Important Update...

Visit: Your Spirit Rocks! at our vendors booth every other week at the local Farmer's Market in Calistoga , CA

Sunday, January 20, 2013

The beat goes on!

The good news we learned today is that the Farmer's Market will continue through to the end of March! Yippee ! The City Council of Calistoga must feel that this venue is a positive one in spite of the scaled down number of vendors and visitors who stop by during the winter months. We still enjoy the Good vibes,excellent produce and delectable baked goods every Saturday morning from 9AM to 12 noon. The consistency has brought many visitors back for breakfast burritos,olive oil,beautiful flowers,fresh vegetables,SPIRIT ROCKS and incredible seafood for their kitchen tables.


Today,I was interviewed on Radio Calistoga!


Dennis DeVilbiss came by and introduced himself and began to ask me about how I got started in this business and the significance of "Your Spirit Rocks!™" Luckily, I was prepared to pitch it and it went pretty good.Feel free to add a comment at the end of this entry, because the feedback will help me grow both personally and professionally.

This weeks rock features the 45 insert that I gave Dennis for putting me on his show and being a part of the great community of Calistoga.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Rock of the Week

This weeks rock is another flourescent/luminescent rock that was painted with the intent of keeping you company after the lights are out.I call this rock "Harlequin Heart" and have thoroughly enjoyed having this on my nightstand. When I have to get up in the middle of the night, I find that the glow is still active and alluring.This is my best designed rock to date, and with Valentines day approaching you can bet that I will have some more like this.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Crackle

This week I am putting up a batch of new rocks, because I haven't posted any in the past week.These were all scanned and made into a .tiff for printing purposes. I have begun using this stuff called "crackle" that gives the red rock in this picture an antique look. I really like the effect and will be using it on rocks in the future. As Valentines day approaches, I will be making lots of rocks using the basic heart motif. If you like these, or have an idea for one... leave me a note and I will get back to you. I like the challenge of doing custom work if I can fit that idea on a rock.

Have a great week!

Click on the image for a larger view


Saturday, December 29, 2012

New Year's Rock


Lately, I've been scanning my various rock creations and dropping spectacular, vibrant backgrounds behind them.This one has a white metallic cloth that I scanned and brought into Adobe Photoshop and tweaked with the Pinch filter. I love the way it showcases one of my favorite rocks.I will be featuring a different rock every week in the new year, so stay posted. If you have an idea for a rock, leave me a comment or sign my guest book and I will get back to you.This year will be a great one.

Happy 2013 everyone !

Sunday, December 23, 2012

The Disco Rock

The Rock of the week is one I call the "Disco Rock" because it reminds me of a lot of the dance clubs of the 70's. It has lots of florescent dots and lots of luminescent dots. The florescent dots look great under a UV/Black light that causes them to really pop out in the dark. I purchased mine at the local ACE Hardware for around 12 dollars.Scorpion Master has them for sale online. Note the difference between "Florescent" and "Luminescent" dots. Florescent does NOT glow-in-the-dark. Luminescent does.

Most of the rocks I paint will have something with Luminescent paint on it, to substantiate the claim that the rocks do glow in the dark. Lately, I have been including a lot of florescents because the colors are so bright.The dots also have a textural feel, which add to the overall experience.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Gratitude

Thanksgiving was wonderful, and so were the Arts/Crafts shows that were well attended. Your Spirit Rocks ! It is with much gratitude that I write this. Everyone who made a purchase at The Black Stallion Holiday Art Show or The Aegis Napa Valley Craft show really made these past three days just great,and this is in spite of the inclement weather and flooding throughout the Valley.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Thanksgiving Holiday

Join Christopher Sullivan who will be exhibiting his Spirit Rocks at the Holiday Open House & Art Show at the Black Stallion Winery on Saturday, December 1st, 2012, from 11 am until 4 pm. Black Stallion Winery is at 4089 Silverado Trail, Napa. When you are visiting Calistoga stop by the Farmers Market at Sharpsteen Plaza across from City Hall at 1235 Washington Street. Christopher who creates these beautiful Spirit Rocks, is there on Saturday’s from 8:30 am until 12 noon. The good news is the Market which used to close the last Saturday in October will be open until January this year.

Friday, November 2, 2012

A New Look

This week marks the end of the regular season at the Saturday Farmer's Market in Calistoga. Fortunately, it has been extended until January... weather permitting of course. Naturally, I will continue to provide some very unique designs and gift ideas for the upcoming holidays. I hope to see you there !


Please stop by and show me how much Your Spirit Rocks! Your enthusiasm makes a big difference on Saturday mornings .


It's great to be living in the Napa Valley and Calistoga in particular, among such interesting people within a thriving active community.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Your Own Spirit Rock

Thank you for visiting the Your Spirit Rocks blog spot.The following is how the idea for Spirit Rocks came to be.

The story began when I headed out to the coast to do some thinking after I left my job. Again, I was looking for guidance and direction from my Higher Spirit, because I did not know where or what to do next with my life.

Russian Gulch is an area just north of Jenner, CA.I parked my old Ford in a small,not-so-obvious turnout off the coast road and began hiking through the underbrush towards the ocean which I could hear in the distance. After walking approximately one quarter of a mile,you reach a clearing and inlet where a small stream of water will block your entrance to the beach when the tide comes in. Some people will throw logs and branches to make a bridge to the beach, but It probably is just as easy to roll your pants up and take your shoes off to wade closer to the shoreline. The surf crashes hard on this private little beach that is enclosed both on the north and south sides. It is only about one hundred yards in length.

Most of the rocks here are smooth and plentiful, as the tides have pounded over them for centuries.I picked one up and thought about how life washes over each one of us... smoothing our rough edges.I noticed how good it felt in my hand, and how it helped me center my thoughts.At once, I felt at peace and knew instinctively that everything was going to be okay no matter what direction I chose to take. Late in the afternoon, I stuck a few of these rocks in my pocket and headed back to my car.The ride home was exhilarating as my mind entertained pleasant memories of times spent near the Russian River area in summer's past.The warm days and balmy evenings playing miniature golf and going to teen dances are the stuff of youthful dreams.

Later when I arrived home, I emptied my pockets and began to paint one of the rocks with some metallic paints I had around. Once it dried, It looked really beautiful and so I took other colors and started to decorate it. The acrylic paint adhered very nicely to the surface of the rock and it occurred to me that a small amount of glitter may embellish it nicely. Lastly, I had some glow-in-the dark paint and began adding small dabs to see how well that took to the rock. It worked beautifully.

Turning the lights off, it looked like the rock's own spirit was emanating from inside as I held a flashlight to the white, glowing paint.Gradually the glow would fade and re-emerge depending on how long I held it under the light. Lastly, I sprayed a varnish on the outside to coat and protect all the layers of paint and glitter.Now I really had something to behold !

I began giving these away to friends and acquaintances as personal gifts, that they could keep or pass on as they wished. Naturally,they contain only the good fortune and power you want to give it, as it is held in your hand.It is not known where it's journey will end. Perhaps at Russian Gulch, where it was initially found.All I know is that it gives me a lot of joy to decorate them and pass them along.