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If you look on this Blog you notice there haven't been any new posts for a loong time. We are now using facebook as a way to provide our friends and clients with up to date information and news. Visit our Facebook page using this link.

Peru

The journey to Peru was just amazing. We flew into Lima, then on to Cusco. After a day to recover and adjust a bit to the altitude, we were off exploring. The first site we visited was Sacsaywaman just outside Cusco. We were very fortunate to meet Mario at the ruins, a local shaman, who served as our guide. Under his tutelage we learned a great deal about the Inca world view and the messages to be found in the stones of the structures. For the Incas, there were three worlds: the upper world symbolized by the Condor, the middle world in which we live, symbolized by the Puma, and the lower world, symbolized by the Serpent. At Sacsaywaman there are three great doors in the stone work. They are the doors to the three worlds and consist of three huge stones built into the walls. Each of these gateways is surrounded by seven stones. Mario showed us each of these. He also showed us a snake, carved into the stone next to the third doorway. When I told him one of my totems was the rattlesnake and showed him the necklace I was wearing under my shirt with the snake carving on it, he asked me if I spoke the language of the snake. I said I didn't think so, and he brought us up to the snake carving and chanted in a hiss like a snake. Then he translated the chant for us. This was quite powerful. Mario also showed us how the Incas had built the shapes of snakes, lamas, guinea pigs, pumas, and other animals into the walls. There were keys for seeing these shapes among the stones, usually a small stone present among the huge blocks that made up the walls. The small stone was often an ear, or perhaps the beak of a bird. Triangular stones were also significant, as well as stones surrounded by seven other stones. None of the rock work was random. Everything had been carefully designed. The walls were full of messages and symbolism for those with eyes to see, and Mario opened our eyes.

Hello all! Bill and I decided to post these blogs in order to keep our clients up to date with what we are doing. We have had a very hectic summer, doing the local Nelson markets, seeing old friends and customers and also travelling to Alberta to do shows there. We did the Edmonton Folk Festival for the first time and, I must say, it was awesome. The music was wonderful and I came back with many CD's of artists I already had heard and some new ones - particularly two from England, the Peat Bog Faeries and Bellowhead. We met alot of vendors from Vancouver to Winnipeg who all came together under the Folk Fest's vendor tent - we perspired together in 39 C heat! Our jewellery was very wonderfully received by the Edmonton folk and we have received several follow up orders, which we always welcome.

September for us will be a very busy time - we have another trip to Alberta planned for the Body Soul Spirit Show in Calgary. The BSS shows have become high points in our market calendar - they give us a chance to meet with our Alberta clients and also give us the opportunity to re-connect with the other vendors. Very tiring! as the hours are long. But alot of fun and very inspiring.

I will be taking my artistic bent to another level starting on Monday - I have enrolled in the Kootenay Art Therapy Institute programme to qualify as an art therapist. I will be combining my artistic side with my psychological training in a new and different way which I am very much looking forward to.