Flood the Streets with Art VI - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Flood the streets with Art and Bonnaroo are the two things I look forward to every year.

Like wish my life away kinda look forward to.

Here is a short blurb from Scott Wong the creator of FTSWA

The goal is simple: On BLACK FRIDAY  I want every artist, human being, man, woman & child on our planet to drop one piece art they've created on the streets of their community for a random stranger to find, pick up, take home & love. Yes, for FREE. 

OMG!! I am gonna drop art all over the place.

When I first started, I was dropping only jewelry, because that was my art. Over time, I have added paintings, crocheted hats and scarves and tie dye to my drops.

I love prepping my work, tagging it with a big ole - "I'M FREE" tag and then driving around in the wee hours of the morning on Black Friday and hiding little treasures around the area.

This year I dropped 5 paintings, 3 pairs of earrings and 2 necklaces, it was so cold!!!

I was very excited Friday morning, and when I was done, and home drinking coffee, a little disappointed it was over. Kinda like Christmas morning.

Now I sit back and wait, until June when it is time to go to Bonnaroo, and I do my art abandonment there.

It's the small things :)

Until then, thanks for stopping by and remember:

Be peaceful, be kind, it's important!


All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

Flood The Streets with Art and Scarf Drop

This weekend has been so busy, and I am so happy.

5 years ago Scott Wong brought to life his brain child - Flood the Streets with Art. Here is a little quip from Scott - "The goal is simple: On BLACK FRIDAY (Nov. 24th, 2017) I want every artist, human being, man, woman & child on our planet to drop one piece art they've created on the streets of their community for a random stranger to find, pick up, take home & love. Yes, for FREE. 

Allow me to explain...

Here in the United States of America, we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day this year on Thursday, Nov. 23rd, 2017. We will spend the day with family, friends & loved ones giving thanks for everything in our lives we have to be thankful for. It's really loving and special and meaningful. ♥

But then...

On the following day a.k.a. BLACK FRIDAY (the day after we've given thanks for everything we have in life), we rush out in an uncivilized manner trampling complete strangers to death while pushing, shoving & acting like a complete lunatic so we can buy a big screen TV for twenty bucks. I'm speaking tongue-in-cheek, of course, but truth be told, it's not that far removed from what actually happens. I wish I were joking. :( "

I have participated the last four years and it is my favorite time of year. Being able to share my gratitude in the form of art means so much to me, it is very fulfilling. 

I did a huge drop this year. Six paintings and jewelry. I heard back from one person who found my earrings!! That was so exciting, AND they are going to participate next year! It is spreading!!!

These are the pieces I dropped this year. All around Raleigh and Cary, NC. So much fun under the cover of darkness, dropping art for people to find. 

And then there is my true heart - dropping scarves and hats around downtown Raleigh. It is getting cold at night, and there are so many people who do not have enough, that I love leaving warm items around for them to find!!!

During the Thanksgiving season, I am truly grateful for what I have, and who I have in my life. I love giving back out of gratitude and love to my community. It is that small ripple that starts the waves of change. 

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

Ideas on Promoting your Art from Alyson B. Stanfield

I follow ArtBizBlog and love it. Alyson has such good advice, and what I love about it, she gets to the point, and allows you to run with it.

Her most recent is 50 things you can do better to promote your art. The list of the 50 things can be found here for you to view and use, "no strings attached" she says. Brilliant!

I am going to start with #1 and work my way thru her advice to #50 and I am excited about it.

She is also doing something very near and dear to my heart. She is giving back. She has set a goal to raise $5000 for charity to dig a well for a village.  It is a big goal, but it is also a big deal. Clean water is a very important building block for health. If a person is healthy they can do so much.

Now you say, but I don't have $5 much less $50 to donate to this charity. Don't loose site of the goal, it is not always money that a charity needs, awareness is also very important. So if you can't give money, give some time to tell someone else about it.

Making a difference is easy :)





"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Odds and Ends - earrings, charity update

Didn't know what to title this entry, so I called it exactly what it is - odds and ends.

I love making jewelry, love looking at jewelry, love learning how to do new techniques, love love love! I was encouraged by everyone to take the next step. Go on out there and sell it. When you do something you love, it is tuff to put it out for sale. It is a harsh way to be judged. If it isn't bought, it isn't liked, or that is how it can feel sometimes.

I took that step and now I am in several local stores. I recently stopped by one of the retailers that sells my jewelry and she needs more earrings. How exciting!! I made a few pair last nite, here is an example of what I am taking to her -

Resin, seed beads and silver plated wire.

Stamped brass peace signs with ruby in zoisite and fresh water pearls. Ruby in Zoisite is an energy amplification stone and pearls attune the wearer to ebb and flow of life. They are calming and centering. They give purity and promote faith, charity, and integrity, truth and loyalty. I thought they were the perfect stones to put with the peace symbol.



Fun, simple little copper spirals with fire opal swarovski crystals. These are a staple to most collections, mine included. It is one of the first wire wrap designs I learned. This is an easy design and very versatile.

I have had so much encouragement and so much support from so many people, I feel I need to give back. To me, it is so exciting to me to be able to give. That being said, I began to choose a charity a month that proceeds from all sales would go to. I have had some really lean months, so I changed it to reflect quarterly sales. My 4Q charity for 2009 was NEADS.org. NEADS (Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans), of Princeton, MA, is a non-profit organization, organized under section 501c (3) of the IRS code. NEADS was established in 1976 to train and provide independence to people who are deaf or physically disabled through the use of canine assistance. These assistance dogs become an extension of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence and relief from social isolation to their human partners. I am happy to announce that my 4Q charity, NEADS.org will be getting a check for $150!!

With recent events, I have chosen my 1Q charity to be going to the relief fund for Haiti. 15% of all sales for 1Q of 2010 will go to the relief fund benefiting the population of Haiti devastated by the earthquake. There are so many ways to be involved in offering help to the people of Haiti. ArtBeads posted this on their FaceBook page -

Artbeads.com Etsy Shop Owners Unite! Join "Hearts for Haiti' and "Craft Hope' and help the people of Haiti by donating a piece of jewelry or craft to raise money for Doctors Without Borders.
Hearts for Haiti: http://www.etsy.com/shop/heartsforhaiti
Craft Hope: http://www.etsy.com/shop/crafthope
Doctors Without Borders: http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

I am touched and have had my faith in humanity restored with the outpouring of help going from so many people to this tiny island nation.

So heres to you and your support, you are helping to shape me into the artist I am. Thank you!