please check out my jewelry etsy and give me some feedback! I'd like as many responses as possible so if you're willing to send your friends over to give their answers too that would be fantastic!

[Poll #1985705][Poll #1985705]

Topaz is going to help me put together some promo stuff and I need to pick some earrings to take photos of, so I need to know what the most popular designs are. Please help by picking the ones you are most likely to ACTUALLY WEAR (or buy for someone you know would actually wear them), not the ones you think are prettiest :D

rainfall chimes: long thin cylindrical beads hanging from chain, with teardrop shaped beads at the bottom. They are graduated with the longest chain on the inside (next to the face) and shortest on the outside. (example in red)

chainfall daggers: 5 dagger beads (like stretched diamonds with one point pulled away from the others) hanging from chain that is longest in the center, getting shorter in even steps on both sides. When these are a double-pair set, there is a small set of 2 dagger beads that are longer closer to the face, so that they continue the even steps-up from the larger main pair. (example in violet-blue matte)

infinity orbs: infinity-shaped links connected in a chain, each chain ending in round beads. These are stacked together shortest in front, longest in back, but they hang overlapped and swirl around each other. (examples: opalite and rainbow)

candycoated waterdrops: a cluster of glass teardrops spiral around a central chain like a corkscrew. The effect is similar to a spiral staircase. (examples: clear speckled amber and cobalt)

sky falling: chandelier earrings, with a rounded wire shape with 5 loops giving structure. From this shape hang silver curved-link chain that is longest in the center, getting shorter in even steps on both sides. In addition, there are three shorter chains that hang in the center and on the outside. Each chain ends in a bead, with 3 large and 5 small on each earring. (examples: moon and stars and leaves and teardrops)

gentle rain: chandelier earrings, with a small diamond wire shape at the top that is strung with seed beads. From the bottom three points of the diamond hang three wires strung with seed beads and 3 focal beads, ending in 3 drop-shaped beads. (examples: pale purple hearts and faceted teardrops and green leaves)

after the rain: from 3 graduated chains hang a large semi-rectangular bead with a tiny spearpoint bead dangling below it. When these are a double-pair set, a shorter pair with a single chain makes the outside pair of earrings.(example: lime green and capri blue)

waterfall chimes: from 5 chains that are longest in the center, getting shorter in even steps on both sides, hang long thin cylindrical beads, with some kind of focal bead at the bottom (round, teardrop, or oddly-shaped). When these are a double-pair set, there is a small set of 2 chains with the same beads that are longer closer to the face, so that they continue the even steps-up from the larger main pair. (examples: green and silver, pink and silver, capri blue and shells)

bi elegance: two lines of beads hanging together with the longer line closer to the face: wide variety of beads. (examples: green-amber-brown and pink-purple-silver and pink-green double pair made to match fabric)

tri simplicity: three chains hang at irregular lengths, two ending in a line of seed beads and one ending in a line of slightly larger beads. When these are a double-pair set, there is a small set of 2 chains with the same beads (one seed-bead line, one larger-bead line) for the outer pair. (example: rainbow double-pair set)

serpent flowing: graduated chains with the longest chain on the inside (next to the face) and shortest on the outside end in a short set of 2-3 beads. When these are a double-pair set, the shorter outer set continues the pattern. (examples: opaque and clear red and green and blue)

other: ask and I'll give a detailed description (there are descriptions on the etsy but I don't know how good they are, they're more for prettiness than accuracy).

I'm gonna try to do some daily-events posts for at least 13 days; I'll probably put them all under lj-cuts to prevent me worrying that they're not interesting enough.

( Aurilion, phonetalking, coffee w Sarah, short visit w Abby, creativestreak w earrings )

So I made a second journal -- belbabble -- mainly to house my tweets (under lj-cuts) because I've made some very interesting (to me) little snippets before and they're gone now so I wanna start saving them but I don't want them cluttering up my REAL journal. (feel free to add that LJ if you want, but I don't promise anything interesting) I might also use that LJ to post bits of conversation or links or thought-seeds which aren't developed enough for here. I'm not sure yet on that, but I have been SO blathery lately that it may actually happen. It's weird, I thought that being busier would lead to me not posting but it seems to have the opposite effect. I wish I was better at responding to comments though; I gotta figure out how to change that without sending myself into a spiral of guilty avoidance. I absolutely do read and value everything y'all say, and feel so honored to be able to read the amazing thoughts you share in your own journals.

( And I have two cool stories to share, with my hairdresser and with a random customer :D )

God/dess I love people! Being a barista at an independent coffeehouse (in a racially/culturally diverse area) really is my dream job, almost as much as counseling. Or maybe bartending, that would be freaking AWESOME. I want to talk to strangers all day long and bring them even just a little bit of joy or inspiration.

Ohh, and last week Sakka mentioned a story of healing and it reminded me of an experience I had at age 13. I went over to a couple's house to do some sort of cleaning/organizing work but just a little bit after I arrived the woman (who was pregnant) started experiencing a lot of pain, and got very worried. I asked if it would be okay if I laid hands on zir belly and prayed for zir, and ze said yes. When I did, the pain subsided. They still called my parents to get me and went to the hospital to get checked out, but they credited my prayers with healing power (I forget what ended up being the problem) and I remember that was such an intense experience for me. I was so calm and full of faith -- I had NO DOUBT. I don't know if my prayers actually changed something physical or if the panic was causing the pain and my prayers gave zir enough faith to be calm, but whichever, I do consider it a miracle. I miss being that sure that I could call on Deity and always get instant help. I've been rebuilding my faith for a long time now but it's not yet as strong as it was when I was a child.

So I made a second journal -- belbabble -- mainly to house my tweets (under lj-cuts) because I've made some very interesting (to me) little snippets before and they're gone now so I wanna start saving them but I don't want them cluttering up my REAL journal. (feel free to add that LJ if you want, but I don't promise anything interesting) I might also use that LJ to post bits of conversation or links or thought-seeds which aren't developed enough for here. I'm not sure yet on that, but I have been SO blathery lately that it may actually happen. It's weird, I thought that being busier would lead to me not posting but it seems to have the opposite effect. I wish I was better at responding to comments though; I gotta figure out how to change that without sending myself into a spiral of guilty avoidance. I absolutely do read and value everything y'all say, and feel so honored to be able to read the amazing thoughts you share in your own journals.

( And I have two cool stories to share, with my hairdresser and with a random customer :D )

God/dess I love people! Being a barista at an independent coffeehouse (in a racially/culturally diverse area) really is my dream job, almost as much as counseling. Or maybe bartending, that would be freaking AWESOME. I want to talk to strangers all day long and bring them even just a little bit of joy or inspiration.

Ohh, and last week Sakka mentioned a story of healing and it reminded me of an experience I had at age 13. I went over to a couple's house to do some sort of cleaning/organizing work but just a little bit after I arrived the woman (who was pregnant) started experiencing a lot of pain, and got very worried. I asked if it would be okay if I laid hands on zir belly and prayed for zir, and ze said yes. When I did, the pain subsided. They still called my parents to get me and went to the hospital to get checked out, but they credited my prayers with healing power (I forget what ended up being the problem) and I remember that was such an intense experience for me. I was so calm and full of faith -- I had NO DOUBT. I don't know if my prayers actually changed something physical or if the panic was causing the pain and my prayers gave zir enough faith to be calm, but whichever, I do consider it a miracle. I miss being that sure that I could call on Deity and always get instant help. I've been rebuilding my faith for a long time now but it's not yet as strong as it was when I was a child.

There's only one from the first day when we went wandering about a street festival in San Jose and I need to give it a little backstory. I've been looking for a serpent/cobra ring for at least two years. It had to look realistic (not stylized, no gemstone eyes) with a full body (not body in the front regular band in the back), scale patterning, and have an open mouth but no tongue sticking out. And it had to fit (no easy task as I have very thick fingers). My rings all have spiritual meaning to me; the ring I sought would represent my cobra spirit as well as Sia, the Egyptian Deity/concept of a flash of intuition which brings full understanding. So, after years of searching, I spotted a serpent earcuff with just the slightest hood (which is appropriate for the breed of cobra which I most resonate with) which is EXACTLY what I was looking for. I'd never considered an earcuff but it's so right that ze cling to my ear! Buying meaningful jewelry is really important to me -- I suppose in a way it's a sacrament, an outward expression of something sacred. And after finding and buying a piece, each time I put it on I remember its meaning and feel more connected to what it represents.

( me wearing the earcuff )

( through San Francisco, over the Golden Gate bridge and to Muir Woods )

There's only one from the first day when we went wandering about a street festival in San Jose and I need to give it a little backstory. I've been looking for a serpent/cobra ring for at least two years. It had to look realistic (not stylized, no gemstone eyes) with a full body (not body in the front regular band in the back), scale patterning, and have an open mouth but no tongue sticking out. And it had to fit (no easy task as I have very thick fingers). My rings all have spiritual meaning to me; the ring I sought would represent my cobra spirit as well as Sia, the Egyptian Deity/concept of a flash of intuition which brings full understanding. So, after years of searching, I spotted a serpent earcuff with just the slightest hood (which is appropriate for the breed of cobra which I most resonate with) which is EXACTLY what I was looking for. I'd never considered an earcuff but it's so right that ze cling to my ear! Buying meaningful jewelry is really important to me -- I suppose in a way it's a sacrament, an outward expression of something sacred. And after finding and buying a piece, each time I put it on I remember its meaning and feel more connected to what it represents.

( me wearing the earcuff )

( through San Francisco, over the Golden Gate bridge and to Muir Woods )

looking at the results to the poll, the lengths didn't match up with the earrings you'd wear, so could you please vote again, taking into consideration the length? (you might have already but I phrased the length question badly so am asking that again too) The long designs pretty much have to be that long in order to be that shape. AGH! I just realized that the poll didn't include the strikethrough I put in! on the first question ignore the "most often" part please! Also please notice that the last question refers strictly to earLOBES, not the whole ear.

[Poll #1354737]

For my gauged friends, do you ever wear eyelets? would you be interested in earrings made to loop through them? If so, would you want semi-precious stones or whatever materials strike my fancy? only sterling chain or anything that works? would you want them kind of chunky or delicate? I'm thinking of making some prototypes and sending them out for free in exchange for you taking photos with them in and sending them to me so that I can have a good photo for listing. And if that works out, I think several of my designs could easily be made to work with eyelets.

looking at the results to the poll, the lengths didn't match up with the earrings you'd wear, so could you please vote again, taking into consideration the length? (you might have already but I phrased the length question badly so am asking that again too) The long designs pretty much have to be that long in order to be that shape. AGH! I just realized that the poll didn't include the strikethrough I put in! on the first question ignore the "most often" part please! Also please notice that the last question refers strictly to earLOBES, not the whole ear.

[Poll #1354737]

For my gauged friends, do you ever wear eyelets? would you be interested in earrings made to loop through them? If so, would you want semi-precious stones or whatever materials strike my fancy? only sterling chain or anything that works? would you want them kind of chunky or delicate? I'm thinking of making some prototypes and sending them out for free in exchange for you taking photos with them in and sending them to me so that I can have a good photo for listing. And if that works out, I think several of my designs could easily be made to work with eyelets.

looking at the results to the poll, the lengths didn't match up with the earrings you'd wear, so could you please vote again, taking into consideration the length? (you might have already but I phrased the length question badly so am asking that again too) The long designs pretty much have to be that long in order to be that shape. AGH! I just realized that the poll didn't include the strikethrough I put in! on the first question ignore the "most often" part please! Also please notice that the last question refers strictly to earLOBES, not the whole ear.

[Poll #1354737]

For my gauged friends, do you ever wear eyelets? would you be interested in earrings made to loop through them? If so, would you want semi-precious stones or whatever materials strike my fancy? only sterling chain or anything that works? would you want them kind of chunky or delicate? I'm thinking of making some prototypes and sending them out for free in exchange for you taking photos with them in and sending them to me so that I can have a good photo for listing. And if that works out, I think several of my designs could easily be made to work with eyelets.

[Poll #1353884]

[Poll #1353884]

[Poll #1353884]

( ramblings about art, the sacred, and money )

I just ordered some supplies for the vials so I'm not starting quite yet, but I'm compiling the info so that I know what I need to get (and so that it can be swirling in my spirit). So Nea, Laura, Jenny, i_come_undone, girlstandstill, Kori, SabR, Angie, Sidhe, and Hosanna, I still need info from you, especially you first few because you're at the beginning of the list (I'm doing first the 4 who kept coming to mind, then in order of when you commented).

The nature of these vials is temporary -- that is, they're meant to create an effect in your life, and once you outgrow the need for that effect, they'll no longer be 'potent.' Obviously you can still wear them for their beauty, but they are not meant to express who you are so much as to draw things TO you. I ask for the colors/symbols/words you resonate with because that gives an anchor to you, but I may include things that you don't necessarily resonate with at the moment. For instance, right now I might wear a vial with blue in it for tranquility and moving house (I might be moving soon and my life seems filled with upheaval), but blue is not at all one of my colors. I just want to specify this so that you won't be disappointed if the vial does not perfectly reflect who you are.

( ramblings about art, the sacred, and money )

I just ordered some supplies for the vials so I'm not starting quite yet, but I'm compiling the info so that I know what I need to get (and so that it can be swirling in my spirit). So Nea, Laura, Jenny, i_come_undone, girlstandstill, Kori, SabR, Angie, Sidhe, and Hosanna, I still need info from you, especially you first few because you're at the beginning of the list (I'm doing first the 4 who kept coming to mind, then in order of when you commented).

The nature of these vials is temporary -- that is, they're meant to create an effect in your life, and once you outgrow the need for that effect, they'll no longer be 'potent.' Obviously you can still wear them for their beauty, but they are not meant to express who you are so much as to draw things TO you. I ask for the colors/symbols/words you resonate with because that gives an anchor to you, but I may include things that you don't necessarily resonate with at the moment. For instance, right now I might wear a vial with blue in it for tranquility and moving house (I might be moving soon and my life seems filled with upheaval), but blue is not at all one of my colors. I just want to specify this so that you won't be disappointed if the vial does not perfectly reflect who you are.

( ramblings about art, the sacred, and money )

I just ordered some supplies for the vials so I'm not starting quite yet, but I'm compiling the info so that I know what I need to get (and so that it can be swirling in my spirit). So Nea, Laura, Jenny, i_come_undone, girlstandstill, Kori, SabR, Angie, Sidhe, and Hosanna, I still need info from you, especially you first few because you're at the beginning of the list (I'm doing first the 4 who kept coming to mind, then in order of when you commented).

The nature of these vials is temporary -- that is, they're meant to create an effect in your life, and once you outgrow the need for that effect, they'll no longer be 'potent.' Obviously you can still wear them for their beauty, but they are not meant to express who you are so much as to draw things TO you. I ask for the colors/symbols/words you resonate with because that gives an anchor to you, but I may include things that you don't necessarily resonate with at the moment. For instance, right now I might wear a vial with blue in it for tranquility and moving house (I might be moving soon and my life seems filled with upheaval), but blue is not at all one of my colors. I just want to specify this so that you won't be disappointed if the vial does not perfectly reflect who you are.

I made armandii an earring set recently and couldn't resist taking photos in them (don't worry, I always clean them after). The jewelry pieces I make are my babies, I have such a hard time letting them go! ;-) Oh, and I started an etsy account -- don't have much up yet, but I'm planning on making a bunch of simple earrings because I think they'll sell better. This time I want to keep trying until it works. I made two pairs today, though they didn't turn out simple at all -- one took the better part of two hours and the other took one. *rolls eyes at self*

I have discovered Burt's Bees lip shimmer and my friends, I actually like it! I'm collecting all the colors :D I've always hated lip color because it tastes nasty and feels goopy on my lips, but this actually feels like lip gloss, very light, and tastes peppermint YUM! I usually blot, but I wanted intense colors here.



( no nudity, gasp faint )

I need an updated selfportraiture icon (new camera, longer hair) but I need another person and another camera for that, argh!

I made armandii an earring set recently and couldn't resist taking photos in them (don't worry, I always clean them after). The jewelry pieces I make are my babies, I have such a hard time letting them go! ;-) Oh, and I started an etsy account -- don't have much up yet, but I'm planning on making a bunch of simple earrings because I think they'll sell better. This time I want to keep trying until it works. I made two pairs today, though they didn't turn out simple at all -- one took the better part of two hours and the other took one. *rolls eyes at self*

I have discovered Burt's Bees lip shimmer and my friends, I actually like it! I'm collecting all the colors :D I've always hated lip color because it tastes nasty and feels goopy on my lips, but this actually feels like lip gloss, very light, and tastes peppermint YUM! I usually blot, but I wanted intense colors here.



( no nudity, gasp faint )

I need an updated selfportraiture icon (new camera, longer hair) but I need another person and another camera for that, argh!

I made armandii an earring set recently and couldn't resist taking photos in them (don't worry, I always clean them after). The jewelry pieces I make are my babies, I have such a hard time letting them go! ;-) Oh, and I started an etsy account -- don't have much up yet, but I'm planning on making a bunch of simple earrings because I think they'll sell better. This time I want to keep trying until it works. I made two pairs today, though they didn't turn out simple at all -- one took the better part of two hours and the other took one. *rolls eyes at self*

I have discovered Burt's Bees lip shimmer and my friends, I actually like it! I'm collecting all the colors :D I've always hated lip color because it tastes nasty and feels goopy on my lips, but this actually feels like lip gloss, very light, and tastes peppermint YUM! I usually blot, but I wanted intense colors here.



( no nudity, gasp faint )

I need an updated selfportraiture icon (new camera, longer hair) but I need another person and another camera for that, argh!

[Poll #1136153]

and I decided to try once more at selling on ebay: plum flowers, long ice-colored stars, & spear-tipped black & silver chainfalls. (Sharon, I finished your earrings and I will take photos today!)

oh, and 'cause I have been meaning to do this, everyone please check out redarmy_pariah and add her if you think you'd click! She's still fairly new to LJ and has few friends (and my flist is truly the best collection of people on LJ, so I'm proud to share).

[Poll #1136153]

and I decided to try once more at selling on ebay: plum flowers, long ice-colored stars, & spear-tipped black & silver chainfalls. (Sharon, I finished your earrings and I will take photos today!)

oh, and 'cause I have been meaning to do this, everyone please check out redarmy_pariah and add her if you think you'd click! She's still fairly new to LJ and has few friends (and my flist is truly the best collection of people on LJ, so I'm proud to share).

[Poll #1136153]

and I decided to try once more at selling on ebay: plum flowers, long ice-colored stars, & spear-tipped black & silver chainfalls. (Sharon, I finished your earrings and I will take photos today!)

oh, and 'cause I have been meaning to do this, everyone please check out redarmy_pariah and add her if you think you'd click! She's still fairly new to LJ and has few friends (and my flist is truly the best collection of people on LJ, so I'm proud to share).

I realized I have a ton of jewelry photos I haven't shared from as far back as last August, so here goes. I so miss that heat!



( close-ups of my jewelry! )

( the self-portraits I took in them )

I'm always up for a new commission, so check out the different designs and let me know if you want to order something!

I realized I have a ton of jewelry photos I haven't shared from as far back as last August, so here goes. I so miss that heat!



( close-ups of my jewelry! )

( the self-portraits I took in them )

I'm always up for a new commission, so check out the different designs and let me know if you want to order something!

I realized I have a ton of jewelry photos I haven't shared from as far back as last August, so here goes. I so miss that heat!



( close-ups of my jewelry! )

( the self-portraits I took in them )

I'm always up for a new commission, so check out the different designs and let me know if you want to order something!

( lj idol chatter, sicky computer complaints )

I took a billion photos of those earrings that took my blood, sweat, and tears (quite literally, as I accidentally stabbed myself with wire while making them), but I'm waiting to upload them because I'm paranoid about my camera somehow getting infected. (I'm gonna get a card reader anyway because the leads take forever) I really love the earrings though, and they have a spiritual significance to me that I have yet to figure out. Something about the sacrifice (3 hours of work and 24 hours of numbness/pain/tingling) put into them gave them extra meaning. Also, the fact that they drew blood (which has only happened maybe twice in my 5+ years of beadweaving) and are blood-red with drops on the ends seems... oddly fitting.

( lj idol chatter, sicky computer complaints )

I took a billion photos of those earrings that took my blood, sweat, and tears (quite literally, as I accidentally stabbed myself with wire while making them), but I'm waiting to upload them because I'm paranoid about my camera somehow getting infected. (I'm gonna get a card reader anyway because the leads take forever) I really love the earrings though, and they have a spiritual significance to me that I have yet to figure out. Something about the sacrifice (3 hours of work and 24 hours of numbness/pain/tingling) put into them gave them extra meaning. Also, the fact that they drew blood (which has only happened maybe twice in my 5+ years of beadweaving) and are blood-red with drops on the ends seems... oddly fitting.

( lj idol chatter, sicky computer complaints )

I took a billion photos of those earrings that took my blood, sweat, and tears (quite literally, as I accidentally stabbed myself with wire while making them), but I'm waiting to upload them because I'm paranoid about my camera somehow getting infected. (I'm gonna get a card reader anyway because the leads take forever) I really love the earrings though, and they have a spiritual significance to me that I have yet to figure out. Something about the sacrifice (3 hours of work and 24 hours of numbness/pain/tingling) put into them gave them extra meaning. Also, the fact that they drew blood (which has only happened maybe twice in my 5+ years of beadweaving) and are blood-red with drops on the ends seems... oddly fitting.

I spent 3 hours straight last night making a double pair of earrings, and the whole time I had my arms propped on the edge of the desk -- BIG MISTAKE. Afterward, my hands were numb and tingly (pins & needles) for at least an hour and a half and then painful, swollen and stiff for another 2 hours and they're STILL not all better. I have stuff I want to write but it will have to wait... I don't want to put my hands to work again 'til they're all better. Fortunately the earrings are awesome! (pictures hopefully soon) and no one can ever say I haven't suffered for my art. ;-)

I spent 3 hours straight last night making a double pair of earrings, and the whole time I had my arms propped on the edge of the desk -- BIG MISTAKE. Afterward, my hands were numb and tingly (pins & needles) for at least an hour and a half and then painful, swollen and stiff for another 2 hours and they're STILL not all better. I have stuff I want to write but it will have to wait... I don't want to put my hands to work again 'til they're all better. Fortunately the earrings are awesome! (pictures hopefully soon) and no one can ever say I haven't suffered for my art. ;-)

I spent 3 hours straight last night making a double pair of earrings, and the whole time I had my arms propped on the edge of the desk -- BIG MISTAKE. Afterward, my hands were numb and tingly (pins & needles) for at least an hour and a half and then painful, swollen and stiff for another 2 hours and they're STILL not all better. I have stuff I want to write but it will have to wait... I don't want to put my hands to work again 'til they're all better. Fortunately the earrings are awesome! (pictures hopefully soon) and no one can ever say I haven't suffered for my art. ;-)

Words and actions are like clothing; we can express ourselves with them, but they cannot describe the person we are. They can hint, they can shout, but they cannot sum us up. People are simply too complex, and too much of us exists in a place where no one can see actions or hear words. The only label that has any worth is our self-label: the words we choose to dress ourselves in. And even those have no worth until we explain our own meaning for them.

On that note, here are the words I wear: spiritual, creative, honest, open, compassionate, bisexual, polyamorous, partnered, nuevo-gypsy, Georgian, curvy body-positive, fiercely individualistic, feminist/equalist, genderfree female-bodied person. (in no particular order) And my definitions:

spiritual: I don't adhere to any one religion, but believe in whatever resonates with me. The main belief systems I draw from are ancient Egyptian concepts (including aspects of Kemetic Orthodoxy), Native American animism, Christianity, and Buddhism (I don't know much about it but I really love Hotei). I worship God/dess, and have a relationship with several of hir personalities, of Christian and Kemetic names. Ultimately I believe God/dess is love, that the physical world is a metaphor for the spiritual world, and that we chose to come to earth to learn how to love more. I believe everything is connected, all things have a spirit and a name, and there is no such thing as a coincidence.

creative: I am one who creates. I do my best to create love in myself and others, and to pour myself out in my creations: my writing, photography, modeling, beadweaving, painting, dancing, singing -- whatever way I can. I believe that every act of creation ripples out and changes the world (as does destruction, but that in a negative way). Even if no one ever sees my art, I feel I have changed the world simply by creating it (though I think it has even more power when shared).

honest: I do my best to never lie. I think 'little white lies' are like 'little white maggots' that infest connectedness and ruin it. Even one 'little white maggot' in a bowl of soup is going to make you not want to eat it -- I feel the same way about lies. If you can't trust me on something small, how can you trust me with your heart? also, little white maggotlies are usually born from insecurity in the relationship, or lack of willingness to work out all issues. 'I don't want to offend her' or 'I don't want conflict.' Conflict is the best source of growth. I say brrrrring it oooooooon.

open: I will share myself with my friends without prompting, and I will share myself with strangers upon them showing the interest to know. I think every time one person shares themselves with another, that creates more of a connection and ripples out to affect the whole world. To me, honesty is giving truth when it is asked for (passive), and openness is offering your truth (active).

compassionate: My most intense passion in life is to learn, in order to grow, and to grow, in order to love - more deeply, more freely, more openly. I believe love is my purpose for being. The more I love people, the easier it gets, because I come to understand them more, and when you truly understand a person, it's the easiest and most natural thing in the world to love them. I believe that at core we are all amazing, glorious spirits of incalculable worth. We all have a level of brokenness that keeps our spirits from being able to shine as they were meant to, but every act of love ripples out a wave of healing.

bisexual: ( ... )
polyamorous: ( ... )
partnered: ( ... )
nuevo-gypsy, Georgian: ( ... )
curvy body-positive: ( ... )
fiercely individualistic: ( ... )
feminist/equalist: ( ... )
nudist: ( ... )
genderfree female-bodied person: ( ... )

LJ idol topic 0: introduction/open topic (no voting this round!)

Words and actions are like clothing; we can express ourselves with them, but they cannot describe the person we are. They can hint, they can shout, but they cannot sum us up. People are simply too complex, and too much of us exists in a place where no one can see actions or hear words. The only label that has any worth is our self-label: the words we choose to dress ourselves in. And even those have no worth until we explain our own meaning for them.

On that note, here are the words I wear: spiritual, creative, honest, open, compassionate, bisexual, polyamorous, partnered, nuevo-gypsy, Georgian, curvy body-positive, fiercely individualistic, feminist/equalist, genderfree female-bodied person. (in no particular order) And my definitions:

spiritual: I don't adhere to any one religion, but believe in whatever resonates with me. The main belief systems I draw from are ancient Egyptian concepts (including aspects of Kemetic Orthodoxy), Native American animism, Christianity, and Buddhism (I don't know much about it but I really love Hotei). I worship God/dess, and have a relationship with several of hir personalities, of Christian and Kemetic names. Ultimately I believe God/dess is love, that the physical world is a metaphor for the spiritual world, and that we chose to come to earth to learn how to love more. I believe everything is connected, all things have a spirit and a name, and there is no such thing as a coincidence.

creative: I am one who creates. I do my best to create love in myself and others, and to pour myself out in my creations: my writing, photography, modeling, beadweaving, painting, dancing, singing -- whatever way I can. I believe that every act of creation ripples out and changes the world (as does destruction, but that in a negative way). Even if no one ever sees my art, I feel I have changed the world simply by creating it (though I think it has even more power when shared).

honest: I do my best to never lie. I think 'little white lies' are like 'little white maggots' that infest connectedness and ruin it. Even one 'little white maggot' in a bowl of soup is going to make you not want to eat it -- I feel the same way about lies. If you can't trust me on something small, how can you trust me with your heart? also, little white maggotlies are usually born from insecurity in the relationship, or lack of willingness to work out all issues. 'I don't want to offend her' or 'I don't want conflict.' Conflict is the best source of growth. I say brrrrring it oooooooon.

open: I will share myself with my friends without prompting, and I will share myself with strangers upon them showing the interest to know. I think every time one person shares themselves with another, that creates more of a connection and ripples out to affect the whole world. To me, honesty is giving truth when it is asked for (passive), and openness is offering your truth (active).

compassionate: My most intense passion in life is to learn, in order to grow, and to grow, in order to love - more deeply, more freely, more openly. I believe love is my purpose for being. The more I love people, the easier it gets, because I come to understand them more, and when you truly understand a person, it's the easiest and most natural thing in the world to love them. I believe that at core we are all amazing, glorious spirits of incalculable worth. We all have a level of brokenness that keeps our spirits from being able to shine as they were meant to, but every act of love ripples out a wave of healing.

bisexual: ( ... )
polyamorous: ( ... )
partnered: ( ... )
nuevo-gypsy, Georgian: ( ... )
curvy body-positive: ( ... )
fiercely individualistic: ( ... )
feminist/equalist: ( ... )
nudist: ( ... )
genderfree female-bodied person: ( ... )

LJ idol topic 0: introduction/open topic (no voting this round!)

Words and actions are like clothing; we can express ourselves with them, but they cannot describe the person we are. They can hint, they can shout, but they cannot sum us up. People are simply too complex, and too much of us exists in a place where no one can see actions or hear words. The only label that has any worth is our self-label: the words we choose to dress ourselves in. And even those have no worth until we explain our own meaning for them.

On that note, here are the words I wear: spiritual, creative, honest, open, compassionate, bisexual, polyamorous, partnered, nuevo-gypsy, Georgian, curvy body-positive, fiercely individualistic, feminist/equalist, genderfree female-bodied person. (in no particular order) And my definitions:

spiritual: I don't adhere to any one religion, but believe in whatever resonates with me. The main belief systems I draw from are ancient Egyptian concepts (including aspects of Kemetic Orthodoxy), Native American animism, Christianity, and Buddhism (I don't know much about it but I really love Hotei). I worship God/dess, and have a relationship with several of hir personalities, of Christian and Kemetic names. Ultimately I believe God/dess is love, that the physical world is a metaphor for the spiritual world, and that we chose to come to earth to learn how to love more. I believe everything is connected, all things have a spirit and a name, and there is no such thing as a coincidence.

creative: I am one who creates. I do my best to create love in myself and others, and to pour myself out in my creations: my writing, photography, modeling, beadweaving, painting, dancing, singing -- whatever way I can. I believe that every act of creation ripples out and changes the world (as does destruction, but that in a negative way). Even if no one ever sees my art, I feel I have changed the world simply by creating it (though I think it has even more power when shared).

honest: I do my best to never lie. I think 'little white lies' are like 'little white maggots' that infest connectedness and ruin it. Even one 'little white maggot' in a bowl of soup is going to make you not want to eat it -- I feel the same way about lies. If you can't trust me on something small, how can you trust me with your heart? also, little white maggotlies are usually born from insecurity in the relationship, or lack of willingness to work out all issues. 'I don't want to offend her' or 'I don't want conflict.' Conflict is the best source of growth. I say brrrrring it oooooooon.

open: I will share myself with my friends without prompting, and I will share myself with strangers upon them showing the interest to know. I think every time one person shares themselves with another, that creates more of a connection and ripples out to affect the whole world. To me, honesty is giving truth when it is asked for (passive), and openness is offering your truth (active).

compassionate: My most intense passion in life is to learn, in order to grow, and to grow, in order to love - more deeply, more freely, more openly. I believe love is my purpose for being. The more I love people, the easier it gets, because I come to understand them more, and when you truly understand a person, it's the easiest and most natural thing in the world to love them. I believe that at core we are all amazing, glorious spirits of incalculable worth. We all have a level of brokenness that keeps our spirits from being able to shine as they were meant to, but every act of love ripples out a wave of healing.

bisexual: ( ... )
polyamorous: ( ... )
partnered: ( ... )
nuevo-gypsy, Georgian: ( ... )
curvy body-positive: ( ... )
fiercely individualistic: ( ... )
feminist/equalist: ( ... )
nudist: ( ... )
genderfree female-bodied person: ( ... )

LJ idol topic 0: introduction/open topic (no voting this round!)

since Hannah's going to BE HERE in 13 hours (!!!) I'm going to post a bunch of recent stuff to clear the way for new stuff. I'm quite proud of some of these self-portraits.



( leafshadow portraits )

( tree honor )

( 'The Kaylene' in Berries for roina_arwen )

( four from two days ago )

since Hannah's going to BE HERE in 13 hours (!!!) I'm going to post a bunch of recent stuff to clear the way for new stuff. I'm quite proud of some of these self-portraits.



( leafshadow portraits )

( tree honor )

( 'The Kaylene' in Berries for roina_arwen )

( four from two days ago )

since Hannah's going to BE HERE in 13 hours (!!!) I'm going to post a bunch of recent stuff to clear the way for new stuff. I'm quite proud of some of these self-portraits.



( leafshadow portraits )

( tree honor )

( 'The Kaylene' in Berries for roina_arwen )

( four from two days ago )

in June permanent accounts go on sale and I am desperate to get one this time around, but I don't have $150 just laying around, soooooooo help me please? you can donate ANY amount, really, I'll be super grateful for whatever you can spare. Even if you just donate 50 cents, then I would feel like my journal was a gift partly from you ♥ (I just want to have a list of names to put in my userinfo and say 'these people bought me a permanent account' *blushblush*)

or you can buy some of my jewelry *bats eyes*:


( gallery of Belian jewelry creations )

thank you to my donors/purchasers so far: clown_frog, rescoto, rosefox8, spindell, lorelei_sakti, roina_arwen, & aubkabob!!! *beams*

in June permanent accounts go on sale and I am desperate to get one this time around, but I don't have $150 just laying around, soooooooo help me please? you can donate ANY amount, really, I'll be super grateful for whatever you can spare. Even if you just donate 50 cents, then I would feel like my journal was a gift partly from you ♥ (I just want to have a list of names to put in my userinfo and say 'these people bought me a permanent account' *blushblush*)

or you can buy some of my jewelry *bats eyes*:


( gallery of Belian jewelry creations )

thank you to my donors/purchasers so far: clown_frog, rescoto, rosefox8, spindell, lorelei_sakti, roina_arwen, & aubkabob!!! *beams*

in June permanent accounts go on sale and I am desperate to get one this time around, but I don't have $150 just laying around, soooooooo help me please? you can donate ANY amount, really, I'll be super grateful for whatever you can spare. Even if you just donate 50 cents, then I would feel like my journal was a gift partly from you ♥ (I just want to have a list of names to put in my userinfo and say 'these people bought me a permanent account' *blushblush*)

or you can buy some of my jewelry *bats eyes*:


( gallery of Belian jewelry creations )

thank you to my donors/purchasers so far: clown_frog, rescoto, rosefox8, spindell, lorelei_sakti, roina_arwen, & aubkabob!!! *beams*

If you know me well, these photos will shock you. :-p ORANGE??!?!?! VOLUNTARILY?!?!? has Bel LOST HER MIND? All I can say is, they were laying around and when I saw them I thought of kashlamar's searing-orange and cobalt-blue outfit the other day, and sabr's adoration of the color, and I decided to make something in homage of them. :D both necklaces and the earrings are for sale! and I can make more dainty earrings to match if you have 2 holes or just want something little.

tangerine rainbow splash!



( photos galore, because I took tons and this is what it narrowed down to )

If you know me well, these photos will shock you. :-p ORANGE??!?!?! VOLUNTARILY?!?!? has Bel LOST HER MIND? All I can say is, they were laying around and when I saw them I thought of kashlamar's searing-orange and cobalt-blue outfit the other day, and sabr's adoration of the color, and I decided to make something in homage of them. :D both necklaces and the earrings are for sale! and I can make more dainty earrings to match if you have 2 holes or just want something little.

tangerine rainbow splash!



( photos galore, because I took tons and this is what it narrowed down to )

If you know me well, these photos will shock you. :-p ORANGE??!?!?! VOLUNTARILY?!?!? has Bel LOST HER MIND? All I can say is, they were laying around and when I saw them I thought of kashlamar's searing-orange and cobalt-blue outfit the other day, and sabr's adoration of the color, and I decided to make something in homage of them. :D both necklaces and the earrings are for sale! and I can make more dainty earrings to match if you have 2 holes or just want something little.

tangerine rainbow splash!



( photos galore, because I took tons and this is what it narrowed down to )

augh! I've been feeling so crappy the past few days :-( I'm really worried about whether or not Hannah will be able to come over when I want her to. She has to do some stuff to get her passport renewed, which takes time, and I want to hurry up and get tickets, but not until I know she'll be able to use them! argh! I miss her so damn much, it's been 9 months since I have seen her, my soulfriend. I want her here SOON, I don't want to wait! There are so many wonderful things I have planned for us to do together. So everyone please, please, PLEASE pray or send positive energy or good thoughts, so that she will be able to get everything in order in time for us to get affordable tickets to get her here June 13th.

I miss my Firekat too, it was so wonderful having her here... and I miss 'Kenzy and Meliae, who haven't been on to chat in ages (enough that I am starting to worry!) and I miss SabR and Kazi and and and... :-(

I made a necklace/earring set the other day (before this nasty lethargy set in) but I don't have the motivation to photograph it, so poo.

random thing I said in a community today: I live in a world that does not allow many to create a 'true' gypsy lifestyle, but that does not mean I am not a gypsy. I am a gypsy who has been separated from my scattered tribe and trapped in a disconnected, money-driven world, where my creations and innovation are not enough to feed and clothe me (without also tying me down). I don't know my bloodline, and I might live in the same place for a while, but my heart is eternally wandering, free, wild, not recognizing 'ownership' of things and land and people, not recognizing borders, refusing to be pinned to one way of living. And it is my heart that defines me. One day I hope to have my outer life match my inner, but even if that never happens, I will always be a gypsy. (I feel like saving this and turning it into a real post, but I do that too much, which is why I have a whole pile of incomplete posts. Instead I will share it in its raw form)

I need cuddles :-(

augh! I've been feeling so crappy the past few days :-( I'm really worried about whether or not Hannah will be able to come over when I want her to. She has to do some stuff to get her passport renewed, which takes time, and I want to hurry up and get tickets, but not until I know she'll be able to use them! argh! I miss her so damn much, it's been 9 months since I have seen her, my soulfriend. I want her here SOON, I don't want to wait! There are so many wonderful things I have planned for us to do together. So everyone please, please, PLEASE pray or send positive energy or good thoughts, so that she will be able to get everything in order in time for us to get affordable tickets to get her here June 13th.

I miss my Firekat too, it was so wonderful having her here... and I miss 'Kenzy and Meliae, who haven't been on to chat in ages (enough that I am starting to worry!) and I miss SabR and Kazi and and and... :-(

I made a necklace/earring set the other day (before this nasty lethargy set in) but I don't have the motivation to photograph it, so poo.

random thing I said in a community today: I live in a world that does not allow many to create a 'true' gypsy lifestyle, but that does not mean I am not a gypsy. I am a gypsy who has been separated from my scattered tribe and trapped in a disconnected, money-driven world, where my creations and innovation are not enough to feed and clothe me (without also tying me down). I don't know my bloodline, and I might live in the same place for a while, but my heart is eternally wandering, free, wild, not recognizing 'ownership' of things and land and people, not recognizing borders, refusing to be pinned to one way of living. And it is my heart that defines me. One day I hope to have my outer life match my inner, but even if that never happens, I will always be a gypsy. (I feel like saving this and turning it into a real post, but I do that too much, which is why I have a whole pile of incomplete posts. Instead I will share it in its raw form)

I need cuddles :-(