"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."
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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I love my girls!!!!

And to celebrate my love for them & who they are as people; for Mother's Day, I made them each a necklace....a "soulful" necklace. I wasn't able to complete their necklaces by Mother's Day however so we met up for sushi & martinis last week & I gave them to them then.

I saw this thimble necklace design, by the extremely talented Diane Cook, in the current Belle Armoire jewelry magazine by Stampington. Her designs were based on a heart, birds & religious icons though. I wanted to make my girls one, using soul as the theme.

And I know there's been a lot of controversy & discussion in blogland about the ethics of copying an artist's work & I'm gonna give you my 2 cents worth. I have big reservations about copying an individual's work that they were generous enough to share on their blog but if you publish a tut & I pay for it (whether it's online, an in-person workshop or in a magazine), then I am then free to "copy". I've purchased the knowledge so I am free to use the knowledge. *crossing my fingers that the marvelous Ms Cook agrees* Cause she is FULL of marvelous ideas!!! *grins*

This is my version of Diane Cook's Heartstrings....I call them "She's Got Soul".



I strayed from Diane's designs in many ways. I didn't age the silver as my girls don't like old stuff (I know!!!!!), I used heavier fabrics & I went easy on the bling & left off the lace completely, as neither Stacie nor Shilah are into that kind of stuff. (again I know!...but I love them anyway! LOL) This first necklace is for Stacie. I used a beautiful blue & tan upholstery weight fabric, torn into a frayed strip & faded vintage blue ribbon. For both necklaces, I used charms symbolizing things that are important to each of them...adding a few "pearls of wisdom", a crystal drop, a bottle of "dreams" (the bottle is full of mini-rhinestones) & a couple strands of rhinestone chains.


The poem Footprints in the Sand has had special signifigance to Stacie, ever since Clifton's accident, when after a particularly bad day, a social worker at the hospital gave her a charm w/ it. So I made her a mini-book out of resin. (just spread the resin front & back on the paper & allow to dry. It drys pliable like leather!)



Since Stace is an optometrist, I thought it would be fun to make the letters so small that you need a magnifying glass to read them. I was able to get the entire poem in a tiny book, just a bit over an inch and a half.


Her bottle of dreams, a cross to symbolize her love for God and a mirror ...the mirror is to encourage her to see her own beauty.


And of course, being an optometrist, she needed a pair of glasses.


And because she is officially a Texan now, I included a cowboy boot charm. A couple of Christmases ago, she told me a story of how she wanted a pair of red cowboy boots as a little girl & never got any....so I took both my girls boot shopping for their Christmas present. She didn't pick out red ones though so I guess I still owe her a pair. ;)


I added a key to a heart locket....


and added pictures of the "keys to her heart".


For Shilah's necklace, I went w/ a nubby floral fabric, using yarn trims, faded pink ribbon, etc.


She has collected angels most of her life so I added an angel wing.


and a sterling wineglass cause she is her mother's daughter. ;)


She also has a love for our God so a rhinestone cross was added to her's as well.


The keys to Shi's heart.....


She is known to have a major shoe fetish so I added a high heel.


Her bottle of dreams....may they all come true!


And I had to include a butterfly...she knows why.


Here's how the necklaces look hanging...like beautiful, jeweled tassels!



My girls & I; taken Mother's Day of this year....Shi is on the left, Stace on the right. I am so blessed to have them in my life.



I LOVE MY GIRLS!!!!!


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

BirdSong...part one!

I'm gonna start my series of BirdSong posts (yes, it's gonna take multiple posts to share everything) with what I know my readers are most eager to see...Karla Nathan's lovely farmhouse!

This is the entrance to her fabulous studio!




click on any picture & then click again to enlarge for details

Her infamous hat cabinet. We had a contest to see who could guess closest to the number of hats...I think 84 was the right answer.



Stephanie guessed closest & won one of Karla's hat's....lucky girl!

Her studio was filled with so much beauty...it was like being enveloped by loveliness!





I forgot to take a pic but there is a pice of my art hanging in Karla's studio...it's in a tag book hanging from this shelf. My art in Karla Nathan's studio....pinch me!






This headboard was painted by Karla & converted into a bench.








Sorry for the graininess in my photos...I think my hands were shaking with excitement! (this photo is living proof that I am not the only one who puts a piece of furniture where the door will hit it when opened...my family constantly complains about it. I just tell them to be more careful when opening the door. LOL)



LOVED this wall, decoupaged w/ book pages!



And Karla's house was even lovelier in person than it is in pictures. How is that possible?








This was as far as I ventured into Karla's bedroom. I already had her worried about being a stalker...didn't want to freak her out! LOL



Her charming guest bath....



LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the wallpapered stair risers!




















A beautiful wax paper rose.


Check out how she faux-painted bricks in Sugarwings room!





The outside of Karla's house is just as charming as the inside!



This disco ball is made of thousands of sequins!









Her windowboxes were full of old china. What a great idea!



A truly fabulous firepit area is right outside the Fairy Berry Trail.



You wanna take a walk down the Fairy Berry Trail with me?








Fairy Tales do come true here!


Karla even painted a face on a tree!





I have much more to share...the goody bags (oh my! the sponsors & guests were sooooo generous!), the teachers & students, the projects & vendor night...I bought so many wonderful things on vendor night.


I had high expectations of my BirdSong retreat & I want y'all to know that Karla not only met, she exceeded every one! She hosted, decorated, made all the food, taught & was still relaxed enough that she sat in on the classes w/ us & crafted the projects too! And she is just as warm, charming, beautiful & inviting as her wonderful old farmhouse is...she is truly "the whole package". Thank you so much for a weekend of memories I will always treasure, Karla. Can't wait to see you again @ Paper Cowgirl next month!