Tomorrow it’s supposed to be sunny, so I hope to go outdoors and take some pictures. I love natural light for photography (besides, I won’t have to set up my light tent on the kitchen table).

I do have some good news, though. I have several pieces on display at The Artisan’s Bench in downtown Brighton, Michigan. This terrific new gallery, which showcases Michigan artists, is located on Main Street. The owners have several lovely works, in addition to many gorgeous, handmade Oriental rugs. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday. My jewelry is selling very well and I’m thrilled to pieces! If you live in the area, please stop by The Artisan’s Bench and check it out.

This leads me to the importance of shopping locally, whenever possible. By shopping in your neighborhood, you support small businesses, thereby increasing the likelihood of reinforcing the local economy. That, in turn, will hopefully improve the overall economy. We all know how bad the economy has been and it’s really important to do what we can for our neighbors. Shop locally!

I hope to have several new pieces up on the website soon. Time to get back to the bench!

Gayle

Love is Everything

A wise man recently imparted some truth
upon my humble ears
And in so many words he told me that
“Love is Everything”
As I speak those words, our earthly ears begin to argue
“Well it surely is important” we say, in our complicated and overrun brains
“But Everything?”
What about trust & faith, work & struggle, daily life and goals & earthly pursuits?
What about money & survival, injustice, stress and unresolved fears?
But even as we fight the idea because it seems too simplistic to encompass everything
A part of our souls knows it to be true
Like all truths so simply spoken yet seemingly impossible to fulfill

Love is Everything.

Love is surrendering our walls of lifelong protection to the energy that surges through life
Knowing that when we feel hurt by others, it is because they are hurting themselves
Love is the easy nurturing that a tree gives to its seed
as part of itself dies without remorse
Love is listening to the struggles of others
without judgment or consideration of oneself
Love is honoring yourself without guilt or punishment
so that your heart may remain open when faced with anger
Love is being able to take the blame so that the passage to love
may be opened and freed of regret
Love is acceptance for all that you do not understand
Knowing that you have no control over the actions of others
Except that you may surround them in your love
until they feel safe enough to soften into you
and allow themselves to be in love

Love when it is true and selfless and pure
with no goal or agenda but love itself
Is never wrong
never failing
never misguided or confused
It simply Is

And the reason why we invite all who we know and love
to bear witness to moments such as this
Moments when the emotions of life are so overwhelming
that we may catch ourselves off guard without argument or retort
Forgetting to protect ourselves from each other
Forgetting to be preoccupied and distant in our daily travels
Is so that we may remember what in fact is truer than all
So that we may be inspired by love throughout today and for years to come
And clearly see in the love
that these two people share
that
it is possible
that Love truly is Everything

We all wish for you both,
the easy flow that love brings
that you will always find home in one another’s arms
That you will forever see tears of joy in each other’s eyes
That you will always feel peace in the understanding of another human soul
that you will have the simplicity that comes in knowing that
Someone else wants more for you than you could ever ask for yourself
That you will breathe together and allow all other things to melt away
That you will grow and change along your unseen paths
and always find your way back to one another

But life is not always simple or easy
nor happy or peaceful
and in such times we all forget to breathe

And so above all I wish for you
the knowledge that love brings
that through struggle and pain
change and fear
loneliness and loss

You need only remember
the love that you feel so deeply in your hearts today
You need only close your eyes
and soften your walls and let that love hold you close

You need only remember that

Love is Everything

and in turn

Love will be all you see

~By Kirsten L. Edgar~

2Fab Fristers was invited to display jewelry at Peter’s anniversary bash and a good time was had by everyone! I’d like to thank all the beautifully coiffed clients for their  jewelry purchases. Several were intrigued by the name Fristers and when I explained, were proud to exclaim “I have a Frister!” I invited them to come to our website and share their stories-here’s hoping they do! We’d love to hear more about your frister!

I’ll be returning to A Peter James Salon in December to showcase our holiday baubles. Hope to see you there!

Jean

This post was submitted by Carisa Rasmussen.