The Blu Print: 2016

Thursday, December 29, 2016

32 Fords and Mother’s Day

Volume 14 Issue 1, January 2017

What's New in January?

I seem to be surprised with how fast time goes, and once again, here we are at another year. Blu and I have been doing this for almost 14 years, and he is going to be 14 on the first of the year. It started out with selling my art and photography, and then I discovered polymer clay where it took over all of my creativity. After all of this time, I still love polymer and continue to create in it, but not as much as I did.

In fact, I am slowing going back to my art and photography for my creativity. I love to work in Photoshop, and I had forgotten how much fun it is to draw on my computer tablet. You might see more of these types of things from me as the year moves forward. I have so much polymer canes and clay that I need to make a lot of beads soon. For the moment though, I am working in graphics and translating that into collectible thimbles and other products.

Like my series of Valentine’s Day bears like this one.

Collectible Thimbles: Over 50 thimbles were sold this Christmas season from my Amazon store, and that pushed me to not only stock up on blanks, but to create new ones. There are four Valentine’s Day thimbles and two Mother’s Day thimbles done and a whole list of others that I am busy drawing the graphics for now.

Hot Rod Mugs: My 32 Ford images have been very popular, and I discovered that Zazzle partnered with Ford to consolidate all of the Ford images into the Ford store, so I am offering MY Ford art on my website rather than Zazzle.

You will find all of my beads, canes and finished jewelry on my website. www.bluemorningexpressions.com

Until next month,

Julie & Blu

Things to Look Forward To:

New Products:

Hotrod magnets: I am finishing up the hotrod magnets, and I have a couple dozen done, but not featured in the shop.

Bangle Bracelets: Have a few bangles done, but adding a lot more.

Print Pieces: I am working on a range of beach theme pieces that include pillows, towels, table clothes and more. In addition, I am doing a lot of floral designs for homes and finishing my hotrods.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Laugh Until You Cry - My Favorite Carol

I am not out of Christmas carols – but for some reason, another Carol has been on my mind a lot, so without any further ado, here is my favorite Carol!

This is the song that I have had stuck in my head ever since I started putting these midweek posts together. Though it is not a Christmas song, it seems appropriate.

Now that I have you laughing, you won’t notice that we are at the end of our little adventure for this year. So, go out and enjoy your holiday, and when you have to laugh, remember Carol and her friends because Tim and Harvey will quickly have you howling in the aisles.

I know that we had some bumps in our journey this year, people were sick and then healed, others lost family members and have had to heal, but through it all, we have stayed upright and moving forward. I wanted to end on a belly laugh with no trace of a tear. I am glad that we had this time together.

Blu wags his tail in happy anticipation of a New Year. I swear, Tim and Harvey will have you wagging your butt like Mrs. HAwiggins, so go have a laugh.

Now, maybe do a little shopping for yourself from these lovely gifts.

Hurry because handmade sells out fast, and when they are gone, they are gone! Buy now.
Enjoy!
Julie

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Friday, December 2, 2016

Christmas Cookies and Stocking Stuffers

Volume 13 Issue 12, December 2016

What's New in December?

I have no idea how it got to be December so fast! One minute I am planting spring flowers and counting butterflies, and the next minute I am designing Christmas cookie plates for kids! Jeepers, it’s gone fast this year.

I know that the cardinals have come back to feast at the bird feeder and the woody woodpecker pair showed up in the yard the other day, so everyone is making their way back to my front yard. The days aren’t any cooler, but the air is getting a little bit drier.

While all of this is going on, I have been busy doing some new projects that include some sparkly things and some artwork things like the Christmas cookie Santa plate. It’s designed to be personalized with a with love and names of your kids and grandkids. Sold on Zazzle where you can customize it yourself.

Boho Earrings: I went crazy with the boho style and added a lot of new earrings for the free spirit.

Purse Charms: It’s time for the holidays, and I added four beaded purse charm dangles to my inventory. Just a little Christmas spirit to add to your purse.

Pushpins and Magnets: I designed a line of pizza and cookie pins and magnets.

You will find all of my beads, canes and finished jewelry on my website. www.bluemorningexpressions.com

Until next month,

Julie & Blu

Things to Look Forward To:

New Products:

Hotrod magnets: I am finishing up the hotrod magnets, and I have a couple dozen done, but not featured in the shop.

Bangle Bracelets: Have a few bangles done, but adding a lot more.

Countdown to Christmas 2016 Week 12

Christmas Countdown

It's that time of the year again!
Did you know that this is our 5th annual countdown?
Here are some of the great gift ideas for 2016 from our favorite designers and collectors.

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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

There was a Revelation

Or something like that that was the inspiration for this next tune.

It was penned in 1865 in England, but it is a much more popular carol in the United States than it is in its homeland. That may have to do with the music more than the actual carol.

Apparently, a Mr. William Dix was an insurance company manager in the 1800s – yeah, I was just as surprised as you to find out that they had that position filled around about that time, too - and he got deathly ill. (Think he had insurance?) He was bedridden with depression and close to death.

During that illness, he decided that since he was going to die, a good spiritual renewal was in order. Once he recovered he wrote the words to this carol and a number of other pieces. He titled this The Manger Throne, and it began with a rhetorical question that was answered in the second verse and the third verse was a call to all to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

It can be called haunting, soulful or any other airy description, but it was dropped onto an English folk song titled Greensleeves. Thus, What Child is This? is sung to a tune already being used by the English. It is not known who actually paired the song with the poem, so we don’t hold Mr. Dix responsible for that since it was published in a book of carols about six or seven years after he wrote it, and that compilation author may have done the pairing.

The focus is the wonder of the shepherds who are marveling at the baby Jesus and murmuring among themselves that this must be the Christ child.

It truly is a beautiful song, and my 40 year old son won’t remember that this was a lullaby that I sang to him when he was tiny.

I promise you, my son’s lullaby sounded nothing like this rendition of What Child is This?