Last month's #subbox was (once again) sold out by the 10th of the month! Thank you all so much for being so great! Because we were able to help The Sea Turtle Conservancy. PLUS you got amazing sea glass jewelry along with fun #selfcare items. . . . . . . . . . . . #beach #beachlife #blog #blue #chakrastones #crystalhealing #crystals #dancinghappydragonfly #dawnhilldesigns #DHD #earrings #gift #gifts #giftforher #goodvibes #goodvibesonly #handcrafted #handmade #handmadejewelry #instajewelry #jewelrygram #jewelrysubbox #jewelrylover #jewelrygram #madebyhand #madeinCT #madeinUSA #maketimeforselfcare

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25 Amazing Summer Salad Recipes: A Fab Roundup Post!

Salad and Summer just seem to "go together." The combination of freshness and coolness makes them the perfect go to, either as a side or a main meal or even dessert.

I know I like SIMPLE. Anything easy to toss together in under 25 minutes is what seems to be on my list of tried and trues. It is part of my own self-care plan really: eat healthfully while not making myself crazy to do "just one more thing." 

That being said, I use these tricks to simplify any recipe that calls for overly complicated ingredients or ones that are just not necessary to make on the spot:

50+ Happy Notes and Affirmations

One of the things in the DHD Subscription Boxes this month was a pretty pen and a set of sticky notes. Now, I know everyone has this kind of thing but I love ones that are really pretty, pretty! Don't you?

Anyhow, I have a habit of giving my pens away so having a couple extras is always a good idea. 

 I also thought they would be a fun way to put some affirmations around where you, or those you love, will see them. Stick a couple with “I love you” in lunches, leave one on a co-workers computer screen with “You ROCK!” or stick one on your lunch check the next time you are out for the waiter/waitress saying “Thanks for being so sweet!”

Here are some other ideas for your own notes or affirmations:

• You are important
• You are enough
• You matter
• You make me smile.
• I enjoy your company!
• I appreciate you.
• You are my favorite person.
• Never forget that you are loved.
• Thank you for being you.
• I appreciate everything you do.
• Life is good
• You are a uniquely beautiful soul
• You are awesome
• You are amazing
• I honor who you are.
• You are better than sparkly unicorns!
• YOU are kick ass!
• Trust the journey.
• Cute butt!
• Trust the journey.
• You've got this!
• Be your best self.
• You can do it!
• You can do anything!
• You are beautiful
• BELIEVE
• HOPE
• The world is filled with magic!

• My body is amazing.
• I love me!
• My body is healthy.
• I am happy.
• I am grateful.
• I am joyful.
• I have everything I need.
• I am grateful
• I am no one's victim!
• I am creative
• I choose gratitude
• I am strong
• I have everything I need.
• My heart is open to love.
• Life is good.
• I honor who I am.
• I am worthy of my dreams.
• My self-esteem is HIGH.
• My life is balanced.
• I deserve to be loved as I am.
• I am unstoppable!
• I let go of struggle.
• I embrace ease.
• DREAM
• DARE
• I am surrounded by the positive.
• The universe always provides.
• Success is mine.

January Subbox sneak peek!

 I-Ching coins, rocaille #beads, sparkly plum crystals and brass with a gorgeous green patina will make up some of the jewelry in February’s DHD Subscription Box. Only a couple more left before I have to shut off the subscription button for Valentines Day so get it now before it’s too late. . . . . . . .

This month the #DHD #subscriptionbox is featuring January’s #birthstone

Garnet! Sterling silver necklace plus matching earrings are among the NINE items in this month’s box! . . . . . . . . #blog

Red Garnet Correspondences: Metaphysical and Physical Qualities

Metaphysical and Physical Qualities of Garnet

Name: Garnet

Also Known as: Cinnamon Stone, Stone of Love, Carbuncle

Family: Nesosilicate

Hardness: 6.5-7.5

Correspondences

Cleansing crystals with the elements.

I really do LOVE hearing from my customers.

Just wish I HAD staff to share this with! LOL Thanks Michelle! You are a doll!

Beautiful Raku Beads

I have been up to my elbows in these amazing raku ceramic beads that I got for this month's DHD subscription box projects. Two great pieces of jewelry have been made for subscribers using these plus some other beads in different sizes and a few silver ones thrown in for good measure. ⠀ ⠀ 

I just love how this 16th-century Japanese craft is still used today to create such beauty. It uses porcelain and glazes to create beads, small sculptural elements, and other items, each being unique due to the handmade nature and the Raku process.

Most types of pottery are loaded into a cold kiln where the firing proceeds slowly until the desired temperature is reached. This firing cycle may take anywhere from 8-24 hours or more. When the kiln has reached temperature, it is shut off and allowed to cool enough to be able to remove the ware using bare or lightly gloved hands. The cooling cycle may last from 12-24 hours or longer. The item is considered finished when it is taken from the kiln. 

In raku, the pieces are preheated and loaded into a hot kiln. The firing proceeds at a rapid pace with the wares reaching a temperature in as short a cycle as 15-20 minutes. Glaze maturity is judged by the trained eye without the use of measuring devices. When the firing is determined to be completed the wares are immediately removed from the kiln. Since at this point the glaze is molten, tongs or other lifting devices are used. 

At this point, the process is still not complete. The beads are put into a container with combustible material such as sawdust, or leaves and allowed to smoke. The atmosphere created reacts and affects the glazes and clay and imparts unique effects and surfaces to the wares. When the beads have cooled, they are washed with an abrasive cleaner to remove all residue of soot and ash. What remains is called Raku.

I really am looking forward to hearing what my subscribers think of the jewelry that was created from these great beads!

This month's sneak peak for the DHD Subscription Boxes! #blog

5 Fun and Easy Ways to Upcycle Cardboard

Since my subscribers at The Dancing Happy Dragonfly get a box every month for me I thought I would share some great ideas for reusing those boxes in creative and useful ways. Enjoy!

Metaphysical and Physical Qualities of Rainbow Moonstone

Metaphysical and Physical Qualities of Rainbow Moonstone

Name: Rainbow Moonstone

Also known as: Labradorite, Plagioclase Feldspar

Family: Labradorite

Hardness: 6-6.5

Correspondences:

A friend is doing her first fashion show!

I love when I get to collaborate with someone. It is not only a lot of fun but it gets me thinking of new ways to incorporate what I do. It also allows me to stretch myself as an

So happy to have finished...

Happy to say that I have finished and shipped this huge wholesale order. 250 pieces later and many, many overtime hours last week. I am one tired girl! but it is totally worth it all.

Tiger Eye Crystal Healing Correspondences: Metaphysical and Physical Qualities

Name: Tiger's Eye

Also known as: Tigereye, Tiger Eye

Family: Macro-crystalline Quartz, Chalcedony

Hardness: 7

Correspondences

Freebie Friday! In the Pink!

The month of January is always my slowest time of the year and I have become very grateful for the down time it affords. I usually spend time playing catch up, planning for the year ahead, looking back at what is working and what is not. This does not only include my business life but my personal life as well. 

From the ProjectGirl.com 

It has come to my attention, and not through the most comfortable of circumstances, that my self-esteem has been, for a lack of a better term, in the toilet for the past few months. I believe I have gotten my head wrapped around about exactly how that came about and why and I am striving to "correct my course" and move forward in a more positive way. 

This includes some extra self-care time plus surrounding myself with positive affirmations, people and partaking of things that make me smile more. This is a huge part of that course correction and nothing short of a necessity. While I hate to admit it I have been down this path before and know what steps I need to take to regain the balance in my life.

Pendulums- Part 1

Introduction to using a pendulum

This black tourmaline pendulum bracelet can be worn daily so it is at the ready anytime you need it!

A pendulum is, simply put, a small non-magnetic weight on a string or chain of some kind. Throughout history pendulums have been used in many ways from locating water, precious metals and gemstones to locating infections and weak areas of the body or even for predicting the gender of a child before birth. Using pendulums in this way are referred to as dowsing, divining, water witching, divination or predicting. Today pendulums are used for the practices previously mentioned and more including but not limited to: healing, reiki, dispelling negativity, finding the answers to questions or making decisions, helping to find lost objects and pet communication.

 While many people worry that they will be unable to use a pendulum, the good news is that anyone can learn. It is really only a tool that makes it easier to access the energy that is already a part of all that makes up the universe and your own subconscious mind. We often distance ourselves from this energy and our subconscious is too far removed from the conscious to make it easy to access. A pendulum can help you to bring that energy into focus and create a link of communication with your subconscious mind.

There is no reason to fear using a pendulum. You are not accessing outside forces nor are you using, or asking anything of, paranormal entities. You are simply engaging your higher self and subconscious in order to find the answers you seek.

While a pendulum is not, in and of itself, negative or positive it can be affected by negative or positive thoughts and situations. For this reason you will likely need to cleanse it from time to time, especially if it is made from gemstones that can become "tired" or affected adversely over time.

Stay tuned for the second part of this series, coming soon! If you would like to be notified of,  or have the next installment come right to your email inbox please subscribe to the blog or my email newsletter.

A Chance to Win $200 in Jewelry! FREE!

Yes, that's right! The jewelry is mine but the giveaway is from author Anne Kelleher. 

Her latest erotic romance, Wickham's Fancy, has launched and she is offering this set of fantasy role play jewelry to a lucky person that leaves a review for any of her books on either Amazon or Good Reads. When she asked me to make two one of a kind sets of jewelry for her books I was really pleased to have been chosen and for the opportunity to do something completely new. I think you will agree they are like nothing else available currently anywhere:

Crystal Formations: What is a Dow Crystal?

What is a Dow Crystal?

Crystal Formations: What is a Double Terminated Crystal?

What is a Double Terminated Crystal?