Good morning blog! I missed you.
I have worked on quite a few interesting things since last time. I've been working with several dyeing techniques--vat dyeing and painting, with both silks and cottons. It's really interesting how completely different the processes are for the different materials.
I have made progress learning to digitize--I recently finished up the first design that is 100% mine--I drew the design and then did my own digitizing, and it turned out great. It's a Thor's Hammer design, and I will definitely be getting some products using it ready for Pagan Unity Fest.
Tomorrow, I will be setting up at the craft fair at Two Roads Cafe. Stop by if you're in the area!
For now, I need to go finish getting things ready for said craft fair. I'll be back soon, though, I promise!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Major Celebration Giveaway WINNER!
The winner of the giveaway drawing is Oreon!
Thank you to everyone who participated, and thanks for all the wonderful birthday/Solstice wishes.
My husband gave me a dremel for my birthday. He is the best husband ever! I have wanted one for years, and I'm super excited to play with it.
Thank you to everyone who participated, and thanks for all the wonderful birthday/Solstice wishes.
My husband gave me a dremel for my birthday. He is the best husband ever! I have wanted one for years, and I'm super excited to play with it.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Major Celebration Sale and Giveaway at Rain's Obsessive Stitchery
I have a lot of great things going on this month, so I'm celebrating all of it with a big sale and giveaway! Saturday is my birthday, and Sunday is the Summer Solstice. I am also celebrating my first etsyversary, the grand opening of a second store on Etsy, and the launch of my new website: http://www.rainsews.com/
From now through Sunday, take 20% off anything in either of my shops. http://rainfeather13.etsy.com/ and http://rainsews.etsy.com/ Just send me a convo on etsy with your selections, and I'll set up a reserved listing for you with the sale price.
Enter to win the tarot bag of your choice or a set of tea towels* from my store! There are several ways to enter.
From now through Sunday, take 20% off anything in either of my shops. http://rainfeather13.etsy.com/ and http://rainsews.etsy.com/ Just send me a convo on etsy with your selections, and I'll set up a reserved listing for you with the sale price.
Enter to win the tarot bag of your choice or a set of tea towels* from my store! There are several ways to enter.
- 1-Look through my shops, and post a comment about which item is your favorite, and why. Be sure to include your email address or your user name on Etsy.
- 2-Post something on your blog or twitter with a link to my sale/giveaway, and send me a link.
- 3-Every item purchased during the sale will count as an entry.
- 4-Send me a birthday present! (Just kidding, mostly...)
All entries need to be in by 11:59 PM Sunday, and I'll do the drawing when I wake up Monday morning.
*A set of tea towels: any 4 towels regularly $7 or less, from either or both of my shops.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Mercury Retrograde and the Horse You Rode In On
by Rain's Mr
In understanding that the planets revolve around the Sun, we have insight that was not accepted until a mere 450 or so years ago. Up to that time, planetary motion was a puzzle of enormous complexity that drove people to higher math. With the Earth as the fixed center of the cosmos, there is scarce any reasonable explanation for what you would observe as planets not only wander but brighten and dim as if by whim. This does much to explain the ancient Greeks and others deifying the planets and attaching capricious personalities to these gods/celestial bodies.
[source: http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4212/p3a.jpg]
Because of its implied principle that (never mind the earth) *we* are each the center of the universe, Astrology frames these irregularities of motion as key events to be understood as just another indication of the innate complexity of life. At various times from our perspective on Earth, planets can appear to slow down, stop and even move in the opposite direction. Astrologically, this principle is expressed through three terms... moving forward is "direct motion", stopping is "station", and moving backward is "retrograde".
To simplify things to an entirely inadequate analogy, Astrology presents the planets (and other derivative expressions) as parts of a metaphysical being: Sun as core self, Moon as emotions, Mercury as reason, Venus as aesthetics and so on. Further, there are signs (dominant qualities of these parts), aspects (significant interrelations between parts) and houses (facets of life susceptible to the effects of these qualities and interrelations). For each of us, this is all imprinted onto us at the moment and in the location of our birth and set into motion like a wobbly electromagnetic turbo clock to influence, affect, attract, repel, collide and otherwise comingle on the crowded playing field of countless other wobbly electromagnetic turbo clocks.
And of all of the mechanisms in this configuration, Mercury is the one that's most in charge of mapping things out and getting you where you're going. So, what happens when you apply a backwards motion to your navigational system? That seems to be the experiment taking place during Mercury Retrograde. Especially for those who depend on reason and communication, Mercury Retrograde poses challenges. Couple this with the notion that it happens three or four times a year, and the situation looks grim for rational thought, but that's not the only possible way of looking at it.
Retrograde means "going backwards", and the thought of things going backwards tends to fill us with an uncomfortable queasiness, and Mercury Retrograde is met by many with that same displeasure. After all, Who really wants their rational faculties going backwards? But, when you pull into a parking spot, the most reasonable way out is often to back up. Mercury Retrograde affords the proper climate for looking back over your thoughts and applying your energy to finishing and finalizing things that have been left "for later". Those things that all you needed to do was "get around to"? This may be the proper time for them.
In short, retrograde means "going backwards", and sometimes you just need to go backwards. Or rather, going forward at all costs is a behavior that will not be rewarded by retrogrades.
So, my tip for Mercury Retrograde? I've found it's a good time to do "maintenance thinking" such as reviewing and refreshing data storage and recovery plans, the fire safe's contents, financial plans, and so on. Also, I've also found it's a good time to record the ideas that have been floating around in my head. One caveat, though, computers and other such technology can be disproportionately affected by Mercury Retrograde, so it's wise not to casually trust that everything will #¿»æ.##$¥.
Oh, that's ok. I was pretty much done.
Hey! Get Your Own Gremlins!
In understanding that the planets revolve around the Sun, we have insight that was not accepted until a mere 450 or so years ago. Up to that time, planetary motion was a puzzle of enormous complexity that drove people to higher math. With the Earth as the fixed center of the cosmos, there is scarce any reasonable explanation for what you would observe as planets not only wander but brighten and dim as if by whim. This does much to explain the ancient Greeks and others deifying the planets and attaching capricious personalities to these gods/celestial bodies.
[source: http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4212/p3a.jpg]
Because of its implied principle that (never mind the earth) *we* are each the center of the universe, Astrology frames these irregularities of motion as key events to be understood as just another indication of the innate complexity of life. At various times from our perspective on Earth, planets can appear to slow down, stop and even move in the opposite direction. Astrologically, this principle is expressed through three terms... moving forward is "direct motion", stopping is "station", and moving backward is "retrograde".
To simplify things to an entirely inadequate analogy, Astrology presents the planets (and other derivative expressions) as parts of a metaphysical being: Sun as core self, Moon as emotions, Mercury as reason, Venus as aesthetics and so on. Further, there are signs (dominant qualities of these parts), aspects (significant interrelations between parts) and houses (facets of life susceptible to the effects of these qualities and interrelations). For each of us, this is all imprinted onto us at the moment and in the location of our birth and set into motion like a wobbly electromagnetic turbo clock to influence, affect, attract, repel, collide and otherwise comingle on the crowded playing field of countless other wobbly electromagnetic turbo clocks.
And of all of the mechanisms in this configuration, Mercury is the one that's most in charge of mapping things out and getting you where you're going. So, what happens when you apply a backwards motion to your navigational system? That seems to be the experiment taking place during Mercury Retrograde. Especially for those who depend on reason and communication, Mercury Retrograde poses challenges. Couple this with the notion that it happens three or four times a year, and the situation looks grim for rational thought, but that's not the only possible way of looking at it.
Retrograde means "going backwards", and the thought of things going backwards tends to fill us with an uncomfortable queasiness, and Mercury Retrograde is met by many with that same displeasure. After all, Who really wants their rational faculties going backwards? But, when you pull into a parking spot, the most reasonable way out is often to back up. Mercury Retrograde affords the proper climate for looking back over your thoughts and applying your energy to finishing and finalizing things that have been left "for later". Those things that all you needed to do was "get around to"? This may be the proper time for them.
In short, retrograde means "going backwards", and sometimes you just need to go backwards. Or rather, going forward at all costs is a behavior that will not be rewarded by retrogrades.
So, my tip for Mercury Retrograde? I've found it's a good time to do "maintenance thinking" such as reviewing and refreshing data storage and recovery plans, the fire safe's contents, financial plans, and so on. Also, I've also found it's a good time to record the ideas that have been floating around in my head. One caveat, though, computers and other such technology can be disproportionately affected by Mercury Retrograde, so it's wise not to casually trust that everything will #¿»æ.##$¥.
Oh, that's ok. I was pretty much done.
Hey! Get Your Own Gremlins!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Pagan Unity Festival
May 28th - 31st 2009
I've never been to Pagan Unity Festival (PUF) before, but I've heard from friends that it's a lot of fun. This year, I'll be able to find out for myself how fun it is. I'm going to be there as a vendor, and I'm working on building up some stock.
I'm really excited, because I've been experimenting with some interesting techniques, and I'll be bringing a fun selection of items. Of course I'll have my kitchen towels and tarot bags, along with my wallhangings. I've been working on some jewelry and suncatchers, and they're turning out really neat. Pretty soon I'll be embroidering some T-shirts and aprons, which I'm really looking forward to. I have some really neat designs that I've been dying to use, and they'll be fabulous for those projects. I also have plans for some altar cloths, refrigerator magnets, and a few other little things.
I'm going to be sharing my booth with my friend Edie. She's a terrible influence on me, and I love her for it! If not for her, I would not have gone to WomenSpirit in the fall, and it was a really wonderful experience for me. Edie has a ministry for pagan women in prison, and she'll be selling some beaded jewelry to benefit that.
I'll be missing spring WomenSpirit. PUF and WomenSpirit are both in May, and I had to choose one. I wasn't sure that I could come up with enough stock for 2 events that close, plus it was just going to be too expensive to go to both. I decided on PUF because it's less expensive, it's local, and it gives me a chance to work on some nice things for men and kids. I really hope I'll be able to make it for fall, though.
As it turns out, it was a smart decision to be frugal. My husband lost his job last week, so we're putting some considerable effort into conserving our money and finding him a new job. (Know anyone looking for a good web developer in Nashville?) As stressful as the situation is, I'll admit I've been enjoying his company. He's enjoying having the opportunity to spend some time working on my website and online business presence, keeping his skills fresh and learning some new things.
I've never been to Pagan Unity Festival (PUF) before, but I've heard from friends that it's a lot of fun. This year, I'll be able to find out for myself how fun it is. I'm going to be there as a vendor, and I'm working on building up some stock.
I'm really excited, because I've been experimenting with some interesting techniques, and I'll be bringing a fun selection of items. Of course I'll have my kitchen towels and tarot bags, along with my wallhangings. I've been working on some jewelry and suncatchers, and they're turning out really neat. Pretty soon I'll be embroidering some T-shirts and aprons, which I'm really looking forward to. I have some really neat designs that I've been dying to use, and they'll be fabulous for those projects. I also have plans for some altar cloths, refrigerator magnets, and a few other little things.
I'm going to be sharing my booth with my friend Edie. She's a terrible influence on me, and I love her for it! If not for her, I would not have gone to WomenSpirit in the fall, and it was a really wonderful experience for me. Edie has a ministry for pagan women in prison, and she'll be selling some beaded jewelry to benefit that.
I'll be missing spring WomenSpirit. PUF and WomenSpirit are both in May, and I had to choose one. I wasn't sure that I could come up with enough stock for 2 events that close, plus it was just going to be too expensive to go to both. I decided on PUF because it's less expensive, it's local, and it gives me a chance to work on some nice things for men and kids. I really hope I'll be able to make it for fall, though.
As it turns out, it was a smart decision to be frugal. My husband lost his job last week, so we're putting some considerable effort into conserving our money and finding him a new job. (Know anyone looking for a good web developer in Nashville?) As stressful as the situation is, I'll admit I've been enjoying his company. He's enjoying having the opportunity to spend some time working on my website and online business presence, keeping his skills fresh and learning some new things.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Music for April 2
(posted by Rain's Mr)
More low-labor content. This time it's Erin Mckeown. I saw her open for Ani DiFranco a few years ago, and she's such a treat.
Erin Mckeown - James! | official site at erinmckeown.com
Yes, you may notice a trend here.
More low-labor content. This time it's Erin Mckeown. I saw her open for Ani DiFranco a few years ago, and she's such a treat.
Erin Mckeown - James! | official site at erinmckeown.com
Yes, you may notice a trend here.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Music for March 28
posted by Rain's Mr) Ok, I've got time to subject you people to my taste in music.
Joanna Newsom - Sawdust and Diamonds | official site at Drag City
Rain's good stuff... St. Germain elderflower liqueur... trashy historical documentaries... Cool, big-hearted etsy folk
Joanna Newsom - Sawdust and Diamonds | official site at Drag City
Rain's good stuff... St. Germain elderflower liqueur... trashy historical documentaries... Cool, big-hearted etsy folk
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