Inspiration

A blog that I read each week is PostSecret.  It is so inspiring, moving, funny, creative....

Take a look at this recent TED talk by the founder of PostSecret and see what you think.  Maybe it'll be a source of inspiration for you.

Happy Easter

Hope you are all having a lovely Easter.

Our Jack Rabbits seem happy hopping through the vineyard.  Maybe they are searching for eggs?

This little bunny looks like he's pretty happy too!

Kale is the new beef

Is it the same where you live?  Do you nowadays see kale everywhere?  It used to be that we only saw kale as a decoration in the meat or fish counter, but now it's being eaten instead of the meat!

I am a kale eater and no longer eat beef, and today, kale was my inspiration for a necklace. How often can you say a vegetable inspired a jewelry creation (although I did once make a "vegetarian bracelet" using the textures of different vegetables!)?

A little reminder necklace to eat your greens! 

And, in case you didn't know, kale is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat:

One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 g fiber, calcium, Vitamin B6, magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, copper, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus. 

It's health benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration of antioxidant vitamins A, C and K and sulphur-containing phytonutrients. 

So is kale your new beef?

Fresh as a daisy

Are you feeling fresh as a daisy today? I do hope so!

And if you are not, then maybe my new aluminum bangle will cheer up your day!  

And why are daisies considered to be fresh, you may wonder? The English name daisy comes from the old English "daeges-eaye" or "day's eye", referring to the way that many daisies open up their petals during the day, but then close their petals at night.  So I guess, the idea is that closing it's petals suggests it goes to "sleep" at night and so wakens up in the morning all fresh and alert and well rested - and thus "fresh as a daisy".

What a nice thought.  I love the fresh green on this bangle that shows off those fresh daisies too.

Have a good night's sleep tonight!

I am strong

I first made this necklace design for a wonderful friend of mine who was going through a really tricky time. It's a great reminder that we do all have strength within us, when we need it.  Yes, it's not always easy to find but it's there in all of us.

Since then, I've made it for another couple of customers who have cancer, and I recently had a few enquiries to make some more...so I started another.

Half way through, I got an email from a local friend saying she had seen a necklace on my website that she really wanted to get for her friend and could I make one for her.  It was "I am strong" - so as I was half way through, I finished it, thinking of my friend.  I hope it brings strength to her friend.

Pyschoneuroimmunology studies have proven that the use of positive affirmations is an easy and effective way to overcome mental hurdles, boost the immune system and improve health and happiness.  

Beautiful birds

A friend of mine just emailed me these lovely photos of beautiful birds.  So I thought I'd share them with you.  Thanks Janet.  They definitely add some cheer to a wet Saturday. This first one looks like he has real attitude!

Hmmm. Maybe I need to expand my silver bird creations and create some cool chickens or flame crests with copper top feathers!

Take time to smell the roses

Life frequently seems so busy: so many different things to do, so many calls for our attention, so many distractions..... So we need to remember to take time to smell the roses.    Just think about how it would feel to bend down and stop and smell a rose.  That's quite a powerful image, isn't it: that beautiful perfume; the pretty color of the rose; all those delicate petals. Just thinking about it brings about a sense of calm.

And that's what this bangle is all about. It is a wearable reminder that we need to take time during the day to smell the roses.   Of course, it doesn't have to be roses or smelling anything - just stopping, pausing and breathing deeply and noticing what is around you.

The bangle came about from my first attempt at Adobe Illustrator. Readers of this blog may recall that I've been wanting to try Illustrator for some time, so this little rose was my first attempt. Very basic but I like the soft pinks - and being blonde - I wear quite a bit of pink :-D A dear friend of mine said that blondes should wear pink all the time!

Anyhow I think it would make a nice mother's day gift, or a gift to a busy friend or relative who could do with slowing down a little. What do you think?

Need a hug?

We all need a hug now and again..... and this little guy is here, ready to give you one anytime.

It's perfect as a gift for someone who is going through a difficult time and in need of a hug. A sweet sentiment, to show someone you are with them in spirit and thinking of them, even if you can't always be there to give them a great big hug.

And did you know - It has been found that human contact, such as hugging, is essential for healthy social, psychological and physical development.  Hugging can also help build a good immune system, decrease the risk of heart disease, and decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol in women.  So get out there and give someone a hug today!

And talking of hugs, remember that wonderful youtube of Free Hugs? Worth repeating, so here it is:

If that doesn't inspire you to hug someone, I don't know what will!

Back at it!

As you may well have noticed, my silver making has been on hiatus, but today, I got back at it!

Since the beginning of the year, my focus has been elsewhere, but now I'm hoping I am at a stage where I can find a balance with other areas of my life and make time for jewelry again.

The change started at the beginning of the year when I went back to my studies.  A few years ago, I completed my masters in health psychology and then trained as health coach, but at the beginning of this year, decided that I wanted to specialize in helping those with cancer, so since January I've been studying to become a cancer coach.  I'd previously trained as a cancer guide, but this new training was much more thorough.  I'm progressing with it - not quite finished yet - but that is what my mind has been focussing on.  And I'm loving it.

My goal is to do some health coaching and also some jewelry. But my ideal is that my jewelry business can support my health coaching business enabling me to coach cancer patients free of charge. One business, supporting the other.

The cancer topic is making it's way into my jewelry too and so you'll see some jewelry coming up - both new and old designs, that is based on affirmations to help us on our way with chronic diseases or difficult times in our lives. For example, like this "bird in the hand" necklace.  A great reminder for us to be grateful for what we have, instead of always wanting things just out of our grasp.

I have a blog for my health coaching business - Tickety-boo Health Coaching and I should finish developing my website in the next month or so.  That will really tell you what it is all about. I plan to run programs locally but also develop an e-program for cancer patients.  I'll let you know here, in case you are interested.

So I thank you for your patience as I've been developing another aspect of myself.  It's a great journey and who knows where it'll all lead.  But I can tell you, it felt good to get my hands in metal clay again today :-D

Weekly bird in the hand

Here's this week's things that I am grateful for, my "bird in the hand":

Photo by USFWS Headquarters

• blogs.  I love reading blogs and am right now finding some great vegan recipes that I'm trying.  Today I'm making a raw lemon tart.  There is so much variety out there but it's tricky to not just get 'consumed' by them all  - hee hee!
• catching up with friends
• watching rabbit ears twitching below the window, when I couldn't see the rabbit!
• getting our raised beds ready for veggie growing
• choosing a new pomegranate tree for the garden
• hearing good news about my nephews
• hearing that both grandchildren - and their parents(!) will come and visit - one lot in May and one lot in June
• being inspired with new business and jewelry ideas
• finally getting over the hurt from a nasty customer. I'm hoping I'll get back into jewelry making this week or next. My mind's been buzzing so I'll plan on writing a blog post to tell you what's been going on and what's coming up.
• watching the great blue heron at the pond
• learning lots of new things

Hope your week has been full of new things too. Here's to a great week coming up - and don't forget to change your clocks this evening.  One hour forward.

Weekly bird in the hand

Here is this week's list of things I am grateful for - my "bird in the hand":

Photo by PunkToad

• sunshine and showers.  I got pretty wet on one of my walks this week - and I could have cut it short, but continued anyhow.  How often do we just walk in the rain?  It felt good - but then so do my walks in the sunshine too!
• a good hike on Saturday at Annadel State Park.  I loved being in all the trees - but there were quite a few mountain bikers to contend with!
• drinkies with my friend in the afternoon!
• deciding on some new garden ideas - including raised beds for vegetables.  We've grow so many different types of fruits, but until now, haven't really got into veggies - so this will be a good project for 2012.
• trying lots of new cooking ideas - like making cheese from cashew nuts.
• hearing about all the fun my parents have been having while they've been away
• audio-books - I just so enjoy listening to books as I walk and drive.  
• going to a gala fundraising event with friends.

Hope you've had an enjoyable week too.  What are you particularly grateful for?

Weekly bird in the hand

I've missed a couple of my "bird in the hand" posts I'm afraid as I've been away, back in England - so that means I have even more to be grateful for this week!  Here's this week's list of the things that I am grateful for:

Photo by Navicore

• being surrounded my like-minded people
• having tender, sincere conversations with casual friends that takes the friendship to another level
• sunshine and warmth - it got up to 79 degrees here this week
• seeing the turtles in the pond, warming themselves on the duck platform
• getting back into singing
• being asked to participate in new things
• new opportunities
• the excitement of new ideas
• meeting new people
• enjoying the yellow of the daffodils
• seeing all the blossom on the trees
• seeing the brightest blue on a male bluebird as he flies around the vineyard with his Mrs.

It's like a week of new life with the flowers/blossoms, birds, turtles and new beginnings.  Has spring sprung in your heart yet?

Bird in the hand

Here is this week's things that I am grateful for - my "bird in the hand":

Photo by D'Arcy Norman

• my birthday and all the lovely greetings I got from friends and family
• a safe flight over to England
• seeing family and my new granddaughter and grandson
• having a warm coat, hat and gloves! It's freezing here and the snow has started today!
• cuddles and feed-time with babies
• seeing the ducks on a frozen lake

Hope you are staying cozy.

Little Evelina

Yeah!

As little Evelina - my new granddaughter - was born on a Saturday, I didn't have any photos to include in my "bird in the hand" blog post when I mentioned her as she had just literally been born when I wrote the blog post...so a few of you have asked to see her piccies.  So here she is!

I get to see her this week!!!!  Doesn't she look fabulous! So excited, happy, and jiggly in the above photo and so pensive and thoughtful in the one below.

Excuse the indulgence of grandchildren photos two days running, but I think new grandmothers are allowed such things - especially when two grandchildren are born within 11 days of each other. ;-)