Yule decorating . . .

Wow! I can't believe we're already at the end of November. Where does the time go? I've been so busy with classes and getting my business up and running that it seems the time has just slipped away. Although, that being said, it also seems as if time has been standing still. I've been waiting patiently (which is a feat in and of itself for me) to move into my new space at the Harbor Wellness Center. The time has finally come and I'm going over today to clean up and do some painting. I'm a jumble of feelings, mostly good and positive, but there's that little creak in the door and I'm trying hard to keep out the nagging doubts.

I have managed to set up my Yule altar and get the lights out on the house. Half of them won't work and so I find myself replacing them, on the cheap. I found two lighted wreaths at ACE yesterday for $2.99 and spent $13 on a new lighted garland for our light pole. We still need to replace (or fix) one of the net lights along the front hedge . . . I'm leaving that mess up to Brian along with stringing electrical cords to my lighted window boxes. Once everything is taken care of, I'll share some pictures.

Here are pictures of my altar . . . hope you enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends, far and wide, who are celebrating Thanksgiving today. Brian and I usually don't celebrate today having celebrated back in October over the Canadian holiday. Alas, we don't do that anymore either because now we celebrate Mabon, the Pagan Thanksgiving.

That being said, today we're sharing Thanksgiving with our friend Carl who has generously offered to cook today. The only thing we're taking along is homemade stuffing and two bottles of red wine. Yay!

What am I thankful for? Men who cook (thanks Brian and Carl!), the opportunity to start and grow my own business, warm Bijou hugs and puppy dog kisses, the freedom to follow my own spiritual path, good friends, family, and to the Creator for making all things possible.

May you all be blessed by the God and Goddess this Thanksgiving and may the year ahead bring you abundance and prosperity.

Blessed Be, Teresa

I AM . . .

This fill in the blank poem circulated on facebook today so I took some time to sit with it and think about what I really felt in answering the questions. Some answers came straight away, others I had to think about . . . really think about. I've been working on setting my ego straight, you know, the gal who wants it all for herself, world be damned. It's not who I am anymore, well, not that I ever really was. Of course I want my world to be beautiful, but I also want the world as a whole to be beautiful with joy, abundance and love for everyone.

This is no small task. It takes work. Real work. It takes introspection, journaling and reading, lots and lots of reading. And every now and then it takes something like this poem to prompt one on to a greater level of understanding, not only of oneself, but of the world and the people in it.

So, here's the poem as it appeared on facebook and following is the poem I wrote . . . hope you enjoy and take some time to write your poem.

I AM

I am (two special characteristics)
I wonder (something you are actually curious about)
I hear (an imaginary sound)
I see (an imaginary sight)
I want (an actual desire

I am (the first line of the poem restated)
I pretend (something you pretend to do)
I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)
I touch (an imaginary touch)
I worry (something that really bothers you)
I cry (something that makes you very sad)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)
I understand (something you know is true)
I say (something you believe in)
I dream (something you actually dream about)
I try (something you make an effort to do)
I hope (something you actually hope for)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

by My Destiny Astrology

I AM

I am Grace and Compassion.
I wonder what's on the other side.
I hear the song of a bird.
I see the world as it was in the beginning.
I want life to be abundant and joyful.

I am Grace and Compassion.
I pretend I have everything I desire.
I feel excited about life's possibilities.
I touch the face of Love.
I worry I'm not living my full potential.
I cry for animals who are abandoned or abused.

I am Grace and Compassion.
I understand that in order to succeed, I must first do the work.
I say life is a journey and the only truly important thing is love.
I dream of living, giving and sharing in a beautiful, healed world.
I try to live a better life every day.
I hope for a world of peace and prosperity for all.

I am Grace and Compassion.

by Teresa Martens

Wellness Fair - 2011

This past Friday and Saturday I attended the Wellness Fair at the Harbor Athletic Club. I had an amazing time, met some new friends, and connected with people from all walks of life. It was truly an inspiring and energizing experience!

I've posted pictures of my table display at my 'Loving Heart Reiki' blog, but here's one to tempt you!

Day 12 - Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule Recap

Well, Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule has come to a close, but you can still visit Jan's blog 'Jan Tanis Designs' for a recap of the talented and inspirational artisans that were featured over the last 11 days, moi included. Were you able to get some of those names crossed off your list? With all the beautiful items that were showcased it almost makes one want to add more names to their list . . . well, maybe not, but it's tempting!

Hope you enjoyed the Stroll and all the glorious eye-candy!

Day 11 - Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule

Today's featured artisan is Laura Staley from 'Creative Jewelry Designs by Laura Staley'. Laura is a South Carolinian and comes from a mutli-generational artisan/crafty family who tastes vary from painting to lapidary and jewelry making. Her jewelry designs are truly unique and one-of-a-kind and she enjoys doing custom work with brides, beauty queens and fashion designers! Here are a few of my favorite items from Laura's Etsy shop . . .

To read more about Laura and to check out the featured artisans from the previous 10 days, please visit Jan's blog 'Jan Tanis Designs'.

Day 10 - Stroll The Shops for Christmas/Yule

Well, tomorrow I'm off to participate in the Wellness Event at the Harbor Athletic Club Wellness Center on Allen Blvd. in Middleton. I'm as prepared as I can be, although I do have a few last minute details to take care of. So, that being said, Day 11 and Day 12 of the stroll will have to wait until I'm finished up at the center since I'm there from 7 to 7, there's not likely going to be much time for anything else!

So, without further adeiu, I present today's featured artisan, Audrey from 'Principessa Jewels and Glass'. Audrey creates vintage style jewelry and glass beads that are gorgeous and quite simply, divine! Audrey started making jewelry about seven to eight years ago and after some time evolved into making her own lampwork beads. She lives in Texas with her husband, daughter and canine companions, and one newly adopted kitten named 'Nutmeg'. Here are a few of my favorite items from Audrey's Etsy shop . . .

And be sure to hop over to Jan's blog 'Jan Tanis Designs' to learn about all of the artisans, yours truly included, who have participated in this year's stroll! Only two days left to take advantage of 15% off every item in my Etsy shop 'Plume Poppy Designs' using coupon code STROLL4YULE!

Day 9 - Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule

Today's featured artisans are Susan and Sherri from 'Lollipops and Daisies Children's Boutique'. Sherri enjoys the design and sewing aspects of their business, and Susan prefers designing and crafting. Their business philosophy is to be unique in their design process making apparel and adornments that are fun and sassy or elegant and classy. They create to promote uniqueness and to show our younger generations that it's perfectly okay to "color outside the lines", "dance like nobody's watching" and to "do what you love". Here are a few of my favorite items from Susan and Sherri's Etsy shop . . .

And be sure to visit Jan's blog 'Jan Tanis Designs' to learn more about today's featured artisans and to also check out the artisans featured from the past eight days!

Gloomy Day Decorating

Well, the weather outside is frightful, but inside it's so delightful . . . okay, so I'm not really a singer, but I try! Anyway, the weather here really is frightful, it's gloomy and raining and I'm trying to find ways to keep myself from giving in to the melancholy that's sitting just below the surface of my being. I'm doing pretty well by keeping my thoughts positive and of course, when all else fails, there's always a bit of decorating that can be done!

I'm always amazed at how an altar or in this case, garden window theme, comes together considering I always start out thinking I haven't got a thing to wear . . . or, ummm . . . a thing to decorate with. I started out by removing all the items and giving the window a good cleaning. Then I placed back the owls and green glass candy dishes. I added my favorite teacup, a tealight lamp that's been sitting in my basement for ages, a bit of greenery, some crystals and the glass dome that I didn't have a thing to stick under. Then inspiration struck! Why not fill it with pinecones?! And so I did. Voila! A beautiful new decorative scene for me to enjoy whilst I get dishpan hands doing dishes.

I hope you enjoyed this little break from the stroll and hope you'll be back again tomorrow for Day 9 of Stroll the Shops for Christmas!

Day 8 - Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule

My husband pointed out to me last night that for the past week, I haven't been my normal blogging self . . . I assured him that after my commitment to Jan's stroll we will return to our regularly scheduled program. I guess I didn't realize how much he enjoys my posts! And truth be told . . . I don't think he's getting all the hints I've been leaving about my favorite jewelry . . . sigh . . .

Today's featured artisan is, well, ME! You can read all about my crafty artist history at Jan's blog 'Jan Tanis Designs' and see some of the lovely items I have for sale in my Etsy shop 'Plume Poppy Designs'. I'm having a 15% off sale on all items, including dollhouses, and am offering free gift wrapping! I'm rather a modest lady and don't like to brag about myself too much, but I have been told that my wrapping is like a gift unto itself! And so, here are a few of my favorite items from my Etsy shop . . .

Day 7 - Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule

Todays featured artisan is Sarah from 'Windscry Designs'. Sarah is a very interesting person! She had a career in the US Army as a Special Agent, but after contracting arsenic poisoning and then dealing with the repurcussions of that, she retired, became pregnant with her second child and began jewelry making. Sarah also crochets and has had one of her shawls included in an exhibit in Arcata, California. Here are a few of my favorite items from Sarah's Etsy shop . . .

Day 6 - Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule

Well, here we are at the half-way point of Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule with still more gift ideas to come over the next week. Be sure to check here Tuesday, November 8th as my shop, 'Plume Poppy Designs', will be featured! You don't have to wait until then though to take advantage of my 15% off sale which lasts through November 12th! And I'll even wrap it up all pretty for you!

We begin today with Michaela Cladingboel of 'Eartopia'. Michaela lives in Australia with her partner and son and she makes the most creative and beautiful earrings designed with Japanese Tensha beads. The word 'Tensha', in Japanese, translates roughly to the word 'transfer'. The beads are made by applying a decal to an acrylic bead which is then sealed with an acrylic coating to protect the decal. Michaela also designs earrings inspired by Ancient Rome and Greece (a range called Byzantine). The Byzantine range is perfect for evening wear – delicate, sparkly and gorgeous. Here are a few of my favorites from Michaela's
Eartopia website . . .

The next featured artisan today is Charis Lyons Ramsey of 'Blue Shark Diva Designs'. Charis is a wife and mother of three boys and helps out with the family trucking business. She also creates unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry designs that are creative and fun! Here are a few of my favorite pieces from Charis's ArtFire shop . . .

And be sure to pop over to Jan's blog 'Jan Tanis Designs' to see more about these talented artisans, and while you're there you can also visit some of the artisans that have already been featured during the stroll.