Find Your Joy

Last Saturday, Karen and I did a Self-Discovery Faire at Evolve in Crystal Lake. This was a joint venture between Evolve, Akasha (the yoga center) and Moon Willow (the tai chi center). Our part in the faire was doing a healing bracelet workshop. We created kits to make it a little less stressful for non-beaders. Our kits were Calming, Aura Protection, Abundance, Opening your Intuition, Healing the Heart, Healing the Mind and Goddess. In addition to the kits, we created what I call Talisman bars. We tried to select words that would go nicely with the kits. We had Serenity, Radiance, Blessings, Namaste, Enlightment, Gratitude, Inner Power, True Self, Goddess and Find Your Joy. I thought that the Find Your Joy went nicely with the abundance kit. This is my bracelet and it's perfect for fall!
What is the healing attributes of the goddess bracelet you ask? It's just pretty and purple and a reminder that we women are Goddesses and we need to keep that in mind when we are dealing with the world and our families and friends. It's an empowering bracelet. We need constant reminders of how powerful we are as women and how we really run this place~

So, my question to you is:

What is your joy?

Two weeks ago when I was running errands I was so annoyed. I was returning a fire extinguisher required by the fire department and I had purchased one that was apparently not charged. It's the errands that really wipe me out. So I had been repeating in my head "Find Your Joy" because I wanted to get out of the funk I was in. I returned the extinguisher and when I turned to leave I saw a cart full of orchids. I found my self smiling and enchanted and bought two. Find your joy Deborah. This one is in my bathroom and it's perfect in there since I am not a morning person.

Now, post your Joy and I will pick a winner for a "Find Your Joy" talisman bar including jumprings and a lobster so you can create a joyful bracelet.

Good Luck!

Wicked Witch

It's true I guess. The earliest Halloween I remember dressing up as a witch. It was easy and convenient for my mother. I was not happy about that. At the very least, I could have had a pointed hat. A couple of years ago, when my boys were still quiet young, I was searching Toys R Us for their costumes and I picked up fairy wings for me. The woman at the checkout said "that's great. We are witches all year." Then last year my 10 year old muttered "witch" under his breath and I smiled. He doesn't know what he's got in store for him!
Anyway, I finally finished my newest favorite bracelet as promised with no orange. I love the mix of the jet hemitite, purple velvet and peridot satin for my crystals. It sounds wonderful and lays so nicely on my wrist~

I did make enough charms for two more bracelets and they sold this week! Yea, now I can make more to feed my pmc hunger. I will be making more charms because I know there are more witches out there. Anyone ever hear the Cowboy Junkies song "Witches" on their the caution horses album? I love that song~

PMC Crazy

I did have a lot of fun last weekend with PMC. This leaf cross is my favorite cross yet so far. I do collect them so it's natural that I would make them given the opportunity. I'm going to do a braided knotted necklace in autumn browns. I can't wait! If anyone is interested please email me as I will be making more.

Last year I had this fun winter bracelet that made this wonderful noise when the beads and the charms knocked together. I used a similar toggle to this magic one and hung all the charms and beads off chain. I wore it all winter because I did the beads with winter colors~ blues and greens. Are those winter colors? Anyway, this year I decided I needed a Halloween bracelet because I love, love Halloween. I will dangle them from chain again with various black beads. I don't think I'll put orange because if I don't match it makes me a little crazy.

I'm trying to plan ahead so I've been making the gratitude crosses which I've posted before and now have made a couple of gratitude pendants. I just love these and plan on doing a gratitude knotted necklace workshop at Evolve in early November.

My current favorite design element is the "bar" and I have available another artbar and will be making a few more "friends are magic" bars. You can't have too much beaded jewelry!

I need more time to play pmc but I'm redoing my bead studio. I'll get some before and after pictures posted in the next couple of weeks. I'm still choosing paint colors and have to remove some things that my family has "stored" in the basement. My husband has been informed that I am taking over the entire space instead of just one little corner that I have been allotted. It's all mine now.