a matter of stone

this week I've "co-inspired" with my muses creating like a mad woman ... and despite the cold outside, and the cold in my head, ideas have bubbled up like molten lava, manifesting in stone ... wrap necklaces dance before my eyes in boundless variations and combinations; this one of golden Citrine and purple Flourite ... reminiscent of the drops of rain on my fading hydrangeas as fall gently nudges summer aside and takes her place in my garden...



click on the photos here for a closer view! This wrap, like the others, can be wound up tight as a choker, or worn long and tumbling like a reflective water fall.

below, more Turquoise and Coral are bound with silver findings... the chunk of Coral speaks of abundance, and seems almost magnetic here ...nearly edible, packed with the codified knowledge of the garden, dangling from a silvery stem, like the apple that caught the eye of an ancient Goddess...



and finally; visions of gold have danced in my head (and led me astray from my silver roots) ... asking to be combined with plum colored Pearls and Amethyst as dark as a king's robe and deep purple dreams ...



and tumbling into matter as the elegant wrap necklace pictured here.

my week ended with a raging head cold and this weekend I will tend to my wounds with chicken soup and a soft blanket, so that by Monday I can begin again. There's so much to do!

all of these creations will be displayed, and sold to good homes at Portland Fashion Week starting on the 19th. I hope you can come!

fondly,
~L

adventures in artistic-ness?.... whatever!

recently, you may remember, I played with collage art ... "played" being the key word here! Stones being my medium of choice! But I really had fun creating this little fairy girl with her cool boots and bull dog. Fall's my favorite time of year and so it is nearly impossible for me to make leaves green! The pages were pulled from some old 50's children's book. I hate to ruin a perfectly good children's book and thought later ... why didn't I just copy the pages and antique them! Duh! Oh well, we live and learn..... nevertheless ... I think she turned out sort of cute. Another blue fairy.


A beloved friend of mine dropped by the other day with a dreary face ... she was bearing an envelope containing a necklace I made for her several years ago that finally "took a dive" her words ... meaning ... the beading wire broke. 5 years is a good go, in the wear and tear world of favorite jewelry, especially when you wear it riding horses! Well, duh! Can it be saved? Of course!

As I reworked her piece and walked down memory lane, I realized I had another shell just like hers... I found them years ago on one of my writer's retreats to the ocean! (little good that did, you're thinking! I speak of the writer's retreat here) ... anyway, I drilled it and created something new like something old (oops wait, I have a parrot hanging down from my bangs and pulling an eye lash .... ooh.... arghhhh .... sheesh!)

Okay .... now then ... where were we?

i'm not sure what sort of creature this shell came from .... so anyone who knows ... I'd love to hear. The little pinkish beads are antique trade beads, the silvery-white beads are mercury glass from Japan along with Sterling balls, and the green is, of course, lovely Aventurine ... the Gamber's Stone, a stone attracting luck and good fortune to it's keeper. It corresponds with the heart chakra, unconditional love and health. Plus ... it's so pretty! Translucent spring green.

very delicate and beautiful ... but chunky enough to make a statement, too...

I decided to go with a non-symetrical piece which can be worn with the shell dead-center or not. The shell can also be turned so one can either admire the sculpted back or front with the shell-opening. The Sterling silver clasp is a really plain, simple toggle, so as not to deter from the elegant beauty.

that's it for today's entry. In case you hadn't noticed, Mrs. E wrote my entry yesterday, since I'd already used all my alotted 10,000 words having spent two weeks of visiting with family. I'm currently reconfiguring a few brain cells. Anyway, I haven't read it yet, but she assures me it was fabulous.

Of course, cat's tend to think everything they do is fabulous. (shhh! Please don't tell her I said that!)

hope your weekend's great!

~L

urban goddess couture

Without fuss, the earth dons her finest ... night or day, dressing herself up in flora, water and stone. A brief lesson: Citrine is my favorite stone for it's simple, delicate beauty and golden color, known by the ancients as the Merchant's Stone, and often kept in cash boxes to draw more good fortune to it's keeper. Citrine has a very high vibrational quality and is used as a healing stone to pull refined, golden light into the auric field and down through the 7 main chakras for the ultimate cleansing. Smokey quartz is a delicate, brown crystal and is known as an excellent grounding stone, bringing its keeper stability, confidence and reason.

una terra

( A study in turquoise with one small, faceted carnelian. Something about this beautiful blue-green turquoise captured my heart. It's actually much daintier than one would expect looking at this photograph! Turquoise, of course, is associated with the throat chakra vibrationally; an ally of the authentic voice of it's wearer. Carnelian is a reddish-orange stone associated with the vibration of the sacral chakra, and was also been known by the ancients as sard. Carnelian assists with clearing of the lower emotions including depression, anger and jealousy, among others. It is said to increase the energy of the wearer and renew sexual vigour. Together, they speak of confidence and grounding, good nature, honesty and comfort with one's sensuality. Not unlike the mother earth herself!)

Today's pieces will be posted on both websites this weekend: http://www.lorakellydesigns.com/, http://www.lorakellydesigns.etsy.com/

spring thaw

("Spring Thaw" is composed of white coral, green turquoise and one polished aventurine stone pendant. Coral is very slow growing and harvested from the seas in the Mediterrainean to the South Pacific. It is actually the skeletal remains of plant-like sea creatures. The Romans placed strings of coral around the necks of their children for protection from misfortune, and it was worn by royalty in the Orient, with some museum pieces dating back 25,000 years!)

For information regarding purchase of this piece, be sure to check my website at http://www.lorakellydesigns.com or http://www.lorakellydesigns.etsy.com this weekend!

desert sea

Various sizes and shapes of Coral make up the bulk of this little necklace, only 14 inches long. The tassle combines two shades of Turquoise along with red and white Coral pieces.

promised

The colors were inspired by a Chinese proverb ...

"Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come."

So what of this reminds one of either a tree or a singing bird?

(This dainty necklace is called "Promised." Something a Celtic princess might wear to a "Hand Fasting" ceremony, to be wed for a year and a day, and then to decide if she will remain a wife or take back her freedom. Thus two hearts, one large and strong. The smaller delicate heart is struck by Cupid's arrow. The stones here are Peridot and Amethyst. )

Peridot was used by the Egyptians and Aztecs for cleansing toxic energies and negative emotions such as jealousy and rage, even. Associated with both the heart and solar plexus chakras, sharing the same vibrational signature, it allows one to move forward towards unconditional love with a clarity and a calm heart. It has been called a good "first stone" for those who have begun the search for spiritual awakening, because of its quiet energy. Whereas a higher vibration might cause feelings of light headedness, nausea or back pain as energetic toxins are stirred and brought to the surface.



Amethyst is THE healing stone of choice. A beloved, high vibrational stone that matches the vibrational signature of the crown chakra. I spoke of Amethyst's qualities below in my August 9th entry; Journey in Stone.

Unfortunately, this piece will not go on the sale block as it has already been promised. The new owner is a lovely Irish woman ... so this little piece will be shipped out to the Emerald Isle. I just like to photograph them before they go off into the world.

Oh ... and I haven't forgotten that I have three more to tag!

~L

getting tagged and the seven things

as I sat down to write my entry this morning, I was very excited to see that I'd been tagged by my fellow etsy jewelry maker Ackeloade! Hmmmmm....You're sneaky! Not that I really understand anything about being tagged, mind you, it just seemed... well ... exciting anyway. I have noted this "tagging" phenomonen going on as I've perused the blogs on a regular basis while taking my morning tea, and thought it looked fun... and I especially love to read those seven "things" everyone must tell about themselves once they've been tagged. They MUST tell secret things about themselves... or... or ... like ... self-destruct or something. So ... sure as heck ...I'm game!

The only thing is ... now that I'm the tagEE... I also get to be the tagER ... which I'm not so sure how that will work, since as a child I never liked being IT because everyone ran so darn fast and hid so darn well! Oh, wait ... that's hide and seek, isn't it? We're not playing that, right? (Oh... distraction... just this moment I looked up to catch Vera out in my flower box digging up the pansies! Lovely!) For those of you who missed it, Vera is the (sweet?) squirrel who lives in the giant cedar tree next to my deck. (So where was I? Golly, I am easily distracted, obviously... I suppose that should be one of my 7 things).

Okay .... so here goes:

• Number One: I am easily distracted. I think I have undiagnosed ADD. I can certainly hyperfocus, like when I'm eating chocolate ice cream or reading a totally forgettable romance novel. I can be vigilant about the strangest things ... like noticing that one of the sofa pillows is in the wrong position or noticing that one window smudge in an otherwise immaculate house (okay ... on the rare ocassion the house is immaculate) ... but paying bills, balancing my check book, talking about cars or plumbing, doing anything math related ... you can be pretty sure the lights are on, but no one's home.

• Number Two: I am a dog maniac and magnet. I have been known to cross to the other side of the road just to visit with doggies ... worse, while driving...swerve to the side of the road in order to jump out and visit with doggies. Sad isn't it. Really? And wherever I go, dogs seem to find me. I'm always trying to save them ... sometimes to my detriment and everyone elses. And have brought home my share of strays, sad sacks and lost souls of the four legged persuasian in my lifetime. Once, I found a huge german shephard running along the highway. I coaxed him into my back seat with my son, then a toddler in a car seat, and drove home to check out his tags and call his owner, all the while he hung his huge head over my shoulder, licking my ear or my baby son's face. We found the owner, by the way.

Gosh ... I'm only to number three?

• Number Three: I am a 2nd degree Reiki practitioner. Reiki is an ancient healing art discovered in Japan which involves the laying on of hands. I received my first attunements seven years ago, and only last year felt ready to move up to level II. (I'm a slow mover ... that's another thing!) I have had great success using it on myself and other's to dissipate aches and pains, skin disorders, depression and animal ailments. I love it so much because it feels so nurturing and deeply relaxing to the giver and receiver. It's a miracle right in our midst and I'm surprised at how many people don't know about it, or merely dismiss it without ever having experienced it.

That's all for today because I will need to think about the other "things" before I continue, and also, it's already quite late already ... just look at the clock! I must run. So, I will return tomorrow morning (or maybe later tonight if I am able) to provide the remaining 4 "things" and decide, too, who I get to tag! I can't wait!

It's the next day already! And I decided I would pick up the next "things" in the same blog entry, otherwise, well ... it would just be too confusing.

Number Four: I'm a popcorn-a-holic. In my book, popcorn is the 5th food group and must be consumed on a daily basis or else the body will have a nervous breakdown. I'm very careful, mind you, to make sure I buy only good popcorn with 0 transfats. Orville Redenbacher makes some lovely popcorn worthy of addicted souls like me.

Number Five: I am the most disorganized person I've ever met. Truth. But I hide it very well and most of my friends are totally unaware. This is why, I try to do all things at once. Because of my undiagnosed ADD, I try to do everything on my mind all at the same time and it isn't easy to read ten books, work on 12 projects, clean all the rooms of the house, paint the front door, re-design the garden, re-arrange the furniture, write a romance novel, meditate, pay the bills, learn a new technique , bake a pie, make a list of all the things I need to do, listen to all my favorite music and relax with a cup of tea or a glass of wine all at the same time! It's downright dysfunctional. I just want to do everything now and I don't want to wait and I have no ability to see tomorrow because I'm so entangled in today. Sad, isn't it. Funny thing is, I'm usually pretty calm about it.

Number Six: I hate to cook. First let me clarify one thing. I absolutely LOVE to bake! And I really LOVE to eat baked things ... cookies, especially. Okay ... I like cake too. Pie's nice. I think I hate to cook because I"m so busy doing all the other things listed in Number Five above (you might wish to scroll up and re-read those). That's why Pizza Tuesday is my favorite night of the week. Because I don't have to cook! I am very jealous of the wonderful cooks I see in the blogs ... so creative! Such skill. I truly wish I could enjoy cooking more. But I'm more likely to put on a roast, and head off to do other things while it cooks, then forget the roast is in the oven. Not good. Just ask my husband.

Number Seven (FINALLY): I love rain. It's not that I hate the sun. It's very pretty and it does warm things up nicely and where would my flowers be without it. But my favorite day in the world is a rainy one. Where the rain falls gently or in torrents, it doesn't really matter. If I have places to go, I prefer a warm, gentle mist. If I have a good book a clean house and no place to go, I prefer powerful wind and lashing rain! I love to work in my shop with the door open on a rainy, summer day. The air is thickly scented with Douglas fir and dark, fertile earth and everything is sparkling and clean. My dream day: If I can pull on a sweater, wool socks, jeans and boots and head off down a wooded lane with my dogs on a misty morning ... there is nothing sweeter in life. I've died and gone to heaven.

So that's my seven. And now I get to be IT. That will have to wait for a later post!

remembering a feathered friend

last year I lost a beloved friend to the wind. A parrot. It was a terrible accident, all too familiar among bird owners, forgetting her wings had grown out, my husband who'd been carrying her on his shoulder all afternoon, walked outside in a rainstorm for some simple task, and she spooked and flew into the trees. Having no experience with flight, having weak breast muscles, a heart not accustomed to bouts of flight, a life in captivity ... well, the odds were against her. We never found her again despite days of combing the woods and calling, placing posters everywhere and her picture on the internet. The storm raged on for several days. We lost hope. Hawks and eagles frequent the area. A beautiful blue-green bird would hardly go unnoticed. Especially one who had trouble navigating the skies.

Arwen was a rescued bird. She'd lived in a small cage with a previous owner who finally decided she didn't want her any longer, she was loud and aggressive, apparently, and sold her to a local pet shop. I visited that shop one day to buy a toy for my dog. Arwen jumped on my shoulder and with her face nearly pressed into my cheek, stared sweetly into my eyes. Well, what could I do? I had no previous experience with parrots, but decided I couldn't live without her. I took her home that day. She was an absolute joy to our lives.

Sadly, we didn't have her long enough... hardly knew her ... but completely loved her.

Sometimes when I walk in the woods near my home, as I did today, I have a pang of emotion that runs deep. So many times when she was afraid it was necessary for her to look directly in my eyes for reassurance, sometimes crawling inside my shirt to peep out from my collar and survey the world from that safe place. I'd promised to protect her forever from the loneliness she'd come from, from abuse, from any imagined harm that might befall her, confident that she'd be with me forever... for her, a good 40 years!

She was just a bird, you might say. But if you've never lived with a parrot, you could never know the intense, loving bond that is formed with these amazing, intelligent birds. As great as that with a beloved dog. Perhaps even greater.

I have two young parrots now, just a year old. Both as sweet and smart as can be. The bond is already stronger with these two, because they've only known love and kindness and both lack the mistrust that Arwen possessed when she first came to live with us, having previously experienced how deceptive a relationship with humans can be. These two play exhuberantly and fearlessly, laying on their backs with their feet up in the air, silly and childlike. Many parrots mate for life and their flocks are tight family groups of older and younger siblings. Aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers ... just like ours. Thankfully, these two will never know anything but friendship, kindness, gentle hands, and loving care.

I guess this month I've thought much about her loss. I know there was a lesson to be learned. Something about letting go of attachments in a universe where death and loss are everyday occurances. As are exquisite beauty, birth, compassion, virtue and hope.

Had it not been for Arwen choosing me that day, I would've never known about parrots. I would've never made the decision to bring two of them into my home! The door of their cage is opened every morning until they go to sleep at night. They have their play area, and plenty of toys, and then they have me ... their biggest toy. Their favorite toy, too, I might add.

Just as I am writing this loving tribute, little Mr. R., the dusky headed conure, popped the Escape key right off my laptop! Just in case I waxed too poetically!

(Above is a photograph of Arwen in my husband's hands, getting a head rub! But it took time to get her to this point ... initially she wouldn't allow anyone to touch her back. Once she came to trust us, this was one of her favorite things!)

Sunday afternoon, after much talk of rain... the sun shown and the day was warm and beautiful. And again, this morning is perfect. Not too warm, nice and breezy. I haven't decided whether I will continue my painting spree or reorganize my shop today. (I just learned last night that "spree" was an old Scottish word meaning "cattle raid!") Neither enterprise seems particularly appealing today ... a third option is to take the day off and head to the seaside. But that wouldn't be very productive, would it?

Still weighing my options. May your day be fabulous!

~L

future work in progress

I've been searching for sometime for very pale blue turquoise and having no luck. I found these lovely rounds, although not the blue I really wanted, but I think I will settle this time. The key is antiqued brass which I plan to somehow include in this piece as a pendant.

As turquoise is blue it is associated with the sky-blue color of the throat chakra and therefore increases the power and clarity of that particular energy center, assisting the wearer with finding their own voice and speaking their truth. Somehow, in my mind, the key signifies opening that particular gate or portal and setting free an extraordinary life purpose and authentic story in the world.

But, alas, that is the extent of my creative spark today, my studio needing a good cleaning and major feat of organization. Then of course ... there are my friends....

Can we play?

Guess they win.

Later.... ~L

journey in stone

i have long considered starting another blog dedicated to the healing and regenerative power of stones, and that may be a future endeavor as another way of looking at gemstone jewelry for those of you who may be interested ... I'll keep you posted here as to whether I do. However, in the meantime I have decided to at least offer some of that type of information here since this site is dedicated to the inside view of the daily life of a jewelry maven. And stones are an integral part of my existence. Though I do prefer to keep this site light and humorous and not belabour you, my dear visitors, with the deeper aspects of my journey in stone.


that being said, I will give you a small history lesson. You may not be aware that the original purpose of jewelry was not for physical adornment! Imagine....


in ancient times, only rulers, holy people or healers wore "jewelry" or those who required healing or had somehow earned the right, or had the need to carry a particular stone, and thus entertain its qualities and influence. Stones were thus carried close to the body and secured. Ta Da... jewelry!



(I called the bracelet pictured above Love's Catch. Rose quartz is a translucent pink stone said to express an energetic vibration matching the high-heart's. It's gentle light draws and expounds upon unconditional love, kindness and nurturing. Flourite, the green stone, has been called The Relationship Stone, helping to balance and stabalize emotions, honor clear vision and decisions based on truth, rather than fogged by emotion.)

(Above is pictured a long, flapper style, wrap necklace of freshwater pearl, jaspar and jade I have named Avalon. Did you know jade has been said to carry the energy of all previous wearers forever ... therefore be careful from whom you buy your jade!)


whether one believes in the healing or recuperative power of stones, or not, it exists and is discussed in our most ancient texts and languages including Sanskrit. Individuals of royalty carried crystals with them (eventually they became the crown jewels) initially to enable them to govern their societies with clarity, wisdom and integrity. Crystal, as discussed in my July 30th full moon blog, draws, holds and refracts energy, and thus the crown jewels were passed down through the generations, in hopes that too was all wisdom gained by the previous rulers.

gems have been worn for thousands of years around wrists, on fingers, as amulets or carried in medicine bags. Because of their ability to stimulate energy, they have always been consciously or unconsciously worn in conjunction with the various chakras, or energy centers of the body, thus activating certain qualities such as love and compassion, wisdom, right action, right speech or creativity.

(The Jasper donut here can be removed from the necklace. Jasper was long considered The Warrior's Stone and was carried into battle as an amulet or totem. The stone's vibrational qualities coincide with those of strength, courage, trust and nobility. It has been used in therapeutic environments to help those who are dealing with addictive behaviors break free, or shy withdrawn people dealing with difficult change find courage. I think it is a beautiful stone that tells a story if one looks deep enough. This one of mountainous journeys, mist and mystery. )


you are probably thinking, how in the world do people use stones to heal? That just seems weird. I suppose if you really think about it, we often receive a "healing" effect from an experience we might not have considered a healing modality! Certainly a kind word or a hug from a child or loved one. But think about stepping out into nature in your bare feet, feeling the warm or damp earth under you, smelling the sea air, sitting on a flat boulder warmed by the sun and watching a rushing river, even eating fresh foods ... things of this nature cause a feeling of renewed energy. This is a subtle healing response. If you seek healing from an experience consciously, you are adding an element of intent which strengthens the intensity of the experience.

(Here aventurine is mixed with amethyst and flourite. Amethyst is one of the crown jewels, and is called a mystical stone and coincides with the crown chakra, assisting us to get in touch with our highest values, true feelings and intuition, fostering healing, selflessness and spiritual awareness. Aventurine is associated with the heart chakra and is appreciated for attracting abundance, wealth and opportunity. It has a reputation as "The Gambler's Stone" in that it has been held in esteem for its good luck qualities throughout the ages!)

the nature of crystal healing can be described as thus, aside from their beautiful physical qualities, when worn or placed in close proximity to the human body, their electromagnetic energy field joins with the human electromagnetic field, which you may have heard referred to as the aura. Kerlian photography proves this without a doubt. Remember, we are all energy on a sub-atomic level! The stone's particular color and light force "vibrations", are refracted into the aura and the increased color frequencies thus dissipate and/or neutralize physical, mental, emotional and psychic stress. The result is balance, which shows in the body as health. Most healing experiences are initially quite subtle, but sometimes the experience is amazing.

here's a good "test" if you are open to that ... which can be really fun and interesting! Find a stone that is very attractive to you ... one you find in nature is usually too dense ... but you may wish to go to a rock shop or new age shop where they have crystals, which have a more refined energy and are often easily felt by even the most cynical naysayer!

holding the crystal in front of your body (close but not touching), in your thumb and forefinger, run it from your groin area upwards to the top of your crown ... what do you feel? What is most often felt is a tugging sensation in one or more locations as you move upward. There are 7 main chakra's located in the torso, neck and crown and these respond to the energetic field of the crystals as they come close together. I love this test because I've rarely had someone "not" have an experience! It's sort of that "yippy" feeling you get when you're on a roller coaster or glance down a long stairwell or over the side of a cliff!

but aside from the more aesthetic uses and meanings associated with the element of stone, the most healing experience of all can be merely wearing a special gemstone and feeling attractive because of it, or knowing your beloved grandmother wore it, perhaps there is a story surrounding it that is secret and beautiful... these experiences bring an unparalleled connection to your deepest self... and with this comes confidence and personal power! I say ...What doctor can give you that?

so that's my stone story for the day ... I will make an attempt to slip one in now and then, including the particular healing qualities of the various stones I use in my jewelry.

thanks for stopping by today!

~L

a new display mannequin

i was so excited to receive my new toy in the mail last night. Yes, I said last night, because it arrived around 7 pm on the evening of our ever-celebrated Pizza Tuesday! A knock came to the door just as I stuffed my mouth with mushrooms, cheese and tomato sauce! I opened the door, smiling with pursed lips and using hand signals as hot cheese burned a brand into my palette ... and there was the UPS guy in shorts (aren't they lucky?) bearing a cardboard box for LoraKellyDesigns! Just like Christmas!

I knew what it was as soon as I saw the Venus Display Mannequin return postage in the upper left hand corner and could barely contain myself while doing my best to remove three layers of that shiny mailing tape (which runs neck in neck in annoyability to duct tape!) In the end, I prevailed!


Look what I got! Isn't she lovely? I actually received two lovely ladies ... well, really I only got their upper torso's, not sure what happened to the rest of their bodies. In case you wondered, they will by no means replace the lovely blue fairy Flora! Never! Despite her unfortunate mishap with the slates, she is still as lovely as ever and holds a special place in my heart. Still ... I'm really excited about the new girls! This one photographs well, doesn't she?




My next photograph has nothing to do with mannequins or display models or blue fairies but is actually just an adorable picture of my two beloved parrots, that I hope you will indulge me by viewing; Ms. L (on the left) and Mr. R (on the right) ... both wanting their share of pizza and wondering why they must pose on the back of the chair when they'd much rather be sitting on my shoulder and attempting to pull pizza from my lips. Yes. They are THAT bad! Horribly spoiled ... I admit, but ... cute beyond words. And sweet? Well, indescribably.

Even though I design jewelry and spend a great deal of my time with stones and beads and findings and the like, I rarely get a chance to wear jewelry myself at home for one reason, these two bothersome birds! They love to be with me as much as possible which means, when I'm in the house, they are usually on my shoulder. From there, they have an excellent vantage point should they wish to partake of a lovely earring or pendant, and although they may look like gentle creatures, there is nothing they enjoy more than destruction! It's a parrot thing, nothing personal. And shiny, colorful beads offer just such an invitation. I fondly refer to them as "The Destructors!" ... sort of a super hero status that fits them well.

Ms. L is the more timid of the two and steps about like a delicate princess with a hoidy toidy attitude, Mr. R's nickname is "Kerplunk!" in that he's a sturdy little lump of a fellow with no airs or graces and who lives for fun, food and friendship. The order depending on his mood.

(Spell-check had great difficulties with this blog entry today! It is so confused by my challenging language! It really loved "annoyability" as you can imagine!)

You've obviously realized I am an animal lover, as so many of you are, I can tell by your blogs. And so I am glad and proud to be in good company.

Thanks for stopping by!
~L

art for a little more than arts sake

Someone To Watch Over You

Let It Go

Make Peace

Be Happy

in a rather serious mood today ... what's up with that? it's another gorgeous day here in the northwest and i've spent the morning working in my studio since, oh, say 8 a.m.? I love doing that ... the time there is heavenly, despite my organizational disasters... however, this morning I was not making jewelry but rather working on a memorial of sorts, for a beloved animal I lost last November. Yeah, long time ago really, one might think if they've never loved an animal, but truth is, whether they be feathers, fur or flesh..they are just containers for love. I thought collage art would be a great way for me to express my heart about the matter. I've written about it, talked about it, cried about it ... here I "draw and paint" about it. My first try at collage art ... sort of funky and amature but the fun working with glue and paint is always worth the mess and worry that it's never good enough! You who have stopped by to visit me are so lucky! You get to be the first to see it. My ode to Arwen.

Have a lovely day!

~L

meet flora ... the blue fairy

yes, I do know that she's missing part of her head but ... we don't mention those things within ear shot.

I barely had a chance to say how do you do to Miss Flora ... (the lovely blue fairy pictured here modeling some creations) she'd hardly said giday ... it was less than 5 minutes ... truly ... when one of the slates toppled over during a photo session, banged her on the head, flattened her and caused several little chips to appear on her torso! Poor love! She promises not to sue, and despite the development of a rather odd tick ... she seems just fine!! Really, she does. Unfortunately, now she's damaged goods! I swear! She was in the mailbox when I got home, and I being so overly excited, rushed to my studio, situated her just so, and ... it took me no more than 5 minutes to destroy her. I have quite the knack for these things!

My mother came very close to naming me Grace. Perhaps if she had, I would've gotten through life with a few less accidents!

Must go wipe away tears now ... what a major KLUTZ!

... later

full moon monday and the proper clearing of stones

i don't have much time to visit this morning, which certainly shouldn't be the case, but today is my busy Monday and entails another job that isn't nearly as much fun as making jewelry and requires a great deal of stress medication in the way of caffeine and chocolate. However, that being the case, I still had a moment to begin my "list" ... the one I spoke of several posts ago. The one I had every intention of following through on and so here, this morning, I begin...

but first ...let me remind you that today IS the full moon, and if you are one to keep crystals in your house (being a bead goddess I have a multitude of cut and natural crystal), whether they are set in silver and strung about your neck or geodes placed next to your bed, or polished stones you keep in a medicine pouch, or just crystals you keep because you think they are beautiful, which they all are, and I fully understand!


Whatever reason... crystal does collect and retain energy and can lose its luster, clarity and other properties (except for citrine) and must be cleared regularly. As science has now confirmed, we are all merely waves of energy on the sub-atomic level, and so truly the same as our crystalized friends, just moving somewhat faster. And, just as the moon has magnetic qualities, stone acts in much the same way, drawing like-energy to itself or as they are used in healing, drawing detrimental energy away from us. Running water, sunshine and moonshine (as in the moon in the sky! Not the nearest distillary, dear friends!) are excellent resources for the purpose of clearing energy.

The problem with sunshine is, it may actually fade your gemstones, as some are quite sensitive to sunlight, being cave dwellers for the most part! Case in point, I had a brilliant green aventurine heart a good friend made me swear I'd leave to her when I died (I think she's still counting the days!) But, I left it on the top of a dresser for a day, unfortunately right where a splash of sunlight happened to fall for about an hour each day, and even more unfortunately ...my gorgeous lime-colored pendant faded to a mere ghost of itself! I still adore that stone and wear it often, but needless to say, it doesn't get the compliments it used to, but at least my friend has made no more threats on my life.

Fresh running water, the best source being a waterfall or fast stream, though an excellent source, is not so easily come by. Tap water is so so and if there's nothing else, leaving your stones in a bowl under fast running tap water for 20 minutes or so works just fine. Obviously, if your precious stones are set in silver or gold or any type of baser metals, be sure to dry and polish them thoroughly afterwards! Burying stones in a container of sea salt is another good method for clearing cluttered or stagnant energy, however salt can be caustic to some softer stones such as celestialite, tigers-eye and sugalite and again cause dulling, scratching or cracking.

However, one method that is clearly excellent and causes no adverse effects to your stones whatsoever is the light of the full moon. You certainly can set your stones in your window sill overnight, however as the earth and moon go through their rotations, the stones will not get a full dose throughout the night, which is preferred.

I recommend placing the stones on a tray and setting them outside overnight somewhere they can get some full-spectrum moonshine. Don't worry if there is cloud cover or rain, the power of the moon is undaunted by the weather. Tomorrow, you can set them out about your home again to be beautiful, or do their work. Some people prefer to re-program their stones with intention based on the innate healing quality of the particular stone. There are wonderful books available regarding this! What's really interesting is that most people, never having read a related book on the subject, usually just know the capabilities of their stone.

Finally, those stones that are set in metal of any kind should be stored properly when not being worn. If I'm not wearing my rings, pendants or beaded jewelry, I keep them in air-tight freezer bags. This keeps them gorgeous, without need for polishing or cleaning. Just... after each time you wear them, be sure to polish them with a soft, dry cloth and stick them away again for safe keeping until the next full moon.


Now ... that list ... I didn't get very far as you can see. I suppose tomorrow is another day!

Have a fabulous Monday!

XXOO ~L

sunday driving

Today I decided to take a day trip to Bainbridge Island, which is just up the peninsula from where I live. Not sure really what I had in mind, but thinking perhaps I would visit some garage sales. Turns out, I drove all the way to Winslow, the little town at the edge of the island where you catch the ferry over to Edmonds and from there, Seattle and parts unknown, and decided to go sight seeing. I parked the car on the street, lugged my bag up on my shoulder and headed off on foot.

Sun blazing down, all the morning mist having dissipated, and a vibrant breeze filling the air -- some lucky dog somewhere was enjoying a barbecue! Being as it is Sunday, most of the really sweet shops were closed but I stared in windows, nose pressed up against the glass, thanking heaven I couldn't get inside ... so many wonderful things to be wished for and possibly obtained! I did visit Bad Blanche's furniture store and drooled over a sofa table, circling it quite a few times before deciding the wood was too reddish ... walnut I'm thinking, and would blend in with my fir floors and ... it just wouldn't give the punch I was looking for. The other reason being, I am a rehabilitated impulse buyer. This wondrous gift (the rehabilitated part) was given me when I decided to take a fun job ... a short-term, part-time stint in one of the cutest shops in the world ... The Apple Crate in Tacoma. What I realized was, each day a new shipment came in I opened packages and thought, I have to have this! The next day, I'd come back and say, I really don't have to have this. And...by the third day, whatever I thought I couldn't live without had totally lost its luster usually... that being the case, it takes me a good three days to determine whether something is really worth buying or not (there are exceptions, such as ... a garage sale find that will probably never pass this way again!) So ... Thanks Apple Crate! You did me a great service, and I should think anyone else requiring some like-therapy ought to get themselves a nice little retail job in the shop of their dreams for one summer. Believe me ... it works.

So back to today... I window shopped mostly, and did not spend. Nothing that required dying for. I traipsed through several galleries and looked at jewelry ... not to purchase, but just in an artistic sense, I love to look at materials and color and gems and workmanship. I wandered through a nursery, smelled fragrant flowers, fingered petals and dug my fingers into dirt... and considered how I might plant a particular border in my garden. I stopped at Starbucks and indulged. I met three very nice tethered dogs, waiting for their dining owners I suspect, and had friendly conversations with each of them.

I came home from my day's outing pretty much empty handed... with nothing but a book about Seattle's best women entrepreneurs and their great little shops and the powerful desire to visit them all! Next time I'll catch the ferry, cross the big water and shop the city. I must drag one of my dear friends along with me for that day's adventure! Of course, I'll bring a camera and share that day with you.

Home at last and the weekend winds down. We're having baked cod for dinner. It's in the oven right now and smells heavenly. 7pm and a breeze rustles the trees, dogs lie stretched out on the cool floors, birds chatter in the other room and the cat lies on her back on the sun-warmed deck. Vera stops in for a McVitties Irish Bisquit, which she takes from my hand and rushes back to her tree. Alone for the moment, other than, of course, visiting with you.

Blessings ... ~L

feathered friends

Ms. L and Mr. R ... double trouble... who have found themselves a pair of glasses to disect having been shooed away from the keyboard, suddenly realize the camera is upon them!

carnelian butterflies, among other things...

Thanks to the addition of my newest and might I add, quite lovely model, Lilly, pictured here wearing the latest "vintage" piece with the carnelian butterflies I fell in love with... I am now able to see face on what my collection actually looks like (on someone other than a teenage man-child who isn't too thrilled about being a necklace model). Promise me you'll keep this little tidbit secret as he'd probably be a little bothered to know I spoke of it. You'll also notice Lilly's new attire ... a tight turtleneck and patterned t-shirt showing off her very hip librarian look. She carries it off, well. Don't you think? The white turtleneck t-shirt underneath really hides her (and this I must whisper for your ears only) "flawed" neck ... poor dear. That basket on the floor behind Lilly was another lucky $2 find at the thrift shop ... I do so need a litter basket ... having a concrete floor makes it so easy to just toss the throw-backs on the floor ... in throw backs I mean, bits of wire, cracked beads, bad wire wraps, mistakes, crud ... whatever happens to meet my critical eye and fall short. I'm constantly feeling little beadies go crunch beneath my size 9's. Sometimes those little ladies were not meant to be throwbacks at all! Not good. Really. Well, it all adds up, I suppose. I really should keep a better count of things. A bit of tourmaline here, some amethyst there... I'm not very good at numbers so I try not to think about it too much. Less worries, less wrinkles you know. And so, another day closes. Thanks for listening.

~lora