While conversing about our true purpose...

Just after a conversation about...

While visiting with friends in the mountains, an afternoon squall came up and drove everybody indoors for a siesta, while we waited for the storm to pass.  Conversations deepened. Discussions about life purpose, true callings, gifts, burdens and responsibilities filled the kitchen.  Big picture conversations about getting the most out of life, living life to the fullest and doing our personal very best!

We pondered options and variables and asked the questions, "What if?" "How can anyone know?" "What does it take?" "Do we sacrifice the great and only do the good?" "What if we are supposed to be doing something else?" 

We were stuck on the concrete, even though we live in the abstract.

Then we turned around and saw this rainbow, literally right at the close of that conversation.

This rainbow reminded us of God's presence.  His guidance and provision support us and sustaining.

The rainbow wasn't the answer.  The rainbow wasn't the direction or even a clue to the answer but a reminder of Him.  The answer we were looking for was in response to career questions.  It seemed like our answer wasn't the answer but He was the answer.  He is the answer to our questions.  He will provide.

We often fret and worry about details when He repeatedly reminds us not to worry. 

Maybe the answer is in the process of asking the question, articulating our perceived issues, then trusting him for the answer, in his time.

Not every opportunity is one of simple yes or no.  Frost reminds us to consider the path less traveled. The Word discusses a narrow road and a wide road.  Interstates and jeep trails and forks in every path clarify our focus and priority!

Genesis has a story (Chapter 22) where Abraham is willing to sacrifice his good for something even greater.  This happened when Abraham held onto his son with an open hand, willing to allow God to provide!  How tight do we hold on?  ...  

This different view of the same valley shows a new perspective. We did get to see the big picture!  From the neighboring mountains this desert valley is still gorgeous!

How tight do we hold on to what we have? Who we are? What we think? Believe? or Know?

Just after a conversation about...

Janyes Sisters Seven

"Sisters Seven"

Some of the Sisters here gathering in the usual meeting spot:  the kitchen!

SISTERS: 
A group of family and close friends blending their talents and experiences together to create authentic, functional and attractive pieces for their homes, gardens and practical daily use. Their background began in the old country with their parents sewing, crafting and creating since the era of horse and buggy, stretching and forming leather into buggy covers and later, automobile tops.
The girl's gleaned individual styles, tastes and skills that guide their passion and work ethic yet today. From residential real estate to commercial artists to weekend crafters, each offer something unique. They are connected by a common thread.
 

During a cooking competition, this sister, Mary, prepares samples for the crowd after serving the judges her best pork dish!

JAYNE'S:
Their matriarch possessed a drive seldom seen today.  From the perfect St Louis South-Side zoysia grass to the late nights sewing the sisters' Easter Dresses, these girls learned the value of quality and the appeal of style combined to form the best combination.  Few other artists fit into this generational experience and background.  Their collective production creates unique treasures as well as timeless classics, re-purposed with today's style and needs in mind.  

SEVEN:
However, there are opportunities for other talented individuals to contribute to the synergy and offer even greater diversity in both medium and presentation.  Common to all remains the adherence to a strict code of craftsmanship, authenticity in deign and service to the final customer!  Hence the addition or adoption of a few other sisters with the necessary passion, drive and talent.

Joyce, another sister shows off a well presented entry in a competition calling for creativity and presentation as part of the scoring.  

Looks delish!

JAYNE'S SISTERS SEVEN:
When she quit her steady job to start creating, feelings of relief, assurance of success and the excitement of playing without a net welcomed Jayne into her new season of life.  Throughout the fb page, there are many expressions of care, thought and love gone into each piece.

These expressions are from the heart!  

Are there obvious favorites?

 

Encore to Sisters Seven

Encore to Jayne's Sisters, Seven.

An sunrise picture of the Lincoln County Courthouse after a January snow, 2014.

Why Sisters Seven?

After repurposing many feet of bleacher wood and barnwood, reconstructing frames from old building trim and various items, such as boxes, shelves, displays and gifts of all sorts, we decided it was time. Time to take the passion of design and blend solid traditional proportions and strength with color, shade and hue  to create functional yet attractive pieces for use and decoration throughout the home.

Raw material in various stages of preparation.



Our Experiences:

This gift, eye or sensitivity to decorating influences both the structure and the finish to build useful art.  We like making things together.  We design together, Tom builds, Jayne completes through finishes and presentation!  It is truly a team effort.

 

Titled: Grey Day. 

This northwesterly view looking over Table Rock Lake in the fall is all Jayne.

She painted it while gazing out the back window.

Barnwood from that same property finishes the frame!



Our Passions:

Fast forward, skipping over many dives into many dumpsters returning chairs, lamps, cabinets and other items into their original and often improved condition and purpose, we wanted to combine talents and abilities with passions.  Repurposing, recycling and upcycling has always been our hobby.  We have even done complete houses, seeing a vision for a better future for a "handyman special" or "tlc required."  Yet all this experience with "fixer up"  things leaves us both missing a connection. We enjoy the creativity and finished product but missed the social connection in the cycle.  



Our Intent:

Hence, with a name like Jaynes' Sisters Seven, we embrace the family support necessary to create an atmosphere that produces these types of pieces.  Each piece has a heart of its own.  Each piece gets a finish technique and color and message that blends the natural bent of the piece with the heart of the artist.  Of the artists, there are the family members, often times lending ideas, remembrances about the past and contributions concerning style, taste and markets.  A very close first cousin, raised like a sister fills the number six slot and the 7th slot could be filled by ???  The passion is set up a system for anyone to find success through expression in various mediums! 

Thanks

Janyes' Sisters, Seven

Jayne & Tom

God Bless You

 

Repurposed?!

Repupose, restore, renewal & recycle; These terms all speak to a similar characteristic of second chances.  This video is a short clip that shows how reclaimed wood benches from a school gym were saved from the trash heap and given a second chance! There are pics tracking the progression of events from a stack of lumber to a trailer load to floor boards to the installation process followed by the tung oil application.
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyUt6v5yfqc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Interestingly enough, this reminds me of our lives after a change occurs and we turn over a new leaf!  So many times we, or others around us, want to make a change but then, we return to our old way of doing things as soon as we run into the slightest distraction.  Similarly, installing the wood floor literally took a couple of months to get measured, cut to fit, securely anchored and then protected with a natural finish.  Our lives also take time to change.  It will not happen easily or overnight! Often we must act, even if it doesn't feel right or easy.  This is when our actions determine our attitudes!  We choose to act a certain way, even if it is not natural.
   Take a quick look at the video.  Then consider and examine familiar relationships needing a boost.  What connections could use encouragement?  What tender growth could use fertilizer, or maybe just some water and sunlight? 
Where can good discipline not diminish hope?