Whoa! TIME OUT!! Stop the Merry-go-round!!!

     Have you had a life altering experience that suddenly took you and shook you up enough to make you step back a moment and catch your breath?  You ask yourself..."How could this happen?"  "Why is this happening to me?"  and my personal favorite..."Why do bad things happen to good people?" The following list describes some very difficult trials that may affect any one of us; losing several loved ones within a few months, finding out your child has a debilitating illness and there is no cure, finding out you have cancer, finding out two of your sisters and a niece have cancer, loss of a relationship, family disintegration, heartache, mental illness, abuse, loss of a child, injustice, Mother-Nature run amok and other tragedies. 

     If someone would have told me I'd lose my mother, my mother-in-law, my step-dad and have my father-in-law who had severe dementia move in with my family AND dispose of two full households in less than a year, I think I would have crawled into bed and pulled the covers over my head and not left the room! During these trials, we were blessed with guidance in answer to many prayers. However, we were able to bear the journey of these losses because of a reassuring Spirit that our Savior knew what we were going through. Our family and friends were also very helpful.  I wanted to share a 2 1/2 minute video which depicts our Savior and what He has done for each of us.  I find great comfort in this message and I hope you do too. If you can't see the video below on a mobile device, please visit #BecauseofHim or copy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S3TI4bYerU   

Sincerely, Julie

Jewelry Affaire Magazine THANK YOU!

I would like to thank Editor Christine Stephens at Jewelry Affaire Magazine for her kind comments in her "Letter from the Editor" and for including me in the 2013 Summer Issue showing my Custom Photo Pendant Jewelry of my mother and family.  Wow, there was my mother's picture in a magazine...made me all choked up. 

The main reason I made these photo pendants was to remember and introduce to others my wonderful mother and other family members who have since passed away. I feel it is important to remember and preserve their stories and pictures.  When I wear these pendants, I believe that through the thin veil that separates us, they can hear us whisper their names as we remember. 

The first issue I bought of this inspiring magazine was the Spring 2011 Jewelry Affaire issue and I was inspired so by such beautiful jewelry that I wanted to learn how to make jewelry too! I was very interested in learning to make keepsake jewelry and one-of-a-kind (OOAK) jewelry.  I started by taking a jewelry class at the local junior college.  I didn't know the difference between a bezel and a bail! I didn't know how to open a jump ring.  I didn't know how to wire wrap.  I didn't know anything!  I learned a lot (and still do) from the other students in the class and the teacher.

I began visiting bead stores and asking LOTS of questions.  I took a few day classes here and there.  I attended the Pasadena Bead Show and found a wonderful "Fairy Godmother of Jewelry" in Crystal Basica. I had a little notebook for note taking and was asking her LOTS of questions.  She was so very helpful and patient and gave me some wonderful ideas, and the kindest part was that she called me a "Jewelry Designer"...what did she say?  Did I hear her right?  Me?  A Jewelry Designer???  I walked away a little bit taller that day and ready to keep on trying.  I'm so grateful for her kindness and I thought to myself..."I want to do something nice for her someday."  So when I was published I was able to include the name of her Etsy store in my Materials List in the article I wrote.  See it? www.vintagefairyfinds.etsy.com.  You'll want to check out her fantastic array of goodies and sparkles and she always sends a little freebie gift with your order.  Very thoughtful.

Crystal also kindly featured my Jewelry Affaire Magazine article and the experience of our meeting for the first time at the Pasadena Bead Show where she was selling her amazing, sparkling jewelry and jewelry components on her blog at www.crystalbasica.blogspot.com.  And she's going to be at the Pasadena Bead and Button show weekend of January 16-19, 2014.

I'm enjoying the journey of learning about jewelry making and as there are so many different aspects of it, I'm not sure what lies ahead, but I'm happily headed that direction!!

May you find joy in your own journey!  Julie

BFF from the Past...

When I find antique photos in second hand stores, I like to look closely at the people, their faces and expressions, their clothes.  I wonder where they lived and what they did.  I wish I could match them up to their rightful family and reunite them again.  Sometimes, I take them home with me!  Here's an example of a necklace and pendant with a vintage photo of some friends all sitting together in a group photograph of school students. The girls are sitting close together with their hands clasped.  A vintage photo of bffs.  I found the original photo at the Second Time Around Store.  

Here I've cut, stamped, etched, filed and then soldered a bezel strip to make a frame on a brass sheet.  I sized the picture and poured ICE Resin over it and added a small rose.  I used  E6000 glue for cold connecting the rhinestone chain I bought from www.etsy.com/shop/vintagefairyfinds.

 I added several wire wraps and copper chain for the necklace.

Cherish friends says it all.  Have a great day!  Julie

PS  Still learning about blogging, so please excuse the rather harsh words in the "View my Profile" Google automatically writes in as I'm not sure how to change it.