Inspiration

Gazing out the window today while the rain gently comes down. Hot coffee in hand. I'm receiving new inspiration on my next creation.

The Stone of Passion

Spring has officially sprung. Hope you all remembered to spring forward.  Check out my latest creation.  Gorgeous deep wine red garnet drop earrings.

According to tradition legends suggested that garnets could never been hidden even under clothing.  It would shine with its own light. Garnet can occur in virtually any color but blue, and crystalizes in natural dodecahedron and trapezohedral forms, masses, and plate like layers.  The name comes from the Latin "granatus" meaning like seeds in reference to the pomegranate (Ganatum) for garnets are often found seeded in rocks.  The ancient hebrews named garnet "barak", lightening, in memory of its ability to lend positivity to its owner.

The natives of North and South America and African tribal elders considered garnet a sacred stone.

Garnet emphasizes compassion and love, helping to teach patience.  This is a Rhodolite garnet that can range from rose to purplish red. The color that I chose to use, is symbolic of the hearts compassion.

Inspired By Mother Nature

Check out these stunning earrings! This is one of my newest creation posted in my online shop.  It was inspired by mother nature.  The green symbolizing the many shades of green leaves and the whiskey brown symbolizing all of the tree trunks.  The warm gold is the warmth of the sun that all plants depend on.  Without the rays, the plants can't survive, a world without plants, is a world without oxygen. Yet we as humans depend on oxygen.  Isn't interesting how everything is connected in one way or another.

My etsy shop

 I just fell in love with this pair of London Topaz and Apatite Tear Drop earrings when I finished it. This has a unique style to it and the colors match so perfectly together!!  A brilliant set to add to any collection and can be worn anytime of the day, week, month, or year!

I'm excited to announce the newest creation.  Classic Peach and Creamy White Pearl Bracelet.  This soft pastel peach and creamy white pearls bracelet, is a welcome addition to your jewelry collection.  The Swavoski pearls are strung on a elastic string for the perfect one size fit all.

The elegant bracelet is a great gift for wedding parties, birthdays, Mother's Day, or any day!

For more information about this bracelet, click HERE or visit my shop.

Thank you for visiting.
Hope you have a fantastic day.
Autumn

This beautiful handcrafted purple amethyst and creamy white pearl clusters earrings is now available for purchase at etsy.com.

Check it out.  I would love to hear your thoughts.

How to Use Lemon Juice to Replace Toxic Chemicals in Your Home

You don't have to waste money on toxic chemicals to clean your home, treat a cold, or pamper your skin. Lemon juice is a simple, natural alternative that can replace countless bottles of over-priced chemicals. Click here to find 10 creative ways to use lemon juice

♥ The funniest thing happened this past weekend. My husband and I took advantage of the delightful weather and decided to head to a county park. While we parked the vehicle overlooking the lake, my brother in-law and his family happened to drive by at the same remote lake we were at. Of all places! Have you ever wondered why things like that happen? It was a wonderful surprise. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend too.

Sending you warm hugs,

Autumn ♥

Taxes too High, California Cows on the Way to Oregon.

In protest to higher taxes, California Cows are now proceeding to Oregon. 

Growing Up Without A Cellphone

My daughter in-law sent an email that took me down  memory lane, and may do the same with you.. I promise you, that it will make you smile and brighten your day...

"When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways yadda, yadda, yadda  And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!   

But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.  You've got it so easy!  I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in Utopia!   And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it! 

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet.  If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

There was no email!!  We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen!   Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there!  Stamps were 10 cents! 

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us.  As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to whip us! Nowhere was safe! 

There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes!  If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself! 

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and screw it all up!  There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car..  We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby!  Dig? 

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting!  If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it! 

There weren't any cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY!!!  Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!!  And then there's TEXTING.  Yeah, right.  Please!  You kids have no idea how annoying you are. 

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was!  It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!!  You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister! 

We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics!  We had the Atari 2600!  With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'.  Your screen guy was a little square!  You actually had to use your imagination!!!  And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever!  And you could never win.  The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died!  Just like LIFE!  

You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing!  You had to get off your couch and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!!  NO REMOTES!!!  Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?! 

There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning.  Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-finks! 

And we didn't have microwaves.  If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove!  Imagine that!   

   

And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long.  Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort.  And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!  

And car seats - oh, please!  Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on.  If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!  

See!  That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten!  You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980   or any time before!"

Thought I should share this,  and I hope it brought a smile on your face.

Much hugs,

Autumn

Is this year going by fast?

I love this time of year, the most intense greens, pinks, and milky whites are everywhere you look, the grass, the wild flowers blooming in the mountains, the fruit trees blossoming....as summer comes, the colors deepen, but right now everything is in shades of peridot, rose quarts, and creamy pearls.....

When I was working out in the yard, an apple branch caught my attention. I stopped what I was doing, hunted down my camera and captured the beauty of an apple tree blossom.  Is it me, or does it seem like the year is going by fast?   

Happy Mother's Day!

I want to take a minute and wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day.   The month of May is a very special month to me.  Not only because of  Mother's Day but it is also a birthday month! Practically everyone I know including myself has a birthday in May.  So in honors of these very important family and friends, I'm offering a special in the shop.  Each design through May (Mother's Day is May 9th so don't forget) is 20% of the original price. Stop by, take a peek and treat you or a mother you know to something special and original... 

I will be glad to gift wrap, and include a personal note from you, and ship your selection directly to the person of your choosing.  This service is complimentary.

Featured in this post is lilas earring, a pair of lavender Amethyst adorned with a cluster of natural genuine freshwater pearls with bright sterling silver findings. 

Mother's are the greatest, with out them and their love, where would we all be?

Sending you a big warm hug,

Autumn Ray 

ARC Adventure's In The Big World

 Hello and Welcome to ARC Bijoux by Autumn Ray Creation's.  

At an early age of ten, my Great Grandma E introduced me to the world of creativity. Believe it or not, it started with crocheting, then it evolved into cross stitching, quilting, ceramic, etc. I have always enjoyed photography and Fine Art. Between my Great Grandma E and Grandma A, I discovered my love for colors.

As I directed my studies towards photography and Fine Art in college I learned many perspectives. For example in photography you're painting an image with light. In Fine Art you're painting with many shades of color. However, as a child I always admired the natural beauty in rocks and minerals.  Rocks and minerals have a variety of vibrant colors, as seen in these photo samples by Richard Weston.   

When I came across beads and creating jewelry I finally found my niche. It allowed me to capture that beauty and then transfer it into personal expression in the form of jewelry.

 I enjoy browsing over semi-precious and precious stones, pearls, crystals, and unique clasps. For me it's like I'm a child going to a candy shop

 and selecting which candy looks yummy to purchase. My husband is so patient with me when I find a bead shop when we travel. I first started creating pieces for myself then for family as gifts and now my pieces are available for everyone at  http://autumnraycreations.etsy.com

I would say the best thing about making jewelry is when a customer enjoys a piece as much as I do. It truly is hard to part with my one of a kind creations, but I get so excited when I hear from customers who are so pleased with their new wearable art pieces. 

My number one concern is creating quality original designs and giving memorable service.

Many of my ideas come from my adventures within the United States, I thought I should discover my own backyard before traveling abroad. Most of my inspirations come from mother Earth herself. Colors from the amazing Sequoia's to the breath taking sunsets. 

The blue lakes, snow covered purple hills and all of this magnificent creation. Now to combine all this beauty into something that each one of us can possess. That can be worn on your own magnificent body. To have with you always and of such quality that it can be handed down to your loved ones for generations to come. It is my sincere desire that you delight in each of my loving handcrafted pieces, and that they find a place in your heart for generations to come.

Check back to see what I'm up to in this adventurous world!

Sending you many warm hugs,

Autumn Ray