Gemstones and Bead-weaving
13 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Beadwork, Spirits Tags: Beadwork, Jewlery
For me, bead-weaving is very much like cross-stitch. You create a picture through the stitches, one at a time. I think that’s what attracted me to covering my baskets with beads – they told a story.
One of my first efforts in making jewelry was using rectangle gemstone donuts and weaving a bail of beads. I spent some time looking at the donut to decide what type of pattern and the colors. If the stone has its own ornate patter, I needed to create a bail that would allow it to dominate – like Tiger Eye and Picture Jasper. If I wanted a fancy bail patter, I used a plain donut – like Rose Quartz. After the bail was zipped together on the donut, then it was time for the necklace.
I almost always use chips and small beads to match the donut. Metal findings are usually determined by color, mood and tones – gold findings with Tiger Eye – Silver with Turquoise – and Copper with a wider range. I use Tiger Tail .24 multi-strand for the necklace and rope centers because I like the soft drape. I use Nymo thread, waxed, for all my bead-weaving – with pieces no longer than 2 yards to control twisting.
Here are some of the Donut Necklaces I’ve created since 2003.
Multi-Color Gemstone
Click here to see more. Your Like on myGoogle+ page would be very helpful.
Until next week – seek shiny beads woven with strong fibers and wrapped in knitted bags. Jana
Names
08 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Basketry, Beadwork, Knitting, Spirits Tags: Basketry, Beadwork, History, Knitting, Raven, Spirit of 13
When the Kaw Indians were removed from their lands in the 1800′s, many were removed to the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. Great Grandma Elizabeth was part of that generation, but never left our family farm on the Kansas River.
In those days, names were based on need, and where you were in life. The family oral history has been lost on what her Kaw name was, but she was Elizabeth on the Farm.
Changing your name for your time in life isn’t a bad idea, in my mind. It helps focus you and others on who you are and where you are. Thus the professional naming of Copper Raven.
The Raven is a master shape shifter. Over my 60+ years I’ve been (in no special order) a pawn, a politician, a case work, grant writer, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, step-parent, business owner, artist and wife. I can relate to the magic of the Raven and their spirits. They mate for life, eat whatever shows up, and love to taunt Eagles. Sounds like me.
Copper? Copper is a metal that radiates healing properties. And I’m at a point in my life where I truly enjoy helping heal others. I certainly have been blessed with others healing me over the years. Including my wonderful husband of 12+ years.
And the beadwork, basketry and knitting I’m doing is certainly healing. I’ve maintained having classes over the years. And what I learn from students is much more than I feel I give to them. Listening to their stories is a blessing and reminds me that we’re all on this earth together.
So, if you could change your name – what would it be and why?
Until next week, seek shiny beads woven with strong fibers and wrapped in knitted fiber. Jana
You Can Create An Exceptional Life – by Louise Hay and Cheryl Richardson
25 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Book Reviews, Spirits Tags: Book Review, Magic, Spirit of 13
Grab hold of this wonderful little book and prepare to spend time with two delightful people as they share their hearts and souls with each other and us. The give and take between two professionals demonstrates how we can help others and ourselves move toward emotional and spiritual well-being through the use of affirmations. Ultimately, they are teaching us ways to improve our relationship with ourselves. For learning to love and appreciate ourselves opens the door to others – including those we think we dislike.
It was so nice to read about other folks that talk to themselves, their cars and the mirror. Louise Hay shares many of her affirmations she uses in her life in order to show Cheryl how to get a hold on her life. She is the perfect example of how affirmations change the tones you hear and speak by speaking positively of herself and her world. As she stated, “if people get a hold of their day, they get a hold of their life”. Wonderfully said. And the unique way Cheryl tells their story gives the examples root to grow in your own garden of life.
This should be in your home and/or office library – available to remind you of how much you love yourself. Read the book, practice self-care, and learn the joy of loving yourself.
Full Disclosure - As a volunteer reviewer for Hay House, I was provided a copy at not cost, but my reviews are not for sale. You can trust that what I wrote is how I feel about the book.
Beyond Rain of Gold Review
14 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Prose, Spirits Tags: Book Review, Spirit of 13
Calming Mother Earth
30 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Prose, Spirits Tags: Democracy, Mother Earth, Raven
I had a wonderful conversation with a scientist this past week. We had been talking about Mother Earth and the many violent events that occurred this past year.
We started talking about earthquakes and the events in Japan. Off the coast of Oregon is a fault line of the same structure called the Gorda Ridge. But, he argued, a Tsunami on the Northwest Coast couldn’t come inland as far because of the coast range. True enough, but it could cause extensive damage and kill thousands. Then we talked about the fault line here in Utah and the losses that could occur if it started moving. The entire Wasatch Front sits directly overtop.
Yes, Mother Earth seems to be unhappy. The major flooding and earthquakes in Australia, Haiti, and the awakening of volcanoes in Hawaii, and now the worst tornado season in the US since the “dust bowl” days, makes one wonder what she’s up to.
Brian Williams, news anchor for NBC, keeps asking “what are we doing to cause all these disasters? “ He is, in my opinion, trying to get Weather gurus to say its global warming. We have to find something to blame?
The real reason – Mother Earth is tired and is looking for some rest. The burden of overpopulation is breaking her back, while at the same time we suck out bullions of gallons of oil and natural gas from her innards.
Father Sky is worried about her condition and he brings violent weather patterns with excessive amounts of water and snow to help cool her down. Grandfather Sun tries to help by not radiating quite so brightly, but causes crop losses to create starvation conditions. And Grandmother Moon, Keeper of Emotions, turns up the dial on male egos. Violence erupts in the Middle East. Thousands demonstrate and ask Allah for a leadership change – they want democracy and freedom and a better quality of life.
In Europe we see widespread financial devastation and Great Britain cuts government by 20%. What are we to do?
What is Mother Earth asking us to do? Lighten her load, reduce birthrates even more. Remember to thank her for every beautiful thing. When you take a rock, leave a corn seed. It will grow, feed people and critters, and the Raven will continue to thrive as he roams the Earth, cleaning up after us.
synchronicity
21 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Spirits Tags: Book Review
The Celestine Prophecy is a fictional account of the finding of the pieces of an ancient manuscript, with 9 insights. The fun part of the book is like synchronicity itself, anticipating the next insight and who might bring it forward.
The many phases of synchronicity start with what Mr. Redfield calls the “the 1st Insight” of being conscious of the coincidences in our lives that get us beyond the “me-first” attitude and the battle for control. And as we have moved from a spiritual framework to an economic one, we’ve lost our energy.
In order to get it back, we’ve found behavior ways to take energy from others – “an unconscious competition that underlies all human conflict in the world”. You can witness this in the Libya leader Moammar Gadhafi. He’s switched his tactics from “poor me” to “aloof” to “interrogator” to “intimidator”. Unfortunately for him, none are working this time around. Mr. Redfield has labeled it “drama control” and his is the highest sort you’ll find. Luckily, most drama on the home-front or at work isn’t nearly that lethal.
This unconscious “drama control” is about pressuring people to react in a way that they give up their energy to the other using one of the four “dramas” listed above.. And not allowing your energy to be taken keeps your energy levels up which keeps you aware of messages from others. The story is a fun read as well as challenges your sense of “coincidence”. The 9th Insight explains how human culture will change in the next millennium; how we must release our fear of scarcity and our need to control; we must give so we can receive those messages meant for us, if we’re watching for them.
Let’s Focus on What’s Right With The World!
24 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Spirits Tags: Spirit of 13
Start and end each day with a small prayer of thanks. Directed to the aspect of our needs at the time
- Mother Earth
- Father Sky
- Grandmother Moon
- Grandfather Sun
And sometimes to the Holy Spirit and the spirits of those passed on.
Copper Raven is the sum of all those parts – and the spirit of 13. She is the culmination of life experiences and being call on by one of the 7 directions, to do many things for many people. And she is asked to learn to respect others and their choices for themselves – and to learn of their spirits from their choices.
You are welcome to walk with her here.
