newness

happy earth designs' earrings now available at work it out in kapaa! 

thank you, jeni!

xo

hui no`eau

photo from mauihawaii.org

this place is an artist's dream. walking through the grounds and soaking in the artistic talent during my recent trip to maui was an inspiration that i have yet to get out of my mind.

sometimes i go through artistic slumps (like now) and it is my dream to attend a class here to not only enhance my jewelry-making skills and jump to the next level, but learn (or remember) other crafts like ceramics and painting.

photo from mauihawaii.org

it would be a dream to have a place like this on kauai.

i encourage anyone in hawaii who has any drop of artsy blood flowing through their veins to visit this place in makawao next time you're on maui. there is almost always an exhibit or two to browse or a class to visit. even the grounds are enough to make you want to stay there as long as you can.

seriously, you won't be disappointed.

http://huinoeau.com

i speak for the trees

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, 

Nothing is going to get better. It's not."

all the answers reside within

"do you want to meet the love of your life?

look in the mirror."

sunrising

sunrise shell jewelry has exploded in popularity. i personally shy away from it, however, because now that they are in such great demand, folks are plucking them from the ocean depths, mopping the floor clean, often with creatures still residing in them. i'm all for adorning yourself with beautiful hawaiian jewelry, but never at the expense of a living creature or without consideration of unnatural over-consumption.

nonetheless, i feel privileged to have been gifted this magnificent gem that supposedly came from a source who only dives for vacated shells. what makes it even more special is its purple hue - not only kauai's color but also my favorite. 

it's been sitting in my linen closet for months but i feel like the time has finally arrived to venture toward other jewel avenues like necklaces and bracelets and this is perfect inspiration for the former. 

let the creative process begin.

giving thanks

i am thankful for (in no particular order) ...

1) turkeys and indians who received the unfortunate end of the thanksgiving stick.
2) true love, in all varieties. the kind where actions never cease to speak louder than words.
3) the earth, our home, and its entire abundance and splendor.
4) animals - short ones, tall ones, skinny ones, fat ones, scaly ones, two-legged ones, four-legged ones, no-legged ones, ones with fur, ones with feathers - each and every one.
5) human beings (not human doings).

6) a kitty's purr.
7) birds. birds. birds. (whoops, this probably falls into the animals category, doesn't it?)
8) all the great teachers who never give up showing us how to live in the moment.
9) art. seriously, what would the world be like without it?
10) self-employment and doing business for people who tell you how much they appreciate you on a regular basis.
11) people who really listen to you and not just hear you.

12) flowers. flowers. flowers.
13) hawaii. you will always be my home no matter where i am.
14) rainy days, a comfy chair, a good book and a cat in your lap - or even just a good book, a comfy chair and a cat in your lap.
15) a crispy hawaiian "winter" day.
16) the first glance of the sun as it peeks over the horizon and casts brilliant hues of purple, pink and gold in the sky.
17) wow, once you get going, it's really hard to stop.
18) trees and sitting underneath one that envelopes your soul with its sweeping branches and fluttering leaves.
19) early morning before the world starts to wake up.
20) the shama that sings outside my window at dawn. (wait, birds again.)
21) making fresh, healthy meals from local produce.
22) national tropical botanical garden for developing in me an even deeper appreciation for these islands and plants. and, of course, for limahuli (nuff said).

23) sand between my toes and gently lapping waves.
24) seriously, i can't stop now.
25) the days i get to turn off my cell phone and computer.
26) hiking everywhere and anywhere i can.
27) glorious mountains i can never stop staring at.
28) save out shearwaters (i know, again with the feathered ones), for allowing me to help care for hawaii's precious birds and because, without you, how many of them wouldn't be here anymore?

there is so much to be thankful for. 

each. and. every. day.

what's on your list?

festive fall hoops

earth laughs in flowers

alii kula lavender farm. 

heaven on earth.

back to basics

what matters

birds.

bees.

flowers.

trees.

symbolic spirals

wisdom

"humankind has not woven the web of life. we are but one thread within it. whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. all things are bound together. all things connect."
~ chief seattle, dwamish

"when all the trees have been cut down. when all the animals have been hunted. when all the waters are polluted. when all the air is unsafe to breathe. only then will you discover you cannot eat money."
~cree prophecy

"man's heart away from nature becomes hard."
~ standing bear

biggie i

happy earth earrings will officially be on their way to the big island tomorrow (jealous) where they will find new homes by way of pueo boutique.

so grateful for the opportunity.

grow where you are planted

spending time in kokee amid koa and ohia-filled forests with native birds like apapane and elepaio whistling sweet serenades is food for my soul.

true beauty resides in nature.

acacia koa

aalii

pukiawe

ohia tree gripping to a cliff where many native species have been forced to live in order to survive