Three months after committing to a swap, I finally finish. All I can hope is that it was worth the wait. A full write up on both the craft and my failure to keep a crazy project under control here.

I’ve certainly been lax in both posting and creating. I did take a pretty darn fantastic plein air painting class (guaranteed to be the next big art thing — oh wait. . . I may be a few centuries too late). I also completed a project that has a little something to do with the above logo, however as the packages this logo is attached to are winging their way across the universe, you’ll have to be content with the teaser.

компютри втора употребаI volunteer for a raptor rescue, Raptor, Inc. (It’s pretty much the only legal way in the United States to really work with and get up close and personal with owls and other birds of prey). I am in the process of redesigning their Web site and have started by revamping their adoption page. The page now allows the adoption of banded raptors via credit card and Pay pal.

To celebrate this new functionality, I’ve designed a special Potter-fans-only raptor certificate. (A fine piece of papercraft if I do say so myself.) Adoptors who e-mail me and say they’ve adopted will receive (in addition to the regular adoption stuff) the special certificate.

Adopting an owl is not only a great way to show your love of owls and raptors, but a great way to add flavor to a Potter package — because you really “have” an owl deliver it. (I recommend the itsy-bitsy screech owls.)

Do you long to parley with a python? Converse with a cobra? The Parselmouth Web site is an itty-bitty site (with Google ads galore) that allows you to translate any word or phrase into parseltongue and download the translation as an mp3.

Curious about how Curious Goods sounds? Click here.

It’s going to be a busy weekend at Curious Goods headquarters. First there’s the weekend’s wonderful winter workshops (W4) being held by the Cincinnati Calligraphers Guild. (I’m taking decorated letters and gilding, both taught by the talented Holly Monroe.) That evening there’s an evening adventure play-testing Heroes of Yore, Justin’s masterpiece of a role-playing game. Sunday is a hiking trip par excellence – traversing the hills of Brush Creek Forest in search of reference shots (or if it’s not too cold, a day of plein air painting). Oh, and somewhere in the midst of it all I want to find time to a gorgeous “animated” howler following mizutamari’s tutorial. I think it will make a great complement to my howler.

I’ve been meaning to do this piece for awhile, the logo and Lon Chaney’s photo have been sitting in my “to do” folder for months. While it’s not the most exciting of props, it is from a fun movie AND it’s free for download here. I’ve also added a bit of a contest – I need help deciphering the back page. If you think you can help, leave a comment or send me an e-mail with what you think the back of the magazine says.

Continuing my game of catch-up, I’m finally getting around to processing photos of the wonderful gifts sent to me by fellow artisan Danielle.  Danielle hand-crafted an assortment of artifacts from Lyra’s world.  Presented as if collected by a traveling scholar, there are plant samples, a witch’s arrow plucked from a tree after a great battle, and a mysterious locket left behind by Mrs. Coulter.   Have I piqued your interest?  Check out the photos of these wonderful gifts here.

Yes, I’ve been a posting slacker.  What makes it even worst yet is that I’ve had so many wonderful things to post about that my blog should be chock-a-bloc with new posts and pages.   Fear not dear reader, I am back in the swing of things and shall rectify the damages immediately.  In the next few posts you can expect to see popsicle sticks, witch arrows, dragon scales, and keys to emerald cities.

Journey back with me to Christmas, a time of craftiness and swapification.  I challenged the dignified members of the HarryPotterCrafts group to include a popsicle stick-based craft with their traditional santa swap packages.   To my great pleasure, my  santa’s brilliant kids included not one, but several popsicle sticks, snuggly inserted into the behinds of our beloved Potter characters.  Dubbed the “Potter Popsicle Puppet Pals” (and requiring repeating at least five times), they continue to make my day.   In addition, my “traditional” swap gift were several pieces of custom-embroidered awesomeness.  (Please note that I could not find my photo of my favorite of the trio — a pair of gloves, hat, and scarf embroidered with a simple broom.  I promise to post it as soon as I do.)  You can view the photos here.   I wonder if Cathy has an Etsy shop. . .

I saw the Golden Compass on Friday, and regardless of how I felt about the rest of the movie (I loved it), even if it was utter tripe, the polar bear fight in the middle would have redeemed the whole thing.In fact, I’ve come to the conclusion that almost every movie could be improved by having a polar bear fight. Let’s analyze:

Arthur 2: On the Rocks + Polar Bear Fight in a bar = Oscar-worthy
Sphere + Polar Bear Fight in space = Oscar-worthy
Vertical Limit + Polar Bear Fight on mountain = Oscar-worthy
Eragon + Polar Bear Fight in medieval setting = Oscar-worthy
Batman and Robin + Polar Bear Fight in Gotham = Oscar-worthy

Dare I continue?

The Golden Compass: Polar Bear Fight (clip)

Natalie decided to celebrate her birthday by pouring copious amounts of vinegar and pokeweed ink on yarn. I’ll admit I was a bit worried that the yarn would turn a Declaration of Independance brown (and more worried that someone would complain about the vinegar stink) However, the results are beautiful. (Favorite moment: everyone who walked into our breakroom thought the soaking yarn was some kind of spaghetti treat that Natalie brought in for the group.) (Favorite comment: “That’s going back to the simple ways of doing things. Only it doesn’t really seem that simple.”)