Work of the Heart

Hello blog, it's really been awhile.  Motherhood will do that to you.  You blink and your child is now three years old.  You blink and your Etsy shop, once a quiet vessel of life, is semi-busy again with orders after a long, long drought.  Life has currently been on less of a time warp and more on an ebb-and-flow continuum, as life goes. 

I recently sold these tiny labors of love: book-page phrase gift boxes.  Each box top features tiny words cut by hand and a pair of scissors from a copy of Jane Eyre, my favorite book.  I then rearranged the words and made poetic or thoughtful phrases.  I had made these boxes years ago when I wanted to stand out from the mass-produced crowd, when I wanted to be creative in my own resourceful way.  So happy they have found a perfect home! 

Is it weird to talk about one's work in that respect?  As if the work themselves are, indeed, real?  

Dark Space

During one of my recent photo sessions for some new jewelry designs, I accidentally took the interesting photo above.  It's a little artsy; a little dark and moody.  The colors remind me of the striations of a geode, albeit one of an entirely different breed: my photo session.  I'm actually not sure what created the colors, but I think it was darkness, light, and perhaps a table thrown somewhere in there for effect.  Oh, and a quick spin of hand for the blurred look. 

Perfect for Friday, the 13th.  So goes the dark, dark heart.

Creativity

via Pinterest

Very true.  While trends and fads will fade over time, filling the colorful pages of both our memories and pop culture, creativity truly never goes out of style.  Creativity is the driving force behind innovation, the flow behind art and fashion and of course, consumerism.  Without it, consumerism would be bland.  Creativity indeed makes the world go round; brightens the monotony of our days.

These are my thoughts as I think about what consumerism means to me.  I've never been one to follow fads and trends for long, as my soul has always tended to forge my own path amid the loudness of the world around me.  But I pay my dues to the trends that creativity fosters; the very ideas turned into products that fill page after page of Etsy searches.  My own included.  This line of contemplation has made me wonder if creativity is at all an individual endeavor, or if it is really a collective endeavor with its own little niches, nooks and crannies for the individual to make one's own.

We are all inundated with visual pop culture representations via real life and online sources, its loudness visible in SEO-friendly verbiage and hipster-heavy photography.  We often forget that behind the polished branding and blatant consumeristic slant this highly stylized, appealing visual representation was once a mere, simple idea.  A creative twinkle in someone's eye.  But what separates creativity from trend is the staying power of the idea and not just the physical product itself.  A genius idea--say Einstein's Theory of Relativity, or Dickinson's poetry, or Mohnton Knitting Mill's American-made cotton tees--is one that never goes out of style.  Instead, it becomes uniquely reinterpreted over the years to fit into vast stretches of time (with its interesting time-period trends and fads).  Creativity is, to sum it up, an adaptable force to be reckoned with.

Scorpios and Books

I'm attempting to read three books at once again.  I had initially quit this scatterbrained practice over a year ago, since I tend to mix up characters, plot, tone, etc., but then I got bored of not having a choice in the book I decide to read on any given day--because let's face it, one book does not constitute a choice.

Is this a Scorpio thing?

I hate to reduce personal idiosyncrasies down to horoscope signs, but sometimes they're sort of right.

Pinafore Love

DandyStitch

Pinafore, jumper, tunic, smock, roomy dress...whatever you want to call it, they're absolutely cozy and comfortable with just enough femininity to last you through the rest of winter without feeling frumpy from bundling up.  My favorite thing about the pinafore is that you can layer it over a thin sweater, comfy tee, or tank depending on the weather.  A pinafore can also be layered over your favorite pair of jeans or worn-in chinos, which makes its versatility even more appealing.  If you're more into tights or leggings, the pinafore matches those, too.  Add a pair of boots and you are good to go.  The pinafore reminds me of artsy days spent working with clay and glaze, getting up to your elbows in it all; creativity at its finest.

wildthingsdresses

pamelatang

consciousclothing

melisamu

bymamma190

Oak Slice + Words

Immediately after applying water-based sealant over the front of this oak slice poem three weeks ago, there was left a beautiful matte finish, rich and textured, as shown above.

However, knowing from experience that water-based sealers tend to "age" over short and long spans of time, especially when applied on natural material, I allowed this very oak slice poem to sit on my workspace desk by the window, where it would collect wintertime light.  The result is shown in the above image: the once-rich finish has now mellowed to a more natural state, which is still slightly glossier than the pre-sealed oak slice.

This is the final result, a full three weeks after creation.  A noticeable layer of matte sealant is visible, yet the natural oak slice texture is still there.  I think this is a good mix of Mother Nature-made and human made.

If you're curious, this is the back of the oak slice, which has the original finish;
I've lightly sanded the slice for a softer texture. 

I love creating these oak slice poems, and have found that the process of making each one is different, depending on my frame of mind.  If I'm in a hurry, the poem lines are uneven and the words are not lined up properly; glue tends to be visible on the wood around the letters and phrases.  (Mind you, these letters, words, and phrases are hand cut directly from a vintage copy of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, and are therefore teeny tiny in size!)  If I'm calm and collected, the poem looks so, too.

Such an interesting creative process, these oak slice poems are, as are my other wood-slice ornaments seen here. 

January

It's been a thoughtful break, but now I am back into things full swing.  January saw the first of our much belated autumn-winter (our fall season consisted of a cold spell that lasted for about two weeks in early-to-mid November); it was a January autumn-winter that lasted all of a handful of days, for the temperature here has ranged anywhere from the low-to-high 60s for the last few weeks now.  While much of the Midwest has experienced (near) record-high snowfall and blustery, below-freezing temperatures this month, such as Detroit with Chicago close behind, we have experienced a milder form of the tropics here.  I was actually looking forward to wearing my scarves and long-sleeved shirts this winter, but with this dubious weather, my much coveted scarves and long-sleeved shirts will likely see little wear...  

That being said, the fog rolled in early last evening, and with it came a slight cool down in temperature.  Thank goodness!  Rain is even expected in the forecast.  Let's first see if Mother Nature throws us a curve ball.

Leaves collected in January 2014

Not that I'm complaining too much about the unseasonably warm weather because the above leaves collected earlier this month were beyond stunning, even if they were two months behind schedule in terms of coloration.  The poor daisies are even budding; my Thumbelina Leigh Lavender is throwing off tiny new shoots.  Our hummingbirds stayed, but now we are down to only one, and on occasion, two.

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With Valentine's Day coming up, I've gone heart-crazy mad.  Coming from a person who isn't big on celebrating, this is quite a strange turn of events.  Perhaps there is a link between the blurring and skipping over of seasons and festive holiday giddiness--a similar event to, perhaps, seasonal affective disorder.  The "evidence" is shown below:

All for sale in my shop.  Call me a "crazy-heart lady" if you must, but have you been on Etsy lately?  It's like red heart central on there since December 24th.  It's pretty, it's festive, and it's all about love--so I will not critique nor dwell upon this subject any further.

Speaking of love, I found the below Etsy listing and found it appropriate (as well as witty):

MaryKralDesigns

Hope you are having a great year so far.  I look forward to blogging more in the coming months and years because January 2014 was an anomaly of sorts.

When It Rained

A few short weeks ago, it finally rained.  The heavens let out a long-awaited sigh and heaved its contents onto the ground below.  Prior to this rainstorm, which lasted two entire days, our area had received a measly 2-inches of rain in all of 2013.  A paltry sum, for sure.  Now we are hovering around 5 inches, give or take.  It was not a torrential downpour like it was in neighboring towns and cities, but the rain of a few weeks ago was a sight for sore eyes: a grand, watery display of awesome proportions.

There's something about the crisp, transient quality of clean air after a good autumn rain, especially after a rainstorm that lasted for more than a few hours.  It's soothing and revelatory--the smell of soaked asphalt and rotting leaves and all, revealing the inseparable layers of life underneath, the living within the cracks and the nooks and crannies of street life that peek out only during the rainy season in the form of vibrant green growth.  The best part however, post-rainstorm, are the photos to be taken.

I am a sucker for photographing in natural light the color green and drops of water.  I cannot help it, for it is a nice, temporary departure from the indoor photography of items for sale, a necessary break from the hectic back and forth of the holiday season; it is a measure of sanity.

For me, true vulnerability, human emotion, and spontaneous creativity can only be fully accessed away from the technological advances of humankind, even if only for a little while.  This is why I pay homage to when it rained those few weeks ago.

* * *

This post is for my husband,
who showed me many things
beyond the horizon.

October Challenge: A Photo a Day

At the last minute (October 2nd to be exact), I decided to take part in a self-guided, photo-taking challenge for the month of October.  My goal is to take one photo per day that captures the particular subjective feel of the day, whether it be the mood I am in, the weather, and/or even lighting and color saturation.  Why October?  In addition to being prime autumn season, it's also my favorite month for a variety of reasons (mainly seasonal, of course).

I am very curious to see if a consistent theme emerges beyond the obvious autumn one, since what catches the eye is, in my opinion, at once aesthetically driven and unconscious.  Or should I say, subconscious?  From my Pinterest pins, I already have an idea of what draws me in, yet being the person behind the camera--rather than a passive-yet-entertained image collector via Pinterest--has its given advantages in the emotion-unfurling department.  Let's see if my theory is plausible.  

Come November 1st, I will post the October challenge collage, in its entirety, here in my blog.  Perhaps I've had too much coffee, but I'm really excited for this!

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P.S. I'm offering free domestic shipping (US addresses-only) on orders over $15.00 for my Etsy customers!  All you have to do is apply FREESHIPPING at Etsy checkout to take advantage of this coupon code.


Have a great week!

Anatomy of a Book

Took apart one of my old copies of Jane Eyre to satisfy a creative urge.  

Off came a few pages with some of my favorite quotes; 

then off came the front cover and then the back.  

What was left were the bare bones, 

the words without the pretense imparted by the dated cover.  

Skimming every page and paragraph,

I was again reminded of why it is one of my favorite texts of all time. 

* * *

Jane Eyre book page goods can be perused here.

More to come this autumn--please stay tuned.

Waiting Impatiently for Autumn

I'm already craving tea like crazy.  And hoping that it would downpour.  From sky to ground, clear up the knotty mess due to drought.  Reading while cozied up in a blanket, hot milk on the tabletop.  Golden yellows and reds.  Plum purples and rich, decadent browns.  I want to wear my knit beret.  Sing songs under a diffuse, darkened sky with the warmth of our voices to carry us on--Chesapeake bellowing deeply from our lungs; melancholic melodies courageously emptied from our hearts.  You pour, I drink it in, let it seep in far beyond the blue.  And it sinks...through veins and capillaries, diffuses through all the dark, ample muddy spots that you thought were permanent.  Impermanence: you scoff wildly at the mere thought of it while a frenzied laughter permeates the air.  You know what?  I can't help but laugh too because you were right.

Spring Inspiration: Dried Thyme Herb Bouquet

Loosely inspired by this post via Pinterest.

Spring has got me inspired...replanted my wildly overgrown outdoor thyme plant into a larger pot and everything.  In anticipation of the plant woes that accompany its acclimation into a new home, I decided to stem off and collect the most healthy bits of thyme.  Bit by bit, I cut.  Soon enough, there was a tiny handful of the deliciously fragrant herb--just enough for a mini bouquet.  I then took the plant cuttings indoors, where I gently rinsed them off to detach aphids and other bugs, tied the stems together with twine, and hung them upside down from a doorknob.  In a few weeks time, I'm considering sticking this dried herb bouquet into a small bud vase to commemorate the season.  Spring has never smelled so good, like freshly picked culinary herbs.

Update: Raw Citrine Point Pendants

Raw citrine points

Have you missed seeing medium-sized raw citrine point pendants listed for sale in my shop?  I sure have.  The truth is that after selling out of these beauties a few months ago, I just haven't gotten around to creating new ones--until now.  Shown in the above photos are the handful that are next in line to be pendants.  Aren't they stunning with their rustic, golden glow?

Some close ups:

I plan to get working on these later this week, and hope to list a few by the end of the month.  Let me know if any of these catch your eye!

Presently

Desk space, March 2013

Happy almost weekend, folks.  My mind currently feels like the above image of my current desk state: ideas looming and swelling in an abstract, jumbled mess.  The issue at-hand is that I need a clean space in order to work with my thoughts and ideas, but at the same time, I need to visually see the pieces laid out in their entirety before I can make any decisions.  And who says that the creative process isn't tough?  So this is what I've decided must be done: 1. Take a very deep breath and sift slowly through the odds and ends, 2. Sort out what exactly I am striving for (with my time--and likewise, my budget), and 3. Follow through with it.

Now, how's that for toughmindedness?

Shop Happy

It's midweek again, and I'm not feeling quite productive--hesitating somewhere between wanting to glue myself to the computer with hard copy draft in hand, and yearning deeply to follow a recent uptake in creativity.  One fatal swoop is all there is to it...

So I decided to go with the creative streak.

I apologize if you've stopped by my shop over these past few weeks, perhaps months, and witnessed en masse a consistent change in shop banner.  It drove me mad to not have a banner that fit the EmeraldCut mood and overall aesthetic, so like clockwork, I continued sorting through my photos until I found one (or two or twelve) that I believed would make a suitable shop banner.  It's been an ongoing process--designing, editing, and trying out different shop headers--but a dozen or so designs later, I am finally content with the result.  If you've missed the shop header show, below is a recap of a few designs:

And yes, after you design a few, your eyes do cross.

* * *

The final banner:

Incorporates an earthy, olive-green peridot, my favorite stone; a book page; my shop name in a unique, readable font. 

* * *

In celebration of this recent shop happy...

For orders $25 and over, apply ILOVESPRING at checkout for $5.00 off your purchase! Excludes donation items; offer ends March 15th.

Have you ever been this creatively meticulous?

It's a headache in the moment, but the end product is worth every moment spent.

Just Like Him

 

"they tell me I am just like him but there are things about us both I don't understand

I guess i've just had a lot on my mind these days
I've just had a lot on my mind"

(Lyrics from Hannah Miller's Bandcamp site.)

* * *

Been feeling this song so much lately; it's one of those ruminative gems of a piece... 

I found out about this talented singer-songwriter through NoiseTrade, and immediately smitten with her voice, downloaded four of her songs here (it's a live compilation album).  Mellow, thoughtful, and easy on las orejas makes it a perfect "on repeat" Sunday song as I start on some new shop designs!

For the Naturalist

Pendant: my own creation
Bottle: vitrifiedstudio

Decided to create a pendant for a loved one from our Thumbelina Leigh Lavender plant.  Picked a worthy bud off the stem, carefully placed it between the pages of a notebook, and stacked two books on top to make sure the bud was indeed pressed.  There the bit o' plant was left for nearly two months.  Took the plant out, added raw brass findings and a non-toxic, resin-like material to the mix and out came the above piece.  Not waterproof, but nevertheless beautiful and quite gift-able.

Apart from the placement of the pressed lavender, the most difficult part of this project is how to "cure" the faux-resin used--it requires either direct sunlight or UV light to cure.  Because wintertime sunlight is not strong enough to "set" the resin-like surface (I tried it), the pendant is currently setting by sitting directly under a fluorescent light bulb.  Still, the price one pays for non-toxic, scentless resin is well worth the wait.

If you have the time and energy, this is a delightfully fun springtime activity--I can only imagine how lovely a pendant would look with spring flowers as the focal point!

One of Those Days

It's one of those days where you just want to curl up into a ball and spend quality time hiding in a pile of blankets, pillows, and sheets: seeking comfort in warmth that is not skin.  Hot peppermint cocoa tea is idly sitting on the windowsill, a few nibbles of chocolate is required to pass the time; your preference of a well-worn book rests on the nightstand as you watch the sky converge and then solidify in the magnificence of blue, pink, and black.  (You'd rather that it not collect dust.)  The sky steadily wails, the wind continuously lurks--menacingly pulls on the ends of branches, grass, hair--while sunlight carefully peeps out from behind the cumulus clouds, keeping in line with the earth's winter tilt, as you let out a reverberating sigh that glides, bounces off walls and windowsills, desks and drawers.  You take it all in, breathe in the slow rush of the day, grateful for today's work.