Happy Thanksgiving

OK, so it is a week away. But I must take my leave, lovely blog companions (a big hello and thanks to all my new followers!), for tonight, my husband and I will load our two sleeping children into our vehicle and venture on a cross country road trip to spend the holiday with family. My internet presence will be scarce for the next week as I stuff myself to the max with southern cuisine and turkey dinners...did I pack my elastic waist pants?



My Etsy shop will remain open, and I will be checking emails and convos, shipping will resume on Nov 30. I wish everyone a warm, happy, and safe holiday with your loved ones. May your days be filled with naps, lunch-time cocktails, and pecan pie.


On a parting note~ be sure to check out my Celtic Triskele pendant being given away by the lovely Mrs. B on her blog Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom.

The Hunt

The noble stag was pausing now

Upon the mountain's southern brow,

Where broad extended, far beneath,

The varied realms of fair Menteith,

With anxious eye he wandered o'er,

Mountain and meadow, moss and moor,

And pondered refuge from his toil,

By far Lochard and Aberfoyle,

But nearer was the copsewood grey,

That waved and wept on Loch Achray,

And mingled with the pine-trees blue,

On the bold cliffs of Benvenue.

Fresh vigor with the hope returned,

With flying foot the heath he spurned,

Held westward with unwearied race,

And left behind the panting chase.

~The Hunt; an excerpt from the Lady of the Lake

~Sir Walter Scott

~artwork: The Monarch of the Glen

~Edwin Henry Landseer

Machismo...

I have a spot in the men's gift showcase today!

Tipping My Hat...

Being from a military family, I simply cannot let Veteran's Day pass by without discussing it. My family has many members who have served this country, including my father and my husband who were both in the Army, and my brother is an active duty Marine Corp officer. I was born on an Army base in Stuttgart, Germany where my father was stationed, and we moved quite a bit when I was very young until my father joined the civilian life once again. My dad is now the Head of Veteran Affairs in the county where he and mom live. He is very good at what he does, and he loves his job. My family is very patriotic and I was raised with a large sense of respect for members of the military.

Now, here is the conundrum. I don't believe in war. Well, I guess I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Being a Medieval History major in college, I know alot about medieval warfare, and I love it. I love reading about ancient armies, and military strategies. I love reading about early cavalry and ancient weapons (my husband and I have actually discussed building a trebuchet, but that is a story for another time). I mean, what would the Legend of King Arthur be without a war with the Saxons? I realize that war and dispute has gone on as long as humans have been on this planet. It is part of our nature. This point is proven to me everyday as I watch my children fight over space and possessions.

So why do I have such a hard time with this subject when I know and understand it? Because it has hit home with me. It has affected my direct family. My grandfather and my uncle both fought in WWII. I have heard amazing and aweful stories about what they endured and know the effect the war had on them when they came home (my uncle came home with only one arm). More recently, my family has sent my little brother off to war. Twice he has gone to Iraq (or the "sandbox" as he calls it) to fly his huge helicopter in this seemingly neverending occupation we have gotten ourselves into. We don't always know exactly where he is, so everytime a helicopter crash is reported on the news we sit on the edge of our seats...waiting. My mom and I message back and forth "Have you heard from him?" It is a roller coaster ride of emotions when he is gone. He is most likely going to Afghanistan next spring.

So regardless of my feelings toward our government and the agendas and conspiracies that shape this nation's history, I highly respect the men and women who put their entire life on hold while they put themselves in harm's way, and their families who ride that roller coaster of emotion whenever they watch their son or daughter leave. It takes a special type of person to make the sacrifices that our military members make. My hat is off to you. Thank you for your service.

Pictured from top to bottom:

*My dad- David Welihan (Army)

*My husband- Jason "Pudge" Lovorn (Army)

*My brother- Jayson Welihan (Marines)

*My grandpa- William Welihan (Marines)

The Many Faces of Merlin

Michael Byrne as Merlin in The Mists of Avalon

I have recently been inspired by several events (one of them being a blog post by Athena's Armoury) that have brought up one of my very favorite books, "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley. If you have not read this book, I HIGHLY recommend it! I have been a collector of Arthurian items since I was a teenager. I have paintings, statues, shirts, jewelry boxes, and yes- books. I have read about 15 different versions of the Legend of King Arthur. Some of them I have loved, some of them I haven't.

But through all of my reading and exploring, the one character that I have always loved is Merlin. He and Morgaine le Faye are the two that I find myself dreaming about. In every version of the Legend Merlin is always a Druid. He is always wise. He is always surrounded by mystery. In "The Mists of Avalon", Merlin is not a man's name, but his title... The Merlin of Britain. He is the Druid High Priest. In other books I have read Merlin is his first name, or in Welsh "Myrddin". Sometimes he is portrayed as having mystical powers, sometimes he is portrayed as being misunderstood. One version of the Legend that I read had Merlin as an alchemist with knowledge of chemical compositions. In that story, he was experienced with the use of gun powder (among other things), and others believed he was a magical wizard because of this.

I love reading and learning new versions of my favorite story. My eyes glaze over and I stare dreamily at any art that I find on the subject. And always, at the center of the tale, is this amazingly mysterious and wise man they call Merlin.

"Merlin's Mistress" ring by Gypsy Moon Art Studio

Wordless Wednesday...The Eyes Have It.

Of Art and Squirrels

I love fall. I love the colors, the smell of burning leaves, I love Halloween, and I love the cooler weather. My collections of boots and hats emerge from my closet, with much excitement, for the next 7 months or so (usually until I begin to get strange looks for wearing boots in 70 degree weather, then sadly, I lovingly pack them away for the summer).



I find myself "nesting", like a squirrel, at this time of year. Most people do spring cleaning each year when the weather turns nice, I do a bit of that, too. But in the fall, I find myself doing a major overhaul of my family's belongings. Like a furry critter I declutter, clean, and organize- all in preperation of hibernating for the long winter ahead. Living in beautiful Michigan, our winters are hard. Really. We have had snow so deep, you can go sledding off of your roof, and that is just the lower peninsula. In the upper peninsula, they have doors on the second story of their homes, so they can get out in the winter. My point is- we spend alot of time indoors during long, cold, snowstormy days.



The same goes for my business, too. My website is getting a major makeover right now and my Etsy shop is getting a facelift. I am retaking photos that I am unhappy with, checking my links (and adding new ones), listing new items, and marketing. I am expanding my online presence and meeting some great new people! My studio has recently been reorganized and cleaned, as well. It is amazing what treasures you rediscover when you organize your bead and wire stash! Now is also the time to look ahead to next year's art shows and decide which ones to participate in (will it truly be worth the while to drive all the way to Chicago for a show?)


Don't get me wrong...I am the Queen of Procrastination. But during the fall my "organization instinct" overrides my deeply ingrained sense of dalliance. And I am thankful for this. Some of my favorite days are in the middle of winter, snowbound, with nothing more to do than be with my family and create jewelry.