One Last OMG Fashion Trend For 2012

So right before the New Year I like to go back over years gone by.  I am sure I am not alone but right before I could close the chapter on this year someone had to squeak in one last eyebrow raising, WTF, are you serious fashion mishap.  I realize the most people think that you could put a burlap sack over a top model and they can make it look good (most often true) but I just found one thing that even a top model can't make look good.  You have to watch this video it is too funny - she can't even walk.  I think the expression on her face is not a professional pose but one that says "when I get my hands on my agent, I am going to..." I hope you enjoy and have a blessed day.  I know I am blessed because I never had to try on these shoes:)


If you are like me and love to see the funny things people will wear here is a great link to get more!  The link lands on my favorite:  http://ow.ly/gqeCG   enjoy:)

Saturday's Gem - Rose Quartz

Since the color pink is my absolute favorite color, Rose Quartz is also on the list of one of my favorite semiprecious gem stones.  This mineral is commonly found in the US and all of the world since it is volcanic glass but there are only a few areas that have larger noted deposits of this stone.  What makes Rose Quartz different from other quartz is the pink color which comes from trace elements of titanium or manganese that was available at the time of formation.  California is one area that has a notable deposit and is reputed to have some very good quality and deep pink colored stones.  The stones that we typically see for sale at gem and mineral shows are from areas such as Madagascar, Brazil and there is also some that come from Germany. 


This raw Rose Quartz is from ETSY Shop Autumn Star Moon at http://www.etsy.com/shop/AutumnStarMoon?ref=seller_info

Rose Quartz is usually in a massive form which is unlike other quartz that form variable sizes of pointed crystals.  It is very rare to find a piece of Rose Quartz as a well formed crystal.   Because of this feature Rose Quartz is  more often used as beads and cabochons in jewelry making.  The most common specimens have a little bit of a milky or opaque quality to them so Rose Quartz is usually not faceted but some pieces do have that gem quality and can be used for fine jewelry. 

Rose Quartz is very brittle so when working with it you must keep this in mind.  Some times quartz will have inclusions (minerals that are not part of the main stone) that often will make the specimen perfect for a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. 

Rose Quartz is also used for spiritual purposes; the stone is said to bring positive energy and to help heal the body and mind.  When purchasing Rose Quartz as a spiritual tool you should "cleanse" the stone first prior to using.  To cleanse the stone you use one of the four elements - fire, water, earth, or wind.  The easiest method that I find is to use sea salt in a deep container and I place the rocks into the salt and seal it for at least 24 hours.  You can also use dirt (messier), water (may damage some stones but not the quartz) or pass it through the smoke from a lit candle.  There are many sites that will provide significant more detailed information on how to cleanse your stone this is just a snippet. 

You also need to "charge" your stone, which can be as simple as leaving it on the window sill in the sunlight for at least 24 hours.  Again googling this will provide much more detailed information that this.  But you also will have to cleanse and recharge your stones often for them to be affective.  I even do this with my jewelry that is made out of real stone.  Especially after I first purchase it, who would want another person's energy or Karma?  My methods are just suggestions there are many other ways to cleanse and charge your crystals.  This site will get you a great start if you are interested in the energy from crystals: http://www.millenniumminerals.com/resources/clean.html.
Here are some examples of beautiful Rose Quartz specimens and jewelry:

Saturday's Gem - Tiger's Eye

I love hunting for gems and minerals whether it is out in the desert or at a site or at a garage sale or a store.  I love the cold of the stones when I am wearing real stone jewelry and nothing can beat the weight either.  I try to steer clear of any kind of plastic jewelry but once in a while something is just too cute to pass up.  One of my favorite minerals is Tiger's Eye.

This amazing slab that is just waiting to show off its true potential was found in ETSY Shop Lapidary Dreams at http://www.etsy.com/shop/lapidarydreams?ref=seller_info

Tiger's Eye is a pseudomorph of quartz and is formed by silification of crocidolite.  I has a silky fibery look to the actual stone and when polished those fibers or the column structure plays with the light giving it a kind of pearly iridescence.  The beautiful yellow comes from brown iron.

This awesome Specimen was found in Etsy shop Wooly Mittens Studio at http://www.etsy.com/people/WoolyMittenStudios?ref=ls_profile

It can be found in California (unfortunately I have not found any yet myself) and it is also found in Burma, Western Australia and India. 

Best of all is the look and feel of Tiger's Eye jewelry.  I will sell vintage jewelry but when I find a piece that uses Tiger's Eye I always end up keeping it for myself.  Here are some lovely pieces found at Etsy...

Live Adorned ~ Wedding Hair Accessories with Hawaiian a Flare

Don't Forget ~ Today is the last day for a chance to WIN 2 personalized ornaments ($20 value +  free shipping) from FlutterbyConnections.  Go to  post http://butterflyintheattic.blogspot.com/2011/08/flutterby-connections-give-away.html and look for how you can win at the end of the interview.  Thank you

Great News! For my readers:  use AUGUST20  for 20% off 1 item at ETSY shop Live Adorned http://www.etsy.com/people/LiveAdorned?ref=ls_profile

Beautiful handcrafted hair accessories created by Chun Hui Chen, owner of ETSY shop LiveAdorned, are an absolute necessity for any bride to be.  Chun's work can also be found at her new shop

www.liveadorned.com  Chun incorporates her Hawaii style into her designs making each piece a very feminine work of art.  Browsing through her store one thought comes to mind...Gorgeous!  I am proud to able to feature Chun and her shop in the following interview.

http://www.etsy.com/people/LiveAdorned?ref=ls_profile

Tell me a bit about yourself....
My name is Chun Hui Chen and I live in Honolulu, Hawaii.  I just got married on May 5th in Sonoma to my husband Marc.  I love to sing karaoke, skiing, swimming, and looking at wedding blogs - even though its been 3 months since my wedding!  I'm a proud Chinese-American, a product of hard working immigrant parents from Taiwan.

Apart from creating, what do you do?
I work in project development for a green energy consulting company.

What first made you want to create?
Getting engaged last year unearthed a passion for making handmade hair accessories. Believe me, prior to starting Live Adorned, I was hardly the “crafty” type – I could barely wrap a present! Maybe it started with the desire to save money, but it evolved into a vision to incorporate handmade details to make our wedding as authentic as possible. Aside from my hair accessories, I also made our favors, photobooth props, signage, and accessories for my MOH and flower girl. It was a wonderful creative experience and fueled my love for all things handmade.

 Describe your creative process?
 Inspiration is the foundation of the creative process. Once I have an idea, I’ll play around with materials, layering, shapes, and textures to design the final product. For me, filtering through the ideas is the most challenging part - I’m inspired by anything feminine, organic, and whimsical. A few recent standouts -  a French inspired photoshoot, an unusual flower, Vera Wang’s latest bridal gown collection. Inspiration truly comes from anywhere. I think that’s why I’m addicted to wedding blogs, even long after my wedding – the creative brilliance you find on these blogs on a daily basis is staggering. How can one not be inspired?

What handmade possession do you cherish most?
My handmade hair flower that I wore on my wedding day. It represents the culmination of almost a year of evolution from my very first piece. It’s a practical, yet equally sentimental way to commemorate my wedding day (without having to find a place to store my enormous dress!).  

How are you promoting your work?
I did a couple craft fairs at home, but found that my target audience is wedding blog readers, etsy shoppers, and newly engaged brides. I don’t have a lot of working capital to advertise, so I’ve been trolling the blog world to try to expose my work through interviews. Etsy is my main source of traffic so I’ve been working on sharpening up my store and focus on their updates for best search results. I also plan on contacting local bridal boutiques to generate wholesale business.

Where do you want to be in ten years?
I plan on opening up a brick and mortar store in Honolulu – there’s definitely a lack of selection in the wedding accessory segment. My store will feature not only my own products, but also other handmade products in other wedding categories – bride’s attire, grooms accessories, paper, décor. I’d also love to add bridal gown consignment - many people in Hawaii live in under 1,000 sqft, so storage space is very limited.