Cabin Fever

We had a little unseasonably warm weather last week, but there's nothing like the month of March to remind you that the title Spring Equinox has no impact on the actual weather where I live. It was disappointing to see a dusting of snow this morning and the prediction of single digit low temperatures on my weekend off from work. I did not get much snowshoeing in this winter, as most of the snow hit farther south. Needless to say, I'm starting to feel cooped up and I can't wait to get outside for some hiking!

The local bike path is clear of snow and Sister and I took our bikes out after I got out of work last weekend, thanks to the Daylight Savings time change. The canal seemed unusually low for this time of year and the waterfalls at the Five Combines were a little weak, but it did feel great to get on the bike again.


I hope to get at least five high peaks between late spring and mid-autumn, and we're looking at the possibility of at least a ladies only camping trip. I intend to ride my bike locally whenever possible - thank you Google Maps for the bike route options now!

I leave you now with a new listing, Earth. It's a nice spring through fall piece, perhaps something for Earth Day, or to wear when you are at work, when you'd rather be outside. As the toggle clasp says, "Peace begins with a Smile."

Conspiracy Theory Jewelry

I'm not going to lie... I bought a six pack of beer a few months ago because I thought the caps were pretty. Perhaps I was a victim of a marketing ploy, perhaps it was artistic destiny. Either way, one Google search lead to another and I got a brief history lesson, and enjoyed some good beer!

Cool bottles, can you blame me for buying it?

The fancy purple caps, as well as the decorative bottles, featured the Eye of Providence, which is the symbol found on the back of the US one-dollar bill and the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States. The Latin phrase underneath the symbol reads "Novus Ordo Seclorum," meaning "New Order of the Ages." However, the phrase has been mistranslated by conspiracy theorists as meaning "New World Order," and some misinterpret the eye and pyramid as a Masonic symbol of the Illuminati.


Originally, the Illuminati referred to the Enlightenment-era secret society group founded in 1776, known as the Bavarian Illuminati. The movement was founded by Professor Adam Weishaupt and was made up of freethinkers. Today, it refers to a conspiratorial organization controlling today's affairs through government and corporations, often used in reference to the New World Order, or an autonomous world government. Some proposed methods of a shift towards New World Order include the use of Social Security Numbers, barcoded UPC codes, and microchip implants.

So why did I incorporate Benjamin Franklin into this piece?

Freemason Conspiracy

Some conspiracy theorists believe that Freemasons conspired to create this New World Order, and that some of our nation's founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, had included Masonic symbols into American society, such as in the Great Seal.

The Eye of Providence symbolizes the all-seeing eye of God, the eye resting on an unfinished pyramid of 13 steps, representing the original 13 states. The Roman numerals representing the year 1776 are on the bottom step. The Masonic Eye of Providence is typically enclosed in a triangle and has a semi-circular glory below the eye. It does not involve a pyramid, however, the triangle is often interpreted as one. It was designed 14 years after the Eye of Providence on the seal, despite claims that the Masons incorporated the design into the Great Seal of the United States. Furthermore, only one of the three designers of the seal was a Mason - Benjamin Franklin.


I made another pendant with this interesting bottle cap. Going along with the pyramid theme, I used Sphinx scrapbook paper:

Sphinx

Shamrockin'

On this St. Patrick's Day will you be celebrating your Irish heritage? Or are you going to enjoy being "Irish" for just one day? Either way, I have a few new pieces this year for you to check out.

These green and gold Shamrock Earrings on gold filled ear wire and head pins are light weight. The green shamrock beads sit between textured gold colored glass beads.

Shamrock Earrings

Caps from Guinness beer bottles were recycled into a Glittering Green Shamrock Pendant and a Shamrock Love Pendant. Both pendants come with a complimentary ball chain.

Glittering Green Shamrock Pendant


Shamrock Love