Makers Market in Raleigh, NC Artist Call!

If you live in the Raleigh, NC area and are looking for a great outlet for your creations, Makers Market is accepting applications for this years market!!! This is the email I got from them, and I wanted to share it with you all. What are you waiting for!

It's time to bring it... Here's hoping you've had a productive January too!  And now it's time to bring it... We're excited to open up the 2017 Spring/Summer Vendor Application -- go, sign up!  Like, right now.  Mark those beautiful calendars; dates through August are open.  Then come back + read this.  We have some good stuff in store this year. We've got plans in the works to partner up with some new sponsors + events, but one new project we're especially excited about is bringing some select MM  merch to the masses!  And to kick off the year, we're hosting a contest... You can find all the details here on our site.  Entries will be accepted through Friday, February 17th.  We'd love to have some ready to go for our March market!  Winners will get $50 plus extra goodies!  And, you know, your design could be be worn by cool folks everywhere. So c'mon, show us what you've got!  We can't wait to see you in 2017 (and, hey, maybe even wear your tee!). Cheers!

"Transcend" Newest Jewelry Line

Transcend (Thanks Stacey!) is what I call my new line of earrings made exclusively for The Green Monkey in Raleigh.

These are wire wrapped designs of sterling and copper, with a single healing stone as a focal.  Each pair comes with a tiny card to remind you of the healing properties of the stone you chose for your earrings. Stones like amethyst for peace, citrine for success, and many more. I will even have a limited supply of stones where I may be able to make you the pair you want on the spot! Now that is service!

I will be unveiling these on Feb 3, 2017 for First Friday.

The Green Monkey is the coolest store on Hillsborough St, offering art from local artist, craft beer by the bottle, or on draft!!! Come out and spend some time with us, and get acquainted with your back yard and the local stores that live in it!!!!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

"Charming" Carnelian And Copper Bracelet

Right before Christmas, my daughter informed me she had broken her carnelian bracelet. She is always wearing a single strand, simple, small carnelian bracelet. Carnelian and bloodstone are her favorite.  I didn't have any carnelian, so I went to my trusted Firemountain Gems and started poking around.  They had a great sale of a 'grab bag' bead mix of agate/carnelian strands. So I bit!

 How was I going to make a bracelet for Leigh for Christmas, if I didn't know what I was getting.  Not knowing was part of the fun, and added a challenge to the creative process.  While this is not the actual bracelet I made for her, I had to make another one similar for my shop :)

 When the order arrived, I was so thrilled to see these huge 10mm beads. It didn't take any time for the design to come together.

 The design grew into an awesome boho/hippie style, which fit her perfectly.

 I love a multi strand anything really. It has more flow, some bulk to get it noticed, so it can become a statement piece.  Tip of the day: Putting a seed bead between the beads gives the design flexibility. If the 10mm beads were butted up against each other, the design would be too stiff.

And then there is the carnelian. A beautiful agate full of courage and creativity. Deep color is warm and comfortable.

Do you like a creative challenge? I would love to hear about some of yours!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

I Am In Love With These Earrings!

I got these ceramic beads from FireMountain Gems a while back. While shopping I had to have them, and then when I got them, I wasn't sure what to do with them. They were big, 13 mm. If I would have left them all together, they would have made a great bracelet, but that wasn't really allowing myself to create.

So I pushed them off to the side and I waited. Months went by, and I would see them, I would move them around, putting other beads between them, trying to make something, and it still wasn't talking to me.

Months went by again!

Then one day, as I was shuffling around thru my beads, I noticed that there was a smaller bead sitting in the hole of the ceramic bead, and that was all it took! The ideas began to flow, and the earrings started to take shape. I am in Love with them!!! I need to keep a couple pair for myself. 

They are so bright! The colors are amazing, and make me happy to see them. They are surprisingly light, and fun to wear. Here in the middle of winter, they make me smile and think of summer, and music festivals and dancing.

Do they make you think of anything?

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

In The Process Of Organizing - Learning New Habits

Bit under the weather today, so I used the down time to my advantage and started the organizing process, and crossed a whole lot of things off my list. 

One of the things I am utilizing in this process, is the desk calendar. 

I should have started in pencil because I have changed my mind several times trying to come up with a good routine. Last week I broke out the calendar and started to add daily chores, and schedule out my to do list for the month. It really started to come around, and I saw a routine begin to happen. 

Routines are very good for me, and very bad. When I have a routine, I am a machine and can really get things done. When my routine is broken - it may take weeks to get back on track. I don't know why this happens, but it has countless times. 

I like breaking down the house chores to a little bit every day. That works well for me. It doesnt' feel like the house gets away from me, and I am not trying to do it all in one day. 

Setting up my blog posts, and then writing the topic down is an awesome help as well. As I get the ideas, I write them on the calendar, that way when blog day rolls around, I am not finger drumming on the table trying to think of something to say. 

I have also added more newsletter releases. So now they will be sent out weekly, as opposed to monthly. This is a good challenge, and lets me kinda recap the week before in a newsletter. 

I have also set aside time for creating. which I LOVE! Don't get me wrong, when the creativity hits, I will gladly succumb to it, but to know that Mondays are for jewelry, gets me excited and I start to jot down ideas, because I know on Mondays I am at the work bench. The same goes for posting new items on Tuesday. I stick to a schedule, and my fans and customers will know that on Tuesdays there will be new items in the shop, and they will start to anticipate what will be coming as well. I think this is starting to really come together. 

Don't get me wrong, I do run into some obstacles. Ms. Cookie here only seems to really need me when I am sitting at the work bench, or crunched in front of the worlds tinest computer table, trying to do some electronic work. It is a good lesson in flexibility, and accepting change, and I am grateful. 

What routines do you have? Do you organize electronically or still use a planner? Would love to hear from you!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

Full Moon Release

Today is full moon!

I always get excited about the full moon and what it represents. It is a time of release. Release the things that do not serve you. Things like doubt, fear, creative blockages, etc.  With the full moon appearing nearly two weeks into the new year, instead of putting all of my new year resolutions out there on one day,  after all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I used this time to decompress, to meditate and really think about what I need to let go.

During this meditation, I listen all around me. Listen for messages and answers that are given to me everyday. Yesterday while having lunch with my dear friend Stacey, she was telling me about her tradition of having a new years bonfire with her family. The purpose of the bonfire is 'letting go'. Sharing with one another the things of the past year that they are grateful for, along with releasing the things from the past year into the fire, and setting intentions for the new year. I love that idea! The timing of the conversation was perfect with the full moon coming today, and I told her how I release with the moon. She was as equally excited about the full moon, because it is cyclical, meaning that you don't have to do it all at once.  I'm listening universe :)

Hearing what she said, got me to thinking. setting new year's resolutions can be overwhelming. I think that is why it is so difficult for so many of us, and why we avoid all of the worn out conversations about resolutions. We are tired of the empty promises to ourselves of eating right, exercise and volunteering at the local shelter. Still we go ahead and make them, and then feel like we have let ourselves down, or failed. (full moon is a great time to let go of the guilt, btw ) I mean think about it, most of our resolution lists are just TOO LONG !!!

Thinking a whole year in advance is a big undertaking, and what if you change? That resolution on your list in June may not be relevant to you as you have grown in a different direction. Breaking up your releases and your intents by the moons, monthly takes so much pressure off of you and is so much more realistic. It allows you to really reflect and see what you need, now. After all, we live in the now - we do not live tomorrow, or next week, or 6 months from now.

There are so many ways to release, and in my opinion, one is no more powerful than the other, it is just how it resonates with you. When you make your list for your release, you may want to cleanse as well. Use some sage, or a candle. You can make it more ceremonial and write them down, and then burn them, if you have access to a fireplace or fire pit. If you can't burn them, write them down, and hold them high over a burning candle, and imagine the flame is burning the paper. then fold it up and throw it away. You can write them down in a list form, and then set them aside, and on the new moon, when you are setting your intentions, look at your release list, and see which goals you achieved. There are so many ways, find what works and resonates with you.

Don't feel rushed. You have a few days. You actually have the day before and the day after the full moon to make your release. So if you are just reading this today, on the 12th, don't panic and feel rushed. Think about it today, and write it down tomorrow. You have time :)

This months' release for me is procrastination. I do find myself getting off task, and distracted by things. Mostly television and social media.  Last month, during weekly mediation, my dear friend Judie suggested I use a desk top calendar, a big one,  to make a schedule. This went along great with last months intention during the new moon of organization.  These two really tie in, so as I release procrastination, I am going to work on my calendar today as well.

What will you release this full moon? What doesn't' serve you in your life right now as you are on your journey to be the greatest version of yourself? Let it go today!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

Changing As I Grow

Time to give my blog a facelift of sorts.

Since I started this blog a million years ago, I have changed, my work has changed, my interests have changed, and all of these while changing have grown as well.

Change is good. It keeps you current and fresh.

While I still am jewelry for your soul, creating wearable art using the metaphysical properties of stones, I am also an artist in acrylics and mixed media. Exploring new mediums to display my work with and on. I am on a spiritual journey to become the greatest version of myself. All of these things and more will be shared on my blog.

Will you go on this journey with me?

I would love to see you there!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

Hello January - Garnet

When I think of garnet, I think of the classic, dark red/brown stone, but in fact garnet shows itself in a beautiful display of the classic fall warm colors.

Garnet is a stone of regeneration and energizing, it also is a stone of positive thoughts!  I find this to be the perfect stone for January. January being the first month, the restart after a long year. A time to re think our past year, shake off any negativity and move forward with our purpose to become the greatest version of ourselves.

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!