Etsy Mini

Monday, March 29, 2010

The Windy Moon

The March full moon is known as the Windy Moon to both the Celts and the Cherokee. I think that is quite appropriate since there is currently a wind advisory in effect until 11pm tonight. It has been so cloudy here I doubt if we'll even be able to see the full moon tomorrow.

Other traditonal names that came up during my search was Worm Moon, which although doesn't sound very pretty makes sense. This is the time of year the ground begins to thaw or soften and worms are able to burrow out of the ground. Here in Redding not much freezes, ever. In fact I know someone who already has their tomato plants in the ground. I'm not that brave or motivated, so I'll take the more traditional route. I read recently, that the Native Americans in this region waited to plant when the snow began to melt in the nearby mt ranges. I actually think they mentioned a specific mountain, but I can't remember.

Anyway, back to the full moon. I love the moon and the full moon is definitely my favorite phase and perhaps not so coincidentally, also when I seem to be in the best mood, according to some people(you know who you are). Although, I think I'm pretty pleasant most the time. This is the point at which you nod agreeably. Have a wonderful Full Moon, hopefully, she will show her snowy face for at least a moment or two tomorrow.

Photo by Ole Begemann

Saturday, March 27, 2010

New Wine Charms!

Just created a new section at WillowLily Creations: Wine Charms. I listed my first item in this section. Thrilling right? Ya, we are just evolving all over the place around here. Mostly, in good ways. No extra toes or anything yet. Although, that wouldn't be all bad, just another place to put more jewelry. There is no such thing as too many toe rings. Okay, so maybe I've had a few glasses of wine to celebrate the new wine charms. Can you blame me?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

250 Facebook Fans!!!!!

Still trying to reach my goal of 250 facebook fans by Today! There will be a 25% OFF sale in the WillowLily Etsy Shop this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So help me out and become a fan or be super amazing and suggest the fan page to your friends. Have an incredible day!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

One Year Ago Today


Today, is kinda a big day for me...it's an anniversary of a very huge change in my life. One year ago today I moved from my beloved city of Portland back home to Redding. Even though it was one of the saddest and most hopeless times in my life, it ended up being one of the most positive changes I have ever made. I would never wish the way I felt those first few months on my worst enemy, but I'm a better person for it. Thank you to everyone who has been in my life over the last year. I can't express enough gratitude to all those who believed in me when I did not believe in myself.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

A Trying Tuesday (Beware this is long!)

I've been in a funk all day, and if I'm really being honest, the last few weeks. Today, for whatever reason, I really hit a breaking point. I just could not, would not go any further and I seriously got in bed and refused to get out for hours. When I finally did get out of bed I went and laid in the hammock in the backyard, which is basically just an outside bed, so I'm not sure it even counts. Being outside helped some. Tonight after a meltdown at dinner and then chewing both my sisters and my mom's ears off I finally put myself back to bed. I'm no one's favorite person right now, I know this for a fact.

Part of me doesn't even think I should be writing this here at all, but it's my blog and I can write about what I want. Maybe, just maybe, I can help someone else. Somehow, I stumbled onto an old Oregon friends myspace page (ya, I know I don't really use my account anymore either). She had this list of things to create a happy life. Coincidence? Ya, I don't believe in coincidence either. I read it and it really encouraged me, I'm not as far off track as I thought, but I definitely have some things to work on.

Here's the list:

1) Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2) When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3) Follow the three R’s:
a) Respect for self
b) Respect for others
c) Responsibility for all your actions

4) Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5) Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6) Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

7) When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8) Spend some time alone every day.

9) Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10) Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11) Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12) A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13) In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14) Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

15) Be gentle with the earth.

16) Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17 )Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18) Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19) Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Goat Book on Etsy

What a wonderful question! I'm pretty sure everyone loves goats. Goats are just so cute and funny. Yes, I said goats are funny, what you never heard one tell a joke? They are hysterical.

Anyway, I stumbled across these adorable books made by BridgetFarmerBooks. The entire book is sketches of goats, obviously I love it! I want to start sketching goats, but that would take an ability to draw and that's not my strong suit. So I guess I'll just have to be content admiring the sketches of others.

Bridget also has another shop on Etsy BridgetFarmerPrints where she sells her prints. She has a lot of pictures of birds, but yes, she has prints of goats too. So go check her out.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Wine Charms

I've been playing with the idea of wine charms for a while now. These were the first batch I made. I was just going for fun colors, but now that I think about it, they would be great for spring cocktail parties. I'm using beads, stones, and pearls. Look for these in the coming weeks at WillowLily Creations

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Sunday, March 7, 2010

New Suncatcher

Some time last year I bought a light green prism with the intention to create a chain or wire for it to hang from so I could put it in my window. Well, while I was in a cleaning frenzy other day I stumbled upon it. Since the sun is returning, I figured it was a good time to finish it so I could finally hang it in my bedroom window. Also, working on a new project sounded like a lot more fun than cleaning. Using copper chain and hammered copper wire I made this. So now it's up to the sun to do his part. Which you can see from this picture he's on strike, but I'm hoping any day now he'll be peaking through the clouds again.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Organizing my Studio

This is what my studio table usually looks like. Yes, I know it's horrible. In my defense, creativity often happens in the midst of chaos. I think most creative people would agree. If this isn't actually true, I don't want to know. I am perfectly happy living in denial.

Anyway, it dawned on me the other day that I actually have no room to create. This is a problem. So I set out to create some space, which is much easier said than done. I didn't throw out a ton, but I did get rid of a few things, mainly I just reorganized. There were stones and small metal findings everywhere. Not to mention my rather large collection of drift wood. I've never even used drift wood for a project, but I keep collecting it for some reason. One of these days I'll have an epiphany and I'll know exactly how I'm supposed to use it.

I've still got some work to do, but it's looking a lot better. I actually have some room to lay out some new ideas. After all that hard work I deserve a glass of wine.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Tulip Trees are Blooming!

I think this is the most beautiful tulip tree in town. It's right around the corner from my step-sister's house. I snapped this picture earlier this week right before the storm hit and it started pouring. I haven't been back to visit it, but I hope it still has some flowers left.