My birthday is coming up. Gonna be the big 2-8. These things aren't becoming as big of a deal as they used to be, probably thanks to Grendal. Birthdays weren't that big a deal in his life and while I want to celebrate his birthday he just seems rather blah about it.
As an odd twist, though, we are celebrating my birthday, along with my father-in-law's, in a nifty way. We're having a Hobbit Breakfast! More like Elevenses, but it's the thought that counts. Grendal and I are bringing the eggs, bacon, and sausage, making coffee and tea, and than his sister is providing scones and clotted cream. Sounds like it's going to be a big thing, something nice for the family. I'm thinking about breaking out my soundtrack for LotR to play in the background!
With the weekend also comes Mabon/Fallfeast. I have become lax on doing much of anything during the warm seasons, but that seems to be what happens. Strangely, I am more active during the fall and winter months, and a little in spring. I'll make it a point to set aside a plate of food and warm bread (will try to make some for the day) for the gods and the wights. Depending on the weather and how Grendal and I feel, I might be able to convince him to spend part of the day at a local state park. We had originally wanted to go camping but, well, life happened. :I
Speaking of life, things are still kinda rocky/hectic for Grendal and I. The deli I work in has been forced to go union thanks to the other stores in the area. That's not bad, they seem to leave us well enough to ourselves, but it's the proposed contract that has everyone nervous. Those that I work with seem to be okay with this version but the Union Reps aren't happy. We vote again early next month and if we decline this contract we strike. Not good. Many of us, myself included, cannot deal with a strike. The amount we make there is just enough for some of us to get by and a strike would effectively cut off our income. A lot of us are pretty nervous. Grendal has been getting more hours at his store, which is good. He's happy but is getting worn down. Hopefully the two days off this weekend will be enough to reboot his system.
We've been trying to save as much as we can for our wedding but things are falling through. Our attempt at mead for the celebration might not happen, which is sad but things just keep cropping up and we have to place our money else where for the time being. He also wants to save up so he can finish off his last college class (no financial aid, sadly) before looking into taking a similar job as my brother-in-law, which is working for Canadian Pacific. He's keen on the idea and my brother-in-law enjoys it. The only downside that we see at the moment is the fact that he'd be gone for days at a time. It's a sacrifice we'd make if it means we can live with a slight bit of comfort.
Other than that, life has be chugging along. Working what we can, saving what we can, and trying to keep sane. With the chill in the air, though, I know I'm gonna come back to life and be a bit more present here. Hopefully. :)
Monday, September 17, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
How Very Hip(pie) of You!
Like the title of my blog denotes, I live in my own world for the most part. The only 'normal' thing that is a must is work. I gotta work to pay bills, to survive, and save. In all honesty, if Grendal and I could I think we would live off the grid and wander the earth. Sadly we're both rather attached to our computer and anything that comes with that. So we try, as best as we can, to better ourselves with the rest of the world.
Recently I took a venture into making my own granola with a huge success. I've been eating the stuff like it's the only way I'll survive. I've already made plans to do something 'seasonal' when autumn rolls around and I get my hands on some nice pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds from a local apple orchard. We also have a garden slowly growing, one that the entire family is working on. Slowly I've been doing more and more research into bettering our diet through simple means. I'm trying to get away from frozen veggies and use the steamer that has been sitting around getting dusty. There has also been just a general influx of healthier and fresher foods creeping into the household.
Grendal and I (more him) have slowly gotten away from drinking cow's milk. He was starting to have an adverse reaction to it and the only thing we could figure was the beginning of an intolerance. My mother is lactose intolerant and I was starting to show signs myself and decided to go along with Grendal on this little venture. While we still eat some cow milk based ice cream, yogurt, and sherbet, neither of us have drank milk in probably a month. He's feeling so much better and I don't know if there's been much of a difference in me, but I haven't really missed it.
Along with the granola making I decided that I could start making my own yogurt. So off I went to the internet to do some searches on how to go about doing so. The recipes I've found are pretty basic and I'll be experimenting rather soon! What struck me as odd was a certain recipe/blog entry from someone who was venturing into yogurt making themselves. They said they were 'doing something very hippie.' That made me stop and wonder how yogurt making was a hippie thing to do. Needless to say I found no answer in my own mind and didn't bother any more with it.
The whole hippie thing, though, has been following me for years. My mother and auntie in Hawai'i have both said that if I was to ever move there they knew that it wouldn't take long before I was part of the hippie community there. I laughed it off and agreed that there was some truth to that. More recently I've had my manager and a worker in another department lovingly call me a hippie. I've talked to them about my bread making, my gardening, and have even gone a little holistic with them(heh). I pointed this out to Grendal and all he did was nod.
"You're a bit of a hippie." And then he went on to compare me to Abby O'Neil from Dharma and Greg(a favorite show of mine in middle school, and my favorite character!!).
Thinking about it I am a Granola Child, minus the vegetarian bit. :) I wouldn't have it any other way and neither would Grendal.
Recently I took a venture into making my own granola with a huge success. I've been eating the stuff like it's the only way I'll survive. I've already made plans to do something 'seasonal' when autumn rolls around and I get my hands on some nice pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds from a local apple orchard. We also have a garden slowly growing, one that the entire family is working on. Slowly I've been doing more and more research into bettering our diet through simple means. I'm trying to get away from frozen veggies and use the steamer that has been sitting around getting dusty. There has also been just a general influx of healthier and fresher foods creeping into the household.
Grendal and I (more him) have slowly gotten away from drinking cow's milk. He was starting to have an adverse reaction to it and the only thing we could figure was the beginning of an intolerance. My mother is lactose intolerant and I was starting to show signs myself and decided to go along with Grendal on this little venture. While we still eat some cow milk based ice cream, yogurt, and sherbet, neither of us have drank milk in probably a month. He's feeling so much better and I don't know if there's been much of a difference in me, but I haven't really missed it.
Along with the granola making I decided that I could start making my own yogurt. So off I went to the internet to do some searches on how to go about doing so. The recipes I've found are pretty basic and I'll be experimenting rather soon! What struck me as odd was a certain recipe/blog entry from someone who was venturing into yogurt making themselves. They said they were 'doing something very hippie.' That made me stop and wonder how yogurt making was a hippie thing to do. Needless to say I found no answer in my own mind and didn't bother any more with it.
The whole hippie thing, though, has been following me for years. My mother and auntie in Hawai'i have both said that if I was to ever move there they knew that it wouldn't take long before I was part of the hippie community there. I laughed it off and agreed that there was some truth to that. More recently I've had my manager and a worker in another department lovingly call me a hippie. I've talked to them about my bread making, my gardening, and have even gone a little holistic with them(heh). I pointed this out to Grendal and all he did was nod.
"You're a bit of a hippie." And then he went on to compare me to Abby O'Neil from Dharma and Greg(a favorite show of mine in middle school, and my favorite character!!).
Thinking about it I am a Granola Child, minus the vegetarian bit. :) I wouldn't have it any other way and neither would Grendal.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Seriously?
Another month gone by without a post. Sadly it's because there hasn't been much to post about in my little corner of the world. Just trying to get by and what not.
Grendal and I recently hit a set back in the way of saving up for our wedding. We had nearly 1000 set aside when we realized that we needed a mower for our 4+ acres of grass. His parents agreed to pay us back and there went our savings. They've made one 'payment' so far but that was about two or three weeks ago and was a vary small portion of it. While it rankles me I can't say much because they're in a financial bind due to bills and little in the realm of a budget and restraint.
The two of us have sat down and looked at what we need/want for the wedding. I think we've come to the conclusion that 15 gallons of mead is a bit much due to how strong our brew is, and how many bottles we'll need. That and we don't have many drinkers in our group. I'm thinking about taking it down to possibly 6. We'll see how Grendal takes that.
We'll be heading to Bristol RenFaire to pick out our wedding jewelry. There is a lovely little stall that sells pendants and this time we'll be springing for silver rather than copper ones. We've also thought about purchasing a drinking horn for our shared cup of our homemade mead. Thought it would be a nice touch. I'm also thinking about looking for a headdress or something else as an accessory. Don't know what just yet, I'll just have to see.
Lately I've had the urge to rearrange my altar. I think it's gotten cluttered and I need to downsize. That and I believe some of my statues need to be put away. While I am not disregarding the deities as I move their representations, I just feel like I've moved on to something else. I always feel horrible when this happens. While I worked with Ba'al and those in that Pantheon, it just feels like something no longer clicks. I was so in to that mind set for some time and with a sudden switch, I'm off reading something else. To others it might seem like just jumping from one group to another just because I can. That's not the case. I've been studying and learning, expanding my views once more. In a way Ba'al was a gateway to another deity and Pantheon, one that seems closer to home than any other. There are times when I can feel him but, for the most part, his time with me has come to an end. A time that was wonderful!
Grendal and I recently hit a set back in the way of saving up for our wedding. We had nearly 1000 set aside when we realized that we needed a mower for our 4+ acres of grass. His parents agreed to pay us back and there went our savings. They've made one 'payment' so far but that was about two or three weeks ago and was a vary small portion of it. While it rankles me I can't say much because they're in a financial bind due to bills and little in the realm of a budget and restraint.
The two of us have sat down and looked at what we need/want for the wedding. I think we've come to the conclusion that 15 gallons of mead is a bit much due to how strong our brew is, and how many bottles we'll need. That and we don't have many drinkers in our group. I'm thinking about taking it down to possibly 6. We'll see how Grendal takes that.
We'll be heading to Bristol RenFaire to pick out our wedding jewelry. There is a lovely little stall that sells pendants and this time we'll be springing for silver rather than copper ones. We've also thought about purchasing a drinking horn for our shared cup of our homemade mead. Thought it would be a nice touch. I'm also thinking about looking for a headdress or something else as an accessory. Don't know what just yet, I'll just have to see.
Lately I've had the urge to rearrange my altar. I think it's gotten cluttered and I need to downsize. That and I believe some of my statues need to be put away. While I am not disregarding the deities as I move their representations, I just feel like I've moved on to something else. I always feel horrible when this happens. While I worked with Ba'al and those in that Pantheon, it just feels like something no longer clicks. I was so in to that mind set for some time and with a sudden switch, I'm off reading something else. To others it might seem like just jumping from one group to another just because I can. That's not the case. I've been studying and learning, expanding my views once more. In a way Ba'al was a gateway to another deity and Pantheon, one that seems closer to home than any other. There are times when I can feel him but, for the most part, his time with me has come to an end. A time that was wonderful!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Out of Hibernation
I love winter. Simply LOVE it. Which is strange since both my sisters and mother despise northern winters and you'd think, being a Hawai'ian child, I'd hate it too. Seems like I managed to have more of my father's blood in me when it comes to which seasons I enjoy. The snow and the cold nights! Hot drinks and warm hearty meals that really make this house a home. Having to cuddle up with Grendal to keep warm while we sleep. Even Yuko, our odd mix of a pup, loves the snow! Being a short haired breed who came up from Alabama we thought she'd hate the snow. Nope. Whenever a fresh bunch fell she begged to go out and play. Running, digging, eating, and rolling in the snow until it just got too cold. Yuko is a dog after our own hearts.
That and being with my modern day viking of a man, Grendal. I don't like summer that much anymore and it's because of the heat. When it gets to be anything above 80 I tend to melt and not want to do much unless there is a breeze, I'm near water, or in the middle of the woods.
The birds around here have told us that winter is now a memory and Spring is in full swing. While the actual transition is still a few days away, you can't really deny nature and animals. Grendal pointed that out yesterday while we listened to a Robin sing. My little Goldfinches, Chickadees, Mourning Doves, and Cardinals have all strayed from the feeders to find their own food. Kinda sad but I bet they're happy to be out and about.
Its early to mid march up here and it's bordering on 80 degrees. D: Way too early for this heat and the upper part of the house(the part we rent) doesn't vent heat, it holds it in. So we bake, our electronics bake, the animals don't wanna be up here, etc. Despite that I've started walking home from work to take in the sun and see if I can gain some color without actually burning for once(doubt it). Gotta take out the bikes and check the tires so I can ride to and from work.
Grendal and I have started to save up money for our wedding. Its a little over a year away and I'm already paranoid on what to do. I mean what the hell do I do for a wedding? We're having it in the yard and the person doing the ceremony is going to be a family friend. All of it's going to start in the afternoon and give way to a bonfire. We don't even know how many people to invite. :I His family is HUGE compared to mine, even if my mother's side was able to fly out and join us. The only thing we know for sure is where we're getting our wedding jewelery(to pendants from a local RenFair), what I want to do for a dress(still gotta get the pattern and double check that Grendal's mother is willing to help), have my mother make my headdress, and, above all else, brew our Mead! That is the part I'm looking forward to. Our first batch turned out wonderful so we're going to ahead and make about 15 gallons worth for the wedding.
So, since winter is over and spring is in full swing I can no longer hibernate. Time to open the windows, spruce up my altar, and begin life anew! No more winter woes that seem to creep in no matter how much I love the season. While my little corner of the world may not be as I imagined, it's my freakin' corner.
That and being with my modern day viking of a man, Grendal. I don't like summer that much anymore and it's because of the heat. When it gets to be anything above 80 I tend to melt and not want to do much unless there is a breeze, I'm near water, or in the middle of the woods.
The birds around here have told us that winter is now a memory and Spring is in full swing. While the actual transition is still a few days away, you can't really deny nature and animals. Grendal pointed that out yesterday while we listened to a Robin sing. My little Goldfinches, Chickadees, Mourning Doves, and Cardinals have all strayed from the feeders to find their own food. Kinda sad but I bet they're happy to be out and about.
Its early to mid march up here and it's bordering on 80 degrees. D: Way too early for this heat and the upper part of the house(the part we rent) doesn't vent heat, it holds it in. So we bake, our electronics bake, the animals don't wanna be up here, etc. Despite that I've started walking home from work to take in the sun and see if I can gain some color without actually burning for once(doubt it). Gotta take out the bikes and check the tires so I can ride to and from work.
Grendal and I have started to save up money for our wedding. Its a little over a year away and I'm already paranoid on what to do. I mean what the hell do I do for a wedding? We're having it in the yard and the person doing the ceremony is going to be a family friend. All of it's going to start in the afternoon and give way to a bonfire. We don't even know how many people to invite. :I His family is HUGE compared to mine, even if my mother's side was able to fly out and join us. The only thing we know for sure is where we're getting our wedding jewelery(to pendants from a local RenFair), what I want to do for a dress(still gotta get the pattern and double check that Grendal's mother is willing to help), have my mother make my headdress, and, above all else, brew our Mead! That is the part I'm looking forward to. Our first batch turned out wonderful so we're going to ahead and make about 15 gallons worth for the wedding.
So, since winter is over and spring is in full swing I can no longer hibernate. Time to open the windows, spruce up my altar, and begin life anew! No more winter woes that seem to creep in no matter how much I love the season. While my little corner of the world may not be as I imagined, it's my freakin' corner.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Reason for the Season
Skyrim is eating up whatever free time I have, so posts I had intended to, uh, post won't be getting here any time soon.
Alrighty, down to business. With the winter holidays coming up quick there is no doubt in the return of the whole 'Put Jesus back in Christmas' issue. I usually ignore it since it doesn't really apply to me. To each their own and what not. I am a firm believer that religion should stay out of public schools and have been for years. Hell, I even wrote two term papers on it in high school. I try and stay out of those conversations because it just brings up so much bad blood and ill will in a lot of cases.
Recently I found out that two pagan friends have 'switched sides'. I know that sounds horrible but that's what popped up in my head when I found out/heard about it. Both women were very devout in their Pagan ways and we talked to each other about all manners of Pagan and witchy stuff. It made me feel happy to have someone to talk face to face about what we do in general practice or to come to each other for advice.
The first friend, and the one I know best, was very much into her beliefs and was part of a small group I was in trying to get a Pagan group started at a local college. We weren't there to start a circle, but to educate people on the Pagan community but that's neither here nor there. She had been a friend in high school so when I found out she was Wiccan I rejoiced. Now, though, she converted to Catholicism due to her marriage. At first I thought it may have been one of those moments where she was like 'sure, whatever' but the more I kept up with her online the more confused I got. She still wishes me and our other Pagan friends happy holidays when they pop up but I noticed she was asking where she could find pins that proclaimed 'Jesus is the reason for the season.' I saw that and I was floored. She is an educated person when it comes to the history of religions and faiths so it bothered me greatly to say that winter holiday is thanks to one person who fits a description of many *coughMithracough*. It usually rubs me the wrong way when people want to be PC but, honestly, when it comes to holidays I want that PC-ness. Don't wish me Merry Christmas, please. Don't tell me Happy Hanukkah or any thing else for that matter. If you do than I will wish you a Happy Yule or Twelfth Night. My point is, is that the assumptions irritates me to the point that I have the urge, during work, to tell those who say 'May God bless you,' 'May Odin All Father bless you.' :| That'll go over well.
While I understand it my friend's right and privilege to follow what ever she wants to follow, it just baffles me that someone so devout in their previous beliefs could suddenly pop up something else. I can blame it on the husband all I want but it makes me question my friend. Was she so devout? Was she just trying something on?
My other friend I don't know so much about. She had been going through a rough patch and, again this is in my head, I think someone may have gotten to her in her weakness. She is now born again and seems to completely ignore her past dealings with Wicca.
I think I'm getting bitter in my age. I'm only 27 and I'm getting cranky with others for odd reasons. Grendal is there to help figure things out when I just sit around and grump, but even he was surprised. We've chosen to let it go but I do have something to ask those who happen to read this: Do or did you know anyone who suddenly went from one religion/faith to another out of seemingly nowhere? What went through your head? :\
Alrighty, down to business. With the winter holidays coming up quick there is no doubt in the return of the whole 'Put Jesus back in Christmas' issue. I usually ignore it since it doesn't really apply to me. To each their own and what not. I am a firm believer that religion should stay out of public schools and have been for years. Hell, I even wrote two term papers on it in high school. I try and stay out of those conversations because it just brings up so much bad blood and ill will in a lot of cases.
Recently I found out that two pagan friends have 'switched sides'. I know that sounds horrible but that's what popped up in my head when I found out/heard about it. Both women were very devout in their Pagan ways and we talked to each other about all manners of Pagan and witchy stuff. It made me feel happy to have someone to talk face to face about what we do in general practice or to come to each other for advice.
The first friend, and the one I know best, was very much into her beliefs and was part of a small group I was in trying to get a Pagan group started at a local college. We weren't there to start a circle, but to educate people on the Pagan community but that's neither here nor there. She had been a friend in high school so when I found out she was Wiccan I rejoiced. Now, though, she converted to Catholicism due to her marriage. At first I thought it may have been one of those moments where she was like 'sure, whatever' but the more I kept up with her online the more confused I got. She still wishes me and our other Pagan friends happy holidays when they pop up but I noticed she was asking where she could find pins that proclaimed 'Jesus is the reason for the season.' I saw that and I was floored. She is an educated person when it comes to the history of religions and faiths so it bothered me greatly to say that winter holiday is thanks to one person who fits a description of many *coughMithracough*. It usually rubs me the wrong way when people want to be PC but, honestly, when it comes to holidays I want that PC-ness. Don't wish me Merry Christmas, please. Don't tell me Happy Hanukkah or any thing else for that matter. If you do than I will wish you a Happy Yule or Twelfth Night. My point is, is that the assumptions irritates me to the point that I have the urge, during work, to tell those who say 'May God bless you,' 'May Odin All Father bless you.' :| That'll go over well.
While I understand it my friend's right and privilege to follow what ever she wants to follow, it just baffles me that someone so devout in their previous beliefs could suddenly pop up something else. I can blame it on the husband all I want but it makes me question my friend. Was she so devout? Was she just trying something on?
My other friend I don't know so much about. She had been going through a rough patch and, again this is in my head, I think someone may have gotten to her in her weakness. She is now born again and seems to completely ignore her past dealings with Wicca.
I think I'm getting bitter in my age. I'm only 27 and I'm getting cranky with others for odd reasons. Grendal is there to help figure things out when I just sit around and grump, but even he was surprised. We've chosen to let it go but I do have something to ask those who happen to read this: Do or did you know anyone who suddenly went from one religion/faith to another out of seemingly nowhere? What went through your head? :\
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A Long, Long Time Ago....
Yeah, I'm still alive. XP Life is kicking me in the butt so haven't been able to make it back to the blogosphere.
Updates in my life:
Grendal and I are the proud parents of a furry baby. We got her from an animal shelter about an hour away. Fuyuko (roughly translated as 'winter child') is a 1 year old mix of, what we think, is Pitbull, Shiba Inu, and possibly German Shepard. She's a hell of a dog and getting along decently with Tinker. We do get a little nervous about Yuko's play with Tinker. Yuko like to mouth and use her paws, plus she's bigger than Tinker so we have to keep an eye on them. Nothing bad has happened so that's a good thing. We've been taking Yuko everywhere with us. We've even had play dates with my older sister's dogs. So far, after two weeks, things couldn't be better.
Grendal has been hired as seasonal help at a local Bergner's store. While normal chances of staying on after the holiday season is low, he's been trained as both a cashier and a dock worker so we're keeping our fingers crossed!
After the previous holiday I decided it was time to dust off my altar and spruce it up a bit. Everything is a little tidier now, which makes me and the altar happier. What's nice is that I've found two crow feathers in lovely condition, both right in my path on my walks home from work. I had them on my altar as well and since Halloween has passed I was able to purchase two crow figures to place on the altar as well. I had my eye on them for a while so when they were still there when the sale started I figured that it was time to snag 'em. Besides, with my recently formed connect with Odin what better way to represent him!
What else.....I can't think of anything new and exciting that has been happening in my life. I've managed to write a little on my novel in progress but still nothing significant. With autumn slowly giving way to winter I've felt that familiar intimacy with the night and the earth. I can't really explain it. While the world is alive in spring and summer all I want to do is nap in the sun like a cat. In the colder months, though, I feel at peace. I want nothing more than to stay inside and make it feel like home through baking and soup making. The nights are blissful despite the eerie silence thanks to the snow. Even with the house being near a busy street it feels like we are far away from the hub bub of the city and in the middle of the countryside. I think I'll wait until the deep parts of winter to make an 'official' connection with the All Father. For some reason it feels right, and that's what matters the most with these types of things.
Updates in my life:
Grendal and I are the proud parents of a furry baby. We got her from an animal shelter about an hour away. Fuyuko (roughly translated as 'winter child') is a 1 year old mix of, what we think, is Pitbull, Shiba Inu, and possibly German Shepard. She's a hell of a dog and getting along decently with Tinker. We do get a little nervous about Yuko's play with Tinker. Yuko like to mouth and use her paws, plus she's bigger than Tinker so we have to keep an eye on them. Nothing bad has happened so that's a good thing. We've been taking Yuko everywhere with us. We've even had play dates with my older sister's dogs. So far, after two weeks, things couldn't be better.
Grendal has been hired as seasonal help at a local Bergner's store. While normal chances of staying on after the holiday season is low, he's been trained as both a cashier and a dock worker so we're keeping our fingers crossed!
After the previous holiday I decided it was time to dust off my altar and spruce it up a bit. Everything is a little tidier now, which makes me and the altar happier. What's nice is that I've found two crow feathers in lovely condition, both right in my path on my walks home from work. I had them on my altar as well and since Halloween has passed I was able to purchase two crow figures to place on the altar as well. I had my eye on them for a while so when they were still there when the sale started I figured that it was time to snag 'em. Besides, with my recently formed connect with Odin what better way to represent him!
What else.....I can't think of anything new and exciting that has been happening in my life. I've managed to write a little on my novel in progress but still nothing significant. With autumn slowly giving way to winter I've felt that familiar intimacy with the night and the earth. I can't really explain it. While the world is alive in spring and summer all I want to do is nap in the sun like a cat. In the colder months, though, I feel at peace. I want nothing more than to stay inside and make it feel like home through baking and soup making. The nights are blissful despite the eerie silence thanks to the snow. Even with the house being near a busy street it feels like we are far away from the hub bub of the city and in the middle of the countryside. I think I'll wait until the deep parts of winter to make an 'official' connection with the All Father. For some reason it feels right, and that's what matters the most with these types of things.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Crafts
First off, hello to those who just found my blog thanks to the Real Witches of Halloween event! Thanks for checking me out and possibly sticking around to hear what I ramble on about.
I've always thought of myself as a crafty person, but not in that unhanded 'oooo I'm gonna get ya' kind of way. I bake, I cook, draw, write, and make jewelry. What has always escaped me, though, was crocheting and knitting. I know many women who do this: my mother, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my sister, aunts, friends and even my grandmother. I look at the end product and want to do that but I'm nothing but thumbs when it comes to attempting. Luckily, though, I may have found an alternative: Nålbinding!
Nålbinding, or Needle Binding, is something that I just kinda stumbled upon. I was looking through sites on Norse history and mythology and the next thing I knew I was looking at this craft. I love working with my hands(making hemp necklaces and the like are my favorite) so it instantly piqued my interest. I looked through many pages of history and how-to videos and picture instructions before I went running to Grendal with the specifics of making a needle. It was a quick make so I found myself sitting in the living room trying my damnedest to make it work. It took me the better part of the day but I know how to do a simple line(the Oslo stitch apparently). The thing doesn't look too pretty but I can do it! My goal is to make a hat for Grendal(I'll be a dork and post pictures of the progress whenever I get it going), one that should keep him warm during the winter. :) He'll be one step closer to being a viking in his own right.
Links(the ones that helped me):
Nålbinding- Viking history
Bernhard's Nålbinding Site
Another nifty thing I've found myself getting into is the idea of working a loom. This, though, I've been fascinated by for some time. Rather than jumping into working a large one I've decided to stick with an inkle loom. I'll be making belts and what not, but I'd rather have something that small and learn that I don't like than get my hands on a large one and figure that out. :\ The loom will take a little longer for me to get and prepare so I can't go into much detail about that.
I've always thought of myself as a crafty person, but not in that unhanded 'oooo I'm gonna get ya' kind of way. I bake, I cook, draw, write, and make jewelry. What has always escaped me, though, was crocheting and knitting. I know many women who do this: my mother, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my sister, aunts, friends and even my grandmother. I look at the end product and want to do that but I'm nothing but thumbs when it comes to attempting. Luckily, though, I may have found an alternative: Nålbinding!
Nålbinding, or Needle Binding, is something that I just kinda stumbled upon. I was looking through sites on Norse history and mythology and the next thing I knew I was looking at this craft. I love working with my hands(making hemp necklaces and the like are my favorite) so it instantly piqued my interest. I looked through many pages of history and how-to videos and picture instructions before I went running to Grendal with the specifics of making a needle. It was a quick make so I found myself sitting in the living room trying my damnedest to make it work. It took me the better part of the day but I know how to do a simple line(the Oslo stitch apparently). The thing doesn't look too pretty but I can do it! My goal is to make a hat for Grendal(I'll be a dork and post pictures of the progress whenever I get it going), one that should keep him warm during the winter. :) He'll be one step closer to being a viking in his own right.
Links(the ones that helped me):
Nålbinding- Viking history
Bernhard's Nålbinding Site
Another nifty thing I've found myself getting into is the idea of working a loom. This, though, I've been fascinated by for some time. Rather than jumping into working a large one I've decided to stick with an inkle loom. I'll be making belts and what not, but I'd rather have something that small and learn that I don't like than get my hands on a large one and figure that out. :\ The loom will take a little longer for me to get and prepare so I can't go into much detail about that.
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