Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is only 8 days and 11 hours away, which means there are only 8 days left of drunken revelry and debaucherous fun before those of Western Christian faith begin a 40-day long season of abstinence and prayer which starts on Ash Wednesday and culminates on Easter Sunday. Many cultures celebrate the days before Ash Wednesday; however, few festivals are as famous as New Orleans' Mardi Gras. The first Mardi Gras celebration, including a parade and ball, was held in New Orleans by the Krewe of Comus on February 24, 1857. The Mardi Gras that everyone is familiar with today - complete with multiple Krewes and their balls, parades of elaborate floats, throws of beads, doubloons, etc - began around 1870. The preponderance of Mardi Gras festivities in cities across the US has been steadily increasing throughout the years, but I think those in the know would agree that there is no celebration that compares to that of New Orleans. I hold a very special place in my heart for Mardi Gras celebrations pre-Katrina, as I spent many Mardi Gras seasons in New Orleans with my family during the 1990s - those memories are some the fondest of my life! I'm sure you know what I'm talking about if you have experienced New Orleans' Mardi Gras pre or post Katrina - it makes no difference, New Orleans will always be a special place with an unconquerable spirit! To honor the City of New Orleans and the Mardi Gras season I have created a teametsyaustin mini of purple, green, and gold (yellow.) These traditional colors of Mardi Gras were chosen and assigned meaning by Rex, the King of Carnival, in 1892: purple is for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. I hope someone out there in Etsy land asks you, in the traditional Mardi Gras parade yell: 'hey, lady, throw me something!' Obviously, of course, for a price!

Best to everyone - please remember me and all of the unique teametsyaustin members in your treasuries and favorites, not just the same handful of usual suspects, as I and they need the help as much as everyone. I try very hard to show equal representation of all teametsyaustin members in my posts, favorites, etc, despite my photographic or personal interests - I may not know you personally yet, but I care about showing all team members some love! We are a TEAM!! Yay team! Take care everyone! Holly @ BowerbirdDesign

Information sources: http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/ and Wikipedia

i heart the heart of Texas Treasury

i heart the heart of Texas Treasury, originally uploaded by Trixie SweetWolf.

Happy Valentines Day Team! Y'all are awesome.
This treasury has already expired, sorry if you missed it live, but here it is!
=)
Cathie

"The February born shall find Sincerity and peace of mind, Freedom from passion and from care, If they, the amethyst will wear..."

Now that February is upon us, I thought I would pay homage to those born in said month by blogging upon some tidbits about the traditional February birthstone, amethyst. Amethyst is a variety of quartz that manifests itself in varying shades of purple via the iron and manganese in its crystals. The word 'amethyst' is a variant of the Greek word 'amethystos' which is loosely translated as 'not drunken' - the ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the wearing of amethyst amulets and use of amethyst drinking vessels would protect them from intoxication. The story of how the sparkly, violet, gemstone came to be be known as 'amethyst' comes from Greek mythology. According to myth, Amethyst was a beautiful nymph who worshipped at the altar of Artemis, the goddess of forest, hills, and hunt. Artemis had apparently rebuffed advances by her half-brother, Dionysus, the god of wine and intoxication, and, unfortunately, Amethyst happened to be the first creature to cross Dionysus' path in his scorned and wrathful state. The story goes that Dionysus unleashed his pet tigers upon poor Amethyst who, in her panic-stricken state, prayed to Artemis for help. Artemis answered by turning Amethyst into a clear crystal statue which instantly sobered up the drunken, and now remorseful, Dionysus. In respect and sorrow, Dionysus emptied his cup of very rare and scared wine over the crystal likeness of Amethyst in the hopes of returning her from stone to flesh. Alas. Amethyst remained a beautiful crystal statue, but became stained with the beautiful purple color of Dionysus' wine; hence the amethyst stone we know today. The ancient Greeks and Romans truly were magnificent story-tellers! It is said that Saint Valentine, whom we are to thank for the namesake February holiday, wore an amethyst ring which is why amethyst was declared the birthstone of February. Amethyst is said to impart clarity and ward off evil thoughts and is revered for spiritual and mental cleansing. Many teametsyaustin members make use of amethyst stones in their designs and I have posted a picture of a few examples of these plus a few other items that showcase the color purple. I wish everyone born in February a very happy birthday and, perhaps, if we all buy a piece of teametsyaustin amethyst we will feel the effects of positive thoughts and good karma! Take care everyone! xoxo Holly @ BowerbirdDesign & The Bowerbird's Bower
information sources: http://www.shinjyujewelry.com/id32.html; http://www.uniquejewelryguide.com/february-birthstone.html