industrialpoppy

This moves me.

2010-11-27T20:34:00.000-06:00

this KINGDOM from phos pictures on Vimeo.

Leave Me

2009-11-29T21:05:00.001-06:00

Sometimes we all dream of turning back time. What if it was possible?

Leave Me from Daros Films on Vimeo.

Ur doin it right!

2009-11-10T09:09:00.000-06:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Guitar Kitteh

2009-06-06T20:11:00.002-05:00

Fell off my chair laughing.

'Nuff said.

2009-04-26T12:07:00.002-05:00

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be."
– Groucho Marx

I LOVE this ad!

2009-03-22T12:08:00.003-05:00

That's it! I'm going out to enjoy the day: library, coffee and a thrift store!

Oscar peeking...

2009-02-07T22:08:00.003-06:00

I don't know why...

2009-02-07T19:57:00.001-06:00

but there's one in every crowd.

more animals

Etsy Sellers that give back...

2009-01-05T21:40:00.005-06:00

I just love Etsy! I love shopping there, I love selling there and I love meeting new, inspiring people there! Just the other day I learned about accessory artist Kathie Stamou - not only does she have an interesting shop, but an incredible story as well:
"I was the regional coordinator for 10 years for a group called "Rock and Wrap It Up!" in the Philadelphia area. This is a food rescue organization started by the son of a Holocaust survivor. They pick up food from backstage at rock concerts and take it to food banks and shelters. I heard about them needing volunteers on an MTV news broadcast in 1994 and was so inspired by Syd Mandelbaum who founded the organization. It felt fantastic to give back to the community - hunger and homelessness are issues which touch me deeply and make me want to take action. We moved to Dublin, Ireland in 2004 and I tried unsuccessfully to start a similar program here. There are too many restrictions and laws that would prevent such a program. I have, instead been involved with the American Women's Cub and International Women's clubs here and helped with thier many philanthropic endeavors. I have been collecting the toiletries that everyone gets when we travel (and we travel a lot here) and bringing them to the shelters instead of food."

WOW! What an inspiring story to start the new year off with! To read more about Kathie and to visit her marvellous shop, check her out here http://www.kathiestamou.etsy.com/
Happy, healthy and prosperous new year, everyone :)

Jewelry show a great success!

2008-11-11T08:58:00.005-06:00

Many thanks to everyone who attended the craft show this past weekend and stopped by to say hello and take a look at my latest collections. Oh and all of the compliments you all sent my way were very encouraging and flattering, so much so that my head swelled up and I could hardly fit my giant ego into the car to go home at the end of the day LOL! But seriously, thanks for your support and appreciation for what I LOVE doing so much-the sales were great that day and it was so nice to chat with some of you instead of just selling online day in and day out. And many thanks as well to the owner of http://www.manicmittens.com who did such a great job of organizing the event-it really was filled with some of Winnipeg's finest artisans and I was very pleased to be among them : )

My kingdom for some cookies...

2008-10-08T12:43:00.006-05:00

Alright, alright, I know. I haven't been around in a while. Quite a while actually. I think it has something to do with the changing seasons-when all you want to do is bury your nose in a good book, and burrow deeper into the sofa with a pot of stew burbling away on the stove and the aroma wafting throughout the house. Oh, and there should be cookies, fresh from the oven, waiting for the stew to nourish the body so that they can take their turn nurturing the heart. At least that is the way I feel in autumn. The ever-increasing chill makes me feel plump and drowsy, figuratively speaking, and everything else seems to suffer from neglect. Luckily, it is a transitory sensation; motivation kicks in again when it starts getting really cold, the days get shorter, and you know you are in it for the long haul.
Which brings me to the title of my post. I have no cookies in the house, though I have the ingredients to make numerous varieties, should the matter become urgent*. (*An example of this would be snowfall. I would urgently need cookies if it snowed). In an effort to incite motivation, I have spent countless hours perusing old cookbooks as well as the net for a cookie recipe of such rousing proportions that I might cast off this shaggy leaden coat of inactivity and spring (!) almost lifelike, to the kitchen, wooden spoon in hand and a song in my heart!
Alas. No such recipe has crossed my path and I am doomed to spend another day haunting the pages of "The Great Big Cookie Book", seeking not only a cookie recipe to soothe the heartache of another summer gone but also one that might prepare me for the long cold winter that surely looms ahead.

Lollishops?

2008-09-05T10:12:00.005-05:00

Lollishops-a fun , new place to shop and meet people! Looks as though they'll be a mecca for those seeking sugar and spice to fill their life!
It will be a series of juried storefronts with enough romantic frou-frou for everyone, and looks as though it'll be opening this fall-check out their site!
There is already a long list of notable artists that have been accepted-click on the comments to find their shop links and visit them now!

What inspires you?

2008-08-31T08:27:00.001-05:00

The subject of inspiration came up the other day when someone asked me "what inspires you"? It's a challenging question to answer; my answer often depends on who asked the question. Sometimes my answer is short and simple- nature, for example- but the reality is that it is at once, both more complex and more simple than that.

For me, I can be inspired by anything and everything, it is really more a question of receptivity. Yes, I think dragonflies are exquisite and yes, I have insect-inspired pieces in my jewelry collections. But true creativity, for me, is using any random thought as a starting point, and quietly following the course of that thought to an eventual or satisfactory end, one that can be physically represented using your material or medium of choice. I think that is what art is: an interpretation of something that has crossed through an artists's mind and out their hands. And the fascinating thing about art is that when art passes through an artist like that, they invariably leave their mark on it. The lifetime of experiences that the artist has lived or endured influences the subject in subtle ways to reflect that artist's life experience. These perceptions alter the body of work , often in very imperceptible ways - sometimes only the artist knows they are there, and sometimes it takes a very astute observer to see something that the artist didn't even realize had presented itself in the work.

Here is an example of abstract inspiration: the other day a friend of mine told me a great story about a family get-together. It had all of the elements of a good story: drama, danger, hope, love and faith. It only took 5 minutes to tell the story, but I thought about it all afternoon. In her family, she is an auntie to a little boy and girl, and I could never imagine a more fiercely devoted auntie. She works very hard day and night but is always -always-available to those kids, no matter how her workday has been. They are her family, and as such, they are with her in her thoughts all day. In my mind, I see them as a kind of beacon to lead her home, a kind of light at the end of her "workday" tunnel. And I see the unending bond of family in her life; as the undercurrent of her day, the connectedness like reassuring markers scattered along an uncertain path.

So, inspired by that, I created this ring. It is thick and solid, but not burdensome, just comforting. The band has a textured finish, representing the nicks, scrapes and challenges that we endure in the outside world. It has highly polished brass on it to symbolize her and the kids she adores-bright and gleaming, to represent the joy they bring each other. But inside the band is smooth and serene; the word family is indelibly forged, like a hidden map, secretly carried. And though the outside world may not be aware of its presence, it's a private reminder of what matters in this world, a reminder to make time, and go home to your family.

Earrings for Fall!

2008-08-29T09:47:00.006-05:00

We've had some cooler weather lately and I must say that I personally am looking forward to boots, jeans and sweaters. And some new jewelry. And I wear alot of blacks, creams, and greys, so this particular pair of earrings is appealing to me for that reason. The glass flowers are a kind of pale smoky-grey lilac color-the perfect choice to complement the colors listed above. A post and drop style, I can picture these earrings dangling from the earlobes of Keira Knightley or Natalie Portman! So pretty!

The Lily Collection Copper and Aventurine Necklace 3

2008-08-22T21:29:00.005-05:00

Lily reached for her good luck necklace; it made her think of China and the daughter that she knew was waiting there for her. Fondling the coins, it seemed to soothe the wait, and the red beads that intermingled with the luminous stones reminded her of an ancient saying: "An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." She sighed, but was comforted knowing that she too, would eventually meet her daughter. Looking east into the rising sun, she knew it would be a good day.

This is the third necklace in the Lily Collection, and is now available in my Etsy shop...just click on my links to the left of this post!

Handmade Fuzion

2008-08-19T11:45:00.005-05:00

It seems as though there is a new shopping/networking site in the works: http://handmadefuzion.com/ This is what their website says so far:

We are a Social Networking Marketplace dedicated to the handmade community.
We are currently only accepting vendors of handmade and gourmet items.

Hmmmm. I wonder what kinds of things they'll be selling? I like the part about "gourmet"...

Ahhh, the Olympic games!

2008-08-15T21:22:00.015-05:00

There is so much excitement around the Olympic games this year-more, it seems than usual. I started wondering about the origins of the event as well as where it is headed-given that it is increasingly becoming a platform for political expression. Of course, the games began in ancient Greece: participants were required to be young men from various Greek cities who had trained for a minimum of 10 months preceeding the games. (Women, it can be noted, were only permitted to participate in equestrian events). There were a number of skill-testing games, among them footraces, chariot races, wrestling and boxing. I was particularly interested in boxing. Initially soft leather covered their fingers but eventually hard leather weighted with metal was sometimes used. That got me thinking about metal on hands and, being a metalsmith, I wanted to capture the simplicity and harsh brutality of this event. So I created this ring: I think it captures the kind of raw determination you would need to spar with an opponent wearing metal-tipped leather gloves!

Truce was called during the games to allow the safe passage of the athletes and visitors-wars and legal disputes were put on hold and generally this was observed. There is a story however, that claims that the Spartans were forbidden from attending the games and fined 200,000 drachmas for assaulting the city of Lepreum during the period of the truce, claiming that the truce had not yet taken hold.

Crazy Spartans. Always lookin' for a fight.

The ancient Greeks exhibited a great understanding of human nature when they realized the potential for political grandstanding and took steps to prevent this during the games. But nowadays there is a growing tendency to use this global event to express political viewpoints, in spite of the original intent.

What about you? Do you think the games should symbolize peace, goodwill and sportsmanship throughout the world? Or do you think that it is an ideal opportunity to capture the world's attention and make a stand for what you believe in? Our very own Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper boycotted the Olympic games this year to make a statement.

As for me, I'm grateful that I live in a place where I have the freedom to choose.

Can you say flexible?

2008-07-31T15:01:00.005-05:00

Ummm. Yeah. I know that this pic looks entirely unnatural, but can you say flexible? I was doing a little yoga this morning, and as I was doing Downward Dog, Oscar was observing. Not to be outdone, he can be seen here doing Sideways Cat. He must've thought I was an absolute beginner!

Helen of Troy and Oscar the Fearless

2008-07-24T10:27:00.006-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. Terrible I know, but I'm back. As you know, I have a recent addition to my family: Oscar the supermodel Norwegian Forest cat. A beautiful and entertaining creature, NFC's are known to be loyal, talkative and I believe they like to play fetch.

In addition to these wonderful aforementioned qualities, they are also excellent hunters, and will stop at nothing to protect their home and loved ones. Especially if your home has been invaded by the dreaded woolly mice. Woolly mice, very dangerous and clever creatures, will endeavor to invade the home - Trojan Horse style - usually hidden in a seemingly harmless household object, such as a roll of toilet paper. Once inside, they will get up to all kinds of devilry, such as building nests in the fur coats of less suspicious cats, usually when they are sleeping.

Anyways, I have recently confirmed that such an attack was indeed scheduled to take place the other night, but wait! Thwarted they were by none other than Oscar The Fearless. Surveillance photos later confirmed the events: Nashford looks on nervously from a high, safe vantage point.

Oscar saves the day!

Flowers from Outerspace?

2008-07-05T09:37:00.004-05:00

Haha! Made you look, didn't I? Well take a look at this pic, and tell me that you don't think this flower looks like it might have come from outerspace!

Finally, my columbine (aquilegia) is blooming, and although it may have come from space, right now it is enjoying the summer in the Tangled Forest in my backyard. And blooming for the first time ever, now that the deer have stopped repeatedly munching it down to nothing. (I now have a fence!) In fact, many of the plants that I had previously tried to grow to no avail, are now doing well. I can hardly wait for all of them to bloom.

And the Oscar goes to...

2008-06-27T21:42:00.005-05:00

Meet Oscar.
The first time I laid eyes on Oscar was about a year ago in a local no-kill rescue. His elderly owner had passed away, and he was brought in. I frequent all of the shelters in the city, and when I spotted him I thought he was a real charmer: fur as fluffy and weightless as a cloud, and a beautiful blue color, a charming demeanor, with amber eyes that seduced. We became fast friends, but I did not bring him home. I was looking for a younger cat, one who would liven things up for my two older cats. He was a bit older.
As time wore on, many cats came and went, but no one chose Oscar. He greeted me warmly every time I went to search for a cat, even when he became quite ill in the shelter-he still raised his head to me. Still, I wanted a younger cat.
I had encountered many cats of varying ages and personalities, as you can imagine. None of them seemed quite right for our household though. My search continued.
Two days ago I was back at the shelter: Oscar was still there-sadly approaching his one year anniversary of being there. I took him out and patted him for a bit while I chatted with the adoption councilor. "I really like him" I said yet again, placing him back into his kennel. "But I really wanted a younger cat. Someone who'll be really playful".
Back in his cage now, I turned to leave, but froze in my tracks as he gave a sharp call. Staring at me, he picked up a little pom pom toy and tossed it in the air. Another meow, and he grabbed a different ball and batted it around, then stopped to stare at me.
I looked at the girl, who stood there with her mouth open. "He's never done that! He's not usually that playful!"
Looking into his face right then, I said "I think I'll be back tomorrow".

Tomorrow arrived, and I bustled back to the shelter, my heart doing flip flops because I was finally going to bring Oscar home. But when I bent down to look into his cage, it was empty and cleaned out. Tears welled, but I figured at least he had finally found a home. I straightened up, swiped a hand discreetly across my eyes, and toured the shelter to mask my disappointment. He wasn't anywhere. Turning to leave, a volunteer walked up to me and asked if I needed a hand with anything.
"I guess someone finally adopted Oscar " I said, trying to sound happy.
"What?" she replied. "No. We just cleaned out his cage. He's in the kennel on the floor in the corner!"

Oscar, a beautiful Norwegian Forest cat, has settled in very nicely to his new forever home.

Summertime shopping - Cool ideas!

2008-06-25T08:28:00.005-05:00

Summer is officiallly here: flowers, patios, great food, friends and....that's right-shopping! If you're like me, I spend my money on things that make me happy. And there is a whole lotta happy over at http://www.etsy.com/, where you can find a mind boggling assortment of handmade products -everything from food products, clothing, and jewelry to furniture and objects d'art.

(Ok, I'll admit it...I have been known to spend hours at a time perusing amazing sellers). Etsy is a kind of cyber warehouse for wonderful artists to sell their creations, using a standardized and user-friendly format. A great example of this is my Etsy shop to the right of this blog post-clicking on any of the items shown there will take you right to my etsy shop where you can purchase the items you like; or, by scrolling a little further down this page, you can see examples of other etsy sellers that are some of my favorites, and clicking on those images will take you to their shop. Fun huh?

One of the other fun features is what is known as an etsy treasury: members choose 12 of their fav items (from their fav sellers) and compile them onto one page-to kind of showcase other peoples work. It is a great compliment to be chosen for a treasury, and it makes you feel great, like people really appreciate your pieces.

I have been lucky enough to have been chosen for another treasury, by seller http://moyou.etsy.com/, click on her link to check out her amazing shop, check out her treasury below, and say hi to my "woolly mice"!

Lucky day!

2008-06-20T20:23:00.006-05:00

I have been known to say "I never win anything"-but no more! I was visiting one of my fav blogs http://nnairdas.blogspot.com because I love what she has to say. She was running a contest (fun), which I entered not expecting to win (but also fun) and guess what? I won!(yay)
I won a book, which I love, but I wanted to share with everyone the beautiful way in which it was packaged and shipped to me-check out the pics:

It was such a treat to unwrap this gift that I just had to take a couple of fun pics. She used recycled materials and her skills at scrapbooking and cardmaking are wonderful as you can see. I certainly was reminded of the fact that I myself can do more in the way of preserving our planet, and do it beautifully. Give yourself a treat and check out her blog.

Haha

2008-06-18T20:25:00.001-05:00

more cat pictures

1st peek at the garden!

2008-06-14T23:18:00.003-05:00

I've just had a week's worth of holidays, and while the weather was quite rainy for alot of it, there were still a few glorious days. And the garden is not only in, but starting to bloom in pockets as well. Here's the first peek:

And this little guy, who I discovered nestled in the petunias. Once he realized what the pictures were for, he agreed to pose.

Cancer Foundation-Relay for Life!

2008-06-07T11:08:00.005-05:00

"One day the world will be cancer free!"

For those of you following my blog, last night was the big event! Tons of people turned out, which was great because it had been pouring rain all day, and it was very windy and cold. However, as the emcee for the evening put it: "Of course the event will take place in spite of the rain. Rain doesn't stop cancer, does it?"

That about summed up the spirit of the evening, which held a celebratory note in spite of the damp! Hundreds of people for whom neither wind nor sleet nor snow nor hail would keep away, and they were definately there to congratulate each other's win against this horrible disease.

The survivors were the first group to walk a "Victory Lap"-a turn around the track accompanied by bagpipes, and cheered on by friends and family. The rain kindly masked the fact that many tears fell during this heart-warming processional-tears for those loved ones that fought and lost, for those still fighting and unable to attend, and for the victors walking it right there and then.

The survivors, wearing bright yellow shirts and ranging in ages from little children and up, served as a reminder that cancer chooses it's mark indiscriminately, without regard for age or status; it is only through a united effort that we will be able to finally conquer this disease and develop the cures needed for the hundreds of types of cancer that steals away our loved ones.

I was able to finish pieces from my Hope Collection of jewelry, and each member of my mom's team received a commemorative piece-I hope everyone liked them-I certainly enjoyed creating them. Here are a few more pics:

Dragonfly Treasury

2008-05-25T18:54:00.004-05:00

I was very excited to discover that my Julia Copper Dragonfly pendant has been featured on a very pretty dragonfly treasury. The treasury was created by slvrlily, you can find her very interesting and fun shop on Etsy right here slvrlily.etsy.com

I love dragonflies, and can hardly wait to see them zooming around this summer. Maybe this treasury will flatter them enough to encourage them to arrive sooner!

Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=46448

Hope Collection Part 2

2008-05-23T08:05:00.007-05:00

I've had a couple of days off and was able to complete (and photograph) a bit more of the Hope Collection (see earlier post for more information about this ). These pieces are for sale in my Etsy shop, but I'll be donating some to the Cancer Foundation's Relay For Life. Here is a sneak preview of one more piece...I love the orange glass flower in the middle, and I think that this may be my favorite piece! And I couldn't help but include a pic of the little gift boxes that they come in-the boxes are so cute!

Stay tuned for more photos!

Food rant!

2008-05-21T19:04:00.008-05:00

Someone I know turned me on to a great food site http://www.tastespotting.com/ . Now those of you that know me, know that I love to eat! Not that I'm a food snob, mind you, because while I love good food I also eat junk. A fair amount of it, actually.

So browsing through all of the gorgeous entries from tastespotting, I said to myself:

"Self! How come all of these people have time to search for new recipes (or develop them!)? And then where do they get the time to run around for all of these ingredients? Then make the meal, photograph it-sometimes step-by-step- eat the meal, and then write about it?"

What, exactly, am I doing wrong that I don't have that much free time? I mean, I make lists and cross stuff off when it's done. I am pretty organized, can plan my day down to the minute and come in pretty close on my daily accomplishments. But I don't think I have time to do a food blog, as much as I'd like to! (OK I'll admit I really just want to eat the meal, nevermind the rest of it). But maybe that's the thing-maybe these foodwriters don't have much more time than the rest of us, and need to celebrate their accomplishments with photos and a write-up! If we all needed that much praise, there'd be blogs with before and after pictures of dirty/clean laundry, dirty/clean sinks, messy homes, etc.

Still, I need to eat, and so I'll try, at least for the summer, to have a Food Friday or something like that. Starting with today:

Remember to take time to enjoy your life!

The Hope Collection

2008-05-14T20:54:00.004-05:00

Many of our lives, or the lives of those we love, have been touched by illness. In particular, cancer has sounded its deafening roar throughout my own immediate and extended family.

My latest Etsy collection honours those friends and family who have lost their courageous battles, as well as celebrates the survivors among us. Each piece literally tells the story of the joyous life we live, the precious love we are surrounded with, the faith that keeps us going, and our hopes for a cure.

My mom will be participating in the Cancer Foundation's "Relay For Life" fundraiser on June 6, and every member of her team will be receiving one of 5 styles of a pendant to commemorate the event.

Please join me in wishing them success in their fundraiser, and in their cause to find a cure!

Lolcats, because some days you just need to laugh.

2008-05-14T12:58:00.003-05:00

more cat pictures
Too funny!

Meet Etsy seller Gwenwalls

2008-04-30T20:42:00.005-05:00

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, find out who this seller is!

Meet fellow Etsy seller Gwennie of http://www.gwenwalls.etsy.com/

She has been selling on Etsy for about 9 months now, and loves working with polymer clay and vintage beads! She loves making jewelry and only makes what she herself would wear. I had the opportunity to ask her about her goals on Etsy:

"Just to offer my customers nice products at affordable prices, continue to learn better techniques from the amazing artists on here! I love browsing the pictures of such phenomenal work!"

Don't we all love browsing on Etsy (where do the hours go?)

Please feel free to drop by her blog and say hello at http://www.cutegothkitty.blogspot.com/

Lily Collection #2 in the Series

2008-04-23T18:15:00.005-05:00

Sorry I haven't written in so long! It seems that there is so much to do in the spring, and less hours to do it. (Why is that?)

I have a number of interesting pieces on the go right now, and have just added this one to my shop. Here is a small taste of "Lily's" story part 2:

Allison had been Lily’s closest friend for years. She was the opposite of herself in many ways, yet they always seemed to get along, despite differing viewpoints. Or maybe that was why they got on so well. She handed Ally the box she had brought with her. “Open it, I couldn’t wait until your birthday to give it to you-I was so excited!” Ally peeled apart the layers of wrapping and gasped "Lily! This is gorgeous-it looks like a Chinese antique! Where in the world did you get it?""Oh, I unearthed it one day...it has the symbol for prosperity on it, and the shiny droplets at the bottom represent prosperity raining down on the wearer...it seemed so perfect for you right now with all of the changes in your life, I had to get it for you!"

During these refreshing, sunny days of spring, may showers of prosperity rain down on you and yours!

Recycled !

2008-04-09T11:54:00.008-05:00

I am so excited to have been featured on an Etsy treasury, which was in turn featured on the front page of Etsy! Wow, that is crazy exciting for me! A fellow Etsian, Denarella, compiled a list of some of her favorite sellers with a recyled theme, and my Woolly Mice were one of the items! That's so cool! Check it out here:

I love recycling and transforming-the possibilities are so much fun as you can see by the great items featured in the treasury above. Please check out Denarella's shop by clicking on her shop link to the right of this post, as well as her blog at http://benadena.blogspot.com/

Miles

2008-03-29T22:33:00.006-05:00

Meet Miles.

He really does make me swoon every time I look at him-he has so much expression on his face that I swear he is straining to get me to understand him. He is over three feet long and is almost twenty pounds but doesn't have an ounce of fat on him. He really is the biggest cat I have ever encountered, and whenever we go to the vet he generates more attention than a rock star. I'm not kidding-he comes home with 15 different types of perfume on him because the ladies can't help but love him to bits whenever he goes in! The vet blushes when she sees him, and once commented that it was probably the closest she'd ever get to working with a wild jungle animal. But I'm not too proud, eh?

Anyways, he has arthritis in his hips and uses the covered hot water bottle that I sell in my Etsy shop-I think the heat helps him out. And another of my Etsy customers just emailed me to say that her cat is enjoying his hot water bottle now too! So there! Industrialpoppy-Helping Heal Fur Babies the world over! Haha!

The Lily Collection

2008-03-22T14:39:00.008-05:00

This is the first piece in my asian-inspired Lily Collection. The chain itself is made from hand-coiled copper and hand-wrapped aventurine beads, in graduated sizes. (Aventurine has been used as a lucky talisman , and legends say that it is an all-purpose healer, used to reduce stress, develop confidence, imagination and improve prosperity. A legend from ancient Tibet says that aventurine was used to improve nearsightedness and to increase the wearer's creativity; many believe that aventurine has the capacity to calm a troubled spirit and bring about inner peace).
The pendant - a brass replica of an asian coin - sits amid 8 larger aventurine beads-each hand knotted onto a red thread. For more photos or info for this necklace, please click on my Etsy shop to the right.
Lily's story...
Lily reached for her good luck necklace; it made her think of China and the daughter that she knew was waiting there for her. Fondling the coin, it seemed to soothe the wait, and the red thread that knotted the luminous beads reminded her of an ancient saying: "An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." She sighed, but was comforted knowing that she too, would eventually meet her daughter. Looking east into the rising sun, she knew it would be a good day.

Thefind.com

2008-03-12T13:01:00.005-05:00

Many thanks to shopping network TheFind.com for featuring my designs on their shopping site! It is quite a compliment, as TheFind.com has received press from Good Morning America, The San Fransisco Chronicle, USA Today, The New York Times, and ABC News, among others.

Three Dog Night Hot Water Bottles

2008-03-09T15:17:00.006-05:00

I was going to blog about these great hot water bottles, including the new cream-colored one I just made, but it has already sold! I guess cream is the color of choice! I should have known, because almost everything in my own home is very light and airy looking-I find that it is such a joy for me to be in this environment, that some days I don't want to leave here! I love my hot water bottle, but they are also great if you have a pet that is a bit stiff and sore-the heat is very gentle and soothing (great for arthritis).

This ain't yo mama's jewelry...

2008-03-08T21:21:00.010-06:00

Check out the latest piece in the Morrigan Collection! This chainmaille necklace is a good intro for those of you that are a little unsure of your chainmaille style. It has enough of a Byzantine design for interest, but features a black rubber necklace and grommets for an "alternative" effect. This piece is designed for jeans and a t-shirt or clubbing - either way it is not for the faint of heart, because this will get attention from everyone!

Here is an exerpt from "Morrigan's Story":

Morrigan leaned in to the bartender’s ear, stating her wishes; and he, smiling, turned to fetch her drink. She whirled around to face the room, condensation already beginning to form on the glass from the heat around her. The music, thumping rhythmically, seemed to increase the collective heartbeat of the room, the energy, the desire. Her eyes scanned the crowd for a particular face-she had noticed him earlier and spotting him again, was determined to make an impression. Her fingertips caressed her latest Etsy purchase, an uber-sexy rubber and chainmaille piece that emphasized her long pale neck. She felt herself moving purposefully towards him…

Click on my Etsy link to the right to purchase.

Featured Etsy seller: Soandsewcrafty

2008-03-05T11:12:00.003-06:00

Spring and summer are coming, and with that comes the usual flurry of shower invitations. Here are a few of my picks from Karen's shop at http://www.soandsewcrafty.etsy.com/ . I can just imagine a baby shower basket with one of her pieces tucked in! I spoke with Karen, who has been creating and sewing for over 40 years, why she does it and what her favorite medium is : "All kinds of fabrics! I just enjoy taking a simple piece of cloth and turning it into something great!" Having joined Etsy in Aug of 2007, she hopes to keep improving her etsy shop, get her website finished, and keep sewing all of these adorable creations! Check out her blog at http://www.soandsewcrafty.blogspot.com for more!

Adoption!

2008-03-03T20:37:00.007-06:00

Wow! I am so excited right now! I am currently waiting to adopt as you know, and the way it works is:
-You send in your dossier to China once you have been provincially approved to adopt. You receive what is called a log in date, or LID.
-Chinese officials review dossiers for certain criteria and if you are approved by them, they move your dossier to another room where it awaits matching to a child.
-Dossiers are matched in chronological order from your log in date (mine was Aug 9, 2006). Once you are matched to a child China sends you what is known as a referral.
-The chinese center for adoption has finished sending out referrals for all dossiers with a LID up to Jan 4/2006!

For anyone who may not know, children and their prospective families have been matched up very slowly as of late, so the fact that they have made it to LID's that fall in the year 2006 is a VERY BIG DEAL to everyone in the adoption community-in fact, we are treating it kind of like New Year's right now!

Many Thanks!!!

2008-03-01T19:24:00.009-06:00

I just found out that Lori from grafikexpressions.blogspot.com also did a little feature on her blog about my Etsy pieces yesterday! Thank you Lori and Wendy from DharmaDesigns(for last week's post)! It is really with the kindness of these Etsy bloggers that I've been able to get the word out about my work, and to get to hear from so many of you who have visited my blog and left such kinds words and inspiring comments. Many thanks!

Thailand Donation

2008-02-29T10:08:00.011-06:00

Many years ago I had the extraordinary opportunity to go to India for several months. It was truly a life altering experience-the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the country were unbelievably rich, and the wonderful people that I met in my travels were undeniably among the finest I have encountered in my life. I respect everyone that has a desire to broaden their viewpoint and enrich their lives through interaction with people from many nations, be it neighbors within their community or by travelling across the world to share daily life on different soil.

I am donating the above piece to a group of teacher candidates currently in the Faculty of Education that are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to finish their studies overseas at Lertlah School in Bangkok, Thailand. In Thailand, they will have the exciting opportunity of working as full-time classroom teachers for an entire school year while still attending regular university classes. At the same time, they will gain valuable experience teaching English as an Additional Language and learning to adapt their teaching as they work with different cultures, both skills that are greatly in demand in Manitoba. In preparation, the group has organized a fundraising social at Blush Ultraclub on Friday, March 14, 2008 from 9pm-2am. For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=22844157328

Also, I am a sucker for cute packaging!

Meet Etsy seller Grafik Expressions

2008-02-27T17:56:00.006-06:00

As many of you know, I am in the (long) process of adopting a child. Eventually my dream of becoming a mom will happen and when it does, I want to send out gorgeous adoption announcements like these. They offer imaginative photographic and digital designs reflecting the joys and true meaning of life. And because she is inspired by life, loving family, treasured friends and loyal companions, her collections will tug at your heart.

Even better, 10% of the sale of her animal related cards will be donated to her local animal shelter. She will also donate a portion of the sale of her baby related items to Safe Passage, an organization established to assist victims of Domestic Violence. Check out her Etsy store-some of my favorites from her shop are shown to the right-just scroll down to find her "mini-shop"! Or check out her blog at http://grafikexpressions.blogspot.com/

Julia Collection-the story continues...

2008-02-25T17:07:00.015-06:00

Here is the second piece for the Julia collection, I really love this piece! When it is on, the butterfly looks like it is suspended within the copper frame, and when the light hits it...ooh la la!

If you don't already know, each collection has a woman's name, and each woman has a story. (Like we all do, in life). There is a paragraph from each story released every time a new piece in the collection appears-so you'll have to keep checking in to read the stories! I have included the "butterfly" paragraph here, but for the others go to my Etsy shop (the link is on the right), and check out the "description/write-up" for each of the pieces. Have fun!

Julia held up her long brown hair in a ponytail, away from her face. “Maybe I should do something with my hair, maybe I should cut it short”. She let it fall. “What do you think, Harry?” Harry, who had been gazing at her, cocked his head and and placed a paw over his nose. “Hmmm, maybe you’re right, maybe I should leave it for now. Harry barked, relieved. “It’s just that it’s spring-wouldn’t it be nice to change things up for spring? No? How ‘bout a walk then?” Harry ‘s toenails clattered across the floor as he took off to get his leash. She put on her favorite necklace-a beautiful suspended copper butterfly that she bought on Etsy, and turned back and forth in the mirror, admiring the way the light refracted from it. Pulling her hair into a ponytail and securing it, she frowned. “I wouldn’t look that bad in short hair , would I?”

This copper creation measures 1 5/8” across by 1 1/2” tall, and features a suspended butterfly, complete with rhinestones. The butterfly has been lightly patterned, then fire treated to get the interesting colors on it’s wings. The wings have been punched for added detail. The copper frame is supported by a black leather cording measuring 16” long.

Etsy seller Dharmadesigns

2008-02-23T17:29:00.003-06:00

Please check out the fab shop I am featuring here and to the side:

as well as her blog http://dharmadesigns.blogspot.com/. She has a beautiful Asian feel to alot of what she does, and if you know me, you know that I love Asian influence! She also has a slightly wicked sense of humor-managed to call me out to all of her friends as industrialpoopy. Too funny! What do you say, everyone, should I change the shop name?

Etsy! The site for all things Handmade

2008-02-23T16:03:00.003-06:00

I am adding a link on the side featuring talented artists/merchants from Etsy. I will be changing the link every week to feature someone new-check it out! The merchandise available for sale is mind-boggling, not to mention the fact that the site itself is a joy to navigate. If you have never been, it is definately worth a look! You can find my shop there, as well as thousands of others. Have fun!

Julia Collection

2008-02-22T12:16:00.003-06:00

The Julia Copper Dragonfly

I have a few days off to get a bunch of stuff done, so here is the first piece in the "Julia" collection for Spring 2008. The series will be comprised of nature-inspired pieces, with a touch of whimsy! I am looking forward to spring, as I am sure we all are. Winter has been tiring, and although the sun shines here alot, warmer weather will feel great. Think of freshening things up, lighter clothes, the sound of birds singing....ahhh, I can't wait.

Too Cute!!!

2008-02-17T21:05:00.002-06:00

Every now and then something comes along that makes you smile even if your day has been, well, less than great.This definately makes me smile:

Great sound and timing. I love the part when the guitar smacks into the mic stand and it makes that sort of "el kabong" sound. Oh and now I finally know all of the words to this song!
Too cute!!!

At Last!

2008-02-11T21:02:00.000-06:00

I can finally say that my new little studio space is ready to go...a couple of extra shelves for storage would be great but that sounds a little like procrastination to me. I also think that it may be a Scorpio trait...the need to "have everything done" in order to do something else. You know...like in order to take two days off in a row, I have to have the house spotless, with no little weird jobs left to do, like ummm, put in a new roll of toilet paper or something.

Seriously, it drives me crazy. You should see the flurry of activity if I am taking a week off! Lots of obscure tasks get done-last holiday week I went so far as to actually condense my two containers of toothpaste into one! Ha Ha! Yessiree, no odd jobs left for me! Ha Ha!

Did that sound as nutty as I think it did?

Spring?

2008-01-28T19:46:00.000-06:00

For some strange reason, I got it in my head that maybe spring was coming....you know, the snow seemed like it was melting, the sun was shining, stuff like that. So I took my Christmas decorations down. (Don't gasp - last year I didn't get around to it until March!) And I cleaned out my pantry. OK. I didn't just clean it out though, I sorta went psycho-military ocd in there. I transferred a bunch of stuff into identical little glass jars with tight-fitting lids. They are perfectly lined up, each with a cute little oval, hand-written label, so that in three years when I am wondering what the heck is on the shelf, I can simply reach for the jar and read the label. And I'm not kidding about the three years either, 'cause I found this:

With an expiry date of this:

Yikes!!! Clearly not my cereal of choice!

New Workspace

2008-01-24T09:54:00.000-06:00

My new workspace should be finished by the end of next week - complete with adequate storage and proper lighting! Yay! Once my jeweller's bench is set up I'll have no more excuses to avoid being productive, though....oh oh : (

As far as being productive goes, I have put my woolly catnip mice into my shop. These take absolutely forever to make, with alot of hand sewing, but I find them irresistible. I think it has something to do with seeing how the faces turn out, or something like that. And I have to make them while I am barricaded in my room, because my cats go berserk every time they smell the catnip.
Sigh...why can't it have the same effect on humans.....

Morrigan's Dream

2008-01-20T01:37:00.000-06:00

This is the first piece I have put up for sale in etsy, entitled Morrigan's Dream. It is crafted from over 600 tiny sterling silver rings and hours and hours of work and is absolutely stunning on-the pictures do not do it justice at all. And you do feel like royalty while wearing it. I am planning on doing a series of similar pieces, all using chainmaille techniques and incorporating beads/semi-precious stones. The intricacies of "weaving" the metal are fascinating and the results are unlike anything else. I will also be including some chunkier pieces for men as well as women, so stay tuned.

Whew!

2008-01-20T01:18:00.000-06:00

2008 is here and January is already half gone! I have been working on my etsy site and converting space into a jewelry studio so have had no free time whatsoever. Oh and I am truly (and completely) addicted to etsy. The talent out there is absolutely fantastic to see and be a part of...if you haven't already been, check it out at http://www.etsy.com/

Favorite Band

2007-10-09T19:55:00.000-05:00

Check out this band on myspace here http://www.myspace.com/thenods ! I love the energy on this album, and I can't wait for their CD release in October.

Hope you get as big a kick out of it as I did!

Finally!

2007-10-03T22:51:00.001-05:00

Well I finally managed to get my blog up and (more or less), running.