Reflections of the Day

  A thing is complete
     when you can
         let it
           be.
                         ~Gita Bellin

Bead Caps

It was gently pointed out that some of my readers will not know what a bead cap IS...so here are a couple of pictures taken earlier this month.  Fine silver and copper.   

 

Cyber Monday...where?

Okay, so I am not big on B.F. after Thanksgiving. I don't even like to acknowledge it in any commercial sense with regard to big retailers. I know that the deals are frequently better on the very same items in the beginning of November, if there really is a Must Have of anything. I've been prudent, feeling that what I must have this year is really LESS of any thing and MORE of space.

To whit, I am sitting here, frustrated after an hour online trying to Cyber a deal on a microwave. No Deal. Really. We bought this cute Magic Chef at Home Depot in July. It stopped on Thanksgiving morning. Really. Now, it's not that we are big microwaver-s and have used it to death. Personally, I use it once every morning to heat water for my coffee press...7:11 minutes to be exact. Just water. Occasionally, my husband will have some coffee and by the time he adds the sugar and the creamer, one more minute to re-heat his coffee back to an acceptable level. We do heat the occasional left overs, but as I do not like leftovers of Anything, that is usually just a few minutes here and there. Having explained all this leaves me feeling CHEATED by the microwave company. I don't blame Home Depot, really, since there was this warranty. But since it would cost me more to ship the thing back than I paid for it, I am left with a useless piece of electronics...a.k.a, the Boat Anchor. Not recyclable. Not useable. Another piece of blight on the soil of this country. So, I cyber searched this morning. No deals. What I did find are HUGE amounts of online reviews of people reporting the same issues with ANY brand of microwave.

So is this life for all of us now? To spend roughly $100 on a small microwave to have it die in 4 months? Math, anyone. Yes, it is less than a dollar a day, if you use it every day, but that is compared to microwaves that lasted 15 years. Even then, at a price of $400, for just 10 years, that is a cost, of um, , a whopping 11 CENTS a day. And I rounded UP. 

I am left thinking that this is just another sign of greed run amok in the good ole' US. [I don't subscribe anymore to the 'of America' part, but that has to do with freedom and rights and the Constitution and I won't go into that here. I might though, one day.]  What bothers me is that I cannot determine if my product was even made in America. Is anything these days? 

In the meantime, I am boiling water on the stove. It worked for my grandmother, so I am betting it will still work for me. But as I get ready to drag my German vacuum cleaner out to try and suck up the remnants of the Thanksgiving weekend, I am most struck by the fact that Made in America used to be common place, and it used to mean Quality. 

Today I am sad. Not about the microwave. But because there are so many wonderful people in this country, who care about their work and who would be happy to go and earn the money needed to support their families and with loving attention, make a quality product for others. Because when we talk about Handmade, the line for me gets a little blurry on this one. Yes, my bead caps are made with lots of love and attention and a bit of my very own Soul. The beads I bought this weekend from other Artists are made the same way. I can feel it. And I'm willing to bet that many of my readers know it in the same way. It evokes joy, bliss and pleasure to hold in your hand such a treasure. 

PLEASE, tell me again how that differs from ANY thing made the same way? Or any work performed with attention to detail and the sense that what we do MATTERS. It does Matter. If you work somewhere and you throw your heart in to what you do, it matters. And there are those of us who Know it and Appreciate it and are Thankful more than just one day a year.

Art Giveaway!

In conjunction with the Artisan Whimsy 2012 Holiday Collection, I will be sponsoring a give-away of the Party on Mars necklace from my First Galaxy Series from 2012!   This handmade necklace features beautiful red candy jade and artisan lamp work beads by Beth Blosser of Pomegranate Glass woven with crystals and warm copper trimmings. This one of a kind necklace was previously listed in my Etsy shop with a retail value of $40.00, and can be yours FREE!

Entering is easy, just sign up to follow my blog and leave a comment on this post by November 30th!  A random number generator will be used to identify the winner on December 1st.  Please make sure to leave your name and email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.  Shipping and insurance fees will be included and your package will arrive ready for wearing or giving this holiday season.  Good luck to all!

For more choices in handmade gifts this holiday season, check out my items at Goldkisses Art.

For other artist blog giveaways, check out the listing on Artisan Whimsy!

Artisan Whimsy Market 2012 Holiday Collection

http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/artisan-whimsy-2012-holiday-collection?xg_source=msg_mes_network Shop the finest Jewelry Designers For the 2012 Holiday Season Many of our artists have published work & sell their beautiful pieces nationally and internationally. See something you like? Please click on the picture to browse their giveaway and view all their Fabulous Handmade Jewelry Pieces. All participating jewelry designers will be offering a unique discount in their stores & each will be promoting a GIVEAWAY! (who doesn't love a giveaway??) Our group will be offering over $700 combined in prizes!! Winners will be chosen individually by the blog owners. For event wide discount code use: AWHOLIDAY We will be hiding Three Exciting Giveaways throughout our participants blogs. When you find them, follow the directions to be entered! Thanks for shopping HANDMADE!

Visit Artisan Whimsy at: http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Where the Truth Lies

Somewhere along the line,
that which is true is being made to appear false,
because that which is false is accepted as truth.
—Dewey Larson

 

 

Friday's Words of Wisdom

From The Sacred Yes by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh:

We are not here just to survive
                                     and live long...
We are  here to live and know life
   in its multi-dimensions
      to know life in its richness,
             in all its variety.

                   And when a man lives
              multi-dimensionally,
           explores all possibilities available,
     never shrinks back from any challenge,
           goes, rushes to it, welcomes it,
                rises to the occasion
                  then life becomes a flame,
                        life blooms.

• Painting with Fire Studio • torch-fired enamel supplies, jewelry and beads •

• Painting with Fire Studio • torch-fired enamel supplies, jewelry and beads •: Painting with Fire Studio - torch-fired enamel supplies, jewelry and beads - St. Petersburg, Florida

Shannon Hearts Giveaway

Shannon Hearts Blog is hosting a give away of a beautiful blue druzy necklace made by H.Finn Jewelry.  You can enter on the blog and in a variety of ways to increase your chances!

You can also see more of H.Finn Jewelry at her shop.  What a wonderful opportunity to win something breathtaking!