A Note from Sailor's Omen
Wishing everyone warm and joyous holidays! The next couple weeks are a time of reflection over the past year, being thankful for what has come and gone, and recognizing the love we have for the contents of our astounding universe.
Tradition
Greetings and happy holidays everyone from the Sailor's Omen studio! With everyone's gifts mailed, I get to sit back and have some time to reflect on the changing season, the lingering sunlight, and preparing my own holiday festivities.
These are the days are ripe with tradition- shopping, trees, decorations, shopping, and of course, cooking all those sugary treats.
I was talking with my mom earlier today, and we landed on the topic of the perils that can come with tradition- especially those diet-related. She mentioned she was feeling not as stressed out this year-compared to other years where it is a wonder she hadn't pull out every last hair on her head. With the stress of buying presents that are personal but reasonable for EVERYONE you care about, dealing with the emotions and confusion with the lack of daylight, the winter chill setting in and the increase of the craving for carbs, decorating the tree, sending out cards, etc. And only having 30 days to put on this whole show that is supposed to be memorable and better than years before... ??? There's a lot of pressure.
Delving into my mother's 'why am I so relaxed?' we came to the source of this welcome change- she gave up a major tradition that had kept her so anxious and tense: she left out the baking. The cookies, the cakes, the sweets are no more. While my mom is a great baker- using recipes that have been passed down generations in our family- she had realized that she needn't bake because so many other people have the same tradition. She could enjoy the sweets others bring to the office, but not have them at home so she is tempted 24/7. With less of the ups-and-downs that result from simple sugars, it is easy to stay focused and feel a little more balanced (unless you go all crazy with others' goods).
Her advice- try to start a new holiday tradition: encourage whole, healthy snacks like organic red and green peppers with hummus, avocado, pesto-stuffed tomatoes, or just a clever display of fruits and veggies. They will not only manage your hunger cravings for sweets but help boost your immune system!
We tend to put so much effort and energy into keeping with traditions that we forget to enjoy the moments as they come. Be mindful of how things affect you and constantly question how you feel and dedicate your time to finding the true source. A healthy elf is a happy elf!
What traditions have you given up for peace of mind?
What are your favorite traditions?
Live simply, love deeply,
-Ashley
These are the days are ripe with tradition- shopping, trees, decorations, shopping, and of course, cooking all those sugary treats.
I was talking with my mom earlier today, and we landed on the topic of the perils that can come with tradition- especially those diet-related. She mentioned she was feeling not as stressed out this year-compared to other years where it is a wonder she hadn't pull out every last hair on her head. With the stress of buying presents that are personal but reasonable for EVERYONE you care about, dealing with the emotions and confusion with the lack of daylight, the winter chill setting in and the increase of the craving for carbs, decorating the tree, sending out cards, etc. And only having 30 days to put on this whole show that is supposed to be memorable and better than years before... ??? There's a lot of pressure.
Delving into my mother's 'why am I so relaxed?' we came to the source of this welcome change- she gave up a major tradition that had kept her so anxious and tense: she left out the baking. The cookies, the cakes, the sweets are no more. While my mom is a great baker- using recipes that have been passed down generations in our family- she had realized that she needn't bake because so many other people have the same tradition. She could enjoy the sweets others bring to the office, but not have them at home so she is tempted 24/7. With less of the ups-and-downs that result from simple sugars, it is easy to stay focused and feel a little more balanced (unless you go all crazy with others' goods).
Her advice- try to start a new holiday tradition: encourage whole, healthy snacks like organic red and green peppers with hummus, avocado, pesto-stuffed tomatoes, or just a clever display of fruits and veggies. They will not only manage your hunger cravings for sweets but help boost your immune system!
We tend to put so much effort and energy into keeping with traditions that we forget to enjoy the moments as they come. Be mindful of how things affect you and constantly question how you feel and dedicate your time to finding the true source. A healthy elf is a happy elf!
What traditions have you given up for peace of mind?
What are your favorite traditions?
Live simply, love deeply,
-Ashley
This should have been done in September
But really,.. there is no use fussing over the past. Right now- this present moment -is the beginning of the Sailor's Omen blog. Woohoo! Yippee! Yay! :)
Oh, that's right... introductions. Where are my manners?? My name is Ashley. I am 28 years young and I live in sunny Saint Augustine, Florida with my loving life-partner Alexander. I am the sole owner and sole worker of Sailor's Omen. I was born and raised in off-center Pennsylvania, where I got my BFA from Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Soon after graduating (soon like two weeks, soon), I moved to the Pacific Northwest to work. While Sailor's Omen officially began on September 4, 2012, my artistic journey with jewels (professionally) began in Portland, Oregon in 2008 under the name Sherpani Studio. After a huge cross-country change to my new home in the oldest city in August 2011 and the purchase of my first house, it was time for a name change too. Ala Sailor's Omen!
History of the name:
I have always loved the use of symbols. There is an odd adoration of pictures used to signify words, feelings or thoughts- and they're all around us! Funny shaped squiggles that represent letters, words and language to represent feelings, flags to show what country we're from, a hamsa to protect the inhabitants of a house from harm, punctuation marks used to show emotion through a text. Sailors -to me- represent pioneers of horizons and the willingness to dedicate life to overcoming fears and exploring the unknown. Sailors culture and lifestyle are based largely on superstitions and omens- beliefs that one event leads to or prevents the cause of another. By avoiding certain animals or materials or even acting in a certain way at a certain time, sailors have been known to believe they can shape their future.
I believe our future is not set in stone. I humbly believe we can do anything- that our faith of the good and inherent truth in ourselves and others allows us to stretch beyond our comfort zone and reach out beyond our familiar horizons. Sometimes though, it is easy to lose sight our path and we need a little help from our roots. That is where Sailor's Omen comes in.
My intention from the beginning has been to make art and accessories with natural materials- arranged to make you feel good about yourself and your space in this beautiful world. I use crystal quartz points in necklaces, bracelets, earrings to assist in centering and clearing the chakras, citrine to attract prosperity and become more intuitive, amethyst to calm the mind and help with homesickness while you chase the horizons, etc. I use feathers and leaves (real and metal) to remind us to take a chance and fly over our perceived obstacles.
Through this blog, you can follow me along on my journey. I will let you in on what is happening in the shop, new products, fun finds, and even some DIY projects to inspire the creativity to shine in you!
I also encourage you to "Like" my Facebook page, where you will occasionally find coupon codes for my Etsy shop, other links to Sailor's Omen info, photo collections, and more.
But above all, I want to thank you for reading my blog, your interest in Sailor's Omen, and the love you share with the world.
Live, learn, sail on,
Ashley
Shop: www.sailorsomen.etsy.com
Blog: http://sailorsomen.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sailorsomen
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sailorsomen
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