Behind the Beads with The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple
I am so happy this day has finally come! I have been working on designs for this oh-so-unique book for several weeks now, and sharing them with you is just the icing on the cake!
Before we get started, you may notice one tiny thing that’s new here. These books and jewelry segments used to be known as Jewelry Stories, but since it’s been a hot minute since a post like that was featured, I figured we could start a new beginning with a new series entitled Behind the Beads. Has a nice, catchy ring to it, don’t you think? 🙂 I can think of no better “first post” for Behind the Beads than the new designs that you’ll see below inspired by The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano.
Can I share a secret? I met Joanna a couple of years ago thanks to visiting a reader event (Storyfest hosted by American Christian Fiction Writers). While she was not specifically there to participate in Storyfest, the conference organizers had no problem with us mingling, meeting, and snapping photos with any authors we saw. I was like a nervous school girl walking over to a group of people that included Joanna, but I patiently waited for a break in the conversation to introduce myself and ask for a picture.
Y’all….Joanna was one of the sweetest authors I have ever met! She was so gracious, and asked about me and my experience attending Storyfest and if I was having a good time (um, the answer to that will always be yes!) Next thing I know, we somehow segued into talking about Instagram, and I shared my handle – and she was already a follower of my work! I said I had plans to create some jewelry inspired by one of her stories some day, believing that the first set I would share would be for The Lost Melody (which is coming soon, I promise). I never dreamed that I would read such an enchanting story like the one she told in The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple. It has this magical, mysterious quality that I haven’t read much of, but I’d certainly like to read more!
It seemed so fitting that it inspired me to start creating jewelry again because I’ve been away from it for so long. The weekend I met Joanna was the same weekend my mom was released from the hospital for the first time after being diagnosed with leukemia. I felt so guilty being 5 hours away from home for an entire weekend, believing that my parents needed me close by to help her. We had been advocating for several days prior to Storyfest for her to be released, but did not have a concrete date. Once I heard that she was being released on the same day I was driving up to St. Louis, I felt like I could fully enjoy Storyfest and all the fun that came with it! Sadly, that entire time of her illness, subsequent hospital stays, and her passing in January 2024 led to me being away from almost everything creative. Too many things were grabbing my attention, and I couldn’t focus on anything – much less creating jewelry. After reading Lily’s enchanting story, it just opened the door for me to start creating again and with a new style than I have before.
As in previous Jewelry Stories posts, what I’ll share with you below the passage that inspired each piece, one photo, and a link to the product page to see more photos, details, and the ability to purchase. I’ll also share some other behind the scenes info at the very end. 😉
I hope you’ll enjoy this creative journey through The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple!
“He’s brilliant, but a bit eccentric at the same time, you know. I suppose we all are, in a way. Me, I think I’d build a house of crystal rather than glass, with prisms everywhere.” Her smile was wide, eyes, bright. “Just imagine the sunrise in such a place!”
She reminded him of a delicate bit of sea glass glistening alone on a dark beach. The sort that had been weathered and polished in the water, tossed and smoothed, but was liable to shatter upon the rocks.
“So he planted more seeds, and he read to them. Sang to them. Fed them with flower petals and other beautiful things. And this time, he grew a little fairy.”
“A sapphire you call a mere bauble?” She stilled. Lifted the necklace from beneath her gown. Eyes focused on him, she dropped the gem into her hand and held it up, moonlight blinking off every smooth facet in a way that was nearly blinding.
I tried out the name on my tongue–the Briarwood Teardrop–and wondered idly if that’s what it was. A piece of the sky. It looked every inch that description. Taken from the heavens above the enchanted garden, the one where my childish self–had that truly been me?–had been utterly happy and complete.
Bottled up behind that animated, charming face with the long, dark lashes lay a diamond–glittering, hard, and after the application of immense pressure, impossible to break. Beautiful, rare . . . valuable.
. . . in the corner, a tall covered object–it had to be a harp–loomed like a specter idly observing the room, waiting to be noticed.
“According to a rather clever cat in a story about Wonderland, imagination is the only weapon we hold in the war against reality. I suppose that’s especially true for you.”
A collection like this does not happen overnight, and finding each and every one of these beads, charms, and components was like going on a treasure hunt! While I certainly have my own favorites here, the prism bookmark at the very beginning was one of my favorite pieces to assemble. I absolutely LOVE how that crystal prism-like connector just shimmers no matter how the light hits it. I’m also a bit partial to the fairy necklace because I searched high and low for all the right components while trying to align it what I was envisioning in my mind. I knew that fairy necklace had to be just right, and it was ok if it took a little longer to bring everything together. The finished result was worth the wait!
So, what do you think? I’d love to know in the comments! Your feedback helps me know what other readers are loving in the world of Christian fiction. This book in particular was a suggestion from a reader friend of mine, and I don’t know when I would have picked it up to read if not for her gentle nudging (thank you, Jennifer!).
Want more details on these pieces? You can easily click on the links directly below each photo to find out more. Imagine having your own piece of jewelry or special bookmark to remind you of the love you have for this charming novel!
That’s all for today! I’ll see you next time for another edition of Behind the Beads. 🙂
