Indian Jewelry

As I was thinking about the sand art I talked about last week, I realized there was another aspect of the Native American culture that I find fascinating. Their jewelry!

In looking it up I discovered there are several different kinds. Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, Pueblo and Cherokee -- and many more. I'm sure you've driven through the reservations in Arizona and New Mexico and seen the roadside stands selling authentic jewelery. It's amazing work of silver and turquoise. We stopped at Four Corners on our way back from Oaklahoma and it was fun because they had shops from all four states. Each state had their own particular type of jewelry. It was wonderful.



Back in ancient days, they made lots of jewelry with beads, corn, shells and other such available items, but the work they do with silver is simply amazing. I also am surprised at all the different shades of turquoise. I had no idea, I thought it was all just a basic blue/green.

This one is called an emerald valley turquoise.


This is called green king turquoise.



I could spend hours looking through all the various sites that offer authentic jewelry. There's a site that claims to have the only official Cherokee Nation jewelry, there are others that claim to be representatives of the Hopi, Zuni and others. It's mind boggling.

Especially when you think about how few of true craftsmen there are left compared to jewelers in our culture. Their training comes from the tribal elders or apprentice to others that know the craft.

Jewelry making has become a hobby for many women now, with beads, stones and other things available at every craft store in the state. But this is serious art -- something that takes years of practice and learning. Just like anything that is worth doing, takes time to do it right.

Next time you have the chance to go by a roadside stand, take a minute and admire the work -- tell them how much you appreciate their efforts, and perhaps purchase something that you will remember. Native American art abounds and is available to wear.

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Family Study

1 Nephi 5:21 "And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children. "

If you ever had questions about scripture study and if you want to go through the hassle -- that scripture is a good answer.

The scriptures are something that hold a family together. I don't know how, I just know I feel when we actually get it done. We struggle to do it on a consistent basis, but I've decided to keep on. Once we give up, then we loose. Since our goal is the eternal perspective, I know which side I'm on. Just my thought for the day...

Sand Art

When I came home from my mission I grabbed the first job I could find. That ended up being at Jacob Lake Inn in Arizona. I had never heard of the place before that point in my life, and I was in for an eye opener.

It was my first real exposure to Indian culture and art, as well as the Grand Canyon. I'd never even been to Arizona before. I had pictured it full of cactus and barren deserts. Boy was I surprised. Jacob Lake Inn is right at a junction in the highway to either the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, or south toward Flagstaff and the rest of Arizona. Jacob Lake is also on the top of a mountain...so they get snow. Lots of snow. I was in heaven.

Anyway -- they have a gift shop at the Inn, where they sell everything from Indian jewelry to hand woven rugs. The work is amazing. The pottery is gorgeous and I was very impressed with what I saw. One of the things that fascinated me was their Sand Art, or sand paintings.



These paintings are such works of art. I purchased a small one and brought it home with me, along with a small piece of pottery -- unfortunately anything larger was way out of my price range, but they are worth every bit charged for them.

There is sand art that you can make with your kids, involving different colored sand that you pour into a jar, (this site shows it being done--it's way cool) but this is more like a craft which involves glue and sand on paper.

In my research on Native American sand art, I have heard that it was a way of chasing away evil spirits, keeping nightmares away, and also part of the medicine man's healing.


Veronica Begay is the artist of this amazing piece, called Pollen Boy on Sun. I think the blues are eye catching, and are a different touch.

I can't explain exactly the way I feel in looking at their art work. It's so unlike any other medium. It captures a feeling of rural wilderness and yet a simple beauty unlike any other. It's refined, it's delicate and it's amazing.



This piece by Wallace Ben show's painstaking patience in developing each line, each color. I wish these artists had web sites that you could learn more about them, but apparently they tend to be private people, without much presence except for their art.



If you ever get a chance to visit that area of the world, you should. There are wonders and amazing things to behold and witness. You'll be impressed.

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Contest! Help me Win

Okay...I know it's not really something that's done...but I like helping my friends promote their stuff, and I love to read -- sometimes that goes hand in hand!

For example...one of my writing friends is having a contest on her blog, Not Entirely British. To win the book in question, which is Josi Kilpacks newest endeavor, Lemon Tart, I need to post about her contest with a link back to her contest so you can all go read about the book!! So, here's the link Not Entirely British! You really need to go check it out, Josi writes great books, and this sounds like she's doing a whole new series. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

1 Nephi 5

1 Nephi 5: 20 "And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us."

I was scanning through the scriptures to see what would be good for today's thought when this one popped out at me. This is kind of a "I followed what my father taught me and did the right thing."

It reminded me of Joshua and "As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord."

I would wish for our children to follow this thought. I would hope that they would keep the commandments as their father and I try to. I would hope that they would have a desire to do this so that we can be an eternal family.

I hope that we can teach them to want this...every day of their lives.

Book Cover Art

There is an oft quoted phrase: "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Okay, I guess that's a good axiom, but I find myself doing this all the time. Why? Because some art on the covers of books just grab me. Face it -- it the cover looks interesting, you're more likely to want to look at it.

Unfortunately, it might not be an indication of the real quality of the book, but I didn't want to get into that. I just wanted to share some of my favorite art in books. Two of my favorite books of all time are The Little Princess, and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.



I've loved these books since I first read them, especially the illustrations. The book I have has a different cover -- it has the girls walking along the sidewalk, with Sarah at the head. I love the artwork by Tasha Tudor. She seems to capture the mood of the book and pass it on to the reader. We are drawn into her drawings and it makes me want to open the book and discover the world inside.

Another author that I love the illustrations (generally) is Anne McCaffrey. She has written a never ending tale of a planet called Pern, another one about Petaybee and the list goes on. My favorite illustrations come from Pern and Damia.



The dragon singer series was the beginning of her Pern series, and are wonderful tales that pull you into that world. The covers I've seen of hers are the ones done by Greg Call.


The Pegasus series is another one that the cover draws you in and makes you curious about what's inside. I love this series too. The first book shows a young boy floating and you discover that he is able to move his body through kinetics...not with his muscles.



The last one I want to highlight are the covers for Brandon Sanderson's books. He is an LDS author who has made a name for himself in the science fiction genre. He's wonderful! I had the privilege of meeting him at a LDStorywriters conference two years ago, right after Elantris came out. The illustration for this novel was done by Stephan Martinière. I've never heard of the man before, but then, I don't read alot of science fiction any more. I liked the way he did the cover of the book though -- it's very attention getting.

What draws your attention to a book? If you pick up a book you've never heard of, what makes you want to read it? I believe the purpose of the cover is to draw your attention into the book, and many of them achieve that. If I had more time and room, I'd list many more -- several LDS authors who's books have great covers. I invite you to go seek them out and look at one's you haven't read yet...you might have a new favorite series and author -- you never know!

yourLDSneighborhood has added exciting new things to its website. Please drop by and take a look, browse around, check out our vendors, our radio station, our authors, our musicians and more. Check out the Neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world-all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Oh boy, I've been Tagged!

Candace at Yourldsneighborhood.com, has tagged me, and I get to play. Fortunately, this isn't the same type of tag that we used to play as kids, because I hated that type of tag...always got stuck as it, you know?

This kind of tag is much more fun -- though I'm not sure how I'm going to come up with 25 things. Here's the rules she posted:
Once you've been tagged, write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

Well...since when I reached 200 posts (or was it 100???) I posted unknown stuff about me, coming up with 25 is going to be a stretch. I don't know if I have that much in me...lol

1. This Valentines marks 24 years that my sweetie and I have exchanged valentines.

2. I really like happy endings. If it doesn't have a happy ending, book, movie or play, don't bother -- I won't watch or see them.

3. My most favorite thing to do in the whole world is READ. ;)

4. Second favorite is cook -- but it's a close tie with paint.

5. But I think I come in second to my oldest daughter. She had to pack up the books she has in her room because she ran out of room. She has two large computer boxes full of books. (granted, half of them are graphic novels...Manga or something like that...sigh.)

6. My hubby and I are only 5 days apart in age. He was born 5 days before me. I couldn't stand the wait and had to follow him down. Didn't matter that we were two states apart...I found him anyway! lol

7. I have published one book as an illustrator, something I'd always wanted to do as a kid. I never thought it would happen in college, so I gave up on majoring in art and went to business.

8. I can type over 100 words a minute.

9. Obviously that means I would rather type than handwrite anything...especially letters.

10. I am a lousy letter writer. I you want to keep in touch with me, it needs to be email or phone number.

11. I hate talking on the phone. So -- that narrows it down to emails....lol

12. My oldest sister is also my sister-in-law...grin.

13. I posted a photo of my hubby and I on our wedding day at KSL.com for valentines, and man -- now I feel old. How could I possibly be that cute girl???

14. I used to want to play tennis professionally.

15. I can't be consistent with my serves -- so I gave that up in high school. But I was on the varsity team in California and I lettered in tennis as a freshman.

16. I leg wrestled a college basketball player and won...grin. (30 years ago...)

17. I hate to wear shoes -- especially in the summer time. I have terrible calluses on my heals...

18. I am addicted to Tetris...though I am trying to wean myself...gradually...help!

19. My hubby is my best friend in the whole wide world...and universe. (of course...besides the Savior!)

20. We have 7 cats. We used to have 12...all five died off in the past year. (long story)

21. I love snow. I used to wish we could get snowed in and not be able to go anywhere, until I grew up and realized what all that would entail. I still kind of wish it sometimes...

22. My greatest dream is to visit New Zealand and Australia sometime before I die or get too old to appreciate it.

23. I almost applied for "The greatest job in the world," but decided there was no way I could do it. If I were 20 again...grin.

24. I would love to visit Vancouver, BC sometime, and actually see more than the wharf -- I would also like to visit Edward Island.

25. My favorite temple is the San Diego one. It's like a fairy tale castle! It used to be the Washington DC -- I always thought I'd get married there, but without money, that didn't happen. The inside of the Salt Lake temple is astounding!

Well...lets see. I need to tag 25. I don't think I know 25 people...so lets see. I tag Keith Fisher, Candace, Nichole, Darvell, Sandra, Pamela, Karlene, Guy, Matthew Buckley, Chery Crane, Tristi, Randy, Karen Hoover, Wendy Elliott...well, I guess that's it. sigh. Good luck everyone! grin.

Scripture thought for the day...

I forgot what my plan was yesterday, and so I didn't post my scripture!!! sigh. I also had a headache most of the afternoon, and by the time it wore off, I wasn't thinking about blogging...grin.

So, here's my scripture thought for the week. It comes from 1 Nephi 3:7
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

I love this scripture, and the primary song that goes with it. I try so hard to do the things which we have been commanded to do. I don't make it all the time, and sometimes I fall flat on my face -- sigh. But I wish to!

We are so loved, and have been given so much! Doesn't it astound you sometimes? We live in such a blessed time, despite what is happening in our country. I am thankful to be here, thankful for all my many blessings and will continue to strive to follow the commandments of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Have a wonderful day.

Blythe Spirit

I don't attend plays very much. Perhaps it's because they are usually more expensive than going to see a movie, and we have a hard enough time forking out the money for that. Usually we do a dvd rental or go to the dollar theater. (I think I've mentioned before that we are cheap...oh wait, that's frugal.)

I can probably count the different plays I've been to on one hand. I'm afraid that makes me sound rather uncultured... One of my favorites that I've seen is Beauty and the Beast that Layton High school produced a couple of years ago. They did an excellent job. One of our neighbors was LaFue (sp?) and he was hilarious. I saw Davis High's Avida because my niece had one of the main roles. That's usually why we see one, because we know someone that is performing in it. We like to support family and friends in their endeavors.

Well...such was the case a week or so ago. My son is dating a girl who is in a play up in Washington Terrace at the Terrace Playhouse. It's called Blithe Spirit, and it's hilarious. The price of tickets aren't bad, pretty much the same as a movie ticked for the non reserved, and the non reserved seats were every bit as good as any of the middle section, which was all the reserved were. It's a small theater, but the troupe did an excellent job with the material.

The general plot is about a middle aged author who has decided to write a book exposing mediums. In his research, he decided to invite a neighbor who claims to be a medium. This woman is everyone's vision of a fortune teller, though she says she never does that -- the future is too vague. The woman who plays her does a wonderful job, she almost steals the show.

Anyway, Charles invites a doctor friend and his wife over for dinner and the seance. During the conversations with the woman, all of them are trying to control themselves during dinner and the evening, which plays out rather entertaining with the woman going into a trace.

No one thinks anything happened, except for Charles (the author). He realizes that his dead wife has entered his home, and only he can hear and see her. He thinks he's gone mad and tries to enlist his wife's help, but she thinks he's being rude to her because he's talking to both women at the same time and she can only hear him. It's quite the humorous misunderstanding. Anyway, it becomes apparent that his dead wife is trying to kill him off so she can have him with her. Unfortunately, she ends up killing his wife, and she comes back to join the fun.

The man playing Charles has a wonderfully expressive face, and he is simply amazing. He shows all his emotions, his fear and his anxiety. He simply was the character -- it was wonderful.

The dead wife struts around the room, knocking things over, and otherwise terrifying the wife (before she accidentally kills her). She also terrifies the maid, which is played by my son's girlfriend. She does a wonderful job as the maid. She's tall and slim and the clothes they have her wear make her look gangly and all bones and clumsy and she's supposed to be as inconspicuous as possible -- but she has some wonderful scenes; like where she's picking up the morning dishes and the newspaper and ends up picking up the newspaper with her teeth...

So I decided everyone needed to try and see it during it's last week of run. The show runs Monday's, Friday's and Saturdays at 7:30. Go show your support of local theater, and take an evening to enjoy yourself. You'll be glad you did.

As my sister likes to say, be there or be rhomboidal...

yourLDSneighborhood has added exciting new things to its website. Please drop me and take a look, browse around, check out our vendors, our radio station, our authors, our musicians and more. Check out the Neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world-all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Scripture thought Tuesday...

Well, in coming home from church on Sunday, I came to the realization that I wasn't doing very much to help spread the gospel. We have been admonished to do all we can, and to use the modern media to help in those areas.

I realized that while I haven't been shy about spouting my beliefs from my blog, I haven't really done much by way of religious thought. So, starting today, I'm going to write about a scripture each Tuesday and my thoughts about it. I'm going to be using only scripture from the Book of Mormon, in hopes that it will bring some curious and seeking minds to a desire to read.

Hopefully you'll enjoy!

This weeks scripture is one we heard in Relief Society a couple of Sunday's ago:

Moroni 7: 25 "Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ."

The point was how Angels are currently working among us. Not only are they actual angels that we are unable to see, but they are also our friends, neighbors and family that we can see that help us and love us through difficult and happy times. We have no idea the amount of angels that abound and buoy us up. To quote a line from A Christmas Carol, 'Mankind is our business' and it should always be so. The care and helping of our fellowmen.

Hopefully you'll be able to begin to see the blessing in your life, discover the 'angels' who are around you, and perhaps become an angel to someone in need. I know there are many who help me.