The Sweet Spot

On Thursday, I took Christian to his lesson. I inquired as to whether Nikki, his teacher, who was a concert cellist for the Kalamazoo Symphony, would teach an adult the cello....she said yes. And I said yes. I have always loved the cello and always made excuses as to why I could not afford lessons. Now, how can I afford not to?
...and the quiet out there reminds me of a time, long ago in the South, when country life became such a part of me forever....when the sun set right outside my kitchen window and nothing but the sound of the wind in the trees could be heard for miles.... fistfuls of wildflowers and the depth of the night sky,  and sleeping with the door wide open. The little white house we lived in at the end of that dirt road in Florida was a magic place....I still visit it in my dreams. Life was so much simpler then. It had to be.
Being out there at Nikki's little white house each Thursday refreshes my spirit so....this past Thursday I played with puppies. I ate concord grapes right off the vine. I felt the Autumn wind as it blew through my hair and I felt the sun on my face; I walked the expanse of open fields and felt the mesmerizing power of the arms of trees....and always....always.....I think of her.
My best friend back home, who I haven't seen for years. But I can feel her always. Even if we don't talk for months, she is there in everything I do. Everything I see...in the bright colors of glazed pottery and in the stillness of the day. Our imaginary conversations sustain me and I am held up by her spirit when I feel myself stumble.
My Spider Princess...I'm loving you still.

 I love the smell of puppies...
It reminds me of being a little girl again.

I'd love to hear your favorite memory of your best friend or a favorite place. Won't you share it?

For Ellie Jane and Her Family

(to use this image on your blog, just right click and cut and paste)

I got permission from a kind and generous stranger, Ella, who was willing to contribute the use of her image (one I fell in love with on Etsy as I searched for photographs of candles) so that I could make this little "button". It seems just perfect for the thought I want to convey and the message I want to send. (thank you Ella, for the most perfect image!)

You see, I've had the pleasure and joy of reading Liz Lamoreux's blog for many years now. She brought light to me during times when my life seemed a little dark. Her words and photography and artwork are uplifting and beautiful.  I want to repay Liz's kindness for touching my life in so many ways, by helping to gather all the love and healing thoughts that I can to send with baby Ellie Jane now, on the day of her surgery, and in the critical days and weeks ahead. I want little Ellie Jane to see her first birthday with a strong heart healed with great skill, and with the love of community. Thoughts are powerful, powerful things. Send thoughts of love and healing out for their little family now, this Friday, and as often as you see this photograph.

I have been given permission from Ella to distribute this image to whomever would like to use it. Please also be sure if possible to include the link to Liz's post when reposting or using on your blog or website. Instead of trying to explain any further, or paraphrase or quote, I will let you read it for yourself  here.

For Lucy, an Assemblage Necklace from Narnia

Dearest Lucy,

I made this for you today...I was twelve, I remember, when I read about you for the first time. So you must be in your late forties by now... I remember holding my breath as you tuned the handle to reveal the wondrous winter landscape that reflected with the surprise in your eyes. I was laying on my stomach in the grass in the Saturday sunshine in an adjacent empty field, and I looked up for a moment while Kelly Rae rode her bike clumsily past me down the street. Funny how we remember such brief moments so clearly isn't it?...but as Pavese said, "We do not remember days, we remember moments." So true.
Well, I have always loved reading, and The Chronicles was the first series that I ever read. The paperback pages were creased and yellowed from age, and I don't even remember where those books came from, but they were so new to me. As new to me as you were...so trusting and wide eyed.
Memories of the childlike wonder of your story came back to me this past sunny Saturday as I carefully chose each shabby vintage glass bead and sparkling old crystal for this simple necklace that echoes the beauty of the winter forest of Narnia that day; and somehow the juxtaposition of the two seems such an accurate reflection of my life as well... I know it seems like just a necklace, but it is the way I communicate these days...it is my voice ...without using words. I am so grateful for the gift of it, this being able to take what was once lost and forgotten and making it anew, but I sometimes wish it had come much sooner to me. It would have given me something to do on those nights while all of the children were asleep and I wandered the house at 2 a.m., looking for something to keep me sane in the stillness and the restlessness of my mid-twenties...
Lucy I have kept your spirit alive inside of me all of these years. You were trusting and young and true and brave. I'm feeling the need for you now, more than ever. This body of mine is broken and at times, I find that it breaks my spirit...
Accept this simple token of my affection and gratitude for coming to me in my gangly girlhood and staying with me for so long. Please stay longer Lucy, and help me to remember to always be wonder-full.


Love Always,
Jennifer

Window Shopping this Morning...

Of Old Paper and ...

  Curated By: SacredCake

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Religious Assemblage Jewelry, and Being Faithful to the Faithful

St. Joseph Everlasting

Mary

Mother of God

What I most like about creating assemblage jewelry with antique religious medallions that most of them (the ones I most like) are so worn by being handled by the faithful for decades of life....for me, there is a lot of power and mystery surrounding such things. I am drawn to the mystery of faith, to the lives of Saints and the lives of those who loved them. My grandfather always wore the medal of St. Christopher around his neck for as long as I can remember, and I think that is where my inspiration and curiosity began. I am forever drawn to the aged silver; the faces rubbed plain from years of prayer and lifetimes of faith. There is no way to replicate that with a new medal. One can rub and age and smooth and darken them (believe me, I've tried), but th antique and vintage medals have a whisper of their own...one that you cannot give to it in a moment or an hour.That is why when I stumble upon antique religious medals in a shop, I feel like I am witnessing a tiny miracle of sorts...that something so small can survive for so many decades of adoration and wear. Religious medals are my most prized jewelry making item for so many reasons.

And so I am faithful to the faithful. I create something else from these medals that can be re-worn, re-cherished, and re-lived in a different way. Hopefully in a way that would give the previous owner some joy that their prayer, their faith and the mystery of Saints is given new light.

And Lo

i thank you God for most this amazing, a favorite by e. e. cummings

I created this from a scan of a favorite book cover of mine, and thought I'd add an equally favorite poem. I've been an e. e. cummings "fan" since high school. His work never gets old for me. It was he who first taught me that poetry did not have to rhyme or have perfect punctuation or be even, to be poetry. Reading this again; hearing this again; reminds me to remember to play...to be lifted from the no into the beauty of the day we are given. What is your simple joy today? Share it with us in a comment, won't you?

Plain Brown Wrapper

I only have the picture in my mind. I didn't know I'd have this encounter....
The other day my husband and I went to the cemetery for a visit, which was bordering a pasture......we saw the horses from the highway.
I noticed the large and simple brown horse in the pasture next to where I was standing and walked over to get a closer look...what happened next was so magical, I don't think I'll forget it. Not for a long time.
He saw me and began to gallop, not trot or walk, but gallop toward me. I used to care for horses years ago near Seattle, and I could feel the velvet of his ears and the smell of his neck before he ever got to where I was. When he got to me at the edge of the forest brush and barbwire fence, he stood there within arms reach, flicking his haunches to ward off the pesky flies; like he was waiting for something...I reached over the spiked fence to touch the softness of his neck with my finger tips. I spoke to him of his majesty and beauty and thanked him for coming to me; and we stood there together for the longest time. He was so plain, just brown and nothing else, yet so incredibly beautiful. Brown was all he needed.

I see that in so many people...the beauty in the plainness. I see it a lot here in this very unglamorous small town. Makeup-less faces and pony tails and tanned faces worn by hardness and years under the sun. Weathered hands roughened by farming and fixing things...there is beauty there in the plainness. the roughness. the weathered lines....The plain brown wrapper of life. This beautiful, beautiful, unpredictable life....

EVERY PIECE AND TWEET TELLS A STORY - FOUR DAYS A WEEK. At Our Fingertips. An Unexpected Place.

EVERY PIECE AND TWEET TELLS A STORY - FOUR DAYS A WEEK. At Our Fingertips. An Unexpected Place.

I am so honored and amazed (still) that Mia would take the time to write about me and my creations...selecting photographs and words the way only she can.
Mia has a way with words and photographs that steal my breath. Her latest Monday Musings about her mother's Vietnamese garden left me wide eyed with wonder...
More soon!
Love and Light to you all,
Jennifer

A Letter to my Father

Dear Dad,

I put your picture away today. I had it put away while mom was here out of courtesy, but after she left and I put it out again it just wasn't the same.
After watching her sleep and hearing her soft breath next to me...after watching her delightfully play with the kittens and with Jeremy and make chicken parm and cake stands from candle sticks and old plates;
I realized that she is all I ever needed. I'm relieved that you weren't there to help raise me. She has been my mother and my father almost all of my life. A big job for such a small woman, and I've been an "interesting" child to say the least...she did everything she was capable of doing. Loving me the way she loves.
I have spoken to you more since your death than I have my entire life. Sometimes I think one sided conversations with imaginary answers are best. You apologized and told me how sorry you were that things ended up the way they did. You said you were grateful that my mother was my constant, the one I could always look to. You said you knew it was probably best that you weren't involved in my life after all. And I'm alright with that now. The tears don't come any more. Not for you, but for the missing of her.
I'm letting you go today, though I'm certain this won't be my last letter.
I just wanted to let you know.

Love,
Me

I love the name of this curated spot on Artfire.com!

Pop it & Locket

  Curated By: PolyCharms

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

I have made the move to Artfire to save my customers some money and so I can have a nicer online shop. I want to be able to offer my work at more reasonable pricing! I'm pretty excited about the move. Artfire offers much more custom options, too numerous to name...also, when I am done "fluffing" it, it will look better than my current website! Stay tuned for a special coupon next week when it's all finished for all of my sweet readers!

I'll be back soon.

Thank you for being here...

Jennifer

A Song in my Heart

Today I drew a name for the special celebratory earring giveaway...I took the time to write each person's name on tags that I made from antique sheet music. It seemed appropriate. Those of you who visit my blog are such a song in my heart...your words about Autumn were such a gift to me! Thank you for taking the time to leave your most favorite memories. I so enjoyed each and every one of them and I'll be sharing some of them in tomorrow's post, as well as one or two of my own, but today, here is the winner of the giveaway:

There is something about physically writing...almost like leaving a tiny part of yourself on paper for others to experience. As I wrote each of your names, I thought of you and the inherent beauty that each of you possess. After I wrote out 26 names, I placed them in my most special vessel...a little old two handled sugar bowl that I've had for almost 15 years now. As far as possessions, this is by far my most favorite. I found it  so long ago and it has
followed me as I've zig-zagged from one end of this country to the other and back again. Its familiar shape, a reminder of simpler times in a little white bead-board house in the country and the things that truly matter. Simplicity. Hope. Love. Living in the moment...
I placed my hand over your names in that little white bowl and sent thoughts of those things to each and every one of you. I sent thoughts of hope, love, strength, light, simplicity, and peace to you all. My hope is that somehow you receive them.

In Celebration, a Saturday Giveaway!

Autumn is finally showing its grace here in rural Michigan...it is my most favorite season of the year. I've been busy making lots of new things for the shop, that I'll be posting throughout the weekend and I am offering a 10% discount on everything in the shop until Monday evening at midnight. And To celebrate being published in Belle Armoire Jewelry and the coming of fall, I will be giving away a pair of these beauties:

(vintage rhinestone teardrops in an exquisite shade of Madeira Topaz)

I just love these earrings! The antiqued brass elements are so highly detailed, along with vintage rhinestones in a shade (Madeira Topaz) that you just don't see in modern jewelry.
No special hoops to jump through to win these! Just leave a little comment to be entered, but I'd love to hear your fondest memory of Autumn, whether it be jumping in huge piles of leaves as a child, collecting and pressing leaves, or drinking warm apple cider.....and might I share some of them in a later post?
Thank you for being here today.
Blessings,
Jennifer Valentine

Free Friday, Two Hooters

Since Owls have become the latest craze, I thought these two owls would be neat for collage projects and such. I hope everyone has a fantastic day! I'm picking my beautiful mama up at the airport in an hour....I can hardly wait to see her!!

Newly Fallen

I found the leaves
today,
neatly pressed in pairs and threes
between the pages of
the dic tion ar y
as I looked up
Entrepreneur.
I imagined you there
in your soul soaked old man coat
(the one I mended with silver thread)
conducting a
deliberate
&
silent gathering
of the newly fallen
as you flowed through
the arms of forest--
contemplating which
of thousands
to send
to me
to win back my heart
which was
never really lost.
I found the leaves today...

Belle Armoire Jewelry and a Little Ol' Challenge

When my copy came in the mail the other day I was still quite ill...and instead of being in the moment, I was worried because since I was sick, I didn't have any really "good stuff" in my shop to make a good impression on folks who might visit after reading my article. I had to remind myself to be as kind to myself as I would be to others in this situation....I took a deep breath and told myself that not having my shop chocked full of Intention Lockets was okay. That this illness was present in my life for reasons. To teach me to slow down a little. To be kinder to myself. To remember what is important. to name a few.
And it is hard for me to feel deserving of such an honor...to be alright with being included in a beautiful publication such as Belle Armoire Jewelry with so many jewelry artists who do so much more than just put things together. They forge and twist and mold and pour and sew and bead...and all I do is stick things to things with glue and add some beads and stuff. I think to myself, who the heck do I think I am?! Anyone could do what I do. You don't really have anything special. No one is gonna care about your lame stuff after looking at everyone else's beauties.
Once again, I gently remind myself of the things I'd say to someone else. What you do IS important. What you do is relevant. Your work is unique and valid. What you do brings joy to others, and that is what matters most....not how many lockets are in your shop this week or how many opportunities you have  to get yourself "out there."
Readers, I challenge you all to do the same.

So often we are not as good to ourselves as we are to strangers, to friends, to colleagues or family. The next time you want to crush your self worth, or talk yourself out of the stuff that dreams your are made of, think of my challenge this week. Change your inner dialogue. Say the kind things to yourself that you'd say to others. Be as kind and as loving to yourself that you would be to someone else....and I promise I'll do the same.

Making a Comeback

This is me lately. unaltered. sick. unwaxed eyebrows. in terrible need of a haircut and dye refresher. dark- dark circles. in pajamas most of the day... but right now, this is my reality. It is days and weeks like I've been having that make me realize how precious it is to have health...to feel really good. To move freely. To bend and twist and dance...
I've been angry at my body. I've been weepy. I've felt sorry for myself briefly....but I don't stay down long. I suffer from chronic pain, nerve damage and spurts of extreme exhaustion. Finally diagnosed with a disease (Fabry's Disease) that makes all of these things finally make sense and I am truly thankful for that. What used to come and go, now just hangs around all day and all night, at times reducing me to tears of frustration...but this I know: the show must go on...and there are those out there so much worse off than I am. There are children out there suffering from much worse and I've already been blessed with 39 years of feeling good and lots of chances for yoga and dancing.
I am still hopeful, and grateful to be alive. And I have managed to make some things while I've been away.

Just some simple things for the shop. (available here)

Thank you listening to me ramble a bit. I've missed you all and I've thought of you every. single. day. that I've been away. The pull to the computer has been overshadowed by the pull to the bed. But I don't stay down for long. Nope. I don't.

An Inexpensive Water Feature Idea

For quite some time I had been wanting some kind of water feature in our home. The sound of trickling water is soothing to me...but I was never happy with the ones available in the stores. Most of them were plasticky and kinda cheesy. The ones I was happy with were in the expensive home and garden catalogs and stores and completely out of my price range! As I was visiting the Salvation Army thrift store last week, I happened upon a fountain that I thought had some potential. It was just a simple square shallow pot with graduated glass slabs...what really got me was the fantastic price of just 4.00.
I took the guts out of the fountain and put them in a huge ironstone bowl from my ever growing collection of ironstone, and placed that on a large ironstone platter...and I got this:

Though I am not in love with the black cord trailing from the bowl (I guess I could have painted it white?), still not too shabby for four bucks...and I didn't even expect the light to work! So many variations for this. If you see a cheap fountain that may not be aesthetically pleasing, you can paint the outside of it, or even the inside if you use that spray paint used especially for plastic. Or you could just take out the pump and you can make a fountain out of a pile of those clear stones you can get by the bag full at Walmart or Michael's. Just pile them up around the pump in a container and add water...and maybe even some floating candles? You could use cups and saucers glued together with marine glue (glue for boats) or clear caulk. The hardware store always has clear hose available by the foot so you can go as high as you'd like. You could use a stack of terracotta pots and thread the hose through the holes in the bottoms to the top of the stack....or use the good 'ole standby; rocks. You can get pretty, smooth stones at any craft store....or how about tumbled glass? Or slate? Oh my, the possibilities!

Such a Lovely Treasury

I was honored for my steel moon earrings to be included in this amazing treasury by Voladoradesign....

You can get to the clickable one Here.
Forgive my absence. I've been struggling with some issues with the arthritis in my spine. But I'll be back very soon with some fun and easy projects, a spotlight on my favorite jewelry designer, AND a some very special give aways.
xoxo
Jennifer