Starzyia: open for business in 2013, getting ready for Valentine’s Day gift shoppers

Ardent Love Pendant by Starzyia on etsy

I have enjoyed a very relaxing two week (approximate) vacation from running Starry Girl by Starzyia but I was very excited and glad to reopen my online stores and am preparing for Valentine’s Day amongst other seasonal and themed occasions for 2013.

I’m sharing some of my favourite creations for Valentine’s Day now, because I know many of my friends and loyal supporters are spread across the globe and need time for items to ship, plus I have been planning and saving these items especially and I can’t wait any more!

The Ardent Love pendant is beyond a doubt my favourite, I have used the original vintage French-English dictionary page showing the words “Ardemment, fervently, amour ardent, ardeur” a great way to express passion and strong love to someone special in a way that is trei chic!

romantic offerings from Starzyia

Another new etsy offering is the Immortal Love pendant which is made with the original page from a vintage 1933 hymnal, though it is a hymn, it reads like a love poem “Immortal Love, forever flowing, forever shared, a never ebbing sea, our outward lips name” which is right up there with the beautiful, passionate Song of Solomon.

You can also see I still have some flowering tree of life pendants, these are offered through my etsy store

The Ruby Songbird is a great shabby chic pendant with a symbolic singing bird (love, happiness, contentment) and is a deluxe edition with sparkling rhinestone border in ruby/garnet and pink rose.  This would also make a great gift for a singer, and the paper bird has a sheet music motif.

The Red Hot Love earrings (gee, I wonder why I named them?) are the red laser cut wood earrings with golden filigree and red rose cabochons, though large these are nice and light weight, ear friendly design. These are offered through my madeit store along with some similar designs in a pale pink heart, honeysuckle pink heart, and a lovely shabby chic white heart.

I’m also working on some patriotic, Australian offerings for Australia Day (January 26th), back to school (which it is time for here very soon), Easter, and later Mother’s Day and change of seasons means a change of colours and textures.

There will soon be a return to my special feature interview type posts showcasing some worthy and truly fascinating handmade artisans I’ve met along my handmade journey, and symbolic gift guides once I get back into the swing of things this year. For those of you who started to follow the blog during the Starzyia Daily Photography Challenge last year, I will be running another one in February so feel free to join in, I’ll let you know how when the time is nearer. I’m hoping to stay true to my heart but make this blog better than ever and I hope you will always feel free to join in, comment, and share the journey. Wishing you the most amazing, inspiring, happy, healthy 2013!

 

 

 

 

Handmade Gifts for Gardeners

I need to take a little break from writing spiritually and as it is my pledge to support the handmade movement, I thought I’d make today’s post a little showcase of wonderful gift ideas you can get for the gardener in your life. I have been blessed to have some very special gardeners in my life (Nanna, Aunty, Chez, Diane) so I have been inspired to search out some beautiful ideas to share…

lovers garden by agardentotreasure on etsy

The amazing agardentotreasure on etsy creates the most astonishing, beautiful gardens for you to bring indoors and liven up your desk, or any room in your house.

woodland fairy by scarletsbones on etsy

I was very excited recently when I discovered this amazing etsy artist is a fellow Australian, kudos to scarletsbones for creating breathtaking magic.

Central Park NYC painted wine glasses by ChelsiLees on etsy

I  L*O*V*E  New York, especially Central Park, and even though I don’t drink wine… I want these!!!! But you can have them if you’re quick and smart enough to pounce on  a good thing, ChelsiLees

botanical resin bangles by SpottedDogAsheville on etsy

The most difficult thing for me was choosing which single bangle I would feature by SpottedDogAsheville, so please browse the store, and look for resin rings and necklaces too!

pig planter by DesertArtsPottery on etsy

I love the cheery colours and the whimsical nature of these planters made by DesertArtsPottery on etsy

vintage postage stamp pendant by Starzyia on etsy

Don’t forget I also offer a range of jewelry in my stores that would be great for garden lovers – I especially recommend getting a garden friendly creature – butterfly, ladybird, bees are a delight to gardeners. Starry Girl by Starzyia store links for etsy and madeit

See you soon! Don’t forget to tell me if there is a type of person you need a gift for (bibliophile, geek, audiophile, etc) because I will do a few gift posts leading up to Christmas.

 

 

 

Living & Creating: Starzyia Spring Smilebox, 2012

Make your own digital slideshow

My Spring smilebox for 2012, this features some seasonal pictures of Mandurah, Fremantle, my garden, my birthday, and my beautiful dog Fizzy

Now it won’t be long before I start taking my summer pictures, can’t believe how this year has flown by!

Why a Self Portrait Photograph is My Birthday Tradition

self portrait 17th October 2012

 

I thought I’d take a little time today to share why it is that I always take a self-portrait photograph on my birthday, and yes it has just been my birthday and I did have a beautiful, enjoyable day.

My first self-portrait photograph was taken on my 30th birthday. Although I have never outgrown the joy of birthdays, even my own, I was not happy to be turning 30. It was not so much a feeling about the age as about my life circumstances at the time. I was single, unemployed, living with my parents, with little prospect of changing any of those pertinent life details. 30 in that light seemed embarrassing. I dreaded it. It just so happened that my 30th birthday was the same year that Denmark’s Prince Frederick was celebrating his – thanks to the Australian connection (with his beautiful Australian bride) we heard no end of Danish birthday traditions in our media. My feelings about turning 30 were so negative, that when I heard that in Denmark, if you are unmarried when you turn 30 it is tradition to gift you a pepper pot/mill, that I shouted “why not salt so you can rub it in!!!!!”

About the only thing I had going for me at the age of 30 was that I looked young enough to not look silly living with my parents. I looked young enough that out with a friend (who admittedly was ten years older than me) people confused her for my mother. Great for me, she however had a not so thrilled reaction!

I decided about the only positive thing I could do was take my photograph and try to feel good about myself. I didn’t ask anyone to take my picture, I snuck off and did it myself.

That decision was the best thing I could have done. By taking quiet time away from people, I had stillness, and serenity, and even more magically it was a private moment with myself – no one knew about it, no one was watching me, and I broke down some barriers – I overcame the thought and feeling that what I was doing might be founded in vanity or narcissism. I actually found that taking the photograph, and examining the results was very balancing for me. I wasn’t overly proud, but I wasn’t ashamed either… I felt liberated, humble, content, worthy in just the right amounts.

Since then, I decided that every year I would take a self-portrait photograph, and have stuck to it religiously. I also really like that by taking the photograph myself I am independent. With my aging family, and family and friends spread across the globe (actually very few in my local area), it is entirely conceivable that there will come a day when I spend my birthday alone. I don’t want to be sad if one day I can’t get my birthday picture taken, and I don’t want to feel anxious like I have to track someone down who can do it for me. I am setting myself up for a future where I can be happy and tranquil in my own company and honour my birthday and my self and not say ‘oh you’re alone, no birthday for you this year’. Hell no. I have my birthday every year and I enjoy it!

And the best news is that I have a lot more ‘going for me now’ in my life and I don’t care a jot that I am now 36 (and single) and I really, loved hearing from my niece that “my ability to never age, rocks!”

 

Fizzy & Snail

won’t you play with me?

Fizzy Meets Snail – Snail Hides From Fizzy – On The Road Again

Most Beautiful Monday: almost spring

dandelion

Its almost Spring here and I have been enjoying my daily walks with Fizzy and taking photographs along the way. Here is a little dandelion I photographed for Day 17 of the Maddabling Photo Challenge, the daily theme was: fragile. Since the effect of this photograph is like looking at the world through rose coloured glasses, let me go totally Polyanna on you and say: kind words are not as fragile or fleeting as you think. Just like the dandelion that scatters in the wind to create new life, kind words land in treasured spaces in our soul and are remembered in hard times, preserving life.

Love, Starry xoxox

 

Christmas In July Sale at Starzyia etsy and madeit stores

blossoming tree of life pendant

 

Hi, its that time of year, I have a bit of fun and offer my jewelry up at a discount for the benefit of early christmas shopping, birthdays through the year, or a treat for those expecting their tax return (and well done for lodging so early!)

My sale is running in both my madeit and etsy stores and I am happy to combine shipping if you buy from the two stores (they are stocked with different designs). The sale has started, and runs until July 25th 2012.

blue bird and crown pendant

The madeit Starzyia store has had all prices (already quite competitive) cut by 15% you can see the before and after prices in store, no need for coupon codes, just fill your cart and clear checkout in the usual way.

shine a light pendant, vintage russian postage stamp

The etsy Starzyia store is offering something a bit different, you can save between 10-20% storewide.

Save 10% when you buy any item in the store, the coupon code is CIJSAVE10

Save 15% when you buy any two items, the coupon code is CIJSAVE15

Save 20% when you buy any three or more items, the coupon code is CIJSAVE20

**please use the appropriate code for your cart, orders with the incorrect code will be with-held until the balance is paid**

 

Most Beautiful Monday: Starzyia Autumn 2012 smilebox

A free scrapbook by Smilebox

I will post my next smilebox showing how I have been living and creating in Winter.

Starzyia Stores Reopened!

Summer Friend Necklace

I’m open for business after having taken some medical leave, both my etsy and madeit stores are open and I’m ready to serve you, and to have some fun creating more jewelry.

The Summer Friend Necklace is my newly listed handmade vintage postage stamp necklace, featuring the original 1984 Magyar Posta (Hungary) postage stamp, it is a great choice for spring and summer fashion but this beautifully illustrated pendant will look great year round.

Dharma Butterfly Wish Necklace

The Dharma Butterfly Wish Necklace is my latest offering in the Butterfly Wish series, each comes with its own colourful butterfly pendant and star charm stamped ‘i WISH’, giving you that lovely reminder to keep dreaming and wishing and never give up hope. All currently available Butterfly Wish necklaces are offered in my madeit store.

This wire wrapped turquoise pendant on beautiful vintage chain will be available soon I promise!

Thanks for being so patient with me as I took the time off that I needed, I am now so happy to be back in the saddle (so to speak).

Living & Creating in Summer 2011-12

A free slideshow by Smilebox