Show Off Ant

Oh sure,  if I had a 3-part segmented body and long skinny legs I'm sure I could do that too.

Dog

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
~ Proverbs 12:10

I am an Agnostic, but if I did believe in God, I would say that 'Dog', not 'Man' is His 'Magnum Opus'. It is my opinion that Dogs are the most 'God-like' creatures on earth. They are the epitome of Unconditional Love, forgiving of the most heinous wrongs inflicted on them at the hands of Man. Dogs are loyal far beyond any earthly definition of 'loyalty' -And-  what is most intriguing is 'God' spelled backwards is 'Dog'. Coincidence....? Somehow I don't think so....

Imagination

I have this whole other life going on inside my head, where I don't slay dragons, I make friends with them.....

Tree of Life Pendent

Credit To:  
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/wire-wrapped-tree-of-life-ornament

 

Description

This tutorial will show you, in detail, how to create the wire-wrapped Tree of Life Ornament shown in the image above. My goal with these instructions is to be very thorough, yet easy to understand. Let's get started!

Instructions

1. 1
   

   First, gather all of the supplies you'll need for the project. You'll want to get the following items:
   *6mm beads and smaller, including seed beads (see next image)
   *A 4-inch metal ring
   *Two (2) pairs of needle nose pliers
   *A pair of wire cutting pliers
   *Twelve (12) 12-inch strands of 24-gauge wire
2. 2
   

   This photo shows the variety of beads used for this particular ornament, including the following:
   4mm pearls, 4mm glass rectangle beads, 2 sizes of seed beads, 4mm crystals, 6mm & 4mm faceted glass rounds, and 6mm shaped glass beads.
3. 3
   

   Take one strand of the wire and thread it through the wire ring, making sure the 2 sides are even. Wrap each side around the ring twice for a total of four coils. Make sure they are pulled tight around the ring. See image.
4. 4
   

   Repeat step 2 with the remaining 11 wires. Pull all wires to one side of the ring and verify the coils are nice and tight and close together.
5. 5
   

   Start on one side of the wires and begin braiding the first 3 strands. You'll want to create a braid that is approximately 1-inch. Once braided, flip up and move on to the next 3 strands. Continue this process until all wires have been braided. You should end up with 8 braids.
6. 6
   

   Gather the braids as shown in this photo and begin to twist them together.
7. 7
   

   Twist up a little ways until you're ready to separate your first branch. Take 2-4 strands, depending on how thick you want this branch to be, and separate it from the group of wires.
8. 8
   

   Repeat Step 6 until you have the beginnings of a tree with many branches and all of your wires have been used. Personally, I like to split my tree in two at some point and then separate the branches again.
9. 9
   

   Now twist these branches, just like you did the big group of wires, but don't twist them to the ring...yet. You'll want to also start breaking your larger branches into smaller ones. See the picture for ideas on how to break down branches. This is when you'll need to twist the branches to within about 1/4"-1/2" from the ring.
10. 10
    

    Separate the individual wires and make sure they are some-what distributed evenly around the ring. NOTE: If you've twisted the wires too far, do not un-twist them! They will probably break later on! Instead put bends in the branches; this use more wire and pull them towards the center of the ring. (see the final image to see how I did this.)
11. 11
    
    
    

    Add a bead or beads to the first wire next to the roots. Wrap the wire around the ring once (see image).
12. 1
    
    12
    
    
    

    Add another bead to this wire. Wrap again and add another bead. This is to cover the ring from view and make it appear to just be beads. Finish this branch by wrapping it around the ring 3 times, clip off the excess, and pinch tight with pliers.
13. 13
    

    Repeat Step 11 for the remaining wires on this branch. Push the finished section tight against the roots. This will make room for the rest of your branches.
14. 14
    

    Repeat steps 11 and 12 on the other side of the roots. Continue repeating these two steps, changing sides after each branch.
15. 15
    

    Continue this process for the rest of your branches and remember to push them tight against the roots. The last couple branches will be the most difficult because you'll be running out of room on your ring, but this is good because you'll have a nice full tree.
16. 16
    OPTIONS:
    1. Pendant Size Tree: If you need to make a smaller Tree of Life for a pendant or even a tiny one for earrings, you'll simply want to use a smaller ring and also decrease the number of wires used. Just remember, you'll always want to have a multiple of three (3, 6, 9...) because you'll be braiding the roots of the tree.
    2. Adding charms: If you'd like to add charms to your tree, just add them while your twisting the branches or before you add beads to the branch, depending on where you want the charm to hang.
    3. Fuller Trees: If you prefer the fuller looking trees, don't twist the branches as close to the edge as I did here. You're beads will then thread closer to the center of the tree and it will appear fuller. The style in this tutorial is just a personal preference of appearance.

Latest versions

LESSON OF THE OAK TREE

LESSON OF THE Oak

from The Wisdom of Trees by Jane Gifford

The oak represents courage and endurance and the protective power of faith. The tree's noble presence and nurturing habit reassured ancient peoples that, with the good will of their gods, their leader, and their warriors, they could prevail against all odds. As the Tree of the Dagda, the oak offers protection and hospitality without question, although its true rewards are only apparent to the honest and brave. The ancient Celts deplored lies and cowardice. To be judged mean spirited could result in exclusion from the clan, which was one of the most shameful and most feared of all possible punishments. Like the oak, we would do well to receive without prejudice all those who seek our help, sharing what we have without resentment or reservation. The oak reminds us all that the strength to prevail, come what may, lies in an open mind and a generous spirit. Inflexibility, however, is the oak's one weakness and the tree is prone to lose limbs in storms. The oak therefore carries the warning that stubborn strength that resists will not endure and may break under strain.

 Every house has a front door.

If you wish to enter, the door must be approached and your presence made known. The door may then be opened. The very word "door" comes from the Gaelic and Sanskrit "duir" - a word for solidity, protection and the Oak tree. In the essential forest, the Oak is King. He stands mightily solid with great branches, matched only by still greater roots. He is often struck by lightning. The force of the strike and the heat bursts the sap and stem apart leaving the trunk gnarled and withered. Yet he still manages to survive, over the years, decades and centuries. His growth is slow but sure. His children grow into magnificent replicas of himself and he is a marker point, a cornerstone and a refuge in the forest.