It is sneaking up on us ...

Valentine's Day that is.

Get your order in now for this great double heart necklace for your special someone

(even if it is for yourself - because YOU are special)

This necklace is made from Sterling Silver & Copper

Hangs from a 1.5mm antiqued copper ball chain.

The pendant is approx 1 1/4" x 1 1/4"

You can email me at paintinbyfaith@cox.net to order.

$36 + $5 shipping.

Once Upon A Time

I lived in a land full of fairies.

They would sprinkle me with amazing fairy dust.

I had the most amazing little girls room full of daisies & dragonflies.

We would run through fields of ...

Cotton.

Ok so I am really full of shit.

I lived in what we called hell.

Girstown USA

Whiteface, Texas

Better known as the middle of nowhere.

We all had stories.

Here is mine.

It was 2 days before my 15th birthday

The first time I drove down that long ass driveway lined with trees.

This was my first time to see a cotton field.

It was August & I thought it was some weird phenomenon

Snow?

Ok back to it.

We drove straight down that road to the office.

I was scared as hell in my grey Wrangler, blue & white striped shirt, green boots & the most hideous maroon & grey belt that hung down in front like I had a wiener.

I didn't not want to see the inside of that office.

Later I would find going to that office was sacred.

In we went ... me, my dad & my Nana.

I think we went to eat lunch in the dining room first.

Holy shit that scared me even more.

Walking in there with all these troubled girls eyes on nothing but me

The new girl.

You see I was not tough at all.

Matter of fact I was one big pussy.

My first roommates name was Traci.

She was very nice.

But I hated her because I wasn't suppose to be here.

We had another roommate but she had ran away.

She was my 'roommate' for many months but I never met her.

Oh & my dorm parents.

Holy shit.

I can't even begin to explain - but they too scared the shit out of me.

I mean really look at them.

He was 10' tall with a mustache that could hurt you alone.

And those boots ... that is another story.

So here I am & there goes my dad & Nana in her gold 1973 Buick LeSabre

(hey don't laugh that was my first car)

What the hell was I suppose to do now?

Well first off my birthday was in two days.

That was a strategic move.

See you couldn't be 'locked up' there after you turned 15.

So for my first birthday locked up I was there with all those eyes that scared me.

No calls.

Well you know that was against the rules.

30 days:

No calls from home.

No mail from home.

No contact with anything I fucking knew.

So you can imagine the pity fucking party I had for my 15th birthday.

My dad & Nana just dumped me in the middle of cotton hell with a bunch of crazy chics.

Oh yea after 2 days I was still 'the new girl'

And the 'mafia' wasn't digging  me & my maroon & grey wiener belt.

I was scared to death of the mafia momma too.

She is the smiley one on the bottom left with the pink shirt on.

I remember my first punishment was for calling my roommate Traci a bitch

I had to scrub our dining room floor in our dorm with a toothbrush.

Really?

Thanks for that lesson Betsy!

Well eventually I became very close to Cristi.

She was 2 years older than me.

She was like my big sister.

(psst .. that is the weiner belt)

Then she left me.

Like that she graduated & left.

I felt alone again.

Truly.

I had made other friends

But my sister just left me.

That girl there in the middle.

Thats Tonya.

Holy shit was I scared of her!

Then she moved into our dorm.

I don't remember why.

But I was glad ... we became friends.

Just was not so scary.

She was like the rest of us.

So we became very close.

Loved her.

I think we were roommates but I can't remember for sure.

She made bail.

She left me.

But not before we outed the creepy houseparents above!

So then we had some other crazy houseparents.

Don & Karen.

Oh Karen loved me.

When I would burp as loud as possible she would ground me.

Tee hee ... I didn't mean to burp Karen.

It is a natural bodily function.

Bitch.

Then there was Sherri & Stan!

Alas.

Family.

Oh no not real family.

But trust me they are family.

There is so much between the beginning & end I don't remember.

And so much I do.

Summer trips with girls we didn't normally 'hang' with

But loved nevertheless.

Trips to Boys Ranch that you get to know someone you may have never become close to otherwise.  And the next thing you know you love them too.

One thing I know for fact is we were hot!

I did things there I would never have done at home.

Well what did you expect ... we graduated with 13 people.

I had my own hog.

But the point to my story:

That mafia that I mentioned?!

Those girls are my sisters.

I love each & everyone of them.

With the good & bad we went through

I learned something from every single one of them that I carry with me today.

We graduated in 1991

We all left.

My sisters were gone.

Not one of them.

All of them.

Then there was FaceBook.

My hero.

Thank you Tom.

(wasn't that the guys name that was your first friend when you signed up?)

I have my sisters back in my life.

We are spread out all over this country & world.

But they are my sisters.

Take a few years from us ... but you will never take our love for each other!

We still slept together.

We still laughed together.

We will forever be bonded by that long driveway lined with trees.

And fairy dust.

Stay tuned for more pictures with more sisters!

2012

Happy 2012.

I am excited to see what this year will bring.

I have a lot to look forward to.

In April I have my very first featured piece in Bead Trend magazine.

Then more in May & June.

I am working on something to submit for July.

August.

September.

You get it.

2011 proved to be a growing year for my business.

I am still finding my 'place' as a business -

But I am learning as I go.

I am going to jump in with both feet & try to publish a how to book.

That is my one & only New Year's Resolution.

Although I do have other goals.

I just don't want to put that huge stress on my shoulders.

Instead I am just going to continue to have fun.

Play with my torch.

And continue to love what I do.

Here is a great year for all of us!



New!!!

So I have a little bit of news to share.

First of all ...

One of my pair of earrings will be featured in the Bead Trend magazine in April!

Super excited about this.

ME published?!?!

I can't wait until April!!!

Also ... officially ... my jewelry is being carried in a retail shop.

The Secret Garden Candle Company is carrying it as of Wednesday!!!

I will be making more for them.

Inspirational pieces.

So I have had a lot going on ... but I love being busy in my playground!



What I Truly Hate About ME

There is this thing,

about me,

that I truly hate.

I am completely insecure in love.

In general,

in the rest of my life,

I am pretty secure in what I do & who I am.

I can do anything I want to do.

But love?

I love him with everything in me.

I waited way too long to get here.

I never want to lose it.

 I know he loves me too.

I am just always afraid there is better.

I don't talk about this.

I carry it around inside,

And it eats me up.

Sometimes makes me absolutely crazy.

Other times all is good.

It must be that day for silent struggle.

It will pass.

And I will still have this.



Home Sweet Home

I am back home.

We got home on Friday.

I think today is the first day I truly feel rested & was ready to get back to it.

I had a show on Saturday so I had to get up & get going again right away.

The show went well.

So before I show you what I worked on today first I will tell you the results we got for our week in Memphis.

My daughter is a candidate for the surgery to end her seizures.

We are tentatively going back in January.

So I am sure I will be really keeping myself busy to keep my mind from stressing.

This is a good thing but stress is definitely there.

So I have already jumped right back into my work.

I seriously don't think I walked away for my desk more than long enough to shower.

I love being creative.

And I love being able to go with whatever style my mind wants to go with.

Today I had this Vintage Victorian thing sticking with me.

I really had some true intentions of doing some of these in just sterling.

Very clean.

Very much not me!

By why change what works for me.

Why move away from what I love?

This is me.

I am loving the silhouettes.

But this has to be my favorite of the day:

Remember the old victorian pictures like this?

I want one now.

I am going to have to make one for my house!



Exhaustion - then its gone.

Complete exhaustion has set in.

I was hopeful Bay would just rest well last night without events.

But that didn't happen.

We settled in.

Bay went right to sleep.

Mom & I were right to sleep.

Then I hear Mom saying, 'Bailey, Bailey'

I sit up & see Bay getting out of her bed

About to pull all of her wires out.

The next about 2 hrs were very busy.

She had 2 small seizures then one big one.

I ended up sleeping most the night in bed with her

Tight squeeze - we are big girls.

Well while typing this the doctors came in to talk to us.

My exhausted feeling is gone.

Amazing how news can change the way one feels metally & physically.

For the first time in 13 yrs I know exactly where Bay's seizures come from.

I know that her seizures, where they come from & all of it makes sense.

Not to me but to the doctor.

The person that it matters to make sense to.

He can't say firmative just yet but from what he has seen so far she very well may be a candidate for surgery.

A cure.

I have hope.

She has hope.

HOPE.



No matter how many seizures my child has I never get use to them.

I know you understand that.

I see her go into that state where she doesn't know who I am or what I am saying.

She still talks - but it makes no sense.

She pushes me away.

Then she cries when it's over.

I always think she is crying because it hurts.

But she says because she is embarrassed.

I tell her to never be ashamed of who she is.

She is beautiful.

She is one of the most loving & compassionate child I know.

She has a passion for animals.

As you can probabley tell by this picture - who carries around a rooster with a blanket?

LoL

She did have a seizure today.

Which was a good thing today.

She is in a protected enviroment.

And the doctors will now be able to see the seizure itself along with the brain wave readings with it so we can get more understanding of her seizures

And a treatment plan that works for her.

So that seizure was good.

That is so hard to say.



 

Bailey Gets It

It isn't an easy thing to understand sometimes when a child hears their parent say they feel lucky when they are talking about a medical condition they have.

I have said for a very long time that I feel very lucky because I have 5 children & Bailey's seizures are the only medical issue I deal with.

Her seizures are VERY mild compared to what a lot of people deal with.

They are focalized seizures.

She doesn't fall down & jerk like what most people think of when they hear the word seizure.

Bailey just didn't get what I was saying.

In her mind & her world this is so devastating.

She is different than her peers.

So it is horrible to her.

I always knew she thought I was crazy.

But she gets it.

Bailey has had the opportunity to hear other children's stories with this visit to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.

This has been so good for her.

And me.

And my mother.

We are not only understanding more about the other side of this illness,

But we are appreciating our blessings also.

We have met one couple that has a son that started having seizures before his first birthday.

He is behind on his development.

He has behaviour issues.

He is on a medication that is needed that makes him do things like chew on furniture.

He goes into status often.

When they go into status you have to give them a medication that is basically a sedative that knocks them out & take them straight to the hospital.

This little boy is so cute but deals with a very hard illness.

Then there is another little girl that has seizures that deals with them almost daily.

A simple sound that you hear everyday - a door opening - can set one off.

She is eleven years old & only weighs 50 lbs.

She is very behind on her development.

Doesn't talk much if really at all.

Her father asked Bailey how the seizures felt.

He can't even ask his eleven year old that question

And appreciated being able to ask Bailey this question.

So Bailey is getting it.

She feels lucky.

She feels blessed.

She still doesn't like it.

But she gets it.

FedEx Family House

My 15 year old daughter has seizures.

She has since she was 2 years old.

I do feel rather blessed that her seizures are as mild as they are.

Especially after talking to some of the parents here.

So blessed.

Bailey has been through testing like what we are doing now before.

She was in 1st grade so she was around 7 years old then.

It wasn't a horrible experience but definetly rough.

For her testing this time we are in Memphis, Tn.

First time I have ever been here - not much sight seeing going on.

Just out our window.

But we are having an amazing experience.

We drove in on Sunday because we were to check in on Monday morning at 5:30a.

They had told me we can put you all up in the FedEx Family House.

I had never heard of this, but appreciated the help.

And it is directly across the street from the hospital.

I didn't know what to expect at all.

But I know I didn't expect what we received.

The most kind & amazing accomadations for the night.

This place is absolutely amazing.

And it is all because of donations & people giving of their time.

It was more like a 5 star hotel.

Kitchens - yes with an 's' - for the families to use.

A wall of books.

There was even grills for families to use while they are there.

We were there one night - some families have children in the hospital for months.

MONTHS.

And they make them as comfortable as possible in the FedEx Family House.

The kids love it!

It is so lovely there.

The art work!!!

Oh my.

I couldn't stop looking at the beatiful artwork.

Each one had a little sign beside it with the artist name & the worth of the piece.

All donated.

I want to help support this place.

Everyone that donates & gives back has a place that grabs their heart.

This is mine.

I can't stop saying it:

AMAZING

KIND

CARING

So I will be donating to this place when I can.

Every chance I get.

I hope to really be able to give back.

They take food donations also.

(the kitchens are stocked with food items for the families)

Seeing all the art - how peaceful it was.

The children even loved looking at it.

Lit my fire of wanting to paint again.

I have some ideas in my head -

I will be painting some pieces to donate to them.

Do you have a place like this that just holds a special place in your heart?



Sometimes I Wonder if He Knows

I have this wonderful man in my life.

Sara Evans

I have been listening to my Sara Evans CD lately & if you listen to the song by clicking on her name above you will hear the one I have often bypassed for others often but the other day I really listened to it.

You know what I am talking about.

We all hear songs but sometimes you stop.

You listen.

You hear.

THEN you get.

That is what I did with this song.

I often mention how lucky I feel right?

I have a great relationship with a man I adore.

He supports me & my creative needs.

He even often tells me he is proud of me.

If you have ever heard those words from someone you adore you know how that feels.

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

So here is what I have been daydreaming about while hearing this song.

Have you ever thought about the sun & moon as lovers?

I know me either!

But think about this:

The sun chase the moon, the moon tucks away bashfully.

They never tire of this game.

Each only exsist with the other.

They need each other for balance.

Their love affair is infinity.

Always.

The Sun & the Moon

Walking Advertisment

I was told the other day I looked like a walking advertisment.

Well of course I did!

You have to be willing to wear your own creations.

Why would you make something you don't absolutely adore yourself?

I don't.

If I wouldn't wear it I don't make it.

Ok I kind of take that back - if I get an order for something of course I will make it.

Even if it isn't something I would pick to wear.

But yes I do wear my pieces.

I wear them to test the strudiness.

I wear them to test the comfort.

I wear them all almost!

At least once.

Well minus the earrings - because of the obvious.

I find myself actually liking to wear jewelry now.

I didn't at one time.

Because I wasn't finding MY style.

Now I totally have my own style!!

And I love it!



Indie Emporium

I am really excited about being a part of the Indie Emporium this year.

The shop where I teach classes got us teachers into this show.

I had never heard of it - WHAT!

This is exactly the kind of show I want to be a part of!

Here are the things I have worked on just today for this show:

Sterling silver dangle star earrings.

Sterling silver love bird earrings.

Copper love birds on sterling silver hoops.

Copper love birds on sterling silver hoops - matching necklace.

Dainty sterling silver w/ copper center flower earrings.

If you are local COME VISIT!!!