What would Abby Sciuto wear to an elegant event? If i had a daughter, i would hope that it could be one like Abby. Smart, quirky, with a flair of alternative thinking. Oh to be young again only this time instead of being a hippie, be a cute little baby bat goth girl. Perfect black bob haircut, blue lipstick and fun vampie clothing. If only...
Oh and if you don't know who Abby is you must watch some NCIS reruns. After being without TV for 8 years, i must say i am grateful for cable TV and the USA channel!!!
This unique wrist sculpture was inspired by the Queen of Goth Genius of NCIS and watching way too many Tim Burton movies!
I created this bracelet by crocheting black colored non-tarnish copper wire along with aurora borealis glass seed beads. Faceted magnetized hematite beads were woven into the wire interspersed with glass faceted beads. This combo creates a magical effect of reflecting light and subtle color like dew drops on a spider web.
Hematite is known for its properties to ground and protects us. Strengthens our connection with the Mother Earth, and makes us feel safe and secure. Known to add courage, strength, endurance and vitality. This stone dissolves negativity and prevents one from absorbing the negativity of others. It is also used for healing the blood, liver and kidneys.
Silver frosted bells dangle from this piece. Chic yet oh so Tim Burton! This wrist art could be worn to a formal event, goth prom or with a little black dress.
Measures about 7.5 inches long. Can be made smaller by 'scrunching" the wire delicately.
Closes with a magnetic clasp to make putting it on by yourself easy! Slide the magnetic clasp when taking off. Do NOT pull on it! PLEASE NOTE that anyone who wears a pace maker should NOT be wearing anything with a magnetic clasp!
Made with love and magic in the Planet Calamari Studio.
See more pictures of this wrist sculpture and other crocheted wire jewelry at the Planet Calamari Etsy shop CLICK HERE!
Now go pour yourself a cup of Caf-Pow and watch an NCIS rerun...
Happy Easter. Happy Spring Cleaning. Happy Sun enters Taurus. Happy soon Mercury will no longer be retrograde!
I found a new addiction- crocheting with wire and will soon be debuting my latest art to wear pieces. Meanwhile it is time to do some spring cleaning at the Planet Calamari Etsy shop. All bird nest pendants are now marked down. A few other earrings have also been reduced. Please visit the shop and look for the SALE.
It is Zevomas here at Planet Calamari! April 14th marks the 18th birthday of Zevo hussein Calamari, founder of the infamous Pooses for Peace and CEO of Planet Calamari!
Hard to believe that this part siamese, tonkinese mix has been with me for 18 years. Longer than any relationship i have ever had!
Zevo was born in Escondido California under the bed of my dear friend Edie about 10 days before she passed away from a long bout of cancer. Zevo and her sister, Baby Pig (who has since passed away) came home to live with me, 3 German Shepherds, 2 cockatiels and another scruffy being we will not mention! This was the very first time i had ever had cats.
Zevo has been cooperative moving with me on my various escapades to Hillcrest San Diego, Toronto, Newton MA and now Salem MA. Who knows where we will all end up next...
For 18 years she has been by my side through all the various changes, ups, downs and absurdities in life. There is never a dull moment living with this Queen of Snark. Zevo is always ready to vocalize exactly how she feels and bites when the need arises. (You can follow her adventures by visiting her blog wwwzevocalamari.blogspot.com
Thank you Miss Zevo hussein Calamari for the love and constant entertainment you have given us. We love you!
To celebrate the life of this extraordinary feline and CEO of Planet Calamari, we will be offering 18% off all items at the Planet Calamari Etsy Shop on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please use the code ZEVO18 when checking out.!
It's Friday and i am feeling snarky. It has been a long week. I am grateful that i do not have TV or else i would be glued to it watching CSPAN or worse CNN and throwing things at it. It is annoying just to read the latest Google headlines or if tempted to visit the Huffington Post
I am in awe at the stupidity of our elected officials. Here we are ... on the brink of the government shutting down because it has spent way too much money in the past on an illegal and unnecessary war, then the bailing out of the greedy bastards on Wall Street (who then congratulated themselves with million dollar bonuses) and a Congress who can vote on a pay raise each year. Not to mention take several vacations, paid insurance and other benefits the common citizen is not privy to.
And what do these buffoons want to cut? Well besides things like women's health which is an entirely new blog topic for another day- they want to cut ART. Funding for things such as PBS, Sesame Street, Art museums, the Boston Symphony, Art education, Dance and more.
Art is one the planets oldest and dearest treasures. Every great civilization honored art and its artists. I believe the key word here is great. Those cultures who cared nothing about art, music or literature that were based on war and power collapsed. Not a pretty sight.
If we take away the arts what will this nation become? Can you imagine a monochromatic life filled with nothing but work, reality TV and war? Maybe NSCAR races and football. (And mandatory church meetings.) I bet House Speaker John Boehner's idea of art is a velvet painting of Elvis and dogs playing poker.
And those GOP folks must know that even Jesus loved art. Well he seemed to featured in so many famous paintings so it must be good. Right? Just look at the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. It's filled with art. Holy art.
The arts create jobs and boost the economy. Just think what happens when Jimmy Buffett comes to town. He sells out in less than 15 minutes. I know- i have tried several years in a row holding 2 cell phones while on 2 computers in hope of scoring 2 tickets.
So in a matter of minutes, Jimmy is boosting sales for Ticketmaster who hires a ton of people. Margarita and tequila sales are up. The Party Shop sells out of coconut bras and grass skirts. Extra security is brought on for the concert. People are hired to sell t-shirts, whirlygigs and drinks at the show. CDs are sold. Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses and flip flop sales go through the roof. Buffett wanna-bees buy guitars and take lessons. Corona beer becomes popular again. Those walking around with illegal smiles buy Doritos and munchies. People are happy, dancing and spending money and some are earning money. And this is just a Buffett concert. I have no idea what kind of impact something like CATS on Broadway has on the economy of the city it is playing!
How about cutting the salaries of everyone in the senate, congress, lobbyists and over paid government officials to start off with? Make them pay for their own insurance, planes, trains, stamps, limos, phones and benefits. Let's stop wasting money on things like the Bridge to Nowhere, the Big Dig, and whatever they do with all that corn they throw away. OK- so how money did we save so far? Anyone have a calculator?
OK... next up on the list to cut... WAR - hmmm! ugh..what is it good for... AbsoLUTEly nothing. So let's send the bad guys some crayolas, paint and paper. Maybe throw in some clay and beads. Way more fun than shot em up. Way cheaper and safer for our troops. All we are saying is Give Art a Chance. Too bad old GWB didn't think of that option first. And i am sad that Obama backed down on his promise to end the madness.
So let's stop giving away stuff to people who are mooches. Yes- it is politically incorrect to say it...but i will. If you are on welfare then you need to prove that you cannot work. And take a mandatory drug test. I realize not everyone on welfare is scamming the system- but we all know there is a lot of waste. If you have a shiny new car parked out in front of your house, then i want to know how i work the equivalent of 2 jobs and still drive an 11 year old VW bug? Even without a calculator there is something just not adding up here! So let's clean that big mess up. OK... what number are we up to now?
More things to cut from the budget. No more bail outs to Wall Street. Let them dig themselves out of the hole next time. Perhaps the money would have been better spent on things like education or just divide the money up and send every US citizen a check. Some of them may even buy things like.... food or pay rent or save their homes from being foreclosed.
OK... has anyone added up what we are saving yet? Let's see if we can make some money too for the government.
Let's make the corporations pay real taxes. Not fake ones. No more kick backs for the oil companies and the evil conglomerates. Pay up! Come on we all know you have it. That should make a big bundle of cash right away.
Let's make churches pay taxes. Yep- they make a profit. Let them pay. No need for Father O'Greedy to be driving a Mercedes. Just like there is no need for the Pope to wear red Prada shoes. Crazy Reverend Pat Robertson's church is rolling in money. And what about those insane Westboro Baptist Church freaks that protest at military funerals? Now that could pay for the arts right there!
Have i left anyone out? Do we have enough money yet? Well if you think of more ways feel free to add them in the comments!
And even though this is not related to art- i really want to know who will feed the animals at the National Zoo if the government does shut down. Are they going to just put vending machines in their cages during that time?
And do i have to mail in my tax check to the IRS if nobody is there?
With the looming threat of the US government shutting down arts and the rights of women i was inspired to find work by STAT team members that let their light shine though as a beacon of hope. With or without government support we will always be creating art. All we are saying... is give ART a chance!Please spread the Etsy love by commenting and sharing.
I have been collecting vintage hats, purses, jewelry and clothing forever. As a child i loved rummaging through my Nonna's basement trying on her old hats and playing with her pocketbooks. My favorite past time is to roam through thrift shops and garage sales in hopes of finding a piece of the past. It is an addiction. My attic is proof.
I adore the look of the 1920's, 30's, 40's and 50's. Women had style and even manners! Classic hats and purses. Don't leave home with out your gloves or hankies. Red coral lipstick. A touch of perfume. Ah the good old days.
As i have been purging my attic of boxes and clutter, it occurred to me that i do not need to keep every purse or hat that i have found over the years. I no longer wear or use most of these items and the ones i will keep belong to my Nonnas and Aunts. In a perfect world i would own a vintage resale shop, get dolled up everyday for work and feel glamorous.
I really do not need one more business or rental commitment - especially here in Salem MA. So the next best thing to do is to set up a cyber Etsy shop. No parking hassles, city taxes, overhead or mandatory shop hours. No worries about theft, Halloween crowds and no snow emergency parking bans. Happy not to have to invite the mayor of Salem in her ill fitting black suit pose while cutting a ribbon at my grand opening and have her take credit for yet another booming business venture under her reign.
Welcome to the Skinny Legs and All Vintage Boutique , named after one of my favorite Tom Robbin's books. I will be adding more items over the next few weeks. And hope to add the link to this new shop on the Planet Calamari website soon.
"High heels, they put a woman much closer to heaven" Tom Robbins
Spring is in the air bring the hope of love, rebirth and new beginnings. This pendant was inspired by the birds who visit my balcony daily for bread crumbs, seeds and popcorn and entertain my cats who peer through the window longingly.
This nest pendant was created with silver plated wire. The eggs are 3 vintage buttons that resemble pearls. No nest is complete without the Mama and Papa bird to feed and protect the soon to be new born chicks. Two silver plated Tibetan bird charms dangle from the nest.
The pendant is 2 inches long from the bail and hangs from a 16 inch silver plated chain. Easy to take off if you would like to put on your favorite chain, ribbon or a neck choker.
A romantic gift for an expecting mother, new family or anniversary. Lightweight and elegant. Available at the Planet Calamari Etsy Shop
Made with love and magic in my Planet Calamari Studio located in magical Salem MA.
One of my hopes for this New Year was to allow myself the time and space to be an artist again. My muse had gone on a very long hiatus when i began putting all of my attention on my K9 acupuncture practice and business Four Paws Acupuncture
Thanks to the synchronicity of finding The Artist's Way at the library and the perpetual weekly blizzards, my muse returned. I am not sure where she went. Maybe down one of those What the Bleep time continuum rabbit holes. Maybe she stayed in Paris or Coney Island. She never even bothered to send a postcard. And she just waltzed back in like "La de da ...i'm back- could you run me a nice hot bath and please bring a glass of wine?" She does not care about running a business, paperwork, or anything that involves the left brain.
With all the hoopla happening with the unions in Wisconsin, my muse has informed me that she also belongs to the Cult of Nine Muses Union. She has a list of demands. She is to be taken on art dates. Hunting for sea glass trips. Shopping sprees at bead emporiums. Napping with cats. Papaya lunches and good red wine. Her union claims she is to have one full day a week with me doing art. Yes- she is one of those high maintenance muses. I think most of them are. If i do not meet her demands she will run off again- for good.
I love being an acupuncturist. Being immersed in an ancient form of medicine is a form of art. Once i am in that TCM zone it is a lot like being in the art flow zone. I just do not like the business end of it all. It is time consuming and at times very frustrating.
Technically i do not get overtime for putting in 50 hours a week working on or at my practice. I do not have office staff to answer calls, confirm patients, run errands, write the e-letters, blogs, books, classes, research dog food and products. Arrange house calls geographically. My imaginary secretary, Mrs Merriweather does it all. She looks a lot like an older version of me with coiffed white hair, cat eye glasses and a strand of pearls. She wears gloves with a Jackie O pillbox hat. Very polite on the phone but cusses like a sailor as soon as she hangs up. I think she has a flask in her purse too. She loves to work and volunteers to come in on weekends and holidays. I think she must have lived through the depression. Always worried that if she stops working something bad may happen. (Perhaps she is a mixture of 12 years of catholic school combined with 5 years of working at Bethlehem Steel?)
Mrs Merriweather and the Muse do not seem to hit it off. They cannot be in the room at the same time. One makes a mess with beads, yarn and feathers while the other is trying to print out patient forms and returning calls. One dances around the kitchen wearing harem pants with bells, while the other is researching the latest dog food recall. The Muse wants me to retire Mrs Merriweather. Send her off to Florida to play canasta with grey haired old ladies. While Mrs M wants me to ship off the Muse back to where ever she sprung from. There must be a compromise as both must stay for now. (The thought of Mrs Merriweather retiring is very appealing. The Muse is way more fun to hang out with- but she does not contribute to the financial side of things - yet...) There is that hope that the Planet Calamari Etsy shop will someday become a prosperous business. I am not willing to be the starving artist again. I have done that gig way too many times in this lifetime.
So i am at the point where i must decide how to make time to be the artist again while running my acupuncture practice. I am on that tightrope one bad step and i fall with no net to catch me.
From the kitchen i hear my Muse is screaming over the sound of Sly and the Family Stone's Dance to the Music "Jump and the net will appear"
It is a blessing that Mrs Merriweather forgot to wear her hearing aid today.
Part of the fun of being part of the Etsy STAT TEAM aka Self Taught Artists is that we are required to make a treasury featuring our team members' art and products once a week. Our work is not allowed to be included. This treasury was especially fun since the theme was pirates. Grab a margarita and take a look me hearties....
It is still bitterly cold here in New England. One can only dream of being on a secluded sunny island with Captain Jack Sparrow and a stock pile of margaritas...... arrrrrrrgh... yo ho yo ho!
This unique wrist sculpture was inspired by the Queen of Goth Genius of NCIS and watching way too many Tim Burton movies!
