Red Christmas Jewelry

After I posted the last post, I realized it has been a very long time since the previous one, so the blog page looked empty. So I am filling it up with more beautiful pictures. Above are two things I made with beads I got at the Whole Bead Show in nyc this past October. The first is a large rose lucite bead that I made into a ring with wire wrapping. Large cocktail rings are in this season I hear. The necklace and earring set I made with red faceted rondelle beads called Chinese Crystal. I also used large freshwater pearls and silver rondelles.
Also, I am changing the title of the Blog. It may very well be that I do not, after all, have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was recently, finally, diagnosed with several hormone imbalances, adrenal, thyroid, and an estrogen/progesterone imbalance. I am being treated with BHRT or Bioidentical Hormone Replacement therapy. I just started so no big news yet. Let's hope for the best! What shall I call the blog now? Jewelry and crafts made by an often tired person? That just doesn't have such a great ring to it.

Crocheted Flower Brooch with Pearls

My current obsession is making these crocheted flower pins. It is so satisfying to make one, a tiny complete artwork. They are about three inches in diameter and have big freshwater pearls sewn in the center. A friend mentioned today that they would also make excellent Christmas tree ornaments; I had not thought of that, but, good idea! They are available at my Etsy store.

Turquoise and Sterling Three Strand Necklace and Me

Ok I made this new necklace yesterday; you can see more pics of it (or buy it) by clicking on my etsy store to your right. I was looking through some old silpada catalogs and a similar idea got my attention. Of course, I think mine is better!

A lovely day weatherwise here in Connecticut; seems like we are finally having spring in July. I am tired, as per my usual. I am still taking some supplements to support the methylation cycle, but they have not yet banished the CFS or changed it very much. Luckily I like to do arts and crafts. Very Lucky.

Does anyone ever really find my blog? If so, please leave a comment!! Thanks!

Art is Healthy Alternative Apparel T's

Art is Healthy T's printed on Alternative Apparel T Shirts are now finally done! Here we have our lovely and adorable neighbor/friend Annie modeling the shirt and doing a Posh Spice imitation as well! The shirts are super duper soft, 100% cotton, available in women's sizes s-xl, and you can see the specific measurements when you look at the shirts at the etsy shop www.Julianascreations.Etsy.com Each one is hand painted and unique; and machine washable to boot.

It's me Again!

Hello Human Friends,

It's me again, doing my once in a while blogging. So what have I been up to? Well, I am hard at work trying to unblock my methylation cycle so my glutathione pathways can work properly. I don't think I've done it yet, but thats the goal, and one can only put one pill in after another and hope for the best.

I have put these lovely images up, original marbled papers which I created with my friend Zoe, lo, many many years ago, like back in 03'. I am now, FINALLY offering these original works of marbling as PRINTS on my Etsy store (look to your right to see the link to that), so, just sayin'. Maybe one day if folks are interested I will offer them big bigger size, like 18 x 24 ish, but for now, you know, just what can fit on normal size paper. We shall see.

So what else? You know, just making jewelry, as usual, staying up too late, observing the rain, not writing on facebook, making curried red lentils with baby tomatoes and spinach. One of these days I have to get my little porch replaced; so far the two estimates are $7500 and $2500. Hmmmm. I will be getting more estimates.

Is there more? My TMJ Temperomandibular Joint Disorder has come back after 24 years away (where was it?). You know, TMJ, stress, you get headaches in your jaw and cheekbones; head hurts, ow. So I am going to my chiropracter so he can readjust my face. Yes, they do that; who knew? I think it's helping a bit, but I have to say my best friend overall for so many reasons is ibuprofen. Ibuprofen and a bit of Ativan, helps a lot of things.

Oh, and I joined another Etsy team, the Createablity team, for people with, illnesses or handicaps or people who are taking care of such people. I guess I count twice, because I take care of me as well. They are a nice group of online ladies, so you can go to etsy and search Createablity Team and support people who are disabled and making stuff. Go Arts and Crafts! Who knew the popsicle stick houses of my childhood would lead to all this? I still have the original, actually. (house.)

OK, thats it, I'm probably missing some useless late night talk show. I have to make some turquoise bracelets. Bye for now!

Art Is Healty

Art Is Healthy original handpainted 100% cotton t shirts are now available in almost every size imaginable at http://www.artishealthy.com/ so get yours now! Very cool hangtag, above, made by Lourdes, attached to each and every shirt. Onesies also on hand.

Ode To E-Z Pass

I love E-Z pass. Many of you remember, like I do, waiting for minutes, or sometimes hours at bridge and tunnel tolls in NYC, gathering dollar bills or the correct change to pass through the toll. Now, when I approach the Whitestone bridge on my way to Long Island, I just sail right through the toll! No waiting! No worrying about quarters! So, after my last pass, I was so overwhelmed with love and gratitude I wrote two poems, below.

Ode #1

Oh you
with your slight orange arm
light
lifting up for me gently
after my slow approach
you
never asking for money
only blinking
encouragingly
your red eye turning green
You
allowing me in just an instant
to pass over the threshold
that before took hours
saving
the search for dollars
quarters in the seat
reducing my carbon footprint
to a child's 4
You
Oh E-Z pass
It's you.

Ode #2

From a distance
I can see
you beckon, with your light so green;
the x that signals that you can
welcome my large minivan
So to your doorway
I slowly go
And hardly waiting
for a moment
Lo
You wink
And in an instant I seem
transported as if in a dream;
From one location to another
shifted
then we quickly part each other
Without consulting coin or wallet
I glide gracefully
with empty pockets
Oh E-Z pass
It's so thrilling
That we are finally done with dollar billing.

Good to Know About

This is my neighbor Sarah's bunny. Honey. She appears here for no other reason than looking at pictures of bunnies is never a bad thing.
Honey does not have an ipod, and does not listen to podcasts. She does not get bored driving around doing errands or going to long island or new jersey, which I am too lazy to capitalize. But I do. And maybe you do too.
So do you know about the Moth? The Moth is a storytelling event that happens once a week (live) in NYC and once a month in LA. The stories are told by famous people (Malcom Gladwell, Garrison Keilor, Adam Gopnick) and also regular folks. Most of the stories are riveting and fabulous, while also being entertaining and funny. Embarrassing high school stories, divorced parents at one's bar mitzvah stories, bad boyfriend/girlfriend stories, touching funny ridiculous tales of families just being themselves: crazy.
The great news is that The Moth produces a FREE weekly podcast that you can get on itunes or find at www.themoth.org/ where you can also learn more about the whole thing. This gets 5 stars from me HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Oh, and by the way, I redid my website, ALL BY MYSELF, and it looks so great, you should see it. www.julianascreations.com/ and yes, I did all the photography too.

Lemon Cream Cheese Poundcake for Saints

Sometimes you just have to reward people. Like if you had a friend who was also a the President of your Condo Board who put in hours and hours of her own time for the good of the condo. And then let's say this person managed to get a new better management company for the condo after her many hours of work, and that this would make life better for everyone involved. Well, then you might decide like I did, that she should be named a Saint, and should have a Saint Cake. See above. Now the real gift here is for YOU, with whom I am sharing the following recipe for Lemon Creamcheese pouncake, which, basically, is the best cake in the whole world. I grew up eating this and that is why I am so tall. Of course I can't eat it now because it has sugar, but you can. And I can make it for local Saints.

Lemon Creamcheese Poundcake

2 sticks butter

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

1 lemon juice and zest

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups sugar

6 eggs

2 cups plus 6 Tbs flour- sift before measuring

2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven 275*

Let the butter and cream cheese come to room temp. Mix together. Add sugar.

In another bowl, put the eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla

in third bowl, put the flour and baking powder, sugar.

Mix bowls one and two. Add bowl three.

Grease and Flour Bundt pan.

Pour in batter.

Bake for at least 2 1/2 hours or until done. (test by toothpick inserted in center.)

Yes, that is a long time, but it is totally worth it.