I can see clearly!

Most of the time, my design inspiration comes from a feeling evoked by a place I have visited or photo I have taken.  Sometimes it's a serendipitous artistic flub that inspires me, while at other times a fantastic stone calls out to me.  The latter is the case with Clarity.  The stone pendant is known as a Mexican crazy lace agate.  Its fantastical beauty is the result of how the stone is sliced to reveal the swirling and striation of color.  While most stones of this type are fiery and bold in coloring, this stone struck me for its more subtle and harmonious effect.  Its soft colors reminded me of a great day on the lake and thus inspiration for a necklace was born.

What better semi-precious stone could echo the yellows in the pendant than citrine. I love citrine for its complete versatility in jewelry making.  From a deep rich golden coloring to its barely there yellow coloring, its beauty is often revealed in the manner in which it is cut.  In this set, I used two cuts of citrine - a fancy carved melon shape and a smooth polished round.  

With that decided,  I looked again at my pendant. I was once again transported to my "day at the lake" metaphor, realizing my necklace needed grounding literally. I looked to find elements that reminded me of soil and water.  Faceted and smooth tiger eye were exactly what I was looking for as well ass chunks of softly colored blue aventurine.  Something was missing though-I needed that sparkle.  I needed to find a way to emulate the sun's effect as it hits the water making it come alive with even the briefest hint of wind. What twinkles better than foil lined gold seed beads!  And then I had to tackle the pattern...

It just happens...I put everything out in a mish-mash in front of me and with very little premeditation, the design just happens.  To me the stones  dictate where I am going with the design. It isn't a design strategy that I would normally recommend, since the failure rates are generally pretty high. However, it can be magic when it works out!

I hope you like the results of this artist's rambling.    Behold - Clarity!  or "day at the lake," which ever works for you.

              

             

btw - I needed a dragonfly,  it just fit the theme.

This piece is currently for sale on our Etsy site. Check it out!
Clarity Necklace and Earrings Set on Etsy

Beads for Batteries: Charging up Awareness

Beginning on September 16, is MitoAwareness week, so I wanted to share a little of our story, our Mito story:

Years ago I heard these 3 simple words, Turn the Prism. A professor said them to our group when I was a student nurse. She was encouraging us to change the way we looked at the people we were caring for and the way we perceived situations in our own life. Those words have stuck with me all these years and really define the way I have dealt with the ups and downs of life. The saying, When life gives lemons; make lemonade, never rang true for our family. Lemonade implied something sweet and refreshing. Living with a life-threatening disease was not so easily turned into something invigorating. It was something that we have learned to manage, find meaning in and grow from but lemonade sounded too trite to give us comfort.
Turning the Prism on my own life was a whole lot tougher than helping my children or my family. In 2001 it became imperative to see my life from a new vantage point when I felt the first serious symptoms of mitochondrial disease within myself.  This disease had touched not only my two children, but my mother, my sister and her daughter as well. So I knew the possibility for me to "crash" was a very real threat. I was to busy to let it consume my thoughts and pushed forward running here, there and everywhere. Looking back I see that running all the time, never left me with enough time for "thinking". It was my coping strategy, and it failed miserably. That is when jewelry making came into my life.
A friend said, hey do you want to help me out and design some bracelets for my fledgling company, I'll pay you"? The idea of doing something with my hands, at home that could bring in some extra cash certainly peaked my interest. I agreed and soon found myself surrounded by thousands of glass beads in every possible array of color, shape and texture. It occurred to me one day that this combining and stringing of beads was rather meditative and therapeutic. Thoughts about my life, my children, mitochondrial disease and my larger family would float into my "therapy session" like a gentle tap on the shoulder, getting me to pay attention but in a much more gentle way. It helped me to "accept" this new path I found myself on.
I find it completely ironic, that our family creed, "Turn the Prism" has crossed the line from the figurative to the literal. I began to make a necklace or two for myself, that were happily purchased right off my neck! From that a rainbow of possibilities began to swirl in my head. I voraciously taught myself all I could about the world of jewelry making, took a class, bought out Barnes and Noble section of jewelry making and found multiple internet resources. I was beginning to see a life beyond being an ICU nurse; a life where my artistic creativity was rekindled, bringing with it an unexpected satisfaction. This is the place where Prajna Jewelry Design was born, within the light shined upon a new perspective on my life. Prajna means wisdom or knowledge gained from insight and deep meditation, so it seemed fitting to name our jewelry company.

Mitochondrial disease is a disease that affects children and adults of all ages, races, and gender. More common than cystic fibrosis, mitochondrial disease is characterized by a defect in the body's ability to make energy, and causes symptoms that range from moderate to severe. Like running the body on a "low battery", mitochondrial disease affects a person's entire body and can change moment to moment, day to day. There is no cure.

This is our Mito:  Symptoms range from severe mental retardation, autism, heart problems requiring full time pacemaker, unstable blood pressure, weakness, fatigue, migraines and strokes, just to name a few.

Giving back is also a huge part of our family's life, so in keeping with our tradition, 10% of the proceeds of each piece of jewelry sold from Prajna Jewelry Design will be donated to MitoAction, a vital organization, near and dear to our hearts.  www.mitoaction.org . Please help us spread the word about what Mitochondrial disease.  Mito Awareness week runs September 16 -22, 2012 please help spread the word

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrajnaJewelryDesign

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Bacon and Pork- How can you go wrong?

I tried this recipe a few weeks ago at our Sunday-Funday picnic and it was a huge hit, so when the opportunity to make it again presented itself,  I jumped at it.  The recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis from Food Network,  and it is a keeper! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/honey-mustard-pork-roast-with-bacon-recipe/index.html

You start with a 3-4 pound center-cut pork loin NOT a tenderloin.  This inexpensive cut of meat goes far for a family and its left overs can be become the base for empanadas, a family favorite.  Be sure all the silver skin or the shiny striated covering is removed carefully with a knife.  Next you want to make diagonal cuts into the top of the loin.  Okay onto the marinate.

In a medium bowl measure out the following ingredients:
Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, honey, garlic, and rosemary leaves.  Be sure to chop the rosemary leaves finely so you don't have chewy leaves stuck in your teeth!
I also added just for the heck of it, Bone Suckin' Sauce Seasoning & Rub,  which I got from our local butcher shop.  I liked it because its gluten free and has no MSG in it,  and the Butcher said it was awesome.  He was right its great.

Cut butcher's twine in pieces long enough to tie around the loin and go the full length of the loin about 2 inches apart.  Tying the loin like this helps the pork to cook more evenly.  Lay the roast over the parallel pieces of twine. Gently pour marinade over the top of the pork as pictured.

massage the mixture all over top being sure to push into the diagonal cuts.  Don't forget the ends!

Lay bacon strips lengthwise on top of the loin covering the whole surface

tie the strings!

All bundled and ready to roast at 350 degrees for an hour, uncovered.  Then tent with foil for another 15 min till internal temp reads 150 or so, ultimately you want it around 160 degrees, keeping in mind when you remove it, and let it rest for 15 minutes internal temperature keeps rising!  Can you tell I have screwed that up a few times!!

 Sorry for the half picture of the loin!  It smelled so good we just dug in!

In addition to the pork we had home-made applesauce, green beans with garden tomatoes and bacon, and roasted yukon gold and sweet potatoes sprinkled with the Bone Suckin' seasonings.  Delicious!  Look for these recipes on another post, coming soon.  Enjoy!

                                                                     

We're Back

After a long hiatus,  we are ready to begin selling our jewelry again! All the pieces are handmade and one of a Kind!  It truly is wearable art.  Check us out on our etsy store; its open for business  http://blacklab01129.etsy.com./