Portfolio

Hi all!

I am beginning a new project- a portfolio of my work.  I plan on designing it catalogue style to show examples of what I've created and hopefully to inspire some more special orders.  It'll have tabs for each section...necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pet accessories, etc.  And you'll be able to browse its pages at the Bamboo Eater in College Park, where my jewelry display shelf has it's permanent home!

Shout outs go to Bryan Haddad, owner of the Bamboo Eater, and Will Mick, employee of the Bamboo Eater and also my wonderful boyfriend, for the inspiring idea to create this portfolio.  And to Kelly, my new friend who will be sharing her photography skills in the making of this project.

I am looking for suggestions and helpful tips to make this project one of a kind!

Peace!

Danielle
Create Peace

Earth Medicine

Oh hey blog...there you are!

I suppose I could begin by apologizing and making excuses for why I haven't written in so long.  You know, the usual...computer problems, busy at work, life in general.  But thankfully I have something more exciting to share!

Yesterday my next door neighbors (really sweet older couple) had a Yardsale!  I found two great books to satisfy some of my recent curiosities for natural medicine and herbal remedies.  Woo hoo!  I have done some sporadic online reading and I've visited our local herb shop called Smile, but I'm still quite a novice.  Smile offers classes but unfortunately I neither could make the dates or the $150 payment.  So, as a great Do-It-Yourself solution, I now have two great books at 50 cents a pop!

The first is the smaller of the two: The Vitamin Herb Guide: Natural Treatments For the World's 150 Most Common Ailments.  Plus - A Complete Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, Amino Acids and Tissue Salts.  It was printed by A Global Health in the 90's and is pretty easy to follow.  It's first section alphabetically lists common ailments followed by a list of recommended vitamins and foods or herbs.  The next section is all about the vitamins.  It tells you the difference between natural and synthetic sources, and gives a brief explanation of what each vitamin is, where it comes from, how it can be used, and even symptoms of deficiency.  And I love that its presented in the form of a chart; very easy to understand.  This is a bit more like modern medicine than I was searching for though, breaking the earth's blessings down to elemental form, and going into proper mg dosages for body maintenance.  But we do have a comeback with the book's following section: A Word About Herbs.  It introduces several common herbs and what they are best used for.  For instance, did you know that Dandelion is great for strengthening your kidneys and bladder?  Yes, I'm talking about that little yellow flowering weed that every person is familiar with, whether you are a school child plucking the mature flowers and blowing the soft feather-like petals into the breeze as you make a wish, or you are a dedicated gardener pulling the young weeds from you flower bead while wondering how the seeds arrived there in the first place.
This seemingly pesky foe can actually become a dear friend when it's roots and leaves are steeped into a tea.  It's a great diuretic, a soothing cure for a urinary tract infection, and is a high source of iron and calcium.  And one more fun fact, though this one is from prior knowledge, dandelion is also a natural caffeine source and can be used as a healthy coffee substitute, or ground into a powder and added to coffee grounds to make them last longer.  Getting back to the book though, the last few pages are slightly over my head, discussing Amino Acid supplements and Tissue Salts. I suppose I will learn these as I become more familiar with the topic of natural medicine.  All in all, I'd say this is a good book and will come in handy as a sort of pocket referencing guide of the somewhat modern variety.

I'm more excited however about the second book I found called Our Earth Our Cure.  This handbook of natural medicine was published in 1974 and I love it as a total throwback to the hippie movement.  This one is longer-winded than the first book and offers deeper explanation and insight into these practices.  I was surprised when the book began with the topic of clay as this is something I know so little about.  I remember a time though when I was maybe 4 or 5 years old, my family was visiting my great grandmother at her home in Maine.  I was outside playing in the dirt when a bee stung me on the knee.  My great grandmother brought out a small glass of water and made a mud paste using the very dirt I had just kicked up and applied the paste to the sting.  What I remember most is the instant cooling affect it had, and how quickly I forgot about the pain of the sting and went back to playing.  I imagine this very basic practice of medicine was almost lost around the time humans discovered germs and how essential sterilization can be.  We clean the dirt from our wounds now, rather than apply more.  But this age old practice shouldn't be forgotten for according to the book, "the earth itself, receiving it's energies from sun, air, and waters, is a most powerful healing agent of physical regeneration."  I've learned now that clay may be used externally and orally (dissolved in water).  It has numerous benefits including the power to heal sores and ulcers, aids in the rebuilding of healthy tissues and cells, and even of fractured bones and vertebrae.  Surprising, huh?  The rest of the book similarly covers the use of herbs while recommending a specific infusion recipe for each ailment discussed.  I will not go into such detail because I really would recommend this as a great read.  I would however like to share just one of the many simple recipe's found in the pages of this treasure.  Profound focus is given towards maintaining a healthy liver, as the liver is central to clean blood production and therefore essential to all other parts of the body, so here is an Infusion for Stimulation of the Liver.

Infusion for Stimulation of the Liver

Horsetail 30gr.
Licorice root 30gr.
Rosemary (flowered tops) 30gr.
Woodruff (flowered tops) 30gr.
Yellow Bedstraw (flowered top) 30gr.
Marigold (flowered tops) 20gr.
Mint Leaves 20gr.

Put 2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons in a cup of boiling water.  Infuse 10-20 minutes.  Take a cup after each meal.  Sweeten if necessary with some honey.  Note:  The stronger concentration is recommended for an average adult while the weaker concentration can be used for a child or elderly person.

Peace and well wishes,

Danielle
Create Peace 

Visitor to my Basil

 Yesterday I went out to my garden to bring in my hanging Basil plant.  I made the plant hanger myself, actually!  Pretty proud. I made it macrome style, like I do my jewelry.  But as I went to pick it up, I realized I had a visitor! A Praying Mantis!  Will and I got some really cool pictures, and I have to give him credit for most of the good close-ups.  He's got a steadier hand.  Hope you enjoy this little peak into mother nature! 

Hemp Shampoo

Looking for a gentle and eco-friendly solution to hair care?  Look no further than Dr. Bonner's Pure-Castile Soap!

You may have already heard about Castile soap on your quest to becoming green.  I first saw it listed in a recipe for homemade shampoo, which I will share with you shortly.  I went out searching the shelves of the beauty isle in my local grocery store for the brand but was unsuccessful.  A really helpful women at Mom's Organic Market explained to me that castile soap is not a brand, it simply refers to a type of soap that originates in Castile, Spain.  It's made of all plant based oils, rather than animal products or man-made chemicals that you can't even pronounce.  And it's completely biodegradable and safe for the environment.  While the traditional method of making castile soap utilizes mainly olive oil, Dr. Bonner's uses organic hemp oil, organic coconut oil, and orgainc jojoba oil as well.  Even the bottle is made from recycled plastic, making me even more confident about my purchase.

Castile soap can be used in a variety of every day cleaners such as hand soap, laundry detergent, basic household cleaner, dish soap, pet shampoo, and even as a lather before shaving.  Today I'd like to share a recipe I came across for Herb-infused shampoo.

Organic Herb-Infused Shampoo

Ingredients:
1 cup Castile Soap
1 cup distilled water
1 cup herbs of your choice
5 drops essential oils of your choice (optional to add extra moisture and shine)
Plastic Bottle

Boil water and steep herbs for 30 minutes in the same way you would make tea.  Filter out herbs.  Combined infused water, castile soap and oils in plastic bottle.  Shake well before each use.

I chose the unscented soap so that I can try different herbs for a different scent experience.  You can also find pre-scented castile soap and skip the herb infusion if you choose.  I plan on using rose oil, euycaliptus, and chamomile.  And just a helpful hint when it comes to chosin your herbs, chamomile has natural lightening properties and should be avoided on dark hair.

I hope you consider adding Castile Soap to your green lifestyle!

Peace!

Danielle
Create Peace

Sold!

Just had my 2nd online sale with Etsy!  Shout out goes to Holly of College Park.  We met at my work and it made me feel amazing when she complimented the necklace I was wearing.  I passed on my website and woo hoo!  She doesn't know yet but I threw in some extra beads and a bit of jewelry making supplies since she is a new jewelry maker as well.  I look forward to getting together with you Holly!


Danielle
Create Peace

Updates!

When I started this post I simply wanted to say that I had updated my website, but then I realized that I have a few other noteworthy updates in addition.  I moved!  How's that for news!  My boyfriend Will, my dog Gopi and I found a new place nearby that's our own space!  It used to be an old garage, but now it's the sweetest efficiency appartment you have ever seen!  We have our own kitchen, space for a livingroom and a bedroom.  And I'm so siked about having our separate sides of the bed so it's like Will and I each get our own separate space.  Gopi loves it too.  She has her own back door and fenced in yard.  I've been clearing out the overgrown garden and strarted my very own compost pile.  And soon I'll have my vegetable garden out front.  Best of all, I plan to set up shop in the front of our house!  Plenty more details to come on that one, but I can say I'll probably be open Saturday's only and will sell my hemp jewelry as well as other eco friendly and homemade creations.  I can't forget to mention too that my parent's took back my car and took me off the family phone plan.  So I've been walking everywhere or taking the bus, and I got a new phone number.

Oh, and I can't forget the real reason I'm here...I updated my Etsy website and my Facebook page.  There's new jewelry for sale on Etsy and there's new pictures and links on my facebook page.  Peace and Love!

Something Smells Fishy Obama

Ok so I have to say, something smells a bit fishy about the death of Osama Bin Laden...  I watched Obama's speech and I heard the news coverage... I don't buy it. I'm a strong believer of government conspiracies involving the 9-11 events.  I believe our NOBLE United States government not only knew about the attacks before they happened, I believe they also had some involvement.  They took advantage of the American people in light of the situation, convinced the majority that war was the only solution and then used that war for completely unrelated gains.  Gains in control of the oil industry, or so they hoped.  A decade later, no progress made, the government has almost lost all support over the matter.  And once again, I believe we are being duped in order to gain back support for our failing government.

First of all, let's rewind the clock about ten years.  September 11th, 2001.  An Al Qaeda group led by Osama Bin Laden attacked the United States on our own soil.  The official 9-11 report states that these men hijacked four commercial jets and crashed 3 of them into the World Trade Centers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC in a suicide attack, ultimately causing the collapse of the twin towers and nearby Building #7, and the nearly 3,000 deaths of American citizens.  The 4th plane was supposedly aimed at the White House but went down in a field in Pennsylvania instead.  With only this information, it is perfectly natural to be angry and to want revenge.  And I think if our government had it their way, this would be the only information known by the general populous.  However, it's not the whole truth.  There is too much information actually for me to put here while still keeping your interest, so I urge you to visit http://www.wanttoknow.info/9-11cover-up10pg for a full timeline of events and reports presented in mainstream media.  Instead though, I'll give a quick summary so that I can move on to what I really want to say. 

There is documented proof stating that the government had intelligence about the 9-11 attacks prior to them occurring and our military was ordered to stand down during the attacks.  The men charged with hijacking the planes did not have the training or experience in order to handle a jet that size or to successfully complete the required maneuvers.  As a result, the Twin Towers fell "free fall" style, as stated by the 9-11 Commissioner, meaning fell without resistense.  Demolition style, to put it in my own words, as if explosives were rigged to the base of the buildings to cause the straight-down collapsing effect.  Explosive residue was found in New York following the collapses, but the debris was cleared before further tests could be done.  The government bragged about this speediness.  Building 7, which contained important government records, was untouched by the attacks and yet it also fell in the same manner.  Moving on to DC, the 3 second video release of the impact on the Pentagon showed no plane whatsoever, and no plane wreckage was located in the rubble.  The hole in the building was simply a hole, not the shape of a plane with a wide wing span.  Eye witness accounts from Pentagon workers confirmed this.  And coincidentally enough, the only damaged area of the Pentagon was to the section containing budget records.  There was also minimal wreckage or debris recovered at the Pennsylvania site.  It was stated that no black boxes from any of the planes were recovered, and therefore no way to know what really happened on those planes, however one man working to clear the debris from the New York site claims he saw the boxes recovered.  And all this led to a war in order to capture the man responsible, Osama Bin Laden, who was hiding in Afghanistan.  As we all know, our government strayed from the path and also invaded Iraq in attempts to gain control of the entire region.  What for?  The same reason we've been there in the past...oil.

Fast forward 10 years to the mindset of our government. Our military is still in all areas of the Middle East while the major goals remain unaccomplished. The vast majority of Americans have withdrawn their support in the war, and want the military withdrawn yesterday.  Well, the government can't stand for this!  There's been too much time and money invested in this project and maybe, just maybe with a little more time we may be able to have it all!  How about we use another fear tactic, another bluff to gain back some support.  And so comes the death of Osama Bin Laden!  President Obama stated that a small team of Navy Seals entered Pakistan where intelligence stated Bin Laden was hiding.  In a shoot out, Bin Laden and one of his son's were killed, along with others who remain unidentified.  They claim blood samples taken from Bin Laden were matched to members of his family also living in the raided apartment complex.  And in order to keep true to Muslim traditions, Bin Laden's body was part of a rushed burial, first washed and then wrapped in a white sheet, and finally buried at sea.  Hold up!  Priority was given to kill him, rather than capture him alive and try him for his crimes.  When asked about this, officials had no comment.  And I am no master of the Muslim religion and their practices, but I do know that a burial at sea is not part of any reasonable funeral.  A proper burial is in the ground at the nearest cemetery, without the body being transported, and with the body facing so that Mecca is on the right side.  US officials claimed that the sea burial was so no shrines or monuments could be erected in Bin Laden's honor at his burial site.  And all of this information was only made public after the evidence was lost at sea.  My first thought when I learned the news of Bin Laden's death was hooray, now the war can be over!  But that's not the case.  Again in Obama's speech he stated that by killing Bin Laden, we may have angered his followers, as well as other extremists.  The leader of our country told us that now we have to fear retaliation and revenge attacks, and that it is imperative that we keep our troops abroad and even up our efforts in the matter. 

Recap, Americans want the war to be over but the government is not ready to pull out and can't admit the true reasons why.  Step around the truth, regain the American trust and support, and offer closure by saying our number one enemy is no longer at large.  Keep the advantage by instilling a new fear of future attacks and a new reason to keep the war going.  I will clearly declare that I do not have any evidence of my claims, and that all my speculations are based on my own interpretations of the information I have read and heard.  What I can conclude though is that we are once again being lied to.  I do not know for sure if Bin Laden was truly captured or killed, or that the body that lies on the ocean floor belonged to Bin Laden himself.  I can be sure though that the truth will come out one way or another, and I hope it comes soon.