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!

Thought on our Limitations

Hello Friends! This is craftyGAgal (Meredith) and I would like to share a piece that John wrote with y'all today. We are a team, and most post are from us, as Dylan Blue, but this one is from me. I would like to share with y'all a little about John before I get to his piece.
To know John, I have come to the conclusion, is to LOVE John. He is not only wonderful to work with but even more than that John is a wonderful, selfless, devoted friend. John walks though life searching out ways that he can be of service to others and by doing this GOD, in my opinion, seems to put John in the right places to achieve this goal. I am truly bless to call him a friend.
Beyond that, John is talented beyond words, he is artistic and God uses his artistic talent to touch people lives. I am not just saying this, I have personally seen it happen. Not only can John make some of the most gorgeous jewelry, but he can write in a way that leaves you wanting more yet feeling satisfied. Alright, now I would like to, in fact, I am honored to, share with you a piece of John's writing. This will be a regular (weekly or bi-weekly) feature on our blog tagged "John's Thoughts", hope you enjoy!

Thought on our Limitations : by John Madsen

Years ago, when I first sought help with depression, my therapist gave me a list of suggestions that would help people get out of ruts - one was "talk to a pet" . We have a black lab mix named Gus. He came to us as a young abandoned animal. Per his Lab genetics, and his own doggy trauma, he was very high-strung, but intensely eager to please, and took his responsibilities as a guardian seriously. Sadly, I used these as fodder for teasing him. When I read the "talk to a pet" instruction, he was about five, and settling down somewhat. I sat on the floor in front of him, and thanked him for being such a good dog. I thanked him for watching over us so carefully, and that we knew he'd be willing to accept harm to protect us. He sat before me, his eyes locked on mine. I apologized for having teased him, and found myself admitting that I had been less of a friend to him than he had been to me.

I became aware that this inarticulate creature was being supportive of me, in the only way he knew how, as I unburdened myself to him, acknowledged my flaws of character, and formed a resolution to change.

Humans often identify the structure of skills that are cumulatively known as “language” as being a primary evidence of our superiority to other species. Yet behavioral psychologists uniformly agree that many animals behave in ways that have no other explanation than genuine altruism. In plain words, mute creatures form bonds of love, act selflessly, live in service to a larger group; all without language and other social skills by which we humans identify and arbitrate our concept of self.

While we are amazed by our own abilities to construct, to measure, to transport and to learn, even the grandest of our imaginations of time and space extends to only only a fraction of physical creation. Every night we can witness incredible formations of matter and space wheeling around us with surgical precision and silent grace; mute, but eloquent is sheer Being.

When I am physically still, I move at the speed of the surface of the earth – about 12,000 miles an hour. No motion I can make of my own volition even registers on that scale. When I say nothing, That Voice still echoes among the galaxies.

So I’m gonna take a break from thinking, sit still, and shut up.

CONTEST

This is our first contest and we are gonna make it a good one. Here is how YOU and a Friend can EACH win a pendant/necklace of your choice. Become a fan of our Facebook page and post entries here
Rules are simple ...

First if you are not a FAN that would be first, become a fan of Dylan Blue on Facebook. Then get a friend to become a FAN of Dylan Blue page here and you and the friend you get to join get an entry into the contest. After you get your friend to become a FAN, come back to this thread and put your name and the friend's name that you got to join. EACH friend is an entry and you can enter AS many times as you want by simply inviting more people
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The contest will end Sunday August 23 and the WINNERS will be announce HERE on this page on Monday August 24th.
The winners will be able to have there pick out of our shop http://dylanblue.etsy.com
That is it...easy peasy....

*an easy way to invite people it to go to our main page (top of this page "back to Dylan Blue") then under our profile pic there is a menu, if you drop that down there will be the option "suggest to friends" and then pick who you want to send it too, or you can use the "SHARE" at the bottom left corner of our main page. MAKE sure that your friends let you know when they join so you can come back an post both your names to get your entry. PLEASE make a NEW entry for each friend that becomes a fan...not list 4 friends in one post.
Hope y'all are as excited as we are

I want to give credit where credit is due. I found this contest on Dalkullan Jewelry's Facebook page, where Heather is have the same type contest for a great pair of her signature "Lifesaver Earrings" for the winner and their friend. Find the contest here, find Dalkullan Jewelry on etsy and her blog. Not only is she super sweet, her jewelry is beautiful. That is what we are about here a Dylan Blue, making great friends along the way...and we are proud to call Heather one! Thanks Heather! Y'all go check out her contest, shop and blog~ her talent will brighten you day.