Raige Creations

After 2 full days of rain, it was good to have the sky not weeping, and to get out for a run! BUT...as I walked up the hill to begin my run, I noticed a neighborhood family of dogs out for a walk. Now if you don't know, our puppy is afraid of other dogs, and this particular duo of dogs is a bit aggressive. I also was not in the mood to deal with the pulling of leashes, and the necessary pleasantries it would take to get by this gentleman and his two excitable dogs. So what did I do? I turned down the side street I usually avoid. Why do I avoid it? It is one long, sloping and fairly steep hill. Going down is no problem, but up...well I have never been able to run up the entire hill. After seeing the dogs, and not wanting to have to pass them, I decided today was HILL DAY. Today I would do it! On a Monday no less. All the while thinking... WHO LET THE DOGS OUT!?! woof woof woof woof........ I wish I could tell you I ran up the entire hill. I didn't. I almost made it

Do you have vintage costume jewelry that is beautiful and sentimental, but missing rhinestones, too short, or a bit out of fashion? (i.e. Grandma’s clip earrings) Well we are having a workshop to put your old jewelry to good use. Shelly's design, using elements from other vintage pieces May 3rd, starting at 12 noon, bring your cherished jewelry to this workshop at Blue Rage of Asheville , and re-design and transform this jewelry to be wearable once again. Shelly Johnston, Asheville based jewelry designer specializing in re-purposing vintage jewelry, will help you design and re-manufacture your pieces to meet your tastes and specifications. Charm Bracelet designed by Shelly, bringing vintage to modern day. If you don't have old jewelry, come anyways! Shelly will have a large selection of authentic vintage pieces for you to choose to purchase from, and you can still create a unique and meaningful necklace, earrings, or bracelet.  Charm Bracelet using sentimental an

I started out my run today feeling more like walking. My legs were a little stiff-slash-sore, my knee letting me know I have been working out. So, I decided in my mind that today that I could take it easy. So I walked up that long steep hill at the end of my driveway. Of course, I was out this morning at the school drop off time, and the traffic on my road and at the top of the hill was quite busy, making me glad I was taking it easy today. The entrance to the school was crazy, parents trying to get in, parent trying to get out, so I thought it best that I ran to get out of the way.  Well, once I started running, I just kept running. I felt like I was going an easy pace, still thinking I could make is a nice and easy run, nothing fast, not really pushing myself. So I ran. I didn't push too hard, took it slow, and even snapped some pictures...not the best, but still it made me appreciate the beauty around, and appreciate the fact I was not breathing too heavy, and didn't h

Some days, it really does feel like we go after our inspiration with a club, bat at it until it falls into our minds, and take it for our own.  Some days our clubs are smaller, and our inspirations fall delicately into our laps, and we welcome them in.  Either way, we seek, we find, and we are inspired.  Happy Clubbing.

I feel like I just took on the weight of the straw that broke the camels back. I have been carrying much weight. Most times, I don't notice how heavy it really is. But sometimes the weight really brings me down.  Yesterday, as I was already having a difficult time with the weight, I received news about my car that, shall we say, was not good.  To make a long story short, I took my car in for a routine oil change, and was presented with a long list, an expensive list, of urgent repairs needed. The kind that means I should not be driving the car unless repaired. No, it's not the mechanic - my car is at the age and mileage that these things start happening. But of course the timing is terrible.  Already stressed about finances, this happened at the worst possible time. On top of several other things that fall into the 'not regular expense' category. I am struggling with that difficult question - How are we going to get through this? That crazy straw is heavy,

Good Monday to you all - and Happy Earth Day.  This morning had me noticing the landscape. The green filling in all the trees, the beautiful flowers daring to bloom after the cold nights we have had, and of course enjoying the bright sunshine.  At the shop, we have been enjoying tea from Cindi's Sacred Garden , and today is the last day of this sample. So I thought it fitting Sir Paul McCartney serenade us while we enjoy some Strong Body Tea. Perhaps not proper English Tea, but oh so good, and good for you. This weather, the sunshine, flowers, green grass and leaves on trees, it makes me want to sit in miles and miles of an English garden, stretching past the willow tree ...... Hope I can sit and enjoy some tea in my yard later this afternoon, even though there are no willow trees, and the garden is sparse with a few bulbs, not yet blooming. But I am determined to enjoy.  Enjoy your day, every day, even if it is just for an afternoon tea, in a less than English Garden.

I should have known today was going to be a tough day when a sink full of dirty dishes and smelly garbage greeted my in the kitchen, and then the kids missed the bus. I hadn't even noticed the grey and gloomy skies until I was driving the kids to school.    But, I still got my running gear on, and headed out for my run because of a picture I snapped yesterday. It is of my favorite flower, and just the thought of seeing it today was enough to get me out there.    It is so beautiful there, surrounded by weeds, old leaves, and brush. It is a splash of color on a not so colorful hill, right next to the sidewalk. Even though I didn't want to run, I thought the site of this would be worth getting out there, plus the added bonus that I didn't skip a day.   It was sprinkling just a bit, and keeping in mind what a friend of mine posted the other day - "You're doing well! don't let the rain scare you > Running in the rain is great. " Besides it was j

As I mentioned on Monday , my last few months have been filled with feelings of going back and forth with ideas, running 'Hot N Cold' so to speak. One of the few constants I have tried to maintain is running, or at least mixing runs with walking. I even found motivation and groups online to help me through the mornings where it was so hard to get out there and do anything. I tried to share, for me and others, because if it helped me I knew it may help someone else. That's me in the middle there in the green shirt - asking "Why is there always a hill at the finish?" I ran the Shamrock Run back in March, which actually was a very hard race. I felt much more prepared for this race, and was determined to run the entire thing with no walking. Well, I did it, no walking, ran the whole thing, but my time was worse than the Jingle Bell Run, plus I felt worse after the race! My lungs ached, my head ached, and I felt it took me longer to recover from this race.  J

It's been one of those days..... Actually, 'one-of-those-days' has dragged out for months for me now..... But it all hit me yesterday, when I stood in the closet looking at my clothes and could not decide what to wear! I pulled out dresses, then couldn't find a slip, pulled out dresses that didn't need a slip, but they needed ironing, pulled out dress pants, but was SO not in the mood for pin stripes, and then, I had a meltdown. All the while, my husband having his coffee, frustrating me even more trying to get me into things that just were not comfortable, that I just was not in the mood to wear. All the while he is perplexed as to why I just can't put on one thing and wear it! "See?" ,  he says putting on a tee shirt with holes in it and jeans with bigger holes. "It's easy!" Of course he didn't have to go and open a shop and try to sell things...so of course he didn't have to look nice, professional, and put together. I DI