What does spirituality mean to you?

That is the subject of the photo contest I just entered through the Himalayan Institute and ParaYoga.

I submitted this image of my nephew with the caption

"Time stood still".

http://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/186933/voteable_entries/42992241

A kind heart, quiet mind, open arms.

What does spirituality mean to you?

I really struggle this time of year.

Don't feel right...tired...heavy.

And so I wait it out.

Lay low.

Putter around in the studio.

Don't make any life changing decisions.

Put one foot in front of the other.

Repeat.

I got a message from a dear friend yesterday; she was feeling down and a little anxious about something she had to do later in the day.  She decided to put on a pair of big gold earrings and a bangle bracelet she had worn to a fun, rocking event last summer…even though she thought they may look silly with the gray turtleneck she was wearing.  It didn't matter because the big gold jewelry reminded her of good friends and happy times.

I was thinking of my friend this morning while cleaning out a cupboard and discovering the fancy dishes I inherited from my Grandma.  I blew the dust out of the delicate Limoges teacup and poured myself a cup of coffee.  It didn't matter that I was in fleece pajamas and Smart Wool socks.

Here's hoping the days ahead are upbeat and trouble-free.

If not, follow the advice of my dear friend...

"put on some gaudy jewelry and enjoy being you." 

I’m taking a few days to putter.

Things are in need of intense tending-to around the house.

Piles of clutter I’ve been moving from one place to another

require dusting off and looking over.

I am going room by room.  The kitchen’s first.

I’ve cleaned and rearranged every surface.

If I’m in the mood for this, it’s insanely gratifying.

The mood for this doesn’t come all that often.

But I do love the rearranging part of it.

I made the chalkboard from an old cupboard door I got for free at a garage sale,
then added chalkboard paint. 
Easy peasy!

This sweet snowman was made by my nephews and their friends!

I love happy accidents.  Awhile back, my Mom cleaned out her bookcase and gave me some books she thought I could use.  Recently I was searching for something in my studio and stumbled upon one of these hardcover books, a compilation of a year’s worth of “Sunshine” magazine from 1969.  The first page I turned to had the following passage that seemed to speak right to my very heart:

JUST THINKING

Take twelve fine, full-grown months;

See that these are thoroughly free from all old memories of bitterness, hate, and jealousy;

Cleanse them completely from every clinging spite;

Pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness;

In short, see that these months are freed from all the past –

Have them as fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

The women’s group at my hometown church has for years sent handmade cards as one of their mission programs.  The cards are mailed to local shut-ins, college students, military, and missionaries in other parts of the world that we support.  I’ve had the honor of making these cards every month for almost ten years.  Each month I design and make the cards in my Wisconsin studio, then either mail or hand deliver them to my Mom in Illinois, who takes them to the monthly meeting of the church women who stamp, address and mail them.

This card making process has been a true spirit-saver for me through the years, especially during low points of my life, when I wasn’t feeling much like creating.  It was (and still is) my personal mission to get the cards made on a deadline.  After all, people depend on it!  There are so many heartwarming stories we’ve heard from the card recipients and their families.  One woman shares her card at the front desk of the nursing home where she lives.  Another keeps a scrapbook just for the cards.  We received a letter from a missionary on the border of China and Vietnam who teaches English in a village there.  She hangs the cards on the wall as a conversation prompt for her students. 

It’s been said (and I AM a believer!) that doing something for another person is the best way out of a funk.  Many times in the past the only creative project I did all month was card making for the church.  I once heard a pastor’s message about using your talent to do the Lord’s work, and that’s when it all made sense.  Never once have I struggled for a theme, or hit a creative block when making the cards.  Coincidence? 

If you are looking for a creative outlet, I definitely encourage you to ask a church, nursing home, or non-profit organization if you could collaborate with them in a program like this.  It is really, really good for the soul.

 

In this new year, I thought it would be fun to share each month's card here on my blog.

I'm hoping you get as much inspiration from the cards as I do.

Quote found at:
http://www.livinglifefully.com/

Sketchbook Page

It sure felt good to get back to my roots in the studio today…

a blank page

no real plan

rummaging through my stash of vintage paper scraps

searching for just the right combination of bits and pieces.

The three words are cut from an old school paper of my Grandma's that I found in my paper stash.

The background consists of tissue paper gessoed to watercolor paper, painted with watercolor, then machine stitched.

The flowers at the bottom of the page are from photographs of my own garden that I altered gray and white, then painted with watercolors.

The little white flowers are cut from a vintage hankie and adhered to the page with knots made from blue tatting thread.

Vintage graph paper and torn hankie fabric tinted with watercolor make up the leaves.

This is a sketchbook page I'll be submitting into an art contest;

the theme is "stitched". 

*J*O*Y*

TO THE WORLD

Here is my husband’s niece Madison wearing her new hat!

I'm the woman who has her Christmas tree up and lit by November 1.  By then the lighted garlands are swagged and twinkling across the porch, held in place with a red bow on each spindle.  The well-behaved, well-dressed Dog and Cat grace the cover of the handmade cards mailed to everyone on The List, with plenty of time to send extras to those not already on The List.  The homemade sugar cookies are in the freezer.  They have been lovingly made using the cookie cutters my Grandma gave me throughout my childhood.  The cookies are frosted red, green and yellow, sprinkled, and outlined using the tiniest tip on the end of a pastry bag.  The perfect presents are wrapped in coordinating paper, adorned with fancy bows and sorted by family under the tree - the tree that holds on its branches my growing collection of vintage glass ornaments.  I’ve made each of my nephews a unique ornament with their photo in it, having chosen the best picture from the year’s activities.  By now I’m just waiting for the festivities to begin…

This year I’m.  Freaking.  Out.  A little bit.

I’ve never been this far behind.  The porch is dark, the wicker furniture and dirty grill are still out there.  Not a single card has been made or mailed.  I can’t find The List.  I thought I could skip the decorated sugar cookies this year but I was asked to bring them to the family celebration this weekend.  I still need to buy some presents, and the ones I have already are waiting unwrapped on the dining room table.    I guess it’s alright that the presents aren’t wrapped, since the tree isn’t up anyway.  I haven’t begun looking through the thousands of pictures I’ve taken this year to find the most appropriate one for each nephew’s ornament.  Two customers haven’t received their orders yet and I’m nervous they got lost in the mail.  I think I’m getting an infection.

HO HO HOwever, I keep telling myself to look at the positives.  Like, I couldn’t get an early start to the season because I was in the studio preparing for holiday craft shows and events that I did with one of my closest friends.  Thanksgiving was spent with some people who mean the most to me. I’ll be keeping my promise to my husband’s nephew that I’d bring the fancy cookies to our Christmas celebration.  And I’ll tease him about eating so many.  By next year the mess from sealing the basement will be cleaned up, the boxes that were moved to the garage will have been sorted, and the Christmas decorations will all be in one place.

I’m looking forward to unwinding at Yoga on Friday, my parents coming from Illinois, and all of us heading up north to the cabin for Christmas.  Can’t wait to stand around a blazing bonfire at my husband’s Aunt Jeannie’s house, a beer in one hand and a fire poker in the other.  People will stop by and we’ll catch up.

On Christmas morning I’ll be thinking about people opening gifts they received that I’ve made, hoping they are happy.  The cabin will be full of people and pets.  We’ll eat too much and not care. 

We have another Christmas celebration to look forward to in January with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephews.  We can enjoy our time together without having to fit it into the packed weekend.

Well it’s looking like this year may not be a white Christmas.  It will be only the third time that has happened here in twenty years.  Maybe that’s why it just doesn’t seem like it's a few days before Christmas.  Normally we’d be planning to snowmobile up north next week, but the bright side is that there will be more time in front of the fireplace with my nose in a magazine.  With my momma.

And there will be no decorations or tree to put away after Christmas!

I’m really wishing my online store was active, now that my local events are done for the season.  I’ve been getting requests for it, so it’s something I will be working on first thing in the new year. 

In the meantime, I thought I’d post some of the inventory I have in hand, ready to ship in time for Christmas (if ordered in the next few days or so).  We can discuss payment options if you’re interested in making a purchase. 

Please leave a email me directly at berge.rager@yahoo.com if you have any questions.  I like to keep the process very simple and easy!

As always, I welcome custom orders if you prefer a different color or size. 

FINGERLESS GLOVES/HAND WARMERS

(all buttons are vintage)

$24 per pair:

FLEECE HAT - SIZE MEDIUM

$29 each, or $25 each if ordering more than one hat

FLEECE HEADBAND - VARIOUS SIZES

$12 each

KNIT HEADBAND - SIZE LARGE

$16

(all buttons are vintage)

SCARF - OLIVE GREEN OR BROWN

$34 each

FLEECE HAT - SIZE SMALL

$29 each, or $25 each if ordering more than one hat

CHILD STRETCH HEADBAND

$10 each:

VINTAGE SCRABBLE TILE NECKLACE

Includes chain and sparkly bead, you pick the letter

$10

GAME PIECE LETTER NECKLACE

Includes chain and sparkly bead, you pick the letter

$8

MIXED MEDIA NECKLACES

Features pop bottle caps filled with vintage paper and resin, bone beads, metal piece sign and other bits and baubles

$37

Features pop bottle caps filled with vintage account ledger paper and beads

$18

Features vintage postage stamp adhered to a wooden game piece and sparkly purple beads

$12

Custom Orders Welcome!

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look at my creations!

xoxoxo

Hmmmm...

Lucky the Studio Cat

Somecat found Santa's hiding place

and got his catnip toy out of the package last night.

BUSTED!!!

Last year as I was just getting started on this creative venture, my sister hosted a party at her house to introduce my art and jewelry to our circles of friends.  My three little nephews had so much fun straightening jewelry displays, counting change, and helping at the checkout.  They kept asking me when we’re going to do it again. 

Well last Thursday, we did it again!  My last sale event of the season was held at my sister’s beautiful home, and what a fun way to end a year bursting with creativity! 

My three little nephew elves helped again this year.

They ran the 'cash register':

They wrote customer invoices:

They made signs:

And they were in charge of high-tech security:

I really appreciate the wonderful words of support and encouragement from this fantastic group of women. 

Love that they stayed awhile for wine and treats, chatting and enjoying each other's company. 

Photo By: A Nephew Elf

And they didn't mind when I asked a few of them if I could take a picture with their new stuff! 



Embellished Hat with Vintage Button

   


Sparkly Bracelet with Vintage Bling

  



Necklaces & Fingerless Gloves

    
    

Vintage Scrabble Tile Necklace




Handmade Fleece Mittens



Fingerless Gloves

 

Handmade Fleece Hat



Thank you, friends, for a lovely evening!

xo xo xo xo xo

Just peeking in as I finish up some studio projects under construction.

My last sale of the season is tomorrow evening in Illinois.

I'll be seeing this little guy tomorrow, and my two other nephews. 

YIPPEE!

I’ve come to a conclusion.  I have a love/sort-of-hate relationship with selling my creations. 

The love part comes when I’m in my studio with my black Lab snoozing on what was once our bed comforter, my tiger kitty is belly-up and snoring on the corner of my drafting table under the warm track lights.  I have no time constraint.  No plan.  Everything flows.

Love is when I talk to my creative friends every day about projects we’re working on, something we’re stuck on, sharing ideas and brainstorming.  Usually giving or receiving encouragement, depending on the day.

Love is seeing something I’ve made being worn by someone, and it suits them perfectly.





Here's lovely Karen wearing the hat created especially to match this coat.
Love how she wears the brim at an angle!








Lucca chose this hat that matches her coat and scarf.  So cute!

 




Madison tried on a few colors and styles.  As soon as she put this hat on, we all agreed THIS was the one!

 

It's moments like these that give me a burst of creative energy,

a feeling that I'm on the right track creatively.

It's the sort-of-hate part of selling my creations that I’ve been struggling with lately. There’s a lot of self-imposed pressure to make something completely original, all the while hoping people will like it enough to buy.   If I could afford to, I’d just give away the stuff I make.  You like this?  Here, take it!  I really don’t want to go on and on about the toils of pricing or marketing….we’ve all been there.

On a more personal level, I’ve been feeling out of balance.  I’ve let too many important things go by the wayside this year and it’s time to re-focus.  I have an event next week that will be the last of this holiday season; then it’s time to hang up my hat for awhile.  Got some thinking to do.  A tree to decorate.  Meals to cook.  Friends to call.  Hands to hold. 

Harmony...that's what I'll be working on.

hTWISTED SISTERSg

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

You Are Cordially Invited

To Join Artisans Amanda & Jody

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1

 from 3-8 pm at Wausau's City Grill

For Their Annual Open House

Featuring Handmade Jewelry, Hats, Gloves,
Accessories, Ornaments,
Embellished Glassware,

And Much, Much MORE!

Their Super Talented Friend PJ

Will Be Singing & Playing Acoustic Guitar!

Grab a warm drink at the bar,

listen to some great music,

and hang out with the twisted sisters!

Just got back from a fantastic Thanksgiving with my family in Illinois.  My parents and I all stayed with my sister’s family for a few days, which meant lots of Auntie time with my three nephews (my favorite thing ever).  This year we went out to eat for our big dinner on Thursday, so no one had to cook or clean up.  Actually, none of us really enjoy cooking all that much, so for us it is SO the way to go.  I hope we do that again.

I took some sewing projects with me to work on during the down time, of which there is hardly any, normally.  My youngest nephew got in on the sewing action, and we made scarves and neck warmers for a few of his stuffed animals.  Then we made him a money pouch with a wrist strap.  I was so preoccupied making sure he didn't cut himself with the sewing scissors that I didn't snap any pictures of these creations.  Priorities... 

My creative Momma helped sew on embellishments and snaps to fingerless gloves and pouches.  Here are a few of the things we finished: 

Fingerless Gloves / Hand Warmers

- and -



Cell Phone Cases / Little-Stuff-Pouches



I’m forecasting much more of these artsy little guys in my future, they are so fun to design.

Now I have to decide which little pair of gloves goes to market, and which little pair stays home!

I love Christmas songs.  Love, Love.

Today during the bizarre at the elementary school, my love was tested.  Being broadcast from somewhere near the baked goods were THE most depressing versions of Christmas songs ever recorded.  On a continuous loop.  Throughout the morning.  And early afternoon.

Needing a change of scenery, I meandered down the hallway that was blanketed with class art projects. 

This was my favorite:

I really want to try doing something like this!  I studied each one and decided which is closest to my own likeness, if I were to do a self-portrait too. 

So I've added "Cubism: Picasso Self-Portait" to my bucket list. 

Probably after the holidays.

For now, I have some uptempo carols piping into the studio.  Must sing now.