Six More to Share

A Hand Wired Lapis Pendant is suspended from a Bright Blue Lapis, Onyx, and Tibetan Silver Beaded Necklace. A matching bracelet completes the set.




Above left is a Denim Lapis necklace with accents of bronze beads. A casual look to wear with your jeans...an everyday-type necklace. Above right is a set created with Brazilian Sodalite Beads, Blue/White Turquoise Beads, Tibetan Silver Bone Beads, and Tibetan Silver Dragonflies. If you like Dragonflies, this is the set for you. The Dragonflies are so cute, petite, and beautiful!

Here is another set with Tibetan Silver Dragonflies. This time I strung Green Mountain Jade, Bali Seed Beads, Jet Onyx, and Tibetan Silver Spacer Beads to complete this Northwest ensemble.

Below left is another Reiki Wand Creation. This time I was working with an Indian Agate Wand. I found that the Unikite Epidote and Old Red Jasper Beads went very well with that. I added some Tibetan Silver Bone Beads and Tiny Silver Spacer beads to complete the necklace.

This Celtic Creation just recently became another favorite of mine. I used Bronze Celtic Knot connectors for the pendant and earrings and then added the extensions of a matching bead or beads. The beads are Feldspar, Red Sea Sediment Jasper, and Red Jade Cylinder Beads... and once again, I used Bronze Spacer Beads to match the Celtic Knots.

I have really enjoyed working with Tibetan Silver and the Bronze...so much that I recently decided to have some fun with Copper. The Copper is so beautiful for the Fall Colors that I have just started to work with. I've already made a few pairs of earrings with Autumn Jasper. One set will have the Autumn Jasper Zuni Bear Beads used. I have to say that one really wows me even! So if you love the fall colors, you'll want to see those pieces.

I hope you all had a terrific weekend and that you had time to do something you really love to do. Oh, and if you would like more chances to win one of my Intuitive Jewelry sets - Just leave me another comment here. Yep, I'm going to let everyone have one chance per post.

Here's the pics I promised...and a special giveaway

Reiki Energy Hand in Turquoise and Sea Sediment Jasper. This is one of my many favorites. The Sea Sediment Jasper is the perfect companion to the turquoise. Note that there is a matching pair of earrings to make this the perfect summer set...Bright, vivid, full of energy.

I am enjoying the process of beading with such a large variety of beads from Red Fossil beads with a Persian-look Tibetan pendant to a Traditional Black Onyx with Denim Lapis and black seed beads. I really didn't know there were so many types of beads! A matching bracelet and earrings complete both sets.

To the left here I have used Green Mountain Jade with a beautiful Tree Agate. I love the combination of the two with the Tibetan silver beads and Reiki hands. This is completed with a matching set of Reiki hands earrings.

Below, I have used Rose Quartz with Pink Rhodonite and Black seed beads. I added a Rhodonite Reiki Wand to one and a Rose Quartz Heart to the other. I have also included a medium-size anklet and fish hook earrings to complete the wand set. As you can see the Heart necklace is accompanied with a matching pair of earrings as well.

Now to the left again, I have used Plum Cat's Eye beads with Feldspar. Feldspar beads have an interesting background. Feldspar is known as the Earth's Crust. The colors are neutral and range from gray to gold. This set includes a Plum Cat's Eye mini pendulum that is absolutely adorable and a 7 3/4" bracelet.

To the right, I have combined Unakite with Bali seed beads and Tibetan silver Bone beads. Suspended from the beaded necklace is the most beautiful Hand-Carved Jade Quan Yin Pendant.

Quan Yin is known as the Goddess of Mercy and also the teacher of Dharma. Some believe Quan Yin is the World Watcher. If you would like to learn more about Quan Yin, you can do a search in Wikipedia.

Last but certainly not least, this is my new favorite. I fell in love with the Zuni Bear Fetishes while living in the SW and so I couldn't be happier with the results of the above necklace and earrings set. I was thrilled when I found a resource for the Picture Jasper Bears along with the matching round beads. I used 4 mm and 6 mm round beads with these very petite Zuni Bears to achieve a natural yet somewhat feminine/casual look.

I will be taking more pictures soon of other pieces and sets I have completed to share with you. I hope you enjoy viewing this collection as much as I have enjoyed creating them. Oh, there is one more thing I didn't mention while describing these jewelry pieces. I have been gifted with an amazing pendulum which helps me to complete my Reiki intuitive work on all these jewelry pieces. It has been an amazing journey in too many ways to count.

AND here is how I would like to invite you into my journey. Simply leave a comment with your email address and you will be submitted into my Intuitive Jewelry Giveaway. Please specify the type of jewelry you would be interested in. Will it be of the Native SW, a Reiki set (wand, energy hand, pendulum), a Persian look, a Celtic set, Quan Yin necklace, the Hand of Fatima necklace, a Heart set, a Dragonfly set, or perhaps just a particular Color/Stone? The winner will also receive an intuitive reading about the jewelry on an Element ATC that I designed and enhanced in Photoshop CS. I do hope you will join in the fun. I will be drawing the winning name on September 4th so you have plenty of time to get your comments in.

A new Workspace

I'm so thrilled that this work area is finally finished for my son! It turned out so well! If only it could stay this clean! LOL Nah! There will be more around it very soon, I'm sure, and that is a-ok with me! You should see my workspace! heh heh I have no room to talk about a clean work area!

The laminate counter is 8 feet long

A super-sized monitor looks dwarfed on this new counter.

Even the large drawing pad looks tiny!

There is still more work to be done. Paint the walls, find shelving for both sides of the window, and hide all those wires underneath! After that it will be time to finish the closet and the bathroom.
In the meantime, much work is being done in the shed and garage! We already finished getting the yard and gardens in shape. Is this what you call spring cleaning or what?
This is why I haven't had the chance to do much art therapy...although I still draw and I am creating Reiki jewelry. I will try to find time to take some pics to share with you soon...and I hope to get some of my new sketches finished in photoshop to share too!

Jo Dee Messina - Live!

What a Great concert! It had that old-time, down-home feeling that makes you feel all warm, cozy, and welcome. AND what a show she put on! My emotions ran rampant from tears to extreme laughter. If you ever get a chance to see her perform, I would highly recommend it!

The stage was set up to resemble where they all practice back home. The audience was invited to interact as well as she took questions, comments, and requests. It was a two hour concert that flew by too quickly! It's no surprise to me that two concerts back to back were sold out!

Happy Easter!

Easter is my favorite holiday of all. I'm finally back in the creative mode and that makes me happy! What I have finished is two Easter drawings I did several years ago. With the magic of photoshop I was able to bring both to life adding color, special effects, and embellishments. So...here is the white rabbit, the brown rabbit, and a bunch of chicks! LOL

"Spring into Easter"
-AND-

"Somebunny Loves You"
Same bunny - different finishes

"The Kite has Risen"

This creation began eight years ago from some fabric I thought was very adorable. Before I passed the fabric on I decided to free-hand a little section of it for a postcard and here it is finally finished. Now I'll have to print it for a memory book someday. Hopefully that won't take another eight years to do! Hope you all have a fun weekend and enjoy Easter Sunday!

For those who are participating in Pink Saturday this week...Happy Pink Saturday!

Another new addiction!

Oh how I love the zen of it all! My attempt at designing my own line of Reiki jewelry is in the making! I absolutely love what is happening with my internal creative muse. What great therapy this has been for me to reduce my stress level! I'm so addicted to this new passion!

I know this isn't a good photo for showing you some of my designs but at least you can see I've been busy! I have strung three bracelets, two necklaces, and one ring/toe ring. I'm really sorry you can't see how cute the ring is...but it's basically three tiny Tibetan silver dragonfly beads on a stretchy cord. That's all it is but it is oh so cute. The wings fit together perfectly with the center one turned upside down. All I need now are some clasps to complete them...well, all but the ring.

And of course, with the clasps...I had to order crimp beads and a crimping tool! I was going to just tie the cord and call it good but it just doesn't have the finished look that way.

I put up three different photos in hopes that you could get a better idea of what this first necklace really looks like. Beaded with jasper and two tones of jade along with Tibetan silver bone beads, I added a beautiful Tibetan shank with beads hanging down to the hand of Fatima pendant. In the middle image - center, upper, left hand corner you can get a little glimpse of a matching bracelet.

Here is my favorite so far. Beautiful design with MOP shell flat round beads are accented by the mixture of round jade beads and Tibetan silver bone beads. I used the same Tibetan shank to suspend the beads and amethyst wand/pendulum. Both necklaces will be Reiki energy infused and used in my Reiki practice. I've also been guided to use them as prayer beads. I really wish I had better pictures to share with you but I think you get the idea.

So, there you have it...my newest addiction! ; ) Hope you all are having the best weekend ever!

Welcome to another Pink Saturday!

I was thinking of my friend, Pat, while I was creating this digital image (from an email forward) for Pink Saturday this week. She could fully understand this language used at http://icanhascheezburger.com/ as well as write it on some of the images provided at that site So...this one's for her!

"I iz flower"

Thank you Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for yet another great Pink Saturday! You can check out more pink by clicking on the Pink Saturday thumbnail to the lower right (Yes, from here...look to your right...then scroll down just a bit...there it is!) and then once you get there - just click on Pink Saturday Posts to see all the other pink entries. Enjoy your Saturday!

What a fantastic birthday!

I was whisked away for a night on the town and it was terrific! Everything was FANTABULOUS!

The place is beautiful! The people are the friendliest! The service is impeccable!

And the food was scrumptious! Especially the pastries and pie! Although the prime rib was the best I've ever had as well! What a fun place to celebrate my birthday!

What classic elegance this great room/foyer is!

I so wish I owned a bed like this! A touch of Heaven's comfort!

What a beautiful spa with pool and hot tub! Didn't get a chance to jump in but it is inviting!

AND here is the stage I will see next trip...and I really can't wait until then!

I can't believe I will see a performance from no other than....

JoDee Messina! Is she gorgeous or what? I absolutely love her music! Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait! Oh but I must! Still...I am so looking forward to it!

In the meantime...I'm going to continue to savor the memories of this spectacular birthday!

Winners of the Name the Critters Challenge!

It's April 4th and time to announce the winners for the "Name the Critters" challenge! I have to say you all had awesome names! You managed to make it too difficult for me to decide which names to use so I am declaring you all winners! I thank you all for your participation in this very fun challenge. In the process of this challenge something magical happened. New children's stories began to emerge from my muse within and I have had so much fun with this new direction. So...thank you again!

Here are the submitted names in no particular order:

Zizzer, Zazzer, and Zuzz - Paddles, Scrambles and Shirr - Larry, Moe, and Curley - Moley, Cow, and Toledo - Pete, Pharo, and Phara - Koko, Pelli, and Sierra - Cream Puff, Little Debbie, and Big Mac - Mine - Inkie, Beekie, and Cuddles.

AND the names I created:

Paddles (from Greg's suggestion) Padittles - Zwizzle, Zwazzle, and Zawooz (from Tammy's suggestion) - Dragonia Draconia and Drog - Dwiddely Do and Diddely Don't -Rip (Rip Roar), Rap (Rap a tap tap), and Raz (Razamataz)

So there you have it... and now for the surprises...final hint...Think Jewelry! lol

The winners of this challenge will be receiving one or more of the following. Lapel pins: chevron pin with white Austrian crystal accents, gold-tone key pin, crown pin with red and white Austrian crystals, bar pin with red and white center stones. -Or- You could be receiving a pair of silver turquoise studs surrounded by a silver rope trim. -Or- You could be receiving a variety of Christmas fish hook earrings -Or- You might receive my little sculpted clam with a real pearl in it's mouth along with an Asian pendant enhanced with a very tiny real pearl and a real pearl tie tac. There might even be a few silver jewelry findings or beads included with your surprise gift. I have recently purchased some really nice Tibetan pieces for making jewelry. I would love to share these with others.

How do you receive your gift? It's simple! Just email me at joanshomestudio@yahoo.com with your name and physical mailing address and I will get it mailed as soon as possible.

Pink Saturday and the link for Dover Publications

Good morning, good day, and good evening everyone! I'm celebrating Pink Saturday this week with a vintage image from Dover Publications which I enhanced with spring azaleas. I've also created another Asian image with several images from Dover Publications. Please stop over to Beverly's Pink Saturday celebration. All you have to do is click on the PS pic to the right.

And with a big smile... I bid you yet another Happy Pink Saturday! :)

"A Vintage Pink Saturday"

"A Pink Flamingo Saturday"

~AND~

before you go... One last thought with some samples for you!

Easter is on it's way so I thought I would share a few samples from Dover Publications with you. If you would like free samples from Dover, here's the link: http://www.doverpublications.com/ You will be amazed at the variety the company offers and you might just find a few cd books to order while you're there. The sales are great there as well as all those fantastic samples!

Name Those Critters Challenge ends April 4th

It's not too late to submit names for those cute little critters but it is going to end soon - So...if you want a chance to win a surprise...you need to do that very soon! I will be announcing the winning names on April 4th. You really don't want to miss out on the surprise, do you? Ok. I've been really good at not spoiling the surprise but one can only hold out so long! So I thought I could give just a few hints which you can read at the end of this post.

What I really wanted to post this last evening of March is what has been on my mind through this month - Japan. I've never been one who believes in taking high risks. It has become so evident that my convictions seen through this devastating disaster in Japan were correct. Nuclear power plants are, and in my opinion, always will be in a high risk category. I don't care how many precautions we humans think we can take...we are no match against Mother Nature. Now the big question - the controversial question has become where we go from here. Perhaps you have some views you would like to share? Here's what I will do. For every comment/view/statement left on this blog post, I will donate $1.00 (up to a maximum of $100.00) to the Red Cross Japan Relief funds. I do hope you will participate.

And I also wanted to share my new digital piece. I have been painting and using PS CS to create Asian images since I began Reiki quite a few years ago. I seem to fall into a quiet, calm, zen mode while creating these. That, alone, has provided me with countless hours of stress reducing therapy. In essence, I feel that I have received an abundance of gifts from that culture. In this image, my thoughts were of giving back and I hope I have conveyed that message.

So here we are at the end of my post and here are a few hints.

1] When I think of Japan, I think of pearls. [2] When I think of Japan, I think of symbolism. [3] The American Southwest is famous for this type of natural stone. [4] I could save this for Christmas in July but why wait? [5] This is something you could wear on your head if it were not so small! [6] This is something you use to unlock something...but you wear this instead.

There you have it...all the hints. Do you think you have a clue to what the surprises might be? I guess you'll have to come back on April 4th to find out! In the meantime - Have a great Friday!

Pink Saturday - The Muse of Flora's Feast

She played her gentle harmony - with a tune for greeting spring.

Baby flowers peak there heads out from mother earth while the elders show off their full bloom. Birds flitter and flutter about enjoying the warmth of the sun in their search for a new mate or perhaps a new home. There's a bird feeder filled with black oil seed hanging from the branch of a flowering plum tree. Bright green leaves begin the rebirth of tulips and primroses. And the sky is the most beautiful shade of blue. Spring has arrived and it is good.


I wish you all a bright and beautiful spring and a fantastic Pink Saturday! Let the muse within come out and play! Don't forget to take a camera, sketch pad, pencil, markers, or whatever else you might need when you get out to play. I find this to be one of the best times of the year to get creative outdoors and take lots of photos. This is a great time for Pink in the landscape!
And... you can still see more pink right now just by clicking on the thumbnail to the right.

Gothic Arches Challenge - Butterflies

"Butterfly Fairy Castle"

If you have a love for butterflies you will want to fly on over to the Gothic Arches Challenge blogspot! Here's the link: http://gothicarches.blogspot.com/

Art on the Darkside and Digital Montage Studio Challenge Combined

From Art on the Darkside - Rueful Renaissance Challenge. I'm not quite sure if you would call this image rueful...but I really enjoyed putting this one together - rueful or not.
http://artonthedarkside.blogspot.com/2011/03/challenge-72-rueful-renaissance.html
The background is from Digital Montage Studios and I have to say I absolutely love it. It really was the perfect background to multiply over one of my weirder drawings. Thank you so much Cynthia! Here's the link to the dmstudiochallenge: http://dmstudiochallenge.blogspot.com/2011/03/5.html

Happy Pink Saturday and Collage Obsession Challenge - Many

A Happy Pink Saturday to Everyone! This is also my entry to the Collage Obsession Challenge. Believe it or not...there are "many" layers and "many" effects to this image as well as "many" fonts. The cat is an image provided by Dover Publications and layered backgrounds are from weekly challenges from the past.

For more pink...you know what to do. Just click on the Pink Saturday box on the right.

For more Collage Obsessions - Here's the link: http://collageobsessionchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/03/collage-obsession-many.html


You all have a fantabulous weekend! And don't forget to check out the contest...Name those critters before April 4th and you might just win a wonderful surprise!

Critters on Parade

Hi and Welcome to my new form of art therapy! Not only is it great for my mental well being but it sure has helped the fine motor skills with my hands. AND it's great fun too!

I also wanted to take this time to remind everyone about the name contest for the penguins, seagull, and dragons. Don't forget to get your name suggestions added to the comment section of those two blog posts by April 3rd as the winner(s) will be announced on April 4th.

So here are a few of my newest critters. A couple of snakes, a few fish, a child monster, a comic-style clam shell with a pearl, and a silly blue dragon to name a few. And speaking of name - it has been suggested that the blue dragon's name should be Giggles. How cute is that?

Oh, now you can see the large-eared cat. It's a fraidy cat and was hiding behind the dragon! LOL You can also see in this picture that there are some flowers, a seal with a ball, a slug, and a black bird with a jack-o-lantern.
I think the child monster with the jump rope has the rest of the critters thinking they may be taking a trip to the great outdoors. That might be giving them a bit of worry since they've never been outside before. It's just so much safer inside. ;-}

I do hope you enjoyed the little critters on parade and I wish you all a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Pink Saturday

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to another Pink Saturday Celebration!
AND in honor of St. Patty's Day, we have mixed in some green!

How about some shamrocks and a wee bit of Irish fun?

This was a sticker from Dover Publications free samples. I couldn't resist it's cuteness and just had to use it for today's Pink Saturday! I absolutely love teeny tiny things and this sure fits the bill. How adorable is a baby elf(?) in a small, little acorn shell? I would love to make this from sculpey. Don't know if I have the talent to pull that one off though. At least not yet.

I believe this image was from Dover Publications also. I added those wee little ones and a few shamrocks before I enhanced it with satin, borders, and bevel/emboss. The font is Celtic Garamond the second.

I hope you all have a terrific Pink Saturday and don't forget you can see lots more pink if you just click on the Pink Saturday icon!

New Little Critters

Hi all! Yes, I seem to have a new addiction, and yes, that would be with Sculpey! I couldn't

stand to see little bits just waiting to be used today so...I decided to create a trio of tiny little
penguins. Unfortunately, my lack of camera skills didn't help at all for snapping a few pics to
show you. I hope you'll give me some slack on my attempt to adjust lighting, filters, etc. with

no terrific results. I think you can get the idea though. Not one of these tiny penguins are over
an inch and a half tall! The baby is just a bit over an inch.

Like the other critters from my last post - these all need names too so, if you please, submit a name or two or more - there Will be a surprise to announce on April 4th! If you would like a chance at winning the surprise, all you have to do is: 1] Leave a comment with one or more name suggestions. AND 2] make sure to add your email addy to the comment so I know how to contact you if you win. That's it...It's quite simple! In the meantime, I hope you all have a fantabulous week! I know I will! With all this art therapy - it couldn't be anything else but fantabulous! : )