Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
New Druid's Eggs on Etsy!
Are you having a feeling of deja vu? :) I've decided to move these two pendants over to my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop from Zibbet.
Dave carved the original egg for me, then made a mold that I use with earthenware clay. These two Druid's Eggs have been glazed with earthy green glazes--one is a paler color and the other a very organic mixture of greens and browns. These pendants will arrive in a gift box and shipping is FREE, and did I mention they are only $19!
*What Are Druid's Eggs?*
The Druid's Egg (also “glain,” “serpent's egg,” or “snake stone”) was a talismanic object sacred to the Druids. Tales about it resemble those of the Philosopher's Stone sought by the alchemists. Its myths may also be related to those of the Omphalos, a meteoritic stone which was kept at Delphi and was thought to be the egg of the serpent-monster Python. In legends, the Druid’s Egg is credited with endowing its possessor with the ability to obtain almost all he might desire. The Druid's Egg was also believed to create a favorable outcome in courts of law, so much that the Romans outlawed carrying one into any courtroom. If you'd like to learn more about the legend behind the Druid's Egg, please visit the listing for these items on Etsy.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Ceramic and Myrtlewood Support Spindle Spinning Bowl
This is another joint project between Grizzly Mountain Arts and Good Dirt Jewelry :) Once we had finished this piece, I could hardly wait to photograph it and get it online!
This design turned out even better than we had planned! We have created a support spinning bowl that has combined the efficiency of a ceramic surface with the stability of a wide beautiful wooden base. Our ceramic bowl measures 1 3/4 inches in diameter, and the myrtlewood base is 3 1/4 inches in diameter. The wooden base has been adorned by Dave with pyrography (burn etching). Four felt dots on the back keep the wood from scratching other hard surfaces.
A few more photos of this piece can be found in our Etsy shop where it is listed for $29 with FREE shipping :)
Friday, November 6, 2009
Two New Druid's Egg Pendants
I'm giving a new online selling venue a try! Zibbet.com
Dave carved the original egg for me, then made a mold that I use with earthenware clay. These two Druid's Eggs have been glazed with earthy green glazes--one is a paler color and the other a very organic mixture of greens and browns. These pendants will arrive in a gift box and shipping is FREE, and did I mention they are only $19!
*What Are Druid's Eggs?*
The Druid's Egg (also “glain,” “serpent's egg,” or “snake stone”) was a talismanic object sacred to the Druids. Tales about it resemble those of the Philosopher's Stone sought by the alchemists. Its myths may also be related to those of the Omphalos, a meteoritic stone which was kept at Delphi and was thought to be the egg of the serpent-monster Python. In legends, the Druid’s Egg is credited with endowing its possessor with the ability to obtain almost all he might desire. The Druid's Egg was also believed to create a favorable outcome in courts of law, so much that the Romans outlawed carrying one into any courtroom. If you'd like to learn more about the legend behind the Druid's Egg, please visit the listing for these items on Zibbet.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
New Ceramic Support Spindle Bowls
From time to time, my husband who is the artist behind Grizzly Mountain Arts fiber art tools, and I join forces to work on a joint venture. These ceramic support spinning bowls have been just been added to our Grizzly Mountain Arts fiber art tool line!
When researching support spinning bowls for Russian and Tibetan style spindles, we found that there are two important attributes that need to be incorporated into the bowl. One, is the reduction in friction by creating a ceramic glazed surface--don't forget, wood spinning on wood is how boy scouts start fires :) Second, the bowl needs to be stable to keep from constantly tipping while the spindle spins.
Grizzly Mountain Arts and Good Dirt Jewelry, have worked together to create a ceramic support spinning bowl that is cone shaped. Our bowl measures 3 inches in diameter across the bottom with a recessed well to support the spindle on top. We are making our support spinning bowls in a variety of glazes and no two pieces ever come out of the kiln the same. Every ceramic support spinning bowl will be one of a kind.
Grizzly Mountain Arts ceramic support spinning bowls ship for FREE and can be found in our Etsy shop for $19!
When researching support spinning bowls for Russian and Tibetan style spindles, we found that there are two important attributes that need to be incorporated into the bowl. One, is the reduction in friction by creating a ceramic glazed surface--don't forget, wood spinning on wood is how boy scouts start fires :) Second, the bowl needs to be stable to keep from constantly tipping while the spindle spins.
Grizzly Mountain Arts and Good Dirt Jewelry, have worked together to create a ceramic support spinning bowl that is cone shaped. Our bowl measures 3 inches in diameter across the bottom with a recessed well to support the spindle on top. We are making our support spinning bowls in a variety of glazes and no two pieces ever come out of the kiln the same. Every ceramic support spinning bowl will be one of a kind.
Grizzly Mountain Arts ceramic support spinning bowls ship for FREE and can be found in our Etsy shop for $19!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Good Dirt FaceBook Fan Page
I finally found some time to get my Good Dirt Jewelry Fan Page set up on FaceBook. I find FB to be very frustrating to use, so I'm not sure what good it will be other than providing additional search engine optimization :)
Thank You!
I just wanted to say "Thank You!" to a few customers who purchased my work lately through my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop. Unfortunately, several of you haven't heard from me because your email provider is blocking all email from Etsy.com and my GDJ yahoo account. I'm guessing that Verizon and AOL believes all mail from Etsy and Yahoo is spam so it's sending my messages to you into your trash.
So, if you have purchased a piece of ceramic jewelry from me but haven't received any notifications, that is why :)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
An Enchanted Etsy Treasury!
Having another artist include one of your pieces in their treasury is such a wonderful treat! It is such an honor, especially when all of the other artists are so amazing! Tre Civette Sul Como', who curated this wonderful collection, has a beautiful shop on Etsy that sells new and vintage haberdashery from Italy.
My Norse Daeg "Awakening" ceramic rune pendant has been included in this beautiful collection. Be sure and check out all of the other amazing artists included by following the link below the photo!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Ceramic Burmese Deity with Leather Bolo Necklace
This stunning Burmese deity ceramic pendant was created from a mold I made from an antique lead amulet from Burma. The earthenware clay pendant which measures about 2 inches in length, has been glazed with an earthy rust colored glaze. The 36 inch long dark brown bolo cord is leather and I have adorned it with copper wire and wooden beads. More photos of this piece can be found at the Etsy shop listing.
**Who is this deity?**
At first, I thought perhaps he was Mahakala, the protector of monasteries, since there are skulls beneath his feet, but Mahakala is always depicted with a fierce, tooth baring grimace. All of the images I found of the Buddha holding a sword, have the sword of justice held high in his right hand, not at his side. Another thing that is interesting about this amulet, is that the deity appears to be cradling a infant in the left arm leading me to speculate that this may be a female Buddha. I was contacted recently by a blog reader who thought that this may in fact be a Hindu deity, so the mystery continues!
When I received this spectacular amulet, it had a wonderful patina on it which has now been removed thanks to the mold making process I use. I apologize in advance to all of the antique amulet collectors for doing this, but it had to be done for the sake of art :)
Shipping is FREE for this item and a gift box is included!
**Who is this deity?**
At first, I thought perhaps he was Mahakala, the protector of monasteries, since there are skulls beneath his feet, but Mahakala is always depicted with a fierce, tooth baring grimace. All of the images I found of the Buddha holding a sword, have the sword of justice held high in his right hand, not at his side. Another thing that is interesting about this amulet, is that the deity appears to be cradling a infant in the left arm leading me to speculate that this may be a female Buddha. I was contacted recently by a blog reader who thought that this may in fact be a Hindu deity, so the mystery continues!
When I received this spectacular amulet, it had a wonderful patina on it which has now been removed thanks to the mold making process I use. I apologize in advance to all of the antique amulet collectors for doing this, but it had to be done for the sake of art :)
Shipping is FREE for this item and a gift box is included!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Ceramic Three Graces Cameo and Vintage Button Pendant
This graceful Three Graces pendant features a handmade ceramic cameo that I have formed from earthenware clay. I made the mold for this piece by using an antique cameo. This ceramic cameo has been glazed a pale baby blue and has been mounted on a vintage mother-of-pearl button. An Aanraku bail and silver-plated 18 inch ball chain completes this piece. You can easily remove the ball chain if you have a favorite chain you prefer to use.
You can find this and many other examples of my ceramic jewelry in my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop!
Celtic "Fis" Pictish Stone Ceramic Pendant
There are many representations of the ancient old Gaelic Pictish stones and this is mine! This earthenware clay ceramic pendant has had the old Irish word "Fis" meaning "Secret Knowledge" carved into it. I have glazed it with a rich, earthy blue color and attached a sturdy Aanraku bail. You can easily remove the dark brown suede cord if you have a chain you prefer to use.
Shipping is free for this item that is currently for sale in my Etsy shop, and a gift box is included!
~Who were the Picts?~
According to Wikipedia, the Picts were a confederation of tribes in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from before the Roman conquest until the 10th century. They lived to the north of the Forth and Clyde rivers. They are assumed to have been the descendants of the Caledonii and other tribes named by Roman historians or found on the world map of Ptolemy. Pictland, also known as Pictavia, gradually absorbed the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata to form the Kingdom of Alba. Alba expanded absorbing British and Bernician territory and by the 11th century the Pictish identity had become subsumed under a new term for this amalgamation of North British peoples the "Scots".
Pictish recorded history begins in the Dark Ages. It appears that they were not the dominant power in Northern Britain for the entire period. The Gaels of Dál Riata controlled their own region for a time, but suffered a series of defeats in the first third of the 7th century. The Angles of Bernicia overwhelmed the adjacent British kingdoms, and the neighbouring Anglian kingdom of Deira (Bernicia and Deira later being called Northumbria), was to become the most powerful kingdom in Britain. The Picts were probably tributary to Northumbria until the reign of Bridei map Beli, when the Anglians suffered a defeat at the battle of Dunnichen which halted their expansion northwards. The Northumbrians continued to dominate southern Scotland for the remainder of the Pictish period.
Ceramic Celtic Coat of Arms Pendant
I made the mold for this ceramic pendant using an antique coat of arms button that features a Victoria's crown, rampant horse on the dexter (right) side, and an uncrowned rampant lion on the sinister (left) side. I believe the antique button must have been fashioned after a Victorian military button which has basically the same elements, with the exception being a rampant unicorn instead of a rampant horse, and the rampant lion wears a crown.
The glaze on this ceramic pendant is a rich Tuscan gold color. It has an Aanraku bail attached and the silver plated ball chain measures 18 inches. You can easily remove the ball chain if you have a favorite chain you prefer to use.
A gift box is included with your purchase and shipping is FREE!
This graceful Three Graces adjustable ring features a handmade ceramic cameo that I have formed from earthenware clay. I made the mold for this piece by using an antique cameo. This cameo has been glazed a pale purple and has been set in a beautiful adjustable ring base.
I have just lowered the price on my Three Graces ceramic rings just in time for the holidays! Click here to view them in my Etsy shop.
A gift box is included with your purchase and shipping is FREE!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Ceramic, Brass, Copper and Bone Pendant
Ceramic, Brass, Copper and Bone Pendant I made the ceramic bead on this piece which is currently for sale in my Etsy shop, from earthenware clay. A vintage Nepalese brass bead with turquoise, African trade copper and carved bone beads complete the body of this unique piece.
The overall length of this pendant/talisman is 2". The 20" necklace is made from a heavy, brown cotton cord that has a vintage button closure. This item ships for free and a gift box is included!
Ceramic Bobby Pins
Looking for an affordable artisan made holiday gift? I have just added some new ceramic bobby pins to my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
New Celtic Druid's Eggs
New Celtic Druid's Egg PendantsI have had several inquiries about my Celtic Druid's Egg ceramic pendants, and here are a couple fresh out of the kiln! The two eggs featured above were created using white earthenware clay. A rich pale purple glaze and an earthy moss green glaze are two new colors for these pieces. I have also used a few more new glazes, so be on the look out for those in coming days! (I'm waiting on some more Aanraku bails).
These two newest eggs can be found in the "Ceramic Celtic Jewelry" section of my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop. Don't forget, a gift box is included with every order and shipping is FREE!
*What Are Druid's Eggs?*
The Druid's Egg (also “glain,” “serpent's egg,” or “snake stone”) was a talismanic object sacred to the Druids. Tales about it resemble those of the Philosopher's Stone sought by the alchemists. Its myths may also be related to those of the Omphalos, a meteoritic stone which was kept at Delphi and was thought to be the egg of the serpent-monster Python. In legends, the Druid’s Egg is credited with endowing its possessor with the ability to obtain almost all he might desire. The Druid's Egg was also believed to create a favorable outcome in courts of law, so much that the Romans outlawed carrying one into any courtroom. In truth, the Druid’s Egg was an egg-shaped talisman made of stone. This consecrated object served as a tool for meditation and magickal focus, and symbolized the promise of renewal and rebirth. They could be made from any stone, and were generally small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand (about the size of a chicken's egg). In lore, the Druid's Egg was a magickal egg produced by serpents. It could be obtained only on St. Johns Eve, when snakes were supposed to gather in a ball and form an egg from their spittle. As the snakes twisted and writhed, the egg emerged from the mass of vipers and would then float upward into the air. Many species of snake do form such a ball in the cold months, but the few species of snake native to Britain are not egg-layers. A snake which does lay eggs is the python, not found in Britain, but which was kept in the goddess temples of the Aegean; this may be taken as further evidence of an association between the Druids (or their predecessors) and the Delphic cult which kept the sacred Omphalos stone. In legends, the Druid who caught the Druid’s Egg after its creation was advised to take instant measures to prevent being robbed of it: as soon as the egg had been obtained he was to throw himself upon a horse that was kept waiting for him, as he would be pursued by the snakes; he was further instructed not to halt until he had gotten to the other side of the first running water to which his flight brought him, across which the serpents would be unable to follow. The Druid’s Egg appears to have been an object of interest to the ancients, some of whom describe having actually seen and handled it. Among those who have specially described it is the Roman historian Pliny, who claimed he was shown one of these by a Druid from Gaul and called it an "anguinum." "There is also another kind of egg, of much renown in the Gallic provinces, but ignored by the Greeks. In the summer, numberless snakes entwine themselves into a ball, held together by a secretion from their bodies and by their spittle. this is called anguinum. The Druids say that hissing serpents throw this up into the air, and that it must be caught in a cloak, and not allowed to touch the ground; and that one must instantly take flight on horse-back, as the serpents will pursue until some stream cuts them out. It may be tested, they say, by seeing if it floats against the current of a river, even though it be set in gold. But as it is the way of magicians to cast a cunning veil about their frauds, they pretend that these eggs can only be taken on a certain day of the moon, as though it rested with mankind to make the moon and the serpents accord as to the moment of the operation. I myself, however, have seen one of these eggs; it was round, and about as large as a smallish apple; the shell was cartalaginous, and pocked like the arms of a polypus." Of all the historic sources who have testified to seeing this legendary egg, none claim to have witnessed its creation. While the Druid's Egg is not a widespread tool in modern Druidism, it is used by some as a ritual implement for grounding and to protect its owner from manipulative magick or other harmful intents by acting as a magickal “shell,” absorbing and transforming any destructive energy. In Wales, there is still some belief in the objects; they call them mân macal ("snare stones") and glain y nidir ("the snake's jewel").
Monday, October 5, 2009
Time to Get Back to Work!
The photo above was taken in the Grand Teton National Park, and believe me, the photo doesn't begin to capture the awesome beauty of this national treasure. If you'd like to see a few more photos from our trip, please click here to visit our Flickr portfolio.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Oklahoma or Bust!
Grizzly Mountain Arts and Good Dirt Jewelry are on vacation!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
It's That Time of Year Again!
Time for the Native American Festival in Sisters, Oregon that is! This is our favorite show to do each year. The Creekside Park setting is beautiful and there is almost always a hint of fall in the air.Artists will be selling top quality handmade traditional and Native American wares. You will find a variety of pottery, western and Native American jewelry, art work, leather clothing, metal art, log furniture and photography. You will also be able to visit a teepee, watch a demonstration in hide painting, arrowhead making and beading. There will also be a living history display.Western music will be provided on Saturday by the Anvil Blasters, and Native American entertainment will be offered on Sunday.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Picnik.com's New Flickr Slideshow
I've been using Picnik.com for some time now to edit photos for our Grizzly Mountain Arts/Good Dirt Jewelry items, and I've also used Flickr as an online portfolio of our work. Recently, Picnik.com has created a wonderful new utility that makes slideshows from your Flickr sets! It's all integrated--you click on Flickr from within Picnik, then select the set you would like to make a slideshow presentation from, then Picnik generates the html for you.
If you'd like to check out other photos we have in our Flickr portfolio, please click here :)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
My Beautious Petunias
I've been spending most of my free time playing outside lately :) My new railing planter boxes are working out wonderfully and my "Wave" petunias seem to love them too. It's too bad that cold weather is just around the corner. I'm in the process of terracing our backyard, which will be a work-in-progress for some time to come.
Friday, July 24, 2009
My Back Porch Garden
I thought I would post a little update on our back porch garden progress. We're growing beefstake tomatoes in large pots and cherry tomatoes in hanging pots. The zucchini looks a little yellowish, but we've already had a few in jambalaya :) Our little cucumber plants, also being grown in hanging pots, are really taking off and beginning to vine their way along the trellis attached to the top of our ramada. Last but not least, our second planting of spinach is nearly ready to pick, although the heat seems to have slowed it's growth.
A Friday Feature!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Celtic and Fleur-de-lis Ceramic Adjustable Rings
I finally photographed some of my newest rings and got them uploaded to my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop :) These were all made from molds that I created from some of my antique and vintage buttons. A peach colored fleur-de-lis and two new Celtic knotwork rings can be found in the "Ceramic Adjustable Rings" section of my shop. The prices range from $12 to $15 and include free shipping.
Friday, July 17, 2009
"One Pine" Ceramic Pendant Featured on the BeadedTail Blog!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sagebrush Mariposa Tulip
Photo by Jo StanbroughSagebrush Mariposa Tulip (Calochortus macrocarpus)
Lily Family (Liliaceae)
Who says the high desert of Central Oregon is mostly brown? This time of year, a miraculous thing happens. A single long, green stalk begins to push upward very unassumingly, only to burst open with the most beautiful shades of purple and yellow. These gorgeous wild tulips only remain for a day or so before they begin to droop and fade.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tibetan Amulet Bolo Style Necklace
This is a new style of necklace for my Good Dirt Jewelry shop. A while back, I blogged about a really neat antique Tibetan amulet I had purchased. While I never found anyone who could tell me who the deity is, I still found it captivating and thought it would make a unique pendant. I've always been fond of the bolo style of necklace and I thought this amulet lent itself nicely to be displayed in this manner. I finished off the tips with wooden beads and copper wire.These new pieces will be making their debut at the 4th of July festival in Bend, Oregon. If you happen to be in Bend this Saturday, be sure and stop by to say "Hello!" :)
The Potato Experiment
I'm no stranger to gardening or growing potatoes. Our little farm in Oklahoma had a quarter of an acre garden plot that provided our family with fresh veggies, including potatoes. Gardening in the high desert of Oregon is a whole new ballgame! LOL Not only do you have to contend with below freezing temps that can last well into June, but you also have to deal with the problem of having no topsoil. Our home sits at the edge of an ancient caldera (extinct volcano), so our ground consists of rocks and smaller rocks :)Since we just finished our back deck, we decided to try our hand at gardening in pots, and so far so good! The photo above, is our first attempt at growing red potatoes in a half wine barrel and they are looking great! We'll have to wait a while to see if there are actually any potatoes though :) If this experiment is successful, I'll write a follow-up post with details on what we used inside the barrel.
Update!
Well, our great potato experiment wasn't very successful. The plants bloomed and began to die, as was expected, but when we dug them up, we only had about 6 normal size red potatoes and about 15 tiny ones. I cooked them with a corned beef and they were quite tasty, as they should be considering how much we invested to grow them! :) Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Morning Visitor
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
I had a beautiful little visitor this morning! It was gracefully sipping nectar from my comfrey plants and thoughtfully stopped long enough for me to run back inside and grab my camera.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Great New Tynt Tracer JavaScript
Have you ever had someone use one of your photos without permission, or even worse, "borrowed" your idea completely? I have just discovered the neatest little bit of javascript by Tynt, that can be added to your blog or website that alerts you every single time one of your visitors right-clicks and saves your content!
What does Tracer do?
Tracer secretly tracks when users copy content from your web site and automatically adds a link back to the original page when your content is pasted. Tracer allows you to view statistics on how often content is copied from your site, what that content is and what keywords are being copied most.
Friday, June 12, 2009
The Sea Horse
Every evening after we had finished for the day at our art show held Memorial Day weekend in Yachats, we would go roaming along the sandy beach to unwind. One evening, I spotted this wonderful piece of driftwood shaped like a seahorse. When I tried digging it up to bring home, I discovered it was actually a HUGE piece! LOL The next day when I went back to take more photos, it was nearly completely covered by the shifting sands.
Some Things Blue
It's cold and rainy outside, so I thought I would take the opportunity to photo some more items and add them to my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop! I wonder if the gloomy weather is what influenced my choices of blue today? LOL I actually love all shades of blue, especially the more organic shades as is evidenced in many of my pieces.
One of the new pieces added today, is another of my Old Irish Blessing Stones which has been glazed with a wonderfully earthy blue brown glaze. This unique 1 1/2" diameter pendant has been made to look like the Buckquoy spindle whorl, which was excavated in Buckquoy, Birsay, Orkney, Scotland in 1970. The old Irish Ogham inscription is believed to date back to the 8th century.
The unique Crescent Moon and Stars Ceramic Bobby Pin Set were made from a mold of an antique metal button. White earthenware clay and a pale turquoise glaze were used. The beautiful ceramic pieces are attached to 2 1/2 inch long silver plated bobby pins.
And the last added is another bobby pin set, "Tiny Tendrils", which are also made from earthenware clay. They have been kiln fired with the same rich, earthy blue brown glaze as the Blessing Stone mentioned above. The bobby pins measure 2 inches in length and are brass.
Don't forget! Everything in my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop ships for FREE!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Ceramic Bobby Pins
I finally got around to taking photos and listing some of my ceramic bobby pins in my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop. I sold several of these at our last show and had the best of intentions of getting them listed as soon as we returned from Yachats. We all know what is paved with good intentions ;)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Celtic Heart Ceramic Pendant
I made this dainty little baby blue Celtic heart ceramic pendant from earthenware clay. Like most of my ceramic jewelry, I have glazed it to have the appearance of an old piece. No two pieces ever come out of the kiln the same, so each piece is a unique treasure! This beautiful little pendant has an Aanraku bail attached and hangs from a suede cord which you can easily removed if you have a favorite chain you prefer to use.
You can find more photos of this item at the Etsy listing.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Back and Forth!
It's nice to have several online selling venues. I'm doing a little house cleaning and am in the process of moving some pieces back to my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop. Several of my international customers have been inquiring about buying some of the Celtic, Norse and Druid jewelry that had been listed in my 1000markets.com shop and since Amazon is the only payment system allowed there (and not available to international buyers) I thought I would move them back to Etsy. Wow, that was one long sentence! LOL All apologies to my past English instructors :)
You can now find my Druid's Eggs and Celtic Oghams in my Etsy shop, with more pieces to come in the future :)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
I've made a couple of rings.....
....or 20!Contrary to the popular belief that all I do is lay around eating bonbons and reading "True Confessions" all day, I've been busy :) I seem to go through periods of complete burnout, especially when I have an upcoming show, and then have a million ideas present themselves with only a few weeks left to create. In any case, I had to get it in gear to prepare for our show in Yachats which is only weeks away.
These rings are a new item for our 2009 show season, so if you happen to be in Yachats, Oregon May 24-25 be sure to check out the Crafts on the Coast show!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Spotlight on ArtsyBeat Blog!
Spotlight on ArtsyBeat Blog!I love finding nice things in my inbox! Today, I was contacted by the editor of the ArtsyBeat blog to let me know my "Dreams of Peace in Tibet" necklace had been featured in an article about "Charming Handcrafted Ceramic Jewelry".
This wonderful blog features artists of all mediums and has a lot of helpful information for artists such as tips for promoting and marketing your work.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
A Belated Birthday Present to Me!
I just bought myself a beautiful belated birthday present and I wanted to share! The fabulously unique wristlet pictured above was made by 1000markets artist "Cork and Cotton". Yes, the material the wristlet is made from is CORK! How cool is that?
Below, she describes this beautiful purse:
"Four different cork fabrics are used. Harmony for the main part and strap, and strips of Monaco, Dark Utopia and Casablanca for the front design. The interior cotton fabric is a Joel Dewberry's. A rust colored background with brown and cream pod flowers. Each cork seam is top stitched. A dark brown zipper keeps contents secure."If you'd like to learn more about how cork fabric is made, click here to visit her blog!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Norse Eihwaz Protection and Enlightenment Ceramic Pendant
I was recently contacted by one of my international customers asking if I would be putting any more Norse rune jewelry on Etsy. I had moved all of my Norse jewelry over to my 1000markets.com shop, but since they only use Amazon payments, my international customers weren't able to shop there. Hopefully one day 1000markets.com will allow international buyers, but until then, all of my Norse Rune jewelry will be found in my Etsy shop :)
I created this Eihwaz rune ceramic pendant from earthenware clay. It has been glazed with a rich blue glaze. No two pieces come out of the kiln the same! This 1" diameter pendant hangs from an 18 inch ball chain, which can be easily removed if you have a favorite chain you prefer to use. A gift box is included with your purchase.
The Eihwaz rune symbolizes protection, strength, reliability and enlightenment. Whether you are a practicing Druid, or just love the art of ancient traditions, this pendant would be a unique addition to your collection.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Have you heard of Inflammatory Breast Cancer?
Have you ever heard of Inflammatory Breast Cancer? I hadn't! My sister sent me a video that contains wonderful information about this relatively unheard of form of breast cancer. Please follow the link to the YouTube video to learn more about this aggressive form of breast cancer, then pass it along!
KOMO's Report on Inflammatory Breast Cancer
KOMO's Report on Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Saturday, April 11, 2009
What I've Been Workin' On Lately!
Since I gave myself "permission" to detach from the computer and the endless online marketing and promotion, I've actually gotten a few things made for our upcoming May show in Yachats :) I'm still working with the gorgeous antique Art Nouveau and Celtic button molds and have many more yet to use!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Ceramic "Round Wood" Faux Bois Pendant
I created this "Round Wood" faux bois (fake wood) piece from earthenware clay. It has been glazed with a malachite green glaze. Measuring about 1 1/4" in diameter, this pendant hangs from an 18" ball and chain necklace which you can easily remove if you have a favorite chain you prefer to use.
You can find this pendant in my Good Dirt Jewelry shop on 1000markets.com.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
New Ganesh Cameo Needle Minder
This is another cross-promotion for Grizzly Mountain Arts, which is my main business :)
We made this Ganesh cameo needle minder from a gorgeous vintage inspired resin cameo. We inlayed a rare earth magnet with clear resin on the back. We then set the cameo in a gold toned setting to give this needle minder a finished look. Dave encased another rare earth magnet into a piece of faux ivory (resin) that he turned on the lathe. Together, these beauties will "mind" your needle conveniently on your project!
~Who is Ganesh?~
Ganesh is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Hindu sects worship him regardless of other affiliations. Devotion to Ganesh is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India.
Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesh's elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesh is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles, patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.
In this cameo, Ganesh is shown holding a dagger and a lotus blossom. The dagger is believed to represent the Ganesh's ability to cut away obstacles and the Padma, or lotus blossom represents ascent of spirit to attain great heights.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Help Needed From My Buddhist Friends
I recently came into possession of an antique lead amulet from Burma. I have many wonderful plans for this exquisite deity, but I'm not sure who he/she is! At first, I thought perhaps he was Mahakala, the protector of monasteries since there are skulls beneath his feet, but Mahakala is always depicted with a fierce, tooth baring grimace. All of the images I found of the Buddha holding a sword, have the sword of justice held high in his right hand, not at his side. Another thing that is interesting about this amulet, is that the deity appears to be cradling a infant in the left arm leading me to speculate that this may be a female Buddha.
When I received this spectacular amulet, it had a wonderful patina on it which has now been removed thanks to the mold making process we use. I apologize in advance to all of the antique amulet collectors for doing this, but it had to be done for the sake of art :)
If you happen to know the name of this deity, or if you have a good guess, please leave me a note in the comments section. I want to be as accurate as possible in the descriptions that will accompany my ceramic pieces created from this beautiful object.
There are more photos posted of this amulet, including some close ups of it here if you would like to check them out.
Thank you! :)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Three Graces Ceramic Cameo Adjustable Ring
The Three Graces of Roman mythology, or Charities as they are known in Greek mythology, were thought to be Goddesses of charm, beauty and creativity. Some also believe they represented nature and fertility.
My "Three Graces" cameo was created from white earthenware clay and accented with a pale purple glaze. I have set it in a beautiful adjustable ring. More photos of this piece can be found in my Good Dirt Jewelry Etsy shop.
Don't forget--Shipping is always FREE :)
Monday, March 23, 2009
New Handmade Ceramic Cameo Pendants!
I have recently added some new handmade by me earthenware cameo pendants to my Grizzly Mountain Cache supply shop on Etsy! So far, I have added three of the floral cameos seen above in the photo and will try to get the rest of them uploaded tomorrow :) All of my handmade cameos have Aanraku bails, and can be used as you see fit in your fabulous jewelry creations!
If you would like to view more photos of these new pieces, please click here, or on the link above.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Etsy Price Reductions!
I have recently reduced the price on a few items in my Etsy Good Dirt Jewelry Shop! If you'd like to view these items, please click here, or on the link below the photo :)
MyShoppingConnection.com Feature!
How cool is this?! My Celtic Love Ogham ceramic pendant has been chosen for the most recent "mashup" on their site! Be sure and check out the myshoppingconnection.com site!
"One Old Bird" Aztec Ceramic Pendant
"One Old Bird" Aztec Ceramic PendantAn old Tibetan mala bead inlayed with turquoise and coral, adorns this earthenware pendant. The ceramic pendant features an impression of an Aztec quetzal.
The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. They were a civilization with a rich mythology and cultural heritage. The quetzal , a brightly colored Mesoamerican bird most commonly found in Aztec art, was thought by the Aztecs to be favored by their Gods because of it's beautiful plumage.
More photos of this pendant can be found in my Good Dirt Jewelry 1000markets.com shop.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Eihwaz "Enlightenment" Norse Rune Ceramic Pendant
I created this Eihwaz rune from earthenware clay. It has been glazed with a rich blue glaze. No two pieces come out of the kiln the same! If you would like to view more photos of this item, please visit the listing for this item in my Good Dirt Jewelry shop on 1000markets.com.
The Eihwaz rune symbolizes protection, strength, reliability and enlightenment.
Whether you are a practicing Druid, or just love the art of ancient traditions, this pendant would be a unique addition to your collection.
~What are Runes?~
According to Wikipedia, the runes were introduced to the Germanic peoples in the 1st or 2nd century AD. (The oldest known runic inscription dates to around 150 AD and is found on a comb discovered in the bog of Vimose, Funen,Denmark.[1] The inscription reads harja; a disputed candidate for a 1st century inscription is on the Meldorf fibula in southern Jutland). This period may correspond to the late Proto-Germanic or Common Germanic stage linguistically, with a continuum of dialects not yet clearly separated into the three branches of later centuries; North Germanic, West Germanic, and East Germanic.
~The Runes in Mythology~
In Norse mythology, the runic alphabet is attested to a divine origin (Old Norse: reginkunnr). This is attested as early as on the Noleby Runestone from around 600 CE that reads Runo fahi raginakundo toj[e'k]a...,meaning "I prepare the suitable divine rune..."[2] and in an attestation from the 9th century on the Sparlösa Runestone which reads Ok rað runaR þaR rægi[n]kundu,meaning "And interpret the runes of divine origin".
~History of Runes~
The runes developed centuries after the Mediterranean alphabets from which they are potentially descended. There are some similarities to alphabets of Phoenician origin (Latin, Greek, Italic) that cannot possibly all be due to chance; an Old Italic alphabet, more particularly the Raetic alphabet of Bolzano, is often advanced as a candidate for the origin of the runes, with only five Elder Futhark runes ( e, ï, j, ?, p) having no counterpart in the Bolzano alphabet(Mees 2000). This hypothesis is often denied by Scandinavian scholars, who usually favour a Latin origin for most or all of the runic letters (Odenstedt 1990; Williams 1996).[7] An Old Italic or "North Etruscan" thesis is supported by the inscription on the Negau helmet dating to the 2nd century BC (Markey 2001). This is in a northern Etruscan alphabet, but features a Germanic name, Harigast. New archaeological evidence came from Monte Calvario (Auronzo di Cadore).
~Runic Divination~
The earliest runic inscriptions found on artifacts give the name of either the craftsman or the proprietor, or, sometimes, remain a linguistic mystery. Due to this, it is possible that the early runes were not so much used as a simple writing system, but rather as magical signs to be used for charms.
Although some say the runes were used for divination, there is no direct evidence to suggest they were ever used in this way. The name rune itself, taken to mean "secret, something hidden", seems to indicate that knowledge of the runes was originally considered esoteric, or restricted to an elite.
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