I Am An Everyday Abolitionist, are YOU?

I have invited a friend of mine, Melissa Watson, to write a guest post for me this week. She works for Free The Girls, an organization that works hard at a very worthwhile cause: helping those who have been rescued from human trafficking to get back on their feet, with the resources to develop the skills they need to move forward with a healthy and fulfilling life.

By Melissa Watson, National Director, Free The Girls

Five years ago, I would have never thought of myself as an abolitionist.  In my mind, slavery ended in the United States in 1865 and, along with it, went the abolitionist movement.

Enter Free The Girls with their cheeky name and catchy slogan, “Donate a Bra. Give a Former Slave a Job.”

Free The Girls is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides job opportunities to survivors of sex trafficking in developing countries by helping them establish their own businesses selling bras in the second-hand clothing markets. And, through the collection of bras in Western countries, Free The Girls inspires people and organizations to get involved in the fight against modern day slavery.

What’s the problem?

Currently over 27 million men, women and children are being held as slaves around the world—more today than in any other time in history. The majority of those slaves are women and girls—many of whom are victims of sex trafficking.

There are a number of amazing organizations that are helping to rescue these women out of a life of prostitution, but what happens after they are rescued? Free The Girls partners with established aftercare facilities to help provide job opportunities to survivors of sex trafficking selling bras.

Bras?

Yes, bras. Every woman has a small graveyard of bras in the back of her underwear drawer—bras that she doesn’t wear anymore or that never fit right in the first place. By contrast, second-hand clothing is a profitable market in many countries around the world. Bras are sought after items. And even better, bras provide an opportunity for the women in our program to establish their own businesses, to have flexible hours so they can return to school and care for their families and, most of all, to work with other women—a contrast to their former lives where they were being abused and used by men.

How You Can Help

Start by donating those bras lingering in the back of your lingerie drawer to Free The Girls. Then, encourage your friends to do the same. Give up your favorite vice once a week—the double soy latte, the drive-thru dinner, or the second glass of wine during happy hour—and, at the end of the month, total up your savings and sign up to be a monthly donor to support Free The Girls job creation program. In short, resolve to be an Everyday Abolitionist.

What does it mean to be an Everyday Abolitionist?

If you are like most people, you might think that the only way to make a difference is to “go big or go home.” Free The Girls knows that real life doesn’t work that way. Becoming an Everyday Abolitionist is simple, and it doesn’t require you give up all your spare time or make an endowment-worthy donation. 

Everyday Abolitionists take a stand against modern day slavery in their everyday lives. They take advantage of opportunities like donating bras they never wear. They write a note to a survivor of sex trafficking. They buy a sweet Free The Girls t-shirt. They use social media to encourage their friends and family to take a stand, too.

Everyday Abolitionists are conscious consumers and purchase fair-trade, slave-free clothing, food, and consumer products whenever possible.  Some Everyday Abolitionists shop at e-retailers like ASTERrisk who donates the proceeds from the sale of her exclusive, handmade Free The Girls branded jewelry. Other Everyday Abolitionists hold garage sales and donate the proceeds. Many Everyday Abolitionists invite their friends to start a book club that selects books about human trafficking.

Everyday Abolitionists ask thoughtful, discreet questions to people they encounter in the service industry (such as manicurists, housekeepers, day laborers, or restaurant kitchen staff) to determine whether that person is being forced to work in return for room and board. They write to their lawmakers demanding laws which impose tougher penalties for pimps, johns, and unscrupulous employers; which de-criminalize and expunge records of those arrested for prostitution and illegal immigration; and which fund services directed at the rescue and rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking.

Small, simple steps leading to real, tangible results.

Everyday Abolitionists don’t sacrifice their own identity for the cause, they make the cause part of their identity in small, meaningful ways every day.

Ready to join us? Learn more at freethegirls.org

Report suspected human trafficking violations to the National Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text the word INFO to 233733.

It's me, Alisa, again! Thanks for reading. I believe that turning outside of ourselves to help others is one of the greatest traits we can develop. Consider supporting Free The Girls, and while you're there you can see my cutie-patootie daughter Hailey! Try to imagine her or any girl or woman you love caught up in human trafficking. It's unthinkable.

The Widow's Mite

Several years ago my husband and I took a trip to Rome, Italy, and made a side trip to Pompeii. I am fascinated with ancientness, and there are so many ancient places I would love to go! I'd love to tour castles in Ireland and Scotland; see the pyramids of both Egypt and Mexico; go to China to see the Terracotta Army and The Great Wall, just to name a few.

I have refrained from writing a history lesson. You're welcome.

I randomly came across an ancient Roman coin once, and it prompted me to look into using ancient coins in jewelry. I've made a few things over the years, and have really enjoyed shopping for coins that are interesting and meaningful to me. I've made a necklace from a coin that I've hung onto for a while because I couldn't decide if I wanted to give it up or not. I'm sure I'll buy another one at some point, because I just love it! It's not the most beautiful or rare coin, but I love it because it has significance. It's a lepton, sometimes known as the widow's mite. It's significance comes from a Bible story you can find in Mark 12:41-44.

You can read it if you like. I have also refrained from writing a Sunday School lesson. :)

If you aren't religious, it's a touching example of unselfishness, and of sacrificing to support that which one finds to be support-worthy. And if you are religious, it's a poignant example of faith.

Click on the pictures to see the listing for this necklace in my shop.

Are Diamonds Really a Girl's Best Friend?

What would you say if I told you there was a gemstone that was proven to be more beautiful than diamonds? You'd probably say, "Why, that is not possible! Ones estimation of beauty cannot be proven to be more or less correct than the varying opinions of others! It is unaccountable!" (Because in my head you speak like a character in a Jane Austen novel.) And you would be right. Sort of.

While it's true that opinions of beauty vastly vary from person to person, there are scientific measurements for things like brilliance (refractive index), fire (dispersion), and luster index. If that data defines beauty, then there is a stone more beautiful, as well as being almost as hard, and a fraction of the cost of diamonds.

Does that excite you as much as it does me?! I doubt it, but we can compare scientifically if you'd like. What's your heart rate, temperature, pupil size, etc?

This stone is called moissanite, named after Dr. Henri Moissan, who discovered it in 1893. Hang in there, this is kind of interesting. He was studying a crater created by a meteorite that hit the earth thousands of years ago, when he found small traces of an unknown mineral.... Unknown because it's from outer space! It is made of silicon and carbon, both of which are found on Earth, but the combination of the two doesn't naturally occur here.

Obviously, natural moissanite is very rare. Only traces of it have been found, certainly not enough to be used in jewelry. But some brilliant scientists came up with a method for creating it in a lab. They produced it because it's physical and electronic properties make it the foremost semiconductor material for.... some things I know nothing about, and in the interest of staying on topic, I'm going to move on. In 1995 a master diamond cutter suggested that if it were cut it would make a beautiful jewel. He was right!

Moissanite can be compared to, and in fact surpasses diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds in brilliance, fire, and luster, and is only slightly below diamonds in hardness.

But wait, there's more! Moissanite is considerably less expensive than diamonds. I'm talking in the $100's rather than in the $1000's. That's a smokin' deal for a stone that is proven to be more beautiful, right?

Are you sold yet? What do you think, should I make some moissanite jewelry?

Stamp Your Way Into Her Heart

Are you a mom? Do you have a mom? Do you know a mom? Then you might have started thinking about Mother's Day. It's a little ways off still (May 12), but I've started brainstorming about what kind of mother's jewelry I want to make.

I made a "Secret Message" ring, that can have almost countless variations.

As you can see, the outside is very simple. It could be a plain band, or an initial, or any of 100's of design stamps that are available, and the inside has the secret message; which could also be anything that fits on the ring.

I made some of these rings for a boutique I am going to be at, so I made them in a one-size-fits-all cuff style. It could just as easily be made into a full ring though.

I also came up with this mother's necklace. Another simple piece (I'm kind of leaning towards more minimalistic styles lately. Just cuz.) that allows for 1,2,3, or 4 birthstone beads.

This one could also be easily customized. It could have a heart instead of the word "mom," or a name, or whatever. The beads could also just be decorative instead of birthstones. I just had a thought... A star with a red, a white, and a blue bead. Patriotic, right?

Endless possibilities! That's what I love so much about making jewelry. Especially when it's hand stamped, because it can have personalized meaning. I recently became a distributor of ImpressArt Metal Stamps. They have such a huge variety of design stamps, and alphabet fonts - I'm really having fun with them! You can check out some of the stamps here if you're interested. (I've just set this up, so I'll be adding lots more in the coming weeks!) Even if you've never done any stamping, jewelry like this ring and necklace are so easy and fun to make! Think of the fun you'll have whipping out Mother's Day gifts, birthday gifts, YOU gifts! :)

Mother's Day is in just over a month. Better get started!

Alisa

Friday Finds

Are you an April Fooler or an April Foolee? Well, it's coming up soon, and you'd better get prepared if you want to fool more than you want to be fooled! I found an imaginative list of pranks here if you'd like to peruse through them to get your prank juice flowing.

I also found some fun ideas from the handmade arena. This one made me smile... A Boyfriend in a Bottle at Sparkly Pony on Etsy. Hmmmm, not a bad idea.

And a baby with a mustache! This baby is cute no matter what it has on its face. :) You can find your mustache at Wee Hilarity.

For this, I have only one word. Gross. But, gross and April Fool's Day go hand in hand, right? Find these matchboxes and other fun gag gifts at Dippy Lulu.

And of course, I found a plethora of fake spills; from baby bottles and melted ice cream to fingernail polish and paint. I even found a vial of fake spilled blood. I chose the picture of spilled Diet Coke, because that would be totally believable anywhere in my vicinity. You can find all this and more at Fake Food Decor.

Do you have any favorite April Fool's Day pranks? Comment and let us know!

Alisa

Beautiful Bullets

This is not a political blog. But there are some things I just have an opinion on, and this opinion happens to lend itself well to jewelry. :)

Gun control. This idea scares me. Even if you don't own a gun, and have no desire to ever own a gun, and even if you're afraid of guns; this idea should scare you. Self defense, hunting, and target shooting aside, this is a human right we are talking about - a right specifically outlined in the constitution! Allowing the government to take away any of our rights is so out of our American Character, that I find it appalling that it's even being considered. The governmental snowball is rolling, and if we don't stop it, it will become an avalanche. 

I watched a video recently where a man was talking about Congressman Giffords being shot at a supermarket during a rally. He said that nearby people stopped the attack using a ball point pen when the shooter stopped to reload. I am proud of them for stepping up and using whatever means necessary to protect themselves, their leaders, and their friends and neighbors. But... If I'm ever in a situation where I, my family, my home, or other innocent people are being threatened, I don't want to stand there and wait until the shooter has emptied his gun, while I hope no one gets hurt. And I'd prefer to have a gun over a ball point pen. And if others would prefer to stand there and hope they don't die, then that's just fine, but don't take my right to protect me and mine away. 

I don't carry a gun, actually, but my husband does. He has hunted all of his life, and he knows how to safely handle a gun to protect himself and others from accidental harm. That's key, I think. I'm scared to see the general public waving guns around willy-nilly! My husband recently bought a new gun, and some of the other customers buying guns obviously had no idea how to use one. Maybe people should have to take a gun safety class when they buy their first gun, I don't think that's unreasonable. 

Anyway, that went on much longer than I thought it would! You're probably wondering how this has anything to jewelry...

I think these are awesome! You can find them in an Etsy shop called Trash and Trinkets. She has recycled, upcycled, repurposed and uppurposed (if that's not a word now, it soon will be) used shell casings from different sized bullets. She uses silver, brass, and copper embellishments and lots of different colored stones or crystals to make each one unique.

I had to try to make one myself! I looked online for some pretty embellishments... for about 10 minutes, then I got too impatient and just made one with things I had on hand. :) Mine is not as pretty as hers, but it satisfied my itch to make one, and I kind of like it. I want to be clear, though, that I won't sell these; it's obviously not my design. But I'm happy to send you to Trash and Trinkets to buy one of your own!

I do have a bullet tie tack that I'll sell you though! It's a nice statement piece. I can make you one out of a mold I already have, or I can make one for you with your bullet of choice if you'd like to send it to me.

In the second picture, the tie tack on the left is made from a bullet that hasn't been shot, and the tie tack on the right is made from the shell of a used bullet. It's kind of cool to make one from a significant shell of your own (from a successful hunt, bulls-eye shot from a tournament, etc). Feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss the possibilities!

Friday Finds

I have been looking into the world of Etsy's edible goodness.... And I'm getting hungry! I, myself, enjoy being in the kitchen only to eat, and for no other reason, so I am very impressed with these talented and creative culinary artists.

Look at these candies! Yes, candies... They look like real seashells, don't they? Jason and Andie at Andie's Specialty Sweets make these candy coated chocolates, and many other incredibly beautiful candies for your enjoyment. 

Here's something different... Maple Bacon Cake Bites... Cake mixed with maple icing and pieces of bacon, dipped in chocolate and topped with more bacon. Oh my goodness, sweet and salty at its best! You can find these at Bite Sized Delights by Ann on Etsy.

Classic. Strawberry Rhubarb Jam. My mom used to make this stuff, and it's my "berry" favorite! My mouth is seriously watering looking at this picture. Get it at Copper Pot Traditions.

And, oh my. Organic Vanilla Bean French Macarons. Not to be confused with macaroons... Do I need to even say anything about these? Just look at that cookie. If the sight of it alone doesn't sell you on it, there's nothing more I can say that will. Mmmmm. Andrea has these and more at Salt City Bakery.

Alisa

Hollow Book Nook/Kindle Case

I keep seeing these online, and I've been wanting to make one forever. I'm so excited to finally have one done! It took some thought and planning beforehand, and since I usually tend to tear into things without much thought and planning beforehand, I thought I'd better document the process in case I want to make another one.

The choosing of a book actually took me a while. I started out wanting to use an old classic book... Something that would make me look cultured and intelligent if I carried it around. :) But finding one that was big enough without being too bulky was a challenge, not to mention the fact that I would probably have a hard time "destroying" a classic when it came right down to it. I finally found this blank journal, and I think it's perfect! It's nice looking, has a ribbon marker, and best of all, it has a magnetic flap closure. I found it at The Vickerey.

Ok, let's get started! In addition to your book of choice, you'll need Elmer's Glue All (or something similar), a small bowl, a paintbrush, an exacto knife, coarse sand paper, a stapler, and clear elastic. I had a hard time finding clear elastic (in the one and only store I looked in - I hate shopping!) so I bought a pair of removable clear bra straps. Worked perfectly! You'll also need to have something heavy on hand to weigh the book down as the glue dries. And, of course a Nook or Kindle for sizing purposes.

1. If your book has a ribbon marker, cut it out, but leave the top inch or so to make it look like it's still in place as it should be. We'll get back to the ribbon later.

2. Glue together the first 1/4 or so of the pages*; just lightly to hold them together before you start hollowing out the book. It probably won't hold for the whole process, and that's ok. You'll apply more glue later. It's important to thin the glue with water so it seeps into the pages better, and isn't visible when it's dry. Put a bit of glue and water in the small bowl, and use the paintbrush to apply it to the outer edges of the pages. Be so careful not to glue the cover down! It's better to leave the first few pages unglued for now than to accidentally glue down the cover.

*The reason I only did the first quarter is because I wanted to insert the ribbon marker and clear elastic later. Therefore, I couldn't glue all the pages just yet. If you just want a hollow book without the ribbon and elastic, go ahead and glue all the pages, EXCEPT for the last 4 or 5, or however many pages you want to leave as the bottom of the "box" when you're done.

3. Place something heavy on top of the book and let the glue dry. I placed a notepad between the book and the cans to even out the weight and to protect the book from any marring.

4. After the glue is dry, use your e-reader to trace the hole you will be cutting out. Make sure that it's centered and straight, then use a straight edge and the exacto knife, and start cutting. 

*Tip - it's better to cut it just the smallest smidge too big than it is to shave off a millimeter or so afterwards because it's too small. Trust me on this! You still want a close fit though, to keep your e-reader safe.

The cutting process is a long one, but please take your time. Just gently cut through a couple of pages at a time. If you find yourself pushing too hard on the knife, back off, because one slip.... and it's off to the hospital for stitches; or even worse, you  may cut where you don't want to cut and have a crummy looking hollow book when you're done. :)

5. When you're done cutting through the first quarter of the book, it's time to glue together the rest of the pages.* Well, most of them, anyway. Leave out 4 or 5 pages in between, and 4 or 5 pages at the end. This is just a buffer to make sure the glue doesn't seep too much and glue all of them together yet. (In the above picture the book is upside down, so the cut out portion is actually at the front of the book... I don't know why it's upside down, it just is.) Glue the back section of pages together, weighing them down as they dry, just as you did the front section.

*Again, if you're not including the ribbon or elastic, you will omit this step, as your book will already be glued together.

6. After the glue is dry, put a piece of cardboard just before the pages at the back that will be the bottom of the box, so they don't get cut. Continue to hollow out the book.

8. When you're all done hollowing, the edges where you have cut will be rough. Carefully sand them with coarse sand paper to smooth them down.* It won't be perfect, but it will have a much more finished look.

*Hold the pages together as tightly as you can to prevent damaging them as you sand. The pages, which were glued lightly, will probably be coming apart a bit, and the edge you will be sanding hasn't been glued at all. Remember, it doesn't have to look perfect, just sand off the roughness.

9. Now it's time to add the ribbon and the elastic. Lift the first quarter of the book (that you originally glued together) and place the ribbon and elastic as pictured above. Staple them in place by opening the stapler so you can staple right into the pages beneath... Just like you would staple something to a bulletin board. As long as at least one side of the staples catch the ribbon and elastic, it should be fine. Sorry, no picture to show you, I hope my explanation makes sense!

*The elastic, of course, is to help keep your e-reader securely in place, and the ribbon is meant to go under it to help lift it out when you need it.

10. Glue the back cover and back pages to each other and to the hollowed out pages using regular glue (sparingly) not the diluted glue, to help avoid wrinkles in the bottom. Glue all the edges around the outside of the book, and the inside edges of the hollowed out portion, using a thin layer of the glue/water mixture. Apply the glue in several coats, weighing down the book and letting it dry in between, until you feel confident that it will hold solidly.

And there you go!

Alisa

Autism Awareness

Do you know anyone with autism? Chances are you do. The Autism Society states, "In December 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued (a report concluding) that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 110 births in the United States, and almost 1 in 70 boys."

Autism is treatable. It's not something people "grow out of," but if it's detected early, a lot can be done to improve the lives of those affected and their families.

April is Autism Awareness month, and as the month comes to a close I want to draw your attention, again, to the autism awareness bracelets that I have in my shop. $5 from each purchase is donated to the Autism Society. That's true all the time, not just during the month of April.

Autism Awareness Bracelet

Alisa

Friday Finds... A Thursday Version

Ahhh, love!

As you browse through today's Finds, please enjoy the #1 love song of all time, according to About.com... The Beatles - Something. :)

There's nothing like good sugar cookies... And they're nothing like my sugar cookies, so these look super tempting to me! Sugar and Flour has them for every occasion, and she's happy to take custom orders! Mmmmm....

I love this fun, handmade scarf; to wear on that Valentine's Day date, or any other time you want to look trendy and super cute! Fairstore has this and lots of other great crocheted items to choose from.

Ha, ha... I love it! These Hill-Billy approved goblets made me laugh, and I think everyone should have a complete set! You can find them at A Wine Twist, on Etsy.

And last, and probably least, check out my new Sterling Heart Ring. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alisa

WARNING:

This post contains religious content. Proceed with caution. :)

I'm a Mormon. Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the media about Mormonism. Therefore, (as the media tends to create) there's a lot of confusion. I'd like to do my part to calm the chaos if I can, at least in my small circle of influence.

I understand that religion can sometimes be a difficult topic to approach. You might be curious, just for curiosity's sake. There are, after all, some interesting ideas out there about what Mormons believe. But, even though you wonder if there's any truth to the stories floating around, you DO NOT want anyone to try to convert you, so you don't ask. It goes the other way too. Sometimes it's hard for us to bring up our religion to others because we're afraid of offending, or being judged, or other such silly things.

In contrast, you might be seriously seeking religion; trying to find something that rings true and brings you peace and purpose, but you don't know anyone who can give you real answers.

In either case, let me direct you to an official website of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - that's the church's real name, not the Mormon Church. Mormon is just a nickname. The website is called Mormon.org. It's risk free, with no obligation to buy. (By "buy" I mean buying into concepts... there's not  actually anything for sale....) There are countless profiles of church members on the website that are full of stories, and experiences, and answers. You can search for people who have things in common with you, or just browse through random profiles. They're all written by normal, everyday people, who live normal, everyday lives. I've even got one. You can read it here if you'd like. In addition to profiles, there are links where you can find the church's official beliefs and stand on all kinds of things. And, if you'd like to go so far, you can even chat with a real live Mormon.

Check it out. You might be surprised by what you learn. :)
 www.mormon.org.
Alisa

Friday Finds

It's almost New Year's Eve! Have you got big plans? Maybe some of this week's finds will inspire you.

Find this eye catching top hat, and many more, at Bonnie Made Designs.

You can learn how to make these fun party poppers, and other fun ideas on the Design Happens Blog.

Take a look at this Vintage New Years Eve Printable Party set at the Frog Prince Paperie shop. It's not too late to put together an unforgettable party!

Happy New Year

Alisa

Druzies

I have recently fallen in love... with druzies! 


"What is a druzy? Druzy crystals take hundreds or even thousands of years to form. They form as molten rock begins to cool with trapped gases inside. The gases cause gaps in the rock. As groundwater flows through these gaps for century after century, minerals crystalize on the rock - forming a blanket of intense crystallization."

This description is taken from an Etsy shop, Beads Addict, where I have recently purchased several druzies. I made a couple of Christmas necklaces with them, which, of course, are one of a kind, because no two druzies are ever the same.

The red one has been sold, but the green one is still available on my website.

I have a few other druzies just waiting to be made into pieces of jewelry... rings, perhaps? They're a bit smaller than the Christmas pendants. Aren't they gorgeous??

If you click on the above pictures, you'll be taken to Beads Addict, the Etsy seller I bought these druzies from. If you see any stones there that you love (or anywhere else, for that matter) let me know! I can work with you on a custom piece.

Alisa

New Website!

I am so excited to announce my new ASTERrisk Jewelry website! I've been busily adding items, and tweeking things here and there, but I think it's finally ready to unveil. Please visit it, and "like" it, and tell your friends! I'm sure it will continue to evolve over time, so please let me know if you have any recommendations!

I do still have my Etsy shop as well, and will continue selling there just as always.

Wow, building a website has been such a fun undertaking! I have wanted to do this for a long time, but really didn't know where to start. I finally bit the bullet, and researched some web hosting providers, and settled on a company called iPage. I have to admit, I was (and still am!) pretty clueless, and it took me a good week full of many hours of trial and error; adding, removing, and revising widgets; rearranging elements; and lots of what-do-you-thinks aimed at my husband... and I know I will continue to make more changes, cuz that's just the way I am. But it's been a lot of fun! If you've ever thought about doing it, I would encourage you to go for it! Feel free to ask me about the process if you'd like. I'm a novice, but I'd still love to discuss it with you. :)

Thank you for all your love and support!

Alisa