For where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also. ~ Matthew 6:21

Saturday, January 11, 2014

New Year's Peace

IJan. Hop!

I received an amazing assortment of beads from Lisa Lodge (our lovely hostess) to motivate my creative spirit for this winter-time challenge.  For the past couple of months, I have been working on developing bead embroidery techniques and skills  and so out of this vast array of wonderfulness I choose these beads that I felt would best support my fledgling abilities in this area.


All of these beauties were also in my kit, some actually finding their way into my finished piece after pictures were taken.  They are a wonderful addition to my stash and will no doubt be stars in projects later this year.


Into the Forest ~ my inspiration:


Early morn on the first day of this new year, I found myself alone again, deep in the forest near Mt. Rainier Washington. I was searching for peace and hope . . . I had been sad for far too long.  It was cold and silent as I made my way along the winding forest path, but I felt welcomed there and more alive than I had in many months.  While much of the world slept, how blessed was I to witness the dawning of the year?  And in the stillness of this dawn I re-visited a humbling truth . . . this precious gift, filled with new possibilities, adventures and challenges would only be what I would choose to make of it.  All I needed was what I already had ~ strength, courage and wisdom.  The forest floor was mossy wet beneath my knees as I knelt in thanksgiving and praise witnessed only by God and the silent yet ever present tenants of this sacred place.  I had found what I was searching for and my heart was slowly and softly opening to welcome the warmth of peace and hope once again. 


  New Year's Peace


Gorgeous silver stag focal ~ Green Girls Studio


To all my amazing and inspiring fellow artists . . . I wish you a year filled with peace and hope, and the courage, wisdom and strength to make the most of all your possibilities.

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Janine Lucas, Esfera Travel Blog
Jasvanti Patel, Jewelry by Jasvanti
Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
Janet Bocciardi, Honey from the Bee
Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Elizabeth Engriser, Bead Contagion
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming
Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings
Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

19 comments:

  1. What an amazing Piece, just lovely.

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    1. Thank you Gloria! I am trying hard to learn bead embroidery and this is my third piece . . . my first necklace! I was looking for your work which I always enjoy seeing. Next time?

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    1. Thanks Christie! Glad I had good company in the "late posting" department!!!

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  3. Wow! Your work is amazing and not what I would have expected from this selection of beads.

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    1. Thanks Carol . . . I didn't really expect it either! I just added complimentary seed beads to the larger beads Lisa sent and the piece pretty much formed itself! A very fun/time consuming technique!!!

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  4. Breathtaking. I am blown away by your piece and your post.

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  5. Lovely necklace. The embroidery is very well done.

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  6. So much work went into your amazingly beautiful necklace. I bet it feels great to wear it...

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  7. Amazing post and an amazing necklace. Love love love it!! I wish you a wonderful 2014 and may all your dreams come true.

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  8. Stunning! I love your description of your New Years morning too, sounds very peaceful and inspiring. Happy New Year to you too!

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  9. Spectacular♥ piece! I love your blog, thanks for sharing your thoughts...wishing you all the best (-:

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  10. What an amazing necklace, Chris! Thanks for sharing your lovely journey as well. Your pieces are always so inspiring, as are you. Thanks for being in the hop!

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  11. Thank you for sharing the inspirational experience of your New Year's morning, Chris... truly a special moment!

    Your beautifully rendered design seems to combine the ancient with the modern... it is easy to imagine the hours spent lovingly crafting this. Gorgeous work!

    Hope 2014 is filled to the brim with every Blessing for you and yours :)

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  12. Gorgeous! I love the Green Girl Studio focal too! And your work... exquisite! Beautiful post, beautiful dawn of a New Year, beautiful jewelry.

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  13. Wow, what great color and inspiration. I'm always in awe of those that use seed beads like this and do other bead embroidery and such. Great piece.

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  14. Chris, what an amazing piece! You are extremely talented, and this piece showcases that talent. Beautiful.

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  15. Chris, kudos to you! I plan to learn this technique this year. The design is inviting and inspiring.

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  16. Truly inspiring! I can smell forest.

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