December has arrived but I'm still lagging (more like procrastinating) in adding anything new to this blog. But I shall. Eventually. Maybe this weekend if my writer's block goes away.

My Halloween Miniature Decor For 2009

My Halloween-themed miniatures for this year...a pair of bat-winged skeletons wearing gourd hats, and sitting on top of large pumpkins :)


Great model horse prop, or fab outdoor decor for a dollhouse.

Currently for sale in my Etsy shop: http://www.goldenunicornminis.etsy.com

Happy Birthday to the Dolls & Miniatures Category on Etsy

Happy Birthday to us
Happy Birthday to us
Happy Birthday dear DAMs
Happy Birthday to us!!!

Hurray! The Dolls and Miniatures Category on Etsy are officially one year old today!

My thanks and kudos to my fellow Campaigners for their hard work and determination during the many (official) months of frustration in getting us our own category:
MikeRowe; BlueKittyMiniatures; turningsin; dalesdreams; BassomBear; Wanderinon; FairyGarden; LilWitchy; Kibbles; WhimsyCottageMinis; Faedriana; SandyCopeland; PolkadotToadstool; AngelaMichelleDolls; BerryBlueCreations; LoopyBoopy; Traighmor; mostlyart; PetitPlat; ladyartisandolls; pumpkinhau; knotbygranma; dollsetc; Jemjoop; jellybeanjunction; warpedandwonderful; PJJammers; kyeliza; faeryspellcreations

Thanks also to all those Etsians who are not miniaturists nor doll artists but who helped us along the way:
schOOLLOcker; eclipse; quirke; sherrytruitt; GreenMamba; jenstitches; foxaz; DesignedByLucinda; craftdiner; antb

(I know there are more but memory fails me at this point so forgive if I faied to mention your name)

More thanks go to each of the 711 folks who signed our petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/add-a-dolls-category-on-Etsy

And, a very special thank you to one member who began this 'good fight' along with me back in 2006...Kibbles.

Yup, it took almost 3 years for Etsy to grant our request.

And, finally, Thank you, Etsy!

Flower Of The Month For October...The Calendula aka Marigold

Marigolds

by Robert Graves

...Look: the constant marigold

Springs again from hidden roots.

Baffled gardener, you behold

New beginnings and new shoots

Spring again from hidden roots.

Pull or stab or cut or burn,

They will ever yet return...

October's Flower, the Calendula, is said to have originated in Egypt, and is a member of the marigold family. Its Latin name, calendula, derives from the Latin word calendae (kalendae) "the first day of the month". Calendula also translates as "a little calendar" or "little clock". The name was appropriate since the flower bloomed throughout the entire calendar year and provided monastery gardens and altars with a constant supply of golden blooms.

Calundela afficinalis valued for its medicinal and culinary properties. The word officinalis means "medicinal" and the Latin word calendae means "throughout the months" meaning that the plant flowers for many months. It's colors are yellow and orange. It's common names include: Pot Marigold; Summer's Bride'; Husbandman's Dial; Mary's Gold; Souci; Marybud; Bulls eye; Garden marigold; and Holligold.

Calendula has been used to treat ulcers and other illnesses. It was used during the Civil War to help stop bleeding and help speed the healing of wounds. The Romans used Calendulaas a remedy for insect bites and stings. During the 1600’s it was highly regarded as a remedy for smallpox and measles and has been used as symbol of constancy in love as a flower for weddings or in love potions. Calendula is known for it spasmolytic, mild diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antihaemorrhagic, astringent, vulnerary, antifungal, antiseptic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, menstrual regulator, antioxidant, antiviral, and mild antibacterial properties.

Some of the legends and folklore of the Calendula/Marigold:

*Eating Calendula was thought to make one see fairies, be easily induced to sleep, or to feel more amorous.

*During the nineteenth century the marigold, which represents the shining sun, became a symbol of life, yet, its strange smell caused it to be planted in graveyards as well.

*During the Victorian era these flowers meant "My thoughts are with you", i.e., symbolizing sorrow and sympathy .

*Dreaming of marigolds was indicative of future prosperity and riches

*Early Christians called the Calendula ~Mary's Gold~ and placed them by the statues of the virgin Mary.

*Considered to be one of the most sacred herbs of ancient India, it is still used in temples and weddings. The blossoms were strung into garlands and placed them around the necks of the gods.

Well, I thought I'd be able to get back to making minis by October 1st but that is going to have to be delayed for another couple weeks. At least I am hopeing it will only be a couple more weeks but actually it may be another full month or more. *Sigh*

Major back surgery means no bending, lifting, twisting for quite a while (it's difficult getting in and out of bed and also a car), and I didn't realize those ramifications came along with the recouperation period. My problem is that 98% of my supplies are in file-type boxes, some of which are heavy, and all of which are stacked 6 high one atop the other from the ground up.

I need a robot to fetch my supplies :) Anyone have one I can borrow for a while?

I'll probably be re-activating my shops on the different sales venues sometime this week or next. I do have a few minis I managed to finish right before the surgery, so there will be some new items for sale definitely in my Etsy shop.

But...I can sit and work on computer stuff so maybe this blog of mine and perhaps my website will see a little more activity than normal :)

Big "Thanks!" to everyone who has wished me a quick healing period.

Due to everyday life things, I am going "inactive" and have placed my shops/galleries/blog/twitter in vacation mode until probably the end of this month.

May your September bring you happiness and peace!

See you next month :)

Flower Of The Month For September...The Aster

Wild Asters
by Sara Teasdale
"In the spring I asked the daisies

If his words were true,

And the clever, clear-eyed daisies

Always knew.

Now the fields are brown and barren,

Bitter autumn blows,

And of all the stupid Asters

Not one knows."

September's Flower, the Aster, is botanically named Aster, which literally means star. The association with stars, clearly references the flower’s shape. Asters are sometimes called the Michaelmas Daisy because their blooms coincide with the feast of St Michael.

Asters generally bloom in late Summer and early Autumn, and produce large clusters of delicate daisy-like flowers in white, purple, lavender, blue, pink or red. Alpine Aster blooms in May and June and usually bears one-and-one-half inch, violet flowers. The most popular variety is the New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae). You will often see native Aster varieties growing wild in almost any environment from the tropics to the coldest regions of the north, in habitats ranging from extremely arid deserts to bogs. Cultivated Aster plants range in height from a few inches to four feet.

The Aster is also known as Starwort. 'Wort' refers to the root and was used in ancient times to indicate a plant with healing properties. A number of Asters worldwide have been used historically as medicines and in a few cases as food. Asters belong to the Compositae family of which there are a great number in herbalism (ie. echinacea, boneset, etc) In Chinese medicine it is: A. tartaricus that is chiefly used and, other than in Chinese medicine, Asters are not used today.

Some of the legends and folklore of the Aster:

*When humans began to become more and more corrupt, Astraea, the Greek Goddess of Innocence left earth to dwell in the heavens as the constellation Virgo. Eventually, even Zeus became tired of the corruptness of humanity and created a flood to cover the entire earth except for the top of Mt Parnassus. Two humans, Deucalian and Pyrrha survived the flood on top of Parnassus. However, after the flood receded they wandered the earth lost and alone. Astraea took pity on them and created starlight to guide them. As she wept from pity, her tears landed on earth and formed the star-like flower, the aster.

*Asters symbolize love, daintiness, and affection.

*Astrologers regard it as an herb of Venus. It is used in love divinations in many countries.

*Asters were burned by the Greeks to drive away serpents. The Romans dressed up altars to the gods with wreaths of aster blossoms.

*The Chippewa Indians smoked the dried, powdered root of an aster species to attract game.

*In some Native American tribes, asters are associated with Bear, the most powerful of all mystical beings. According to some legends, Bear gave mankind a particularly powerful medicine, the aster root. It is named for Bear - Bear Root or Bear Medicine - and is regarded as being the next best thing to a panacea.

*In China, according to the Feng Su Chi, the people of Li lived well past the 100 years because the water they drank was flavored by the asters growing up in the surrounding hills.