Creating in a beautiful place is far better!

More love for Lake Norfork and I included how I spent my time there in this one:

My Beautiful view to Create, Relax, & Enjoy



Working while out here was luxury and not work at all!



When I go to the beach I collect sea shells.  Apparently when I go to the Ozarks in the Fall I collect miniature pine cones.  I have some crafty ideas to do with these!  I'll share them with you, naturally ;)



My very favorite "most comfortable" flip flop broke on Day One...so I spent Day Two walking around on it anyway...quite the challenge considering the terrain.  When we left I decided that I'd get whatever shoe they had in my favorite store in Norfork, Arkansas: For Mother Earth.  Fortunately they had sandals crafted by a Hippie-style community village in lower Missouri.  Unfortunately they were costly (as they should be!) and I had a hard time coughing up the money...I cannot say that I have yet regretted it though!


 Rope Sandals:  yes, I can even run in them!

 

Camping with just hubby & me is very different than preparing food for all five of us.  I enjoy those times as well, but have to say this was extremely relaxing!



White sandy beach...I kept coming back...it was surreal!

I strung a few necklaces while out there - and I have to say I think they were the best I've made so far.  I don't know if it was the inspiring scenery or the natural light - giving me better opportunity to see what I was doing - but I was satisfied.  After going to "For Mother Earth" I found even more inspiration and created a necklace from the inspiration I felt there and I finally said, "okay, now this is clearly my signature on my art."  That felt good and it honestly surprised me!  So, I'm excited to share it with you.  I am noticing that there is this balance and these mini-seasons of Create/Prepare/Present.  I don't have time to do all at once.  So, bear with me as I've been creating...and thanks so much for supporting!!!!

Overwhelmed with a preschooler? Create Play-Dough

 A few weeks ago I was exhausted.  Not physically, but emotionally.  I'm not blaming this entirely on my three-year-old little Cutie, but I will say that my word limit had been reached (both speaking and listening) by probably 10am...and all I could think was "we have the rest of the day to go..."
Near tears, (not joking) with a strong desire to clean something, I sat down and put my head in my hands. 
What to do.
Got up to put dishes away and invited Cutie to help.  We were putting the roller away and she asked, "can we use this and make bread?"

Great idea!  But instead of bread I pulled out an oooooooooooold recipe from a cookbook I've had for many years and we cooked the Play-Dough together and Wah-Lah!  TWO HOURS she played with this stuff!  NO JOKE.  We have an idea to make them for all of the party attenders for her birthday party next month...if we are so motivated.

In more business-related news...here is my table at my first Expo Event.  I've never done a craft fair or anything...so this was brand-brand new.  I wasn't sure how it would go, but I just wanted to show interested people about the ways that I recycle things to make my own art designs for usable purposes.  I actually loved sharing and talking to everyone who stopped by my table.  Because I loved it and can see myself doing something similar in the future, I may look into opportunities to attend more craft fairs and the Downtown Market.  No one was really interested in the Video Productions...but I may be a little ahead of my time on that.  It's too bad, because I think families (and future generations) would appreciate such video preservation.  Oh well, more time to create for me!

So, a few more pictures of our recent Fall happenings:

Can you find her?

A trip to the Country Pantry & Sam's for some Fall Treats!

Why she's a Cutie.

Comments should work now



Beads from Subway & Sonic ads.  I love the color.  It's so FESTIVE!



I've heard that my "Comments" weren't working, so I worked long and hard to figure it out -- and I think they are working fine now.  Please test it out for me though, if you have a thought, tip, or anything that could help me out!  Thanks!



Bracelet






This was a "test" coaster to see if I could make one and how long it would hold up under usual wear.  I have had it on my computer desk here for months now and use it everyday and have to say it works quite well!

Leave a comment! :)

My Etsy Store is Officially Opened!

It's Official!  I opened an Etsy Store!  I've been encouraged for years by my sweet friends & family to actually open up a shop online and sell my wares, so here goes!   So far I just have necklaces (which can also be worn as bracelets or anklets) but I look forward to getting bookmarks & coasters up in time for Christmas shopping.  I can also make lanyards for glasses or IDs as well.

If you are new to Etsy, please check it out!  It is a place where moms can go to sell their handmade or vintage goods!  I'm excited to be a part of such community and I hope that you will browse through and check it out!  It is a GREAT thing to buy Handmade!

Thanks to everyone who has supported and encouraged me.  I know one of my desires is to create...whether by words, with my imagination, baking desserts or breads, or making handmade crafts.  I don't care if I sell anything, but I'll always keep creating because I love it, and if it brings joy and inspiration to others to view it, hold it, wear it, eat it, or read it...then I know God has used my gifts & passions for His glory.  May He be praised in all we do.

Upcycling Paper into Beads

 Definition: Upcycling is "The practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value". The term was coined in the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart

Thank you About.com!

Now, I am not sure if what I recycle qualifies as Upcycling because Calendar Art can be quite beautiful.  And the more beautiful it is...the more beautiful beads I can create.  Magazines, on the other hand, and unless they are profound, definetly qualify when turned into beautiful beads that can be used in necklaces, bracelets, anklets, ect...as UPCYCLED. 

My husband captured the care that I put into creating a single bead:

Below I am painting the bead with a Sealant.  I let them dry, then paint them again.



My hands look worn to me.



Basking in the Sun



So, there you have it!  I didn't show me cutting the strips of papers, but you can imagine that.  When the beads dry, I string them.  I also pray scripture sometimes when I am rolling them up.  I pray for friends, family, neighbors, and also for whoever will wear these beads.            

Proverbs 3:3 Don't ever forget kindness and truth. Wear them like a necklace. Write them on your heart as if on a tablet.

I have been making beads and stringing necklaces for several months now.  I've tested many different materials - papers, strings, glues & clasps - and I feel confident in the product I am now making.  I've opened up an Etsy.com store also and will be sharing the link later this week.  Thanks for reading!  Any feedback is ALWAYS appreciated!