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Posts Tagged ‘Etsy’

Artful Angels

Posted in Journal Entries, tagged , , , , on February 7, 2010| 4 Comments »

I have a really good excuse for not posting anything here for a week! I have been a busy gal! Here’s the evidence:

Last Sunday: I had a “sound healing” session with Leigh Ann Phillips. She does amazing and unusual healing work with crystal singing bowls. I’ve never seen so many singing bowls in one place (I’m guessing there were at least 20). My eyes were closed for the whole session, but I swear it sounded like there were five people playing the bowls at once. She assured me it was just her! To say it was a powerful experience doesn’t do it justice. I was literally vibrating when I left. You can read a whole lot more about what she does on her website. (I have my friend Lerin to thank for giving me the session. Leigh Ann is planning to return to Santa Fe in March and I’m planning to see her again…it was that uplifting!)

Tuesday: I had my 8-week follow-up visit with the surgeon, Dr. Brown.  He was very happy with my recovery and gave me the “all clear” to do whatever activities I want to now (no more restrictions on lifting, and I can try a more active yoga class if I feel up to it!). We spent more time talking about his favorite football team (the Saints) than we did about my health. I think that’s a good sign.

Friday: Tim and I took a little day trip and had the best time without even going very far. Our first stop was Madrid for a surprisingly wonderful lunch at a new “Southern cooking” restaurant called The Holler. The crispy chicken was breaded and fried to perfection! It was served on organic greens with cheese and fruit – utterly yummy. After lunch we popped into a little co-op gallery called Spirit in Art where I got even more inspired to create (results below!) after seeing what those artists were up to.

From there we took back roads along the Sandia mountains, drove through San Felipe pueblo, and even kept to the unpaved roads along the Rio Grande until we came upon a sign that read: Tribal Members Only Beyond This Point. We backtracked a bit and, unbelievably, we managed to be hungry again and had to stop at the Flying Star Café in Bernalillo for apple crisp pie (delicious, but NOT as good as Shawn’s version of apple crisp!).

So, you’re now wondering, what was she doing on the other days that she didn’t have time to blog? Well, I’ve been continuing to make those assemblage angels I mentioned back before the surgery, and I finally got brave enough to show the world what I’ve been inspired to create – so I opened another Etsy shop where I now have my Artful Angels for sale. Here’s a peak at a few, but please visit the whole gang at artfulshe.etsy.com.

I was working late into the night last night to get the new site up and running. I hardly slept. And then this morning I was stunned to find another Etsy seller had already discovered my work and featured one of my angels in a “treasury” she made (it’s a way for Etsy sellers to promote other Etsy sellers’ work). So, if you’re snooping around Etsy, check out this treasury too! But hurray because they only last two days. The one I’m featured in expires on Tuesday at 3:00 PM.

Now that you’re caught up, I wanna go see how many “hearts” my angels have gotten (folks who like your items can list them as one of their “favorites” – they also call them “hearts”). Gotta run! Back in a jiffy!

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Four Fun Things

Posted in Journal Entries, tagged , , , , , on January 30, 2010| 6 Comments »

If I’m not careful, you guys will start to think all I do these days is go out and enjoy myself. OK, it’s true for most of this past week. I’ve had four very fun things take place:

1. I attended a yoga workshop! My teacher, Linda Spackman, called to invite me to a two-hour workshop she was giving on the Yoga Sutras. She felt it was tailor made for me to ease back into practicing. She was so right! We spent most of the class discussing ten of the sutras about cultivating clarity in the mind, then doing some breath work, some meditation, and about 15 minutes of gentle yoga postures.  Oh, they felt so good! (I was humbled to discover I couldn’t touch my toes or get my heels to the floor in downward-facing dog…but it’ll all come back in time.) Yoga! Such good stuff!

Frank Murphy's lovely book "The Spirit of Tea"

2. I was invited to afternoon tea with Frank Murphy, author of The Spirit of Tea, and photographer Kitty Leaken, who is now working on a book on tea rooms. We met at Reposo at the St. Francis Hotel where we enjoyed beautifully prepared Chinese teas (Kitty and I each had Oolong while Frank chose White tea). As luck would have it, I recently finished reading Frank’s book, so I could at least speak intelligently with him about it! But I was surprised to find him picking my brain about the tea business when he is one of the few folks who have actually completed the training of the American Tea Masters Association. It was quite an honor to meet him. I have Kitty to thank for the introduction to Frank and for including me in such a pleasant afternoon with two generous and artistic souls.

3. I splurged on a handmade reconstructed sweater from Etsy artist Jill2day. I’ve been slowly transitioning my wardrobe away from the fitted tops I’ve usually worn (they make me uncomfortably aware of my colostomy now) to more loose, flowing tops. I saw this gorgeous garment on Jill’s Etsy site and immediately placed it on my “favorites” list. For over a month I kept going back and ogling it. Then I read more about Jill and her work in an article on Etsy’s blog, which enticed me further. And, one day recently, I found there was enough money in my PayPal account – so I bought it!! I must say, it’s much more beautiful in person (and exceptionally well constructed) than the photo shows. Sooo, what do you think of my new look?

My "new" reconstructed artsy sweater

4. I went to a Women’s Workshop with my mom that was held this morning at her church. The topics presented were: self care, balance, and boundaries. All stuff I’ve had no choice but to work on over the past six months! Much of the workshop was a good reminder that when we’re not taking care of ourselves first, we’re not likely to be much good for others. I was glad to be there with my mother (who, in this daughter’s opinion, could stand a little more practice in the way of self care, balance and boundaries…I’m just sayin’…).

So, it’s been a heady week full of several themes I’m pretty passionate about: yoga, tea, creative expression and taking good care of oneself. That leads me to encourage you all to take time to find joy in something you’re passionate about, too. I know this much: it’s good for your well being.

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