tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127930472024-03-07T21:41:35.844-05:00MysticSpiral Studio NewsExploring the balancing act of being a full-time artist and stay-at-home mom.Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-18320059451961787652009-05-28T13:41:00.004-05:002009-11-21T02:19:04.415-05:00I'm not always sureNext week, the state of Ohio is scheduled to execute Daniel Wilson for his murder of Carol Lutz in 1991. It was the 2nd time in his 21 years of life that he was responsible for the death of another human being. Wilson acknowledges his guilt. He is not claiming that he is innocent of the crime for which he is supposed to die. For reasons that (if you believe his confession) even he does not know, Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-87055167279413093482009-04-03T21:44:00.003-05:002009-04-03T22:51:28.328-05:00Catching up... Part 1I made a conscious decision as I sat down to write this not to look at any of my previous posts. In particular, I made a decision to avoid checking the date of my last update. I knew that if I actually confirmed for myself how long it had been since I had last written, I wouldn't be able to actually write anything. I'm like that sometimes... I allow myself to become so overwhelmed with the Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-7515179262208246352009-01-22T11:03:00.005-05:002009-01-22T11:09:19.044-05:00What I've been doing instead of bloggingYou know what the real problem with needle felting is... if you stab yourself in the fingers often enough, it hurts to type.If you enjoy it enough, these results almost make it worth being unable to brag about what you're doing on your blog...Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-60576926750383874742009-01-20T01:57:00.001-05:002009-01-20T01:57:38.993-05:00No Name-Calling WeekNo Name-Calling WeekPosted using ShareThisAndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-83016743962359801772008-12-15T00:19:00.004-05:002008-12-15T01:34:06.281-05:00How long 'til Santa files for unemployment?From: A Kidnapped Santa Clausby L. Frank BaumSanta Claus lives in the Laughing Valley, where stands the big, rambling castle in which his toys are manufactured. His workmen, selected from the ryls, knooks, pixies and fairies, live with him, and every one is as busy as can be from one year's end to another.It is called the Laughing Valley because everything there is happy and gay. The brook Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-24453452265506526762008-09-17T17:14:00.001-05:002008-09-17T17:14:23.853-05:00Happy Constitution DayThe Constitution in PerilOriginally uploaded by Renegade98221 years ago today, The Constitution of the United States was adopted by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. It would take a year and a half for enough states to ratify the new document to allow a new government to set to work under its guidance. It would ultimately take almost 3 years for the constitution to be approved by Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-33595386661112567602008-09-12T00:08:00.002-05:002008-09-12T09:58:27.633-05:00Politics: Health CareNorristown State HospitalOriginally uploaded by road_less_trvledDo you know someone who doesn't have health insurance? There's a stigma attached so it's possible that they've not mentioned it. It might be better to ask yourself other questions. Do you know someone who is self-employed? Do you know someone who is trying to run a small business? Chances are, they don't have health insurance. The Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-67353913140188697542008-09-06T14:50:00.002-05:002008-09-06T15:01:44.346-05:00Sprout's first week of "preschool"085Originally uploaded by madaiseTuesday was Sprout's first day at the Boonshoft Discovery Museum's Kaleidoscope preschool science program. When we arrived to pick her up after "school" on tuesday morning, and I asked her what she'd done during the day, her answer was, "I fell in love today." When I asked Miss Robin, her teacher, how Sprout had done on her first day I was told that she already Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-35528431334403375992008-09-05T12:59:00.007-05:002008-09-05T18:23:38.600-05:00Politics: Fair Warning (aka I've lost my resolve)I'm finding that, the closer we get to the election, the more difficult it is to separate my political passions from the rest of my life. Frankly, I don't really want to. So I have to ask myself, why am I trying so hard to keep the politics off my blog? Am I afraid of offending potential customers? (That can't be it, I'm doing nothing to attract customers and have little to offer a customer when Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-80405551111736159172008-08-31T17:03:00.001-05:002008-08-31T17:03:24.720-05:00Art Bead Scene August Challenge: Something to SayABSAug08 You're Magical (detail)Originally uploaded by MysticSpiralI've thought about submitting something for one of the Art Bead Scene monthly challenges for quite some time. This month the challenge was so perfect for the work that I've been doing lately that it was just too hard to resist. I've had a project entry in my Ravelry notebook for ages that says simply "Miles of I-cord" with no Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-16148078399267919432008-08-25T14:05:00.001-05:002008-08-25T14:05:21.513-05:00How I Spent My Summer Vacation100_8532Originally uploaded by Uriel 1998It's hard to believe that it has been another three weeks without updating the blog. Sprout has really kept me on my toes, although I should admit that I've done much of it to myself. As easy as it can be to bemoan life in the midwest and the lack of certain amenities, we've really got it good here in Dayton. We've had free movies at the parks, pony rides,Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-22545979283158625212008-07-30T22:47:00.002-05:002008-07-31T00:22:35.041-05:00Past DueSprout has had me running almost non-stop since the arrival of her beloved "Rosie" in our driveway. This week is a great example. Monday, we went to visit our friends the E., A., & B. Since B. runs a home daycare, Sprout loves to be there during the day. Not only does she get the chance to play with her friends E. (age 5 1/2) and A. (age 7) but also with the 3-5 other children who might be Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-17375066691841745062008-07-14T12:05:00.002-05:002008-07-14T12:14:30.339-05:00Meme: My life in imagesMeme: My life in imagesOriginally uploaded by MysticSpiralI'm participating in a handmade spindle swap on Ravelry. There are so many talented people involved in the Ravelry community and I find new and wonderful things each time that I venture into a new person's projects, blog, or flickr stream. I found this meme at The Fiberfairy's Haven. She's one of the spindle swap participants. I was Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-58215613973992783632008-06-29T23:06:00.003-05:002008-06-30T00:45:30.318-05:00What a difference a car makesThings here have been a bit more active than usual. The mere existence of a second car around the MysticSpiral homestead has Sprout in a frenzy of "What will we do next?!?!" That said, the fact that we have the option to leave whenever we wish has her a little more content to linger around the house playing in nothing but her underwear. (What is it about young children that prompts them to be Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-49992685480387076682008-06-20T00:32:00.002-05:002008-12-14T12:50:16.943-05:00Here Be DragonsIt's after 1:30am and I am leaving early tomorrow for a weekend away from Sprout and her daddy conference in Cincinnati. I'm not actually doing anything, just hanging out with a dear friend who doesn't need my moral support but is willing to accept it anyway so that I can have a sort of mini-break. I'm taking stuff to take some pictures and all of the finished finger puppets that I can find. I'veAndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-10812880156728739842008-06-17T22:31:00.005-05:002008-12-14T12:50:17.179-05:00PoliticsIn the past, I have avoided discussions of politics as much as possible. Since politics touch on many of the things that are important to me, this has often required a Herculean effort. The people who talk to me regularly are used to hearing about my thoughts on everything from the state of public education and the inherently unequal way that schools in Ohio are funded, to electoral reform or theAndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-17018886930400132352008-06-12T10:28:00.005-05:002008-12-14T12:50:17.518-05:00Another Minute of FameAndy Warhol's quip about 15 minutes of fame comes to mind every time I see my name in print. My own 15 minutes seems to take the form of 10 seconds here, a minute and a half there. In November of 1994, I managed to track down and post the portion of the US Armed Forces Military Chaplain's Manual of Religious Requirements and Practices that pertained to the practice of Wicca; Witchcraft. For a Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-31532806007270394142008-05-25T22:41:00.006-05:002008-12-14T12:50:17.690-05:00One of those conversationsWe've all had them... At least I hope we have. You know, those mental exchanges with our creations when they've begun to take on a life of their own?Me: We need to find you a name.Creation: (silence)Me: What do you think of "Ember"?Creation scoffs almost audibly.Me: Ok, you don't like Ember... What about "Singe"?Creation rolls eyes but still refuses to comment.Me: Hmmm... "Scorch"?This prompts Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-70601332204915262492008-05-23T14:39:00.002-05:002008-05-23T15:25:13.712-05:00Personality TestsOne of the side-effects of my depression is that I have this constant need to better understand myself. I'm always trying to gauge whether my thoughts and reactions are "normal" or whether I'm in some sort of unhealthy space. I'm also very uncertain of how others see me. One result of this is that I have become completely addicted to online personality tests. I could sit and take them for hours. Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-32797130503919563152008-05-21T23:12:00.006-05:002008-05-21T23:23:43.718-05:00Reclaimed Checked ScarfscarfandswatchOriginally uploaded by MysticSpiralI've written before about my interest in reclaiming yarn. The socks that I've knit so far (a pair for me, 2 pairs for Sprout, and a pair for my niece) have all been knit from reclaimed yarn. My current project is the one that's getting the most attention of any of my projects so far, at least locally. I had a moment at the knitting guild meeting onAndihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-92027648221538610302008-05-12T10:47:00.004-05:002008-12-14T12:50:17.908-05:00Pay It Forward ExchangeI love the whole concept of Random acts of kindness and Pay it forward. I like the idea that good will and positive spirits can be passed from one person to another. It is a reminder that our actions can have a direct impact on people who we don't know and may never meet. This is what led me to join the Random Acts of Kindness group on Ravelry. It is also the reason that I continue to Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-32140890831309387672008-04-25T13:48:00.006-05:002008-12-14T12:50:19.881-05:00The cable is found! I am saved!I'll be writing descriptions and updating the Etsy shop tonight. If you see something you like, drop me an email at etsyshop at mysticspiral dot com and let me know which pin you want and I can mark it "reserved". I'll give you a week to finalize the transaction before taking it off reserved status and returning it to general stock. If you need longer (I understand, we only get paid every 2 1/2 Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-70568674421571114162008-04-23T16:41:00.002-05:002008-04-23T16:45:57.854-05:00Piffle!!Well, I got some pictures taken... Not many, my camera has a 16mb card. This wouldn't be a problem, IF I could find the cable for the camera, or any other way of removing the pictures so that I could take more. I wonder where the Mr. put that cable.Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-35513542304187720882008-04-23T12:41:00.003-05:002008-04-23T13:17:55.211-05:00My Little Red WagonThe Radio Flyer* died Monday on the way home from the Knitting Guild Meeting. The mechanic says that the water pump failed (rather dramatically if you want my opinion) and that he can't pressurize the cooling system to determine what else may need attention. This repair is going to cost a lot of money that we don't have. Alternately, not making the repair (how much is a 93 Escort wagon worth Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-56949150723976976042008-04-15T14:21:00.005-05:002008-12-14T12:50:20.104-05:00Farewell, Space MonkeyIf I know you offline, chances are pretty good that I've mentioned my cats and told you silly stories about one or more of them. Yesterday morning, Shado (our eldest cat and the one that I sometimes referred to as our "Radically Altered" male) passed from this world. It was not an unexpected event and we'd spent quite a bit of time over the last couple of months trying to prepare Sprout for the Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1