Paper Cutting

I cannot believe what people can do with a pair of scissors and paper! All of these images are cut by HAND !!

Once again, the bottom 3 names are cut off, so here they are: I Do (I Dont) handmade board game, Origami Tulips, Reaching for a Star Card

Peaceful

This week I have been trying to take care of things. Get orders and other gifts shipped, give away boxes to Goodwill, organize... and even though I accomplished about half of what I wanted, it was still nice today to be able to come home from church and take a nice long nap, knowing that a lot of things had been taken care of.



The windows are open, there is a nice breeze and I can hear our subtle windchimes a-chiming. I saw Etsy's front page treasury and it totally explains my mood. I am including a treasury from the other day, because it too, is peacful. The screen shot cut off the bottom 3 artists, so let me credit them right quick.

(Spearmint Soap, Japanese Landscape Necklace
, Tan and Blue Bead Bracelet)

Farewell Black Ships

Every now and then I get kind of sad when something of mine sales. I get soooo happy that someone wanted to pay for one of my creations when they could have gotten one of sooo many others, but I miss my little creations!

This morning, I shipped off 3 of my favorite necklaces, and well, I just sold I think my absolute favorite. I think I have the materials to make one more... do I sale it, or keep it? Oh what to do...

Here are some other related items to take my mind off the pain :)

Lapomme Plushie


Tiddlywinks Pirate Bear


Liz Amend OOAK Fantasy Fairy (I can't wait to own one of her darlings).


In other news, I bid on a Blythe doll on Ebay last night. I probably won't get it, but I want it sooo bad! You'll see why.... very soon! Sooo, if anyone has a Blythe they would like to sell, OR chandeler prisms, or, really anything funky like skeleton keys and such... give me a hollar! And o, I didn't bid on this one... are you kidding me, it's awesome, but hello, I'm broke! It's revamped by Rogue Dolls, she's a beauty and just sold for a pretty penny.

Something Different

So, I started a thread about going broke for supplies several weeks ago, and I was amazed about how many people felt the same! I met another seller who just loves beads and ACEO's and we agreed to do a little trade. She "commishioned" some Die de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) ACEO's. I made 3, what do you think of them?



I have never done anything like that, but secretly always wanted to, but felt like I would be a "poser" (high school term, anyone?) for doing something out of my culture. I went to Tiajuana several years ago, almost got hit by a crazy taxi, didn't master the art of haggling, gave away lots of nickles for "chicle" children, and came back with a cute Day of the Dead figurine, but alas, that broke a long time ago! I did have a lot of fun there though!



So, I want to challenge everyone out there, to go and research a different cultural/ethnic topic, and to make a creation out of it. It may help you expand your mind, try a new color pallet or technique, and teach you a new appreciation for other art forms. It's good to get out of your element every now and then. When you want to feel safe again, go back into your box.



Yours eyes have been feasting on the amazing jewelry of the lady who will be recieving these ACEO's?! Her shop name is Susan Clare, and she specializes in trade beads and her handmade jewelry and they are truly beautiful! So, for your next supply or jewelry fix, you know where to look.

Easter and Cake

I found this amazing new Etsy seller while searching the tags for Marie Antionette, Elizabeth Knapp and I knew I had to do my first little artist feautre. Here is some neat-o info about her and a glimpse into her artistic world.

"I just graduated with my B.F.A in Painting and Drawing and I create art that makes me happy. I created this Etsy site just with my desert paintings and drawings. My inspiration is Wayne Thiebaud. I like to use a variety of mediums such as watercolors, pencils, acrylics, and collage. I love to bake cakes and decorate them and I use them as inspirations for my work."

She just sounds like the most amazing person!!



Now, a word on Easter. Last night, we watched Charelton Heston in The Ten Commandments. What a great movie! Despite many overdrawn narratives, over or under acting, and obvious deresions for the sake of theatrics, it is a good watch. However, because of it's extreme length and many many times of boredom, we accidentaly slept in and missed church! On Easter Sunday, no less. So, today, we are doing our own little service at home.



We are going to watch the "Restoration" video (you can watch it at the bottom of the page)and the "Finding Faith in Christ" DVD (this makes me tear up almost every time I watch it). We may also watch "The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd" , you can find it here to see a copy yourself. As many of you may or may not know, yes I am a Mormon, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and while religion won't be a huge topic on my blog, I had to say something since it is Easter Sunday.


(Del Parson Gethsemane painting)

No matter each person's faith, we all have a right and a duty to respect our own and each others. I love my Savior and the sacrifice He made so that I can be forgiven of my sooo many sins and that I can be reunited and live with my family again someday. I know that He loves us, He has given us many great works in the Bible and The Book of Mormon to help us gain greater understanding and improve our lives and happiness with His help. I am eternally greatful for the many men and women that have fought for religious freedom through persecution, and for Joseph Smith, who I know was a true prophet. I love my family very dearly and am so greatful that we have the Lord in our lives.


(Simon Dewy Resurrection painting)

Today, I feel so pretty and light and comfortable, because I am wearing this super soft and pretty bamboo shirt from Look For Fiddleheads.

Oh, and if you really love all things ballerina, then you must visit this blog post from Decor Amor (she even mentions my Prima Ballerina necklace in it, I will post a better picture of it for you though :)



Peace to you all and have a wonderful Easter!

10 Most Historically Innacurate Movies

I just had to include this Yahoo article, since I am a huge war/historical drama buff... so in part it's here to edumacate my readers, and in part it's here as a bookmark for myself :)


10,000 B.C.
Director Roland Emmerich is usually a stickler for realism (see: sending a computer virus via Macintosh to aliens in Independence Day). So we hate to inform him that woolly mammoths were not, in fact, used to build pyramids. Heck, woolly mammoths weren't even found in the desert. They wouldn't need to be woolly if that were the case. And there weren't any pyramids in Egypt until 2,500 B.C or so.


Gladiator
Emperor Commodus was not the sniveling sister-obsessed creep portrayed in the movie. A violent alcoholic, sure, but not so whiny. He ruled ably for over a decade rather than ineptly for a couple months. He also didn't kill his father, Marcus Aurelius, who actually died of chickenpox. And instead of being killed in the gladiatorial arena, he was murdered in his bathtub.



300
Though this paean to ancient moral codes and modern physical training is based on the real Battle of Thermopylae, the film takes many stylistic liberties. The most obvious one being Persian king Xerxes was not an 8-foot-tall Cirque du Soleil reject. The Spartan council was made up of men over the age of 60, with no one as young as Theron (played by 37-year-old Dominic West). And the warriors of Sparta went into battle wearing bronze armor, not just leather Speedos.


The Last Samurai
The Japanese in the late 19th century did hire foreign advisers to modernize their army, but they were mostly French, not American. Ken Watanabe's character was based on the real Saigo Takamori who committed ritual suicide, or "seppuku," in defeat rather than in a volley of Gatling gun fire. Also, it's doubtful that a 40-something alcoholic Civil War vet, even one with great hair, would master the chopsticks much less the samurai sword.


Apocalypto
This one movie has given entire Anthropology departments migraines. Sure the Maya did have the odd human sacrifice but not to Kulkulkan, the Sun God, and only high-ranking captives taken in battle were killed. The conquistadors arriving at the end of the film made for unlikely saviors: an estimated 90% of indigenous American population was killed by smallpox from the infected Spanish pigs.


Memoirs of a Geisha
The geisha coming-of-age, called "mizuage," was really more of a makeover, where she changed her hairstyle and clothes. It didn't involve her getting... intimate with a client. In the climactic scene where Sayuri wows Gion patrons with her dancing prowess, her routine - which involves some platform shoes, fake snow, and a strobe light - seems more like a Studio 54 drag show than anything in pre-war Kyoto.


Braveheart
Let's forget the fact that kilts weren't worn in Scotland until about 300 years after William Wallace's day and just do some simple math. According to the movie, Wallace's blue-eyed charm at the Battle of Falkirk was so overpowering, he seduced King Edward II's wife, Isabella of France, and the result of their affair was Edward III. But according to the history books, Isabella was three years old at the time of Falkirk, and Edward III was born seven years after Wallace died.


Elizabeth: The Golden Age
In 1585, when the movie takes place, Queen Elizabeth was 52 years old - Cate Blanchett was 36 when she shot the film - and was not being courted by suitors like Ivan the Terrible (who was dead by then). And though the movie has her rallying the troops at Tilbury astride a white steed in full armor with a sword, in fact she rode side saddle, carrying a baton. She was more of a regal majorette than Joan of Arc.


The Patriot
Revolutionary War figure Francis "The Swamp Fox" Marion was the basis for Mel Gibson's character, but he wasn't the forward-thinking family man they show in the flick. He was a slave owner who didn't get married (to his cousin) until after the war was over. Historians also say that he actively persecuted and murdered native Cherokees. Plus, the thrilling Battle of Guilford Court House where he vanquishes his British nemesis? In reality, the Americans lost that one.


2001: A Space Odyssey
According to this film, in year 2001 we would have had manned voyages to Jupiter, a battle of wits with a sentient computer, and a quantum leap in human evolution. Instead we got the Mir Space Station falling from the sky, Windows XP, and Freddy Got Fingered. Apparently the lesson here is that sometimes it's better when the movies get the facts all wrong.

Creating

Yesterday, a friend and I got together and made jewelry togther for several hours. It was fun and relaxing and I came home with so many new designs! I finally was able to update Jeweled Ambrosia a little... but there are still so many more things to photograph!

I would like to highlight a new Etsy seller, vusova that has some of the cutest artwork I have seen in a long time. She uses watercolor and collage in her work, and that is a combination that I think is quite original. Her Foxy Fox is one of my favorites.



It would have easily fit in with today's wonderful front page treasury!!