Quiet winds and now reflecting

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Today there will be no pictures, nothing to write that is of any real importance to anyone except for me.

As I sit quietly with the morning sun beaming in the window, the cold crisp wind is blowing the last remaining leaves from the trees and tossing pine needles like javelins through the air. It's so quiet I hear only the chimes, my respiration's and my mind reflecting this passing year.

I've met some of the most incredible women through the works of my hands, women who are deep loving and real. Women that I think daily and admire their acomplishments. The interesting part is that all of the women that I've met and hold close to my heart are women who are from the same piece of wood and from my tribe. I've learned from them and have taken their words and applied them to my life in which I've grown to become the woman I am today.

I Thank you from a far, perhaps we may meet face to face one day and if we do, it will feel like we've already met as our hearts have connected once before.

At summers end, Mikaela and I took a road trip to Ashland Oregon. The highway led us directly to a place where a very special woman was waiting to meet me for the first time. The moment we set eyes on one another I felt as if I was reuniting with a best friend, someone I haven't seen in years when in reality, this was our maiden voyage. The day was beautiful, I walked away with a heart as big as the sun which still shines so bright. I'm grateful for the women who inspire me to better myself.

It's interesting that I'm mostly inspired by women. I've grown from men but never inspired by anything they've said or done. To me, men provide and protect but women offer more. I'm content in my life, I'm truly inspired by the female being. We're strong, we love deeply, we nurture and the list goes on and on.... we ARE women.

So reflecting on the past year and remembering all of the great women out there who are passionate about life and everything on this EARTH, I adore you, you're my nourishment, my strength and my friend. I'm still learning who I am and will take this ride for the long haul. I hope the new year reveals more soulful women and protects the ones I'm holding close to my heart forever.


With a golden morning and a full heart, I APPRECIATE you.... I LOVE my friends in the North lands, women of the Prairie, the Midwest and Southwest. The women on the sunny beaches, the snow driven mountains and wide open spaces.... YOU are my SUNSHINE & INSPIRATION!

Thank you!

December 20th give away

Friday, November 27, 2009

I'll be taking all sales receipts from the last two weeks of November through the 20th of December for a give away of the "Redemption" cross, to arrive in a custom pine box.

• All sales will be added to the drawing
• One purchase will qualify
• Multi purchases will offer a greater chance as your name will be entered for each item purchased.

"Redemption" is a slightly etched cross with an ornate bezeled dome and made of substantial weight (18 gauge) & hangs on 16" of sterling silver balls.

Purchases made via www.cindyhoo.etsy.com or www.cindyhoo.com, please leave a comment after you've made the purchase.

Happy Holidays & good luck!

Tis the season ~ A holiday give away

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Starting next week the annual $25 earring sale begins and runs throughout the holiday season. I'll also be adding more new items each day.

Next Friday (November 27th) you'll have a chance to see the holiday give away right here. Each purchase will put your name into a drawing on December 20th for the gift to be announced next week.... should be fun!

a belated pondering - Freedom

Friday, November 13, 2009

~Belated Veterans day pondering~

In the midst of many tasks, I'm so much missing my little artistic nephew who is stationed in Korea... I often wonder how he's doing, proud that he's serving our country and hoping he comes home for the holiday season. In honor of our grandfathers, fathers, uncles, nephews, cousins, brothers and sons.... we love you!

Thank you with all of our hearts!!!

playing with scraps... to be mounted onto a leather cuff

Dear diary - Being true to your heart

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Dear diary,

Back to pondering (AGAIN) I can't stop, it consumes me and my thoughts simply will not absorb into my surroundings without affecting those around me, the people whom I adore and love with all of my heart.

The new Mac that I continue to fight with has at the very least offered something that I can use in this blog... "Force quit". I'm trying to force these ponderings from my mind that never sleeps. Another word that I used quite often in my corporate past, "Emulator" we used Emulators to duplicate another session at work, something that life in the corporate world needed to produce more work and ease the multi tasking mode.

Today I'm finding myself crawling back to a place that was the darkest place I've ever been and know that I will be there at another time, I just don't know when or who. It's something that we all must endure, life AND death.

I love my brother and miss him EVERY SINGLE DAY, my first life changing experience with losing a close young family member other than losing a grandparent to old age. My little brother.... who suddenly left this earth and left the rest of us here to continually mourn his passing. Is he in a better place? I won't know until I follow... or will any of us ever know? All that I know today is that in his passing I've gone deep into my soul and found a happy place, a place where I can close off the real world and pretend that life is everlasting. This is a place where the sun always shines, the birds sing, the grass is green, an abundance of butterflies and wildflowers surround me. This is a place where EVERYONE loves one another and harmony is bliss.

When I go to this place my creative thoughts flow madly and I don't sleep until I finish what my soul has processed through my hands. I know that God has created us to be equal, especially with our minds and it amazes me how I've found my tribe with the artist community but I have also found that there are emulators in the artist world. It bothers me to see something that I created out of my happy place, the place that I went when the real world was too much to handle. I see some of my creations coming from the hands of others and back to PONDERING... were we in the same dream? Are we truly connected in some spiritual way to come up with the same idea? I'm amazed at Gods powers and his ability to connect a multitude of minds.

You know who you are yet you continue to trespass the boundaries of my "happy place". I must take this in honor, you saw something that I created from soul and liked it, you emulated it and called it yours. That's okay because you went to my "happy place" and there you will see that I am a HAPPY girl and believe there is good in everyone. I forgive those who have trespassed against me and have this to say.... Thank you! You've driven me to greener pastures.

My soul has drifted into an emulation of works through your hands

I must go now and PONDER....

Amendment to this day's pondering:

A message passed onto me this morning by a dear friend, co-worker, manager, sister, confidant.... I love you G!

"Bless those who challenge us to grow, to stretch, to move beyond the

knowable, to come back home to our elemental and essential nature.

Bless those who challenge us for they remind us of doors we have

closed and doors we have yet to open."

~Navajo saying~

Life work:

If you were to reflect back on your life, wouldn't it be true that the

people that pushed you beyond who you knew yourself to be were

the ones you remember the most? Maybe in the moment you didn't appreciate

the experience, but in hindsight you realize the generous gift you received.

Today, who will you ACKNOWLEDGE for supporting your success?

Ponder that!

Special requests.... Pet jewelry!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

This afternoon was spent cutting tile for the corners of the shop which abruptly stopped after I dulled the blade and found that I didn't have a spare on hand. Tomorrow I'll finish the cutting, lay the borders and count the hours until Friday comes so I can grout the floor. The count down begins.... Chores left until the creek house is done:

• Grout floor
• Insulate
• Inside walls
• Build work bench
• Lighting
• Move in
• Grass

So close!!!

At the request of a local retailer, Dog jewelry. Made from recycled scrap metal, someones four legged friend will soon be adorned in rustic ware.

Also, a newer version of the braided turquoise wrap with more turquoise and added silver buttons.

Finally I've painted the "A girl made this" cabinet, soon it will be in it's new home.

More later

I could live here!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Our Dogwood

sorry... couldn't delete this one...dup

My first tile job

My winter garden

The little creek off of my front deck

Wood I've just stained

A girl built this!

My wonderful friends recycling!

I love you ladies!!!

The most wonderful book, I read it and felt like the book and instantly felt a connection!

Thank you thank you thank you my friend! I love you for this! Big big smiles and it will be in the Creek house on my new "girl made" cabinet!

It's been a tremendous weekend (again) working my fingers to the bone and completely enjoying every single back breaking minute, even though I'm spent at the end of the day. The siding is just about up and is looking so rustically wondrous. Since our weather is due do arrive, our thinking is to get every single thing done before it comes. Today I started the tile... yes me! It was a blast but back breaking. I'm not a pro by any means and had to keep telling myself "it's only a shop" but the day was fun. The tile WILL be done this week as well as insulation and internal walls. All that's left to do are a few simple things, then out comes the grass and the campfires begin!

During my days I've been taking a break from jewelry and built a cabinet for my shop. It's made of recycled wood from an old construction site and the left over siding from the shop. It's built like Fort Knox and takes three grown bubba's to move it. I'm signing the back " A girl made this"!!! I haven't worked on wood in years but found that I do in fact love working with wood and will most definitely start more projects. Rather than buy something to store supplies in my thought was to build something myself.

I feel the creative thoughts brewing, something new... soon!

80% "My home sweet home"

Monday, November 2, 2009

My porch! This week the posts are being placed and my new little "Cecil Brunner" climbing rose bush will have something to climb up.

So I lied... Tyvek wasn't used, it was a Lowe's brand ;o)

This is what the siding will be

pine T&G

So close but not yet, I'm getting antsy and pushing hard for moving into the shop before Thanksgiving day. Chores left to do... siding, trim the roof, insulation, T&G, tile, lighting, ventilation and sod. I visit the local nursery every week or so to add a little more to my surroundings.

Grass is the last project and will most definitely be fun, I'm digging a fire pit so after working we can go hang out by the fire, drink our hot cocoa and talk about the day and plan for the next.

Let the fun begin!