Serenity & The Road Not Taken

Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains lies a spiritual oasis, a lighthouse in the storm, a place where Serenity resides.

This moment is for us to rest our minds, to nourish our souls, to release our burdens.

Take my hand & walk with me in a place where few words are needed.

Where Peace surrounds you...

& abundance awaits you.

'The Road Not Taken'

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Every now & then, the world must be turned off

& the spirit of the soul must have room to fly.

Every now & then, we must remind ourselves that our journey's,

no matter how misunderstood by others, are our journey's

& that by taking the 'Road Less Traveled',

the path of the heart can so often make,

'ALL THE DIFFERENCE'!

XOXO

vintagesusie

Embracing Change

Happy Monday Sweeties...

Hope your weekend was wonderful!

With the holidays over & some time on my hands, this weekend I decided to just PLAY. I made a huge cup of my much loved Cafe Mocha, stayed in my jammie's ALL day & cruised my way through some of my very favoritest blogspaces. I may not have commented on each & every one as I really was trying to see them all, but I so enjoyed feeling apart of all your grand & simple, honest & heartfelt, inspired & ordinary dreams for the New Year...it's hard not to do some revising & reevaluating when thinking of all the POSSIBILITIES!

{don't you love the intials, vs&w...I do. lol}

One post in particular really caught my eye & heart & not only did I want to participate,

but I wanted to share it with all of you.

Deryn Mertock creator of Something Sublime & an amzing jewelry designer, had been given an idea by a bloggy friend of hers, Rebecca Sowers of  "a Glance Back through your work to find your Creative Path Forward." Doesn't that sound inspiring?

{I just made my Heirloom Texas necklace this weekend with little toy charms I found at Round Top}

They both created a photo mosaic of their recent work and asked these questions:

Would I create this same piece again?

Would I wear this?

Is this something that really speaks of who I am artistically?

Will I still love this piece a year from now?

Five years from now?

Does this piece give me that special "ahhhh!" moment?

{my Heirloom Necklace with so many treasured memories}

Being a newbie to jewelry design & having never taken a class, I am still so 'in the process' of finding my way. In looking at my mosaic, I saw some of my 1st pieces that are a little more delicate then what I'm attracted to now & I realize that's just not me. I love chunky, junky, clumpy & nostalic jewelry..

they sing to my soul.

Hummm, why do I feel like following the course of 'Embracing Change' in the New Year?

First would be the great experience I had working on Riki's blog, Riki Jewelry. Each time I create with a new friend, I am forced to work outside my box & always learn something invaluable. This time it was how to alter & stretch templates & work in the html to achieve the desired look. Well it looked so darn good, I just HAD to do it to my own blog too! LOL Thanks Riki, I love the cleaner look & the possibility of larger images.

And secondly, following the path I have already started in my life, trying to Be Brave!

It doesn't come naturally to me friends. I know it may seem like I can be tough as nails & can accomplish anything if I put my mind & heart to it, but it does come at a price. Being Brave is not my usual reaction, being scared is. So this months brave task is, to take the two above pieces of jewelry, already mounted for presentation, to Stampington Publication for submission in Belle Armoire Jewelry. I'll just have to be patient & wait & see. Nothing extordinary can ever happen if you aren't brave enough to step out of the ordinary, now & then... right!

Next, a brand new header, I LOVE PS! ;)

XOXO

vintagesusie

Lovely New Blog Design for Riki Jewelry!

Greetings Sweet Hearts in this fabulous

New Year!

I am surrounded by snow in my quint

mountain hamlet,

but the sky is blue & the sun is shining brightly &

I have high hopes for an EARLY thaw.  ;)

{I know, it's just the beginning of January...

but a girl can hope, right!}

My Sweet Friend, Riki Schumacher of Riki Jewelry fame, asked me to help her create a whole new look for her blog in celebration of the New Year. She wanted a clean, feminine design, in which I think we accomplished perfectly! Her blog's white background, now makes a great showcase for her
Awesome Photography.

Riki's jewelry are 'romantic relics', vintage inspired & absolutely fabulous!

She is hosting a 'New Year's Giveaway' that I KNOW you'll want to be a part of...

just get over to her blog before January 10th, leave a comment & your entered.

It's that EASY!

What a talented artisan she is along with being such a beautiful spirit.

Thank you so much Riki for the opportunity to create this awesome design with you...

I think it turned out HEAVENLY!

XOXO

vintagesusie

T'was the Night of the Drawing...

{images provided by Getty Images}

T'was the night of the drawing

& all through the land,

vintagesusie & friends

sat wringing their hands.

The present was placed

by the tree with much care

& a feeling of wonder

hung thick in the air.

Will it be me?

thought Trisha & Cindy.

Might I be the winner?

dreamed Debbie & Wendy.

A cowboy hat

will determine our fate,

if only she'd tell us

my God, I can't wait!

The silence was deafening,

every breath was held tight.

The moment approached

as the moon shone so bright.

In her cowboy boots,

all dressed up for the show,

vintagesusie looked stunning in

the twinkle light glow.

She held out her hand

& went right to her work,

pulled a name from the hat

& then turned with a jerk.

Reading aloud

the name she did give,

while praying the losers

would still want to live.

"The WINNER is JUDY,

Pappy's Cowgirl,

Congrats my Sweet Heart,

let me give you a twirl!"

Thanks friends for playing,

it's been such a delight,

Happy Holidays to all

& to all a Good Night!

XOXO

vintagesusie  ;)