Travel.....it's my middle name!

I’m off traveling thru’ Indonesia and Southeast Asia looking for more treasures for all things Renee Blackwell Design.

I will be back in a few weeks, check back then for updates, travel stories, inspiration and new jewellery designs!

Until then.....A hopeful heart and an open mind are the best travelling companions

Beautiful Garnet....Januarys Birthstone

A recent selection of Renee Blackwell Design rings....From Left to Right...Lasor cut Quartz Crystal, Amethyst, Vintage French Button, GARNET, and German cut Glass from late 1940's.

Beautiful Garnet-Januarys Birthstone

Over the years, I have warmed to this deep reddish/burgundy/wine coloured stone, and now it ranks as one of my favourites. Being born in January, it’s also my birthstone...Wanna' know who else has a birthday this month? Check January Birthdays out!

Garnet Gemstone meaning

The Garnet is known as the stone for a successful business. If your business is not as good as it should be, just put 3 or more garnets on your desk. It is believed that if a garnet is put under a pillow it will cure depression. Garnets can be used to make a person popular and have self-esteem when worn as jewelry. It helps protect one on trips. Garnets bring constancy to friendships. Garnets are also known for stimulating success in business.

Garnet comes in many colors, but now we will speak only about red Garnet. The Garnet is associated with the thyroid and spleen. It helps cleanse and purify both when held over the area. The Garnet is usually held in the hand or placed on top of the head when searching or meditating on past lives. Information that is beneficial and helpful will usually be released for the searcher.

The Garnet is a stone of purity and truth as well as a symbol of love and compassion. The information released in a search may be painful, but it will always be what the searcher needs. The Garnet will help everyone's security level and spiritual awareness.

Haiti....How Can I Help?

Haiti.

My God…Another Earth Disaster, this time touching the tiny, poor and helpless island country of Haiti. (The Dominican Republic and Haiti “share” the island)

I have been to this island, although I didn’t venture to the Haitian side, rather staying on the Dominican Republic side. I spent part of a day in a small Amber “factory” watching with fascination the cutting, polishing and working of this beautiful stone, which is found on the island.

To say this island is poor is an understatement….there really are no words.

Feeling helpless and wondering what to do, I realize once again that monetary donations are really the best answer. This allows those who are trained to go and do their job.

Here’s the deal..I am auctioning a new Renee Blackwell Design pendant…(see above photo’s) with 100% of the profit going to the Red Cross/Haiti Relief fund.

Bidding starts at $200.00 Australian dollars. This will be run as a “silent” auction, with bids going to my e-mail address:

hazelwildretreat@yahoo.com.au

Just e-mail your bid..the auction will run until the 19^th of Jan. with the winning bidder needing to send funds thru’ by the 20^th. (Via paypal or I can call anywhere in the world for credit card payment….) The pendant will be sent the next day. I will post the payment/donation authentication on my blog once the process is finished.

Count your blessings and dig deep….

Also, please e-mail, blog, facebook etc. this to anyone and everyone you know!

Pendant-This beautiful one of a kind pendant is features hand cut Amethyst, Vintage Czechoslovakian glass button from the 1940's and Japanese Enamel hand set in sterling silver.

The Ying and Yang of Colour...

One o f my fav. "neutral" looks...silver/taupe from head to toe....
Renee Blackwell Design Pendant..."Mother of Pearl, inlay with 18kt. gold foil, set in sterling silver.

By now, everyone knows I love colour….

It shows itself throughout my home in deep rich burgundy, reds, golds, rich greens and burnt oranges. You can see it at “Harmony House” my working studio, which is where I both design and make all things “Renee Blackwell Design".

This is my sanctuary, and is filled to the brim with beads, stones, buttons, metal findings and “found objects” from the 4 corners of the globe, in every imaginable colour. Colour is also a vibrant part of my gardens which I have planted out with a wild and wonderful assortment of flowers, blooming at the moment in every colour of the rainbow.

But when it comes to my clothing….what I wear everyday, things take a turn. I love to wear neutral. I love silvers, taupe’s, grays, blacks, deep pewter…and I especially favour odd colour tones...that strange shad of dusky pink or weird and wonderful sage green. Although my jewellery designs reflect a huge variety of colours and colour combinations, when it comes to my own personal jewellery…you guessed it…Neutrals!

I love these boots...not sure what colour they actually are, but neutral all the way~!
Want to know more about neutral colours...go to:
http://interiordec.about.com/cs/colorindecor/f/faq_neutral_col.htm

New Years Poem.....2010 or Don't Give up Your Day Job!

So I asked my Facebook friends to send in one word for the New Year of 2010... and I said I would write a poem. Here it is.....Enjoy!

This morning I had a dream of awakening…and a magical adventure,
The message was of love, giving and to shun the pretender.

Prosperity in life, faith and perseverance,
To have clarity, courage and shun false appearance.

To call forth my ability for creativity of spirit,
Never to doubt or pause and least of all fear-it.

With hopes to encourage my friends, family and foe
My heart is full of sharing, caring…I’ll go with the flow!

btw...the list of words I had to use were:

Awakening *

Prosperity *

Courage*

Magical *

Encourage

Adventure *

Faith *

Perseverance *

Creativity *

Love *

Giving *

Clarity *

Sharing

Spirit *

New Years 2010

Happy New Year! How exciting…..A fresh start and a new decade!

My wish for each and every person on this amazing planet of ours is health, happiness and inner joy.

My personal affirmation for this year is:

"I call forth clarity of vision, radiance of light and sovereignty of self…"

Care to join me?

by the way....above photo shot just a few days ago...my usa rep. for Renee Blackwell Design in the USA and myself here at Hazelwild Retreat on New Years Day!