Christmas Weaving Revealed

All the handweaving I did for Christmas gifts can now be revealed, as it's all been opened by the intended recipients. My niece and nephew, son and daughter, each received a handwoven scarf or throw. I used bamboo, rayon chenille, and bulky organic cotton.

See them all and read the entire post at my new blogsite.

Christmas Toy Box

A homemade toy box, a mobile home, and a sick toddler make for an interesting Christmas. Fortunately I was quick thinking and came up with a strategy to save the day.

It's an interesting story. Read it all.

Or see just how wrong my recollections of my childhood Christmas stockings were.

A Handwoven Christmas

I've been weaving my little brains out making Christmas presents this year. WIthout much cash but with shelves of yarn, I decided it was the only reasonable alternative. I'm really happy with all the weaving, but can't share much of it with you - people will see it before they open their gifts.

This handwoven rayon chenille throw is going to some friends of mine who don't use the internet, so I figured it was safe to post this picture. You can read more about its creation at my new blogsite.

Although I have finishing touches to put on several of the woven pieces, my present-making is essentially done. Whew! Time to relax for a few minutes before bed.

Christmas Stockings

Mom made our Christmas stockings. You'll just have to trust me when I tell you that the ones I tried to make years later for my own family were a feeble attempt to re-create Mom's. Hers were much nicer, at least in my recollection.

Read more about our Christmas stocking traditions at my new blogsite.

And congratulations to Margaret, who won the Victorian ornament.

Music Box Dancer

I was little when I got the most amazing music box for Christmas. Although I've never seen another one anything like it, I did manage to find a picture of a very similar one, reassuring me that my memory is correct.

Read the entire story of this Christmas gift at my new blogsite. Tell me one of yours and you'll be entered to win the December contest!

Sweet Little Grace

Sweet little Grace is the first child of some young friends of mine. In honor of her birth, Grace received a custom handwoven baby blanket in shades of pink, brown, and green, as requested by her mom.

Here's a picture of Grace going for a ride, comforted and warmed by her hand made cotton flannel blanket, which coordinates perfectly with her hat.


I'd love to make a custom baby blanket for your wee one, too. Choose your own colors, fabric, and type, give me a few months, and your blanket with be made to order.

Win a Free Victorian Christmas Ornament!

Congratulations to Joanne, who won the November contest. She received her talisman at my show last weekend. Now to the December contest. This month's contest will be shorter than usual so that you have a chance to receive your prize by Christmas. The prize?

little hand made Christmas ornament with its beaded cover.

Visit my new blogsite for the easy rules.

Get moving - the deadline's December 15!

November Contest, Part 2

Last week I announced the November contest, asking for your comments about someone you're grateful is in your life. 

This week in part 2 I'm asking for a holiday tradition.  Could be one you love, one you hate, one that your family has celebrated forever, or one that you recently invented.

Get all the details and enter the contest - it's fun, it's easy, and you could win a free healing gemstone talisman!

November Contest - Win Free Jewelry!

November is a time to think about all of our good fortune.  Sure, everyone's life has misfortune, some more than others.  But with the right approach, even the lowest of us can find something positive.  That's the basis of my November contest.

Get all the details and enter the contest to win this free healing gemstone talisman.

October Contest Winner

Congrats to Karen, winner of the October contest for this lovely bracelet made of porcupine quills, red jasper, and sterling silver.  

Be sure to enter the November contest - you could win next time!

September Contest Winner

Yippee!  I've finally found 5 minutes to announce the winner of the September contest for free earrings!  

Congratulations to Joyce.  Be sure to stop by her blog to see some really great photos.

And if you haven't already -- leave me a comment on my new blogsite to enter the October contest for a free handmade bracelet!

Fiber Fest

On Saturday I went to the Knox Farm Fiber Festival in East Aurora.  The weather was initially pleasant, then go so windy that vendors' tents were in grave danger of making it to Kansas.

I think alpacas have really sweet faces, and they are reportedly very gentle animals.  

Check out my new blogsite to read more about the Fiber Festival and other things posts related to weaving, jewelry, bees, and more!

Garnets - a Gemstone of Passion

I just completed two garnet necklaces as custom orders for a wedding.  I'm pleased with the results of both, which coordinate, but are different. You can see them side by side at my new blogsite, and get lots more information about the healing properties of garnets. Here are a few tidbits to whet your appetite.

Garnets inspire romantic love and sensuality.  They help turn negative thinking into a positive approach to life, and have been used through the centuries for protection against injury.

September Contest

The September contest continues the celestial theme I began in August.  The free handmade earrings I'm offering are made with manmade hematite, and their little stars and wrapped orbs make me smile with pleasure - to make them, to wear them, and to see them in others' ears.

Visit my new blogsite to get the REALLY EASY rules for this month's contest, and enter to win!

Perseids Earrings - August Contest Winner

Valerie from Lewis Run, PA, won the August contest, and will be receiving her Perseids earrings within a day or two via US mail.

Congratulations, Valerie!

I'll announce the September contest soon, so visit again.

Woven Wings

I've just created my third set of Woven Wings, and I'm really happy with this one-of-a-kind necklace.  I've made and sold two other sets in the past year or two, and wanted another show-stopper.  

Learn more about this great piece, and about the properties of the healing gemstones it contains, at my new blogsite.

And enter the August contest for a free pair of earrings while you're there!

Bunny Goes to the Spa

Bunny told me she wanted to help me with marketing my handwoven baby blankets, but before she got started, she insisted on a day of pampering.  Check out her spa adventure, from chemical peels to comparing tats with her friends at my new blog.

August Contest - Free Earrings

Win these handmade earrings to honor the annual Perseids meteor shower.  Go to my new blogsite for complete directions and to enter.

New Woogie A Hit

Yippee!!  Gavin loves his new handwoven security blanket!  

Mama Caitlin was able to be very clear about what she wanted, which made my weaving job easy.  But it was still all up to Gavin.  Would he accept the new "woogie" or find it a poor attempt?  

Read the whole story at my new blogsite.

Rainbow Fluorite Healing Gems

Although the term rainbow fluorite is commonly used, it doesn't, in fact, refer to a particular stone. Well, it does, but only sort of. Fluorite is a specific stone. It comes in green, yellow, purple, blue, and clear, each stone with their own healing properties. "Rainbow fluorite" refers to those colors being mixed in a single strand or a single stone.

Each color of fluorite has specific healing properties. I've outlined them in my new blogsite, and I hope you'll visit there. You can also learn about the custom wedding jewelry that I made for 

Joan from rainbow fluorite (yeah, I used different colors) and amethyst.

A New Security Blanket for Gavin

Gavin loves his security blanket.  Unfortunately, the blanket is rapidly becoming very threadbare.  His mom and grandma have made many attempts to keep it together, but they can't keep it going forever.

That's where I come in.  Mom has ordered a custom-made handwoven security blanket.  You can see Gavin's old blanket and watch my progress on making his new one at my new blogsite.

Leopardskin Jasper - a Healing Gemstone

Before I get into the details about leopardskin jasper, here's a few tidbits about jaspers in general.  Generally opaque, jaspers have patterns in them - usually somewhat irregular in nature....

...Leopardskin jasper has several healing properties.  But you'll have to go to my new blogsite to read all about it.

My Knees Are Better!

I've been carrying my healing talisman for my knees during all my waking hours for three weeks now, and all I can say is, “WOW!” My knees feel SO much better!

Read about my knees at my new blogsite. Don't worry, you WON'T see a picture of them!

June Contest - Free Gemstone Earrings

I'm keeping my promise about another easy contest this month. Enter as many times as you wish for more chances to win this great pair of sterling silver & leopardskin jasper gemstone earrings. 

Visit my new blogsite to see how simple the June contest is.

May Contest Winner

Charlene from Olean, NY is the winner of the handmade sterling silver earrings. When learning that she won...visit my new blogsite to hear what Charlene had to say.

And stay tuned for the June contest - it'll be easy, too!

Easing the Knees

This is the talisman I made myself for my aching knees. I've been carrying it for just a week now.

Learn all about it at my new blogsite....

Oh, My Aching Knees

I have bad knees.

Although there may be other reasons, I find it more fun to blame the nuns at my high school.

Interested in knowing why I blame the nuns, and what I'm doing about it? Check out the full story at my new blogsite.

May Contest - Free Jewelry

Last month I made the contest too hard, discouraging some folks. So this month it's MUCH easier! All you have do to win a pair of my handmade sterling silver earrings is...visit my new blogsite and follow the EASY rules!

And The Winner Is...

...Jane, of Canastota, NY.  Jane's entry in April's contest to win a free gemstone talisman earned the most points - 327!  The moss agate talisman should arriver at her door within a few days.

I admit it, I learned a lot with this contest, mostly about what NOT to do again.  I promise, the next contest, which will be announced soon, will be MUCH easier, and the deadline for submission MUCH closer to the contest announcement. 

So watch my blog for the next contest.  YOU could win next time!

Free Gemstone Talisman Contest

Time's running out....only 5 days left!

Don't miss out - send in your entry to win the free moss agate gemstone talisman!

Healing Jewelry

I believe that our thoughts and words make almost as much of a difference as our actions. 

In an attempt to encourage positive thinking and intentions toward others, I made a little pin.  Wear it and you'll be expressing well wishes everywhere you go.  

 

Read the full post at my new blogsite.

Namaste!

Easter Bunnies

Ok, clearly lots of chick cake pops weren't enough for my amazing daughter.  What with today being Easter and all, she HAD to make bunny cake pops to bring to dinner.  I think they're adorable!  

I would be hard pressed to say if I like the chicks or the bunnies better - I've always hated having to choose my favorite.  Although the bunnies look like more work to me.

This culinary feat is even more amazing when you know that she made 140 bunnies ears out of fondant TWICE for these treats, as the first batch, drying in the oven, got destroyed when she forgot they were in there and set the oven to pre-heat for the cake part!  I KNOW I would have scratched the whole business at that point, but not Amanda.

Read about her Tibetan Terrier puppy's latest adventures in the Daily Baxter.

Moss Agate - A Springtime Gemstone

Being an avid gardener, early spring is absolutely, without question my favorite season. 

For centuries, springtime has been associated with fertility. I think that’s how the whole bunny thing came about – ya know, multiplying like rabbits. 

Moss agate is a great healing gemstone for spring.

Read the full post at my new blogsite.

If you win my contest and get the free moss agate talisman for your own, you can carry it in your pocket, turn it into a pendant and wear it around your neck, hang it from your bedpost, or keep it close to you in another way that works for you.

Get your contest entries in!

Free Healing Gemstone Talisman Contest

As promised, this month I'm holding a contest. If you win, you'll get a free healing gemstone talisman - totally free. 

Read all the rules and enter the contest at my new blogsite.

GOOD LUCK!

Spring Chicks!

I know I've said that this blog is all about healing gemstones, but I can't control myself right now, so bear with me.

Yesterday I spent some hours in my car, driving home from visiting friends in WV.  We thoroughly enjoyed the lovely spring weather "down in the holler" listening to hundreds of spring peepers, enjoying the ephemeral spring beauties in her woods, sneaking in some peeks of the riotous courtship dances of the cardinals, and so forth.   So I was quite surprised as I headed north to find that for four hours of my trip the ground was completely white with snow!  I'm glad there was little to nothing on the ground at my house.

Among the many tasks facing me from spending a few days away was catching up on a mound of email.  One from my daughter just made me smile, and I'm sure it will turn up the corners of your mouth, too.

Working more than full time at a high-stress job and caring for a home and a puppy (who has a great blog of his own that she maintains), my firstborn is somewhat of a food artiste.  She sent me pix of her latest creations that are her own celebration of spring. 

Are they the cutest things you ever saw, or what?! Way too cute to eat these chick cake pops!

Besides, smiling is healing, and springtime should make you smile, so in a way, I'm sticking with the healing concept anyway

Enjoy the springtime, whatever the weather where you are!

Win a Free Healing Gemstone Talisman!

Watch this site!

In early April I'll be announcing the details for a simple contest.

Enter to win a
free healing gemstone talisman!

Got a spring cold? Get healing gemstones!

It seems like lots of people get spring colds.  (Thanks to Margaret Shulock of Six Chix for use of her wonderful cartoon.) 

Can gemstones help you get over your cold? 

Read the full post at my new blogsite, or  contact me and I’ll be happy to work with you and create a talisman just for you. Unfortunately, this isn’t a quick process, and your current cold may be over by the time we’re done, but then you’ll have it for the next time those germs try to move in!

Gems for the Economy

It’s not as if you need the talking heads to tell you that we’re in economic trouble, you live with it every day. 

Can gemstones help you through difficult financial times? If you choose wisely, the answer is yes.

Read the entire post at my new blogsite, or contact me for personal consultation and the creation of a gemstone talisman designed just for you.

Beautiful Blue Amazonite

Amazonite was named for the Amazon River, or maybe for the mythological Amazon women warriors. 

An earth stone, amazonite has many healing properties. 

Read the entire post at my blogsite.

Protecting My Customers

In addition to providing protection through healing gemstones, I take care of my customers in other ways.  I already comply with the Federal Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

Read the full post at my new blogsite.