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!