tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205997658871467512009-11-20T21:15:11.198-08:00Roxana Illuminated PerfumeIn the tradition of alchemists and perfumers of ancient times, Roxana creates an illuminated line of botanical fragrances.Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.comBlogger408125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-17306026521600053632009-11-19T11:36:00.000-08:002009-11-19T11:51:43.733-08:00Bee-ing there
Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing". When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-21546332581687035072009-11-18T13:12:00.000-08:002009-11-18T13:12:57.080-08:00June Shin Jewelry Winner!
Our featured artist this month, June Shin, shines quite brightly. Like moths to a flame, she attracted 162 comments, 160 of which went into the draw. Whew! Instead of my normal route of assigning a card from multiple decks to each entry, this time I threw them all into the randomiser.
The lucky number belonged to Kara who loves the Moroccan Diamond earrings pictured above in Silver. I love Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-69982957136481438482009-11-16T22:33:00.000-08:002009-11-20T21:09:12.911-08:00ADVENTure ahead
I am in the midst of organizing another blogging collaborative event. This one will take a slightly different course from the two previous. Beginning Sunday, November 29th, to correlate with the first day of advent, one blogger a day will be adding their sparkle to our gathering of light. By Christmas Day all the candles on our tree will be lit and we will all have weaved a bit of our own light Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-25590000004113628882009-11-15T21:20:00.000-08:002009-11-16T08:25:31.414-08:00Lavandula vera"There's a few things I've learned in life:
always throw salt over your left shoulder,
keep rosemary by your garden gate,
plant lavender for good luck, and fall in love whenever you can"
~ William Shakespeare
Trish over at Scent Hive shares her fascination with the Lavender note by showcasing three natural perfumes featuring the archetypal English garden herb. Vera, the perfume I created as Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-76376965493212805752009-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:002009-11-12T11:24:39.621-08:00Touched Creatively
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal:
it is the courage to continue that counts."
-Winston Churchill
I am feeling super grateful to Jodi of Touched Creatively. Please head on over to her blog to read her impressions and how she has been touched creatively by my handmade natural and botanical perfumes. Her blog is really lovely and a great source for feeding your creative muse. She Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-65118342561239295062009-11-11T16:13:00.000-08:002009-11-11T16:13:41.919-08:00Aromatic Journey: Fragrance Families
For the Aromatic Journey post over at Lillyella today I contributed a rather lengthy piece about categorizing fragrances into families. If I had published the post here it would have been placed within the "In the Raw" archives where we learn about the raw materials of botanical perfume. Here is the link so that you can join in on this months adventure into the Ol'factory Realm. There is also Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-32381196053794948502009-11-11T15:53:00.000-08:002009-11-11T15:53:40.489-08:00of Service
Sending tendrils of warm and aromatic gratitude to all those who devote themselves to service and a higher cause.
One of the most visionary actions I've witnessed a politician do is work towards creating a Department of Peace. It's brilliant, so much so that those in the dark can't even see it. I don't know about you but I am really tired and distressed at what I see happening in America. Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-66815752409091986032009-11-11T14:27:00.000-08:002009-11-15T16:26:43.025-08:00Artist Feature and Giveaway: June Shin
Today I bring to you the gorgeous work of fellow Artist and Etsy seller June Shin. My goodness, what beauty filled stunning work this lady creates and she is super witty too. I must admit, there is something in the combination of high art and wit that completely captivates me.
June lives and works in Georgia and is a great example of Artist as Brand™. Why? Because while working in the high Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com162tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-60521516987196517292009-11-08T00:27:00.000-08:002009-11-08T11:43:25.115-08:00Depth of Field
Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have
vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.
~Henri Cartier-Bresson
Ben has been lending Eve and I his SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Nikon. The last few days I've been having a grand time with it. I am really appreciating what transpires with the depth of field with this type of Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-46199047879256628362009-11-04T08:19:00.000-08:002009-11-04T08:22:34.980-08:00V is for Vespertina
Vespertina™in her myriad of manifestations as a perfume, art and illuminated music has been honored by the most intricately woven spell. Journey over to Perfume Smellin' Things to read the an enchanted tale by the ever so gifted Beth, while you are there, if you fell inspired please leave a comment. Here is a link where you can listen to a few tracks from Vespertina while reading the review.
Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-44227165738049793042009-11-03T10:17:00.000-08:002009-11-03T10:17:56.004-08:00The Dark is Rising
When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back;
Three from the circle, three from the track;
Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone.
~ Susan Cooper, from The Dark is Rising
Here we are, once again, at the cross roads moving into the dark half of the year. In my little universe here at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountians it doesn't quite feel like Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-63886927631837360072009-11-02T13:24:00.000-08:002009-11-02T13:24:44.301-08:00Moon Day Tide
This Moon day's tide has arrived with an abundance of riches, two features with giveaways on two separate, fantastic blogs, wow!
First off please travel over to Mrs. B at Confessions of Pagan Socccer Mom and then over to visit Nicole at the Lillyella blog.
Both these lovely ladies are hosting a giveaway of my botanical perfumes. Mrs. B writes about her impressions of a few of my scents, Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-49984568065356168872009-10-31T15:12:00.000-07:002009-10-31T21:30:43.255-07:00Sanguine
I have always associated the word Sanguine with one of the four humors as theorized by the Alchemists. Pondering the term the other day I had a thought that the word must also have a related meaning to blood, since in Spanish the word for blood is sangre.
Sure enough, upon exploration, I discovered that the etymology of the word stems from the Middle English 1275–1325 "Sanguyne" meaning a Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-5873289132723891232009-10-28T22:26:00.000-07:002009-10-29T13:23:34.594-07:00PicturesqueEver so witful Tom has written about the Phoenix Myster over at Perfume Smellin' Things tis day. What a grand surprise, thank you Tom, I am truly humbled. Here is the link for your reading pleasure. Although be prepared, it will make you long a bit for the glorious beauty that takes place on the East coast this time of year. I miss it so.My memories take me back about twenty years ago to a visitRoxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-24142001283385050312009-10-26T21:53:00.000-07:002009-10-26T22:01:24.171-07:00All Souls NightWords by music by Loreena McKennittBonfires dot the rolling hillsFigures dance around and aroundTo drums that pulse out echoes of darknessMoving to the pagan sound.Somewhere in a hidden memoryImages float before my eyesOf fragrant nights of straw and of bonfiresAnd dancing till the next sunrise.CHORUSI can see lights in the distanceTrembling in the dark cloak of nightCandles and lanterns are Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-51497866067079908462009-10-25T12:47:00.000-07:002009-10-25T15:53:58.525-07:00The Giving TreeOnce there were four large oak trees and three smaller ones in a grove and they loved a girl. And everyday the girl looked out at the trees but didn't really see them. Until one day, the girl learned about the value of native plants and old growth oak trees.The girl learned that the trees grow very slowly from the fruit of the trees, acorns. Once a long, long time ago before man came to the Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-71969844330774970602009-10-24T23:03:00.000-07:002009-10-24T23:23:23.863-07:00Two Left Hands Winner!Thank you so very much to Liz and all the participants who journeyed over this way for the Two Left Hands feature.Are you ready? Drrrrrrrrum roll please...the winner of the sweet Little Forest Mossie is...the Jack of Clubs from the Red deck. That card was assigned to DG, it was the blog follow that won her the Mossie. DG's favorite items from Two Left Hands are Hansel and Gretal and the witch, Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-50750934481722567442009-10-19T09:25:00.001-07:002009-10-19T13:57:46.586-07:00Fire burn and cauldron bubbleA gypsy fire is on the hearth, Sign of the carnival of mirth; Through the dun fields and from the glade Flash merry folk in masquerade, For this is Hallowe'en! ~Author UnknownAll Hallows Eve approaches and a few of my fellow team members of the Etsy Green and Clean Guild invite you to our Halloween challenge. Come visit our specially handmade tricks and treats for all you girls and ghouls. Be Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-49208046932792629482009-10-15T22:30:00.000-07:002009-10-19T09:58:12.433-07:00A Nest of Myrrh"Corn and grain, corn and grain,All that falls shall rise again."~ Wiccan Harvest ChantThe deep and dark gnarled roots of Halloween, All Hallows Eve, go back to the Samhain celebrations of the Druids. Samhain is one of the Celtic fire festival where much chaos, mischief and celebration take place. It is the end of the harvest and a time to prepare for the new year. Sacred bonfires are lit to Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-9456757141794308512009-10-14T15:51:00.000-07:002009-10-14T16:10:24.127-07:00Aromatic Journey: VanillaI am so thrilled to announce that I will be a regular contributor on the blog Lillyella. The series we have devised is called Aromatic Journeys. My first contribution went up today. It is a step by step lesson in creating an infused Vanilla oil which can be applied to other materials. An infused oil base has a wide application in botanical perfume, aromatherapy and the culinary arts. Please hop Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-59049692955242679222009-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:002009-10-14T09:04:26.093-07:00Artist Feature and Giveaway: Two Left HandsAs we move into the holiday season it seemed fitting to feature an artist who lovingly creates sweet little beings joyously celebrating life. I came across our featured Etsy artist Liz of Two Left Hands auspiciously through, of all things, The Big Bad Wolf (pictured below).I clearly recall seeing him on the front page of Etsy and immediately marking him as a favorite. I adored the sweet essence Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-89774071732057629082009-10-13T09:24:00.000-07:002009-10-13T10:16:22.760-07:00Tricks and TreatsNo tricks today only sweet delicious treats, in the way of a perfume review and rain. Indeed, rain has arrived to the dry arid climate of the City of Angels. Along with the aroma of wet, vegetative earth is the "full, bodied dark roast" of Lyra being reviewed today by Sasha Muradali over at the Little Pink Book PR blog.Sasha describes the botanical perfume Lyra as "...sweet and floral, but evokesRoxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-70653631346676354552009-10-10T16:04:00.000-07:002009-10-10T17:36:32.796-07:00The Shadow Dance“The psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside as fate. That is to say, when the individual remains undivided and does not become conscious of his inner opposite, the world must perforce act out the conflict and be torn into opposing halves.” ~ Carl JungThis concept is vividly portrayed in a film we watched last night titled Fur: An Imaginary Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-76626031783817176872009-10-08T20:10:00.000-07:002009-10-21T13:42:55.640-07:00A Dance in the Woods"First and foremost wood is matter and is in India the symbol of the universal substance, the prima materia. I Ancient Greece, hyle, which carries the meaning of primordial matter literally means "wood". This quote is from my Penguin Dictionary of Symbols book. I placed it here to announce that Chaparral Botanical liquid perfume has now re-manifested, in it's third edition.It seems particularly Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-220599765887146751.post-8287354932779467262009-10-07T22:15:00.000-07:002009-10-08T00:14:18.877-07:00Flying Potion"We dance around in a ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows."~ Robert FrostThe aroma of decaying leaves is upon us, with it the oaks bear their fruit and pumpkins abound. In the ol' Celtic tradition this was a time of harvest and closure as their year ended. Here in the west the yearly Halloween is now evident in suburban yards decorated with a plethora of surreal imagery Roxanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11774665887359640600noreply@blogger.com2