Hymn of Promise

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. ~~ words & music by Natalie Sleeth, 1986 United Methodist Hymnal

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Show & Tell Friday and Jewelry Making

I'm so sorry! I was planning on joining Cindy at Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday! Honest, it was going to be the last post I did on my Etsy Shoppe! I truly wanted to show off my jewelry but when I went to link with her blog I discovered you weren't supposed to post things you were selling! As my children say.."MY BAD!" But I either have to delete this whole post or just not link with Cindy's. Maybe a few of my blogging friends won't mind me advertising again!
What I am showing and telling about today is my handmade jewelry! I have just recently started my own Etsy shop! I have to tell you it's sort of scary putting your creations out there for all to judge! Do they like my jewelry or do they hate it? Will they buy it? It really made me feel quite vulnerable! But please forgive me, I tend to be harder on myself than others and definitely bend toward the lower end of self-esteem!
My father died 4 years ago. My mother is still with us but is paralyzed on her left side because of a stroke she had when she was only 58. She is living in an independent living apartment facility and loves it! After my father passed I completely redid their apartment to make it comfortable and more feminine for mom. Dad was a garage sale junkie and had pretty much taken over the apartment! I painted and stenciled and cleaned out! My mother had so much jewelry! Mostly broken or she couldn't wear because she couldn't put it on by herself! I had seen jewelry making supplies in my favorite craft stores and thought "Hey, I'll just restring all these so she can pull them on over her head with one hand! The brooches would make beautiful pendants on these necklaces! And I was hooked! I have been selling my jewelry creations to friends and at church and at Curves where I work. I kept seeing everyone's Etsy shoppes on their blogs and the ladies at Curves encouraged me to put my jewelry on it! I initially called my jewelry "Butterfly Creations" because I was taking vintage jewelry and repurposing it into something else. When I started my blog that name was already taken so I went with "Hidden Promise" from my favorite hymn ..."in cocoons a hidden promise, butterflies will soon be free."




I have recently started making collages with different vintage pieces. This is my first collage necklace. It's made up of 3 vintage pins, (actually 4). The small flowers are from a pin I cut up to use the flowers on the antique brass stem findings I used. And then I added my signature butterfly charm! Every necklace or bracelet I make includes a butterfly, either a charm added or a butterfly is used in the piece itself.
The following piece is made with a vintage Sara Coventry brooch and earring set.







I did turn the earrings into pierced. They were originally clip ons. I do want you all to know that I do not use signed collectable pieces such as Weiss. I would never cut up any piece of vintage jewelry that would destroy its collectable value. If a piece is signed it's either Sara Coventry or vintage Avon. Now some of you might think that's destroying too but I hope my repurposing is turning a piece that was a bit dated into something beautiful someone would want to wear now! I like bling so a lot of my pieces look pretty "dressy" but I like to say that the same piece of my jewelry can be worn with jeans or a cocktail dress!

I made my first sale today!! Yippee!
















































Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Easter Table

I'm joining Susan @http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for Tablescape Thursday. She is the queen of tablescapes! In fact, there will be so many pretty tablescapes to look at be sure and go over there and check them all out!!
My Easter decorations and table today are mostly from one place...Hobby Lobby!
Don't you just love that place!

Okay, this isn't an official tablescape, but it is part of the Easter decorations that go with my tablescape! Isn't that bunny adorable! It looks like he's made with purple hydrangeas! I got him at the grocery store! They have such great floral departments now!
Here's my Easter table! I'm going to add some Easter cookies later to the teirs!
The butterfly and bird plates are from Hobby Lobby. The white plate/chargers are Southern Living Gallery. The blue butterfly stemware is from Big Lots last year and I need more! Did you notice the flower shape placemats? I got those at Kohl's with only one thing in mind!
TABLESCAPE THURSDAY!

Aren't these napkin rings adorable! Hobby Lobby!! Each one is doing something different!
The napkins I've used before! My dad got them and the tablecloth to match at a garage sale! I haven't used the tablecloth yet!
If you haven't had the chance please be sure and check out my new Etsy Shoppe! I'll be adding more jewelry and some purses I decorated and maybe even a few tassels! Thank You!











Sunday, March 28, 2010

Joining in on the fun at the Vintage Easter Blog Hop!

What a great meme! Be sure and go over to http://thepottingshed-anythinggoeshere.blogspot.com I love Easter with all the bunnies and the colors of easter are my favorite! But most of all I love Easter "Because He Lives I can Face Tomorrow!"

This is some of my Easter decorations around the kitchen!

















Thank you for visiting! And have a blessed Holy Week!








Saturday, March 27, 2010

My New Etsy Shoppe and Favorite Saturdays with Laurie


Well I finally did it! Some of you know I make jewelry. My friends have been telling me for months to put my jewelry on Etsy and I finally did. Just look over to your right! I was up till 2 am this morning!! I feel sort of vulnerable! My own personal creations out there for someone to either love or hate! I plan on adding more pieces but I thought I would start slow. I also have some purses I've decorated that I call "Wedding Purses" I want to add, especially with the season coming up! I made one for a friend's daughter-n-law when my friend's son was getting married. Bride's need a little purse too! She absolutely loved it and when her sister got married she used it too! I may even have some tassels!!! I know, blogland is full of tassels!! LOL! But I do enjoy making them and mine are a little different. I am also trying to get back into blogging again!! I've got an Easter tablescape I need to share! Love You All!!! Lauralu :)
I am also joining Laurie @ http://bargainhuntingwithlaurie.blogspot.com/ for her "My Favorite Things Saturday"! She has such a wonderful blog, almost as wonderful as herself! I love to create and I love jewelry, especially fashion and vintage jewelry so I'm shamelessly promoting my new Etsy Shoppe here! Okay, maybe I feel a little shamed but making my jewelry is one of my favorite things to do !

Monday, February 8, 2010

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Now I know to many of you out there this is nothing! But to us Memphians this only happens once or twice a year, if at all! And we had no warning! I got up this morning, as usual, to get everybody up for school and work. At first I thought it was really foggy outside, until I got closer to the window and saw it was snowing like crazy! I was quite flabbergasted! Usually, we'd have every weather man out in full force warning us of the bad weather coming at us and to be prepared and tell us how to drive and what to get at the grocery store! The kids wouldn't do homework because they knew for sure they wouldn't be going to school and then of course nothing would happen! Well, they sure missed this one! But it was so pretty! Now it's raining and supposed to sleet and maybe more snow!


View this morning from my front door!


Poor little frog!
Love her new hat!



The view from our breezeway!
And Molly loved it!

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Family issues have taken precedence. I'll be back, I promise! Meanwhile, I'll miss you all! I'm still trying once in a while to check out your blogs but I may not leave a message. My heart's just not up to it. Someone tell me! Why does it all go so wrong when they grow up?! What happens to our sweet little babies?? God is right there with us I know! "My Trust is in you, Lord! You are my God! I am always in your care!"