Happy First Friday of Leo!

Recycled Prayers Series

The Recycled Prayer Art to Wear series all started with a tangled capiz shell curtain on its way to the kill shelter also known as the dumpster. I purchased it at a reduced price thus rescuing it.  

A week later i adopted several books my parents bought in Italy and a box of holy cards that were destine to go to the Goodwill or worse... their recycle bin aka the garbage can. That very same week i took an auspicious trip to the National Cathedral in Washington DC alone. I believe it was the combination of meditating on stain glass windows for two hours, lighting candles for miracles, fracturing my foot and then losing our electric power during a thunder storm for  3 days that this idea was born. 

Italian Madonna and Child on Green Capiz Seashell

https://www.etsy.com/listing/104485349/italian-madonna-and-child-on-green-capiz 

Vintage St Christopher on Green Capiz Seashell

https://www.etsy.com/listing/104484439/vintage-st-christopher-on-green-capiz?ref=v1_other_2 

 

Year of the Rabbit on Green Capiz SeaShell Pendant

https://www.etsy.com/listing/104948093/year-of-the-rabbit-on-green-capiz

 Love Monkey on Recycled Green Capiz Shell

https://www.etsy.com/listing/104946799/love-monkey-on-green-capiz-seashell?ref=v1_other_2

To see more of these pendants, crocheted wire art to wear and other jewelry please visit the Planet Calamari Etsy Shop at 

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/PlanetCalamari

The Strega's Mark of the Devil...

My mother tells me i was born with a tiny red dot on the my right arm and hand. She believes this is because she ate cherry Popsicles while pregnant with me. She was told by the doctor that it would go away and not to worry. Neither happened. Of course this is the same doctor who believed that antibiotics would cure sneezing. The spot grew as i did and was a full blown vibrant red birthmark in no time at all. My mother continues to worry about everything under the sun to this day- though i am quite certain she forgot about the birthmark and only remembers it when i visit wearing short sleeved attire.

As a kid in Catholic School i was subjected to the paranoia of mean nuns anytime they noticed my birthmark. Each one would grab my arm and in that nails down a parochial school chalkboard scream, that only nuns can do... "Dear Lord, were you burned?"  To their dismay i was not maimed in a fire. Combine this with the curse of being left handed. Some would make the sign of the cross or mutter a prayer. The only explanation could be that this was indeed the mark of the devil. Pray for her dear Baby Jesus. Save her from the gates of hell and the communists. Lord hear our prayer.

Since it was too late (or probably too costly to have the cherry stain removed, my mother somehow switched me from a south paw to become right handed. This only bafffled the nuns more... and myself. I still vividly remember first grade teacher Sister Maryenella (sp?) pulling my short pixie hair while at the blackboard attempting to print a b. Instead i made a d. I am shocked my neck did not snap that day!

Sometimes i still don't know right from left, since i confused the word R-I-G-H-T with the word W-R-I-T-E during the process. I was writing with my left hand only to be switched to write with the right hand. You can see how that would mess up a 5 year old.

Tortured by classmates, mostly wretched boys and nasty pale girls with long blonde hair, i wore long sleeve white blouses under my plaid uniform through my entire 12 years of parochial school. Mortified that anyone would see it i did my best to hide the entire arm whenever possible. Sweaters, coats, gloves and several bangle bracelets and accessories during the summer.

From http://www.outofstress.com/is-there-special-meaning-to-birthmarks/
"The scientific perspective is that birthmarks are the result of a skin abnormality linked to the formation of blood vessels. In folklore there are three theories appear across cultures and time. 

1. Birthmarks signify are an omen which may denote a characteristic or life path.
2. Birthmarks are leftover from a past life/ re-incarnation
3. Birthmarks are the result of events that happened to the mother while carrying her child or actions she took during her pregnancy. Italian and Spanish folklore states that birthmarks result from un-satisfied wishes of the mother during pregnancy, such as wishing for certain foods."

The Italians believe that witches, known as Stregas have a birthmark on their arm, have all-black eyes, while practicing the healing arts with herb, potions and other magic rituals. Perhaps it is no wonder i decided to go into traditional Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture.

During my time in acupuncture college i had a delightful Chinese professor, Dr J Min Fan take my arm and say, "Oh Jeanie.. this is good fortune!" From that day on i embraced the wine stain. It was no longer hideous or a burden.  I used it as a temperature gauge. It turned colors during the seasons.
I noticed how it would turn bright red when i was angry or had a raging fever. Blue or Purple if i was cold. Just a reminder that we are all unique. Some of us just stand out more than others. Embrace diversity.

The temporary tattoo Breathe on the above photo is made by http://suzannelvinson.com
at  Silver Tree Art on Etsy

What is the sound of Mercury going retrograde...

Today begins the 3 week period of the planet Mercury going retrograde. If you are not familiar with the term then i won't even try to explain the gory details. My simple explanation is - its going backwards causing chaos in communication and electrical devices. Always a handy thing to blame when you phone or computer dies. Here is a great website that gives more detail on how and why it happens with the effect it has on our lives.
http://www.alphalifetrends.com/mercuryretrograde.html


This chart is from the website http://www.findyourfate.com/astrology/year2012/2012-mercury-retrograde.html

2012 Mercury retrograde Guide

2012 Retrograde starts Date & Time	Position at Start	2012 Retrograde Ends Date & Time	Position at End
March 12, 2012 3:49 am EDT 12:49 am PDT	06:49 Aries	April 4, 2012 6:11 am EDT 3:11 am PDT	23:51 Pisces
July 14, 2012 10:16 pm EDT 7:16 pm PDT	12:32 Leo	August 7-8, 2012 1:40 am EDT (Aug 8) 10:40 pm PDT (Aug 7)	01:26 Leo
November 6, 2012 6:04 pm EST 3:04 pm PST	04:17 Sagittarius	November 26, 2012 5:48 pm EST 2:48 pm PST	18:11 Scorpio

For an inspirational view of how to survive Mercury Retrograde visit astrologer Lynn Haye's blog. She always has an interesting point of view and shares so much information. I love reading her posts.

 http://astrodynamics.net/astrologicalmusings/2012/07/15/sunday-inspiration-from-the-readers-trust-the-planets-dont-blame-them/

This Mercury retrograde i plan to just go with the flow.. stop trying to fight it and allow the Universe to direct the movie. I have a new line of pendants and door hangers with sacred images that will be featured soon on the Planet Calamari Etsy Shop. That is assuming this old ibook will survive Mercury dancing backwards these next few weeks!

Meanwhile enjoy 15% off everything with the coupon code MERCURY15 at http://www.etsy.com/shop/PlanetCalamari

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Happy Monday

Still Celebrating Fridamas!

Celebrating the Season of FridaMas

Frida Kahlo de Rivera 

July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954

For all of us who are enamored with Frida Kahlo i have decided to proclaim a holiday season known as the Festival of Fridamas. It begins on July 6, the anniversary of Frida Kahlo's birth and ends on July 13 the day Frida Kahlo passed away. 

The idea came to me during Zappadan. (No i did not make up this Frank Zappa holiday. December 4 marks the anniversary of Frank Zappa‘s death, and the beginning of the Festival of Zappadan. Zappadan ends on Frank Zappa’s birthday, December 21st.)

The very first time i saw a painting of Frida i immediately thought, "Why doesn't she wax her eyebrows or at least pluck that unibrow!" It was not until a few years later after living in San Diego so close to the Mexican border that i began to appreciate her work, Mexican art and culture. The colors, the magic and the passion is addicting. It is so tempting to run off to Mexico, grow a unibrow, drink tequila and paint all day. However the truth is Frida's life may have been colorful but it was also tragic. In constant pain due to an accident when she was young along with other illnesses, married to a fat artist who cheated on her with her sister and a host of other wild dramas. I think i am happy to bask in her art, paint on a unibrow and red lipstick on Halloween and have a few margaritas in her honor.

For more details about the life and art of Frida visit these sites:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo

http://www.fridakahlo.com/

http://www.frida-kahlo-foundation.org/

During these few days of remembering the life, art and her infamous unibrow i invite everyone to celebrate Frida each day. Even if it is a small jester such as:

Sport a Uni-brow and

 Paint on some red lipstick

Add some flowers to your braided hair

Wearing Frida jewelry

Wear ethnic Mexican clothing

Do a shot of tequila in honor of Frida!

Have a margarita

 Watch the movie Frida

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120679/ 

Paint!

Marry a fat artist

Adopt a monkey and a few black cats

Join the Planet Calamari Facebook page to be invited to the FridaMas Festival and to post pictures and comments of how you are celebrating this holiday season..

https://www.facebook.com/PlanetCalamariArt 

Viva Frida!

From http://www.fridakahlo.com/

"On the day after her death, mourners gathered at the crematorium to witness the cremation of Mexico's greatest and most shocking painter. Soon to be an international icon, Frida Kahlo knew how to give her fans one last unforgettable goodbye. As the cries of her admirers filled the room, the sudden blast of heat from the open incinerator doors caused her body to bolt upright. Her hair, now on fire from the flames, blazed around her head like a halo. Frida's lips seemed to break into a seductive grin just as the doors closed. Her last diary entry read: "I hope the end is joyful - and I hope never to return - Frida.".

Dream Time Lizard Totem Art to Wear

"Lizard...will you dream with me?
Travel across the stars?
Beyond the place of time and space,
The lives visions from afar."
Jamie Sands 
from the Medicine Cards book

These pieces of art to wear were inspired by the Medicine Card teachings and Native American totems. The lizard symbolizes the dream world. Lizard medicine is the shadow side or reality where your dreams are reviewed before you decide to manifest them physically.
For more info on the Medicine Cards and the book click on the link below.
http://www.medicinecards.com/

These one of a kind earrings were created by hand painted glow in the dark green lizards with blue enamel paint. Using non-tarnish bronze colored silver plated wire the lizards were wire wrapped with glass beads in hues of fuchsia pink, lavender and sea green.
Dream TIme Lizard Earrings Planet Calamari Etsy Shop

This bracelet was created by crocheting bronze silver plated non-tarnish wire strands while weaving glass beads in various hues of iridescent purple, lavender, sea green and fuchsia pink. The strands were then plaited and weaved together. A hand painted glow in the dark lizard is attached to the top of the bracelet with more bronze wire adorned with glass beads. The colors of the beads combined with the bronze wire give this wrist sculpture a mystical look as if it was worn in the days of the mayans or hopi cultures. Dream Time Lizard Totem OOAK Wrist Cuff Planet Calamari Etsy Shop

Mistress Nemo Dons A Steampunk Octopus Neck Sculpture

What would Captain Nemo's Mistress wear to the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ball? I am sure it would be a lovely midnight black gown with purple and sea blue sequins, lace gloves with a gorgeous updo.

I have always been intrigued with undersea creatures, especially cephalopods. It is no surprise that my favorites are the squid and octopus. They are able to change color faster than a chameleon and can also change texture and body shape. If those camouflage techniques don't work, they can still "disappear" in a cloud of ink, Magic in the deep blue sea.

This one of a kind octopus neck sculpture was created by crocheting non-tarnish bronze copper wire into strands then plaiting them. I used an assortment of recycled, and vintage glass beads in hues of violet, purple, aurora borealis, sea green and blue weaved into the strands. A brass victorian octopus charm is securely wired onto a recycled brilliant blue capiz shell. The shell measures about 2 inches in diameter. This necklace has an old world Steampunk victorian feel.

This one of a kind neck piece is lightweight and measures about 19 inches. It closes with a bronze lobster claw clasp. The wire can be gently scrunched smaller or into a slightly different shape to compliment your neck.

I have a special octopus bracelet listed at https://www.etsy.com/listing/97969376/octopus-garden-crocheted-wired-wrist.

For more art to wear visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/PlanetCalamari

Rest In Peace Nora Ephron

Thank you Nora Ephron for the laughter and the tears. A heroine when it comes to writing Chick Flicks. Like a good friend she was always there when you needed comforting. I spent so many lonely nights and holidays watching her movies. Pour a glass of wine and watch your favorite Nora Ephron movie in honor of this brilliant woman.

Here are a few classic scenes that i could watch over and over.

When Harry Met Sally Restaurant Scene



You've Got Mail Ending





Sleepless In Seattle
Affair to Remember VS The Dirty Dozen

Happy Bring Your Dog To Work Day!

 Quan Yin Kali Wu

Staff PR Advisor 

(Pawsitive Relations)

at 

Planet Calamari Art Galleria 

Four Paws Acupuncture 

"First celebrated in 1999, Pet Sitters International's Take Your Dog To Work Day® (TYDTWDay®) was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. This annual event asks pet lovers to celebrate the humane-canine bond and promote pet adoption by encouraging their employers to support TYDTWDay. Employers are encouraged to open their workplace to employees' four-legged friends on this one special day." http://www.takeyourdog.com/About/

the sound of unheard music...

And those who were dancing were 

thought to be insane by those

who could not hear the music.

Nietzsche

Healing Amethyst Jewerly

This feminine bracelet and pair of earrings was created by crocheting strands of delicate pink non-tarnish wire along with weaved glass lavender beads and semiprecious amethyst chips. 

The gem stone Amethyst is used for healing on all levels, body, mind, and spirit. It is said to raise vibrational frequency and protects against negative energies. This stone carries a history of warding off drunkenness and helping provide a clean, sober mind. Placing the stone under your pillow or right on top of your head is supposed to bring about peaceful dreams and relieve pounding headaches. In Ancient Egypt, the stone was used to guard one from feelings of their own guilt. Violet Purple is the highest vibrational color of the spectrum. The color of royalty, magic and even worn by the Pope!

Amethyst is the birthstone of Aquarius (Water Bearer): Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) Amethyst is also the anniversary gemstone for the 4th and 6th year of marriage. 

See more at the Planet Calamari Etsy Shop

Once upon a time there was a capiz sea shell curtain all tangled up living at World Market. Not sure what to do with it, employees walked by it for several months pretending to ignore it. One night i had a vivid dream with images of all the possibilities of things to create with these poor battered shells. So pressured by the guilt that these shells would end up in a stinky dumpster, i bought the curtain. I could almost hear the sea shells screaming thank you.

For sea shell geeks, Placuna placenta, also known as capiz or windowpane oyster, is a bivalve marine mollusk in the family of Placunidae.

Oysters and their pearls were once held sacred by the Celts.  The Cauldron of Regeneration is said to have been lined with pearls, and when Morgana  Goddess  of the Sea  appeared in the guise of the moon, she was called the ‘Pearl of the Sea’.

This one of a kind piece was created by crocheting strands of bronze non-tarnish silver plated wire. Weaved into the strands were capiz shells in lovely sea hues of blue, chartreuse peridot greens and glass beads of sea mint green and lavender.

The neck sculpture is about 21 inches long and closes with a bronze lobster clasp. It can be gently "scrunched" to be made smaller or a different shape as the wire is very easy to manipulate. The green sea shells are 2.25 across and the teal blue shells are 2 inches across.

 

This necklace makes a statement and is not for a shy woman. Its bold and beautiful. Wear with confidence. A lovely accessory for an elegant evening, sea cruise or beach vacation. I have several pairs of earrings created from the capiz shells that could be worn with this necklace.

Click here for more info on this neck sculpture

More Capiz Shell Art to Wear

  www.etsy.com/shop/planetcalamari

Inspiration from under the sea...

This necklace was created by crocheting bronze non-tarnish wire while weaving glass beads through the strands in various hues of blue, sea green and lavender. The effect gives an under the sea look. Perhaps buried treasures hidden in the coral reefs. Could this necklace be a romantic gift from Captain Jack Sparrow?

I always loved the soundtrack from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. (Not a fan of the movie. Walt would not have been impressed by the computer animation.) However the lyrics of Under The Sea bring images of swimming through the coral reefs with sea turtles and buried sea treasures.

This bracelet was created by crocheting bronze and silver plated non-tarnish wire while weaving glass beads in various hues of blue, sea green and lavender. Perhaps it fell off a mermaid's wrist while she was playing with dolphins.

In ancient Greek mythology, Amphitrite was a sea-goddess and wife of Poseidon. Of course living with Poseidon must have been trying. So sometimes she would sneak away on holiday with her girl friends and a good bottle of sea wine. Splashing to fun music and dancing the night away. Girls with flippers just want to have fun.

These earrings were created by using recycled blue Capiz shells rescued from a shell beaded curtain that was being tossed away. (There should be a rescue shelter for sea shells.)
I crocheted strands of delicate pink silver plated wire with sea green glass beads. A delicate blue sea shell hangs from this strand.

To see more art to wear visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/PlanetCalamari

Under the Sea lyrics from
The Disney movie The Little Mermaid

The seaweed is always greener
In somebody else's lake
You dream about going up there
But that is a big mistake
Just look at the world around you
Right here on the ocean floor
Such wonderful things surround you
What more is you lookin' for?

Under the sea
Under the sea
Darling it's better
Down where it's wetter
Take it from me
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin'
Full time to floatin'
Under the sea

Down here all the fish is happy
As off through the waves they roll
The fish on the land ain't happy
They sad 'cause they in their bowl
But fish in the bowl is lucky
They in for a worser fate
One day when the boss get hungry
Guess who's gon' be on the plate

Under the sea
Under the sea
Nobody beat us
Fry us and eat us
In fricassee
We what the land folks loves to cook
Under the sea we off the hook
We got no troubles
Life is the bubbles
Under the sea
Under the sea
Since life is sweet here
We got the beat here
Naturally

Don't Worry...Be Happy

Over the past month i had a life changing, mind altering experience. Two weeks of being wrought with anxiety and existing in a state of complete misery.

Against my better judgment, i took a new job at a place which was pure hell. I will not go into the gory details, as i am in the process of writing about that adventure in another blog post. I may never finish it or make it public. But it was a valuable lesson for me to always trust my first impression- which was RUN Forest RUN, after my interview!

But noooooo... i didn't run away, instead lured by five extra dollars an hour, i entered Dante's Inferno run by a crew of the nastiest people i have ever met contained in one office. I am sure there were pitchforks in the back. Ironically this was a Wellness Center! I consider myself a pretty tough cookie. Worked several odd jobs when i was younger and the scariest of them was at a Steel Mill. However this time i was kicked in the butt by a force i completely forgot about. Pure Nastiness! 

After coming home every night crying, with pounding heart palps and a painful stabbing in my solar plexus- i gave notice. What a relief to be out of the viper pit. Though i must say it took another two weeks to recover. Never have i had such a violent reaction working someplace that it not only effected my physical being, but my mental. Now i understand what panic attacks are. No amount of Rescue Remedy, Calms Forte, Valerian could quell the feeling i had every day driving to work.

I am grateful to have had the epiphany that the most important thing in life is to be happy. It sounds corny, cliche and oh so Bob Marley. But the reality is- if we are not happy - why bother? As i watch my father deteriorate and my God-parents as well i realize that life is way to short to be in a state of perpetual anxiety. Don't worry. Be Happy. I rather make way less money, work with people i love and come home to make art.

As my husband said "The________ Wellness Center is the Jack Bauer of the career decision world. It basically tortured you into making a career decison." Oh yeah-i forgot- i am an artist that wanted a job that allowed me to come home and create. (And eventually jump through all the hoops to procure another acupuncture license!)

And so now i am on my Be Happy World Tour of Life. Realizing that the Universe is happy to provide a few weeks of pure hell to make me appreciate that all along i was in heaven. It makes me wonder if God is really Woody Allen directing the movie of our lives? Oh Aunty Em.. there is no place like home. Home is where the Art is. No more snarky 20 year old flying monkeys, evil witches hovering over my shoulder or bad wizards hiding behind an X-ray curtain.

This past Memorial Day weekend i played and allowed my inner child to create!

 Planet Calamari Etsy Shop

All Be Happy t-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers are available at http://www.zazzle.com/planetcalamari  20% off through Tuesday 5/29/12 with code MEMORIAL2012.

And now please stand for the national anthem of the Be Happy World Tour. Click below to sing with the Prophet of Happiness, Bob Marley!