New Bracelets!

I've been busy making Pea Soup bracelets. They're so fun. The hardest part is not popping them all right onto my arm to keep LOL. I've saved some for you and they're in my Etsy shop Dreamkeeper Creations.

Faces of Humanity Pea Soup Friendship Bracelets

At first I only kept two, which I wore along with a wonderful stretch gemstone bracelet, also available at Dreamkeeper Creations on Etsy.

Gemstone and Silver Stretch Bracelets

But then I fell in love with another one, so now I'm wearing four. They're fun because each one is different.

Jasper, jade, agate, a fun mood bead, speckle glass cube, and spiral of life beads.

These make great friendship bracelets because they each include a "Face of Humanity" bead, but the other beads on each one are all different. So you have a mix of what we have in common with what makes us unique. How fun....

Thanks for checking in! 
Namaste

Flying with the Fairies

My watercolor muse has been visiting again. Ah, sweet hours with music and color and line and the peace of unbroken concentration. My husband had to remind me to eat....

Flying with the Fairies

The story behind this watercolor, inspired yet again by my lovely and entertaining friend Anita, is that she found herself enchanted by a huge, fuzzy, furry flying object (HFFFO) in her beautiful garden. She posted about it on Facebook and a friend of hers, Stan, who's a phenomenal photographer, put up some photos he'd taken of another HFFFO, which turned out to be a hummingbird moth. I did some Internet research to find more closeup photos, and the ones by novembergale at Wonderphotos are the BEST.

We'd never seen anything like it - the fuzziness of its tiny feathers are charming. Anita and I got together to extol its virtues, and here's how the conversation went -

Anita: Doesn't it just make you think of fairies! Jen, you've got to paint this.

Me: YES! I can just imagine a little elf friend going for a ride.

Anita: Me too, but how would he stay on?

Me: Well, he could hold onto those fluffy antennas.

Anita (eyes big, hands pressing hard on her cheeks): I don't know if I would want someone tugging on my antennas if I were a hummingbird moth. 

Me: Do you remember when you were a kid and you'd ride your bike and hold your arms out to the sides just feeling the wind?

Anita: YES!

Me: That's what the elf will be doing, I'll do it. I'll paint it. Perhaps my muse will find a way for him to hold on.

The result - when I drew it in pencil, the little elf's feet were nicely tucked under where the wing joins the shoulder on the hummingbird moth. But while I was busy painting the colors, he untucked them. Fairies can be a bit mischievous that way, you know. I don't think his friend will let him fall off, do you?

The drawing took about 5 hours and the painting another several. I lost count. The size is 7 x 9 5/8 inches. Nothing like a nice round number, eh? That's gonna cost when I frame it. Am sooo running out of wall space in my house.

What fun : )

Namaste

Meet Vix, Jewelry Model Extraordinaire!

Say hello and introduce yourself, here she is! It's Victoria!

She's a tad shy but warming up quickly....

She arrived yesterday in a Very Large Box, all the way from Roxy Display in East Brunswick, New Jersey. I'll bet she has some stories to tell, being from New Jersey and all, where I spent some "interesting" years growing up. 

I must confess, I had put off bringing in a mannequin because, frankly, I was a little spooked by the thought of some naked graven image just waiting like something out of a scary movie to catch me unawares in the sacred recesses of my studio where I spend plenty of time during midnight and wee hours.... 

It didn't help when I opened The Box to find her wrapped in white foam like a mummy. I hesitantly kept going, removing the mummy wrap and the little white spongy face mask she was wearing like women sometimes sleep in (to protect her nose I think), and once she was born, I was very pleasantly surprised - yay! Naked she was, but not creepy at all. I picked her up (she doesn't weigh a thing - I'm jealous) and brought her over to where the latest jewelry for Dreamkeeper  Creations awaits upload to Etsy.

It wasn't even a minute til I was draping her in earrings, necklaces, shawls, hats, and all manner of mood makers. I swear her smile increased and she loved showing off for you.

Victoria begins to show off....

So I practiced dressing her up so you can see how the necklaces hang, and how long the earrings are, and practiced taking photos.

Sexy Vic showing off her love of sandcastles.

Vic played along nicely, and I was having the time of my life, announcing to my husband, who went searching for hats until her wig arrives, that it was like playing dolls again, only better! 

Vic waiting for her wig, which will be just the right touch....

So here's Victoria all dressed up in Dreamkeeper jewelry, almost ready to party, but for the arrival of her wig. 

Which, happily, arrived today, hurrah!

Vic, happily showing off her Dreamkeeper Creations Jewelry!

So here's Vic, maybe I should call her Vix cause she's such a vixen, all dressed up with her hat, her hair, and her Dreamkeeper jewelry. We should all look so good! I know we can feeeel this good! You'll see Vix (she's now officially christened) helping me in my Etsy shop to let you know how our jewelry looks on the body to help make your mood! Such a nice employee, she works for free : ))

Namaste

White Paper and Black Ink = Magic

When I see a perfectly smooth, blank piece of pure white paper, my hands begin to tingle and my mind goes to its happy place, opening to the magic of the trance state that doing artwork brings about. I'm never quite certain how an image is going to come out, but I can tell from the first line if it's going to be any good.

Rose in Full Bloom

Several years ago, one of the houses I lived in in California had 25 rose bushes planted around the perimeter of the yard. The neighborhood was low-income, near an airport, so the planes would fly low overhead and regularly drown out the sounds of the TV or music, and there were strong iron bars on all the windows and doors. I spent time nurturing those roses, and they bloomed for me in the most beautiful rainbow of colors. I loved them so much that I couldn't resist drawing them.

Rose Untwirling

I used a pointillist technique, with a set of very fine Rapidograph pens, capturing the shadows and light across the petals and leaves of the roses. Each beautiful flower had its own expression, almost like a personality. I felt I was capturing a moment in time.

Trinities

I fell in love with each of them, and when I look at these drawings that I did so many years ago, I can still see the vibrant colors of each rose in my mind's eye. Each drawing took about 12 hours, and it was so peaceful to work on them while listening to my favorite music. Sometimes early in the morning, sometimes late at night, sometimes with my children watching at my elbow in the evenings.

Seated Girl

  Here's a drawing of a seated girl - which turns out years later to look just like my beautiful daughter does now. Maybe I was dreaming her future alive.

Wolf People (Group Think)

I also love to work in color, and this is an image I did for a series of Native American myths. I loved spending time at the Museum of Man in beautiful Balboa Park, doing research to find out about the clothing, architecture, and traditions of these people. They were very wise. This painting depicts what happens to people when they don't think for themselves, instead, subscribing to the shallowness of "group think."

Part of the story behind this image is that the two little boys, Coyote's grandsons, that this village had kidnapped and tied to the centerpole, have escaped. The village men had kidnapped them in order to capture their light (enlightenment), because the village had no light (stuck in group think). The woman is Tildee, a holy woman, who is clucking at their stupidity. The men were seduced into sleep by Coyote's bees (guardians of life) and while they were sleeping Coyote glued their hair with pine pitch and escaped with his grandsons with the help of the Mice Men (mouse represents scrutiny; Coyote is always the teacher who makes things obvious when we don't pay attention - often using humor, he tricks us into realization).

The Light is Protected

 What happens next in the story is that the Wolf People chase after Coyote and his grandsons, but they can't find them because Coyote and his grandsons have jumped into the middle of a buckeye tree, which is protecting them. The tree, with its roots that go deep into the Earth, and branches that stretch to the sky and soak up the sunlight, represents the joining of the physical with the spiritual to make wholeness. The story teaches that without the grace of Spirit, we are in the dark, like the Wolf People.

Native American stories are not just for children. They have layers of teaching that offer deeper meaning depending on one's stage in life. Some of them are very funny too. I love them. I love to illustrate them. Will be doing more of this - keep in touch to see!

Namaste

New Treasures at Dreamkeeper Creations

After I finished the watercolor last week, I went right back to the lovely beads, and have some new treasures for you up in my Etsy shop, Dreamkeeper Creations.

Lotus Necklace

This lovely blue and green necklace reminds me of the peace of Monet's gardens - Nature holds the best kind of peace and healing for us in so very many ways. The lotus flower is revered by many cultures. It represents enlightenment because it begins its growth in the mud, which is akin to our physical world and lower level experiences here on Earth. When it reaches maturity, the beautiful blossoms reach up for the light of the sun, signifying purity; the growth gained from experience in the in-between world (water for the flower that eventually reaches the air, Earth for us until we reach the spirit world).

 

Red and Gold LOVE Necklace

I LOVE this necklace - it's spunky and bright, happy and carefree. Red is the color of vitality, held in the base chakra. It is what makes our hearts sing and lightens our steps. The focal bead is a very tactile chunky glass cylinder shape with a speckled square glass bead above, and a red circular bead which to me, always represents the continuation of life, or wholeness.

Amber Glass and Jade Earrings

These Amber Glass and Jade earrings show off the new style I've been playing with. I love the dangly beads on the bottom, and have found a place to get beautiful silver caps that finish off the ends so nicely. You'll see a lot more of this style at Dreamkeeper Creations.

Silver End Caps on Amber Glass Teardrop Earrings

 And here's a sneak peek at a new Light Catcher piece I made. Some people like to use these as bookmarks too. This one's made with a handpainted Peruvian monkey bead and a carved bone accent bead. It includes wood and glass beads as well. Sparkles like nobody's business hanging in the car from your rear view mirror.

Peruvian Monkey Light Catcher

 I'll close for now, and get back to work on more treasures. Thanks for checking in!

Namaste

Little Mole's Journey To Heaven

I got a bit distracted from the beadwork and had to paint for a couple of days. Here's the result along with its story - it may eventually turn into a little children's book.

Little Mole All Dressed Up To Go To Heaven

This painting is called All Dressed Up To Go To Heaven, and it's inspired by my friend Anita's somewhat macabre photos. She came across a poor little mole in her garden that we think had been killed by a cat. Anita, with her soft heart, wrapped him in a soft green leaf and picked special flowers for his grave. She placed them with him before his solemn interment and took a couple of photos along the way (she can't help it, camera fever's got her through and through). When I found out she had photos of the little mole I asked her if she'd send them to me because it's always really valuable for an artist to see an animal up close so we can draw them accurately.

We both agreed that something about this little guy reminded us of children's book characters, so I promised her I'd paint him as one. Little did I know my artist's muse would dress him up and restore him to life - YAY!

In the painting, he's wearing red suspenders and a little black vest. This came into my mind because my husband has been cleaning out the basement this summer and we came across some adorable red suspenders that his son wore when he was not even two years old, and a little black vest as well.

The story behind the painting is that the little mole is in his spirit form, saying thank you to his old body, which served him well. He's bestowing a beautiful orange flower upon it before he hops off up the hill to play in the garden in the sky kingdom. 

Happy journeys Little Mole....

The painting took about 9 hours, and is done with Winsor and Newton watercolors. I dream of the days when I have enough time to paint. I don't allow myself to do it much right now because I tend not to sleep (or eat or anything else) when I'm painting, and I have to keep enough discipline about myself for my full-time job. But someday I'll be able to devote much more time, and it will be marvelous fun.

This little painting is important for the message it brings about the spirit continuing on after it no longer needs the physical body. If I do write a children's book, the story will begin with the end, and it will have little Angel Moles and other creatures in the Sky Garden. Because of this belief I have in the continuation of life, I like to sign off with the acknowledgment of the recognition of the spirit in all people, the spirit in you,

Namaste

Quality Beads - Which Ones Are Best?

Agate Focal Bead with Jade and Agate Accent Beads

In my research, I come across many bead artists' blogs and I'm always surprised when I find posts that express a dislike for beads from China or India. What I find most important is the condition of the beads - are they well taken care of? Or are they chipped, cracked, badly shaped, poorly cut? Those are the ones I consider unsuitable for my work. Some beads, such as the gemstone agate bead in the necklace above, have their own little quirks and foibles, like a rough spot or a color splotch, and this always reminds me of the Native American saying that nothing is perfect in this world, perfection only lives in the world of Spirit. In fact, in many of their artistic beaded creations you can find what they call a "Spirit Bead," one that doesn't fit with the rest of the design, which is added to honor that understanding.

The origin of the beads I use isn't necessarily a factor in my decision when purchasing them, in fact I love the exotic origins of the beads I work with, and the ones I get from China and India are exquisite when set off by accent beads that complement their colors. Like people, they really shine when they're in just the right setting.

Oblong Puffed Glass Swirl Focal Bead from China

 I could tell from the energy when I was making the necklace above that this bead really wants to be a necklace. Everything went so smoothly when I was doing the metalwork and choosing the sister beads that would go with it. And when I took the photo and saw how the bead catches and throws the light I knew it was made for someone special. Beads are like that - they hold energy, they have "personality" in that some of them really love to twirl around on their sterling eye pin, and they warm against your skin when you wear them.

East Indian Flat Oval Glass Bead

Here's an example of a Rainbow Necklace I made with East Indian Oval Glass Beads. These beads are somewhat heavy, with bubbles and imperfections in them, and sometimes the sides aren't perfectly smooth. But when I wear my Rainbow Necklace it feels so good, the weight of it and the little nuances of shape that entertain my fingers. The necklace feels earthy and lends a wonderful grounding energy, plus I can wear it with anything, even, on occasion, some of my other pendant necklaces, or just plain silver chains.

Czech Oval Glass Beads

In contrast, here's another Rainbow Necklace I made, this time with oval glass beads that come from the Czech Republic. I bought them, not because I thought they were better, but because I couldn't find the ones from East India! It was very interesting to create the same design using different quality beads. These are very well manufactured, as you can tell by the uniform shape of each bead, its smoothness, the color saturation, and the form. Of course they are more expensive to buy, but they're not necessarily "better." When I wear this necklace, it feels much lighter, doesn't have the same weight and heft as the other one when you pick it up, and when I run my fingers over the beads, they feel uniformly the same, which is neither good nor bad, but definitely different. The level of color saturation is neither good nor bad either, but it makes a difference when I'm choosing what to wear. Some outfits (and moods) lend themselves best to the clean lines and uniformity of the Czech necklace, and others meld best with the earthiness of the East Indian Beads.

So there you have it - my thoughts on which beads are best. A beautiful bead is a beautiful bead, and like people, the beauty is in the eye (or mood!) of the beholder.

Both necklace designs are available in my Etsy shop, Dreamkeeper Creations.

Garden Gnome with Handpainted Chinese Focal Bead

Speaking of earthiness, I've been busy making lots of new necklaces, and you can see many of them in my Etsy shop. I spent a great deal of time figuring out an affordable way to wear them, and have found good vendors for round leather in a multitude of delicious colors, so I can make the necklace part. I think many other beaders are doing the same thing, because I find that the sterling silver hook and eye fasteners are mostly out of stock. Don't worry, I have a good supply, so you'll see more necklaces becoming available. I love these leather necklaces because it allows me to choose the best color that will enhance the colors in the overall design itself. I don't sell the leather necklaces separately, but you can request a different color for a pendant you're considering if you have a preference - just convo me on Etsy.

Thanks for checking in. If you'd like to stay in touch, sign in and "follow" my blog.

Ah sweet spring with summer just around the corner! Back to the enchantment of gorgeous weather, soft sunrises, fireflies, and gorgeous earthy creations.

Namaste

I've Missed You

UPDATE on the post below: I've decided for now not to sell through Tait or other shops around town because in order to do that, they each would charge me between 20 and 40% of each item sold. That means that in order to stay in business I'd have to mark up my jewelry to ridiculously unaffordable levels. I want to continue to use really excellent quality materials, good leather, sterling silver, really beautiful beads, enchanting charms, so the best venue to get them from me to you is definitely Etsy!

In some of my creations I use handmade beads that are more expensive, but the real cost is in the metals. I am careful to use only lead-free materials and established metals that will not bring illness when worn. I also take the time to do the work necessary to make sure your special treasure lasts a long time, so that means no cheap metals that can "turn" color, eye pins that are strong and thick enough to withstand frequent wear, and moderate costs. Thanks for your appreciation of the quality that goes into my work!

Amazing how time flies when you're having fun! I've been busy creating a selection of jewelies to bring down to Tait Farm so that local shoppers can choose their treasures in person as well as on my Etsy shop, Dreamkeeper Creations. Tait has an amazing selection of gift items in their shop at the farm, ranging from yummy homegrown edibles to plants, and jewelry made by local artists. It's a great place to shop for presents.

Here's a snapshot of the display I'm loading up.

Earrings Getting Ready to Show Off Their New Owners

The right-hand side of this display rack has lots of space for Dreamkeeper Pendants, and I've been working on getting the round leather necklaces prepared. Another irresistibly artsy wee hour Friday night....

Wait til you see how these lovely colors go with the pendants - too fun!

The other thing I worked on last night was little Mung. She's all dressed up and ready to go, let me know what you think! She has a new neck ribbon, and fine little shoes on her happy feet.

Mung with Her New Neck Ribbon

Little Mung's Fancy Feet

I love seeing Mung with her hands resting on her head, she looks very satisfied with her world. But a friend of mine wanted to see her with her arms down, so I took out the stitch that held them in place and replaced it with a cute pink straight pin, so voila, now she can relax when she wants to.

Mung Gets a Rest

 Having her arms down also lets you play with her hair, which is soothing - to run the fringe through your fingers. She loves the attention.

Only Her Hairdresser Knows For Sure....

I look forward to posting more often, to show you the new items that'll be going up on Dreamkeeper Creations.

Namaste

Shopping Online at Dreamkeeper Creations

Rear View Mirror Jewelry

So I've made some new creations available for you - you can see them in my Etsy shop at Dreamkeeper Creations - they range from about $10.95 (unique and special items really great for gifting like the one above) to higher priced items great for collecting.

In favor of purchasing online in case it feels a bit intimidating, rest assured that if you have questions or concerns, I'll work hard to answer them and to satisfy you, just send me a note through Etsy.

In favor of the environment, I feel it's better to use delivery services right from the artist  rather than take up too much Earth space with shops, strip malls, warehouses, etc. I love the idea of cutting down on the middle men and lean towards "deliver on demand" and online purchasing.

Rear View Mirror Jewelry

I so understand the need to touch, to feel, to turn an item around in your hand and see all of its sides, feel its energy, feel the hang and weight of it. In my photos, I try to turn my treasures around so you can imagine if you were able to touch them and hold them, how they look and feel from all sides. Their energy is the one thing I can only describe, can't really impart to you online, but you may be able to get a sense of it by looking at the colors, the stones, the charms, and reading the descriptions. I work hard to make your purchases a confirming experience, so you'll feel comfortable shopping at Dreamkeeper Creations.

Goddess Pendant

I also understand that the one thing that seems to be the huge obstacle in purchasing is the affordability of the material to keep these gems close to your body - the sterling necklace chains are expensive I know, so I've bought some lace leather - the flat kind you can knot at whatever length you please, completely adjustable  (in beautiful colors too) - and this would be the way to go to begin. Check out the Supplies section of my Etsy Shop to see all the options available for what to wear these pendants on. If you want to dress up for specials then you can decide whether to invest in a sterling chain. The lengths and styles of the cords and necklace chains that I carry vary, and I find that my customers have different tastes about what works for them. So do check out my Supplies section, where you'll find lots of options ranging from really affordable everyday wear to really special evening and "make a statement" wear.

New Style Dangle Earrings

 Here's to you, celebrating life in a myriad of ways, in which I am honored to contribute!

Namaste

Dolls in the Works!

Mung is born!

Here is little Mung in the works. Her face is made from Premo clay, using one of Kimberly Crick's fabulous molds (which I have a lot of, many fabulous dolls to come). After it was baked, I painted the face with acrylic paints, and sealed it with DuraClear Satin Varnish. 

Then I made her body, which has a three-sided triangle shape. The head and neck are one piece, attached to the body at the top of the shoulder. She is stuffed with polyfil, a cedar wood ball, and a handful of mung beans (from which she gets her name), and which give her a little weight, so that when you pick her up you then can't resist bouncing her in your palm a few times.

She's 11 inches tall from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, though she much prefers to sit than stand. She sports a white and gold necktie, and of course, as all my female dolls celebrate their femininity, she has very special boobs made of handmade turquoise and white clay buttons that I discovered in my Grandmother's button jar. (Doesn't everyone have a jar filled with the buttons Granny saved? If not, then you must be the Granny and start one for your grandchildren!) There's something wonderfully fun about searching through and sorting old buttons, wondering what the garments looked like that they were attached to and how many good times were had in them : )

Gammy's Buttons (and marbles too!)

After I made Mung's face, head, and body (which took about 20 hours) I created some legs for her out of a gorgeous floral fabric. Her little feet are extensions of her legs, which will have the same soft velvety teal fabric that makes up her body for the bottoms of her shoes. She will most likely have some beading on them as well. 

I'm still working on her hair, which is created of several rows of seed beads, finished with fancy Jasper end beads. 

Mung's fabulous hair

The Jasper beads are gorgeous, and lend her the qualities of "nurturing, tranquility, and wholeness," according to The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall, 2004, Godsfield Press. Judy records that "Jasper facilitates shamanic journeys and dream recall. It provides protection and grounds energies and the body. It absorbs negative energy and cleanses and aligns the chakras and aura. Jasper balances yin and yang and and aligns the physical, emotional, and mental bodies with the etheric realm. It clears electromagnetic and environmental pollution, including radiation and dowsing. Psychologically, Jasper imparts determination to all pursuits. It brings the courage to get to grips with problems assertively, and encourages honesty with yourself. It supports during necessary conflict." Jasper comes in many colors, and Mung incorporates many of them. Check out Judy's book for more info on Jasper.

Mung will soon be finished, as will other dolls which I'll have available on my Etsy site, Dreamkeeper Creations. These dolls can be set in your environment, simply imparting their glorious energies, or you can actively work with them in meditation to lend strength and guidance and special energies to your journeys.

Mung has flirty legs : )

Here is another doll I'm making - which is inspired by the legends of the Green Man, who symbolizes rebirth. This doll will have beading around the face, and a gorgeous fringe across the bottom, stay tuned for updates on progress.

Green Man Doll in the making...

Now I'm off to get some more work done on these dolls! Thanks for visiting - all comments welcome : )

Namaste

Work for Spring Begins

Happy New Year! 

I hope this New Year brings you and your lovies much happiness, health, and prosperity.

The holiday season was a busy one for Dreamkeeper Creations (the link will come up in a new tab along the top of your browser window, as will the others below), both socially and work-wise. I finished several special orders, as well as some gifts.

Here is an example of the new style of earrings I'll have available in my Etsy shop soon. Are they glorious or what? I love them because they have a lot of charm and they're a bit fun and whimsical.

New Style of Earrings with Silver Chain Links and Dangle Beads

These were made for Christmas orders, but the style is quite popular, so I'll be making some more very soon. They generally run about $16 unless they include handmade beads or special materials.

Gorgeous Red Glass and Sterling Silver

Earrings Made with Lampwork Beads from Jodi Price

The focal beads on the earrings above are made one at a time by Jodi, which takes quite some time and talent (see how to make them), so a pair that includes this type of bead would be priced in my shop at $45.

Sky Blue Glass and Sterling Silver

Natural Shell Rounds with Sterling Silver and Banded Onyx Dangles

With the dangle earrings, each set of tails has either 5, 7, and 9 sterling links, or for shorter ones, 3, 5, and 7 links. Years ago I enjoyed the study of numbers and their significance (see numerology), especially as expressed in Native American teachings.

I've gleaned the significance of numbers as expressed in Native American culture over the past 35 years by reading books that were written by Native American authors. They don't present this information in any kind of "organized" way as in a chart or the results of a study, but as one becomes familiar with their teachings, it becomes clear that the significance of numbers is associated with sacred spiritual beliefs and practices. I incorporate these beautiful concepts in most of my work, so subconsciously, they  ride along whether the wearer knows it or not, giving good energy and vibrations to the pieces.

For example, Jamie Sams, in Sacred Path Cards, describes cultural beliefs around how prayers are begun by inviting the nine powerful energies of All Our Relations, including "the Creature Beings [animals, fish, insects], the Stone People, the Standing People [trees and plants], and Sky Nation [birds], the Earth Mother [our living home planet], [and] the four Chief Spirits of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water" (Sacred Path Cards by Jamie Sams, 1990, HarperSanFrancisco) I find it interesting how closely many of these teachings align with those ancient ones of Celtic origin. 

As you can see in my studio, I have lots of goodies in the works for you for the New Year! Some pieces will be available at the World Campus Student Scholarship Fund Event this coming March - so the main focus for right now is to prepare for that event.

Set up and ready to work, yay!

What will they become?

I'm working hard to make both low and higher ticket items available. For the lower priced ones, I'm making Wine Glass Markers. Ever been to a party and put your glass down, then wondered which one's yours? With these, your guests will be able to tell right away. The markers that I make are much better quality and way more fun than most that you see on the general market. Some of them include gemstones, and they're made so that each dangle-tail has a very secure attachment. They last for years, as anyone who's had wine or water or tea or anything else in a footed glass at my house knows, but they don't go into the dishwasher. 

When I go to bed, I always bring a glass of water to put on the bedside table, and my favorite one wears this little marker. It's not that I'm expecting anyone to be grabbing my glass in the night, it's that dressing the glasses is just too fun! The little sterling silver charm is a rabbit, which represents trust. That is one of the more active qualities that have been a focus in my life, so I like to be reminded of it.

Here is a photo of the Wine Glass Markers I'm making that will be available at the World Campus Student Scholarship Fund Event. They'll be priced between $6 and $8 dollars each, with a discount for sets at about 4 for $20. I wish I could sell them for less, but they take a while to make as there's a bit of work in the design of the way they fasten. The twirling part is crimped, which provides the loop for the dangles, and the tops of the dangles are all twisted securely. The tails are made with sterling silver head pins. I'm still debating on whether to add sterling charms, let me know if you're interested. Those would run about $5 - $10 more for each one, due to the price of the charms themselves. They are darling, aren't they?

Wine Glass Marker

The Other Tail on the Wine Glass Marker

More Wine Glass Markers

Too fun huh?! Which one will you pick for your glass?

Waiting to be chosen. Do you hear the beads saying "Pick me, pick me!"

Future plans include a vendor table at the Autoport on Ladies Nights, beginning in about April of this year if I can get enough work done without having myself cloned.

Stay tuned for posts on more goodies to come!

Namaste