The Right Place at the Right Time

Success at the Jewelry Trunk Show last Saturday! Moondog Treasures has definitely found its niche - yoga studios. At Move Studio in North Dallas, the customers kept coming. In between classes, they would stop by my table and pick out a little something for a friend, or for themselves! 






These items were the best-sellers:

PMC precious silver necklaces from The Sanskrit Collection:

Yoga Wrap Bracelets:

Womens Mala Bracelets:

See something you like? Shop online now at Moondog Treasures. Questions? Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.

Preparing for a Trunk Show

Moondog's Yoga Jewelry Trunk Show

Move Studio in North Dallas

Saturday, April 28  1:00-4:00

I've been setting things up in my living room for a trial run. 

Here is a sneak preview...

Yoga Wrap Bracelets/Necklaces

Precious silver pendants from The Sanskrit Collection

Options for custom pendants

Full Malas

Wrist malas for Women and Men

See you there!!

See something you like?  Shop online now at Moondog Treasures. Questions? Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.

How to Use a Mala

Full 108 mala with white jasper gemstone and sterling om drop

      Malas are beautiful.  A strand of beads, all the same size, and one larger bead, or tassle, at the end.  The word mala in Sanskrit means "garland".  A mala is a set of beads often used by Hindus and Buddhists during prayer.  Malas are usually made from 108 beads or some smaller number, usually divisible by 9.  Malas are used for keeping count while praying, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity.


     In the Hindu tradition, the mala is held with the right hand, using the thumb to move from one bead to the next, with the mala resting on the third finger. The larger bead on a mala is called the guru bead.  Counting begins with the bead next to it.  If more than one round of japa is practiced, the person stops at the guru bead and goes back in the other direction.  This way the guru bead is not skipped over by the hand.


     Wrist malas, or mala bracelets are a best-seller in my shop.  To see my mala collections, click on the following links:

Full 108 malas

Womens malas

Mens malas

   Every year during the month of September, Moondog donates 54% of all sales of mala bracelets to charity. She does this in honor of the Global Mala, an incredible annual yoga event that was set into motion in 2007 by Shiva Rea to raise awareness and funds for causes that affect our planet. See www.globalmala.org or www.yogamonth.org for more information.

    Shop now at Moondog Treasures.  Questions?  Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.

What is a mala?

I sell malas and mala bracelets in my shop and I often get asked the questions, "What is a mala?" and "How do I use a mala?" Full malas remind me of the rosaries that I use as part of my Catholic faith. For each bead, a prayer is said. A mala is a set of 108 beads. Each bead stands for a mantra, a word, or a prayer.  Repeating prayers on a rosary can be very meditative.  The repetition of mantras on the beads of a mala is a form of meditation as well.

Full 108 mala with jasper gemstone and rudraksha bead

 

Mens' mala bracelet with earth jasper and wood

It is traditional of Tibetan Buddhism to recite mantras 108 times. Many malas have 108 beads, or are also made smaller but are divided into 108 to come up with 27 and 54 bead malas. The mens' mala bracelet above contains 27 beads. 

 

Mala gift box with scroll

Each mala from Moondog Treasures comes in a gift box with an explanation of a mala rolled into a tiny scroll.

To see my mala collections, click on the following links:

Full 108 malas

Womens malas

Mens malas

Every year during the month of September, Moondog donates 54% of all sales of mala bracelets to charity. She does this in honor of the Global Mala, an incredible annual yoga event that was set into motion in 2007 by Shiva Rea to raise awareness and funds for causes that affect our planet. See www.globalmala.org or www.yogamonth.org for more information. 

I'm the creator behind this blog and Moondog Treasures: yoga jewelry for women and men, mala bracelets, Sanskrit mantra necklaces, and wire-wrapped beaded crosses. I use this blog to share what I do and to feature other talented Etsy artists whose work I admire. Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.

Coming soon:  What do the different gemstones represent on a mala?  Why the number 108?

Featured Etsy Artist - Danita Art

Today's featured Etsy Artist is Danita Art.  She is an artist who offers Original Paintings, Collages, Mixed Media Creations, Original Art Dolls, Soft Sculpture Plush Dolls, ACEO Cards, Giclee Prints and Fiber Art.  The piece below is called "Love at Home", perfect for Valentine's Day.  It's a giclee reproduction mounted on wood block .

I first noticed Danita's Etsy site while doing a search for Frida Kahlo, one of my favorite artists. Click here for a sample of Danita's Frida art.

From the artist:
"My name is Danita, I am a self taught Mixed Media Artist and maker of things.  Art is my gateway. When I create, I travel to a word where everything is possible.... It keeps me sane in a crazy world that spins faster than my head can....

This peaceful wonderland is dying to escape into our reality, and it does it through my art.... Every time you look at my paintings, you leave a comment or you take one home, you share a piece of that dreamworld with me.  And I thank you for it, deeply, from the bottom of my heart. Because you let me know that a dreamer can dream, and that my dream is not that crazy after all."

For more Danita, see
Her blog: http://www.danitaart.com
Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/danitaart
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DanitaArt

I'm the creator of this blog and of  Moondog Treasures: yoga jewelry for women and men, mala bracelets, Sanskrit mantra necklaces, and wire-wrapped beaded crosses. I use this blog to share what I do and to feature other talented Etsy artists whose work I admire. Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.

Featured Etsy Artist

Today's featured Etsy artist is ILaBoom, from Greece.  She specializes in hand-made shadow boxes frames, light boxes, pedestals and vintage inspired paper goods.  Here is an item from her shop that caught my eye:

Le petit bonheur- hand-made light box

"Le petit bonheur" means "small happiness".  I love this sentiment.  It's so important for all of us to find happiness in the small things.

From the artist:  "I am Tatiana and I love making stuff that are inspired by nature, recycling, simple things and vintage childhood. Cute shadow boxes, nostalgic light box displays, pedestals, frames are some of my creations. Paper is my favorite material and I like to find ways to use it in everything I make.

I live in a small cycladic island, Antiparos, seeking ways of raising my biotic level and come closer to nature. I love life here and especially wake up everyday and look at the Aegean sea calms me down and gives me all the inspiration I need. My dream is to open a small shop in Antiparos someday to sell all my pieces and organize events like weddings and baptisms."

Wishing Tatiana the best of luck in her endeavors!  Here are links to her blogs:
http://craftingtheday.blogspot.com/
http://laboomeria.blogspot.com/

For another great Etsy featured artist, click here.

I'm the creator behind this blog and Moondog Treasures: yoga jewelry for women and men, mala bracelets, Sanskrit mantra necklaces, and wire-wrapped beaded crosses. I use this blog to share what I do and to feature other talented Etsy artists whose work I admire. Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.

Yoga in Deep Ellum

I recently took a field trip to a unique part of Dallas with lots of history: Deep Ellum. My reason for the trip from the suburbs into the big downtown was to visit with Jessica Jordan, owner of Super Yoga Palace.  I brought some pieces from Moondog Treasures' yoga jewelry collection to show her.

Jessica is a person with a vision similar to mine:  to create a community of yogis in her neighborhood and to provide a space for them to practice yoga that doesn't break the bank.  I like Jessica.  Here are a few photos I took around the street near her studio.  I peeked inside, but didn't take pics because a class was in progress.  Trust me, it's warm and inviting inside.

Caring for the environment is also important to Jessica.  From her web-site:  "Super Yoga Palace is kind to the Earth and encourages those who practice here to be so as well. Green products and recycled materials were used to create the studio space, plants throughout filter the air, and recycled, sanitized yoga mats are available if you are in need."

I'm happy to say that she'll be offering some of the eco-friendly pieces (recycled Indian coins and sari fabric, recycled precious silver) from my yoga collection on her site and in her studio.

Loved this mural.  Go Mavs!!  Winners of NBA championship 2011!

And here are some of the items that Jessica chose to showcase at her studio.

Recycled Indian coins on dyed silk ribbons

Recycled PMC (precious silver)
om and lotus pendants on sterling chain.

I'm the creator behind Moondog Treasures: yoga jewelry for women and men, mala bracelets, Sanskrit mantra necklaces, and wire-wrapped beaded crosses. I use this blog to share what I do and to feature other talented Etsy artists whose work I admire. Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.

Building a photography light box

New year...new adventures.  Yesterday I decided it was time to get more professional with the photos for my etsy shop. I found inspiration from this site, WikiHow.

So, here it is in all its glory...

Finished project.  Ready for the camera. 

A display board for science projects.
I bought this because it is already lined white on the inside.

I scavenged the house for products that matched the list online, then I headed to Lowe's for the rest.

I cut the board to make it into a box, then cut
one inch borders around 3 sides and the top lid
for the parchment paper.  See finished product below.

Lamps with clips, from Lowe's.  Thanks to hubby
for help in finding these.  Bright halogen bulbs.

Voila!  The finished product.  The openings in the sides and top are taped with
parchment paper.  More white to brighten up the photos.  The lamps are attached to
the sides and top for white light all around.  I'm still using the maps as background.

Here's how the first photo turned out. I'm liking it, but it still needs some work. 
I'm going to play around with the angles of the lights...

I'm the creator behind Moondog Treasures: yoga jewelry for women and men, mala bracelets, Sanskrit mantra necklaces, and wire-wrapped beaded crosses. I use this blog to share what I do and to feature other talented Etsy artists whose work I admire. Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.

Moondog's Jewelry Article Gets Published

I'm so honored to have my article, All About Precious Silver Clay with Moondog Treasures, published in this month's issue of Jewelry Business Success News with Rena Klingenberg.  I have subscribed to this publication for several years.  It's actually the first place that I ever heard about Etsy.  Thank you, Rena!!


Bronze paua shell and sterling silver
wire pendant by Rena Klingenberg

Merry Christmas from Moondog Treasures

Our family has a Charlie Brown tree.  It's a scrawny little Christmas tree, but we love it.  We treasure this tree because it's the one where we hang all of our hand-made, sticky-finger-kid-made ornaments from throughout the years and from the current year. 

We have a regular Christmas tree too, with all the expensive ornaments and trim, but our favorite will always be the Charlie Brown one.  I hope that when my kids are grown that I will continue this tradition and keep creating hand-made ornaments each year.

Featured Etsy Artist

Featuring Fire Bug Candles on Etsy.  I met the artist, Tina, at a local yoga studio where I practice.  I have one of her double-wicked candles and the smell is delicious!  It's a blend that smells like butter and vanilla.  Yum!  Tina just recently opened an Etsy shop, and I'm so happy for her!  I think this candle (pictured) would make a perfect Christmas gift:

Peppermint Bark Candle

From the artist, Tina: 

"My Dad called me a firebug when I was a young girl, as I loved poking at the woodburning fire and watching the flame of burning candles. I started making candles as a hobby a couple of years ago and shared them with friends and family. I just began my Etsy store in November of 2011, ready for the holiday season. I hope you enjoy the candles as much as I enjoy making them!"

For more from her shop, click here.

A Tip for Recycling PMC Silver Clay

PMC (Precious Metal Clay), or silver clay, is a recycled product.  See my posts here and here for details about how it originated.  It is so much fun to play with (I mean work with) this product.  You can imprint just about anything into the clay, put it in a kiln, and it comes out looking like this...

One of my favorite things about PMC is that you can actually recycle and reuse your "mistakes" (pieces that were chipped or just didn't turn out right).  I had been saving those "mistakes" for just such an occasion.  I read countless tips about how to reconstitute unused dried clay - adding distilled water to the clay, wrapping it in cling wrap and waiting for it to magically turn into the expensive clay that I had bought.  It didn't work as I had planned.  I found it difficult to get the right consistency. Using a little rolling pin (pvc pipe) to press out the lumps helped, but the clay was too sticky to work. It kept clinging to my hands, until... 

I discovered a new tool - the toothpick!  I kept working the clay, poking it with the toothpick, exposing it to air to dry it out, then spraying with water for more moisture. Voila!  I came pretty close to re-creating the original product.  Here are a couple of photos of my new discovery and how it worked for me:

I especially loved how once the clay was in ball form, I was able to use the toothpick like a handle and pick up all the loose bits of dried clay that sticks to the cling wrap.

Hope this tip helps those out there who are frustrated with the challenging process of reconstituting pmc. 

Just Learned Something New - Bird's Nest Pendants

Thanks to a tutorial on Sarah Ortega's blog, I'm trying my hand at wire-wrapping bird's nest pendants.  What do you think so far?

Really kind of fun to make.  I'm thinking of putting them up for sale in my shop, http://www.moondogtreasures.etsy.com/ .

I'm the creator behind this blog, and Moondog Treasures: yoga jewelry for women and men, mala bracelets, Sanskrit mantra necklaces, and wire-wrapped beaded crosses. I use this blog to share what I do and to feature other talented Etsy artists whose work I admire. Contact me at moondogtreasures@live.com.



Current Best Seller at Moondog

This OM necklace was a great seller from Moondog Treasures at the most recent trunk show I've done.  It was a favorite among the students at a yoga event that involved 108 Sun Salutations in celebration of the beginning of fall.  The necklace features a wire-wrapped glazed ceramic bead with the om symbol.  Om is the peaceful vibration of all creation.

Yoga necklace with sky blue om pendant on silver ball chain.

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Etsy Artist of the Week

This week I'm featuring Etsy Artist, minimalista.  She's from one of my favorite places, California.  She includes images of the Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, in many of her items.  I own a Frida t-shirt from minimalista.  I love the individualism that shows up in Frida's artwork, her love of nature, and her portrayal of suffering.  Here is an example of one of the Frida scarves from this etsy seller:

From the Frida Kahlo website:  Frieda Kahlo y Calderón was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán.  Perhaps best known for her self-portraits, Kahlo's work is remembered for its "pain and passion", and its intense, vibrant colors. Her work has been celebrated in Mexico as emblematic of national and indigenous tradition, and by feminists for its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form.

"I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best."  --Frida Kahlo

This is my favorite painting by Frida.  I got to see this portrait at a special exhibit in San Antonio many years ago.

Etsy Artist of the Week

This week's artist is Flor Larios.  I love her paintings of the Virgin Mary.  She's a big fan of Frida Kahlo too!  Just like me!  From her site..."I'm a self taught artist & illustrator. I love to paint and create decorative art pieces for the home and for you to wear.  I like angels, fairies, madonnas, nativities, butterflies, and ladybugs. I love art! I get my inspiration thru Frida Kahlo's art and religious icons."



Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

  I've admired this artist for quite some time, choosing this particular item to showcase because it has a personal significance for me.  My sister, her daughter, my daughter and I got to visit the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal when we were in Paris last summer.  The site was so unassuming,  nestled in among the other buildings along a Paris sidestreet.  

Outside the religious site



A sculpture inside the courtyard

Inside the courtyard - a close-up of a carving of the actual medallion that many Catholics wear

Inside was a beautiful chapel where we happened upon the beginning of mass (in French, of course).  There was school of children visiting.  We listened to their angels' voices singing every song during the mass.  By far, this was absolutely my favorite part of Paris. 

Inside the chapel

Statue of St. Vincent de Paul