Time for Reflection

The new year is always a time of reflection for me. A time for inventory, a time to build, a time to prune. The new year always brings change.

2013 is going to bring some major changes for this family, not least of which is my husband's second deployment. In 4 years as an Army wife I've learned -the hard way- that I don't have to be a hero. Knowing my limits and knowing when to say no, even to good things, is key in surviving this lifestyle.

Eternal Eden enjoyed record breaking success last year. I hit my stride creatively, artistically, and professionally. It felt amazing. I was and still am very proud of what I accomplished and grateful to God for blessing this endeavor so richly.

BUT (and isn't there always a but?)

My husband's absence changes everything. People tell you to stay busy during deployment, but that is exactly what I'm afraid of. Losing myself in my work would be so easy to do because I love it so much. And therein lies the temptation.

My daughter is already short one parent this year. I refuse to deprive her of the other. I want to be present, available, and tuned in to her. I want to be a source of stability and comfort to both my husband and my daughter during a time of chaos and change. I cannot do that if I'm spending myself on my work. If I'm going to pour myself into anything this year, it's going to be my family.

So with regretful certainty Eternal Eden Bridal will remain closed. This is a long-term but not permanent closure. I will most likely reopen for the 2014 bridal season. Eternal Eden Jewelry will remain open to receive orders, though processing times may slow and new items will be limited.

Walking away from a good thing isn't easy. But walking toward the most precious people in my life? That's everything.

Blessings in the new year to you all!

Free Christmas Printables!

I'm feeling the holiday cheer already around here!

This year we have a mantel to decorate for the first time, I'm so excited. So excited in fact that I stayed up until midnight brainstorming how to decorate it. Yep. Anyone else get fixated on things like this? Tell me I'm not alone...

Anyway we have a lighted wreath that needs some company on the wall above the mantel so I decided to make some signage for either side of it. I looked up some Christmas scriptures and got to work in Photoshop and here's what I came up with.

And because I love symmetry I decided this guy needed a friend so I went ahead and made this one to go with!

I decided I'd offer them up for free here on the blog. My plan is to modge podge these to some distressed wood and hang them. I'll post some pics when it's all finished. Meanwhile, enjoy the freebies!

(To download simply click on the image, right click and select "save as", save where you want, and then print. They are sized for 8.5x11 paper)

Merry Christmas!!

How to Wear a Bandeau Style Bird Cage Veil

A quick (3 minute) tutorial demonstrating how to properly wear your Eternal Eden bandeau birdcage veil!

Things I'm hoping you won't mind about this video: 

1) My incredibly creepy model and her fake hair. I know, she's terrifying. Every time I bring her out my dog has a heart attack. No joke. But she's the best I have to work with at the moment, even though she's lost her eyelashes and is sporting my $5 Halloween wig.

2) My 1 year old and my dog make a few background cameos. A pretty hilarious tug of war ensues. I really do my best to stay focused but it's pretty funny/cute/entertaining. Hey this is the real life of a Mompreneur, people! 

Please if you have any questions regarding wear or care of this veil feel free to shoot me an email at eternaleden@live.com.

Necklace Size Chart

Ever been flummoxed by necklace lengths when shopping online? Well this is a great resource to help take some of the guess work out! Keep in mind, there are a few variables that will affect where the necklace falls: Neck size and chest size will both factor in, as well as the actual garment you're wearing the necklace with.

This awesome chart (and my cute siggy) was designed exclusively for Eternal Eden by Chinelle at Simply Adore. Love it, thanks Chinelle!

Leave a comment if you love it too!

How to Polish Silver Plated Jewelry

It's a sad fact of life. Jewelry tarnishes over time. Sigh.

Silver will tarnish quicker than most metals. Silver is mixed with copper during the smithing process and copper oxidizes over time when it's exposed to air, leaving your jewelry looking dull, brassy and tarnished.

See my sad Christmas acorn? He's been hanging around since last Christmas season. The chain has turned brassy and tarnish is appearing between the links.

So what's a girl to do?!

Fortunately you can bring your silver plated jewelry back to life using some common household items. Use this ONLY for silver plated jewelry, not sterling silver or rhodium plated jewelry. I'll detail how to polish those in another post.

Ok two steps, ready?

You'll need the following:

• Baking soda (Because really, baking soda is the solution to all the world's problems.)
• Old toothbrush 
• Shallow dish 

Take about a tablespoon of baking soda (per jewelry piece) and mix it with just enough water to create a thick paste.

 It should be a little wetter than the consistency of frosting.

Take the toothbrush and gently coat the piece of jewelry in the paste. Use the bristles to work the paste into all the nooks and crannies. Make sure to leave out any parts of the jewelry that should not be coated (anything not metal, especially anything glued - and in this case I made sure to keep my acorn clear).

Let it sit for 1 hour. 

After one hour, take the toothbrush and give the piece another gentle scrub. You'll probably see some of the baking soda has discolored as the tarnish is being removed. Rinse the piece in cold water and dry gently. Done!

Step 1 may be sufficient, but if you're still seeing some brassiness or tarnish, bring out the big guns.

You'll need the following:

• Baking soda
• Salt
• Aluminum foil
• Hot tap water
• Small bowl

Cut two pieces of aluminum foil. Line the bottom of the bowl with one. Set the other aside.

Measure 2 tbsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of salt into the bottom of the bowl.

Add hot tap water. Submerge the piece in the bath and cover it with the baking soda and salt. Again make sure to leave any parts that should not be submerged clear of the bath. (See my little acorn sticking out the side?)

Cover the bowl with the other piece of aluminum. Let it soak for 5 minutes. There will be some fun chemical reactions happening with the salt, soda and aluminum that will remove any remaining tarnish.

Remove the piece from the bath and rinse it with hot water. Gently buff it with a cloth - I recommend flannel for polishing cloth but you can also use terrycloth. And seriously I mean gently. Silver plate is silver plating over brass, so if you buff too hard you risk buffing the plating right off!

And voila!! Good as new!

Now to keep your silver plated jewelry from tarnishing so quickly in the future, store it in an air tight container. A small plastic baggie works great for this, or a plastic air tight container can work too.

There you go. All shiny and new! Leave a comment below if you tried this and it worked for you!

What this blog is not.

Perfectionism.

It's a problem. There is a problem with this competition we find ourselves in with one another. The show boating, the posturing, the pretending. All of it masking the nights spent lying awake feeling that you aren't enough, you're not doing enough, trying enough.

If there is one thing I want you to take away from this blog it's this:

YOU ARE ENOUGH.

This blog is not meant to make you feel less than perfect. If it does, please stop reading. Seriously. I do not want to be another voice condemning anyone for not measuring up. I refuse to participate in adding heavier burdens to your shoulders than you are already carrying.

As I begin to fill this blog with content I will constantly check my heart-motives. I will be vulnerable, I will be real. Creating the life you've dreamed of is so satisfying. Feeling inadequate because that life is imperfect is not. 

This blog is about sharing my heart for beauty, the artist's heart God put in me. This blog is about inspiring YOU to express your own heart.

It is not about looking like superwoman. It is not about making anyone feel like less.

So please, as you are reading keep the following in mind:

Yes of course what I'll be presenting here is the polished finished product. But don't forget that there is always a chaotic, imperfect, less than stellar behind the scenes.

Create Eden today.