Metaphysical Shoppe

Spring is in the Air

2010-02-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Blessed Be:

This weekend I went and enjoyed the winter olympics with my husband, his parents, and the kids. Even though we left Friday night when it was dark, the sky was so clear, and so many stars and different lights, the drive was fantastic and very relaxing. It took about 3 1/2 hours to reach our destination of Birch Bay, Washington, which is about 5 minutes away from the Peace Arch and entry into Canada. This is part of the view from the hotel balcony:

The pool and hot tub area where we relaxed after a 3 1/2 hour drive:

This was a much needed getaway and unplugged few days so I could hopefully sleep and recharge my brain, which I was successful at. So Saturday morning we got up and made the rest of the trek to Vancouver.. the drive was incredible, the sun was out, it was warm enough to not need a coat, and just beautiful scenery all the way around. My Canadian friends are sooooo lucky. We just enjoyed the sights and sounds, and then of course, our ultimate destination of the women's hockey game between Switzerland and China. Incredible.

After the game, we made our way and enjoyed a driving tour of Vancouver and then headed back towards Birch Bay stopping in White Rock to enjoy the best fish and chips and burgers that any of us had had in a long long time. Then it was back to the hotel which sat right across from Birch Bay to enjoy a good book in front of the fireplace and then more sleep, which was desparately needed.

Sunday morning, I got up and snapped a few photos of a new inspiring place to me, Birch Bay and we had coffee and headed home:

Now recharged, I am ready to get back into making some jewelry, and it's all going to be spring inspired because I want the winter weather and blahs to disappear soon lol.

Blessed Be.

Spring is Coming

2010-02-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Blessings:

Just popping in for another short visit tonight. Cluster migraines and insomnia so do not go together or lend themselves to my making myself very useful or productive.

However, I have been able to put a few spring themed pieces together and wanted to stay on top of at least one thing. I haven't been able to do my blog-a-day as I had planned this year, but I have been able to stay on top of or be ahead of my 365-a-year goal, which is one new creation per day:

Spring will soon be upon us all and not a minute too soon can this cold, wet known as rain, slushy and white stuff called snow go away:

Think spring and stay as warm and toasty as you can while riding out the harsh winter:

Blessed Be.

Hang on to the Joyride Known as Life

2010-02-09T21:30:00.001-08:00

Greetings and Blessings:

While it is still fairly early where I live (9:30 p.m.), I still haven't been able to sleep well and decided to just write some stuff down.

Some say (well a lot say) that life is a journey.. let me tell ya.. life is more of a joyride... it goes super super fast, sometimes so fast you don't have time to breathe and take everything in, and then BAM it's over and the joyride/journey you took ends badly, usually with someone getting hurt, or no one is hurt and people move on as if nothing has happened.

But, I am a believer that our lives should be good joyrides where we can choose our destinations. If one door closes, open another.. if you travel on a road that twists and turns and you think there will be a fork in the road, but it turns out to be a dead end.. turn around and go back the other way and then turn another direction. Apply the same thought to everything you do. If things are not going the way you want them to, don't simply give up.. keep searching for and working towards the next best thing.

Right now, I am searching for the next and best night's sleep I can have and to see the sales of my jewelry pick up. I keep working towards the next best design or combination of things that will just be a delightful piece and put a smile on someone else's face. I want my kids and my husband to stay healthy and more importantly happy. I wish the same for all my friends.

Make each day a new journey.. a new beginning. Sit down, enjoy the ride, drive it hard, but always be safe!

Blessed Be.

Insomnia, Migraine and Creativity

2010-02-08T23:15:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Blessings...

Just a short pop in tonight. A current bought of cluster migraines mixed with insomnia has not boded well. Sometimes one or both, even together, can bring on a bought of creativity, and other times, the same can totally drain my body and spirit and creativity.

In trying not to let it win and in trying to carry through on making one new item each day this year - even if not posted, I am on track.

Here is the newest piece in trying to stay upbeat and beat the weather and the insomnia and the migraines:

Blessed Be

A Longer Winter.. Bah Humbug.. Think Spring

2010-02-03T21:41:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Blessings...

I would imagine for most of us, it was very depressing to see that the blasted groundhog saw his shadow and once again, cursed us all to six more weeks of winter. I say Bah Humbug. It's time to think Spring and believe in spring. Think warm thoughts and chase winter away :)

I've been totally wrapped up the last couple of days on a new line of necklaces and was doing that yesterday when I came up with this one:

Today, I decided to do a nice spring and love themed necklace too since Valentine's Day is fast approaching and not all women are into plain red or hearts:

Whatever the next few weeks brings, whether more snow, rain or both depending on where you are, I wish you all a "heated" Valentine's Day and let's keep looking forward to spring!

Blessed Be.

A Return to Nature to Revive One's Spirit

2010-02-01T20:16:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Blessings...

The last few weeks have been a personal struggle for me and quite a few of my closest friends. Various medical issues, depression, anxiety, and deaths have all seemed to hit in a big wave. Needless to say, with each of us dealing with separate issues, it's been nice to form a tight support group and sounding board for eachother. But, as I am sure most of you reading this know, being supportive and being there for everyone else, including yourself can just be such a drain on your spirit.

It's being so spiritually drained that I have found myself going back to one of my all time favorite books. It's called Return to the Garden by a wonderful author Shakti Gawain. It's a tale of the author's path to self-discovery and living on the earth in a balanced and natural way.

In reading this book for about the 100th time again this weekend, I was inspired to create a new line of necklaces that are my way of returning to nature as a way to revive one's spirit. I am hoping the entire collection can be part of my return path to discovering the part of me I feel I have lost lately and get back to a more balanced state. This is the first piece of the new collection:

Just making this piece, I felt myself letting go of some pent up emotions and I could feel the power this necklace will generate to whoever decides to give it a home.

Tomorrow is Groundhog's Day and in the words of a friend, the little bugger best tell us that spring is on the way. Then, I'll be able to spend more time outside and who knows where and what nature will lead to next.

Don't forget, this is the last chance to enter this month's giveaway. Go back a few posts and enter to win the Valentine's Day Mystery Gift Pack :)

Blessed Be.

Nature's Colorful Experiments Work Sometimes

2010-01-28T21:29:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-25T22:55:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-24T22:31:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-22T21:07:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-21T20:50:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-19T21:37:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-18T23:18:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-17T21:04:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-16T21:57:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-15T21:34:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-14T23:02:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-13T23:09:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-11T22:06:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-10T18:17:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-08T23:05:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-07T23:32:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

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!!!!

2010-01-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-02T19:33:00.000-08:00

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!!

2010-01-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

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.

A Graduation Gift

2009-05-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

I have a friend at work who will be graduating soon and I wanted to make her something special for the occasion. She found a beautiful dress and killer heels for herself, but I wanted to provide the bling.

Sooo a few weeks ago, I commissioned another friend, SRA Artist Mary Bush, to create some lovely lampwork beads for me which turned out spectacular and made the best focal point for this necklace.

So I just wanted to share my latest piece and the artist creativity of Mary Bush to all before I call it a night.

My Newest Bling Idea

2009-05-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

So I have been wanting to make something around this beautiful copper and Carnelian pendant that I've had around for a few months. I finally got to the point where everytime I sat down to bead and be creative, my mind just kept racing to that one pendant. Ring a bell to anyone? lol

So I finally finally just sat and held it and realized that I could go all out and totally bling it out and take the chance of changing the focus from the pendant to the actual necklace, or do a simple necklace with lots of copper to draw the attention to the pendant. I've gotten nothing but compliments from those people who have seen it, so I think I really got a good balance, but I won't know for sure until it sells.

I love it, and I am happy with it, so we shall see. I am sharing it here even though my picture is not the best :) It can better be seen on etsy.

Why can't days be 48 hours long??? :)

2009-05-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

So I have been chastising myself a lot lately because there just never seems to be enough time in one day to do everything I want and need to do.

This is my truly busy season because both my kids have 1-2 sports activities each, band, orchestra and choir concerts, and I am a co-coach on one of the sports teams.

It doesn't help that I have been ill...jury is still out in the bloodwork and other tests as to what I have, but they've narrowed it down to 3 conditions.. All treatable, but all highly a pain in the butt and life altering.. go figure.

When I am not in pain, which lately isn't often, and not totally exhausted, very rarely lately, I have continued to try and run my jewelry endeavor.

Now mind you this is all on top of working full-time as a paralegal. Sometimes I think I am crazy for trying to keep up on everything and thus have tended to let things like my blog, my online gaming league, and bookreading slide.

As I write this tonight, I am exhausted and hurting, but wanted to try and force myself to get back into my blog.

So, I part with a picture of a recent creation and hope to post again soon.

Where does creative time go??

2009-03-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

Well I knew it had been some time since I posted, but I did not realize that it had been over a month.

Work has been busy, my family life has been busy, I am about to start co-coaching my daughter's volleyball team again and my husband has been working nights and for another month yet.

I just haven't had the time to create new jewelry at my normal pace or even keep up with my blogs or updating web sites. I've also been sick a lot so I'll blame it partly on that.

More a little later just trying to get back in the swing of things.

Blessed Be

Why buy handmade?

2009-01-28T20:55:00.000-08:00

So I was wearing a piece of my jewelry at work today and one of our clients asked me where she could find my necklace and was a little disappointed when I told her I made it (but that it or a similar piece was for sale).

And it was then, while we waited for the rest of her party to show for the meeting, that I got to 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.

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 :)

Returning to My Garden

2009-01-19T19:10:00.001-08:00

I have found myself the last few days really struggling to be creative and happy. It's becoming too much of a familiar theme with me and I don't like it.

The biggest reason I know of is because it's just been a short month since my dad passed away and yet I've caught myself several times calling his old hospital room phone number and then when there's no answer, I call my mom's house fully expecting him to answer the phone. It has not truly sunk in yet that he is gone and I don't know when it will. I can tell myself over and over and I can visualize the service at the Veteran's Cemetary and the folding of the flag and Taps, but it doesn't help.

Today, I lapsed into a really bad melancholy and just felt like I wanted to wither away. But, then I looked at my two beautiful girls and realized that just couldn't happen. So, while they were occuped with friends who came over to play, I walked over the bookself and found an old friend of mine. It is a book I discovered back in 1991 by Shakti Gawain and it's called Return to the Garden.

In this book the author rawly and truthfully reveals her path to self-discovery and personal power. She writes with such emotion and holds nothing back the reader can't help but be drawn in and become more focused. So yes, I sat down and reread the whole book again today. I haven't read it for about a year now, but before that, I read it at least 10 times a year.

It's sold in bookstores under the Psychology/Personal Growth sections, and occasionally New Age. I don't truly believe that it fits in any of these sections, it should have a section all it's own. I truly recommend that this is a book every woman must read no matter what her beliefs are. This book is not about religion.. as a matter of fact, there are some things in here that I know some of my religious friends have found offensive and repulsive.

A little background on me here, I was raised Catholic, but I never really practiced Catholicism. In my early to late 20's, I met a friend who declared herself not religious, but not an Atheist either. She didn't claim to be Wiccan, but she said she felt most at home with the Wiccan family. She introduced me to wands, crystals, and much more, things I'd never heard of let alone seen in my life. In my late 20's, I tried many religions, Baptist, Lutheran, Catholicism, Mormonism... none of them were me. Even as I went to church and led youth groups, and participated in each religion, in the back of my head and in my heart, I wasn't where I was supposed to be. I would always find myself feeling like a fraud. So, I stopped going to church and started practicing the alternative.

I started using crystals and spells and meditation. I still believe in higher powers and higher beings, but I do not classify myself to any religion. And I found affirmation, even though I doubt the author meant to or would approve of the self-affirmation, and sought solice in this book.

Again today, I was in the same place.. I needed solice, and found it. The book opens with a short "Dear Readers" letter from the author in which she talks about the book being her journey of discovery and return to the garden of her soul and her connection to the earth. I needed to read that. I needed to see in black and white that at least one other person at sometime in their life felt what I was feeling inside at that very moment. The need to discover, or in my case rediscover the garden of my soul.

To me this means the things that make me happy even if I have to be sad in the process. So how does one discover the garden of their soul and connection to the earth? For me, it means getting back into the things that make me happy. That means allowing myself to make mistakes as I be a wife to my husband, a mother to my girls. That means getting back into making and creating the things I am happy making and not the things that make me sad or miserable in making.

When we are young, we learn to reject and repress unaccpetable feelings and even ourselves.. things that have happened to us. What this book points out is that the things we've represeed don't go away because we or others want it to. They fester and build inside of us and explode eventually. For some of us, it explodes in the creation of jewelry, original artwork, poetry, songs, etc. In others, unfortunately, it explodes in violence.

In writing this, I am just off to rediscover myself and find what keeps me centered and focused. I am off to work on myself and my creations and keep finding ways to express the bottled up emotions inside.

I am off to rediscover my inner child, and I highly recommend to one and all that you do the same at some point in your lives. This book, and again it is Return to the Garden by Shakti Gawain shows you how to do this in the last chapter of the book.

Blessings Be

Creative Inspiration

2009-01-14T19:29:00.000-08:00

So as I have sat here the last two days battling yet another in a series of cluster migraines, I’ve had lots of time to think.

Yep, despite the ever present kaleidoscopic explosions in my head and the feeling that my eyeballs are being stabbed from the inside out and at any moment could fly out and then snap back in like they show in the cartoons, I’ve given thought to the topic of inspiration.

All these colors that I see during migraines, sometimes in patterns and sometimes not, are like a magical, albeit obscenely painful, painted canvas. Hard to imagine finding inspiration to get creative out of an experience like this, but many times I write my best poetry or make my best jewelry combinations either during or right after the migraine storm.

A lot of my crafting friends get their inspiration from nature, catalogs, books or movies. That’s when I tend to hit a “dry spell” or slump. Sometimes I will be watching a tv show or movie and cannot stand the jewelry on a character and I end up making something that in my fantasy world, I would have that character wear if I were the person in charge. But nature.. well nature always stumps me unless it’s the clouds or rain.. clouds during a thunder and rain storm inspire me to create darker pieces with splashes of bright color in one place only… usually the pendant.

I try to take my inspiration from whatever or wherever I can get that “spark”… rarely do I try to stifle myself, yes stifle.. I have been accused of being too splashy at times, and I just try to please myself.

I wholeheartedly believe that if I create something that I like, with my full passion and creative drive, and put it out there for others to see, it will be appreciated. And, there will always be someone to give that creation a “home” – even though a lot of times, it finds a permanent home with me J

So what’s your passion and creative drive? What inspires you?

What a shocking and pleasant surprise!!

2009-01-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

I won an award!!!!

I am very honored to be chosen by honeybearbeads for this award. Thank you Mary!

Here's the story behind this award:

The authors say that blogs who receive this award are exceedingly charming. This blog invests in the PROXIMITY in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that even more friendships are propagated.

So, now it's time for me to pass on this award and 'propagate' some friendships!

I'd like to pass this award on to...

Honeybearbeads (again.. she got it once lol)

Miss Gina Designs

Athena's Olive Tree

Nicole

and

Cloud Nine Creations

All Hype or Just Right?

2009-01-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

So I sit here this lovely, dark, cloudy, rainy Sunday morning pondering what I shall make today. The calendar and emails from my beading groups tell me I should be focusing on Valentine's Day hearts and fluff, but I am struggling with that. Maybe I am throwing myself off because as I sit here drinking my coffee, flavored with Pumpkin Spice creamer, it just doesn't seem like this year should be flying so fast already does it?

Aside from that, in the back of my mind I just keep hearing this voice tell me what a commercial holiday Valentine's Day is and that it's just a day invented for retailers to recoup or gain more financial stability. Oh wait.. now I know what I am hearing.. that's my husband's voice in my head lol.. he tells me that every year.

So I don't know. I sit here know wondering... does he have a valid point? I'd like to think not. I think almost every aspect of life deserves a special holiday to be celebrated or given a little more hype than any other day of life. It's not like I'm big on holidays anymore and maybe that's what makes me somewhat jaded too. Bad things have happened now in my life on or about two of the biggest holidays of the year. I almost died on Valentine's Day one year, and this past year, my dad passed away 10 days before Christmas.

But, since I started this blog process with the new year, I also resolve to move forward. Perhaps I need to put away the Pumpkin Spice coffee creamer, and go back to Hazlenut, dig through the bead stash and find the red. white and heartsy fluffy stuff that can work for Valentine's Day and one of these days soon, go shopping on Etsy for a non-commercial Valentine's Day card for my hubby.

Then, I can start dreaming of little green men who hide pots of gold at the end of rainbows :)

Some of my favorite gemstones and why:

2009-01-08T20:35:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am trying to inspire myself to make some jewelry for a special order I received. Once again due to a migraine and lack of sleep, my creativity has hit a stump.

I thought perhaps if I spoke to my inner self as I type I may find inspiration. So, in no particular order, I thought I'd share two of my favorite gemstones, their metaphysical properties, and what I use them for - for personal use.

SODALITE: Depending on the color variety of each stone, it reminds me of cloud watching. Aside from the calming, soothing color, Sodalite is helpful in the metaphysical realm to help one arrive at logical conclusions and help eliminate confusion. Who can't use help with that? Being a firm believer in the metaphysical properties of stones and crystals, I use Sodalite personally because I feel it purifies my body and helps with insomia. A couple of my creations with Sodalite are above.

and

ARAGONITE: I have seen this stone vary between white, pale yellow, yellow-gold, green and blue. I have read that there is a brown aragonite, but I have not seen it. A friend of mine turned me on to Aragonite a few years back because I was very stressed out and was having trouble meditating. I went to the store, found Aragonite and touched it. The stones emitted a warming sensation in my hand and I just knew it would help. I now wear an Aragonite bracelet or earrings almost daily. It is believed that Aragonite helps one maintain discipline within their activities and is said to enhance reliability. Aragonite has physical uses as an elixir or wearing the stone. These include bringing warmth to one's extremities and to help ease aches and pains. One of my creations with Aragonite is above to the left.

Well I guess that's it for tonight, I think I will go back to the craft room and try to make some more goodies.

I love rain

2009-01-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

Sooooo I am sitting here at my computer listening to and watching the rain out the back window. I just wish there was thunder to go with it and lightening.

There is something about this kind of weather that I find very calm and relaxing and very condusive to my creativity. I know that there are a lot and I mean A LOT of people here in Washington State that would disagree with me about now due to all the flooding that we are facing, but I still love the rain.

I think I would make a good duck or other water loving bird. That said.. and a fluke of a question.. I wonder just what birds think and do with themselves?? I mean they can't write, can't bead... can they do anything but be pretty and make some of them make good food and all of them crap on everything?

Think I will go make some more coffee, open up the bead drawers and see what kind of goodies I can make tonight.

Blah Blah Blah another random Blog

2009-01-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

So today was a very weird day. I got to work and parked my car like I always do using my parking brake. About 30 minutes later my co-worker called me to tell me it had rolled back and down our steep hilled parking lot, but because it has a flat area, at least it didn't hit any cars it just parked the drive. So I made the trek up about 80 steps only to discover that no, I had not forgotten to apply my parking brake, my little Hyundai Accent just had no traction in the slush and ice lol.

The rest of the day flew by in a flurry of paperwork and file shuffling and when five o'clock rolled around, I was stoked and ready to come home and create more jewelry and clean my house. But then on the way home, two songs played on the radio back to back that reminded me of some very happy times I enjoyed with my dad and I completely fell apart. So I came home, fixed a dinner for me and my girls that I barely ate, and have been sitting here puttering around blogging, networking and listing new stuff on websites with the attention span of a teetse fly.

But, at the very least, I accomplished listing a few new things up for grabs to the peeps who find something they want such as beaded cell phone charms: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19378689 and http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19378263

and bracelets: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19379759 and http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19333452

Now I find myself getting tired of sitting in front of a computer screen flipping back and forth between 10 screens I have open and ready to go try and make some more jewelry as I prepare to watch CSI:Miami in an hour.

A night to ramble

2009-01-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

Sooooooo did anyone else spend their day doing as little as possible??

While I didn't really intend to spend my day doing as little as possible it certainly turned out that way. Spent the morning into early afternoon battling a most obnoxious migraine, but during that time still hung out on pogo.com with my online buds.

Then, I created a few more masterpieces (at least I keep trying to convince myself they are masterpieces) including this newer creation.

Tonight as I sit here veggin some more, I see commercials for the new season of American Idol coming soon and find myself anxiously awaiting to see another Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, and Carrie Underwood. Unfortunately, as much as I loved Ruben.. well where is he now? lol

My junkie trashy tv shows start tonight on VH1 too.. the return of yet another go round of lookin for love for Bret Michaels, and of course, the new one about child stars... where shall I start?

Hope you all had a good weekend and hope everyone has a good Monday.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

2009-01-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

Well this has certainly turned out to be a very productive Saturday. No cat naps for me as I had hoped for, instead I made more jewelry, cross-stitched on a lap quilt for myself and listed a bunch of new items on my Etsy site.

The kids were pretty well behaved today for a nice change of pace lol and hubby was out enjoying himself skiing with his friend.

I received a couple of small special orders to start 2009 off with a bang so I am hoping this to be only the start of the better new year I am hoping for and feel I deserve.

I am thinking of starting a jewelry giveaway for followers and friends of my blog.. any ideas or comments about that idea are appreciated.

Making good wine out of sour grapes!!

2009-01-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

Well all I can say is thank goodness today is Friday. I am sooooo ready to just have a slow weekend with time to create new jewelry and spend time with my kids and my hubby. Except my hubby is going skiing with a friend.

At least I know while the kids are occupied with the Wii my husband's parents gave them for Christmas, I will be able to clean my house up, do the laundry, and make some pretty stuff. I am also hoping to get in a couple of cat naps as well.

I have not been sleeping well at night and when I can't sleep I get up and read or watch the government televisions shows til I'm bored to sleep. Some nights I will sew and other nights just sit and stare into the dark.

I've had such a total lack of motivation this last two weeks and yet tonight I have already made two pairs of earrings and tried a new style of necklace that I messed up beyond repair lol.

Off to try and make more while on a roll. And maybe I'll even get some sleep tonight.

It's a New Year and time for changes

2009-01-01T21:16:00.000-08:00

It is officially a new year and time for major changes in my life.

Two weeks ago I lost my dad after a courageous battle with cancer. That of course, made the holidays hard, but made me even more determined to make changes in my life as it reaffirmed the saying that life is too short.

So even though I swore I was not going to make New Year's Resolutions, I made them anyway and this is my first step to keeping them.

This year it is time to focus on things that matter the most, family, friends, and my jewelry designing. I have found that trying to create pieces right now has been difficult, but also somewhat inspiring. Thinking of my dad and things we used to do together and what he liked has somehow taken shape in my designs.

I guess I don't know what else to say, but I can at least cross one little thing of my to-do list and off to the next one which is working on pics of new jewelry. :)

Happy New Year everyone I hope it rocks!!!