Piscean Full Moon Dreamer & Fiber Artist, Gail Asbury

Pisces Full Moon Featured Fiber Artist - Tea Party Spats Lace Couture Fashion Preview Inspired by Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp Pisces Full Moon August 24, 2010 10:04 am pdt

Spotlight on Piscean Dreamer & Fiber Artist, Gail Asbury Savoy Faire Shop New Hampshire, USA

As a true Pisces I am a dreamer. I dream up many of my creations or fall asleep with them popping into my head only to awaken and hope to remember them. Sometimes I wake up and one pops into my head which is great because I can get up and draw a quick picture of it!

While I am very imaginative and prefer to seek refuge in my imagination, I am not overly sensitive since I was a professional business woman for over thirty years. On the other hand because I can go with the flow like a fish I could just as easily follow as lead! I can also be the boss’s favorite because I understand who the perfect employee is and can become just that, but I am truly happiest being my own boss and creating my dreams!

I'm a big performer, storyteller, dancer and public speaker whenever I get the chance, including at funerals where others may be tongue tied, yet I feel it’s important that something special was said. Ideally I'd love to be in the performing arts but was pushed into using my intelligence for accounting and analytical work where I can crunch numbers and tell you things you wouldn't see for yourself. I’m big on out of the box thinking because no limitations have ever been put on my imagination.

My seventh grade creative writing teacher once told me to never lose my imagination and I’ve taken that to heart.

Pisces Full Moon Artist Feature: Dried Lavender Petals Dress Eco Friendly Dress, Cotton Homespun Yarn

Only recently was I able to finally do what I've always wanted to and that is become a fiber artist and to create using various media; fabric, beads, and bobbles, both recycled and new. As a child of two I'd collect all my mother's sewing scraps and drape them around my dolls creating flowing outfits. I love using pearls and shimmery, shiny things from the sea and if I had my way I'd drape myself in lush flowing gowns with long trailing sleeves, covering myself in pearls, beads and all kinds of jewelry with rings on every finger...oops, I already do that! During the winter here in New England you’ll find me wearing rich velvets and wild capes! I can still remember when I was four years old and my ballet teacher would wear a feather in her hat with a red cape; her style was so unique. Later, she moved to New York City to open a ballet studio and I never saw her again, but

I've never forgotten to wear things that make me happy no matter what others say.

Because I am a big planner, I draw my inspirations months ahead of time when ideas and dreams pop into my head. My boyfriend finally understands that when I make a decision it's not based on what is obvious, but instead relies upon intuition. Many of my best works just flow out of me when I have fabric laid out. I will start with a drawing that I want to bring to life and end up with a multitude of styles. As a clothes horse myself, I'd like to wear something different every day if I could, and in turn offer my customers a lot of choice and diversity so that everyone can find something they'll love.

Pisces Full Moon Featured Artist, Gail

There will always be that one item that very few people like yet it sells because someone somewhere loved it and that's what makes it all worthwhile to me.

Growing up in the 1960's and 70's when girl's dresses were so special and now are almost impossible to find in that style I try to create things girls will never forget and hopefully pass down to a special girl themselves one day. I hope you put on one of my fabric creations and then relax, forget time, problems and deadlines and dream about how it could be...

Spotlight on Divine Feminine Moon Muser Jen M.

Divine Moon Muser, Jen M. took part in my online eCourse Awaken Your Divine Feminine Soul recently and had these comments to share:

This course has been the first real shake-up of my inner spiritual eye.

A few months ago I decided to set up a giveaway on my website and in my promotion of the contest, I came across a posting in the Etsy Forums about a new online course called Awaken Your Divine Feminine Soul. It was a timely arrival, as it fell right along the lines of what I needed right now: self-discovery involving creative juices and perhaps even some spiritual development. There’s that whole  Biopsychosocialspiritual framework that we learned about in Social Worker School  and one that I am trying to infuse in my life. It’s something that I feel I have been neglecting, especially in relation to the spiritual side of things.  I joined up for this moon musing course with the hopes that it could help guide me in my continued exploration. As an artist, I sometimes run into blocks mostly formed by my own expectations and lack of time.

Awaken the Divine Feminine helped me by giving me more of a focus and also some tools with which to move forward in my world, artistically, spiritually and as a more in-tune woman.  I now have an interest in Yoga and not just the physical aspects, but the inherent spiritual and mental aspects of the practice. I also have a faery guided meditation that I listen to sometimes at night to help me ease into the sleeping world.  I'm  hoping that what I've learned from this course will continue to steer my creativity wherever it may need to go.

In the meantime, my Etsy Shop is where my  creative objects end up looking for a new, loving home.

An Interview with Jen

Tell us about your craft and/or the items in your shop. Much like my real life, I seem to be unable to focus on one thing for very long. Right now I make crocheted scarves, beachglass necklaces, button necklaces, and I have a few totebags left over from the summer. I'd love to narrow down my practice a bit, but I don't seem to be able to. Next journey: I am taking a sabbatical from producing items, as I am moving to England and want to spend some time making creative things just for me.

What is your favourite material to work with? I have a really hard time narrowing anything down. I started out making purses, so I have an affinity for fabric, but I would have to say that what I love most right now is beach glass. The thrill of the hunt is fantastic!

More Student Spotlights can be found here.

To learn more about this Divine Feminine eCourse please click on the link!

Aquarian Rosalind Battles the Sceptics – Artist Spotlight

Aquarius Full Moon July 25, 2010 6:36 pm pdt

Spotlight on Aquarian Artist, Rosalind Ng
Asian Art Jewels
Singapore
Aquarians are said to have a curious nature, and love to learn new things. This becomes apparent when I think of how my jewelry style has evolved. I started off wanting to do more raw stones with Asian influences, but now progressed to use gemstones and crystals in simpler, wire wrapped designs.  I also use sterling silver and oxidize them for a nice vintage look. Perhaps that's the characteristic of an Aquarian who gets bored easily, so the initial ideas got the boot when new ideas flow in! Keeping my thoughts and designs focused can be hard when I discover new materials and exciting techniques. I end up buying new equipment to experiment.  And the amount of distractions at the beading shop!

I learned jewelry making first from my mom, who started this interest but she gave it up due to poor eyesight. Now I pick up new skills from magazines, books, and the internet. So much to learn without having to take a class!

Enjoying my own company (which is typically Aquarian), I can spend my entire day either at the table creating something new, online buying supplies, or photographing my works. Sometimes I get frustrated that I need to take a break for my meals.

Aquarians tend to have high ideals, which usually means that pieces that get made and doesn't appear to be meeting my standards gets trashed into the bin. Sometimes a bracelet can be re-done over and over again before I finally consider it completed.

One of the reasons for making this hobby "commercial" was because I wanted to have an income stream independent of an employer/job. Having survived breast cancer for 10 years, I had that thought after the ordeal that I shouldn't let someone else dictate whether I get to keep my job or not. I hope to be able to sell my jewelry full time soon. Meanwhile, I'll have to battle the skeptics who feel that an online business is not a real job...

I'm a road trip addict. Almost every holiday taken is on my motorbike with my husband, as we like to be exposed to the locals' lifestyle, explore places and enjoy nature.  Being an Aquarian, I'm planning the future of my ever-evolving jewelry line to include a new section featuring "road trip" inspired jewelry! :)

Gillian & the Faery Folk – New Moon Wisdom

New Moon in Cancer July 11, 2010 12:40 pm pdt

Cancerian Artist Gillian

Cancerian Artist Gillian

"With the Moon in Cancer our feelings take the lead. Cancer encourages the wisdom rising out of our oceanic unconscious through moods and feelings. Ground in the magic of our home as a temple. Ask what needs protecting and feeding. Plant, fertilize and water your garden." ~ Excerpted from the We'Moon Datebook

Spotlight on Cancerian Artist - Gillian Guelph, Ontario, Canada Shop: Miss Quite Contrary

I am a self taught photographer and art history student from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Since I first held a toy camera in my little toddler hands, I've been taking photographs, but it has only been in the past couple of years that I thought I might be able to pursue this love professionally.

Since those very early years with a little baby camera, it was my Cancer sensitivity and emotion that were my main drive to take photos - to try to capture my feelings about a time or place and preserve them and express them to others in a way I couldn't otherwise - to help others see the world the way I see it.

Gillian, Bertha's Window. Photographic print, 8 x 10 inches. © 2010

Gillian, Bertha's Window. Photographic print, 8 x 10 inches. © 2010

This is an altered version of my 'Rochester's Window' photograph. This photo was inspired by Bertha Mason, the 'madwoman in the attic' of Charlotte Bronte's Victorian Gothic novel, Jane Eyre. It was created with a vintage camera and found antique photographs.

I think my work is instantly recognizable as the work of a Cancer. My shyness and tendency to remain 'in my shell' come through in my chosen locations - often abandoned, isolated or forgotten corners of the world, and in the dusk like lighting I love so much - the approach of evening and rise of the moon are my favourite time of day. I'm inspired by ideas of things hidden, decaying, dusty and ethereal, and am particularly interested in nature, animals, fairy and folk tales and Gothic novels.

I think my attraction to the past, and interest in history, is the Cancerian trait most visible in my work. I attempt to capture a glimpse of otherworldly beauty in the everyday, as well as incorporate elements of the past by using antique, vintage and toy cameras, printing photographs onto the dusty pages of old books and tattered ephemera, and occasionally integrating hand embroidery, scraps of antique textiles, found antique photographs and other found objects into mixed media and wearable pieces.

Gillian comments on her post: Thank you so much for featuring me - it was a fun thing to do and I like how it made me think about my work in a really different way!

You can find more New Moon Artist features here.

Capricorn Celeste ~ Compassion & Whimsy

Full Moon in Capricorn

June 26, 2010

4:30 am pdt

Partial Lunar Eclipse 4:38 am pdt

Capricorn Moon teaches us how to accomplish and understand compassionate leadership. We may need to learn to respect other rhythms and to love ourselves for ourselves and not just for what we do. Capricorn Moon offers us constructive determination and practical support. Time for planning magic as shape ideas with form and hope allowing the wise woman within to bring a sense of ritual, organization and tradition into our lives. ~ Excerpted from the We'Moon Datebook

Spotlight on Capricorn Artist ~ Celeste Bocchicchio-Chaudhri

Boston, Massachussetts, USA

Shop: Elephunks Trunk

Blog: Elephunks Trunk

For my day job I teach preschool children about things like opposites. The picture for "push" and "pull" shows a girl trying to get a goat out of a barn, but the goat knows where it wants to be and how to get there. Capricorns are like that - we can be stubborn and willful, but we are also surefooted and confident. When people ask me how I got where I am in life, sometimes I just answer "I'm a Capricorn and I get what I want" no matter how long it might take me.

Some people think "Capricorn artist" is an oxymoron - we are usually driven more by the practical than the whimsical. But with Aries as my rising sign I am also full of creative energy and my hats and hair accessories reflect that. The practical Capricorn wants me to channel my creativity in an ordered and rational manner - to focus on making the same kind of hat in various sizes and colors for example. My rising Aries wants me to learn new  millinery techniques and glue feathers to everything I can get my hands on. Usually my rising sign wins.

Unlike most Capricorns, I am driven more by the whimsical in art than by the practicality of money and finances. That being said, making a business out of my creativity inspires me to sit down and make the things that I love. It is often said that Capricorns are self-conscious and uncomfortable putting their work out there for the world to see and critique and this is true, but I find that it is the same self-consciousness that spurs my goat-like perfectionism and encourages me to be the very best milliner I can be.