just perfect -

when my son was young, i had nurses in my home 12 hours a day... naturally we became very close and would give each other gifts... there was one nurse who taught me the most wonderful lesson... she would give one perfect thing... and it wasn't necessarily big, it was always so thoughtful and 'just right'... i had always made people gifts, but somehow thought it was never enough... but she shone a light on the whole gift-giving dynamic for me... and i will be forever grateful... 
in this blogging world we become close to people... and all around us we see people sending off gifts to each other - a very generous group that loves to share... nurturing & supportive... i recently did a swap with cindy... and what she sent took me right back to that nurse... don't we want our gifts to be reflective of thought, of something personal and meaningful? well, cindy didn't have anything available in a shop... and i thought she just HAD  to... 

wordy block earrings

and now she does... what is really neat is that she explores so many different media... handcarved stamps, jewelry, polymer clay, felting, etc...  i really encourage you to take a look - and ask her to make more! i can see those printings on canvas turning into a version of prayer flags when strung along a string...
i am going to share a wonderful quote from her etsy shop - alchemy of life...


"You must understand the whole of life,
not just one little part of it.
That is why you must read,
that is why you must look at the skies,
that is why you must sing,
and dance,
and write poems,
and suffer,
and understand,
for all that is life."
J. Krishnamurti


best luck cindy on your new journey!

flaming color

'october's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter.'

~ nova blair

'autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains,

a torch flung to the trees.'

~ faith baldwin

every one has a strength, something they do exceptionally well - i really feel that erin at every heart crafts has the market on leaves... it took me so long to get one because i just could not decide which color i wanted to work with... & when it arrived i was instantly overcome with a feeling of needing to place berries near to it... deep red/oranges... evocative of the season... and so i did... 'autumn's fire' features berries of lampwork glass, carnelian, ceramic and pearl... soldered rings in copper and sterling are connected with forged & paddled double ended sterling bars... vintaj brass chain with its warm brown color is paired with a length of lavic & picture jasper beads (there are so many jasper names)... 

'delicious autumn! my very soul is wedded to it,

and if i were a bird i would fly about the earth seeking 

the successive autumns.'

~ george eliot

a small antiqued bird charm nestles in amongst the cluster... 

hope the season is beginning to show itself in your part of the world!