Another Artist in the Family...

 I am so proud to announce that out of thousands of talented students in this Capital Region, my Grandson Seth was chosen to display his artwork in the 25th Annual Arts and Enrichment Student Art Show.

 Here he is standing next to the piece his art teacher chose to represent his school. He was a little overwhelmed with the attention we were giving this achievement, but he took it like a pro and posed for this picture next to his art work.

There were so many wonderful pieces of art exhibited at the show, but as you can see, i only had eyes for this fabulous artist...

Make yourself comfortable...

If we all learned to relax like our cats    

Maybe this world would be a better place...

More new Rosaries for Spring!

 I am obsessed with rosary making...just can't stop myself. I love making them and holding them, and i have to detach myself from each and every one or i would keep them all!

 The pocket rosaries are fun to make because i can use bigger and oddly shaped stones, and it all works! This pocket rosary is made of lovely multi colored and banded fluorite beads

and this one is made of tiger eye beads

 and this one is made of beautiful clear sparkly cut glass crystal beads, and has a tumbled piece of blue lace agate for the Pater bead.

  This is my first Anglican Rosary, made of golden sponge coral beads and gold lipped shell coin beads, and a lovely bronze crucifix

And there are more traditional Catholic rosaries, like this one made out of amber colored cut glass crystal, and the wire, cross and center piece are gold tone.

i think this one is my favorite so far. The cut glass crystal Ave beads are pale silvery blue, and the Pater beads are decorative Bali silver beads....For more information on my rosary work, stop by and visit my Etsy shop and take a closer look!

Hot Hannah

 I still cannot believe that is a comfortable seat for Hannah Pearl.

It is a gas stove, but is made of cast iron, and it gets pretty hot when it is running high like that...I guess some really do like it hot!

Cat and Mouse

By one of my favorite artists, Lola. I Love the cats paw pads...and i think the mouse is already a ghost...

New Rosaries in the Shop!

 I've been taking a little break from knitting and crocheting to give my hands and fingers a little break. So what do i do? Pick up the metal smithy tools and start bending wire. Talk about being hard on your fingers and hands....

 Lately i've been obsessed with making rosaries and chaplets. I find it to be

 just as relaxing as knitting and crochet. This is a full sized, hand chained traditional style rosary.

 A full sized hand chained rosary takes a long time to put together. You have to prepare and stretch the wire, plan your design, and bend the hard wire around each and every bead, connecting them as you go along. It's well worth the time and effort tho, because once finished you have an heirloom quality rosary made to be passed down to friends and family. This rosary is made with beautiful blood red and sparkling clear faceted glass crystal beads.

I also make smaller, more affordable pocket sized hand chained rosaries. They consist of one full decade of the rosary, and are meant to be more portable. I make these smaller versions the same exact way as the full sized rosaries

This one is made of the semi precious stone, Tiger Eye, and has a modern masculine feel to me, but is suitable for both men and women

and this pocket rosary is made of semi precious fluorite rondelle beads i chose for their variety of colors.

For more information on my rosaries, pocket rosaries, mala  and prayer beads, please visit my shop, Moon*&*Stars Studio, or click here

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

 We had a super busy weekend here. The weather was lovely-mid 50's on Saturday and some sun shining down on us. On Saturday we went to my Mom and Dad's house to color Easter Eggs.

 Seth, the oldest cousin, was a Master at egg dyeing. Lola and her cousin Ryan did a great job too!

 This was Zoey's first Easter, and i was watching her while the kids were coloring eggs, when she reached over and tipped the green egg dye all over the table , and her pants too.

 She didn't seem to mind at all....

Lola LOVES hard boiled eggs, and ate almost as many as she dyed.

 Seth contemplating his next moves. He is an artist thru and thru...

Next morning, Easter Morning, we all went to Katie's house and had and Easter egg hunt and brunch.

 Here's Jack and Ryan with their loot. We missed cousin Lukie, who was sick all Easter weekend...poor kid....

 Lo posing with her egg bucket full to the brim

 And here's Zoey watching from the sidelines. Next year she'll be running around with the rest of them!

Here's a close up of Zoey and her Easter bunny. Can you see her little choppers coming in on her bottom gums? Lots of drooling going on....

  The brunch was wonderful. Everyone pitched in and made special dishes to share. It's always great to get together with Family. And i got to snuggle with my two little bunnies...

Happy Easter and Happy Spring to Everyone!

New Rosary in the Shop!

 There is a new traditional hand chained rosary in my Etsy shop. It is made from solid 20 gage German silver wire, and is durable and made to last.

 The Ave (Hail Mary)beads on this full sized rosary are 8mm Blue Lace Agate beads and the Pater (Our Father) beads are jewelry quality 12 mm Blue Chalcedony beads. I've included a close up photo of the beads so you can see the soft blue banding on the Blue Lace beads, and the translucent deep blue beauty of the Blue Chalcedony beads.The crucifix is a reproduction of an antique piece and is made in Italy. The center connector medal, for me the "heart" of the rosary, is Our Lady of Guadalupe. This one of a kind rosary is a full 24 inches in length and has a nice weight when held in your hand...

 All while making my prayer beads and rosaries i continuously send healing Reiki energy into the stones, glass and metal i am working with. Glass, stone and metal are excellent conductors and transmitters of energy.

 Here's some Crystal Lore about the stones used in the rosary:

Blue Lace Agate has a gentle energy and is known as a calming stone. It is said to bring tranquility and aids in prayer and meditation(making it the perfect stone for a rosary) Blue Lace Agate helps one speak their truth, and is a stone of communication. It works with the throat chakra.

Blue Chalcedony brings balance to body, mind and Spirit, and aids in mental and emotional peace. This stone also works with the throat chakra as well as the crown chakra...

For more information on this rosary or my shop, click here

Stella...

Our sweet Stellabella

Many Sisters~the Las Cumplidoras Group thru Kiva

Nine entrepreneurial women make up Las Cumplidoras Trust Bank. They are neighbors and friends from Olintepeque City, a 20-minute drive from Quetzaltenango in western Guatemala. Since the group was formed a few years ago, these ingenious women have expanded their businesses and increased their income, which has allowed them to support their families in ways they formerly thought impossible.

As a new member of the group, Eva Maria, is starting her first loan cycle. She is 20 years old and a mother of two boys (a three year-old toddler and a five month-old baby). Both Eva Maria and her husband work to earn money for their family. Her husband is a toy merchant and Eva Maria raises pigs. She currently owns four pigs, but has plans to double that number with the loan she obtained from her involvement in the Friendship Bridge Trust Bank. The increased income will further Eva Maria’s dream of going back to school. Her formal education was interrupted with the birth of her first son when she was in 8th grade, but she is excited about the non-formal education that Friendship Bridge provides with the loans. In the meantime, the money she earns will help ensure her own children complete school.

Along with Eva Maria, the ladies of Las Cumplidoras Trust Bank are engaged in various enterprises including sewing, the sale of chickens, fruit, food, and traditional clothing; and the management of a convenience store. On average these women have four children, each of whom they hope to provide a good education and continued good health. These important goals are now in reach because of the monthly training they receive from Friendship Bridge along with their loans. Lessons cover topics such as self-esteem, children's rights, business management, money management, budgeting, and savings. To learm more about this group or Kiva, click here

I Just Watched~ Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I Loved it....

Little Plum

 My daughter Carly requested a Plum Dumpling hat for Zoey

 So here she is modeling it for me

She IS a cute little dumpling, isn't she???

Can you see the stem and the leaves on top?

A Spring request- a pink posie hat made of 100% all natural cotton.

more orchids

 

It finally bloomed!

The Landfill Harmonic

This is so inspiring to me. Please watch...

And here is more of their story...
 

Punxsuttawney Phil...go back to bed

 This is the scene out my window today..... 

The snow is falling petty heavy right now, and tho i would much prefer sunshine and warmth,the snow is beautiful

It's piling up tho, and Stella, the smallest of my dogs, waits till the bigger dogs make tracks in the snow and then uses their paths . I'd say we've got about 5 inches on the ground and counting...

Hmmmm....

So much for an early Spring!