Ruby, don't take your love to town

Well into the New Year and desperately trying to get on with a productive life here.

Priorities set...eyes focused...step by step.
Been on my mind to get familiar with my silly old blog once again and today it hit me right in that part of my brain where thoughts start racing and making no sense to anyone else but me perhaps.

I came across this postcard the other day and just knew it had to be my next post.

The words on the card in case you can't make them out are " We don't want to go to the city".

And I can only imagine why. First guess is that those giant chickens have some very meaty thighs and the man needs some easy cash.
My second thought is that he is some sort of chicken pimp and wants to make these two ladies chicks of the night.

Third guess is they have a phobia of the city. Perhaps the sounds,sights and smells are just too foreign to them.

Fourth guess, they are afraid they will like the city too much and not want to come back to their families. Reminds me of the other day when someone who just opened a Facebook account posted a thought about maybe they would try Farmville. I along with others posted thoughts like" No,please don't..don't....you'll never come back.",having known those who have tried it as well as other Facebook oddities and are perpetually living in their alternative world.

Whatever the case this image than hit that one particular neuron in my brain that held that held the song from the late 60s made famous by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town" Covered by the Killers a few years back in a strange up tempo beat to such a depressing song. Either way not a song I really want reverberating in my head.

Sometimes its best to not wander to far. Like this rabbit I just saw on the video below.

Maybe she didn't want the responsibility of being a mother. Maybe she made her BFF a chicken and didn't want to make her feel left out. Maybe she drank to much one night and gave birth in the wrong place.

What ever the case, she didn't wander to far and things are working out ok.

Really gives new meaning to what I have heard about rabbit tasting like chicken.

But lets all hope that not be the case with these little bunnies. May they have a long and happy life. And that those of you who have set yourself new goals and things to aim for don't wander to far off our paths.

My Unauthoritative Review

Yeah,so I haven't posted in a long time and no I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Life is just way to hectic and blogging is a luxury! I have turned to tea having found Teavana to help soothe my tired soul. Just got a new shipment today and tried a new chai. Its one of their new blends for 2011 and its called Taj Masala Chai Black Tea. My review of it for what is worth is about all I will have to say. Then off to make another cup and finish some jewelry. Wish I could share a cup with you!

Originally submitted at Teavana

Very Good! Thumbs up!

By Tinyart from Joliet,IL on 11/17/2010

4out of 5

Tea Body: Medium

Tea Flavor: Spicy

Pros: Aromatic, High Quality, Fresh

Best Uses: Anytime

Describe Yourself: Health Nut, High-End Shopper, Health Conscious

I am very picky about Chai tea and like mine with a pepper kick to it. When I saw there wasn't even any pepper in this one, I was hestitant about ordering it.
Just made my first cup and have to say I am very happy with it. The ginger and cinnamon come through strong and give it a really nice flavor. Now if it just had some pepper in it I would give it a5 stars! Hey..maybe I will just throw in my own peppercorns!

(legalese)

Special Bonds, Special Pieces

One of my all time favorite images to use in pieces of jewelry is the one above. It was was done by a early 1900's postcard artist named Terzi. I think its the fact that it really depicts the wonderful bond, unlike any other that we can have with our pets, that makes this image tug at my heart.

I almost lost one of my Italian Greyhounds about a month ago. Still not sure what happened but the most likely cause of his sudden extreme illness was ingesting something toxic. Haven't a clue as to what that could have been. When he was at his worst, I tried to talk myself into rationalizing that "well, we have to say goodbye to them all someday" to cope with it. But it wasn't until I let it hit full in the face that I could embrace the specialness of that bond.
All the thoughts and memories of the past 12 years of what my special friend had shared with me, and gotten me through began flooding my mind as well as my tear ducts.
Thankfully he pulled through and seems to be totally back to normal.

I think that is why I have enjoyed so much doing the a couple of pieces in the last month that weren't pieces of jewelry but what I call desk art. Miniature pieces measuring just under 3" that can be propped up on a tiny easel.
The first one was an order that a very special lady named Joan in New York ordered for her niece. Joan is in her 80's and not been feeling well for awhile now. Rather than let it get her down she regularly orders pieces for friends and relatives, by sneaking photos of their pups to me. We then work up a piece together to surprise them with. This last piece was to be a piece of "desk art" of the families new labradoodle pup named Murphy. Joan finds embracing the joy of owning a dog and sharing a special piece with the person makes her feel better. I think that is so sweet and really shows what a special person she is.

The next piece a customer ordered for a friend who had recently lost their pug. She wanted a little charm to have by the ashes of her beloved Saidie. I suggested a piece of "desk art" Kendra really liked the idea and below is the result.

I really enjoy making these little depictions of love and being a very minuscule part of that special bond of these wonderful pets and people. I hope I will have more to do in the future as it really makes my day to send one of these pieces out in the mail!

I hope that you embrace the specialness of having a pet in your life,whatever the type or species, and all that they give to us each day.

Just Chillin...its Summertime!

Well I have to admit that I kind of disappeared a bit before the official start of summer here, but you have to understand what its like in these Midwestern states.
Just outside Chicago in the burbs, we wait and wait for the good weather to hit. So the minute it even seems remotely like summer, I'm off! Off duty, off kilter, off track ...I am just plan off!
Been playing a bit of hooky, but honestly, I really don't subscribe to the notion that "summertime, and the living is easy" theory.
Seems like things shoot into high gear with just so much to do!
What does get easier is dressing! I think what I like best is the fact that I can finally go out of the house with tank top,shorts and flip flops. Just throw on a flowing long summer dress and sandals and be off! There is something liberating about it.
I think the vintage postcard of the frogs above says it best.

I have to admit I do enjoy the extra yard work, and watching my garden evolve from year to year. Its still has a way to go but it is a work of labor and love. I love playing with the palettes re gives us and moving or adding plants to get just the right contrast in color or texture.
Today I finished a pin that features a feline gardener who is looking for a new garden to tend.
Its in my etsy shop but here's a sneak peek of it.

If you would like to read about what shes looking for in her new job just go here. She is also attending a party of a very ambitious blogger named Rory who runs the show over at Tools are for Women Too Blog. In her clever way to support fellow etsy sellers she is hosting a party. To crash the party and find out what its all about, simply go here!

Well thats it for today! Time to fire up the grill, sip on a cold beer while cooking dinner. Then perhaps after cleaning up a few more weeds will be pulled before jumping into the pool for a final cool off for the night! Need to savor as much as I can, because it will be gone all too fast! Hope your summer is as enjoyable as mine has been so far!

Sometimes being human just isn't enough

It's great being human, isn't it? I mean when you can remove yourself from the mess humans have made here on planet earth.
I love that fact that we have the ability to rationalize,spiritualize,be logical,methodical,be proactive or complacent and many other abilities to deal with life on a daily basis.
But for me, sometimes it just isn't enough being human. I really need the aid of my dogs, parrots, the big rabbit outside who keeps trying to build nests in my backyard,and the serenade of the songbirds who always manage to sing on key.

I am not sure that I have a favorite animal, but if I had to choose I believe it would have to be a dog. If only because they are the easiest to "take with you" on daily errands,outings and vacations,etc. so that indeed they truly can become a big part of our life.
I recently heard a dog trainer criticizing a client on TV for being to human with her dogs. She was treating them as her children and had a complete wardrobe for them,etc. I understand the gist of what she was saying and agree that dogs need to be trained "as dogs". However, I think it is almost a part of our human nature to give them human qualities..go figure.
And let's face it, humanizing our dogs is big business today. Clothing, jewelry,furniture, you name it, you can buy it for them! So why is this? Quite puzzling really.

It really is nothing new. When I look at vintage and antique artwork it is full of little animals of all sorts being portrayed in human clothing, and carrying on all sorts of human activities.
Bonzo is a good example of that. I am always running across Bonzo postcards and they without fail make me smile. I would love to pretend to be an expert on the history of them and the artist behind Bonzo,George Studdy, but to be honest I am not. So if you would like to learn more about the two of them I will leave that to the real experts. A great website to learn more is Studdy-ing with Bonzo.
In case you have never seen Bonzo, here is an example of a postcard with him. Something about that chubby little belly makes me want to poke at him and hear him giggle just like the Pillsbury doughboy.



Just as Mr Studdy found inspiration in the human side of animals,so I must carry the same gene. As do so many others. I want to give props to a talented artist, Maggie who creates beautiful things out of her love of animals. Check out Maggies Angels when you have the time. It was her tweet on twitter that got suddenly jarred my brain into a blog post. She posted a link to this video which is an absolute blast! Its from Hungary which proves that not only is this great love timeless, but universal. If this doesn't make you smile..well then you just aren't human!

Honey, have you ever seen a man knit socks?

Apparently the words in the title of this blog were once uttered by the seventh president of Israel, Ezer Weizman in 1994. This was said in a phone conversation to a woman soldier who had successfully appealed the Israeli Air force to open its pilot course to women.
Not about to get into any insightful discussion about politics, genders or anything deep,for that matter. My capacity for "deep thoughts" at the moment falls somewhere in between Jack Handy's and Sponge Bob.


However I do feel impelled to share a rebuttal of sorts with a picture I found recently that I find both endearing and humorous at the same time. It dates in the 1940's and I have no history for it. But as they say, a picture can be worth more than a thousand words.





I have to admit I admire anyone who can knit or crochet. There is something so Zen,useful and creative about it. Maybe someday I shall take it up. But for right now I can only find inspiration in those who can and do.

I did create my own little shout out to those knitters who like me, get a bit manic in their need to create and to have supplies to do so. With me,its beads,more beads and all the thousands of little goodies that go into creating jewelry. Never seem to have enough, although I seriously have a stash large enough to keep me creating for the next 5 years.
The knitting mania necklace was created with that in mind, and was itself inspired by a 1900's advertisement for a yarn company.

The necklace should you be interested can be found here in my etsy shop.

One final inspirational bit on knitting is to me, phenomenal. I found it thanks to PetaPixel.com, a fantastic photography blog. Be sure and check it out. They featured a great commercial developed for a natural gas company. It really is fantastic,and to take the liberty to finish up on the question asked in the blogs title..."Yes real men do knit..awesomely!" If you care to watch the "how they did it" video, check it out here after watching the piece below.

Will the real Miss Sunshine please stand up?

I received an email today that maybe you've seen. It has many different female celebrity's shown both with and without makeup. If you haven't seen it email me and I'll send it your way. It's quite surprising!


It ends in saying, that you should feel great seeing these woman as they really are, and actually I have to say that I closed the email saying to myself smugly "Well, I ain't so bad after all."
But as the day went on I thought about it again. Whats the point in trying to look good if these women look so bad in "real" life?? I mean whats the point?? Who are we really kidding?? Twisted thinking, I know.
But it does make you think about how much we are affected by what is perceived as "real" in the life around us and whats not.
Maybe its always been a little bit that way.
Take a look at some of these vintage pictures from the 1920's, and you tell me...are these woman really all that they are presented to be?
Example #1:

Quite seriously could this woman really be so happy? I am quite sure those little bow lips are painted on because she just couldn't bring herself to smile. And she is probably wearing the little elf hoodie to hide a really bad hair day.
She just seems to glow with innocence. Who knows though really?? Maybe behind those clasped hands she hides some sort of deadly weapon. I for one just can't trust her.

Example #2:



This woman seems to be just oozing with self confidence. Impeccably groomed.
Maybe she just appears this way as she is actually sat down on the hat before placing it on her head and this is just her way of dealing with the pain of it all. And to think those in her time probably aspired to be just like her.

I do have to admit though that I do need some visual aid some days to get through them. The lack of sun here this winter has had a worse than usual effect on my spirits. Its amazing how when we get a sunny day, my spirits just shoot through the roof. Now that's visual aid for you!Seeing everything in a nice sun shining light. But for those days when the clouds gloom overhead I created the "Miss Susie Sunshine" pin using a vintage image from the 1930's. Pin it on when you feel anything but sunshiny and pretend. Just maybe you'll have a better day.