Facebook Winners

Life has been hectic, know y'all can relate. Not only does life not slow down but my computer did...to a complete stop! I think it was a little hint that I need to set limits and that working at home does not mean that you work the entire time you are at Home. Well computer is back up and running and so are I and even better Dylan Blue NEVER stopped. Have no fear , while I was away from y'all here, we have been working diligently and with a PURPOSE...the purpose of making people happy and Spreading our Jewelry Piece by Piece as far as we allow ourselves to imagine. That is a nice thought huh?
First updatee... we have made another sale...which we are incredibly proud of because, one, it has been a slow across the board pretty much and two, well it was our first INTERNATIONAL sale. The celtic blue piece is on it's way to the United Kingdom! Thanks to our VALUED Customer!
Also John has been working his tail off, we came up with a line of Local Football Pendants for my local area, Valdosta GA, TITLETOWN USA...ok a little bragging there. But it is Known fact we take football very serious here in South GA and they play to WIN and WIN they do. I will have a post showing you the finished set coming soon.... got more to share. John has also been doing some fine art work...amazing stuff that I am super proud of and will also share coming soon, I promise IT IS gonna BLOW YOU AWAY! And while I am talking about John and production, I have items sitting that are ready to be listed so he is crackin' them out, while along filling wholesale orders for places such as book stores and for retail shops and boutiques....while working his "real job" aka the one we want to get rid of!
And last but not least....WE have a winner to our contest we ran on our Facebook Fan Page. We are so thrilled at the turn out and gained 46 fans in the allotted contest period. I ran the contest through a site called RANDOM.ORG . Where I typed in the numbered ordered list of entries (each entry was the person and the fan they got to join) and ran it through. Below is shot of WINNERS.... who are DUM DUM DUM (that is a drum-roll).... Elizabeth M. Duquette and Mike Watson! Congrats guys, I will be in touch and I can wait to see what you pick... plus I have stuff to list like I mentioned...so we will definitely chat!. Wow that was fun (even if I was running behind). We plan to run other contest in the future..probably with a totally different idea. Have a good idea...leave us a comment.Go ahead and become a fan of our FACEBOOK page we refer to as Dylan Blue Community because we could not do this without y'all NOR would we want to. We are also constantly thinking of ways to use ourselves and things we learn to be of service to others.
SMILE

1968

Time for another one of John's writings.... what I like to call "John's Thoughts" ....enjoy!


I turned 15 in 1968. It was a year of eruptive psychic growth for me. I read “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Crime and Punishment”. The Democratic convention in Chicago turned into a maelstrom of anger and brutality seething through the streets of the city, permanently shaping my perception os the mechanisms of power. I saw Hendrix live, went to my first anti-war demonstration, met some Black Panthers and read Eldridge Cleaver. And some friends of mine seemed to have had a terrific time at this place called Woodstock.
The ensuing years continued in the same vein – drugs, radical politics, concerts and books – always books and ideas. Psychology, politics, popular culture and the changing nature of the world were daily topics of conversation. Carlos Castenada, Dylan, Muhammad Ali, the Beatles, the Dead, the Stones, Simon & Garfunkel,and on and on – the mental backdrop of the times was a vista of endless possibilities for change.
Then the tide began to turn. Nixon, Watergate, the end of the war. People began to overdose, get strung out, die. The cult conversions. Charles Manson. People began to have kids, get real jobs, graduate college, get married. Disco, for Christ’s sake. I joined the military, and moved away with my pregnant wife. Career, responsibilities.
Still, the books and ideas were portable. A few friends and I stayed in touch. The Reagan years, and the Moral Majority. Rush Limbaugh. From time to time, the few friends and I would wonder what had happened; had the possibilities evaporated? had the world really not changed? Was it turning back into the 1950s?
But, we told our kids about how things had been; Vietnam, the United Farm Workers. The Dead played in the living room, along with Springsteen, Bob Marley and Willy Nelson. Clinton was OK, in a Playboy kind of way.
The new century started as badly as could have been imagined. The “N-word” began to sneak back into the popular lexicon. Terrorists. Tax breaks for rich folks, hugely corrupt politicians in very high places. Breathtakingly bold lies told by a President who claimed to hear directly from God. Another disastrous foreign war. Cultural regression propagated via the should-have-been-cool Web. Despair over the world my kids were growing up in, and my precious, malleable grandson. Horrible place, execrable people in power.
Then a little change began. Young people began to find their voices – world music started popping up everywhere. Celebrations of eccentricity – Steampunk and Cryptozoology.
Maybe…? 2006 and Nancy Pelosi. Maybe…? Neil Young resurrects his career. Maybe…? Can we? A young man saying “Look at all of you”.
Now we know. Yes, we can. The 40 years worth of books, ideas and believing were worth it. Compassion and Justice are back in the national conscience. My kids believe in their own ability to make change. We emancipated ourselves from mental slavery – thank you, Bob Marley.
The wild geese are flying again, and the ants have gone back underground.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Our New Creation

We do not just make beautiful pendants but look what is coming to our Dylan Blue shop Soon!

We participate in Wordless Wednesday

Tree of Life

I decided to take pieces, one at a time, and expand or just explain there meaning....or the meaning we had in mind when designing and making it. We had received a great response to this pendant, in the form of our first two sales. This was eloquently written by John... he has a way with words, I am sure after reading you will agree.

One of the central beliefs of the Celts was that all of life existed in three phases. They saw three phases in the lunar cycle (they did not recognize dark as a phase); they saw a woman’s life in being a maiden, a mother, and a crone; and they believed the physical universe to be composed of earth, water, and sky. This is why so many Celtic designs show design elements repeated in groups of three.

I think it’s interesting that the process of photosynthesis can be seen as the interaction of the same three elements; a molecule of water, a molecule of mineral, and excitation from the light of the sun. This simple reaction between these elements produces the carbohydrates that sustain all life on earth. And the ancient Celts knew it intuitively.

The Tree of Life in Celtic mythology had its roots deep in the core of the earth, the trunk extended up through the world of Men, and its branches reached out to encircle the stars. It was seen as a bridge between the sky realm and the earth, uniting both of them harmoniously. The Tree itself repeats the theme of three elements; in its roots, its trunk, and its limbs.

This representation of the Tree is probably modern; it is adapted from a common representation that includes a circle of complex knotwork. We wanted to use this modified form, since it emphasizes another aspect of the design; the interweaving of the branches and roots. This interweaving suitably portrays the Celtic belief that Life was a single, self – renewing cycle.

Call For Action

I think that there is way too much talk about doing good things and not enough DOING good things. John and I have been discussing ways to make a difference, like I have mentioned before, we are not out to change the world, just make an impact on little parts. SERVICE- that is what it is all about. One word...it is an ACTION....to serve....to DO SOMETHING. I tell my boys on the way to school each day, "Do something nice for someone today, DO a RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS" (I am a KARMA Officer for Valdosta GA, lol, big title for simple concept....do RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS and spread that message...you can read more I wrote about it here) anyway, my boys report back to me what acts of kindness they have done. Today on the way to school my son said "Mom, sometimes it is hard to find something"... I replied "You will see it, the more you look the easier it will be....and it does not have to be something major."
John told me about a Facebook group that embodies this in every way. Team Max well , I will let you read what the first paragraph on the page says- it states it best ~

"Max Rose's friends and family are continuing his work of service by forming "Team Max." Team Max has no rules, no bureaucracy to fund, just one idea....to give...to serve...to continue and build Max's legacy of service." They go on to say "Team Max is an intention. We will carry on Max's intense desire to serve the community. Team Max is a "strike-force" showing up to serve when opportunity presents itself."
A "Strike-Force"... there again...ACTION! This group was formed after the Max was taken from his Earthly Family and Friends and joined his Heavenly Family and Friends. The group not only formed, they ARE DOING IT. They Are Making A Difference. I ask you to please, if you are on Facebook, please become a member of TEAM MAX... read the board for a HEARTWARMING story on the Marshall's, read Beautiful poems written by Max, see his Smiling Face.... you will feel it...you will get IT. You can find all that on the TEAM MAX Page. Oh and if you are not on Facebook, why? This is worth joining for!
MAX DID!!!

T.G.I.F. Tune ~ With My Own Two Hands

Wanted to share a song with y'all. Us here at Dylan Blue have kinda adopted this as our theme song. It is called "With My Own Two Hands"... about being of service to others, YES ....we understand that we can not end World Hunger ~ BUT we can feed a hungry person, NO YOU can not end all PAIN and suffering but YOU CAN HELP one person put down their pain.... THINK about it!
Here is a good video of BEN HARPER singing his song "With My Own Two Hands" ENJOY.... turn it up, dance around with you kid or your dog, or play it low at your desk, promise you will find yourself tapping along....think about how you can USE your OWN TWO HANDS! This Video is cool, found it while looking for his video to put on here but most had the blog function disabled, which after seeing this video ... would have used this one IT DRIVES THE MEANING HOME~




Some of y'all will recongnise this song off the "Curious George" soundtrack, a different version but SAME GREAT MEANING. We will continue to find great music to share with y'all, the common componet is that they will all have a meaning to us and maybe you after we share.

What's Your Sign?

What's your sign? No I am not quoting the cheesey pick-up line...Why you ask? Well here at Dylan Blue we are working on and will shortly be introducing a line of Zodiac Sign pendants. We are also working on having customizable set of pendants/necklace, such as initials.

We really like the idea of people having jewelry that is special, that has meaning to them. We also have a discussion started on our Facebook page asking for design ideas. Go here to start submitting design idea, you not only may see your design come to be a beautiful pendant but may also get to name the pendant...how cool is that? Go here to submit your ideas- I know you have something. If it is an idea that we like, and you have an example image we can send you a regular e-mail to send the image to. In the same respect, if you have a design, and would like to order a set for a special occasion, like as gifts to give to bridal party, for members of a club or organization, or any other reason you could think of, we can handle big custom orders and are more than happy to do so. Just send us a convo on etsy or a message on our Facebook page or even a comment here and we will get back to you.

Hope everyone have a terrific weekend and are planning on MAKING IT A GREAT WEEK!

SMILE!