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

G is for....

glass, Chihuly glass!

In the Spring of 2009, I was privileged to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.  What an amazingly gorgeous place!    During this time, there was a major Dale Chihuly glass installation, The Nature of Glass.

The above two photos are details of this ↓

The Sun by Dale Chihuly

This work consisted of 1200 pieces of glass mounted on a 550 pound armature.

Chihuly speaks about himself and his work ↑

LINKS:

Desert Botanical Garden  

Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden (November 22, 2008 ~ May 31, 2009) --includes more glass photos

Dale Chihuly website  

possible future exhibit in Seattle

interesting short biography of Chihuly

short video of installing The Sun
There are a bazillion videos of Chihuly and his works on youtube

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "G."  Come and join HERE. You will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found!  Here is Ms. Matlock's submission.  You will notice that she is bending the rules just a bit this week.  er....well....maybe it's really just her gwanddaughter!  
Now go visit!  (please)




photos by me © 2009

Give Wildlife a Brake

About 1 million animals are killed and/or maimed on roadways EACH DAY in the United States. "Give Wildlife a Brake" is a roadkill reduction campaign. 
In the Fall,  many animals are on the move in preparation for the winter.  Animals are scoping out hibernation sites, locating and storing food for the cold weather to come, mating.
"Give Wildlife a Brake" reminds drivers to slow down and be aware of wildlife activity as the days get shorter and the end of daylight saving time approaches.

Tips to reduce the likelihood of an accident:

→Where there is one deer, there are usually others. If you see an animal crossing the road, slow down and remain alert for more.  Be aware of deer crossing pathways on roads you frequently travel.

→Be particularly alert for wildlife on roads at dawn and at dusk. 

→Most animal-vehicle collisions occur on two-lane roads bordered by natural habitat. Be especially cautious in these areas.

→Do not throw trash out of car windows.  Trash attracts wildlife to the roads and leads to an increase in collisions.

→Ride a bike!

An interesting fact:  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, in  2001 and 2002, more than 26,600 people were treated annually in emergency rooms nationwide after the vehicle they were in hit an animal or swerved to avoid a creature. (Incidentally, nearly 85% of those human injuries involved large animals such as deer and bear.) Perhaps not surprisingly, the CDC reported, the highest injury rate among drivers who hit or tried to avoid a large animal occurred in the 15- to 24-year-old age group.  

LINKS:
article by Susan Hagood, wildlife issues specialist, US Humane Society--includes list of items to carry with you to aid in  rescuing injured animals
FREE bumper sticker

List of animals killed on roadways:  squirrels, deer, bears, snakes, turtles, rabbits, racoons, opssums, dogs, cats, ducks, pigs, mice....
Can you think of more???

This post is for the esty bloggers' street team carnival which is hosted by Deb of Storybeader and will be posted on her BLOG on Monday, November 8.  Deb gave us two topics to choose from.  I chose this →
"Give Wildlife a Brake" week. How are you celebrating?
I am celebrating by writing this and by slowing down and being more alert, AND by enjoying watching the live of these creatures!

squirrel nest photo by me © 2010

San Felipe de Neri Church: more images

Construction of the original church was begun in 1706.  The church collapsed in 1792 during heavy rains, and new construction was begun the following year.  The two towers (one of which you can see above on the right) were built in 1861.  Today, it is the oldest surviving building in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.


 

During the Civil War, in 1862, the confederate soldiers who had invaded New Mexico territory retreated back to Texas.  Subsequently, the Union Army leased the rectory for several years.

My last post was a close up of the fence in the above photo.

 

San Felipe de Neri Church is on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

LINKS:

History  of the church
interesting facts and short history of Albuquerque, NM
NOTE:  The church is built in the shape of a cross.  Its wall are adobe and are 5' thick.

photos by me © 2007