Dried Hydrangeas & Purple Vase, Canon Digital Rebel Xti

I haven’t had much time these days to sit here and write, let alone think of something intersting to talk about. Between working on my new collection for Rustic Relics and enjoying some lawn work in this fabulous Spring weather finding the time to sit here and type just hasn’t happened lately.  But I just wanted to pass along something my good friend Dustan wanted me to spead the word about.  Dustan is probably one of the smartest people you will ever meet.  He is an engineer working to create fuel cells that can be used to power homes. He has traveled around the world to set up these fuel cell systems for test sites and is helping to pioneer alternative energy sources for our future. Needless to say, he is all about energy conservation and cleaning up the environment and he asked me to pass long the website for Earth Hour….basically Earth Hour is requesting that  ”At 7.30pm on 31 March 2007, we are inviting Sydney to turn off its lights for just one hour – Earth Hour – to show that it’s possible to take action on global warming.” Though the program is based in Australia, they are hoping that participants around the globe will join in.  You can sign up on their website and they also have a page there that contains some great information on what you can do everyday to make a difference and do your part to help conserve energy and help the environment…check it out HERE.  Hey, what a great excuse to light some candles for an hour and “snuggle up” to your signifigant other :P

In an effort to create a healthy environment for my family and to do my part to be a ecologically responsible citizen, I’ve been working on creating a green environment in my home…my family easts as much organicially grown food as possible, the majority of which we purchase from the local farm just down the road or will be growing ourselves this summer in my garden (I can’t wait for sun warmed tomatoes…yum!).  We switched all of our household cleaners to natural cleaners (after reading the warning lable on the back of a popular shower cleaner, i decided to make the change after it said “Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals… Harmful if absorbed through the skin…If on Skin or Clothing take off contaminated clothing, rinse skin immediately wtih plenty of water for 15-20 minutes.  Call poison controll center or doctor for treatment advice…yeah, that was pretty convincing evidence for me to make the switch…i dont want to clean with that, let alone have anyone bathe in the residue left from that…yikes! :).  We also put all new windows in our home that are Energy Star approved which has helpd cut down on our heating bill tremendously and has kept the house cooler in the summer as well. This summer I am also starting a compost pile as well as additional ways to recycle and a lot of my new products for my Spring/Summer line will contain recycled elements as well…

To get started on going green Body & Soul amagazine has a great checklist to help you get started….here is the link to pass along…..Going Green Checklist

Also checkout Groovy Green Blog for more environmental info…. Groovy Green…they also have some cool info on growing and harvesting your own loofas :)

I hope you all have an awesome weekend, i hope to write more soon…but back to work for now! Cheers!

Think, Canon Digital Rebel XTi + Photoshop

I’ve never really been a “girly girl”, being a tomboy has always come easier to me, and I have the scars to prove it.  My nickname in high school was “Chopsaw” because I was the only one trusted to use the chop saw on our theater departments stage crew….you needed something chopped boys…you come to me.  So this summer I plan on doing a little experiment on myself…i’ve never been one for laces and ribbons, eyelets and embroidery…so this summer I am going to try and infuse more of these things into my wardrobe and play a bit of dress up….try it all on and see how it feels.  Not to worry, i’ll still be getting dirty in my organic garden and doing plenty of home improvements…but i’ll give this girly thing a try.  Much of my current wardrobe consists of neutral colors, comfy loose clothing and a few funky things here and there…so it will definately be a change…

Tonight I finally have the vibe to get down and get creative, and it’s about time, because my deadline for my Spring Collection is looming and I have nothing yet to show for it…yikes!  I’m still in the process of spring cleaning and decorating my house.  I have been enveloped in the books Coming Home: Spiritual Interiors by Vinny Lee and Nature Style by Marthe LeVan.  I am trying to make my home more organic, earth friendly and soothing…from the colors I choose, the products I use and the things I am displaying around my home.  I’ll try to take some pics of the transformations to show youat some point.  This approach towards “green living” in my home life has begun to find it’s way into my art and designs, something you will definately see in my upcoming collection, and something that i am proud to incorporate.

Do you have any good ”green living/decorating with a modern twist” books or ideas that you could suggest?

This photo was futzed with using Photoshop and Alien Skin filters.  See more suped up SPC’s HERE

My second article with Belle Armoire is currently on newstands in their annual Jewelry Issue:2.  The article features a “how to” explination on creating my “Modern Mosaic” pendants.  The spread looks awesome, they did a really good job photographing these, I am really pleased with the presentation of the pieces.  They also featured my “Bloom” pendant in their in house ads for the magazine which ran in Sommerset Studio, Belle Armoire, and Art Doll Quarterly. I still haven’t received the pendants back from the publisher and I hope to soon before I release my 2007 Spring/Summer Collection in April on Rustic Relics….i’ll keep you posted on when I get them back. My thrid article featuring some of my “Oracle” pieces will be in their June issue, so please stay tuned…

I finally feel a blogging and creative vibe returning and I hope that at some point during this hectic weekend that I will be able to sit down and start some new pieces.  In the mean time, have a fabulous weekend…i’ll be catching up on what is happening in your world/blogs soon….cheers! ;)