HEADS UP ~ Making Clay Roses

HEADS UP EVERYONE!

What am I talking about, you may be asking? Well, as an artist of many media's, I can honestly say that the re-awakening of my making of Clay Roses has brought some of the most satisfaction as of late to me. I can been seen many evenings sitting on my sofa besides my hubby, who may be watching a sport shows, happily creating my roses. It is also VERY theraputic for me as well.

So........I thought I'd get my act together, invite those of you who are interested in learning how to make your own clay roses and leaves...to come back on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. I will POST a *HOW TO* blog on the ART of making clay roses. That's why I am giving to FAIR warning!

Below, I posted just a few pictures of the items that I have embellished with my own clay roses...but I know there are so many more ideas and creative souls out there.


A current item I just finished and have listed in my 2Chicfriends ebay selling sight.

A current Cross of Roses that I have listed in my etsy shop.

This adorable *R* was gifted to my sweet mother, ROSE, on Mother's Day of this year!
An array of sweet Clay Rose Pins I made.
A Goblet of Roses!
A Sweet Dove resting in a Bed of Roses!

Here's hoping I will see many of you back here in the next few days for my *HOW To* post!

Blessings to each of you for a wonderful week ahead!
Lorena

I have a WINNER for MY GIVEAWAY!!!

Okay...so I am a little late in getting in here..but I am sure you will forgive me..cause I was visiting with my mom who just got back from a nice vacation. So..as you can see by my picture..I got all of the names off of your comments and had my sweet hubby pick a name outta the bowl for me! lol

THE WINNER IS...............................Deby. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

I will be leaving Deby a comment and getting her goodies off to her this week! Thanks so much for joining with me in my 150th Post Celebration...who know's...I LOVE to give things away..so I might do this again real soon!



Have a blessed day!
Lorena

Sweet Tweet SWAP ~ The Big Reveal!

I Joined Ele at A Bit of Pink Heaven for her Sweet Tweet Swap in Honor of Spring. Be sure to click on her name to see the other participants of this FUN swap!!! This was so much fun!!! SPRING has to be my favorite time of the year because the dreary days of winter are gone and new growth is all around us. So this swap was just what the Doctor order! lol

But alas I digress...sooooooo, back to our swap... as you may have guessed, our theme meant we could do Fun Springy things! My partner was Lisa, who doesn't have a blog..but I sure have enjoyed getting to know her! What a sweet gal she is, so busy with 3 young ones but the nicest person ever! I think we both felt like kindred spirits in many ways!
Well Lisa, had a slight advantage of being able to peek through my blog and she did such a GREAT job of figuring me out, LOL. OH, MY, GOODNESS! She sure spoiled me just wonderfully. See that gorgeous box? It was FULL of Sweet Tweet Goodies!!! The Hat Box was all covered in Roses and a little yellow finches, of which we get finches in the spring here, and they are my favorite bird...so bright a sunny yellow and fun to watch!
She had that hat box filled to the brim with so many good treats..my head was spinning! See?

Oh Dash!!! Those blurry white birds are darling salt/pepper shakers. And of course, this girl LOVEs plates of all kinds, too!


And then I amwondering how she figuring this one out I LOVE bracelets and have so many. So of course she sent this bracelet which is JUST full of roses, for *Moi*...you know, the Queen of Roses, here! It was her favorite...but of course its mine as well!


And then of course, I could not forget my other FAV, this wonderul Large Tea Cup...Lisa, I have already used this for my Morning Coffee...does this count for 1 or 2 Cups? lol


And last but surely NOT least of all of my goodies...is this sweet felt blue bird...Oh pictures just don't do this sweet bird justice, you really do need to see this in person...but wait, its more than that!!! It's a TAPE MEASURE!!! Yep it sure is...but you CANNOT have it its MINE!!! lol

Lisa, you did such an AWESOME job and I am so enjoying all of my new goodies and have them spread throughout my home, and when I see them they remind me of you!

Now, since Lisa doesn't have a Blog...I offered to show pitures of what I sent to her. So below are pictures of some of the goodies that I sent Lisa. The sweet box with a Dove was somethinge I made especially for her. She said she loved blues...and so do I...so this was an easy one for me!



This is a letter *L* that I did for Lisa . It has pink seed beads with some of my handmade clay roses.
I also sent a petitte cake, lavendar sachet, some birds egg sweets, clay roses and a blue birdsnest tassle.
Thanks again Lisa...and Ele for organizing the fun swap.

This has been a SWEET Tweet for sure!!!

A CROSS of Roses

Do any of you seem to have GOOD intension, but they seem to always be late? Well that's how I certainly seem to be lately. I had this sweet idea churning inside my brain for months...hoping to do this before the Easter Season came upon us. But here I am again, a day late and a dollar short! lol

You know, there really is no other Symbol out there that speaks to the REAL meaning behind my faith, than the CROSS. I have always had a deep reverence for it. As a matter of fact, my favorite hymn of all time is, The Old Ruggad Cross.



What can really be said that hasn't already been said about the cross? For me, it IS where my Precious Savior, Jesus, took on my sins so that I may believe and have Eternal Life. Also, he took on the sins of each and every one of us. Not only did he die because of the cruelty of this type of punishment...HE DID it willingly! He knew that was his main purpose in life. Would I have done the same thing?

I think that is what is behind this Cross of Roses that I have created. The beauty of what was accomplished will ever remain true. Roses also remind me that even with their beauty, they have thorns. Thorns pierced Jesus' brow. But does what HE did for you and me pierce your heart?


What does the cross mean to you?

Here's a You Tube of a song I just love song by FFH called... IT's Still the Cross



Reverently, Lorena

CELEBRATING 150th POST ~ A GiveAway ~ Some Thoughts

Okay...as promised in my last post, I wanted to celebrate another blog milestone for me. 150...WOW! Little did I know when starting a blog I would have this much to say...well for those of you who know me, I really am never at a lose for words. hehehe!!!

So I am inviting all who visit my BLOG to... JOIN WITH ME in Passing the word around! I DO so enjoy giving away goodies! Compiled for this GiveAway pleasure are a bunch of treasures I have either picked up, created or just for whatever reason thought they might be nice for a giveaway. ... AND...you never know what else just might be added to this pile!!!

Here's what you need to do...leave me a note/comment saying you'd like to be entered. Then, if you decide, copy/paste my picture and advertise on your blog for you to be entered AGAIN in my GiveAway. But... be sure to let me know you will advertise so I can add you again. I will keep my GiveAway open until June 7th. Then on June 7th in the afternoon after Church and lunch I will have one of my family members help me choose a lucky winner.

I have shared a little about what has been going on in our lives and lately I have been going through a what I'd call a dry patch. Have you ever been in a time where you know GOD's promises, you read them, you have experienced them in the past but it seems in the "RIGHT now" of life, they are very far away. That's what I have been experiencing this past week. I think I am beginning to understand what BLIND Faith really means. I am really walking by FAITH and NOT by sight right now. It doesn't give any sense of *feelings* or warm fuzzy's, that IS for sure! I don't Know if I should turn to the right or left. And, when I cry out to the Lord, all there seems to be is silence. Nothing.

So how do you make it through a time like this?
Be Still and KNOW that I am GOD....Psalms 46:10

For me it has been trying to stand on promises that GOD has made real to me. And..I do believe when you become still, you will hear.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

So as I have been still...though I do NOT know what to do right now, GOD is the GREAT *I AM*, my Jehovah Jirah ~ My provider...GOD is and WILL still be my strength through this time. It gives me HOPE..that when I can't feel or see HIM, I can still have Faith because HE is.

My family has many BIG decisions facing us in the next few weeks. There continues to be no job prospects for my husband as of yet, revealed to us. We continue to seek GOD's very best in this but are becoming weary. My self sure wants to get in there and fix it..but I kNOW that's not what I am suppose to do. So, In HIM I seek my rest, HIS perfect rest until HE chooses to reveal His Will in all matters to us.

I like to share from my heart and life because I KNOW I am not alone. Many are out there who feel as if no one knows what its like to be going through...whatever you are experiencing. I don't have the answers, but I do KNOW who does. I hope that as you read my deepest thoughts and struggles, you will know that I can emphathize with you. As I continue to walk in my Faith, my overall expectation is that GOD be glorified first, and then HIS perfect will be revealed and worked out in us. He didn't say this life would be easy, he said he'd be with us, walking right by our side...and I DO believe this with my whole heart.

Only In HIS Strength...Lorena

GOD Bless America ~ Thank YOU Vetrans!

I just wanted to make sure I stopped in and wished all my blogging friends a Blessed Memorial Day. What a wonderful privaledge we have to honor those who have fought and given their lives for this country. We truly live in a country that God has blessed and I hope we don't loose sight of this!

I so enjoy finding these VINTAGE images that I love and can use. These are some new ones I have found and think they speak to Memorial Day!

UPDATE: For inquiring minds. I am on the mend. I guess I didn't realize how bad I was feeling until the medication finally kicked in about Tuesday. My mouth is healing nicely and I am finding my strength returning. For that I am grateful!

BE SURE TO CHECK BACK...I will be announcing my 150th Post Giveaway...SOOOOOON!

Blessings,

Lorena

TOOTH Story! ~ Not for the Faint of Heart

I sure have been MIA this week...not felt well and knew I had been nursing a tooth that needed attention. But you have to know my history at the dentist to understand that I HATE GOING TO THE DENTIST! lol After 2 weeks of throbbing pain that would go away with prescription strength Ibuprofen and then on Tuesday that throbbing became sharp pain...I KNEW it was time.

I was convinced that this tooth would need to be pulled. I had previously talked with my dentist after a quick consult with her and worked out the details. I did not leave then with an appointment cause things hadn't worsen. But as the last 2 weeks have gone by, I began to feel tired and knew I was dealing probably with some type of infection and then with this pain getting worse...it became clear that NOW was the time.

So there I was at 8:30 Thursday morning sitting in the dentist chair waiting for my lip to numb...which for me doesn't happen easily or quickly. You see my history is...I have a very low lying nerve that does NOT want to numb...many times in the dentist chair I have just about jumped out of it to grabb the drill from the dentist. So I of course made sure they remembered..and they made sure I had lotsa numbing shots...probably when it was all said and done...at least 10 shots were administered. Do you now understand why I HATE TO GO TO THE DENTIST?

Now why did you choose to have your tooth pulled, you may ask? Again my history...I have had at least 5 root canals with crowns. Of those said crowns, I have replaced at least 3 crowns due to continuing decay under that said crown. One tooth finally was pulled after 2 root canals and root calcification. This paticular tooth I was pulling is the very last molar on my left...which in a small mouth, as my dentist told me..makes anything type of work hard to do. I felt that pulling it was the best for my overall health. I also have had so much filling and dental work that I am trying to minimize what I need for the remaining years of my life! 2 HOURS later....my tooth was out! YES, It took that long!

I also did agree that I would now do a bridge for the missing tooth on my upper left, since the dentist was very clear if I didn't, my mouth would be compormised. She knew that I have a very sensitive bite, which easily gets off with any dental work. They used to tease me that I am the *Princess and the PEA*...cause any slight adjustment will send my poor mouth into TMJ! So now I have more dental work to look forward to! I HATE GOING TO THE DENTIST!!!


Now I assure you all...I brush and floss every day. I was born with a poor teeth and probably before dentist knew much about how good flouridation helped your teeth. So...like many, we live with what we are dealt with. I hope, like the above picture..the pain will stop and I will be smiling once again.

Blessings...Lorena

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ~ PROM

I first off, want to wish all my dear blogging friends who are Mom's a

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

I decided today to share with you a favorite picture of my sweet daughter. She was all of 4 years old in this picture. A toe headed blond, with a very outgoing personality. Even at this age she was gathering her friends in the *hood* and running in a pack, playing the summer days away. I have such dear memories of summer times with her.What I don't often share, is that she is a true miracle. Between problems with me and hubby we should NEVER have had any children. I truly believe my crying out to GOD, or as I fondly refer to my *Hannah* prayer...GOD heard my cry and blessed us. In May of 1991 I found out I was pregnant, very close to Mother's Day. It was such a special Mother's Day for me!

Even though God choose to only give us one child...I couldn't be more proud to be Michaela's Mom. I very ofter refer to her as being 3 children wrapped in one! And if you knew her, you'd know why I say that!

By the way..her name Means..WHO is of the LORD.

I have known in my Mother's heart that HE has a special purpose for this girl. Her heart is tendered toward the things of the Lord and that has brought such joy to me. Now, things haven't always been easy, as a matter of fact we have had a very difficult year and a half...but I can see how GOD has really used this to bond us closer together.

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Yesterday was Michaela's PROM. I was so tickled that she asked me to go with her to get her hair and make up done. We had the best time! And then when we returned home, I got to be her manacurist, painting her hands and toes.

This picture, of course doesn't do her beauty justice!!! And that dress, is SO my daughter's personality. I just LOVE her to pieces!

Unfortunately this picture of me is YUCKY...but I so wanted to have one of the 2 of us on this special day. She is a junior this year, heading towards her senior year and turning 18 in December. OH my..where have the years gone? It's so hard to believe that my daughter has grown so quickly before my eyes!


I am the luckiest mom in the whole wide world! YEAH!!!

Blessings...Lorena

OUR Sweet Kitty Babies!!!

Today was one of those days that our kitties had some amazing poses that I just had to pull out my camera to show the world! We have 3 very different, but sweet kitties that are just the loves of our family.
This is my *Bubby*, Punkin...yes he is HUGE all 19+ pounds of him. He is just the biggest sweet dumb *oaf* cat ever, and tries to be a lap kitty too!!!! He looks so snuggly sound asleep and I just thought he was so darling hugging the back of my sofa...I took a close up but then and far away shot so you could see what I am talking about!

Then there's my sweet *Momma* kitty, Chloe. Oh she is the LOVE of this mommy's life. Just talk to her and she purrrrrs up a storm. I call her my little momma, cause I got to be with her when she had her only liter, of which Punkin was her first born. I got to be with her to help her and saw him being born. We have a very unique bond...us mommies! lol This picture is of her sticking her head through the rungs of the 2nd floor landing...Sound asleep too!
And then there's our Tiger, the famly protector. He's our rescue kitty that has just blossomed in our family through the year's he's been with us. He LOVE's being out in the patio area, but will often try to wander off. We live in an area where cat's are to be indoor cats..so we do keep a good eye on him. This bird bath, a present from my hubby for mother's day, when dry, is often a fun perch for TIGER. These are the cutest shots...and I think he is one of the prettiest cats ever! And, being his MOM I can say that...hehe!

With lottsa kitty loves and hugs.....Lorena

A Tribute to Mom's

I just had to show you what I have finally finished. I had this sweet Lil Victorian Darling waiting to be finished and ready before now. I am just always a day late and a dollar short, it seems! So I got her listed hoping she will find a new home for an adored Mother!

I don't live close to my mom...over 2000 miles away. It always makes me sad that I don't get to do the day to day fun shopping trips, walks in the malls and chats as much as I use to when we lived close by. But we do keep in touch by phone and emails on a regular basis...so that must do for now.

Anyway...I just wanted to share with you this little sweetie. This collage was made with vintage seam binding that I have dyed. My own handmade clay roses, fun trims and darling vintage victorian cards. Oh, and her hair is adorn with a swarovski rhinestone, too. I sure do enjoy and appreciate the clip art and post cards others are so kind to share. A great BIG thank you to those of you who do this!

Here's to hoping you remember the sweet things about your Mother...and don't forget to tell her. You have less than a week to do so!
Lovingly...Lorena