Drumroll please......

So, finally, as promised, pictures of my latest creations IN SILVER. It started yesterday actually when my husband, looking at yet more practice copper washers I was heartily pounding away on, said, "Copper makes your neck green." So, I had to look and yes, my neck was sporting a green line. So, I'd have to say I'm a purist. Silver and white gold for me. That was actually my goal all along(not to have a green neck, but to do silver stamping). It just took a little while to work up the courage. I mean a mess up on copper is only a few pennies down the drain (when you buy washers at your local hardware store). Silver on the other hand is increasing in value and I didn't want to risk messing up. But I did. I risked it. And I'm very pleased with the results. I still like the look of copper, but mixed with silver and definitely a silver chain!


Now, I'm wondering if I should do Etsy or just take orders from people I know and do them this way for a while. (If you're interested and would seriously consider purchasing pendants or a necklace, please let me know, leave a message. I'd love to hear your thoughts.) And one more thing. What should I call this new venture of mine? I'm going to do a surprise give away to my favorite inspiration for a name. Here are the pictures: (We had to do them inside tonight, so enjoy the flowers on our dining room table also!)



This will be a gift for someone special. :) Got the idea from her actually. (BTW, the shadow on the bottom is me taking the picture.)



This is a wedding gift for a dear friend I met in Costa Rica. Congrats April & David!



And this, the beginning of my own silver, memory jewelry collection. I have dear hubby's and my initials as well as two crystal beads of our favorite colors/birthstone colors. And the larger disc is Spanish, amado mío, meaning "my beloved".

Finally, hand-stamped copper pendants

Well, as promised, here are a few pictures of what I've been working on these days. They're not finished (they need necklaces or bracelets added to them), but they've been fun. And hopefully the recipients (who will immediately know who they are) won't be reading my blog before they get them. :) Anyway, it was great fun. I watched a video on beaducation.com (free) and also downloaded an ebook by tfakler off of Etsy in addition to taking a stamping class at Edy Beady's in Canton, Ohio. If you're interested in getting into this, I can share contacts/websites I've found, etc. Here are my latest pieces:



The Spanish word, Hope, also contains the idea of waiting. (If you're not waiting for it, you can't hope for it.)
A few pieces for some friends. :) For my mom. Her motto.
My latest favorite piece, copper hand-stamped, and embellished with moonstone (sparkly purplish bead) and jade.

I'm considering Etsy and maybe doing some to order. We'll see. It depends on how much interest there is.

Thankful Thursday/Happy Birthday Grandma Lorraine & Diego!!

I wanted to say a special Happy Birthday to Grandma Lorraine! August 13th! She shares her birthday with her great-granddog, Diego, who is a year old today!

I'm thankful for free tickets to Wednesday's Scrapper's game (Mahoning Valley Baseball) right behind home plate and beside the Scrapper's dugout. It was José's first live baseball game and we went with friends from church. José even got his picture taken with Scrappy the Bulldog!



See José with Scrappy! And to José's left are two of our friends from church!



Enjoying the game!

I'm thankful for getting my steel bench block in the mail so I can hammer away on metal stamping jewelry. (Stay posted for the latest, I'm practicing on copper and then hopefully on to sterling silver!)

I'm thankful for a great day off with hubby on Monday, we had a great time doing things together, "treasure hunting" at the Village. I think in all, I realize that GOD is the One Who Provides for every need, even before we ask (or start looking for it), it's there.

I read a chapter in a book called "Satisfy My Thirsty Soul" by Linda Dillow on waiting. I believe we're all waiting for something in life and while we wait, we suffer. It is hard to be denied the object of our desire. But I was once again reminded that waiting is God's way of drawing us closer to Him and that He would rather deny us our desires for a time so we can grow closer to Him than just give us what we want instantly, like He has the power to do!

Good stuff!

What are you learning? What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday (on Saturday)

I'm thankful for a few minutes this morning to sit down and reconnect with the online world. :)

I'm thankful for a great trip on Monday to Beulah Beach and God-ordained conversations which were of great encouragement.

I'm thankful for the opportunity last Sunday to share about our trip to Spain, both to share and to hear how God has worked in the others who went.

I'm thankful for a cookout at a good friend's house where we were able to further debrief about the Spain trip and encourage those who are soon departing to another wonderful place!

I'm thankful for a few hours this week to reconnect with my smart, wonderful, and eager to learn (even during summer vacation) Spanish students. And I'm looking forward to a "Mexican restaurant celebration" Spanish experience this week just before school begins.

I'm thankful for being able to catch up with family and friends on the phone this week!

I'm thankful for the opportunity to teach elementary aged girls how to make a simple bracelet or necklace for the craft portion of their camp-out. What creativity! It was great fun!

I'm thankful for being able to connect again with good ministry friends in the area, to share each other's burdens and be understood.

I'm thankful for being on the right time schedule this week and to be hungry at the right times. It really does make a HUGE difference!

I'm thankful for a great time of worship and preparation on Wednesday night and am looking forward to singing pretty regularly with the choir this fall.

I'm thankful for the energy to clean the house and get things in order. This time last year, we had just moved in and I was in the beginning of a year-long struggle with my thyroid, which mostly sapped my energy, my motivation, and after many doctors visits, sapped the "extra" we had stashed away.

I want to praise the Lord for bringing stability to my physical health and for feeling great, back to normal, and like myself again, after a year!