FINGERPRINT FRIDAY

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

Thank you to Pampering Beki for hosting this each week! Everyone is welcome to join. To see how to join, as well as find links to other Fingerprint Friday posts, visit Pampering Beki's blog.

I snapped this photo of daffodils coming up yesterday, and took it as a comforting sign that Spring is on its way. I thought I would post it on my blog with a title like "I CAN'T WAIT TO WEAR SHORT SLEEVES AGAIN" but since finding Pampering Beki's blog. I've wanted to join in the the Fingerprint Friday series. So I'll take on a more serious note for today. I'll have to save the short sleeve topic for another post!

These bulbs emerging from the ground remind me that lifes journey is a series of seasons. Just as God chose for the earth to experience these changes, our lives do too. I was further reminded of this, last week as a friend is going through a very difficult time. We are praying for her and hoping for a miracle, but we know that this too "shall pass".

Here's a very well known scripture about seasons in Ecclesiastes 3:

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

WHERE IN THE WORLD WEDNESDAY

Well, my giveaway contest is over and my Modern Simplicity earrings are on their way to Malaysia to the lucky winner, BunnyB. I will have another contest/giveaway soon, but I need to regroup and decide what the next prize will be so check back next week for more details.

If you were stumped with last week's photo it was taken in a little town called Leavenworth, Washington. Many of you guessed (incorrectly) that is was in the Netherlands, but you'll notice there is a little American flag in the background. In the early 1960's, the leaders got together and decided to rejuvenate this dying town and remodel it completely in the form of a Bavarian village. As you stroll down the streets you'll swear you've been transplanted somewhere in Europe! Now it is a popular tourist destination year round in the heart of the Cascades. If you'd like to read more about it's fascinating history click here.

Here's my Where in the World Photo #5: (clears throat) attention UK people!

Take a wild guess where this beautiful spot is!

COMPUTERS AND KNITTING

What do YOU do with those little warning signs that come from your computer saying that you should update so and so.. and they are critical!?

Well, I've been ignoring them for a long time, so this morning I thought I'd be good and finally update them. Now, I know why I don't bother, because my computer was running just fine before I uploaded them! Every time I upload either a Windows or an HP Health check update my computer totally locks up. Yes, I'm beyond frustrated and had to restore my computer 4 times this morning. Aargh!

You wonder how knitting fits into all of this? Well, I really got a lot of knitting done while babysitting my computer (watching for the little arrow to stop moving actually). I find knitting so relaxing, so it was a great way to pass the time while still being able to keep an eye on my laptop and make some progress doing SOMETHING.

And now I'm going to quit the updates, because I'm no further ahead getting all those little warning signs off my computer but, wow, I sure got lots of knitting done!

Since it's Monday and President's Day, here's my Motivational Monday quote from Abraham Lincoln:

"Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today"

Oh, very wise advice which I think I will heed. I'm CANNOT get my computer fixed today, I think I'll leave it till tomorrow and more importantly find a computer guru to look at it!

Have a great Monday!

NOTE: As you can see, I like digital scrapbooking. I got this digital paper from ScrapGirls.com.

AND THE WINNER IS...

Thanks so much for all your responses to my "Where in the World Contest and Giveaway"! At first I thought my first contest might be a flop, but thanks to Etsygiveaways, I ended up with 56 comments in all. I thought it appropriate to draw the name out of a cute felted bowl that I just bought from a fellow Etsy seller ColAreto. I love my new bowl, you should check out this gal's shop, really adorable stuff. My son drew the name for me so it would be totally impartial.

So, without further adieu.... the winner is Bunny B! Congratulations! I'll be contacting you for your address to send you your free earrings!

To recap the photos here they are with the locations:

Stay tuned, as I will be having another giveaway soon as this was so much fun. Oh, and Happy Valentines Day to you, thanks again for visiting my blog and all your comments!

The Beauty in SIMPLE

A couple of weeks back I shared about my venture into fusing fine silver wire. I'm happy to say that I'm continuing to have loads of fun with it.

I'm also learning that there is a lot of beauty in keeping things simple. With this economy, I am noticing that a lot of my sales lately have been simple, classic pieces with clean lines, something that can be worn for so many occasions.

I love the look of shiny silver simply on its own and how hammering the metal gives it hundreds of tiny facets that reflect the light. Here's my latest, I've sold 2 of these to friends this week and added one to my shop today. The rings remind of ripples of water that emanate from a pebble tossed in a lake so I called it "Ripples".

I'm also finding as I work with the these thicker gauges of wire that my flush cutters are just not "cutting" it, sorry for the pun! There are a pair of Tronex cutters that Liz Jones, the author of "Fine Silver Fusing" recommends. Unfortunately, they are about $60, but I'm getting to the point where I think they will make my life a lot easier and cause me to waste less wire. Getting a really clean flush cut is so critical to getting the fine silver to "fuse" or flow together at the join. This necklace has 4 rings that are fused, including the smallest one; you work your way from the smallest to the largest.

Well, now, I'm getting too technical! I simply wanted to share my latest creation.

Oh, and I also wanted to remind you that I'm drawing a name tomorrow for my "Where in the World Giveaway contest". To enter click here.

Have a great day, and may you find beauty and peace in the simple things!

WHERE IN THE WORLD PHOTO #4...and GIVEAWAY CONTEST

Here's my cat Ace, looking out the window once again wondering where in the world I'm going to take you this week for my giveaway contest! There are only a few days left to enter before I draw a name on Valentines Day February 14th. I guess last week's photo was a little harder than I thought. Bunny B was the closest guess with Parikia, Greece. The windmill threw many of your off, but it was taken on the island of Mykonos in Greece. I took a wonderful cruise around the Mediterranean Sea a number of years ago.
Can you take a wild guess where Where in the World Photo #4 was taken?

Here's the contest rules to win my Argentium Sterling silver "Modern Simplicity" earrings shown to your right from my shop Beadin By The Sea :

1. Leave your name and email address or a link to your blog along with a wild guess of where the "Where in the world" photo was taken. You don't have to be correct to win! Click on "comments" at the bottom of this post to see the comment box.

2. Come back on Valentine's Day, February 14th to see if you've won. You will have 3 days to claim your prize.

Keep those guesses coming and don't be afraid to take a stab at it. I'm enjoying all the comments and speculation and I can't wait to give someone some free earrings!

Click here to go to last weeks Photo #3.