Saturday, June 30, 2012

Saturday's Gem - Alexandrite

Since June is coming to a close today I picked June’s birthstone, Alexandrite, as our gem and mineral for today.  Alexandrite is classified as a Chrysoberyl from the orthorhombic system that has many different shapes naturally; it can be tabular, prismatic, massive, and granular.  Its unique characteristic is that in natural light it will look dark green but in artificial light it will look red.  The better quality color change the piece of Alexandrite has the higher the monetary value.  It is transparent to translucent and can be faceted to make beautiful jewelry pieces.  It is most often found in Sri Lanka, Russia, Zimbabwe, and Brazil.  Chrysoberyl itself has been found in Connecticut but it is most likely not the gem quality Alexandrite but something that is more yellow or brown

Metaphysically Alexandrite is very special since it has the ability to change colors in the lighting.  During the day and while in its green color it can attract happiness and good fortune and during the night, in its red color, it attracts loving and sensual affections.

Here are some great Etsy picks:

Friday, June 29, 2012

Freaky Fun Friday - My YouTube Favorites

I am too tired this morning at 2:00 am (normally my best hour) to really think so I decided to rely on the entertainment value of YouTube.  My son got me hooked on YouTube several years ago; we spent some mother/son-time laughing and bonding over stupid pranks on roommates, clips of comedians, and (my favorite) handmade videos.  For some reason I always thought the ones with the mice it were the funniest.  Unfortunately Terry absolutely hates mice and rats and finds no humor in them what-so-ever so when I want to share I can't; let's hope that he doesn't read this post because it is plum full of them;)

Oldies but goodies:




This one is newer...

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Aromatherapy Thursday - Lemon Balm

Botanical Name:  Mellissa officinalis
Where it grows: North Africa, USA, Mid East, South Europe, Hungary
US Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Special Characteristics: Square stem, Bright red flowers
How the oil is produced: Steam distillation
Fragrance: Lemon with a light mint, herbal, green, citrus
Blends well with: Geranium, most other mints, rosemary, lavender, Rose, Citrus, Lemongrass,
Etsy Shop, Simple Earth Creations, has a wonderful herbal tea made with lemon balm that can be found at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/SimpleEarthCreations?ref=seller_info
Lemon Balm is another one of my favorite herbs.  When I was young I was very interested in herbology and would suck up any information on natural healing and holistic treatments as I could.  I visited another farm with my family where the mother had been very knowledgeable and had several large herb gardens.  As we walked the fields of green leaves and small flowers she taught me how to identify herbs in the wild. 
This beautiful painting can be found at ArtFire shop Ninthya at http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/nithya
One thing that would always stay with me was a simple trick to tell what plants belong into the mint family.  She told me to always check the stems; if they are square there is a strong possibility they are some kind of mint.  Over the years this has remained true, if it had a square stem it would be part of the mint family when I looked them up.  Lemon Balm is part of the mint family and does have the square stem. 

Lemon Balm has a beautiful lemony scent and can easily be grown in your garden.  One thing to be aware of with the mint family is that they are very aggressive.  I you don’t want your entire garden to be taken over you must contain their roots.
Lemon Balm is considered to be a calming fragrance and in aromatherapy it is used to up lift your mood and relieve nervous tension.  It can be used in as a warm bath soak or in a diffuser to help ease the day’s stress.  It is also known to have antibacterial properties and help topically with bug bites, eczema, and other skin issues.  It is also useful during the menstrual cycle to help relieve headaches, cramping and nausea. 



Note:  When using any essential oil too much of a good thing can have a negative impact so make sure to practice safety.  Aromatherapy should never replace medical treatment and you should consult your physician before using any alternative medicine

This information is for educational purposes only, it is not intended to treat, cure, prevent or, diagnose any disease or condition. Nor is it intended to prescribe in any way. This information is for educational purposes only and may not be complete, nor may its data be accurate.

Whenever using essential oils conduct an allergy test prior to use and never apply directly to your skin or directly stick your nose close to the bottle (dropper, spoon, cover, etc.) Often essential oils are strong enough to burn the thin membranes inside your nose.

Do not take internally unless working with a qualified and expert practitioner. Keep away from children.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A Treasured Wednesday

What a wonderful Wednesday; one week before the Fourth of July!
This beautiful Trading Card can be purchased from ArtFire shop LDPhotography at  http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/LDPhotography
Since Wednesday typically is the middle of the work week for most of us I think having a nice "Kicked-Back" day would be in order.  You made it through half the week but you still have half to go.  What would be a better way to start off a Wednesday morning than starting with some ETSY/ArtFire eye candy?  Maybe a sale or promo?  I am going to start using Wednesday to feature some of the wonderfully curated Treasuries I find on ETSY and Collections that I find on Artfire.  Maybe I will sprinkle in some of my favorite items and Artists into the mix too. 

Just a quick note about next week.  As I have been excitedly mentioning in most of my posts, I am getting married on the Fourth of July.  That means a honeymoon, so no matter where we are at I have promised my hubby-to-be that I would not pickup a laptop and I will leave all electronics at home.  I can't even sneak down to the computers at 1 am he will probably put a trip alarm by the bedroom door.  With that being said I will not be posting from July 3rd through July 11th, my posting will resume with Tuesday's Twitter Tree.  I hope everyone has the best Fourth and enjoys their families and friends. 

Now onto my Kudos to the great Artists and Curators I find on Etsy and Artfire:










Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Tuesday's Twitter Tree - June 26, 2012


The Twitter Tree© will is hosted by a different shop each business day.

The Rules to participate:
You must tweet ALL the other posts here.
(It is not fair to those of us who tweet your items, when you don't reciprocate)
Only two (2) hashtags

Check back during the day to tweet any new posts.
Post only two (2) items.
No google+ stuff. This is the Twitter Tree©
Add your Twitter ID to your post (mine is @butterflysattic)
No "mature" items.
My Items:

 Beautiful Old Fashioned #Victorian Style Swan Pomander w/ handmade Sachet Mix of your choice! http://ow.ly/bPkTq #retwt @butterflysattic


 #RememberTheTime when things were everlasting? White Flower Girl Pomander w/ Handmade Sachet http://ow.ly/bPlNR @butterflysattic #retwt


I would like to invite anyone interested in postcards to join the Pacific Postcards Team on ETSY at http://www.etsy.com/teams/9158/pacific-postcards-team?ref=pr_teams and click "apply." 

If you are interested in becoming a leader convo me.


Note: I will tweet until 5:30 am Pacific time and then I will be back after work around 5:00 pm to tweet again


Monday, June 25, 2012

Monday Meet and Greet the Members of the Pacific Postcards Team - IsabellsUmbrella


Our Meet and Greet Pacific Postcards Team Member today is Ashely Giessing owner of a beautiful little shop called Isabell's Umbrella.  Her art work is simply adorable and each character comes to life.   Isabell's offers a selection of  notecards, jewelry, stickers, book plates and more, but of course, my favorite is the Postcards!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/58868213/postcard-pack-squirrel
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53527573/postcard-pack-howdy
Make sure to visit her FB page Isabell's Umbrella Shop and Website www.isabells-umbrella.blogspot.com where you will find her lovely illustrations
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60509124/postcard-pack-unicorn
Here is a bit more about Isabell's Umbrella from her Profile on Etsy:
"About Isabell's Umbrella
Isabell's Umbrella grew from an obsession with stationery, writing instruments and design. Ashley Giessing, owner/artist, believes she should have been born in the nineteenth century, when all correspondence was done by hand.

Highlights of her childhood include drawing, making little notes and stationery for her little brother and older sisters, and the monthly letters she would receive from her dear Grandma Sweetie.

It was when Ashley first entered the design field that she that she began dreaming about creating her own line of stationery. Four years later, Ashley took that leap -- opening Isabell's Umbrella in January of 2008. She looks to the future and growth of Isabell’s Umbrella with a plan for success.

Specializing in stationery that will lift the clouds of a rainy day, Ashley’s hopes are to renew the lost "art" of hand correspondence by creating stationery you will want to share with others. "There is nothing that means more to me than a kind, heartfelt, handwritten note from someone I love."

About Me
Located in a valley much like somewhere else I've been, I spend my days working as a graphic designer in the marketing department of an architectural firm. My evenings are filled by my son, daughter and husband whom I all love dearly... and my nights and free time (ha!) are spent dreaming up designs and doodles for Isabell's Umbrella. I drool over thin-tipped pens, stationery and unique office supplies, and oh yeah, I also collect books"
~ Ashely Giessing

Here is some more of her wonderful work:

'Meet the Pacific Postcards Team Member ~ Ashley Giessing ~ Isabell's Umbrella' by postcardsintheattic

Postcard Pack : Bear and Bee
$3.50
Postcard Pack : Ice Cream
$5.00
Mini Note Cards : Yellow Owl
$3.00
Mini Note Card Set : Cupcake
$3.00
Mini Note Cards : Kokeshi Do...
$3.00
Mini Folded Gift Card : Lion
$1.25
Send A Smile Note Cards : Ha...
$8.00
Bookmarks : Assorted
$3.50
Bookplates : Ugly Duckling
$3.50
Mailing Labels / Bookplates ...
$3.50
Magnet : Mister Whale
$2.75
Cheerful Companions - Hand S...
$16.00
Illustrated Necklace : Garde...
$12.00
Isabell : Little Girl Standi...
$18.00
Sticker Set : Kawaii Friends
$2.50
Rub-On Decals
$4.00

If you are interested on becoming a member of the Pacific Postcards Team please go to this link http://www.etsy.com/teams/9158/pacific-postcards-team?ref=pr_teams and click "Apply."
We have just started offering 2 different memberships: one will be for general membership, for those who love postcards and collecting postcards and the other will be for shops with at least 25% of their
items listed are postcards.
The only difference in the memberships is that the latter will be included in shop
interviews, BNRs and postcard related activities. We also plan on having activities for
the general memberships. Hope to see you there soon.