ALmost time for a brand new year!!

Talk about chaos loving company! The last few months have been so crazy with far more downs than up, and yet here i sit with a smile, surrounded by unmade crystal and jewelry findings that crave to be made into the elegant and beautiful things were destined to be.  I'll post some updates of some recent creations that turned out way better than i had thought they would.  I hope all of you have a happy and safe brand new year! And remember, make it crafty!

Positive thought of the day

I realize it still morning here in sunny California, but sitting here overwhelmed by stress and bills, it dawned on me that im always sitting here surrounded by stress and bills....and thats just it...Im sitting here..a blessing in itself.the simple fact is every day that i am alive and breathing, surrounded by my family and friends, its a great day..a chance to work on things again, to sell things again, to make things again...and every day that i am trying to change thing, trying to provide for my family, trying to better myself, is a great day...something to remember in the toughest of time..

Some new projects I've been working on!

Take a look! It's amazing where we can find inspiration!

Quilled paper locket, fully sealed and sitting on a 26" Non tarnish silver chain!

Glitter earrings in a sexy glass vial with silver earring findings!

Blessed Be and Merry November 1st to you and yours!

Well that's that, another month to tuck away, and another month to usher in with open arms.  Out with the old and in with the new, just as it always should be.  I know it's been a spell since i've posted, i apologize, but I have been on a roller coaster of ups and downs, with more downs that ups.  Having said that, I am blessed to have had christmas come a little early, and now have a full fledge website and domain to my name! woohoo!! So kindly go head over and take a look when you get the chance, so many new and exciting things to come and share.  Here's the URl to bookmark!FInd us here! I look forward to sharing and growing with you! Blessed be!

Tuesday Tote!

Greetings everyone! I hope your tuesday is full of love, peace, and joy today and every day.  I'm busy in my little creative nook, putting together a super cute toe made from 100% found and recycled items.  Today's tote is a Tyvek masterpiece, handpainted and fully sealed, that could be used as a purse, beach bag, or my fave an eye catching grocery bag!  Insulted with industrial strength duct tape inside, the outside is recycled Tyvek postal bags! Virtually indestructible, you can carry just about anything in this tote and there is no sewing required! You could sew it up n the same way I did the duct tape, but I found myself without thread for my sewing machine, and improvised.  Video tutorial coming soon!

Here's the almost finished results! I just have to decide on the kind of handle for this piece, and nothing is really standing out for me just yet.

TOday's Goodies!!

Oh my goodness!! Today I got not one, but two packages in the mail, and I'm still so excited just looking at them!! In the one box I finally got my order of glass beads, to use as accents for necklaces and bracelets, while in the other was a super awesome huge assortment of tumbled rocks from the UK!! I'm so in love with all of them it's going to be hard to make them into something to sell...but it has to be done..here's the photos of my haul today!

Beads, beads, beads!!

Check out the stones!

Today's project.

Yesterday I shared the awesome goodies I got in the mail, and had too big of a headache to bother really digging into them.  Today i did just that! THe little tubs of assorted beads were nothing less than amazing! Metal beads, stone beads, and acryic beads...ooooo the possibilities..I dislike using too much plastic or acrylic beads in anything i make, but if the beads are high uality and you can't really tell, I'm all for it...and that's what occurred in this case....

So...........here's what I put together in about half an hour, using upcycled ceral box paper beads, metal and acrylic accent beads..and some stretch cording...

WHat was in the mail today?!

Ohhh emm geee!!! I love love love getting packages in the mail from friends, they are always full of so much goodness! Today, my third box of tumbled rocks from the UK arrived, along with a couple little cups of pretty beads!!   I have been down and out with a massive migraine today, but i can't wait to use these babies to make some awesome things!

Getting mail!

There is nothing better than getting something you ordered, or special little gifts in the mail when you aren't expecting it.  Today is one of those days! I have spent the last month ordering the wrong chains to finish my slave bracelets and anklets, and today (finally!) i got the four spools of silver chain I ordered in the mail!

If you are an artist or jewelry maker and looking for a great deal on some gorgeous chain, make sure you check out the Glass Tile Craft Shop on etsy @ Favorite this shop! They have some really amazing deals on some really great stuff!! Now to turn these into some fancy wearable's <3

Nature's GIfts

Hey everyone, today I was sitting poolside, trying to de-stress and clear my mind, when i noticed several branches of my palm tree hanging dead just over me.  At 5'3, there's no way I can try to give the palm a hair cut, but as i was looking around the flower bed around it, I noticed a squirrel had left me some beautiful halved walnut shells, that lay among some gorgeous pink quartz stones.  I hadn't taken time to really look in this bed before, since we moved in two years ago.  Man, it has been two years hasn't it.  In any case, I took the time to look around the yard, surrounding the pool, to see that nature has a wonderful way of taking care of herself when left alone, and in giving us some really awesome inspirations (even when we least expect it!).

Today's projects are going to be focused on wrapping the stones I have been so fortunate to rec eive in the mail, and gather the ones I know I c ant use and put them for sale so that maybe someone else, somewhere else, can use them for a project that they are working on.  Wouldn't it be great to have a place that artists can go to post what they have to give, or that they need without all the other lots of items to scroll through!? Artists and crafters working together so that maybe, just maybe we can each finish a project we have been working on.

I get easily distracted as of late, my health and busy life seems to take hold and come first even when i need some me time.  That being said, i have several new ideas, it's just a matter of figuring out how to get them funded and working together.  I'm a big fan of self-sufficiency and this fall under that category.  The one lesson i have learned this far along, is that everything has a time and place, and without a schedule you don't know if you are coming and going.

Todays proejct idea!!!

I love scouring the web for new ideas and projects to try.  The problem is, there are so darn many!! I have palm trees in my yard, and they seem as of lately, to be shedding their outer bark in these wonderful paddle shaped pieces.  I have no idea how to upcycle them or what to do with them t clean them, all i know is that i have this crazy idea that they could make wonderful centerpieces for the upcoming holidays.  Have any of you tried to use tree bark or materials in anon traditional way? If so, SHare it with me and everyone please! I would love to see what you have done or what ideas you might have!

Super Sunday!

Well nothing in life is perfect or goes as planned, and if there's one that the fires here in California have taught me, it's to be ready for anything at any time.  That goes for creativity as well.  It seems like every time i sit down to start a project, something comes up and I can never finish.  Over the years I have tucked away numerous goods and half started projects, and find that I only think about them or see them when we've moved or i'm looking for something else.  Open the drawer or cabinet and tada!! I seem to be a hoarder of good intention craft projects!! Ahh!!

Over the past few days, I have noticed that facebook and various other social media platforms, have really taken up a lot of my time.  So much so, that if i were to be charged for time online (doing something non business related), at the rate of 10.00 an hr..I'd be spending 200.00 a day on social media alone! That would be fine if it were making money, but instead it's played on my soul and really gotten me down.  So today, I have decided to not chat or play games online, but instead to work on organizing my craft stuff and working on jewelry to sell.  SO far so good!  I'm also creating a blog schedule where every day I share and show a new project or idea.  We'll start tomorrow.  If I can muster the camera, I'll even do some videos!

I am so grateful for my family and friends! Have a blessed Sunday!

Fab Friday!!

Hey guys! So i've decided that every friday is fab friday, and I'll post something new and fabulous that I have made, that you can make for pennies or a few dollars.  I love love love making something from nothing, or spending as very little as i can..it's not being cheap, it's being creative, and in today's world, spending less to make more is the way to go.  For so many of us, art and crafts are a form of therapy.  There are very few side effects, and while it does open the door to a creative addiction, who doesnt like looking fab, or making your house and yard look fab, for way less than your friends and neighbors.  This month, so far, has proven to be a nightmare.  If it weren't for my finding things to make to try and sell, I honestly think I would have lost my mind, and probably shaved my head...totally not me!...Instead of crying and eating my worries and fears, I craft them into non existence and share them with who ever actually sees ad reads these posts.  Who knows, maybe I can even inspire you to try your hand.

The whole drive to pushing myself to make new things every day, goes far beyond needing to support my animals and family.  It goes far beyond needing to stay busy.  No, my friends, the biggest factor behind y craft and art obsession, is the desire to get others inspired and into recycling and and learning how to make things for themselves.  There was a time when people had to make what they ate, used, wore, and needed to make money, to have for themselves, and trade for things they couldn't make.  When we stepped away from that, we lost those skills and that passion, and now run to the store for commercially made similar products.  The quality has been stripped away, and the cheap and poorly made knock offs are what we have become accustomed to.  It's depressing.  We need to get back to that for a variety of reasons, and our children should know how to make as much of these things as they can for the same reasons.

In any case, today I am pulling out the watercolor notebook, and going to try and attempt to create a tye-dye effect on a full page before cutting out 1" circles with my die cutter, and making earrings and necklace pendants.  For my paper, I am going to be using 140 lb (300 gms) watercolor sheets, and my atercolor choice is my new favorite buy.  I'm pulling out my Watercolor Magic premixed watercolors which are by Sargent Art, and come in 4 fl oz bottles.  FOr any of you  that have seen my latest obsession, my watercolor leaf earrings, these watercolors are pretty darn amazing..For my paint brush, I havent really decided just yet, I try not to use my expensive brushes for these little projects, only becuase I know i cant replace them for a while...that being aid im going to just use some dollar store round paint brushes, and see how they work.  I'll post pictures as i go, and if the house gets a bit more quieter, I'll try and bust out a video...so grab your watercolors, watercolor paper, brushes, and other and various paper towels, cup f water, etc and get ready to make some unique jewelry, in my post to be called Watercolor Wearables!

If you are anywhere where it is super hot, like me, please try and remember to stay hydrated, that you're beloved pets have water and shade, and you have a great big glass of sweet tea nearby to quench your thirst.  Happy brafting!!

The week coming to an end!

Never in my life have I wanted a week to be over as much as i do this one.  This past sunday my baby boy turned 18 years old, leaving me in a whirlwind of feelings and thoughts that I can't quite grasp.  Add that to my ex husband being here the whole week for that, while we struggle to sell what we can for money to pay for groceries and bills, you get the picture.  Still, I try to remember that we are all artists, and that life is a giant canvas waiting for us to add our own colors and designs on it.  Everything happens when it should, even if we really need it to happen sooner.  Something that today especially, I have had to remember.  It's hard to have faith in anything, when you are so worried about how to pay for bill A and B, while putting some money towards bills C through Z and still get food.  This is the reality that so many of us are facing today, and if you have children, you know how we always put them and their needs first.

When you choose to not work for anyone but yourself, life can be an additional dose of harder.  After all, it's all on you to make money every day, get your name out there, and get people buying your goods and services.  You become this super human, and failure is just not an option.  Sitting here right now, I can say that I have fallen into the dark lane.  By that I mean that I have let my mind and fears get the best of me, and snuff out my inspirational light.  Without inspiration and creativity,  an artist of amy medium can feel just...well...grey! Things I usually am really good at putting together and knocking out, I have spent the last day throwing out and unable to finish.  Goodness, it can be frustrating.  Th

en, when you least expect it...BAM! It's back, and you see something someone is wearing, writing, or doing that just launches you into sper creative human mode, and you cant shut your mind off long enough to even sleep.  (Oh and the full moon threw everything off!!)

SO, since it's been a while since I've posted and written, I'm going to keep this short, tomorrow have to get guests to the airport, and ill leave you with the photos ive taken of things ive made.  I'll post instructions and tips this weekend...thank you for all your support, you (yes you sitting there reading this!) help me to push through and carry on..so thank you!

Happy Tuesday!!

Big changes have been going on behind the scenes, and I've been super busy in my design space creating some new pieces and designs to put up on my sites for sale!! Be sure to check out the links below and stay in touch, as bigger and better things are headed our way!!

Follow us on twitter!
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Instagram
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Etsy!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SoulWindDesigns?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Paper and glass, so much class

Junk mail has become my seriously obnoxious best friend.  This is what happens when glass beads I found at a thrift store and some dainty little pink toned hand rolled paper beads come to live together...The options for bracelets and paper beads are as endless as the options you have for beads for necklaces, keychains, etc..

Creative idea turn poo

You know those days where in your head you can see something inside and out and it looks totally great? Yeah that's not how today bent for me.  What I saw in my head was nothing like what I could bend and twist to make it look like.  Isn't that how life sometimes goes though.  I mean here I am writing this, staring with evil stink eyes at this little poor basket whose only crime is that it was born into my hands and I failed at making it into something beautiful and perfect...In any case I've uploaded photos of the before and after, mind you I love and have become obsessed with making these bowls and baskets, but it gets so frustrating to spend days on something and have them take a different path than how i thought they'd go.  In any case if any of you crafters out there need some real sit down and craft stress relief projects, head over to home depot and grab a few reels of jute twine and some raffia from the local craft store and see what you can stitch to be!

Ok so it doesnt look horrid, it has texture, beautiful color and adding in the wood beads made it have some oomph, but I guess I thought it would be bigger and no matter how hard I tried, it stayed small..sigh

The center isnt finished yet, i have to stitch in the end piece and tighten some of the loops but she's pretty much done and not too shabby..

Back at it!!!

I know it's been quite some time since I last blogged anything, but it's been crazy busy here.  Between job loss, and trying to function on disability alone, we've had to get super thrifty with so many things, and crafting was last on my list even though it always seems to make me feel better.  In any case, I'm back, and back at the crafting table, and though I'd show you all what I have been busy designing and making.  Hopefully I can get them uploaded here and inspire you to make something great today!

Raffia and Jute Twine Bowl

"Envy" Handmade paper bead and Hemp necklace

A super fun and beautiful paper bead  and hemp necklace

Saucer paper bead double strand bracelet!