Getting ready for 2012!

Hi all,

I hope you had a fabulous Christmas!

It's been nice not worrying about fabric, needles and thread but it's time to get back in the swing of things.

Here is a piece from the winter collection. Hope you like it!

Siena

Thank you

Well another wonderful, uplifting West Coast Conference has come and gone. I can’t believe we’re already in November.

Thank you to all that visited or purchased a piece from my little shop, I truly appreciate it! If you are able to snap a photo of you wearing one of pieces please send me a copy of the photo at vanheusenconsulting@gmail.com, I’ll do my best to post the photos soon. I know 95% of you are experts at the “staring off in the distance while I have one arm stretched out so far with my phone/camera my shoulder might dislocate self-portrait” so I should get a few photos. ;)

I love friendly people, especially when they’re fellow bloggers! It was so nice to meet Sis Lipkin from The Lipkin Life! We follow each other’s blog and were able to meet at conference. I hope to meet more of my fellow bloggers in the future.

I will be taking a few days off from sewing to try to veg and hang out with Mr. Van Heusen. I’ll have more products to post soon!

Take care,

Siena

West Coast Sales

Hi All,

Just a quick update. I am selling out of a room somewhere on the main walk way. Sis. Kerr a.k.a. The Candy Lady will be in the room as well. If you haven't had the privilege of noshing on her fabulous sweet treats you MUST try them!

If you preordered flowers they will be available for pick up at conference. I have been so busy filling preorders I am not able to bring as many pieces as I would have liked to. There should still be plenty but I will have order forms available in case I sell out of a flower you were hoping to nab.

I would like to publicly thank my wonderful, patient husband Bryan! My dining room looks like a fabric store exploded! Thanks for putting up with my madness Bry, I love you!!

Siena

And they lived happily ever after...

We have finally gotten out of town for our anniversary!

Bryan- I will love you forever and always. I can't imagine life without you!

Siena

Final countdown...oh dear!

Hi!

As we approach West Coast Conference with lightening speed I am doing my best to fill pre-orders and sew some new pieces. Here is a sneak peak at a hair pretty that I find adora-bow!

Bad joke I know! I'm also dealing with some bad lighting. Forgive the drab picture.

Siena

Pre-Orders and Lock-Ins

Retail for $12.00 each

Thank you to all that have pre-ordered! If you are still interested its not too late, send order requests to vanheusenconsulting@gmail.com . I will be bringing a handful of flowers to our Lock-In next week for those that have requested to see them live and in color. On that note...

NEXT WEEK IS OUR ANNUAL LOCK-IN!!

Where has the time gone! We are so excited to announce that Pastor P.J. White will be preaching our youth service next week. After the service we'll be shuffling over to City Beach in Fremont to enjoy inflatables, ping pong, basketball, volleyball and rock climbing. Hopefully all of you that are in the area can make it, I know it will be great!

Siena
The Polished Plume

Fall Flowers sneak peak

Hi there!

I hope all is well with you. I am excited to say the fall flower line is here!

I will be selling at West Coast Conference in Fresno and am taking pre-orders now. What you see below is a very very small fraction of what I'm working on. There are multiple colors and sizes available for each flower below. Also any flower can be made into a pin, hard headband or soft braided headband. If you want to pre-order please email me at vanheusenconsulting@gmail.com


Enjoy!

Siena

Fields of Color - Complete Album

Hi All,

I am happy to announce that ALL the photos are in from the Fields of Color photo shoot. Prices range from $8.00 - $12.00 per piece, plus $3.00 shipping.

Thank you, thank you, thank you once again to my fabulous photographer Bree Brennan and my models Marlana Malerich, Sophia Malerich, Micki Cargill and Arthel Cargill. I love you girls to pieces!

Create a slideshow

Love,

Siena

Sneak Peek - Fields of Color photo shoot

Howdy All,

I am so excited to share a few photos with you from a recent photo shoot for a new line of flowers!!! Click the link below to get a glimpse at a fraction of what is coming.

None of this would have been possible without my fabulous models Arthel Cargill, Micki Cargill, Sophia Malerich and Marlana Malerich or without my amazing photographer Bree Brannen. Thank you girls!!

Feel free to leave thoughts or comments.

Love,

Siena
~ The Polished Plume

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=177239562332062&set=a.151921768197175.34692.109970362392316&type=1&theater#!/pages/The-Polished-Plume/109970362392316

Dear God, I'm tired!

Hello All,

I hope everyone had a great resurrection weekend!

Its been a while since I took a moment to ramble on my thoughts of the day in the blog-o-sphere but I feel like I need to do it today. As I find myself trying to get back into the swing of things after a month of activity after activity I realize I'm pooped.

Though I'd love to say all the visitors we had in our alters making a commitment to God over the weekend was enough to recharge my batteries at the moment I can't say that, all I can say is I need a nap.

I think as Pentecostals we are afraid to admit when we're tired, which in my humble opinion can be dangerous. I live in the Bay Area, work a 40+ hour a week job which requires that I travel quite a bit, my husband is the Youth Pastor at our church so we have an activity every Friday night, I teach Sunday School to junior highers, attempt to maintain my flowers as a side business, I still need to make sure my husband and I share quality time and I am leaving out all the day to day stuff that cannot be ignored. (I would rather have my wisdom teeth pulled again then deal with my husband on a Sunday morning when he realizes he doesn't have a clean white shirt, all the wives can say amen to that).

I don't mention all of the above in any way looking for pity, I know many of you out there keep this type of schedule and more. However, I do totally feel that every now and again we take inventory of our lives so we don't suffer from burnout.

Nobody wants to be the whiny saint and I certainly do not promote pity parties but I do think its important to recognize when you're running on "autopilot" because when you do God is not getting the best out of you.  I remember kneeling to pray one evening, being so tired that I just didn't feel like I could really connect with God and ended up crying my way through prayer telling God "I'm exhausted".

You may ask "was God pleased with that?", I don't know but at the time it was all I could manage. Since then I have done my best to better manage my time. Have I succeeded? Not fully but at least I am more aware of what I devote my energy to. I try to incorporate into my prayers that God helps me not to become overwhelmed with life and the things that I can't change. Until someone buys me that winning mega millions lotto ticket I have to work. :-)

What are the things I CAN change?  A huge part of the "Pentecostal lifestyle" is fellowship but can fellowship actually hinder our walks with God? Some of my groggiest, grumpiest Sunday mornings are after a late evening in San Francisco with other precious saints of God. Did I really  need to hang out with friends until the wee hours of the morning getting ice cream? Probably not (and my waistline seconds the motion!)

Where I devote my time and energy has really been on my mind a lot lately. I want to do more for God and I don't want to be so tired that it feels like its a chore when I'm doing it.God help me not to spend time and energy on the things that do not matter.

Siena

April Updates

Hi All,

I hope April has been kind to you thus far!

Revival Tab had a busy first quarter and the second is only going to busier! There is nothing like being active in the kingdom of God!

On the flower front:

I haven't had as much time as I would like to sew but I did manage to get a little done this week. (See pics below) Enjoy!

Siena

I only have a limited number of this little beauty. The buttons were hand made by a local designer that is no longer producing this style. Get it while it lasts!

Sneak Peek - Spring 2011

Howdy,

Here is a sneak peek into  Spring 2011 pieces!

Love,

Siena
The Polished Plume

Youth Revival Update

Hello All,


What an amazing revival we had with Bro Copeland. Words can’t express how much I appreciate the heartfelt messages he preached. One particular message that sticks out is titled “God hears the things you don’t say”. Bro Copeland talked about how there will be times in life that you feel so overwhelmed by circumstances that all you can do is sigh, the meaning and frustration in your sigh will resonate with God. Such a powerful thought.

We had a packed house on Friday night. I had the opportunity to watch all of God’s young people from around the Bay Area (or to quote one preacher “In the belly of the beast”) fellowship with one another. I know many friendships were formed, and maybe, just maybe one or two love connections.
On a side note, snow has been predicted to fall in the bay area this week. Pray saints pray! The roads are crazy enough out here in ideal conditions. Who knows what it will be like when you throw snow in the mix. Help is dear Jesus!

I hope all is well for everyone in the blogosphere. Take care!

Love,

Siena

P.S. If my blog visitors from Colorado are who I think you are I just want you to know I hope all is well. We’ve never stopped praying for you all. Feel free to contact me vanheusenconsulting@gmail.com

2011 Update

Hello All,


I hope 2011 has been kind to you thus far. I must say I am shocked at how quickly time goes by and how long it’s been since I’ve updated my blog!

Our youth group has “hit the ground running”; we’ve got a lot of great activities planned this year. One that I am particularly excited about is a Youth Revival with Bro. Tim Copeland from Buford, GA. I know we will have an amazing service.

The Polished Plume is now officially in a local store. I am so excited! I’ve been working on some flatter flowers, all dupiani silk attached to elastic headbands. I must say they’ve done fairly well since I rolled them out. I’ve included a pic below, these retail for $12. Available in all colors and color combinations. I will be posting more photo’s next week.

If you’d like to place an order feel free to email me at vanheusenconsulting@gmail.com

Love,

Siena