Randomness

Working on a tablecloth takes a lot of time and commitment.  It will, Lord willing, be an heirloom, to be passed down for several generations.  The idea of something that I make outlasting me is a little daunting, but really, isn't our legacy important?  And even more than the work of my hands, I pray that the blessing of loving the Lord will be handed down through my family until the Lord comes back in glory.  Working for the future can be daunting, especially when it seems that my future is simply more of the same - more waiting, more treading water, etc...  But the reality is that the Lord is good, and He is working out His plan in time and space subduing His and our enemies.  So while He cares very much what we are going through, He also loves us enough to want the very best for us, and to teach us and train us, even when it would be so much easier to let us wallow in our sin and misery.  This is the God we serve.  This amazing grace extended to fallen humans allows us to look to God as our Father, rather than only as our Judge.  This is so humbling and amazing.  Pruning is part of growing.  Longing is part of growing.  Learning to rest in the Lord's will while working at the tasks He has given us to do is part of growing. 

2 Timothy 1:12
...which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 

A Reason for Courage and Tatting Pictures

 Fear often prevents us from doing what we know we ought, but how are we to fight the inclination to be lazy and disobedient?  What does the Lord say?  When we are seeking to be obedient to His revealed will, He commands us to be courageous and full of hope!

 "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9

Be cheerful and do your duty, shrinking heart of mine!  The Lord your God knows what is best, and He will not let the waters overwhelm you. 

(The earrings are, Lord willing, going to the Victorian Emporium next week...  More pictures coming soon!)

Blessings!

~Alana Tatter

Valentine's Day Giveaway

 Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! 

 In honor of the day, I'm giving away this lovely pair of pink linen earrings that have been embellished with purple teardrop glass beads.  They are suspended from silver filled ear wires (remember the other Etsy store?), and hang a generous three inches from the top of the hook. 

     The winner will be chosen on Saturday, February 25th, at 8:00 am EST.   

 To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment and include your e-mail address (if you would prefer that it not be published, I will be happy to edit your comment before publishing!), or, for two chances to win, 'Like' my Facebook page and then leave me a comment letting me know! 

Regarding this week's promises - I must apologize for not getting that out yesterday.  We had a minor family emergency over the weekend, but I'm very happy to report that everyone is home now and doing well.  The Lord's mercies are overwhelming!

And the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows..."

Exodus 3:7

No matter what season of life you are enjoying or enduring, it is such a comfort to know that the Lord Jesus does hear the cries of His people, and He not only cares, but is able to deliver us from the troubles!  The God who rescued His people from the greatest nation on earth at the time has the same power today.  Take heart!

Blessings! 

~Alana

New Photo Tecniques and Sweet Promises

This past Saturday my extremely talented and very nice brother taught me how to take more visually interesting pictures.  The first three photos are some I took before the lesson; the last three are during/after the lesson.

                                                             Do you think it helped?

This week's promise is found in Isaiah, chapter 41, verse 10

Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, 

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

How difficult it is to obey this verse!  It is impossible if we rely on our own strength, but with God, all things are possible.   He has done so much for us, and the way He has told us that we may show our appreciation is to obey Him and honor Him, and He has promised to help us!

 Blessings! 

~Alana

Western Earring Designs

Dancing Ladies in silver and Swarovski crystals

My Heart belongs in the West - silver thread and Swarovski crystals

The turquoise beads just didn't have the pizazz that I was looking for, hence the crystals.  These pictures are just a little overexposed, but I'll try to get more today so you can see the contrast better. 

What do you think?  Should I try to make more jewelry like this, or stick to other designs?

Blessings,

~Alana

Still more earrings and another look at the crown

The first two pairs of earrings in my Southwestern Collection!  Silver and Turquoise; how can a western girl go wrong?

The Swedish Wedding Crown

I'm still trying to figure out how to stiffen it properly, so any ideas would be welcomed! 

There is a Swarovski crystal dangling in the center of each diamond, and over 100 tiny glass seed beads so that the crown sparkles beautifully.

Blessings!

             ~Alana

More earrings~

 Hot Pink and Black 'Dancing Ladies'

 Delicate Black 'Dancing Ladies'

Bluebell 'Dancing Ladies'

Coming to the shop soon!

Today I discovered...

... the collage setting on Picasa!

These are a few of my projects over the last couple of years. Most of them can be found on Etsy, but some are at the Historic Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell, some are at The Black Rooster Gallery in Marion, and some haven't been posted anywhere yet.  If you see anything that strikes your fancy, let me know and I'll tell you where it went! 

And for this week's promise from Scripture:

Does not wisdom call, and understanding lift up her voice? ..... "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discreiton.  The fear (respect) of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverted mouth I hate." 
Proverbs 8:1, 12-13

The promise in these verses is that God does call to those who are wandering, and He gives wisdom to those who ask Him.  It is as simple as that. 

(This passage always makes me think of 'The Wandering Kind' by Josh Groban...)

Blessings!
          ~Alana Tatter

Earrings and a hint at what is to come...

 Black "Dancing Ladies" lace earrings

And just in time for Valentines' Day:

A New Year's Resolution and pictures of Recent Tatting

This new year, it is important to remember the goodness of God, even and especially during difficult times. In light of this, I plan to post one of the promises of God each week, to remeind myself to meditate on His word and providence.

This week's promise to remember:

Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good;
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Nahum wrote to admonish the Assyrian city of Nineveh about 100 years after Jonah preached there. The people did not remember the Lord, and refused to return to Him, and He destroyed them for their sin.
This verse reminds us that God takes care of His people, even in the midst of destruction.

A royal blue necklace with a heart design in the center.

It was embellished with a large clear Swarovski crystal.

A Wreath ornament that I made up the other day. It uses Split Rings!

Black Lace Collar - coming soon to the shop!

It is frilly.

And dramatic.

I'm still trying to decide how to finish it off. Should I weave a ribbon through it? Or add a clasp to the ends? Or leave it plain

so it can be sewn onto a blouse or dress? What do you think?

Treasury Alert!

This necklace was featured yesterday in a lovely Basic Black Treasury on Etsy.

Basic Black for you and your Home

On a side note, Etsy's treasuries are so much fun!  They are easy to make and to view, and so many pretty things are promoted for everyone to see.
(Viewers should be aware that some treasuries contain graphic content. This treasury does not, however, and I will not post links to any that do.)

Blessings!

Winter Star Necklace

This pretty sparkle is in the shop now! View it here.

What do you think?

This week's Give Away - Your Choice Christmas Necklace!

This week I was trying so hard to figure out how this necklace should be embellished: pearl in the center of the heart with sheer off-white ribbons to tie? Green crystals scattered along the top? Black ribbon ties? So many choices!

And then it hit me: the winner should choose the design!

So the pictures are your choices. 

The crystals are (clockwise from top): large dark red Swarovski, tiny black Swarovski, large teal Swarovski, large grey Swarovski, large peach pearl, small pearl, black pearl, 3 green glass beads, tiny clear teardrop, large clear Swarovski, tiny AB Swarovski, and tiny red Swarovski. There are three ribbon choices: sheer off-white, black grosgrain, and sheer red.

To enter this give-away, please leave a comment telling me how you would prefer the necklace to be embellished if you should win!

The winner will be announced Christmas Eve.

Blessings!

A Flurry of Snowflakes

No snow on the ground this morning, but quite a flurry in my window!

Several variations on the same pattern...

...in various thread sizes.

This week's project update...

                                    

A snowflake.  I think I made up the pattern, but it might merely be a modification of someone's pattern!

 A fabric flower that will probably end up on a headband or choker.  It is ecru and measures about 3 inches across.

This beauty is the tatted crown I've been working on for a while.  It has a lot of sparkle and I think that the matte white thread provides a nice contrast to the glitter of the beads.

As a quick reminder, the giveaway this week ends tomorrow!

Blessings!