REVIEW: Galaxies of Fragrant Oils from Galaxy Aromatherapy

AROMATHERAPY is the use of oils from plants and flowers to assist in healing and alleviating symptoms, physically, emotionally and psychologically.  The term aromatherapy was not used until the 20th Century, however the use of oils for medicinal purposes has been documented throughout history, dating back to Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, and China.

Essential oils are expensive, you want to use good quality oils, and this will cost you. You also need to know how to blend them, what oils work together, what must never be used together, what must not be used for certain conditions, and the quantities to use.

Want the easy way out?
Then visit Galaxy Aromatherapy.

(c) Galaxy Aromatherapy

Galaxy Aromatherapy, also on facebook, is run by a qualified practising Aromatherapist originally from New Zealand. She runs a small business in Melbourne where she sees her clients, and also sells oils, oil blends, cremes, soaps, sprays and candles from her website.

There are so many places to buy essential oils from these days, so why choose Galaxy Aromatherapy?

I choose to buy from Galaxy Aromatherapy because the store owner provides:

• Quality customer service, all the time, every time, always 
• Knowledgable, empathetic, intelligent advice and options provided
• Essential oil blends that are affordable
• Essential oil blends that do what they say they will
• Reliable, trustworthy and responsible sales transactions

What are my go to faves from Galaxy Aromatherapy?

I travel a lot with work, I have a lowered immune system, and tend to catch any respiratory/sinus infection doing the rounds. I also find i get stuffy sinuses on planes, and in motel rooms.

So what will i NEVER travel without?

Easy Breath essential oil blend!

Containing peppermint, lavender true, cedar wood atlas, lemon, eucalyptus radiata, and manuka, this blend is ideal to travel with to keep sniffles at bay and sinuses clear.

So many ways to use this blend to keep sinuses clear, for example it can be used:

• on a cotton bud in a perfume locket necklace
• on a tissue/handkerchief
• on your pillow
• as a steam inhalation
• diluted in a carrier as a chest/neck, sinuses rub

Or just 'sniffed' straight from the bottle!

[Do NOT use when pregnant as cedar wood and peppermint are both known to have an emmenagogue action.]

(c) Galaxy Aromatherapy

Galaxy Aromatherapy isn't just about the oils, she also sells soap. 

I use her Spearmint, Citrus and Green clay soap, and it keeps my skin clear from those nasty little pore clog creating bumps and infections that tend to haunt my face whenever i am stressed. So much nicer than using acne creams, this soap smells pleasant, has a light frothy suds, and is not overly drying on the skin. It really works to keep my skin fresh and clean, I really like this soap!

Recently I emailed her to ask about an oil blend specific to assist me cope with anxiety issues, she was as always courteous, knowledgable, and empathetic, steering me towards the best oil blend option for my needs.

She is passionate about Aromatherapy, and her energy and enthusiasm for this natural therapy shines through in all she does.

If you want to know more about Aromatherapy and how it may help you, or wish to purchase some oil blends or other essential oil based items, please contact her either on her facebook page or via her website.

Feel free to post a comment

CAUTION: please always read any warning labels on essential oil packaging, understand that although natural, these can work as medicines and need to be used appropriately, consult a practitioner  of aromatherapy if you have any queries.

New #blog a #review on an #aromatherapy small home business http://t.co/tSfuwp5dxz
— empressbat (@empressbat) February 27, 2014

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REVIEW: Beaded Webs: beautiful bead and wire sculptures hand crafted in Australia

In tonight's blogpost, I am featuring a local artist from Queensland, Australia who creates absolutely gorgeous intricate original designs from seed beads and wire.

A very talented Australian artisan, this lady creates beautiful designs out of wire, beads, and trinkets, she sells them from her facebook page, at bargain prices even though they are worth so much more. 

One of her recent Beaded creations is a mermaid themed one, I am totally blown away by the detail she has created by only using wire and beads. The red beaded hair is flowing and luxurious, and the scales on the tail and fin are so delicately created. A masterpiece!

Picture (c) Beaded Webs 2014

As well as character pieces such as the mermaid, Beaded Webs creates intricate interwoven pieces based on a central design element. In the below example, she has created the complex layers growing from the central tree of life image. Look at all the detailed work that has gone into this piece!

Picture (c) Beaded Webs 2014

Nature is often a theme in her work, such as the wolf and the moon, which features tiny moon and star charms as well as the memorising wolf baying at the crescent moon!

Picture (c) Beaded Webs 2014

Another speciality from this artist, is gemstone 'bonsai' trees, I am lucky enough to own one of these, which i keep at work to lift my spirits while I am at my desk.

Picture (c) Beaded Webs 2014

If you would like to purchase any of her amazing work, please visit her facebook page and peruse her for sale album there.

I can say with pride that I own many Beaded Webs original pieces, in a variety of sizes, colours, and themes. She is a truly gifted artist and I would be so happy if her work could be seen by the world!

NOTE: all photos used here at copyright of BEADED WEBS

Feel free to post a comment 
............................................................................................................... Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ...Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat

personalising my filofax my way : Dividing to conquer

The filofax Metropol A5 binder is definitely impressive, it has two pen slots, a heavy duty snap fastening clasp, one large pocket and 10 small pockets inside the front cover, and one mesh pocket inside the back cover. The vinyl is tough and looks good and the stitching around the binder is impeccable. The colour is happy but not gaudy, and the ring binding mechanism is sturdy.

Do i have any complaints about my new filofax?
Oh yes indeedy I do.

Why oh why filofax people do you make such gorgeous and useful and strong binders, only to ruin the image with your hideous and unimaginative inserts?  The paper is thin, the printed address sheets, to do lists, and personal information pages are poorly designed, and do not get me started on the dividers!!!

the inserts the filofax came with

The main reason I wanted the filofax is for the superb binder, so this is ok. I can deal with the insert issue. I am creative, I have a computer, and i have a printer, and i know what i want!

First to decide how i want to organise my filofax, as this will determine what templates i need.

DIVIDERS!
I am thinking that five MAIN divisions will be the best option for me and i can make subdivisions within each main heading. I do not want my filofax to contain things about my day job, as this organiser is something for me to support my creativity, organisation, and self education.

The five main tabs dividing the filofax that work best for what i want are:

• Information: calenders, maps, train timetables, time conversions
• Study: information about the current course i am doing, additional and required reading, and notes
• Business: this is about my etsy store where i sell my handcrafted goodies; craft suppliers, and customers
• Home: grocery lists, budget, to do lists for home
• Ideas: where i will put sketch paper to draw designs, or stick swatches of fabric , or work on blog posts

I bought a pack of five A5 dividers from Marbig, they were $2.45 from Officeworks; the prepunched holes do not match up with the filofax' but that is just a matter of punching new holes in them which was easy and doesn't look silly. 

The A5 Marbig dividers in my filofax

The Marbig dividers have colourful plastic coated tabs, and come with a sturdy index page as well.

I can then use the A-Z and the numbered tabs that came with the filofax as subdividers (after I have decorated them to make them interesting!)


While I am talking about the dividers, I want to share this little tip with you: not all your to do lists need to be kept forever as an indelible part of your organiser, sometimes they are just quick notes to be thrown away as soon as the task is complete. This is why i made myself a laminated page to stick sticky notes on to, these can then be discarded when no longer needed!

sticky notes (new or with memos on them) can be stuck on this laminated page

So there you have it, dividers ready to go, and onto creating templates for my filofax!

Feel free to comment!

.

I have just created some #templates to use in my #filofax you can download them from my blog http://t.co/zDfYokPJy2
— empressbat (@empressbat) January 25, 2014

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Alphabet challenge: crochet

Blog post brought to you by the letter C as part of my Alphabet blog challenge.

My Mother taught me how to crochet when i was about four years old, i remember making massive metres of chain out of yarn! As i got the hang of the whole crochet thing i started making clothes for my toys and granny squares for cushion covers. I enjoy crocheting and recently made myself a scarf, fingerless gloves, and matching beret out of dark sage green yarn. I don't usually bother with patterns and tend to make things up as i go along, or just use the pattern as a guide.

As well as making my own crochet pieces i like seeing the crochet made by others. There is an amazing textile artist on Etsy, ScarletRabbit, who makes the most delicate elegant fantastic crochet accessories, and i have become a fan of her work, having the honour of owning several of her fingerless gloves and wristlets, many which i have custom ordered.

Ruth, from the etsy store ScarletRabbit, is extremely talented and artistic, as well as crocheting, she draws in pen and ink, and also makes beautiful jewellery.

The fingerless gloves I have purchased from ScarletRabbit are delicate fine crochet created with 100% cotton yarn. The designs are unique, and the crochet is perfect; the lacey crochet design makes these fingerless gloves an absolute delight to see and to wear. I also have a delicate lace crochet and ribbon choker that i bought from ScarletRabbit!

My most recent purchase from ScarletRabbit was a custom order of a pair of purple fingerless gloves and a pair of emerald green. Absolutely beautifully made, they are gorgeous and so comfortable to wear! (see picture of them above)

If you appreciate elegant unique hand made crochet, please visit ScarletRabbit !

Artist Profile: Kim from SassySteampunk

Today's blog is a feature on that amazing Steampunk artisan Kim, from the etsy store Sassysteampunk.

First things first: what is Steampunk?

Becoming popular in the late 1980s, Steampunk is possibly a sub-genre of Cyberpunk and takes inspiration from Sci-Fi, fantasy, parallel histories, and  history meets future. There is an emphasis on steam or clockwork propelled engines, and modernistic inventions with an historical twist. I personally think of it as Jules Verne on Acid..... but I'm a classic goth, what would I know???

Kim of SassySteampunk
Kim hales from Alberta, Canada, her family comprises of two adult daughters, two grandchildren and two dogs. She is a jewellery maker and creates steampunk and goth inspired treasures. She is also a painter and designs tattoos although she states that she has known of her own.....yet.
An avid collector of blue dragonflies, and a fan of horror movies; collects glass orbs and also makes soap; what else inspires our steampunk artisan?

Inspirations
What inspires our Sassy Steampunk Kim?  Kim said that she was initially interested in designing and creating steampunk items  after seeing the video for Ben Lovett's song 'Eye of the Storm'. She has been interested in the steampunk genre for over four years, when initially she sold old watch parts. (think cogs, dials, cases, so cool!)

Kim's sassysteampunk treasures
Batlings, as you know I'm a traditional goth, i am into black lace, lush velvet, bats.... dripping candles ... knee high boots, and opera gloves....so some of you may be surprised, and exclaim in horror as you are overcome in a stupor when I tell you that I am a fan of the etsy shop sassysteampunk. 

I seriously believe you do not have to be a steampunk aficionado to love her work!  
I have purchased several amazing jewellery items from her, and they are beautifully made unique accessories that are a pleasure and honour to wear! 

One of my fave pieces that I have purchased from Kim's shop is a small ring that comprises  a dismembered watch set on a silver plate ring base and features a crystal as a focal point. I also have a gorgeous dragonfly altered art domino necklace, a beautiful bat cuff and a lovely bat necklace.

Kim is a true artist, as can be seen by her beautifully designed and created pieces, I encourage all of you to take time to browse her shop and buy yourself something delightful from her beautiful wares.

............................................................................................................... Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ...Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat