LRA Kids need Help

Please take this seriously and help these children gain their freedom. For those unfamiliar with Joseph Kony here is some info to start you out!

He claims to receive his message directly from God that the "true" leader of Uganda will rule with the Ten Commandments as the backbone. He has been terrorizing Northern Uganda for 20 plus years, as well as other surrounding countries.
Kony kidnaps the children of villages he has conflict with, they are given the choice to serve in his army or be killed. The girls are taken as sex rewards for the men in the LRA(Lords Resistance Army)and others. They, the kids, are forced to commit murder, genocide, massacres and more. The fact that this man has time and again avoided peace talks tells us there are few options remaining in this matter. He must be stopped. He butchers people by cutting off their lips, noses limbs etc. Machetes (as always is the case in Genocide and Massacre it seems)and guns are used to kill the people who disagree or try to fight back.
ANY WOMAN WHOSE A MOTHER CANNOT IGNORE THIS!!! These children are prisoners to this evil man, they are forced into the evil acts because it means life or death for them if they don't comply. These are babies, some as young as 8 or 9 maybe even younger. Please do what you can to assist in the fight to get these kids out of Kony's LRA nightmare.

There is a film you can watch: Invisible Children


There are areas online where you can send letters to the President and Congress telling them to stand up and do what's right!
Write your local congressman and tell him to do whatever he can! There are ways to help people without spending money!

Link to the Take Action Page for ENOUGH


Link to Speak out to President Obama On ENOUGH

There are others way to help too!
Buying from the gift shop on InvisibleChildren.com helps in the fight, it can aid in winning freedom for these children. I know not all can give financially and this is why I ask you to watch the video, sign some peitions, write your congress man etc, also check the status or grade of your local politicians, you can see what if anything that have helped with in N. Uganda and In other countries. We are a global community and it is time we act like it. Today I got an update that congress had begun looking into the LRA (cult), Some very powerful people made some comments, this is hopeful news and it made me super happy, finally there are big time politicians getting involved and once you admit that you know there is an issue, you can't ignore it, especially in their position since all of us would never let them forget. Progress is Progress! Please keep writing the president and congress and anyone else that will listen! Thanks

If in the US go here to see the grade for your local congress and seneteor and see if they are doing what they can to stop needless slaughter, hate and genocide in all of Africa! Act for Darfur too, don't forget there are other countries in this world suffering. Colombia, Chechnya, Cambodia (Kampuchea),
Darfurand more

Stone Divination - "A Stone Tarot" From Scott Cunningham's Book on stone and mineral magic.

I am reading a really wonderful and insightful book By the ever informative Scott Cunningham (Author of many Wiccan books on various topics) entitled "Encyclopedia of Crystal,Gem, & Metal Magic, I thought my friends would find this as cool as I did so I am sharing it here.
The stone tarot: Directions (condensed of course)
Consisting of 22 stones - (each representing a card of the Major Arcana) Here is the list given in the book along with the associated stone, Of course feel free to supplement this list with the Major Arcana cards you use or prefer I am also including other possible names for the cards as well as the stones that may be substituted when the listed is unavailable.

0. The Fool = Agate
1. The Shaman (Magician) = Quartz Crystal
2. The High Priestess = Emerald (Pearl)
3. The Goddess (Empress) = Peridot (Olivine or Turquoise)
4. The God (Emperor) = Ruby
5. The Chief (Hierophant)= Topaz
6. The Lovers = Rose Quarts
7. The Elements (Chariot) = Staurolite (Cross Stone or any Twinned Crystals)
8. Strength = Diamond (Herkimer Diamond or Garnet)
9. The Wise Elder (Hermit) = Sapphire (Blue Tourmaline)
10. The Spiral (Wheel Of Fortune) = Sardonyx (Black Opal)
11. Justice = Carnelian
12. Initiation (Hanged Man) = Beryl (Aquamarine)*I think any Beryl stone would work
13. Change (Death) = Amber
14. Temperance = Amethyst
15. Folly (Devil) = Black Diamond (Black Tourmaline or any black square stone)
16. Force (Tower) = Lodestone (Lava)
17. The Star = Meteorite (any star stone) This one could be hard to find
18. The Moon = Moonstone (Chalcedony)
19. The Sun = Tiger's-eye (Sunstone)
20. Rebirth (Judgement)= Fossil
21. The Universe = Opal (Kunzite)

For the stones you cannot obtain (lets face it some of these are just too expensive) magical substitution can be used as long as it doesn't represent another card (i.e. You wouldn't use agate for Justice since agate represents The fool)

Visualize the question you wish to answer, reach into your bag of stones, and draw one stone at a time.....There are more layouts possible, and the wonderful thing about magic and divination... they are interpretive and ever changing. Like the seasons.
Three Stone "Spread":
Pull three stones (one at a time) from your yellow bag (encourages psychic power and magical influence)
First stone represents your past and gets placed to the left of you
Second stone represents your Current situation and is placed to the right of the first.
Third stone represents your future and is placed to the right of your "present" stone
Read all of these stones together and interpret the meaning of each individually and as a whole.

Symbols and Meanings
(Of course just as there are various ways to interpret tarot cards there are various ways of reading these meanings, there is room for interpretation based on your personal experiences.)

0.Agate - Scattered energies, waste, extravagance, imbalance, pride, ego, vanity

1.Quartz Crystal - Magical attainment, control, power, balance, center, unification of spiritual and physical, self-knowledge, depth and confidence

2.Emerald - Spirituality, secrets, power, Earth religion, the unknown, female mysteries.

3.Peridot - Receptive energies, women, cycles, fertility, abundance, creativity, growth, female sexuality and love.
4.Ruby - Projective energy, men, compassion, force, movement, aggression, male sexuality
5.Topaz - Authority, Captivity, Confinement, Advice, Employer, honor
6.Rose Quartz - Love, sexuality, relationships, friendships, duality, polarity, balance and beauty
7. Staurolite - Earth power, nature,self-control
8.Diamond - Power, courage,will power, activity
9. Sapphire - Wisdom, Knowledge, Mysticism, enlightenment.
10.Sardonyx - Transformation, fortune, luck, unknown factors
11.Carnelian - Law, Legal matters, dominance, submission
12.Beryl - Introspection trials, tests, sacrifice
13.Amber - Renewal, beginnings, endings, health matters, Trials
14.Amethyst - Moderation, Scattering of energies, nonfocused, disciplined, balance
15.Black Diamond - Addiction, delusion, pity, depression, pettiness, lack of vision, violence, control by others, submission
16.Lodestone Adversity, accident, oppression, challenge
17.Meteorite - Universal energies, astrology, eclipse, travel, hope
18.Moonstone - Psychism, emotions, night, winter, sleep, dreams, tides, depression, water
19. Tiger's-eye - Mental activity, thought, visualizations, contentment, day, summer, the seasons
20.Fossil - Reversal, outcome, evolution, growth, life, childbirth, lessons
21.Opal - Interplay, success, harvest, movement, overview, ability, completion, higher forces.

I really recommend this book to anyone who practices Wicca or just has a curiosity about divination. Very enlightening and fun.

Written by Scott Cunningham
"Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic"
Llewellyn Publications
Scott Cunningham passed away but he leaves behind some amazing books on magic and more.

HELP STOP THE SLAUGHTER & TORTURE

The truth is this video is HORRIBLE!! I don't blame you if you can't watch it... but I do ask that you take the time to read the information out there and contact your congress members, Help to end this Please





Another video that will make you want to Boycott Petsmart



PetSmart's Big Suffering for Small Animals. Watch more
videos at PETA.org.


and yes there are more videos that disgust and shock










And this one just makes me so freaking mad!!!

Please check out this and do something to save HANDMADE!

Check it out Everyone!!!!

Etsy Giveaways: EJDSS Valentine's Day Event (Ends 2/14)

TAKEN FROM COOLMOMPICKS


"We're all for strengthening the safety standards of mass-produced toys, clothes, and accessories made in China, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead. But this year, congress passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, a law which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust. The very same ones that we often feature here and in our yearly special edition gift guides.

With this act going into effect February 10 2009 so many people we love will be affected: Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle--even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their goods. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a single toxic chemical in them.



How to Get Involved -- it only takes 5 minutes of your time!

-Find your congress person and senators and write a letter like the sample here.
Particularly if they serve on the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection or the House Committee on Small Business.

-Send an email directly to the CPSC or contact chairperson Nancy Nord at 301-504-7923

-Vote for amending the law on Change.org, digg style: We are currently one of 90 finalists, and if it makes the top ten proposals, it will be presented to President Obama in January! Edited to add: Whoo! The propsal has made the top 10 with more than 12,000 votes and close to 500 blogger "endoresements. Thank you so much for the support!

-Place the Save Handmade! button on your blog or website to help spread the word to everyone you know who cares about protecting the little guy and preserving beautiful items made with love for our children."

New News

I have been busy, busy, busy!

I got an offer to sell a few of my pieces at a store in FL my Mom and Aunt wanted to see my items in a shop as well as on the net, so we shall see what comes of it.

I started tumbling my own stones! I am also learning as much as is possible about minerals and rocks. I enjoy rock hunting and I have always loved looking for interesting stones in various colors. I think the process of rock tumbling is therapeutic. Step one grit will be finished this evening.
My instructions and research on the subject has led me to choose one week for step one, 14 days for step two, and one week for step three. I am sure there are plenty of people out there that could enlighten me as to other time tables.... Yes that is an invite to anyone who can give advice or insight. I need to buy a book on tumbling, although I haven't had a lot of luck finding one at the local bookstores.

I am also looking into newer ways to promote my shops so I am keeping busy and happy as well as creative.

Just some recent stuff

My husband and I are renovating our home (we are moving btw to our new house in 4 days!!) Anywho, we are doing the basics, Painting, carpeting, fixtures etc. I have found that I enjoy the process of change, yes it is terrible to feel pressure (I do feel pressure btw) but it motivates me in a way no other thing can. I am talking about the arguments spouses have because one called the others paint choice "ugly" (that's right ladies out there....UGLY) I have never picked an ugly color in my life and I am sure had anyone been there to see it, they would have agreed with me completely.
House renovation aside.... there is the whole college thing, I am a sophmore and am working towards my degree in Forensic Anthropology. I am in the middle of the last weeks of school, yep that's right, finals, I am ok with it, I LOVE the subjects I take. A history (World Civ) and my Favorite Anatomy and Physiology I I adore the subject for it's not a science of the body so much as it is the science of how the components work, and how they work together to maintain us "machines"!! I find the prospect of dissecting a brain, interesting. lol Now that I said that I must do the whole formal "I swear I am not a serial killer" speech. I am heavy into science and wouldn't be happy if I tried to ignore it in favor of a "degree in women's work" Don't ask!!! I think too many little girls are discouraged by the influences in their lives to turn away from the fields that they deem "Not For Girls" I will have none of that in my home and thank goodness I have a man with intellegience and integrity. He sees the potential in me as I see it in him. Isn't that how it's suppose to work. I think I can forgive the "Ugly" paint comment as long as he stays the man I am proud of and happy to have married. Fair is fair though and I must say the male influences in my life were none too inspiring. I am into progress not sorrow.
I am also working on some new pieces I feel I have developed more of my internal style and want to start showing it off. I can't tell you how amazing it is to feel inspired by things that are your own. No relying on others for concepts and ideas. I felt as if I were making things for people based on all of the trends and styles I saw out there. Now I can say I am on a track to being myself, and I am ready for that.

Creations and Thoughts

I have been so involved with my Anatomy and Physiology class that I barely have time to create and with three kids, moving into a new house in 20 days, and the house hold maintenance I am about spent. I am getting a new studio at this house which makes the move both a pain and a joy!!! It is a gigantic garage, tons of wooden built in shelves and a long wooden table built in as well. That will be almost too perfect for the crafts I take on. It will be great to be able to shut my door to the rest of the house and get lost in the creative process. Wow I am so excited.lol Dream come true I tell ya. I have been working on my designs at my tiny desk in a two bedroom apt, I have to remove my laptop to make jewelry, and remove the jewelry making tools and stuff to do homework, pay bills etc. Needless to say not a great set-up! This has been the norm for three years,oh and sewing in the kitchen at this makeshift sewing table (a nice size office desk)That's what is new for me. lol Not the life of a movie star but I feel pretty blessed all the same.

The Creative Process: About me

Insomnia is my element of surprise my way of catching up on the inspiring aspects of my surroundings while all of the others sleep. I can be found over my laptop with my Photo shop blaring on screen. My easel is my most prized possession, as it was very inexpensive and I use it almost everyday. I love sketching the world around me, viewing it from the sidelines and then capturing my interpretation of the outcome. Though I am someone who sees things as mostly positive, or at least I try to I am a very pessimistic artist.
The current injustices that women in foreign countries suffer everyday of their lives. We as a country do nothing to help, by the way; I am not talking about the individual I am speaking of the masses.I doubt the people in Washington will ever do something about the injustices, oh but wait, if that country of origin happens to possess something of value (e.g. Oil, Diamonds, etc.) then have no fear, the USA is here.
My views are not a whole lot different from a lot of people's views. Yet some will say I am unpatriotic. Untrue statement my friends quite in fact I love this country, for now (not in the past or future perhaps) we have managed to survive without Honor Killings, Female genitalia mutilation, Public slaughters and the like.
We are at war and yet what has come of it? No peace, No diplomatic ties, No change for the better. Instead of these promised endings all we have is more unrest, more injustice and more hatred I am tired of lies and the producers of those lies giving us explanations for their plans of action and making empty promises that they never intended to see through.
These things are the things that I think about and that get me upset. I am not a soapbox diva who spouts off about every nit picky thing, I am just a human being, with three children a wonderful husband and a pretty happy life. Wishing that at least this world would realize how important and crucial Women are, Unfortunately many countries see women as disposable. I want to fight to change that. I think I can do my part but not everyone's