a very special vintage postage stamp pendant - more epic love!

I've been writing about how my vintage postage stamp pendants are part of an epic love, and this weekend I was able to experience that on an even deeper personal level than I usually do.

When I snatched up this White Tailed Kingfisher postage stamp from my treasure box, it was still attached to a small portion of its original envelope paper. I noticed the postmark was from Kadina, and we know only one person who lives there - a very beloved cousin of my Mum's who is a real kindred spirit to me.

Then I noticed the postmark date, 6th January 1981 - two days before my Aunty Jean's birthday (who tragically passed away in 2011 four years ago under traumatic circumstances) this stamp clearly carried a birthday card between two of my favourite people, and I'm not parting with it for all the world, its going straight around my neck.

I did not notice the postmark when I carried the stamp all the way home from Adelaide to Mandurah after Aunty passed away, closing up her house was just so sad for us, but I am glad I noticed this stamp's details before they were lost. Most of my stamps have already been removed from paper - most of them have been removed from their envelopes for 50 years, so this is just so special to me.

As I said, its going straight around my neck, so I have my two girls with me always.

You can see the current range of vintage postage stamp jewelry I have available in my
Madeit Store or Etsy Store if you are interested in owning a beautiful work of art that has historic and sentimental value.

Sweet Tweet Suncatcher

My heart was singing a song of joy when I created this suncatcher, the elements and symbols combine to promote joyful communication and contentment. From bird - who sings her messages - to amethyst for positive communication and upliftment, to crystal which captures and spreads energy in the form of light from the sun.....

The bird and flower charm is 10cm long, and is a brass that is lovely and bright like the top picture. The crystal is very effective, cut in an octagon shape, I have had it in my personal collection for a long time. The chip beads are genuine amethyst.

My only problem is getting this creation to fit into a tiny etsy lead pic...

Pearls of Wisdom, Baroque Drop Earrings

Fresh add to my store, www.starzyia.etsy.com Pearls of Wisdom, created to promote wisdom, happiness, female health and fertility in accordance with traditional lore. Pearls are also the birthstone for June and the traditional gift for 30th wedding anniversaries.

My Mother's Day shipping deadlines have passed, but you can still get free shipping for all completed jewelry until May 10th.

I spent a lovely afternoon researching whether the scroll designs on the focal beads are baroque or renaissance.... it is extremely close call, I am going with baroque in the title, and renaissance is tucked in the description.... sometimes a scroll is a scroll!

Mother's Day Earrings

Above: Paris Patriot Earrings (also available Paris Butterfly Earrings), in my etsy store. These actually have the three colours of the French flag, the lucite towers are much redder, and the faceted bead is dark blue, with a white glass flower at the top of the arrangement.

Now for what I really wanted to show you, the earrings I made today, for Mother's Day, using new and vintage supplies of faceted czech glass, lampwork beads, and some gold dangles from fellow etsian and blogger Adya International.

These earrings were made much earlier this year also using vintage supplies from AdyaInternational, the large pink flowers are actually buttons and feature a pollen centre designed in the shape of a star.

I am offering free shipping around the world until May 10th, but please note that I recommend orders for Mothers Day be placed before April 25th for international, and May 3rd for Australia.

My favourite suggestions for mother's day this year are pink (I'm making up for all the years I was anti-pink, and I'm a pink ribbon fundraising junkie now!); also hearts; buttons - I think buttons are symbolic of care and attention, of nurturing and renewal - so I like button jewelry; and I am collecting charms for jewelry featuring scissors, thimbles, and other sewing and craft related items, as well as tea pots and tea cups. Of course you should take into consideration all the personal preferences and interests of the individual mother or grandmother in question. I'm also in the market for the perfect apron for my own taste, I have never worn an apron, I think I just want something gorgeous to hang in the kitchen!

See you soon!

Flapper Girl Heaven

I have just secured my very first opportunity to create an Etsy Treasury list, and have created a themed list called Flapper Girl Heaven. Its no secret I am totally infatuated with the flapper, and the Japanese version 'the new women'.

Come and see flapper and jazz age hats, dresses, pins, jewelry, art, boas, and more!

hhtp://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?.room_id+108057

I really hope my first list is a successful one, for me and for my lovely featured sellers, and I hope it will be the first of many enjoyable etsy treasuries.

New Year's New Leaves

I have had some lovely glass leaves in my collection for a while, not sure quite how I would use them, but I got to thinking last night about the New Year and how many of us will be trying to turn a new leaf.

The earrings above have three different sizes of leaf, though spread out flat here, when hanging, the leaves often fit into each other, the trilogy of leaves in this way reminds me of harmony.

The leaves also remind me of my love for nature, my desire to live as 'green' as possible (environment wise), and how the youth and health of my inner child is renewed as often as the trees who lose their leaves, create new shoots, and then flourish again.

This pair is great for symbolising love in our life, how we must remember to renew our self love, to work on the loving relationships we have, and allow our heart to rise again and again.

These two pairs of earrings are both available in my Etsy store, I am hoping someone will love them for all that they represent.

So from my heart to yours, happy New Year, and I hope you find ways of reminding yourself of all that is good and kind that you need to share with yourself and with those around you, and be kind to this Earth.

Christmas Stock 2009

Long time no blog, I know! My 77 year old father fell and broke his hip, and nearly died while in hospital, but here I am managing to get a small Christmas stock together for my Etsy shoppers. I know the last post I did was on tshirts, and I promised to follow up on that and on symbolic giving, I will..... promise!

The tags above are from a set called Ruby Red Christmas Tags, set of ten, navy blue front with cream backing for easy use (to write on) this set is united by use of ruby red foiled paper and ribbon, as well as gems, and features snowflakes, christmas trees, and birds.

Above: sample of a free set of tags.

Every jewelry item purchased from my Etsy store is accompanied by a free set of Christmas gift tags, the tags are automatically added to your order and are selected randomly from my available stock. So just sit back and the tags will come to you!

Below: sample of a free set of tags.

This set (above) is for sale in my Etsy store and is listed as 'Bold & Beautiful Tags'. A set of 8 hanging tags decorated with either pink champagne gems or felt and plywood icons in tree or star designs.

And here is my model gift using a tag from my Ruby Red set.

There are only two sets of cards for sale in my store this year, but every order over $35 comes with a free pair of luxury cards handmade by me.

Lots of new jewelry in store and waiting to be put in store, so keep visiting me here, at Etsy, flickr, and my facebook business page for more opportunities to find that very special item you want for yourself or a loved one.

I will post the follow up tshirt post this week, and visit your blogs soon!

Aquamarine Necklace

I made this necklace this morning to sell on Etsy, I wanted to make the most of the opportunity to sell for the northern hemisphere summer, but I really don't mind who buys it!

I had the twisted glass feature bead left after making earrings (why do bead makers sell uneven quantities of beads - oh that's right, to make us buy more packets to balance it out! - well I showed them!). As it is part golden green, and part blue, and sparkles so charmingly, I knew I had to make a completely blue and green and in between necklace!

There are glass, crystal, and jade stone beads in this necklace which has a drop of 25cm (just over 50cm total length).

Such a refreshingly cooling piece to look at and wear during the summer heat, the necklace is available at www.starzyia.etsy.com or click on the my etsy link on the right of this page.

Champagne Anyone?

I made these champagne drop earrings yesterday, they are lovely and lightweight, and sparkle in the different lights. What do you think feminine? glamourous? They are a little more refined then my usual over the top colour combinations but never fear, I will still be playing with colour and making my fun, fresh designs.

These earrings like many of my others can be viewed and dare I suggest purchased, on Etsy in my store www.starzyia.etsy.com or follow the link on the right of this page.

I will be back here soon with some easy heartfelt gift ideas you can make yourself, until then, have a great weekend, xxx Starry

Etsy and Tokens of Appreciation News

Here I am sitting down at the end of a long day with a sigh of happiness. Can't be luckier than that.

On the Tokens of Appreciation Make the World Go Round front, I am happy to report that many people have received their sets of tokens and have responded most enthusiastically.

I have received my first token of appreciation from my lovely cousin Betty.

And tokens are circulating in Australia and are on their way to the US, Germany, and the UK.


and now for my big announcement: I Am On Etsy, Yes I Have Opened on Etsy

www.etsy.com is an international online market for handmade goods and craft supplies, my store there is called Starry Girl, and can be accessed by my username Starzyia; through my link on the right of my blog page; or by my URL starzyia.etsy.com

I hope you will come and visit me and give me any feedback, I am yet to upload my stock of cards but my jewellery, chiefly earrings, can be viewed there as we speak. And from time to time other crafted items as my inspiration leads me will also be available.

Thanks to everyone who has been supportive of my quest to spread Tokens of Appreciation, and my adventure into Etsy... you are all so wonderful and deserve my love,

xxx Starry