The weather and miscelleaneous.

The weather is doing crazy!  I wonder if I should write a story or a few about that.  I had been much absorbed in various creative things lately.  Not all about writing.  Maybe I will take some photos today.  It just less awful than earlier this morning.  I just hate when the sidewalk had not been done when the condition are slippery.

I have given blood (it was way due), so it is my good action.  I also headed up to a craft store on my way back.  Not sure if I will go back there.  If I do, it will be for items that I will be sure they will have in stock.  They made a remedeling of the store and a lot of sections got reduced.  It was all the sections I was interested in that store.  I will see if those section will come back.

I am in brainstorming mode.  I had gathered a few ideas to translate into reality.  I go some that I got in my dream.  I will work on them in the next few days.  I am in a period where ideas may come faster than I can make them real.  Time to go create!

Soap, barrettes and bracelets

It was time again to make suap.  I had to replenish my stockpile.  So I did it.  I had some soap base and I had fun doing them:

What was more exciting is that I was able to take the time to do them.  I also have a few soap that are two colors (green and red).  It give a nice touch to the soap.  I may do more of two colored soap.  It is really fun to make when knowing how to do them.

I also tempted to take the time and make other projects.  It will be like those two old projects that I am tempted to do again or do some variant:

The barettes had a resin part that I had fixed to the barrettes bases with glue.  I learned to do resin by myself.  I like the colors. It is gems like.  I find it better than some bling bling.  It is also very light.

The top bracelet had been done with color and a protective transparent top coat.  I think I should use more bright colors.  On this bracelet, the colors seeems so dark.  I made some not long ago.  If I had the budget, I would do this technique all the time.  It is quite relaxing and quick.

The one that is below is made with heated plastic that had been cooled.  It also have a protective transparent top coat.  I should do more often projects with the plastic.  I don't have enough practice to fell totally at ease with this technique.  Maybe I will take again a class with the plastic, if still available.  Maybe it will help me be more confident.

What to knit?

I have the material to knit but I don't know how to use it.  I will also buy some more, in various colors.  Here what I have:

I can do a few projects with that.  Or a big one.  I am tempted to go for a more complicated project, one that will test what I know.  I am thinking to use all the stitches that I know.  The problem is will what I have in mind will translate well in reality.  Thinking of that, maybe I should start small, using the blue azul or the green sage color skein.  I am not good reading pattern so, I may go along and see if I can do something that is good looking.  Experimentation is a big part of my life so,  I am not affraid to try.  Anyway, I can undo it if it not to my liking. 

I probably end up doing a blanket for a big project, even if it is in my confort zone.  I have seen socks being made but there is a difference between seeing and doing.  I know a place where I could ask to learn it.  It had some talking to invite people to show how to do slippers.  Those who will be invited probably knows how socks are made, so I will ask.

Another photographic fail

I tried to make another shoot at night.  Another failure.  I think it is a bad idea to shoot through an window.  Here the disastrous result:

So, really, it is a big fail.  Nothing can be seen.  I should go outside to make night photo.  After that, I have to see if there are other errors I am making.  I know that photo done at night need a longer exposure.  Some experimentation is needed.  I think I will try night photgraphy again in the summer.  It will be easier to the experimentation.  I will have more free time in the evening this summer.  This hiatus will permit me to read more on that topic and my camera manual.  I want to put all the chance on my side.  Maybe the third try will be the good one.

Photography

I am thinking to do more photography.  I am also thinking to invest in a few items in that area.  I am thinking to get a lens for my main camera.  I would like to take photo from far away and have the possibility to get a close up.  It would be to isolate one object or a tree, for example.

I am unsure to get a second camera.  The one I have is one of those where it must be assembled before used.  If I get a second one, it would be one of the point and click, to take a photo on the go.  I still hesitate if I will get one in the near future.  I am not in a hurry.  I give myself some more time to take the decision.

Beside the equipment, I am thinking to take photos like this:

It is a quimzical photo and an old one.  I also want to be able to do some photo idea I have.  I would like to photograph some places.  I would like to take photo outside.  I have less idea for the inside but it may come with time.  I would like to take photos of some projects too but I feel it will be harder for me to do.  I know that I would like to do many projects all at the same time.  I can be easily hopping from one project to another.

massage and brainstorming

I always found that a good massage is good.  It is a great mood setter for brainstorming.  My mind seems to be more open to the reception of ideas.  When in that state, I don't always receive ideas.  I feel more aware and all is possible.  I think I am due for a massage.  I think a lot about it lately.  So I am ready to get one.  I also feel a bit adventurous.  One type of massage that I would like to get is an hot stone massage.  Here is a description on how it is done: http://spas.about.com/od/hotstonemassage/a/Hotstone.htm.    I do like stones, so this massage would be great to try.

I also found another kind of massage: a quartz massage.  It is not like stone massage.  It is with sand.  It sound interesting from what I learned in this article: http://spas.about.com/od/Massage/fl/Quartz-Bed.htm
I just wonder if it can compare to beach sand.  The sand that goes on the massage table is heated.  It seems to be pretty new.  I doubt it is available nearby me.  For sure, if it comes close, I will be tempted to try.

For sure, I always bring a notebook and a pen.  My mind works while I have a massage.  So, I do not want to miss an idea.  Beside that, I enjoy the massage!

Doing some therapy...nothing much

It was nothing much but it was enough to change my mind a little bit.  It is not a bracelet.  It is three pendants.  Beside the three pendants, it is the product I used to colored the inside of the pendants.  I forgot the protection layer but I think it is in the same line of product than the colors.  I like that kind of projects.  It is a quicky.  The most boring part is to wait after the color layer is done.  Another wait for the transparent layer and it is done!  there is a little peg (I have not shown it here) that can makes wavy lines.  I didn't do it here.  I thought it woud be fine without any additional effects.

Here are soaps that I made during the class I took on soap making.  I found them not long ago.  The second photo show the back of two soaps:

I kind of forgot about those soaps.  I think I may give them.  I have a lot of soaps.  I do not know why I forgot about them.  Well, it show what could be made with soaps.

In the love season, will I be selfish?

Valentine day is approaching fast.  There are people that are into aphrodisiac foods: http://www.about.com/food/topic/aphrodisiac-foods-recipes.  Others are into DIY sexy erotic gifts: http://sexuality.about.com/od/valentinesday/a/valentinesgifts.htm.  I want to do something different this year.  I want to create something.  It been a while since I sat down and do a longer project.  I just don't know what I would like to create during Valentine day

It may sound a little bit selfish to create.  It can be a lonely process.  Or it cannot.  It depend on the project, if there are little helpers or if there is a crowd to admire the process.  I did had some help when doing soap. I would like to do something a bit bigger than the few last projects that I done.  I am tempted by wire-wrapping.  I have not done it in a while.  For sure, I want to do something that I haven't done in a while.  I want to put my hands to use and my mind in a zen place.

I think I may go with the flow and follow the inspiration of the moment.  I had done a few interesting projects while under the influence of inspiration.  It was trance like, it was what it felt like.  I also feel like myself, without filter.  I may be in a act of self love.  Giving love to others start from inside.  I will see, this week end, where my creativity will lead me.

Libraries

I work at a library.  Just mentioning the word 'library' summons the stereotype of the old maid librarian, the bookworms, the silence, the intolerance of the staff toward noise.  The book shelves are neatly placed.  Research was done in files filled with little cards.  It was a boring atmosphere to be at.  It makes me think of an episode of Sticking Around where three characters enter a library to escape the bad guys of the serie (first season, episode 10, Dill, man of letter.)(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stickin%27_Around)  At one point, one of the character had the need to speak loud and end up at the window.  The phrase he say is memorable: «Technically, I am out of the library» (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deSAPda7p0o)

What I see is different of the stereotype.  Now, there are sections where soft spoken conversations is allowed.  Other places are still on the silent mode.  The shelves are not so neat as in the stereotype: they can be overcrowded or on a diet.  Staff can retired some obsolete books once in a while (I would say once on a full moon).  The old maid librarian is not an old maid anymore.  The librarian are now a more diversified crowd and are even tech savvy.  People can even rent an IPad.  My library even have desks where they can plug their laptop.  The outlets are on the table.

The two only dislike that I have with the reality may be old ones that are not really seen in the stereotypy.  First, some shelves and some books are less used, so there is some dust accumulating there.  It can become a bit gross with time.  Second, handling books bring the problem of dry hands and dry skin.  I have to bring an hand cream to get rid of the dry skin.  Also, it is always good to bring a big bottle of water.  It help to get less dry skin.

sport and creation

I wonder how some sport had been created.  Who is the first one who learn to swim and what drove him to swim?  Who thought to take two plank of wood to go from point A to point B?  Now, we do have a concept for sports but is it existed in the past?  I know that martial arts where used as self defense from burglars.  Still have that now but there is also a sport aspect now.

What triggered that thought was something I saw on tv on speed riding.  It is alpine skiing with paragliding.  It was on a sport channel.  The origin was explained and it seen recent.  So, creating sports still happen now.  Not just evolution in equipments.  Don't take much to see things from a different angle.

I do not know if it is me but it isn't the first time it happen:  I look at something and my mind start wander somewhere else and questions pops in my head.  Am I at a point where I am thinking more and asking more questions?  Am I more receptive to more thinking?  Do I exercice my mind to go a bit further in my thoughts?  I do not see anything negative here.  I just wonder on the phenomenon.  I also find nice it happen.  I feel that it can become useful in the future...

Hear the drip

I heard a drip coming from a faucet.  The dripping is regular so it makes me think of a metronome.  It also make me think on the first time I encountered a metronome.  It is a strange instrument.  It is a simple device: there is a metal rod.  It can swing from right to left and left to right.  On that rod, there is an adjustment that can be made and it change the speed of the swinging.  It can help musician keep the tempo.
This is the model that I have most often seen:
http://www.amazon.ca/Wittner-845131/dp/B000E4UBEW/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1454562401&sr=8-9&keywords=metronome

The sound of the drip is softer than the one of the metronome.  I find it more suited for keeping the tempo but I know it is not really ecological.  Could be recorded.  I think it would do a nice little addition to some music too.  I am not a musician.  I do not know if I would like to be one.  In school, I was kind of neutral to music class.  I took some private guitar lessons but I wasn't a serious student so the private lessons were terminated.

I do not know why the dripping is getting my attention right now.  It seems the only thing that draw the attention.  There are no other noise.  My mind may also want to wander.  I do not feel concentrated.  The dripping seems to invite me to go into altered state.  I know that a regular sound can trigger the mind to go into it's own bubble.  I had an experience with music and altered state of mind.  It was fun and I remembered that I wanted to experience it again one day.  Right now, it is tempting to listen to the dripping water and let got of my mind.  I know it would be good for getting some ideas...

The White Page

The infamous white page for some.  The white canvas where the artist put his art.  Yes, I agree, it can be stressful to face the white page.  It is the self-pressure to put something on the page.  It also must be wonderfully great.  I feel it especially if I try to create a poem.  I feel the pressure of those who came before me and it dries up the creative force.  Then, the time of wool gathering start.  The mind wander instead of creating.  The mind think of the day-to-day boring routine.

Well, now, I feel the urge to break the mold of the 'negative' white page.  Yes, it is not glamourous.  Yes, it is stressful to see the unfilled white page.  I just want to feel good as my mind wander elsewhere.  It should be a time to brainstorm and to do some automatic writing or automatic drawing.   I did some automatic drawing once in my lifetime and I was stunned by what I saw on the paper.  I am tempted to do it again one day (or do it on a regular basis).  Automatic writing is more common than automatic drawing but it is nice when I do it.  I find automatic writing calming.  I just don't channel ghosts (not yet).

The white page is nothing more than a white page.  It is the person in front of that white page that is putting frustration to the unfilled paper.  The page is just an unresponsive object.  The person is filled with emotions, desires, projects, the greatness, the burning desire of the wants and fufillment that the filled page bring.  It pump up the negative cycle. It is not good for the creative lightbulb and it's spark.

I say it is time to not be affraid of the white page.  It is time to leave the white page if there is a feeling of being stuck comes.  It is not good to feel stressed out just for a white page.  It is then time to relax and wool gathering.  Once in a better mood, creation can begin.  A white page is just a white page.  You are the brain that can fill the page.

From Hydrogen Peroxide to making some natural dyes

I just read this article on Hydrogen Peroxide with the laundry.  There are many nice little tricks to try: http://laundry.about.com/od/ecofriendlylaundry/ss/5-Reasons-To-Use-Hydrogen-Peroxide-For-Laundry.htm#step1
As I read the part on removing stains from clothes, my mind started to wander.  I start to think about ancient ways to get colors on clothes and stains on furniture.  Blueberries were used to make blue.  I think there is a recipy to make white paint from milk.  It is a loosing art in the modern life.  I guess some people are still doing that on an artisanal way, for personal use.

I wonder if I would be good at it.  I never tried that before.  When it comes to try this kind of thing, I am adventurious, ready to try.  The first step would be some research.  There must be some advices.  I do like having insight from others, not to repeat their errors.  I do not like when experience goes to waste.  I did enough mistakes to listen to the advices of others.

I wonder if starting with clothes or on woods.  I don't know which material is best for first tries.  I do not know if I will like it.  Or I can put my own twist on it: putting various colors together, like a drawing.  I do not know if it will work.  I will let my mind work on that, coupled with some research and maybe some experimentation once I feel ready.