This beautiful sterling silver heart was commissioned by a lovely women, Sue Coder, as a very special  Christmas Gift to her sister-in-law.  I heard today, she LOVED it!! my heart flutters gently as I hand   this over to another appreciative person.  Thank you Sue. 

Check out this site:  http://www.rockstar-puppy.com/ovdogpahat.htmlOur handmade artistic, one of a kind, birthday hats, modeled by Evie are for Sale on this Site!!! Tell all your friends.  We now have 2 rockstars in the family!!!!!

Lilly, My Misfit Doll, was recently created at the Art & Soul Retreat in Portland, Oregon. Instructor Lana Guerra   www.Crudethings.com  was a DOLL herself .  Lana was so creative, encouraging and her enthusiasm carried over into the class with all us laughing, giggling and showing off our creations.  Lana taught a young women her first sewing lesson  and I relearned how to finger paint.   This was only my second time in life,  that I have used sculpty clay, (Saturday in Judy Wise class and Sunday in Lana’s) and I was amazed how  it felt so natural.  (could this be a self portrait?)    I of course, had to make my misfit doll into an couture outfit, bling her ears with diamonds and crown her ears with a sparkle.  She holds a blue shinny flower…..  We used FISH eyes, spandex material and scraps.  Then we just started sewing, adding, painting and laughing.   I just loved how Lana was like living art.  Art imitates life or Life imitates Art.  I like life imitating art….the only way to live Like Lana DOES! 

  I am published in this months Belle Amoire Jewelry magazine 3 Times, separate articles for my metal smithing jewelry!  Rustic Forest Necklaces,page 48-51, The World, page 86 -87 and Forest Tears Earrings page 113.

I am truly  proud and happy to be in this magazine, 3 times.  I had recently taken some metals classes to brush up on my skills, fearing I had gotten sketchy on my designs and my true “nature” came through!  Please go buy the magazine at your local bookstore, or contact me for a signed copy one!!!  You will love reading my journey and inspiration…saving that surprise for the magazine    My day position in life is as an art therapist, psychotherapist in which I see alot of different people’s worlds and watch them journey through their own forest!! Thus:  I noted forest tears.  It is interesting to me that Art Imitates life and Life imitates Art.  My life and others are constantly intertwined….  some of these items will be for sale on my etsy site,,,,others are just to dear to depart with….but I will make more, special orders………

My beautiful Red Domestic Godess Apron which was featured in Apron.ology magazine, Volume 3, p.76-78 , curated by Beth Livesay, was recently purchased by the Honorable Charmiane Claxton, U.S. Magistrate, Memphis Tennessee to wear to the movie premiere event  “THE HELP”.  What a SURPRISE and an HONOR!  I was already excited about being featured in the Apron.ology magazine   for my Red Domestic Goddess Apron and Cocktails, Cookies & Couture , Black and White apron…..  (which was featured on the website advertising the magazine), I decided to put it on my own website and etsy account.     Never, Never, Never, thinking I would sell my Red Apron, I woke up one morning to an email”  Congrats your Red Domestic Goddess Apron has sold!”  I barely have my coffee kicking into my system and I start screaming, “Who in the World…..(literally the World) would be brave enough to purchase this apron and would they wear it?    I googgled  the buyer’s name and came up with a profile of a prominent African American Female U.S. Magistrate, JUDGE!!!!  CHARMIANE CLAXTON!!!     I am now jumping up and down at my computer, screaming, oh my, oh my, oh my………      I get the nerve to inquire and she says yes, her in professional life she is a Judge who was entering an Apron contest for the premier of the movie, “The Help”.   I was at lost for words…..(which is rare for me..)   Char then went to my Jewelry Etsy site and bought jewelry to compliment her outfit, in which, we decided we were both bonkers as I decided to make a whole new set to go with the Apron.    At this point, Char and I were talking via voice mail, email and exploring each others life.  We discussed family, growing up in the South, ethnicity, race, skin color,  civil rights movement, maids, being female, personal power , discrimination, privilege, activisim, talking, talking, talking.   We bonded as sisters.    All over a handmade APRON!  I was excited and nervous to send Char all her items, especially when I realized it was being shipped to the Judge’s Chambers.   I giggled and squeeled when I got a phone call how much she loved it and was so appreciative.   I knew she had tried it on immediately and wondered if she was wearing it under her Judge Robes.    Later, I got the photos of her wearing it to the contest.  Two of the actors who had played maids in the Movie:  The Help, were part of the event, ( you can see one of the ladies sitting in the chair).   My heart and my mind almost exploded with pride and happiness and making a new friend!  We now communicate email, facebook and I know my apron is in the best home it could possibly be.   My sister, Kathy Carroll and I went to the premiere of “The Help” in Downtown, Atlanta, Georgia, in which I wore my Black/White Apron( lace and crochet from my husband and my grandmothers left overs)  and used it to wipe up my tears during the movie.  My sister and I loved it and I related to Skeeter and Cecilia.  Always questioning discrimination, being an activist and fundraiser for needy young african american girls/women , (currently a member of www.NCAAWA.org  North County African American Women’s Association) .

A Apron + A Movie = FRIENDSHIP that Crosses all Boundaries!

True Story….Really, this is a TRUE STORY .  I am walking my white Jindo Dog, Evie Marie Antoinette, back from our local flippy flop area, come around the corner to enter my street, the sun is glaring as I am slightly blinded this crystal.  Thinking it was a piece of glass, I reached down to remove out of our path and gasped when I saw it was this large crystal.    I picked it up and held it close to me.  Later I took it to my Tarot Reading Class, showed my friend Virginia, who told me to keep it close to my heart.   Known as “Ice of Enternity”, it is one of the most powerful crystals that contains feminine, or receptive energy.  

This is a “programmable” stone, meaning that one using it can charge it with a variety of types of energy.  It can receive, store, activate, amplify and transmit energy.  It is a great aid for meditation.

In and of itself, however, it is a powerful all-around healer.  It is also used to amplify the powers of other crystals, and is frequently found on the table of a Tarot reader, for example, to help one clarify his or her own psychic readings.  It is especially useful in helping us to focus, concentrate and control our thoughts, intentions and actions.  It stimulates brain functions, amplifying thought forms while at the same time helping to balance the emotions.

White Quartz activates the Crown Chakra, and helps to promote clarity of mind.  It has an affinity with the Archangel Rafael, and aids in study and concentration.  At the same time, this crystal has natural prismatic effects, and can split beams of white light into the seven basic colors of the rainbow, each of which relates to one of the Chakras, simultaneously activating all levels of consciousness.

It aids in helping us to listen to our Higher Selves and our Spirit Guides.  It also helps to dispel negativity, both in our environment and in our own personal energy fields. 

Here it is as I wire wrapped it, combined with with moonstones, created a complimentary earrings and bracelet!    It makes me smile. 

Marleyanne requested a custom Alice in Wonderland to celebrate her daughter, Hayley’s 21st Birthday!!  What a special lady and a treat for me to design this one of a kind, unique custom crown.  I truly enjoyed coloring, creating and adding exceptional details.  I got lost in the rabbit hole in my own creativity!! 

I love the greens and tinting all the images with glitter, paints and embellishments!

  This is the perfect crown to wear out on the town, wandering through gardens or slipping into the rabbit hole.

         What a Surprise!!! I am published in the Creme de la Creme of Magazines “BELLE AMOIRE  Creating Artistic clothing & Accessories“ on Page 147 along with Ruth Rae’s Charming Bracelets!!!!!  I am so honored not only to be included in this magazine but to be pictured among one of the best artists, Ruth Rae!! Her jewelry was featured  on the cover of Belle Amoire Jewelry, Fall   2010....THIS IS MAGICAL!!!

I embroidered these velvet dresses to wear to Musical, Wine and Gala events.  When I was a young teen growing up in Florida, my family could not afford to buy me alot of fashionable clothes.  Even at a young age I was drawn to color, luxurious fabric, ribbons, silk flowers and unique clothing.  While enjoying my grandmothers company, in Tampa, Florida,  whose artistic  home she opened up and rented out rooms to other elderly ladies, I often received the pleasure of various artistic instruction.  One of my and the ladies favorites was teaching me embroidering, tatting, crewel, knitting and fabric application.  Of course, I embellished my jeans, my jackets, shirts, aprons, hats and anything I could get my fingers on….  I must say thank you to my grandmother: Katharine Stowell and my mother: Katharine Weekly for allowing me to explore and flourish. 

These dresses are a Thank you to both of them… with love and honor……Trish

 

This  garden crown was custom made for the young and beautiful Monica Flores!! She is quite the model.  Her cake and her birthday looks like she certainly was happy!  Thank you Mom for requesting this custom crown!

Join me on May 21st in raising scholarship funds for North County African American Women’s Association by celebrating and enjoying our 2nd Annual Authors Garden Party.

Invite and watercolor images were created by Trish Vernazza.