Mana Moon Studios

In Love

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:49:00 +0000

I have a confession to make... I'm in love! While recently visiting a new favorite blog destination, Got Art ? I read her delightful posting on totes! As the comment I left on her post mentioned, what girl doesn't like a lovely tote hanging off her shoulder?? I perused the delightful eye candy my new blog friend had included when all of sudden my heart took a leap as my eyes landed on Papaya Art, ahhhhh!! It was love at first site!

Now there if a chance that all of you may have heard of Papaya and I'm just out of the loop, it's certainly happened before but no matter what the case I'm just delighted to have found these delicious creations! And as if the totes weren't bad enough in all those adorable designs and colors, they also offer journals, decor, calenders, and SO much more! Ahhhhhh!! Suffice to say my holiday list just jumped a few pages, gulp!! So a big huge thank you to Got Art? for introducing me to my newest love, I'm sure my hubby will be appropriate perplexed. *winks*

A New Look - again...

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I know, it never seems as though I can leave well enough alone when it comes to our website but with free creative reign you can only image the various ideas wondering through my mind at any given moment of the day... BUT, today we're one step closer to that final "perfect" *insert quivering smile with twitching eye* version! :D

I present to you... our latest website revamp... TA-DA!!
Ok, yes, it looks familiar... Yes, yes, it looks the same as our blog. That's just it!! I managed to figure out how to create a set background image where the text and photos glide over the top just as in my blog. Whoot! Whoot! I love it and love that it's set in CSS so the pages load much faster (always a plus for those impatience visitors *insert car salesman wink*).

I'm still having a little trouble getting the slide show on the main page to work and I'm sure there are a few other glitches I haven't run across yet but all in all I'm really happy with the new design and the overall consistent business image *slaps teacher's gold star on*. Whoot! ;-)

Souvenirs

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:25:00 +0000

D whisked me away yesterday for a fun filled afternoon excursion and I brought back these lovely souvenirs to share with you all! woo hoo!

The hospitality was delightful, real bed side service if you will, and they even offered complimentary cool icy drinks, ahhhh! There was talk of birds and swines but alas none were found hanging around. Turns out I just needed a little 'fresh air' to get that pick- me-up back in my step... well, that and a little antibionics, whoot! (*doing the happy pink pill dance now*)

All-in-all the best part of the day was the delicious meal of chicken, scalloped potatoes, and green beans, yumm!! I love a meal I don't have to cook, whoot! Oh and the company of course.. thanks D, you're always such a doting hubby - muax♥

So now I'm off to catch up on all I've missed these past three days in blogland, in between naps that is, and I hope you all enjoyed wonderful weekends!

Gripped

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:05:00 +0000

I've been gripped by a dreaded beast... he crept into my life a day or so ago, first taking hold of my throat, then slithering his way up into my sinuses. He's now made his way down and settled in my chest... ugh... blah...

Happy Birthday JD!

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:02:00 +0000

I won't even go into how fast the years go by but rather just want to say...

Heaven knows you make us laugh and manage to make this world a wonderful place to live in just by being you!! Your a friend and brother to all... Ready to rise and stand up for those who need it, no matter what the cost... With an artistic essence surpassing all expectations... The heart of a timeless noble warrior... The best son and brother we could ever ask for... And the only guy we know who would appreciate a pink tu-tu cake for your 22nd! ;-)

Thank you so much for being you!!
Happy 22nd Birthday Jordan!

Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I've been so busy catching up and updating our website that just realized I never posted an update on our living room and how it came out so here are a few photos.
It offers a lovely old world charm which is difficult to capture in photos but we adore the way the paint technique came out. The room still needs the finishing touches of some new lamps, curtains, artwork, and rugs and we're getting around to that as we can. I just love how the white trim has been turned into a natural wood look which was surprisingly easy to accomplish.We realized after finishing that we're going to need to paint the ceiling before we add the crown molding and chair rail and of the floors will need to be refinished next spring once the weather warms back up again and we can open a few windows for ventilation but all in all we love how it's progressing.

Isn't She Lovely

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:35:00 +0000

I happened upon an available Treasury this morning and so on a spur I put together this selection of some of my favorite artists.Here's the link if you wish to visit, comment and click...

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=91664

The Steins

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Just wanted to give a little followup from our weekend trip to see Tiberious and the Oak Tree perform!! It was a smashing success (they sounded amazing live!!) and we had loads of fun getting together with our other side of our family!In a last minute attempt to dress up for Halloween we came up with Mr. & Mrs. Frankenstein. Unfortunately the stores didn't cooperate as it seems they were all out of green makeup, sheesh! So I dragged out some green eye shadow which we liberally applied and donned our homemade t'shirts I created in Photoshop.

We really had a super time and couldn't have been prouder of our son!!

Winner of P40 Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:34:00 +0000

We're delighted to announce the winner for our Pink for October Giveaway is Tanya904! Congratulations Tanya!!!

Tanya is the winner of this original key holder I designed especially for the Pink for October Giveaway.

We're also happy to announce we had a sale in our Etsy shop during the month of October! Unfortunately I found out the smallest donation we're able to make to the Susan G. Komen Foundation is $25 so we'll have to wait for a few more sales in our Etsy shop this month. We'll be sure to post a follow up once we reach this amount and make our donation!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

Whispers - Inspiration Avenue Weekly Challenge - "Ghostly"

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I'm utterly surprised and delighted I had time to work on this week's Inspiration Avenue Weekly Challenge! The theme was "Ghostly" which if I worked in another medium would have been rather effortless, at least as far as ideas go, but working within the realm of jewelry arts and not having any little ghost beads laying around I really had to stretch for this one.

So I came up with this whimsical necklace titled "Whispers". The necklace is comprised of delightfully soft natural wool fiber where upon I then hand sewed tiny freshwater pearls and Japanese seed beads for texture and depth. I then hand wrapped the ends in sterling silver wire and finished off the piece with a lobster clasp closure.

It's a delightfully charming piece to wear (yes, I tried it on *winks*) and I love the asymmetrical design and the way it lays around the neck. Whispers is now listed in our Etsy shop.

These challenges are always so much fun to participate in each week and they're open to anyone with a blog who feels the desire to be creative and inspired! Inspiration Avenue even offers monthly giveaways to it's submitting artists!

Tiberious and the Oak Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:05:00 +0000

I've been dying to share this recent recording my son created with his duet group Tiberious and the Oak Tree but to date I haven't been able to get my hands on an actual copy and he hasn't had time to load anything onto YouTube. So I'm left with attempting to give you a link to the group's Myspace fan page in the hope you'll scoot over there and have a listen.

Now before I give you the link I have to say that only the first two songs are studio recorded. To date my favorite is "Use Somebody" - love it! The other song, "Woe", is supposed to be pretty close to the original version but with the crazy sound (and R rated lyrics) it's a bit beyond me (call me old, lol!) so for now I'll stick with "Use Somebody" - whoot!

Ok, with that said... here's the link: http://www.myspace.com/tiberiousandtheoaktree

I've heard my son sing for years but to finally listen to him singing in a studio recording session left me giddy like one of those screaming teenage girls, lol!

We're off this weekend to see them perform at their first paid show on Halloween night. They'll be doing a 45 minute to a 1 hour gig including some of their original songs and of course I'll bring plenty of tissues as I'll be the proud Mom crying quietly in the corner. ;-)

Kreativ Blogger Award

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:28:00 +0000

Many thanks to my dear friend and teammate Angie of Artangel for nominating me for the lovely Kreativ Blogger Award!!

If you've visited our blog before then you're probably familiar with Angie's work as I'm constantly mentioning my love for her work, the small collection we've accumulated, and the growing collection of ACEO cards I cherish. Just in case a reminder is in order though, here are three of the paintings we currently own.

On to the award and the rules...

1. Thank the person who gave this to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link back to the person who nominated you.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.
5. Nominate seven 'Kreativ Bloggers'.
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each blog letting them know you nominated them.

Angie offered a lovely creative twist to the list of 7 things, choosing instead to list 7 of her favorite things and since I'm often taxed to find new and interesting tidbits to share about myself I'm going to follow suit. So off we go...

1. I adore the artists I've come to know online. They're a constant inspiration to me at every turn and I can't imagine life without their influence through written word, art, and deed.

2. I love a delicious cup of homemade coffee in the afternoon; nothing tastes better in the world to me, winter or summer.

3. I love the idea of magic in this world; soaring beyond what the world tells us we're capable of and beating the odds. My heart sings when someone I know achieves this flight and pursues their dreams.

4. Color makes my world; it touches my soul and invokes an emotional response.

5. I love laughter and the sound of happiness; the moments when my son's get together and make us laugh until we cry are the best!

6. Music is magical to me and I love all types; it transports me to another place and time. Lately I've been listening to 1940's standards which influenced our vintage feeling living room.

7. My family and friends complete me; being able to touch other people's lives in a positive way... there's just nothing more rewarding and fulfilling to me.

And now I have the pleasure of nominating 7 other blogs for this wonderful award. There are so many and some I've just recently found, but I'll have to narrow it down to...

1. The Wright Stuff
2. Imperfectly Perfect
3. Pimp and Paint
4. Silver Blue Pearl
5. Accents by Darla
6. I'm Just Say'n
7. Laura Evans Photography

Mr & Mrs

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:59:00 +0000

Well our week of chaos is finally behind us now and the happy couple have tied the knot! It was a wonderful day and I'm still amazed with how my new daughter-in-law pulled it all off in record time! I don't believe I've ever met anyone who's as talented at meeting a deadline, wow! I figured a little slide show might be the best way to share the day with you so here are a few images...

We were able to finish our living room in time to have company over and it was a pleasure to sit, relax, and enjoy the day with the newest members of our growing family! I haven't had an opportunity to snap any photos yet and honestly the room still isn't completely finished but I'll try to post some shortly. For now I'm just playing catch up and we're trying to take advantage of a quiet house and relaxing evenings, whew!

Wedding Bells

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

We'll be away for the week to prepare for our son's upcoming wedding next week.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!♥

Raspberry Twist - IA Weekly Challenge - "Pink"

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:01:00 +0000

This week's challenge theme for Inspiration Avenue was thought of my our own lovely Tali in honor of Pink for October. It's a wonderful theme and I can't thank Tali enough for thinking of it!

I was pressed for time this week so I went back to my comfort zone and revisited what I know best, wire and beads. I created this original woven wire key holder titled "Raspberry Twist".

It features a Milmine Design lampwork focal and handmade, hand beaded felt bead. I added some special touches to this piece using sterling silver and loads of Swarovski crystals including the large faceted crystal dangling from the bottom. "Raspberry Twist" is now listed in our Etsy shop.

These challenges are always so much fun and incredibly inspiring. More than reaching beyond my own comfort zone and feeling inspired to play, I absolutely love seeing what the other participating artists create each week. These challenges are open to anyone with a blog and even include a monthly giveaway for participants. For more info simply visit the Inspiration Avenue blog.

Seasonal Fun, Update & Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:38:00 +0000

Today I'm giving a little update on what's been happening around our ever changing homestead...

We're continuing to work on our living room in the hope of having it completed by the 26th for our son's wedding. Oh, did I not mention before that our son dropped a bomb on us a few weeks ago and announced he was getting married in less than a month??? hah! *clutching heart - eyes rolling back*We're doing the best we can for this "little"upcoming affair in the hope the house will be ready for a small cake and coffee reception after the ceremony at the mayor's office. So as you can see D's been hard at work repairing the walls and I've even managed to put the first coat of paint on the far wall.As we were busying ourselves inside this week we noticed the weather had taken a turn toward winter with our first snowfall. I can't remember the last time it snowed in October since I've lived in the east. I know we're not alone though as so many of the blogs I visited this week were experiencing the same early winter conditions. There's nothing like seeing a light snowfall on your green veggies still trying to grow, wow!
In my down time (no I really don't have any, but it sounds good) I created this festive necklace and earring set perfect for Halloween. Josh actually came up with the idea as I sat at my work table with a slew of tiny little black spiders in front of me.

He mentioned creating a web like feel and so I reached for my Wire-Lace and fibers. The spiders dangle from, and are surrounded by, large round faceted black Swarovski crystals which add alot of shimmer and depth to the piece.

Sometimes it's so difficult to capture the essence of a piece in a photograph but this really is a darling set and there's even a dangling spider hanging down the back, off the chain extension. This set is listed in our Etsy shop and honestly if it doesn't sell I'm more than happy to keep it for myself, lol!

Wishing you all a wonderfully creative and WARM weekend!♥

More Redecorating and a Treasury

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:13:00 +0000

A dear friend and fellow teammate of mine, Angie of Artangel, recently mentioned that it seems no sooner do we finish redecorating one room than suddenly the surrounding rooms look a bit drab and in need of a face lift. Well she couldn't have been more spot on!We did finally finish our dining room (minus the finishing touches on the mural) and love how everything turned out. The mahogany cabinet we striped even turned out beautifully, once we buffed out those pesky kitty paw prints.We even have a nice spot reserved for our collection of Artagnel original paintings to grow over time - seen in the right side of the photo below are two of the three we currently own.

So now we're moving onto our living room. Last night D managed to take down the original wood paneling, probably well over 70 years old. Although we did find some damage underneath it's nothing a little plaster won't fix. Plus I'll be painting a nice textured fresco on the walls so any imperfections will only add character to the final overall appearance.We're also removing the last of the dreadful blue carpeting to expose the original hard wood floors. It's always a gamble as we're unable to redo the floors until next spring when the weather warms up again, but so far things are going well and the floor looks good.It's a huge job and we've talked about concuring this room for a long time but I'm sure we'll be quite happy once everything is finally finished!

On a side note I'd like to thank Taylor's Eclectic for including my work in her gorgeous "Fall" Treasury! I lover her selections and beautiful choices!!

To My Best Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:45:00 +0000

Today is my best friend's Birthday... Catherine of Coral Seas!

Honestly just writing that line I get choked up. I haven't had an awful lot of close friends in my life and certainly none that I could ever have the opportunity to call my "best friend". Catherine is special in so many ways.

You see we've never actually met... We live an ocean apart from each other... And yet I couldn't imagine a day without her in my life.

She's the most talented jewelry artist, a wonderful mother, devoted wife, and the dearest friend I've ever known. I wish I could show you a photo of us together but some of Catherine's beautiful jewelry will have to do.

I can't honestly tell you when we first met, it seems like a lifetime that we've known each other and maybe that's because our friendship soars beyond walls and countries, beyond language barriers and personal beliefs.

Catherine is the person we all wish for in a friend; someone with compassion and an open heart, an ear for listening and the willingness to share - whether it's the run of mill day-to-day events of life or the moments that knock us to our knees. She holds a friendship in her heart and hands, and cherishes it as friendships are meant to be.

I wish I could be there with her today, to share that cup of coffee we've talked about for so long, to give her a huge hug and share a few tears of joy, but this little post will have to do for now.

So from across what seem like endless miles, thank you so much for being the person you are, a constant inspiration in ever sense of the word and the dearest friend I could ever have imagined.

Happy Birthday Catherine!

Pink for October Giveaway & Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:41:00 +0000

We're holding a giveaway and sale this month in honor of Pink for October!

The sale is going on in our Etsy shop and on our website, where 25% of all sales in the month of October will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

As 'starving artists' we don't always have the opportunity to contribute to the causes we value so this is an opportunity for us to raise a little money and make a donation toward the fight and research for a cure for breast cancer. We'll be announcing the amount we raise here on our blog along with the receipt for our donation.

We're also giving away this original woven wire key holder titled "Hope". The key chain features a Milmine Design Lampwork focal along with a handmade pink ribbon ceramic bead and a rope bead symbolizing the bonds we all share. It's a very special key holder and made just for this giveaway.

To enter the giveaways simply leave a comment on this posting. If you wish to pass the word by posting the blog badge please feel free to do so.

Each person who purchases something from our shop during this sale will receive 2 more entries in our giveaway, so if they leave a comment as well, that's a total of 3 entries toward the giveaway.

The sale and giveaway will end October 31st at midnight EST and all entries for the giveaway will be tallied and announced on November 1st along with the amount we raised through our sale.

As many of you know I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was a child. We look forward to P4O each year to help raise awareness and work towards a cure to hopefully save the lives of many others. We do hope you'll help by participating in the Pink for October campaign, join in our giveaway and hopefully help us raise some money for this very worthy cause.

Ode to Luthien - Weekly Challenge - "Shimmer"

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:21:00 +0000

Once again it's time for the Inspiration Avenue's Weekly Challenge and this week's theme was "Shimmer". The first thing that came to mind when I thought of "shimmer" were the beautiful handmade polymer clay creations my dear friend and fellow teammate Luthien of Pimp and Paint creates and so this week I present "Ode to Luthien". Ok, right about now Luthien's laughing hysterically so we'll pause briefly so she can regain her composure...... ;-)

I created the necklace and ring set based off the fabulous tutorial Luthien posted a while ago on her blog. At first glance I fell in love with the technique and final result of using mica powders in combination with polymer clay. I just knew I had to order some of the pearl-ex powders to use with the mounds of polymer clay and unused stamps I had laying around for years.

I created the two focals in the same manner she described in her tutorial and then added sterling silver for the ring and some of D's handmade bronze chain, along with sterling silver ceramic beads, tiny crystals and brass chain for the necklace. This technique of using powders never disappoints in delivering spectacular color and a shimmering iridescent glow.

While I'm referencing Luthien's gorgeous jewelry creations I can't help but mention that I had only ever seen her beautiful creations online in her shop and on her blog, until one day I received this surprise package of gorgeous pendants and jewelry components as a gift. I can honestly tell you they're even more beautiful in person and the way the light dances off the shimmering mica is just breathtaking.

Since I'm not someone who feels comfortable copying other people's work and selling it, this set is a little gift for me to keep; a reminder of my dear friend Luthien who not only creates brilliant artistic expressions in countless mediums, but whose own shimmering light of spirit brightens this artist's life everyday.

These challenges are always so enjoyable and inspiring. They're open to everyone each week so be sure to visit the Inspiration Avenue blog to see all the wonderful artistic expressions and feel free to join in! There's even a monthly giveaway, so why not join?!

Kittens, Kittens, Everywhere...

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:23:00 +0000

It's been a fascinating week so far filled with tenacious kittens bent on entertaining themselves with anything they could get their little paws on.

First there were the boxes of beads which came crashing down as I was working late a few nights ago, then the tragic loss of our hanging plant's extended 7 inch vine & leaves, but the most fascinating part was when we discovered the tiny paw prints across the top of our buffet. You know, the one we had just applied a first coat of vanish to, after spending most of the weekend stripping the lime green paint off of.

Nothing a little steel wool won't buff out but the fact that we're on our third day of waiting for the first coat of varnish to dry hasn't helped the situation one bit.

In the midst of it all I had to create a load of key holders to take to the local gallery for an opening this Friday and so I managed to make some new creations amidst the flying fur and crashing beads. We were able to keep a few creations for our online shops and so now they are available through our Treasure Shop and Etsy shop.

In honor of our little resident darlings, or in a moment of pure irony, I created this 'cat lovers' themed key holder. Why even the carved wood bead looks like the little tiny claw marks that are starting to appear on the bottom of our leather sofa. *insert quivering smile and twitching eye* I did find some relaxation sewing the shimmering Miyuki seed beads on to the hand felted bead I created, although I've noticed our little fur babies seem to love trying to snatch these sparkling balls from my work table whenever possible.

Perhaps wishing I could have spent the week on another planet, minus my feline companions, I also created this other-worldly bracelet featuring a selection of beautiful handmade lampwork beads by IrinaS of Germany.

Of course when all is said and done and our little purr babies are tuckered out from their romping and rampages, they do know the best spot in the house to take a little cat nap. God love 'em.

Thanks Try Handmade!

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:04:00 +0000

Just wanted to send a quick thank you to Try Handmade for including our blog last week among their selections of Handmade blogs!

Skyward - Weekly Challenge - "Sky"

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Despite the super busy week we've had around here I managed to squeeze in a little extra creative time for this week's challenge on Inspiration Avenue.

The theme was "Sky" and although the images which normally come to my mind when thinking of the sky are moons and stars I decided to go in a more daylight direction.

I created this cuff bracelet by wet felting the shell using light blue with wisps of white and gray which reminded me of the light clouds and streaks you might see when looking up during a beautiful clear day. Finally I added a little bird taking flight with a tiny faceted Swarovski crystal.

I used seed beads to embellish and add texture and finished it off with a large snap. I really enjoyed working on this project and the time spent on these challenges is some of the best during each week.

Remember, the Inspiration Avenue weekly challenges are open to anyone with a blog working within any medium and the monthly giveaways are always such fun too!

Project Update

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Well things are progressing nicely with the silhouette mural. I need to spend some time working on the collage pieces I plan to add, so for now, it's back to painting the molding and striping a mahogany buffet, oh joy!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Pink for October

noreply@blogger.com (Mana Moon Studios) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:01:00 +0000

I've never been one for pink, it's just not a color that's spoken to me much in my life (well except for the occasional shade of light pink nail polish) but October is different, as every year I go Pink for October.

I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was a child. I saw first hand her nine year struggle against this dreaded disease. I'm a grown woman now with children of my own but as anyone who's lost a loved one to breast cancer will tell you, it's not something you ever get over. I'm fortunate that I haven't followed in my mother's footsteps but I have dear friends who struggle every day with the pain of having lived through this horrid nightmare. I cherish them and I admire each one of them for their strength and courage.

So each October, in honor of my mom and my dear friends I join in the Pink for October campaign. It's easy to do and helps so much to spread awareness for breast cancer and research for a cure. You can use your blog, website, even your twitter page to join in this worthy cause and help spread the word. If you're interested in joining simply visit http://pinkforoctober.org and sign up.