: 100 Things I am Grateful For :

This post is inspired by the book The Secret. I got a little daily inspiration notebook made by the creator of the book, and it asks that every day you write down 100 thinks you are grateful for. It seems like a lot to write, and a lot to think of... but I thought I would give it a try. So I decided to share my list here (in no particular order;)

1. Randy, my husband
2. Max, my son
3. Ella, my daughter
4. parents
5. in laws
6.  friends
7. home
8. pets
9. creativity
10. Etsy
11. studio at 3 Adams
12. clay
13. education
14. travel
15. Ms. Tiberi (Ellas first pre-school teacher)
16. Max's preschool and teachers
17. car to get around this world of ours
18. sun
19. moon
20. books
21. sleep
22. coffee
23. night time cup of tea
24. veggies
25. health
26. Reiki
27. Skidmore
28. full moon gatherings and all those who come to them
29. flowers to smell and look at
30. washing machine and dryer
31. inspiration in all its forms
32. heat in the winter
33. a/c in the summer
34. color
35. fresh air
36. yoga
37. my grandparents and their memories
38. cold glass of water
39. dishwasher
40. warm fleece
41. cooking
42. paint
43. green grass
44. teachers
45. smiles
46. hard life lessons, learned
47. community
48. air travel to visit far away family and friends
49. the power of breath
50. tears
51. glasses so I can see
52. the quiet of Sundays
53. the fun of Saturdays
54. the fresh start of Mondays
55. the growing momentum of Tuesdays
56. the normal-ness of Wednesdays and Thursdays
57. the sense of completion on Fridays
58. Thanksgiving
59. gratitude
60. love
61. spell checker
62. hot shower
63. stretching
64. meditation
65. clean water
66. cookbooks
67. a good movie
68. mail
69. honesty
70. bicycling
71. staying at home with my kids
72. my husbands job
73. our local organic farm
74. my computer
75. community adult education
76. my biological mother having the courage to have me and let me go
77. Cosmic Lunch Break every monday by Eileen Lock
78. NPR
79. music
80. freedom
81. Roots and WIngs in Natick, MA allowing me to rent treatment rooms
82. sitting by a fire with friends
83. nice glass of red wine
84. the ability to afford to have a nice glass of red wine
85. meeting my Reiki instructor Myra
86. laughter
87. the ability to take a walk
88. movies
89. money to support our family for necessities and fun
90. giving, and the goodness you feel when you give
91. red tail hawks, every time I see them
92. dolphins and their magic
93. truth, in all its forms
94. shoes
95. unconditional love
96. space to explore life
97. this moment
98. this moment
99. this moment
100. and this moment

Please leave a comment sharing 10 things YOU are grateful for right.... now. That would be great, I would love to hear from you.

~liza

: BESTeam feature : ElizabethMD :

Elizabeth M. Duquette has a serious passion for unique jewelry. It all began when she was younger by taking apart jewelry she owned and recreating it into something totally her own. Her shop is filled with all sorts of great jewelry and beads for sale. Click on the photo below to be directed to her Etsy shop!

Flower Engraved Coral Pendant $16.00

You can read more about Elizabeth and her designs by checking out her blog http://elizabethmdesigns.blogspot.com/

Be well and have a great day!

~liza

: BESTeam feature : Danizabeth :

This week I have an artist who has dabbled in many different mediums. After a trip to the salvage yard with a camera and her father (and many more trips as a child), she has found her happy place in photographing images filled with nostalgia. The images invoke a sense of wonder and the colors are warm and earthy. Each photograph makes you wonder just a little bit about its story, and I found my mind wandering and making up scenarios that match the images. Enjoy!

Sepia Toned Guitar and Crates 8x10 $15.00

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/danizabethphotography
Read Danizabeth's blog at http://www.danizabeth.blogspot.com

~liza

: BESTeam feature : Our Home To Yours :

This weeks featured shop it s mother daughter team who share a passion for creativity with their Etsy shop Our Home To Yours. Their shop is full of handmade and vintage items. They crochet, make jewelry, and create whatever sparks their interest. The Debbi (the mom;) has a serious passion for being a mom, but finds much joy indulging in her creative side. Amanda (the daughter;) is a stay at home mom of a toddler who has a background in fine art and graphic design. You can find the item pictured here and many more wonderful designs by hitting there Etsy shop here!

Handmade 2 Rosette Headband $10.00

Here are a few links where you can find out some more about this creative team;) Happy shopping!!

http://www.ourhometoyours.etsy.com
http://www.ourhometoyourscrafts.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/ourhometoyours
http://www.twitter.com/ourhometoyours


~liza

: Locks and Keys Project :

I want to introduce you all to a fantastic public art installation project started by my creative neighbors Denise and Steve. The project is located on a fence which hangs outside their Natick art studio, The Artists at 3 Adams behind The Five Crows gift shop. Here is an excerpt from the Locks and Keys blog which explains the project in more detail and chronicles all of the locks and keys attached to the fence!

"Locks and Keys Project (LAKP) is an interactive public art installation - a continual work in progress. A 12 foot fence covered with locks, keys, notes and art that illustrate memories, thoughts, hopes and dreams.

Do you hold the key to someone’s heart? Want to unlock a secret? Have a grudge to share? A love to reveal?

Help us create an interactive public art installation using those thoughts. As a guest “artist” either bring your own special lock or key that holds a personal memory, or pick one out from our free supply. Think of a memory, a wish, a regret, or anything that is important to you. With that thought in mind, write a message directly on the lock or key, or on key tags we have on site, then attach the lock onto the fence just outside our studio.

"

You can contact Locks and Keys project to have a free kit sent to you and be a part of this public art project: 

locksandkeys@me.com

Blog: http://locksandkeysproject.blogspot.com/

Peace always, 

~liza

: BESTeam feature : Efrat Deutsch :

This weeks feature for the BESTeam is a talented jewelry designer who received her BFA from the Bezalel academy of art and design. Her designs are inspired by nature and urban life, and to quote her "It's all about living in a world that you first choose your jewelry and then match your outfit. " Her style is clean and simple with just the right amount of elegance. Check it out;)

Gold Bell Flower $110.00

Gold Desert Sand earrings $30.00

Petals Necklace- Flower shaped Enamel pendant with a pink pearl $55.00

You can learn more about Efrat by checking out her blog www.efratdeutschjewelrydesign.blogspot.com/

Be well, 

~liza

: Creativity and Intuition :

I have always heard there was a partnership deeply entwined between the impulses of creativity and those of intuition, but until recently I never really "got it". In the past when an idea would slowly reveal itself to me in my mind I would play with it and tweak it in my head until it was completed... and never actually pick up a paintbrush or (whatever). So I was living in this vibrant marketplace of ideas and never actually creating anything. What the *#^&* is that?

These creative imaginings came to me as intuition, but stayed that way. After the birth of my daughter something changed. I would get these ideas and NEED to get them out. It felt like a bubbling volcano of inspiration where the reality was that if the impulse never hit the creation I would actually explode. All this began surfacing while I had a newborn and a two year old as a stay at home mom- kind of intense to say the least.

Since I began really acting on these ideas I have noticed a tangible creative path evolving before me, one impulse at a time. I may be medium hopping like a crazy person, but I am following my creative heart all around and loving it. It is interesting to watch an idea take root and grow, and facinating to note that each idea has its own purpose and life span. Sometimes it is just a lesson in technique or marketability and sometimes it is the first of a series of even better creations building right on top of the first.

Sure I have been a creative person my whole life, and completed my undergrad degree in art. But assignments and lessons in technique were only the tip tip tippy tip of the life I was creating. The fun part is happening now and following each impulse to its end.

~liza

: BesTeam feature : RedemptionArt :

Aloha! Connie Haskell of Redemption Art has a great energy and love for art, people, and the environment. You can sense her vigor in her item descriptions and the care with which she seems to have chosen each piece to sell in her shop. I have tons of favorites from this seller, but here are a few:

Vintage Hawaiian Mermaid Tiki Bar Glasses Fisherman's Warf Hawaii $15.00

Vintage Max Tilke Page Costumes of China $17.00

Vintage Solid Brass Buddha $45.00

Vintage TIny Bubbles Juice Glasses $25.00

Vintage Valentine Kitsch Brooch $12.00

You can also find Connie on her blog: http://www.islandbuzzy.com/

Be well!

~liza

: BESTeam feature : cksilver :

This weeks BESTeam feature is on a mother daughter team called cksilver. Cindy and Marilyn love to create jewelry using sterling silver, pearls, semi-precious stones, and Swarovski crystals. This team is passionate about what they do and are truly inspired ladies. I have enjoyed browsing through the cksilver Etsy shop, here are a few of my favorites.

Sparkly Blue Sodalite Sterling Silver Earrings $34.00

Assorted Wine Charms $14.00

Blue Summer Ice Sterling Silver Earrings $29.00

To find our more about cksilver:

http://cksilver.etsy.com 

http://cksilver1.blogspot.com

~Liza

: BESTeam feature : Love Elycia :

I am excited to share this seller with you because she is talented and her work is super fun (yeah, I said super). But it IS! Love Elycia is a recovering engineer... just kidding, but she used to be an engineer and has left that life for one a little more crafty. Elycia mostly loves to knit, crochet, draw, sew, shop vintage, listen to music and love her cats.

Every Girl has a Story Moxie Print $5.00

Every Girl has a Story April Print $5.00

Say Anything CUSTOM Word Bubble Headband $12.00

Headband Incognito $9.00

There are lots of things to love about Love Elycia;) You can also find her and her fantastic blog here: http://www.loveelycia.com/

~Liza

: 41park labyrinth bracelet Front PAGE on Etsy :

Yeah!

Labyrinth wrap bracelet $111.00

~Liza