Welcome Summer!

Now that warm weather is finally here, I am finding it hard to make myself stay inside and work. Luckily, all of the blank baby bibs have been used and there is nothing to embroider on anyways. While awaiting delivery of more, I noticed the meditation/prayer bead inventory is low and thought this would be a great time to replenish. The best part, I can work on those outside on the back deck! Of course, our CEO Jezzie, and bead expert Madame Z, always keep a close watch on things.

 While the three of us have been occupied creating meditation sets, Grimoire has been putting all his energy into researching his next blog post and tweet.

Pinterest, here we come!

The ETSY shops made the move to Pinterest this past week. So far, the inappropriate baby bibs and a pair of dragons blood jasper earrings have been popular.

The plan is to add the remaining inventories this coming week.

Madame Z's Corner: Amber

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. Stones that include metals should not be placed in water because of the risk of rust. 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 June is Amber. Amber is fossilized pine tree sap and can be found in the colors, yellow, reddish brown, and brown. This stone brings a warm energy and is believed to create a sense of health and well-being. It is thought to help clear unwanted energies from energy sucking people, and also to enhance self healing. Because it is thought to help amplify the intention to remove harmful matter from the body, it is considered to be helpful in removing toxic substances. Amber is thought to help give one courage to follow the path to recovery, and is recommended for anyone recovering from illness or injury. It is believed to enhance ones own desire for wellness and to activate the life force. It is also thought to assist in recalling past lives with the intent to learn how the memories can help with recovery in this life. Amber is considered to be helpful with the grieving process, to dissolve energy blockages, and to relieve depression. It is considered a bridge to connect the spiritual and physical energies, and to ground spiritual energies into the body. Amber is believed to calm fears, bring a harmonising energy, and to activate creativity. It is also associated with good luck and success.

Magically, it is a witch's stone, thought to strengthen spells and also to break them. Additionally, it is considered a protective stone.

Physically, it is believed to stimulate metabolism, and to treat skin ailments caused by metabolic imbalance. Ground amber is considered beneficial for treating skin infections and boils. Allergic respiratory problems are thought to be eased by wearing a necklace of amber. Amber necklaces have also been used to help ease teething pain in infants. This wonderful stone is thought to be helpful in treating the following ailments: abscesses, allergies, arthritis, asthma, backache, bronchitis, circulatory disorders, epilepsy, fever, gout, inflamed gums, hay fever, headaches (including migraines), tired and swollen legs, lesions, liver ailments, muscle inflammation, rheumatism, sciatica, shingles, tonsillitis, varicose veins, bursitis, colic, earaches, goiter, neuralgia, and whooping cough. It is also believed to strengthen bones, to strengthen heart muscle, and to aid in surgical recovery. While no stone is going to treat something as serious as Aids by itself, amber is thought to be helpful when combined with mainstream medical treatments. Amber is thought to work best when placed directly on the skin. For pain relief, such as back pain, placing amber directly on the sore spot is thought to provide the best relief.

Amber is associated with the solar plexus, navel, crown, and heart chakras. It should be cleansed with warm water. We use moonlight to charge our stones because placing amber in direct sunlight may cause it to become brittle. Negative energy can cause amber to become cloudy.

Amber is such an amazing stone, and one of our personal favorites. It truly does bring a warm energy to the wearer. A wonderful combination of joyful energy and vitality, with a sense of inner peace. 

Grimoire's sneak peek

Madame Z has picked a truly amazing stone for our next spotlight stone. The June 'Stone of the Month' will be Amber. This cool stone, which is actually fossilized tree sap, has a warm and inviting energy. Amber is thought to be beneficial in the treatment of numerous ailments, and is a personal favorite of the staff here at the Ravens'.

Baby Bibs, Yay!

The staff and I have been hard at work on the new embroidered baby bibs. It has been a long process but I finally have an idea of what works and what does not. The last couple months have been spent working up designs for both the inappropriate baby bibs, and also the spiritual leaning bibs. I have to admit the inappropriate line was much more fun to do. My former worker Aaron and his lovely lady, photographer Melissa, have encouraged me every step of the way. They allowed their adorable daughter to test drive, so to speak, several of the prototypes for me, with rave reviews. My former assistant, Jezebel, even made a rare appearance in the workroom to lend her support during the designing stage. Last, but not least, the hubby finds them hilarious. So........here's hoping we are not the only four somewhat twisted people (and one somewhat twisted feline) out there!

The bibs are now starting to be listed for sale in both shops. The inappropriate bibs are at ravenheartdesigns.etsy.com; while the spiritual leaning bibs can be found at ravensmysticmoon.etsy.com.

Vacay!!

We all took a week off the end of last month. The hubby and I headed south to visit family of mine I had not seen in many years. It was great to see everybody and to spend a few days in a warmer climate. Whenever I take a trip anywhere, I always like to look for something new to add to the collection of quirky items I keep in my work room. I spotted this Buddha in the first shop we went to and just had to smile. I think he makes a great addition to the family.

While we were away, the feline members of the household were looked after by some wonderful friends of ours. That hasn't stopped them from plotting ways to keep us from leaving them behind next time, though.

 

Madame Z's Corner: Sodalite

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. Stones that include metals should not be placed in water because of the risk of rust. 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 May spotlight stone is Sodalite. Historically, sodalite has been known as the stone of artists, singers, painters, and sculptors because it is believed to promote creativity. Singers in ancient Greece carried this stone believing it would help with the development of musical skills.
Sodalite is considered useful for balancing the emotions, and to help calm hormone-related emotional outbursts brought on by PMS or menopause. A calming stone, sodalite is considered a good meditation stone and also a good study aid. It is believed to help one maintain focus and to cancel out angry or negative thoughts.
Sodalite is considered to be a stone of insight and to enhance intuition. It is thought to stimulate psychic vision and is considered to be an aid to astrologers and tarot readers. It is also believed to enhance memory, relieve stress, and to aid sleep. Thought to allow only truth and honesty, sodalite is considered a good stone for healing rifts in relationships and for strengthening communication.

Physically,  this wonderful stone is believed to reduce high blood pressure, and to have a calming effect on the thyroid gland and the nervous system. It is also thought to reduce inflammation and to relieve headaches and muscle strains. Sodalite is thought to be beneficial to the digestive system, to decrease calcium deficiency, and even to help head colds heal quicker.
Like most blue stones, sodalite is associated with the forehead and throat chakras.

Cleanse with running water and recharge with sunlight, or by placing in a bowl with rock crystal. A general rule of thumb is to cleanse and recharge stones on a monthly basis. Sodalite may have to be recharged more often, in some cases as frequently as once a week, if the stone becomes cloudy.