Author Archives: Julia Monroe

Cascade Heart Wreath – In the Garden

13 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in crafts, projects, tutorial, Valentine's Day, wreath

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I’m quite happy to finally finish my Cascade Heart Wreath, Garden theme. This is the first of four Cascade Heart Wreaths I’m making, all completely different in color and style. But they all start with a Styrofoam frame forming the top of the heart and a cascade of hanging trim forming the lower part of the heart. I have been wanting a heart shaped wreath for some time now but wanted a more organic, flowing design. Making a heart with a cascade bottom was the perfect solution. An unexpected bonus: when the cascade is made of lighter material, it flutters with air movement. Having that movement is soothing to me, like a gentle spring breeze catching leaves.

This wreath reminds me of the kind of garden you would discover at the edge of property, not always tended, sometimes forgotten, a little bit wild but still beautiful. Pockets of little stones are scattered around the mossy knoll and the picket fence is a perfect resting spot for a baby bird. I adore swings and decided this garden needed a secret swing, hidden in the ivy.

Cascade Heart Wreath - Garden theme, with ivy vines hanging down

Cascade Heart Wreath - The flowers at the end of some vines help define the heart shape

Cascade Heart Wreath - A baby bird perches on the picket fence.

Cascade Heart Wreath - The wreath is embellished with moss, stones, ferns, flowers and tiny clear, glass beads, like dew.

Cascade Heart Wreath - A tiny butterfly perches on the rope of a secret swing hanging amidst the vines.

To see the tutorial for making a Cascade Heart Wreath, click for more.

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Craft Fail – Butterfly Wing

11 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by in Craft Fail, crafts, nature, projects

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It didn’t work! So disappointing! About three years ago I found a butterfly wing in the driveway. I couldn’t bear to let it go so I pinned it to my bulletin board. For the past three years, it has gently fluttered on my bulletin board every time the furnace or air conditioner kicked on.

I needed a little butterfly for the project I’m working on and thought it would be sweet to cut the butterfly wing up to make a smaller butterfly. The first “alas!” was trying to draw cutting marks on the wing using a permanent marker. The marker bled rapidly into the wing, ruining the beautiful yellow. The second “Alas!” was when the butterfly wing shattered when I pressed an x-acto knife on it. I tried to cut the wing using sharp manicure scissors and that fared better but the wing is beyond use and the beauty that I have enjoyed for three years is gone.

Craft Fail - Cutting a butterfly wing did not work


What I learned:
1. Do not try to mark a butterfly wing with anything, just cut freehand.
2. Use sharp manicure or embroidery scissors to cut butterfly wings.
3. If the wing is really beautiful, don’t do anything at all to it. Just pin it to a bulletin board and enjoy it, especially if it flutters in the breeze when you walk by.

Craft Fail! Corks and Chains

07 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Craft Fail, jewelry making

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Some of my short lengths of jewelry chain were getting tangled up in the box so I decided to wrap them around something. Great use for the wine corks, I thought. I drilled one hole through the middle of the cork and then another hole from the top center to the side of the cork.
I dropped an inch of chain through the center hole and then secured it by wrapping chain around the cork. Then I put the remaining end of chain up through the side hole and out the top of the cork.
Looks great!
But then when you lift the cork, the chain falls right off the bottom of the cork! Ha ha!
Back to the drawing board on this design.

Craft Fail - Jewelry Chain keeper. The chain falls right off the bottom!

Brave Heart <3

01 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in crafts, Gilded Girls, Inspirational, Valentine's Day

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Scripture says that we are all one body. Jesus prayed that we would all be one. Did you ever wonder what part of the body you are?
–Bone cells are very rigid. They are supposed to be that way. They don’t like change. But they have to be healthy with a little flex or they will become brittle and break.
–Nerve cells are super sensitive. They respond instantly and impulsively. They pass on messages without even thinking.
–Blood cells travel. They don’t stay in one place. They are very social. They pick up nutrients and components from some parts of the body and pass on nourishment to other parts. They are in constant communication as they travel.
–Heart cells go through repetitive motion, day and night. They don’t move around and they work incredibly hard.
What part of the body are you? What does an eyelash do? What does a toenail cell do? What does a skin cell do? What does a brain cell do?

I’ve wondered over the years what part of the body I am. Sometimes I think I know and then that changes and I’m not sure. But this I do know: I was made to meditate and be creative and make things with my hands.

I have friends who think arts and crafts are simply trivial stuff to do when you have spare time from your “real life” occupations. They think craft materials are a waste of money. But what if…consider carefully… what if being creative and making things with your hands WAS what you were created to do from the day you were formed? And if you stopped functioning in the capacity God planned when he made you, it would be a loss to humanity?

…pausing to reflect on this…

This was made with my hands.

Heart Box - materials and directions from Gilded Girls Stash Society


The beautiful design is by Alisa Noble using materials from Gilded Girls Stash Society.

For too many years, I set aside making things because it wasn’t considered valuable in my social circle. It wasn’t considered an asset to society. It was thought to be frivolous and unworthy and wasteful. But it was God who made me creative from the day I was formed and being creative fulfills his design for my life. When I live fully the way I was made, life is amazing and good and there is no darkness there.

Please be encouraged, dear creative reader, that what you do with your hands has enormous value to God. What you feel with your heart is valuable to humanity. What you say with your mouth is enlightening to society. Rejoice and be brave, don’t hold back.
I can’t remember where this is in the Bible but these words have encouraged me to be brave and pursue the creative life God planned for me. And this is my prayer for you:
– – – Be strong and of good courage, fear not nor be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, he it is that goes with you, he will not fail you nor forsake you. – – –

Joy!

31 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by in Christmas, crafts, Gilded Girls, projects, sparkling

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Day of Joy! I woke naturally this morning, without a migraine slamming me awake, for the first time in 23 days. Joy, Joy! :) Oh my, the day is bright. And I finally finished making a gorgeous gold and silver banner that I started back in December. Yay! Even though I missed Christmas, today is still worthy of hanging up this glittery gold and silver banner.

The supplies and tutorial were from the November box from Gilded Girls Stash Society. [click on the photo to see a larger image]
I loved working on this banner! Because the days were so busy, I could only complete little steps here and there. I didn’t mind it taking a while though because that just meant I could handle the pretty materials a little bit longer. The letters are glittered with German Glass glitter, which sparkles a lot more than plastic craft glitter.

After taking this photo, I noticed that a gold button had fallen off the “O” while hanging the banner. It must be behind the sofa. That will be an activity for my granddaughter – finding the gold button for the O. I thank God that even home-bound days can be full of JOY.

Diamonds in the storm

27 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by in Inspirational

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The rain came suddenly from stormy skies. It was unexpected and just made a bad day worse. I squinted out into the weather, holding my throbbing head. Then just as suddenly, the clouds parted and sun broke through. There! Do you see them? Diamonds hung from the trees. Even with my blurred vision, I did not miss the sparkling beauty.  Even in storms, there are diamonds. You just have to look for them.

Diamonds in the storm

 

Orange & Date Scones Recipe

21 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in baking, food, recipe

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These are without a doubt my most favorite scones ever! I don’t remember where the recipe came from. I have it hand-written in a 20 year old notebook. If anyone knows the source, I would be glad to give credit.

I managed to convince myself these scones are healthy because there are only two tablespoons of brown sugar in the recipe, plenty of whole wheat and good fruit. This way I justify the 1 cup of butter and 2/3 cup buttermilk completely.

These are best served warm. However they taste just as delicious warmed in the microwave the next day.

Orange Date Scones

Combine in a large bowl:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. salt

Cut in:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter

In a small bowl, combine:

  • 2/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup chopped dates
  • 1 tsp grated orange rind

Add the buttermilk/date mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a fork just until evenly moistened.  Turn out on a floured surface; dough will be soft. Pat to an 8″ circle. Cut into 8 wedges.

Orange Date Scones - This photo shows a double recipe here with half the dough being cut into 8 wedges.

Heat oven to 450.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in heavy 9 x 13″ baking dish in oven. This takes just a couple minutes so watch the dish.  Remove from oven.

Place wedges in the melted butter and return to oven.  Bake 15 minutes.

While scones are baking, in a pan on medium heat, melt 2 tbsp butter with 3 tbsp orange marmalade.  Brush over hot scones when they are done baking.

Serve immediately. Makes 8

Orange Date Scones

Orange & Date Scones

21 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in baking

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How rainy and dreary it is today! The chill went right to my bones. Since I was feeling under the weather, both from a cold and from the cold, I decided to make my favorite scones.

I got out the dates and the orange. Then I nibbled a date – Organic Medjool Dates from Whole Foods, and it was so smooth and sweet. Yum. And instead of grating the rind from the orange, I had to take a bite. So I peeled the orange to get a bite of date with orange. Oh how sublime! I ended up making a cup of herb tea (Traditional Medicinals Breathe Easy) and ate a bunch of dates and the orange instead of baking. I am thankful that God thought to create such exquisite flavors that we can pluck straight from a tree with no fuss and no cooking. Extraordinary.

Orange and Dates

Under Construction

20 Friday Jan 2012

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Please bear with me as I learn more about blogging. There is so much I want to do here but haven’t figured it all out yet. There are a lot of wonderful blogs out there and I have a list of blogs and links I check regularly and want to share but I haven’t figured out how to add them to the side of this page yet. Links, tutorials, thumbnail galleries… Hopefully I’ll grasp it all soon. Thank you so much for your patience!

Gold Embroidered Sequin Lace

19 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by in beading, crafts, Gilded Girls, sewing, sparkling

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A gorgeous piece of lace arrived from Gilded Life. It is stunning!

Aqua Sequin Lace

When I really love something, I wonder “Why do I like this so much?”
After doing a little thinking, it occurred to me that the aqua and gold are colors in a mug my grandmother made for me in 1968. I was 10 years old.

The "Julie" mug my grandmother made for me in 1968.

The shell pink of her prim handwriting, the pale aqua wash of the man’s shirt, the blue, pink and green are my favorite colors. No wonder I love that sparkling gold and aqua fabric.