Sunday, December 15, 2013

Santa, Handmade Gifts & Letting Go...

I finally got my Christmas cards all personalized and ready to mail out tomorrow morning.  This year I decided to delete some people from my list...it was hard to do, since most of these people I had known for years and years...but then I thought about it, and realized, I didn't really "know" any of these people anymore...it was kind of sad to delete them from my annual, cheerful, Christmas card and newsletter when I'm not even sure if they would miss it, or if they, perhaps, looked forward to receiving it.  Nonetheless, I mostly realized that life is all about friendships, new and old, short and long.  I also realized that, even with the ones I deleted, I had also added a few new ones...such is life. 
hee hee ~ So Wayne played "Santa" at the Transylvania Farmer's Market last Saturday and I was Mrs. Claus.  I took photos of the kids with Santa...it was really fun!  And Wayne made an awesome "Santa" - ho ho ho
So I saw this tutorial on Pinterest and decided to make some mason jar drinking jars.  I also made some adorable koozies, using some of Wayne's wool socks.  I cut up a yoga mat to use for the bottom
 and then I cut out some cute owls and foxes from felt to sew on the outside.  
They turned out so cute!  I'm giving them for gifts this year to some of our friends.  I decided that I was going to try to make just about all of my Christmas gifts...it's just so much more personal and special...hope everybody loves these, as much as I do.
So if I don't get a chance to post a blog before Christmas...which, I most likely will not, since I have my sister, her boyfriend and their little dog arriving next week and will be staying for almost a whole week!!  I can't hardly wait!  I'm so excited!  I hope you and yours have a wonderfully Merry Christmas!!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

 “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” --- Dr. Seuss!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Turkeys, Sneaux and Gratitude...

We picked up our turkey yesterday from Busy Bee Farms ~ it will have to wait until Christmas to get eaten, though!!  My sister, her boyfriend and her little dog "Gidget" are coming up for Christmas and I can hardly wait!!!!  Being it's Thanksgiving, I wanted to share this awesome little video with you ~ enjoy:
And what a beautiful surprise this morning:
 "Sneaux" ~ I love my "circle of friends" ~ May the circle be unbroken...
Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Love and Peace always ~ Kathy

 “Dear Lord,” began Randy, who paused for long enough that Tristan sneaked an eye open to look at him. His saw his mother’s cheek twitch with what he thought might be apprehension. “We are so grateful to be gathered here today with our family, and the family of our brother’s homosexual boyfriend, and our new little goth friend who has a gay dad, whatever the heck that is all about. We’d like to say we’re grateful this year for condoms, lube, and Ellen Degeneres, and for those guys on Queer Eye…” - Randall Evan Phillips!” his mother shouted.” ~ Z.A. Maxfield [Crossing Borders]

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Sunday Mornings, Sunshine & Surprises!

It's beginning to feel a little like Winter around here...temps are below fifty, the air is crisp and cool, but the sunshine pouring through my studio window keeps me warm:
I love lazy Sunday mornings...the house is nice and quiet, the birds are singing and my coffee cup warms my hands.  I'm looking forward to the holidays this year.  We have Thanksgiving plans with some of our good friends [and lucky for us they are chefs!].  And then my sister and her new boyfriend are coming for Christmas!  I'm really excited about that!  I finally get to meet the mystery man!  Stoked!
http://www.dornickdesigns.etsy.com
And I just want to say how thankful I am to all of you that read my ramblings, send me surprises in the mail [you know who you are] and purchase jewelry from my shop.  To show my thanks, I'm offering a 20% discount through November 30th, so you can get a jump start on your holiday shopping!  Thank you!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Love and peace always ~ Kathy

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.  If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never have enough." ~ Oprah Winfrey

Thursday, November 21, 2013

New Stuff, Old Stuff and An Art Party!

As Autumn quietly slips away and the leaves return to the earth, the holidays are suddenly upon us.  I can't even believe that next week is Thanksgiving.  I've been busy making lots of new things...things for the shop and also new things for the 9th Annual Holiday Market & Art Party.  If you live in, or around, Brevard, please come!  This is an awesome event and it's getting bigger and better every year!
Since I have such a huge, random assortment of beads and stones, I've decided to make a bunch of stretchy stacking bracelets.  These are really fun and the earthy colors will compliment any wardrobe ~ check em out:
So, I had gotten so wrapped up in my photography the last couple of years, my jewelry designs [or lack thereof] had been suffering.  I sat down one afternoon and started going through my jewelry boxes and looking at things I had made sometime back.  I realized that my jewelry is really where my heart and [especially my soul] really are...I dug out my collection of bone, horn, seed, wood and stone beads and got to work...it's time to get back to my "roots" and start making funky stuff again.  Hope you enjoy it:
and these...Operculum Shell & Picasso Jasper. Gotta get back to work!
 Hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"That you and I in hand as we e'en do in heart, might ramble away as children, among the woods and fields, and forget these many years, and these sorrowing cares, and each become a child again." ~ Emily Dickinson

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The thrill of the chase...

Frankie seemed really bored, just swimming around all by himself. I decided to get him a few "tank mates".  I bought five little goldfish and, within an hour, he had chased down and devoured three of them.  Then I realized, he's probably never even experienced the "thrill of the chase" in all of his 20 years of life.  So that made me happy...even though I felt a little bad for the fish :(
Yesterday was my 2nd day in a 4 week "Reptile and Amphibian" class being taught at the "North Carolina Arboretum".  Last week we learned about frogs and toads [that's an "American Toad" in the photo] and yesterday was all about salamanders.  Did you know that the Appalachian Mountain regions has the highest concentration of salamander species of anywhere else in the world?  I had no idea!  It's been so interesting...I've learned so much.  In fact, I learned that this little guy is really not a "salamander" but a "newt"
So cute!  And next week it's all about snakes!  I can't wait!

And congratulations, Lynn!!!  You won those gorgeous leaf earrings from my last post.  Hope you enjoy them!

Happy Tuesday!  Love and peace always ~ Kathy

"Every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle." ~ Walt Whitman

Friday, October 18, 2013

Diabetic Dogs, Autumn Leaves & A "Freebie"...

Ozzy was just diagnosed with diabetes, so we had to start giving him insulin shots twice a day and we also switched him to a partial raw diet...so far, so good.  The saddest thing about getting a puppy...they get old, way before you are ready for them to.  Fingers crossed he still has several "good" years left in him.
Autumn colors are really popping around here!  I love the smell of the decaying leaves...
...I always ride with my windows down this time of year, so refreshing!
So to celebrate Autumn and Ozzy's positive outcome, I'm giving a pair of these gorgeous leaf earrings away!  All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post, or the link on my facebook page.  Ozzy will be picking a winner Monday ~ Good Luck!!!  And I just had so share my front porch decorations...and Ozzy...again :) 
Have a great weekend!  Love and peace always ~ Kathy

"sometimes, said Pooh, the tiniest of things can take up the most room in your heart"

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Meet "Frankie"...

...the newest member of the Hardy household.  He's an Eastern Painted Turtle...approximately 20 years old.  Some friends of mine wanted to find him a home where he would get more attention.  Their children just weren't given him the attention he needed/deserves.  I have him all set up in the kitchen, so he will get plenty of interaction...between me, Wayne and the dogs.  He's so flippin cute!  I am already smitten :)
Hope you are having a wonderful day!  And don't forget, starting Tuesday [October 1st] all orders shipped out of my Etsy shop will include a stowaway dinosaur!  You will love it, I promise!

love and peace always ~ Kathy 

"Take a walk with a turtle...and behold the world in pause." ~ Bruce Feiler

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Happy Autumn!!

I never know what I'm going to draw when I sit down with my journal at night. And I always find it interesting when I start drawing and what comes out of my head...it's a secret to me. It's a connection between my mind and my hand and I just watch it with my eyes. I have no idea why I ended up drawing a "Forest Ranger" last night, but then, she was way to serious...so, a peace sign earring and a smirk fixed that! 

 Happy Autumn!!! It's a great day to explore the forest...get out there!!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"The woods are full of fairies; the sea is full of fish; the trees are full of golden leaves; let's make an Autumn wish!" ~ unknown

Friday, September 20, 2013

Inspirations...

...I realized yesterday that I hadn't written/drawn in my journal since June 30th.  I also realized how much I missed it.  I need it to clear my mind, to let go, to reminisce, or just to dream.  My husband said, "that's something good to do in the Winter, when you can't get outside as much" - *sigh*...I didn't really want to wait until Winter to start my journal back again...I just needed some inspiration.  Walking up to my mailbox, I realized how quickly Autumn is approaching...the tell-tell signs are already becoming evident in the leaves...so, there it was, my inspiration:
  And so tomorrow I'll be doing my very last show [bitter/sweet, but more about that later] at "Art in Autumn"...the weather is not looking promising, but I'll try to will it away!  So my little girl came out looking uncannily like the weather lady ~ Karen Wynne ~ lol...I don't know if she would think so, but I do...maybe it's her outfit! 
Happy Friday!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph." – Matt Hardy

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Hitchhiking Dinosaurs...during the whole month of October!

Did I ever tell you how much I love dinosaurs?  I have quite the collection...as a matter of fact.  And, during the whole month of October [2013], you will find a stowaway in your package, when you purchase something from my Etsy shop ~ so cute!  You will love it, I promise!
So you are probably wondering what that top photo is all about!?  It's actually something called "scanography" ~ you place items [in this case dinosaurs & tiny dolls] on a flat-bed scanner, cover them with a dark box or cloth, then scan...and voila!  Scanography!  And here's one I did with a couple of adorable wood carved pencils:
I love it!  You should try it...it's fun!
We had lots of fun this past Sunday at the "Big Love Fest" in downtown Asheville!  But, if you missed it, I'll be peddling my wares this Saturday at the "Art In Autumn" festival in Weaverville!  Come out and see me!  It's going to be a beautiful day!

Happy Tuesday!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"Who is wise in love, love most, say least." ~ Lord Alfred Tennyson

Monday, August 26, 2013

Mundane Monday...

"Hiding"
Found out Squirtle likes apples...until he sees a slug...
Slug...survived another day...
"When your life is over, will you be remembered by the length of your shadow or the angle of your light?” ~ Steve Mills

Happy Monday!  xoxo

Sunday, August 18, 2013

All about green...

Hey everybody!!  Hope you've been having an awesome summer!  As you can tell, I've been a little "mia" on my blog...sorry about that.  Hope to catch up a little with this post.  And, just for checking back with me and being so patient, I'm going to give a pair of these away next Friday:
They are soooooo cute!  I named them "Black Birds" and they are for sale in my Etsy Shop, if you want to check them out and read the full description.  But, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post, or the link on my facebook page, for a chance to win.  Ozzy will be picking a winner Friday {August 23rd} ~ good luck!
 All of the little wood frog tadpoles grew up and left the pond, but a few hung around [those two little guys on the log in the top photo].  They are very skiddish, though...I lucked out getting this photo today ~ so cute! There is also a large adult wood frog hanging around, too.  But, my newest news is about "Squirtle"...a baby box turtle we found down by the garden.  He's so adorable! 
  I wanted to keep him and study him and get him used to me, so we built him a huge habitat about two feet away from where we found him initially.  Once he's about five inches in diameter, we'll take the walls and top off of the habitat and he'll be free to move around the yard on his own.  His chances of survival will be lots better by doing this [I hope]:
 Thanks so much for stopping back by!!!  Good luck in the drawing for the earrings!
Have a wonderful day!!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar." ~ Bradley Millar

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Rainy days...renew, rewind, reflect...

I'm kinda getting tired of all the rain...but with rain, comes renewal and a chance to rewind and reflect on the real reasons I love living in a rain forest...after all, I knew what I was getting myself into when I moved here.  I love sitting at my desk, making jewelry and listening to the rain falling through the trees.  I go to another place...a place deep inside my creative mind and that mind takes over...drawing from the energy of nature.  I enjoy watching my hands create the things my mind invents.  Most of the time I don't even know what I'm beginning...but always love what comes in the end...like these:
 
Seems like the birds like it, too...they just sing and sing and sing:
And everybody always finds a safe place to stay warm and dry...
So, with all the rain, I've been busy, busy, busy making lots of things and getting ready for "The Big Crafty" that is going on today in downtown Asheville.  I kept my eye on the weather and the forecast and the radar is showing an 80% chance of nasty weather, beginning this afternoon.  I decided that, even with all the work I've done, it's just not worth the sacrifice.  If my stuff gets wet, it gets ruined.  It would cost me way more in losses than any money I would have potentially made...if that many people even braved the storms to come see me in the first place.  So what do I do with all this inventory now?  How about a "rainy day sale"
I'll be listing several new things today...so stay tuned!

Happy July 7th!  Enjoy the rain!

Namaste' ~ Kathy

“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.” ― Frida Kahlo