tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127930472011-11-23T18:59:49.092-05:00Exploring the balancing act of being a full-time artist and stay-at-home mom.Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.comBlogger2261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-18320059451961787652009-05-28T13:41:00.004-05:002009-11-21T02:19:04.415-05:00

Next 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-87055167279413093482009-04-03T21:44:00.003-05:002009-04-03T22:51:28.328-05:00

I 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-7515179262208246352009-01-22T11:03:00.005-05:002009-01-22T11:09:19.044-05:00

You 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-60576926750383874742009-01-20T01:57:00.001-05:002009-01-20T01:57:38.993-05:00

No Name-Calling WeekPosted using ShareThis

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-83016743962359801772008-12-15T00:19:00.004-05:002008-12-15T01:34:06.281-05:00

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.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-24453452265506526762008-09-17T17:14:00.001-05:002008-09-17T17:14:23.853-05:00

The 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-33595386661112567602008-09-12T00:08:00.002-05:002008-09-12T09:58:27.633-05:00

Norristown 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-67353913140188697542008-09-06T14:50:00.002-05:002008-09-06T15:01:44.346-05:00

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-35528431334403375992008-09-05T12:59:00.007-05:002008-09-05T18:23:38.600-05:00

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.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-80405551111736159172008-08-31T17:03:00.001-05:002008-08-31T17:03:24.720-05:00

ABSAug08 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-16148078399267919432008-08-25T14:05:00.001-05:002008-08-25T14:05:21.513-05:00

100_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-22545979283158625212008-07-30T22:47:00.002-05:002008-07-31T00:22:35.041-05:00

Sprout 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 there

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-17375066691841745062008-07-14T12:05:00.002-05:002008-07-14T12:14:30.339-05:00

Meme: 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-58215613973992783632008-06-29T23:06:00.003-05:002008-06-30T00:45:30.318-05:00

Things 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-49992685480387076682008-06-20T00:32:00.002-05:002008-12-14T12:50:16.943-05:00

It'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've

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-10812880156728739842008-06-17T22:31:00.005-05:002008-12-14T12:50:17.179-05:00

In 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 the

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-17018886930400132352008-06-12T10:28:00.005-05:002008-12-14T12:50:17.518-05:00

Andy 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-31532806007270394142008-05-25T22:41:00.006-05:002008-12-14T12:50:17.690-05:00

We'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-70601332204915262492008-05-23T14:39:00.002-05:002008-05-23T15:25:13.712-05:00

One 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-32797130503919563152008-05-21T23:12:00.006-05:002008-05-21T23:23:43.718-05:00

scarfandswatchOriginally 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 on

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-92027648221538610302008-05-12T10:47:00.004-05:002008-12-14T12:50:17.908-05:00

I 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-32140890831309387672008-04-25T13:48:00.006-05:002008-12-14T12:50:19.881-05:00

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-70568674421571114162008-04-23T16:41:00.002-05:002008-04-23T16:45:57.854-05:00

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-35513542304187720882008-04-23T12:41:00.003-05:002008-04-23T13:17:55.211-05:00

The 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-56949150723976976042008-04-15T14:21:00.005-05:002008-12-14T12:50:20.104-05:00

If 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.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-84478256704894815492008-04-05T04:42:00.003-05:002008-04-05T05:04:36.993-05:00

The weather is beginning to warm which means that I'm able to return to my studio. I'm really excited about some wheel thrown spindle whorls that I've been working on. They're time consuming, but I have fallen head over heels with each and every one of them even though I'm sure that they're not saleable. (Of course this means that I'll be making a lot more of them...)It's more than a month since

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-65647237807530386652008-03-07T01:09:00.003-05:002008-04-05T05:07:23.413-05:00

New Spindle - Old WhorlOriginally uploaded by MysticSpiral Obviously, in spite of my desire to do so, I did not re-open the shop on March 1st. To explain the delay, I need to go back to some of the circumstances that led me to close the shop in the first place.I've mentioned (once or twice) that I have been diagnosed and am being treated for major depression. I've learned that I'm vulnerable

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-90625085445822015182008-02-15T18:36:00.001-05:002008-02-15T18:36:42.084-05:00

twistedgrid Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral The pop-up nylon light cube that I ordered arrived the other day and I had a chance to set it up and try it out. I grabbed a hand-full of finished shawl pins and some decorative paper that I had sitting around the studio. The shots turned out ok, but I think that they'll be better once I get the stuff I need to set up better lighting.

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-43430756674445185632008-02-14T01:07:00.001-05:002008-02-14T01:07:28.998-05:00

Orange Wool Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral I've found a great deal of enjoyment lately in pulling apart sweaters and watching the Complete Jane Austin from PBS. I ordered, and received, a pop-up light tent for photographing my work for the Etsy shop. I've finished my first sock and the cuff & heel of the 2nd are finished and all I have to do is knit the mile and a half of foot before

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-46875322286267564242008-02-08T15:41:00.001-05:002008-02-08T15:41:22.976-05:00

Andi's CHUMtoiral Socks Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral Knitting socks is an excellent metaphor for recovery from an illness. It takes patience and represents a large investment of time and only someone who has actually been there can really appreciate what you have in it. These are the socks that I blogged about back in October. I've not constantly worked on them all this time, and

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-91593715102394528772008-02-06T11:59:00.001-05:002008-02-06T12:53:14.447-05:00

Stoneware Knotwork Wrist Distaff - with fiberOriginally uploaded by MysticSpiral The health problems which prompted me to close the MysticSpiral Etsy shop are still unresolved. While frustrating, this fact has also encouraged me to try to look at what I can accomplish within the limitations that I'm forced to work with. What it comes down to is, I am not capable of spending extended periods of

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-45822004956781419572007-12-26T00:25:00.000-05:002007-12-26T11:33:03.843-05:00

Wow! The winter holidays were upon me before I knew it. Between my parents decision to go on a cruise to celebrate the 40th anniversary of my conception their wedding, and small illnesses and a general lack of enthusiasm on my part, I'm not surprised that the space between Thanksgiving and this week passed in a blur.I'm currently reading a fun book called Journal: The Short Life and Mysterious

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-15090509386472271412007-11-18T19:30:00.001-05:002007-11-18T19:40:32.443-05:00

DSCF2059-A-book-spindle-11-17-2007 Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral Ok, maybe that's deceptive. It's not like I've written a book on spindle spinning. Instead, I've turned a small, otherwise useless book into a drop spindle. I found the book at the annual Planned Parenthood book sale held at our local fairgrounds. I had fun making it and am thinking about doing a tutorial, if there's any

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-70182036714294106842007-11-08T22:38:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:20.478-05:00

As a writer, I have an inherent fascination with words. The idea that words have the power to change lives, and even the course of history, was probably one of the most intoxicating realizations of my educational career. Reading about the great speeches of important men and the impact of their words on people and nations made history more real, and more interesting, to me.It wasn't until I

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-61641991622246778722007-10-27T14:58:00.001-05:002008-12-14T12:50:20.665-05:00

I've been keeping myself occupied recently by reading way too much stuff on Ravelry and adding to my already crippling list of hobbies. Thanks to the "Thrifty Knitters" group on Ravelry, I've been having a blast recently unraveling sweaters picked up for next to nothing at my local thrift shops. With some careful deconstruction, a sweater can be quickly reduced to 4 panels of knitted fabric

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-9939654317887238812007-10-24T22:41:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:20.913-05:00

I've been dragging my feet on this post for a while. To be honest, I don't like the uncertainty of all of this and it's taking so long to figure it all out that I'm feeling very adrift.The status of things so far... I've had 3 physical/occupational therapy appointments. She gave me 6 pages of exercises intended to help with carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, de Quervain's

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-63297583956394931822007-10-14T00:31:00.001-05:002007-10-14T01:14:37.323-05:00

RavSpinOctChallenge Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral I'm currently working on spinning up about an ounce and a half of black superwash merino which I've blended (in the loosest sense of the word) with glow-in-the-dark spiderweb from one of the 1,000,000 Halloween stores that has suddenly opened in the greater Dayton area. I've visited more of these stores than is my usual custom (I

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-84431781117869251292007-09-20T13:36:00.001-05:002008-12-14T12:50:21.077-05:00

I made an appointment for Monday with a hand therapist at a local sports medicine clinic. I had delayed for two weeks since my doctor referred me with excuses about not being able to find childcare. It turns out, the clinic is attached to one of our local YMCAs. (Not the one where Sprout has her swim lessons and soccer and where I take bellydance classes... this one is actually closer to home.)

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-52279654142599084062007-09-18T13:02:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:21.308-05:00

The information about this series came into my inbox at a particularly appropriate time. For some time, Sprout has exhibited many of the signs of reading readiness, including the ability to identify the letters of the alphabet in both upper and lower case, basic understanding of the primary sounds of individual letters, and (most importantly) a strong desire to move forward in her acquisition of

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-15980526774811464702007-09-10T19:34:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:21.469-05:00

I started having problems with my hands when I was in college. Pain... loss of sensation... loss of control... As a 22 year old, during a particularly bad period, I went to the campus health center and was told that I was most likely dealing with arthritis. I was a child and it never occurred to me to ask for a second opinion.In the spring of 1999, after spending an intense period of time working

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-28303071552595660132007-08-15T20:14:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:21.887-05:00

When I started reading Maximum Ride #3: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, I wasn't really sure what to think. I think that a lot of the problem for me comes from the fact that I had not read either of the first two books. I can't recommend jumping into the series with the third book. There are quite a few moments in the book where allusions are made to events which occurred in the

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-59795030502663507242007-08-13T09:56:00.001-05:002007-08-13T10:57:53.768-05:00

Last night I arrived home from the family Florida vacation. Sprout had a great time and really got the opportunity to get to know my sister who was visiting from Germany. We had a small family birthday party in the condo and Sprout got to swim in the ocean and in the pool at the condo at least twice a day. Her swimming is improving by leaps and bounds.While there, I found the time to read the

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-8594713804694220632007-07-19T11:39:00.001-05:002007-07-19T11:39:55.878-05:00

fishin Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral Etsy's having a poster contest related to the whole treasury concept. Although I'm not currently selling through my Etsy shop, I am trying to maintain a presence so that when I re-open the shop I won't have to start over from scratch... I'm enjoying having the extra time to do things like searching for fish themed ceramics to pull together an

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-84024659509569047362007-07-16T11:54:00.001-05:002007-07-16T11:54:38.743-05:00

beadbale Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral I'm looking for a wholesale source for these findings. They're sterling silver, although I saw them in silver plate as well, with attached wires for stringing focal beads to make pendants. They seem like the perfect solution for making pendants from some of my more elaborate focal beads. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-29330858856348972682007-07-15T20:25:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:22.053-05:00

When last I checked in, I was feeling a bit sleep deprived. Some research online and a conversation with my therapist helped convince me to try switching when I took my new medication from the evening to the morning. I also switched to a slower release formula which we're going to try for a while and see how things go. I'm doing much, much better with the combination of the slower acting formula

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-10082596638997342312007-06-26T04:01:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:22.322-05:00

It's somewhere after 5am and I haven't slept. I've tried to sleep. I started trying to sleep at 11:15pm. Unfortunately, I have leg cramps which have varied in intensity over the past 6 hours from a fluttery feeling in the muscles which is slightly distracting to full fledged digging my fingernails into the palms of my hands leg in a bear trap cramps. This is the 2nd night in a row that I've been

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-12501349701873454112007-06-23T13:30:00.001-05:002007-06-23T13:35:58.437-05:00

Fish in Raku Originally uploaded by sheilasthings As I've spent the last few days contemplating the closure of the MysticSpiral Etsy shop, I've also been amazed by the progress achieved by a group of potters on Etsy. In 3 1/2 days they managed to create the Etsy Mud Team complete with a blog and a flickr group. (Which is where I found this cool photo of a raku kiln open during firing.)The EMT

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-9836266823399270152007-06-23T12:08:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:22.600-05:00

I didn't want to let the last post occupy the top spot for too long. There are other, more important exciting/positive developments which are more deserving of my time and attention right now. I'm really glad that I am in a position in my life where I can close the Etsy shop, temporarily or permanently, without feeling as though it is a defeat or a major set-back. The shop **WILL** re-open and

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-27127621960255185332007-06-21T20:21:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:22.762-05:00

Anyone who's been reading this blog for any length of time knows that I have been struggling with depression for quite some time. I've recently come to the realization that my medications are not doing the job for which they were prescribed. We're embarking on a new course of treatment, including new medications and getting rid of the ones that aren't working. As I begin this transition, I find

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-57823200421752194162007-04-16T12:10:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:22.946-05:00

Today marks the first day of the special Mother's Day Showcase on Etsy. I decided to take the plunge and sign up for a couple of showcase slots in an effort to attract a little attention from potential buyers. Unfortunately, today's showcase was fraught with problems, so I'm not getting the benefit of the extra international exposure that I was hoping for. Who knows, this may prove to be a

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-70768441764354206222007-04-12T09:56:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:23.152-05:00

I'd like to start by apologizing for my prolonged absence. The end of March, first of April, I went to Bowling Green, Ohio by myself to visit a friend and check out a fiber festival. It was a great weekend but a bit of a whirlwind. It was immediately followed by a quick trip to Louisville and then Indiana for photos of Sprout.Prior to leaving for Bowling Green, I finished sculpting the last of a

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-28973766594257369792007-03-23T22:35:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:23.503-05:00

There's a new bead blog in town, and it promises to be something pretty cool. My friend (and Beads-of-Clay co-founder) Melanie Brooks-Lucaks, will be writing regularly at the Art Bead Scene Blog. In her first column as Ms. Bead-It-All, Melanie addressed the problem of designing a necklace with a focal bead whose hole is oriented vertically instead of horizontally . The column inspired me to look

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-4211773677170256572007-03-10T14:56:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:24.210-05:00

This is a set of vessels that I've currently set aside to trade for some things on my BPAL fragrance wish list... I'll probably be posting some of them to Etsy in the near future. I just want to give swap partners a chance to choose their favorites. [photo is clickable to show vessels large enough to see details...)

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-91456027358906132122007-03-08T23:15:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:24.710-05:00

I 've been reading the Bead Circle Blog for quite some time and recently joined the forums over there. This led to a nice conversation with Mandi via the Etsy convo feature. I am quite honored that Mandi has chosen to feature me on the Bead Circle Blog, and it looks like this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, or something like that.

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-67967921892371344382007-03-03T01:17:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:24.857-05:00

I've written a bit about rants recently and I guess that's because I'm in a bit of a ranty mood. I'm easily frustrated right now. I seem unable to concentrate for very long on anything. My current knitting project is a perfect example. It is an extremely simple pattern, a 2 row repeat. The first row is knit a certain number of stitches until you get to a place where you're supposed to have a bead

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-58450890845650693422007-02-28T18:18:00.000-05:002007-03-01T19:13:23.488-05:00

The following rants have taken place inside my head in the past 24-48 hours. The Cliff's Notes versions are presented here in more or less chronological order.Her Bad Mother's Basement: (Not) Living The Dream:Why is it that mother's are expected to not only put their lives (personal and professional) on hold to raise children or care for aged parents (their own or those of their spouse) but to

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-52317405399316248672007-02-27T00:05:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:25.052-05:00

I was flipping channels this evening and stumbled across a show on The Learning Channel called "Tubby Toddlers". I will admit that my first impulse was to just scroll past without even reading the description. Frankly, I find that I have little or no respect for TLC's programming anymore. One Week To Save Your Marriage, Crazy Kids Clips, and the endless series of medical freak shows that they

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-14856967621920423482007-02-26T00:16:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:25.998-05:00

I just wanted to pop in and post a quick update before I crawled up to bed. After finishing my felted Easter egg, I decided that I needed to show off the results at the fiber shop today. Sundays at Fiberworks are usually a good time to visit and catch up with people. Today was no exception. Arlene spent most of the day teaching spinning to two lovely ladies from Cincinnati while a group of us sat

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-82576741969700653012007-02-25T01:10:00.001-05:002007-02-25T01:15:40.428-05:00

DillmontMotifNo32Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral. I spent a significant portion of my day, today, pouring over antique pattern books looking for inspiration. I'm offering a needle felted Easter egg class at my local Hobby Lobby next month. I need to make class samples for the classes that I will be teaching and wanted to do something festive for the Easter egg sample. As much as I would

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-20866844374545860092007-02-24T00:10:00.001-05:002007-02-25T01:16:13.867-05:00

More Easter eggs Originally uploaded by hale_popoki. I found this beautiful picture of easter eggs while I was poking around Flickr and thought that, in the absence of a picture of the needle felted egg that I'm working on, this would make a lovely visual. (I love the "Blog this photo" feature on Flickr... I guess that's kinda obvious by now since I've used it quite a few times. I just have

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-66086088093369809732007-02-22T01:06:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:26.317-05:00

The weather around here continues to leave me feeling a bit like the whole world is wrapped in a shroud. The air is warm and humid and it hangs thickly above slowly receding snow. It reminds me a little of looking out the window of a plane as you pass through the clouds just after take off, or before landing. The air looks too thick to breathe.Which probably accounts for my desire to curl up into

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-29925255706873717562007-02-20T23:43:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:26.453-05:00

Tonight's puppet class didn't fly. I'll admit to being a bit disappointed but not that much, I guess. I spent about an hour visiting with the shop owner (my friend and fiber mentor) before going to get my sweetie and our darling little angel. I stopped at the craft shop near my parents' house to inquire about possibly teaching there, and may be stopping at another local craft shop to look into

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-61528370716565382142007-02-16T23:59:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:26.645-05:00

The big news is We Have Hot Water!!!! I've showered and left my home two days in a row. I'm a confirmed member of the human race. (Doesn't take much to make her happy, does it?) Yesterday, after a quick shower with little water pressure but we'll get that worked out soon, my mom picked me up and we went to the movies to see Music And Lyrics. It was pretty much exactly what you'd expect, and I

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-18600650708452363952007-02-14T23:41:00.001-05:002007-02-14T23:41:43.026-05:00

BareDkBrownShell1 Originally uploaded by MysticSpiral. I've got a lot on my mind at the moment. The romantic Valentine's dinner that my beloved and I had planned was abandoned in light of the expense of the new water heater and the realization that it really made no sense to spend more on a single meal than would be left in our meager coffers for groceries and gas money for the remainder

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1353722706415780972007-02-14T00:10:00.001-05:002008-12-14T12:50:27.070-05:00

elephant2bOriginally uploaded by MysticSpiral. I made this guy in January and have been living with him ever since. I am completely smitten with his soulful brown eyes and his wet-felted tusks. I'm not sure why, but it would appear that he's not really meant to live with us. It feels strange to say it. I love him. I want to keep him. But somehow he's just not settling in and making a place for

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-15564077808297108002007-02-12T17:42:00.000-05:002007-02-27T11:07:40.906-05:00

I'm actually shorter on patience today than I have been in quite some time. This is a very bad thing because Sprout is at her grandmother's for the day so that I could be free to talk with/wander in and out of the basement with the plumbers who were coming to tell us what we'd need to do to have a gas water heater installed in place of our electric water heater. In the end, the numbers ended up

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-75099087568088137502007-02-10T22:12:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:27.216-05:00

I had great plans to post something everyday this month... The flood in the basement, the expenses associated with having the water heater replaced, and the fact that we've decided (mutually, after much agonizing and shared distaste) to cancel our romantic Valentine's dinner reservations at The Winds have left me feeling a little at a loss about what to post.I could further engage everyone in a

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-73030553483269426692007-02-07T14:00:00.001-05:002007-02-25T01:17:51.460-05:00

Hope springsOriginally uploaded by s2art. Things around here are not very well organized. A month or so ago, I brought home a sewing machine in need of some TLC. I purchased a sewing machine maintenance kit at the local craft store and brought it home. That is the last clear memory that I have of the kit (with sewing machine oil, extra needles, etc...). I have a small sewing project that I

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-48571333931298850442007-02-06T23:43:00.001-05:002007-02-12T18:42:06.414-05:00

Two padlocks and cobwebsOriginally uploaded by Linda6769. Sometimes the locks and obstacles that we put in place are imaginary. Other times they're very real. The thing is, if you go too long without testing them, you may forget which is which.I was a freshman in high school when I discovered printmaking. I was in college when I finally faced the realization that the solvents and other

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-20727994411205643112007-02-05T22:40:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:27.376-05:00

Yesterday's cold continues its unwelcome visit with our family. That along with temperatures that topped out at about -1 Fahrenheit kept us inside all day. Sprout's no longer just stuffy and coughing so I'm not sure what we'll be doing tomorrow or later in the week. Of course, tomorrow is supposed to bring snow along with temperatures in the negative single digits, so I'm not sure what I'd want

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-19144469146990096312007-02-04T20:24:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:27.680-05:00

I have a cold. I always feel sorry for myself when I'm sick. Actually, the whole family is sick today. Sprout has been wonderfully energetic and playful all day. Her daddy even went to the grocery store to pick up much needed provisions... I, on the other hand, watched the puppy bowl until Sprout dozed off for a nap, and then cleared off 3 episodes of Law & Order off my DVR while she slept. (Oh,

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-81359210992733687352007-02-03T12:34:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:27.944-05:00

A short time ago, I responded to interview questions from fellow Etsy shop owner Andrea of Powderpuff Creations. Andrea has a blog called The Creation Station where she features the work of crafters who have caught her attention. Andrea has profiled some wonderful craftspeople and I feel honored to be in such great company. Feel free to hop on over and check out the interview. I hope that I

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-20020254600310138022007-02-03T00:17:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:28.348-05:00

And when it pours, it collects in our basement. I have 3 or 4 of these twin chambered vessels bisqued and ready to be glazed when the temperatures improve. I also spent several hours making faces to use for more of my facing forward shawl pins. The faces are now bone dry and ready to be cleaned up (the holes need to be re-drilled) before being bisque fired. I can bisque them in the bench furnace

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-42468557563150118272007-02-01T23:00:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:28.502-05:00

In keeping with my thoughts about creating habits, I want to post to this blog an update on my creative efforts every day. I currently have two spaces in my home that are designated as "Studio Space". The first was the space that enticed us to buy this house. The previous owner had run a hair salon from the attached room that was constructed to the side of the house. The constructed space has a

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-19818712812176285572007-01-29T14:12:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:28.667-05:00

I found a thought provoking post on a new blog through a comment in a thread over at the Bead Circle. Essentially, the post suggests that since studies have suggested that doing something for 28 days will create a habit, and February generally has 28 days, February would be the perfect month to cultivate a new habit in your life. It seems like a brilliant idea and one which I'm thinking that I

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-74284915946457319982007-01-24T10:57:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:28.832-05:00

Included in the packages from Germany with the other treats that my sister sent for the holidays this year were several boxes of Kinder Eggs for Sprout. (Well, Sprout and mama if we're being completely honest... Sprout gets the chocolate, mama gets the toy...) Having spent a significant portion of our childhood in Europe, Kinder Eggs hold a special place in the hearts of myself and many others.I

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-58221240806975300142007-01-22T18:59:00.000-05:002007-02-12T19:38:13.006-05:00

Just after Christmas, I got a box of beads very similar to those shown in the video above. The beads were the results of a bead swap amongst the members of the Beads of Clay Yahoo!Group. There are some amazing beadmakers in this community and some of the newer members may well prove to be the the bright stars on the horizon of the artisan ceramic bead world. (The video was made by Natalie of NKP

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-15952572110843114472007-01-07T23:32:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:29.026-05:00

Not long before Christmas, Sprout watched one of several episodes of Between The Lions featuring the story of The Gingerbread Man. As chance would have it, Sprout saw that episode 2 or 3 times in the course of a couple of days and it made a pretty big impression. The first indication that I had of the exact nature of my daughter's new obsession with the gingerbread man was during a visit to a pet

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-71600459001458934532006-12-12T20:27:00.000-05:002008-12-14T12:50:29.369-05:00

Although Catherine's blog isn't on my blogroll, I have read quite a few of her posts over the last year or so because of links from other parenting blogs that I read. Catherine's nephew has a form of MD which will eventually prove fatal. Kristen, from Motherhood Uncensored which **IS** on my blogroll, decided to put together an online auction to benefit MD research in honor of Catherine and her

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1165294442693204612006-12-04T23:40:00.000-05:002006-12-07T21:53:45.034-05:00

As I'm sure you already know, Etsy launched v2 in mid-November. The process was not without some problems. At least one of my images has never shown up. I love the new Etsy and have been busily listing stuff in the MysticSpiral Etsy Shop for the last two weeks.For those who are interested, there are new Raku Spindle Whorl Pins listed. I've also listed a couple of sets of the scribble pins. Keep

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1164955011299404182006-12-01T01:36:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:07:42.141-05:00

Plant life pendantOriginally uploaded by flowergurl4eva. I just finished watching a slide show of artisan ceramic beads in the Beads-of-Clay Flickr pool. (The image shown is just one of the amazing examples of handmade ceramic beads in the group pool.) I can already tell that the BoC Flickr group is going to be a source of much inspiration for me. (I hope that others find it to be as well.)I

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1164563212547847592006-11-26T12:44:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:08:41.561-05:00

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1164521018678661802006-11-26T00:11:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:10:25.661-05:00

'Round here, a holiday often means the opportunity to get some extra time in the studio. I've been working like crazy on pins for the MysticSpiral Etsy Shop, shows, and a couple of trade deals that I'm working on. Yesterday and today, the focus was on Raku Spindle Whorl Pins. I did the torch work yesterday afternoon and spent the evening in front of the television wiring the mica disks onto the

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1164497816546144902006-11-25T18:08:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:11:50.136-05:00

I've been reading the One Hour Craft blog for quite some time and decided to take some time this morning to respond to the One Hour Craft Challenge. I've had these faces in my bead box since before I made Oya and Innna.I also got some studio time in yesterday and got new spindle whorl pins made and some new stuff listed in the MysticSpiral Etsy shop. I finally got around to listing some of the

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1164261824064011372006-11-23T00:53:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:12:56.785-05:00

It's been a crazy couple of weeks and I've been offline as much as possible. I have new pins to upload to the MysticSpiral Studio Etsy Shop and a couple of wonderful swaps in the works that I've not forgotten. I've just been overwhelmed trying to get ready for holiday shows and puppet classes. (Speaking of which, the first puppet class was such a hit that I have one scheduled next week and

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1161044518737320892006-10-16T18:52:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:14:41.819-05:00

For much of the last month, I've spent most of my spare time making puppets for Sprout using recycled wool sweaters. Once the basic puppet is stitched, I needle felt features onto the puppets to finish them. Ms. Sprout now has quite the growing collection.I've left several of the puppets at my local fiber shop so that the owner could show them off to her needle felting customers when they come in

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1159939582606945982006-10-04T00:11:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:16:37.092-05:00

My frantic search for spinable fibers in the deapths of my needle felting box yeilded a small section of Arlene's space dyed roving, precicely one ounce. I've been afraid to touch the handpainted roving I bought on Etsy until I was sure what I wanted to do with it. I figured that a lace weight, 2-ply yarn would be ideal but I'm still not sure whether I want to ply it back on itself or if I want

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1159818087281698632006-10-02T14:35:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:18:31.935-05:00

I just finished plying approximately 183.75 yards (3.4 ounces) of handspun yarn. It started as a beautiful brushed sliver with blue, purple, green and fushia. I'm still trying to get the tensioning right on the wheel so my singles were pretty tightly spun. A tight twist in the opposite direction during the plying actually resulted in a pretty balanced yarn. I'm guestimating (I lifted about an

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1159729966389209142006-10-01T13:29:00.000-05:002006-10-01T14:12:46.493-05:00

Given my current fiber obsession, I figured I'd focus my October blogtipping post on a handspinner. If you're not familiar with PippiKneeSocks.com I'd strongly recommend a visit.I love the color sense represented by this site and the accompanying blog. The clean lines of the site combined with the dusky purple and green color scheme really serve as a soothing backdrop and manage somehow not to

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1158886843643210822006-09-21T19:30:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:21:05.070-05:00

It's hard to describe how rewarding it feels to have made my own yarn on my spinning wheel. The fiber is CVM (California Varigated Mutant) roving that I picked up at Wool Gathering. I had about 4 ounces to play with and absolutely loved spinning it up. I'm still getting the hang of adjusting the tension so that it winds onto the bobbin. And, speaking of the bobbins, I didn't do very well at

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1158192128161912082006-09-20T12:30:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:23:45.049-05:00

As a student in art history, I developed an interest in artifacts from Neolithic and bronze age civilizations. That interest is a large part of the reason that I started making ceramic beads and small vessels. Most of what we know about these ancient civilizations is based on the items (most showing exquisite workmanship considering the primitive tools available to them) found amongst burial

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1158377184491769062006-09-15T21:29:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:25:46.293-05:00

This is my first time actually trying to enter Whiplash. I'm not sure if which ring of the competition to throw it into. It's also my first attempt at a needle felting tutorial. The first step, of course, was to obtain a hat. This one was a $1 find at my local thrift shop. The hat was in mostly good condition but had a minor stain and a couple of small holes, presumably from someone attaching a

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1158099968253949092006-09-12T15:48:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:29:09.374-05:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that I'd recently learned to spin on a drop spindle. What I didn't mention was that I was also the recipient of a beautiful Country Craftsman spinning wheel. The wheel, she hasn't told me her name yet, came to me with a broken footman. After looking closely at the point of failure on the original part, I realized that it had broken at least once before in the same

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1157741253655576622006-09-08T13:23:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:31:21.412-05:00

I spent some time today listing new pins in my Etsy shop. Tonight I'm bisque firing the stuff that I made to replace the items that I lost in last week's explosive firing. (I should try to take a picture of the debris inside the kiln before I clean it up but I doubt that I'll bother.) I'm really very excited about the pieces that I'm working on. I'm practicing my carving skills and making press

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1157651056653012462006-09-07T11:54:00.000-05:002006-09-07T12:44:16.790-05:00

The image at left is of a needle felting project that I'm currently working on. This is actually very early in the project. After choosing the colors for the piece, I spun a thick/thin single on a drop spindle and then pulled it off into mini hanks. I've drawn the motif that I want to felt onto my base fabric in chalk. With the spun single, I'm tracing the outlines of the motif onto the fabric

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1157657689990151932006-09-07T09:47:00.000-05:002006-09-07T14:57:42.700-05:00

Welcome to the first Blogtipping post here at "the Spiral"... I found out about Mixed Plate, a new blog that aspires "To share some of the craziness that pops into my head and to present the work of talented artists and designers that I think you should know about", from a post on a women's business forum that I read.1.) Mixed Plate is a mixed bag, part Design*Sponge, part Modish, all through the

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1155614280992446552006-08-14T22:38:00.000-05:002006-08-14T22:58:02.956-05:00

I've not really had much to say lately, but that's really no excuse for neglecting the blog the way that I have. I believe that I mentioned in an earlier post that I was seeing a therapist. I guess that I've been investing a lot of energy in that process and haven't had much left to say here at the end of the day. I'll try to work on that.I haven't been completely idle. In the last month I've

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1152480648237697702006-07-09T15:31:00.000-05:002006-07-09T16:56:49.110-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about my last post. The 4th of July always turns my thoughts toward patriotisim and nationalism and the symbolism of the flag. Patriotism was a cornerstone of my upbringing. Nationalism, not so much. I got to see more of the world as a child than most people see in a lifetime and those opportunities led to more of a feeling of universalism than of nationalistic pride. The

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1151544749079519772006-06-28T19:55:00.000-05:002006-06-28T20:32:29.096-05:00

Have you ever had an experience that was like having a flashlight shone into a forgotten corner of your life? It's not like looking into a closet or a room that's been closed off. Instead, this area of your life is just a small, unexplored and under-utilized space that has accumulated dust, clutter and easy-to-ignore debris.My sister and her family are currently living in Geilenkirchen, Germany

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12793047.post-1149790411961249002006-06-08T13:04:00.000-05:002006-06-08T14:54:31.846-05:00

The following is my second writing sample written for the application for the Club Mom blogging gig. Again, I am sharing these here on my blog because I enjoyed writing them and was pleased with the results. I just wanted to post them rather than round-file them.Nipple Gymnastics: Adventures In Breastfeeding Like most expectant mothers today, I began learning about the importance of

Andihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03318646726079391279noreply@blogger.com1