Blue Witch

The Friday Question

Mr BW does sta1ned glass. Pictures of it have appeared here before. I've done the courses with him too, but breaking glass and bending and soldering metal just aren't my thing. I know the principles, but the practice doesn't inspire me the way things texti1e do.

Yesterday, with my usual group of sewing cronies, I made sta1ned glass in fabric, with only machine sewing. I've done it before using made bias tape and hand-stitching, but I'm too impatient to enjoy hand stitching. This was great fun, and really easy. Which, given that it was hot hot hot in our workroom was extremely fortunate. There's a super book on the technique (with photos that could inspire many other things, including traditional sta1ned glass or wrought iron work) here (Mr BW please note, my WitchDay cometh, well, cometh in 6 months - cheapest place to order is here).

My lead (as in led not dog's lead) was purple, rather than the traditional grey/black, but, I'm a colour junkie. And ever so slightly unconventional. I think this is a wonderful way of displaying a piece of fabric (either bought or hand-painted/dyed etc) that one cannot bear to use in a cut-up way. I'm sure some of you will understand what I mean by that :)

As yet another cushion added itself to The Studio Couch, I wondered how many cushions we have at The Coven. I reckon there are 20 or so outside ones, there are 22 in The Rest Room, 15 in The Studio, 2 in the lounge, 3 in our bedroom, 1 in my Inner Coven, and 2 in Mi1dred.

Making a total of 65. Is that a lot?

There are also about half a dozen innards from IKEA (a bargain 58p for the small size, and £1.79 for large) awaiting further projects to cover them, but I'm not counting those. I'm also not counting the 10 large ones that came with our large and squidgy sofa.

How many cushions do you have in and around your home?
Did you make any of them yourself?

On a related note, for anyone interested in creative texti1es, there are currently 20 or so wonderful short clips of workshops here. Some wonderful colours and inspirational ideas from leaders in the field.

Phew what a scorcher!

Mr BW clearly thinks I need to post something, so he was outside at 6pm yesterday evening taking photos, and suggesting tablog style headlines.

This large wall thermometer is in direct sun, but it has never been above 40 degrees C before. 4 more degrees and the blue liquid would have hit the jackpot. 46 degrees C (it went 1 degree higher after the photo was taken) is 114 degrees F for those aged or foreign amongst you.

I think I'm the only person I know who loves this weather. You won't catch me moaning. I just hope it's not all of the summer, as the hot spell of late June/early July was in 2006.

We are busy working, crafting (dye1ing, card1ng, fe1ting, qui1ting, patchw0rking), Mi1dreding (unfortunately she has to have open heart surgery sometime soon), gardening and garden opening, animaling and building. And sometime soon I may just post a few pictures of some of it. Possibly. If I can muster the enthusiasm.

In the meantime, if anyone wants two spare cocks, please let me know. But, they are not for eating, only for breeding as they are very beautiful. We thought we'd found a local home for one of them, but I was pulled from my slumbers by a phone call one morning last week, "Hello BW, do you mind if we eat your cock if it gets too noisy?" Now, usually I am a very quick awakener, and can answer the phone without sounding as if I've just woken up, even when I have, but to be awoken by that particular comment, completely without other context, stumped even me.

Because I can't cope with the, "Kittens!" cries, here's one photo of the first escape. The Dark Tabby Familiar is extremely unimpressed that we taught her children (then 4 weeks old) how to escape from their box last weekend while Mr BW was digging foundations with an axe.

Note how we re-use the Swimming Familiars' feed box as a home for them, and give them hose ends as toys.

Thought for the day

Peace has to be created, in order to be maintained. It is the product of Faith, Strength, Energy, Will, Sympathy, Justice, Imagination, and the triumph of principle. It will never be achieved by passivity and quietism.

- Dorothy Thompson

Thought for the day

We deem those happy who from the experience of life have learnt to bear its ills without being overcome by them.

- Carl Jung

The Friday Question

Michael Jackson: the most high profile demonstration the world has ever seen of the fact that money doesn't make you happy.

And you say?

Thought for the day

The Paradox Of Our Time

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men and small character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

- Dr Bob Moorehead

The Friday Question

1. Eat in (cook from scratch)
2. Eat in (convenience food/ready meal)
3. Eat in (takeaway)
4. Eat out (fast food)
5. Eat out (pub/cafe)
6. Eat out (restaurant)
7. Other (please specify)

Which do you prefer?