Crow Calling Woman - A Crafting Goddess

Camping Sunset

2011-08-29T20:06:00.000-05:00

On a recent camping trip, our state-park camp site was on a hill that gave us a perfectly framed sunset. Beautiful!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Facebook’s censorship of left must be fought

2011-08-17T00:14:00.001-05:00

Facebook’s censorship of left must be fought

By Greg Butterfield

Published Jul 16, 2010 9:17 PM

The U.S.-based social-networking monolith Facebook has begun an all-out assault on its members, deleting three active groups that advocated for progressive and radical causes, permanently banning the accounts of four individuals who administered one group, and sending threatening messages to others.

The groups deleted include Boycott BP, a campaign against the Big Oil company responsible for one of history’s worst ecological disasters; the PFLP Solidarity Group, based in New Zealand with members around the globe, in support of the Palestinian resistance movement; and Free Ricardo Palmera, a group advocating support for a leftist Colombian guerrilla leader who is imprisoned in the U.S. in violation of international law.

Facebook is carrying out its censorship campaign against the left under cover of its

arbitrary “terms of service.”

Join the protest on FB here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129314173775448

Until next time...

Mirror-Mirror

2011-08-12T11:41:00.000-05:00

Shutterbug challenge from http://milliande.ning.com/

Until next time...

Madison Wisconsin Capital Protest

2011-07-07T19:04:00.000-05:00

Okay wow, no this Picasa collage tool isn't addictive at all!!
A glimpse into the protests against our shit-for-brains Gov'ner. His name is not worth mentioning here nor do I wish to TAINT my blog with it. Evil man with nothing but padding his own pockets on his agenda. The state was not broke until he got his grubby hands in the stash & gave himself a nice fat bonus on the back of workers all over the state. Oh yes, I could rant on about this for a long while.

Until next time...

Moonlit Clouds

2011-07-07T18:41:00.000-05:00

Acrylics, 11 x 14 on canvas. This painting sold in an art show silent auction for $55! I was flattered when it was a friend who bought it!
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - COPYRIGHT: R.REEVES

Until next time...

Hidden Creek

2011-07-07T18:34:00.000-05:00

Oil painting on 11 x 14 canvas, inspired by Bob Ross.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - COPYRIGHT: R.REEVES

Until next time...

Wabi Sabi Beauty

2011-07-07T18:23:00.000-05:00

More info on this artform here: http://nobleharbor.com/tea/chado/WhatIsWabi-Sabi.htm

Until next time...

Flower Power!

2011-07-07T18:21:00.000-05:00

Some flowers from my bicycling adventures today.

Until next time...

Garden Plot - July 2011

2011-07-07T18:05:00.000-05:00

Well ello thar! With the help of Googles nifty photo program, Picasa 3, I may just get back to blogging! This be my first garden plot at a local community garden. I've kind of abandoned my Flickr account. I've not had money to renew the subscription. I've done lots of painting, gotta get those uploaded as well, eventually. Pretty much abandoned knitting & spinning as well. That's how it goes with me. I learn a craft, get proficient in it, then move on to something new.

Upper left are the beans. I ran out of organic bean seeds & planted the rest of that area with beans I bought from a greenhouse locally. Those seeds did not germinate. I've replanted them 3 times & I am beginning to think the entire package of bean seeds are duds!

Lower Left: Broccoli surrounds tomato plants that were not planted. They were planted from whatever fruits dropped from the previous plot owners. I figured I just let them grow since they were clustered in the middle of the Broccoli. The Broccoli is FRACKIN HUGE!!! It's hard to tell in this photo, but they are GINORMOUS!! I hope I get huge heads of yumminess come fall.

Center: One lone pea plant survived the spring, bugs, & bunnies. And it's LOADED! YUMMY!

Right: Beef steak 'maters, 4 of them, getting bigger by the week & getting loaded with fruit.

Until next time...

How Facebook Betrayed Users and Undermined Online Privacy

2010-08-11T16:33:00.004-05:00

use facebook, but I have never used my real information. It just boggles the mind that people would put their sensitive personal information on a "networking" website. No website can be tr

usted with your personal information unless they are verified...and even then it is a leap of faith that no one will steal & th

en attempt to use, your personal information. I have not quit facebook because facebook is no real threat to me since I be smarter than the average user & refus

e to put my real information on there.

But to have facebook violate their own privacy policy?! Wow, serious facepalm-age there. Germany is suing, many other countries will follow suit. I suspect by the end of the year, facebook will be no more.

Click the title of this post to be taken to the article that explains in explicit detail all the delicious ways facebook has violated it's own privacy policy & wronged users from all

over the world.

Way to go facebook! You've fucked up again!

Here is just one example (of many I could cite) from my recent internet forays today. How is this protecting my privacy? I dare say it does anything BUT protect it.

Ummmm, red flag anyone?

Until next time...

Cataclysm Live Stream!

2010-07-10T17:48:00.002-05:00

Okay I am a World of Warcraft fanhead. Someone is live streaming their beta experience. I'mma post it here so I can find it again. LOL

Well, embed didn't work. Dunno if it is google or a user error. This link will get you to the stream.

Until next time...

New Music Widget

2010-06-17T18:49:00.001-05:00

I've installed a new music widget that streams my favorited tunes from soundclick.com. If it slows your load time, or you don't care for it, the widget is to the right ---------->

Until next time...

"Last Act"

2010-06-12T20:00:00.004-05:00

Not long ago (about two weeks ago now), I found a very preggy Polyphemus moth flopping about in the street. I swooped her up & brought her home & she immediately started laying eggs. The next morning she had passed away.

I was so happy to find her, yet somewhat sad she had taken leave so soon, that I made this journal page about her titled "Last Act" - "The last dying act of the female Polyphemus moth. Her short life focused on the continuation of her species as her tattered wings fluttered her out of this world, leaving the eggs of the future behind."

Tonight I checked on the eggs & found that they had hatched!!! I raced my tired ass out the door to grab some oak leaves for them. There are about a dozen or so hatched, a few more haven't hatched quite yet. I can hardly believe my luck! I had hoped that the eggs were fertile but I didn't count on it. What a nice surprise! I love raising these moths because you can render their silk for crafts like spinning much like the Chinese silk moth, only this species silk has a nice earthy tone to it.

Now I have to hope they will all live to be moths, & hope that there will be a mix of both sexes for more eggs. :)

Until next time...

Way of the Mantis

2010-06-02T12:21:00.000-05:00

Until next time...***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

New blog template!

2010-06-02T11:37:00.008-05:00

WOO HOO! A fresh template...ahhhhh. Can you feel the freshness?

I've been working more than ever on my art. I've created my first larger

canvas painting of my ATC "Wise Wommin's Blood". I know I should not have to say it, but I do claim

copyrights to it & the photo. *sigh* I've considered putting it up for sale or even painting more to sell.

Now, I am getting into art journaling. More for practicing technique & exploring new ways of expression than anything. I do believe that any act of creation creates positive change in a person.

These past couple of weeks have been challenging. My asthma has come back with a vengeance after I tried to start jog training with Intervals mix. I'm back on an inhaler for lung bubbles (as I call them). Is till walk/jog though. Not gonna let it take me down. I start out with only being able to job for 5-10 seconds at a time. I am now up to 30 seconds & working on 1 minute. Seems like such small measurements, but they are monumental strides for me.

My blood pressure is all over the board. Some days it's fine, other days it's so high I can feel my heart pumping in my chest & throughout my major arteries. I tried taking 3 different prescription HP meds, but they all made me feel so horrible that I was not getting out to exercise. What kind of medicine is that?! Fixes one problem but creates another! It's not & I opted to not take them. I am in control of my healthcare. Doctors don't always know best. Most are out for the big bucks of using refferal medications or new medications that have not had enough testing time before going to market. Our healthcare system is broken.

I'm taking a few herbal supplements along with flax seed oil & omega oils (both organic from the local coop) & I am committed to walking at least three days a week if it is not too hot or muggy outside. High humidity makes me feel like I am suffocating so I stay inside with AC on.

I've discovered this "Redbox" machine at the local Walgreens not far from home. Rent any movie just $1 (plus tax, phoowie) a night. For real! I rented two movies over the weekend from it. Legion...which was a weird ass movie with a poorly written storyline (IMHO). The basis seems like a great story, but the movie was not all that great. Then Sherlock Holmes. WOW! I loved that! So there is an excuse to get my ass out the door! LOL

I even bought "special" shoes for cross-training, but I soon experienced my feet going numb & my legs cramping like I have never felt before. So, back those went & in exchange got a different brand of "running" shoes which do not put my feet to sleep. They were even $20 cheaper than the pair I first bought. Imagine that. Cheaper AND more comfortable....but alas, also imported. I try to buy New Balance when I can because they are made in the US. However, I will NEVER-EVER buy Nike. I will not support how they are made. My mother loves Nike, but she also knows not about the suffering behind the shoes. She chooses to ignore the facts. *sigh*

Until next time...

Spill the Truth from Food & Water Watch

2010-05-20T10:32:00.000-05:00

Go to spillthetruth.org and sign the petition for Obama to take action against future oil spills that could be bigger than what we are dealing with now.

WORLD OF WARCRAFT ADDICTION – DONT GET ME STARTED!

2010-05-07T10:33:00.000-05:00

"It is my opinion that human beings are capable of creating destructive relationships and associations with almost anything. Seeking pleasure and avoiding pain is a fundamental trait of the human condition. This trait can occasionally direct people toward the use of escapism. Sometimes this can be a necessary mode of survival and very healthy – other times is can lead to counterproductive personal and social behavior." - Jace Hall

I Play W.O.W ( Music Video)

2010-05-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

I wonder if this will deter the spammers? LOL, Peat Pellets seems to have a giant flashing spam me sign on it.

Peat Pellets

2010-03-17T10:27:00.003-05:00

Did you know: Peat Pellets are actually too acidic for proper root development for most veggie seedlings? Not only that they dry out terribly fast. Use organic seed starting soil mix instead as it has been mixed to provide properly balanced pH with ingredients that won't try out so quickly. Try mixing your starting mix with some of that "Soil Moist", But be sure to by the fine granules for seed starting as the regular sized granules actually expand too much for seedlings. Use the regular sized granules for the garden & potted veggies. I use "Soil Moist" in all my potted veggies & in my garden (raised gardens dry out much quicker than traditional ground level gardens).

Knowledge from years of gardening, free for you. :)

PS;

Spam comments will never see the light of day, & I ain't stupid enough to click the links. I have no idea why, but this post is getting plenty of spam comments with links. I wish blogger had a setting that would not allow the posting of links. That would cut back on a lot of these pathetic spammers. They honestly think people are naive enough to fall for that sort of shit now-a-days?! Please.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

"No-touch" soap pump: Idiocy fuels germophobic markets

2010-03-16T16:40:00.006-05:00

Warning! Pure unadulterated opinions ahead!

Has anyone seen the commercial for a certain brand of "no-touch" soap pump & how they try to villanize a regular soap pump bottle? Excuse me...but...after you touch the soap bottle pump, don't you wash those villainous germs off your hands?? Who fondles with the soap pump after washing your hands?! Good god, that is the most stupidest commercial I have seen yet that attempts to turn all of us into germaphobes!! **GASP!** Run for the hills! Your soap pump is germy! **screeeee-aaaaaaaaaaaaaam**

One friend said they are trying to create a market where there isn't one. I agree whole-heartedly. I mean, come on, this is pure idiocy that most consumers will, unfortunately, believe! Don't fall for it! It's another unneeded contraption to clutter your life with (& suck your wallet dry). The pump on your liquid soap bottle should be the least of our societies germaphobic worries. OH! And I still haven't caught the flu & I still haven't gotten that ridiculous swine flu shot. Huh, imagine that.

I think, therefor I am.

Damned it Blogger, wtf is up with the extra "unintentional story" coding in my posts! Cut that the frick out! And why is my blog so god-damned narrow?!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Dive into 365 ATC!

2010-02-26T11:41:00.003-06:00

I've joined in the fun with Naked Heart Art Studio's 365 ATC, at least one ATC a day! I seem to have really loved this art form. It doesn't take long to create a mini work of art, so minimal time is envolved (on most days). It's quick, easy, & most importantly of all - rewarding. I've needed this for a long time so I am happy I saw the blank cards in Hobby Lobby one day that peaked my interests.

So far, no problem. I create a couple a day so those will make up for my late entry into the fun.

Check out what I have done so far on ma'flickr feed!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Long time no see!

2010-02-13T15:26:00.002-06:00

If you haven't noticed, I've been hiding. Going through those "life changes" that happens every once in a while.

I've still been growing some food inside. I get the itch to grow something after the New Year, spring & cabin fever-n-all. At the moment, I grows me some butter-head lettuce, dandelion, chickweed & some cilantro for salad fixings. I've been dealing with a lot of fatigue of late, of which I have no issues with during the summer when the wild greens are ripe for the eating. So, I decided to grow me an indoor salad garden, full of all those helpful wild plants I seem to be missing in my diet.

I've really gotten back into painting as well. I've dived into acrylics and ATC (Artist Trading Cards). Funny thing about the ATC's. I keep seeing those ATC pre-cut blank cards at the art supply shops around town so I decided to check it out online. Lo & behold, I found atcsforall.com, of which I have dove right into as well. I have a new category on my flickr feed for the atc's that I make. You should check them out. It's really fun to make those small and quick peices of art, vs a larger painting.

Speaking of larger paintings...I have decided to try and paint the quarters. Maybe I will make me some ATC's first to try out some painting ideas. Nothing fancy me thinks. Just your basic earth, air, fire & water. I plan on displaying them in the living area, along with a painting or some other thing to represent Spirit to hang in the middle of the room from the ceiling. That sounds like fun!

While I am also doing those things, I am researching art for emotional therapy. There has been a great out-pouring of information based on personal experience over there at atcsforall. It's so much easier to discuss the subject with people who have had healing experiences through creative art projects rather than reading it from a boring book. Not that all books are boring, just that this subject matter only shows up in some really boring books that are more clinically based than personal based. What a snore.

Well, I can't promise I will update here on a regular basis, but you can also keep updated on me art projects through me flickr feeds.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

A Daring Lesson

2009-08-24T11:51:00.001-05:00

A Daring Lesson is a great video published in 1985 where a teacher tries a new approach in teaching children about disscrimination & Racism. A very compelling story.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Find out about the past of the "Swine Flu"

2009-08-10T15:24:00.004-05:00

Swine Flu 1976 & Propaganda
by Dianequiose-4

CBS " 60 MINUTES" documentary on the swine flu epidemics of 1976 in the U.S. It went on air only once and was never shown again. Please look at this, it talks by itself.

Watch the dude sweat under the barrage of facts that were blatantly ignored by the health department & related agencies - or strieght up lied about. Oh and lets not forget the commericals at the end of this peice that play on paranoia & fear to convience people to get the flu shot. The flu shot is BOGUS. Always has been, always will be. "Swine Flu" is just another flu. Period. You don't need "government approved" flu shots to avoid it. Common sense hygien practices will suffice. If you are unliky enough to get the flu, just like any other flu, you will have to take care of your body until it can fight it off completely.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Are You F*cking Kidding Me? (Facebook Song) LIVE

2009-07-28T11:12:00.001-05:00

Baby Sandhill Cranes

2009-07-27T11:13:00.001-05:00

A recent walk ended with this beautiful video.

Oak Spirit

2009-05-27T13:35:00.001-05:00

Oak Spirit
Originally uploaded by crafting4goddess.

This one has been in my head to get down on canvas for a looooooong time. It feels good to finally get it down! I had some trouble with the lower part & how to get it to depict a thick Grove of more trees. It finally came to me AFTER I asked an online painting forum. That's how it usually works for me. Ask & then the answer comes. I love her stance. It says "Look how strong I am. Look at my children. They are strong & wise because of me."

Sweet Grass

2009-05-24T13:06:00.001-05:00

Sweet Grass
Originally uploaded by crafting4goddess.

I am all about the sacred herbies this year. Did I mention I am an Apprentice Herbalist? Totally! I am training with Kathleen Wildwood of Wildwood Herbs here in Madison. My first class was last Wednesday & in one hour's time, I learned soooo much! She pointed out 30 wild growing herbs & their uses. Did you know violets are editable?! Totally! They are high in Vitamin C & antioxidants! Every time I see one on my walks, I ask the plant for a leaf. Kathleen is very much into the communing with plants & I found this book titled "Ask Mother Nature" at the library that is proving to be a very interesting read. You should check it out!

White Sage

2009-05-24T13:03:00.001-05:00

White Sage #1
Originally uploaded by crafting4goddess.

I planted six White Sage seeds about one month ago. I had almost given up that they would germinate when not one but TWO did finally germinate. You can see more photo's of this years Gardening Adventures on my flickr feed.

My New Band for May

2009-05-24T13:01:00.003-05:00

My New Band for May
Originally uploaded by crafting4goddess.

o Do This
1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random”
or click en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Post it to FB with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in

My New Band for April

2009-05-24T13:01:00.001-05:00

My New Band for April
Originally uploaded by crafting4goddess.

I found this on facebook. It's super fun to do.

To Do This
1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random”
or click en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Post it to FB with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in

Starhawk on Faith in the Washington Post

2009-04-13T13:48:00.001-05:00

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/starhawk/2009/04/time_to_apologize_to_witches.html

"Starhawk is a prominent voice in modern Wiccan spirituality and cofounder of reclaiming.org, an activist branch of modern Pagan religion, and author of ten books."

"Time to Apologize to Witches

I've always thought that the ability to apologize gracefully is a mark of a good leader. We all make mistakes -- even popes, and whole religious traditions. An apology is a way to take responsibility, to signal a change, and to assure the world that it won't happen again.
And if apologies are being given out, Witches would like one. It's more than time that the Catholic and Protestant Churches both apologized for centuries of persecution of Witches, Pagans and those they deemed 'heretics' for believing something different than standard dogma. How about an apology for the Papal Bull of Pope Innocent the Eighth, in 1484, that made Witchcraft an heresy and unleashed the Inquisition against traditional healers, midwives, and any woman unpopular with her neighbors for being too uppity? It's high past time to apologize for the Malleus Maleficarum, a vicious document written by two Dominican priests in 1486 that created a whole mythology of Satan worship, attributed it mostly to women, and unleashed a wave of accusations, torture, and judicial murder that have haunted us ever since. An apology won't do much good, now, to those accused, tormented, and destroyed because someone coveted their property or needed a local scapegoat, nor to their children left motherless or fatherless centuries ago. But it might clear some air.
One of the reasons many of us modern-day Wiccans still proudly call ourselves Witches is to consciously identify with the victims of those persecutions. The Witch persecutions are a suppressed history of abuse. Just as suppressed memories of childhood abuse can hamper us in adult life, suppressed cultural histories still constrain our emotions and our imagination in subtle ways. The Witch persecutions left a residue of fear inside women--that if we speak too loudly or too forcefully, become too strong or visible, we will be attacked. They made imagination, intuition, and magic suspect. They set a pattern that judicial torture is sanctified once your enemy has been labeled 'evil'. And they made nature herself something a dangerous and suspect.
We use the word "Witch" consciously, as a way of reclaiming our power as women and as men. We reclaim the sacredness of our bodies and our sexuality, the healing traditions rooted in an understanding of the natural world, the power of intuition and imagination, the respect for nature and the love for all living things. As long as there's a word someone can use to shut down thought, we're not free. Claim the word, shed light on the hidden history, lance the wound, and we can begin to heal.
So yes, it's time for an apology. The viability of all nature's life support systems are threatened today by what our civilization has become. What better time for the religions of the book to signal a new respect for the religions of nature?"

HERE-HERE!! WELL SAID!! BRAVO!!!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

My First Watercolor class...

2009-03-04T08:52:00.003-06:00

WAS A BLAST!

I learned a lot more than I could have learned on my own in only two hours time. This is only the first of four more classes. The teacher is more than confident that we will put out a gallery quality watercolor painting by the end of the five weeks. I'm thinkin, ALL RIGHT! Let's do it!

We learned how to do an even flat wash without making a tide line (a line of dried up excess watercolor), how to find a quality brush (not nessecarily expensive), paper, & even how to make our own brush & journal tote. Guess what I'mma be workin on? You guessed it! Only I want mine to be leather....of course. Might take a trip to the leather store in Baraboo & get a fresh dear or horse hide. Then she taught us about cool & warm colors & how they effect perspective. Something looks a little flat? Need to cool it off, she said. Cool colors make things look like they are fading into the distance while warm colors bring things more to the front. Neat aye?! So the two examples from her first beginners class she dragged out...& boy where they fantastic! First time painters painted these, she told us. No prier artistic knowledge or experience. WOW! I tell you what, it was hard to believe because I would have expected them to be framed & hung in a gallery to sell for hundreds!! That good. She told us about the Amyrilus & how the lady could not get the center of it to her liking. Teach suggested that she add cool colors to the center & it made it look like it was further into the distace. Makes the viewer feel like a humming bird coming in for a drink, boy-howdy!

Our homework is to find a flower we like so we can work learning how to paint it next week. So I am rummageing through all my photo cd's to find something I adore. She warned us about using someone elses photograph, & if we decided we wanted to paint something from someone elses photo that we had to make a reference note of that on our finished painting. Because, she told us, if you were to enter your finished painting into a contest & you won first prize, the owner of the photo could come looking for you to sue the pants off yea. Wow, ouch.

Crazy. Well I have no worries, I've got plenty of my own nature photo's to choose from thankfully. I will have to go & get different paper though. We found out that the paper I bought was a rough grade, so the texture would be different. Well, so I'll do two paintings, one on rough & one on smooth...but nessecarily both of the same thing.

I was shocked at the number of people that came to the class whom I knew. Strange how things like this work out. Next time I think I am gonna bring my voice recorder...so much information...so little space in da'brain to store it!! LMAO!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Lunar Insights

2009-02-27T12:29:00.003-06:00

"Lunar Insights"

This is a small playful painting that I plan to do in a larger format. I have a love affair with the moon.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Dreams

2009-02-21T11:59:00.001-06:00

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

By Hughes

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Watercolor Journal update #2

2009-02-20T13:42:00.005-06:00

It's taken me 20 minutes to get this post up because Internet EXPLODER won't let me rearrange the photo's I uploaded without closing the entire browser window. ARRRRggggga! So I am using Google's Chrome which is still primitive compared to IE...but at least it doesn't explode one me.

Here a photo of my hand made headband because no one in town sells them. It is basically a cord (you can also use twine) glued between a fold of book binding fabric. The purpose of the headband is to hide the ends of the signatures. It's an aesthetic thing.

Here is the front of my watercolor journal made with rubber stamps...a hobby I took up long ago, got bored of, but kept all me stamps. I'mma multi-media type of gal. LOL It still needs a protective glaze. It's lookin more & more like a book! I just need to add the decorative end pages & it will be done. It does not lay flat like I wanted it too, so I will have to tote along some rubber bands to keep the pages down, damned it. All that work, & hammering, for nothin. I still like it & will use it.

More photo's to come!

Until next time...

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prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Mono-tone Landscape

2009-02-20T13:39:00.002-06:00

Here is another of my fiddlins from the Simply Painting series. I didn't forget my trademark "Satan" snake....ROFLMAO! I rather like mono-tone painting. There is a lot less fuss when you don't have to worry about colors, just tones.

Until next time...

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Some Watercolor fiddlin's...

2009-02-20T13:33:00.002-06:00

Thought I would show-off some of my watercolor fiddlin's. The flower is supposed to be a Hibiscus, but I just don't know how to shade it right just yet.
The trees & leaf are from exercises in the same book as my previous fiddlins. The last one, the landscape one, is a mini-painting from a demonstration in the Simply Painting series. I really like the tree's I did. It was an exercise in negative panting.

Until next time...

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Watercolor Journal update...

2009-02-16T10:57:00.002-06:00

Thought I would post an update on the making of my watercolor journal. I bought a ream of 100 pages of 100lb watercolor paper over the weekend & began making a hollow back-spin journal from the book Making & Keeping Creative Journals By Suzanne Tourtillott (published by Lark Books). I got it many years ago from a craft book club. I've made several of the journals in there with leather covers. This one will be leather as well. I just love the feel, look & smell of good ol'fashioned leather. I think I will use the deer hide I have left over from making a medicine bag for Mike some years ago. I should have enough. I chose to make the Hollow back because it opens wide & lays flat (so the book says).

The first photo shows the linen tape threaded through the signiture sewings (a signiture is a group of folded papers nested inside one-another. My signatures are three pages thick). I made them a little too narrow for the strips so two of them are partly folded under. That's ok. I'm not too worried about it. The linen tape helps to reinforce the binding & takes some of the stress of page turning off the paper. This used 36 pages of the watercolor paper to equal 72 pages (144 pages if I work both front & back of each page).

The second photo is the text block (a block of sewn signatures) being pressed between two hardwood panels (part of an old flower press, yes I made that too...LOL). The text block is pressed then PVA glue (archival) is pounded onto & inbetween the signitures. So while that dried, I cut out the bookboard & book cloth.

I'll post more as it progresses. I cannot wait to get out into the field & paint on-the-go. Of which is the matter of obtaining or making a travel kit for watercolor. I'm still researching that one, so, more to come on that I'm sure.

Until next time...

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Watercolor Journaling...

2009-02-14T20:31:00.003-06:00

The idea is very appealing to me as I have a love affair with journals...mostly a collection of blank ones with wishful thoughts of someday filling them. I have two Pentalic sketch books that have only 60lb cream colored paper in them, but that is where most of my composition ideas go into. I bought them years and years ago on sale from a local art store that was moving to a new location. That same art store no longer carries these, nor any others that I care to like. Most watercolor "journals" contain 20 or less pages to work on. I think that is chintzy. I'd go through that in a weeks time!

So then the next idea I ran across was to make my own journal. Reams of 100lb cold press watercolor paper is only $12 at the same aforementioned art store. I could easily make small journal books from. This art store even carries book binding supplies so I have no excuse not to. I've made a couple before so the know-how is there in me brain.

And then still another idea pops up...what about taking an old unloved book from the second hand store...and doing some watercolor sketching OVER the words? Depending on how the paper feels, it'd have to be lightly watercolored but I think it would look novel. HA! Novel. I figure I would pick out a work on the page & then doodle about that on that page. Seems pretty fun to me. I think I have some books around here I bought years ago for some hobby that involved decorating the pages with something...not sure what it was called now...some sort of book exchange. You would make a couple of pages, then pass them along to a lucky person on a list who would then add a few pages of their style & so forth & so on. Some sort of recycling scrapbooking thing it was. Anyone know what I am talking about? What was that called?

And yet anther idea would be to take a stack of half sheets over to Staples & have then bind it. I don't think that would be as much fun as binding it myself. :)

I've run across "Illustrated Watercolor Journaling", which looks interesting, but I don't feel like buying the DVD. It looks pretty basic anyways & I am beyond that now.

While browsing the wetcanvas forums, I found out that Watercolor painting is considered a dyeing art! I can't imagine how galleries would think watercolor is inferior or a "Junior" art but apparently they do. Watercolor is no easy medium to master!! I thought it funny that yet again I am drawn to do an art form that is considered "dyeing", like tatting.

I am amused to say that the snake in my Brewing Dessert Storm painting was dubbed "Satan" by one gal in the wetcanvas forum. "I like the fact that you have Satan hiding in your tree..." she said...ROFLMAO! How is my poor misunderstood snake hiding anyways...the poor thing is looking for refuge from the impending storm! How funny is it that she automatically assumes that I believe the same way she does? Idiosyncrasy. There's my big fancy word for the week. Snake is a sacred symbol of death, rebirth, creativity, divination & many more meanings that I cannot remember at the moment in traditional, non-book religions. The fact that it is red was purely accidental...or was it? Hummm...

Well...I am still laughing my ass off over that comment anyways!!

Since it is V-Day, Mike & I ran all over the city looking in on different art supply shops to see if I could find myself a decent watercolor journal. I ended up buying a Arches 140# paper sheet to break into smaller pieces. I thought I would try the more expensive stuff. It was only $5 for the 32 x something sheet. If broken down into 8 pieces that came out to around $.68 a piece. Nice! We had fun running all over, which I rarely get to do without worrying about a schedule to keep, & we were pooped when we finally got home after stopping for Sushi for dinner. The owner acted excited to see us! LOL, he's a hoot.

Until next time...

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"Looking Presidential" an Obama watercolor portrait...

2009-02-11T19:18:00.003-06:00

You really must check this watercolor painting out if you are an Obama fan. It's quite a captured moment in deep thought. Makes me wonder what he was thinking.

"What the *uck have I gotten myself into?"
or maybe

"How the hell am I gonna turn this country around?"

or maybe even

"God help me..."

In any case, it's quite the portrait to ponder.

Just in case you were thinking it, nasty comments will never see the light of day so if you really are not an Obama fan...move along to the next post & spare me your political psycho babble.

Until next time...

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I've been painting!

2009-02-11T18:48:00.003-06:00

Thought I would share my new found hobby, watercolor painting!
The first one I am still working on, a picture in progress as I learn the different skills needed to do what I want with it. It's a combination of two photographs taken at Indian Lake here in Wisconsin; one of a pinecone (close-up) & one of the lake.

The next one is "Brewing Desert Storm", a painted "sketching" in a regular ol sketch book before I decide to put it onto the not-so-cheap watercolor paper. The sky is more blue-grey than what my scanner picked up. It has a very personal meaning to me...hince the red snake. This mood & scene resulted from a happy accident I did while doing some "brush play".

Then there is my painting of an apple for learning shadows & learning how to paint 3-D objects (you can see the book I was referencing to as I was painting behind it). I really like the book Watercolor A New Beginning: A Holistic Approach to Painting by Ann K. Lindsay. Most everything I know I have learned from reading & doing the exercises (known as "brush play" in this book) provided.

The last one was an exercise proposed on the painting forum Wetcanvas (.com). It's called "Negative Painting" where you "carve" out shapes as you paint rather than doing a light sketch. It's a very spur-of-the-moment type of technique that drove me crazy! I don't think I will ever do this type of painting again, but I will love my new original piece of artwork that I can call my own. :) OMG! I just realized something!! There is a snake in BOTH my compositions!!! Okay, that's my trademark now...snakes. LMFAO!!

Until next time...

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Racial Issues?? Now??? WTF is going on!!

2009-01-29T09:15:00.004-06:00

I've got a problem. Maybe someone can give me some insight.

Ever since the election of Pres. Obama, my Black coworker has become more & more combative and confrontational. All of a sudden it is all about race. I don't know what do to about it! Race has never been an issue between us...until now. All of a sudden it is "my people" this & "my people" that over the elections. Well, isn't Obama's victory a win for ALL PEOPLES...not JUST Blacks?? WTF? Obama is for ALL people...not just Blacks. All of a sudden....things are just...different.

Today, to my horror, my coworker told a 9 year old Black student (whom I get along with pretty darned well) that "she doesn't like her own kind..." because they were disagreeing over something as trivial as time-shares. OMG! I almost stopped the van! You can't say that to a child! WTF was she thinking? Or was she thinking at all?? We argued about it all the way home...I could not believe what I was hearing. She, after 6 or so years of working peacefully together, was telling me I was a racist!! That I put on an act for the Black children. *face-palm* I'm a kid at heart (anyone watching any of my tutorial videos can plainly see that), all I want to do is have fun. I want the kids to feel at home on my van...while my coworker wants everyone to act like a "proper" adult. Okay...children....arn't supposed to act like adults...they are CHILDREN!! If a child does not want to talk on the van, they don't have too...but this one student is a real talker. An open book. She tells us everything. I don't mind...but my coworker seems to. She keeps saying she has an attitude problem...but I have not seen that at all. I'm blind to it because of the "Act" I supposedly put on. I dunno...maybe she is going senile?

Okay, but wait...there is more to be told. This racial thing did not crop up until AFTER Obama was elected as President. Since then it has been one thing after another. I had ignored most of it up till now, but now....now it cannot be ignored. I am a nonracial White woman. I don't care if you are flippin PURPLE WITH GREEN HAIR, you don't say "you don't like your own kind..." to a child!! It's wrong in so many ways!

So....she was not hearing me because she was set on labeling me a racist...maybe because the aforementioned child and I get along well & she is jealous about it (that's just childish), I don't know. Everything I have said or done is now wrong by her. My openness with children is wrong. Treating them as equals is wrong.

So I called up the boss. I didn't want to...but this has gotten out of hand and out of control. The boss agreed that the statement was not appropriate in any way, shape, or form & that it may jeopardise her employment. Great. Not what I wanted to do by a long shot. I don't know how to handle her growing hate & separatus (sp??) attitude. She's become such a hateful, unhappy person...always complaining about how much she doesn't make & how much she doesn't like the job. Always calling the kids "little brats & demons" when they are not around. She is so angry. She never used to be. I dunno what to do but I do know I do not like being around her anymore. She emanates a distasteful energy now-a-days. I come home angry & upset myself just from being around her & having to deal with her anger. We used to be so open to one another, talk about everything...but now, since Obama was elected...thing with her have changed & I find myself not able to understand why.

Until next time...

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Some growing pains...

2009-01-11T18:55:00.002-06:00

If anyone has a clue about what is going on in my ebb & flow, I'd greatly appriciate any advice you have to offer. I've flushed the system twice now...I can't seem to pin-point the cause for the browning leaves on the bean, or the clawing of the leaves on my other plants in the same system. I'm ready to give up on ebb & flow & go DWC.

Until next time...

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Hydro-Garden Grow's On

2009-01-05T15:28:00.008-06:00

Sounds like a new soap opera. The stars...Plants that are finicky about what they eat, & of course no soap would be complete without the "bad guys" (bad guys being bad bacteria).

LMAO!

I have been VERY busy with all this Hydro business. I am writing a paper for my WTI group on growing veggies & herbs hydroponically all year round so in order to be thorough...I am putting together several home-made systems. I'm doing a lot like what this here blogger likes to do, experiment, but on a smaller scale. I like his attitude! LOL

So here is an photo update on what is growing in back corner of the apartment. Found some funny lookin leaves Saturday on the bean plant. So I called up the local Hydro store & we determined that I had too much nutrient in the water & that the ebb & flood system need a flushing with clean water. After flushing, that lone bean on top of the plant shot out like a "bat-outta-hell". I guess the poor thing was stressed with all the lovin I was trying to feed it. LOL

There is the bean plant (the biggest-tallest-baddest thing in the system), next to it on the bottom right are two Mini eggplants that I grew from some seeds in a recent holiday secret santa swap. It was labeled as "green & white striped eggplant". No idea what the variety name is. These will do into a simple passive system known as a wick system. No pumps, no electricity...at least to start out with. I'm not entirely clear on how a passive wick system will work once the roots of plant makes it down into the water...because the water would not be oxygenated...we shall see! I found some half-off "xmas" candy tubs over at the local Dollar Tree that I am going to put these in. Next to those eggplant seedlings is a part of a spinach bunch that I bought at the local coop. It had a but of root on it so I said, what-the-heck, try it! Look at it now! It's starting to bolt so I should get some nice seeds from it. Behind the spinach is some white sage. Even in the hydro setup it is a slow grower. There are two there, but the second one is not doing as well. Not sure why...maybe genetics. Next to the white sage on the left is some leaf lettuce that I just threw in, why not aye? Then next to that in the bar back left hand corner is that dandelion I extracted from one of my potted houseplants that had been outside all summer. Look at it now! Plenty of leafy greens for the tortoise AND the bird! Mieka really likes dandelion greens.

Speaking of Mieka, can you spot her in the jungle that lives in me living room? These plants are separate from the hydro ones. I water these with the depleted nutrient water when I change it out.

Of course the sunflowers are stickers on the patio door that acts as a privacy barrier & adds some color to the space.

Meika loves to look outside.

Let's not forget my favorite herb, the Sweet Basil. This one is about a week old, my finger is there for scale, growing in two tumblers in a simi-passive fashion in a 50/50 of perlite & vermiculite. I've got 20 more seeds planted that I plan to grow in a Deep Water Culture system, also hand-made. Commercial bought systems cost about 3 times more than putting on together in a rubber-maid container. I dunno where that cost is coming from but I will be making most of my systems because of the price-tag of commercial ones. It's not all that hard to make them anyways...a caveman could do it! LMFAO! What can I say...I'mma cheap-skate! Anything worth doing is worth doing as low-cost as possible, this is especially true now-a-days.

And last but not least are my alfalfa sprouts because there is a recall of sprouts in my area. Go fig. Food just isn't safe anymore. I found out when I ordered a sub with alfalfa sprouts. Boy was I disappointed because I LOOOOOOVE sprouts!!

Until next time...

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Today

2008-11-27T09:47:00.004-06:00

Today, I am thankful.

for all those who send me encouraging words,

who follow me blog adventures,

for me Mum & her continued well-being,

for the ever-loving BF who never gives up on me,

for the jobs I have & thier continued success

for all I have & all I can learn

for the place I live in & the woods as my backyard

for the skills I have learned & for the ones I will learn

for the ability to be happy with what I have

for the life I live.

Until next time...

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5 Days later...WOW

2008-11-26T18:23:00.009-06:00

Wanted to show the amazing growth of the bean & sage plants from the last post 5 days ago. I am amazed at the amount of growth! I've never seen a plant grow so fast! The seed leaves have all but dried up and the first second set of true leaves are growing very quickly under the lights.

It's is so happy that even the roots are out-growing the little mesh pot! I dunno why there is so much space between the photo's & text. It irritates me. LOL

And the sage seedlings are growing their first set of true leaves which I predict should be out by next week. The bowl of seeds are spinach. None of my spinach seeds seem to want to germinate. I dunno why. The sit atop a heating pad that I thought would hasten germination. They are a cool weather crop so maybe too much heat from the heating pad?? The water is changed daily.

I am going to experiment & see how simplified growing hydroponically can be for success. Here, an old plastic window box filled with vermiculite/perlite mix (top layer is pure perlite as it reflects more light) planted with two growing bulb-lets of garlic sits atop an old dish pan by means of a plastic clothes hanger (only thing I could find to work that was not metal nor wood). Three times a day I lower the box into the solution water (about a gallon of water, Ph adjusted to near neutral & basic grow nutrients added), for about 10-15 minutes, then pull it out to drain back into the dish pan. My only issue with this is that the amount of evaporation will be a lot greater. I'll have to keep an eye on the water level & add more water when necessary so the nutrient solution does not condense too much & possibly burn the plant roots.

And lookie here! Flowers!!! I put this potted plant (I dunno the name of it, it was a gift from the lady across the hallway) under the lights a week ago & here it is sending up not one but TWO flower stalks! Now there is a happy plant!!

Until next time...

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Mushrooms, Hydroponics, Electric Guitar...oh my!

2008-11-21T10:24:00.009-06:00

Winter has arrived...with all the force of the northern winds!

Brrrrrrrr....Last time I posted I was learning about growing mushrooms. It was an interesting run but proved to be much more work than I am interesting in doing to continue production. I may grow a few more batches here & there in the future. All in all, I harvested about 4 quarts worth (dry weight) of Oyster shrooms. The logs inoculated with Shittake have not produced anything....yet. They'll live outdoors for the winter.

Now I am learning about & setting up Hydroponics. :)

It's another one of those things that I have always been interesting in trying. I used the same space that I grew the mushrooms in to set up a home-made ebb & flow system. I bought to plastic tubs, a 10 gallon for the reservoir. Then a simple shallow tub for the part that floods. They cost me about $10 for the both of them. I picked up the drains from the local Brew n Grow & the tubing (the tubs too) from the local Menards.

I sowed some White Sage & some spinach Monday. The Sage is growing!! You can see the white of the new root in the photo of the rockwool cube.

I noticed a dandelion growing in one of my avocado pots from being outside all summer. Since I like to feed Zarnan (my Russian tortoise) dandelions, I carefully removed the plant (tap root & all) and placed it into a net pot that came with the starter hydroponic kit I bought Monday, then carefully filled in around the root with rockwool medium. This morning I found a bean plant growing in a another pot that had been outside all summer, so I removed that one as well, placing it in another net pot. The dandelion has been in the system for three days & shows signs of vigorous new growth. YAY!

I also bought a Venus Fly Trap over the summer. It lived outside in partial shade for the rest of the summer. When I brought it in I noticed that the traps were turning black then dropping off. I went to this wonderfully helpful VFT forum that gave me some very helpful tips & ideas to get the plant back on the road to normal growth. I re-potted it into some fresh peat-moss & the symptoms disappeared. When I visited my favorite local greenhouse I was sorely disappointed in the lack of knowledge shown by the lady that helped me about this amazing plant that they sell. She asked me if I had fertilized it & if I had not that I should. ???!!!!!???? You NEVER-EVER-NEVER feed VFT's commercial fertilizer as it KILLS THEM! Wow, what a disappointment. Even I knew that much! Needless to say my favorite greenhouse did not impress me that day.

I believe it is starting to go dormant now as the leaves are yellowing. This is normal.

I also inherited a bunch of plants from my next door neighbor, who passed away over the summer. She was a nice lady who had lived in this building since it was first built. She was 93. So I have a jungle in the living room! LOL I rather like the extra green in the apartment. They are thriving on the winter sun as it shines in most of the day during the winter (south facing).

Last but never the least of my activities at the moment...my red electric guitar.

So far I have learned a couple Blues tunes as well as Fire in the Sky...a classic of course. LMAO Another one of those things that I have always been interested in trying. I've had it for about 2 months now.

Until next time...

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Desires of the Heart and Soul

2008-08-12T15:48:00.001-05:00

Until next time...

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Oyster, Shiitake and Shroom hunts OH MY

2008-07-23T12:49:00.002-05:00

The oyster mushrooms are starting to grow rapidly now and I have two maple logs inoculated with Shiitake plug spawn. We might have a few Shiitakes this fall, but I highly doubt it because it is so late in the season already. Only 20 some odd growing days left...so short here!!

Mike wants to go to the local Arboretum to hunt for some puff ball shrooms. He seems really excited about all this mycology I am getting into. I hope to fund some Hen of the Woods as well.

Meika is settling in just fine and is talking ever more...LMAO!! She is a hoot!

Until next time...

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Mieka: Beloved friend

2008-07-13T13:42:00.004-05:00

I was browsing through some name books at the library the other day and found an Italian name that means "beloved friend". That name was Mieka. I don't remember how it was spelled exactly and when I went back to check the spelling, I could not find it again. Anyhow, this is her name, Mieka (pronounced me-KA).

As for my health, my biopsy came back negative for cancer. YAY! SO now we are going to try some hormone therapy as well as some therapy for elevated glucose. Doc says it sounds like I am doing all the right things, but each time I go in, I have gained another pound or two. I've been biking an average of 10 miles a day but I still GAIN weight. How ridiculous is that?

Until next time...

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Eclipsia?

2008-07-10T14:45:00.005-05:00

Here are some photos of the new bird in the house. She is loverly with a sweet disposition. She's not much of a talker right now...she'll let off a peep here and there. She looks so much like Merlin with her crest up. I took a shot of her in front of Merlins Shrine. Wow. She is just a wee bit lighter. I'm thinking of another name for her...Eclipsia. How does that sound? LOL

An update on the shroom growins. The first photo is the bottom of the water plant basket with my small starter batch of elm oysters. The white is the mushroom mycelium.

The box with just newspaper strips is also starting to grow like crazy. I sprayed down the sides with water to encourage mycelium growth on the box. They were cutting some trees down in my nieghborhood and I was able to swipe a large piece of maple to grow Shiitake on....when the plugs arrive. I ordered them before the holiday and the darned place is closed till this friday. Although they said that orders and shipments would not be halted....I think they took a holiday too! My last package from them didn't take this long to arrive. So the log is sitting in the barrel of rain water to rehydrate. Maybe I can find some cheese wax around town to seal the edges with...or maybe my package will come soon. One can only hope.

I kept wishing, hoping, and asking to find some fresh cut hardwood....another wish granted!

As for spinning and knitting...I'm not much into it anymore. Right now it just bores me to tears. I'm more interested in mushrooms....adn playing World of Warcraft. LOL

Until next time...

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Welcome Feathered Friend!

2008-07-08T19:58:00.004-05:00

I could not stand it anymore.

I can not stand being without a bird anymore. Ever since Merlin died...I've felt disconnected. I've always had a bird near me and to be without one has been almost...torture. I'm angry more often and more intensely than ever before. I bitch about everything. And most of all...I miss the company while the BF is at work. I want to CRY a siiiiiiiigh of relief as now a bird is back into my life. She (I think this is a female) is a 9 week old cockatiel...very sweet, very calm. She was not hand raised but was raised by her natural parents and is mostly hand tame.

I just happened to see this teeny-tiny ad in the classifieds of our local newspaper on July 4th when I went to get some coffee at the local fair trade coffee house. I called her and left a message. She called me back the same day but was not in town due to the holiday. I can understand that. So she said she would give me a call when she was available and we would set up a time see and interact with the birdies. That day was today.

I've purposefully looked every day since then for another ad for birds and I have not found one. The lady who was selling them said I was the first to call, and four more people have called since the 4th! Destined to be? I really could not tell yea.

She is cute as a button! Her wings are clipped and her tail is cropped (to prevent damage and split feathers). It was a hard choice between her sibling and her...but she was the first to climb onto my shoulder and whisper in my ear. LOL Literally she squeaked in my ear. OOOOH I'm in love! Her sibling was much more skittish and a bit peckish, but he settled down once we started talking to him. I would have took them both, but no room and I wouldn't like the noise. She was half the price of pet-shop cocktails, and I really wasn't keen on purchasing from a pet-shop anyways. This is this ladies third batch of babies and she claims to never have had a complaint about the babies in thier new homes. I am eager to see how this develops. I've never had a bird that has not been hand-raised (vs hand-tamed). I want to weep with joy I am so happy!!

She is very lightly colored, mostly pale yellow with grey here and there. I was so afraid they would look just like Merlin. One of the babies in a photo she showed me looked a lot like Merlin...it was freaky!

I'm not sure what I am going to name her yet. I always wait a while before naming pets unless one comes to me. I was thinking Myshilore (pronounced me-she-lore) but that is the name of one of my World of Warcraft toons. LMAO! Not computer generated either. I take great pride in picking names...even if it is just for a computer toon. We'll see what comes up here in the next week as she gets accumulated.

Photos to come soon. I just got her settled into her cage and I want to let her be and get used to the sounds & smells of her new home. She did not cry or make a single peep on the way home or as I shuffled her into her new home!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

My Mycology grows...

2008-07-03T11:10:00.005-05:00

Okay we have a little update on my Mycology studies and experiments. The basket shows my first straw inoculation set in a mesh water plant basket that is about 12 x 12 inches. I used the teks shown here at http://www.mushroomvideos.com/ . The straw was heat pasteurized in lime water. The jar next to it shows I have a bit of Elm oyster grain spawn left. My iron cauldron sits on top of the basket to help keep some moister in. The lid is from a different container. I took a peek in it today and the mycelium is growing out onto the straw. In a couple weeks we should have a bunch of shrooms to eat. I then took some of the left over grain spawn and inoculated three more jars of grain so I can make a "mushroom log" outta hay. I have a big ol bag of hay...I dunno if I will get to using it all up! But I still had more grain spawn left-over so I decided to try something a little more "outside the box" so to speak.
So I read in a book called Mycelium Running that mushrooms are great recyclers so I took the box my replacement UV Heat bulb came in, boiled some hand shredded newspaper in lime water, and layered it inside the box with the last of the grain spawn.
We'll see how this works out.
The close up of straw inside the bag is a photo of the elm mycelium taking hold inside. The white blotch is the growing mycelia.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Thoth

2008-06-26T15:21:00.001-05:00

This person is amazing! Can you imagine the coordination he has to have? WOW! He was "America's Got Talent" but he was boo'd so terribly. Didn't even give him a chance! I think that show is a disgrace as it encourages people to "poke fun" and make fun of others who are expression artists. SHAME ON YOU!
ANyhoo...enjoy!

Aye! There be Mycelium in me kitchen and a Hawk in a tree!

2008-06-19T21:03:00.004-05:00

Mycelium: Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae.

Hyphae: A hypha (plural hyphae) is a long, branching filamentous cell of a fungus.

I've made several different methods of growing my Oyster shrooms. The first method (Photo 1) is on PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) that was inoculated with a spore syringe that came with my Mushroom kit from sporeworks.com. Ironically I used regular sugar because I didn't know what dextrose was or where to get it. I now know that it is available through brew shops and we just happen to have a local wine and hop shop!

I inoculated two jars like this, but only this one seems to show any growth. And wow...what growth it has! It keeps growing and now...just a few hours later, the mycelia is growing up the sides of the jar! How cool is that! I am preparing grain to transfer a segment of this luscious growth to, and then...I will transfer the grain spawn (grain colonized by the mycelium) to a basket full of pasteurized, chopped, straw. Sounds like a lot work right? Not really. It happens in stages and the straw stage is still a few weeks off. I also plan makes some transfers to agar and attempt to gain hypha as this is just cottony growth that may, or may not fruit well. I shall keep notes and post me findings. I am loving this! I even built myself a positive air glove box with a $30 hepa air filter machine from Farm and Fleet. It seems to work really well in keeping contams (contamination like mold spores I don't wanna grow...like green mold or black pin mild....ichy stuff). I'll have to post about excursion that next.

The second photo if the Mushroom grow bag that I ordered from sporeworks.com. The white patch you see on the grain is Blue Oyster Mycelia growing. It too is taking off like a bat outta hell!

Third photo is of a transfer I did from a Pearl or Phoenix (not sure which) Oyster I purchased at the local farmers market. The cheapest way to expand my 'shroom culturing! This is what is termed as "cloning" in Mycology. The wispy white strands coming from the piece of fungus flesh is new mycelia growth. YAY! I took the biggest shroom of the bunch I got and cloned it. If anyone who reads me blog cares to get into Mycology and wants a free culture, just ask! It's easy as pie...although some kinds of pie are a lot of work...but this is a no-bake kinda deal...LMAO!! Pun-pun-puUUUuuun!

The fourth photo is a BRF-Tekmethod of cultivating shrooms. Lots of growth here! This can be crumbled and spread out on another substrate to colonize and fruit.

Fifth photo is of a red-Tail Hawk that was just outside our apartment, perched in a tree. There was all sorts of racket coming from a few Robins and Cardinals so I went out to investigate. WOW! What a beauty!

I'll keep this up to date as my shrooming adventures continue! I love summer!

I went and purchased some diatomaceous earth to put in the garden today because the leaves of my bush beans are getting chewed on by slugs I think. Several seedlings have been destroyed. I'll post photos of zee garden tomorrow as a well. I also bought a venus fly trap plant...I love them things...and maybe this time I can keep it alive over-winter!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Busted: A Citizens Guide

2008-06-18T11:12:00.001-05:00

For some odd reason, youtube.com would NOT let me play this...stating "Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player. (linked)" BUT I have the very altest flash player AND I could view every other video by the same user who posted this one. I see this an attempt by Youtube.com at blocking content that most police angencies would rather us NOT know. This is a nice work-around as now I can watch the video. Funny aye?

We have rights, soak it in and use them...or lose them.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Mycology Fun!

2008-06-12T10:39:00.002-05:00

WOOOooo!! I have shrooms growing!

And I am learning how important it is to have as sterile an environment for transfers as possible! Please examine exhibit "A"...a petri dish writhing with every other sort of germies but what I want to grow! LOL I did this transfer (the dark spot is a piece of mushroom flesh)in open air on purpose just to see just how many contaminents are in the kitchen. (I love auto save! Auto save saved my post after IE exploded, again!). Apparently there are a lot! It's very interesting none-the-less. I noticed my other two jars seem to have something growing on the surface of the agar as well....similar to what you see in the petri dish. So I have a new plan. I whipped everything down with bleach water first off. Then I am preparing jars differntly. The hole in the middle of the lids are for inserting cotton which will act as a contam (contamination) barrier and as venilation. After pouring in some zapped agar solution (my bulk container was refridgerated and thus the solution hardened) and replacing the lids complete with plugged holes, I then wrapped the jar lids in foil. This serves two purposes (as I read from various sources). First it prevents moisture from the pressure cooker bath from obsorbing into the cotton, and second it acts like a barrier to the outside environment during transfer to the sterilized glove box chamber. I am cooking the jars for 45 min to 1 hour to further destroy any contams in the agar. I think that I did not cook it for long enough the first time.

My Oyster 'Shroom "kit" is showing signs of growth after only 12 hours from innoculation! It's the small fuzzy white patch just above the innoculation disc. YAY!! At least something is growing like it should!

This weekend I plan on going to a local source for used lab supplies ( a popular source as well, Called UW SWAP). I also plan to buy some organic rye berries and larger mason jars.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Mycology and Weaving

2008-06-07T21:22:00.002-05:00

Okay back into the swing of things!

Anyone grow edible shrooms?

I ordered a Blue Oyster mushroom "kit" and it should be here sometime next week. In the meantime I have been literally obsorbing information on the growth and propagation of shrooms. I have been stumped as to where to buy screw-cap test tubs, flasks, and petri dishes for fungi propagation. All over the net I see them sold in bulk quantities of 20 or more. I don't have the money nor the space for all that! Anyone know where I can purchase 1-5 of each of these items?

I have been working on a weaving using Soumak technique which is basically just wrapping the warp with half-hitch knots. It's very free flowing and very free-form. I am loving it!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

It's been a long time coming...

2008-05-31T14:07:00.003-05:00

I am alive, for the moment. LOL After dealing with my Mum's health crisis...I came home to health crisises of my own! I have been having mentral issues for the past six months that peaked here recently. I was bleeding so much and so heavily that I gave in and called a doctor. I am schedueled for a biopsy June 9th to either rule out, or diagnoise,....cancer. *sigh* On top of this I did not qualify for much of a discount at the local "free" clinic and the bills for the diagnosis of these bleeding issues are rapidly piling up. Yet another medical debt to add to the collection...

On top of this I am dizzy almost all the time...except when I am driving which is wierd. If I move too fast, or jerk suddenly I get a severe dizzy spell. So life is has been a one-step-at-a-time thing recently. The bleeding finally stopped two weeks ago and hasn't started again.

Thank you to all who have donated moolay for my video tutorials! Thank you all who have posted such positive and encouraging feedback on them as well! I never imagined I would build such a fan-base!!

On the karate front...I haven't been able to go back yet, but I haven't quit entirely. I am gonna try to go back in June after school lets out for the summer. I have cut my hours at my second job to allow some time for me to work on unfinished projects at home and to give myself some much needed free time....of which I have been seriously lacking and that has put me in a foul mood most of the time. I love the extra money...but I don't like not having time for myself.

So....Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Some updates...

2008-03-18T15:32:00.003-05:00

Well when will the shit end aye? First my bird now my Mum!

Just a quick update...

My mother is ill with heart troubles and I am scrounging and workin a lot more to pay for a rental car to be with her when she goes in for surgery sometime in April. That means I had to put my Karate lessons on hold for the next two months so that I can put that money towards the trip to Indiana. Please keep her health in your prayers.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Why I have away from the blog

2008-02-20T17:45:00.001-06:00

I had one wicked-ass ragin' toothache for the last four days, I just came back from a dentist who said they would work with me on paying for my dental care since I have no insurance other than accident/dissability. There for a day and a half I was in such dispare. I didn't know what I was going to do or how I was going to get it done. I called a bunch of dentists and none of them wanted me. Not even the free clinics had any openings.

Thankfully, Goddess showed me compassion and I was called by a friend who knew this doc right down the street from where I live. I am so blessed.

After looking at the tooth, my third upper-left moler (sp?), he said I have two options: have a root canal and get a crown for around $3500 , or have it pulled for $150.

Guess which one I picked? The good news is that he is willing to help keep the rest of my teeth in order. He is a nice Chinese/Japanese/Asian man. I dunno which he is.

So now I am down and out, K.O.'ed for the next couple of days while I take antibiotics and some zippy pain meds. Boy, next payday is gonna be short, but hey, more time to me. Which is more valuable? Time? or Money?

My boss at the yarn shop was super helpful too. She took me to and from the dentist so I would not have to walk. It is walkable distance, but the temps were below zero today.

My other job, the paratransit one, was not as helpful however. You'd think, with me being a third year employee, that I would have earned some sort of....something for when I am sick or have something like this come up. But noOOOOOoooooooooooo. Humph.

I can finally drink room temp water again. Before I was heating it up to tepid in the microwave. Now if I can just get this thing to stop bleeding! Argh!

Until next time...

Another winter storm & World of Warcraft

2008-02-17T11:17:00.002-06:00

Well this time around we are expecting anywhere from 6-13 inches of snow. I have discovered and am playing often the World of Warcraft. I got curious, not I am hooked! LOL

If anyone plays world of warcraft, I am player Balechnay (pernounced Bay-lay-nay with the CH naselized-my made up name) who is an herbalist/Alchimest, my second character named Lathelanta is a leatherworker/skinner, and my third character Edeilla who will be a tailor/enchantor. If you need anything special I will curtainly try to oblige! I am on server Blade's Edge. This stuff is so addicted it ain't funny!

We had planned on going out for steak at Outbacks for Mikes B-day, but the roads are covered in a one inch thick layer of ice, the malls are closed, and the busses arn't running. Nope, it's a stay home be a game zombie type of day. Cheers! (clinks coffee cups)

My one Hunter character Balechnay has an Owl for a pet and I think it has been a good replacement for Merlin. It's helped me deal with the loss anyways.

I haven't done much crafting in the last week. I have been busy teaching tatting and knitting classes at the Yarnhouse....and getting sucked into Workd of Warcraft (WoW). I was on a ten day free trial and I lasted 5 days before I ran out to get the full version. You can't send/recieve mail, trade items, or create a party (group of folks fighting together). It's is a stupendous action/adventure game. I highly recommend it as the adventure never ceases!

(sluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurp...back into WoW I go!)

Here is a photo of Balechnay riding a critter across a sea and one photo with the owl.

Until next time...

In Loving Rememberance

2008-02-09T22:59:00.001-06:00

Merlin
Originally uploaded by crafting4goddess.

In loving Rememberance -- 2001-2008
Merlin passed from this world to the Summerlands at 10pm Feb 8th, 2008. May she fly free with everlasting health and vitality. Farewell my lovely Whirley-Merlin Bird. You will be sorely missed as the days are much too quite without you.

Where have I been?

2008-02-08T17:20:00.000-06:00

OYE! I almost don't have time for the internet anymore...except on snow days. I took the last snow day and spent it making those tutorials I had planned to do weeks ago. But as I explain in one, life has just been a wild ride since the new year.

My job at the yarn shop has really taken off and I love it.

My poor Birdie Merlin is dying. She seems to be hangin on for my sake, but I told her today she has my permission to leave for the Summer Lands. I will miss her, but her suffering is saddening me so much. I look after her and am spending as much time with her as possible and this usually means multi-tasking. Right now she is sitting on my bellay as I type. She has no chirp anymore, just a small squeak. She is weakening further everyday. *sigh* She is 6 years old and she has had a good run.

I went to Target today and purchased the HP All-in-One printer/copier/scanner I have been eyeballin for a while. Our old hand-me-down HP printer was on it's last leg. I love it and now I am able to scan in my tatted pieces! Trying to photograph them was becoming a real beatch. Check out the completed Floral bookmark! Snazy!

I am dived into the World of Warcraft online. I am totally workin out the 10 day trial. I'm not sure if I am gonna pay $30 for 60 days of "Service" or not...we'll have to see about that.

I added a Donation button to the top of the blog on the left side for those Youtubers who wish to make donations for my tutorial efforts. One lady said she would at least like to buy me a beer. Sweeet!! So that is what that there button is sittin there for. I will be keeping the donations exclusively for puter repair, updating, and up-keep for future tutorial makins.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Dora the Young Knot

2008-02-08T17:15:00.003-06:00

Doin the Flip

2008-02-08T17:15:00.001-06:00

A few tutorials on some tattin essentials.

Spinning Basics Pt 2

2008-02-08T17:14:00.003-06:00

Second Half of Spinin' in Basics

Spinning Basics

2008-02-08T17:14:00.001-06:00

I finally got to makin the Spinnin Basics videos I said I would do weeks ago. We had a Snow Day (13 inches total!!) and I had plenty of time to get it together and upload it. Please consider making a donation if I have helped you through my tutorials. Funds will go towards keepin the puter running as smoothly as possible, or repairing when it needs it, for future tutorial makin fun. :) Thanks in advance!!

T-t-t-tattin along with a Shadow visiter & giftings

2008-02-03T13:40:00.001-06:00

I finally got around to blocking, stiffening and mounting the "star of david" in a hoop. It looks more like a snowflake to me. I really need a scanner. We'll have to see what payday brings next week. Target has a nice HP printer, scanner, copier for $80- that I have had my eyes on for a while & the ink replacements are reasonable for it. I cannot even find the color catridge for our hand-me-down HP printer anymore. We are stuck with black only.

The Angel & Leaves pattern that I have been trying to rewrite is just too fiddly for my inexperience. This one is getting put aside for later. It kept curving around & I don't want that. I wonder if it is the thread (Omega matalics)?

I finally got started on the Floral bookmark that I saw on etatters & liked so much. I tried doing it with needle tatting but that proved to be too much of a pain-in-the-ass for color work. Blah! This one I am doing in Classic crochet thread (black) and Omega thread (antique gold/yellow).

Last but not least is Shadow Kitty. I was tattin away one sunny, wintery day last week when I looked over to the patio and saw a Shadow that resembled a kitty. Must be the protector of our patio doors. :) Can you see the Shadow Kitty?

A friend of mine gave me a whole skien of Cherry Tree Hill Oceania arn in the Sugar Maple color way over the weekend. I tis a beautiful yarn that has a string of matallic gold running through it. I have been wanting that for so long but it was just too much for my budget! I am one lucky gal! I totally want to knit the Swing long Coat out of it!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Antique Mall finds & Scrumble swap

2008-01-27T15:23:00.000-06:00

I did my scrumble last night and I love the way it turned out! I wanted to show the yarn off a bit so I used a bobble stitch to do so with. It turned out FANtastic! LOL I am actually a day behind as this was supposed to be mailed out to the next person in the round-robin but time flew last week! Before I knew what happened...the week had ended and I had done no scrumble! ACK! Well it is about 5 inches across and that exceeds the minimun of 4.

We went to the Columbus Antique Mall today, my mission was to find tatting shuttles. I didn't find any...but the place is flippin HUGE so I may have not gotten around to where one may have been. But I found four old magazines that feature tatting and a set of "vintage" buttons.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Tatting that star

2008-01-25T19:22:00.000-06:00

I am doing this "Star of David" tatted project to learn and practice split rings & chains as suggested on the online tatting class pages. I am liking it so far and I am starting to understand how this may work for that antique pattern I wanna do without constantly cutting and reattaching. *shutter!* What tedious work crafters went through in the old days!

I went to the second hand store today and found more thread for tatting! EEEEEEEEEEEEEe!! Not only that but I found a felting needle handle that holds 5 needles for $.50!! Ye-ah!!

After going over to my co-workers place to fix her puter and optimize it, she took me out for lunch as "payment" for the work I did. She says I really should go learn more on fixing puters through the local MATC because I have a talant that is going to waist. *shrugs* I picked it all up from the BF over the years. Nothin special about that.

The issue with the slipcover from ebay is on it's way to being resolved. The seller, despite the no return policy they have posted, offered a refund after the recieve the slipcover return...postage paid! I dunno if I should say something to ebay or not because after I mentioned I would contact ebay if we could not agree on an exchange for the right color, they were all like "we not want to cause you trouble, we give you refund". That's oober suspicious!! We'll keep our fingers crossed for that refund. I think I will just shop locally for a stretch to fit slipcover which is what I should have done in the first place. Ebay is okay for small things; beads, thread, shuttles...once in a while books...but larger things like this...no way. Never again.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

I learned "Split-Ring"!!

2008-01-22T19:45:00.000-06:00

I got the split ring down...now how do I switch colors without getting a kink in the line? I tried the shoe-lace method, & I tried it without it & I still got kinked. *Okay, mind-out-of-the-gutter!*

The top shuttle is Buffalo Bone and the bottom one is one I made from polymer clay. Neat, aye?

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Several Projects lined up...

2008-01-21T15:25:00.001-06:00

I love holidays! They give me time to do what I want. The slide show is a list of projects I found in Dewitt's Tatting book DeWitt, Jessie M., ed. The Priscilla Tatting Book, Selections of Useful Articles from The Modern Priscilla, with Beautiful Designs Never Before Published from the online Antique Pattern Library . It's a perfect day to tat. It's been snowing all day.

The fourth photo is called "Waist Set" (page 31) that would look great around a hurrican lamp I have. I'm setting to work on that one as soon as I get dinner going.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

I have a bone to pick...

2008-01-21T11:42:00.001-06:00

The first two photos are the photos listed on ebay for a stretch to fit slipcover for a loveseat. Does it not look more red than brown? The listing described it as red-brown.

The second photo is what I got in the mail today. Is it not more brown than any shade of red?? The camera sees a tiny bit of red but what I am looking at is a dirt brown-even in full spectrum light.
I am very-very dissapointed and disgusted with this purchase. The seller is trying to convience me that what I have recieved is correct for the listing even going so far as to say that it was called "Plum" in the past and that the listing says this. Please, look at the listing by following the link above and tell me where it says this. It says this no where. Their listing is very misleading. The photos are what I want, red-brown. Not Chocolate-Brown.

Be advise and beware of user decoreen on ebay. Photos are no where near accurate and I dare to say they are doctored. If I cannot resolve this through the seller, I will take it up with ebay and paypal because I feel ripped-off.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

I made Shuttles!!

2008-01-20T17:32:00.000-06:00

It started with an idea and then I found the
perfect cutting utensil! I call this pair Yin and Hidden Gem. The white one is Yin (of course) and the turquise lookin one is Hidden Gems. I called it Hidden Gems because when I went to buff it up, the layers underneith started to come up and it looke like Diamond Wood does. I think it took me about three hours to figure out how to make a good shuttle.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

OMG I must make one!

2008-01-20T13:07:00.001-06:00

I found these loverly flower bookmarks at SapxTat's blog (found via the 25 Motif Challenge Blog). I must make one! I love the sunflower colored one! I think, from looking at the photo, that I can figure out how to make it without a pattern. SWOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Another great & free ebook on Tatting

2008-01-20T12:20:00.001-06:00

Here is another HUGE ebook that is free for the downloading. It is Beeton's Book of Needlework by Mrs. Isabella Mary Beeton. There is talk on the Ravelry group L.A.C.E. about picking one of these designs to do a tat-along.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

This n Tat...

2008-01-20T11:31:00.000-06:00

I decided to add my tatted flower to the box I found at a second hand store for $1.50 after reading about how to use tatting creatively on Bella Online. I have also decided to tat some trim for around the edges to hide the scratches and dents from this well loved box that now holds my tattin' supplies. Has anyone ever used cross-stitch floss to tat with?

Then I found this wonderful small beaded tatted heart online and made earrings from them. The thread is more maroon than pink-red as the camera has captured it. The beads are Swarovski 4MM AB coated bi-cones that I bought from Hobby Lobby while they were half-price. The thread is size 10 Classic Crochet thread.
I used to feel that all the hub-bub over the Swarovski crystals were just that, hub-bub. Well I have grown to love the sparkle they produce. HA! I must have Swarovski! I cannot say the name properly so I say Sworskivorski. The bead shop I shop at the most knows what I mean and she doesn't mind my goofy name for them. She'll correct me and I'll just agree "Yeah-yeah, those crazy things!" LMAO!!

Maven over on Ravelry invited me to participate in a "Scrumble" round-robin. A Scrumble, as she describes it is free-form crochet (sometimes knit). I said why not. She invited me to swap so I'll give it a go. It'll give me an excuse to crochet as I have not done so in a very long time (talking many years here).

I am almost done with a caplet I am knitting for a demo for the yarn-shop. In-between tatting, beading, and other creative activities it is going slower than it would have otherwise. That is okay though.

I have an idea on how to MAKE a shuttle. I've looked online and others who make them and I have plenty of polymer (fimo) clay around so I am gonna take a gander and see what I can come up with. Poly clay may be too flexible so I may end up having to make a "skeleton" out of shrinki-dink plastic (of which I also have plenty of from my days of being a rubber stampaholic). I am also still working on a basic spinning tutorial for the fans of you tube. I am having issues with getting the right angle, coupled with not a whole lotta time to record in = longer than expected production time. Sorry! I'd rather have a GOOD tutorial than a half-ass one. I'm sure you'd agree. Speaking of video making, those RAM chips we rain-checked from Best Buy are FINALLY in. However, the money I gave Mike so he could stop by on the way home from work to purchase them with, has used the money...for gas I suspect. SOoooooooooooo it has to wait till next Friday. I am just a but annoyed at him because he said he was gonna take it out of his account so he would not spend it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

And now...to the Craft Cave!! *Cue retro batman theme....Craft Cave!, Craft Cave!, Craft Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave! do-de-do-de-do-de-do-deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*

Until next time...

Get blocked.

2008-01-18T18:48:00.001-06:00

Snowflake Blocking
Originally uploaded by crafting4goddess.

Tee-hee-hee!!
Here is my first tatted snowflake...all loppy and unsymetrical. Just like any first large project should be! All freshly sprayed with linen smellin starch (MMMmmmMMMmmm...reminds me of home) it'll be ready to hand in no time!

I will be working on making this tiny tatted heart while I watch my favorite programs tonight. Moonlight is on tonight. SQUEEEEEEeeeeeeee!!! I squeel at the moon instead of howl. Okay...I am a little goofy tonight!

My back is better, but now my neck is stiff. Oye. I can't win!

Free digital vintage Tatting books and patterns

2008-01-17T09:55:00.000-06:00

This is not a commercial. Seriously! This is a public announcement! LOL

I was looking at another tatting blog today and found a vintage book of tatting patterns that I would not mind having. Then I went to ebay. One seller was selling a digital collection of PUBLIC DOMAIN material. Can you say "Rip-Off"?? If it is public domain it is free to the public.

I am not sure how I found this site, but I love it. It is a public digital library collection of old vintage tatting pattern books whose copyrights have expired. Click on catalog on the right hand side to access what they have available. I have downloaded three complete books so far. They even have a yahoo group that you can join. They send out announcements when they add new books for downloading. I've already spotted several I am going to do & one that I am gonna modify into a pendent/pin to wear for St Patties day.

Don't get ripped off purchasing digital downloads of public domain material! Get it for free! Books and patterns that were published before 1923 are considered public domain now. Knowledge is power.

I really must stop looking online at tatting patterns and actually do some of them!! LMAO! Look at this pattern I found from the digitized book Corticelli Lessons in Tatting ! Who'da thunk!! I so want to do this! And there are also tatted baskets! BASKETS! OMG it is a treasure trove of digital goodness...13MB & 58 pages of digital goodness!! Oh dear...I really must stop drooling all over the keyboard...

I think I figured out my dilemma from yesterday on how to attach the long picot loop to the ring. I did two half hitches and then tatted the rest of the loop in under the knots. Then I decided to make a beaded picot to hang a charm from. It's almost done then I'll have a photo ready. Does this count towards the 25 motif count??

Oye, my back is still hurtin me today. I went and bought those stick on instant hot pads by Icy-Hot. It has helped in relaxing that area on my back...OOOO yeah that feels niiiiiiiiiiiice. Now I just have to find time to meditate and concentrate on healing that area so it gets better faster.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

What to do?!

2008-01-16T19:49:00.000-06:00

Does anyone have the book Contemporary Tatting: New Designs from an Old Art by Judith Connors that can help me out? I cannot figure out a part of one of the patterns. The pattern is for the Gemini beaded earrings on page 27. The authors instructions for the Dora Young knot was just atrocious and it took me two days to figure it out with help from various websites. Anyhoo when the pattern brings you to the bottom of the hoop that you are covering in thread, it says to string beads onto an extra-extra large picot and then "...link this to the ring..." but the author fails to instruct the reader on HOW to do this. I tried setting it under the knots, but it was easily pulled out. I tried tying it on by knotting through the picot, but that left one thread of the picot out of place and it didn't look neat to me. Any ideas on how to do this "linking" thing?

We are up for another Winter Storm warning tomorrow here in south-central Wisconsin. They say it will be a doozy but we know how those predictions go. Usually never as bad as they say...either that or they are a whole lot worse than they predict! LMAO!!

Somehow I picked a nerve in my lower back just above my butt bone (fancy term for tail-bone) yesterday when I was trying to practice doubling up my kicks. OWE. My back is better today but I am still stiff and sore around the butt-bone.

Now if I could just figure out this joining thing...I could make LOTS of these earrings to give away. MMMmmm....in the meantime

Here is a Celtic knot heart I tried to do from the book Celtic Tatting. It kinda looks like a heart, I think. It was a real beotch to weave the string of knots to make the center. The white one is what it is supposed to look like. Mine kinda sorta looks like the picture....kinda...sorta...

My heart has been through the wringer...literally. HA! HA-HA-HAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

I like puns. :P

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Your Potential To Feel Good

2008-01-14T12:20:00.001-06:00

Folk Art Video

2008-01-13T00:51:00.000-06:00

Here is a very educational, very interesting video that features folks in Wyoming who practice Folk Arts. It features a tatter, a Native American Drummer (Drumkeeper), a bladesmith, and a weaver. I found it very fun to watch and gave me a sense of wonder as a womyn who is a "Jill-of-all-Trades".

I heard that the web player was not working so here is direct link.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

More beaded treasures!

2008-01-12T18:13:00.000-06:00

I went to another beading store this afternoon (big mistake) and I found some beautiful abalone shell beads that I turned into earrings. Then I visited the rock shop and bought a piece of polished abalone shell to make into a pendent. OOOO sparkly! The camera does not do it justice at all! They are much more sparkly in person!!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Okay...I'm addicted...big time...

2008-01-11T21:01:00.000-06:00

I finished my ~~first~~ second tatted piece in two days time.

It is actually supposed to be a six petal flower but ended up being five because I misunderstood that the "very large picot" really did mean VERY LARGE. I could only fit five petals in, but hey! It looks swell none-the-less! I love it! I think it would look great on a barrette.

I have been browsing the variety of tatting shuttles out there and my-OH-my how tempting it is! I've purchased two sets of Buffalo bone shuttles hand made by craftsmen in India. The seller says "These are not mass produced. They are each made individually by craftsmen in India. The buffalo are domestically raised and the skin and meat are also consumed." Yeah! Way to support the small farmer aye?

I am currently working on a snowflake from the book Easy Tatting:

It is a bit of a challenge with all the turns it has. I have found when I am working the self-closing rings that I run out of threat. I have a hard time drawing more through the stitches because the thread has an iridescent strand that likes to get caught on everything. So, to solve this small issue, I take a lot of thread of the shuttle so that I have more than enough thread to finish the ring. I wrap the extra thread around my pinky like I do when making a chain.

My co-worker took me to one of the local thrift stores and I found some green crochet thread (I wanna make clovers for St. Patties day) and a "Clark's Big Ball" of #20 purple & white variegated thread. This will make pretty hearts for earrings! I also found a pretty & small sewing box to keep my extra shuttles and tatting supplies in.

While I was out today, I stopped by the bead shop on the east side and picked up some coin shell beads to make a pair of earrings. I have been planning on making these with coin pearls but I cannot seem to find them anywhere at the moment and the bead shop down the street (Bonjour Beads) is closed till February. The owner is taking a "hiatus" from running the shop. Always when I want beads for a project I tell yeah! LOL So I will have to wait till she reopens for those and I hope she has them still. The other bead shop that I would have gone to closed last summer. The rock shop might have them but they charge too much. My other option is purchasing online, but that can get expensive too!

Then I took the 40% Internet coupon for Hobby Lobby and bought a Carnivorous plant growing kit. The bowl of dirt with seeds sprinkled on top has to sit in the fridge for six weeks, and then germination could take upwards of 4 weeks. They should start growing just in time for spring!!

I had a lady on Ravelry beg me to do a basic spinning tutorial video so I will be working on that this weekend. I had planned on going to an intensive this weekend, but I did not get paid from both jobs because of winter break so I do not have the money to spare for this one this time. I have plenty to keep me busy here anyways!!

Karate has been kicking my butt. Trying to get back into the habit of going twice a week (three times a week for the next 4 weeks however to make up for 4 missed classes). Mr. Shaub has worked us hard! Yesterday we did crunches, push-ups, sit-ups, lunches, jumps....OOOOooo do I hurt!! I didn't sleep well because every toss I made I was in pain. WHEW!!

Well that about sums up the last week. Back to tatting!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Tatted Goddess

2008-01-06T17:50:00.001-06:00

Tatted Goddess
Originally uploaded by crafting4goddess.

I got the Tatting Bug! I finally figured out the knot-flop and I went to town doing different things and techniques. As I progress I began to see a Goddess being born! Tatting Goddess? It is about 2 inches long and about an inch wide, perfect as a charm but how would I protect it? Any ideas?

I had thought about encasing it in some polymer casting...but I dunno about that. What do you think?

Until next time...

Tatting!

2008-01-04T11:35:00.000-06:00

OMG! Why did I not think of this sooner! I checked youtube.com for videos on tatting & low and behold...it has been demystified! It looks like micro-macrame! I so want to go pick up a shuttle from HOB-LOB now!

Check out these wonderful tatting tutorials by folks on youtube.com (just like me!!)

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

How to Navajo Play: Demystified and Unraveled

2008-01-01T13:33:00.001-06:00

I am finally able to make tutorials again!

**Thanks to all the fans donations I am finally able to create and upload new tutorials!! I am one lucky gal!!**
Let me take you on a journey. A journey that will demystify and explain a widely misunderstood plying technique that takes one single and turns it into a 3-ply yarn. You are entering, the Tutorial Zone. *que Twilight ZOne Music*

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T00:06:00.000-06:00

Here's to doing your own thing and not letting the worlds troubles weigh you down.

Here's to saving money for fun in the future and to being the best I can be at everything I do!

Here's to continued spiritual growth in every way and form!

Here's to new projects and new learning opportunities!

Here's to creating many more videos to help other crafters grow and create!!

Welcome to my work 2008! Let's make the best of it that we can! The only limit, is our imagination!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

YEAH! We are back up and running!!

2007-12-30T15:27:00.000-06:00

$400 later after a Kingston RAM chip caused Windows XP to completely and totally crash beyond repair.

We literally had to rebuild the computer. The motherboard was fried. Mike was gracious enough to purchase the motherboard, a 2.6 Gig processor, and went half on a one gig RAM chip. I had to take the ram chip I bought earlier from the donations BACK and exchange for DDR2 since the new motherboard takes the faster DDR2's. This is after I took the orinigal DDR2's back in exchange for the regular DDR because the old motherboard was too old for DDR2's. But now they are out of stock and I have a rain check for 2 of them since they were on sale for $30 each. In the end we will have 3 Gig of RAM! In addition, because of After-Xmas sales, I was able to purchase a 500Gig backup external hard-drive in hopes of saving myself some future hassles of taking this thing into a shop and paying premium to get data recovered. I also plan to purchase some data-recovery software so I can do it myself should the need arise. The external does regular backups of the entire system. Sweet.

Now to get to the arduous task of calling up Microsoft to get a new key for XP. Ugh. What a chore.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

An update on stuff...

2007-12-28T09:49:00.000-06:00

The computer repair shop finally got back to us after the holiday and said that the computer was so hosed that there was nothing he could do but format the hard-drive and start over. Great. Well that is up to us to do so I opted to have all my information retrieved off the hard-drive for a whoppin $100. So the total for getting the danged computer back is $150. Fifty was for diagnosis and the hundred was for the data-retrieving. The man there said that a bad RAM chip caused windows to crash. Imagine that!! I wonder if it was the new one that I just purchased from all your donations? Well, we will find out. He said that he left it out of the computer. I can't remember if Mike took the new one out or not. Why does an RAM chip make windows crash?! Of all things!

To prevent such a disaster in the future I am going to purchase an external hard drive to store all my videos and photos on. Hopefully they will be safe on an external. Mike is very much against externals but after he hosed up the puter restarting it about a dozen times trying to fix it, I am not going though this again! On a positive note, I have had plenty of time since there is no computer in the house that I can work on (except the dinosaur but I hate that one because it is so slow) I have gotten lots if knitting and reading done. Next week I will be concentrating on getting my craft corner organized *AH!* and getting some new tutorials together after this long hiatus.

Christmas was interesting this year. Mike surprised me with THREE gifts! Last year we just took each other out for dinner at a place of our choosing. I was wanting a digital voice recorder so that I can do some ghost hunting and maybe communicate with the one that is always pacing in front of the bedroom fan and scaring me in t he middle of the night. He bought me a nice one that came with computer software for editing and putting on the web. NICE! He also bought me God of War which I beat in two days time. I have been talking about that game since it came out, expressing my desire to purchase but never having the extra funds to do so. I cannot wait till God of War 2 and 3 get down to a reasonable $20. I really like this game and it is HIGHLY addictive! I am playing it again on a harder level....ack! I don't think I will ever make it through on GOD mode. EEP!! And the last present was a Adventurine winged Lion. It was so cute! He thought it was a griffin but I informed him that griffins have beaks. But this one is a fine guardian as well. I put him on my dream altar and ever since I did I have been having some wacked out dreams! I actually dreamed about communicating with ghosts with the digital voice recorder. I have yet to try it for that purpose. I have to muster up the courage first and consult my Obsidian looking glass.

We are getting a ton of snow again which I am loving. Driving in it is a pain in the ass but I love the snow. After the last partial thawing and then freezing the snow is too hard to work with for the igloo cabin. With all this fresh snow and predictions of upwards of 6 inches I should be able to start up construction again. I have photos...they are just waiting for the puter to be well again.

Mike and I went a Solstice bonfire last Friday and it was nice. The snow was all mushy from the thawing but they had hot cider and coco along with pita bread and humus dip. Ever since then I have been craving humus and pita bread. It makes me fart like all craziness but that is fun too. I found out the next day that a hot amber had burned a hole into my new work coat. Damed it to all hell! Right in the middle of my back. So I will be out on a hunt for a suitable patch. A friend mentioned that I should get a solstice patch because I was "touched" by a solstice fire. :) Maybe I will do that.

Okay I am at the coffee shop, my breakfast sandwich is probably cold by now and I have other things to run off and do. That's all for now!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Mystery Holiday Card....

2007-12-18T16:47:00.000-06:00

I received a cute holiday card in the mail today, but the card was not signed! So to Don and Millie in New Mexico, thank you for the cute card!!

Mike was kind enough to take the computer in to the Computer Repair Specialists yesterday but they are backed up by four days. I guess that is okay as I expected there to be some sort of delay with the holidays beings so close. So we should have a working puter in about two weeks time. In the mean time I plan on building an igloo out in our coldisack (sp?!). I'll have pictures and notes to post whenever the puter gets returned.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

High Speed Flyer Woes

2007-12-15T17:29:00.000-06:00

Well I was finally able purchased a high-speed flyer for my louet wheel. My only issue now is that I cannot seem to figure out how to keep the tab-guides from sliding all the way to the bottom of the flyer while I am spinning. Anyone else have this issue or am I just not doing something incorrectly? Seems pretty simple but maybe the idea behind the flyer is too simplistic? I may end up returning it. I emailed louet support about it. If I do not receive a response in a weeks time, back it goes! It's not really worth the nearly $80 regular price tag with this rather odd technical issue.

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

When one thing fails...

2007-12-10T19:02:00.000-06:00

Everything follows in suite!

Well thanks to every ones kind and generous donations to my New Ram Chip fundraiser I was able to get one new 1 GIG ram chip!! Thank you so much! I am one lucky gal!

First, I bought the wrong kind. I bought the DDR2 RAM which I found out our motherboard is too old for. So I had to go and return that the next day because it started to snow again the day that I bought it. When I purchased the right kind of RAM, and brought it home for Mike to install....then Windows crashed!! OYE-VEY!! We tried repairing it with the installer CD but it said a windows file was corrupt and it did not give us any other options. SOOOOoooo, the extra money still sittin at paypal from donations will go towards saving my now trapped movie files and all my other files like patterns, photo's and graphic files I created on a trial edition of Photo Shop 11. Data retrieval starts at $50 and restoration of windows starts at the same price. If windows is unsaveable I will just get my files and have Mike reinstall windows...again. I hate having to reinstall windows because we have to call up Microsoft and get a new key each time we reinstall with XP. Each time I have to explain why I am calling yet again to get a new key. Yes our system crashed....again. And on top of the annoyance of having to call them up, I always get someone with a heavy Indian accent who can't seem to speak very fluid or comprehensible English just yet.

What's a person to do?!

I really hate windows. I am considering going to MAC.

I am supposed to be at the knitters guild right now, but I am across the street here at the library doing this instead. I have a book I need to take back to the guild's library but other than that I am not staying long. I am exhausted from not having a day off in two weeks. UGH!! Winter break is still another two weeks away. Could time slug away any slower? I need some time off! I really find the knitters guild to be boring. I could be at home spinning and watching a movie. I am just not that kind of knitting guru.

I did a self-defense intro class this weekend and it was great fun to teach wimmin how they can defend themselves simply and easily. My WTI mentor said that she was taking me home with her for her personal trainer! LMAO!! How funny! She propositioned me to do a crafty class with our next subject Feminism. I wish I had the puter at home because I need some ideas as the next WTI weekend is in two months! OYE-VEY! Here I am running myself ragged again!

Well anyhoo. Here at these libraries they only let you on the puter for a max of a half-an-hour and I have 14 minutes left. I cannot wait to get the puter at home up and running again. In the mean time I will not be entering much of anything into this until it is fixed and I will be using my free time to knit and spin, and think of ideas for a creative feminism class. HUmmmm....

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

You Folks ROCK!! ROCK ON!!

2007-12-04T09:07:00.000-06:00

When I logged on this morning I found that three people had donated to my fundraising efforts for a new ram chip, and we have half of the goal to raise already! I never expected in my wildest dreams that I could raise money for a ram chip so quickly!

I have been browsing the local tech stores online to see what is available and this is a great time to buy RAM. Everyone has some sort of great deal. Anyone have brand preferences? Best Buy has PNY 1GIG RAM which seems to be popular with a lot of computer users and Circut City has brand Centron on sale which is not so popular. They are cheap enough I can get TWO with what you folks are donating!! YEAH!!! ROCK ON!!!

I bought brand Kingston before and was sorely disspointed when it started to crap out exactly one year from when I purchased and installed it. Just past the warrenty guarantee so I will never buy Kingston again.

You folks have made me so happy! I am now excited to finally be able to upgrade the ram and get those new vids out!!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Fundraiser: New Ram Chip

2007-12-03T21:43:00.000-06:00

Thank you so much Fiberwish on Youtube for pointing me to a cool website that will help me collect donations for a new 1GIG ram chip to replace the one crappin out in the puter. With only 512 MB or so of usable Ram, it is impossible to edit videos to post on youtube. I have two I have recorded and are awaiting a new ram chip to be edited. Help me continue to bring you new, fun, and educational material to spinners, knitters, and crafters of all kinds! With your help I will be able to get the best brand of ram chip available. Spread the word!

If the widget does not show, click this here link to be taken to my fundraising page at Chipin.

(It says it only runs till January 1st but I will keep it going till I get enough to help with the purchase of a new chip)

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***

Conclusion

2007-12-03T11:17:00.000-06:00

Well the weekend ended on a high note when I visited Susan's shop Sunday before heading home the second time. The drive there Sunday morning was much better than Saturday night, and even better still when I came home Sunday afternoon. Many of the backroads are nothin but ice today. I bought a fat-core bobbin for the louet and a flick from Susan with a 18% discount for coming to the retreat. Sweet!!

Somehow I got stuck with the three most gossipy, "Grey-Hairs" (this is a term they have earned to describe them because of thier behaviors) I have ever had the displeasure of being around. They didn't have anything nice to say about the host of the weekend, Susan. I was taken aback by such unpleasant behavior from grown womyn. They bitched and moaned about how nothing happened on scheduel and how scatter-brained Susan was. I sure would like to see them put together a weekend like that, run a business AND try to be at the hotel for the weekend and see how together they will be. What ungreatful hags! Every business owner I have ever known has been scatter-brained. There is a lot to run and a lot to think about, escpecially for one person who does so much for these ungreatful hags! OH! And when one womyn of the "click" left for some reason, the other Grey-hairs would talk smack about her! OMG! I am so staying away from that group of grumpy-ain't-got-nothin-better-to-do-than-talk-smack-about-everyone-and-everything-hags! OMG! Gag me with a spoon already!

It wasn't all bad. It was just that one corner I was in...where there was seats left to sit in. MMmm I wonder why?! I told Susan when I visited her shop Sunday about how these Grey-Hairs talked smack about one another behind thier backs...but I left out the part where they had openly disrespected her efforts to put the weekend together when she was not around. I think in this case, ignorance is bliss. She is a hard worker. Every small business owner I have met has been a hard worker.

I did bring swim clothes with me Sunday and I went for a swim. The pool water was so chlorinated that I smelled it for the rest of the day, even after I good scrubbing. I think it burned my sinuses! My skin was sooooooo dry and itchy afterwards. YUCK! I booked a two night stay in a hot-tube suite for the March Spinners Retreat. It'll cost me a pretty penny but it will be worth it. I think there is a 10% discount for AAA members so that'll save me a pinch of change.

I have busily working on making bath bombs, soap and knitted items for spa gifts. I have also been working on the fleece from Lotti, the sheep I adopted this year. I love the fleece! It has the staple of a BFL but the softness of Merino (BFL x Merino). YUMMAY!

There is a tea light in the middle of the fleece to help gauge how much is there. There is a lot!! I want to knit on the stole sometime this week and I still need to spin more yarn for the Shawl. UGh...so much to do! So little time!! There is still three weeks till Xmas break...ugh!

Until next time...

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All Fiber Retreat and one hell-of-a-drive home...

2007-12-01T21:56:00.000-06:00

Let's try this again! I was just about ready to start typing when PhEEEeeeeeeew the electricity went out. ACK! We are in the mists of our first Winter Storm...very early in the cold season. For once we are having a "normal" winter for being in the North. The last 5 years have been unseasonably warm with little snow. Not this year!!!

Yesterday I was sorely dissapointed in the BF after finding out he had not planned on taking me out for Sushi in celebration of getting my purple belt, but just said he would to satisfy me at the time I asked. I am not a happy girlfriend and I am sick and tired of being dissapointed by him. Because I was so dissapointed YET AGAIN by the BF, I did not perform well at my promotion and I hated it. I did get my purple belt but it is very clear on the crappy video he shot that I was not into promotion mentally as I should have been. Instead of celebrating, I was crying when we got home.

So I made it to the All Fiber Retreat about an hour before the winter storm started. This was after I got up around 6am, went to the bank, had breakfast at the local pancake house (not IHOP), then went over the local Farm and Fleet to purchase two tubes of sand and handwarmers before I even left town. I went to bed pretty early last night because I was so depressed. I brought my heaviest sleeping bag with me just in case I got caught in a ditch on the way home...which almost happened...once. Of course my luck would have something I want to go to land on the weekend the BF wants to go to his club thang. Damned it to hell and back! So although I had THREE offers for a bed to stay the night at the motel 8 where the fiber retreat was held and most of the wemyn there begged me to make up a lie in order to stay off the road, I relunctantly drive my ass home in a damned ice storm. It took a good hour and a half what is a 30 minute drive in good weather. A semi passed so close to me in the left lane (that was not plowed btw) I thought for sure it was gonna scrap me! The highways where hell! There was a layer of crunchy ice where the plows had been and I could not tell where the lane lines where at all. I was just following the path carved by other vehicles and I am surprised the tired held up! WOW, the snow came early this year!

Next time, I told the BF, I am going to stay put when weather like this hits when I am at an event like this. I am very resentful at having to come home and risk my life and well-being to do so. Then he acted like he was not gonna go! I told him he better go! I came home in nightmarish driving conditions so he could!! The wemyn at the retreat said that if he really cared for me, he would ask me to stay put there at the motel. I agree.

But you know a car about a mile ahead of me slid into the ditch. When I reach the car I stopped to see if they needed assistance. Wouldn't you know it, a man clambered out of his sporty car WITH A BEER BOTTLE IN HIS HAND!!!! I asked if he was okay and he said he was and that he had called a tow that was on the way. He said he appriciated my stopping but I don't appriciate his choice to drive in this weather DRUNK!!! I told him to take care and went on my way. I hope he sat in that ditch for a good long time, the son-of-a-bitch. How utterly irresponsible!! Thank Goddess I was no where near his ass when he hit the ditch.

I fishtailed once trying to make it up a rather large hill on the highway, but other than that I handled the hellish driving conditions well. Susan from Susans Fiber Shop gave me her cell number and asked me to call when I made it home so she would not worry about me. That was sweet of her. I did call and I do plan on going back over tomorrow, only this time I am bringing a change of cloths so I can go swimming! I so wanted to take a plunge today. It was nice and warm in the pool room.

There were venders there as well. I bought 8 ounces of Merino roving in a colorway called Glowing Coal. MMmmm nice and warm! I walked down to Culvers in the middle of the storm to have lunch. Everyone thought I was nutty! It was walking distance and the work to walk in the snow helped to burn some caleries anyhoo. Honestly, I'd rather have sushi.

When I put the newly aquired fiber in the closet I noticed raisens...little mouse raisens all over everything! Damned-it-to-hell! We have a mouse in the house! LMAO! It's a first in the three years of being here that we have had a rodent issue. Being by the woods I always expected to have this problem pop up sooner or later. I haven't seen the raisens anywhere other than in the closet so maybe it is stuck in there. Hopefully.

Well more reporting tomorrow and I'll have some photo's as well. I plan on going to Susan's Spinners Retreat in March. This time I am gonna book a hot-tube suite for myself and the BF is just gonna have to sacrifice his club night.

Until next time...

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YEAY! Blue Uniform!

2007-11-30T12:14:00.000-06:00

My blue karate uniform finally came in this week. I am busily hemming up the legs as they are about two feet longer than I need! I am vertically challanged, I admit it.

Along with that, I got my foam "training" nun-chucks, my sparring boots I ordered, and a neat-o "Black Belt Team" t-shirt! Photos to come as I have promotion tonight!! I am going to purple belt!! I made my goal! The BF is taking me out for Sushi in celebration tonight (if he hasn't forgotten he agreed to do so!).

My MP soap supplies came today so I am busy playing with that as well. I am making soap for the spa "Pamper Yourself" kits for the holidays this year. One for mom, the BF's parents, my WTI Advisor, my co-worker, my boss at the yarnhouse...and possible some internet friends. :)

Well I gotta get crackin. I still need to sew the hems on those pants before tonight!

Until next time...

***All content is Copyright year and date of posting, and are the sole property of C4G/CCW unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this website(text, photo's, etc)is strictly prohibited(linking to the post is OK).***