A Little Charm Fun

Well it was an absolutely beautiful day today and I didn't even step outside. Sometimes I really need to make more time to get out in the fresh air....even though it was a bit chilly but I was out and about all weekend either teaching a class or taking a class so I was glad to be able to just laze about today.

I did finish up some charms for a round robin bracelet exchange. This first one's theme was amethyst. I love the color and the stone so this was pretty easy for me. I wanted something that would mean a lot to the person receiving the bracelet so I fused fine silver and shaped it into the heart form, hammered it and then added small faceted amethyst stones. It turned out pretty good. I'm used to making hearts that are much larger for pendants but it was fun making one smaller.

This next bracelet charm theme was industrial steampunk. Now I don't make many steampunk style pieces so I had a bit of trouble, but I found this Industrial Chic charm, took it apart, wrapped it with some annealed steel and added a few pearls. I think it kind of has a hard and soft edge to it.

I've been playing with setting stones in bezels and am terrible (that's what happens when you try to teach yourself) so yesterday I took a class at Tacoma Metal Arts Center. This is the piece I'm still working on as I need to do some more clean up, polish and then set the stone in the bezel (it is just sitting in it right now). I'm liking the mixed metal look of the copper and silver bezel. I'll be sure to post a final picture when I have it finished. I highly recommend the metal classes by Amy Reeves, she was patient and offered lots of suggestions even to me when I wanted to try a much larger piece then the rest of the class and I wanted to try to solder a silver bezel to copper which I guess can be a little challenging. I'm always up for a challenge.

Be Safe, Be Happy and Be Healthy

Regenerating

After all our travels in December, we are sure glad to be home and back to a normal routine. Okay, our life isn't necessarily normal but whose is. I haven't taken down the holiday decorations yet as I want to enjoy them a few more days but I'm sure that by the weekend our house will also be back to normal.

Hubby has been fighting a cold, not sure if he won or the cold but I've been trying to take precautions and boosting my immune system with all kinds of essential oils, vitamins and supplements. I do have a cough but it isn't what it could have turned into and for that I am thankful. I do have a recipe that you can use on the bottom of your feet when you have a cold. I do think it prevented hubby's from getting worse and my mom swears by it. We use it "neat" (3 drops on feet every night) but if you don't feel comfortable with that then you can dilute the 3 drops with a teaspoon of olive oil.

3 drops Peppermint EO
2 drops Eucalyptus EO
2 drops Camphor EO
2 drops Frankincense EO

As I was blog hopping I came across the Camp Wander blog and she has some awesome things to try. Yesterday's post was all about anti-aging and a recipe she has to help regenerate the skin. It of course contains Frankincense. I'll have to try it out. Here is a link to her blog post.

Not only do I feel that this coming year I need to be better to my skin and body but also my mind and creativity as well. Today I started a new year long on-line art journey called Life Book with Tamara LaPorte. I've already started with the first lesson and can't wait to see how the journey goes this year. This piece is my fantasy "Fairy Art Mother". She turned out pretty good and is now hanging in my studio to remind me that whatever I create, it is wonderful and beautiful.

She is made with watercolor and watercolor crayons. If you follow my art blog Basically Art, I will be posting my progress throughout the year.

I have so many more things in the works including a new class for my "Hammered Pendant" and a new "Coastal Cypress" gem tree so stay tuned and for those class dates.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's going to be a great year.

Essential Oils, Do They Work?

I've started getting back into essential oils and adding them to my own lotion and base oils. I love the smell of the natural oils vs. all the perfumes and other stuff you find out there. I used to make my own lotion and really should start again but I digress. Do the oils work? I think on some level they probably work better. Hubby tends to get cold sores on his lip and just fights with it for a week or more, so I made him a blend of oils to use then I also got a small tube of Abreva which he wanted to try. In this case, he felt that the oils were more of a benefit than the Abreva. We will soon find out if the sore heals faster than if he didn't use it. The last time the sore lasted 7 days and right now we are on day 2. If you suffer from cold sores I would recommend you try the oils. There might be a blend out there already but if not you can make your own. These are the combination of oils and amounts that I used.

8 drops of Tea Tree
3 drops of Lemon
5 drops of Lavender
8 drops of Geranium
6 drops of Chamomile

Blend in a small dark bottle. Apply one drop to a cotton swap or cotton ball that you have wet with water and apply directly to the sore.

There are some really good brands of essential oils and I try to find the ones that are organic. Check a local health food store as they will probably have a good selection.

If you want to have a good reference book, my favorite is The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

I'll let you know how the cold sore therapy goes and if the time frame decreases. Now to work on a blend for tendinitis.