kistha

I'm looking for an artist that can do graphic work (i.e.: computers) to do 4 black and white floral borders. These must ultimately be in a specific format and resolution in order to be laser engraved.

I'm looking for an art nouveau style like Mucha's in the flowing organic sense. The borders will be made of Rose, Morning Glory, Lilies, and Nightshade (one flower per border.)

If you know anyone who could do this (and time is a consideration I'd like this done in a couple of weeks, rather than months) please let me know how to reach them!

Thanks!

It's interesting.

In the last few years I've been planning on picking up a cauldron for West's altar. Then, I started wondering if it was one of those things I picked up/absorbed by hanging with Neo-pagans while I was in the heart of choosing my faith and learning what it entailed (and still am really, I just have a way better idea these days.)

Then I thought, ah - maybe for North. I could use it as the altar bowl and it could definitely handle being lit on fire frequently. But.... I mean it's black, it will hold fire, and I seem to want one for some reason. And I need some kind of fire bowl for North anyway, right?

But talking about it last night, I don't actually know what I want to do with one. I mean I may end up defaulting to a cauldron (and since I finally found a nice one without a pentagram or triple moon or freaking hell "Harry Pottie" on it the question is a little more pertinent) since finding a "fire bowl" in black and red can be pretty difficult. I'd rather have one that is more open, since the patterns in the flame are kind of the important bits. Ultimately I'd like to do some kind of eternal flame set up, but that will definitely have to wait - like until it's in a room without a wood floor. (Also, would like to find something that burns like Isopropyl Alcohol, but without the fumes.)

So I'm stuck. I don't know if I should pick one up - to the tune of $52.00 not knowing that it is the final option, but it was a pain-in-the-ass to find too.

So, let's have a vote! What do you think?

PS - Some days the overwhelming fact that having a seriously non-mainstream faith is a bitch and a half, just kills me. Trying to find stuff is a bitch, and I'm having to try and make most of it - and while I'm crafty and all, there are somethings that I'm just not as good at as I want. Anyone who has any good custom crafters to recommend, please, please let me know. (mercy_nine I'll try and send you an email soon for the woodworker.)

I came in with a piece of jewelry for everyone - and everyone was stunned at how 'perfect' they were for each person. Which made me all warm and fuzzy - I wanted them to all be very personal. I wore my "bobble" from rhienelleth along with my batik turtle scrubs.

On the food front in true Miles fashion I over did it, but we made a hell of a dent! After looking at in the cold light of morning - I thought I'd be bringing home a ton of food, but now I'm pretty sure that won't be the case.

I brought in a huge basket (thanks argentyne) with wheat grass in it and then put in a Godiva chocolate strawberry for each person, easter style Recess PB Cups, Nestle Crunch eggs, Harry & David's lovely Malt Balls and 5 different kind of solid chocolate bunnies and a couple of colored eggs. Then sprinkled edible flowers over everything.

A vegatable platter with peppers, celery and whole teenage carrots with Peppercorn Ranch Dressing and Peanut Butter.

A tray of Harry & David's Sampler of Cheesecake Petits Fours, Baklava and Fruit Galettes.

An Edible Arrangement which looks like this:



And a bottle each of Organic Sparkling Lemonaide, Orangina and Pelligrino.

Two vases of flowers, one wild and one tulips.

Other than some work based complications, who are always a pain in the ass, it was lovely. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and that was really the goal.

All of the food went over like gangbusters, and although I keep going in and having just one more piece - I think I may very well explode. The husband took pictures, so maybe some may make their way here. I'm sorry I didn't think of taking pictures once I got everything set up. I think his are of the fridge, which are pretty funny in their own right.

*Yawn* I'm full and need a nap now.

(LMAO one of our more erratic clients just came in and gave us a bunch of cookies they had baked for us to say thank you someone is going to have to roll us all out of here tonight.)

Just talked with the the owner of Oba's Mom, Baby Marci. You can see her ( here. ) She works at the breeders, and says that currently Oba is all about being held and hanging out with people. She's always hanging around the baby gate looking to see people - much more interesting than her litter mates, who are always there. I think we'll be seeing more of her after the holidays and as she starts to really get out and start doing stuff.

Puppy news aside; Xmas shopping (all but a few secret gifts) accomplished in one evening - I'm afraid there's a number of gift certificates in this year's pile, but we've been ridiculously pressed for time. But one more shopping stop for me, and we'll be done. *Whew* I just hope I can struggle with this cold long enough to get through the last two days of work and at least to the holidays if not through them. These two days off have saved us and our shopping, the tree may even get decorated! I'm really, really glad my boss wanted to ski with his kids!

And for those who mark it - Happy Solstice. I won't be staying up this year to bring in the dominion of North, but I'll be thinking about it all the same. Last year I posted a very sad and lonely piece about how the holidays bring me down (you can find it here if you are interested) and while I'm not that depressive this year, I find that I'm feeling very disconnected from my faith, as with just about everything this year. We've been buried in estate battles, moves and buying and remodeling our first house, and now trying to live in it. All the tools and trappings of my faith is in boxes, and the room set aside for worship is the last room that we'll be renovating. While I can't wait to finally have a room that is set for my faith from floors to ceiling (and dthon's in the closet he's all about secret nooks) and nothing else - it's odd to have not done any rituals since last year, and knowing I won't for some time to come. I'm really looking forward to looking outward instead of inward. All this self absorption is getting old.

We had hoped to do one big celebration per year for one of the Four God/desses in turn; starting this year. But couldn't find a place to rent out that would allow for the sort of things that are part and parcel of the celebration of North. Maybe we'll be able to find someplace for next midwinter since that's where I want to start. It's the easiest of the four to put into standard celebration terms, and bluntly the most fun. It also puts the hardest three years out - West just isn't one for parties.

So, with that in mind, if you know of a rental that will run to 1-2AM, allow alcohol, has more than one room, will let you decorate, have a DJ and has dance space, and is close to taxi's or hotels at the minimum....and if I can also have a fire bowl, (outside) that'd be even better. [And doesn't require a million dollar insurance policy.] I couldn't seem to find anyway to contact the people who own the property that OLOTEAS uses (The Longhouse) nor do I know that it would be adequate, or if they rent to non-organizations. It was the last property we found that we couldn't check. As far as I know am not close to anyone from OLOTEAS that I could ask. But being that I could be wrong: if one of you does know, let me know will you?

So happy holidays, whatever your flavor....I'm off to finish the last shopping bits.

'Tis Halloween or Samhain depending on your predilections:

Halloween

I love the way it gets dark and stormy here in the fall. I love the gray shrouded skies, the giant orange harvest moons, the wild wind and the pouring rain. I love Halloween. I love to dress up, to go out and be scary, or beautiful so how could I not but love Halloween? I love giving out candy to kids, and going to parties, quiet or loud. Carving pumpkins by the bushel, and decorating the house...all this I have missed this year. There will be no Halloween here this year. The apartment has no place to put pumpkins (not inside stupid cats - not outside, stupid neighbors) I doubt there will be any trick or treaters this year. The house is unfinished, and vacant, so no point decorating it, and everything is still in storage so there would be nothing to decorate with anyway. So no Halloween for us this season. We'll be giving a loved table to writersweekend &loloc and then having a nice Italian dinner so at least we'll be in good company - then home to the apartment.

Samhain

There is also my religious holiday which differers from Samhain and is another of those holidays where it is definitely difficult to observe alone. In fact I have never done the proper observances, ever...it's just impossible to do alone. I feel like at least writing it out as a soft bow to the Lady of the West since I can't even lose myself in Halloween or fellow pagan's rituals this year. If you are interested, follow me.........