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!
















































46 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your first Etsy sale! Is it not absolutely gorgeous today!
    Have a great weekend!

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  2. Hi Lauralu,
    So glad you stopped by my blog today. Your jewerly is gorgeous! Good luck in your new Etsy store. Glad to know another Tennessean!

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  3. Yeah!!! I am so glad you are taking the step towards doing something you have dreamed of doing! You are very talented! I love your signature butterfly!

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  4. Your jewelry is gorgeous! Beautiful pieces and I love the Easter table you did on your previous post too! Thanks for visiting and good luck on the giveaway!

    Miss Bloomers

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  5. Your jewelry creations are stunning, LauraLu. I love the green one. Congrats on the first sale!...Christine

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  6. Hi sweet friend...

    I just read your sweet note and had to come right over! Was so good hearing from you, Darlin'! I did read the sweet note that you left on my post asking prayer for my grandson Seth...so sorry that I haven't gotten back to you before now! Taking that trip to Vegas has put me sooo far behind on everything...including my blogging! I sooo appreciate your prayers, dear friend...thank you!!! That just means so much to me!!! My little Seth is doing fine right now but his surgery wasn't successful. The surgeon was unable to get to the effected area of his little heart. She said that it's on the back side of the heart and underneath a blood vessel. We were all so disappointed!!! Now the Dr. is thinking about a second surgery but this one will be a "full blown" heart surgery...she would have to go through his heart to get to the effected area. It's sooo scary, Laura! They are monitoring Seth with a portible EKG right now. He will wear it for 21 days so that they can collect the needed data for the second surgery. Please continue to pray, my friend...I am trying so hard to trust the Lord for all of this and to not worry! My daughter Jenni (Seth's mama) is also having health problems. She has a condition which causes severe anemia and has to have blood transfusions once in awhile. They sooo need the Lord's healing touch!!!

    How are things going with you and your family, dear friend? I am still praying for you and your family, Sweetie!!! I was so happy to hear that things have gotten a bit better!!! Anyway, I do hope that my note finds you all well!!!

    Lauralu, your jewelry is absolutely stunning!!! Of course, I just had to go to your etsy store and see what all you had! Hehe! Girlfriend, I hate to admit it but I'm not much of a jewelry person...I know, sooo bad! I have lots of jewelry and hardly ever wear it! Actually I think the reason for this is because I was never able to wear any type of metal because of being allergic to it. I can now wear my gold wedding rings but thats about it. But your handcrafted pieces are gorgeous!!! I love, love, LOVE that collage necklace! Girl, you are so very creative and talented!!! I was so touched while reading your story of how you began this jewelry making journey...fixing your mother's necklaces so that she could wear them!!! I'm so sorry to hear about your mama's condition! I'm so happy that she is enjoying her apt. and I can only imagine what beauty you brought to it!!! My sweet friend, I wish you the very best in all of your endeavours...and I'm rejoicing right along with you over your first sale!!! Yeeeehawwww!!! Be encouraged, Sweetie...your jewelry really is stunning!!! And...I'm not just being nice and saying that...truly!!! I just think it's fabulous that you can take some of the older, vintage pieces and breathe new life into them with your creations!!! I just know that you'll do very well, Lauralu!!! Well Darlin'...I better close this long ol' book that I've written! Hehe! Sooo happy to hear from you today!!! Take care, dear friend...

    Love ya,
    Chari

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  7. Lauralu, I am just so in awe of your designs! They truly take my breath away! How long would you say it took to design and make a piece of jewelry?

    How have you been doing? I think I am finally getting out of the winter slump I had been in. There are such long winters here compared to where I am from. Sun is finally shining and I had 2 daffodils in bloom the other day- first flowers of spring! Went and checked on the bees and both hives are doing well!! I will go back out tomorrow and feed them to help them along as Spring is late in coming.

    bee blessed
    mary

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  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  9. This collage piece is gorgeous. I have bookmarked your etsy site and I hope you will be doing more pieces like this one.
    Congrats on your first sale.
    Pam

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  10. Lauralu, Are you just soooo busy making beautiful jewelry? I miss ya and hope you are okay. Your summer blog look is so cute! laurie

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  11. Laura, I am so sorry your mother is having so much trouble. I will say prayers for both of you. Hang in there, sweet friend. laurie

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  12. Laura, I thank you so much for your comments on my blog today. My, my ~~~ of course I had no idea what your mother (and YOU) are going through. It must be very difficult for you watching her with her struggles. She was so young to have a stroke. I will say a prayer that the therapy will indeed make her stronger. So nice hearing from you again.

    Donna

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  14. Laura I've been missing you and just wanted to stop by. I know you have been so busy with the care of your mother. I do pray that you are taking care of yourself also friend. I know how much it can take out of us as we desire to be all that we can for our loved ones.

    Saying a prayer for you today-

    mary

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  16. Laura just coming over to see if you have updated your blog- Would love to know how your are doing friend. Miss you loads!

    bee blessed
    mary

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  17. Laura- Haven't seen you in forever - haven't been around a whole lot in blogland my self.

    I do think of you often and wonder how your are doing. Are things letting up a bit with your mom and such?

    I do pray your Christmas brings the reality of Jesus even more deeply and dearly to your heart.

    Merry Christmas
    mary

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  19. Laura, I was so excited to find a comment from you on my blog. I miss you! Hope all is going well with you. It has been soooo hot! I'm worried about what we'll have in August! Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a note. I loved hearing from you. laurie

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  22. Oh Friend of course I remember you!! I went over to your blog and left you comments several times to try and catch up with you. How in the world are you doing? You have to tell all about what has been going on in your life since last-

    We have been so busy here- had a dinner for the hospice employees last night- Bill is the volunteer chaplain for the area. They are such a great bunch of people who work to help others- it was such a blessing to have them in our home.

    Will be going to AZ for Christmas to be with Bill's family. His parents are getting up in years both in mid 80's and feel we need to get down there before anything happens. Mom had cancer treatments the same year I had that snake bite and she has not been doing real well since.

    How are things going with your family. If I remember correctly you had a son whom you were worried about like me. We got to have both our boy home at the same time for a week in oct. God was so good in giving us a fantastic time with them. It had been 7 years since we had all been together.

    Well have already written a short book so better go for now! So good to hear from you!

    Bee Blessed!
    Mary

    Sent this as a reply to email i received and then saw thay it was a non- reply email addy- hope you get this-

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Hello and God Bless! Thank you for visiting "Hidden Promise"! It's wonderful to get comments from you all! I think they are a great way to show our love, care and support of each other! Have a wonderful day! Lauralu :)