I am spending a lot of time snuggling with my 8week old. Maybe I'll be back to making jewelry soon, at least for presents. Here is my lil man in the morning!

Spring Gift Collection

As I mentioned in a previous post, my favorite part of making jewelry is creating a gift for someone. I have shown off the pieces that I gave as gifts for birthdays this spring. I like to try to keep track of gifts so that I know what each person liked and get new ideas for the next gift. I hope each one enjoys their gift as much as I enjoyed making it.

(If you are visiting this blog from our shop website, each of the items are one-of-a-kind, usually because I found only one of each accent charm. Also, these were made with a specific person in mind. However, if you see something you like, please email me, and we can see if we can come up with something similar.)

This one is for my sister-in-law, Kristy. It is a navy nylon cord necklace in an open lacey pattern accented with silver beads and a silver cross charm. I designed it as an accessory for denim or dress clothes, because it seems to match Kristy's simpler tastes in everyday clothes. Next time, I would like to make her something a little more clunky and shiny for her weekend styles.

This one I created for my four-year-old niece, Arlie, Brittany's little girl. We have spoiled her a little bit, because she thinks every project is for her or wants one just like it. She is so fun to create jewelry for, because she is our fashion princess. She picked out the blue acrylic charm by herself in the craft store. This necklace has three nylon cord strands, mint green, sky blue, and pale pink, all great girlie colors. The strands are knotted in a twisty pattern. She was also my first receipient of the gift pouch, which she likes playing with.

I designed this set for Casey, my sister-in-law for her birthday this month. She is expecting a little girl, Gracelynn, who will be about two months younger than Daniel. I thought Casey needed to have something extra girly, too. She already has a little boy, but I think she needs something to coordinate with Gracie for the girl-only times. Mint green nylon cord is knotted in twisty patterns on the side and an open lace-work desing in the middle, hopefully mimicking leaves and vines. The focal piece is a large metal pink rose framed on both sides with lampwork beads. I used the same beads in the matching earrings.

This one was designed for my husband's Aunt Nancille. She tends to like necklaces that fit close to her neck, so that it is visible above shirt necklines. This knot pattern fits that type of length best, and the twists in the middle gives it an interesting look. Aunt Nan also likes sparkles. The finished necklace was not as sparkly as I had originally intended, but the colors are nice shades for spring.

Finally, I made this one for my mama's birthday. I found the charm set over a year ago. I bought it, because it seemed like something my mama would like. I didn't use it at the time, because I was trying a new technique with some new material that I could only find in black. Since then, I have begun using nylon cord for nearly everything. It is thinner and gives a more delicate look than either hemp or cotton, and the delicate look was really needed with these charms. I also wanted something more dressy looking so that she could wear it to work. Like me, she was usually looking for something to match black or brown dress pants. Now that I have made her one for each, I think I will delve into colors for the next one.

"Love is the seed of all hope. It is the enticement to trust, to risk, to try, and to go on." ~ Gloria Gaither

Treasured Handmade Gifts

I haven't posted recently. I have been distracted with getting my house in order for Baby Daniel. Two weeks or less left to go, and his daddy will be able to hold him. I am afraid he may be a baby hog, as excited as he is. We have been preparing for Daniel's arrival for months now, but with the end in sight, it is like a mad rush to finish everything. Our family and friends from church have thrown us a couple of showers, giving us everything we needed from clothes to diapers. The wonderful encouragement and support they have given us has doubled our excitement. The nervousness I was being to feel has vanished into the excitement! It wasn't really the gift that touched our hearts as much as the love behind the gift.

Some of the items we will treasure the most were the handmade gifts from some family members. My sister made Daniel a Georgia Bulldog bib, a pacifier holder, and burp cloths, knowing that the Bulldog fan in Wesley would love it. My Aunt Kaby made him a large white and blue blanket; I still have the blankets she made for me growing up. My cousin Jessica sewed some cute little boy burp cloths from cloth diapers. My Mema cross-stitch a sheet and pillowcase for him. There is something about handmade gifts that are extra warm and cute. You know the love that went into each stitch and each minute.

I wanted to take a minute to brag on my family talents, because I may not be able to squeeze in another post before Daniel arrives.

Button Knots

I have learned a new knot: a Chinese button knot. It is like a miniature puzzle to work through the loops to get the finished shape. At first, it is irritating and aggravating, but it can also be addicting, drawing me to solve the problem. I have learned two variations: the single button knot and the double button knot. I like that these knots can act as beads. The double button knots seem to work best with chunky beads. I thought I would share my new attempts.

First Sale!

I have my first sale! I have enough friends and family members to keep me busy making jewelry for presents, but my sister convinced me to try my hand at a studio. It has been challenging to set one up, but we are proud of our studio. This week we had our first sale: a simple brown cotton macrame bracelet for a little boy. I attached it to a handmade decorative card as shown here. It was a great feeling of accomplishment to make this first sale. I hope this little boy enjoys this bracelet as much as I enjoyed making it.

Inspired Gift Pockets

As I mentioned in my previous post, one of the greatest benefits of my hobby is making gifts for family and friends. It's challenging to consider each person's sense of taste as I choose designs, colors, beads, and buttons for each person. When they receive the gift, they seem to love that it is a completely unique piece made just with them in mind. (My little nephews usually just exclaim, "Cool!") Usually, though, I struggle with how to give the jewelry. The pieces are too small for regular size gift bags. In the past, I have attached the pieces to handmade decorative cards before dropping them into small gift bags. Recently, I received inspiration from Alison Stewart-Guinee's blog. She had posted a tutorial for making fabric pockets http://alisonguinee.blogspot.com/2010/02/container-for-my-joy.html She has really clear instructions, and in no time at all, I had a new presentation technique for my gifts. I have attached some pictures of the ones I made for my grandmother (top) and my niece, Arlie(bottom).

By the way, I love following Alison's blog, and I have included her link under my Links I Love. She shares a good bit on sewing and knitting. I have very little skill in both (but hope to pick it up in time), but I am intriqued with watching how she puts each idea together. Her enthusiasm for creating is contagious. New ideas are inspiring.

Speaking of inspiration and encouragement, I close with the following quote that has touched my heart this week. It speaks to all of the unknowns I am facing in life.

Be encouraged. Close your eyes and let go. Remember, as Peter did, what it felt like when nothing was sustaining you in the small space between your feet and those daunting waves, but the power of an unrelenting Love. And walk on.

~ Nicole Nordeman, foreword to "Walking on Water"

Healing Creativity

Welcome to my new blog!

I suppose I could start with how I began my hobby in macrame jewelry. We all face struggles in life, and at the time, I had quite a few both at work and in my personal life. Because of these issues, I felt incompetent, inadequate, and worthless. Anything I accomplished had to be redone the next day and the next... It was never enough.

One day, on a whim, I brought a kit to make a hemp necklace complete with instructions. I followed the instructions and completed my project in one evening. I had something to show for my work, and it gave me a feeling of fulfillment. I began buying other kits, then books, and other supplies. I found that I loved the flow of creativity it took to take different seperate pieces and make something whole and new. Eventually, I began making special items for family members' birthday presents. Even now, the pieces I make for them are usually my favorites.

For me, a creative outlet gave me a sense of order in the chaos and a sense of accomplishment. As I tie series of knots, I can't help but think of the tangled pieces of my life. I want to watch God's hands take them and make something beautiful in the same way that the series of knots my hand ties creates a lovely pattern.

We are hurt; we are lonely; and we turn to music or words, and as compensation beyond all price we are given glimpses of the world on the other side of time and space.
~Madeleine L'Engle, Walking on Water

If you have had the same experience of healing and hope from your craft, please feel free to share your story.