Starr Strung Jewelry Designs...

* sigh.... *

I adore my new Christmas cap...

which is a far cry from this:

 
"borrowing" Joshy's much boots for yesterday's schmuck-this-Christmas-decor-up-outta-my-house now mood.

Has that mood struck you yet?

I love the holidays. I really do. But this year...despite the grandiose plans to host simple celebrations...was for some reason ultra-tiring to me and mine. I will say, equally, that God is so good, and I am so thankful for the saving grace and ultimate joyful possibilities that have abounded from this season.

I suppose it's the mood that has struck me odd this year. Maybe I'm getting old.

hmmmm. I'll ponder that for a bit.

Here is the mood that strikes Miss Frieda Kitty, who has claimed post on the rug in front of the woodstove:

As I type, Joshy and I are looking at her stretched out with a paw over her face. Her sluggish behavior cracks me up.

And are my sentiments exactly...the holidays, getting my immune system down to the nitty gritty, late nights, lax of a good (gluten-free) diet, not enough H20, missed yoga time, etc. These, I suppose, are the culprits that have made me feel a bit out of sync.

But the new year cometh, and happy things are on the horizon. And life is swinging back into place.

Time for some new Starr Strung.

Some 2010, if you will.

 
Upcycled Daisy comb $20

 
Swirly Bracelet with leaf clasp (love this*) $25

Mr. Hoot Necklace, $40   

 
Nellie Earrings, $22

Copper Drop earrings, $24

Vintage Filligree Cap Prisms, $24   

The best parts of these new-to-you upcycled pretties? I gleaned them up from the marvie gift from my bestie Chadley - a vintage suitcase filled with fun itty bits.

Makes me feel like gettin' in the swing o' things for a new year of possibilities....

...and taking a nap. Oh yes, a nap (:

happy night to you

"Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." ~ John 3:21

 

 
  

 
  

the rebirth...

this is what calls my name this el-freezin' cold day here in this casa.

gettin' my yoga on.

that, and chuckles about this:

 
yesterday - in typical youngster fashion, after receiving multitudes and who-really-wants-to-admit-how-many-dollars worth of toys - our kiddos made an imaginary "deer-stand-fort-on-a-deserted-island" with the boy's bunkbeds and what was left clean after both of the boys peed their little hearts out in their beds. I chalked this up to excess holiday punch...and santa momma forgetting to take all little potty heads to the bathroom before I fell into bed.

Anyway...

I brought them bowls of cantaloupe, nuts, and m and m's, because it makes perfectly good sense to need these things when you are on a deserted island with nowhere to receive nourishment otherwise. The boys shot their Nerf guns (which I am already completely over, dumb dumb gift giving!) at their elk and whitetail deer figurines on their dresser, and Jaeda composed the above notation.

Hilarious.

we are under a white blanket of snow here, and I am overly eager to find some solace in my everyday hum drum routine.

drink coffee. return 147 emails. pay the water bill. call josh and ask him if he could do one . more . single . holiday . gathering. (answer=grooooowwwwwllll). make a puzzle with 4,657 pieces with JC. dig thru an unbelievable gift from my bestie Chadley: a vintage suitcase packed with vintage things calling my name.

then, tomorrow...repeat.

oh yes, and yoga.

p.s. do you love the new digs?

happy day!

"The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." ~ Thomas Moore

 
 

 
 

merry merry!

The day our kiddos have been anxiously awaiting has finally come, and so with sleepy little heads and tons of new fun things to enjoy, family gatherings complete and cheeseballs and m and ms and the like making this momma feel like a good hot yoga session....

we wish you a merry merry too! (:

our highlights include:

cameras - the biggest hit - courtesy of great gma d...

(my little cousins - they thought this idea was hilarious!) 

and visit(s) from santa (causing Jonah to make the case before bed last night that there is no way that the santa who came to our house was the same one as at Gma D's) and I have to say...he is probably correct

and big boy, importante prezzies like a bow for JC...

and  Jae's big holiday feat, learning to blow bubbles (:

and Harp's big wish, granted: trucks galore...

and finally, a great big surprise for me, from my momma :

my brothers all came home, and they came to my little family here to celebrate. It really made my day that much sweeter. Kiddos, lovely Joshy (and his fun surprises for me), my family, and the promise of Love Everlasting in the form of the birth of our Savior.

God bless you and yours, Merry merry Christmas!

   
 

reasons Christmas break is marvie...

saturday nites with five kiddos and tons of fun...

cutie pie sisters...

laughing at baby C antics...

...watching wee ones toddle around on a dirty kitchen floor (and not caring)

 
decorating..er...eating mass Christmas cookies...

..with tons of icing (especially when no adults are looking...)

..and sticky kisses in between (perfecto!)

...and coloring holiday prezzies with the help of Miss Freida.. 

And, of course, some new pretties:

Oh yes!

And did I mention a marvie Holiday Sale from me to you? 

It's listed here, and you can also use it here.

Enjoy! (:

p.s. all orders received by 10 p.m. tonight will be shipped to get them in hand by the holidays!

   

me, and my quiet house...

 
** my new favorite earrings, composed this week while being sickly ** 

tonight my house is oh so very still.

the woodstove is humming, and Joshy is snoring

and I am sitting

not really gathering all things up that I need to

because this week has been a go go week

and my body says, quite nicely, "stop"

I feel at ease with the preparations I have made

we will see how I feel tomorrow

if I can sleep

because I am still clutching on to a two hour old

fountain dr pepper

mmmmmmmmm

I wonder if Santa will bring me a house cleaner

because the maid has been quite swamped this week

and dust bunnies are mounting

and laundry needs folding

and my step sizzle says, "don't be neurotic, your house is always clean"

she can't see the coffee spill spots that Joshy leaves me every morning

that I usually clean up

on the kitchen floor

I did manage to send candy grams to my favorite kiddos

set to be delivered during class tomorrow

I loved doing that, because my parents never really did

not because they didn't love me

but because I always had braces

so I couldn't even eat fun candy anyway

my momma text me this morning

and said that she was so so sad

because her bff had a stroke Monday

and his family had to make a heartbreaking decision

today

I told my momma I would pray for them, and her, and him

then I turned off my kathy lee and hoda madness on the t.v.

and sat and prayed

and cried and cried

I have so very much to be thankful for

my health, my home, my kids, my family

my love for what I do

my besties who are my soul sistahs forever

and even though sometimes it feels like

I am on repeat cycle

I am blessed to have a repeat cycle

Now, I will repeat that I am happy and thankful for my life

and try to finish up my work, work, work

all the while with the thought of how life

is simply a precious blink of time

and how all that you know and love

could be changed in an instant

and then I will kiss my family snug in the hedge of protection

we pray for

and offer a thankful self

to my Maker.

amen

 

 

the seed...

This week, I have been thinking quite a bit about seeds. Mostly about how there are a million different kinds, but that they all follow the same pattern of growth.

For example, a seed of hope. Planted well, the seed of hope can change a person's life forever.

Or, the seed of generosity. This kind of seed also sprouts and produces new seeds of generosity if handled with care.

Seeds of love are how you and yours fell head over heels in the first place...and how perhaps kiddos or pets or extended family came into you life as well.

There are seeds that breed negativity, unfortunately.

Seeds like bad moods, jealousy, and hate.

These are obviously the seeds we try desperately not to sow. But some days, that proves to be as daunting as a task as the nurturing required to make good seeds grow!

It sounds silly, but I suppose I have had all of these thoughts about seeds because I have been sickly, ickly, yucky sick. Like - in the horizontal position on the futon my Joshy lovingly put practically on top of the roaring woodstove to ease my body achin'. Ugh - how I despise, despise, despise being icky. I knew it was coming on, but I kept doing the ignore game, and obviously, the I-suddenly-am-not-going-to-take-my-vitamins nor am I going to get enough sleep deal lost.

I have waved my white flag to my Maker, I have begged between sighs to get back to that lovin' feeling.

Now, eye drops, appointments with many a horse pill meds later, I am well accustomed to this routine:

You know, during my many shuffling trips to the kitchen, I considerd that there are "seeds" like germs, that if introduced to you on a low-immune system day, can infiltrate, and again - grow, grow.

hmmmmm.

Starr Strung is also a seed to me - a seed planted in my life nearly five years ago, that has grown, and grown, and grown. And I don't type that here in a haughty manner...the growing pains have downright sucked.

When I first left my job as an editor, I remember just praying, praying, praying my little heart out that God would just cover my business in blessings, and that I could be used in some way as an instrument. Whether thru my creativity, my writing here, or elsewhere.

Kind of selfish sounding, now that I review that memory.

And then, Joyce Meyer said something this morning while I puttered about that made me stop:

"Everything God gives us comes in seed form."

Wow.

Double wow.

Just because we are given blessings, or opportunities, or ideas...well, that doesn't mean these things are at the full maturity of God's shining on us.

I see that much easier now - at least with my ideas for my little business, and also with our home and the relationships here, and business "friendships" forged over the past few weeks - we are not given pre-packaged, ready-to-serve opportunity from God.

Golly, that makes me stop and really think.

So - as I pondered the seeds planted unto me (because I think it's safe to say we all have quite a few at any given time zone in our lives), I considered that maybe God allowed the planting of the sicklies seed...so that I would sit...and look over all my new beads that I've been so busy running I haven't fully enjoyed...and make some new things.  I think God wants to see the seeds that he plants in us grow into beautiful, thriving, incredible representations of his love. And I believe that even if it's jewelry (and all of the amazing components of experiencing this, like meeting new and different and darling people,) I can be exactly what I am called to be.

So...with that said, here are what seeds of pretty and plenty I planted for Starr Strung today....and it feels good to see my dining room table filling. For this Friday is this:

 
I like this day...and I'm so very grateful for...the ability to accept the seeds that are planted and then entrusted to my care by my Maker. I think I'm going to start approaching all bits of my life with the attitude that I haven't been given burdens to carry, but instead, opportunities to nurture. And the results - no matter how soon or far off - will always be just exactly what I am supposed to enjoy.

I hope the seeds of your life are blooming into beautiful flowers...and that you , too , are able to enjoy the fruits of your labors.

"Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
~ Matthew 13:32 

new things posted here

 

in case you were wondering....

...the order of jurisdiction in the realm of the supernatural, please do note the following conversation, had with my sweet boy on the way to kindergarten, in between bites of overloaded jelly toast :

Jonah: Mom, do you know if Jesus rides on top of our truck when we drive?

Me: Ummmm...well, maybe. Yes. I suppose so. I mean, I do believe in angels, and that we all have a guardian angel. Don't you?

Jonah: Oh yes. Absolutely we do mom. Maybe even three or four.

Me: yes, I'm sure. That's how we are kept safe, and why we ask for a hedge of protection around us at all times.

Jonah: Yes. And do you know how Jesus and God and Santa know each other?

Me: Um, no. But I'm sure they do. How?

Jonah: Well, it really goes Jesus, then God, then Santa. So, God tells Santa what to do, and how to do it. Isn't that right?

From the mouths of babes, I tell ya (:

I hope this frigid Friday finds you well - aren't you thankful for your safety, and good health and happiness? I know I am, especially this wee one that I was blessed with, and the priviledge to be his momma.

(my worker man, all out -- note the muscle man shirt. It's December. And FREEZING. No  matter to him, he says, "Mom! I gotta work." I just oblige and turn the heat up (:

This day is filled with many things, but first I wanted to sit here and share these new pretties. Only a bit til Christmas, and my dining room table, coffee table, living room sitting spaces, and well..honestly? All spaces in between are littered with Starr Strung. Advance apologies, my Joshy...our floors will remain wood-stove dusty and there are clean clothes here...they are just smooshed in laundry baskets (:

(the Amanda Necklace - this is stunning, and I love it. Amanda, dearie, you will rock this, I'm sure. You are cute as a button and could seriously wear a napsack and look beautious, because of your sweet heart mostly, but this pretty ditty will take you over the MOON!) 

(Crackle double-strung bracelet, $42)

 
above: Happy Burst earrings, $25

below:  Turquoise and Flower Necklace, $38

above: Swirly drops earrings, $24

below:  Fauna bracelet, $25

above:  Lime and White earrings, $22

below: Gressa earrings, $26

above: my new personal faves: 1950s upcycled bits, the Adria earrings, $34

above: Beautiful! Yellow Jade and sterling tangles earrings, $35

above: Multi-gemstone and Yellow Jade - this Circle of Life necklace: $45

 

Now, off to package some pretty new things up, and tomorrow an offer here for a BIG FUN CHRISTMAS PRETTIES GIVEAWAY!

Can't wait to share - happy end o' the week to you and yours. Stay warm, count your blessings and remember: Jesus, God, Santa. Oh yes, and the guardian angels amongst us (:

" Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
 
  

fa la la la laaaaa la la la laaaah ....

For the five years that I have been making jewels, I have never really once ventured from the metal that I have always loved, and always worn (other than the diamond ring my daddy bought me when I was 13, which I promptly lost at a junior high track meet two days after receiving): Silver.

Well, all this is changing...my good friend Robin, who always keeps her keen little eyes out for good bits and pieces, stopped this week for a cleansing o' my bead trays (gotta make room for the 20 lbs of beads I purchased, aaaah!), and in tow were some rockin' things...in gold!

I like the result, I really do (:

Of course, I still love my silver...but it's good to venture into other mediums, yes?

These, all made yesterday, and photo'd today, because you see...the sun keeps peeking out here and there while the winds are seriously 50 mph and snow is blowing. It looks like all weather will be well enough to host a fun party tonight at my mommas (yahoo Arika!) and I'm hopeful we will have a great crowd too.

Here are a few other pretties to share, posted today for your enjoyment. I hope you love them.  

The big sale at the bead store treated me very well last week, I'm so glad I was able to attend and add some really nice, higher-quality components to my stash of supplies. It feels good to pass these new things on to my sweet customers - and I promised myself that this entire upcoming year, I will put just a little bit back at a time so that when I go again, I can really stock up!

It is now rush rush time...getting myself ready, packing bags for JC and myself for his time with Grammy tonight during the party...loading up my things for this party tonight. I hope I don't blow away while doing this, while I sit and type right now, I can see my neighbor's trash cans being thrown around Main Street like rag dolls!

Hope this post finds you and yours well, and warm. Are you feeling the excitement of Christmas? I am really starting to have it come over me: the kiddos excitedly decorated our little Charlie Brown tree while we sang the wrong words of Have a Holly Jolly Christmas this past weekend, and our town of Bethlehem is sweetly lit up on our mantle. Now the real challenge: keeping the boys from replacing the figurine of Mary with Transformer toys.  

Happy day!

"One of the hardest lessons we have to learn in this life, and one that many persons never learn, is to see the divine, the celestial, the pure in the common, the near-at-hand - to see that heaven lies about us here in this world." ~ John Burroughs   

(definitely not the tree we cut - this one was GIGANTIC!)
 

 

It is an honor....

...to support and do business with like-minded, hand-crafting, independent artisans, especially this fine shoppe on etsy:

EcoVintage, you rock!

I went on the great search this summer, with the goal in mind to find pretty packaging that was eco-friendly (and beautiful, and handmade to boot). I was on a budget, of course, and I knew that I didn't have time to learn the craft of box-making myself (: I always preach about how I want my business to be cohesive (Josh loves this word) - so that whether I offer my wares in new boutiques, art shows or to my everyday customers, the "look" of Starr Strung is seamless and pretty all around. Again, it was important to me to find an actual person - not a gigantical company - whom I could work with on this part of my pretties.

And now, after several months of offering my jewels in this pretty pretty packaging,

 

 
I am happy to hear customers ooh and aaah over these little ditties. 

Congrats Mickey! Congrats! Thank you for helping me with my business, and I think the cover of such a cute magazine is quite an accomplishment indeed (:

And to all of you, thank you for helping to make Starr Strung grow grow grow...this holiday season has been a thrill - albeit quite crazy busy - and I am so looking forward to what is next. It is an honor to bedeck you and yours in my upcycled vintage pretties, and I can't wait to show you what's next here in my neck of the woods.

And if the sun ever shines again (it looks like it is 8 p.m. here in Indiana at not even 1 o'clock) I will take pictures of my new things and happily post new pretties here and here.

Enjoy!

 

happy handmade holidays...

What is this time of year do to you? Deep down in your heart...what does it mean?

At our house, it means:

 

 

...doing silly things as a fam (like taking 14 pictures with the timer on the camera, and making sure not one of the four of us have our eyes closed, lips puckered or hands in mouth)...mowing through our advent calendars from mammie and pappie (because being behind on our daily dose of chocolate treat? unacceptable I say!), and eating ice cream with the Grinch for pizza and movie night.

Also, it means making our holidays as homemade as possible.

painting wooden picture frames for secret Santa gifts (:

 

taking pictures with our Christmas Joy Heart for our frames (see? so easy!)

...And making sparkley pine cones (courtesy of Robin, thank you!!)

 
Later, I will tie up some ribbon to these, put the photos in the frames, and have the kiddos add their names and an "I Love You" in their own handwriting, complete with the date. Now, what grammy doesn't love a homemade gift? Not to mention the affordability. I am striving this year (and I did last year too, but I have room for improvement) to make this year's giving all about thoughtfulness and love. I want my kiddos to learn to say 'thank you,' and 'i love you.' If I run to Target and buy whatevers easiest and merely marking someone off our lists? Not so much of a lesson for them. I like that they can be involved and see their labors of love from beginning to end, on Christmas day!

~~ all grandparents reading this - ACT SURPRISED! ~~

also, a note if you are interested in doing this too: (I used conventional white glue for the pine cones, although my step sizzle says you can also use hairspray! I don't have any aerosol, so I used what I had handy. You can also use spray adhesive, but I was a little afraid with wee ones, candles burning, greenery, a fireplace, etc. An Emergency Room Christmas doesn't sound fine to me.)

So... I drizzled Elmers all over the cones, and sprinkled the different sparkles in the bowl ahead of time to prevent sparkle madness in my dining room. I let the big kids roll the pinecones around, and walah! Finito! So pretty!)

I was still left with a dining room looking like this, but it's worth it. Next: CHRISTMAS COOKIE MADNESS!

Here is a recipe I am going to try out for my holiday Christmas cookie plates. Poke around on the Ray Ray site  -- I love this lady's ideas (:

I have a 20 lb bag of bead beauties now waiting on me to make make make, but for now it's laundry, Saturday errands, tree trimming, etc.

Here is another idea to try for a homemade holiday with your kiddos - hope you love it!

  
(a new cluster....hmmmmm....what shall I do with this? I love the response about these new Starr Strung pieces - so fun!)