Where to find Jesse Tree / Advent Ornaments

Last year, I decided that I wanted to start an advent tradition with our family.  I didn't really know what it was until reading about it on numerous blogs and decided it was a wonderful idea.  I decided to go with a Jesse Tree, which involves a daily ornament.  Each day, beginning on December 1st, you read a devotional with your family and then hang the symbolic ornament on the "Jesse Tree".  I loved the thought of spending the entire month seeing how the entire Bible leads to Jesus, especially when so much focus is on gifts, shopping, and Santa this time of year.  There are a billion different versions of the Jesse Tree or Advent Calendar, but I liked the one from Life Rearranged the best.  (Definitely go to her link if you want this version of the Jesse Tree explained in detail).  I tried doing a free printable version last year.  It was way too complicated for a two year old, and the paper ornaments fell apart by the end of the season.  With this version, you use real ornaments. I loved the thought of using the same special ornaments every year.

I chose the same Advent book as Life Rearranged, which can be found here.  Since I am using real ornaments, I knew this was going to be a pricey new tradition.  However, knowing that I am buying these ornaments once and will have them forever made it easier to purchase.  I am still a thrifty shopper though, so I kind of tried to keep the rule that I wouldn't spend more than $10 on one ornament.  I also spent a lot of time on different websites looking for ornaments.  I still have quite a few to get, but wanted to share what I have found, where I found them, and how much I spent if you wanted to get started on your own Jesse Tree.   There were a couple that I found at specific places or was given, but I thought the others could be a help.

Ok, I hot glued this ladder from a branch that was outside.  Not beautiful by any means, but it works and saved some money!

Yeah, this ornament was made after Delaney said "ornament time!" and I realized I didn't have an ornament for that night.  I cut a piece of fabric, hot glued, and threw some foam circles on it that were laying on the counter from a snowman craft.  I didn't even add a ribbon yet, so she just "stuck" in the tree.  Not my best work, but again, it was cheap and actually looked cute on the tree.

 This was my favorite find.  It was a plain white plaster ornament on a ribbon hanging in the craft DIY section at Micheals.  Delaney had some watercolors on the table, so I used a little bit of black watercolor to give it a gray look and just wrote the numbers with sharpie.

The wheat was in the floral section and it was a huge cluster of wheat.  I obviously cute it down, but it is still a little large.

11. NEED- a slingshot (when searching, I got a good laugh about the possibility of this one)

My mom brought this over and said "I thought you could make something similar to this for your Jesse Tree.  I made these for Sunday School".

My response was "um, can I have that one?" and it was done.

16. NEED- a lamb and a shepherd's staff

So, I obviously had the materials for this since I make hand stamped jewelry and ornaments.  However, I need a disclaimer to explain that I stamped this at 8pm in the dark in about 20 seconds.  I didn't want you to think my stamping is normally that crooked, but for my kid, it will work:)

So, I modeled the fiery furnace after one I saw online, but now I can't find it to give it credit.  In the Christmas village section at Michaels, they had a roll of stone and a roll of brick, to make pathways for your village.  I cut it, hot glued it, and threw some red tissue inside.

This was from the same Christmas village packet.  Yes, I was too lazy to cut a hole and put a ribbon on it.  Next year, people.

Let me know if you have suggestions for the ornaments that I don't have yet.  I think I will have to make quite a few and use paper printouts for this Christmas.  I wanted to have them all ready for this year, but I would rather take my time and make sure the ornaments turn out well. 

*Update 1/2/14- I was able to make a lot of the ornaments very quickly, in time for each night.  It was a huge hit with our daughter.  She is 3 1/2 and looked forward to her "ornament" every night.  I don't think she really understood the devotions and I don't think they sunk in, but the point was to just introduce her to these Bible stories and help explain why we are celebrating Christmas.  We have a small 4 foot tree, which became our Jesse Tree.  Here is a picture of our finished tree:

New Personalized Name Christmas Ornaments are here!

Our winter items and NEW ornaments are here! 

 

Each ornament is handmade in our studio.  We start with a 3" copper disc and they are individually etched, hand stamped, oxidized and have a brush finish.  They come in a gift box ready for giving and are available here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to

Jenny Hunter, Megan Simmons,

and Bekah Danielle Smith

 

for winning a free ornament!  Be sure to email us or facebook message us with your address and we will get it shipped!!

 

We also have a few other designs, using some of our new font options.  These make great Christmas gifts, but be sure to order before December 2nd!

 

 

 

 

 Congratulations to Lindsay Ellis Wells and Heather Popma Schenck for winning a money clip and necklace!  Be sure to email us with your address and we will get your item shipped to you!

 

Being Held

This is what it means to be held

How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was when everything fell

We'd be held

-lyrics to Held by Natalie Grant

I have struggled for the last year with blogging- I don't know how much of it should be Tag...You're It and the jewelry side and how much should be more personal, sharing stories of my family.  So, I have slowed the blogging down as I tried to decide what it should be.

Well, something on the personal side happened this month, and I can't just continue blogging about jewelry and promoting Christmas sales without first addressing a more personal story.

On October 10, 2013, our son, Sawyer, went to be with Jesus.  He was scheduled to be induced that coming Sunday, and on Wednesday morning, I hadn't felt any movement since the night before.  After going to the hospital, our absolute worst fears were confirmed when they couldn't find a heartbeat.  I considered sharing about the entire ordeal,  but to be honest, it is too raw and too dark in despair for me to feel like it would benefit anyone by reading about it right now.

I have never felt sadness like this before.  It is true what people say- it is like a horrible dream that you can't wake up from.  I had read passages in scripture, such as Psalm 6:6-7, which talks about being "worn out from my groaning.  All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears..."  but I had never really felt it.

I miss my little boy.

I want to hold him.  I want to rock him to sleep.  I want to watch him grow up into a man.  I want to see him get married and become a daddy.  To tell you the truth, I pray each night that God would turn back time and that when I wake the next morning, it would be October 9, and they would decide to induce him, since we were just at the hospital that afternoon. We were able to hold him for a day, and I will always wonder what color his eyes would have been.

But through all of the tears, I know that I cry with hope.  I cling to the fact that I will get to see Sawyer again.  Mark and I both accepted Christ as our Savior and live our lives with a trust and dependency on Jesus.  I know that when I die, I will get to see Sawyer again in heaven.

This experience has really reminded me that this home is temporary.  This world is sad and corrupted by sin and frankly, it sucks. I am here on Earth for such a short time, but I can look forward to forever praising and glorifying the God who created us.

As I drove home this afternoon in the depressing rain after running errands with my little girl, I couldn't help but be amazed at how beautiful the fall trees were.  It was like a beautiful painting and I knew that no "big bang" could have painted it.  To know God is real means that heaven is real, and Sawyer Michael is in heaven.  He knew exactly how long Sawyer would be with us- God was not surprised that his heart stopped and I have to remind myself of that numerous times throughout the day.  I have marked about 30 passages on my Bible app and when I feel the wave of despair coming, I grab my phone and read and read, letting the words of God comfort me.

I prayed and prayed that God would heal Sawyer of his gastroschisis- and He did.  It was not the way that I wanted.  I still want him here.  I want him here so badly.  Yet God healed him and replaced his small, frail and already damaged body with a glorified, perfect body and for that I praise God because He is always good.

In the past three weeks, there have been good days (like today) where I can sing God's praises and sing "Overcomer" by Mandisa at the top of my lungs in the car while Delaney sings a 3 year-old's harmony in the back seat.  And then there are days where I am curled up in a ball crying in Sawyer's closet praying for God to "hold me" and "sustain me" and "hold me" and "sustain me".  I know there is a hole in my heart that will never be completely healed.  I am part of this horrible club of losing a child, that I never thought I would be a part of.  But I am a part of another club, being a child of God, and that is enough to keep me above water.  He has provided me with a wonderful, loving husband and a toddler who keeps us both laughing when we didn't think laughter was possible.

I am back to work and back to stamping jewelry.  I think getting back to "routine" as soon as possible helped keep my mind busy.  I am already planning on what "Sawyer" necklace I want- whether I just want his name, his actual handprint, or his actual footprint on a piece.  I love making this jewelry because it means something.

It can be a comfort to a mommy in need- and this time I am the one in need.    

 

Tag...You're It Jewelry Fall Collection 2013

 

We've worked really hard to design this new fall collection and it is finally available!  This collection includes gold-filled, sterling silver, and bronze.

 

You can find the entire 2013 fall collection HERE.

To celebrate, we are offering 15% off until Monday, September 23rd.  Get your new design today!

A Letter to my Little Girl...

Dear  Delaney,

Well you passed through your "terrible two's" and became a 3 year-old!!  I am so proud of you and was so excited for your birthday because I know you were looking forward to it for a month!

[Getting ready to get the party STARTED!]

Even though I really tried to persuade you into a Princess Sofia party, or Little Mermaid, or Dora, you chose Buzz Lightyear!  I had to pass all the purple-pink decorations at the Party Store and head towards the boy aisle of lime green and blue. Right now, you are my little tomboy.  On the fourth of July, you wanted the lady making balloon animals to make you a sword, rather than a cute animal.  Yet, you love to wear twirly dresses and put on lots and lots and lots of lip gloss.  

I was finally able to conquer attempt a french braid this summer, which was a major accomplishment for me.  You still "technically" have a mullet and I'm waiting for the sides of your hair to match the back, but all in good time.  

You really like to say "sure, okay" instead of "yes" and "WHY?" about 400 times a day.  You have debuted a new smile, which can be seen in the first picture...

You say your prayers every night which usually includes
"Thank you for Jesus, thank you for providing for our bodies. Amen,"

which is more true than you even realize. 

 

Enjoying the Indiana State Fair

Your very best friend and worst enemy is Harper- you play together wonderfully until you both want the same toy...You love "kikalay" (chick-fil-a), which is okay by me, because I think I could eat there everyday. 

You love to take care of your baby dolls very carefully right now and slowly feed them and give them bottles.  I know that you are going to be a wonderful big sister in October and I can't wait for you to be my big helper!  

Helping your daddy paint your bookshelves

When I tell you I "love you a bunch" you always so "NO, a baby much" and hold up a pinch finger.  I know to you this means the world, even though it makes me laugh 'cause it looks like you love me just a smidge.

Love forever and ever,

Your mommy

P.S. I love you a baby much too.

The Summer in Pictures

We have had a great summer here in Indiana.  It has been the mildest summer that I can remember and I have even worn jeans, rather than shorts, on more than one occasion.  Most of the kids in this area, including my nephew, returned to school today, giving a feeling that summer is over.  We still technically have a month left, but I wanted to share some photos of our summer so far...