I've been thinking alot about the New Jerusalem and the building up of Zion. Reading Job and Mormon inspired this poem. Great and terrible things are ahead

Wounded Warriors

Today I was inspired by a photo posted on Facebook by my friend in England, Brother Lawrence Lew, O.P. His photo and the attached message inspired this poem that I wrote this afternoon. Thank you, Brother Lew, for your beautiful photos and service to Our Lord.

 

Wounded Warriors

When I am left

Hanging--

Wounded by words,

Betrayed and

Abandoned

by those

who were once

friends--

I must remember

at the end

I will kneel

at the feet

of a Sacrificed Savior.

The Resurrected Lord

that I greet

understands.

He still carries

the wounds of friends

In His hands.

Denise

April 15, 2012

Silver Linings

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining...

From "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless

It's my favorite new song!

Time to face the clouds

and find my silver lining...

Ode ot Abigail...

Today in my office a student shared with me pictures of his Ragdoll cat.
I thought I would share pictures of my Ragdoll cat Abigail.
Oh, she is so beautiful...

She likes to nap...

She has beautiful BLUE eyes...

She is a good sister cat to Eliza...

She likes beads...

And she likes windows and sunshine...

She is funny sometimes...

And she helps me to write. Someone has to spell around here!

That's a wrap. Time to nap..

2011 Jewelry Tea... Sneak peek!!

Tomorrow I am hosting my 1st Annual Christmas Jewelry Tea.

Here's a sneak peek...

This year I did something quite new.

I call it "Inspiration" Jewelry.

I bought some necklaces at a Trade Show in October,

then I reworked them and created matching earrings and bracelets

to go with them,

"inspired" by the necklace's color palatte and stones.

I really like the result.

This one I created the necklace, too.

I called it "Mixed Metal Madness".

And I'm quite mad about it, too!

Blue and White Christmas Tree

Well, I'm back...after taking quite a break from blogging.

Yesterday I put up my little cookie tree. This year it is painted silver and decorated with blue and white and silver ornaments. My Mom and I picked up dutch blue and white ornaments at the Outer Banks last May. I also have a new white owl to add to my growing Christmas Owl collection.

Here's a pretty milk maid!!!

Shoe, anyone?

I love this little windmill...

My snow owls want to meet you!!!

Art and Soul Retreat 2011

Last weekend (after the tornado blew through NC), I drove up to Hampton VA to attend the 2011 Art and Soul Retreat. Art and Soul Retreat is a gathering place for jewelry and mixed media artists. I attended two years ago, and I was thrilled to go again.

On Friday I attended the Riveting Silver Metal Clay workshop by Sherri Haab.  She is one of the nation's best jewelry artists. She's published many books and is on the cutting edge for new mediums and techniques in jewelry creation. She travels all over the nation and around the world giving her workshops. She had just returned from New Zealand and Australia. I've been aching to try my hand at silver metal clay. It was great. Sherri is here (on the right) helping artist Betsy Phillips with her amazing bird pendant.

Here is her book. You can buy it here

I created a silver heart with a purple center!

Note the rivets!!!

You never know who you meet at Art and Soul. In my silver clay workshop, I ran into Betsy Phillips, who used to lived in Greensboro, NC and owned the most amazing boutique  named Rag Poets. Betsy is an up and coming silver jewelry artist. That creative eye that filled her dress shop with amazing clothes is filling her heart and mind's eye with amazing jewelry designs. She was wearing a Buddha necklace she made the day before. I loved it!

On Saturday night, my friend Melissa and I attended the vendor night. The artists who taught classes sell their designs and pieces at this event.

I discovered a mixed media artist named Sarah Whitmire.

I purchased one of her lovely heart creations.

You can visit her website here

Here is my new mixed media heart~

I visited Sherri Haab's booth and enjoyed my visit with her and her terrific assistant Rachel.
Best wishes to Rachel's son, Joshua, who is leaving for a mission this summer.
I hope to take another class from Sherri in the future!!!



One thing I purchased from Sherri is Epoxy Resin Clay~

No firing required!!! Sherri has a new book coming out soon on this new medium.

Sunday I attended a workshop on Metal Embossing by

artist Magdalena Muldoon.



This technique involves drawing designs on 36 gauge pewter.

I bought lots of fun tools.

And this is what I made...

Melissa and I finished the weekend with a quick trip to Buckroe Beach.

Oh, how I love the ocean.

I'm already looking forward to next year's Art and Soul Retreat...