Friday Wishes and Wonders

As I'm adding stuff to my etsy page, I can't help being sidetracked by all the beautiful things! Here are some inspirations:

"Dedication" by ingridArtStudio

"Steampunk Cuff" by edmdesigns

...and some non-etsy items found while surfing the 'net!

An Oscar de la Renta necklace
A Les Habitudes dress
...and some random vintage inspired dresses

These images tell me a story, one I think I should write! Maybe, just maybe, I will... so check back for my enthralling attempt to verbally articulate these pictures' aesthetic intrigue. Possibly.

In the meantime, what do they say to you?

Resolution Check Up!

Three weeks ago, I made a post outlining four autumn resolutions. Now is as good a time as any to check up on how I'm doing!

1. contemplative exercise: Well, I meditated daily for about a week, then I returned to my comfy fall back of contemplative art (as evidenced by all the jewelry I've been making), with a few random meditations thrown in at night. No yoga yet, but I've been taking an average of two dogs out for a mile walk (in the same go!) every other day! I usually take my dog Rosie and one of my parents' dogs, Dakota or Ginger, while one of my parents takes the other dog. I imagine it must look rather funny to passersby.

2. doctoral applications: I have completed my University of Chicago and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but I still have five more applications to do! Yikes.

3. novel: I have not worked on my novel at all, but I have been writing other things: short stories, a young adult fantasy book, and poetry. Perhaps I'll post a sample later!

4. etsy: is up an running! As I mentioned in my last post, I've finally put some things up for sale. I've even been getting a few views, which makes me very happy!

All in all, I'm proud of myself for working on these resolutions as much as I have been. Just goes to show you that any time can be the right time to make some positive changes in your life!

Next goal: get out of the house more! :D

Up and Running!

My Etsy page is now up and running! There are five necklaces up now.

Here it is:

You, dear readers, also get a sneak peak at what I'm working on!
a neo-Victorian necklace, still in its rough stages

a sort-of shadow box. The blue will dry clear and it will become a little eco-system of magic!


a painting based on one of my sketches

...and the beginning of my Halloween costume

Jewelry for Sale!

Now you can own your very own jewelry, designed and handmade by yours truly! Just visit my Etsy shop for options. Collages will be available soon!

the hum of horses

Margolove from Etsy's "Oh, Bye" print

"The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears." -Arabian Proverb

Riding with the wind, the horse has long been a symbol of greatness, of life and freedom, in many cultures. To the Celts and Romans, the horse was a symbol of war. To Native Americans, the horse was a symbol of the spirit world, of the wind, and of wisdom.

Horses move more nobly than most creatures on this earth. Any who look into a horse's eyes see slivers of another world. A whole world of wild wisdom waits to be unleashed.

In Welsh mythology, Rhiannon was first seen on a white mare. She wore a golden dress, and looked a bit like an angel as she galloped, outrunning Pwyll, a lord of Dyfed, and all his grand horseman. When Pwyll yelled after her, asking her to stop, she stopped. She told him that she was to be married to an awful man and offered to marry Pwyll if he would help her escape from her hellish arrangement. The two schemed a magical scheme, and soon the mystical lady of the horse married the lord Pwyll.

Alan Lee's Rhiannon

Years later, when Rhiannon's newborn son disappeared from her room, her ladies-in-waiting planted false evidence (blood) and accused her of murdering him. As punishment, Rhiannon was forced to tell her story to any incoming traveler, and, should the traveler acquiesce, she was to carry them wherever they wanted to go in the city. Like a horse.

Seasons passed into years of toil, but the son eventually reappeared and all was put right. Knowing her horrible punishment, however, makes the golden image of Rhiannon on her white mare all the more beautiful.

While Rhiannon is little more than a beautiful, otherworldly woman in the Mabinogi, she was often linked to Epona, a Celtic horse goddess. Questions about Rhiannon's divinity abound, and many scholars speculate the myths represent a fraction of the pre-Christian honors given to her: Rhiannon, the woman who once might have been worshiped as a goddess.

Paul Borda's Rhiannon Wall Plaque

Throughout Britain, chalk drawings of white mares can be found in the countryside. The Uffington horse is supposed to be particularly spectacular. For a magical account of an experience with this mare, check out this article from Winterspell.

the moon shines on beautiful things

In honor of the full moon, I would like to post images of my two favorite tarot decks:

Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot

and

Melanie Gordon's Gendron Tarot

Each of these decks is beautifully crafted and brimming with revelations.

-*-*-

I would also like to take a moment to post some beautiful jewelry. As most of you know, etsy.com is one of the neatest places to shop. I'd like to take a moment to honor two of these etsy artists: pinkingedgedesigns and bionicunicorn.

This necklace from pinkingedgedesigns has become an absolute staple in my collection.


and this necklace from bionicunicorn has started many conversations!



I find there is no better way to celebrate life than to create... There is a certain captivation and release in working wire, bending and curling and prying wire around beads, stringing beads, setting beads, draping and fitting and testing jewelry. Here are some of my creations: