Aries Full Moon Artist Spotlight

Full Moon in Aries

October 3, 2009
11:10 pm PDT

Full Moon fulfillment burns with Aries heat and fire this month so take some time to wake up and remember who you truly are, even if it bothers those you work with or love. Tempers, tears and passion run high as we find our independence and our voice.

This month's Full Moon Aries artist is Roberta and Renee (a Libra) from Amanda, Ohio and I'm sure you'll find their story very inspiring in many ways. I must say that I had a very tough time finding Aries artists to feature this month - not sure why, maybe they're all too busy charging full steam ahead changing the world?!

Roberta & Renee
Stratus Silver
Amanda, Ohio

Recycled Twig Bangle Bracelets

Roberta and I (Renee) are co-owners of Stratus Silver Jewelry Co. I am an Aries and Berta is the Libra. We have known each other and worked together at our day jobs for sixteen years, although Stratus Silver did not come about until we 'accidentally' became neighbors out in the middle of nowhere. (We live in the Hocking Hills region of southeastern Ohio.)

I am definitely not an astrology expert, but I know Aries and Libra are a great mix. Berta's air feeds me and my fire moves her. I'm the initiator, innovator and fixer; she picks up whatever comes and runs with it, all while bringing balance to the entire operation. We motivate each other and work better together than any other two people we know. When we're swamped and under pressure, we often work 10-12 hours together in our studio and never miss a beat, including getting families fed, kids to football, client calls and anything else on the agenda. A few words between us is all it takes to get the ball rolling. From there we hum. One picks up where the other leaves off and before we know it, the jobs are done. No worries about tripping over egos here either. We're both well aware of who excels at what and surprise, surprise, our talents are perfect compliments to each other.

Our nature line was born one day when I was bored and said: "Lets do something different. I feel like burning something up." (Are you surprised?) Berta agreed. (She never quashes my spontaneity.) A few hours later, we were both staring at a pound of sterling silver twig castings. Simultaneously we said: "What now?" The twig bangles were my idea. Berta immediately followed with twig earrings and "Can we do other stuff, too? Like leaves maybe?" Yeah. We could do leaves. And flowers and petals and seeds and on and on. We haven't found a limit to what we can do together yet, except perhaps in that linear, non-existent dimension we're in called 'time.'

Queen Size Twig Bangle Bracelets

Our ultimate goal is to grow Stratus Silver to the point where we can provide some jobs for the many people who are out of work in the depressed, very rural area where we live. The folks around here have relied on manufacturing companies for employment for generations. Unfortunately, the area's manufacturers have all moved out of the country or closed because of the economy.

It's also our intent and hope to inspire a sense of appreciation for nature and an attitude of conservation in others through our jewelry. The Wayne National Forest is on our doorstep and we'd like to see it there for generations to come.

To read more Full Moon Artist stories please click here.

Aries Full Moon Artist Spotlight

Full Moon in Aries

October 3, 2009
11:10 pm PDT

Full Moon fulfillment burns with Aries heat and fire this month so take some time to wake up and remember who you truly are, even if it bothers those you work with or love. Tempers, tears and passion run high as we find our independence and our voice.

This month's Full Moon Aries artist is Roberta and Renee (a Libra) from Amanda, Ohio and I'm sure you'll find their story very inspiring in many ways. I must say that I had a very tough time finding Aries artists to feature this month - not sure why, maybe they're all too busy charging full steam ahead changing the world?!

Roberta & Renee
Stratus Silver
Amanda, Ohio

Recycled Twig Bangle Bracelets

Roberta and I (Renee) are co-owners of Stratus Silver Jewelry Co. I am an Aries and Berta is the Libra. We have known each other and worked together at our day jobs for sixteen years, although Stratus Silver did not come about until we 'accidentally' became neighbors out in the middle of nowhere. (We live in the Hocking Hills region of southeastern Ohio.)

I am definitely not an astrology expert, but I know Aries and Libra are a great mix. Berta's air feeds me and my fire moves her. I'm the initiator, innovator and fixer; she picks up whatever comes and runs with it, all while bringing balance to the entire operation. We motivate each other and work better together than any other two people we know. When we're swamped and under pressure, we often work 10-12 hours together in our studio and never miss a beat, including getting families fed, kids to football, client calls and anything else on the agenda. A few words between us is all it takes to get the ball rolling. From there we hum. One picks up where the other leaves off and before we know it, the jobs are done. No worries about tripping over egos here either. We're both well aware of who excels at what and surprise, surprise, our talents are perfect compliments to each other.

Our nature line was born one day when I was bored and said: "Lets do something different. I feel like burning something up." (Are you surprised?) Berta agreed. (She never quashes my spontaneity.) A few hours later, we were both staring at a pound of sterling silver twig castings. Simultaneously we said: "What now?" The twig bangles were my idea. Berta immediately followed with twig earrings and "Can we do other stuff, too? Like leaves maybe?" Yeah. We could do leaves. And flowers and petals and seeds and on and on. We haven't found a limit to what we can do together yet, except perhaps in that linear, non-existent dimension we're in called 'time.'

Queen Size Twig Bangle Bracelets

Our ultimate goal is to grow Stratus Silver to the point where we can provide some jobs for the many people who are out of work in the depressed, very rural area where we live. The folks around here have relied on manufacturing companies for employment for generations. Unfortunately, the area's manufacturers have all moved out of the country or closed because of the economy.

It's also our intent and hope to inspire a sense of appreciation for nature and an attitude of conservation in others through our jewelry. The Wayne National Forest is on our doorstep and we'd like to see it there for generations to come.

To read more Full Moon Artist stories please click here.

Virgo New Moon Double Artist Feature

New Moon in Virgo
September 18, 2009
11:44 am PDT

New Moon in Virgo, my favorite (hint, hint, I'm a Virgo!)

The Moon in Virgo asks us to consider what needs healing. It's time to study, learn, train, organize and turn our compassion into pragmatic action, but don't get stuck in your head! Moon in Virgo teaches us how to diagnose and heal our soul and the soul of the world. She offers us practical compassion and ancient wisdom.

Suggestions for celebrating the Virgo New Moon:

1. Buy or borrow that book you've been longing to read all summer, but haven't had time for, 'cause now that you're extra busy, it's the perfect time! I like to read just before bed and just after I wake up.

2. What needs healing? What are you willing to work on this month to make yourself feel better? Self-care is the word of the day! I plan to get a massage from Laurie Reynolds (soul healer & psychic masseuse!)

3. Giggling is good for the soul, didntcha know? The Buddha taught with laughter - it raises our vibration and releases good energy into the world. I recommend Edward Gorey & "Harold & Maude" (my favorite movie) for a dose of quirky, dark humour. Oh, and my Lefty Oracle guide "Chicken Suit" (who also happens to be in the collection of Will Ferrel who is also good for a giggle or two, especially when he's streaking ... not!)

Every New Moon I welcome several guest artists to talk about how their Zodiac sign influences their work and their life. This month I welcome Annie Ciszak from Anchorage, Alaska, Heyar Padron from Miami, Florida and Conchita Macarty from San Francisco, California.

Annie Ciszak

AnniePants.etsy.com

I have been told by many that I am the epitome of a Virgo ... which is not always the highest compliment, but it most certainly is the truth. At least we know what we’re working with, right? As with all art forms one needs to pay great attention to detail . Metalworking, which is my specialty (though I have been known to draw and dabble in other areas,) is no exception. As a Virgo, I am sometimes *overly* concerned with the nitty gritty, but I feel this makes for a better final product. I create pieces which are meant to withstand the test of time, be it wear and tear and constant handling, or occasional hardy usage.

Virgos have a tendency to nitpick those around them, yet we are not so good at seeing our own faults. I admit, I may be guilty of this (see how I sidestepped that? lol) ... however, the imperfections in my work are my attempt to see through things as I search for perfection ... a paradox indeed, but a needed one. My Virgoan tendency for details is countered by the rough, hammered and sometimes imperfect style I have acquired.

"Spot of tea Govna?"

As an earth sign I am drawn to the dirty side of things - physical dirt, and the finishes and patinas in my work truly resonate within me. The changing seasons (which I rarely get to see in Alaska) can be seen in the process of transforming flat metal into forms and objects - this makes my heart leap!

Heyar Padron
aflairforpaper.etsy.com
aflairforpaper.blogspot.com

My name is Heyar Padron and I am the creator of A Flair For Paper. I am a graphic artist by trade and a paper fanatic at heart. In fact, I’ve been in the paper business in one form or another for the past twenty years.

As a Virgo artist, I am meticulous about details and extremely critical down to the very last pixel. My Virgo sign is represented by the way I approach design in general. I am whimsical, but precise, earthy and grounded, and I always find a way to leave a feminine mark on everything I do. I am a bit of a neat freak and I love to bring order out of chaos. I am patient, unemotional (for the most part,) and shy. I find inspiration in every day things and view my surroundings with unsullied eyes in order to find the beauty in the mundane. I love color, texture and especially the beautiful muted hues and character of Fall.

The New Moon is a very significant time for me and brings with it unexplainable excitement and mental clarity. I find that I have more energy and that my creativity soars - I call it my Virgo energy. This energy is all about work that is both accurate and focused, driving me forward through whatever lies ahead. Don’t get me wrong, on any given day my goal is nothing short of perfection, but for these few days I feel as though I may actually achieve it.

Personalized Ladybug Notecards

With each New Moon, I get to know myself a little better and my creativity and spirituality is enhanced as I become more aware of my own creative energy, not just the energy that helps me design, but the creative energy that connects me to All That Is.

Click here to read more New Moon articles.
If you are interested in a New Moon Soul Reading please go to my website at: http://KathyCrabbe.com

Virgo Moon - Harvest Moon

New Moon in Virgo
September 18, 2009
11:44 am PDT

Suggestions for celebrating the Virgo New Moon:

- Buy or borrow that book you've been longing to read all summer, but haven't had time for 'cause now that you're even busier, you'll actually be able to find the time! I like to read just before bed and just after I wake up.

- What needs healing? What are you willing to work on this month to make yourself feel better? Self-care is the word of the day! I plan to get a massage from Laurie Reynolds (soul healer & psychic masseuse!)

- Giggling is good for the soul, didn'tcha know? I recommend Edward Gorey (writer and illustrator) & "Harold & Maude" (my favorite movie) for a dose of quirky, dark humour.

Every New Moon I welcome several guest artists to talk about how their Zodiac sign influences their work and their life. In Part 1 of my Virgo series I welcome soul-based Virgo artist and skin care specialist, Conchita Macarty from San Francisco, California as she shares her Virgo secrets with all of us.

Conchita Macarty
ConchitaCreates.etsy.com
LaConchitaNaturals.etsy.com
ConchitaLoves.blogspot.com

Virgos are all about the details and this is useful for me because I create and formulate everything in my product line from the raw materials to the design, labeling and marketing. The negative side of this can be the Virgoan tendency to be overly self-critical, but I choose to see this quality in myself as an on-going challenge in the journey towards perfection.

I have found that the most positive quality of Virgo is the ability to find creative solutions to problems. For example, I was shocked when I discovered that most commercial body care products contain a great deal of cheap fillers and potentially harmful ingredients - I knew there had to be a way to ensure that the products I was using contained only quality ingredients and none of the potentially harmful additives. In true Virgo style, I became obsessed with learning everything I could about the cosmetics and personal care industry and my search for a solution that had begun with a spark of passion was followed by years of meticulous research as I perfected my own formulas to create my product line.

Sprinkling Clean - Rose-All Natural Complexion Cleansing Powder with Real Rose Essential Oil

I find that I very much exemplify earth sign qualities as reflected in the natural foundations of my product line: natural and earthy colors, textures, and essences appeal to me and I like things to be as close to nature as possible. My "Sprinkling Clean" line is a good example of this - it allows you to customize your own skin care with an all natural, earthy blend of clays, grains, nuts, seeds, and pure essential oils. Combined together, these ingredients naturally cleanse and detoxify skin without having to rely on synthetic cleansers containing chemicals and preservatives.

"Golden Magdalen"

When meditating on classic Virgo qualities, the word 'perfection' continued to come up. Virgos are often pegged as perfectionists and although this is sometimes the case, I find that there is much more to this than a Virgo's propensity to criticize. I have always been a very creative person with a keen eye for detail and perhaps a slight obsession with perfection. In my art, this perfectionism can hinder creativity because I tend to get caught up in perfecting the details rather than seeing the 'bigger picture'. In this sense, painting becomes an almost therapeutic practice. In school, friends created a term for my tendency to re-do a painting over and over; they called it 'Conchita-ism'. As humorous as it was, it is a very real challenge for artists who also happen to be perfectionists.

To read more New Moon Featured Artist posts please click here.
If you are interested in a New Moon Soul Reading please go to my website at: http://KathyCrabbe.com

Full Moon in Pisces - A Watery Blessing

Full Moon in Pisces
September 4, 2009
9:03 am PDT

Pisces (the fish) is a mutable, water sign ruled by Neptune, the Greek God of the Sea and it's glyph (or symbol) is two fish tied together. It is the natural ruling sign of the 12th house and it's opposite sign is Virgo. The keyword for Pisces is understanding and the key phrase is I believe.

Piscean artists, Sholeh Mesbah of Troy, Michigan and Marie K. Jones of Boulder City, Nevada do a great job in getting to the heart of what makes their creative gifts shine in a uniquely Piscean way - I can feel all you mermaids out there bubbling to the surface to take a peek at their lovely creations, so spread out your fish tails and take some time to luxuriate in the mystical mind of Pisces.

Sholeh Mesbah
zeba.etsy.com
justmy002worth.blogspot.com

I approach my art with my heart not my head as a true Piscean would. I start with a feeling rather than a plan or a drawing and most often the end piece is the result of a creative and intuitive process, not a detailed, planned out drawing.

One of the Piscean tendencies is to understand things by absorption rather than logic. This reminds me of the time when I tried to be like others and draw what I had in mind. I spent two days on the drawing with no luck. I am a painter as well, so not knowing how to draw was not the problem. I just could not marry the intuitive part with the mechanical part of me, but when I picked up my tools and started working, the piece started to take shape and after a few hours I had completed what I had imagined.

The Fish likes to be able to flow in and out of clothing with ease and I love comfortable clothing. This preference can be seen in all my pieces, I will not make a piece of jewelry that is uncomfortable. My pieces tend to be practical first, trendy second.

Wire Crochet Aquamarine Glass Necklace

As a Piscean I become completely absorbed in my work, to the exclusion of everything else. It is very common for me to work on a piece non-stop until it is done. Often, if I cannot finish it in a day, I find myself thinking about it before bed and after waking up. If I run into a problem, I will not stop until I figure out a solution.

Starfish & Amethyst Necklace

Pisceans love new sensations; I think that is why you will find various distinct styles of jewelry in my shop. You can see the Piscean love of luxury in my choice of materials and designs.

In addition to making jewelry, I am a stained glass artist, watercolor painter, and I also take and sell photos as most Pisceans seek multiple venues to express their creative side.

Marie K. Jones
ArtesiaProducts.etsy.com

Loren Eiseley, the esteemed anthropologist once wrote “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” I sooo agree. Of course, as a Pisces I might be a bit biased. Then again, I am also a bath and body escape artist.

Creating a space for escape and the enjoyment of sensual pleasures started out as a hobby, but is quickly evolving into a business. I started out making natural bath and body products as presents, wanting to gift the most precious thing possible to people I loved. Oh, and did I mention I was poor? What can be given that is relatively inexpensive, needed, helpful, and thoughtful? I decided on home-made, relaxing, and healing bath & body products.

In the beginning I just altered recipes I found in books to meet my needs. Now I use my Piscean imagination to dream up new items and test them on myself and my family. I LOVE doing R&D (research and development), which will sometimes spontaneously happen. How perfect is it for a Pisces to be able to say, “I have to go take a bath now. It’s for the business?”

I am heavily influenced by the Piscean proclivity for illusion. When creating bath products, my goal is to create a mood or send the mind to another place, once again working as the escape artist. The illusion of bathing in a woodland stream, or in 1890’s Spain can be very relaxing and sensual. How about a bright, citrusy, bubbly bath before school to start the day off right?

Winged Sandal Foot Soak

One of the mixed blessings of the Pisces is being born with rose-colored glasses. I love mine – they keep me optimistic. I feel my general attitude is one of “it can work, I just have to figure out how”.

At the same time, when reality sets in and rips those beloved rose-colored glasses off my face, I can be pretty hard on myself. I sometimes get these big, expansive “It can be done and I can do it” ideas. There are times when I am right. Other times, the vision is a lot easier and/or prettier then the outcome and when it doesn’t work the way I think it should I get severely frustrated and a little depressed. Piscean self-doubt trips me up sometimes too: “Is this good enough?” “Nobody would want to buy this from me...Anybody could think of /make this”. Luckily, I have fish swimming in both directions, so I never linger in stagnant water for long.

Being a visionary comes easier to fish children than follow-through. I have found that working with Neptunian materials in a creative manner helps this Pisces keep the cycle of a project going. I usually start by dreaming up the type of effect I want to create, then using the various oils, waxes, butters, salts, botanicals, and whatever else I have on hand I try to intuit a way to materialize the idea.

Due to the experimental nature of my creative process I have to keep very detailed notes as I go along. More than once I have come up with a recipe I love only to realize that I have no idea how much of which ingredient went in to it! Ideally, as I do my research & development and work on a proto-type I write down the ingredients,
methods, and observations so that when I am done there is a recipe I can reproduce.

SubLime Lip Balm Tin - lime & vanilla flavored

Pisces are not known for their organization. One of my college advisors once told me she was just glad I had brought my semester portfolio to her in a semi-coherent sticker-clad binder rather than the paper bag stuffed with papers she had envisioned a Pisces would turn in. I have to constantly struggle against entropy by keeping detailed lists and making notes on everything. Someone who meets me for the first time today may think I am fairly coordinated, but it is only because I have developed coping mechanisms. My mind is forever in a nebulous state – so many thoughts swirling around unformed. To function, I have learned not only to keep my lists but to have a place for everything and keep everything in its place. That’s not to say my space is always neat or I’m always on time, but I am working on it.

Pisces rules the feet and some of my favorite creations this summer are foot pampering products. I love steeping my feet in the fizzing milky-ness of my Winged Sandals Foot Soak and then exfoliating and moisturizing with a bar of Peppermint Pumice Foot Scrub. Throw in a good movie, juicy book, or inspiring music and AHH… instant nirvana. Just add water.

To read more Full Moon Artist stories please go here.
Click here for more info about submitting your own Zodiac Story.
If you are interested in having a Full Moon Soul Reading please go here.