Shepherding

Laurel Reflection by Richard Shilling

I was reading Richard Shilling's {Land Art} blog this morning where he was musing about spring and little lambs leaping through the meadows, and about the cycle of life. It came home to me again while I was sitting in church and heard the readings, which mark this Sunday as "Good Shepherd Sunday".

Adoration of the Lamb, the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan and Hubert van Eyck (detail)

I also thought about one of the most awe-inspiring works of art I have seen in person, the Ghent altarpiece also called the Adoration of the Lamb. (My husband and I saw it this past May when we were in the Netherlands, we went to Belguim.)

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Spring is here, new life is all around us, new ways of looking at life and our place in it also surround us. I have had a lot of changes in this past year and I have learned so much about myself. I have been out of work for most of the year and I have been fretting about it too. So often we define ourselves by what we do, I know I do anyway, and not by who we really are.

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I worked very hard for two weeks and quit my "new" job because of the toll it was taking on me, on my husband, and on our quality time together (oh, and the doggies didn't like it much either!). I was one the road two hours a day and the salary did not compensate for that. Doing the math opened my eyes to that fact.

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So, I am unemployed again, but with a difference this time -- I know who I am and what I am worth and also what I do well.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Now, for something completely different: I did not hear from Loretta, so I did another drawing and picked Katie Nelson as the new winner of the Bindweed Beetle bracelet. Email me with your address and I will get it out to you in just about no time!

Post #100

The Winner of this lovely Bracelet, inspired by a photograph of the Bindweed Beetle is

~~~~~~~~ Loretta ~~~~~~~~~~

Send me an email with your address and I will get it out to you in the next two days

Thank You, everyone, for helping me celebrate my 100th Post!

~~~~~~~~

I took my camera to work today. We have tons of chalk-turquoise (sold by weight), mother of pearl, crystals, lots of semi-precious gemstone beads, lots of base-metal findings and lots and lots of "fashion jewelry" all at wholesale prices. The majority of the beads are $1, $2, $5 a strand.

This first photo reminds me of Lindipearls (see previous post), but it is actually dyed mother of pearl. ;^)

Mother of pearl, "gemstones", and findings . . .

Crystal bead strands . . .

"Fashion Jewelry" . . .

And "fashion jewelry" made on site.

The Brazos Collection has an online store so that you can shop in your pajamas. Here's the link {HERE}. If you shop online, tall them I sent you!

So, what Do You think?

I have been preparing myself to relinquish the Bindweed Beetle Bracelet (above) to the winner of the Pass It On Challenge {enter HERE} in just three more posts. I have changed my banner and blog background so that even when the bracelet is gone, I will still have it.

Clever, huh?

It is Holy Week, and for those who do not know what that is, it is the rememberance of the Passion of Christ, his final days and hours before his death. In our house (a clergy household, my hubby is an Episcopal priest) the schedule of extra services can be a bit hectic.

The first year we were married, our One Year Anniversary fell on the day after Easter. Not really so bad, except my husband, who had been serving two small churches and therefore double the number of extra services, was exhausted. (I think we counted 13 services from Sunday to Sunday and the churches were 22 miles apart). I was exhausted too, because I was expected to be present at both communities' special services. Whew! We laugh about it now that he only serves one church, but that was rough!

I sometimes say that Holy Week in a clergy household is kind of like "Hell Week" at a frat house! Oy! For that reason, I try to schedule as little as possible in my life so that I can be a pool of calm for my beloved, when he comes home from work.

This year, things are a bit different. I have an interview tomorrow (fingers crossed!!) and I have been making some jewelry. I was pleasantly surprised by the order of a Salvation Bracelet in my Etsy Shop this morning. I had to scramble a bit because I thought I had run out of the cloisonne crosses. I searched high and low, and then went looking in the local Hobby Lobby and Michael's without success (no surprise here). While I was looking for an acceptable alternative in my stash, I found two cloisonne crosses!

So, here is the finished product. It is going to be a confirmation gift for a young lady.


So, tell me, what are your plans for this weekend? Are you going to any special religious services (It's Passover too)? are you going to hit the parks and enjoy the beautiful spring weather? Are you going to spend time with family and/or friends? Inquiring (and nosy) minds want to know!

P.S. Go {HERE} to enter the Pass It On Challenge to win the Bendweed Beetle Bracelet when I publish my 100th post (this is #95)

All Quiet Here

I have not had a lot to say lately, I am kind of in the doldrums right now. I am also having trouble refilling an important prescription and it is giving me a little electrical light show behind my eyes which is very disconcerting and distracting.

I know I am not supposed to apologize for not posting, but there you have it.

A couple of days ago ur two Miniature Schnauzers got the full spa treatment and a brand new style. They usually have long beards (which seem to collect all kinds of gunk) and with the long beards they look a bit like my husband. No, really! What do you think?

Windsor with his new Shorter cut

Lindi with her Greta Garbo look (I vant to be left alone)

Who likes to ride in the car?? (With the long beards)

Photo-op at the blessing of the animals in October

Two of my three favorite fuzzy faces

I am slowly moving towards my 100th post. This is #92. Your chances of winning the Bindweed Beetle Bracelet are pretty good at this point. So go {HERE} find out more and to enter.

You know you want it!

This item is the most popular item in my Etsy shop {LINK} by far and it all came about in a challenge hosted by Kelly at Silver Parrot Designs {LINK}. I was the big winner of the challenge and I want to pay it forward and at the same time celebrate my 100th post (this is post #87).

This great bracelet could be your if you win my

Pass It On Challenge
(rules and post links are here; {LINK})

There may be more prizes depending on how many participate.

There are three ways to get your hat in the ring:

1. Find a budding artist in need of encouragement (whatever medium you work or enjoy)

2. De-stash some object/items/tool/books from your studio and pass them on to the budding artist

3. Blog about it with a link to yesterday's post {LINK} and tell me about your blog post with the URL address (counts as one entry)

4. Comment on yesterday's post {LINK} (counts as another entry)

5. Become a follower of my blog, remind me in a comment if you already are a follower {LINK} (counts as yet another entry)

Easy peasy, you can do this! And just think, some budding artist you know will truly benefit!

Bindweed Beetle Bracelet in a Treasury

My lovely Bindweed Beetle Bracelet has been included in a treasury designed by "Jewelry by NaLa" until then (and until Tuesday), check it out for yourself {LINK}

This is just such a treat. It seems to be the favorite item in my shop with lots of views and it was from a challenge. Hmmm, a challenge. Yes, I should challenge myself more often. Stay tuned.