The Weeping Willow

Last night I dreamt of the ocean.

  

Standing high above on the edge of a cliff, I remember feeling with certainty that if I leaned into the wind and opened my arms out ever so wide, my feet would gently lift off of the ground and I would be soaring high above the crashing waves below.  

I felt exhilarated, weightless and free. 

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, the cool wind in my hair and fingertips..and as I closed my eyes and leaned a little bit further, I felt the ground disappear from under my feet.  I was soaring high with the clouds, then dipping down towards the water, skimming the surface and traveling so fast that I could feel the spray of sea water and hear the whistle of the wind in my ears.

I dream of the ocean often.  

I'm not sure why or what it all means but I remember getting a reading for fun, years ago from a gentle old woman.  She said that my soul was lingering by the sea, that there was a huge weeping willow on a cliffside that marked the spot.  I've spent many years secretly looking for that willow tree down by the sea..

I went down to my studio the first chance I got today,working quickly and quietly.  My mind was busy thinking about my dream, I could still feel the coolness of the wind, the lightness in my soul.  

It was no surprise that I reached for an aquamarine with its colour of the ocean and of the skies.  

Like the ocean, it gives and takes away..all a natural part of the circle of life as it is ever changing, 

never static.

Maybe it's the change in the wind I've felt the last few days.  

It's been blustery around here.  

Mother Nature's way of moving along the old and bringing in the new.

Have you felt the wind lately?  What did it have to say to you?

xo Blue Gnome

Has Spring Sprung?

Just another Friday here, feeling quite cheerful that spring has sprung early this year!  

We tore down our rickety old mudroom a few years ago, it was like a sagging, cancerous growth hanging off of our kitchen, held up by a stack of crumbling bricks and whatever else the previous owners found lying around.  It's really a miracle that the deteriorating shack didn't just collapse on its own..I'm not even going to mention the number of winter parties we've hosted where the smokers huddled inside of it, stamping their feet and jumping up and down in the teetering structure to try to stay warm. It blocked the sunshine out of the kitchen and became a storage space for clutter, those miscellaneous items that you don't want to deal with at that particular time..it's truly a great thing that it's gone.  

And so now there's sun!  

Bright, glorious sunshine streaming in the window and glass door, showing all the fingerprints (and nose prints courtesy of my fur baby..) on the stainless steel appliances and Sachi hair scattered all over the floor despite the daily vacuuming.   And while it's actually quite chilly outside today

it's sunny,

cozy

 and

 warm

 in here.

Our days lately have finally started making some sense.  Leo has thankfully, finally given into the fact that a wee little boy such as himself needs some sleep throughout the day and although he still fights a good fight, his naps have become more routine and restful.  It's truly been an eye opening experience having a baby around - I've discovered more things about myself in the last few months than I care to admit, does it sounds strange for me to say that for a while there I didn't feel like he was mine and mine to keep?  It's still baffling to me sometimes how much I'm needed, truly and honesty needed..it hit me like a slap in the face during one of our 3am feedings.  It must sound quite silly to you - I mean, it's obvious that a baby can't look after itself isn't it?  Didn't I know going into this that having a baby would require 100% of my attention and then some?  Yes..but it's one of those things that you truly have to experience first hand - when you find yourself picking your baby's nose because, well, they can't..and all of the millions of other things they simply cannot do themselves..a no brainer you might say, but to be in the presence of such a wee being has been both a pleasure and a displeasure all in one.  It's a damn good thing that babies are so gosh-darn cute, their demanding behavior would simply be unacceptable otherwise!

As for the shop downstairs, things have been quiet the last few days.  I was able to finish a few pieces last week and that seemed to have satisfied my obsessive creative urge for the time being.  

This necklace was inspired loosely by this poem written by an anonymous writer.

Sterling, Carnelian

                                                   Man found land found tree found apple
                                                 Woman found apple found tree found man

Snake found man found tree found apple

Apple bites manSnake so mad

Break

Man found tree found apple found land

Woman found man found apple found land

Snake found man found woman found land

Snake bites apple

Man so mad

Man hits snake

Woman goes mad

Woman eat apple

Man goes bad.

- Anonymous

And some other little trinkets, just because.

 Sterling, Moonstone

Sterling, Agate

This weekend is supposed to be chilly but gloriously sunny again.  Despite the fairly optimistic temperatures lately, I'm still hanging onto my winter tires for a little while longer.  It is the great white north after all and I think old man winter still has a few tricks up his sleeve..

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

xo Blue Gnome 

Out Of The Ashes

Sterling, Turquoise

On wings that fill the sky
Like a phoenix rising
Like a phoenix rising
Wings on fire, tearing into the night
Screaming into the light of another day
Carry me out the hurricane
Into the smoke and flame and we’ll fly away
And we’ll rise right before their eyes
On wings that fill the sky 

- Lyrics, Phoenix Rising

For those of you who have survived the fire and risen from its ashes, the Phoenix knows no limitations. 

A powerful representation of rebirth, survival and fight. 

Available in the shop.

xo Blue Gnome

When The Raven Calls

My work in the shop lately has been wonderfully productive, it's amazing how focused one can become when you're limited for time.  There's been no daydreaming, no mindless tinkering around with ideas only to lose focus and scrap it all together.  All the sketches I've been working on in the wee hours of the morning while Leo and I hang out have slowly come to life..and how wonderful it is to finally see them develop.

I've found myself drawn to my wildlife designs - birds, bears..totem animals that speak to me of things I have yet to figure out.  I'm flattered and delighted that people have contacted me regarding the Phoenix ring I listed just before Christmas, a ring I designed and created with no expectation of selling.  My largest ring yet, this design was hand drawn with no thought to practicality, created purely on aesthetics.  I fell in love with it..and must confess that I was a little sad to see it go.  I'm currently in the midst of creating another one, something a little different but just as luxurious with heaps of sterling and a simple turquoise. I'm hoping to have it finished by the middle of the week, Leo allowing, of course!  I'm excited about it..as I am to share this new raven ring I've been working on these past few days.  

Sterling, Agate

Let there be a raven more...
Let it soar and fly.
Let there be a raven nor...
Let it circle by.
Let there be a raven more...
T'will it stay up high? 
Let there be a raven more...
Forever more, the most more ever high. - Michael Gale

Made entirely of sterling and a snowy specimen of agate, a raven sits perched upon the beautiful stone.  This ring sits on your finger with a decadent weight, tumbled for hours for strength and comfort.

Available now in my shop. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

xo Blue Gnome

Keeping My Sanity Series

The last few weeks have been a sleepless blur..the unfortunate thing is that this will not be ending anytime soon..the amazing thing is the capability of the human body to adjust to just about anything.  I'm no longer staggering around the house like a zombie, putting the milk carton away in the cupboard and the toaster in the fridge.  As Leo has slowly begun to establish a daily routine, I'm finally able to entertain the thought of managing my day to day life somewhat (ha!) showering, get dressed and having a meal or two all in the same day! I've even managed to sneak some time in my shop - while some might call that a luxury, for me it's become a necessity to preserve my sanity.  Despite the staggering number of things that need to be done to keep a tiny baby happy, I was craving..no..aching for a creative outlet. 

So with a baby swing set up in the far corner of the shop, Leo and I were able to reach a compromise.  A little "Tina time" makes for a much happier mommy and Leo agreed that a happy mommy makes for a happy baby.  It really must be true when they say that a baby remembers and finds comfort in the sounds they hear while they're in your belly because while the tumblers tumbled and the hammers hammered, Leo slept peacefully in his corner.  

So in brief 1 1/2 hour increments, over the course of many more days than before Leo's arrival, I've managed to put a few little items together.  Although very different in design and inspiration, I'm calling them a part of my Keeping My Sanity series - because without them I'm a little scared I might drown in maternal responsibility.  

All Leo approved.  Currently available in my shop.

xo Blue Gnome

 Bear Totem - Sterling, Ocean Jasper

 Sanity Ring - Sterling, TeePee Canyon Agate

Rumor Ring - Sterling, Turquoise

Happy New Year..And the Arrival Of The Wee Bean

Leo

We hit the ground running in 2012, an unexpectedly early addition to our family made his entrance at 2am on January 2nd.  Leo arrived with a full head of hair and a whole lot of attitude after an exhausting trip down the birth canal.  It's been a long road for little Leo..he's been busy growing, developing, living in quarters that had gotten quite tight in the last few months of 2011.  His entrance was quite spectacular and took every little ounce of his being, announcing his arrival with loud healthy screams, perfect tiny toes and fingers curled tightly in determined protest.  It was warm and safe in there..and now it's our duty to see that he's warm, safe and loved out here in this big, big world.  

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the midwives who made every effort to fulfill our birth plan in welcoming Leo into an environment of calm, without any intrusive measures what so ever.  I'd also like to thank those people who told me time and time again that I wouldn't be able to deliver this perfect little person without medication.  Because without them, I would't have been so damn determined to honor the natural in natural childbirth.  The experience was unreal..never have I been so aware of the miracles of mother nature..when you let go of the instinctive urge to be in control of your body and let nature take over.  All you can do is try to relax and go along for the ride because turning back isn't an option at that point.  And what a ride it was!

So, as wonderful and miraculous as this experience has been the not-so-wonderful phase has begun.  

Whoever thought that 3 consecutive hours of sleep could be such a glorious thing?   

Running on not much more than fumes these days, the days and nights seem to all blend together and the weeks have flown by.  In the wee hours of the morning when the house is asleep, I've been frantically sketching whilst balancing Leo in the other hand.  I have a ton of new ideas that I've been dying to get started on.  Now all I need is a priceless little thing called time.  So bear with me..the updates on the blog will be far and few between but I have some ideas that I hope to share soon :)  

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season in 2011 filled with love, family and great friends.  A time to reflect on the past year, forget all your regrets and face the new year with a kind heart, rejuvenated soul and hope.  

And love.  Don't ever pass up an opportunity to love.  

This will be your year. 

A blank canvas waiting for your brush strokes of creativity, brilliance and a brand new opportunity for you to make your mark in this world.  

This will be your year.

xo Blue Gnome

'Tis The Season When Slowing Down Is Not An Option

So I'm not traveling this holiday season.  Thought it would be nice to stay close to the home front, avoid the crazy holiday travelers with their very merry and obnoxious holiday sweaters.  Did I ever mention that flight home to B.C. where a woman had to be asked to turn the LED lights off on her Christmas sweater?  When I saw her waiting in the line up to proceed through security, proudly twinkling all the way, I instinctively knew she would be on my flight.  Thankfully, I wasn't the one who ended up sitting next to her.  A small miracle since anyone who knows me will tell you that I seem to attract that kind of thing...

Anyway, the plan was to stay here, relax and calmly enjoy the start of the holiday season.  

Not a chance.  

The downfall to staying at home is that there's always stuff that needs getting done.  I'm quickly finding out that spending the holidays in someone else's home is sometimes the only way to avoid doing stuff that starts by promising to only take up a few minutes of your time..and hours later, you're still doing it.

But on the bright side, we finally went out and got a tree this year!  We picked out a relatively normal looking tree and during the time it took to drive it home, it grew another foot high and a few feet wide.  The gargantuan tree now takes up a third of the front sitting room, the sheer thickness of the branches has swallowed up the three strings of lights it took to cover it from top to bottom.  We have way too much tree for our tiny supply of ornaments..and it's absolutely beautiful!  I baked, decorated and hung a bunch of cookies for tree decorations, forgetting that a certain furry family member is a big fan of gingerbread.  But the problem seems to have solved itself since I came home from work one day and found Sachi in a cookie coma after eating everything she could reach, about 15.  Now the tree is missing decorations on the bottom third and Sachi's all cookie-ed out.  She'll look at the gingerbread if you hold it out to her, smell it, give it a courtesy lick and after a quick side glance at me, walk away disgusted.  

A win-win situation all around!

I hope you're hanging onto your sanity so far this festive holiday season!

The countdown's begun..9 more days of shopping left.  So get out your elbows and fight your way through those crowds at the mall...sanity's overrated anyway :)  I'll be taking full advantage of the "Expectant Mother" parking spaces there this weekend.

xo Blue Gnome