Heart Day Special!

Valentine's Sale

January 13- Febuary 13

10-45% Off Select Pieces

http://www.willowlily.etsy.com/

Because all the women in your life deserve a gift that is not only beautiful but meaningful too.

Remember shipping is always free in the US.

Change of Plans

Change can be a very good or a very stressful thing. In this case it is a very good thing. I was getting ready to pack my bags and move when an intervention of sorts took place. A very good friend of mine made me sit down and fully look at my plan or lack there of. I didn't want to at all! I did a very complicated dance of avoidance and even threw in some tricky denial steps, and yet when all was said and done he was right. It wasn't time for me to move. I was dragging a horse to water and splashing water in its face and saying "look how much it's drinking!" Ya...sorry for the horrible metaphors today.

So I sat down and listened, not so much because I wanted to, but because I had made a promise to myself last year that I would truly listen to people when they gave me advice. I didn't have to follow it, but I really had to listen and ask myself if it was true for me. Surprisingly, everything he said was true for me. It actually made a lot more sense than my so called plan. I went home and slept on the idea of staying and then decided I should consult the toughest judges of all, my parents(they aren't really that tough, I have to say this because they might read this). I told them everyting my friend said and they nodded in agreement the whole time. Was I the only one who thought my plan was genius? So just to verify, I called my sister. She said she'd known for a while I wasn't ready, she was just waiting for me to figure it out too. Well, I took all this info and sat with it for a while. When I thought about staying and really putting my focus into the things I love I felt like this huge weight was lifted off me. That's when I knew it was the right decision.

So, Redding, hasn't seen the last of me yet. I better unpack my bags and put away the sunscreen. I'm trapped in paradise for a little longer. I really should be more upset about this.

Oh and if anyone asks why I'm not going to Arizona yet, just tell them I couldn't get FAFSA until the fall. That's my story, I expect you to back me up.

The Last of the Lavender Wands

I just sold my last two lavender wands, I am out until next season. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm happy, I was able to find happy homes for all of them, but I'm sad I can't make more until lavender season this summer. The thought of making more wands is exciting. I love separating the lavender and weaving the ribbon through the stalks. It is all very soothing. The smell of lavender just kind of envelopes you when you are working with the stalks, bending them and shaping them.

Thank you to everyone who purchased them this season. Hope you can stop by the shop when the next batch are done.

Avatar

Saw Avatar in 3D today! Loved it! Want to go see it again. I hadn't really read up on it or heard anything about it before I went, but I'm all about giant blue people, so hey why not. I was really impressed.....perhaps I'll write more to better explain why I love it after I see it a second time and fully process the whole movie.

Thankful: Better Late Than Never

I was on hiatus last week, hiding out from the world, but I'm back now...and almost better than ever. I managed to catch a cold over the weekend. Not so thankful for that.

I thought it would be good to put some good karma out into the universe and write a blog about what I'm thankful for. I'm aiming for good karma, not originality, obviously.

Well, let's start out with the most cliche item on the list, family. I've always loved my family, I think thats part of the contract they make you sign at birth, but have I always been thankful for my family? No. This had slowly been changing over the past few years, but it went into hyperspeed this spring. My life basically went up in smoke earlier this year and guess who bailed me out? Yep, my family. Not only did they go out of their way to help me start my life over again they never held any of it against me. I can honestly say, I've never been so thankful for my family in my entire life.

I am also thankful for my amazing friends (old & new), my car Mitzy, the moon, Chipotle, saltine crackers, Trader Joes tofu spring rolls, lavender, Shasta Lake & Ron's boat, antique keys, the healing powers of stones, my garden & plants, copper wire, trips to the coast, long lazy weekends, Agate Beach, Ukrainian wine, massages, road trips, stephanie cheesecake, boots, etsy, purple dresses, full moon parties, abalone, mermaids, my pendulum, having reasons to use my outisde laugh, forgiveness & compassion, clay, So You Think You Can Dance, bubble baths, long conversations on the phone with my girlfriends, yoga, red velvet cupcakes, painting, poetry, lemon drops, and waking up every morning with a smile on my face.

A very special thanks to: Agatha-for finding me, Abigail-for reminding me I'm never alone, Bunni & Ran- for being the big sisters when I couldn't be, V- for always reminding me about who I really am, N-for doing the thing I wasn't brave enough to do, Turkey Cat- for letting me spend so many years wrapped around your little grey paw, Redding-for being so much more than I gave you credit for, Portland-for being the city that forever changed me, Arizona-for persistently beckoning me, and of course all my parents who continue to believe in me even when I continue to confound them.

*This is not a complete list of everything that I thankful for. If I let myself truly write everything I was thankful for your name would also come up.

Hello Sagittarius!

Sagittarius runs from November 22/23-December 20/21 and is a fire sign. It is represented by a Centaur/archer and its ruling planet is Jupiter and its day of the week is Thursday (jeudi for Jupiter in French).

• Sagittarian Strengths: Generosity, honesty, broad-mindedness, and tremendous vision.

• Weaknesses: Over-optimism, exaggeration, being too generous with other people's money.
  

Each sign also has a stone associted with it, often called an astral stone. This idea is based on the harmony that exists between all things. Your astral stone is more than a symbol of your astrology sign - it actually receives the vibrations of the constellation and can strengthen the planetary or zodiacal influence. There is no central authority as to which gemstones are connected to each sign of the zodiac, it varies according to tradition.

Sagittarius' soul stone is a Tourmaline, which comes in several colors including green, pink, champagne, and black. Each of the colors is credited with different properties and healing characteristics.

Sagittarius also has a connection with Amber, Jasper, Moonstone, and Turquoise. These are suggestions and you should always choose a stone you feel a deep connection with.

For more info on Sagittarius you can visit Emily Gems.

The Joys of Copper

I love copper! This is pretty evident in the last dozen or so new pieces I've been working on. Today after spending the afternoon editing photos for ETSY....a question popped into my head. Why am I so drawn to copper lately? "Cause I like it," didn't really satisfy my curiosity. So I started researching the meaning behind copper, copper lore, healing energies, etc.

This is what I discovered:

Copper is considered a mineral of energy and mental agility. In legend, copper is said to be the metal of the God Hermes, who facilitates mental agility and quick wit. This mineral can combat lethargy, passivity, restlessness, excitability and non-acceptance of oneself. It stimulates initiative, optimism, diplomacy and independence.

Copper is an excellent conductor of energy, from electricity to the mystical subtle energies emanating from higher planes. Thus, it has been used successfully to amplify and transmit thought. Copper provides a harmonic connection between the physical and astral bodies and aligns the subtle bodies. It is said to be a bestower of good, bringing benefit to its wearer. It also allows one to recognize the barriers which are in the path of ones development. Lastly, it opens and activates the base or root chakra.