Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Tuesday Talent: Fall is in the Air

Fall... ahhhhh my absolute favorite season.

The wind rustles the half dried leaves in thier stunning array of deep earthy hues.

Red, orange, yellow and brown running down the street, laughing; like a child at play.

Complete beauty as mother earth goes inward and let's go of the old to make room for the new.

The smell of leaves on the forest floor, cinnamon and nutmeg, pumpkin picking (did I ever tell you how much I LOVE pumpkin?), late night bonfires, stainless steel mugs of hot cocoa on the trail, adorable trick or treaters, classic cable knit sweaters, and cozying up. :)

Now how could you not love fall?

Two Tone Leaf


HALF OFF -- Trillian Falls 5x7 Print




Hearts Afire - 8x10 Fine Art Photograph


Autumn Repose No. 2 - Wolf in Fall Leaves - Fine Art Photograph Matted to 11x14


Autumn Leaf Pendant


Giant Tree with Falling Leaves - Vinyl Wall Decals - Your Choice of Color


Leafy Vine Long Sleeve V Neck


Autumn leaves Necklace


ON SALE - The Road Home - 8 x 10


Maples in Fall Scarf


Simply Strapless Top - Cashmere Blend


Curious Print 8X10 FREE Shipping


The Texture of Fall

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Tuesday's Talent: Wired Up and Ready to Heal

Last week I had a custom order with a beautiful soul. Everything about her request just filled me with joy. As I worked I felt like a child on thier way to a long awaited trip to disney world. Excitement and anticipation of the final result mixed with smiles and awe of the natural beauty the stones emit made me feel like I was overflowing with love. These are the best of days. It is so fullfilling to work in harmony with Mother Earth's gifts to help another in thier well-being.

This week I have featured a bunch of shops who also value the healing properties of stones, metals, and all of Mother Earth's gifts. I hope you enjoy the beauty of these pieces and feel inspired to connect a little deeper with the abundance of natural healing our Earth Mother gives to us. Wishing you many blessings and tons of smiles, Kat


ONE OF A KIND CHAKRA STONES and ROSE QUARTZ PENDULUM (RUMMAGE SALE)


Natural quartz points with quartz, purple fluorite and sterling beads, earrings, jewelry


Sunstone 14kt Gold Wire Pendant


Calypso Carnelian Calla-Lilly Earrings


Original Philip Crow Silver Wire Wrap Talisman Pendant - Pietersite


MOSS AGATE UNIQUELY WIRE WRAPPED WITH MOSS AGATE BEADS, PENDANT


SPRING


AMETHYST SCEPTER CRYSTAL IN SPECIMEN BOX


Stars and Sky Natural Turquoise Beadwoven Pendant and Earring Set


Leaves In the Sky Necklace


Heart is a Brain Spinel and Kyanite Pendant


Autumn Leaf Prayer Beads


Stone Energy Bag Series

Monday, August 11, 2008

Blanca and Carmine visit The Mango Tree

Sensual Belly Dance
workshop with Blanca
November 8, 2008
Price: $40 before 11/7, $50 at the door


Mango Tree Fitness Center Presents:


In belly dance, sensuality has always been one of the most highly prized qualities. Sensuality (your enjoyment of the world and your own physicality as perceived by your senses) is not a special talent or skill—it is present in all of us. In this workshop you will learn how to discover it inside of you and translate it from an internal state to an expressive, easy-to-understand language of dance movement.

In this workshop you will learn:
- Tips and techniques to make your dance more connected and expressive
- A series of poses and gestures that express the femininity that belly dance is all about
- A choreography to apply your new skills


CLASS BREAKDOWN:
1:45 registration
2:00 - 3:00 Warm up / Steps / Arm and Hand Work / Travel Steps
3:00 - 3:30 Poses and Gestures / Shimmies
(15-min Break)
3:45 - 5:15 Choreography / Magic


Hello Everyone!

I am proud to present two more workshops this fall that are focused to improve your dance. Blanca is another teacher of mine that I currently study with. I am also selling some of her instructional and performance DVD's as well as Carmine's instructional DVD and music CD's at the studio (if you want to get a taste of them). I will be hosting a hafla after each workshop so if you are interested in performing, please let me know. Below are Blanca and Carmine's bios. I hope to see you all there!

Love and Light,
Lydia
www.mangotreefitness.com

Blanca: www.blancadance.com, www.sensualbellydance.com, www.venusuprising.com

As a teacher, Blanca incorporates her desire to share and her ever-increasing knowledge of dance technique, body awareness, and the healing / esoteric arts to develop new methods that will accelerate her students' training and increase their self-confidence. She equally respects all aspects of bellydance: as a social and fun activity, as fitness, as a tool for communication, as spectacle, as a storytelling device and as one of the most powerful healing tools she has encountered.

Blanca's teaching method incorporates:

- PROGRESSIONS — sequences of steps building from simple isolated moves to the layered "look" where footwork, arm patterns, head angles and motions are gradually combined for the effect of total coordination and efforless control.

- INNER WORK — awakening body awareness and sensuality through visualizations.

- STORY-TELLING — to improve your performance, even if you are dancing alone.

- MUSICALITY — this precious quality takes a dancer to a whole other level.

Carmine: www.Carmine.com

Carmine is an accomplished instructor, teaching doumbek both nationally and internationally. Known for his lively and engaging teaching style, Carmine will show you how to play both easy and complex techniques. Located in NYC, Carmine is a member of several music ensembles including Middle Eastern fusion group "Djinn" and traditional music group "The Turkish Band Camp All Stars".


Mango Tree Fitness Center Presents:
DRUM SOLO: Technique, Musicality & Showmanship Workshop with BLANCA and CARMINE
September 7, 2008
Price: $50 until 9/6, $70 at the Door



The drum solo is the climax of any belly dance show. If this part of the show makes you nervous, have no fear! Come learn its inner workings in a workshop that will greatly improve your dance skills for all types of music and shows.

In this workshop you will:
- Demystify the basic Middle Eastern rhythms and get familiar with their particular feel.
- Learn to respond to the drum with your body, using it as an instrument.
- Learn groups of movements and accents that suit the rhythms.
- Learn the art of keeping a balance between high energy and poise.
- Learn to improvise and communicate with the drummer when dancing to a live drum solo.
- This workshop will also greatly improve your musicality, improvisation skills and showmanship for all other types of belly dance music and shows.

CLASS BREAKDOWN:
1:45 registration
2:00 - 3:00 Middle Eastern Rhythms
3:00 - 4:00 Warm up / Body Movements suitable for Drum Solo work
(15-min Break)
4:15 - 5:15 Putting it all together - Drum Solo analysis, technique and practice.

* bring your zills (finger cymbals) or doumbek to the workshop.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Tuesday's Talent: Spiritually Satisfying

As promised, this week I am delivering something special. The featured creations of this week are all about spirit, but more importantly I'm going to share some of my views with you about Spirit.

Our society today is bombarded with advertising pushing us to buy, buy, buy. We are a nation of consumers. We americans create more waste on this earth then she has ever seen before.

Today I would like for you to remember that just two hundred years ago this nation was not like this. The people of this nation understood that the things we obtain, do not really belong to us. They are their own being. They have their own spirit, their own god energy. We may hold them for a short time, but they, like us; will return to Spirit.

Spirit is the essence of Creator, who resides in everything. This earth is put together like a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece has it's own spirit, it's own knowledge. When put together properly these pieces mesh into an astounding weave creating a wealth of knowledge, understanding, harmony and well-being. All we have to do is respect these other pieces.

These things that come into our lives all share the spirit they contain with us. If we take the time to cherish this being and tune into it's energy, it will share it's wisdom with us. Treat them kindly, and take the time to listen and just be with them, and they will share the keys to a happy enlightened life with us.

Look around yourself right now, what do you see? All of those things on your desk, all of the furniture in your home. How many of these things have you said thank you to today? All of these things that surround you once lived, but gave up their life for you. Thank them. Tell them how grateful you are that they have come into your life to share their energy. Open yourself to feel the gratitude you will receive from these things.

I challenge you in the next few weeks, to be more aware of the energies around you. Be more grateful for the things that have given up their lives for you. I challenge you to walk into a store and push past that initial oh, that's pretty, and ask yourself Do I need this? What lesson will this object bring into my life? I challenge you to look at everything around you from a spiritual viewpoint, and seek to add ONLY those things to your home that will fill you with greater joy and understanding.

This weeks features are a variety of beings that have spoken to my spirit. They have reminded me of lessons long forgotten. They have brought me peace and beauty. They have brought an immediate smile to my face and filled my being with joy. They have filled with me gratitude for the immense puzzle of beauty around me. I hope they do the same for you. ~Kat


Spirit Panther


modern freshly hand-painted oil on canvas sky Spirit



Summer Healing


Oh Great Spirit Prayer Flags


Descending Spirits


Lobellia, Gourd Mask


Spirit house hanging


Shaman Spirit - Bone and Gemstone Talisman Necklace


Free Spirit Hippie Boho earrings


Deer Hide Pouch / Medicine Bag


Earth Medicine Energy Spirit Doll


Royal Spirit - beaded Dream Catcher - Native American MADE