Glowing in the Dark Teasury

What a great surprise to find on a Monday Morning! I went to my Etsy shop, to check on the status, and found a convo from ToadstoolsNTreestump, that my Black Hearts on Fire Earrings had been included in their treasury. Whoot!

I love, love, love glow in the dark stuff, so I'm really excited to be included in this treasury!

To see the treasury, go here: Glowing in the Dark

Hope everybody's first Monday of October is going well. I hit the last day of the MN Ren Fest yesterday, after our Kids N Kin class. It wasn't long enough, but I'm glad I went! It was a beautiful day, lots of people were there, and it was prime people watching. My son worked up his courage to pet some snakes! He's always loved looking at them, and learning about them, but he was really hesitant to touch them. There were a bunch of people from the Herpitology Society, showing their snakes, and they were very friendly and informative. One beautiful albino Boa seemed friendly enough for him, and he faced his fears and touched the snake. It was awesome! Thanks to those wonderful people who were friendly and had patience.

July Birthstones

July Birthstones embody the heat in the height of summer: Ruby, Carnelian, onyx, sardonyx, sapphire. Talismanic stone for July is diamond. July Power Stones are said to be: Sodalite, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Green Turquoise, Moonstone, Opal, Pearl, Rhodochrosite, & Ruby.




The stone of the Summer Season is Ruby.

Stones for the Astrological sign of Cancer are: Emerald, moonstone, pearl, ruby, sapphire.

Stones for the Astrological sign of Leo are: Onyx, Carnelian, Sardonyx, Golden Topaz, Tourmaline, Rock Crystal, & Diamond.

July Element: Water
July Planet: Moon

Ch-Ch-Changes!

Lots has happened since my last post. Life interrupts my creative processes. Is it that way for everybody? Much going on in the family: My birthday (29...again! LOL), 27th anniversary for my husband & I, relatives from the West Coast visiting, and the Holidays (Memorial day, Mother's & Father's Day, July 4th). My wonderful friend from Missouri came up to visit and go camping, which was a very welcome treat! My son started summer transition to high school. He's on the Autism spectrum, which makes him creative and intense sometimes, but always my special sweetie... even if I'm no longer allowed to kiss him in public. As a teen, we add in those wonderful hormones, and... let's just say we're all learning to pick our battles! He's a talented kid, and had a poem published in the FMMS journal this year. We're very proud! He has been concentrating on trying to get more than 4 hours of sleep at a stretch, trying new foods (different textures make him gag), and working regular exercise in every day. We got a WII balance board & that helps for rainy days when we can't get outside.

Also in the last two months, two relatives have passed on, one young adult, one in his 90's. It's been very hard on my son, and both deaths were on my husband's side, so he's dealing with the grief and stress, also. Ed, you were a true gentleman, and I loved your curiosity about life. Bobby, your upbeat attitude and willingness to try new things was an inspiration. We'll miss both of you, but we take comfort in the hope that you're onto the next great adventure. Look in on us from time to time, until we catch up to you!

I'll be catching up on birthstones in the next few days. Hope everyone's summer is going well!

Hot Roses Carnelian Set

These red Carnelian roses are some of my all-time favorite stones. They remind me of Double Delight roses. If you're not familiar with Double Delight roses, check out this link with pictures: Double Delight Roses

Each rose is red and white, and colored differently, depending on soil, sunlight, humidity and other environmental conditions. They also smell wonderful!

Double Delight roses have bittersweet associations for me - mainly sweet. This story is about cats & flowers, not jewelry, but these beads remind me of a particular winter a few years back....

I used to have rose bushes, that I carefully mulched in and covered every year. About 8 years ago, we had a mild winter in Minnesota. It was highly unusual, but my heating bills were so low, it was great! And then, at the end of January, we had sub-zero temperatures. We had no snow cover, so the ground froze deeper than it had for something like 15-20 years. Lots of people had septic problems, pipes freezing, etc. We had none of that, but all of my roses had their roots frozen beyond repair, and all of them died. It was probably as expensive to replace as what I'd saved in fuel bills. But... I didn't replace them. I'd planted them before my son was born, and when faced with the choice, the time I'd spent taking care of the roses could be spent on other things. So my roses went away, but I've got pics somewhere.

This is not a sad story, tho! At this same time, there was a beautiful, part Siamese cat living outside, who traipsed through our yard pretty regularly. She had a pure black companion, who was a bit larger and a bit more timid - I assumed it was her brother. I've always loved Siamese cats, and I watched these cats from my windows as they chased squirrels, rabbits, and birds throughout the neighborhood. When the weather got colder, I snuck cat food out to them. We already had two cats, and money was tight, so I didn't really want another cat. I couldn't sit by and watch these two starve, tho. The weather got even colder, and we left the garage door open a crack, and rigged up a box with an old blanket and a 40 watt bulb to keep it warm. The cats found their way in there. Wildlife was getting very sparse in the yard, and I discovered that my husband was also sneaking food out to the cats! The weatherman predicted that it would get to 40 below zero windchill, and we had a serious discussion about trying to get the cats inside. We decided that, yes, we'd bring them inside for the cold, and if they wanted back out afterward, we'd let them go back. Well... we went out to the garage, and the black cat slithered quickly away. No amount of coaxing would get him to come to either one of us. The Siamese-looking cat came to us immediately, cuddled on my husband's shoulder and came into the house with us.

We went back out numerous times to get the black cat, but he was determined to stay away from people, no matter how friendly or what kind of food we had. My son named the Siamese-looking cat "Sasha2" after my Siamese who had died 3 years before. She had the absolute worst gas emissions I have ever smelled before or since! It was a good thing that it was so cold, or I would have booted her back outside! We brought her to the vet, who proclaimed her in OK shape, about 8 months old, and 4-1/2 pounds. He said she probably would have starved in a few days if we hadn't brought her in (or if she froze to death first). She'd been surviving on rodents in the garage - mice & chipmunks, who'd been ingesting insulation & who knows what else, which accounted for the bad gas. After she was on cat food for a while, she was fine.

Sasha2 tried to make friends with our 2 cats, but neither one wanted to be friendly - but they left her alone & didn't attack her, either. At the time, Sheena, our calico, was about 18-1/2 years old. We'd gotten Angel, a blue-eyed pure white with a cranky disposition, from a family who'd gotten her from the pound, so we didn't really know how old she was, but somewhere around 3 or 4 years old. Eventually, they let Sasha2 lay with them...facing away! Sheena died about a year later, and recently, Angel has gotten much more friendly. Perhaps the effects of catnip or senility, I'm not sure which!

Sasha2 has been the sweetest cat I've ever known. Gentle and affectionate, but with personality and playfulness. And she doesn't really like to go outside! Considering her experience out there, who can blame her? She looks Siamese, and the one time she went into heat, she proved she could vocalize like a Siamese! But generally, she doesn't say much. An occasional "Peep!" when she is lonely, or her routine is disrupted. But she purrs very loudly, and is a wonderful companion. Right now, she's tucked up against my leg as I type, with that look of pure satisfaction on her face, that only cats can express.

So that year, I lost my roses, but gained an animal friend who is irreplaceable. I think I got the best part of that deal!

May Birthstones

The traditional birthstone for the month of May is the Emerald. Necklaces above have rough Emerald faceted chunks, faceted aventurine, fluorite, Moonstone, and Swarovski crystals. Emeralds are associated with the personal traits of loyalty, friendship and faithfulness. Metaphysically, Emeralds are thought to strengthen memory and expand mental capabilities leading to "right" choices for the emerald user. It is also thought to eliminate negative influences affecting the user. Emerald can open, activate and stimulate the heart chakra, and allow for the calmness and centering needed for deep meditation. It can bring harmony and allow for sharply focusing the users energies to a particular project. It is thought to attract beneficial outcomes in legal matters.



Emerald has been called the stone of "successful love." It is thought to instill sensitivity and loyalty in the wearer and others around them. The green color also indicates that Emeralds also promote creativity and growth.

Although Emeralds are beautiful and have some wonderful correspondences, there are other stones that can be used as May birthstones. Sapphire, Agate, Carnelian, Aventurine and Chalcedony are also May birthstones. Flowers for May are Lily of the Valley and Lily. Plant for May is Hawthorne. The Guardian Angel of May is Ambriel, the Angel of Communication. Ambriel can aid in clear communication, and to guide people to their inner truth. As a Guardian Angel, Ambriel is also considered protective. Ametrine is associated with Ambriel, and can be used as an alternate birthstone for someone preferring a not-so-green stone. I love Ametrines and Agates, so May stones are awesome, as far as I'm concerned!

There are also "power stones" for people born in May (I never knew until I started researching!). These are: Rose Quartz, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Azurite, Cat's Eye, Chrysocolla, Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Yellow Topaz.

May spans the Zodiac signs of Taurus and Gemini.
Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)
Birthstone: Sapphire, Turquoise, Amber, Blood Coral, Emerald
Planetary Stone: Emerald, Aventurine
Lucky Charms: Sapphire, Diamond
Gemini (May 21-Jun. 20)
Birthstone: Agate, Chrysoprase, Pearl
Planetary Stone: Tiger Eye
Lucky Charms: Agate, Emerald

All of these give quite a range of colors, textures and price ranges for May birthstones!

Studies in Black

Black is such an interesting color... I love using it in jewelry. The variety of stones in so many different textures really makes for some interesting creations. Black Onyx, Black Agate and Black Tourmaline are some of my favorites. Pictured above are some recent creations.

In color theory, black is all colors, mixed. In lighting, black is the lack of any light, yet black will absorb light. Two opposite concepts, that apply to the same color. In metaphysics, Black is considered to be very protective... think black dirt of the Earth, able to protect a tiny, vulnerable seed while it germinates. I believe alot of the Goth dressers are like that - feeling vulnerable, so they wear aggressive black clothing in order to protect themselves, and tell the world to keep away. Black can also be like coal - with the ability to transmute into something extremely valuable (diamonds) or to provide the heat for other transformations - like grilling a great steak! Black is the night time, which encourages rest, reflection, and intimacy. Black is mysterious, with the ability to hide at will.

In Europe of the 15th century, black was the color of death and considered an evil color. Black cats were burned (causing an increase in the plague-carrying rat population), and the plague was called "Black Plague." However, Puritains considered black one of the appropriate colors for clothing, as did certain religious orders. Maybe because it washed out the complexions of the wearers and made them less likely to attract attention? Black is a difficult color to dye evenly and make it last, as anyone who has a favorite black cotton sweater will tell you. Old inks were generally brown, because of the difficulty in achieving a lasting black. Nowdays, with our chemical-based dyes, we have stable black inks, and our black clothes stay blacker longer!

In earlier cultures, black was thought of as a gift, not a curse. Night time was when you got to rest, and it was truly a relief from hard labors. Death was just a part of the life-cycle, and, although it was sad, it was often celebrated in ways that our modern culture finds difficult to fathom. Death was a transformation to the next step of the journey, not a total end. I rather like the protective, restful, and transformative associations with black.

April Birthstones

OK, so I've been avoiding writing about April Birthstones for some reason. Why? Been busy... traveling, working, family stuff, special orders & volunteer work. I should have had a few minutes to write it up, I had the research done long ago. So I'll ponder that a while.

April traditional birthstone is the diamond. A Girl's Best Friend if you ask Marilyn Monroe! Since diamonds are so expensive for the average person to be able to use in birthstone jewelry, somebody decided that any clear stone could be substituted: so, colorless topaz, sapphire, tourmaline, white zircon, Herkimer diamond or quartz are all great stones to use for April birthstones. The Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) birthstones are Bloodstone, Diamond, Topaz and Jasper, and the Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20) birthstones are Sapphire, Turquoise, Amber, Coral, Emerald, and Aventurine, so those stones have also been used as April birthstones.

The Mystical birthstone for April is the white or black opal, with hints of fire.

The Flower for April is the Sweet Pea. The April Guardian Angel is Ashmodei. His Gem Talisman is Topaz.

Aries the God & Aries the ram are associated with the color red, all shades from scarlet to carmine. His Gemstone is Carnelian and red Jasper. Christianity also associated April with the apostle Phillip and Carenlians. I'm not sure what link there might be between Phillip and Aries, but that might be some fun trivia to discover.

Trees and plants associated with Aries include the Poppy, Honeysuckle, Bryony, Thistles and Ferns, Peppermint, Anemone, Alder, Blackthorn, Dogwood, Hawthorn, Pomegranate, Spruce and Weeping Willow.

Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, and associated colors are pale blue, all shades of green, pink and yellow. Plants and trees that correspond with Taurus are Daisy, Dandelion, Foxglove, Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Poppy, Rose, Apple, Blackthorn, Fig, Hawthorn, Pear, Vine and Willow.

So, April should be a good time to do a bit of gardening, then pull up a chair and sip some dandelion wine (or tea) while enjoying the fresh spring air and the marvelous abundance of growth all around.

Happy April!

Sources:
Love is in the Earth by Melody
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Kunz
http://www.mystical-www.co.uk/time/apri.htm
http://idashshoptheworlddotcom.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/april-birthstones-diamonds-sapphires/
http://www.birthstones.org.uk
http://www.gemstoneartist.com/4.asp

Treasury East - New!

So, Etsy now has Treasury East, Along with the Treasury and Treasury West. I knew nothing about it! Until Sacred Suds let me know she put my Labyrinth into a Treasury she made there. That's the best kind of surprise to get!

View her Treasury, Journey to Center, here : Treasury East Journey to Center.

So, After thanking her for including me, I browsed around & it appeared that there was a possibility to make my own treasury. So I did! Yay! Please take a look:
Splendid, Spectacular Spring

And I realized that I haven't posted birthstones for April. Diamonds, mainly, but there's more. I'll post that tomorrow.

Happy Earth Week to everybody! Leave a comment about what you're doing to make the Earth a healthier and better place to live in now and in the future. Our Kids N Kin family Sunday School picked up garbage in a park near the University of Minnesota.

I delivered my framed necklace to the Goddess Art show today. Exciting! It was a bit nerve-wracking, as I've never had an art piece in a juried show before. After my necklace (that I originally designed for the PaganTeam Harvest Challenge!) was accepted, I was hesitant... I don't have a mannequin, or half-mannequin. The necklace is pretty large, and a little grey neck sitting on a shelf or table wouldn't do it justice! Especially if it was surrounded by sculptures, and framed paintings (is my insecurity showing?).

Sooo... I decided I could have my Nettie Doll (burlap Goddess doll, about 2 feet tall) model the necklace, or I could frame the necklace. Why not? It's art! I've got a few containers of dupioni silk, and I could just picture the necklace against the silk. But the colors I first thought would look great, didn't quite do it. Then I ran across this two-toned embroidered Spring green iridescent dupioni with leaves and a few sequined flowers... perfect! And I can use the leftovers for a little bag I have planned...

Then for a frame... ran to Joann's looking for a rough wood frame - couldn't find what I wanted in my price range. So, went for an antiqued wood with a few flecks of metallic. Looks aged and organic...and it was on sale for 40% off! I dug around and found batting (luckily, I'm a fabriholic) for a little dimensional feel. There were already holes in the back of the frame, so I used those to wire the necklace in. But... the glass was glued. Glued?!? They never glue the glass in... no wonder it was on sale! I loosened it with nail polish remover, then tried to get it out. Ended up breaking it. Thankfully, it broke in large pieces, and I was wearing gloves. Easy clean-up, no cuts.

Took pics, packed me, the framed piece & the child (on Spring Break) into the car & headed down to St. Paul (about 30 miles). Dropped off the framed piece, visited with the people at the shop for a while, shopped for some candles & stones, and headed home in traffic. Was only stopped on the highway a few times, and it was a beautiful day. Good tunes on the radio, and the crazy drivers were 2 lanes away from me - thank the Goddess! Got the child fed & my friend came over for some facebook lessons. We had fun setting her up.

I feel like I accomplished alot today! Just framing the necklace made me view my creations in a way I've never seen them before. I always say it's art, but today, I really feel it. I highly recommend that everybody take one of their creations and treat it like you are putting it on display. Frame it, feature it, gussy it up like it's going to a museum! Then step back and see how you feel about it.

I should have known this. I had my husband frame one of my son's drawings for me for Mother's day one year. That's all I would tell him I wanted! He did it. And my son is so proud. People notice his art when they come in, and ask me if I'm painting again (I used to oil paint when I was younger). It makes him feel worthwhile, and he just beams. Why is it so easy to show approval and pride in our child, and not ourselves? I'm changing that today!

Growth of the GreenChild Necklace

The Challenge for April for the HandMadeMN team is Growth. That's pretty wide open, and can be interpreted so many different ways. I finished my Challenge piece and it is listed here:
Growth of the GreenChild Necklace


I was pretty proud, I took the above pic by myself, of myself... camera in one hand, mirror in the other, deep breath, try to make the shoulders look relaxed... don't move!


The face for this pendant was a mold that I resculpted. My former business partner absconded with a bunch of my molds (among other things). I hope they bless her abundantly in the way she deserves to be blessed! Because of the now-scarce molds & that the leaves are a custom clay mixture and hand sculpted, this pendant won't ever be made again! She has so much motion - very much like a child on the playground swings. This is a very fun piece, and at the same time, very meaningful! My description on Etsy is more in-depth. Hope you can get there to check it out!

The Beauty of Magic Treasury

LilYkaT Studio The Forest in Shadows earrings were included in this treasury that was curated by MetaphysicalShppe on the Etsy PaganTeam. She really picked some lovely items, & I'm honored to be included. I loved the theme, the name, the affordable price points... she did a great job. Jealous that I didn't think of it! ;)

The Treasury will be listed on Etsy West until Tuesday, March 30. The Beauty of Magic

Check it out!

Mermaid pendant ready to list!

I love the Amazon look of this undersea Goddess Mermaid, with her jewels & trident. She's beautiful, but not cute. I had to remake the necklace, as the first time it looked too dainty! Some people don't like the clothes-free look, but I figure, would a half-fish person bother with clothing? Adornment, yes! Clothes, no!

I've checked, and Etsy allows artistic nudity, it's even been on the front page. OK, good. Time to write a description!

Metal Tiger 2010

The Chinese horoscopes have always been a bit more accurate for me than others. So, just for giggles, here is a page to tell you what the Year of the Metal Tiger, 2010, will be like for you. Have fun!

Chinese Fortune Calendar

My year looks smooth, no major highs or lows. How is yours?

Spoons For HandMade MN Gift Baskets

Hand Made MN is giving away some fabulous gift baskets at the upcoming Art/Craft Fair.
My donation is two pyrographied wooden spoons. My bestselling design "Add Love," and the strange humor "Visualize Whirled Peas." As always, these spoons are not intended as a discipline tool!

Spring Jewelry by LilYkaT Studio in Sacred Paths Center, St. Paul!

Got Spring Fever? Me, too! This week has been rainy, droopy & dreary in my corner of Minnesota. Ug! But I know Spring is coming. In anticipation, I created some Spring-feeling jewelry that Teisha has put into the shop at Sacred Paths Center in St. Paul.
Just look at the soft green Amazonite Leaves, the aqua tones of dyed moonstone, Opalite butterflies, rose quartz and complimentary glass bead in the Spring Fever set, above. In the middle picture, Spring Flowers set, the beautiful multiple green tones are featured in lampworked glass and crystals, with accents of soft pink quartz. The top photo shows the Lucky Malachite & Turquoise necklace featuring a turquoise mosaic equal-armed cross bead, surrounded by malachite, turquoise, and Austrian crystal. The clasp has the word, "Luck," on it for a finishing touch!

Pictures of the March Aquamarine collection to come. See these wonderful creations along with beautiful and meaningful artwork, herbs, candles, stones, giftware and more at:
Sacred Paths Center
777 Raymond Ave
St. Paul, MN 55114

March Birthstones

So... back to my quest of finding rocks for every season & every reason. It's March! Winter will soon be melted away. The almost-full moon was casting shadows on the snow last night, and even the darkness was energizing. Beautiful!

Here is what I've found out:

The modern birthstone for March is Aquamarine. Traditionally, Bloodstone has also been used. Spring Equinox is in March, & the Emerald is considered the stone of Spring. Other Spring stones are: Amethyst, Green Diamond, Chrysoberyl, Spinel, Pink Topaz, and Olivine. Jade is the Mystical stone of March. March Zodiac signs are Pisces and Aries.

Pisces: (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)
Birthstone: Rock Crystal Quartz (White, Clear),
Sapphire (Blue),
Amethyst (Purple),
Bloodstone (Green with Red Markings)
Sugalite (Purple/Black)

Planetary Stone: Aquamarine (Blue/Green)

Lucky Charms: Amethyst (Purple)

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)
Birthstone: Bloodstone (Green with Red Markings),
Diamond (White, Clear)
Garnet (Dark Red)
Ruby (Red)

Planetary Stone: Jasper (Brown or Red)

Lucky Charms: Bloodstone (Green with Red Markings),
Jasper (Brown or Red)
Diamond (White, Clear)

Jasper is also mentioned as March Birthstone in many cultures, including Russian, Italian and Jewish, in the book, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by Kunz. He also recommends to use stones found on your birth continent as their birthstone. His suggestion for those in the USA for March is Californite - which I'd never heard of before! A little research revealed Californite is a type of Vesuvianite, also known as California Jade. It's a nice, translucent green and can be seen here: Californite Gallery




I'm surprised that Malachite isn't a March birthstone. It's a nice multi-shaded green that reminds me of spring. The copper in Malachite used to cause stone workers to get sick, if they didn't use water to work with it, so it was considered an unlucky stone. Perhaps that's why.

An interesting bit of Tarot trivia - Mary K. Greer associates Aries with the Emperor Card & the ruby. She associates Pisces with the Moon card and the stones Pearl, Moonstone and Milk Opal. I love her tables of correspondences - I'm a correspondence geek!



More resources on birthstones can be found in these books:
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Kunz
Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
Love is in the Earth by Melody
The Essence of Magic by Mary K. Greer

Tarot For Trip Week

My friend & I were going on a lil trip, and we did a tarot spread to see how the Universe perceived it would go.... Our spread was a simple Past/Present/Future using the Goddess Tarot by Kris Waldherr:

Past: 0 Beginnings Tara
Present: 4 of Pentacles
Future: III Fertility Estsanatlehi

0 Tara - Innocence which protects. New Beginnings, optimism, trust, innocence.

4 Pents - Wealth & prosperity, stabilizing material forces in life. A family inheritance - this could be talent, money, land, etc.

III Estanatlehi - Feelings of fertility and abundance. A new relationship which celebrates one's growth as a woman. Creativity.



We decided it was a good layout - and pretty accurate.

I purposely brought alternate art materials along, not my beads or clay. We're going to do some drawing, sightseeing, and general relaxing out of our normal environment. We're getting a new perspective, and it helps to expand my vision of what's possible right now.

Her doggie, Romi, is my best friend already, protecting me from everybody & everything, especially the bloodhound, Clyde! Romi's a large black lab, very affectionate and protective. Quite the contrast from my cats! I could have had her when my friend moved, and although I regret not having such a great animal companion, I think Misti needed her more. She's an awesome dog! I was glad to see Misti & get to see Romi & Clyde and the whole family again. It was a total surprise that we took this detour, but I'm really happy to see her new home. It's so cute & comfortable - and her SO cleans! Bonus!

We got re-routed from destination TX to MO. Long story involving her Dad's health. But, we avoid having to drive through a storm in TX & I get to see her place instead. Hopefully, her Dad will heal fast & well and it'll work out for him, too. We hope his upcoming treatments will be as effective as possible.

So, we are relaxing, checking out the MO sights, a lil shopping, and having girlfriend time. I miss my guys, but I hope they'll have some father/son bonding time.

Challenge Won!!!

Whoot!

LilYkaT Studio won the Turning Wheel Challenge with the entry Wheel of the Sky Colorwheel Necklace . I'm so pleased and honored! It's my first Etsy Challenge win ever, and Wow! It feels great!

A big "Thank You!" goes out to the PaganTeam admins - the team has regrouped and been re-vamped through alot of hard work behind the scenes. They are doing a fabulous job and deserve some recognition! My husband has been a great support, and he was in the trenches, calling everybody he knows to go vote. My own personal lobbyist! He really went to bat for me & I'm humbled by his willingness to go out of his way like that, especially since our belief systems are quite different.

Last, but not least, a big Thanks to my Face-to-Face friends, and www friends who voted! You are what makes life fun, and you know who you are! ;)

Try to take the Handmade Challenge - to buy handmade whenever you can for gifts, supplies, and even everyday items! It helps our economy from the ground up - instead of hoping for bail-out trickle-down. Check out the PaganTeam Shop on Etsy For a collection of kewl Pagan, Goddess, Spellcraft & Witchy items you can't find elsewhere!

Thanks again, everyone! May your efforts come back to you in blessings multiplied!

Circle Game Treasury includes Wheel in the Sky Necklace Set

A new Etsy Treasury by Blessed Bead called Circle Game has included the Wheel in the Sky Necklace by LilYkaT Studio! I'm so pleased & proud to be included in this awesome Treasury - thanks Blessed Bead!

Link to treasury: Circle Game Treasury on Etsy

Please check it out & leave a comment!

And remember to stop by the PaganTeam's Blog to vote!

New Challenge at the PaganTeam Blog - Please Vote!

Entries are in and awaiting your votes at the PaganTeam blog. Quite the variety of Magickal items to choose from - I'll take one of each, please! See them all at:

Pagan Team Blog

The Challenge was to envision a piece that honors and celebrates the turning of the Wheel. My entry pictured above, is called Wheel of the Sky Colorwheel Necklace set. For the longest time, I was drawing a blank when I thought about what to do for this challenge. The Wheel of the Year encompasses so much - everything, in fact! How can that be distilled down to one piece?

Soooo... I started looking through my stash of pendant pieces. I thought I'd use up some stuff I already had, so the husband wouldn't tell me how many more pounds o'new stones I've brought into the house! Those of you are addicted to stones know exactly what I mean.

I had two possibilities, one a Tree of Life, one a sun/Zodiac with moon/stars on the reverse. I went through my beads, hoping for inspiration..... nothing for the challenge, but I managed to get sidetracked making the Love Collection and the Amethyst creations.

Finally, I decided that I wouldn't enter the Challenge. They'd do fine without me, right? Loads of creative people on that PaganTeam. Just look through the shop, if you need proof! http://www.etsy.com/shop/paganteam

Entries were due on Friday by midnight EST. I had a flash of creative inspiration while in the shower on Thursday morning(running water does that to me!). I sat down and started digging through my bead stash to find exactly what I needed. Had it all except cone bead caps. Started putting it all together - figured I could bead some cone-shaped caps if I had the need. A day of stringing & beading. The creation process went so smoothly - the worst problem was finding a needle to fit through all of the seed beads! My mind loved it, but my back didn't.

Finished the long necklace & decided it needed a companion to layer - or wear separately. So, I created that! Got my bead caps at Micheal's. Photographed & uploaded, cropped, wrote the description and listed on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40127642

I think I had a couple minutes to spare! Had to edit, as I forgot the Paganteam blog link.

I'll try to get a better pic of the necklaces as worn, but I might have to wait for a day with better lighting.

Description from the Esty listing:

"The morninin sun is risin'
It's kissin' the day
Oh, the wheel in the sky keeps on turning,
Don't know where I'll be tomorrow."

~From the song: "Wheel in the Sky" by Journey

While free-associating for ideas for the Turning of the Wheel challenge, I kept hearing this song in my head. When I think of wheels turning, I think of moving forward in life, the Wheel of Fortune in tarot, a color wheel, the celebrations on the wheel of the year, and the dance of the stars overhead.

This pair of necklaces is my interpretation of those ideas. It's a blending of glass and natural stones, many shapes and textures blended through the spectrum on the color wheel. The colors of glass and natural stones are believed to give a variety of properties including protection, transmuting negativity, balance, the ability to see and prosper from new opportunites, and the ability to navigate changes with grace.

The longer necklace is 31" long with a variety of shapes of glass seed beads. It has a 1/2" woven seed bead bail attaching an antiqued silver Sun and Zodiac charm (charm is 3/4"). The reverse of the charm has a moon and stars. The clasp is a platinum plated lobster claw.

The shorter necklace is 22" long, with glass seed beads and Carnelian, Agate, Citrine, Peridot, Malachite, Fluorite, Turquoise dyed Howlite, dyed Chalcedony, Iolite, amethyst, Rose Quartz, Pink Tourmaline, Garnet, Glow-in-the-dark red/white glass heart, red velvet dyed quartz, yellow opal, lapis dyed howlite, dyed shell, red coral, and cherry quartz.The necklace is finished off with a silver-toned clasp in a sun/moon motif.

Check out other Paganteam items at: www.PaganTeam.Etsy.com
Search for other challenge pieces on Etsy with the tag 'turningchallenge'
Please vote for your favorite on our blog beginning February 6: http://paganteam.blogspot.com/

AIB Blog Tips

Artists in Business Blog has some great tips today - please check them out!

http://artistsinbusiness.blogspot.com/2010/02/10-tips-to-successful-arts-business.html

Thanks, Artists in Business, for the great information!!!

February Birthstones

February spans Aquarius & Pisces :
There are thirteen different stones listed as birthstones for the calendar month of February, or as Sun/Star, Planetary, or Talismanic stones for the Zodiac sign of Aquarius or Pisces. Because these two Zodiac signs span part of February and March, both are listed in this table.

Birthstones for the calendar month of February are amethyst and bloodstone.

The Zodiac signs of Aquarius and Pisces include thirteen stones: amethyst, garnet, moss agate, opal, sugilite, turquoise, jasper, aquamarine, bloodstone, jade, rock crystal, sapphire and ruby.

Amethyst
Modern Birthstone
Traditional Birthstone
Ayurvedic February Birthstone
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Aquarius
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Pisces
Ancient Arabic, Hebrew, Polish, Italian, Roman, and Russian February Birthstone

Bloodstone
Mystical February Birthstone
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Pisces

Garnet
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Aquarius
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Pisces

Turquoise
Planetary Stone - Aquarius

Agate
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Aquarius

Opal
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Aquarius

jasper

Jasper
Talismanic Stone - Aquarius

Rock Crystal
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Pisces

Sapphire
Sun Sign (Star Sign) - Pisces

Aquamarine
Planetary Stone - Pisces

Ruby
Talismanic Stone - Pisces

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Baking Treasury on Etsy

I'm so excited - a LilYkaT Design spoon is in an Etsy Treasury! Whoo-hoo! This treasury really resonates right now, with the cold weather, and wanting to hibernate with some comfort food. Fresh-baked bread just sounds like the thing! Please take a look: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=109894&show_panel=true

Thanks!

Love Collection in at Sacred Paths Center, St. Paul, MN

Photo above is: Love Sweet as Candy - Candy Jade carved hearts, Rose Quartz carved hearts and rounds, Cherry Quartz, prehnite, blue opal, green fluorite, gold plated heart clasp on necklace, Sterling ear wires on earrings, Sterling clasp on bracelet. This set is now in the shop at Sacred Paths Center in St. Paul. This design was fun to make - the colors are fun and soothing at the same time. Like smooth, fruity sherbet, or a pastel sunset across a calm lake.


See the other new photos up at LilYkaT Designs photo album on Facebook. Check them out:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/album.php?aid=145044&id=126661459027&ref=mf

All of these Love Collection Designs are in the shop at Sacred Paths Center in St Paul.
777 Raymond Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55114-1522
(651) 644-3727

See their website: http://sacredpathscenter.com/

Stop in and visit Sacred Paths and find some jewelry for your love, candles, incense, books, tarot, or find a practitioner for massage and more!

Make sure to buy something for yourself - if you don't appreciate YOU, nobody will!

Love Jewelry

I love jewelry - that's why I make it! It's the opportunity to embellish yourself, add sparkle and interest to life. And by doing so, you share the sparkle with everyone who comes in contact with you. Everyone can use a little sparkle for fun, and with stones that are meaningful, the power of your sparkle increases. That's my theory for now.

So, with Valentine's day coming up, I made some Love Jewelry, jewelry I love, to express love and spread the love. Rose Quartz is one of my faves, so there's lots of that, for friendly love, protection and understanding. Also Carnelian for passion, Smoky quartz for the heart that needs protecting, and Garnet for commitment: to yourself, to your purpose, to the others in your life. And a person can't forget Tourmaline, lately my favorite stone, for inspiration, balancing, encouraging self-confidence, and transforming negativity to positivity.

Sacred Paths Center will be carrying some of the Love Jewelry by LilYkaT, and some will be available on Etsy. These are one-of-a-kind designs so will never be duplicated. I can make similar designs, but each piece is unique! And my supply of each type of stone is limited - although the husband thinks my two-hundred pounds of beads are closer to unlimited! LOL!

New Jewelry and spoons at Sacred Paths Center!

Some new jewelry designs and Pyrography Spoon designs are now in at Sacred Paths Center in St. Paul.
http://sacredpathscenter.com/

I recently bought some very nice candles there. I wanted more... but started with two - the blue has a very nice soft scent. I believe it was "hope." In this economy, we all need that! I also bought the "money" one. Usually, I prefer abundance, wealth or propserity... but maybe I'm becoming more honest with myself. I need money! LOL!

They have some awesome stones and new multimedia artwork in festive colors. Love it!!! If you can visit, please do - they have some new staff there, and are working very hard to make Sacred Paths the meeting center for alternative paths that this city really needs. It is an open, loving space with great new and used items - which really appeals to the recycler in me. I'm not gonna tell you about the item that I have my eye on... cuz I don't want anyone to buy it.

Other recent developments... my washer went on the fritz. El hubbo tried to fix it, and it worked for a week. Then blew a fuse. When we replaced the fuse & restarted it, it got that funny burning electronics smell. So.... Shopping on all the appliance sites. I think I found one. Will have to drive up to Rogers to get it... but... should only cost me a little time & some beer with the neighbor - totally not a hardship!