Happy Solstice! I made the clove and star anise orange pomander yesterday...as a reminder that the sun is on its return. Isn't it odd that many of us think as Christmas as the start of the dark cold winter, but really, Solstice marks the return of the light?
Today we have less daylight than any other day and tomorrow we shall see more of the sun. This is why we see so many oranges in vintage pictures of children's stockings. It's a carryover from pre-Christian times when oranges represented the sun.
I am having a blast even though more snow is expected. My grandmother called me and asked, "Whatever happened to this global warming that was all the rage?" :)
I've been making and baking...I'm looking forward to my two "free days"...I am off the plan (in moderation) on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. Then, I'm excited about using my long ignored Curves membership on the twenty-sixth and of course...this oft ignored piece of equipment is going to make a reappearance.
I've lost 22 pound since starting the plan and even though, I'm still heavier now than I was a year ago...I feel better. 2009 is the year of "Lightening Up" in many ways (weight, attitude...etc)...I'm even going to lighten up my hair! I have an appointment set for December 31st to go just a few shades lighter brown...Lorelei (my stylist) totally doesn't want this to happen, she thinks it is unnecessary, but I want it for symbolic reasons.
I've been teasing you with Sacred Jenga references for a few weeks....I finally had a chance to take some pictures. Kelly Robe is a super genius and one night while over at her house, I noticed her Jenga was set up and she told me it was "Sacred Jenga". She had written lots of tips, messages, feng ideas and even just put a dot of color on her Jenga pieces. She kept (keeps) it out for inspiration. I was blown away and knew that my mom would love a set of her very own, so I resolved to make her one out of paper I know she loves.
She can keep it by her desk and just pull a piece as she needs. It will be a mini-meditation too because I know she stop and do it slowly as to not knock over the whole tower.
I just painted and covered the pieces with paper, stuck on quotes, sayings and messages that I know she'd appreciate and then out a coat of varnish on the whole thing. 54 pieces of inspiration! I think she'll love it.
I've made other gifts too. When first learned some basics (very basics) of jewelry making several years ago I got super excited and went off the deep end with beads (and I wonder how we got into deep credit card debt). I find it incredibly stress relieving to make projects that are not at all related to my business and shop and don't involve any new supply purchases. This is for my mother, it's amethyst, pearl and titanium quartz...with earrings to match and all from my stash. The center bead was a gift from a friend last year...she knew I'd put it to good use:
My mother is a world class dowser (pendulum user) and loves it when I make her new ones to add to her collection. This was also made from my stash with the exception of the cranberry pearls which are a new addition...a strand purchased on deep discount (used coupon, bead junkie discount card and in-store sale for what amounted to 45 percent off) for gift making and giving here.
Then, I made earrings for my mother-in-law...she loves fluorite.
I've been having so much fun and finding that de-stashing to make gifts is so rewarding. I never thought I could give up that amethyst bead, but it was easy knowing it was for my mom. The Jenga was ours (we bought it when we were trying to spice up our marriage by playing board games and doing puzzles at night. What? Yes, sad, but true). I found another one at a yard sale for $1.00, so someone may get one later in the year.
More tomorrow...I'm making gifts all day today. Yesterday we watched this...I'm ashamed to admit I was in major hysterics...parts are hee-larious, though some hit a little to close to home because Mark (at times) is a dead ringer for Will Ferrell's character. Oh well, if I laugh at any mortal thing it is that I may not weep (Lord Byron). Ha!!
