Message from the CEO

Wow! The third quarter really went by fast! It's hard to believe we
are into October already! Unfortunately, we were so busy with personal summer activities, like gardening, our goals for the third quarter were not all met. Adding embroidered bath towels to both shops is still on our to-do list, we had hoped to have them available for sale by now. While we have continued to increase our inventory of baby bibs, meditation beads, and Christmas and Yule ornaments, we were hoping to have more of those by now, also. The blanket yarn is nearly all used up, with the final 100% wool blanket currently under construction.

Look for more dishcloths to be added to the Raven Heart Designs shop in the coming months also, as we finish off our supply of cotton yarn.

Our goals for the final quarter of the year are to finally get those towels finished and listed for sale, to open a shop on Zibbet.com, and to continue to add ornaments, bibs, and meditation beads to our inventory. We have also tossed the idea of having a home craft sale around, but are not sure that is a realistic goal for this year. If we can find some other artists/crafters to join us, it would be doable.
How many of the fourth quarter goals are met, will depend on how busy the holiday shopping season is for us. We are, of course, hoping to be so busy filling orders that we are unable to do much else!

Be sure to check out our shops at ravenheartdesigns.etsy.com and ravensmysticmoon.etsy.com. For a first look at new products and info on upcoming specials, follow Grimoire the Cat on twitter; and don't forget to like us on facebook!

I hope you all are able to enjoy the many holidays and festivities the fourth quarter has to offer.
See you in January for the next update!
Jezebel

Madame Z's Corner: Jet

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 October spotlight stone is Jet. We chose Jet for the month in which Halloween occurs because it is considered a witch's stone.
Magickally, Jet is thought to draw the energy of the elementals and  to bind that energy to spells. It is also believed to protect against evil spirits and psychic attacks.

Jet, a stone formed from petrified coal, is believed to reduce anger, and is considered to be helpful with the grieving process. It is also thought to help calm anxiety and fear. Jet is believed to deflect and neutralize negative energies, and to heal energy leaks in the aura.
Associated with all chakras, jet is thought to align the root chakra and to stimulate Kundalini. Jet, like most black stones, is considered to be a protective stone.

Physically, Jet is thought to cleanse the kidneys and the liver, and to help remove toxins in the body. It is also thought to relieve arthritis and inflammation, and to treat bronchitis, headaches, and respiratory ailments.

Our personal experience with jet is of a happy stone. Jet has the ability to bring a feeling of joy to the one carrying or wearing it.

Never cleanse jet with water or place it in sunlight. We have found the best way to cleanse and charge our jet is to bury it in dirt for a period of at least 24 hours. The dirt will take care of both the cleansing and charging process. Jet does have the ability to hold negative energies and will need to be cleansed often, possibly after only one use, depending on the amount of negativity there is to absorb.

Grimoire's Sneak Peek

October is a month of many celebrations and observances. It is: National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month; Cookie Month; Vegetarian month; Sarcastic Month; and Popping Popcorn Month. In addition to all of those are the more well known: Domestic Violence Awareness Month; Lupus Awareness Month; and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. October also includes: Name Your Car Day; Fire Prevention Day; Moldy Cheese Day; Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day; Wear Something Gaudy Day; and Increase Your Psychic Powers Day. Not to be forgotten, it also includes: Bosses Day; Mother-in-Law Day; Columbus Day; Sweetest Day; Oktoberfest; and of course, Samhain or Halloween. 

This last observance is the focus of our October 'Stone of the Month': Jet. Jet is known as a witch's stone. It is believed to bind spells and to provide protection from psychic attacks.

 

Be sure to check out Madame Z's post later this week. She will tell all about this amazing stone. (She takes her teddy bear to work with her everyday.)

Tomatoes, Camping, and Itty-Bitty Scarves

The past couple weeks have been very busy around here. Hubby and I took what is most likely the last camping trip of the summer. It's very hard for me to leave work behind and just relax, so I took along some yarn and knitting needles. Now I have a collection of itty-bitty scarves and hats just waiting for some itty-bitty snow people. The finished Christmas and Yule ornaments will be for sale at ravenheartdesigns.etsy.com.

 

 

After our vacation was over, we made one last outing to the CSA farm and stocked up on tomatoes, squash, and a few other veggies.
We are now up to our eyeballs in tomatoes to can and squash to freeze. It's a lot of work, but worth it!

 

As we have been working our way through our bounty of veggies, Grimmie, never one to miss any possibility of excitement, has added his invaluable support. However, he quickly became worn out from watching the humans' work and had to find a place to chill.

 

The rest of the staff, allergic to anything resembling housework, have been nowhere to be found.

Madame Z's Corner: Autumn Jasper

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 spotlight stone for September is Autumn Jasper. This stone is appropriately named as it contains many of the colors associated with the season. Jaspers in general are known as the stone of selflessness and are thought to be good grounding stones. They are also known as slow, gentle healers. Because they bring about changes slowly, they are considered good stones for those who are very sensitive to energies and who may not be able to tolerate a more invigorating healing stone. Jaspers are believed to encourage a connection to the Earth, to balance Yin and Yang energies, and to align all the chakras. They are also considered protective stones and are believed to stabilize and cleanse the aura of negativity.

 

Autumn Jasper in particular is thought to clear away negative energy, both inner and environmental. It is believed to provide support during stressful times and to inspire tranquility and a feeling of wholeness. This stone is also thought to enhance perception, to stimulate interaction, to dispel critical thinking, and to calm the mind. Autumn Jasper is believed to remind us that we are all connected to the circle of life.

 

Physically, Autumn Jasper is thought to combat dehydration, to treat disorders of the nervous system, brain, and thyroid, and to treat gastrointestinal issues. It is also considered to be helpful with insomnia, and is even thought to soften and smooth the skin.

 

Jasper is even helpful to the plant community. It is believed that burying a jasper stone in each corner of a garden will encourage a more balanced harvest.

 

Jasper is associated with all chakras. Our experience with this wonderful stone is that it brings a feeling of emotional balance to the body. The human staff member is very sensitive to energies and some stones are too strong for her to tolerate. Jasper was one of the first stones she was able to use for her own healing. We know it as a very gentle healer.

 

Cleanse jasper with warm water and charge with sunlight.

Grimoire's Sneak Peek

Madame Z has chosen the September Stone of the Month. In recognition of September bringing the start of Autumn, she has selected Autumn Jasper as her spotlight stone. Be sure to catch her post next week!

We now have holiday bibs for sale in both shops. Look for 'My 1st Festivus', '1st Halloween', and '1st Grinchmas' bibs at ravenheartdesigns.etsy.com.

 

Meanwhile at ravensmysticmoon.etsy.com you will find 'My 1st Christmas', '1st Yule', and '1st Hanukkah' bibs.

 

Staff Wedding

Congratulations to my former worker Aaron and his lovely lady, photographer Melissa, on their marriage this past week. They are both very special people to me and I couldn't be happier for them! The hubby and I were privileged to be included in the celebration. It was a fun Scottish affair complete with bagpipes and kilts. The flower girl, who is also their daughter and the inspiration for my inappropriate baby bibs, wore a custom made bib just for the occasion. (I want to take this opportunity to thank her parents for having a sense of humor and for being as twisted a I am.)

 After the wedding, Hubby and I headed north for a couple days of camping. It was nice to get away and to visit with family who live up there. While we were gone, a good friend checked in on the 'staff', but they did not seem to notice we were gone.

It's so nice to be loved.