My Favorite Holiday

For a girl like me, who is single, people are often strangely confused that Valentines Day would be my favorite holiday. Sure I didn’t always feel this way. There were the anxiety-filled days of elementary school when I would fearfully hope I got valentine cards. But experiencing that feeling confronted me with a choice (that took a little while to learn) to either feel sad and hurt or to help others not feel that way. If we all sit around wanting to be given love, then who is doing the giving? Well, honesty, God is.

God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to Earth (Christmas). Jesus loves us so much that He died for our sin (Easter). And yet life is more than just me and God. He put us here with each other... where we get to learn to love and be loved... to give grace and receive it. Valentines Day not only reminds me of God's love and the people in my life who love me, but that I too have the choice and ability to spread the love. I love it!

While I feel most loved when I get to spend quality time with people, I often give love through words of encouragement, acts of service or even gifts (as categorized by the Five Love Languages). Which I feel like is all wrapped up in giving a handmade card.

A few years ago a local art supply store had a Valentines Day cards contest. I made one with as many different techniques as I could fit on it. A stitched fabric heart painted pink and stamped with white screening ink; Red tissue paper printed with “love” in a variety of fonts then crinkled up and lacquered to cardstock; l-o-v-e letters embossed onto clay circles and painted; bronze embossing powdered hearts and paper edges; are a few of the techniques and materials I used.

  

For my niece and nephew this year I made them these cute little pop-up cards. A pop-up card definitely says “love”! Happy Valentines Day!!

January Jewelry

In the fall I was invited to sell jewelry at a Gal's Night Out gathering. I hadn't made jewelry in quite some time nor had I ever really spent much creative time on it when I was making it. So I took the opportunity to explore some creativeness in making necklaces.

It was a lot of trial and error... beading and taking apart and starting over and sometimes taking apart again! Among the styles I tried my hand at some multiple strand twists but what I discovered was when I just simply braided them together around the necklace chain, I found a wonderful combination of balance, asymmetry and personality.

So this winter, with a drawer still full of beads, I began making my new favorite necklaces. I can't wait for warmer weather when I can wear my own with a tank top and capris or my favorite black linen dress.

I was able to make these available for purchase at my Etsy Boutique and soon I had a bride special order some beautiful champagne shade necklaces for her bridesmaids. It never stops feeling sweet to contribute to the festivities of a wedding!