Crystal ball

I own a few crystal balls.  The one above is one of them. I like the inclusion in this one.  I have also an obsidian crystal ball and one obsidian mirror.  I haven't used them, yet.  For sure, I seems to be more attracted with crystal ball with inclusions (the little cracks, I do hope I use the right term!).

I like looking at them once in a while.  I also do this for my tarot decks.  I do that less often now but the desire to look at them is still there.  There is a certain beauty in crystal.  I think that Ancient ones fancied it was frozen water.  I think there is an appeal to crystal.  I still have an attraction to this stone, as with any stone.  It just that I can look through crystal.  I find it is so unusual in the realm of stone.

When I speak of my favorite stones, I think of obsidian and lapis lazuli.  Crystal doesn't comes to my mind.  It should.  I do have a lot of crystal on many forms, not just as crystal balls.  Maybe it is time to work more with this stone...

Unfinished arrowhead

Recently, I had a look in my toolbox I had when I was taking my early jewelry classes.  I found various stages of unfinished projects.  One of them was a metal arrowhead.  It was more advanced that I thought:

I have show the two side of them.  I thought that the two halves weren't soldered.  Well, it had been soldered.  I have to do some polishing to end this project up.  I will take some sandpaper to do it.  I have a lot of work to end up with this finish.  It is not perfect, there are a few small holes but I am happy to have try this project.  I will have to find a strong chain to go with this arrowhead.  I want to wear it as a pendant.  I am not into huge bling but this arrowhead will do a nice focal point.  I won't put anything else on the chain.

It is nice to find this piece.  I forgot about the unfinished projects I have in those early classes.  I miss being able to do this kind of project.  I don't have all the tools for this kind of project.  I am tempted to resume this kind of projects in the future, one day...

Example of Millifiori with Polymer Clay + experiments

I found an example of millifiori made out of polymer clay:

I know, the choice of colors is dubious.  It could be used as a bee's body.  I haven't made it in a class.  At the time, I wanted to practice the technique I learned in the polymer clay class.  I didn't wanted to forget what I learned in the class.  I think I need more practice in this area.  I am also tempted to try one version that the polymer clay teacher showed us.  It is like the image, the same principle but there is an added layer: golden or silver leaves.  Of course, if I do this version with the metal leaves, I will choose other colors for the polymer clay.

I also experimented with polymer clay:

Many of those piece seems to be inspired by buttons.  I will be able to do various prjects with those pieces.  When I made those, I was buying many colors of polymer clay.  Now, I do have a few favorite colors that I always buy if I encounter them (like granit).  Maybe I could break the mold and buy a few colors, just to make a change...

Motion sickness and mouth stinking

Just saw this video that explain motion sickness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2UrbXV_LUw
I already knew the great lines on this explanation.  I guess they simplify the tripping part.  I wonder if the speed have something to do with it too.  It didn't have any mention of speed in the video.  I guess they could not put everything in a so short video.  I say that because I am getting a germ of a idea storming in my head.  I am thinking to make a character have motion sickness but with a coach, drawn by horses.  I know it will be a bit far fetch.  I don't know anybody with a so severe motion sickness.  I don't write much on technological advaned civilisations, so I have to do with what I have.  In addition, if a person is not used to be a coach's passenger, there must be some drawback, I think.  It can also lead to some funny lines. if I do it properly.

Talking of germs, I found a video on the notorious bad and smelly morning breath:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FFcIueyxsg
I could not help myself laughing at the cadaverine part.  I knew that breath stinking was caused by bacteria but not in the details.  Each seems to play a part in the smelly morning breath.  I didn't noticed the one related to the rotten eggs in the breath I smell each morning.  Guess I will be more aware next time...  Too bad they haven't talk of the cures, beside teeth's brushing.  I know that mint (or is it parsley?  Not sure which one but I know it is an herb) that can also help fighting bad breath.  Personally, I don't mind garlic breath.  I like garlic myself.

Some intimate History that should be known

Discovered this video on the history of condoms:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCbixToBOd4
It is brief and I am sure they didn't covered it all up.  I knew a few things about this famous item.  I knew that the Egyptians had something that was doing the equivalent job.  I didn't knew the scientific community found a depiction of a condom on a prehistorical drawing.  I don't say that our distant ancestors were dumb.  Once their basic needs filled, they had plenty of time in their hands.  I just wonder how scientists decoded the picture that day.  What made them think it was a condom?  Maybe it is me that don't see the evidence correctly.  I wonder if there was other cave painted depictions like that.  Was it common?  Today, we see condoms everywhere.  It is also very available.  I just have to admit I had a smile while looking at the video.

It is nice to see some information on this subject.  A bit short but it is a start.  I look at the sources given in the description of the video.  (http://www.salon.com/2013/03/31/a_brief_history_of_the_condom_partner/) (http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2015/04/latex_condoms_are_the_worst_why_after_all_these_years_don_t_we_have_a_better.html) and (http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/getting-it-on-the-covert-history-of-the-american-condom/)  Nice to look at.  Maybe I am a avid facts collector, the infos in the texts is not enough.  I feel they don't quite go in the right direction.  Well, nothing perfect for a fact junkie.  Well, my curiosity is around now.  As usual, I may keep that in mind and it may show up somewhere.

Having a question

In my writing, I am a bit puzzled, right now.  It relate to one story.  It is about first contact.  I wonder how to do it realistically.  The contact will be made between two equal group of people.  There won't be a side stronger than the other.  There is just one side that is more isolated than the other.  Surprise would be the first emotion, I think.  Curiosity next.  They could look each other from a distance.  After that, I will have to think a little bit further.   I know there will be some tension between some characters of the two groups.

I also wonder what would push people to go discover on a big body of water.  The people don't eat seafood.  They don't really have an interest, except a few islands nearby.  I have to find some motivations but not to repeat history (like going for spice).  I know they will end discovering their past, ultimately.  They would find also why they exited the original land and find the place they stay now.  One possible reason would be people who are trill seakers.  I also think it could be to retrieve a object, a little statuette, something like that.

I like this kind of problems.  It force me to think for solution.  I will continue to think and I may found better solutions.  I find it fun to do some brainstorming.  It can be short or it can be longer before the solution is set into the story.  I think that brainstorming is the most fun part of writing.

Inspiration from herbs and plants

I just read this article:
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/food/tp/Herbs-and-Spices-Used-in-the-Ancient-World.htm
It is on a few herbs and spices used in ancient world.  I didn't knew that a specie of fennel was used as birth control.  Speaking of fennel, I find that food, plants and trees can be inspiring, sometimes.  Writing can be evident.  In fantasy or science fiction, there is some kind of liberty in creating food.  It can become exotic as some fruits can be depending on where we live on Earth.

Saying that, I have something in mind.  I have an idea for some times, now.  It is related to jewelry.  My main problem is to translate from mind to reality.  What I want to do?  Put the lilac flowers into a jewelry piece.  I am thinkking of a brooch.   I may add a barrette too.  I do have a few ideas on how to do it.  I am thinking of using a fish line and some amethyst chip with an hole.  My main problem is durability.  I could use metal and make a bezel for each amethyst.  The amethyst would represent the little petals of lilac.  If I use that, it will be time comsuming and delicate, even if I use the lost wax method.  Anyway, I don't have the expertise nor the tools to do it.

I haven't found a sure way to put my idea into the concrete world.  It been a while that i am working with this idea.  I regret not having ask for advice while I took my classes, a few years ago.  I don't know if I a research on the internet would be helping me.  Thinking of it, I could change the fishing line by another thread and see if it will be durable.  Would be worth the try.  I will keep an eye on other solution.  If I find a better way to do my idea, I will see if it good in reality.

Writings in writing

I find the idea of a character having a book or some other forms of writings in a work of fiction quite interesting.  It is not the best example but there is reference of the Necronomicon in H.P. Lovecraft, even if was not written at the time.  Carrie have some clipping in it and a letter at the end, so it is a better example. What I like of this device of writing: it gives often another voice, a different view.  It also add up to the stories.  It is a good way to give additional informations in another format.  It gives some variety.  Of course, as with anything, it must be worthwile to use it, a good reason.

I want to try my hand in this.  I know where I will use it.  It is in a particuliar story.  The character will experience a banishment.  It is where he will put to paper some refflection on many area of life.  It will be from his experience in exile, with his family and on redefining himself.  It won't be a journal.  I don't want it to be a journal.  It will be more like an essay.  In the context of the story, il will, eventually join archives.  Later on, people will hold his writing in high esteem.  Now, I don't know if I will be able to write it the way I would like.  The main problem, as anything I write is to translate what is in my head to the paper or the screen.

This won't be the main part of the story.  It will add on to a part that less exciting, with less action and less fight.  The character will refflect on himself.  It will akin of a midlife crisis.  So, I hope I will enjoy this little experiment.

Isaac Asimov

For what I know, Isaac Asimov is among the most prolific writers in history.  He wrote on fiction and non fiction alike.  I also know that he had gone to university and was a learned person.  I envy his prolific career.  When I was a teenager, I encountered one of his book in the high school library.  It was the first book of the Foundation series.  I was curious and didn't knew the guy.  I started to read the book but have to stop when I encountered a mathematical formula.  At the time, I was really bad with math and a mathophobic.  Still is.  I don't know if he would be a better math teacher than the one I got in high school.

Later on, I met another person who started to read the series with robots.  That person was really into that kind of thing.  I learned more about Isaac Asimow as a writer and a person.  I didn't knew he had written about robots.  So, it kind of opened my eyes.  A scientific guy can write thought provoking science fiction.  I now know he had an impact with his three law of robotic.  I like the way he came with it.  If I remember, he got it with the help of his publisher, I think.

I envy him on a prolific level.  He wrote a lot of stuff.  It seems easy to look at him and back in time to say what I just said.  I don't know if it was easy for him to write.  From what I could read and heard about his stories, he seems to have done some thinking before writing them.  His science seems to be correct and plausible in his fiction.   He must have known his stuff.  I just wonder how he did it beside just sitting down and type down his stories on paper.

He isn't the only writer to have made an impact on litterature.  I just find amazing that this writer could come up with concept and ideas that have impacted the world.  Maybe it is what makes a extremely good writer in science fiction: seeing the possibilities, make educated guesses and weave it in a story.

The proto talk

I think I am in a phase where I notice things.  At least, some observation seems to become more conscious.  I have notice something about what I would name the "proto talk".  It is the phase between baby talk and when the language is acquired by the child.  I have noticed it with my children.  I don't know if it is true with other children.  I notice a phase when my children are no longer doing the baby babbling and just before they start to say words or a more coherent talk.  They emited a series of sound.  It ssem to be a language in itself but I don't understand anything.  It may be classified with baby talk in the relevant litterature but I find it is not really like when they were babies.  It is the best way I can describe it.

For sure, the child seems to understand what he/she is saying.  It is nice to hear, it is not displeasing.  It is just more puzzling than anything.  When I heard it, I would like to understand it.  At the same time, the child may point things or make some gesture (like extending the arm with the hand opened).  Maybe it is a part of learning a first language.  There is no point of reference, no word to associate another word with.

It sound strange to talk about it.  Thinking about it, it could be fun to put in a story.  It would give nice hunting signal.  It would be also nice onomatopoeia.  A vocal code.  Or just to put some reality for toddler.  I don't have any suitable stories for that idea.  Not for now.  I never know, I may come up with something about that in the future.

Surrounding influence

Sometimes, there are  things that hit us with the slightest trigger.  Recentlly, I was watching a documentary on BlackBeard boat.  As I was watching, I thought it would be fun to write something happening on the sea.  At first, a maritime story sounded a good idea.  I don't know anything related to ships.  Didn't really care when I got the idea.  I was more into the brainstorming phase.  Research could wait later on, when needed.

So, my first impression was: great idea but I don't have anything more detailed than that.  It is a beginning that need more brainstorming and evolving.  Many ideas started that way.  So, I am always happy to find a new idea and I was ready to go to the next phase.  I started to think.  As doing so, a realization dawn on me.  It is my "hit by the brick" moment.  It happen to me once in a while and it is like being hit by a brick.  Hence the name.  I like those dawning moment of clear thinking.

So, in that moment of pure clarity, I realized that my setting was often a rugged terrain, forest, mountains and a bit of ruins.  I am familiar with that.  I have grown in that kind of terrain.  There was also lakes and small streams but it haven't shown up much in my writing.  I don't know why water is so little present.  It is as if there isn't much importance to water compared to mountains and forest.  I don't know what to do with this realization.  At least, now, it is more at the forefront.  I am conscious about it.  My mind may be working on something.  Or I need to work on that a little more actively.  Or it will go in another way.

I didn't expected that.  I don't know where it will lead me.  Will I find a use to it?  It is a sure bet, especially if I get a compatible idea for a story.  I like when I get a trigger that put me on an original train of thought.

Chirstopher Lee

Christopher Lee (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000489/) had passed away a little while ago.  I haven't talk about him right away.  In recent times (I would say the last year or two ago), we saw a few death of big names.  I guess there are time when it is due to happen, where all interesting and famous people lay to rest for eternity.   I didn't have the chance to see Christopher Lee in action, in a movie.  I have heard of him, in his role of Count Dracula.  His death put more desire in me to see his portrayal of Dracula and it is sad.  I wanted to see those films before but now, I feel the urge to see them.   It is time, now or never, as if before was not an emergency.  Death should not have this kind of effect in people.  It is what I think.  I g uess I am not better than other people.

Christopher Lee had many major role of bad guys.  Count Dracula would be the best known.  He was also in Star Wars and Lord of the Ring.  I would put him in the same circle with Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff.  They had something special for doing memorable roles of "not so nice guys".  It was not just professionalism.  It would be more a dark fiber.  They understood human nature, even if it wasn't always pretty and nice.  They showed the not so nice side of us.  I don't know if it is easy to do the bad guys.  I am sure that Christopher Lee, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi had brougth to life memorable characters.  The testimony of their success is still in our mind an in the pop culture.

It is inevitable to talk that way when someone dies, especially a famous person.  Nothing last forever and sometimes, we takes some people for granted.  They seems to be eternal.  It is particuarly true for those on the Silver Screen.

I have found a top 10 of Christopher Lee performance here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBppHHGGz3Q

the Millefiori technique

I like the Millefiori technique.  I call the Millefiori technique anything that imply alterning layers of colors in a round tube, like a flower.  I think it also can be applied to any patterns that alternate layers of  colors.
Here is an example of millefiori.  It is a millefiori glass paperweights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfQiss-o49w
I am not brave enough to work with glass.  I don't like playing with hot ovens/furnace.

I found a video on millefiori applied to polymer clay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj9Snv3OXRE
In the polymer clay class I took, the teacher had show us that we also could alternate the layers one above the others, making a little tower, maybe 4-5 layers.  So, we can see the layers from the side.  It is better suited for squared "beads".  I didn't found any video on this alternate way of doing.  I will have to look and see if I have something about it, in my polymer clay "beads".  I haven't used them in a long while.

I like the idea behind the Millefiori.  I like layering and making patterns with colors and with different materials.  I may experiement with that in some projects.  I am tempted to be inspired by what I see...