It's Not Jewelry, But It's Crafty

My youngest son is finished with preschool as of today.  I don't know where the time goes???

With the end of school for the preschoolers and the end for elementary students quickly approaching I thought I would share a teacher present idea with all of you.  I was nominated to take up a collection and come up with the teacher gift.  I had approximately $40 to work with for each of the teachers.  Mrs. N and Mrs. M have been wonderful mentors for these young minds all year long.  I am truly sad that this is my last experience with this preschool (insert sad face here....)

So I came up with this great idea:

I got some perennials and a black monogrammed pot using a sticker and added some some ribbon.  I got 2 gift cards (one for Target and one for Wawa) and made gift card holders out of scrapbook paper I had lying around the house.

One the tag I wrote, "Thanks for helping us bloom!"

Feel free to steal my idea.  Both teachers loved the class gift and best of all, they can enjoy the plants for years to come.

Happy crafting!

Magnetic Personality

♥ Focus ♥ Concentration ♥ Willpower ♥ Reliability ♥ Courage ♥ Confidence ♥ Optimism ♥ Trust ♥ Balance ♥ Stability ♥ Protection

Hematite grounds and protects us.  It strengthens our connection with the earth, making us feel safe and secure. 


It endows us with courage, strength, endurance and vitality.  A "stone for the mind", Hematite stimulates concentration and focus, enhancing memory and original thought.

Hematite utilizes the magnetic qualities of our yin-yang energies to balance the meridians within the body and to provide a stable equilibrium between the ethereal nervous system and the physical nervous system.  It focuses energy and emotions for balance between the body, mind and spirit.

Dissolves negativity and prevents you from absorbing the negativity of others.  Haematite is strong, supporting timidity, boosting self-esteem and survivability, enhancing willpower and reliability, and imparting confidence.  It helps to overcome compulsions and addictions, treating overeating, smoking and other forms of overindulgence. 

These bracelets/necklaces are so fun to wear.  Unwrapped they measure 36 inches and are held together with magnetic hematite.  Can be worn wrapped around your wrist several times or twice around your neck as a necklace.

"Ground yourself, strip yourself down, To blind, loving silence.  Stay there, until you see. You are gazing at the Light. With its own ageless eyes." ~ Rumi

Wordless Wenesday

The Legend of the Lotus Flower

Because lotuses grow out of the mud pure and clean, like morning dew from Heaven or water in springtime from a flower creek, lotus decorations and designs are everywhere the eye turns. Even other flowers-like these magnolias-are piled into lotus shapes.

Chinese poets also use lotus flowers to inspire people to continue striving through difficulties and to show their best part to the outside world, no matter how bad the circumstances may be. This is understood as being just like the lotus flower, bringing beauty and light from the murky darkness at the bottom of the pond.

Another symbolic characteristic of the lotus flower leads from the observation that the plant's stalk is easy to bend in two, but is very hard to break because of its many strong sinuous fibres. Poets use this to represent a close unbreakable relationship between two lovers or the members within a family, showing that no matter how far away they might live nothing can really separate them in heart.

In Buddhism the lotus flower symbolizes faithfulness. The golden lotus that is mentioned in Buddhist sutras has two meanings, one is the symbol for the achievement of enlightenment and the other points towards a real flower which is beyond our normal perception.

Shamballa-style bracelet made with brown 2mm leather.
Handcrafted ceramic beads and button lotus flower closure.
Adjustable in size using a sliding knot clasp.

Ode to a Dragonfly

crystal dragonfly

cast upon the breeze

fragile- like a dream

For The Love Of Larimar

I recently took my second trip to the beautiful island of the Dominican Republic.  It's pristine beaches, amazing all-inclusive resorts, friendly people, and relaxation keep drawing me back to the island shared with Haiti.

On my first trip to Punta Cana, I picked up a beautiful Larimar pendant set in sterling silver.  Larimar is a beautiful blue gemstone that is only found in the Dominican Republic. Its blue color is very similar to that of the tropical beach waters and because of its appearance, it is frequently mistaken for turquoise. Larimar stones are thought to have formed years ago as a result of volcanic eruptions. It is theorized that as magma was forced from beneath the earth’s surface, it mixed with a variety of substances such as aluminum compounds, sodium, calcium and iron.


Because larimar is indigenous to the Dominican Republic and because of its unusual beauty, there is naturally a lot of Dominican folklore surrounding it. It is often looked upon as a powerful, spiritual stone. It is said to soothe, heal and enlighten. It is supposed to enable one to view things from a different perspective. The stone itself represents peace, clarity and love and is recommended for people who are stressed. This is all undoubtedly due to its tranquil blue color. 


So I finally created a necklace using the pendant and some matching earrings.  I paired the Larimar pendant with some Czech glass roundelles and some bead capped vintage crystals.  I can't wait to wear (or sell) these pieces.  It will remind the wearer of the beautiful oceans and calming nature of the sea!!!

Two Opportunities To Help Cancer Patients, Survivors, And Families

Many of you don't know this about me, but in a past life I worked in healthcare.  I have a Master's in Public Health with an emphasis in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education.  This blog is primarily about my jewelry musings, but sometimes health and jewelry can mingle.


I have been volunteering my time in getting grants for The Gallery School of Pottstown, a non-profit community art school.  One such grant was recently accepted into the "online voting" phase and I could use your help, even if you don't live in the area.


Let me tell you a little bit about the program:

The Gallery School of Pottstown in partnership with The Pottstown Memorial Regional Cancer Center- a Fox Chase Cancer Partner- has been selected as a candidate for the 2012 LIVESTRONG® Community Impact Project. The project brings proven cancer support programs to communities across the United States and finalists will be determined through an online voting campaign. Applicants with the top votes per region will receive a financial award of support to replicate and implement a sustainable program dedicated to supporting families fighting cancer. Finalists will also receive tools and resources from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

To support the Gallery School of Pottstown, click here and vote by no later than 6:00 pm EDT, Friday, March 23, 2012. 

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I am also involved on the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Organization signature event, Yoga on the Steps.  This will be my third year fundraising and participating with over a thousand other yogis all for the same cause.  The culmination of events is when we all do yoga on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum on May 20, 2012.

Part of my team fundraising is making jewelry to sell where 75% of the profits will go to the  LBBC Organization.

I have created two versions of the "Give a Hoot for Hooters" bracelets and they are for sale for $35.00 in my etsy shoppe.