Faery Lights

I had a dream; a lovely dream filled with the most magical and colorful light.  The kind of light that filters through the trees on a sunny afternoon or reflects across glassy waters during a magnificent sunset.  Light that shines through colored glass and dances mysteriously across the room.  Faery lights, purple, green and gold lights.  I wanted to stay in this dream forever, wrapped in this safe and warm color, but alas, morning arrives and I am greeted by the sun with her beautiful, bright rays.  I'm awake now, but the colorful light from my dream still envelops me.  I brought something back with me from this dream...

I hope you enjoy~Sheila

FAERY LIGHTS POLYMER CLAY PENDANTS

Available soon at Artistic Adornments

Mission Accomplished!

I was fortunate enough to have the weekend off, and what better way to spend some quality time than to visit my favorite antique store and browse for some lucky finds.  And was I ever lucky...take a look at these pristine, vintage brass findings I acquired for a steal, along with some fabulous antique earrings and shoe clips I'm exited to use for future collage projects!

VINTAGE EARRINGS AND SHOE CLIPS

LOOK AT THE DETAIL!

JUST GORGEOUS!

So you wonder what I have in mind for these beautiful pieces?  Here's a quick concept:

BEFORE...

AFTER

And here's a quick sneak peak at some current collage pendants and vintage necklaces I'll be posting to Artistic Adornments soon! AND...I just completed my first polymer clay pendants and I am SO HAPPY with them.  I can't wait to share!

The necklace on the left was made with a vintage shoe clip

A

Almost finished! Check back soon...

Peace...

Do you ever have those days when everything around you is hectic, crazy and chaotic?  I do, often!  My  profession is all about "positive" chaos, which usually generates more excitement and anticipation throughout the day.  There are those times, however, when the chaos is not so positive, and I gently remind myself during those moments to "be the peace".  I spent a tremendous amount of time searching for peace outside myself.  It took a while, but what I ultimately grew to understood was that I had to be the peace I was seeking. 

Peace isn’t something you ultimately receive when you slow down the pace of your life. Peace is what you’re capable of being and bringing to every encounter and event in the waking moments of your life. Being peaceful is an inner attitude that you can enjoy when you’ve learned to silence your incessant inner dialogue. Being peaceful isn’t dependent on what your surroundings look like. It seldom has anything to do with what the people around you think, say, or do. A noiseless environment isn’t a requirement.

St. Francis’s famous prayer states it better than I can: “Make me an instrument of your peace.” In other words, St. Francis wasn’t asking God to provide him with peace. He was asking for guidance to be more like the peace he trusted was his Source. Being peace is different from looking for peace.

~Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

So when you are having one of those crazy days or moments, and begin thinking about where you can escape to find some peace, just remember that you can be the peace you seek.

SYMPTOMS OF INNER PEACE

by Saskia Davis

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.

An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

A loss of interest in judging other people.

A loss of interest in judging self.

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

A loss of interest in conflict.

A loss of ability to worry.

Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

Contented feelings of connectedness with others & nature

Frequent attacks of smiling, 

An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

An increased susceptibility to accept love extended by others and the uncontrollable urge to extend it. 

Don't Forget

 

"There is nothing new except what has been forgotten".

~Marie Antoinette

I love finding and working with items that have long been forgotten.  

 

Sparkling, vintage jewelry

 

Ornate shoe clips

 

and my most current project, antique chandelier pendants.  

I was inspired by mixed media artist Jessica Moreau Berry and her beautiful article in the Spring issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.  I highly recommend a visit to her blog, "Junque Revival" and her lovely Etsy store.  Her jewelry is stunning, unique and encouraging for those of us who aspire to take our creations to a different level.  I'm giving you a sneak peak at my "test" pendant, along with some new, fun earrings I had fun making.  

 

The final creations are almost complete and will be added to my Artistic Adornments website within the next couple of weeks.  Of course I'll also share some pics with you here :-)  I'm really excited about these new creations as well as some new, whimsical soldered pendants I think you all will love.  I also experimented with crystals...another inspiring project from Belle Armoire's latest issue!  A special thanks to Jessica and her willingness to share such beautiful knowledge.  Speaking of beautiful, I wish you all a beautiful weekend!

The Next Five...

"You don't have to take life the way it comes to you.  You can design your life to come to you the way you want it.  This is your life, your one-and-only life, and you don't want to miss any part of it.  So, what is it going to be?  You decide.  Starting today, you can make the next five years the most exciting, satisfying, productive and amazing years of your life so far - or just another five years".  

~ Dan Zadra, author of The 5 Book.

I had a somewhat challenging day yesterday.  It was one of those "feel sorry for myself, cry about what I could have or should have done differently years ago, I should be doing more, I'm not completely satisfied with all aspects of my life" kind of days. I believe we all have them and although we may  not always enjoy them at the time, I think these days can be very instrumental in helping us grow and move forward in new directions, if we choose to use them to our advantage.  This morning, I was still feeling somewhat blue, when I glanced over at the bookshelf, and this small red book caught my eye.  It was a gift from a dear friend a few years ago. I've read it before, but it's been a while.  I pulled it out, and began to read a few arbitrary pages, when it hit me like a lightening bolt.  Why am a getting caught up in the drama of small,  insignificant things?  I have the power and the ability to change my perception about my life and move forward with purpose to change the things I find unsatisfactory or unacceptable.  This book was exactly what I needed to help me shift my focus from lack and disappointment to excitement and anticipation about the future.  The title of the book is simply "5" Where will you be five years from today? "This book celebrates the want to's, the choose to's and the I can't wait to's in your life".  It's a simple yet thought-provoking read about the power we all hold to be the architect of our life.  I highly recommend it as an instrument to get you thinking about how to navigate your dreams and desires.  Now I'm off to work with a new and improved attitude.

"Because of our routines, we forget that life is an ongoing adventure". 

~Maya Angelou

Enjoy the adventure today!

Think Like a Child

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon

All children are artists. 

The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.

~Pablo Picasso

One of my favorite things to do is to watch children playing.  While they play, they do not worry about the end result; they become totally immersed in the moment.  They become completely engaged in their activities, with no thought of who is watching, what others think about it, or how unorganized their play space becomes. They really don't even have a "play space".  The world is their canvas and they have not yet learned how to consistently doubt themselves, as we often do as adults.  I urge you to use children or even animals as role models (I say animals because I just watched my crazy and lovable dog chase his tail round and round - I was laughing so hard! He didn't care.  He was just having fun).  Embrace your inner child and add some pure, unbiased and unbridled play to your day.  Don't go into every project with the end result solidified.  Sometimes, it's fun to just allow the process to unfold naturally and organically.  Now, I'm going to go pet my dog some more!

 

GUINNESS, THE LABRADOODLE!

Little Things

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.  

~Robert Brault

Why not learn to enjoy the little things - there are so many of them.  

~Author Unknown

 If we shall take the good we find, asking no questions, we shall have heaping measures.  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.  

~H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Life's Little Instruction Book

Have you ever noticed that, oftentimes, the small pleasures in life make you just as happy as the big, elaborate ones?  It took me a while to figure that one out, but as I move through this wonderful world, I am amazed at how much wonder and surprise the small things add to my life.  Experiencing a spectacular sunrise or sunset and catching in perfectly in the lens; spending a few uninterrupted moments petting my dog; relishing a meaningful hug from my husband or receiving a phone call from a long distance friend at just the right moment.  All these "little" things are so precious and give me the energy and stamina to keep moving forward.  I urge you to take an inventory of your life and make sure to take note of all the small things for which you are grateful.  Also, remember to be aware of your surroundings and be on the lookout for small treasures, like these beautiful vintage rings I found at the antique store last week! They definitely didn't break the bank, but oh do they make me happy when I wear them :-)