The sun sets and she appears...

Hello internets. Yes ... its been a while. A long while. Oops.

 This is me, trying to get back on the blog horse again. Like all those other times.

However, since October I've found a lot of new pieces in the jigsaw puzzle that is my physical & mental health, and my own personal brand of Chronic Fatigue. Wheat gives me hangovers, and yet I tested negative for celiac disease (but that's apparently not unusual). I've been diagnosed with a sleep disorder called Alpha Wave Intrusion, which barely any part of medical science has studied except to notice that it happens sometimes. Sweet potatoes give me tummy aches.*shrugs*

I also had a nice “Aha!” moment relating to the sleep disorder. Maybe the anxiety problems I had about five years ago aren't so much over with, but I've just somehow learned to ignore them better. And looking through my old self-help books on anxiety vs. depression rang a lot of bells.

So for right now I've decided to take a break from my social life, while maintaining home and work lives for my basic survival needs, but this time on purpose. I need to work out what's wrong with me and how to either fix it or live with it. Sacrifices had to be made, especially when it came to vending engagements and cons. But without so many distractions, I'm forced to examine where I am and what I'm doing, and its already starting to make a difference.

On the other hand, when I do get bits of energy back over the norm, I can just put that right into jewelry without being tempted by the outside world. Because it is a low-energy activity that I've loved for years, and things that make me happy and content are rare nowadays.

This means there will be blog and Etsy shop updates! Not sure how long they will last, but I've broken out my old seed beading skills for my lunch breaks, and went to the NY Whole Bead Show in March, so there will be new stuff. I even photographed all of it last weekend, with some new backdrops for my light box, which is about as exciting as it gets around here.

If you're interested in seeing my daily dance with chronic fatigue, and my latest adventure in organizing my life for maximum savings of “spoons”, plus tarot fun, take a look at my other blog:
Chrysilla on Dreamwidth!


If you're just here for the shiny stuff, here are a few tidbits to tide you over ;-)




Luv,
Chrysilla ;-)

Elphaba, a necklace of Oz

Elphaba
[for sale here on Etsy]



A magnifying glass hangs from a long lariat necklace of vintage style pale yellow cathedral beads, matte onyx, swarovski pearls, and olive green goldstone.

The necklace is 25.5 inches long, and does not include a clasp.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Harvest Bat necklace

Harvest Bat
[for sale here on Etsy]



An adorable wooden bat hangs from a chain of copper, red tigereye, and matte black onyx. All links were wrapped in copper wire entirely by hand.

Necklace is 21 inches long, the pendant hangs down two inches, and includes a copper colored toggle clasp.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Bleached Bones necklace

Bleached Bones
[for sale here on Etsy]



A Djebah coin, from Catherynne Valente's 'The Orphan's Tales' books, with a deep red Swarovski crystal, hangs from a length of white agate, shell, mother of pearl, and coral woven through with white ribbon.

Necklace is 18 inches long, and includes a clasp of silver plated copper. Djebah pendant is polymer clay, and about 1.5 inches long.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Farewell My Automaton, a Steampunk necklace!

Farewell My Automaton
[for sale here on Etsy]

Display your affections for your favorite love, whether they be flesh and bone or metal and gears ... or perhaps a combination of both.




A working heart-shaped padlock hangs from a length of pearls, Czech crystals, and vintage style cathedral beads in a rainbow of bronze and gold tones. A translucent golden ribbon weaves around and through the beads like mist.

This necklace is 19.5 inches long, the padlock is 1.5 inches long. The padlock itself clasps the necklace in front, and included are two matching keys for opening the lock. (not pictured)



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Strawberry Owl earrings

Strawberry Owls
[for sale here on Etsy]



Two rhodonite owls with white catseye, wrapped by hand in silver plated wire, hanging from sterling silver earring hooks.  Each earring is two inches long.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

House Targaryen, a Game of Thrones necklace

House Targaryen
[for sale here on Etsy]



A necklace worthy of the true rulers of Westeros. Black agate nuggets wrapped in silver plated wire with dark red garnets and black onyx.

This necklace is 18 inches long, and includes a sterling silver toggle clasp.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Violet Owl Earrings

Violet Owls
[for sale here on Etsy]



Two flourite owls with Czech crystals, wrapped in gold colored wire and hanging from sterling silver earring posts. Each earring is 2 inches long.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Absinthe necklace

Absinthe
[For sale here on Etsy]




A magnifying glass in a baroque, copper colored setting hangs from a long chain of green and copper. Aventurine, flourite, malachite, and Czech crystal beads compliment each other in a most elegant manner.


Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Gone Fishing earrings

Gone Fishing
[For sale here on Etsy]




An accomplished cat is a happy cat :-)

Adorable wooden pendants of cats with fish, wire wrapped in copper with real sea shells. On sterling silver earring posts.

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Chocolate Mint earrings

Chocolate Mints
[For sale here on Etsy]



Two adorable hand sculpted chocolate-mint halves (which are sadly actually made of polymer clay, so please do not eat the jewelry), with cats eye and Czech crystal beads, on sterling silver earring wires.



This weekend, I'm at DragonCon! Yay!  Although as an attendee rather than a vendor. Hope your summers conclude on a similarly epic note ;-)

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Year of the Horse necklace

Year of the Horse
[For sale here on Etsy]



A carved wooden figure of a horse, wrapped in copper wire, hangs from a chain of onyx and red tigereye beads, with turquoise blue glass cathedral beads in a vintage style on copper colored wire.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Fuchsia Ravens earrings

Fuchsia Ravens
[For sale here on Etsy]



Black agate ravens and large fuchsia glass crystals, wrapped in silver plated wire, hanging from sterling silver ear wires. Each earring is 2.5 inches long.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Fruit Bat earrings!

Fruit Bats
[For sale here on Etsy]




Two carved wooden bats and dark red garnets hang from sterling silver earrings, wrapped by hand with copper wire. Each earring is about 2.25 inches long.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Gold and Fuchsia earrings

Gold and Fuchsia
[For sale here on Etsy]



Large fuchsia glass crystals, faceted onyx beads, and petite pressed glass drops wrapped in gold colored wire. Hanging from sterling silver earring wires, each earring is 3 inches long.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Winter Frost Earrings

Winter Frost
[For sale here on Etsy]



Earrings of clear quartz crystal hand wrapped in silver plated wire, with sterling silver ear hooks. The leaves are real leaves, dipped in silver and antiqued to make a strong but delicate statement. Each earring is 3 inches long.

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Lavender Raven Earrings

Lavender Raven
[For sale here on Etsy]



Large glass crystals in a delicate lavender blue, black agate ravens, and silver plated wire, wrapped by hand. Includes sterling silver earring hooks.

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Swan Family Earrings

Swan Family
[For sale here on Etsy]



Carved wood pendants of a mother and baby swan hang from sterling silver ear wires, with amethyst and matte onyx beads wrapped by hand in silver plated wire.

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Slytherin Formal necklace

Slytherin Formal
[For sale here on Etsy!]

Black ribbon weaves around rich dark onyx, black lava, and wire wrapped green goldstone, with dark green Czech crystals and a carved horn pendant. Includes a sterling silver toggle clasp and silver plated wire.

Onyx is a stone of grounding and balance, relating to the first Chakra and balanced Yin and Yang energies. It can encourage and attract happiness, good fortune, and higher inspiration, as well as reduce stress and encourage self control.

While some cultures associate the color black with death and decay, it was also associated with fertility and potential by the Ancient Egyptians, because of the fertile black silt left on their lands by the ebb and tide of the Nile River.

Green is often associated with wealth, good luck, tranquility, money, growth, and ecology. In flags and heraldry, green is often used to represent the health and abundance of a nation's own land. However, it often appears in Celtic folklore to represent, attract, or warn about the presence of faerie in human territory. In the case of Slytherin House, it probably also mirrors ambition-fueled jealousies and a desire for wealth and abundance, in addition to magical forces.

Go forth, be geeky ;-)

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Bast Pentacle Earrings

Bast Pentacle Earrings
[For sale here on Etsy]

Several of my friends have fallen in lust with this set, which is appropriate ;-)

Fine handmade wire wrapped earrings. Sterling silver Bast pentacle and tiny pentacle, with large and small lapis beads and frosted quartz crystal. Ear hooks are also sterling silver, and the wire is silver plated.


The pentacle is a common symbol in pagan circles, relating to the five elements, mastery of the four elements, etc. But it also relates to the orbit of the planet Venus, the five terminating points of the human body, and the five wounds of Christ. This symbol can be found in many different cultures around the world. Like Crowley said, in one of his more lucid moments, "Every man and every woman is a star in the sky."

In Egyptian myth, stories of Bast range widely from solar to lunar, warrior to lover. In modern times this feline figure is often revered as a goddess of love and pleasure. And felines, of course.

Lapis lazuli, called the Stone of the Heavens by ancient Egyptains, is deep blue fleked with golden pyrite inclusions. It is a stone of mental awareness, intellect, and psychic abilities related to the sixth chakra. Associated also with the Sun, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Saggitarius, and the Virgin Mary, lapis also encourages love and kindness, a charitable and giving spirit, and radiation of the Will. This stone brings a clarity and peace of mind reflective of the deep, dark blue of the night sky glittering with stars.

Clear quartz, or rock crystal, is popular with New Age and magical practitioners for its ability to receive, store, amplify, and transmit energy. It is also used in modern technology for its ability to store and transmit electricity. It is associated with the seventh chakra for its clarity, reflecting and encouraging clarity and focus of the human mind, and it is considered to be a source and reflection of the divine light.

I did nicely photograph a couple of items before I got sick ... last YEAR... so I uploaded them to Etsy. These earrings and the next necklace post. This winter I took sub-par photos of the pieces I made for Wicked Faire which I may post here for posterity. However, they are not up on Etsy yet.

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.