Interesting how the light caught the lens this morning.... luminescent ... Earth Day...today marks just one day we honor and celebrate this incredible place we all call home 💙

It's funny that Tesla picked today to update my solar panels...there's a team on my roof as I write this mkaing sure that everything is working properly.

About 5 years ago, I made the choice to move to clean energy for my home.  At the time it was Solar City - now Tesla - that helped me do that. No need to run power from unknown sources or environmentally harmful sources when it exists right where you are...just look up!

Utilize the power of the sun. It is cool to think that this blog is being written by the power of the sun!  This was an easy decision for me and a great way to lesson my footprint on MotherEarth 🌍
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Use link for a $250 discount on your Tesla order: http://ts.la/susan2744 

Tesla provides the lowest cost per watt of any national solar panel provider and will reduce your electricity bill.
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#earthday #earthday2020 #luminescent #solar #energy #solarroof #solarshingles #environment #power #homeimprovement #netzero
#electricity #greenenergy
 #environment #cleanenergy #greenenergy  www.tesla.com/referral/susan2744 #solarpanels 
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http://ts.la/susan2744 

#tesla 📷 @susiegillis #love 

#light

Always light.

🖤

  See After a bit of urging, I locked up and headed next door to meet them for lunch.  We order a couple of dozen Island Creek (local) oysters, had some laughs and shared stories that only family can truly appreciate. 
 
A few oysters in, I felt something that could have been an oyster shell, but when I went to spit it out…. it was a pearl!  I could not believe that in all my years of eating oysters and working with pearls, that this special gift from my Island Creek Oyster came to me!  That is truly magic!

It didn’t look the pearls that I usually work with, but was rather smaller in size and had a blend of white and grey coloring.  This is a gift I will treasure always.

In honor of this experience and the magic of family, faith and friendship, I have designed a series of Island Creek Oyster ornaments, wine bottle decorations and napkin rings each accented with a freshwater pearl to share the wonderful energy of this experience at http://www.devotionaluxe.com/store/p85/oysteraquasilver.html .

It is with love & light, I share with you the magic of this season!
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Cheers,
Susie
 
www.Devotionaluxe.com
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#TheMagicoftheSeason #devotionaluxe #therocksandsalt @therocksandsalt @devotionaluxe #pearl @oysterman @islandcreekoysters #ICO #theoysterman #duxbury #southshore #MA  #entrepreneur #faith #spirit #gift #Mothernature #family #love @katiecanniff @michellecanniff

Several years ago, at the Wanderlust festival in VT, Shakti was introduced to me.  After talking at length to a woman who was fundraising to raise water standards in third world countries, we talked about her art work at Burning Man and how much I loved to sing - especially kirtan.  She immediately said I needed to go to Bhakti Festival in Joshua Tree, CA. It was the Mecca for kirtan! I wasn't familiar with it at the time, but asked her some questions and felt like it would be the right experience for me.  Ok, I will I replied!  But I had no idea how or when.

That was 6 years ago.  This spring I committed to help out at the Shakti festival - Shakti's sister festival in Joshua Tree CA.  They were looking for volunteer help, and with my extensive volunteer experience, I knew I could be of service.  So, I applied, and let it go.  Not thinking of whether or not I would be asked to help, I went about my usual business and plans.  

Leaving yoga at Open Doors one night with my friend Sue, I checked my email and saw that I was asked to come and help with vendor relations at Shatkti....and that was it!  Booked my flight immediately (and as crazy as it may seem got a roundtrip nonstop flight from BOS to LAX for $200)!  That was further confirmation I was on the right path ; )

Now the question was do a glamp it or camp it?  Air BnBs are always a safe bet, but I really wanted to be immersed in all of it.  Leaving the grounds at night didn’t appeal to me.  I love the idea of being out in the wilderness, so bought a tent at Walmart ($25) and packed it in my suitcase.  In retrospect, there is a Walmart a few miles down the street in Joshua Tree where I could have saved myself some room in the suitcase.  But who knew?  

When I arrived LAX, I took the shuttle to the car rental place (it is about a 15 min ride).  I rented a car and drove from LAX down to Palm Springs.  Knowing I would want a good night’s sleep before sleep in a tent for a week, I found a nice motel and checked myself in.  It was pretty late by the time I got there, but hunger overtook me, so I headed a mile into town for a delicious Mexican dinner at Las Casuelas Original - complete with Margarita!  I sat outside at a beautifully tiled table.  The waitstaff & the passersby were all so kind and cordial.  It felt so welcoming to hear "good evening" as someone passed by enjoying thier night.  Humanity is present.

 The quietness of the canyon captivated me.  The air was so very still and the heat a natural extension of the environment.  Although a desert, Palm Springs was aglow with flowering cacti, palm trees and the myriad of stars above.  I woke up early and headed out for a walk. 

I love heading out early in the moring when I travel, becuase the towns & people are just waking up.  The stores are still closed and there are fewer people out and about.  In this case, the sun wasn't at its highest so it was less hot as well!  My morning walk ended up being a 6 mile RT walk down the street.  Everywhere I looked there was somthing I wanted to photograph.  A tree, a hummingbird, a super cool interior design store, a museum.  Let's face it, CA is pretty sweet!  At the end of the Street  (Palm Canyon Drive) I stopped at a Rite Aid, to buy 2 huge Glacier Isle PH balanced waters.  I crushed one in a few seconds and enjoyed the other one of the return walk home.  At a cross walk, a local came up to talk with me.  He warned me to wait for the crossing signal as so many cars & trucks speed around the corners.  Furthermore the Palm Springs police are known to ticket pedestrians for not observing the traffic laws.  That's when I knew, I am not in Boston anymore.....

Today was a day of design...of thinking about how I want to move forward with Devotionaluxe and the brand.  This has been my sacred space for 5 years now, my art, my meditation, and my creative outlet.  For the most part this site has just held photos of my designs and not allowed any of you to interact with it.

What I have learned from my tribe is that people want and need to see these pieces in person!  There is something magical about working with stones, metals, and wood that a lens just cannot capture.  It is the essence of each piece that is felt when you touch, look at and wear them.  

I recently brought on a new yoga studio in my hometown of Marshfield, MA - Unplug & Be Mindful is not only an incredible energy and space to practice yoga in, but her gift shop totally rocks too!

If you have a shop of a space you would like to offer these designs; let me know and I will send out some samples for you to fell for yourself. 

As this web space evolves, I would love to weave in other designers, authors, and products that I love and use & value in my life.  

Love & light always,
​Susie

This month marks the time of year when the light of day is less and darkness greets us much earlier....it is a time of turning inward, a time of reflection.  But before we all tuck away into our hibernating patterns of winter....we must give thanks.

Thanksgiving is about spending time with loved ones, nurturing our bodies, our souls & spirits.  Being mindful of how truly blessed we are and for those who can give back, to help others who are not experiencing the bounty of life.  

This year, DevotionaLuxe partnered up with Massachusetts General Hospital for Children to be a luxury booth donor for their signature event, the Storybook Ball. "On October 14, 2017, the Storybook Ball celebrated its 18th year of supporting pediatric care at Mass General Hospital for Children (MGHfC)" and raised $2.2 Million for Children's Food & Allergy Center.   It brought me great joy to create and make the 85+ pieces of Devotionaluxe jewelry; bracelets for men & women and stunning druzy encrusted agate earrings like the ones I have on in this photo.    It was an extraordinary "Beauty & The Beast" themed evening designed & executed by Bryan Raffanelli.

With that behind me, I welcome this season of giving.  DevotionaLuxe creates custom pieces for that special person if your life...and that special person may be you!  Message me to start co-creating.

Thank you for visiting me here!  I am so excited to share with you my new designs and creations!

I started Devotional Beads 5 or so years ago, when a bracelet I had purchased in Turkey broke into many many pieces.  The bracelet was really special to me so I wanted to be able to save it in some way....   Instead of recreating the same bracelet, I purchased some pearls and used the center evil eye as the focal bead.  (It's so funny how the world works....as I am typing this post a lady bug with 5 dots walked by my laptop).  Coincidence?  

With these pearls, I created 5 bracelets that I wore all together stacked on one wrist.  Many people complimented me and asked where I purchased them.  When I said I made them, they wanted to know what stores I sold in and if I had a website. ...so that's where it all began!

This is a joy for me and I feel very blessed to be able to share my creations with you.  Those who know me, know I am a yogi and reiki practitioner, so energy and awareness are priorities for me.  It is with a deep intention of wellness and love for the wearer and giver of each Devotional Bead that I focus my energy.  

Wear them with light and love and please send me photos!  I love to see where these beads travel!

xox
​Susie