Amber Lanyard

Amber glass beads lanyard that sold yesterday. What a wonderful feeling to make something, and someone likes it enough to buy it! What a great feeling...

Candle Warmer Update

I posted pictures of two candle warmers that I have, I forgot to mention that they came from The Oak Tree in Fredericksburg, sorry they don't have a website and I honesty can't remember how much I paid, I bought one and the other one was a gift.

Well, Futrose from http://www.uscandleco.com/ left a comment on my blog letting me know that they sell the jar candle warmers, the large and smaller ones, and of course candles too. Be sure to check them out. Thank you again Futrose for letting me know.

Peeping Tom?

This little guy was making a lot of noise outside my back door the other day, I don't think he was having the best of days, he kept seeing his reflection in the glass door and jumping into the door to scare off the his own reflection! Some days are just better than others!

New House?

Eric has been looking at houses for awhile on his computer, well a couple of weeks ago he shows me one that was really nice, and it also had this...

A detached three car garage ~ start packing I say to myself. Now this is a "Man Cave"! A workshop, plenty of room for the shed stuff, and power.

Okay, I have to admit I was pleased to find out that the truck fits inside the attached garage, with room to walk by. The construction on the house just stopped, the sheet rock is up with mud and tape, even in the basement, but no appliances, fixtures, heating and cooling units. This is right up Eric's alley; a project!

The kitchen seems odd, I cannot visually see or understand the layout, but all the rooms were large, the guest room has a private bathroom, the kids room would have the Jack and Jill bathroom, master bedroom suite was spacious, with his and her sinks, the toilet and shower were separate, plus a linen closet, his and hers walk-in closets. All the bedrooms were upstairs (we prefer the master on the first floor), but they did have a study/bedroom downstairs with a closet and next to the downstairs full bath. The laundry room was spacious and even had a window. Gene picked out one of the rooms in the basement for our school room!

Okay, I'm getting excited too, until yesterday when Eric went to the court house to get more information on the house, there were many liens on the house, it was unclear if the taxes had been paid, can you hear the cha chings! Well, that window was closed, but it was fun dreaming while it lasted.

Four bedroom, eat in kitchen, living, dining, family room, study, five full bathrooms, spacious foyer, two car garage, three car detached garage, deck, on one acre lot. Very, very nice.

Old Glory

A few months ago, Eric requested a flag of the United States of America be flown over the United States Capitol on July 26, 2008 in honor of his parents on their 50th wedding anniversary. The flag arrived a couple of weeks ago, with a certificate signed by the Acting Architect of the Capitol - very official.

I still need to get a flag box and frame for the certificate before we give it to his parents, but this is a special one of a kind gift!

Salvation Bracelet

Here is the Salvation Bracelet that I made this weekend.

Black = My Sin
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

Red = The Blood of Jesus
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

Clear = Forgiveness
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

Blue = Baptism
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4 (NKJV)

Green: Growing Daily
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

Gold = Promise of Eternal Life
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)

More Weekend Projects

I was commissioned to make this sorority bracelet for a friend, it has Siam Swarovski round and bicone crystals, sterling silver smooth and fluted round beads, sterling silver Greek letter beads for Delta Sigma Theta, with a heart toggle clasp.

Here is the green glass beads lanyard I made with a beautiful pineapple pewter lanyard ring...

Pretty pink lanyard...

This is the "can wear with everything" clear glass beads lanyard that I was working on, I finished this one Thursday evening for a co-worker of Eric's.

Weekend Projects

I had a productive weekend of jewelry making. My Mom's senior citizen group is having a craft sale in a couple of months, and I plan to send some jewelry down for her to sale. She is making a quilt, hopefully she will take a picture of it when it is complete. Here are some pictures of the bracelets I made...


Amethyst chip stretch bracelet


The gemstone was not listed on the stand of chips, but I think it is a light green agate. Eric said this was his favorite one - hard to believe my blue man liked the green!!

Citrine stretch bracelet

Green gemstone with amber glass beads

The Birds

Yesterday, there was a swarm of Brown-headed Cowbirds at the feeders. A Blue Jay was trying his best to get a little breakfast, but soon grew tired of all the chatter, the crowd and quickly flew away – I can’t blame him!






Eric took the trays off the feeders so that the smaller birds can use the feeders, the larger birds can forage on ground, and the squirrels don’t just sit in the tray and eat all the seed. Well, the larger birds have quickly found out how to work around the problem!

Candle Warmer

Do you like burning candles, but don't like seeing your money go up in the smoke? I've been using a canister candle warmer for a couple of years now, and really like them. Mine are for the large jars, but I would like to have a smaller one for my bathroom.

You just place the candle jar in the canister and plug it in - mine does have a on/off switch but I unplug it when I'm not using it. With the warmer you can use the candle over and over or until you get tired of the scent! I've not bought any new candles since I started using the warmers.

This one was a gift from my friend Trish, she always gives the nicest of gifts...


This one I bought for myself...

All My Favorite Things!

Oh boy! I received a new catalog today, I'm thinking my blessing for cleaning off my desk today. I didn't order or request this catalog, but there it was in my mailbox, with my name on it. It's The Country House, they designed the cover with me in mind, because it has a rooster, a star and a miniature pie safe! The pie safe reminds me of my Grandma's, only hers was green with a screen instead of the tin. The cover looks very nice with my place mats too, don't you think!



The catalog has loads and loads of things I like, they even have a nice selection of wooden signs, two that stood out to me read:

"God doesn't give us what we can handle;
God helps us handle what we are given."

and

"Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God, will come to know God because they know you..."

I think I have a new favorite catalog! If you have time check out the website, let me know what you think!

We Are Done!

We were suppose to finish out our current school year on Friday, but we or rather I got side-tracked and ended up going to pick up some school supplies for the upcoming year. So today the kiddos took their Unit 4 Evaluation for Tapestry of Grace. Nicole has some math lessons to finish and complete her lapbook for Unit 4, but Gene is all done with his work. I'm thankful that we made it though another year!

I'm trying to get started on planning for the new school year, I already have some material, and Friday I was able to get a couple more items to add to my bounty. I need to sit down and make a list of what needs to be purchased or borrowed from the library. Today I received an e-mail from the good folks at Knowledge Quest about scheduling, my interest was peaked when I saw Scheduling the Easy Way! 5 Step Plan.

The e-mail went on to include 5 Essential Ingredients to Homeschooling Success, I surely want and need all the help I can get, so I read this blog entry from Terri Johnson. Don't you love how the Lord will just place things right in front of you, so you can't miss them and you say, "Boy did I need to read/hear that today!" It helps to have these reminders, they give me an extra boost and motivate me to just dive in and start making some sort of progress. Be sure to take a look at both articles, neither are long, they may help you get a jump start to planning for the upcoming school year.


Here is Nicole my rising 5th grader working on her Math today.




And Gene, my rising 7th grader working on his final spelling for this school year.

The birds have been camera shy for the last few days, so I haven't been able to get any good shots. The other day I was watching a male cardinal give food to a chick - are they called chicks when they are almost the same size as the adult? Anyway the little chick would shake her feathers, it really looked like she was trembling, and the male cardinal would give her some bird seed, they were so adorable, the pictures didn't turn out that great, but you can get the idea.

Here is a male cardinal that I saw today.

Cardinal, male

Make Today, Wear Today!

My dear hubby blessed me by cooking breakfast Sunday morning! We had cinnamon pancakes and sausages - yummy. You know food prepared by someone other than you always taste better, but he really did a wonderful job!

Since I had some extra time Sunday morning, and had on a new shirt, I thought I would make a new bracelet. The bracelet has Czech beads, Swarovski pearls and crystals, and is cute as a button.

Click picture to enlarge

I'm working on a new lanyard... this goes with everything.

Click picture to enlarge

Psalm 23 Bracelet

This bracelet is a reminder that I must follow the Lord; not the other way around. He is dependable, faithful and love me even when I didn't love Him. I think this will be my favorite bracket, because it is my visual aid to be faithful to my Shepherd, plus it is fabulous too!

I was finally able to use the sterling silver lantern bead, I tried to use them in the bracelet for Carla, but I just could not sting them correctly, the wire kept going through every opening except the end! They work perfectly this time.

click the image to enlarge

A Psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd;(white) I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; (green)
He leads me beside the still waters (blue). He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness (clear) for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (black)
I will fear no evil; for You are with me; (pearl)
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (brown)

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; (brown)
You anoint my head with oil; (yellow) my cup (purple) runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy (pink) shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD (gold) forever.

Psalm 23:1-6 (NKJV)

Bracelet of Many Colors

This is a belated birthday gift for my friend Ms. Magdalene, I asked her what was her favorite color, she told me that she didn't have a favorite - she like them all. So here is the "Bracelet of Many Colors", it is a rainbow of assorted gemstone chips, black rondelle saucer beads and clear crystal bicone for added sparkle. This bracelet will go with everything!

click image to enlarge

I am Loved!

Friends are flowers in the garden of life!

I received a gift from my friend Trish in the mail Tuesday! It's not even my birthday - she sent me the gift because she loves me and thought of me when she saw the set. Do I have a terrific friend or what!

The journal has "Enjoy Life!" on the front, there is a 2 year planner, a pack of recipe cards, a magnetic list pad, and a pack of note cards. I love everything, even the green tissue paper! Thank you so my dear friend, I love you bunches!

This is what is on the top of the list pad:

A little more laughter

A little less worry

A little more kindness

A little less hurry

New Lanyards

I have been busy as a bee making lanyards! Eric was going to use this on as a display piece for his office, but it was snapped up and purchased by Mrs. Hill, who also wants me to make a sorority bracelet for her! Click the pictures to make them larger if needed.

Eric also said two other ladies wanted lanyards one in blue, the other in black, you know I'm overjoyed with this news. I thought he said that they didn't want the focal beads like I used in Cathy's lanyard, but wanted one "just like" Mrs. Hill's. Not. What's done is done, so from now one I will make them fancy with the focal beads! Here is the blue lanyard.


The black lanyard.

Here is the display lanyards, I will have to do a fancy one with larger focal beads for display as well! LOL

Green Teardrop

Check out my latest bracelet, it has Peridot glass tear drop beads with round green and brown Czech glass beads. For those that don't know, green is my favorite color, so this one is a huge hit in my book. I was going to use red round beads instead of the green and brown ones, but thought it looked to much like a Christmas wreath. I will save that theme for later.

Looking Back

I've been playing traveling down memory lane this morning and created this slide show of Gene and Nicole. I really need to go through our old, old photos those ones before the digital camera and scan those, but that task is for another day. Take a look at the slide show, this one has music - fancy!

Birds of Virginia

We enjoy bird watching, but didn't have any books to help out with identifying the birds who visit our feeders. Well a few weeks back I posted a picture and asked for help identifying a particular bird, my friend Cathy sent me a comment and not only told me the name but also some really cool information on the bird. She also recommended Birds of Virginia field Guide, which I ordered from Overstock.com, I also ordered Backyard Birds of Virginia, but that hasn't arrived yet.

This morning I heard a whole lot of chirping going on when I went into the kitchen, and sitting on the boarded up ledge of my back door was this little bird, I was just in time to see mama bird bring some seed to the baby bird. I'm not sure what kind of bird it is, I'm thinking Carolina Wren, Cathy you will have to help me out again on this one.

I tried really hard to get a picture of the mama bird while she was feeding, but I'm not that fast.

Gee, the glass on the door is dirty!

Here are some other pictures from today -

American Goldfinch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Okay, this one is hard to tell, I should have looked this guy up while I was watching.

Don't you love the pose!

Pretty Pink Bracelets

Update on the lanyard that I made for Eric’s co-worker Kathy - she loved it. Eric said she screamed when he gave it to her! I was so nervous, because this was my first beaded lanyard and the first piece that I sold. Kathy gave me her old lanyard that broke, and I was able to make her two bracelets. Here they are, aren’t they cute?