prolific creativity

describes Linda Pruitt and her 3 wonderful etsy shops!  She loves all kinds of craft materials.  This is evidenced by the offerings in her shops. 

In her Pruitt Creations shop, you will find wonderful fabric goodnesses like this one of a kind brooch as well as cup cozys, quilts, aprons, pillows, pouches, paper goods, and more--much more.     


Look at these! 

bouncing circles apron

jelly roll quilt

reversible cup cozy  

In Linda's Pruitt Supply shop you will find fabrics, yarns, lace, paper, buttons, and yo yos.
yo yos 

Lastly, there is her Pruitt Design shop, filled with jewelry, which she will be closing on January 15.  Everything is 50% off.  Hurry!

 

Linda is a member of the etsy bloggers team and the etsy blogger for the month of December.  She is grandmother to 25 children!  She is also a breast cancer survivor.
Come read her blog, a place where she shares her life's adventures, handmade goodness, inspiration, and creativity. 
photos © 2010 by  Linda Pruitt 

Lush and Lava (Kauai, part 2)

Kauai is a lovely, lush green island formed of lava floating in the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific....

 hike to Secret Beach (near Princeville)

Although geologists argue the specifics, the island was formed when the Pacific tectonic plate slowly moved over a hot spot in the Earth's crust, causing volcanic action. 

 lava rocks on Secret Beach (Kauapea Beach)

Kauai's interior is mountainous.  Because of the constant siege of nature--rainfall, pounding waves, tradewinds--lush valleys, razorback ridges, and long strands of sandy beaches, some strewn with volcanic rocks, are abundant. 

 volcanic rocks and pounding surf

LINKS:

past POST on Kauai 

Secret Beach 

history of Kaua'i by Kaua'i Historical Society, begins on THIS page 

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "L."  Come and join HERE.  You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found!  

photos © by me 2006

NOTE:  My husband and I ventured to this island twice.  In February of 2005, we traveled with a group of friends (interesting. fun, too).  We were awed by the gorgeous splendor of this island.  The weather was perfect, by the way.)  So the following February we set forth once again.  It rained quite a lot while we were there.  (It's the RAINY season the islanders told us!)  Our beach wear were rain ponchos, but out we went, armed with camera and a sense of adventure.  No tan for us!  Actually, we did see some sun upon occasion as evidenced in the last photo.  I would love to go back in the Summer when the seas are calmer and one can actually go IN the water to swim, snorkel, kayak.

The softness and the sweetness of it!

a beautiful treasury of purples and greens...Patti and Terry of Terry Mills Photos included my hand dyed silk scarf Watery. (third row down on left)

 

See the treasury HERE. 

Photos © by the individuals who created the items.

Kauai

a lovely mountainous, lush green island floating in the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific....

Known as the Garden Island, Kauai is one of the wettest spots on earth with rainfall up to 460 inches per year.  It boasts 90 miles of the most beautiful coastline.

Na Pali Coast with it's 2,000 foot sea cliff

The beauty of Kauai Hawaii is so breathtaking.  lovely scenery--jagged mountains, canyon, multitudes of waterfalls pouring out of lush tropical greenery, beautiful sand beaches, tropical fish, whales, dolphins.

Waimea Canyon 

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "K."  Come and join HERE.  You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 



photos by me 2005 and 2006

....journal and journey....

In its essence, journaling opens doors to the creative soul within.  It is a journey. 

journey:  the act of traveling

journal:  the recording of travels:  an exploration of one's adventures, thoughts, inspiration, interests, observations, creativity 

Much can be said about journaling, but that is not my purpose here.  I am presenting some snippets only.

When my son was in 4th grade, the teacher had the students write in a journal everyday.  They could write about any topic and draw pictures, too. 

 a bit of a page from one of his journals

When my daughter was young, she and I shared a small book in which we would write back and forth to each other.

drawing by my daughter from this book 

Last year, I made a journal for a friend who is outreach and education director for an organic farm.

front cover

 a few pages

Earlier this year, the etsybloggers had a journal swap.  We were to journal every day for a month.  This LINK states each day's topic.  Judy, a team member, describes her experience and her feelings about her completed book.  "Definitely not perfect, but a good lesson for me to learn acceptance of imperfection; life is too short to agonize over small things!"  Read more about Judy's experience and see some pages from her book HERE.

Here's a photo of a journal in progress.  I've been working on this for quite a while.  (It's almost finished!  winks to A!)  

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "J."  Come and join HERE. You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 

photos by me 2010 

Devine Designs

Devine is right!  Cindy is the etsy blogger artist of the month for November.  Her jewelry is simply gorgeous.  Come see what I mean.

Creativity runs in Cindy's family and thus she has always been crafty.  Here's what she says about her current work.  "I try to take metal to the extreme by bending and twisting to make unique designs.  I use lots of wire to make twists, coils, and spirals that I add to my work.  I strive to form designs that have not been done before, original works of art jewelry.  I strive for perfection and high quality." 

Just look at some of Cindy's beautiful creations.  I love this turtle bracelet made with lampwork beads, Hill Tribe silver, sterling silver, and fluorite.

This lovely bracelet is made with copper, sterling silver, and ceramic and lampwork beads.  Look at the plethora of rich copper coils!

A one-of-a-kind original,this Four Elements bracelet is beautiful!   It is created from lampwork beads, red jasper, tiger's eye, Swarovski crystals, with spirals and squiggles of sterling silver.

Besides bracelets,  Cindy also makes earrings, necklaces, anklets, and brooches.  But I will leave you on your own to peruse her shop and discover more amazing divine-ness.

LINKS:

SHOP

BLOG blog where "you will find my everyday ramblings, rants, and raves about life in general and a 'so called' journey in the jewelry making process."

Facebook 

 etsy bloggers 

photos © 2010 by Devine Designs

inspiration

"breathed upon"
The word inspiration may have originated in Greek culture sometime around or after 323 BC.

What do you think this is? *

some definitions:

• the feeling of elevated energy and enthusiasm 
  
• arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
• a product of one's creative thinking and work
• a sudden intuition or idea as part of solving a problem
• divine guidance, that is, a special influence of a divinity on the minds of human beings
• arousing to a particular emotion or action
• the act of drawing in air as in breathing

 Just look at the patterns of clouds and sky with silhouetted bare tree branches!

Patch, my friend from the etsy bloggers' team is hosting a carnival and asks us to "Talk about your inspirations!!  What is always inspiring you for your shops, your works, or anything in your life??"

Many things inspire me, but I will choose one: patterns in nature

The colors and intricacies are amazing!

flowers I have painted on clothing.  I call this design "pansy."  Now I am not going to say this looks precisely like a pansy, but pansies were the inspiration. 

Patch has asked in addition, "What item are you working on?? What is your inspiration for this piece??"

This esty blogger carnival is hosted by Patch.  Visit her blog HERE. On Monday, November 22, you will find all the carnival submissions on her blog.  (Oh and do check out her shops:  Patch First Shop and Patch Supply Shop)

I am also linking up with SkyWatch Friday.  This meme has been an inspiration for me-- personally, because I observe the sky more often, and secondly because I am privileged to see so many skies from around the world!  SkyWatch Friday is hosted by Wren, fishing guy, Sylvia, Klaus, and Sandy.  Come join us in this awesome meme, link up, and meet folks from all over the globe.  HERE!   

* cross section of a beet!

photos by me 2009 and 2010

island

of Sint Maarten, Netherland Antilles/Saint Martin, French West Indies

Pointe de Bluff

entrance to Baie Lounge

Pelican Bay

St. Maarten, a Caribbean island, is the smallest landmass shared by two independent countries--The Netherlands in the South, France in the North.

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "I."  Come and join HERE.  You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found!  Here is Ms. Matlock's submission.



photos by me (except map) © 2007 and 2008,  all rights reserved

sun puddle snoozing

is an art form!

 and is so fun when cozying up with a furend.

We are so relaxed!

hope you are enjoying all the sun puddles in your lives....
love, Oliver and Earnest

Go check out this fun meme, Cats on Tuesdays hosted by Gattina HERE 


photos by me © 2010

Hummus

 hummus with thyme garnish

Every time I make this people rave.  It's my favorite hummus. 

Ingredients

3 C cooked chick peas (garbanzos)             
2 T tamari (soy sauce) 

1 T oil, olive                                                      
1/2 C lemon juice

1 1/2 C onion, chopped                                  
1 t cumin powder

5 cloves garlic, minced                                   
1/4 t cayenne

3/4 C carrots, chopped                                   
1/2 t salt

1 C tahini, roasted (sesame butter)

Directions

Saute onion in olive oil on medium heat for about 2 minutes.  Add carrots and garlic.  Saute a couple more minutes.  Place chick peas in food processor.  Puree.  Add the rest of ingredients and puree till smooth.

NOTE:  lemony taste will disappear as the hummus sits.

super easy and so good!

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "H."  Come and join HERE. You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 

photos by me © 2010

a favorite market: Friday Fence Post

Pipkin's Market

Here is a small fenced-in area next to the right side of the building.  A few herbs and flowers grow here.  In season, lovely pots as well as garden ornaments are for sale in this space.

Pipkins began in the 1980s as a small roadside stand, selling in-season vegetables and fruits in the Summer.  Eventually, the stand was enclosed in a building, and the business began to operate year 'round.  All produce is hand picked, fresh, and delicious.  Most produce comes from local growers within a 100 mile radius.  The market also sells local specialty items such as breads, salsas, and gelato.  And, oh, the most wonderful apple cider!

Later, a garden area was added.  (It is located on the property across the parking lot from the building.)  Such a    wonderful variety of plants--annuals and perennials--one can find! 

LINKS:

Pipkin's Market website (only of interest to locals)

Ani is hosting Fence Post Friday on her blog Coffee Pot People.

Read all about it and link up HERE.

Come join in the fun!

photos by me © 2010