Quote me Not...

"But Friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold"

 ~Oliver W. Holmes

HAPPY NEW YEAR my friends!

 Well - it's my first post of the New Year (fashionably late)...and it's a clean slate...a blank canvas...a new everything!  To be honest...the last 10 days or so I've had plenty of things to write about, but my timing was off...or maybe it was the fact that I've been in the "catching up" mode.   However, rather than start off the New Year with a "Year in Review" ~ I felt compelled to start by sharing some things, that will hopefully make you think about all that's important in your life, and maybe if you feel a little out of sorts, lost, or simply in one of those "funks" - you'll begin to feel encouraged to...

Dream...Laugh...Love...and Live

with appreciation & simplicity

So - join me, as we start the New Year together...starting with some of my personal pictures from JLynnPictureArt (copyrighted)

 and paired with a few of my favorite quotes... 

~ "A cluttered desk is a sign of genuis"~

yes...this is my desk...and this quote is a mantra of mine,
as we all need a little humor, when we're at our Biz-E-est!

~ Hopes, Dreams and the Possibility of it all ~

This is a photo from January of LAST year (still no snow this year...)

I woke up in the middle of the night and simply stared out the window in awe...

I grabbed my camera and raced to my front porch and was surrounded by beauty, peace, and calmness - with a little bit of sparkle and magic in the air

 ~ Sometimes Yoga is not enough...~

Warm Chocolate Chips, fresh from the oven & cold milk...get my vote everytime!

These are my daughter's creations - we call them "puffers" lol.

I am always confused though...I taught her to bake, yet my cookies come out FLAT...and hers come out perfect...everytime lol!

 ~ My eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected ~

This is a picture I took on our Cruise this past summer...

My husband and I were celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary

and the first day at sea, I spent the ENTIRE day

 on our balcony, enjoying the endless scenery and just "being"

The sun, salt air, and overall peacefulness of that day

 is something that I will always remember and treasure...

 ~ Music is an Outburst of the Soul ~

Michael Buble in Atlantic City, NJ ~ June 2011

I'm a Music Major (Voice/Music Education) and although I have a degree to teach

I took a turn off the beaten path and followed my dreams of creativity...

But Music is also buried deep in my soul - a part of my life...

so I was so happy to see MB as he is one soulful singer (and funny)!

~ Happiness is a Warm Puppy ~

Sweetness captured in July of 2008 at Jeff King's place in Alaska

We were able to hold these sweet Husky pups...

and meet Jeff (multiple winner of the Iditarod Race)

 ~ And your Point is??? ~

In November of last year, my husband and I took a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC

This was one of those comical moments where you just had to laugh at the ludicrousy of it all...There was ONE very vocal White Egret (not shown) and all these Black Crowned Herons that just kept putting on their own little "drama & attitude" show.  The Egret would "talk" and then all Herons would shift and as if they were synchronized...together - look the Egret up and down...

with a twist/bob of their heads, then let out a squawk that spoke volumes!

~ Start where you are...use what you have...do what you can

It will be enough to enjoy the moments because

Life is a Journey...not a destination ~

Live life peacefully, with purpose and joy...

It was a cool, summer night as I took this picture standing beneath an old pier...
And as the tide went out...I felt an overwhelming sense of relief...
because along with the water, all of my negative emotions went out too.
And in their place...Forgiveness in my heart, and a rising
 sense of hope, peace and newfound happiness for the future.

~Life is like a good black and white photograph,

there's black, there's white, and lots of shades in between~

There are moments when we are frozen in time, with no color...no movement...

And then...as if someone opens a door...you exhale and breathe deeply...
And suddenly you are alive again...in a rose garden with blue skies!
This one just happened to be my Mom's garden :)

So, this year...
 Open your heart and mind to the possibilty...
and to all the colors that surround us...

"The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.  Our entire being is nourished by it.  This mystic quality of color should likewise find expression in works of art."
 ~Hans Hofmann

So my friends...as I give my personal farewell to 2011...I'm thinking it was a year of changes...with some frustrations and a few tears...it was also a year filled with sweet things to laugh and smile about, good times, new friendships and some pretty fabulous opportunities that I never thought possible in the art of expression.  Some might say that last year was the start of the "new" me - but I know it was just the start of a new chapter - one that wouldn't have been possible without all the prior ones!

This year I'll turn the perpetual 49 lol.   I don't know where the time goes...but looking back - I've made many stops in my chosen career paths, and you know what?  I wouldn't change anything if I had to do it all over again ~ because each and every step, has brought me to the right here, and right now with a huge sense of appreciation for everything.  It seems hard to believe that my journey in creativity began when I was in Elementary school...or by the time I was in my mid 20s, I was in to beading, sewing, embroidery, knitting, wire wrapping, macrame, decoupage, floral designing, wood burning, drawing, and painting.  You see I've always had this insatiable desire (and still do) to keep learning, teaching, and sharing all things creative.

With that said, 2011 was filled with wonderful surprises in the jewelry world.  In all the years that I have designed...it had never crossed my mind to submit any of my pieces for publication.  Sure - I had written plenty of articles, taught many classes, developed a relationship marketing program for a retail craft/fabric giant...been on TV, given live demonstrations for large venues and small alike - all in the name of passing along techniques, ideas, and sharing product knowledge. However, having the opportunity to share in such a personal manner, was entirely new for me.  After being asked to write a Tutorial for the Bead Trends blog, I was inspired to share more.  Right before Thanksgiving in 2010, I submitted four technique based designs, and to my surprise...all four were accepted for publication for the May 2011 Bead Trends.  I was so excited to be included - but more importantly - sharing creativity, techniques in a much broader audience.  For me - being published, is actually less about the designer...and more about the actual sharing of the design, the love of creativity, the passing along of techniques, along with the inspiration you are fostering in others to be creative.

It is definitely an honor to be published - something that in my book, is never taken for granted.  Some months you are given the opportunity to share - and some months you are not.  There are no guarantees...and although some say that once you've been published several times, it's old hat...for me - that couldn't be further from the truth, because being given the gift of "sharing" is special everytime.  Do I get butterflies in my stomach?  Yes - every time...

This little beauty was one of six that kept trying to catch my attention, 

as I was taking pictures of blooms on my Butterfly Bush in the backyard.

And the waiting to hear about your submitted design?  Well with each submission...there's a breathlessness and a count of days...  When it's a yes - there's a Happy Dance moment.  And when it's a "no" - it's time for a little bit of chocolate lol.  Although everyone handles rejections differently - for me, I try not to take it personally and know in my heart that not all my designs will be a "fit" every single time.

So if you missed any of the in-print articles, here's a collage of all the designs I had the privilege of sharing in 2011.  To see the details and individual photos - click on  the magazine covers on our Press page at JLynnJewels.com starting in May of 2011 with Bead Trends and ending with Belle Armoire Jewelry in the December release of their Winter 2011/2012 edition.

2011 had a lot of beautiful memories...and incredible honors

2012 you'll see the addition of many more

 Jewelry, Craft and Art Tutorials and a few fun surprises!

Check in over the next few days to see details about me and my designs that were featured in a very special way...

Bead Trends January 2012 Designer Highlight

including...

Jazzlicious Life (Bracelet/Earrings)

Lady in Love (Bracelet/Earrings/Necklace)

Naturally Yours (Bracelet/Earrings/Necklace)

So...HAPPY NEW YEAR my friends!  This year my wish for you is to:

BELIEVE in...

Hope, Magic, Harmony, Dreams,

the Spirit of Friendship, Peace, Miracles,

 and Yourself!