Nature's Colorful Experiments Work Sometimes

Greetings and Blessings...

It's amazing that nature is such a source of inspiration.. a neverending walk in garden splendor.

The last two weeks have been spent playing around with color mixes and it's amazing what works and what doesn't. I have laid out at least 10 pieces of jewelry that will never see the light of day in a finished form because I just can't fathom a single person liking them when I want to run far away from them before my eyes explode.

On the other hand, I've finished a couple of pieces that will soon be someone's coveted treasure:



and a few more that lay here to be completed in my next bout of insomnia.

Colors, textures and shapes. These are things we should mess with and mix-up and experiment with. It's amazing how things come together with a shirt or a dress that on a nude mannequin or plastic stand would send one into fits of laughter or disbelief:




Here are more conventional pieces that just jump to lige and hopefully there will be many, many more to follow:






Blessed Be.

Buying Handmade... Best Deals Even When Times Are Tough

Greetings and Blessings..

Tonight, I decided to bring up a subject I brought up last year, and one that repeatedly comes up. Why buy handmade and not mass made products?

I bring it up because I was wearing a pair of my earrings today, and a lady at the store asked me where she could find the same earrings or something similar. While I was not surprised, I got a little discouraged that she was disappointed to hear that she couldn't run to Target, KMart, Walmart, Sears, Kohl's and so on and find the same earrings.

It was then, while we waited to go through checkout that I got to again share my views with another unknowing person about the benefits of buying handmade items.

I started off by telling her she could rest assured that she'd be getting an original, more times than not a one-of-a-kind piece that has not been mass produced by machinery. I know most others, like myself, will make certain items that look similar, for say Valentine's Day, but that each item is indeed different whether it be by adding a crystals, silver balls, or shortening or lengthening the item. Occasionally, I will make an identical pattern with different gemstones or crystals, but still, each piece is made with my own two hands and my love of my crafts.

Furthermore, at least in my case, 98% of all of my items can be made to fit, and if not, I can closely recreate a similar piece to custom fit. In most commercial/mass produced pieces, that cannot be done. Don't get me wrong, I am a big consumer of all things mass made as well, but my perfumes, body lotions, and jewelry, I just love the idea of something being a one of a kind or less than 5 of a kind creation :)

With handmade jewelry, the only hype you will get are all of the questions and comments about where you found your wonderful jewelry. The hype that comes with mass production/commercial production is often the brand name which raises prices because of trademark issues. I can keep my prices low because I don't care to brand my products other than by word of mouth or opening my own shop in ten years lol.

All times are uncertain, even the good ones. In this current bad economy, this is the perfect time to go handmade for the very reason I told her above. Most artisians I know, whether jewelry makers, bead makers, painters, etc., we put so much love into our crafts that no matter what, we often underprice our items either because we a) want to or b) have a hard time knowing the true value of our items.

Each handcrafted item takes on a life of its own and has its own character. Personally, I don't find that with commercial/mass produced items, even as different as they can be. I used an example of Webkinz, which is one of my personal addictions. These are adorable stuffed animals that have a virtual world where you play and take care of them. I can pick up ten of the same animal in the store, and really not be drawn to one in particular because they are identical, all cut from the same mold.

With handcrafted items, that is not true, well at least in my opinion. For example, at a recent bazaar there was a man there with 10 pairs of earrings all made with the same stone, same colored crystals, and even though they appeared to be the same from a distance, when I got closer, each one was a slightly different pattern, slightly different length, just enough something different to make it unique.

These are some of the reasons I buy handmade and encourage others to go handmade.

Perhaps these will help you when faced with a similar question down the road if they haven't already been used by you :)

What are some other reasons that you all choose to go handmade??

Reminder.. make sure to go back a few entries and enter yourself in February's giveaway by posting a comment on that blog post.

Blessed Be

Creativity Has a Case of Wanderlust - Reward Being Offered

Greetings and Blessings:

This weekend my creativity took a hike with a bad case of wanderlust... if you happen to find it, please hold it tightly until you can return it to me.

Actually, I did manage to put together a handful of things, and while I am pretty happy with them, they certainly are not the big visualizations hoped for. Weekends are harder what with trying to get kiddos ready for school and everything, but still....

Anyway, here's wishing for a more productive and creative week and wishing the same for all of you.

Again, should you find my creativity with a case of wanderlust, please return it. Reward offered!

P.S... Please make sure you go back a few entries and enter yourself for February's giveaway :)

Blessed Be

VALENTINE'S DAY SECRET GIVEAWAY & THE GROUNDHOG

Greetings and Blessings:

The last couple of days I have been busy updating my website and Etsy stores with Valentine's Day items. Also, one of my best friends has updated my blog to give it that special lovey-dovey look. Thanks Mary!!!

Since Valentine's Day is fast approaching, the February giveaway is being posted tonight with the winner drawn the morning of Groundhog's Day, February 2nd. Will that pesky thing see his shadow?? Only time will tell, but we will all find out together when the winner of this giveaway is posted.

Up for grabs this month will be a pair of earrings and a cell phone charm. The exact models of which I am not posting, but they will be similar to the two items below:



and



Remember, these are only examples as I want the winner to be surprised at what they really win. I have a grab bag of goodies so you may just get more than the posted items :)

The more who enter the merrier, and please if you like what you see in the photos and my shoppe, please consider being my fan on Facebook and passing on the word.

Now, for the entry details:

Simply post a comment on this blog to be entered in the giveaway. PLEASE let me know how to contact you.

Best of luck and as always,

Blessed Be.

Cell Phone Charms in the Shoppe

Greetings and Blessings:

Took last night off due to a pesky migraine. Tonight, still battling it, but wanted to post and show off a few new goodies.

Cell Phone charms are now available in the shoppe and just in time for Valentine's Day.

Blessed Be.

A Flood of Ideas

Greetings and Blessings...

So today while at the physical therapist's office, I had a sudden surge of ideas flying in my mind, although part of me has to wonder how much of that had to do with the electrical stimulation unit they had me hooked up to lol.

I didn't have my notebook and pen with me like I usually do so I had to try and remember all the ideas I had for jewelry. It's times like this that I wish I made my own beads, but I am not as patient as I know it must take to make such beautiful work as the ladies I buy my beads from. So I just have to settle for putting them to use with crystals and gemstones and see what patterns come into play.

I've put my two teen girls to work recently helping me and I have friends who are helping me too.. at least putting my ideas into form. Tomorrow some of these recent ideas will be listed and open for viewing too.

For now, I am a lot tired and may just call it an early night.

Blessed Be.

Some Days You Just Gotta Say Eff It

Greetings and Blessings..

So I think we are currently working on two weeks straight of rain here in Washington, maybe even three, I've lost track. I normally love the rain and the gray as for me it inspires my creativity more than sunshine and brightness. But last night when it was raining so hard and the winds were blowing so hard I kept waiting for my bedroom window to shatter over my bed, I have come to a point where I want the rain to go away for at least 60 days. I am ready for some constant sunshine and warmth.

Today, I accomplished my to-do list of light housekeeping, listing a few new items relating to Valentine's Day and completing a game play badge pogo. Pretty exciting huh? Not really, but that's been my life lately.

This evening, I tried to play with some beads, and I tried to read, but I just can't get into anything. The rain started up again after taking about a two hour break and now the winds are just howling away. So now it's been an hour of rain and high winds, and I've now just declare this a day where I am saying "eff it" and going to bed after showing off a couple of new things lol.







Blessed Be.

A Day of Rest.. or NOT

Greetings and Blessings...

I had originally intended today to be a day of rest physically, mentally and spiritually. Again, that was the original intention.

Instead, both of my children decided that they couldn't be happy without inviting other playmates over or making a gazillion phone calls. Plus it is trash and recycling day. However, my wonderful hubby decided he was going to fix a very nice chicken dinner for us which was a pleasant surprise. It was also very delicious lol.

Aside from that, I have been watching television, reading my crystal books, and well, I just couldn't stay out of the beads so I made a pair of Valentine's Day earrings that will be posted here soon as they will be my next blog giveaway. I also played around with more beads and lined up two necklaces which I am sure will be changed a couple of times over before I put them together into a finished product.

Now, as I try to wind down for the night, I am writing out my to-do list for this next week, playing on Facebook with my newest game addiction of Latte Land, waiting for a new pot of coffee to finish dripping, and as soon as I finish this, I am going to head off and watch a repeat of Criminal Minds.

Tomorrow it's back to the grindstone of light housekeeping and even lighter nap time and then back to getting my mind and fingers busy with beads.

Blessed Be.

Pink Cure for My Blues

Greetings and Blessings:

So the last couple of days I have been in a slightly blue mood even though I've tried to focus on my not so blues. To do so, I have been working really hard to update my website, which thankfully is all current now and can be seen at www.metaphysicalshoppe.net. It is still a work in progress as far as tweaking it, but I am pretty proud of myself for getting it done, with the help of two of my best friends, Mary and Jan.

I have also been playing a lot with some pink beads and other lighter, brighter beads to see if that could help, and it actually has. I think part of my problem has been so much rain rain rain. I love the smell and sound of it, and even though I didn't think I'd ever get tired of it, I really am ready for some sunshine. Actually, I am ready to go back to the beaches of Hawaii lol.

Here's a couple of pink and hopefully brighter and uplifting pieces done recently.









Blessed Be

Great Strides in the New Year

Greetings and Blessings...

Tonight I finally finished a daunting task I had assigned to myself. I finally got my website fully stocked with inventory for those customers who refuse to buy on Ebay and Etsy due to the fees :) That site is www.metaphysicalshoppe.net.

In doing so I felt a huge sigh of relief and now I can pick one more task to get a jump start on. That will start tomorrow morning early in getting pics of some new items and getting them listed. Necklaces have been a really huge calling lately, but after this batch of stuff makes its appearance, there are beads that are screaming "make me into an anklet make me into an anklet" and, I found an old book that I've decided to re-read. Hmmmm decisions decisions.. where do I really start?

I mean this year, granted we are only on day 15, but so far, I have kept myself on track and on top of all my daily "chores" I set for myself. So not like me.. I must be growin up lol.

How are the rest of you doing with your new year plans?

Blessed Be.

A Spotlight on favorite Etsy Shops

Greetings...

So as I sat today, listening to and watching the downpour of wet that is Washington weather, I let my fingers do the walking since my brain wasn't capable yet. Turns out yesterday's cottonballs were the precursor to one nasty migraine which is just now subsiding. Gotta love it.

So my fingers kept clicking the mouse and my eyes surfed Etsy and I decided tonight to spotlight a few of my newest favorite Etsy shops.

I was first inspired by the scent of the rain and wet grass when I let my cats out, so I went window shopping for a new perfume oil and found an intriguing scent I want to try at Another Realm Scents called Pomona... so if you are into fruit scents, check this out: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36680324

Then I attempted to play with some beads, just to occupy my hands and mind a little, and decided I'd work on Valentine's Day items. Well that didn't happen so to spark my creativity, I went hunting for beads and found this lovely set pink heart set, perfect for Valentine's Day, at BreathtakingBeadzz: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37839865

After that, I did manage to get a new pair of earrings made and a necklace laid out to be put together later on. Those will be posted later this week.

Blessed Be.

My Mind Needs A Cleansing

This has turned out to be a strange day and I feel as though my head is stuffed with a million cotton balls... I'm sure there are a few of you who can relate to that lol.

The day was not as productive as I had hoped for. I wanted to update my website after physical therapy, but by the time I was done straightening up the house and doing the dishes, that thought flew out the window.

So here I sit, watching old re-runs of the Nanny and Criminal Minds, and I can't think of anything else to do at the moment.

But, I thought I'd check in for the night.

Happy Blessings on all who pass through blogger land.

Blessed Be.

Third Chakra - Ambitious Desires

Greetings and Blessings..

The Third Chakra, which is known as the Solar Plexus Chakra, is located below one's breastbone and behind their stomach. This is the center of one's personal power, their ambitions and their desires.

This Chakra is said to hold a protective energy from the negativity contained in any of the other Chakras. The Solar Plexus Chakra is associated with the stomach, liver and nervous system.

The color most associated with this Chakra is said to represent meditatitve thought and is yellow as can be found in this recent creation:



Blessed Be

Seventh Chakra - Crowning Wisdom

Greetings and Blessings:

Tonight I enlighten you to the Seventh Chakra, otherwise known as the Crown Chakra. This Chakra is located as the name says, at the crown of the head.

This Chakra is the center of one's enlightenment and spirituality as well as energy. It is beleived this Chakra allows for the flow of wisdom from the outside and brings the gift of higher consciousness. When this Chakra has been stimulated and is clear, it lets one see the truth concenring among other things, pride and materialistic pursuits.

The colors most associated with this Chakra are violet and white.

Blessed Be.

ANNOUNCING WINNER OF BLOG GIVEAWAY

Greetings and Blessings,

Tonight I am simply announcing the winner of my first and not last blog giveaway lol.

I had names in a hat and my daughter drew the winning name.

CONGRATULATIONS CHERYL!!!!!! I will be contacting you via email this evening.

Thank you to those of you who entered the drawing and please be sure to watch for next month's. It'll be a Valentine's Day delight :)

Have a great evening all. I hear creativity shouting my name lol.

Blessed Be.

2nd Chakra - Sacral Chakra - Desire

Greetings and Blessings:

The Sacral Chakra, also known as the second Chakra, can be found about 1-2" below one's navel. This is the center of one's desires, emotions, their creativity and intuition, and one's sexuality.

This Chakra assists the digestive system and reproductive organs. The Sacral Chakra is considered a pathway to one's health.

The colors most frequently associated with the Sacral Chakra are orange, blue and green.

On that note, please remember tonight is the last night to enter the blog giveaway for a necklace. Get your entries in.. the info is back a blog entry or three lol. The drawing will be held tomorrow night and the winner will be announced in tomorrow night's blog.

Blessed Be.

Divine Guidance - Throat Chakra

Greetings and Blessings:

In my further quest in 2010, aside from blogging every day, I am trying to force myself to create and hopefully list one new item for my shoppe each day. Some days, I succeed, others, I can make two things so it all balances out.

Today, I listed a blue necklace I called Heart Space, however, blue is a color associated with the Throat Chakra, also known as the Fifth Chakra.

The Throat Chakra is located at the neck, the center being the area of one's throat located above their collar bone. This is the center of sound, speech and the expression of one's creativity through thought.

It is believed that the Throat Chakra provides one the energy to understand both verbal and mental communication. This is the place that vitalizes, among other things, the throat and jaw area, breath, lungs, and thyroid gland.

Since blue is a color associated with this Fifth Chakra, blue being thought to reprensent one's knowledge of Divine Guidance, I end with a photo of the necklace which is a good representation of this energy.




Blessed Be.

Greetings & Blessings

Wow, this day has just flown by and I feel as though I've been hit by a truck lol.

I am exhausted so tonight I will just show off a few pretties recently added to the shoppe:








Blessed Be and see ya tomorrow :)

Tiger Eye and the Base Chakra

Greetings -

The Base Chakra, also known as the first Chakra, is located in the region of the base of the spine in the lumbar area.

This is the center of one's physical energy and vitality. It is believed to strenghten one's will to survive. In the physical body, this is the center that vitalizes one's kidneys and spinal column.

Colors oft associated with this Chakra are red and black. Red is a representation of one's passion for life, and black represents grounding. There are multiple gemstones and crystals associated with the Base Chakra.

I have recently listed the above bracelet which contains Tiger Eye in my Etsy shoppe. Tiger Eye can help those seeking clarity. When used as a focus to assist the base chakra, it can help one to discipline their sexual and emotional life.

Tiger Eye can help one be grounded and brings a lightness to eliminate one's "blues". It is a balancer of yin-yang energy and has been used in the treatment of eye disordres and disorders of the reproductive system.

Blessed Be.

IT'S A GIVEAWAY!!!!

Tonight I am doing my first, but by far my last, blog giveaway.


I will be giving away one necklace, featured in the photo below, which is made with Australian Jade, Blue Goldstone, Spice colored glass pearls, India Glass, Copper tone rounds, and Green Aventurine.

While I realize this will not appeal to everyone, this necklace fits in neatly with my focus on Chakras this week. It's also your opportunity to have a one of a kind, handmade with love necklace, to keep for yourself or gift to someone else.

This necklace is currently 18" long which is a pretty standard size. However, the winner may choose to have it resized to anywhere between 16" to 22" in length. Simply let me know when I notify you you've won.

Now, for the entry details:

Simply post a comment on this blog to be entered in the giveaway. PLEASE let me know how to contact you. My daughter will be pulling the winner's name from a hat this Sunday, January 10th.

As an added bonus, if you let me know where you read about my blog, Facebook, IM, Twitter, or directly from the blog site, you will receive a pair of earrings too.

Blessed Be.

The Psychic Center - Third-Eye Chakra

I know, I know, I know... no I am not going in order of the Chakras lol.

Tonight I am very aware of my higher intuition at work and I have decided to focus on the Third-Eye Chakra, otherwise known as the sixth Chakra, otherwise known as the brow Chakra because it is located between and slightly above the eyebrows.

The Third-Eye Chakra is the center of your psychic power and higher intuition. When activated and clear, it is the center for outside guidance.

If you need purification from negative tendencies, this is the Chakra to assist you.

The color association with the Third-Eye Chakra is indigo.

Blessed Be.

Chakras.. More Specifically, The Heart Chakra

Chakras, correctly pronounced "shock-rah's", are vital energy flows that are present in the ethereal body and related locations of the physical body.

There are seven major Chakras relating to the physical body, these being where the main energy flows intersect. Each of the Chakras has a color or colors associated with it. According to many of my source books, the health of an area of one's physical body and the condition of the associated Chakra, should be considered interdependent.

Tonight, I'd like to bring to light the Heart Chakra which is the fourth Chakra. It is located in the center of the chest at heart level. This is the center of love and compassion. It is believed that this fourth Chakra provides for the spreading of compassion to all of the chakras.

This chakra is responsible for the heart, circulatory system, cellular structure and the thymus. There are two colors most commonly associated to the Heart Chakra, pink and green. Pink represents compassion and unconditional love, and green represents healing and ecstasy.

I personally use a lot of Rose Quartz, as I did in this necklace, in my jewelry creations beacuse it is extremely helpful at the Heart Chakra, although it can work on all of the chakras.

Blessed Be.

The Power of Crystals

Tonight, I thought I would touch briefly on the power of crystals.

Crystals can be acquired by unearthing them with one's own hands, buying them after someone else has unearthed them, or by receiving them as gifts. One of the first crystals I ever received was from a dear friend of mine who has since passed away.

When I began to work with crystals more and more, I was taught that the best method of finding a crystal is to stand in front of a group of crystals, close your eyes, relax and take a few deep breaths and then open your eyes quickly, picking up the first crystal you see. Many times I did this, the crystals felt warm to hot in my hands and/or caused a vibration in my hand letting me know I had found the right one.

This method is extremely hard to do when you are shopping online. But, in this instance, you may feel drawn to a particular crystal and not know why. There is a simple explanation for this. The crystal is choosing you and has a purpose to serve with you. That purpose, one in your possession, could be for someone else and you are just the keeper for the rightful owner.

Crystals can be chosen for a specific purpose, whether your purpose is meditation, creating an amulet or talisman, or using it for its healing properties. It is possible to "sense" an energy response from a crystal, as in my example, it can take the form of a vibration, a different awareness, anything that makes you take notice of it. You can use the same intuition and method listed above to find a crystal for someone else. It's all about the attraction.

Upon receiving a new crystal, whether receiving it from yourself or another person, I highly recommend a dedication. Simply hold your crystal while be consciously aware that are foreseeing the crystal to be used in love and for good.

Blessed Be.

HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!!

It's been quite a while since I blogged, so I'll start back into it with a heartfelt and loud HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL!!

I'd like to welcome you back to my blog which this year will bubble with ancient magics, crystal wonders, herbs, moonlight and secrets of finding the self and being happy and blessed with what we are provided.

There are things we can all do day to day to inspire and enlighten our lives, even in the darkest of times. Our hands and our minds can create and array of objects and visions, and there is much pleasure to be found in even the simplest of things which are formed.

I use my hands and mind to create jewelry which I find inspiring, beautiful and magical, and I use them to write songs and poems. Friends who are close to me are creating clothing and books and annointing oils and perfumes.

What magic and enlightenment do you create with your hands? A little something to think about on this first day of a new year.

Blessed Be.