Hello dear friends, family, and followers!  With all that is going on this year, I thought I'd change it up even more!  Being at home so much has helped me to clarify some things about my life that I need to change.  With some health challenges that continue to make it difficult to do my art, I am going to take some time to focus on getting that in order.  What that means for you all is that I am doing big sales from now through the New Year to find homes for my current art pieces.  

Right now I am doing the ETSY CYBER SALE - 20% OFF ALL items and FREE SHIPPING on items $35 or over.  It runs now through Dec 2nd.  I am sure they will run another sale right after that that I can join, otherwise I'll create my own!

Since each item is unique, it would be too hard to keep up on removing items from my own website and Etsy each time something sells.  So I am directing everyone to my Etsy store for sales.

So... here are the categories of ALL my pre-made items.  For every item I sell I am donating THREE color-your-own-cards to The Children's Hospital so those darling children have some cards to color and send to family!  (A little secret, I am donating them now so they have time to color them, but I'm hoping you all will help me out by buying an art item :).

Here are the categories and some images of what is for sale!

With Deep Gratitude,
​Claire

There are so many aspects to this holiday, but let's focus on the great animals that we associate with Halloween.  We don't often think of spiders, bats, or cats as spirit animals, but all animals have messages for us. Spirit animals can be with you all the time, or come into your life when you need to listen to a message they have or need their energetic support.

​I recently posted in details about SPIDERS as spirit animals, you can read it HERE.

SPIDERS tell us to be patient and persistent in all areas of our life, taking pride in what we do by finding creative solutions to our problems. 
BATS tell us to face our fears with courage and confidence, and to be ready for a transition in life.
​CATS tell us to be clever and adventurous, and embrace our independent spirit.

Each of these messages can be used in almost all levels of our lives, from physical to mental to spiritual, and in most situations, from work to personal to family.

Halloween can be a time to reflect on those we have lost, and those we want to remember. Use the messages from cat, bat, and spider to be specific about what you want to learn, let go of, or be sure to remember.

• When did this person act as a bat for you and helped you face a fear?
• What times can you attribute to cat sneaking in and aiding in an adventure?
• Were there times with the people you love where you needed patience and and persistence?

I always advocate to journal about spirit animal messages.  You could also talk with those in your life now who might want to share these memories.  Or take a walk and just ask cat, bat, and spider to give you a message, and then just listen.

"Embrace your independence, face your fears with confidence, and take pride in all you do.  We will be with you, giving you reminders and support!" ~Cat, Bat, Spider

I think spiders are fascinating.  I know a lot of people are scared of them, and that they can be deadly.  I have had a few runs-in with them, and I warn you, if you are scared of them, the second part of this might be a hard read.  Hopefully, however, I can help you see that they really are a great animal to have come into your life.

FIRST- SPIDER IMPARTS STRONG MESSAGES:
*  Take pride in doing things correctly:  Spider webs are stunningly beautiful, and they are also strong and serve a critical purpose.  Spider takes time to find a good spot to put her web, and then she meticulously builds it with just the right space between strands and works tirelessly to make it large and strong.  When a bug flies in and messes it up, she starts over to repair and improve it.

* We are all linked- Be grateful and giving: A spider need strongholds to attach her web to, the right place that bugs will come through, shelter so the elements don't ruin her web, a hiding place for her egg sac, the right weather conditions for her babies to come into the world, a little breeze to send them on their way, and a little bit of luck and timing for it all to come together.  And, like with any animal, they have a cycle that corresponds to the seasons and is part of the bigger cycle of life.

* Be patient and persistent in all areas of your life: Weaving a web is not easy, and waiting for a bug to fly into it takes patience.  Sometimes the web needs to be repaired or even moved, and sometimes her meal gets away.  She may have several meals stashed away, or goes days without any food.
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​* Use creativity to find the best solutions to challenges: I have seen webs in the craziest places, some being pretty ingenious.  Some are the "classic ones that go easily between leaves, and some have very long tethers to get the web just where she needs it.  Sometimes you even see a side web.  Webs have a basic pattern, but if you look closely, they are truly functional art.

* You have a say in the way your life progresses:  Looking at everything said so far, you can see why Spider tells us this.  If something isn't working, change it.  Refine it, move it, rebuild it, be patient if you think it is the right thing, and use creativity to accomplish all this.  Most things ARE in your control.

SECOND- SPIDER IS VERY MYSTICAL & SPIRITUAL:
The more mystical meaning of spider is about growing your connection to the spiritual and feminine power.  Have you noticed that in stories the spider is always female?  That's because the female spider is the one who connects it all together.  If you struggle with embracing your own feminine power, ask Spider to help.  This can be true for a man too, asking Spider to help him see that the feminine side is incredibly strong.

​Many cultures and beliefs have SPIDER as a very powerful and important messenger and bringer of good luck.  So even if you are scared of them, appreciate them for what they are and know they are a positive influence in your life!  Listen to their message and take it to heart.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH SPIDERS
I find that personal experiences are the best way to understand the messages and blessings from spirit animals.  If I have an experience with one directly, or I see a particular animal pop-up several times, I pay attention.  If I am really struggling with something, I look in my many books about them to see which one I need to actively ask to help me.

~ Spider came to me about 25 years ago.  I was a Social Worker at a Residential Children's Home in Denver, CO and we were on a field trip to the Butterfly Pavilion.  They have a tarantula there that you can hold.  (Its actually several so the 1 doesn't get too stressed out.)  The kids were scared to hold her, but I really felt it was critical for them to see the beauty of nature and to help them learn to respect animals.  So, taking a deep breath, I went first.  The caretaker placed her in my hand.  She was absolutely amazing!  So big she took up my whole hand, and I could feel her weight and each of her feet placed in my hand.  It was only about 30 seconds, but I was completely enamored with her.  It showed the children that they could be brave, and many of them held her after I did.

~ About 15 years ago, we went on a trip to Australia.  Yep, land of most of the poisonous animals on the planet.  We were staying with my cousin out on their farm.  It was just getting dark one evening when we were walking back to the house, and being careful not to step on any snakes in the grass, I had my head down.  From behind me I heard my husband Josh cry "Look out!"  But it was too late!  I looked up as I was walking... right into a huge spider web at head height. 

Flailing my arms, I am sure I screamed and ran into the house.  Josh and our host were laughing.  I went into the bathroom to see what was funny.  It looked like I had pulled my hair back with a hair net!  It took 3 washes of my hair to get it out.  I did not see the spider, but we had gone on enough walks for me to know that given the strength and size of that web, the spider was probably the size of a silver dollar or bigger.

~ My next big run-in with a spider was about 8 years ago.  We lived in a house that had a daylight basement, and we had a lot of spiders.  I caught them and set them outside.  Even the brown recluse that liked to come in from the wood pile.  I didn't ever see this spider, but I somehow ended up with a bite on my bottom.  Yep.  My husband could clearly see 2 puncture wounds.  Overtime, it got worse, and started to grow bigger and I maybe even had some dead tissue (I couldn't see it of course).  

My husband is a nurse, and is also scared of big spiders.  So he wanted me to see a doctor.  I said no.  I wanted to try some natural and alternative methods first.  I was taking my Flora Corona Classes at the time, and we were working on using flower essences to heal the skin.  Each section of our body corresponds to a Bach flower essence.  So I put that flower essence in a lotion and applied it around the bite every day.  Within a week it was cleared up.  Everyone was amazed.

~ In smaller ways, I always see spiders in the garden, and when Josh is afraid of them in the house I catch them and let them go.  This summer I found a lovely lady in one of my tomato plants.  I accidentally ruined her web.  I apologized and hoped she would be ok.  The next day I went back and she had completely reconstructed it!  Overnight!

I said hello to her every morning as I watered the tomatoes, and I was careful not to hit her web.  Despite that, I did a few times while picking the tomatoes, and every morning it was reconstructed.  She was like my guardian of the vegetables, and I look for her every morning.

I noticed she was getting larger, but always really thin.  So thin it made it hard to identify her online.  I never saw anything in her web except 1 day she had a honey bee, which made me sad.  My brother is an Entomologist, so I sent him the 1st photo below.  He confirmed that she was too skinny.  So I found her a juicy moth as you can see in the 2nd photo.  She pounced on it immediately!  I have brought her flies a few times, and as you can see from the 3rd photo, she is huge! So are my tomatoes :).

I have been taking this time to update and clean up my website.  I have spent hours going through photos of my products, and revisited my fairies.  They are really cute and lively and have such an uplifting energy. I  took some more photos and have updated my listings.  I am honestly not sure why I still have so many for sale?  Why aren't people buying them? 

Maybe they were waiting for the right time.  Right now with all that is going on in the world, we need some lighted-hearted energy.  Some smiling and laughing.  Fairies do this.  Fairies are also fiercely loyal and protective once they adopt you.  So take some time to go out in your garden, or to the park down the street.  Sit quietly, listen, open all your senses, and tell the fairies you believe!  They will come, I promise.

Here are some images to help remind people of what they look like.  I really enjoy making them, they are so creative and fun to do.  While my angels are more refined, I feel I can use brighter colors and best of all, make their hair all sassy :).  Enjoy!
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I don't want this post to be about the man who is currently charged with, and failing miserably to guide us.  I believe that he was made President not be be President, but to force our young country to move through these immense growing pains.  We needed a catalyst.  Things are not going to go back to the way they were.  They simply can't.  Since I can't, but also don't choose to go to demonstrations, and I don't have a lot of time, expertise, or money to give to any particular cause, I needed to figure out what I COULD do.  What I CAN do.

ART.  I can still give people art, and art that is meaningful and helpful during this time.  I have always tried to make art that also serves a healing purpose.  Perfect!  Aside from just continuing to do what I do, I tried to focus on making items for this time.  I am just beginning, and welcome any ideas.