New path

The past couple months have seen a change around here. As recently as February I had plans to expand the embroidery sections of  each shop, but the Universe seems to be directing me to a different path. The rest of the staff have been very supportive, doing their best to keep things going.

Grimmie tried his paw at making meditation beads...........

and using the embroidery machine. (He's the overachiever around here.)

Jezzie, in addition to her duties as CEO, made sure the supply inventory was well stocked.

Lady Fray even tried her paw at knitting.

And finally, Madame Z did her best to handle the orders and to re-list the items as they expired.

While I greatly appreciate their efforts there wasn't a lot of actual work accomplished. They are after all....... cats. After 'working' 2 minutes they reward themselves with a 10 hour break.

After much soul searching I have decided to shut down both ETSY shops, at least for a while. I started the first shop over 5 1/2 years ago. At the time, I was going through a very difficult period dealing with the auto-immune issues that had been a part of my life for many years, and needed something positive in my life. At roughly the same time, I started on my path of exploring alternative healing methods. Each new treatment I have tried has led me to another, with each building on what the other provided. Today, I feel better than I ever thought possible and am feeling a need to help others with what I have learned. It is with mixed emotions that I have decided to take an indefinite amount of time off from selling on ETSY. On the one hand, it is very hard to leave something that has given me so much joy and been a part of my life for so long. On the other, I am excited to see where this journey leads me.

Thank you to those who have purchased from me the past few years- I am grateful to you all.
Thank you to my friend Amy who introduced me to ETSY- you truly saved me.
Thank you to the humans who have either been staff members or who have provided advertising, photography or modeling services-your talents were invaluable.
Thank you to the Hubby for the support you have given me these past few years- I appreciate it more than you will ever know.

And not to be forgotten, thank you to the furry staff members - your antics have frustrated me from time to time, but mostly they just kept me entertained.

Message from the CEO

This will be my last report for awhile. The human has decided to take some time off to focus on another project and is shutting down the ETSY operation for the near future.

There was not a lot accomplished around here in the first quarter of the year. Originally, there had been plans to expand the embroidery sections and to branch out by selling on different sites. Those plans have all been put on hold indefinitely. The rest of the staff and I did our best to keep things afloat, but it proved too difficult. Creating new items must be a lot easier when you have hands instead of paws. (I guess humans are good for something after all.) 

We hope to re-open the shops at a future date after things slow down. 

Until next time,

Jezebel

Madame Z's Corner- Citrine

Madame Z provides monthly posts featuring a different healing stone each month. She gathers her info from many different sources including the books: The Pocket Book of Stones; The Way of the Green Witch; Healing Crystals and Gemstones; The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals, and Stones; and Grimoire for a Green Witch; the websites: That Crystal Site; Wings of Spirit; and Healing Crystals for You; as well as relying on personal experience. Healing stones are not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with serious medical or emotional issues should consult with a health care professional. When purchasing a healing stone, it is best to buy the stone you are drawn to. Healing stones should be cleansed and charged periodically. We cleanse our personal stones at least once a month, and sometimes more often if we feel they need it. Cleansing can be accomplished by holding the stone in a stream of water. A natural stream is best, but since most of us do not have access to one, filtered water is a good substitute. Some stones should not be placed in water. These stones can be placed in dirt or smudged with white sage. To recharge the stones, place in a sunny window or in moonlight for a few hours.

The spotlight stone for April was Citrine. Citrine is considered a stone of  sun, light, and life, and has been well known as a healing stone for nearly 6000 years. Because it was thought to have life saving abilities, citrine was once worn by soldiers.

Citrine is considered beneficial to the nervous system, and helpful with relieving stress and depression. It is also believed to detoxify the body and to strengthen the immune system. This sunny stone is thought to increase self confidence, to help improve concentration, to bring optimism, and to aid decisiveness. It is thought to enhance creativity and even to calm nightmares, too.

Physically, citrine is thought to support digestion and to relieve bladder and kidney problems. It is also believed to aid those with allergies and eating disorders. Citrine is considered beneficial to those with fibromyalgia and thyroid conditions, as well.

Magickally, citrine is thought to induce dreaming: and is associated with protection and prosperity.


Citrine is associated with the solar plexus and root chakras, and does not need to be cleansed or charged. In fact, it can be used to charge other stones. If cleansing and charging is desired, cleanse with warm water and charge with moonlight. Sunlight can cause citrine to fade. Stones faded by sunlight are considered less powerful than those that are not faded.

We have not had enough contact with citrine to be able to give our personal assessment of it.

Grimoire's Sneak Peek

March was a month full of celebrations. Not only did we welcome Spring (finally!) but we also had two special birthdays. One of our little models turned a year older and so did my co-worker, Lady Fray.

Moving on to this month- Our April Stone of the Month has been selected. We will be spotlighting the cheerfully yellow stone, citrine.

Citrine is known as a stone of light, sun, and life. It is also believed to have a detoxifying effect on the body. Madame Z will have more to say about this amazing stone in her post later this month. Every item featuring this wonderful stone is now on sale at ravenheartdesigns.etsy.com and ravensmysticmoon.etsy.com.

Madame Z's Corner- Lilac Stone/Lepidolite

Madame Z provides monthly posts featuring a different healing stone each month. She gathers her info from many different sources including the books: The Pocket Book of Stones; The Way of the Green Witch; Healing Crystals and Gemstones; The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals, and Stones; and Grimoire for a Green Witch; the websites: That Crystal Site; Wings of Spirit; and Healing Crystals for You; as well as relying on personal experience. Healing stones are not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with serious medical or emotional issues should consult with a health care professional. When purchasing a healing stone, it is best to buy the stone you are drawn to. Healing stones should be cleansed and charged periodically. We cleanse our personal stones at least once a month, and sometimes more often if we feel they need it. Cleansing can be accomplished by holding the stone in a stream of water. A natural stream is best, but since most of us do not have access to one, filtered water is a good substitute. Some stones should not be placed in water. These stones can be placed in dirt or smudged with white sage. To recharge the stones, place in a sunny window or in moonlight for a few hours.

Our March spotlight stone is the lovely Lilac Stone, also known as Lepidolite or Lilac Lepidolite. Lepidolite is considered a stone of spiritual love, helping one to activate a connection to the higher self. It is also believed to aid one in the ability to gather information from other realms of existence. This beautiful stone is thought to balance the emotions, leading to inner peace. It is also thought to reduce anxiety and stress, helping to bring about feelings of love and serenity. Lilac stone is considered helpful for anyone going through a difficult period, or for those who are grieving or suffering from depression. It is even believed to be beneficial for those recovering from post-traumatic stress.

Physically, Lilac Lepidolite is believed to aid in the relief of leg cramps and muscle aches.

Magickally, it is considered a stone of manifestation. It is also thought to aid one in shamanic journeying. 

Lilac Lepidolite is associated with all chakras, especially the heart and crown.

Lilac stone should be cleansed by smudging with white sage (passing through the smoke after the white sage has been lit). It should not contact water, as water can cause the stone to break down. To charge, we place ours in moonlight. Lilac Lepidolite can also be charged by placing among some amethyst or quartz.

Our personal experience with this stone: 
The human staff member feels it to be a somewhat gentle stone; but also experiences it as an invigorating stone, not very relaxing. The chakra she finds most effected is the third eye. The human is extremely sensitive to energies so others might experience this stone differently- more in line with it's traditional description of a calming stone. 
Everyone is different and you should always trust your own experiences when using healing stones. Do not think a stone has to have the effect on you that a book or a website says it should, or that there is something wrong with you if it does not. The first rule to remember when choosing a stone is to pick the one you are drawn to. 

Grimoire's Sneak Peek

 In honor of the coming of spring later this month, and the fact that spring makes us think of lilacs, we have chosen Lilac Stone to be our March spotlight stone. Every item in both shops featuring this lovely stone are 10% off through the end of the month.

Lilac Stone is considered a stone of spiritual love. It is thought to lead to inner peace, and to reduce stress and anxiety. To learn more about this beautiful stone check out Madame Z's post later this month.

Madame Z's Corner - Rose Quartz

Madame Z provides monthly posts featuring a different healing stone each month. She gathers her info from many different sources including the books: The Pocket Book of Stones; The Way of the Green Witch; Healing Crystals and Gemstones; The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals, and Stones; and Grimoire for a Green Witch; the websites: That Crystal Site; Wings of Spirit; and Healing Crystals for You; as well as relying on personal experience. Healing stones are not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with serious medical or emotional issues should consult with a health care professional. When purchasing a healing stone, it is best to buy the stone you are drawn to. Healing stones should be cleansed and charged periodically. We cleanse our personal stones at least once a month, and sometimes more often if we feel they need it. Cleansing can be accomplished by holding the stone in a stream of water. A natural stream is best, but since most of us do not have access to one, filtered water is a good substitute. Some stones should not be placed in water. These stones can be placed in dirt or smudged with white sage. To recharge the stones, place in a sunny window or in moonlight for a few hours.

Our February spotlight stone is the beautiful love stone, Rose Quartz. Legend has it, Eros brought rose quartz to Earth hoping to arouse love among the people. 

Rose quartz is believed to help one attract romance, love, and even their soul mate. Considered a beneficial stone for grief, it is thought to bring a feeling of comfort and unconditional love towards yourself and others. Rose Quartz is believed to bring compassionate feelings, to heal the heart of negative emotions, to re-awaken trust, and to cleanse the aura. A protective stone, it is also thought to help one release stress, dissolve anger, and to calm fear. Rose Quartz is even believed to boost self-esteem and to transform negative energy to positive.

Physically, Rose Quartz is considered effective against radiation- placing it next to a computer is believed to prevent headaches and eye strain. It is also thought to improve sleep quality when placed next to the bed. Fittingly for a love stone, it is believed to increase sexuality and fertility. This beautiful stone is considered helpful in stimulating circulation, and in relieving the pain of shingles and fibromyalgia, too.

Magickally, rose quartz is associated with peace, love, and comfort.

Rose Quartz is a heart chakra stone, believed to help one connect their earth bound existence with their higher, spiritual self. Quartz stones in general, including rose, are thought to amplify and store energy.

Our personal experience with rose quartz energy is of a calming and loving stone. We also experience a feeling of being grounded when in contact with this stone.

Rose Quartz should be cleansed with warm water and charged by moonlight. All quartz will fade over time if exposed to sunlight.
Fading is believed to cause a stone's power to decrease. The energy of rose quartz is thought to be so powerful that it can be felt just by placing in a room.

Fray's Focus- Our Remodel Project

Greetings all! Welcome to the premiere of Fray's Focus. My hope is to make this a regular feature on the blog, with each post being unique and informative. This first post, providing a behind the scenes look at the transformation that has been taking place since I arrived a couple months ago, will be a little different than those in the future.

I have had a great time getting acquainted with my fellow staff members: Grimoire, Jezebel, The Human, and of course, getting to know my cousin, Madame Z, better. They made me feel welcome from the first day here and have been very supportive as I adjusted to my new life.

This past month, our work rooms have been getting a makeover. The old carpet that was here when the Humans' bought the place- and that I understand they hated - has been removed and different flooring has been installed. The new flooring looks like hardwood but is actually vinyl. Clean-up is much easier and it looks wonderful. Because it is vinyl we do not have to worry about getting it wet, which is a big plus since we never know what sort of creative projects might come our way.

To prepare for the remodel project, cabinets to store a few items had to be put together. Grimoire and Madame Z took on that task along with the human known as Hubby.

Then, we had to move everything from one room to the other and start ripping up the old carpet. Jezebel oversaw this portion of the project while the Humans' contributed the physical labor.

The human known as Hubby had a buddy who came over the next day to help him finish installing the new floor.

Grimmie, who is always up for hanging around with the guys whenever they are here, ended up covered in sawdust.

Madame Z lent a paw to removing the carpet from the steps. This flooring cannot be installed on them. They will be getting a temporary coat of paint until a different friend of the human known as Hubby has time to finish them.

We all really love the new floor!

We were able to pick up some wild paint for the steps from a local hardware store. We liked it so much we decided to paint the trim, too.

Our pattern and reference books now have a home close to the scale and mailing materials........

and our arts/crafts supplies are all now stored in clear containers. 

It will be so much easier now to find the needed materials to  complete projects.

Finally, we managed to do all this while still keeping the beloved garden look.

We even added this guy to our collection of quirky items that make us smile!

.

While re-decorating has been fun, we're all itching to get back to work creating new things for the ETSY shops'.

And where was I while all the construction was going on?

 In my office writing this post. After all, somebody around this place had to keep the shops' going!

Until next time, Lady Fray

Grimoire's Sneak Peek

Our work room renovation is nearing completion! We all know we will love the new look and can't wait to get back to work creating new products. Lady Fray will tell you all about it in her premiere post.

Madame Z has picked the February Stone of the Month. Like last year, she again decided to spotlight a 'love stone', this time it is Rose Quartz. Legend has it Eros brought rose quartz to Earth hoping to arouse love and desire among the people. This heart chakra stone is truly awesome and you can learn all about it from her next post.

Message from the CEO

Welcome to 2015! Thank you to all who purchased from us in 2014! Because of you we were once again able to donate 10% of our earnings to 2 central Michigan homeless shelters; City Rescue Mission in Saginaw, and Good Samaritan in Bay City.

This past year we welcomed a new employee, Lady Fray. She will be making her debut on this blog later this month. We are currently in the middle of remodeling our work rooms and at the moment are not creating new items. The hope is to be back to work by the beginning of February. Lady Fray will tell everyone all about it in her premiere post.

Due to our increased inventory of Christmas and Yule ornaments in the ravenheartdesigns.etsy.com shop, the fourth quarter proved to be very busy. In addition, our ravensmysticmoon.etsy.com shop was given an exciting opportunity to bring some additional exposure to their products. We are all excited to be involved with Sacred Beginnings and will post more about that at a later date.

Looking ahead to the coming year, our plan is to continue to increase the holiday items listed at Raven Heart Designs, adding embroidered ornaments/decorations into the mix. We also plan to continue to add other embroidered items such as bibs and towels.

Over at Raven's Mystic Moon, our main goal is to continue to provide meditation/prayer beads and healing stone earrings. It took a little while, but the 3-in-1 earring sets we introduced several months ago are almost sold out and in need of an inventory replenishment. Our stock of meditation/prayer beads is also down and in need of an increase. We would like to add a few more embroidered items to that shop in the near future, too. Adding some embroidered items with inspirational quotes is an idea we have kicked around for awhile and feel now might be the right time.

Our long range plans still involve a shop on Zibbet.com and possibly some other sites, and we would love to participate in craft shows. The timeline for those projects will depend on how long it takes to replenish our inventories and any unexpected opportunities that may come along.

Best wishes to all in the coming year!
Jezebel

Madame Z's Corner: Garnet

Madame Z provides monthly posts featuring a different healing stone each month. She gathers her info from many different sources including the books: The Pocket Book of Stones; The Way of the Green Witch; Healing Crystals and Gemstones; The Essential Guide to Crystals, Minerals, and Stones; and Grimoire for a Green Witch; the websites: That Crystal Site; Wings of Spirit; and Healing Crystals for You; as well as relying on personal experience. Healing stones are not a substitute for medical treatment. Anyone with serious medical or emotional issues should consult with a health care professional. When purchasing a healing stone, it is best to buy the stone you are drawn to. Healing stones should be cleansed and charged periodically. We cleanse our personal stones at least once a month, and sometimes more often if we feel they need it. Cleansing can be accomplished by holding the stone in a stream of water. A natural stream is best, but since most of us do not have access to one, filtered water is a good substitute. Some stones should not be placed in water. These stones can be placed in dirt or smudged with white sage. To recharge the stones, place in a sunny window or in moonlight for a few hours.

Our spotlight stone for January is Garnet. Garnet is the most well known birthstone for January, although there are a few others such as serpent stone and red zircon. When most of us think of garnet we picture a red stone, like the stones in the earrings above. However, it also can be found in other colors; green, orange, and black, for some examples. The majority of this post will focus on the properties of the red variety.

In Hinduism and Buddhism garnet is thought to bring wisdom and enlightenment. It is also believed to arouse Kundalini energy. Garnet is considered a stone of motivation, helping to dispel procrastination. It is thought to have a stimulating effect on the libido and to bring passion, vitality, and love to life. This amazing stone is believed to release negative energy in passionate people, but should be avoided when agitated or angry. Garnet is thought to ease emotional healing of guilt and shame, and to provide psychic protection.

Magickally, garnet is believed to balance energies and is associated with courage, rebirth/renewal, and creativity.

Physically, garnet is thought to bring warmth to the wearer, to strengthen the heart, and to aid in circulation. It is considered beneficial for the lungs and in the treatment of anemia, too.

The red variety of garnet is associated with the root chakra.


Black garnet is considered a grounding stone. It is believed to attune one to the elemental forces and is associated with the root and Earthstar chakras.

The green variety of garnet is associated with the heart and solar plexus chakras. It is thought to bring a feeling of inner peace and contentment.

Garnet should be cleansed with warm, filtered water, and charged with sunlight.

We experience red garnet as a very invigorating stone. It brings a feeling of happiness and vitality. Those extremely sensitive to energies may find garnet too stimulating to wear for long periods of time. While most will have no problem with garnet or any other stone, our human staff member, who is very sensitive to energies, has reported sleep disturbances from prolonged exposure to red garnet's energy.

We have no personal experience with the other varieties of garnet.

Grimoire's Sneak Peek #2 - Secret Santa

Last month, us feline members of the staff decided to do a Secret Santa exchange for the Holidays. Everyone thought it would be a great idea to support our fellow ETSY sellers by purchasing the gifts from other shops on the site.

We all love the catnip joints (legal in all 50 states!) that the real Santa left for us on Christmas Eve. I understand he picked those up from StarkRavingCat.

 

Madame Z's Secret Santa gave her this awesome catnip fortune cookie. It came from SEWPhabulousPetToys.

 

Also from SEWPhabulousPetToys was this truly Phabulous gingerbread man that I received from my secret gift giver.

 

Lady Fray's gift was a catnip mouse from CritterProject. 100% of their profits go to the care of shelter cats and dogs. The mouse even came with an extra catnip pouch to refill it with later on. I (oops, I mean her Secret Santa) decided to keep that for himself.

 

Finally, the gift we all agreed was the greatest, the Yule log our esteemed CEO Jezebel received. I don't know what's in it, but man is that good stuff!!

 

Her gift came from the shop SmallWondersArt.

 

So, as you can see we all had a great Holiday here at the Ravens'!

Hope all of you had an awesome Holiday, too! And have an even more awesome New Year!!

 

 

 

Grimoire's Seak Peek

Welcome to 2015! We are in the process of remodeling our work rooms and will not be creating new products for a few weeks. Both ETSY shops will still continue to have their finished products available for purchase during this time. We hope to be up and running at full capacity as soon as possible.

In the meantime, our January spotlight stone will be Garnet. We picked this stone because it is a January birthstone. Madame Z's post may be a little late this month, as mine was, but items featuring this warm and vibrant stone can now be purchased at a savings of 10% at ravensmysticmoon.etsy.com. Our other shop, ravenheartdesigns.etsy.com, does not carry any garnet adorned items. Use coupon code: jangar15 to receive your 10% discount on the item of your choice over there.

Thank you to all who visited our shops, blog, and facebook pages in 2014! Thanks to all of our wonderful customers, we were able to once again donate 10% to two local homeless shelters- City Rescue Mission in Saginaw, Mi; and Good Samaritan in Bay City, Mi! We appreciate your assistance in meeting our goals!