We should all know the historical basis for plundering the Earth’s resources.  For those who do not, I will attempt to explain it here.

Alaska: Fox in the Snow

Its fostered by the church, based on Bible scripture, the book of Genesis to be exact. It contains the phrase: “go forth and multiply, …”

Mankind or rather ADAM and EVE were assigned the job of stewardship.  Now let’s define that word, stewardship:

1. The office, duties, and obligations of a steward (which is defined as: one who actively directs affairs ~ manages.)
2. The conducting, supervising, and managing of something; esp : the careful and responsible management of something in one’s care (~ of our natural resources)

We are obviously looking at the second definition.  Please note the words “careful” and “responsible”.  Historically, neither word could even be fudged to define what has actually happened with regards to how natural resources have been stewarded.

But, when the religious context is viewed with the term steward we can see where the fault herein lies.  The religions who have postulated the Genesis directive all believe their followers will go to heaven! Therefore, those who claim stewardship have no real vested interest in the “careful” and “responsible” management of earth’s resources! The latter part is ignored.

Now then, let’s really look at the body of stewards.  These stewards are all corporate conglomerates who stand to gain large sums of money, and who pay for / contribute to politician’s campaigns (refer to speeches of Rick Santorum in Iowa, and elswhere); who stand to gain prestige and large sums of money. Nowhere in either is there any margin for the actual definition of the steward. One more point…both of the aforementioned are sanctioned by the church, who stands to gain large contributions as well.

Spirit of Place: Who is Hunting Whom?

The church who on one hand support stewardship without consciousness nor regard for the actual meaning of the term: steward; and on the other hand will preach from the pulpit that you cannot take all your material stuff to heaven.  Ponder this a moment before you read on.

This is a stewardship deeply steeped in hypocrisy.  Those that are postulating the dictum of Genesis as their purpose for plundering the resources of the earth, also are also hypnagogic (1. hypnotism 2. leading, or inducing; of, and related to, or associated with the drowsiness leading to sleep) in their speech. While the masses are in their stupor, your so-called stewards are destroying your planet! More to come…

-Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition.  Merriam-Webster Inc., 1993
-http://rippdemup.com/2012/01/rick-santorum-iowa-victory-speech-manifest-destiny-again-really-rick/ The Intersection of Madness and Reality.
-http://venezuelanalysis.com/6788  Neut vs. Mitt Uncle Sam’s Manifest Destiny

Why do it? At first, it was just where the drips of water led me.  I would begin with a layer of paint,  then after the second layer I would splash water and dab it off. That is quite literally the beginning of it.

Occasionally other creatures would come out of the layers upon layers of application and water splashing.  One painting has the “Green Man” peering into the wood-like growths of  bulbous plants.

It was while in my garden that I realized why.  I resonate with the green world.  One year, I planted Melissa because the bee population had thinned.  Why not give those that are left something that attracts them, that THEY love?

It was then that I discovered the problem with the dwindling bee populations, black wasps would attack and kill the little baby bees. After a few days of this, big fat bumble bees came and drove off the black wasps. My garden was humming with bees after, and then the humming birds came. I would work the garden, none being bothered or bothering me.

People “use” nature to their own demise. Nature will work with you, if you respect it.  Respecting not just in your words, but in your deepest soul, from your heart.  It will work contrary if you attack it, disrespect it, try to purge parts of  it with technology or chemicals. What will grown in place of what is purged?

Genetically engineering the seeds will alter the natural balance. Eco-systems have delicate balances that provide homes and food for creatures as well.  When we meddle with the natural order of things, like some kind of GOD, then are we willing to accept the outcome?

Not just with the natural world but the affects it may have on the human organism? Do we know how genetic engineered plants will affect our body? Will it alter our own DNA? Would you really want to risk more birth defects? Yet, there are those who think they have that RIGHT.

So HOW does someone make any money selling earrings for $6.50? And take care of all of what the aforementioned formula discusses?  Nice and cheap, yes? So let’s examine this price.  Said pair of earrings materials cost is: $.84 for sterling earring hooks, $.89 for Bali tips, $.90 for semi-precious beads, $.89 for bead caps, $1.12 for spacers, $.24 jump rings.  This equals to $4.88 for materials alone.

Now let’s conjecture they want to be paid $10.00 an hour (too low in my opinion)and it took 15 minutes to do the earrings, equaling $5.00 (it would probably not take that long but I am playing with mathematical figures for this example).  Their Overhead is calculated at $2.20 for 15 minutes.  That would all equal to $12.08 now times 2 = $24.16 WHOLESALE.

This person is LOOSING $17.66 in order to price their beautiful handmade earrings at WalMart prices, and undercuts everyone else who is trying to make a living.  The consumer does not care…they get a pair of earring at sweat-shop prices!!

This all holds true for any type of handcrafted artwork done! Especially for  those artists who create for a living, and are professionally trained.

So…my point is this: THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU UNDERCUT YOUR FELLOW CRAFTERS! You are cutting into their rent money, grocery money, etc.  Don’t just price by WalMart standards.

First of all, if you value your own work…you KNOW your work is better quality! Secondly, WalMart purchases manufactured goods in bulk. Note the word: manufactured. That is it. In a nutshell…diatribe is done!

Random Picture for an Ordinary Day

Really? So I set my alarm, fix coffee, and then calculate how long it will take to do necessary morning things. Then while waking up, I am making my “mental list” to-do.

1.  put-away finished jewelry, “out of site”.

2.  pack my computer

3.  Find my wallet, keys, et al and pack them

4. A book to read at the doctor’s office, just in case

5. Grab the paper with my list of “to buy” items

Just “taking it in stride”, and making do.  I have been gone about  six hours.  I dug around in my storage space.  I merged two boxes into one, and scored coffee cups and jars to store small things within.  Found tulle my daughter was talking about buying.  Looked through about a dozen boxes for an item, and gave up.

Next, I shopped.  I have packages to send and no packing tape and no kraft paper for wrapping.  Went to Target to get packing supplies.  Walked through the store talking on the phone with my cute grandson, Alex (he is two, and alternates words with babble).

After doing that I went to the chiropractor.  Its a regular thing that I do, but much needed this week!  I had helped my daughter move over the weekend.  Tuesday I was aching all over…today I could not move my neck without pain.  The bad part is, I didn’t lift anything! All I did was pack and drive.

That is when I decided to write this blog.  At least one item can be “ticked off the list”! I have not created a “To-do” list this week and its already Wednesday!  What with creations in various stages of completion, prioritizing would be a good idea!

Just another ordinary day where life gets in the way.

No matter what your income, you still would like art to decorate your wall or adorn you’re body! Due to personal income, the choices you have could range from the art work in the form of a print or you might purchase an original painting.  My artworks are affordably priced, with a range of levels from the $20.00 print to original art priced from $65.00 to $3,000.00.

Across the Bay From Llansteffan No. 2-View 3

Woman and men both purchase jewelry no matter what income, the item may be costume jewelry or diamonds and gold. My jewelry is priced from $19.99 to $49.99, using silver plated to sterling silver or gold-plated to 18k gold. Some pieces are traditional tribal-wear with coppers and bronzes, or sometimes other natural materials (shells, for example) and repurposed items (pop caps, soda cans cut into shapes, newspapers, old books, etc).

It would seem that your income could range from $20,000 annually to $60,000.  Depending on your personal lifestyle choices as to what you would want to buy.  If you fit into my description in this and the previous blog, then you may want to consider purchasing my work! Go to my shop and look!

I even organized my filing system and did a clearing-out and organizing my files on my computer! Wow, now that was interesting! I created new online banners, so that the logo, avatar and banner all coordinated together…to have my “brand” coordinate and be recognizable.

A fold-over piece

I dug out the sketch book the other day and began drawing out my ideas.  Possible new lines of products that I hope will be introduced through this coming year.

I thoughtfully asked the questions about you, the potential buyer, as I sketched new designs. My customer…

Who are you? I am trying to visualize the lifestyle choices you make. What is your philosophy in life? What are your hobbies? I see someone who is intelligent, informed on today’s issues, interested in doing something about global warming, maybe even a minimalist…as a demonstration of that concern.

You may be taking Yoga classes or T’ai Chi, like to go to museums, or walk in the park. You are concerned about eating healthy, maybe a Vegan like I am.  You chose alternative healing when you’re not feeling well. You buy handmade as often as you can, from Indie businesses.  Or at least buy local.

Does what I make fit into what you want? What is it that you want? What do you need? How would it be packaged to inform you of its use while creating a pleasing appearance?

I use natural materials when-ever possible, I re-purpose items to make my art when-ever possible, my jewelry line (Gaia’s Adornments) has healing semi-precious stones and metals with healing properties. Energy healing is one of the oldest methods of healing and a good alternative. Much of my artwork has the natural world depicted in it, with inspirational phrases.

Into the month of January, since just before Christmas, this is what I have been doing.  Looking at the old modus operandi in my personal life and in my creative life, pondering how my product can be the best representation of my aspirations and philosophy in life.  While at the same time, considering what you (the customer) really desires or actually needs.

All this while culling out unwanted items in my studio, organizing my supplies, creating a DESTASH COLLECTION for sale in order to buy what I don’t have but really need.  I have everything under the sun for creating many different things, time to hone it down and focus in.

Along with the finished look, I will closely examine how a piece hangs [if an earring].  Does it complement the neckline? Does it accentuate the side of face? Aesthetically pleasing pieces are my goal.

Some of the images from that earlier time is shown below:

You will find that I love to use Turquoise in my work, as well as red coral. Something about the two laying side-by-side resonates within my being.

Lately, I have been doing research into how semi-precious stones were used in a variety of cultures and the metals the cultures use. Many cultures have used turquoise as a centerpiece to jeweled pieces.

As well as these semi-precious stones and metals, other natural materials are also interesting to me.  These natural materials would include wood, shells, pearls, and bone. Funny, in sense…due to my dietary choices!

I consider clay and glass as natural materials.  Ceramic beads are fired, and usually glazed.  The clay is made of earth and then heated to certain temperatures to harden. The main component in glaze for ceramics is also the main component for glass, silicone.  In a sense, these two are like butterflies…the process for making ceramics and glass is a metamorphosis from one form into another, a most beautiful creation.

It was a scientist by the name of James Lovelock that brought the name to the forefront. He was studying the environment and came to the concept that the Earth was an entity.

Gaia Hypothesis:

“This postulates that the physical and chemical condition of the surface of the Earth, of the atmosphere, and of the oceans has been and is actively made fit and comfortable by the presence of life itself…Life does not regulate or make the Earth comfortable for itself…I now think that regulation, at a state fit for life, is a property of the whole evolving system of life, air, ocean, and rocks.”

-James Lovelock

This line of jewelry that I have named “Gaia’s Adornments” is completely and thoroughly created with:

1.  The healing properties of semi-precious stones

2.  The healing properties of certain metals in the components within the jewelry

3.  An elegant and yet earthy design

4.  Quality work

Stones were used from the days of the ancient Egypt, and in Native American Indian cultures (Northern and Southern hemispheres) to heal the physical body and etherical body.  Copper is an alloy used since primordial time to heal arthritis. I will publish a comprehensive list of the healing properties of the stones in my work at a later post.

If you would like to see my work close-up go to Lorenz Shoe Store in Iowa City, IA.  It’s in the baskets hanging by the register!

When my children and I moved to the same state that Heather lived in 1989, we continued to work in jewelry-making.  She would sell pieces at her booth for me.  It became a “side” income.

After moving, I continued to do bead-work but not selling pieces for several years.  From 1997 until 1999 I gradually changed the style of my work, selling my work, but mostly gifting pieces to friends and family.

In 2009 I realized that I really enjoyed designing elegant pieces of jewelry.  The first piece of my own design was based on Tribal Belly Dance jewelry, such as the one below:

It was fun to design but not all play.  There were new techniques to learn, new things to consider in comparison to working with seed beads and cabochons. Such as color combinations, shapes of and size of beads, making the metal loop at the top to place the pierced hoop for the ear.

My early work with metals was a challenge that became rewarding.  The image below shows the combined findings used within the piece:

Fortunately for me, my now x-son-in-law gave me his old digital camera. Learning to USE that camera has been interesting to say the least!  It has a zoom, but not designed for the close photography required in jewelry photography. With experimentation, I learned the best way to use natural lighting and props to show my jewelry.

Found at: http://www.facebook.com/lorenz.shoestore   Lorenz Shoe Store in Iowa City, IA and on Etsy at http://gaiasearthlydelights.etsy.com