Merry Christmas everyone! It was a wonderful one for us, surrounded by family, friends, kids, babies and dogs. What else is there to ask for?

I am looking forward to 2007, the year of personal expansion and freedom, joy and fun, ease and grace, trust , manifestation, loving, health, wealth and happiness. That, or something better, for the highest good of all concerned.

Expect a miracle! I do. Love to all,
Selene

Have you heard about www.feed333.org? It is a wonderful way to give and to receive. Do not miss it! Do it now and you will be glad you did - I guarantee it... In any case, I was glad I did.

I urge you to visit http://www.lighttounite.org/ and "light" a candle. It only takes a minute and Bristol-Myers Squibb, who manufactures HIV/AIDS medications, will donate $1 for every candle lit. I just did it--it took only a moment and we are already over a million candles. And please pass this on to others. Thank you!

I have known Eli Davidson for many years now, and she is truly a master in so many areas, it is hard to list them all. She is bright, hard-worker, persistent, really amazing. And beautiful.

Eli started a design company with $17 and a glue gun. She went on to build it to $1.5 million in sales in four years. In an eighteen month period she lost her business, marriage and health, which left her with $88,000 in corporate credit card debt…and no good shoes to show for it.

Using the tools she shares in her just published book, Funky to Fabulous, she paid off her debt and moved from a pool house to a million dollar house in four years. She then began coaching others to help them turn around their lives.

As a nationally recognized woman’s success coach, she has worked with female Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe winners as well as corporate leaders. She has appeared on national radio and television. The Today Show, USA Network and NBC and Fox affiliates. 5 New York Times Bestselling authors, an Oprah producer and an Oscar nominee for best actress have endorsed her book, Funky to Fabulous.

These are some comments on Eli's book:

“Eli Davidson has turned her life around and you can too. You’ ll laugh out loud reading Funky to Fabulous- and walk away with surprisingly simple, powerful tools to turn around your day and your life.”- Jack Canfield, Co-author of "The Success Principles®" and the best-selling "Chicken Soup for the Soul®" series

“Funky to Fabulous…is fantastic! It’s a delicious treat filled with powerful ways to bounce back and bounce better. You’ll not only laugh, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to use its tools to help you dance toward your dreams. Eli Davidson overflows with wit and wisdom. Her simple tools will help you change your life.”- Iyanla Vanzant, Five times New York Times Best Selling Author: "In the Meantime, One Day My Soul Just Opened Up" and NBC’s "Starting Over"

”Slipping into Eli’s book is like having your best friend whispering life’s sweetest secrets in your ear. Funky to Fabulous is a must-read, full of bodacious wisdom and irresistible invitations to more life right now. I loved it."- Kathlyn Hendricks, Ph.D. Best-selling Co-Author of "Conscious Loving"

I bought the book (a few, actually) and started reading it right away. So I have my own comment to add: "It is a book that comes from her heart; it teaches what she has learned and experienced, and she shares it in her usual way, with generosity, compassion and, above all, with lots of joy, laughter and fun." - Selene Soler, Designer of Fabulous Jewelry

Be sure to order the book at www.funkytofabulous.com, or by email: info@elidavidson.com. And check out her blog at www.funkytofabulous.blogspot.com. Eli is also a dynamic speaker and interview subject.

And last, but in no way least, Eli loves my jewelry; what can I say, she has good taste! Here is a quote of hers on the subject: “Life is better wearing good jewelry.”

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, and I have so many reasons to be thankful! But I will spare you, and will just refer to what is present right now: the website. IT IS DONE!!! IT IS EXQUISITE!!! SO IS THE BROCHURE!!! They both look beautiful and professional, but not "corporate"; they don't look "stiff". How could they, really, when in so many ways it was all done as a work of love.

After I sent an e-mail thanking everyone involved in both projects, this is what Clara wrote back:

Selene, ha sido un PLACER y un HONOR ser parte del proyecto y ayudarte a construir esta imagen that honors what you are meant to be!! Es un testimonio del poder de la intencion, de crear nuevas opciones y del bien que nos hace crear beauty en el mundo. Te felicito por todo esto! Tambien es una prueba de que el teamwork SI FUNCIONA, y de como la gente se complementa, y como trabajar con gente que respetamos y admiramos, it brings out the best of us. Todos nosotros merecemos muchos halagos! Con mucho cariño, Clara

Yes, Spanglish. We often communicate like that. Here is the English version:

Selene, it has been a PLEASURE and an HONOR to be part of the project and help you build this image that honors what you are meant to be!! It is a demonstration of the power of intention, of creating new options, and it is also proof that teamwork DOES WORK, and of how people complement each other, and how when we work with people that we respect and admire, it brings out the best of us. We all deserve many compliments! With much love, Clara

It should be obvious now why Clara was in charge of the texts; she needs few words to say big things.

The quality of the team that came together when I said "I want a brochure, I want a website" was a miracle and a blessing. Suddently this amazing group of people appeared: creative, fun to work with, flexible, able to listen to each other, to respect each other... strong, intelligent, lovely and loving people that took the project and moved it to a much higher level.

Martin* has been helping me for a long time, with marketing concepts, being a fantastic sounding board, making suggestions, teaching me. Then, when we actually started with these projects, he clarified concepts, followed up on details, explained to me what I wanted (yes, what I wanted and didn't know how to say it). He has been the organizer, the team leader, the one who held it all together. He is brilliant and generous, and with his clear mind and his pacience, a great teacher for me in every way. And on top of all that, he takes these incredibly beautiful photographs! There is no way to repay his dedication, his loving support, his willingness to be of service.

And then there is Clara*. She took all my jumbled ideas and transformed them into this elegant, sophisticated image of me and my work. She created the spirit of the brochure and the website, she indicated to all of us the direction that we needed to follow to get to where we wanted to go. She chose the perfect words to express what we wanted. She cooperated in all kinds of ways (and still does), offering opinions, looking for information, always alert, always helpful. I am amazed and grateful for her generosity, her enthusiasm and her joy.

Leda* picked up the image and made it a reality. During the whole process she was a step ahead. She understood exactly what we wanted, and with her impeccable taste she was able to create a brochure and a website that are outstanding in every way. Her dedication, her attention to details, her openness, which allowed an easy dialogue, her creativity and her extraordinary talent... all that and much more resulted in these exquisite works. She did not treat this project as "work" - it was done with love, and it shows.

Diego* did the misterious technical "things" that make the website a pleasure to navigate; he made it easy to use, practical, understandable for everyone. He demonstrated immense knowledge, and great patience and sense of humor at all times, making changes here and there until everything was (is!) perfect. I don't know much about his work, but I sure enjoy the results.

Sandra* was kind enough to do the translation to Spanish. She is the best translator I know; she investigates, goes deeply into the meaning; she doesn't translate words, she translates concepts. It makes all the difference. She is a gentle soul, until it comes to translating...

Brie* appeared in my life at exactly the right instant, took photos of me and, with her expertise, made me look so fabulous I actually think I do not need plastic surgery at this time! She was generous and supportive, made me comfortable and made me laugh. She has amazing talent and a kind heart.

Jennifer* did my makeup with such skill that I ended up looking like myself, only much, much better. But I can still recognize myself! That was so important to me, and Jennifer understood it and made it real in less than 30 minutes. It spoiled me and I would love to have her around every day!

Randy* is one of the most creative persons I have ever known. He can do everything and anything. Among the everything and anything is creating and performing the exquisite music that, in my perception, makes my website so unique and special. Listening to that music melts me inside. Randy gave me the music as a gift; he is, indeed, an amazingly generous man.

(* If you want additional information on any of these extraordinary people, please check under "Credits", on the upper right side of each screen. Leda and Diego are part of Grupo El Barco.)

Many other people have given their support to this project: Carlos Herrera has taught me much about design and has repeated, over and over, that I am talented. Coming from someone as talented as he is, I cannot disregard his words, so I decided to believe them.

My sister, Myriam Soler, has encouraged me non-stop over the years, always believing that I can do it, and convincing me that I can (nobody I know has her level of persistence!). She has also contributed in another very special way: she is a gifted dentist, a specialist in Esthetics, and those beautiful teeth I show in the photos have a lot to do with her. Do not miss her website: www.solerdental.com.

My friends (too many to mention) and my neighbors, (especially Sarah Fitzsimmons) have been generous in their loving support, their suggestions, their belief in me. Sarah is a very gifted artist, and her "eye" has assisted me on many occasions.

Ora Cooper is an extremely talented silversmith, with a great eye for design. Her skills are fabulous, her work impeccable, and I have benefited immensely from both. She is my teacher. Her website is orafinds@hotmail.com.

I started making jewelry while I was taking courses at the University of Santa Monica. What I learned there, the support I received from faculty and students to go for it, to express myself, was invaluable. My spiritual teacher, John-Roger from the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, has been the Light that illuminates my way.

KPCC, 89.3 (Pasadena, CA Public Radio) has provided me with much information and entertainment during many hours of jewelry making (yes, I am a member!).

My four dogs have been my constant companions, with their warm and loving presence: Gorse, Mona, Lady and Lobo. They have liked every piece of jewelry I have ever made; at least they energetically move their tails when I show it to them.

And finally, Bill Schoettler, my wonderful husband who has supported me in every way during this process, who believes in me and celebrates me and my work every single day of my life. I truly can't imagine how I could have done this without him.

I am surrounded by love, I am blessed, and I am very grateful.