New Jewelry Collection: What Remains

I am obsessed with adding more and more pieces to my new collection of jewelry, "What Remains." Inspiration keeps coming while I'm gathering the perfect bead, button, key or charm for a necklace or bracelet. This time last year, I was making "Tennis Bracelets for the New Millenium." These were wrap bracelets made by lashing old rhinestone chain and leather lacing together, evoking a sort of post-apocalyptic, Mad Max world. I've continued that theme with these designs. I imagine bright and shiny relics catching an observant eye, then rescued from obscurity by a careful collector. She preserves her finds on a chain; her own portable personal treasure trove - everything valuable kept with her, always. Their past monetary value is unknown -  money is meaningless in this new world anyway. She loves each object for itself; diamonds hanging happily beside an old brass key - precious because she found them.

Find the "What Remains" collection at The Market Eau Claire during the month of December!

The Market Eau Claire Open Every Saturday

Yes, we bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all seekers of the gorgeous, unique. locally made wonderfulness that is contained within the walls of The Market! Newly extended December hours include every Saturday until Christmas from 10am - 3pm. There are sure to be new items arriving weekly so swing by often. Also, Spoiler Alert!* Justine's planning a VERY SPECIAL SALE on 12/12/12. Link to The Market's Facebook page here

* The 12/12/12 sale is not really a spoiler, just wanted to add to the dramatic excitement of it all because seriously, Justine is making this Christmas so magical! If you haven't entered the whimsical world she has created at The Market this season, you are in for a treat. Come by to find your Christmas joy - and lots of presents to give or to keep!

One Good Deed

"One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories." So says one of my heroes, Charles Spurgeon in his Morning and Evening devotional for November 25th. That sentence resonates with me because I am, by nature, a dreamer. I dream big. In every realm of my thinking. I have big dreams for the world (peace in Israel and an end to terrorism through honest, respectful discourse) for my community (once people know about all the independent artists and businesses in Eau Claire, they will insist on an art farmers market and lives will be full of beauty and music and artists won't have to deliver pizzas) but mostly for my selfishy selfish self (it's time to reconfigure our floor plan and construct a studio/garage/greenhouse with wood floors to match our existing floors except then we'll have to refinish the existing so we may as well re-do the kitchen too and while this is being done, escape to our house on Sanibel that we will have to buy in order to protect ourselves from dust and paint fumes during construction but also to minister to my parents in Fort Myers which is our CHRISTIAN DUTY and also we could let missionaries stay there whenever they wanted). Hmmm...which dream has the most passion and detail?

Living a life that is ultimately successful in the grand scheme of things, means daily recognition of the tiny moments of opportunity that knock at our door disguised as interruptions. Some examples of those opportunities: seeing the caller I.D. but actually answering a phone call you know will take awhile, opening all the mail and being willing to read about what World Vision is doing, calling, writing, or texting some one who keeps coming to mind. Ignore a divine interruption and you'll cheat yourself, and some one else, of blessing and joy. 

This is not to say all interruptions are divine. Discerning the difference between a time sucking problem and a divine opportunity takes practice and plenty of mistakes. If you are some one who balks at the idea of a schedule anyway, distractions are around every corner and losing focus means a feeling of defeat (and shame - 'why do I just spin my wheels?') as the day slips away. I hate that.

The most helpful tip I have in this regard is that the divine interruptions almost always involve people. Coming alongside people in times of trouble or discouragement has never left me feeling depleted or cheated. It also hasn't gotten me closer to the big ideas - at least as far as I can see. But answering the call of insight, acting on the flash of inspiration that comes as God brings some one to mind, these are the things that make life rich. These are the moments, when added together, construct a life overflowing with meaning and blessedness. 

Oh, I see I just got a text from my daughter so I guess this post will be shorter than expected, dang it! Only kidding. Noticing a sadness to her message, a call to her might be the most important thing I do today. And it wasn't even on my schedule....xo Susan

You can have Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening" devotional delivered daily free to your inbox through Bible Gateway. Here's the link. You won't be sorry!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Thank You, Veterans

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies grow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place, and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe! To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high! If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

SJD New Jewelry at The Market

New LAARKS Music Video

I made Human Abstract cookies for premiere night - very fun!

Watch the video HERE. On Thursday, October 25, the music video premiere of "The Human Abstract" by LAARKS - film by Peter Eaton was held at Volume One's gorgeous, brand new The Local Store.  The Human Abstract, written by LAARKS front man Ian Jacoby, is based on a collection of poems by William Blake, 'Songs of Innocence and Experience.' Eaton collaborated with Jacoby writing the video's script. This work certainly may be enjoyed at face value for its exciting story and Spielberg-esque style. Digging deeper, however, one sees what Eaton and Jacoby are saying about the world's way of responding to the mystical experience, encounters with The Divine. The tendency in modern society is to scientifically analyze, deconstruct, quantify, and reduce any human experience into what is understandable and measurable. This process almost always minimizes or even dismisses the spiritual experience, leaving those with a belief in 'something more' seen as crazy, anti-intellectual or superstitious. The film also addresses the all too typical result of man's inability to explain the unexplainable: a feeling of being threatened, fear, desire to control, suppression, and ultimately, tyranny. This multi-layered film perfectly captures the beautiful complexities of the song.
 

DIY Personalized Platter: A Surprisingly Wonderful Revelation!

UPSHOT: Old Sharpie just as effective as oil based Sharpie for dishwasher safe designs on china!

PROJECT DETAILS: I love the idea of being able to commemorate an event, a person, a moment in time with a useful keepsake. As years go by, memories are fading a bit - even those I thought I'd recall forever like funny stuff my kids said when they were little, or nicknames my Grandma had for things. A personalized plate or platter is a great way to preserve these words and share them with the next generation.

I recently did an experiment involving Sharpie markers. My project? In a free-form artsy scrawl, capture all the funny things my kids have said over the years. I planned to write in a spiral pattern around an old white china platter from a thrift shop. I wanted to begin at the center so I could add sayings as the spiral widened. Checking online, my research indicated that most DIY bloggers recommend using the Sharpie oil based marker on clean china, then curing in a 350 degree oven in order to make the design permanent. I dutifully went to Michael's and found the new oil based Sharpies in a big gorgeous end cap display. From amongst the dizzingly large array of choices, I selected a fine line black and medium nib gold marker. They were expensive, yo. Like starting at $3.99 each, if memory serves. I use the wonderful regular old Sharpies (fine line) all the time, buying them by the dozen for about $8.50.

I decided to do a test on the back of a square china plate I got at Target for $3. Once I got the paint flowing to the tip (it was one of those 'press on the tip tons of times until you see ink' pens which bothers me because I think that process dulls the tip and I like a fine line) writing was effortless and fun. I found the paint a little prone to smearing - more than a regular Sharpie so I tried a few sentences with my regular old smear free Sharpie as well. After baking in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes, I turned off the oven, and let the dish cool before removing. Nothing smeared during hand washing. So far so good! Then into the dishwasher it went. And....ta-da! I was so delighted with the results, photos were quickly taken and 'show and tell' began to several disinterested parties residing at our address. Both Sharpie markers came out perfectly! So, here's the deal. If you want pens of varying colors and nib sizes, you'll find them in the Sharpie Oil Based Markers Fancy End Cap at Michael's. If you get more of a thrill using what you already have, go with good ole regular Sharpie!