Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Freshwater Pearl Wrap Bracelet Charms - Secrets From The Deep

One of my favorite elements to use when building charms for handmade wrap bracelets is the freshwater pearl. I simply can't get enough of the shimmer, light, and delicacy of these amazing gifts of the ocean, and I love how they bring out the rich colors found in the silks I use. Pearls have always held a captivating place in my heart, and I am thrilled to get to work with them as an artist and a jewelry maker. I think that most women love the look and style of pearls, but did you know that they have a rich history, lots of secret meanings, and all kinds of spiritual uses?


In India, the freshwater pearl represents the Moon, known as 'Chandra'. The Moon is a symbol for the mind, the intuition, and the intellect - and the pearl is believed to purify and strengthen these things within the individual who wears it. Before a pearl is worn by a believer in India, a priest first purifies the piece and performs an elaborate ceremony to bless it and charge it with the energy of the Moon. Several times each year, the pendant or ring where the pearl is mounted may be used in various personal prayers and rituals to further its power. In my studio, I also put lots of intention, positive energy, and love into each freshwater pearl charm I create to ensure that you always get lots of great blessings when you wrap up with one!


Pearls are not easy to find. Making pearl charm bracelets begins with experts exploring the mysteries of the sea to find the perfect pearl-making oysters. One of the reasons that the freshwater pearl has been a symbol for the astrological sign of Cancer (and all June birthdays, as well) is that Cancer is a water sign and is connected to the mysteries of the deep oceans. When wearing a pearl, you are reminding yourself that sometimes the greatest universal mysteries aren't 'out there', but are actually right here on Earth - and often times within you as an individual!

Because freshwater pearls come from the ocean, they are associated with the Moon in many cultures across the globe - not just in India. The Moon greatly influences the ocean, creates tides, effects waves, and has an interesting connection with water itself. For this reason, the moon, the ocean, and pearls have always been connected. Wearing a pearl charm bracelet can bring the intuition, calm, emotionally balancing, and expansive awareness qualities that are traditionally associated with the Moon and the ocean at the same time!



Whether you have a June birthday, an intuitive mind, a love of the ocean, a fascination with the moon, or just an appreciation for the depth of beauty that the freshwater pearl charm has - you'll love what happens to a pearl charm when it shines on one of my handmade silk wrap bracelets. Click here to view my full selection of silk wrap bracelets, and see why pearl charms are such a popular choice!

Are you a pearl lover? Do you have any pearl jewelry that ranks among your favorites? Share your story in the comments section below!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Buddha - A Symbol Of Serenity, Wisdom, And Compassion

One of my favorite symbols to work with when creating my handmade wraps is the image of the Buddha. I love his serene face, his gentle eyes, and the peaceful and compassionate energy that exudes from the images of him created all across the world. I love selecting different forms and artistic styles of the Buddha to use in my work to show just how universal his messages really are.

"Peace comes from within, do not seek it without"


Wearing a Buddha charm wrap is a great way to remind yourself that we create the world we live in by the things we think, and that we have the capacity to generate miracles in the world around us by taking the right action. By understanding and practicing the wisdom of Buddha, we can all cultivate a more peaceful and compassionate life for both ourselves and the entire world around us.

"It is man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways"


When looking at images of the Buddha on a charm wrap bracelet or anywhere else, it's important to try to see a little bit of yourself in him, or a little bit of him within you. The Buddha taught that we all have the ability to become Buddha - the become enlightened. His image is a reminder of that which we work towards, so we should try to be inspired and elevated every time we see his image.

"Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, man cannot live without a spiritual life"


One of the greatest reasons why I use the image of Buddha in my handmade silk wrap bracelets is that I want to have a constant reminder 'at hand' that I can be better, think better, act better, and choose to live in a world that is better at every step.

"The mind is everything. What you think you become"


Make sure to visit me on Facebook for a chance to win the Buddha Wrap Bracelet pictured above! Contest ends June 2, 2012, so hurry over! Click HERE to visit my Facebook page now.






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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Featured Wrap Bracelet Charm - The Evil Eye!

I don't know about you, but when I hear about evil eye charms, all kinds of fun images come into my mind of mystery, protection, and magic. I have always been fascinated by these powerful little pieces of art - partly because I love the way they stare back when I look at them! The evil eye charm has a long history of use across the world, and many cultures have relied on it in one form or another in folk magic, superstition, spiritual practice, or creating positive space.

In the Middle East, it has been believed for ages that if a person looks at you with jealousy, anger, or hatred, they can influence your good luck in a negative way. There are even some translations of the Holy Bible that speak of the evil eye making people in the Middle East even more aware of protecting themselves from it.

Throughout the Hebrew and Islamic worlds, the evil eye is believed to be caused by strong minded individuals who glare upon another while thinking negative thoughts. In the modern day, this is usually interpreted as being a situation when someone stares at you with jealousy or anger in their hearts. For this reason, the Eastern evil eye charm is a popular, and really neat looking way, to protect ones self from any harmful effects of other people's state of mind.

Evil eye charms can also be found as far away as India, Greece, Ethiopia, Sicily, Latin America, Mexico, and The United States of America. In each of these cultures, various methods for dealing with the evil eye have been created, and in most cases the treatment is preventative in nature. For example, if a person found success and started becoming more wealthy, popular, or advanced in their lives, they may take measures to protect themselves from other people's negative, angry, or jealous thoughts by wearing an evil eye charm bracelet.

In Ethiopia, women are very careful when admiring a family member or a new born baby as to not give the evil eye inadvertently to their loved ones. In Greece there are tests performed with oil to see if the evil eye has been cast, and special ancient prayers that are said as a charm against the evil eye if it is present. Across Latin America and Mexico, women and children are believed to be most vulnerable to the effects of the evil eye, so an evil eye charm and special prayers for personal protection are often part of their daily rituals.

In today's world, we may not be quite as superstitious or attuned to these quiet energies as we used to be, but that doesn't mean they aren't still around! Having an evil eye charm in your life helps remind you that what other people think about you cannot influence your success unless you choose to let it in! You are in complete control of what kind of people, beliefs, thoughts, and energies you allow into your life, and the evil eye charm reminds us to always keep an eye open to the quieter influences that may surround us at ever step. I have used the evil eye charm wrap bracelet with great success and comfort, and have also combined it with the Hand Of God Hamsa charm and other meaningful charms of protection as well to really increase its meaning and power in my life. View them all here.

Here's to your success, growth, and joy - without ever letting anyone or anything stand in your way!





Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Mother's Day Is A One Of A Kind Celebration

Have you ever stopped to think about where Mother's Day came from, who started this celebration of motherhood, and what the roots of this special celebration really are? I did some research this week and was amazed at the long and rich history of this special day - and how many forms it takes across the world! Most every country and culture on the planet has some special day set aside in honor of Mom, and each of them do it just a little bit differently. Here in America, we get to enjoy the nurturing of Mother Nature as the seasons change while we remember the nurturing qualities of our own Mother's as well.



In 1870,. Julia Ward Howe, a social activist and poet, made a Mother's Day Declaration - but it simply wouldn't stick. It took until 1908 when Anna Jarvis fought hard, made some great marketing moves, and finally convinced President Woodrow Wilson declared it an official holiday in 1914.

Mother's Day also has some ancient roots. The ancient Greek cult of Cybele may have been one of the first recognized dates of celebration for Mother's, and the traditional Christian holiday of Mothering Sunday also honors the earthy Mother's who love and care for us every day.

This Mother's day, there's no better way to spoil your mom and let her know that she's one of a kind than with handmade jewelry that's packed with love, meaning, and beauty.

This year I decided to do something special for all of the wonderful Mother's out there - I created a beautiful hand painted silk wrap bracelet with a sterling silver charm that reads 'mom'. To add something really special, blue, amethyst, and purple genuine Swarovski crystals have been added for color, shine, and depth.

My goal with this special Mother's Day 2012 gift idea was to allow you to select something truly unique for your mom that will really get your message across! I absolutely love this time of year, the changing weather, and the special opportunity to thank and celebrate all the Mother's in our lives! See the 2012 Mother's Day Gift Wrap Bracelet here!

From now until Mother's Day, use the code 'LOVEMOM' at checkout to receive 20% off your purchase price! Shop here.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Have A Hand Made Mother's Day 2012!

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and people all over are looking for meaningful and special ways to celebrate mom. Traditional gifts for Mother's Day include flowers, jewelry, and of course a great meal - with handmade one of a kind items on the rise each year as a preferred Mother's Day gift. This year I was honored to be able to send my brand new 'mom' silk wrap bracelet to a list of celebrity mother's to be, and I decided to make sure that your superstar mom can have the same one of a kind piece! Expectant mother's who will be gifted my mom charm bracelet include...

Maggie Gyllenhaal
Molly Simms

Neve Campbell
Alyson Hannigan
Kourtney Kardashian
Nick Lachey
Tony Romo
Reese Witherspooon
Elizabeth Berkley
How exciting!

If you're looking for the perfect handmade mother;s day gift that will make mom look and feel like a celebrity, I'm excited to introduce you to my special 'celebrity mom' silk wrap bracelet!
This charm is made using a hand painted silk wrap ribbon and top quality elements to bring light, gratitude, and love to any mom who wears it. I've combined a special 'mom' charm in sterling silver with the power symbolism of the tree of life charm to show mom just how special she is. Blue, amethyst, and purple genuine Swarovski crystals dangle with the charms to complete the look and bring it all together.

If you are looking for a great way to make your mom feel like a celebrity, add her to the list above by giving her a hand made mother's day charm wrap bracelet this year! Use code;LOVEMOM for 20% off!

Order yours today by clicking here
 
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