New Items for a New Year

~*::Pantrielle, $32::*~

Today is my birthday.  38.  The number doesn't scare me, even as it inches closer to the infamous 4-oh.  A small blessing is that I don't have to "work" today and the day is my own...after I renew my license, go grocery shopping and send out a few orders.  As my "middle life" approaches, I find that the person that I have become is better than I had ever dreamed of.

~*::L'Auren, $35::*~

There are many reasons to celebrate this year, one of which is the launch of my new website.  Although the marketplaces on which I sell have looked kindly on me, I still felt a need to have a place of my own.  It has turned out beautifully and I am sure that it will grow and evolve as my designs do as well.  If you have a chance, check it out here....  http://kasiablue.com/  And, a big thanks to Lynda of Exquisite Expressions for all of her hard work.  It has turned out just lovely :)

~*:: Daffodils, $32::*~

~*:: Paon, $32::*~

So here a few pictures of my new designs.  I've had an earring fetish lately so that's what I have been making.  I hope that you enjoy them.

~*: Siobhan, $49::*~

~*:: Engenue, $69::*~

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As a side note, I would like to say a most heartfelt thank you to all that have sent loving thoughts and and tear inducing comments in memory of our lovely little Sophie.  She will always hold a special place in our hearts.  

Thank you everyone for your sweetness.

xo

Kasia

My Darling Sophie Girl

We knew that the day was coming.  Every day, we hoped that strength and perserverence would carry her through..along with the steroids and a whole lot of love.  But as the days grew shorter, Sophie's resolve became weaker.  She had started to lose weight again and no longer did she rampage around the house with our Coco kitty pretending that she was queen of the castle (which she was of course!).  Today, her sweet life came to a close surrounded by loving hearts.

Sophie taught me so many important lessons...like how to chill out and take a nap in the sun (Gosh, that does feel good to do). 

She taught me how to look at the world from a different perspective...upside down was her favorite.

She taught me not to take any BS from a man, because she is the queen of the castle...and what the queen wants, the queen gets.  Just ask Coco, he'll confirm every story.

Sophie taught me how to be graceful...for even when she was on her last breaths, she looked at you with soulful eyes and knew that it was all going to be ok, no matter what.

She taught me to acknowledge those you care about...for they need to feel needed (especially if they feed you)

And, most importantly...

She taught me that love is simple.  Give it and it will come back to you in so many ways.

 

I will miss your morning hello as I do my business. 

I will miss your purr as I scratch you behind your ears.

I will miss you tripping me on the stairs and nearly killing me every morning as we go to get some yummy food for you and the mister.

I will miss looking into your eyes and seeing your beautiful soul.

Sophie is in a better place, I know.  And, this is a bit sappy...but I have come to find that the outlet to my soul is here, in front of you.  I have no choice but to share it, as many others who have special friends that they call family have faced the same heartbreak.

May God's angels guide you to heaven

on the breath of a dove

far from all the troubles

of your heart

until you are home once again

Momentum

~::{Momentum, by me}::~

I have a feeling that this year is going to be flippy-floppy.  No, not like the sandals...but wouldn't that be nice to be living on the beach?  No, what I mean is that as things come into alignment they are going to create flip flop emotions inside of me.  The famous butterflies in the tummy.  The feeling of uncertainty that clouds your vision, even if temporarily.

I have been asking all those who will listen from above to streamline my life, to take away the unnecessary garbage that is taking my precious time and wasting it, to help me become the businesswoman that I want to be...alll this is happening in quick measure.  It's all happening like a tidal wave in slow motion...you know it's coming but you are anchored and can't move. 

And I am standing here wondering if all is good.

My new website is coming along beautifully and I am so excited to have it launch.  But gosh, such a big step for me!  Will people buy from it?, how are they even going to find me out there will millions of other people?, blah, blah, blah...you know the ugly fear monster keeps on chattering away happy that he could get a mini novel dissertation in before dinner has even come to a close.  I'm trying to shut  him up because it really is going to be beautiful.  I will definitely post more in the coming days about it when it is ready to go live.

I am trying to keep calm and carry on, as the popular phrase intones.  Gracie said that this is all good, for old crap has to be moved out of the way for the new, good stuff to come in.  She is right...but I feel like I am in limbo again!  Conversations that were had have not yet come to fruition and I wonder if I am good enough.  Seriously, what is up with not feeling like I deserve to be moving forward?   Ugh!  I have always walked through, with my head held high, for who I am is not a reflection on anyone else but me.  Yet, I feel a little sad about all of this.  I guess the letting go process still carries the tie of emotions and energy that has been invested into a project, job, person, whatever.  You still need to process through that and release any attachment associated with it to move forward.  That includes feeling a bit sentimental, I suppose.  sniff.  sniff.

Momentum...the word, the mantra.  It's hanging on my fridge as a constant reminder to keep on going. 
Say it with me..momentum, momentum, momentum....
Keep repeating it.
Momentum...

Red Letter Day

~*::Aerie Necklace, $49 at Poetica::*~

Thank God for Mercury going direct!  Yesterday was just a red letter day for me.  My Aerie necklace was featured on Vintaj's Blog!  You can check it out here: http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=4562 They also asked me if I would like to be a featured designer.  Really!?!  Of course I said yes!

~*::Madison Necklace, $37 at Poetica::*~

As you can imagine, I was just flying high when I received another email later in the day saying that my Madison necklace was featured in the online magazine Viva La Moda for their February issue.  I can't link to  it now, but will when the magazine is published.  Seriously, a MAGAZINE.  Sweet cheese whiz!
::{Editors Note:  Here is the link to the magazine which was published today... http://www.vivalamoda.co.cc/ }:::



If my big 'ol butt could do cartwheels without breaking something, I would be still going!

A Sweet Honor

If you can imagine my surprise the other day when I received a comment from my lovely red headed beauty across the ocean saying that I was on her list of award recipients for the kreativ blog awards!  This uber talented lady named Dagmar has enchanted me with her exquisite photgraphy, humble nature and sweet, kind words.  So thank you my dear friend for such an honor...for a person that never had plans to share herself with the world as I have started to do. 

So here are the rules...

1. Thank the person given the award (just did that)

2. Copy award to this blog (just did that too)

3. Place a link to that blog (check)

4. Name seven things people don't know about you (are you sure that you really want to know?)

5. Nominate 7 blogger who you admire (coming soon)
        1. Dagmar from Barefoot from Heaven of Course (see above)
         2. Graciel of Evenstar Art...oh honey where do I begin with this one?  This lady has been a constant source of inspiration, laughter, advice, support, love...you name it!  She is awesome!
         3. Don from Unconventional Questions...that sense of humor let me tell you...and the sweetest most caring heart. 
         4.  Debbie from Sugar Free Seer...that lady just tells it like it is!  No mixed messages or misconstrued notions.  Her honesty and great outlook on life just set you straight!
        5. Lovely Ms. Etole from  Just...a moment.  Her sweet words and viewpoints bring you the place of introspection and self vision.
        6. Jeanne from Daily Reflections from Atwater Pond.  I am so glad to have met her, even if it is through cyberspace.  Thanks to her, my love of Yanni began...
        7.Elise from Lucky Danger...she is so talented in so many ways.



6. Place a link to these bloggers (please see my side bar, I am very tired at the moment from working on my new website)

7. Leave a comment on their blog to notifying them of the award.

So, 7 Things about me that you're all just dying to know...
1.  I love cheese.  Really, it's an obsession of sorts.  My friends don't call me the cheese queen for nothing you know.  I am a virtual cornucopia of cheese facts, tastes, textures, self lives...are you hungry yet?  It doesn't hurt that I "do cheese" for a living (at least for the moment), but really I would give up meat before cheese in all of it's salty, creamy goodness.

2. I am an Aquarian with a crazy, unconventional chart.  Meaning, I have some "uncharacteristic" characteristics...although, I am quite endearing, you know.

3. I have very vivid, if not prophetic dreams.  I dream of events that occur in the future and experience A LOT of deja vous.  A lot of the time, these dreams don't make sense...you know weird snippits of everyday life that show up a day, week, year or more later.  I always know when there are changes coming because I dream of the people that I am going to meet.  I don't always see their faces, but I remember random tidbits like the tile on the floor or a pair of shoes, or specific sounds or actions.  One time I dreamt that I was up in the rafters of a building with a lady that had blonde hair.  Confusing, strange.  Well, about 6 months later, at my then new job, I was in the rafters of the building picking out decorations with by blonde haired manager. 

I know...weird.

4.  I have a penchant for the religious and absolutely love anything to do with the "Mary's" of the bible.  They are my gals and they help me along the way.  More to come about them in the future, for sure.

5.  I play english handbells and direct a handbell choir for my church.  I have been playing them since I was 10, so that's only for ...let's see 12 years, yeah that's right.  No, really more like 28.  I'm getting older but I'm still a bell ringer!

6.  I'm funny, romantic, a loyal friend, hard worker, get bored easily, like salty food, drink wine, don't exercise enough, need a haircut (you know a real one, not the one I gave myself just the other day..although, I did a pretty good job)

7.  I like a challenge and have always gone in directions that have been harder, rockier or more difficult to manouver...if I didn't what would there be to write about?

There, no more about me.  Time for bed!

The End of Luxury

That is what I will call these days...the days of luxury.  Where I played with my pretty gems and did not put on make up (even to go to the store...e-gads!) or clean the house or try to make any semblance of the directions of things to come.

 I just was. 

What a beautiful feeling, just to be and not have to march to the beat of anyone's drum but your own (well, ok...for most of the time anyway, I have a family you know). 

This time alone is what I have so desperately needed.  I was insatiably craving the opportunity to not worry about anything  except whether or not I was going to create... or make dinner... go sledding... bake a decadent chocolate peanut butter ganache cake for my husband's birthday.  No matter what choice I made, it was the right one... purely driven by instinct and free will.

How often do we really allow ourselves to live the day without parameters? Or are we scheduled to the absolute mili-second so that when we do have a moment to breathe, it is simply enough air to sustain us before the next onslaught of madness and mayhem occurs.

We wonder why things are the way they are...

If you have any possiblity of taking some time for yourself...please, do so.  It is so good for your soul, your psychological well being, although probably not so much for the waist line and new years resloutions :)

Your Guide for 2010

~*::Orange...the color of creativity and growth::*~

HANDBOOK 2010

These great life lessons were passed on to me as an email from my lovely friend Krista.  Read through them all and just watch your life get better.  Thanks for the great advice Krista!

Your Handbook for 2010..for your the betterment of your body, mind and spirit.

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything..

28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come..

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please share this with everyone you care about, I just did.

A New Year...Snow Days, Words and New Beginnings

~*::The stream behind my home...can you see the snow falling?::*~

The snow was gently falling that day.  The stream had frozen over and everything was covered with a generous, prisitine fluffy blanket.  It was on this snowy day that I picked the words that will symbolize my year to come.  I know that I'm only supposed to pick one, but they just kept on coming at me, fast and furious.

So I give you my Words of 2010...

Fun

Fearless

Fruitful

Forward

Each one symbolizes an aspect of me that I have to work on or a part that I need to support.

Fun...to play more and enjoy more of what life has to offer.  With working a full time job and having my own business, I feel that I sometimes (ok, more often than not) neglect that happy part of me that wants to be a kid and make snow angels.  I need to be more like that little girl that so desperately just wants to laugh and be free to run with the wind in her hair.  This year, I will have fun.

Fearless...to keep those nasty naysayers at bay that lurk deep down inside and love to make oscar worthy cameo appearances just when I think that I can do anything.  Most often, they win and I keep wondering if anyone got the license plate of the bus that just hit me!  Even today, I have doubts about what will happen later in the day (a llittle secret that I can reveal at another, more appropriate time).  Am I good enough to sell myself and my abilities to the highest bidder?  This year, I will be fearless.

Fruitful...the word of 2009 was bloom.  I spent the whole year growing and learning, unfurling my petals so that the world could see the potential inside.  This year, I need to take that beautiful bloom and let it turn into the ripe fruit that will allow me to reap the harvest of life.  Even  as the blossom is beautiful, it will not sustain and nourish.  It is only the fruit of that sweetly scented blossom that can satisfy the body, mind and spirit.  This year, I will be frutiful.

Forward...this is the year for momentum.  Many lessons have been learned in the past year...some difficult and others just as reaffirmations.  Yet, each on has let me create motion, forward motion, to fulfilling my soul destiny.  I am not there yet.  That is ok.  But, the puzzle pieces that have started to come together last year are now making a picture that has some clarity, some direction.  That direction is forward.

Day 12, For my Kids

All I have to say is..BA DA DA DA!

Mr Bean Day 11

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Day 10

Day 3 of the Sarah Mc Laughlan trilogy...enjoy

River - Day 9

Sarah McLaughlan is my absolute favorite female singer.  Her voice, and range of high and low make her one of the best.  Enjoy

Day 8 - Wintersong

For G and her Gypsy King...