Out With The Old...In With The New!

I'm making room for my new product packaging, so I was up late last night crafting perfume oils and solid perfumes in the discontinued bottles & metal tins I have...the perfumes will be available later today, at a discounted price, on my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DonnaCondida). Lots of luscious scents to choose from!!!

Missing You....

The thoughts, the visions, and the dreams of a soul; a soul that, throughout life, has been the tortured spirit of a fatal attraction. An attraction due to a love affair, a past tribal pact, or maybe, just maybe a long line of tainted blood. Dare we walk together....but how do we walk apart....

{by me}

Cute Decor Idea

#Love this decorative bird cage idea!! http://craftsbyamanda.com/bird-cage-flower-planter/

BlueBellaDonna [Etsy Shop] Sale

>>>> Black Friday Sale - 15% off all orders with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY2014 at checkout >>> https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueBellaDonnaShoppe

#blackfridaysale #blackfriday #sale #Etsy

Getting There....

I'm finishing-up the painting & re-organizing in my art studio. Yeah, I know, it's taking me forever to get this done. It's hard work dealing with pups, kitties, domestic chores, homemaking, creative ventures, herbal workings, and life-in-general, never mind throwing in painting & re-organizing (and thrashing 'stuffs') an art studio. Nonetheless, I should be done by the end of this week.

And what does that mean? Well, it means that I'll be going full-force into crafty-creativeness....designing jewelry, creating altered-art pieces & home decor, and crafting uber-awesome herbal goodies. Stay tuned, next week I'll be completely & totally immersed in incredible artsy & herbally wonderfulness!! My Etsy shop will be exploding with "wow" in the next few weeks! :-)

TrailGazer

I walked alone. In the early evening, sun sinking low in the sky. I walked alone, on the wooded path. I could feel it watching me. I could feel its' stare, striking through to my core. The coldness, darkness...the empty, deep penetrating gaze fixated on my very soul. But I walked alone. Keeping my back straight, my fists tightened. For I didn't know what would approach me, what would come gnashing & gnarling out at me from the wood.

Fear, no, strength, courage, almost a slight stubbornness lifted from me, encouraging me to carry on down the long, lonesome path. I wouldn't submiss. I wouldn't run. I "owned" these woods just as much as any other creature. I just had to prove it, to myself, to others, to it, to him.

I could almost 'see' the movement in the thicket in front of me. It appeared as a strange, wavey mirage type of movement. But I knew it was real. It was there, moving in the Evergreens, watching me, listening to my heartbeat, feeling my blood rush through my veins.

I won't give-in. I won't run. I will continue on. I will meet you, face to face, one day, when the time is right.

Mini Vacation

I'm taking a few days off. From March 5th to March 10th I will be away from my computer. No posting items in my shop, no blogging, no social media, no marketing. Just some much needed 'me time'. {that's not to say I won't be overflowing with creative ideas, experimenting with new herbal products, or getting my hands painty, gluey, and glittery, because you know I will} Messages and emails will be answered next week. Bohemian Bluebell Cottage, my Etsy shop, will also be closed during this time. Hope everyone has a great end of week & weekend. "See" you all next week!! :-)

Do Tell

Animals speak with us all the time. They tell us what they feel, what they want, what they know, what we should know, and more. Although they do communicate through a vocal manner, when speaking with us, they use many different ways to "get their point across". Body language being one of their most obvious ways to communicate.

For example; I was talking with my hubby yesterday, describing to him the strange, but awesomely cool experience I had while out for my walk that afternoon. The entire time I was chatting with the hubs, one of our cats, Louie (for short), sat directly in front of me, staring up at me, listening intently. After a few minutes of casting my eyes back & forth between my husband and our kitty friend, I forgot about the cat's gaze and just kept looking at my husband.

Sure, I can say that what happened next was Louie's way of telling me he was annoyed with my rude behavior of ignoring him while he listened, but that's not the case. I know, because I know Louie, very well. And I know what Louie does, and has done for the last 9-years. And what he did yesterday, he has never, ever done before.

As soon as I mentioned a certain "Being" during my conversation, Louie crouched down, and in one sudden leap, he was [ever so gently] hanging onto my shirt. My hubby immediately cried out with the "Holy crap, he has never done that before! What the Hell is that all about Louie?" usual, in a situation like this, reaction. He eventually asked me if I was alright, if I was bleeding or scratched-up, but yeah, his initial reaction was to the cat. Pfftt..

I have to say, the leap was incredible; exactly what I would have expected from a balanced kitty. And I honestly didn't pay too much attention to the fact that Louie was hanging onto my chest. Because he really did do a marvelous job of not scratching me, at all! Thank God!

As to why Louie reacted this way, at the exact moment of my mentioning this "Being", well I know exactly why he did what he did. Louie was expressing to me that I "hit the nail on the head". He was letting me know that "Yes, yes mom, you are correct, you are so very, very correct, yippee, you deserve a fish dinner and a saucer of milk, oh joy, I must hug you mom!" And that's when Louie leapt.

My husband sneered when I told him why Louie reacted as he did, when he did, and what Louie was telling me....but he knows, deep down he knows it's the truth. He's just sort-of dumbfounded at the fact that he witnessed a clear expression of language between me and one of our cat friends. But the hubs will be fine, he'll "sit on it" for a bit, soak it in, and then let me know one night in the next few weeks how cool he thought the whole "ordeal" was.

Cool indeed! Cooler because I got my answer, immediately, from one of my very best familiars friends.

"As I walked down the icy hill, I carefully placed each foot onto the frozen ground, with precise steps on the softer snow as to get better footage. The surroundings were quiet, the sky was gray, the cold air engulfed me and held me close. I listened to the birds singing their very early spring song, anxiously calling to each other in hopes that the Earth would soon thaw. And then I heard it, from behind me at first, but then the next sound came nearer, next to me, to my left. 

The frozen snow crushed loudly as the footsteps drew closer. I glanced for a quick moment to the side of me, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was approaching. But my footing on the ice was too unsure to look away. I pulled back my gaze and continued to step slowly, holding my breath, hoping to make it safely to the unfrozen ground a few feet away. Once there, I could look around, I could search for the animal that was following me. But then, shaking me out of my concentrated moment, the tree branches next to me, with the crispy Oak leaves that still hung-on, had been disturbed. 

The sound echoed in the quiet wood. There was something there. Something that was large enough to rustle through the trees. Large enough to make the snow crack so loudly under its' feet. 

I could feel its' presence. I could feel its' isolated chill encircle me. I quickened my pace and safely made it to the unfrozen ground. Turning swiftly, my eyes focused on the trees, the brush....searching for the solid form that had moved the trees as it did. 

Nothing. There was nothing there. Nothing visible.... Just cold, empty space. But I could feel it. I could sense it with my whole being. It had been there. It had been watching me. And it hadn't been human, or bear, or deer. I knew then what it was. Just as I am sure of it now."

[a] Saturday Post

I've been busy this week. I designed "things", crafted "things", researched "things", cooked "things" {teehee}, and WAITED ALL DAMN DAY TODAY FOR A DELIVERY THAT NEVER HAPPENED! I so dislike waiting for deliveries. This was the second day this week that said delivery was supposed to take place, and didn't. Guess the 3rd time is a charm...at least it better be. Geesh!

I added a couple of pretty & stylish stretch bracelets to my Etsy shop this week. I love designing these little lovelies while watching television with the hubs. It's quite relaxing.

And I designed & added this glass tile cabochon pendant & charm to my shop too...

I created a new bath salt scent....and added that to my shop as well....loving this scent, it's powerful, but completely wonderful!! {Rosemary & Sage}

And I finally did "something" with this metal plant pot that I've had for a year now. A little hand painting "magic" and presto, a pretty home decor item!! I'm very pleased with how this turned out. It was late in the evening when I pulled out my paints to paint this, I was a bit tired. But once I got the paint brush in my hand, I just went with it and the "something" just flowed out of me onto the pot. This really would make a cute sunroom decoration, add some dried flowers or herbs and oh yeah, pretty, pretty. It would also make a pretty garden wedding decoration. Again, some dried flowers or even fresh flowers, in a separate small pot though, this metal plant pot isn't waterproof...but it is cute though, right?!

I've exhausted myself this week with creative, crafty, and curiously clever tasks....and so I will leave you all now with this wonderful quote which turned out to be my favorite for the week >>

"There are much easier things in life than finding a good man.  Nailing Jell-O to a tree, for instance." -Author Unknown-

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone....be safe & have fun!

Pins & Needles, Needles & Pins....

Humans irk me. Not all of them. But a good portion of them. I won't get into details of why. It would take to long to write, and to read. And no one really needs to know exactly why. But they do. They irk me.

And each of us, at one time or another, has felt this way, or close to this way. We all get "irked". Minor irks, major irks, I'm going to kick you in the face irks.

It's part of the struggles we all face. No getting away from struggles...or getting away from being irked.

Lies. They really irk me. A lot. Especially when the person telling the lie is not a good person. When that person overlooks their faults and constantly justifies their "reasons" for doing, or not doing what they do/did, and when they manipulate others to believe what they want them to, like the lies. And then they go public with those lies. Unless you're hoping to get caught, why the Hell would you go public with the lie....like Internet public, social media public! {going 'social media public' shows a lot for someone's character doesn't it} The drama.

I recently had something revealed to me. Actually a few things. But the few things aren't bothering me. It's the one thing that has me irked. The most recent thing. Because it's an awful lie. And it's sad, sad that humans, creatures with souls tell such awful lies.

What I'd really like to do is place a horribly "cute" doll near this person's house. To irk them. Okay, okay, to scare them. Hmm...

But that's not me. Well, it is, but that would be the humorous, theatrical me. Not the real me. It would be fun though, right?!

So with that said, I'll just leave this at humans irk me.

What usually stops me from harming humans? My Yoga practice, meditation, Nature, my Spiritual beliefs, music, chocolate, and wine.

Yoga practice – helps me focus on "letting it be".
Meditation – shows me how to believe in "let it be".
Nature – teaches me how to just be.
Spiritual beliefs – holds me close, whispers "let it be", and soothes my soul, and temper.
Music – relaxes me, pushes me to dance or sing away my problems.
Chocolate – because eating chocolate is much more satisfying, sometimes.
Wine – because by the time I’m ready to harm someone, I’m too tired and just want to go to bed.

But I must forewarn everyone; if ever you see me practicing Yoga, in a trance-like state, in my gorgeously enchanted & naturally cared for yard, while chanting to my Spirit Guides, with music playing loudly, and chocolate in one hand & a glass of wine in the other, I warn you, look away, keep walking, do not approach me, and do not try to gain my attention...because I'm probably curing my irk....and you don't want to come between my irk and its' "cure". {although, we can use a few more frogs for our backyard pond, teeheehee}