starts and restarts

I’ve always been one for starting new things and restarting old things. I’m a total INFP – love beginnings; endings … not so much. So. My work life. Rich, rewarding and extremely busy. I’ve loved the amazing design opportunities I’ve had over the last couple of years but, as these things go, it comes at a cost. My White Tree Fund and Silver Leaves work has suffered the most. There’s just no energy left in my body or mind at the end of a frenetic day to give to these things, even though I love them so much. I also haven’t been all that focused on my family. Or my jewellery designs. After many disappointments this year, for a while all I could think of was endings. Maybe I should end the White Tree Fund and walk away from all the wonderful work we’ve done and could do? Maybe I should walk away from my labour of love, Silver Leaves (a marvelous journal, you should read it!)? Perhaps my jewellery tinkering should stop? Or maybe I should just walk away from my job?

Clearly, I’m not a person who believes in “too much.” My cup is never half-empty OR half-full. It always overfloweth. Of course I can’t leave my job right now. The boy is headed to university in a few short years. We’ve been blessed with the most amazing opportunities for TWTF and Silver Leaves, that I cannot turn my back on them now. And designing jewellery is my “fun time,” so that’s not going anywhere. But I can start shifting priorities – moving my little world back to where it needs to be.

Now, it’s time for starts. And restarts. On the jewellery side, I’m back to designing my Atman Collection with gorgeous stones and beautiful colours. We have new and REALLY exciting directions for The White Tree Fund and Silver Leaves coming up in 2012. I’ve started to renew my focus on writing and in the Department of Starts … A new publishing venture (more news on that soon). A new (very small) business doing freelance design work. The first step is to renew this blog, give it a bit of a makeover.

Can I commit to regular blog posts? After 7 years of trying … um … nope. But I’ll try to be around more often. You can always catch up with me on Facebook. Now – a question - provide me with some inspirations for the Atman Collection. Do you feel like any particular stones or colours are calling out to you lately?

new gallery

Just added a new gallery for all of the pieces I design as donations or for charity auctions, as well as, some of the pieces that have been designed as gifts (from me, not commissions). Just giving you more ideas for pieces you might speak to you in the fluid language of colour and instinct. You can always send me an email at wanderingmoon@sympatico.ca if you’re interested in anything!

These new additions are from my 2011 Goddess Collection and are meant to make beautiful statements about the wearer. They have been crafted using a variety of metals and the highest quality of crystals and glass pieces that I can find. Pieces from the Goddess Collection will be on sale soon. If you see something you like before then, just send me an email!

Summer wallpaper

Inconstant as the moon, yet here I am! Summer breezes, summer heat, summer thoughts. This year I find myself reaching for the cool hues of deep dusk, the whispering blues, velvet purples and edges of black peeking in over the walls of night. Here is the first of the summer wallpapers for 1280 x 960 and 1920 x 1080. (Click the links and then right-click the image and save to your computer.)

The poem snip is from this one …

bodhisattva

watching the drop of clear dew
turn to red flame with the
new born sun
brightest moment before death
it evaporates

hands touching in
the moment of forever
more fleeting than tears
essence of it
remains for lifetimes

how the lotus glows
among dark water plants
against the surface of
the pond
beauty aching for light
inspired by the mud
at its roots

watching the master
in meditation
immovable as the dark
fragile as a breeze
the peace of
inspiration

writing a thousand
lines
only to discover a word
that is less
than the mind
more than the universe

aum

~ls
(June 3, 2004)

Resonance

I’ve been thinking for some time about the nature of jewellery in our lives. While it is mostly for decoration, often stones and metal, and even simply colour, can help our energy centres. Whether consciously or unconsciously, a piece of jewellery can help to make you feel happier, more confident, calmer, more meditative, joyful, sleepy … A piece can resonate with your energy to bring you to the place within yourself where you really want to be.

I’m definitely a believer in humans as energy beings. Growing up with a Hindu background, the idea of energy sheaths around the human physical body is not strange to me. I believe and have experienced how we can touch each other before we ever physically meet.  There are many mysteries in the universe and WE are not the least of those mysteries. I love colour and believe that colour can work as therapy. I also believe that the chemical properties of gemstones and metals can work harmoniously with our bodies.  I do think about these things when making a piece but I’d like to introduce a new concept for my own jewellery adventure.

I’m working on a new line of jewellery that focuses on bringing the properties of metals, stones and colour together to create the Atman Collection. The idea behind this collection is to create pieces that will help you to focus your energy for strength, calm, healing … whatever you need. I am woring on some introductory pieces but I hope that many more are custom creations we make together. (Just a very important note that these pieces are in NO WAY a replacement for medicines or medical treatments. They are just meant to assist you with your energy work, meditation, prayers, etc. )

Remember, remember …

November is the month of remembering for many of us. With Remembrance Day (Canada) on the 11th, there are many opportunities to pay tribute to the men and women who have served and who have died in our wars. Who are still serving and dying in our (the human race’s) wars. It takes something very special to be in the service, it’s as special a calling as priesthood,  just the battle is of a different kind … most times. I will have some pieces to commemorate this time and here is a wallpaper for November, from me to you. xo

Apatite

Apatite refers to a series of phosphate minerals; all the minerals in the apatite ‘family’ are calcium phosphates with identical structures. They differ in composition, with a number of minerals in their matrix. Fluorapatite contains fluorine, hydroxylapatite contains a hydroxil (OH), and chlorapatite contains chlorine, which creates a rainbow of colour in this group. Its name is derived from the Greek word apate, meaning “deceit,” which refers to its similarity to a number of gemstones such as aquamarine, olivine, beryl, peridot, and amethyst. It can be used as a gemstone, with a bright, strong colour but it is a stone on the softer side.

Apatite is a common mineral, formed in igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks.It can be found in large terminated, clear points but is more commonly seen in masses or nodules as well-formed crystals with transparent, coloured and glassy properties. Fluorapatite occurs in fossil bones and teeth and hydroxylapatite is the principle component of our bones and teeth today.

Properties & Characteristics	The wide range of colours is the reason apatite is confused with other stones. Bright greenish-blue apatite (primarily from Brazil) is known as ‘neon’ apatite. The name ‘asparagus stone’ is given to the yellow-green variety.It can be cut as a gemstone, but its softness keeps it from being widely (e.g. it’s not used widely in ring settings because it scratches easily) used or considered a precious gem. Blue-green apatite is very attractive when polished as it shows microcrystalline fragments, opaque layers and sometimes also specks of rutile which may give a sparkling effect. The purple variety of the stone is considered the most valuable.
Group	Phosphates
Crystal System	Hexagonal or monoclinic
Composition	Ca5(PO4)(F1OH1,Cl)
Colour	blue-green, green, yellow-green, yellow, pink, violet, clear
Lustre	Vitreous, waxy
Transparency	Transparent to translucent
Hardness	5
Fracture	Conchoidal to uneven
Locations	Mexico, Russia, Canada, Germany
Energy Uses	Helps with focus – can carry a stone with you when working on many tasks. Balance the body’s energy by placing a stone in each hand during a period of deep breathing. Tie blue-green stones to chakra energy. Wear apatite during counselling sessions and strengthen aura energy by placing it over the Anahata centre while lying down.Place a stone over Ajna: the Brow or Third-Eye chakra (6th) to expand spiritual perception.
Physical/Emotional Healing*	Aids while broken bones are mending or in dealing with pain from toothaches. May ease recovery after physical injury/trauma. Aids focus, concentration and problem solving. Helps to structure thinking and bring ideas into a clearer focus. Expands awareness of and insight into other levels of consciousness.
COLOUR ENERGY: BLUE-GREEN Shades of blue-green or turquoise/teal combine the communication qualities of blue with the growth aspects of green and the colour is associated wth communication and intuition, as well as health, confidence and strength. Blue-green is the colour associated with water and the calming, relaxing feeling of being near water. Blue-green shades are associated with emotional healing process by mingling the forgiving, loving energy of Anahata: the Heart chakra (4th) with the communicating properties of Visshudha: the Throat chakra (5th), thereby aiding the gentle release of emotional trauma through counselling or talking and writing.

*NOT a replacement for medical treatments.

wallpaper for june

In honour of this month’s birthstone, the lovely pearl, wallpaper 1 features a wedding set called “white dakini.” I wasn’t exactly thinking of weddings when I named it. The finished product brought to mind a poem I’d written some time before entitled … what else, “White Dakini.” The set is perfect for weddings or any other ‘princess’ type of event like sweet 16, debuts, prom, going to see Sex in the City …

The poem, as you will see, is an entity altogether different. It was started during the Kalachakra ceremony in Toronto in 2004, while in-between volunteer shifts. I absolutely loved sitting quietly next to one of the spectacular floor-to-ceiling panes of glass in the National Trade Centre while the intonations of monks just flowed through the entire space. I don’t know when I’ve ever been so at peace with myself, when I’ve ever felt so open – it was really marvelous. An absolute lifechanging experience for me. One morning, as I sat there, words just came whispering down through the universe and, of course, as all writers know, they can’t be kept in. As the pen scratched away, I wasn’t even conscious of the ideas – the chants were just running through my brain. Later that evening, at home, I looked at what I had and began the writer’s careful task of matching paltry word to radiant thought. Not sure I succeeded (do we ever?) but this is the result. And here is the link to the wallpaper. Enjoy.

White Dakini

calling to my soul
 with voice of
 crystal chimes
 sounding out the pride
 and iniquity of
 my ego

I want to follow
 in your cold footsteps
 to the heart of
 the mystery of my soul
 Let me unravel the
 cords of karma and
 lay them softly
 at your feet

Hold open my eyes
 to the dance of death
 that all feet pattern
 on the green face
 of the world
 Cover me with your
 cool snows that I
 will not heed the
 inferences of my
 errant passions

Shine before me
 like the stars of night
 imprinting destiny
 on to the stretched black
 canvas of my
 shrouded mortality

Allow me to follow
 in your transparent footsteps
 past bodies of
 living death
 Show me the spiral
 of your icy grasp
 that will fling me
 into the nothingness
 that is the truth
 of all hearts

~lara sookoo

who exactly am i?

What a loaded question!! I think the “who” and “what” of me, myself, changes almost daily. Today, for instance, I’m a tired, definitely-40, civil servant with too many deadlines and too little time. But that’s just until 5.00pm when I’ll be a tired but happy-to-even-have-a-job-let-alone-a-great-job mum who will go running home (yes, almost literally) to her lovely boy and crazy familials.

And her jewellery. For a couple of hours after mum-ness is no longer needed (the recipient of said mum-ness being washed, fed and entertained), I can slip into the comfortable, exciting, tingly garb of jewellery designer and plan, sketch, and play with wire, gemstones, crystal, glass and a host of other fun stuff. I don’t have a proper studio yet but I should really take some pics of my crazy workspace so you can see how front-and-centre all my tools and equipment are. My working ‘studio’ is slowly taking over my entire space. Fine with me, but well … for those of you whose mothers live with you, and for those of you who remember your mother’s house … you know that mothers have their own ideas about what’s cool and what is definitely not cool. Hiding big tools in boxes under or behind the couch - ok, relatively cool. Having nowhere to hide everything else so it’s all sitting on or around the dining table – most certainly NOT cool. I keep promising her that I’ll be rich one day if she just lets me leave it there for another week. Wonder how long that will last??

Hah, I’m rambling. My apologies. The point of today’s post is to share my Etsy bio with you. I got a couple of notes about putting up some kind of bio and I thought of doing a special one but bios are such a lot of work. I do have one that I’ve used for my Tolkien-related life - I’ll put it up shortly but this one seems to really sum up the “me” of now so here ’tis …

I’m a natural denizen of the sweet, cool, magical hours between sunset and sunrise. A moon-and-star gazer. A very eclectic child of the universe. I’m still exploring myself and falling in love with the world around me. I have wanted to be (in no particular order) an astronaut, a princess, a scientific genius, a shaman, an Elf-friend (or an Elf if at all possible!), a teacher, a writer, a dancer, an ascetic, president, TALLER, a fairy godmother … and a good many other things. I have succeeded fabulously in being an eternal dreamer. I don’t have a lot of answers, but boy have I got questions. I was almost a grown-up until a few years ago when my son was born. How lucky was I to have such a marvel in my life! I get to be a child again, this time without the fears and insecurities. I get to marvel at each new day, each new experience. I can laugh and be as silly as I want to be while savouring and understanding the wisdom and grace that 40 years on this planet has gifted me with. Every day we wake up and tell each other “We can be anything we want to be.”

I believe in living out the things I want my son to be. I can’t just talk strength and dreams and goals to him; I have to live those things. I can’t point to respect and empathy and say “Be that.” I have to BE that so that it’s a live, real experience. I’m not perfect and I fail a lot, but I keep picking myself up, dusting myself off, and trying again.

Now, what am I doing here on Etsy? I’m living a dream.

I’m a mostly self-taught jewellery designer. I’ve been to some workshops but I like to learn on my own so that’s the path I’ve taken. I am planning to do a jewellery design certificate at a wonderful local college here in Toronto very soon. As a single parent, it will take some saving up to get there, but it’s definitely in the cards. At this point, I work full-time in web/graphic design and development and I make my jewellery in those treasured hours of solitude each night. Sometimes the design is fuelled by ideas I have and sketches I make: sometimes the stones, textures and colours have their own song to sing and I give my hands and mind to them.

I’ve always loved rocks and minerals, shiny bits and glittery baubles. I’ve always played with beads and for years I incorporated them into my clothes, adding beaded designs (like a panther on my black jean jacket!) or fringe or a subtle sparkle here and there. I’m also a lover and unofficial student of architecture and design, and maybe a little engineering too. I love to delve into the structures and lines of things, the principles that hold it up or keep it together. I’m often looking at things to see the ways in which space has delineated an object or how an object impacts the space around or within it, or seems to amplify emptiness (a complete paradox, almost unmentionable except that I once saw a glass sculpture that flowed to make the emptiness within it larger and emptier – sounds silly but that was the experience). I find so much to love about different cultural and historical styles in art, music, textile, architecture and jewellery. One of my favourite things is to mesh them a bit – create something a little unexpected.

A few years ago, a co-worker showed me how to make a simple linked bracelet. I was so excited by it that we ended up making 3 bracelets, a necklace and matching earrings that day! Quite by accident, I scratched the surface of jewellery making and found a passion that encompasses many of my other loves and obsessions. I can play with colour, texture, structure, metaphysics, man’s creations, and nature’s wonder and end up with an object of beautiful adornment at the end. For me, each piece I work on is a symphony with melodies of the rational everyday natural world around us and harmonies of the mystical spirit of the “Force” that runs through everything.

So … what am I doing here at Etsy? I’m sharing the world with you. Making it beautiful with you. Celebrating it and celebrating you. Walk with me a little and let’s enjoy our journey …

(Can also be found at: http://www.etsy.com/people/wanderingmoon)

more treasury sweetness

I’m really honoured to be a part of this amazing treasury, curated by Etsy member 1mADwoman. The theme is Lady Anne Boleyn, a woman whom I find endlessly fascinating. My “Lady Anne” neckpiece is the piece in the treasury and it’s one of my favourites. It was inspired by the jewellery on “The Tudors.” I loved the various necklaces that went with the crosses the ladies and queens wore.

When I did this one, I was trying to be true to the time period so it’s a sewn necklace. The beads are strung on satin ribbon and the pieces of satin to tie are sewn to the silver rings. The pendant is also sewn together and the whole stitched to the necklace. The end result is something I love. It could be worn by a doomed queen, a mysterious lady living in a dark, gothic mansion, a pirate princess, a chic party girl or a powerful business woman with an ‘edge.’ Please check out this fantastic treasury when you have a moment: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=131194

Treasury goodness

Etsy member cynmb put together a gorgeous treasury, filled with delicate, blush-coloured items. I’m so honoured that my Spun Sugar necklace (above) was featured as part of it! A truly beautiful gallery – have a peek yourself: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=128353

Now I’m thinking blush-coloured thoughts … They’re lovely …