, it will be last year it takes place..perhaps it will go on in another way, another form..or held by another person??? Hint, hint..anyone out there interested? This is, I think, my third time participating in OWOH.
For those of you who are blog hopping thru this event, my name is Jenn. I love all things artistic and creative..which at the top of my list includes: photography, digital art, drawing, painting and jewelry design. Often I have a hard time deciding which I actually want to concentrate on...such a dilemma..(usually solved by going for a long run about town) I am very much looking forward to seeing what others are creating for this event and hope to visit everyone who visits here!
For my giveaway..I am posting a print that will be sent to whomever happens to be drawn out of my lucky top hat at the end of OWOH on February 17th. All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on this post.
Looking forward to visiting many, many others across the modern "airway" in the next few days!
Isn't it just amazing how our world is a bit wider through this one venue?
Here is the link to the main page for OWOH..if you would like to read more about it..
One World One Heart

Memories and Reacquaintance

I had to tell you about a sweet person who recently featured an interview with me on her blog.
Her name is Tammy. I have know Tammy for years upon years, and feel very old saying that! She used to ride the same school bus as I did, while in high school
A memory about Tammy. One year, my sister I and decided we wanted to take dance classes. Actually, I had always wanted to take dance classes, but finally got around to it in my early or mid-teens. One night we were either leaving or getting dropped off, at the dance studio..
when we saw this graceful figure glide across the floor and then effortlessly leap high into the air, twisting and turning all the while. That person was Tammy. I had never seen her dance before that. Even back then she had a grace beyond her years...and a very wonderful talent, to say the least.
I have not seen Tammy for years, probably since my last ride on the school bus..lol! But with social media sites, it seems I have reconnected in one way or another with many people..and that is how I came to be on Tammy's blog..through a sweet invitation across the net.
Oh..one more thing I will fess up to..I had, for a short time, the biggest crush on her older brother! He always sat in the first seat on the bus. I was the shyest person ever, and found it ever so painful to walk by him every morning!!! But alas..I lived to tell about ages and ages later!!
Here is the link to Tammy's post..and once again.. thank you Tammy for your way too flattering words!! (Thought I love them!)
3 Sisters Village

Russian coils and little girl's boots...

I recently became ambitious..lol! Well, sort of. I love the Belle Armoire publications, and usually have a few floating around. I had pulled out last winters issue and decided to actually make use of one of the lessons in there. True to self, I did not have the exact size wire or tools needed, so I improvised. I think, (now forgive me, because I have once again lost that ambition and am unable to find the issue this is from!) these swirlies are called Russian coils. I promise when I find the issue I will return with the proper names, date of issue, artist..ect!!!

As is true of most of Belle Armoire's featured designs..I want to make more and more of these!!! The coils are so sort of goth/feminine. I used a chandelier crystal as the focal piece, robin egg blue beads as secondary beads.

My friends around the corner have a little "bog" that they damned up last spring...mostly, well mainly..for what we call Mudder's Day. It truly lives up to it's name. But more on that this spring. Currently the bog is frozen. A few weeks ago we had a little cookout bogside, while the neighborhood kids went ice skating...and a few brave adults..I saw these little boots sitting on a log next to the fire. They just sort of said it all about the day. It was one to remember.

A lively romp

My dogs can play me like a fiddle...look at these faces.

Do they, or, do they not look absolutely depressed?
They are saying.."Mom...take us out for a run in the snow!"
I really didn't want to...
but

I did.

Tia decided to venture off the trail. I don't think she had any idea how deep the snow was going to be!

Yogi, on the other hand, has short stubby legs..and stayed true to the path..and true to his elusive nature with the camera..so no Yogi trail pics today.
I did have a few, but they were of his backside bootie..left them out.

In the end a good time was had by all.

Another little bird...

Gee..do you see a trend here!? Lil' bludbird s/p shakers for Christmas, bluebird necklaces...I guess I just like the color blue..and birds of course! I received my photo cube..or light tent..or whatever you choose to call it, in the mail a few days ago. Why did I wait so long to get one??
I LOVE it! Have been taking and retaking pics of my jewelry for my shop. I have yet to use the lights that came with my little set up..was too excited to take time to set them up..lol! Yes, call me a geek.
I don't know know about you ....but where I live, it is freezing out!!! Brrrhhh!!! It is late afternoon right now, work day done, dinner done..would love to cuddle up on the couch with my doggie and the remote, but plan on hitting the gym with hubby in while. I am amused by the number of people there lately..I guess there were lots of fitness related resolutions.
Not me,...I just try to take things day by day..and make things that I know I need to do, routine. It is a smaller task that way, and works for me...no broken resolutions!

This is a retake......happy with the contrast!
Until next time my friends...!

It really is winter!

It snowed!!! Finally! Winters around here have not been how they used to be, with snowbanks almost up to our housetops. It seems like we have had a weather bubble around our area of the state. Surrounding areas have gotten lots of snow, but not us..which is sort of odd considering our location!
Well, we have a bit now. Not a lot, about seven or ten inches, but still enough to turn the outside into a beautiful winter wonderland.

My dogs had a blast playing in it. There little path in the woods is unmanageable for them, but we played in the driveway. They are just as much fun as little kids, the way they chase snowballs.
So things will be gorgeous around here...until the snow turns dirty..which is always disappointing!
This also gave me a reason to use my new lens! Which I LOVE! It is a sigma 70mm-300mm. It is taking a little getting used to, as all I have used is my kit lens which is 18mm-55mm...I have to learn to stand way back! I threw..ok, placed, my camera in the car when I went to the gym. You never know, fresh snow all over the place..totally photo op heaven right!? So much easier to do, as another reader stated, "drive by shootings" when I am by myself. I tried doing a few around town when I was riding with hubby in his truck. He was afraid I would get arrested or something..lol!
So, as I was driving home from the gym, all disgusting and sweaty (but freezing at first!) I took lots of pics!!! Finally it looks like the season has changed..other than just dried, dead grass and trees, the fluffy white snow was a welcome change.

Warning: Servere Cabin Fever!

My get up and go has got up and went! Hubby is out of town, my mom, who was visiting recently is gone, and I have very, very few hours at work lately..the later leaving me slightly stressed. I am TRYING to find ways to remain motivated and upbeat during these slow, grey days!
So last night feeling myself losing that drive, I made myself sit down and finish a few necklace. I was pretty happy with what I ended up with, and am working on listing some of them in my shop.

I also pulled out a worn copy of "The Purpose Driven Life", by Rick Warren. I read it a few years ago and it really made me take a different approach to everyday life.
Last night I only got as far as reading the dedication..

It quotes this scripture:
"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ,..he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose his is working out in everything and everyone." Ephesians 1:11 (Msg)
It is a start for me. One of the reasons I pulled the book out was that my mom mentioned it in conversation. Just reading that first scripture brought a little light into my day, on a day when I felt like I was starting to lose sight of goals, starting to sink just a bit.
So to gain back some direction I will start with rereading this...goal one: Chapter one, tonight.

New in the shop!

Rose Heart Broken china necklace (so shabby!)

Hi all! I have had a very lazy, lazy day! Perhaps too much cold medicine last night..it is four in the afternoon and I feel like I am just getting some energy! Hate it when that happens...so much for the gym today! Luckily I am sitting here with the lovely smell of baked chicken wings making it's way into my studio. Hubby, unlike me, is full of ambition today, and is making homemade pizza and chicken wings..I am a lucky girl aren't I!
One thing I did manage to do today it take a few pics of this necklace and list it in my shop. I am trying to stock up on some new broken china pieces. I love the cabbage rose pattern in this piece! Just had to hop and show it off to you!

Well...of to follow my nose to the kitchen!!!

Grindley Broken China Necklace

SI have been trying to organize my studio (actually it is something I am always TRYING to do! Never quite done) While doing this I found some pieces of broken china I had set aside some time ago. I found a cup of old back stamps. Back stamps are the mark found on the back of china, depicting the manufacturer and something dates and other markings. I, myself, find them quite sweet.

This is the necklace I made from one of them. Yup...it is beat up and old looking...the more distressed
the better, I say!

It is now on a "shelf" in my shop.
Distressing Delilah's Shop of Shabby Accumulations.