Strike out

It has been a while since I posted on my blog, I didn't realise how dependant we have become on technology. For my last blog I used my son's Kindle Fire. The problem with this was that it was very hard to edit on such a small screen, also it took me about an extra hour to type and set.

In the last few weeks we are in the midst of a second postal service strike here in South Africa for 2014, this I think is possibly a continuation of the one in January this year, we had a short respite and up until August were able to mostly rely on postal delivery, but now there is no post coming in or going out.

I have had to resort to using courier services for my orders and in most cases that means that it is more expensive to send out an order than the order itself, which means no sales as who wants to spend more on postage than on your purchase.  Sadly the cheapest courier service charges over $35(R330) for an envelope weighing less than 1kg (2.2lbs)!

Although a recent article (3 days ago) stated that about 40% of postal workers have returned to work it will still be a while before the post starts to appear in our boxes again.

In the mean time my order for a beading loom and some other jewellery making tools has not arrived and I am hoping that it hasn't been destroyed or lost, as the photo shows some of the strikers felt it necessary to destroy property.

I wonder what it has done for other online businesses who rely on the postal service to send or receive stock.
I have had 3 lost sales which doesn't seem like a lot but it does prevent me from starting to earn enough for me to start looking at moving out of the workplace and into making this my full time job.

In the meantime I have beautiful festive season stock that I can't sell! Macramé bracelets that make perfect stocking fillers. I have not loaded this onto Etsy as I can't ship them! Price $5 each.
Take a look.

Silver linings

This weeks colour is silver. once again thanks to www.empower-yourself- with -color.com

Silver is considered a feminine intuitive colour, it is usually associated with the moon and the tides, it is calming and purifying. It is a metaphysical healing colour.
It is viewed as a time to reflect and change direction due to it's ability to light the way. It is meant to help cleanse our mind, body and soul of emotional issues by opening new doors and lighting the way.
Silver inspires intuition, clairvoyance  and mental telepathy. It's reflective qualities mean that it reflects back whatever energy is given out.
It also symbolises wealth, prestige and modernity. It is seen as a glamorous and sophisticated colour.
Sliver is a versatile colour, shiny, modern, high-tech as well as alluring, sparkling and elegant.
In business it is respectable and courteous, dignified, self-controlled, responsible, patient, determined and organised.
Silver is unbiased and compassionate. It is associated with maturity.
Silver is the 25th anniversary representative as it relates to graceful ageing and the silvering of the temples.
It is lighter than grey but can still be indecisive and non-committal. When not mixed with another colour it can be dull and boring.
Thankfully silver goes well with all colours.
People who love silver are often intuitive, and insightful with a connection to the spiritual.
Silver people are often introspective and preoccupied with their own world.
These people are mostly imaginative and creative usually expressing themselves in the written word. They are good speakers, can write poetry and write novels.
Silver people are quite open to new adventures, they are not scared of change and often welcome it. Although some will find making a decision a little difficult.
Silver's have an air of understated sophistication, and possibly luck on their side.
They also are more ruled by their head and not their heart, although they can be romantic when needed.
As silver is represented by the moon and tides, these people may occasionally be moody.
if silver is your colour you may also present as conceited and snobby.

Negatively due to the metaphysical nature of silver you may also live a life of delusion and fantasy.

Some silver from my shop.

To all my Jewish readers wishing you a safe and healthy and meaningful fastfast.
To all my Muslim readers Eid Mubarak for Sunday

Shades of Grey

Once again thank you for the invaluable information from http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com.
This is definitely not a happy color for me and one I almost skipped over, but there are some positives to this color.
This is an unemotional color, detached, neutral and impartial.
It is the color of compromise, not being either black or white.  The darker the grey the more intriguing it is, the lighter it is the more alive it is.
Grey represents stability, it creates a sense of calm in a world full of chaos.
Grey can either be seen as boring and depressing or elegant and smart.
Grey is mature, responsible and dependable, it is the practical color of someone who plays it safe.
It can either suppress energy or it can form the basis of new ideas.  It is controlled and tones down brighter colors.  It is usually a mix of more than just black and white, often incorporating other colors which can lift it from the dull and dreary.
Too much grey can make you sad and depressed.
People associate grey with the corporate drone, reliable and possibly boring. Very formal and conservative.
On the positive side grey represents: reliability,  dignity, neutrality, impartiality. It gives the feeling of someone who is conservative, mature, intelligent.
On the negative it represents: indecision, unemotional, indifference, sadness and loneliness, depression, isolation and lifelessness.
Grey is control, compromise and neutrality.

If grey is your color then you may be going through life indifferently, unemotionally.
You may be trying to insulate yourself from the chaos of the world around you. You may feel that you don't fit into this world.
Grey people tend to want to remain safe, and secure they avoid excitement and compromise easily to avoid confrontation. They will often be fence sitters in an opinionated world.
Grey people are often calm and practical not seeking attention.  You may be attracted to this color as it helps to control and contain your energy.
In general you are a hard worker flying under the radar - getting your job done, but loyal and committed.
Some grey's add a splash of color to show that they are not boring.
A grey person may often be pessimistic towards life, looking at the negative and not the positive.
Because of grey's non-emotional view of life they often make fair decisions and could be good critics.
Grey people tend to be independent due to their attitude of not getting involve in the chaos that is our lives today.  They show strong leanings towards self-sufficiency, but it might also cause them to be closed to new ideas.

Normally I insert pictures from my shop here, I could only find one, so I looked on Etsy for items in other peoples shops.

from Adiesdesigns

From FiveLittleGems

from insoujewelry

from AbacusBeadCreations

To all my Jewish readers, Chag Sameach, Happy New Year, may it be a sweet year for us all.

This will be my only post for this week due to the Jewish New Year. Back again next week.

A Brown Study

To say some one is in a ''brown study'' usually means they are brooding or contemplative.
This my be because the color brown is a serious, down-to-earth color signifying stability, structure and support.
Once again my research is thanks to www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com
Brown takes it's obligations seriously. Brown represents material security.

The color brown relates to quality in everything - a comfortable home, the best food and drink and loyal companionship. It is a color of physical comfort, simplicity and quality. 

Brown is friendly and approachable. It is loyal, trustworthy and dependable in a practical and realistic way.

Brown is generally honest, genuine and sincere. They are probably  the hardworking, the industrious and reliable, with both feet planted firmly on the ground that you know.

It is sensual, sensitive and warm, engulfing one in a feeling of calmness and comfort.

It is a practical and sensible color which implies common sense. It hides the dirt!

The color brown is associated with wholesome, natural and organic produce and anything related to the great outdoors, agriculture and farming.

Brown is a frugal color - it is not associated with frivolity, excess or waste in any form. and though it is materialistic, it values quality above all else, and everything in moderation.

Some browns can show a degree of sophistication or elegance, depending on other colors associated with the brown. For example, brown with a soft white or ivory can appear stylish and classy, although more casual than black with soft white or ivory.

Brown suppresses the emotions, creating a safe haven from the stresses of the outside world within which problems can be contemplated and solved.

It is a color of structure, but not perfectionism perfectionism - rather it is orderly and organized.

The color brown gives reassurance. It is quietly confident but never the life of the party! Brown people do not seek attention -but prefer to stay in the background, allowing other colors around it to shine.

Brown is solid with strength and maturity. It prefers to function in its own safe little world - it is not carefree and spontaneous and doesn't like surprises. It can be considered dull, boring and unexciting by many. In fact it is one of the least preferred colors in the western world, along with orange and yellow.

Brown is a predominant color on the planet, along with green. Brown is comforting and stabilizing, while green is balancing and rejuvenating, just what we all need to help us deal with the stresses of modern life.

The psychological meaning of the color brown can vary slightly depending on the colors which are mixed together to create the brown. Brown can be a combination of black, yellow, orange, red, gray, green, blue, pink and purple, and each of the colors in it will add a variation to the meaning.

If Your Favorite Color is Brown

• You tend to be honest, down-to-earth and wholesome, salt of the earth with both feet planted firmly on the ground.
• You are usually steady and reliable and quietly confident.
• You are friendly and approachable, genuine and sincere.
• Brown people have a keen sense of duty and responsibility - you take your obligations very seriously.
• Browns are usually home bodies to whom family and family life is very important
• You enjoy physical comfort, the simple things in life but quality things
• Friends find you loyal and trustworthy, supportive and dependable
• You are a sensitive person and feel others criticism's of you
• As a brown person you are warm, supportive and sensual
• People find themselves comfortable enough to open up and confide in you.
• Brown people are mostly hard working industrious and take life seoursly, but they do have a dry sense of humor.
• Spontaneity and surprises are not for you. As you are not in control 
• You generally believe that life is not meant to be easy.
• You do everything in moderation and with restraint - no over-indulging for you.
• You tend to be quite frugal - you don't like to waste money or time on unnecessary frivolities or extravagances, but when you do spend, it is on quality.
• You prefer to stay in your own safe little world - you don't like your little world to be upset by anything.

Your deepest need is for a safe, secure, simple and comfortable existence with supportive family and friends.

Negative keywords include: dull, boring, frugal, materialistic, lack of humor, lack of sophistication, predictable, cheap and stingy

Positive keywords include: down-to-earth, wholesome, practical, approachable, friendly, stable, structured, supportive, comforting, reliable, protective, strength, quietly confident, sensual, sensitive, warm, reassured, honest, sincere, quality.

Here are some brown things available in Adiesdesigns on Etsy.

Wednesdays learning curve

I try to learn something new on Wednesdays, so with the holiday season approaching I decided on Snowman earrings in brick stitch.
Maybe not my best idea as I don't have the right sized beads, although I do have all the right colours.
Here is my one and only snowman (until I have the beads).

He is  sort of melting! This is what happens when your beads are not all the same size.

With Halloween around the corner here are some things in my Etsy store for you.

This first one is probably my favourite, I have entered it into a competition.

 

Tomorrow is a new colour day, so have a great day and be here tomorrow.

 



 



 





Following me I'm right behind you

In had the very pleasant experience of someone wanting to follow my blog. Thank you. Only to discover that she couldn't due to a technicality with the Google widget. Sorry. So what I have done is put in a subscription link for those who would like to follow me and what that will do is not only send you an email of my blog when I post, but when you fill in the contact form I will have specials and discounts and sales throughout the year that will only apply to people in the contact list and no-one else!

And to start this off, this week only using BLOG123 as your coupon code I am giving free shipping off all orders over $20.

Have a great week and blog to you soon!

In Color

Today's color is Pink, here in South Africa spring has begun (with temperatures in the high 20"s C, so I think this is the perfect color.

This color represents compassion, nurturing and love. It relates to unconditional love and understanding, and the giving and receiving of nurturing.
It is the passion of red softened by the purity of white.
It is a feminine romantic color. It calms the physicality of passionate red and give is a gentle loving energy.

It is intuitive and insightful, often showing tenderness and kindness. 

It is a sign of hope, It inspires warm and comforting feelings.

It helps in alleviating feelings of anger, aggression, resentment, abandonment and neglect. Exposure to too much pink may create physical weakness in people. 

People who constantly wear pink as it may may be in  need of acceptance, support and unconditional love!

It doesn't like to be taken for granted and just loves to hear the words 'thank you'.

Pink can signify good health, being 'in the pink', and success as in 'everything's rosy'.

The color pink represents the sweetness and innocence of the child in all of us. It is the color of uncomplicated emotions, inexperience and naiveté. However excessive use of pink can often lead you to become immature, silly and girlish, abandoning your adult responsibilities.

Pink can also remind you of earlier childhood memories, associated with nurturing and comfort from your mother or a mother figure.

Negatively it can represent a lack of will power, a lack of self-reliance and a lack of self-worth. It can indicate an overly emotional and overly cautious nature.

Combining pink with other darker colors such as dark blue, dark green, black or gray, adds strength and sophistication to pink.

If pink is your favorite color, you are loving, kind, generous and sensitive to the needs of others.You are generally friendly and approachable. Pink people are the nurturers of the world - you love to give nurturing and to receive nurturing in return. Pink people are the people who mother everyone and are often inclined to neglect themselves.

Pink people are in touch with their femininity including men. They are usually more romantically inclined.

Pink people tend to see the good in everyone.

Although pinks tend to be methodical and organized they can often appear flippant when their immature girly side appears.

Pinks refinement and reserved calm nature may give the impression that they are shy and immature.

Pinks appear youthful and sometimes even frail and waif like.

Pinks need to learn to be more self reliant.

If you don't like pink:

You may have unresolved parental issues

You may want more excitement in your life

You are a psychopath - ONLY KIDDING!!!!! You are not the compassionate nurturing kind.

The personality traits are not always going to fit you exactly. I am not mad about pink but I work as a nurse. My kids will tell you I am not the most nurturing person either when it comes to headaches and tummy aches and sundry pains. 

Pink in Adiesdesigns.