Look What I Made

It's been over a year since I last used my sewing machine! I recently got the urge to sew again. As my first project back into sewing I decided to make something for myself. This is pretty unusual since I'm generally making things for other people and hardly find the time to make something for myself. So, I am really happy with how well this tote turned out!

I used Anna Marie Horner's Multi-Tasker Tote pattern. And, Amy Butler fabric.

It's been finished for 2 days and has already been put to good use by accompanying my family and I on a trip to the beach.

Simple Cucumber Treat

I thought I'd take a moment to share my favorite Summer time snack.
I assemble this simple recipe almost everyday during warm weather. It's easy, yummy and refreshing during hot Summer days.

You'll need:
1 cucumber
1/2 a lemon
2 tbs olive oil
garlic salt to taste (you can also use sea salt with fresh minced garlic)

Slice cucumber and place into bowl.
squeeze lemon juice onto cucumber slices.
add olive oil
add garlic salt
stir
enjoy

Interview with Loriann of Plumevine

I have been a huge fan of the exquisite Plumevine jewelery for some time now. Each one is not just beautiful, but also a small reminder that there is magic all around us.

So when Loriann agreed to do an interview with me, I was eager to learn more about her!
Here it is!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico to a third generation family of Spaniards with some Irish strands in the mix.

My childhood memories involve mostly long hours in offices. Being surrounded by desks, typewriters, photocopy machines, paper, tape, pens and all sorts of office paraphernalia. You'd be amazed just how quickly a child finds ways to entertain herself with such things.

I suppose having so much time to myself also became a wild breeding ground for the imagination. But there are also plenty of memories in sunny beaches, coastal islands and fishing trips.

It was a charming boy that got me to the other side of the world, here in the surreally beautiful land of trolls, dark winters and midnight suns.



Where do you find inspiration for your work?

A misty dream world where all majestic creatures imagined reside. Something very abstract and undefined that is very akin to nature, and those qualities about nature that make us believe in magic, such as rainbows, stars, the aurora borealis, crystals, iridescent sea creatures and flowers.

Antoni Gaudi has been a massive inspiration for me as well as the Art Nouveau period, and films like The Neverending Story and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.



How/when did you get started creating your unique jewelery?

I started working with wire and beads about six years ago. I did a series called "Elemental Necklaces", which was a collection of necklaces with colours, materials and symbols that were akin to each of the four elements. I wanted to make a bridge between faeries and nature, and items of power that people could wear on a regular basis. To act as a sort of reminder of the magic of life.

Later on I took a sculpting course to try out new things and get my hands in the earth. I did some pottery until I learned about other types of clays and the wide variety of things you can do with them. That's when I started to work on the technique for my current jewellery, but the concept took about a year to put together. I wanted to present something that I absolutely loved and I suppose that took a bit long. Then Plumevine was born in 2006.


What do you enjoy doing when not making jewelry?

In order to photograph the jewellery I got a really nice camera and have really enjoyed experimenting with it. Going around and just taking pictures, feels like bringing home a goody bag, for free!

I also love delving into raw food preparation and have been enjoying yoga lately. Just recently I started to work on dolls which is really addictive! And as those who read my blog might've noticed, I have a long-standing affinity for astrology.


You may find Plumevine on the web at: Plumevine.com
My blog "Naiad Dawns" can be found through: Naiad Dawns
Plumevine is also on Facebook for quick updates, at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Plumevine/69710423366

Stamp Carving Class

I'm super excited to be teaching my very first stamp carving class at Pleasant Memories in Dublin, CA next Friday! The class is at 11am. And, if anyone is interested in joining in there are a few spots open still.

I've created kits that include everything you need to get started carving your own stamps (I'll soon have the kits available in my Etsy shop too!)
A select few of my stamps (a couple of my best sellers) are also available at Pleasant Memories now too!

!!Winner!!

I had planned on accompanying this post with photos of myself cutting names out, folding them up, and having my oldest son pull one out of a jar.
All of that did happen, I assure you, but the batteries in my camera ran out of juice and refused to let me take even one last picture!

None the less, the winner of the giveaway has been chosen!

And the winner is........Wabisabinaturals

Thanks to everyone who left such kind comments. They were really appreciated by both myself and Mary Ann!

And, If you didn't win, not to worry! This was just the first of many giveaways I plan to do on my blog!!

Fairy Garden Update

Now that Summer is in full swing my little garden has transformed a bit. I thought I'd share a few pictures I took a couple of weeks ago (yes, a couple weeks ago! With moving and trying to keep up with orders I hadn't found the time until now to share these! Thankfully this garden is actually located in my mother's yard, so the move didn't effect my keeping up with it!)

The Chamomile has taken over the space and seems to be really happy in this shady little corner of the yard. They've turned into giant bushes of delicate, fragrant flowers. And, although it's not visible from the photo, I'm happy to report that the maidenhair fern has begun to grow. Which tells me that my uprooting it, chopping it down to just a few stems and replanting over a few feet didn't kill it! Sadly, I can not say the same for the passionflower vine. It died soon after I transplanted it.

So, I didn't get as much planted here as I'd hoped. I wanted to add some ferns in the back, and maybe a stepping stone or two. I'll call it a work in progress, as are many things in my life....