Angie's World

Early Fall morning in the Bitterroot Valley

2010-10-23T12:58:00.000-06:00

I awoke, one morning, to a glorious sight. The fog had settled onto the floor of the Bitterroot Valley. My back yard was bathed in a fine mist and the sun was just beginning to rise above the eastern mountain range.

I love mornings like this...all is peaceful and quiet. It makes you appreciate the wonder of nature all the more.

A Gift From The Heavens

2010-08-10T08:59:00.002-06:00

Walk on a rainbow trail; walk on a trail of song, and all about you will be beauty.
There is a way out of every dark mist, over a rainbow trail.
- Navajo Song

Early this morning as the sun was rising from the east, I looked out at the storm slowly approaching over St Mary's Peak located in the Bitterroot Mountains. As I was watching the storm and the lightening, I was lucky enough to see two rainbows form right before my eyes. It was an amazing experience.

Ahh, Big Sky Country, there's nothing like it.

2010-08-02T11:48:00.001-06:00

We have had some rather unusual weather this year. From our long and rainy Spring to the recent thunderstoms this summer. I just love the weather here in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. You never know what you're going to get.

Backyard Splendor

2010-07-16T16:28:00.000-06:00

Every now and then the clouds roll in and create a truly unique photogaphing opportunity right from my back yard. This was one of those times. A huge cloud bank had fromed just below Saint Mary's Mountain in the Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana.

I love Montana

2010-07-16T14:55:00.000-06:00

I have seen much and been many places but I have to honestly say that Montana has to be my favorite place of all. I want to share this photo with you. It was taken by Josh Schutz in the Mission Mountains near Ronan just north of where I live. This photo depicts western Montana at it's finest. The majesty of the Mission Mountains, the old barn which was falling apart and the community restored it, the freshly rolled hay in the field and of course the 'Big Sky' under which it all sits. Just beautiful. I am honored to live in such a beautiful place.

2010-02-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

I can't wait for winter to be over and enjoy our beautiful Summer sunsets....

New Supplies Listings

2009-12-27T21:01:00.002-07:00

I have started sculpting snakes and listing them as supplies in my Etsy shop. They can be used to create your own works of art. Each one is a OOAK, signed and dated.

A Bubblegum Corn Snake

2009-11-16T18:59:00.002-07:00

This little guy was a special order for a special little girl named Olivia. Her mom had seen my Green Tree Snake listing in my Etsy shop and contacted me with some pictures of Olivia's corn snake... I was very pleased with my creation. Apparently she liked it too because I shipped it out today.
It was a fun project to do. Olivia, I hope you love it!

Time to go to work!

2009-08-24T18:50:00.006-06:00

With the holiday season fast approaching, it is time for this lazy artist to go to work creating some unique jewels. I plan on designing some larger, deep colored and bold pieces for fall and winter fashion. The new fasion trends call for bold! Most importantly it calls for unique which is my trademark. Each one of my designs are one of a kind and they are signed and dated on the back. Since each piece of jewelry is made by hand, no two are ever alike. New Fall and winter jewels will appear in my Etsy shop after the Labor Day weekend is over. I invite you to visit often to see the new Jewelry accessories as I list them.

Riley

2009-08-08T19:14:00.001-06:00

Of course, Ethan's sister, Riley, is always a little lady!

Super Agent E 10 (Ethan)

2009-08-08T19:11:00.002-06:00

Ethan seems to never have a clean face! The boy certainly loves his food!

Etsy

2009-07-18T07:08:00.004-06:00

Even though sales have been slow, people are still browsing my Etsy shop but it seems like they are spending less. I have some new lower priced items that I've just listed in the hopes that sales will pick up a little. I've been working with memory wire which makes some very easy to wear summer jewelry...just pop it on and pull it off! There are many different styles for every outfit. I can also make custom color combinations. Just contact me through the convo link at my shop.

Plums

2009-07-11T07:05:00.003-06:00

The plums are delightfully sweet and juicy this year, as demonstrated in this image of my grandson, super agent E10 (Ethan). Wouldn't it be wonderful to not have to grow up, able to be child like all your life, to not care about making a mess, to play in mud puddles and get caked with the brown muck, to eat a chocolate ice cream cone and have a mustache, to eat a piece of juicy fruit and look like you've really enjoyed it. Is it not wonderful to be a grandmother and send your grandchild home looking like he really enjoyed the day?

New Earthly Pendants Line

2009-06-10T14:43:00.003-06:00

I can't seem to stop experimenting with my polymer clay. A while ago, I got hooked on cracked glass marbles and I've been obsessed with round things ever since. I decided, quite by accident, that I would make a line of "Planets" as pendants. Well I mixed up a bunch of a golden tan polymer clay and then I add all the earthly colors ... blue, brown, a touch of green to outside of the unbaked base color and blend it in gently with my fingers while rolling it after each application to view what I have and how much more it needs. I then apply paper thin pieces of white for the clouds, and blend that in. I then bake them, glaze them and add the hand made gold spriral wire setting. It's quite a process but I think they turned out beautiful. I have just listed them in my Etsy store and there are more to come. The second pendant can be seen in this Etsy listing. What a great way to show concern for our Planet, I thought.

Marbles

2009-05-23T07:12:00.005-06:00

I came across this beautiful fractured marble at my local bead shop a couple of weeks ago. I found out that they are wonderful when strung onto memory wire because the memory wire makes them sit in the natural hollow of the neck.
I have put this blue one on silver plated memory wire with silver plated and glass beads. It will fit up to a 19 inch neck. You can see more of it in my Etsy store, where you will find some of my other new memory wire listings. Enjoy...

Words To Live By

2009-05-15T10:29:00.002-06:00

Handle every stressful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or play with it,
pee on it and walk away.

Spring is finally here

2009-04-11T07:44:00.004-06:00

I think Sring has finally arrived in Western Montana. It is still cold at night, in the low to upper 20's, but it warms up in the afternoon to the 50's and 60's. The grass is finally throwing off new green shoots and the horses are just loving it. They jump, run and play as if they too, are celebrating the arrival of Spring. My resident Magpies are busy renovating last year's nests. They have nested in the same tree, just outside my window, for the last 8 years. They usually have 3 to 4 offspring every year and I am looking forward to seeing the new babies. They seem to trust me enough by now to let me help them look after the new ones.
Easter is tomorrow. Where has the last month gone? It will be a wunderful day. The grandchildren, Riley and Ethan, will be here and I can't wait to see the look on their little faces when I give them each their giant, soft and fluffy, stuffed bunny.
Happy holidays to all. Be safe and enjoy one another's company.

Steampunk Airship

2009-03-09T13:47:00.006-06:00

Steampunk fascinates me! I was totally engrossed in the movies 'The league of Extraordinary Gentlemen' and 'Skycaptain and the World of Tomorrow'. If you have not seen these movies, they are worth watching. I find the whole 19th century, industrial revolution genre quite addicting. I have just discoverd a lot of Steampunk in the game Final Fantasy too. Very interesting.....anyway, here is a little sculpture that I created this weekend of a Steampunk Airship. All I can say is that I had a blast making it. It is for sale in my Etsy store if you would like to see more pictures or purchase it. It is a signed and dated one of a kind.

The Encounter

2009-03-08T07:54:00.010-06:00

While walking through the forest
On a beautiful Spring day
I came upon a meadow
I believe it was in May.

The wildflowers were blooming
The colors so vivid and bright
I was hoplessly enchanted
I stayed far into the night.

I couldn't help but wonder
How this meadow could be so lush
When I heard a sound a'stirring
In the thick underbrush.

I sat there very quiet
When much to my surprise
A little Gnome came forward
The moon twinkling in his eyes.

He carried a rake and shovel
The tools of his trade
He went to work very quickly
And what a commotion he made.

He snipped and he clipped
Made each blade of grass stand tall
Then he slowly stepped back
And admired it all.

He looked up at the sky
And suddenly there came
A small, dark cloud
And it began to rain.

The rain was a soft mist
Just a very gentle shower
So as not to harm the petals
On even a single flower.

Suddenly, he looked over
And saw me sitting there
He smiled and winked at me
Showing no fear or care.

He walked around again
This time without a rush
When all of a sudden
He disappeared into the brush.

I awoke the next morning
Not believing what I had seen
For I was fairly certain
This had all just been a dream.

I started to rise
It was time to go home
T'was then I saw the sign
It read,'Planted by a Gnome'.

Angelika Joy

Copyright 2006

It's A Boy

2009-02-23T08:40:00.004-07:00

Little Dragon Whelps peeking out of their egg is my newest addition to my Dragon Eggs. I started making dragon eggs a couple of weeks ago for my grandkids and I've had so much fun making them that I now can't stop. This little green guy is a special order for a client, should she decide to adopt him and the orange one is in my shop. There will be more to come in my Etsy shop. Next...packaging...what will they live in?

Some Fun Stuff

2009-02-16T12:46:00.005-07:00

Dragon's Eggs...fun stuff to sculpt! I have decided to do more sculpture to feature in my Etsy shop . I have been working on some Dragon Eggs which my grandkids just love. They are totally mystified that Nana has 'real' Dragon Eggs. These eggs are solid polymer clay, embellished with little seed beads, hand applied scales and eyes or crystals. This has been a fun project.

Adjusting to the Times

2009-02-08T05:38:00.006-07:00

I am, by no means, an economist nor do I know what needs to be done to fix these trying times in which we live. I do, however, know that my values revolve around my family, friends and the local economy in which I live and work. For me, plasic has become cash, handmade has become my choice over mass produced and American made has become my choice over imported. Etsy is a wonderful source of handmade products for home and gift giving. This Valentine's Day, Easter, birthdays and any gift giving, will be done by supporting the artisans on Etsy and locally in my community. For a vacation this year, I plan on visiting a local resort. I live in Western Montana and have never been to Glacier National Park or Custer's Battlefield National Park, both of which are within driving distance for me. How sad is that. I would like to encourage everyone to look around, it's amazing what you can find that you never knew existed or took for granted. I believe that fixing the World begins with fixing ourselves first and eventually, everything will trickle up. For my family, this is the year of local discovery.

I Give You My Heart

2009-01-19T16:20:00.003-07:00

Here's a new Luvy Bug...Each section of this little worm is pegged and glued. He holds a bright red heart in his little arms which is removable. You can find him in my Etsy store.

Luvy Bugs

2009-01-13T17:28:00.008-07:00

Time for something new...

I sat down today and started playing with some red polymer clay and came up with my first 'Luvy Bug'. I just love this little guy and there will be more to come in different colors and different types of bugs but they will all be based on a heart shape somewhere. I am so excited...I hope you like them to. A little whimsey and color! You can find him for sale in my etsy shop.

Mountain Storm

2008-12-29T18:15:00.003-07:00

Here it comes...a picture of a snow storm rolling in over St. Mary's Peak in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.

A Wonderful Montana Holiday

2008-12-25T18:26:00.015-07:00

Another Christmas day comes to a close. It was a wonderful holiday. Once again the family was together and the food and festivities were a success even though the long list of gifts from last year had to be cut in half this year. I can honestly say that we enjoyed this years giving more than the last. We found ourselves delighted with the handmade gifts that we shared. Simple things like knitted potholders, recipe boxes complete with recipes for the young cook, handmade 2008 Keepsake Christmas tree ornaments for the kids, hand knit sweaters, polymer clay keepsake boxes and lots of grandmother's home made brownies and cookies. Grandpa made sure the room was nice and warm by tending the fire in our little wood stove while the snowflakes danced past the windows outside. There was popcorn, candy canes, chocolate Santas, spiced cider, cheesecake in a multitude of flavors, hot chocolate with marshmallows all served after a scrumptiously moist ham and pork roast dinner with all the fixings.
Outside, the deer and some pheasants were nibbling under the birdfeeders while the snow created a beautiful white blanket covering the Rocky Mountain tops and the pastures and meadows. It was a beautiful sight to behold making us all thankful for the things we hold dear.

An Accidental Beauty

2008-11-13T16:05:00.006-07:00

Sometimes when I mix my polymer clay colors, a very pretty accident happens as I run the clay through my pasta machine. While working on some of my wishboxes, I found myself with a bunch of leftover clay. I gathered it up and just randomly stuck it together. I decided to blend it and ran it through my pasta machine a few times and came up with a very unique, warm and bronzed looking color combination. I trimmed some rough edges and voila' a beauty appeared! I added a simple coiled bail made from gold wire and strung the pendant using some beads that I had laying around. I then made some simple beaded wire earrings that I formed from the same gold wire as the bail...here is the end product. It will be available in my Etsy store this weekend. You can go there by clicking on any of my jewelry pictures or my Etsy link tab.

My Polymer Clay News

2008-10-27T17:37:00.003-06:00

A new experiment in polymer clay sculpting has turned out well for me. I started making little wish/keepsake boxes and included a gold tied scroll inside them (to write your wish on) and I am very happy with the way that they have turned out. The oval ones are a whole lot easier to make than the square ones though. The main cylinder is actually one piece simple while the square takes four seperate pieces to match, bake and then fit together. You can see them all in my Etsy store at www.ajoydesigns.etsy.com. There are some pictures here too. Hope you enjoy them. Each one is unique, signed and dated.

Why Nana Hasn't Written Sooner

2008-09-19T07:43:00.003-06:00

Dear Riley,

I am so sorry that I haven't written to you sooner but I have been away on a quest.

Three weeks ago, Uncle Mick was mowing the lawn on Pappa's riding mower when all of a sudden it stalled right in the middle of a fairy circle. Uncle Mick tried to jump off right away but it was too late. He disppeared right before my eyes...POOF and he was gone. I tried to hold on to him but the force was too strong. I immediately ran as fast as I could and grabbed my magic bag, the sword of inches and my invisible cape and jumped into the hole in the circle to try and rescue Uncle Mick.

To my surprise, I found that the fairy circle tunnels were very different. Instead of turning in smooth spirals they were whipping around and around. There was lightening, dark clouds and a green mist was floating everywhere. Every exit that I went to was blocked and the pressure was building to an explosive level. I could feel the tunnels shaking and the walls were stretched and creaking. I knew right away that something evil was happening underground. I slipped on my invisible cape and set out to find Uncle Mick. I knew that without his magic things, he could not survive for long.

I traveled the tunnels for three days and not a sign of Uncle Mick. I feared the worst. I was sure that something had eaten him but on the next day, I found Pappa's riding lawn mower and there was a note on it from Uncle Mick. He told me that he had to leave there in a hurry because there was a large band of Schnorkels hunting him. He told me that he would try to make his way to the Golden Gates of Atlantis where he would go to capture the Schnorkle king. He feared that the Schnorkle king must have escaped from the dungeon that we had put him in three hundred years ago and he knew that the king had to be captured and put back into the dungeon.

I knew that Uncle Mick's quest was going to be very hard so I put a spell on the Sword of Inches and turned it into the Sword of Wings. I covered myself and the Sword of Wings with the invisible cape and I flew like the wind towards the Golden Gates of Atlantis.

After three more days of flying, I finally reached the Golden Gates. I was surprised to find them closed but just as I looked up, there, standing on top of the middle gate was Uncle Mick. He motioned to me to hurry, so I flew up and as I was going over, I grabbed onto Uncle Mick and we both flew down the other side to safety.

We searched all of Atlantis for the next three days but could not find the King of the Schnorkels. We were just about to give up when we saw a giant Pheonix and sure enough, the King of the Schnorkles was trying to fly away on it. Uncle Mick and I got back on to the Sword of Wings and flew three thousand feet up into the sky to do battle with him. We flew very fast and as we were catching up to him, I handed Uncle Mick my magic bag. Luckily, I had packed my fireballs. As we got even closer, I made a sharp turn and Uncle Mick threw three fireballs at him. They were all a direct hit! The Phoenix began to fall down, down, down, until he hit the ground with a great thud. We followed it down in a very steep dive, three hundred feet downward every three seconds, and when we reached the ground, we found that the King of the Schnorkels had been knocked out in the crash.

Well, to make a long story short, we tied him up with my magic rope and put him back into the dungeon in Atlantis. The giant Phoenix was ok, he had just hurt his tail and wings. I put a spell on him to guard the King of the Schnorkles and never let him escape again.

The fairy tunnels are now back to normal and Uncle Mick and I made it back safely. We even managed to save Pappa's riding mower. Of course, the puppies were very happy to see us and they jumped and barked and licked our faces when we came home. And, Pappa was very happy that we saved his riding lawn mower too.

Love,
Nana

2008-08-31T20:02:00.003-06:00

Paradise

My little island
Surrounded by sapphire seas,
A warm tropical breeze blowing
All is serene and at ease.

A lounge chair and umbrella
On a beach of white silky sand.
Listening to the sounds
Of a distant steel drum band.

A tropical drink
Flavored with coconut and rum,
And a deeply browned body
Absorbing the hot island sun.

I have found my paradise
And I wish I could stay,
I must return to reality
But I will come back another day.

Angelika Joy
July 2007 ©

Photo credit goes to...Paradise by s2... at deviantArt.com.

2008-08-30T07:13:00.006-06:00

My Star

A star that shines
In the sky so bright
A star to watch over me
Through the long dark night.

Oh beautiful star
Shining brightly above
Please fill my dreams
With hope and love.

As the Earth revolves
So follows the night
That every creature on Earth
May share your bright light.

And just remember…

For every star that twinkles
On a clear winter’s night
A soul has gone to heaven
And now shines bright.

A. Joy
©2006

Picture credit goes to Wallace for this digital art called 'light2:Star Kiss' from http://www.deviantART.com

2008-08-29T19:08:00.005-06:00

In your Memory

I will love thee
All my days,
I will love thee
In so many ways.
I will love thee
When I am left alone.
I will love thee
When your memory is all I own.

I will think of thee
When I am overcome with fear,
I will think of thee
And you will be near.
I will think of thee
Just after I awake,
I will think of thee
Until the last breath I take.

I will be with thee
When my time is at end,
I will be with thee
My love, my friend.
I will be with thee
No longer we’ll be apart
I will be with thee
Once again, heart to heart.

Angelika. Joy
©2006

The picture credit entitled ' You Know Why' goes to hearthy from http://www.deviantART.com

2008-08-29T18:54:00.006-06:00

Believe Me When I Tell You…

Life is funny
The directions we choose
Some being wealth and fortune
Others you loose.

With an open mind
Examine your heart and soul,
The things most important to you
Are your ultimate goal.

Many paths lie before you
And the directions may not be clear,
Hold on to what you believe
And the things you hold dear.

Family and friends
And the necessities of living,
Don’t forget the rewards
Of sharing and giving.

In youth define your goal
Work hard, be a bit of a miser,
For you’ll appreciate the rewards
When you’re older and wiser.

Living in the past
Serves you no purpose
Invest wisely in your future
Make your investments diversive.

Now sit yourself down
And decide your fate
No matter how old
It’s never too late.

Angelika Joy
© June 2005

Credit for the picture entitled 'Another Place' goes to mamazmeilor at http://www.deviantART.com

2008-08-28T21:13:00.008-06:00

A Moment in Time

Shadows cast upon the land
The land of winter’s snow,
Shadows cast long and deep
From a gentle full moon’s glow.

Peaceful and quiet
The Earth is at rest,
I am on this Earth
Just a short term guest.

My life is but a minute
Between the future and the past,
It will vanish just as quickly
As the shadows the moon has cast.

Angelika Joy

© 2007

Credit for the picture entitled 'Sleepless Nights' goes to skybase at http:www.deviantART.com

What?

2008-08-27T09:53:00.002-06:00

The problem with doing nothing is that you don't know when you are done.

A Long Trip

2008-02-02T13:42:00.005-07:00

A Long Trip

Anything had to be better
Than this place for me,
So I traveled the world
By land, air and sea.

Europe was beautiful
It’s castles, it’s people, it’s charm,
But something was still missing
So I had to move on.

Africa and Asia
Much beauty surrounded by hunger and strife,
Australia and South America
Wide open spaces, a lonely life.

Then one day I realized
Sitting and thinking all alone,
Time to pack my bags
And find the shortest road home.

Shortly after my return
To my little home town,
I knew this was the place
Where I would settle down.

I will visit other places
Both far and near,
But never again will I leave
The place, that my heart holds dear.

Angelika Joy

2005

Picture credit goes to myself...My backyard

Buy Handmade

2008-02-02T08:02:00.001-07:00

There are many talented and creative people in the world who make a living from their art and writing. I have a shop called ajoydesigns on a wonderful website, www.etsy.com. This website features artisans from all over the world. Praise to the creators of Etsy who have given us an affordable place to set up shop and sell our creations. On Etsy you can find just about anything that you are looking for, from the ordinary to the most exquisite and extreme in all price ranges.

Please go and visit my store at http://ajoydesigns.etsy.com and from there I urge you to explore the whole site. You will be delighted in what you find.