The Anime Generation – A parent’s viewpoint
14 Jan 2012 4 Comments
in Parenting, Teens Tags: Anime, anime characters, comics cartoons, gratuitous violence, Japanese comics, japanese manga, japanese word, Manga, manga anime
Parenting a teen is not easy. Where once I was a master of my parenting realm, I and my views are now obsolete, replaced in part by what they learn from their friends at school, on the web and from Japanese comic art known as Manga and Anime.
According to Wiki, Manga is the Japanese word for “comics/cartoons” and consists of comics and print cartoons (sometimes also called komikku.) Whereas Anime is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of “animation”
The comics….errr… artwork in Manga and Anime can range from simple to complex. The plot lines are basic the good vs evil with lots of violence (sometimes I think it is rather gratuitous violence ((violence just for the sake of violence) and some characters which some might say have severe sexual identity problems. Be that as it may, there is a HUGE following, one might even say cult following, of Japanese Manga and Anime in the US among students. As well as a serge of students now learning Japanese in school.
My feelings about this? Well, it is great to learn about other cultures, great to learn other languages; however, the level of violence and jokes about violence in some Manga I really find disturbing. Violence is not funny, death is not humorous and the trans-sexual genders of some of the characters has confused many a parent. Click “here” to read an interesting article from Margaret O’Connell about why Manga and Anime characters look the way they do.
Agate, can help your marriage?
13 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Etsy, Jewelry, Magwire Jewelry Tags: agate jewelry, anniversary gifts, womens jewelry
Did you know that in astrology that Agate is the mystical birthstone for September and October? Agate jewelry or figurines are also recommended to be given as a gift to those celebrating their 12th and 14th wedding anniversaries. Perhaps, this is because (according to legend) agate is believed improve memory, concentration, increase stamina and encourage honesty — all important attributes to achieve in any marriage.
Vintage Jewelry History Tidbit #1
28 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: jewelry, vintage jewelry
In l963, the movie Cleopatra staring the glamorous Elizabeth Taylor reignited the jewelry buying public’s interest in Egyptian and Middle Eastern jewelry designs.
Christmas Decorating on a budget
19 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Family, Holidays, How to Tags: budget decorating, Christmas, decorating
I can’t believe in one week it will be Christmas. Unfortunately, I have been really busy promoting my jewelry business, as well as parenting (taking children to various appointments and events) and have yet hang Christmas lights or decorate the house in holiday cheer.
The good thing is that I have learned over these many years how to decorate for the Holidays with the minimum of expense. Bows, both large and small, can be used to decorate your Christmas tree. Add to that handmade paper snowflakes and voila! A simply lovely Christmas tree.
For decorating around the house, I also use bows, have filled up empty jars with water and added red or green food coloring, then made snowflakes out of wrapping paper/tin foil and glued them on the jars. Placing the jars on window sills or atop the mantle adds a rustic kind of charm.
Have juniper bushes or holly bushes about? Cut off branches (be sure and wear gloves) rinse them off, attach a bow or two and place around the house (table tops, on top of piano, or on bookcase shelves. The wonderfully fragrant aroma, especially from the juniper will be relaxing and Christmasy.
I am lucky enough to have two cedar trees in my yard (living in the Pacific Northwest, we have alot of cedar trees about) and add a small branch or two to the holly branches, or just add a bow and hang it by the front door. By doing so I can enjoy the lovely patterns of the cedar branch as well and the heady aroma of cedar as enter my home after a busy day at work.
Vintage Glamour
09 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in Etsy, Fashion, Jewelry, Maggies Treasure, Online shops, Vintage Jewelry Tags: glamour, jewellry, vintage jewelry
Gotta love vintage jewelry. So many designers, so many styles. Glamour, glamour, glamour!
Thursday Pounce New Listings Vintage Jewelry VJSE Team’ by VintageJewelryMeadow.
 HOLIDAY SALE 25% OFF Vintage… $21.00
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 Vintage Rhinestone Drippy Bi… $150.00
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 Early Vintage Danecraft Wate… $295.00
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 SALE – 30% OFF- Regency Earr… $30.77
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 Goldtone Mesh Chainmail and … $45.00
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 Vintage Gold Dangle Brooch P… $12.00
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 Vintage Blue Aurora Borealis… $86.24
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 Vintage Art Deco 10k HFB Gol… $22.50
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 Nelly Earrings in Teal and P… $18.00
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 Vintage Ring Enamel Sterlin… $32.00
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 Vintage Mexican Silver Aztec… $24.00
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 Necklace Art Deco, Sterling … $129.00
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 Rhinestone Butterfly Brooch … $30.00
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 Vintage Exquisite Pearl and … $18.00
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 Vintage Celluloid Brooch $35.00
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 Christmas Sleigh fill with R… $11.99
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Is it ivory, bone or ???
08 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in collecting vintage jewelry, Etsy, Jewelry, Vintage Jewelry Tags: bone, indentifying, ivory, vintage
Recently, I was trying to determine if a pair of vintage flower earrings I had discovered were made of ivory, bone or whatever. There was yellowing at several in several of the sections of the petals, which could mean it is bone, but I had my doubts.
So, being the research junky that I am I went exploring online for answers. I discovered a blog written by 97sweetwolf on Ebay entitled: Identifying Ivory and Bone. It gave a very detailed and interesting way of how to tell if your item is ivory, bone or synthetic. I carefully read the article and studied my vintage flower earrings.
They were obviously carved as there were markings on the back and sides that distinguished it as thus. No machine could place cuts where I found them in the design. These rose vintage earrings do show the patina (slight yellowing) on a few places so I am fairly confident they are bone, not ivory. However, I will be doing the infamous hot needle test later on today when my children are out of the house, as I do not want them testing their own jewelry.
- Do you have any suggestions or ways of finding out where your jewelry is ivory or bone? If so, please post your suggestions in comments.
Blue? No, On Fire For Blue Jewelry
01 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Etsy, Magwire Jewelry, Online shops Tags: etsy, handcrafted, jewelry, OnFireTeam
I am the first to admit that the two words, fire and blue don’t really go together. But in this case, Marge of Personal Designz, member of Etsy’s On Fire Team has shown that it can be done. You rock Marge!
‘Firefly Lullaby’ by PersonalDesignz
 Firefly Lullaby – print on p… $20.00
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 Amazonite Bracelet Green Ama… $36.00
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 Turquoise Teardrop Earrings … $28.00
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 Custom design, green headban… $15.00
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 Baby Burp Cloth Outlined Ope… $24.00
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 Organic Focal Lampwork Bead $20.00
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 Blue Green Agate Wirewrapped… $20.00
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 Topaz Teal Earrings Blue Rhi… $35.00
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 Handmade Lampwork Glass Bead… $16.00
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 Sterling Silver Earrings. Aq… $16.00
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 Sterling Gold Swarovski Peac… $112.00
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 Turquoise Bracelet with Bali… $42.00
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 Mat Board – Framing Art or P… $8.00
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 Glass Bottle . Apothacary Ja… $15.00
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 Turquoise Slimline Acrylic T… $20.00
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 CUTE Boho Blue Howlite Peace… $15.00
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