::Monday's inspired human::

The mini interview today is with Caroline, the inspired creator of Paloma's Nest. Caroline creates bowls, tiles, ornaments and other decorative pieces out of porcelain, wood, paper and cloth. The simple modern pieces are timeless and intended to be passed on for generations. Paloma's Nest is best known for their Ring Bearer Bowl™ which has been featured in numerous publications including Martha Stewart Weddings, Elegant Bride Magazine, Vogue, Elle, the list goes on and on.... Her work and packaging is environmentally cautious, and her approach to creativity is truly inspiring.

™

HAITI RELIEF ... proceeds from this item will be donated. TODAY I WILL...... fill in the blank tiny text bowl by Paloma's Nest

One of Caroline's pieces was my first favorite on Etsy, so I thought she would be the perfect person to kick off Monday's inspired human tradition on Process and Perception. The piece featured in the photograph above is not the one from my favorite archives, but a new favorite I found today while creating this post. Other favorites of mine at Paloma's Nest include Wood Paper Cloth and Good Eggs. 

~Thank you Caroline for being so gracious and having fun with a few questions! ~

Name: Caroline Colom Vasquez/ Paloma's Nest

Sign: Pisces

Age: "It takes a long time to become young." ~Pablo Picasso
Where can we find you:   www.palomasnest.com

Who or What are you most inspired by right... NOW?: The concept of heirlooms- creating items that hold history and record the story of family.
What is the first word that comes to mind when you think about ceramics: persnickety

What was your first "real" job: I was a sales girl in a boutique selling handcrafts in my home town of Mystic, Connecticut
Squishy, bumpy, fluffy or smooth? Smooth. Definitely smooth.

I hope this helps you to have an inspired week! 

Be well, Liza

::Friday's treasure box::

Good day and happy Friday to you! It has been a rainy week here in New England no one has their rain gear out yet so we are all soaked. I thought it might be a good idea to find something to remind us all that spring IS on the way... soon... ish...

Nesting set of 4 Poppy Bowls in Green and Honey Red

So I searched through my favorite items and found these wonderful stacking bowls made by Kristin and Andre of Clear Mountain Craft Studio in Claremont, New Hampshire. These bowls come in different color combinations, but for today I chose this one. The green reminds me of fresh spring grass, and the shape is organic and fresh. 


FInd more wonderful things by this creative team here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/clearmountaincraft 
http://tiny.cc/clearmountaincraft


What do you think about these bowls? Please feel free to leave a comment!


Happy Friday,
Liza

Creating your cyber footprint

This link was posted on Etsy success reading list, and I just read it and thought I would add it to my blog. As I get more and more involved in social networking and the online marketplace, I find it increasingly important to stay true to who I am and who I strive to be. This short article brings this into focus, and so even though most of my followers are Etsy folk and may have seen it there. I still would like to pass it on.

http://www.scoutiegirl.com/2010/02/the-art-business-of-crafting-your-online-self.html

Put your best cyber foot forward!

Liza

Insight...

COSMIC LUNCH BREAK

This is a weekly radio show by someone wonderful who always has great advice. Eileen is a clairvoyant astrologer, and weather or not you are "into" that sort of thing- she has great insight into life and how it unfolds. I really love her metaphors, no matter what is happening with the planets (which in interesting, but honestly it usually goes a little over my head) she offers wonderful perspective on life, relationships, and manifesting ideas (just for starters).

So, check out Eileen's cosmic lunch break... I promise you will not regret listening and you may even come back for more. Thank you Eileen, your work is inspiring and life changing.

To find out more about Eileen:

http://www.eileenlock.freeservers.com
http://www.oneheartministry.freeservers.com

::Friday's treasure box::

Yeah, its Friday! Some weeks I don't seem to mind what day it is... but this week I am very happy it is Friday. And I am even more excited to share my first ::Friday's treasure box:: with you today. I still reserve the right to post awesome things I find any time, but you can count on ::Friday's treasure box:: for a little inspiration;)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24851909

I found these beads on Etsy, I think they were in a treasury but I can not remember! Anyway, they are so great- organinc, unique, and totally stunning. Great work by Yoola. I love looking through my favorite items on Etsy, so many amazing designers so little time!

So what I want to know is, what do you think of these funky beads?

what is your ring size?

One thing I am finding difficult as an online jewelry seller is ring sizing. I know most people do not usually know their ring size and probably feel a little bit awkward sauntering into a jewelrystore with no intention for purchasing a ring, just to get their hands on the sizer for a minute.

Here are a few tricks to finding your ring size without an uncomfortable visit to

your local jeweler...

(1.) First cut a long skinny strip of paper (if the ring you want is wide, try to match the approximate width

for your paper strip).

(2.) Wrap the paper around your finger and mark where the end

of your strip lands on the paper.

(3.) Take a little piece of tape and tape your paper ring on the outside, try sliding it on and off. You are aiming to have a little bit of a hard time getting it off of your finger, but you don't want it too tight either. It is easier to add a little sizer to a ring than actually make a ring bigger...

(4.) Take the tape off of the strip and lay it flat on a table next to a ruler. Here are the measurements and their conversions for ring size. I have done it in millimeters for a more precise fit.

Take your measurement and find your size in the chart below:

mm ~ ring size

46.6mm ~ 4

47.9mm ~ 4.5

49.1mm ~ 5

50.4mm ~ 5.5

51.7mm ~ 6

53mm ~ 6.5

54.2mm ~ 7

55.5mm ~ 7.5

56.8mm ~ 8

58mm ~ 8.5

59.3mm ~ 9

60.5mm ~ 9.5

61.8mm ~ 10

63.1mm ~ 10.5

64.3mm ~ 11

65.6mm ~ 11.5

66.9mm ~ 12

68.1mm ~ 12.5

There is one other alternative, usually major chain stores that sell jewelry have ring sizers you can use and it may be a little less intimidating!

Beginning

As with anything, there is a beginning middle and an end. I find myself continuously at the beginning of everything at this point in my life, even though I am technically probably entering the middle.

I like to try things, start things, explore things. When it comes to art, that translates into the exploration of technique and materials. I have spent hours and hours with pencils, charcoal, still life, live model, glass, clay, paint, camera, mind, spirit, energy, exploration. Always searching for a medium to grab my attention long enough for me to take it further and further.

This search brought me to silver and natural gemstones and copper and wire, and it feels like a culmination of all the process I have played with along the way. Creating jewelry has become an outlet and a platform for me to express myself and I am so excited about it. Once again, I find myself at the 'beginning' of something.

So, here's to this beginning moving to a middle and someday hopefully far away... to an end.

Thanks for reading, Liza