Plan B

22 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, crafts, Inspirational, Scripture, sparkling, words

Tags

All Sparkled Up, hope, inspiration, light, Plan B, scripture, sequins, sparkling

I Figured out Plan B. Isn’t that the best feeling ever… When you come up with a plan B that will actually work? :)
Sometimes things are really mixed up and messed up. There’s no order. There is nothing to grasp. You watch Plan A fall away in little bits.

Plan A, scattered like sequins.

You go through the motions of trying to clean up. Again.

And then you think maybe there’s another way.

You start over.

You try again.

Don’t give up.

Plan B.

I call plan B ….

HOPE.

Plan B is Hope. It’s not perfect. It still has cracks around the edges. Sometimes it’s fragile and not very clear. But Plan B will work.

And Plan B is always crazy BRAVE!
Sometime Bravery is all you need to come up with Plan B.

Don’t give up! God knows exactly where you are. Ask Him to help you make it through.

Go for Brave.
Sara Bareilles sings Brave.

[A huge public Thank You to my son Ethan. Ever since I broke my back last year and had 17 vertebrae fused, I can’t get down to ground level easily. As I shared my idea for this post, Ethan became my Hope. Sometimes Hope from God arrives in the form of a person. They bring light when everything seems fractured and dark. Ethan, you’re the best!]

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Little Ribbon Totes and Miniature Purses

22 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in beading, crafts, miniature, sparkling

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

bead crafts, crafts, mini, mini purse, miniature, miniature purse, miniature tote, purses, ribbon

Rainy day fun with ribbon and beads making tiny totes and miniature purses.
I started with the Klutz book Ribbon Purses (no longer in print) and made this tiny purse following their directions and using the kit materials.

A tiny ribbon purse made with Klutz book kit materials.

I really wanted to stick with just the kit items but then I thought of this one, using some of the kit supplies and adding my own seed beads and charms.

Tiny ribbon purse with charm dangle.

I didn’t follow the directions on this one but did use the kit supplies plus seed beads.

I used the purple beads from the kit to form the purse bottom.

Then I got a shiny new idea.

Tiny ribbon tote bag supplies: ribbon, chain, metallic trim, square beads, brass beads and eye pins.

Tiny ribbon tote bag supplies: I used the ribbon from the kit but the chain, metallic trim, square beads, brass beads and eye pins are my own.

Tiny ribbon tote bag. This was fun to design!

For the last one, I used the Klutz kit ribbon but added my own embellishment. I would love to make a full size clutch purse like this. The hardest component would be finding large, clear, flat-sided acrylic gems to form the sides of the clutch. I love how the light passes through this purse. I used a tiny turtle from a pierced earring for the decoration on the side.

The light passes through the gems in the sides of this tiny clutch purse.

I used a tiny turtle from a pierced earring to embellish this miniature clutch purse.

We planted strawberries in the hanging planter

15 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in gardening, Uncategorized

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container gardening, gardening, hanging plants, nature, planters, plants, strawberries, strawberry planter, strawberry plants

Honestly though, I’m not optimistic. My husband brought home a box of 20 “Strawberry Plants” from a discount store. Inside were two plastic bags of dirt and not a green leaf in sight. It took me a while to figure out the mass of mulch-looking matter actually contained some roots. I had no idea how the tangled mass was 20 plants so I just played in the dirt a bit until 20 little “pony tails” fell out.

The strawberry plant roots were all tangled together in a mass

I figured the plant end must be the part that was not the root end. I’m really a beginner at most gardening so this mass of root was new to me. ha

Strawberry plant… which end is which?

We’ve had the Hanging Strawberry Planter “As Seen on TV!” for several years but have never used it. I’ve never seen it on TV but bought it when it was steeply discounted in a toy catalog. Not exactly a move a seasoned gardener would make, eh?
We put dirt into the planter up to the middle of the first holes and lightly pressed it down. The directions said to press the roots of strawberry plants in through the hole, being careful not to damage the fragile leaves. But all we had was a lumpy stump so I did it opposite – I pushed the hard little stump out of the planter and spread the pony tail roots inside.

Good planting soil is shoveled into the hanging strawberry planter.

We slowly filled the planter with dirt and kept adding plants. Some plants had to share a hole.

Here you can see the roots spread out over the soil and the “not root” end sticking out the hole.

We continued laying plants and soil until the planter was full. After the last plants were added, we filled the planter up with soil.

A last layer of soil is added to the planter.

One of my strong sons lifted the planter up to the sturdy hook in the roof. It’s the sunniest spot on the deck and the strawberries should fare ok there.

The planter is lifted up to the sturdy hook.

We measured a gallon of water and poured it in.

When the soil settled, we added a bit more and then added more water. We must water once a day.

And now we wait.

It’s not the prettiest addition to our deck, but it is promising.

I’m going to watch for leaves. I’ll give these plants a week or so before making a judgement. If they don’t make it, now that we know how to use the hanging planter, I’ll go to a garden center and get “real” strawberry plants. Since I’m still a beginning gardener, I need a back-up gardening plan like that. We suspect that more knowledgeable gardeners must spend way less money on gardening than beginners like us with multi-layered back-up plans.

The roses have bloomed

15 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in flowers, gardening, Inspirational, Scripture

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

flowers, gardening, roses, spring

‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

The bright pink roses are Zepherine, the pale pink is Sceptre'd Isle and the barely pink is Blush Noisette. The purple flowers are Columbine. The scent has completely filled my dining room.

The bright pink roses are Zephirine Drouhin, the pale pink is Sceptre’d Isle and the barely pink is Blush Noisette. The purple flowers are Columbine. The scent from this little bouquet has completely filled my dining room.

My rose bushes were seriously neglected for over five years. For all this neglect, they still burst into bloom. I am honored and humbled that roses grace my table. The Lord’s plans are good.

Soap Bubbles on Mother’s Day

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, grandkids, sunlight

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bubbles, family, soap bubbles

Soap Bubbles on Mother's Day

My granddaughter and bubbles.

It was a marvelous Mother’s Day.

Miniature Perfume Bottles

09 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in beading, crafts, miniature, sparkling

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

bead bottles, bead crafts, beads, crafts, miniature, miniatures

I was cleaning out old photo files and found these photos from way back in 2003.

All the perfume bottles are made of beads, earring backs and jewelry findings. They are tiny, some less than half an inch. To help the bead “bottles” stand up, I glued the bead on a pierced earring back. If you want to see the most detail in these photos, click on the photo to open a larger image. Then at the upper left of each photo will be a link that says “ORIGINAL SIZE AT (number) “. Click that link to see the largest image.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads and jewelry findings. Please click on the photo to see a larger image.

A small plastic organizer with the lid removed made an elegant faux glass shelf unit for the miniature bead bottles.

A small plastic organizer with the lid removed served as an elegant “glass” shelf unit for the miniature bead bottles.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads.

Miniature perfume bottles made from beads. This dresser tray is a mirror with trim glued around the edge.

To make the tray, I glued seed beads around the edge of a small mirror.

The first two photos were taken in my kitchen window… so many years ago, even before we planted the rose bush which has climbed all the way up to the kitchen window. I don’t remember where I put all the tiny bead bottles. When I find them, I think I’ll put the display case in the bedroom or bathroom window. I love tucking miniatures around the house. Most people never see them but I like knowing that my home has an even smaller story for those who have eyes to catch it.

Rainy May Day French Beading

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in beading, crafts, flowers, nature, sparkling, sunlight

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

beads, crafts, french beaded flowers, French Beading, May, rainy day

It’s been mostly overcast and rainy for at least two weeks now.

A Rainy day in May.

I’m discovering that the weather greatly affects my pain level, ever since having my spine fused. Despite the pain, I shall redeem this time.

Rain in May, drip drip drip, fall the crystal drops …

Today when the sun peeked out briefly, I stood outside even while the rain was still falling, so desperate to feel sun on my face.

Even the trees are becoming mossy from all the dampness this spring.

Then the clouds moved in again and I tucked back in the darkness of my work space. But places don’t have to stay colorless and uncheered. I got out the beads.

Seed beads, mostly size 11, including Aiko and Delicas, fill a bin with color.

Pearl, crystal and glass beads.

They glistened and captured every speck of light. I didn’t want any light to get away.

Beads in a small condiment dish.

I made petals and leaves and flower centers.

Gold and bronze bead flower centers await petals and assembly.

I use children’s teacups and dishes to hold flower components while I work. Here a child’s teacup holds stamens.

A small child’s teacup holds white stamens.

I made a cardboard insert in a bin to hold my bead bottles upside down so I can see the color of the contents better.

These vintage flower centers belonged to my grandmother. I’m looking forward to using them. Thank you so much, dear sister Donna for sending them!

I will use these vintage flower beads in French Beaded flowers and jewelry.

Even though it is dark and rainy outside and there are no flowers blooming in the window, I have flowers blossoming on the table.

French Beaded flowers

French Beaded flowers in a shoebox await stems and leaves.

French Beaded flowers

You are more valuable than many sparrows

02 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in Inspirational, nature

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bird, inpirational, nature, scripture, tufted titmouse

It is true. God knows exactly where you are and what you need. You are extraordinarily valuable to him and He is watching over you.

The tiny Tufted Titmouse flitted around our deck gathering bits of cat hair in its beak to feather its nest. Click photo to save a larger desktop size photo.

Figs

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in gardening, Inspirational, nature, sunlight

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

fig trees, figs, God, harvest, new growth, Psalms, spring

Sometimes there’s a really brutal winter. The rains are torrential, the winds searing, the snow deep. But then comes the spring.

This will be the biggest fig harvest yet.

The leaves are gorgeous when the sun streams through them.

After winter, always new growth.

And the harvest.

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27: 13-14

Always the harvest.

Taking a break

22 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

I’m going to take a little break from blogging. I need to dedicate some serious effort to recovery and repair. Thank you to my wonderful followers! I will have a lot more content for you when I return, complete with photos, tutorials, printables and inspiration.

Love to you all and thank you for your support. It means a lot to me.