In Love with Steampunk

In Love with Steampunk!

Steam-punk (steem-puhngk)
noun
1.   A subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or fantasy world.

2.   a subculture inspired by this literary and file subgenre: the fashions and gadgets of steampunk

I fell in love with steampunk when I became friends with Mary Vogel Lozinak (a wonderful multimedia artist). She sparked my interest and I just had to start creating. Steampunk mixes fantasy with gears, watches, hot air balloons and zeppelins, keys and lots of industrial bits and pieces. Anything goes.

So I decided to give it a try. I loved how the first piece came I try to create pieces with some new and old broken pieces of watches, shapes and jewelry bits and pieces…giving new life to something that had been tossed aside.. Shop.

I mainly use E-6000 glue to hold it all the pieces together. It takes a while to dry but when it does it is very strong. I love the way it looks when the final piece is finished. Then I’m excited to make something else. I have changed my view on old and new things when they break. I can't wait to take them apart to see what things I can make with them! Give steampunk a try you never know, it might worm its way into your heart and creativity. You will start to look at 'junk' in a new light. Recycling has never been this much fun!

As always recycle, reduce, reuse

Going through my love for Octopus!

Problems with Creativity? Think Orange!!

“The good news is, there are ways of encouraging creativity and one of these ways is through balancing your sacral chakra.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could just flick a switch and turn on your creativity? Sadly, at times, tapping into your creativity can feel like trying to squeeze water from a stone. The good news is, there are ways of encouraging creativity and one of these ways is through balancing your sacral chakra.

Chakra is the Sanskrit word for moving wheel; the chakras are vortexes of energy present in the ethereal body and in corresponding locations of the physical body. There are seven major chakras and they function as pathways for energy to be taken in.

The sacral chakra, sometimes called the spleen or navel chakra, is located in the lower abdomen, approximately two inches below the navel. It governs sexuality, self-worth and creativity and is also associated with desire, pleasure, emotional balance and the abundance that you allow into your life for the fulfillment of your desires.

If this chakra is functioning well, you will experience enriched creativity, enhanced emotional gratification and courage, sexual vitality and positive self-esteem. If this chakra is blocked, however, both sexual and creative frustration occurs. You may have difficulties tapping into your creativity. Or you may have brilliantly creative ideas, but problems with manifesting your projects. A blockage can also manifest physically with lower back pain, sciatica, problems of the reproductive system, lowered libido and urinary problems.

Luckily, there are many tools to help balance the chakras. I’ve listed some of the correspondences for the sacral chakra together with guidelines on how to use these tools to balance this chakra and hence enhance your creativity.

Color: Orange
Surround yourself with orange. Wear it, eat it (preferably in the form of food) or paint your studio or workspace with it. If you meditate, visualize orange around the area of this chakra.
Music: sensual flowing music with passionate rhythms (think Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing”) Dance, using your hips. Gyrate, baby, gyrate!
Gemstones: any orange stone — carnelian, orange jasper, fire opal, moonstone You can wear these stones as jewelry or carry them in your pocket or purse.
Essential Oils : sandalwood, jasmine, ylang ylang, clary sage, bergamot, orange blossom Burn oils in an oil burner. Combine 10 drops or use singly in a bath. (This is particularly effective as water is the element governed by the sacral chakra.). Put some drops on a handkerchief and sniff it when you need inspiration. Make yourself a massage oil by adding a few drops of essential oil to almond oil.

Now you know what to do to get your creative juices flowing; go take a bath whilst eating a mango, come out and drape yourself in orange clothes and jewels and start swaying those hips to a cool groove.

Then go create!!!
(special thanks to By Louise Pool)

Creating Something new from Something Old

Something new I've created in my shop from one of the many wonderful vintage bits and pieces that I have around.




http://www.etsy.com/listing/79205091/measuring-tape-bracelet-vintage

Staw Purse with Vintage Flower Pins on sale today only 7/23/11

It's still summer! This It's still summer! This straw bag with vintage pins is cute enough to go with anything. Today only $10.00 off!! is cute enough to go with anything. Today only $10.00 off!!
See details at http://www.etsy.com/listing/72816960/vintage-flower-pin-handbag.

My etsy shop is http://www.willowmaiden.etsy.com/.

I finally found a LARGE copper washer to use for a necklace

I have just listed a LARGE hard to find copper washer to use as a focal point in jewelry making on my etsy site at www.willowmaiden.etsy.com!

 

I had looked everywhere for them. I saw an a wonderful design in a magazine using copper washers and I need a large one as the focal point. I checked all the big chain hardware stores, small appliance shops etc...no large washers.

 

Finally, at a small automotive shop, I scored the washers! Just like a kid in a candy store. Now if my large split rings would get here, we'd have a necklace going!

 

(I do have several more if anyone is interested. Just check out my etsy site!)

Frozen Charlotte Castings

I just love frozen charlottes, especially the tiny ones. So I decided to make a mold and cast some for myself. I thought I'd post some on my etsy page http://www.willowmaiden.etsy.com/  just to see what would happen. That sold just like that! So I'm trying again with these four guys to see if I can get a nibble once more.

New item Listed in my Etsy Shop

Tiny light bulbs wrapped in silver with blue crystals! A real unique pair of earrings.

Visit my etsy shop to view more of my items: http://www.willowmaiden.etsy.com/!