Nest

https://www.etsy.com/listing/151794743/

A beautiful Fine Silver REAL Leaf Pendant w. Freshwater Pearl Necklace... Inspired by nature

                                                                Poem & Image by: 

                                                              McGuffy Ann Morris

In honour of: 

All of the women 

who love & nurture 

all living beings

She feathered the nest with hopes and dreams

love and security bound up at the seams.

As time flew by love grew stronger,

until it couldn’t be held any longer.

As they grew older she emptied the nest,

knowing that she had done her best.

She watched the young ones making their own;

a heart full of love is never alone.

Life is a circle to which we are bound;

love we give out comes back around.

Back in May of 2011 I won an auction item from a very special event called Angel Faces. You can see my post about it here.

As my decor has changed, I thought I'd repurpose my winning to coordinate with my studio. Here is the before and almost after... I have a wee bit more to complete. I will share the finished project in a few hours or days depending on my schedule:

I plan on adding some coordinating fabric in the middle (where the zebra stripes were). I'll share reveal time as soon as I complete this pretty! I painted it all black, then I painted some weathered crackled medium solution, and the last step, painted it white and added a few aged look of gold here and there for contrast. I also sanded here and there to give it an even more aged look to it. I can't wait to share the finished project!

Until next time...

Well, here is the finished message board!

Enjoy Each Day

As I awake every morning, I thank God for each new day that is about to begin. My day begins with my first cup of coffee. I have my reminder to enjoy each day right next to my coffee pot. I just love affirmations, don't you?

 I wanted to share with you some affirmations today. As I look around my garden in progress, I have an abundance of what I refer to as 'affirmations'.

 Here is a little reminder of me as a little girl, taking all of those annoying stickers out of my feet as I walk barefoot out in the yard. I had to get this for my yard! So darn adorable! (I still walk around barefoot ;)

 This affirmation is another of my favorites. You see, there is this blue jay that stops in throughout the day and hides his food right there in my empty flower basket... I was going to plant flowers in it, but I was too late. He has other keen ideas.

This one is all about the innocents of childhood friends. How cute is that!

My Aunt is in love with squirrels. She has quite a few that come around to visit in her yard. This is one of those reminders. I don't get squirrels to visit here, but I can dream right??

Right beside my favorite tree, I have placed another bird bath I truly enjoy looking at. This bird bath has the most amazing color of a blue-green patina. Also, the stand resemble a tree branch as well as the bath itself. The cutest little birds... sparrows I think, adorn the bath as well. I get lots of cute visitors here. 

I welcome any critter that stops in for awhile. Sit down for a spell! Have a bathe or drink of water and chat for a bit with me! This photo is hard to see because of the ray of sunshine peaking through the fence, but it says 'welcome'. :)

As a child, I daydreamed quite often. So this little affirmation is to remind me, some dreams do come true!

I plan on getting that vegetable garden going soon. I need to stop the dreaming and get going with it already!

I had this window box made for me about 15 years ago. I painted it in a weathered looking paint with about three steps to it all. Actually, I did several things with this finish. LOVE it! It really tickles me to create special things.

Here are some roses blooming below my bedroom window. I love waking up to these pretties.

I have a beautiful tree with the most gorgeous white cluster blossoms that grow in the beginning of the Spring season. A couple of doves made a nest to raise their babes in one of the larger branches of this tree. Looks like  they flew the coop already!

The blossoms of this orange tree are so full of aromatics... mmmm. I can't wait to eat the first of the crop. Yummy!!

Here is a bird cabin feeder adorning my favorite tree. The birds have emptied the house and home! Looks like I had better get busy and fill it up soon.

I received this fountain for my birthday a few years back. It is pretty dark right now, but I will post another picture when the sun is brighter. The girl is holding the cutest little bunny. Bunnies are my favorite, as well as the rain. How romantic!!

So what do you look forward to as the day unfolds? 

Until next time...

Sharing with Friendship Friday:

Inspire Me Monday

Les Mis is a favorite musical of so many, me included! This piece was initially a custom request, but I decided to make it a regular in my shop, as I loved it so much!

To Love Another

Sharing with Inspire Me Monday

Garden Candy

Exploding Flowers

Spring Has Sprung!

Spring has begun... new beginnings are unfolding. Fresh Spring brings us all new beginnings. The leaves are beginning to unfold into full brand new full of life trees. Blossoms are blooming... a fresh start to natures wonders. 

Being one of my favorite seasons, Spring brings me so much joy. The air is fresh, the days are warm, and the birds are singing my favorite song. I have a few bird baths in my garden. I really enjoy watching the bird crowd stopping by to bathe. It's so wonderful to see all of them flocking around and waiting for they're turn to dip in. I have one of the bird baths under my favorite tree. This tree so full of beautiful white cluster blossoms. It brings me so much inspiration, that I just had to do something fun. Oh, there is a doves nest adorning one of the larger branches on this tree. So, I decided to let my muse out for this wondrous event from nature.

Inspired by the branches of this tree, and the nest from above my birds bathe...

I used pure .999 silver, and I added a gorgeous faceted aquamarine gemstone. The aquamarine stone turned out so stunning after firing the ring in the kiln. A true piece of nature! This is part one of my upcoming line I am calling the "Woodland Collection". Hope you enjoy! I sure am!!!

Happy Spring!
Sharing with:
Inspire me Monday

New in the Kottage

Today is such a beautiful Spring day. I hear the birds singing such amazing songs... so this inspires me. I love birds so much. I have two bird baths in my garden. Cute from afar, they sure love those baths!

Here is what I came up with this week:
Available for purchase... https://www.etsy.com/listing/98534468/

Bird Cage Earrings

Spring is so full of inspiration. What does Spring inspire your muse?

Before and After...

Today I stumbled upon my first rose of the Spring season! This glorious awesomeness from nature, a gift to myself. I am so amazed how beautiful it is. I'm so excited, I thought it would be a delight to put it in my living room so that I can enjoy it all day long.

"Happiness held is the seed, Happiness shared is the flower."

Oooohh, but wait! Did you know, there are other admirers besides myself? Oh YES! A varmint I call Koo Koo! She LOVES greenery! So, she loves greenery from the garden so much, she decided to have a nibble or two, or three...

So, I shall write a note to self!

Note to self: Do not put beautiful flowers you just cut from the garden within reach of KOO KOO cat!!!

Initial Jewelry is Popular

There are more options for the shopper today seeking that special something other than the simple monogram or initial necklace that can be found at every department store counter. And for those who appreciate the art of handcrafted work, hand stamped jewelry is a great choice for a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.

Available at http://kottagekreations.etsy.com

Custom hand printed precious jewelry, unlike inscription, does not include utilizing machines or electric devices. Rather, the developer tries individual steel stamps to make the perception. Once used to produce images or lettering on a hard surface, this process actually has its roots in the ancient methods. Names, initials, symbols, quotes, and numbers may be stamped on a variety of metals including valuable metals such as sterling silver and gold.

The specific printing method enables higher liberty for the designer to print the letters around the arc of a round pendant or stack characters up and down. And like, etching, there is a wide option of fonts and symbols that can be tried. The options are limitless with hand stamped jewelry. You may stick with a easy name piece or get a number of names stamped on a multi-piece style. Mothers can choose a name and birthdate to celebrate a new baby or a animal parent can have a choker with their four-legged little ones’ names on it. Hand printed charms could likewise incorporate an preliminary with a religious appeal or a birthstone or you can choose a word or phrase that has a special meaning to you. The majority of customized hand printing is done on choker and bracelets but pendants and anklets can also be located. Lots of developers additionally have layouts readily available for youngsters and make other items like book marks or cufflinks .

It is vital that the steel of option be thick sufficient to sustain the effect of the stamping. The thickness of metal is assessed in “gauge.” Metals come in all evaluates, with the smaller numbers representing boosting thickness. A gauge of 22 or reduced supplies a thick sufficient surface that the steel will certainly not produce a ” bending” impact on the end product.

If you are looking for a very good present for an individual that will be cherished as a personal special memento, try a piece of custom-made hand printed precious jewelry.

Customized accessories is among the most highly searched for layouts in today’s market, but many will be pleased to understand that this fad has steadily become a custom. Now a timeless, the initial necklace is not only a enjoyable accessory to put on but is also one that will certainly never ever head out of design. Whether you go with the preliminary of your initial or last name, individualized jewelry will provide you a feel that it was created specifically for you. This solitary accessory will obtain attention and adoration from others whom you fulfill on a everyday basis.

Nostalgia, Romance, Old Word Jewelry

I'm excited to announce my newest endeavor from the Kottage Kreations  Spring 2013 line of jewelry! 

Introducing a bit of romance, nostalgia, and old world at it's finest. The perfect gift for that someone special in your life, or to pamper yourself. 

 They have a rustic look and an old world charm that I find irresistible. Nostalgia of the wax stamp that would seal a love letter.  In Medieval Times, betrothals were prearranged-therefore true words of love were secretly written and the envelope’s contents secured by a wax seal, so that the recipient could be assured that their passion would be unknown to others.

My design is evoked in fine silver (nearly pure at 99.9% pure vs. 92.5% of sterling silver) pendant created to mimic a wax seal, a traditional method for sealing documents with a metal tool (seal) and melted wax...usually bright red in color. 

I use a traditional wax seal to stamp this image into silver clay. After drying, I fire the piece in a kiln at a very high temperature. The piece is then tumbled to harden the silver, oxidized to create the darkened vintage look, then polished to accentuate the variation in depth of the design and expose the silver a bit more. 

Don't miss out on this seasons offerings! These old world charms are the perfect Mother's Day gifts as well as brides, wedding parties, oh... the list goes on.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must—but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow—
You might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

Cloudy with a Chance of Beauty

I've been taking pictures for years and have even sold a few. I never seem to get tired of photographing skies, clouds, sunsets and the surrounding landscapes. I've been living in a very scenic area in Northern California for about 15 years and the beauty surrounding us is full of surprises. This lens is for the purpose of sharing some of that beauty with you.

ONE ARTIST HAND: One Artist Hand 2013 E-Commerce Web Builders

ONE ARTIST HAND: One Artist Hand 2013 E-Commerce Web Builders: When creating a new website to showcase your works of art, where do you start, how much is this gonna cost and who can help make thi...

A few days ago, I made a silver ring. I thought that adding a stone would look fabulous. The hammered metal has pits, imperfections, and flaws, just like I intended. What better choice of a stone than an imperfect pearl! Well, it certainly isn't a stone, but it is the symbol birthstone of the June baby. So, I chose this gorgeous gemmie to add to my ring...

I love smokey quartz. I made this ring with a square multi-faceted stone.

This ring design is very unusual, but extremely comfortable. I love the odd style this ring took on. The stone rests right on the knuckle. I hardly know it's on my hand! The curves are just right. I plan on making some more today and I'll be sharing! It's hard to imagine these rings are started out with this: