the dreamtime

I had the most amazing dream and I needed to write it down so I thought I'd share it here. 

You know how dreams are ... wafting around in all sorts of things until one scene stands out and I remember it when I wake up.  The main thing here was being in a room with 2 or 3 women, one that I thought was a psychologist.  I thought I was undergoing some kind of personality test, but the woman came forward with a ... hmmmm, I'm thinking it was a crystal wand.  She taps me on my forehead and I stand there.  She taps me again and I bounce up a bit.  She taps me again and again.  Each time I bounce higher and higher until I almost hit the very high ceiling.  From that high vantage point, I notice that the room is very ornate, sort of French baroque.  As I settle back to the ground, one more tap and I'm set free.  I begin to soar into an astral realm, flying over what looks to be a cloud or blanket of intense color and light.  It's a short flight and I'm somewhat disappointed when I come back to earth.  But I realize I can now go back whenever I set my intention.

When I return to the baroque room, the women are there smiling and joyous and I realize they are something other than what I first thought.  They are healers and are exclaiming, "she's one of us, she's one of us!"  I realized they were balancing my chakras and when all was aligned is when I was set free. 

I looked for an astral plane image that had the feeling of the dream and came to this site and this image. 

I'm not sure what this means.  Do I need to work on my chakras or did they do it in my dream?  I'll have to think about it as I head out into the cool morning air to work in my front flower beds.  Whatever it is, it feels very auspicious ... it feels very good.

l i g a - kvk

gathering

It started here ...

I couldn't help myself.  It was just too perfect in its crazy really un-perfect way.  I found this amazing sweater at Niche here in Asheville.  I was in need of inspiration and was wondering around downtown, just seeing where my feet would take me.  I got a nice boost of juice from a visit to Origami Ink, perusing their selection of fine papers, gorgeous fountain pens, very cool art with everything exquisitely displayed ... I am such a sucker for good display.

Next, on the owner's recommendation I headed across the street to Cafe Ello for an iced coffee.  Side note - we went there Saturday for breakfast and it was really good.  Thinking this will be our new favorite breakfast spot, especially 'cause they open early before all the tourists are out.  So then I wondered over to the Grove Arcade and headed down to Niche.  Hanging across the front windows were these amazing sweaters and I knew I was in trouble or better yet, in for an enormous treat ... yes, that's much better.

The artist who makes these wonderful creations is named Cara May.  She works part time at the shop and was there as I was going bonkers over her treasures.  The owner of the shop, Cara and I chatted for a good long while - nice for me as I really don't get out much.  Here's the back of my fabulous new sweater ...

Turns out, one of the yarns that Cara uses in these sweaters is fiber coated steel from Habu Textiles.  I saw it last year on my silk quest and was very curious.  The steel yarn got me to thinking about Hadar Jacobson's steel metal clay.  Standing there chatting, my mind started going crazy with ideas for designing a whole group of work based on Cara's sweaters.

Then I got to thinking about those big chunks of fossilized bone from my in-laws in FL.  So when I got home, I ordered steel metal clay and emailed my sister-in-law to see if she had any more big chunky fossils she'd be willing to part with.  And look what I got in the mail today!   OMG - a jumbo treasure trove of fossilized booty!

This was six pounds of fossils and she's putting more in the mail today.  I think that big piece in my hand is turtle shell and then there's all kinds of bone chunks and shards.  She's also going to send a little flyer with descriptions for identifying the different fossils from that beach.  Here's a few more pieces ... they are seriously cool.

And I'm not sure if I'll do anything with this or not, but the recycled sari silk I just got for packaging looks pretty wonderful against a backdrop of ancient bones.

I'm working on how I'm going to connect these pieces into jewelry.  What's going to be a good complement to the steel and bone?  It needs to be very durable and abrasion resistant, so I'm thinking about nylon but also about leather.  Then I had this crazy idea about getting rawhide and dyeing it with walnuts.  I've got lots of walnuts in my yard, remains from that tree we had removed.  I don't know, may be kind of crazy ... may be kind of fun.

Only thing slowing me down is the steel metal clay is coming from California.  But I gotta say, I'm feeling a lot of potential here .... lots and lots.  I'll keep you posted!

l i g a - kvk

for your consideration

Stowe Shockey's a friend of mine and has just launched a fundraiser for her new CD.  She's truly an angel on this earth with a beautiful message to share.  Check out her videos and see what you think.  Plus, she's got great taste in jewelry - she's wearing my Diamond Shard earrings and Medallion Talisman!



bountiful gratitude and blessings......
l i g a - kvk

low pressure images

Low pressure, planets lined up funny, bio-rhythms off, seasonal shift?  Some images of how I'm feeling today - transitional, pensive, decay and rebirth in shades of ruby, ochre and green ...

be safe, be well ...
l i g a - kvk

food for thought

I got this list from the September newsletter of Colette Baron-Reid.  Seemed like a good thing to share ....

• What is the relationship to my service and my beliefs about prosperity?
• What is sacred to me?
• Do I trust and believe in what I say?
• Do my actions reflect my truest motives?
• In what way do I choose to dim my light rather than face disapproval from others?
• If I could do anything to change my life what would it be?
• Do I take responsibility for my part in disagreements?
• How does fear show up in my life’s expression?
• What do I love to do in my life?
• What makes my heart sing?
• What actions can I do to ensure my well-being? 

After a morning full of appointments and feeling completely distracted, I'd like to accomplish some little something this afternoon.

l i g a - kvk

well, it's a start ...

As of right now, I've just finished listing 7 pairs of earrings.  I've got three more pairs to photograph, but I think I'll wait and start working on the 18 or 20 necklaces ... holy moly - surprising even my own self with so much work.

Here's a couple of close-ups of what's been listed in my Etsy shop thus far.

Shark fossils with Roman glass and pmc

Forged bailing wire with sparklies and assorted goodies.

Okay, back to it for this little peep!

l i g a - kvk

how sweet it is ...

... or to be more exact -  how sweet are these?  I'm running low on silver spacers, so not sure how many more pairs of earrings I'll get done.  But these were just so cute, I had to share them.  I'm hoping to load up my Etsy shop by the weekend.  I'm thinking I should see if anyone else likes this new work as much as me before I get much more carried away. 

I can see lots of possibilities and have lots more ideas and so many pieces I'm wanting to make.  I really hope the feeling's mutual.  Especially with my new drill!

 

A thing of beauty and a joy forever ... for sure I am a happy happy jewelry girl!

Stay tuned!

l i g a - kvk

nerve wracking

Today is tree removal day.  Two "large weed" trees, and two more problematic trees.  One leaning at a precarious angle in the back yard and the other a walnut that's too close to the house and has been dropping walnuts and breaking our siding.

I hate loud noises.  Dave usually does the vacuuming while I hide - can't stand the sound.  So the unloading and running of heavy equipment, chainsaws and a really huge chipper has me completely undone.  Not to mention I hate the idea of taking down trees in the first place.  So very distressing on most levels.

Saying goodbye to the walnut ... I loved peering through it's too close branches into the back yard.

Thankfully, our tree guy is a consummate professional ... rock climber, very strong, seriously safe, expert and fluid in his movements.  Still, the whole thing sucks royally.

Deep breaths.
l i g a - kvk

the end of the day

Doing a post this time of day/night is against my normal m.o., but my mind is still designing and I'm hoping getting it out of my head will help ...

Working with new components and combinations is never fast.  It's always try this, nope not that, oooohh, how about this, what if I put these here and not there, would that be a better balance, oh I've got to switch tumblers, what was in that one, oh yes, I remember - ear wires, oh and don't forget to shorten that chain which will need to go back into the tumblers and I'm really liking that combination and didn't I have some big lavenderite nuggets that would look really cool with that big bone fossil and what time is it, oh just a few more minutes 'til I need to stop and get dinner going.  Always hard to shift gears after a long day of focusing on new work.

I was on an earring binge for a bit ... remember my forged bailing wire?  Here's a few finished pairs - I'm quite pleased with these - they're all jangly and very much fun ...

Rock and roll and asymmetry - plus I love the hammered green amethyst nuggets ...

Jumbo mystic topaz and raw diamonds ...

And here's a pair with the shark fossils and Roman glass...

The necklaces have been taking a while to figure out what components I want to use and then it always takes a while to get the balance right with all the little details.  I started the day with delicate and ethereal ...

And ended with seriously bold.  The piece on the left is a jumbo chunk of fossilized bone with a beautiful Basha bead and one of my sapphire studded beads and the right hand one is this lovely fossilized fragment of a shell that's kind of a dusky blue, combined with more fossils, mystic topaz, iolite and flourite...

Okay, I'm tired now.  Time to shut down, do a bit of reading and see if I can get to sleep.  My week ahead is going to be crazy - 3 doctors appointments, the tree guy for some yard work and ending up, thankfully, with a haircut on Friday ... ending with a bit of pampering after a week of being poked and prodded and accosted.  BTW - just way overdue annual check-up stuff.  I'm extremely healthy!

Nite nite!

l i g a - kvk

chillin' in my happy place

Since I was on my ocean inspired design burst, I pulled out some beach glass to make a few of my Sea Goddess components.  Here's the before ...

And the really excellent after ...

Interesting that one of the green pieces changed color a bit.  That's what I love about doing these, it's always a surprise!  I think I'll do finished pieces with the two pendants and I'm planning to list the other componenets on Etsy.  This coming week is going to be crazy busy, but I should be able to squeeze a photo shoot and some 'puter time in there somewhere. 

I've been working with my mondo pile of shark fossils and enjoying myself immensely!  My soon to be replaced cheapo drill has actually been cooperating and I've been able to do a bunch of drilling.  The only challenging part with the fossils - some are not so fossilized and crumble or break when I'm drilling them.  The good ones make a lovely ringing sound when they click together.  Happy sounds are always a good thing in jewels.  I'm having so much fun with these ... I can't believe it took me 3 years to get these out and start experimenting.   Gotta say, on the whole, they're looking very cool and I'm quite pleased.

I took a couple of days and made a bunch of teeny spacers and accent beads.  I don't know what it is, but I absolutely love making these tiny beads.  And when I've got them all sorted out, well sort of sorted, and in my little bins ... that's a sight that makes me ever so happy.

What I've started with is these really simple necklaces with stacks of silver alternating with the fossils.  I'm debating about adding some sparklie bits, but keep going back to the simpler versions.  These are on the nylon cord I'm making.  I'm liking the thinner version for my own self, but can see that thicker cords will be good for the guys and the heavier pieces.

I'm planning on spending most of tomorrow working on these.  There'll be earrings and bracelets as well.  Oh yes, that will be me ... chillin' in my happy place!

Sending out prayers to those in the path of Irene - stay safe!
l i g a - kvk