Bye bye birdie!

As you may have noticed if you are following me on Twitter, I have closed the Twitter account of Silverlight and Whiteleaf Jewellery. 
Twitter is a lot of fun, and I have enjoyed using it. However, in the past month or so I realised that I was spending time tweeting when I should have been creating new designs. This simply wasn't good for my business or for my customers.
There are so many people on Twitter, and so many crafters and small businesses using Twitter to drum up business instead of using Twitter as it was intended to be used: for conversing, keeping in touch, and chatting with people all over the world. It is so easy to become a spammer on Twitter rather than using it as a natural extension of one's business and activities.
So I have decided to close down Silverlight and Whiteleaf Jewellery's Twitter account, ten months after I opened it in July 2010 (as posted here). In that ten months, I amassed 2,450 followers, but I doubt that any of them will miss my tweets. And maybe that's a good thing.

So: farewell, Twitter, and happy tweeting to all of my fellow Twitterers! Thank you for all the fun times. May the little blue birdie continue to bring you happiness.

sweetwilliam

$17.00

boocraft

$22.00

artdivine

$30.00

wishingtree

$110.00

mightymouse

$80.00

justemily

$60.00

lisajhoney

$20.00

wendyj

$20.00

ilovethat

$14.99

craftyart

$15.00

studiok

$65.00

erink

$40.00

xy-design

$39.50

onetrickpony

$14.00

mantis

$55.00

cheekpinchy

$24.00

cloudnine

$49.00

onetrickpony

$8.00

The story of a horse who has wings

On Monday I made my first sale on Zibbet.com, an Australian-based venue for handmade items, vintage goods, and supplies. The sale was the one-off necklace Pegasus' Sunrise (I blogged about it in November 2010).
I was happy about the sale, naturally, but was touched when I read the message that the Australian buyer had left for me.

Hi there,
I am buying this pendant because my horse, "Bobbi", just died. I am deep in grief and missing him terribly. He was only 6 years old, which is very young for a horse. He was my first horse, and he died in my arms Friday night. There was a beautiful pink sunset that night, so this charm hits home with me. Thank you for this charm. When I saw it, I do not see Pegasus, I see Bobbi as an angel. He looks so happy now with his wings. If you don't mind, I'm wondering if you can call it "Bobbi" not Pegasus on your website. It will be my little tribute to him...since it's one of a kind? Thanks! I'll send you a picture of him if you want. Sorry if I sound weird. I'm just in that "frame" of mind at the moment. LOL!

-Mary Frances 

Having lost more dear animal friends than I care to count, I understood completely. I replied, asking Mary Frances to send me a picture of Bobbi. She E-mailed me the photographs and story below. She has graciously given me permission to share them on this blog. 

Hi Emma,

Thank you so much for allowing me to do a little tribute to Bobbi with the purchase of your necklace. Pictures of us and him are attached. I give you permission to use them on your blog. The first pic is of me and my son (Matty) feeding Bobbi some apples. He was so good with Matty...curious of him but forgiving and gentle.My son calls all brown horses "Bobbi". 

'Bobbi and Matty (21 Months Old)' (picture 1). Photograph courtesy of Mary Frances.  

The second picture is me riding him (he has his head lowered on the bit, and I'm saying "good boy Bobbi") [Edit: I have included this image further down in the E-mail]. The 3rd picture is just really captures us and his sweet expression.

'Sweet Bobbi' (picture 3). Photograph courtesy of Mary Frances.  

It is the strangest thing. I had been looking for 2 days on the internet for a winged horse pendant I could wear which reminded me of him (but in angel form). There were a few "typical" ones where the horse was more cartoon like and had a halo, but I was looking for something more "real". Something that when I looked at, actually brought me peace because it was more like what I really picture him as the now heavenly spirit he is...not the stereotypical "angel with halo".  I had been looking up horse necklaces and using the word "Pegasus" in google image searches. I thought, just for a bit of a whimsical experiment, in putting the name "horse with wings Bobbi" in my google image search, just to see what came up. Strangely your necklace and another I liked 2nd best (which I'm also getting), came up which reminded me of him most, and had that "real" angel look about it. It was weird how I had looked for two days, but as soon as I added "Bobbi" to the search, the pendant I had been seeking for two days came up straight away!

It came up on your blog, and I read all about the Pegasus description. When Bobbi died there was a pinkish sunset, and to me this necklace is him leaving his sick and frailed body, rising upward to heaven with beautiful wings reflecting the setting sun of his life...reborn again to his immortal soul to live on until we meet again. It just really struck a chord with me. I'm sorry, if I sound like a total weirdo. I'm in the grieving process, so may sound a bit whimsical! 

Here is our story...

I'm now 28 years old, and rode horse briefly as a child. Like many little girls, it was my dream to have my own horse. My family couldn't afford it back then, and I also got a little scared from a bad experience riding when I was younger. 

My husband and I had decided about 2 years ago we wanted to move to acreage, and so I thought I better get back into riding because you can't have acres without a horse! I've never completely let go of that childhood fantasy. After becoming a wife and new mother to my now 2 year old, I started taking riding lessons again roughly about a year ago. I was nowhere near even thinking about buying a horse as I felt and was totally inexperienced, and was simply not ready. Just talking to my instructor I was starting to prepare myself for the kind of horse to look for in a first horse for a novice rider when the time was right...at least 10 years in age, having had many riders on its back with loads of experience in different areas, and preferably a horse with more cool bloodlines (not your hot blooded horses like thoroughbreds) as they are more likely to be hot and spirited...not a good choice for a first horse and beginner rider. I was thinking I would be getting a Clydesdale or Shire cross with a stockhorse, something along those lines. Really we weren't even thinking about getting a horse until we found the property we wanted and had moved there. Currently we are still in the suburbs.

Around the time of my 10th or so lesson (August 2010), my instructor had bought a Thoroughbred gelding from a friend whom she was going to train up to be a school horse one day. He was an ex-race horse, and very young (only 6) and still quite green (inexperienced in training), however, he had an unusually quiet and sweet temperament. After putting me on a few mares, she had been telling me how I'd probably prefer geldings to mares because they were less "moody" as all females can be...haha. She let me ride him, and that was it. She was going to keep him as a school horse, but she ended up selling him to me at Christmas. Anyone who saw us together would have done the same.

'me and Bobbi' (picture 2). Photograph courtesy of Mary Frances.

He was extremely kind to all riders, but unusually responsive to me. Many of the experienced riders at the school had ridden him, and any vices he had were basically non existent with me. No one couldn't explain it. I slouched when I rode, my hands never kept still and had to be the most annoying possible on the bit, and yet, he (I should really say "we") "shined" together. No one could explain it. The experienced riders were doing all the professional tricks for getting him to put his head down on the bit, but all I would have to say was "good boy Bobbi", and he would lower he head onto the bit for me. He chose me. I learned that most riders search for years to find a bond with a horse that Bobbi and I had from the very beginning. It was creepy. I begged my husband to buy him for me, even though we'd have to pay weekly adgistment because we hadn't found our property yet). He suckered in and bought him for me as a Christmas present. About another week later we found our new acreage property. About another week after that, he suddenly came down with colic. He stayed the night at the vet, and actually pulled through despite what the vet thought was going to happen. He was a fighter. All my horsey friends and my instructor had told me to just try and get him through the night...often they fight through it and are fine the day after...then you never see colic again. They were right that night. He was fine for a month following the incident. 

This past Friday, however, colic struck again, this time fast and fierce. My instructor called me telling me he looked unwell and was getting the vet out. I jumped in the car, and about half way there the vet rings me saying, hurry up, he's in bad shape (as in...this is going to be "goodbye"). When I arrived his bowels were nearly ruptured, and his temperature was 36. She had pumped as much sedative as she could into him, and he was still colicing...this means death is certain. When I arrived, he was still standing, but on the other side of the paddock with his nose in the dirt. I walked in, said his name. He turned and walked towards me. He kept walking at me so much and was so wobbly that heartbreakingly I had to keep backing away from him because he was close to falling over. He just wanted to be touched, and he knew my voice. I had to make that awful decision, and he managed to stand still for awhile so I could give him a last cuddle goodbye. They gave him the euthanasia and he died in my arms. It was horrific.

My first horse...I had only known for 6 months, who was still a baby (only 6), and I had only owned for a month, who I had a connection with that most riders dream of in a lifetime...dead in my arms.

I'm having such a hard time letting go of Bobbi. I know he's in a better place, away from his pain. That is why this necklace struck a chord with me. He's so happy in that image, with his new wings...pain free and full of life and energy. He always bobbed his head like that too...another reason why it reminds me of him.

I have asked God that when it's my time to pass on, that he "first" send me Bobbi, so that I may canter faster into a forever with him and all the others I love who have passed before me. This necklace really sums it up for me, and I had to have it. I only had him for such a short time, but we loved for a lifetimes worth. He was my kindred spirit. Thank you for the existence of this necklace, as it will give me peace for many years to come.

Cheers,

Mary Frances

When I first made the 'Pegasus' Sunrise' necklace, I had no idea it would turn out to be so special. That something I have made might help to ease someone else's grief is wonderful. 

I am honoured to be part of Bobbi's and Mary Frances' story, and grateful that Mary Frances has allowed me to share it with you on this blog.
In honour of their relationship, and the life of a creature who brought so much joy and friendship to those around him, 'Pegasus' Sunrise' will now be called 'the Bobbi necklace'.

Thank you and merry Christmas!

I've just put this notice into all of my online shops: "Please note: I will be away from 22 December to 30 December. I will attend to all messages and purchases when I return. Merry Christmas!"

I'm taking a break from blogging and Twitter, too.

Below is one of my favourite necklaces from the old Silverlight Jewellery branding. I love it because it is so simple, and also because I named it 'Arigato' – 'thank you' in Japanese. Such a simple, beautiful sentiment seemed to suit a simple, beautiful necklace. Since the necklace no longer fits with my new branding, I recently gave it away to a friend of mine as a gift for his wife, in return for some bottles of home-brewed mead that he had given me – so it was a trade, really, rather than a gift; but I felt grateful as I gave it to him.
It felt right to give 'Arigato' as a thank-you gift.

 'Arigato' – abstract, Japanese-inspired pendant on satiny black cord.

Thank you, blog readers, customers, suppliers, and friends, for an amazing 2010. 

Here's wishing you all a fun, peaceful Christmas and an exciting, joyful new year.

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Wikipedia

"Knowledge is power." 

– Sir Francis Bacon, Meditationes Sacræ. De Hæresibus. (1597)
English author, courtier, & philosopher (1561 - 1626)

Like many people, I use Wikipedia frequently for innumerable things. I often use it when I need instant information on various stones or materials that I use in my jewellery, which means that Wikipedia helps me to earn a living. With that in mind, I made a donation to the Wikimedia Foundation this year during their annual appeal. It wasn't much, but it's a start. Below is the thank-you E-mail I received in response.

_______

Dear Emma,

Thank you for your gift [...] to the Wikimedia Foundation, received on December 8, 2010. I’m very grateful for your support.

Your donation celebrates everything Wikipedia and its sister sites stand for: the power of information to help people live better lives, and the importance of sharing, freedom, learning and discovery. Thank you so much for helping to keep these projects freely available for their more than 400 million monthly readers around the world.

Your money supports technology and people. The Wikimedia Foundation develops and improves the technology behind Wikipedia and nine other projects, and sustains the infrastructure that keeps them up and running. The Foundation has a staff of about fifty, which provides technical, administrative, legal and outreach support for the global community of volunteers who write and edit Wikipedia.

Many people love Wikipedia, but a surprising number don't know it's run by a non-profit. Please help us spread the word by telling a few of your friends.

And again, thank you for supporting free knowledge.

Sincerely Yours,

Sue Gardner

Executive Director

_______

I am immensely grateful to the people who created Wikipedia, and who run, edit, and support it. To me, Wikipedia represents everything that the Internet should be about: 'sharing, freedom, learning and discovery'. The existence of Wikipedia alone justifies the invention of the Internet. It may not be perfect, but for the first time in human history we have a way of sharing reliable information about anything which is freely available to anyone.
Knowledge is power, and Wikipedia offers free knowledge. No strings attached.
I don't think the value of that can be overestimated.

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Seth Godin's Thanksgiving

Americans have just celebrated their Thanksgiving holiday. I've often thought that giving thanks is a jolly good reason for a celebration, and I think it's a pity that more nations – and people – don't have some kind of thanksgiving celebration.

Seth Godin said something similar in this recent blog post: 'A Modern Thanksgiving', only his idea is even better than mine.
Have a read – Godin's posts are short, concise, and brilliant.

A further thought: we don't need a set day to give thanks. I give thanks every day, for a huge number of things. And, curiously enough, the more I give thanks for the things that I already have, the more things I find to be thankful for, and the less I feel the lack of the things that I don't have. It's quite magical.

 Burning Sky photograph by Raceytay on Etsy

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