Laminin

I voted! Now I am looking forward to watching the show.

Leave it to me to rattle the nerves of the assistant manning the voter booth when I snapped a picture of my district's voting booth signs.

She said to me with fear in her voice, "NO! You cannot do that!" I asked if I could take a picture or video of my vote in the polling booth.

All of the volunteers who heard me ask looked like deer in the headlights of an oncoming tractor trailer.

They alerted me that police were called in the voting area earlier while a man was recording a video of the room.

I had never heard of rules that didn't allow it, so I was just taking a chance.

Well, I just smiled and asked if they could make sure that I really could not snap a picture of my own vote within the booth.

A man wearing a curly wig was called over and he called someone at "headquarters" and asked if a voter could take a picture inside of the poll.

He was so uptight, but I kept smiling.

I figured that the worst that would happen is that he would just find out that I couldn't do it after all.

Well after holding up the line and letting my neighbor go before me, the man still on hold, wearing the curly wig said "No pictures alright?"

*sigh*

The lady assisting the voters, was practically holding the curtain open to see if I was taking a picture or not. She also enjoyed looking in at those who went in to vote before me...

Luckily I was tall enough to block her.

I voted

I am happy that I went.

It is always fun for me.

ALWAYS exciting!

Whether who I like best wins or not.

I've been trying to post this since 4:45 pm....

Nola, you won a prize!

*Ink On My Paws*

I contacted you via email.

Thanks to everyone else who added their name!

I will have another drawing soon!

Time flew by! 11/03 is here!

I cannot believe what date it is already!
I've been too busy!

In a few minutes, I will be drawing a winner from this list of 13 bloggers.
3rdEyeMuse
Christi
Melinda Cornish
Pat Winter
Ink On My Paws!
Melissa M
Brenda Seaholm-Wampler
Sabii Wabii
Orlita
Connie
Michelle
pamelahuntington
Gufobardo

My vote counts.

Amber is annoyed- listening to people's "belief" in politics! She knows -The machine is run by an engineer more powerful than a puppeteer!

Not enough people are making a real change in their day to day life and are hoping that a chosen/voted for leader, will make their lives more hopeful, more bearable.

Each of us is important, and each of us can change the way the world evolves around us.

I believe that!

So I vote, for YOU!

To be YOU and make this world a better place!

~*Kawaii~Neh*~

CLICK ME!<-----------

Yummy Kawaii visual treats for you!
Take a look at her Etsy shop for more sweet tooth goodness!

Have a FABULOUS DAY!

NO TRICKS, JUST A ~*TREAT*~

If you leave a comment on this post between NOW and November 3rd, I will draw from the names listed and the name that is pulled will be the winner of a treat!
I am not posting what the treat is, but the winner will be allowed to choose from a list of goodies!

SO, leave any comment you want!
You could say "Hi" or you can leave a joke, a story, a poem, your grocery list.... you get the point right?
Just a general comment will do!

~*FUN FUN FUN!*~

Amber

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Did you hear? Tim Burton is working on ~*Alice in Wonderland*~ due out 2010!
The cast includes Burton "Regulars", his wife, Helena, and J. Depp.

Well, the rest of the cast looks interesting too!
Wonder how fantastical it will be?

I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

Follow the Leader...

"Amber, get yourself some water here in this store for your walk home."
Amber-"I don't want water"
"You should get some water."
Amber walks into deli/convenience store, still not really wanting water.
Walks toward water in the display and turns towards the packaged snacks instead... doesn't want that either.
"Look at the floor to your left..."
{Amber sees a crumpled $1.00}
"What about over there?"
{Amber sees a $20.00... no wait it is more than that... Picks it all up, looks around for anyone that looks like they are missing their money... Nope?.... Walks out and smiles}

Walks down the street and counts the cash... $45.00!
YIPPEEEE!!!

~*Smiles*~

That was nice!

Do you have extra Swarovski's laying around?

I am looking to trade rather than buy, *unless you have a great and generous deal to offer me!*

I need/want- 3mm and bigger/higher mm beads.

Flatbacks

Margaritas that are foiled

Pointbacks

If you have something else to offer *PLEASE let me know!

I am not sure who needs or wants what for trade, but I have a LOT of stuff that I could part with and send in exchange.

I am not picky with colors or effects.
So long as it sparkles and is not chipped, I am totally interested in hearing about your offer!



I am also interested in faceted semi precious beads and freshwater pearls.
THANK YOU!!!!

A favor? & the THINK PINK RESULTS!

I have a little/big favor to ask anyone who lists me on their blog roll.
Please, if you would, list me as Amber Dawn *Or* Amber Dawn's Inventive Soul.
Not just Inventive Soul.
That would really make a huge difference to me!

Thank you in advance!!!

:o)
And to let you know- REALLY GREAT NEWS!!!!
Monica raised over $3,028.00!
YAY!!!!
The THINK PINK project was a HIT!
Thank you to everyone who joined in to help make our THINK PINK charmed prizes! I really hope the winner LOVES it!

Ties that bind TTB

It is always helpful to have a camera with a working flash when you are an artist who wants to keep a record of your work.

Well, my most recent gift, a camera/video camera takes GREAT detail vids and pics. Unfortunately, *no* light or flash!

So... I keep borrowing my sister's camera from time to time in order to take good pictures.

On the day I mailed my TTB charms, I didn't have a flash. So these pictures are bleh

Under the two that I sent in for the TTB project, is another piece that I made initially, even before the Art Nouveau one pictured in a previous post.

But I changed my design, feeling that it might be too "hard core" looking for the project.

OK, so that's the sum of it all.

Amber

LAST FEW HOURS BEFORE... $3,000.00!!!

I am SO hoping that more of you will help the THINK PINK art project go to at least $3,000.00 dollars!
Monica is hosting the HOTTEST raffle on the blog circuit at this very moment!
YOU CAN STILL JOIN!
The prizes are impressive and even if you do not win, it is really about the charity.

~*THINK PINK ART DOLL*~
~*AND OTHER PRIZES TOO!*~
HURRY!!!!

Click THINK PINK to see the event and prize wheel.

RUN don't walk! ~*Sandra has some festive entertainment for you!*~

Sandra Evertson and crew have collaborated and concocted a delightful story line to enchant you.

If you have not yet done so, bookmark Sandra's blog.

I discovered her less than a year ago and have been enjoying her posts since!

She continues to produce one of the most entertaining blogs I have yet to see!

Click the picture above or HERE to be transported to her online stage.

Living out my own quote!

A true alchemist works not with physical elements, but rather unseen elements to manifest a NEW reality!
-Amber Dawn

The ~*~Mystical*~* power of prayer and fasting---

Whether you are a Jew or not, I bet you have heard at least once in your life about someone who's life was transformed by the power of prayer and fasting.
Other cultures practice it as well... But my drive to post this is directly related to my upbringing in a Jewish home.
For some reason, there is a very direct and immediate response to prayer when done with a true fasting. Fasting in a way that not only keeps food from your lips- but also by keeping yourself from filling your heart and mind with your own desires and wants.


When I was little, I felt very frustrated on each Yom Kippur.
"Why can't I have any food?"
"Why can't I watch T.V.?"
"Why can't I go out and play with my friends?"
"Why are the lights off in the house?"
It was SO boring, SO quiet, SO *depressing* for me.

As I got older- older than 8, I found ways to prepare in advance and sneak food in my room- in my book bag from school the day before.

Although the people in the house were Jewish, I had only been to Shul once in my life, and that was with a friend of mine from school. I was not raised knowing or fully understanding the REAL purpose of the holiday... Other than it was very important to follow all of the rules that the adults were following....????? To be forgiven, to forgive and to be thankful and appreciative of life.
That left me feeling hollow, hungry, and just annoyed at the holiday!

I hated it more than any other holiday there ever was.
*Who can hate a holiday?*

So- wanting to understand the "*truth*" behind the holiday and why everyone took it so seriously, I did my own experimenting.

Well, when I was about the age of 12-15 I decided to really take it all seriously myself.
I decided to BELIEVE.

And without going into all of the changes and struggles I went through, I just want to say, that after my initial testing and follow ups with my experience with prayer and fasting- along with forgiveness, and my own asking for forgiveness for wrongs I had done...

Life has never been the same.
It is far better!
MORE entertaining, full, exciting, amazing, FUN, joyful, free, miraculous and true.

It's not easy for me to share all of the changes that have happened within my self and in my life...
But it was not very easy at first to let go of my own thinking and controlling of my own life and everything around me.

You can see things more clearly when you empty yourself from your past and let go of things you hold on to.
Now I live by faith.
When I say faith, I mean life without too much thought or worry about my future.
Believing in the fact that my life means something and that I AM for a reason.

When I pray and fast now, it is not something I loathe. It is something I truly look forward to doing. And I do it on purpose not just one day of the year.

It makes things happen.
If I want a change to a situation or circumstance that I feel needs to be changed or enhanced in some way- I fast and pray.
My prayers, like vapors and wisps of thought, transform into tangible matter and become whole and *real* in the here and now in our world that we exist. I get things I need- Things I really want-People around me change- or their lives change.
If I was dealing with something that felt too ominous or oppressive to me for a long period of time, the situation would change.
Or if someone was really bothering me- harassing me or being abusive in my life, they would change, their life would dramatically change or they'd suddenly lose interest in me.
--- It is really amazing.

To best express this... Imagine a seed that turns into a large tree that bears much more fruit with many more seeds. It starts out with a DNA structure that is hard to imagine. I mean- if you never saw a tree grow from a seed, would you believe that it could?

And it keeps going- the cycle... An increase of fruit.
Faith is like that- Faith adds a spiritual DNA to your prayers or vice versa!

Well, my prayers- I now see them like seeds.
I plant my thoughts, graft my thoughts, sow my thoughts, and my heart's desires become reality.
It is REAL and AMAZING and if you have never tried it you should!

This is not about a religion- or any kind of rules.
It is about freeing yourself from pain, and despair, guilt and heartache and replacing it all with hope, faith, love, knowing and wisdom.

It works.

Now those who are Jewish, will know that me typing on the computer is not truly fasting...
It is true.

But my heart feels right, and I wanted to share.

I believe in continual forgiveness.
As well as a continual repentance.
I believe in continual introspection.
I believe in continual prayer.
I believe in believing.

Have a fun day!
:o)

Amber

~*A sweet gift from Sandra Evertson*~

A while back, I received a special gift from Artist and Designer ~*Sandra Evertson*~

She designed a jewelry display especially for me.

It was such a sweet surprise and arrived at a really good time.

Thank you Sandra for being so wonderful and so thoughtful.

I am thinking of ideas on what I can create to be showcased specifically on this display.

~*Smiles*~

Thank you so much!

Amber

October 3rd-

She is doing a little something to make the day special, she asks that we all pass on the info and help make her surprise extra special- Not sure what she is exactly up to- but I am interested!
~*Jamie Noel*~

I am going to be posting pictures this weekend showing off some of the THINK PINK jewelry that I have been assembling- using the charms from the THINK PINK exchange.

Please note that the THINK PINK doll and raffle event is fast approaching! OCTOBER 15th!
Get your donations out to Monica in order to play.
There are lots of great runner up prizes!
Click on the THINK PINK cartoon face link to the right to learn more.

Inspired by the Ties That Bind Project

The colors are not coming out well in the pictures, but I wanted to share what I made.
I made several other pieces as well, but they were too long to send for the actual Ties That Bind project.
The pieces that I did send, I will share with you soon.

For those that love charms-

If you have practice, and are pretty good at making artsy and creative charms I am actually hosting over a dozen charm swaps!
Let me know if you would like info.

Amber Dawn

A RECALL A learning experience! A delay in shipping too!

"Product RECALL"

If you have gotten a gross charm from me, please notify me at once!
I had created some VERY lovely vial charms with little flowers Swarovski's and reflective tape inside along with words.
What I did not know, was that the adhesive I had used, would react and turn my work colors and make the charms look corroded after a month of "sitting" and curing.
The metal on the back of the stones and the make up of the tape reacted with the Diamond glaze.
It is KNOWN that DG reacts with some metals, but I THOUGHT the DG had cured clear.
The DG must have still been "wet" when I sealed the vials.

Only a few of you have gotten these from me and I think that I sent them as extras to you anyway? I will trade you for a version of it that does not look terrible.

I had also promised a gift in the mail to three other artists, Joanna, Pam, and Christi.
When I went to pack them up for you guys, I saw how the charms had totally transformed and mutated into an unlovely looking work of art!

So that is why I am delayed.
I am airing out and reworking my methods!

I love the charms, and they are worth waiting for!

Amber

~Black & White~ details

CLICK HERE FOR THE CHARM SWAP BLOG

Remember that this is an "upscale" swap and no junk or lack of style charms and packaging are welcome.


If you join, be prepared to make your artistic charms with care and flair!
OK- rules-All of the charms must not have ANY color.
That includes AB rainbow effects on any of the materials.
So just white, black, gray, clear, silver, steal.
All of the pieces need to be less than 1 1/2 inches long and no larger than 1 inch thick if possible.
All of the findings must fit the gray/black/white standard.
So no brass and no copper.
Try to make them as sturdy as possible so that they can be worn, if on a bracelet, and withstand a few hand washings at a sink.
(If someone is wearing it out to dinner, or uses the restroom)
Please do not use E6000, or other long lingering odor type adhesives.
All of the fumes, MUST be nil when I get them in the mail.
Does this type of a swap excite you?
It does for me!
I LOVE wearing my black and white pieces out often and they certainly get a LOT of attention!
The due date will be mid November I think.
I am STILL asking for people to sign up.
So far I have two sets that have been sent to me and they are very nice!

This is a 20 for 20 swap IF we can get 21 people to join us!
It will be less if not enough join.
This swap is a go, regardless of number.

So far we have charms from-

Rita Jackman

Brenda Wampler
Michelle Walker

Amber Dawn
Melinda Cornish
Cynthia Deis owner of Ornamentea & Panopolie in Raleigh, NC USA
Melanie Becker in Germany
Susan Zacher
signed up

& Sabii Wabii and Cindy Ericsson are showing an interest in joining.
Leave a comment for me if you are interested in joining.
Thanks!
Here is the first set of B&W's that have come in-
RITA JACKMAN

MADE FROM SWAROVSKI AND JAPANESE BEADS
EXCELLENT QUALITY!




WITH EACH TORUS CHARM (the beaded circle)
RITA ADDS an ADDITIONAL BEAD DANGLE!
ABOVE IS A SAMPLE OF HER ENTRY.
ALL OF IT WRAPPED AND TUCKED AWAY IN
THE BEAUTIFUL TIN then inserted in the
HANDMADE RIBBON TIED SACK!

THIS IS THE TORUS (Her official charm entry)


THIS IS THE EXTRA SHE ADDED IN
(Only mine says panic...gee thanks?)


Beautiful presentation!


All of the assorted bags that Rita has sent in!

~*Black & White charms!*~ I joined Laurel's swap... Plus my Black and white swap is still open for sign ups!

Black and White charms by Amber Dawn!

Dear Jamie, Here is the box... from 2003

I used to make a lot of these types of fun "story" boxes for the home.

Jamie Noel, she makes them to WEAR!

Tiny cool movable circus and carnival theme games and attractions

FUN holiday an anytime gifts.

Catch her goodies on Etsy, or from any of the other places they sell.

You can find her link on my sidebar.

She is SO entertaining too!

(This box was assemblaged in 2003, the circus part is a music box too!)

IT's Being Printed (In Canada) !!! The DIARY/journal is READY for orders!

YAY!!!!

I have to say that I LOVED working on this project!

I LOVE GRAPHIC DESIGN!


http://www.fantazya.ca/diary2009.html

If you participated in the book, you get a small discount, so if you are ready to order, be sure to contact Lucy for the "insider" price list!

Since shipping from Canada is a bit high, you might want to buy multiples along with some of your interested friends and share the shipping cost.

The project may also be purchased on disk or downloaded!

I am really looking forward to seeing this in person.

Click the link to see sample pages!

One of them is a design/page that I created for Debrynda D.

(She makes some really cool image sheets for multi purpose art.)

You can see all of my diary page designs in previous posts.
Enjoy!

Amber

Would you like to follow my blog?

I would like to invite you to use the newest, coolest feature here on my blog.
To the right, you will be able to see at the top of the column a link to follow this blog.
Your name can be listed, or you can follow as an anonymous viewer.
I have been waiting for this feature to go live for a few weeks and it is finally active!
Join my blog feed network!
:o)

Amber

~*Think Pink*~

I am getting the entire batch of ~*Think Pink*~ charm swaps ready to ship. LOTS of swapping and wrapping, writing and taping!

It was a great turn out with 30 participants plus myself.
Each participant made a set of 12 charms, 10 to swap and two are a donation.
The extra charms will be used to create lovely art to wear bracelets.

Monica Magness will be holding a raffle and 1 of the bracelets will be used as a prize, the other one will be auctioned off on EBAY.

YAY!
:oD

Amber

Where is the love?

Amber would very much like Suzi Finer to return Amber's entire selection of wedding book submissions. It's been several months since she was promised that she would get it back and Amber is deeply hurt.
Why is it so much trouble to return?

If you have a shred of human decency you would not leave Amber high and dry this way Suzi.

Think about it...
It is really cruel.

Dined at Orsay

ORSAY (click to see the place)
MMMMMM.....

Very good~!
Very nice!

However, if you order the Heirloom Tomatoes ($10.00) and Mesclun ($7.00), be prepared to see two tiny bowls, with barely anything in them.
Well, I was a bit stunned at the size of the bowls. A few of the slices (tomatoes) had scaring on them, so that was a waste.
for $17 dollars, I could have done much better ordering something else.

The place itself is lovely, our waitress was pretty cool.

The place is $$... But the flavor of all of our food was so worth it.
again... mmmmmmmmmm....
The bathroom is a bit tedious! If you go, be prepared to squeeze in and out of the stall.

We chose to eat at this place after spending time way uptown at the top of Central Park.
It was so GORGEOUS there! I did take photos, maybe I will post some.

For desert they had Gelatto in Astoria from Martha's Country Bakery.
YUM!
I bought a tiny cranberry and walnut tart. :oD

Persepolis- and more... Just some thoughts and feelings about movies I saw this month.

____________________

I cannot sleep, there is a cricket outside the window chirping like mad!

_____________________________

I'm looking forward to my first day, without anyone in the house other than myself today!

It's been a LONG time!

SO much to catch up on and get done!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Movies sure help to distract your mind and help pass the time!

Persepolis-
This film was very entertaining and lots of fun to watch!
I found it quite cool!
Although it is animated, this film is *NOT FOR KIDS*!
It is heavy, full of mature themes, mature language and pretty serious subject matter.
The story is about a girl who grew up in Iran, and lived through war,
the issues and oppression that the country had to deal with and being a teenager coming of age.

It is now playing in select cities... However you can also get it from the video store
Be prepared with tissues if you see it in the theater. You *might* need them.
If you do rent it, be sure to see the special features.

The film trailers are also entertaining.

I also saw Children Of the Lost City.
This film is not for the squeamish.
It gets gross and nightmarish (Quite literally actually)
in several parts of the film.
It is pretty cool in some parts.
I love the nod to steampunk
paraphernalia and fixtures.
Well, this movie is like modern art...
you just have to accept it as such in order to appreciate it!
The movie is loaded with color and sound.

Ron Perlman has a Russian accent in the film.
(The English version is what I watched)
The kids in this film are *adorable!*
The characters are very well played and
the costumes and sets are entertaining.
---Again, pretty gross and sick in some parts, NOT FOR KIDS!
It is easy to lose interest in the film... But hang in there, there are some good scenes.
And although it is not a "happy" ending I can say that it is a good ending.

:oD

I saw Terminator 2 and 3 this past week.
I liked it!
TONS of action. It makes the movies fly by!
Although I've never seen part one, part two
was pretty good and you kinda don't need
part one to get into it all.
I am hoping that part 4 is just as good.

I saw Ghost rider... I kinda liked it. Kinda cheesy... See it of you are a fan of the actors.
It's a typical "deal with the devil" plot... Not for little kids...

I saw Nancy Drew. THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT!
PERFECT for ALL AGES and quite well done! A VERY GOOD PLOT!

Watched most of Angel-A... This is NOT a film for kids, and although I found most of the film sick and twisted I enjoyed the cinematography.
It is B&W.

And lastly, Becoming Jane.
I really liked it, and had fun watching it!
Love the costumes and set design- LOVE the manners and protocol...
Never want to live like that though!
:od Too "proper".
It was fun learning a bit about the author behind some of the coolest stories in English Lit.
So romantic... *sigh*.
_________________________

A funny thing happens when we (my husband and I) rent films.
There is always a connection a scene or an actor, a director or character that matches in 2 films out of every batch we rent.

This happens every time.
It's something we laugh about!

There is a scene from Terminator in Persepolis...

And although this does not really count-
3 of the films were actually French

2 of them had actors from Amelie, one of the best movies on my list of must see films.

Ah, and Ron and Linda were a team on "Beauty and The Beast" back in the 80's...

Amber