Happy Fall feature

Fall is without a doubt one of my favorite seasons.  I am mesmerized by the beautiful colors, the smell of leaves in the air and the temperature...  not too hot, not too cold, just right.  Unfortunately, today isn't one of those fall days because the weather has brought very frigid temperatures and dreary rain.  I'm still grateful for the fall season though, despite the cloudy days we have been having as of late.

Nature in general is one of my largest sources of inspiration in my art.  With all the natural beauty surrounding me I am captivated by the intricate details and magical colors fall brings each year.  It's a feast for my senses.

I was featured in this lovely Fall Etsy treasury with several other talented artists.  So if you have a moment today, take a look.  For a look at my other work, click on this link:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/whimsicaljewels

Enjoy this beautiful season.  Be inspired and go create something beautiful....

Celebrating Spring

I love spring!  The items I chose for my treasury today are in celebration of spring and growth.  I love these items and these shops,  I hope you do too.  ♥ENJOY♥

New items

I have unfortunately not been keeping up with my blog. I miss posting on it and will try over the next few weeks to do better. I have used my blog in the past to feature some very talented artists and poets as well as to display my own work. I have filled these pages with my thoughts on life, however random they may be, and my feelings at the time...sometimes happy and other times sad...as well as issues we all face whether environmental, social or cultural.

Today I bring to you my newest creations that were donated to the preschool I work at for the art shows silent auction. It's a wonderful place and I can honestly say I love going to work everyday. This past Sunday we had our annual art show and silent auction to raise money for the school and scholarship $ for families in need. It was a huge success and a GREAT turnout! Here is the website for those that want to take a peek at my fantastic job or if you are interested in finding a preschool that nurtures children through art as well as developing creative, critical thinkers. http://creativelearningcenteronline.com/default.aspx

SUN~ Mixed Media: paint, wood, wire

Painted with red, orange and yellow acrylic paint, I then placed a sealant on it and placed a copper wire sun on top.

Inspired out of my love for nature and respect for the sun. The sun breathes life into our trees, flowers, grass and ME! It warms my heart and puts a song in the bird's heart.

HURRICANE EARRINGS ~ Wire and black glass bead

Wire shaped and formed into a spiral representing a hurricane funnel with a black, faceted glass bead floating inside.
Again, inspired out of my love for nature as well as my deep respect for the power of wind.

STAINED GLASS WINDOW FLOWER ~ Light Blue and Orange Glass gems and solder
Inspired by spring and all the flowers starting to BLOOM!

Featuring Sea Glass Artist: Amy McDonald!!!!

I am very excited to introduce, Amy McDonald, a talented Sea Glass Jewelry artist. Along with enjoying my own personal piece of jewelry made by Amy, I had the opportunity to interview Amy regarding her life and art to find out a little more about what inspires her.

Amy lives in Maine where there is a lot of snow and plenty of availability for inspiration. Besides being a jewelry artist, Amy is a full time mother of 3 and a hair stylist. Her husband is a BIG hunter and total outdoors man and her kids are 16, 12, and 1.

Amy's beautiful work can be found on Etsy, which features handcrafted artists around the globe. Her Etsy shop called, Sea Treasures by Amylee, can be found @ http://www.amylee34.etsy.com. Amy's pieces are made of Sea Glass found from the beaches in Maine. She absolutely loves making Sea Glass Jewelry and has spent a lot of time locating each piece of glass for her jewelry.

In Amy's words, "Up here in Maine we have lots of beaches, so my whole life I have beach combed and collected sea glass. My fondest memories are of being with my grandparents as a little girl and walking the beaches every weekend picking up sea glass. Well, I'm 34 now with LOTS of SEA GLASS. Being a stay at home mom I have found my creative outlet. I wanted to have a lot of jewelry but didn't want to pay their prices. Everywhere I went I found pieces I didn't care for and they were expensive, so I started my own line! I think I have always had a passion for this, in high school I took a pottery class and instead of making bowls and cups, etc. I made a beaded necklace. I think I get inspired easily, there are a lot of things that are so beautiful it gets me thinking, weather it's my catchy names for my pieces, or wonderful colors on a bird. My favorite color is purple and I love browns and aquas together. I have a work shop down in our finished basement with a drill press, (it's my husbands that I took over) but my creating happens in our dining room, it has much better light. My absolute favorite thing to work with is the glass. Holding it up to the light and finding just the right beads. It's a great thing. I was very nervous to have a shop on Etsy, I thought what if I don't sell anything or what if people don't like my items, but the experience has been wonderful, everyone has been so nice, and supportive of one another. Lots of helpful tips to be shared. The thing that I find to have helped me a lot are my pictures of the items, you really need to use props that really make your item stand out. When I did that I started to get more views and hearts and even SALES. "

Amy feels it is very important to buy handmade to support other artists and their talents, knowing every item is made with love and that the artist is sharing this with everyone. Amy says, "I hope everyone who purchases an item from me loves it as much as I did making it."

Besides being found on Etsy, Amy can be found at one of the largest craft fairs in Augusta Maine, located at the Augusta Civic Center November 28-29, 2009. If you live close by please stop by and see her beautiful work. If not please be sure to check out her lovely Etsy shop, I know you won't be sorry.

IF

If you are a bird, fly free.
I pray you feel the wind under your wings and the freedom you once sought.
When you grow tired from flight, I will be your tree.
Come rest your weary wings in my shade. You will find comfort and be restored.

If you are a tree, I will rest in your shade.
I will be refreshed and ponder the thoughts of life.
It is here I will say my thoughts aloud and find my own roots among yours.

When the winds blow, I will hear your music as you sway back and forth.
I will feel the energy of your love and smile.
I will remember the music we enjoyed and the merriment we felt as our feet moved to the rhythm and could no longer remain still.

If you are the wind, I will feel your gentleness as you tickle my face.
I will smile when I see the trees and flowers dance to your music.
On a hot summer day, I will delight in your breeze of refreshment and rejoice in the moment of comfort and feeling of love.
With joy, I will watch as you carry the leaves through the sky and their willingness to dance.
I will give thanks for the simple things in life.

If you are the sun, I will find warmth in your rays and feel your energy and love.
I will be renewed on the days I'm feeling blue and watch my personal clouds dissipate.
I will be reminded that the sun is the giver of life and bask in your glow.

If you are the moon, I will watch from below and smile as you find illumination from the sun.
With each cycle, I will be reminded of change and the importance of it.
I will be reminded that change comes from within and I am the beginning of change.
As I sit next to a fire, I will think of you as you cast your moonbeams from above and remember your grace, valor and love.

If you are you and I am me then our energies together will be.

Support handcrafted items

Tomorrow is the GRAND OPENING of CJ's Boutique in Clemmons, NC

Wired Art from Whimsical Jewels copyright 2008

Top : Peace, Love & Harmony wired word art with red & black acrylic paint

Middle: Frame with wire wrapped glass

Bottom: Wired Sun with blend of red and yellow acrylic paint

Grand Opening is Friday 2/1 and Saturday 2/2 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Location: Meadowbrook Mall, Suite 7A next to Curves in the mall and across from The Village Inn & Conference Center

Why am I writing about this?

1) Because my wire work is at the boutique

AND

2) it's a boutique for ONLY Handcrafted items!!!

Here is some of my wire work items currently at the boutique along with items above:

Copyright 2008: Whimsical Jewels

Me & a cup of joe wired card

The Song of my heart wired card

Midnight Star wired card

Flower wired card

We are all connected wired card

Java? wired card

Please keep checking back for updates regarding the boutique. I hope to feature some of the boutique's handcrafters on my blog over the next few weeks with pictures of their items and a little bit about them.

The boutique has:

Jewelry, wire working, candles, fused glass pendants, americana, baby accessories, recycled knitwear, custom embroidery, wine charms, oil paintings, basketry, woodworking, fiber art, silk screen tees, pyrography, painted gourds, handbags, custom pillows, glass painting, pressed flower art, greek design, vintage children's wear, personalized painted children's items, pottery, soy candles, silk painting, primitives, florals, ceramic tile art, crib sets, phone charms, stained glass, framed prints

AND

Ladies designer consignment clothing

Phone to boutique: 336-766-9355

Seasons of Change

I have included this beautiful tree as a reminder of the "Seasons of Change". I took this picture on one of my hardest days and with a heavy heart and spirit I captured the beauty of nature that I was longing to feel within myself. As I stood gazing at its beauty I was reminded that the way I was feeling would pass and my spirit would again be light. It's such a wonderful feeling to hear nature speak.

The last few weeks have been extremely hard for me and as I sit here and recap the situations in my mind, the feelings I have encountered and internalized I am reminded again that every aspect of our lives has an area that is a little grey. I am reminded that in order for growth to occur and to gain inner strength sometimes we must walk down a road that is bleak but there is a ray of sunshine to be seen even if we have to strain to see it. Nature's healing power is a wonderful source of strength, inspiration and relaxation for me and the day I stood gazing at the tree I said a prayer of thanks for giving me a tree of beauty to look at and remind me that life is good.

The rose....reminded me of summer's end. It was still beautiful even though it was starting to wither. The cycle of change. Seasons of change. What more can be said?

Nature spoke again to me towards the end of the week with this beautiful flower.

Seasons of change. Death and rebirth. Sometimes the road is hard to travel on but in the end I am thankful for the lessons I learn even if they are painful at the time.