Octopus Hair Pin

Well, I've finished some small items from my list, so I'll delight you with a picture.

This octopus hair clip is holding a small amber cabochon and detailed with tiny watch parts.

Next up, that four way USB adapter.

I hope.

The Projects

Because I use my other blog for writing madness now, I need a new purpose for this one. That purpose is thus:

My projects. I'm quite enamored with the steam punk aesthetic, and as such will be attempting steampunk related projects.

My first project is nearly done already, adding some minor gear touches to my current pair of glasses (pictures to come). After this project I have a few more in mind.

Project Electronics Mods

1 - Four Way USB adapter
2 - USB Drive
3 - I-pod Mini + External CD Drive Mod
4 - Keyboard Mod
5 - I-pod touch cover
6 - Laptop Mod

Project Creations

1 - Medals
2 - Miniature Tophat
3 - Metal and Leather Goggles
4 - Working pocket watch (wind up movement)
5 - Full size leather tophat

Project Minor Modifications

1- Glasses * In progress *
2 - Hair Pins *Finished*
3 - Cell phone cover
4 - Leather bag
5 - Gear hair pin

So I've got two projects pretty much done and will work up to the others as I go. Luckily for the adapter mod, I only paid a dollar for them, and I bought two. I may go back for a couple more actually.

I think the most difficult modification (my laptop) will start when I put in my new laptop screen.

I'm hoping that I'll actually manage all of these projects to a finish. I really want to do all of them. And if I have to, I may start with my netbook laptop as a mod, seeing as it's dead without a new hardrive...

8 : The Mormon Proposition

I would like to preface this with: I've not seen the film.

I've read a bit about it, I watched the trailers, and seen a few things talking about it.

I can't say I was surprised to learn that a church of any sort was behind the money and movement towards squashing an equal rights act, I really can't. Although, it is sort of ironic that a church that had enfranchised women prior to their enfranchisement in the entirety of the US, would so against the personal freedom of every person in this country.

For every movement that has swept the nation, there has been opposition. There were even groups of women opposing the enfranchisement of women during Suffrage.

But I believe, as happened then for women, that if good people come together and fight for it, we can give every person in this country equal rights.

I believe it will happen. No amount of war-mongering or name calling or smoke-screening can prevent the truth from seeing the light of day. And the truth is, no matter what your sexual orientation, gay or straight, you have the right to love and marry who you choose.

I'm sure lots of people have said very stirring things in regards to equal rights, but I've just got this.

No child was born to hate, and we shouldn't teach them to.

Day Two

Well, I made up for yesterday with about 2400 words. Woot.


First Three Months:


Day One

So, it's day one. I over slept. Really overslept.

But I've still managed to get a chunk written. Not quite what I would like to have gotten written, but nearly so...I'll make it up tomorrow.

First Three Months:


Day Before the Madness

First Three Months:


All right, so tomorrow my Ultimate Writing Challenge starts. Woohoo! Anyhow, here's the information on the first novel.

The Nefarious and Evil Tale

Current length : 43,177 words (yes, I'm starting with an easy one)
Expected length at finish : around 65,000 words - 70,000 words
Total words to finish : 21,823 - 26,823

Words remaining for month : 23,177

So, I've got at less words to finish this one, but more words to make up elsewhere. I think it'll be an even balance for my first month which should make this goal more workable.

What is already finished on this story is posted here, on my FP account.

National Novel Writing Year?

First Three Months:


So, in my infinite insanity, I've decided that starting June 1st, I'm implementing my very own National Novel thing. I don't require any other participants, the only one accountable is myself and there are no prizes for this accomplishment besides my own sense of pride and amazement.

What does this entail precisely? I'll tell you. I will write 50,000 words per month. In that there will be one finished novel per month. This could be a project that's been sitting fallow, a brand new one, one you've been putting off, whatever. But after looking through the host of projects I've got sitting around, I realized I had to do something. I had to finish them.

So, I'm implementing this schedule. If a novel is finished short of that extra 50K, I'll start on another one. The word count is mandatory, the amount of projects worked on is flexible, but one of them must be finished in that month, and it must have at least 50K words to it's credit. This does include packets of shorts stories. (RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER), but not poetry. Unless it's a 50,000 word epic poem, in which case, you are awesome.

My personal schedule will be as follows, based on projects sitting around for the longest amount of time. If a novel is completed ahead of schedule, then I will move on to the next one on the list.
Novels on the list that are there for heavy rewriting have a companion novel listed as well. An attempt will be made to finish both.

June : A Nefarious and Evil Tale
July : Blood Lines + Black Moon
August : Legion's War
September : Vampirism and You
October : Deaths Children
November : NEW PROJECT (As I will be participating in National Novel Writing Month)
The Ghost King
December : When Angels Cry + Dusk Moth
January : Legion's Wake
February : Let the Good Times Roll
March : The Bridge
April : The Hatter's Son
May : Gryphon's Kiss

If I finish all of those before May, I'll move on to my secondary list of a further twelve projects. Part of this project will be trying to remain focused on these particular stories, and not starting a bunch of new things.

Of course, new ideas will be written down and played with a bit, and if something new is on a roll, I'll work on it. But I hope to complete at least my first list, and some of the second. If you'd like to join in with me, for solidarity, I'd appreciate that. Just comment after this post to join in. I'll be keeping track of my own work in this blog, and on LJ. Updates to stories will be made on FictionPress (obviously) as things are completed.

It's an honor system, mostly, but trust me on this, I have very pushy friends so...I may just make it on this. Words counts will go up weekly, because I'm not very good at posting, but I'll try my best for weekly.

I may go mad before this is all over, just as a heads up, but these projects really need to get done so. . .yeah. So join in, watch me crash and burn, cheer me on, whatever you like. Starting tomorrow, all hell breaks loose.

The News

The news has been depressing recently. Not because of the news itself, which is somewhat depressing but I'll admit to being rather jaded so, no, that's not the real problem. A news article gives you the information with a slant from a singular source and is to some extent unbiased. I'm not naive enough to say it's completely unbiased, I know that's not true.

What really bothers me is the comments these articles receive. With the age of the internet we are given the ability to comment on just about everything in a way that leaves us anonymous. I have never seen such violent, crude, ignorance as I have on those comment boards.

Obviously, one can ignore the comment streams and focus solely on the story itself, but it does highlight the amount of ignorance rampant in the US. It's not just ignorance, it's willing ignorance. Not just a lack of education, but an unwillingness to become educated. You can't say, "I didn't know." You can't say, "I had no chances."

Guess what, if you have internet access, you have an opportunity to learn. It's the internet! There are websites chocked full of science, math, art! Google has free digital books you can download. Free!

Not just the internet, but there are these things called libraries, where you can check out books, for free! There are community centers, volunteers, and adult education centers willing to help you, and some of those are free. Education is the only way to combat ignorance, and the cycle of ignorance needs to be broken.

I have no illusions that anyone actually reads my rantings, but I had to say something.

Gail Carriger's Changless - A Review

So first off, I'd like to explain something. I first read Soulless because I'd read all my books, was bored and figured it would the nice thing to do as my roommate rarely recommends books to me.

I proceeded to read said book in a single sitting, in the dark, by the light of my I-Pod while stifling laughter so as not to waken my sleeping roommate. I was exhausted the next day, slept through a lecture but...damn, that was a good book.

Thusly impressed, I read it a second time--and a third.

So when I arrived back in the US after months in Italy, I waited impatiently for funds and access to a bookstore so I could purchase Changeless. Thus, once I had said funding, I purchased the book--and then put off reading it until a flight. I'm not a fan of flying, it doesn't appeal to me at all, so I wanted something fantastic to distract me.

This was indeed fantastic. A whirlwind combination of adventure, intrigue and emotion, Gail Carriger delivers vibrant characters and an intelligent story line full of well-timed sarcasm. The addition of Lord Maccon's old pack and his scathing grand-daughter Sidheag helped set the pace for the climax and Madame Lefoux was...simply delightful. The overall story was inspired, and the further expansion of the mythology of this alternate world's already rich mythology keeps it apart from similar works. The incorporation of Egypt was well done and in keeping with the historical period Miss Carriger is drawing from.

I love the careful focus on side characters like Lyall and Biffy, pushing relationships in new directions without devoting an over-abundance of time to them or losing track of the central story line. I am rooting for Lyall and Biffy, I really, really am. Although, I wouldn't want Akeldama to get hurt. I have a feeling that if he went maudlin his clothes might get less fantastic--and that would be a shame.

The ending, oh that ending. I was upset, angry and I was on a plane. And as I was on a plane, I had to keep my emotional responses to a minimum. I dislike people giving me funny looks. So I swallowed my urge to chuck the book (not because I didn't like it, but because it was the only way I could think of to injure a fictional character), and took deep breaths.

I've placed Blameless (book 3) on my wishlist and will pre-order it as soon as I can.

All in all, it was a damn fine read, took up most of my three and a half our plane ride (not an average reading time), and left me wanting more.

I give it five stars.

T-Shirts

To prep for the release of my new webcomic, I have started a Zazzle store wherein merchandise shall be sold.

At the moment, there is a single t-shirt up. Please help support the start up of the comic, and my further survival, by purchasing a t-shirt.

Back

So I've arrived back in the states. I had tacos--really good tacos--and some rootbeer and today, a Mt. Dew. Score.

There is a cat in my lap.

I'm still a bit jetlagged, but that takes a week or so to go away. The picture is the last one a took of school. Pretty, right?

In any case, things are a bit strange for me. Being back in the states is culture shock at the moment. And the other day I saw the biggest woodpecker I've ever seen in my life. Enormous creature, no idea what kind it was. Still waiting to hear about a few agencies and a couple jobs.

So far, the only thing I know for certain is that this fall I'll be attending OSU. More school! Of course, OSU is just a stop over to pick up the credits I need to get into Grad school at Queens, or Delaware, or NYU or John's Hopkins... I like all of them.

Anywho, that's all for now.

Cheers.

The Language Barrier -- Websites

So, in Italy, the blogger dash starts in Italian, until I sign in and then it's in English, now that I'm in Amsterdam, it's in Dutch. So is the Yahoo search engine.

Sure, one can change the settings back to English--if one can translate the instructions or has prior practice. You'd think the language preferences of your laptop would override the language jurisdiction of your web-provider. Especially when that web provider's own website isn't even in Dutch.

In any case, everyone here speaks English. I do mean everyone. They also all assume that I too can speak English.

It's a bit refreshing after being in Italy for so long. Another oddity, everyone at the airport thus far has thought that my bright red top hat (yes, I'm travelling in it because I don't want it flattened in my suitcase) is awesome. I'm also not getting half as many strange looks as I thought I'd get for having a winged teddy bear stuck through the handle of my backpack.

Oliver has gone everywhere with me. Except Dublin--but that was a logistics issue. He's my travel companion when Sophie isn't here, and thank god because it means I have someone to talk to (kidding...maybe). In any case, everyone here takes a look at me, takes in the black nail polish, dyed hair, silver jewelry and plaid converse with my starry black and purple scarf, the top hat and the teddy bear, and then they smile and compliment the hat.

Welcome to the Goth airport. Seriously, I've seen more goths, psuedo-goths, hippies, alts and etc since being here than I did my entire time in Italy. I also met a rather nice gay couple and a man with fantastical taste in glasses. They were awesome, I'll have to sketch them up and post it.

Meanwhile, it's raining here and sleep deprivation has given me a headache and the chills. I've not slept much over the last few days so this long stint isn't helping but I simply can't fall asleep without a cohort.

And that many windows at my back.

Ah well. I should be flying out of Europe and back to the states this afternoon--volcano not withstanding--so wish me luck.

Volcano?

So...there was a volcanic eruption in Iceland. The ash cloud has been spreading across Europe grounding flights.

I fly home soon...yikes.

As things stand now it looks like everything will be clear before my flight, but I've got my fingers crossed none-the-less.

The picture is of the curtains at the Savoy Theater in Dublin. I saw Alice in Wonderland there over spring break, and Leap Year. Alice was awesome, I need to see it again. Leap Year was cute. I really like Amy Adams so...plus, cute Irish guy. Irish accents are very soothing to me.

Plus it's given rise to my saying "Just throw it in the wash, it'll be grand!" to make Sophie laugh when she's feeling out of it.

Anywho, think good thoughts for me and I hope to get home right on time. *knock on wood*

Shiny New Things

Well, I'm one test away from finishing out the semester...whew. Also, I've changed the look of my blog, as you may have noticed.

In anticipation of my new comic strip, The Woes of Writing, the MC is now my blog background.

You'll learn all about that little guy when I get the first strip up. I'm hoping to do this one once a month.

In other news, I'm three days out from my flight HOME. Another big breath. I have to pack, donate the things I have no room for and at some point get a good night's sleep. Poor Sophia was ill the other day, but she's on the mend. I caught the same thing a week or so ago and it was no fun at all.

Also, you may notice I have a new link, that's right, I have a LJ. It's devoted purely to my writing, so if you are at all curious, that's where to look. Fictionpress folks should take note of the LJ as it's where notices regarding updates, sneak-peeks and new information is posted more regularly than on my profile of FP.

This is the street of Little Love, near where I live.

Today we discuss frescoes. Before 5000 BC wall paintings were made mostly from tempera techniques. Like the cave paintings, using blood or oil or no binder at all.

The affresco technique started around 1500 BC, as well as the lime white technique which are similar to one another but not the same. The earliest of which are found on the Greek island of Crete.

Encaustic paintings came next and were used first in Roman murals, and then Graffito and finally oil on wall in around 1400 AD. The Roman murals no longer have any wax remaining on them. During the excavation of Pompeii it was hoped that traces of the wax would be found, but thus far they have not been.

What is graffito you ask? Well, I've done one and it can be viewed just to the left. Graffito is done with a black/dark/red/other color in the first layer of the intonicco (which is the mortar layer) which is then covered with a white wash of lime.

While the layers are still damp, a stick is used to remove the white and reveal the desired design.

In this case, a skull with the Latin VIXI, which means to Live.

In prehistoric cave paintings earth colors from clays and charcoal black were frequently used with a blood or milk binder. In the cave paintings that have lasted it is because of a natural carbonization which occurs because of the type of stone and the level of moisture in the wall.

The carbonization process is the process by which a fresco solidifies into a wall. The slaked lime (Calcium Hydroxide) which is used in the intonico and other mortar layers carbonizes when in contact with the CO2 in the air to become Calcium Carbonate (CaCo2). This makes the wall paintings very strong.

In the case of Egyptian frescoes, vegetable gum bound pigments were used on a gypsum base which is appropriate for the climate they are in. In a more humid environment this sort of wall painting would not last. The Egyptians produced the first artificial color, which is known as Egyptian Blue. The process itself is not known, but it is thought to have involved copper salts and sand.

By Medieval times this color is lost to time.

To the left is a traditionally execute fresco (by moi) in two sections over two weeks in bon fresco (affresco) and a secco work on top (egg tempera).

I've also done one in Lime White, but I don't have a photo of that one just yet. In any case, these techniques are still used today (by artists and professional fresco painters), though many modern artists do not use the proper technique.

I finally found a photo of one of my applet arts! Sophia ate this one, she promised me they were


delicious, which I believe seeing as they were all eaten. The little birds are cherry tarts with a candied cherry in the center. My theme for the food was "Things that Naturally Contain Cyanide", as I discussed cyanide in my chemical presentation.

I don't like cherries myself, but reliable sources promised me they were good.
The sun is out today, and the freesia in the garden is blooming (which I will photograph). I head home in a little over a week...wow. Waiting to hear on two agent submissions and a couple job offers. I dislike waiting intensely.

The opening of the Conservation Show (to show off to the school what we've been up to) is tonight. We went with a movie theme. I think it looks great actually. My poster is based on Tim Burton's early pencil drawings and is about my bookbinding DIS.

Before the show I'm going to have to take a nap though. Finals are next week, a pair of exams and my final thesis is due. I think it's going to be okay though. I've got the chunk of it done now and I'm fairly happy. One more draft and I'm all set.

Happy Easter...

Well, it's Easter, and here in Florence that means alot. Gorgeous creations at the local bakeries (This one is from Gilli near Piazza Republicca), eggs, chocolate, cake...yum. This doozy of an egg is one I don't even think I could eat.

Too pretty by far.

As for me, I went on spring break to Dublin. Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous. My pictures are currently classified (IE, I took them with Sophie's camera and haven't gotten them from her yet), so you'll simply have to make do with pretty eggs.
On a further note, I'm still working on my thesis. Getting close to the line here, and I've got the chunk of it finished. So close...so very close. Tomorrow we're going to go watch some fireworks and eat brunch with the rest of the conservation trolls. (No, I'm not using the royal we here, I mean me and Sophie) I'm making pasta salad.
And speaking of things I've made recently.That's not something I've made recently. But I couldn't find a picture of the apple tarts I made...dammit. They were pretty good, apparently. I didn't get one. I was very ill last weekend. Honestly it's the sickest I've been in years. I'm still on the recovery so my eating habits are all funky. I just couldn't stomach the thought of eating apples so...my class enjoyed them very much though. Just cooked chopped apples with cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, honey and lemon juice put in dough shells(precooked) and then topped with sweetened cinnamon marscapone cheese and some almonds. Served cold.

Here's another photo of the window at Gilli's. I don't think the dog is made of chocolate, but it did come with chocolate eggs and the fact is, it's adorable beyond all reason.

I've been sending out submissions to agents and magazines.

I've decided to make a count.

Agent Submissions - 6
Rejections - 3
Awaiting Judgment - 3
Accepted - 0
Manuscript Submissions - 5
Rejections - 3
Awaiting Judgment - 2 (also awaiting my shipping them)
Accepted - 0
Magazine Submissions - 4
Rejections - 3
Awaiting Judgment - 0
Accepted - 1 (unpaid, school publication)

That's a bit depressing, eh? More depressing, three of those no's were this past week alone. I've applied to some jobs recently as well, which I won't disclose out of superstition. I really, really, want one of them. Really. Really really really. See, I'm reverting to a four year old just at the thought. In the meantime, I await the judgment of the agents I've submitted to (three separate projects for those of you wondering) before sending out those two manuscript submissions. I'd also like to be in the states when I do it.

In further news, I've been accepted into college for the fall, so that takes care of a few things. I'll be continuing for a BA in Archaeology which I plan to use as a platform for my paper conservation MA plans. I highly recommend having a plan. I plan to continue to make plans. As not planning seems to get me into trouble.

Cheers.

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Half-Term

Finally, we're wrapping up to half-term and a glorious break. Sure, I've got a chemistry exam before that can happen, but it'll be fine.

For starters, I now know how to properly bind a book in the Medieval fashion, as well as modern, Roman, Japanese, and American bookbinding techniques.

To the left is a modern bookbinding in-progress, modelled after the medieval style.

It's much further along now though, I've actually got the cover near finished and the paper has been glued into the cover. Hurrah!

Bookbinding is actually quite a bit of fun, despite having jabbed myself pretty well with the needle and bleeding on the book--which I'd been trying to avoid--and a few other errors along the way. But hey, it's a learning process. This is my first time doing this type of binding, obviously I'm going to screw up a few times along the way.

As for half-term, I'm headed to Dublin with Sophia. Hoping to see some movies, buy some books, maybe meet a favorite author of mine and of course, attempt to do some research. At the moment, my thesis paper is on the back-burner do to a difference of opinion as to what my thesis paper is actually about. That's fine though, I'll get it done. Besides, I've got schools to apply to.