I like what I see with the Groups!

*phenyxangel — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:34:51 PST

I really like what I see as a member of groups. Now we can go directly to the submissions we see in our watch list and comment and fav. That is a lot nicer. I'm sure the new submission method is going to help the admins too...

So I wonder if I should start one now too I've noticed the DApagan club has been kinda dead and hasn't even been logged into in about 6 weeks. I haven't seen updates there for months. I might try to start a group for witches and pagans on DA. I've thought before about a rosary/prayer bead group for prayer beads of all faiths. I'm trying to be more active on DA again since I need to network as much as I can to sell my creations!

I also plan to get the store portion of my own website updated (as soon as I can remember my admin password doh!) instead of just depending on Etsy for my marketing. I did a poll a while ago about what online venue most would prefer to buy from an artist and the majority was actually the artists own site - so I'll be keeping that in mind as I update - but for now I'm listing on etsy. Working on getting more of my sculpted goddesses online tonight and hopefully some of my necklaces.

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

I have jewelry bits on my computer desk, boxes of misc stuff in front of my altar, bottles of oils and blends everywhere, supplies still in bags from the hobby store. There is so much not working for me in this room that it's hard to pick a place to start. Boxes for moving were packed in a hurry so I didn't get the chance to organize everything in the boxes that I wanted to. Some things I need are in the boxes in the floor - some things I need are still in the garage and it's all packed in with things I wonder why I kept or probably shouldn't still be in my studio space. I don't know if it's just too much stuff or I try to do too much. I'm thankful the Thanksgiving family gathering doesn't take place at my house yet. I'd like to make that possible some time but definitely not this year. I hope to have things cleaned up in time to invite family over during the holidays. I know it won't be Christmas day since I think they all start planning that on the 26th of December the previous year LOL.

On top of all this organization I gotta come up with Christmas presents... hopefully out of supplies I already have - if I can find them! Until I start making more sales I can't afford to shop for anyone.

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

****Friends****

So much work to do...

*phenyxangel — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:20:42 PST

I know I haven't updated here much... well not anywhere really. I tend to hang out on Facebook and play Vampire Wars a little but I fall behind even on that. Working full time really got to me. First at the food delivery job and now at the gas station. Well the gas station didn't really work out. I learned that the signs I should have been paying attention too for the last couple years of my feet getting numb spots and random shots of pain is diabetic neuropathy. I left work each morning in so much pain I could barely walk and no energy and worse insomnia than ever. So yesterday was my last night.

Now it looks like my options are make an income with my art and web design like I've been wanting to do, or go back to newspaper delivery. I know I was trying to save my van and keep it running - but I think it's either my van or me - and I couldn't take it anymore. So while I was contemplating what to do now, I got an email that one of my spirit dolls sold! Is that a coincidence or the universe trying to tell me something?

Now I have all the time to do the things I haven't been able to do in the last couple years. My craft room is so disorganized with half it's components still out in the garage and the other half sitting in boxes in the floor in two rooms. I have a lot of work to do to turn this into a productive workspace, not counting all the cleaning/chores I've fallen behind on. I will need to make a schedule for myself so I don't get distracted. I think I can still let my artistic inspiration take over when it needs to but what I have to schedule are things like time to list items, make use of networking sites, update my own site, and take care of shipping orders - as well as allow myself some personal time. I need a plan...

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

I'm living out of boxes mostly for now but working on that... I have many of my altars set up and some pictures on the wall. I have internet and cable. I just need to get my craft room set up and everything organized. I'm hoping to do most of that between work and sleep this week. When things are more like I want them I might take some photos of my house and post them in my scraps

I have candles on the brain again and need to get more soy wax. I was wondering if anyone is interested in seeing the candles I have photographed for sale. I'm also wondering what most people think of fragrance oils. I try to use essential oils as much as possible especially in any intended for ritual use - but I was browsing a candle supply site and I'm finding some tempting specialty fragrance scents I might like to try for mainstream just for the scent and looks candles... especially some of the chocolate scents!

I really want to start vending at one of the big local flea markets with my more mainstream items. I just have to sell enough each weekend to justify the cost of the booth rental.

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

After I post this and maybe play another round of Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook I will be shutting down both my desktop computers and all peripheral equipment - except my router and cable modem. If I need internet I'll use my laptop until cable is cut off on the 9th. I have to switch cable companies so hopefully I'll be back online soon. Otherwise I'll be only online on my cell phone. We're buying a new house and closing tomorrow morning! WHOOHOO! A house of our own - no more apartment living... move in process begins as soon as we finish with the closing paperwork No more pool or fitness room and restaurants in walking distance - but also no more fighting for parking and dealing with noisy neighbors - and finally be able to have a garden - whether the garden will live is another matter... To finally be able to own a home where I can do what I want like add built in counters in a craft room if I want... to finally have a kitchen that fits more than one person at a time! And maybe even get that kiln I've been wanting! The only problem though is I still have a lot not packed I have too much stuff! At least we have until the 13th to get everything out of the apartment. The other thing I'm not looking forward to - getting up at 8am to go start the paperwork... I am NOT a morning person. At least I've stocked up on Rockstar energy shots for this reason Sorry I haven't updated much - I've been meaning to write this journal since our offer was approved but never got around to it! See everyone when I get my new studio set up!

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Well now that I finally get to see my candle poll I see it's almost evenly divided so far... The majority go for single scents so far and the other two options are almost tied - I selected specialty so if I don't count myself the two scent combo is in second place. The reason I wanted to know is when I vend I put my special blends out there and people ask if I have any in a certain single scent. It's even more frustrating when that happens with my oils. I do custom work - I'm not a reseller for Azure Green or Kheops (though I'm thinking about it). I still want to get a business license so I can open a merchant account and take credit cards online and at events without using Paypal. I've thought about doing some reselling at events since it doesn't seem like I can make what I need just on my original creations most of the time. I guess when it comes to candles I need to make all of the above... my signature lines, common single scents, and neat duos.

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Maybe my ranting finally payed off? Thanks whoever finally took notice!

And Happy Blow Up Day! (USA Independence Day!)

Wow this is seriously Pink..... I need to see if `Lilyas has this in other colors!

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

****Friends****

Still no subscription???

*phenyxangel — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:16:44 PDT

****UPDATE**** still nothing - now 6 days since I wrote this. 11 days since I paid for my non-existant sub. I have been trying to be patient but how long can I go before Paypal won't do anything to recover my money. Tuesday will be exactly two weeks. After that I will file a dispute and start removing items from the gallery of this account. I do have another account with a current subscription. If I have to I'll move everything over there. If you like my work here - follow me over to my second account =PhenyxDesigns it was originally just for my digital art but now I guess it's time to consolidate everything into one account. Yeah I was paying for two subscriptions. Now it'll only be one - if that many.

If my subscription isn't activated by the time I get home from work Monday night I'm filing a dispute through Paypal. I submitted my complaint to the help desk on the 24th. I got a note back that they forwarded it to accounts to investigate the problem. I've heard NOTHING since. I'm still looking at ads - can't use my features, and minus $7.95 in my Paypal account.
I've been a member and subscriber for 4 years. Now they can't get their shit straight? If that's the case I no longer have any use for DA.

I love my friends here but I am online many places besides DA.
Myspace - [link] and [link]
Facebook - [link]
Twitter - [link]
Blogger - [link]
Etsy - [link]
Artfire - [link]

and of course my website [link]

Irritated

*phenyxangel — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:53:43 PDT

I paid for my subscription this morning around 3am. I made a new poll shortly after. I check this afternoon and I have ads all over my pages and no poll - no subscriber features. WTF? I lodged a complaint with helpdesk. I want my sub or my $7.95 back in my Paypal. I know it takes longer with bank transfers but this wasn't a bank transfer - it was from my balance so it was an immediate transfer. They better resolve this soon or no more subs from me and I mean it.

Where am I?

*phenyxangel — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:06:45 PDT

There I go losing myself on the internet again! I've been too wrapped up in Facebook and some of my other networking sites and forgot all about DA! I'm still here and alive. My big thing lately has been rune engraving again. I have several sets available and I'm working on listing them online - first on Artfire [link] and later on Etsy [link]

I do need to go through my flower photos from the botanical gardens and post some and maybe a couple from the Georgia Renaissance festival... yeah I'm behind.... Maybe I'll get things posted before September's beach trip... come to think of it I may still have a few of those from last year I need to post.... ooops...

I'll post the new runes if anyone wants to see them...

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

My GalleryÂ Â Â Â Â Â My PrintsÂ Â Â Â Â Â Note MeÂ Â Â Â Â Â Watch Me

I just created a poll about which sales venue people prefer. I've had sales on Etsy but most people on Etsy are other artists who don't always have a tendency to buy other people's art. I'm guilty too - but I do have some favorites I might go for someday... Etsy needs to work on attracting the people who buy handmade that don't necessarily make handmade. I'm thinking about Ebay again but I need to list higher than I have in the past. I've made sales but lost my profit to the fees because I listed low hoping for bids and not wanting to pay too big fees up front. Ebay's fees can bite you in the rear if you don't sell thousands of high dollar items a month. I haven't really had time to make use of my artfire account and I'm afraid it might have the same issues Etsy has with getting the non artists on board. I do use my own sites but sometimes that's not as easy to update and without buying ads everywhere it doesn't get as much traffic. I'd love to get some of my not so one of a kind things like my oil blends, runes, candles, bath salts.... into azure green or something, but I have a feeling I wouldn't have much of a profit that way either - besides I have no idea how a small time independent pagan crafter goes about getting the big pagan resellers to notice her work.

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Whoops....

*phenyxangel — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:43:31 PDT

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I didn't mean to ignore DA... well not totally ignoring it. I have glanced at it some on my iPod - but on the mobile version of DA I can't submit work, new journals, or comment on journals. I'm so behind. I've been focusing on my etsy shop and hooked on Facebook. Between DA, Facebook, Twitter, Live Journal, Ning, Etsy, Myspace, Blogger... I'm on too many sites... I have ignored accounts on Redbubble and My Art Plot as well... That's what I get for having too many interests and trying to market my creations. At the moment I'm trying to gather my clothes, my cameras and my brains and wind down so I can sleep before making a 3-4 hour drive to Atlanta. I'm pretty much at the point where I'm just editing photos of my jewelry until I get sleepy. I've taken new photos of most of my creations - mainly for posting on Etsy. I'm pretty happy with what I've done. So I may be posting new jewelry photos soon - though most of it's not new jewelry.

I have plans for a couple major investments. After I pay off the recent bodywork on my van, I plan to save for a kiln. I want to get into fused glass and maybe ceramics. I'd like to try precious metal clay but I need to make sure I have the right kiln that will do both glass and PMC if I do... The next thing will be a new lens for my Nikon. I'm drooling over a nice zoom lens that could pretty much replace the basic default lens I'm using now. It has the same minimum range and a lot more zoom. Only thing is it runs for about $700.... Of course I still want a Mac Pro and a Macbook pro too and an updated version of Aperture.... So many things - so little cash.... A couple months ago I was able to save for an iPod touch (which I don't leave home without) and new PC guts in a couple weeks time. This month I've barely come up with the money to eat and drink a bit this weekend. Spring is a beautiful season and all but when it comes to my "day" job... I HATE SPRING. The weather gets too nice and people stop ordering food. I can't wait until it hits 100 degrees F on a daily basis - yes I'll be boiling and running my A/C in the van, but that's when people start ordering out again.... that and when it's in the 30's during winter. So yeah I guess I'm hoping for a hot summer so I can come up with the money I need for the next steps in my art. That and it makes getting in the pool that much nicer

Oh yeah I still have plenty of spring flower photos to post... and for now on I'm not taking any chances - everything gets watermarked... especially if I plan to upload it on Myspace... so that takes some extra time. I do think I will try to upload some jewelry pics before I shut down the iMac for the weekend.

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I think I'm getting an idea of what I want to do now. I'm keeping my etsy site the same since I've made sales and establishing a bit of a reputation - no sense in opening a new one under a new name. Studio Nocturna will be the name of my studio whether it's a rental space at the Lowe Mill Arts Collective, or the spare bedroom in my apartment. It covers all my art including jewelry, art dolls, sculptures, drawings, paintings, photography, and digital art. Luna Rose Creations will be my "brand" found on my oil blends, candles, bath salts, herbal blends and other related items... Phenyx Designs will remain my freelance web design business. The Phoenix and The Griffin - a name I came up with because my totem spirit is a phoenix and hubby's is a griffin - is now the name of my retail store online (website coming soon) and if I ever get a brick and mortar store and will be the sign on my tent at festivals. That way I can sell my creations, any retail items when I get my business license, and the crafts of friends and family who want to share space with me (hint hint ~aragornsparrow ) including hubby's music - if he ever finishes a CD - and any woodwork he might do.

Right now I'm working on a new idea with my oil blends. I will still have ritual blends available for fellow witches, but I want to make some mainstream for average folks. I want to make my oil blends as perfume oils to wear or put in an oil burner - which means dropping the herbs and crystals maybe... I'm going to keep names like Faerie Blessings and Angel and have it so people that don't practice ritual magick can wear my scents to lift their spirits while still attracting positive energies. I'm still working on my new names. The labels will say Luna Rose Creations Perfume Oils instead of ritual or magickal oils. I just ordered some new bottles that have roll on tops as well for this purpose I want my work to benefit everyone - not just witches. Someone like my mom won't be doing spell work but if she wears a scent that lifts her vibes and brings her positive energies while she's just enjoying the scent then that still helps her.

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Focus

*phenyxangel — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:40:32 PDT

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

Ugh my inspiration is pulling me in so many different directions. For one there's the voodoo shops like voodooauthentica.com that inspired me - first with the spirit dolls then seeing how many other hand made ritual tools they sell. While my path is only partly vodou inspired, I do love the way they do things. So I make spirit dolls to represent deities and also for spell use. I make ritual jewelry and prayer beads using the energy of the gemstones. I also make runes an pendulums for divination. I make oil and herbal blends, bath salts, soaps, and natural candles for ritual work. If I had a brick and mortar store I'd have witch shoppe based mainly around my hand made ritual tools. I also enjoy photography, painting, and drawing. I use my spiritual inspirations in my drawings. My photography is mainly focused on nature. Then there's the fractal art too... So I guess my multiple art forms and creations fit well at a renaissance festivals and new age events and pagan pride days (if anyone still did pagan pride around here) but I notice at craft shows and on etsy people build their business around a certain art form - like at the latest craft show I went to there were beaded jewelry makers, wood carvers, potters, metalworkers, candle makers, soap and bath/beauty product makers, gourd artists, wind chime makers, toy makers, purse makers, a couple artisans who worked totally with dichroic glass - everyone had a specialty. It seemed like there would be no way you'd see a jewelry maker with framed photo prints or hand made candles for sale. I sometimes wonder if my table at the artist market has too much to look at. I get bored doing just one thing all the time, but I wonder if I should just focus on one artform - maybe two where something overlaps - like maybe my spirit and goddess pendants and beaded jewelry.... or start a couple different webstores/sites for my different creations... like one for jewelry and spirit art and prayer beads, one for candles, oils, soaps, etc... something more mainstream for my digital art? When I do that I start to feel like I have multiple personalities LOL... I'm just not sure where to go from here - some input and opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

It seems if I want to ink my drawings and work with watercolor pencils I need a fine point drawing pen with water proof ink... do they exist? I could continue to do the watercolors without inked lines but I'm really used to inking my lines...

I got this nice heavy weight 4x6 inch watercolor pad - so I've moved up from ACEO dragons to 4x6 dragons - allows more room for a little detail
So with more detail comes scaly dragons? I'm trying scales on the one I'm working on now... I'm undecided about scales on dragons. My favorite author Anne McCaffrey envisions her dragons with smooth hides a lot like horses. Scales can be a lot of work, though a book I have on drawing dragons shows a quicker method - I used to draw every scale.... on bigger drawings!

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

****Friends****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I've just added two albums to my Picasa Web Gallery [link] of photos I took on my first trip to New Orleans in June of 2007[link] and my last trip New Years Eve 2007/2008 [link] - I still need to find my photos from my September 07 trip there. I remember I didn't take as many that time though.

My Panama City and Georgia Renaissance Festival photos from last year are posted in that gallery too Oh yeah I need to upload the Alabama Renaissance Festival photos... I'll get right on that then go to bed

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

****Friends****

I want a vacation!!!!

*phenyxangel — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:10:40 PST

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I'm having New Orleans withdrawls and I wouldn't mind going back to Panama City Beach again... It would be awesome to take at least a week and spend a few days in Panama City then head west a bit and go to New Orleans. I haven't been to NOLA in over a year after previously going 3 times in one year - it's gotten in my blood and I need to go back! No not during Mardi Gras... while that would be fun it's also too crowded and everyone raises their prices way high... I like traveling during the off seasons when we can quietly enjoy our destinations (at least quietly until we step into The Dungeon to dance for a few LOL) Of course traveling requires money - but I'd like to go sometime while it's not too hot. Maybe May-ish?

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

****Friends****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

It's a good thing I do most of my work these days on my Mac... I've been hearing strange hums from my PC lately - I thought maybe it was a fan going out or something - though a part of me dreaded the idea it might be a hard drive - so I had already been transferring files from my PC to my Mac as a quickie back up...

So now I get home and try to do stuff on my PC - it's acting really wierd... I try to click on a link in fire fox on ANY site and it just sits there. I open up Internet Explorer and it won't connect to any sites. I knew my internet connection was up because I was browsing fine on the Mac. I rebooted - or attempted to reboot - it would keep locking up on the XP loading screen - Oh Crap.... So I decided to try out the copy of Vista a friend gave me.... it's installed and running but at one point it tried to tell me it couldn't find the disk (the hard drive) OH CRAP. Right now it's booted into Vista and I'm frantically burning back ups of anything I have left on the main Hard drive. I'll probably have to re-install using my secondary drive which I HOPE is more reliable - but right now that's packed full of back ups too...

I see one thing I'm liking about Vista at the moment... it has an aspect that OS X on the Mac has had for a while - we can finally burn DVD's right from a folder window without having to load third party software like Nero. If the current instance runs long enough to burn years and years worth of files to DVD then maybe I'll do a clean install of Vista and maybe even put Linux on as secondary operating system. I've been needing to clean up my files - but the death of a hard drive is not my preferred motivator... argh.... I really need to organize my files though. I'm always so afraid of losing data I might need I have so many copies of the same files everywhere. Between my internal hard drive and an external I have almost a whole Terabyte used up - that's 1000 gigabytes on my Mac.... how did I fill all that up? Something I need to look into - something else that takes time I don't really have. Yuck. Though it's either that or keep buying more external drives to stack up on my systems... that's pointless if I can consolidate my files and get rid of files I don't use anymore and the duplicates. My data is as much of a mess as my craft room - maybe even worse - eek....

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I've been making lotions and bath salts tonight so I have essential oils all over me... too bad even essential oils drive my sinuses crazy. Every time I work with them to make blends, candles, soaps, salts, or lotions they get to my sinuses - ugh... but it still smells nice LOL.

I got a few love themed items since it's time to get Valentines day on the mind
I've just made "Romance" "Sleep" and "Energize" body lotions, and Blessing, Stress Relief, Relaxing, Romance, Love Spell #2, and Love and Luck bath salts.

I've also found my old oil list of the oil blends I've made before and their uses.... I got some on there I need to re-make and I need to update and add some new ones - but I think it'll be good to have out on my table for now...

I've also been kinda lazy for years when it comes to these divination stones I've made... I have a few sets based on symbols and meanings in DJ Conway's Oak Ash and Thorn. I haven't posted them for sale anywhere because I have been to lazy to type up the meanings that I've been keeping in my BOS. I'm also not sure about it because I may need to try to write DJ Conway and see if I would be allowed to market them. I've changed up the look of the symbols a little but it's still the same basic symbolism and meanings... I love the concept but I want to do the right thing as far as copyrights go...

So now I'm about to label my new salts - and even take photos for my online shops... and get everything packed up for the artist market tomorrow.

Oh and I'm trying to come up with a name for a potential Wicca Shoppe - Studio Nocturna is mostly just me and my artwork - Luna Rose Creations is my metaphysical creations - if I ever get to open a real shoppe (even if it's a space at the Lowe Mill Arts Collective - The Flying Monkey is part of that) I would like to get my retail business license and start carrying items from pagan wholesalers to supplement my own creations.

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

I'm thinking about starting a club

*phenyxangel — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:31:29 PST

****My Sites****
Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I've never tried to run a club.... but I want to dedicate one to rosaries and other prayer beads. I'm thinking I might include people who create art using rosaries (as in conceptual photographs etc) as well as rosary makers. Either that or a club for spiritual art in general....

Oh and I'm really liking the new profile layout thing! You gotta be a subscribed beta-tester right now to play with it - but it's pretty nifty. I just wish they'd let us but a block where we could promote our etsy minis and artfire windows.

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

****Friends****

Artfire Shop
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

So there's another artisan selling/community comparable to Etsy. It's called Art Fire. I figured I'd sign up and try it out - they claim to be working on a big time advertising campaign online and in magazines. I guess it can't hurt to try something new. I'll start with listing items I haven't yet listed on Etsy. So far I only have Red Phoenix on there but more coming soon... [link]

Anyone else heard of it? Think it's got a chance? I didn't really think Etsy would do much when it started up either, but I've made sales there - probably more than I ever have on Ebay - and it's practically a household name among artists and even some non-artists now...

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

****Friends****

Ah Christmess is over...

*phenyxangel — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:35:32 PST

****My Sites****
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

No offense to anyone - my little pun is not intended to put down Christ or Christmas - it's actually an invention of my husband's in reference to the mess made by scattered decorations, projects, and running around trying to figure out which family we visit when and did we get or make something for everyone.... whew.... I love this time of year - decorating and decorations, sites and sounds and being with family... I enjoy making things for those I love and seeing the looks on their faces if they like what I gave them... I enjoy that more than unwrapping my own gifts... But it does make for busy days where I don't have time to accomplish much else.

Now that it's all over it's time to look to a new year with an organized home - I hope. I'm going to try to dedicate more time to better organizing my craft space. I posted a photo of my workspace a while back on my other account I don't use anymore - I swear it has become the most popular thing in my gallery It was a mess then with a jumble of small desks for each computer and very little crafting table space. All crammed into a 7' x 10' dining room. Now in this apartment we transferred too in March I have a 13' x 17' spare bedroom with it's own closet and it's still clutter central. I also have a nice big computer desk, and more work tables. Yet I barely have room to do anything. Since my craft and art is spiritual I also have my altar room in here - but even my altars look fairly cluttered compared to the lovely well organized ones I've seen in other witches' homes. I showed my mom a video of one I found on YouTube tonight and she was even impressed - my spirituality doesn't mean anything to her but she can appreciate a well organized space - this person had a nice neat altar with space for tools and supplies underneath and next to it was a book shelf with several jars of herbs all labeled and in the same size jars and their spiritual books and wow... It's frustrating to me because I end up buying new crafting supplies because I lose things in the pile, my energy feels cluttered - I can't do any work creative, spiritual, or both in this space and I look at it and run to stick my nose in a book in another room.... I am an eclectic mess... ugh... but I'm determined to get things more presentable and practical... even though I have a kitten who likes to shred whatever he gets his claws on...2009 is the year of organization for me (I hope!)

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Thank you! and Winter Solstice Blessings....

*phenyxangel — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:36:19 PST

****My Sites****
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I just glanced at my page tonight and noticed the word subscribed next to my name... and after a few minutes of scratching my head trying to remember if I had bought one recently or not I checked my email and found bought my subscription! I was working on some other priorities and DA wasn't that high on the list right now. Thank you so much for this gift Now that I can use thumbnails again I'll feature works from both her accounts and I really love her vial amulets!

Blessed Yule to you Sorianna and to all my pagan friends, Merry Christmas and Warm Winter Wishes to my not so pagan friends

I still have a few more gifts to wrap before Christmas Eve and yikes still one to make... and I'm still not sure about the schedule of things between branches of hubby's side of the family for Christmas day... I know we're supposed to be in Harvest at 1:30pm... I have gifts for people on both sides and I want to make sure everyone gets them! eek... I also want to bake something I got a recipe for and would like to share with everyone else - which means gathering ingredients and making time to bake sometime in the wee hours after work...double eek... where did the year go???

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

I give up...

*phenyxangel — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:10:00 PST

... on trying to get organized before the holidays... I still have presents to work on and a full time job and less than a week and a half until Christmas. EEEEK! There's a special sculpture I want to make Debra and I haven't even started it... and I still need to make my mom's gift, and some candles for Aunt Miriam... Where the heck did December go?

I got some decorations up. The base for my tree has gone missing and my other tree is too big for my apartment - at least until I have the dining room organized - which obviously isn't going to happen this year. So I have my little fiber optic tree and my wreaths and yule log and I put up lights on my patio and inside around the patio door. At this point I'll have to be happy with that... it's not like anyone's gonna come over and see it. No one ever does during the Christmas season... except last year I got Chrissy and Matt and their children out here - but now they moved away to Texas the day after Thanksgiving I guess I do it mostly for me anyways - to get a little seasonal spirit in my home. There was soo much I wanted to do for the season like make yule goodies and have friends and family over... ugh... maybe next year. I'm hoping next year won't pass me by as quickly...

Studionocturna.etsy.com

Spirituality

*phenyxangel — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:52:15 PST

Phooey - why does my subscription always go when I have other financial priorities? And I had just gotten my stamps the way I wanted them

I've gone and sparked my fascination with rosaries again. I recently made a traditional one for someone very special to me and I suddenly found myself digging through my remaining crucifixes and centers wanting to make more. The healing one I made for victims and survivors of breast cancer is going to be sold to a fellow artist at the artist market - as a gift for her sister who is going through breast cancer now. My traditional rosaries have been catching attention on my table at the market. It's not just business for me though. I find them beautiful and a great meditation tool. I also love Mary - to me she and her many faces/incarnations are symbols of the Goddess hidden in plain sight in the Catholic faith. I had a particular attraction to Mary as a goddess just after my Grandmother passed away and I inherited her rosaries, books, and a few other religious items. She was Catholic but believed in psychics, herbal healing, and reincarnation. Images of Mary would jump out at me at times - yet I also had a sense of Isis syncretising with these same images.
I started my pagan journey considering myself a "ChristoPagan." I even still run a site called Christopagan.net. To me a Christo-pagan is an eclectic pagan who includes the Christian pantheon in one form or another... and yes I said pantheon. It all depends on how you look at it. To me there's Sophia (Wisdom), Mary, Mary Magdalen (and I do believe it's possible she married Jesus), Father God, Holy Spirit(Mother Goddess), and Jesus. My views are mostly Gnostic - Sophia was the first Goddess I was ever drawn to. When I first acknowledged the Goddess I felt such a warm spiritual "hug" as if she was saying thank you for finally finding me. Even though I still have the website I kind of took the Christo part out of my label for my path because I didn't like being associated with the hateful "christians" that dominate the Bible Belt area I live in and the news. My beliefs are still the same - well evolved some more but only in addition to what I believed at the beginning. I've picked up some Vodou influence to my spirituality now - which only adds to my fascination with Catholic symbols since many vodou (and Santeria) practitioners would use Catholic saints and images to represent the Lwa and Orisha spirits. They would go to church and be good Catholics and serve the Spirits - yet never feel they were practicing two different religions.
While I still call myself a Pagan or a Wiccan when I want to give someone a quick explanation of why I do goddess art, ritual crafts, and jewelry with pentacles, I've really given up on labeling my spirituality. I'm just plain eclectic and for traditionalists that don't like it - too bad. I believe in a great Creator - whether it's a He or She or both or neither or even a pair of supreme beings - I believe the Creator created a continuously evolving universe and all planes of existence. I believe what we(pagans) usually call gods are spirits and/or ascended beings that are here to help us on this journey called life - same with the Angels. Orishas and Lwa are spirits/forces of nature on the same plane of existence as angels and gods... this is only my belief and is not meant to step on the toes of people of other religions. It's just how I see things. I feel that religions are made for humans as a tool to commune with the divine in the way each of us feels most drawn. I do believe we all worship the same Great Spirit - we just give it different names and titles. I love experiencing rituals of different traditions. I've been a pentacostal. I've been to a Mormon church, a non-denominational church, many pagan ceremonies, and a vodou ceremony. I'm thinking about asking my husband's grandmother and aunt if I could go with them to Midnight mass for Christmas - I've never been to a Catholic service. I'm going to an eclectic pagan Yule ceremony this weekend (yes I know it's early). The Artist Market I vend at has a special Solstice Market which is extended plus has a celebration of the season which sounds very interfaith. Yes this the season for celebrating the Divine!

WAAAAY too many stamps!

*phenyxangel — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:41:37 PST

****My Sites****
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

Holidays

*phenyxangel — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:47:04 PST

****My Sites****
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I actually love the Christmas/Yule season... it's so beautiful - yes the trees go dormant and the flowers die until spring - but between all the great decorations - and even some crazy ones - and the beauty that still remains in nature when it's dormant... yes I can find beauty and wonder in the cold and dark.

I have a few new projects I'm working on - candles, dolls, jewelry, ritual kits - I need to get going on working on the gift sets I have in mind before it's too late. And kick myself into gear about posting stuff on my Etsy Shop. I'm dealing with some frustration because I don't seem to have enough time - or money to do everything I want. I have new blends I want to do and I find I'm out of a certain oil - or that I'm out of vials and can't bottle my Yule Spice blend I just made a new batch of.

At least there's no vet bills or computer or car repairs this month (knock on wood or something). It just seems that when I need something my money has go to necessities like gas and food. It's still been slow at work even though gas is lower and it's starting to get pretty cold. Usually people order out when they don't want to get out in the cold. I'm not sure what I want to do about my job now - if I try to go somewhere else I might lose the schedule flexibility I have that allows me to vend at festivals and the Artist Market. I really want to be a full time artist but I need the sales to support that desire... but is it possible I'm not getting the sales because I don't have as much time as I really need to devote to it? I probably need to do my best to work with the supplies I have and not go out buying new supplies until I sell something I have - instead of using my regular income to buy art supplies.

The only thing I really dread about the holidays is upcoming family gatherings. At least with my family the conversation is usually likely to stick to anything but religion and politics...usually computers, music, movies, art, business ideas... I feel alone at my in-laws because even though in private my husband tends to agree with me he'll act like he agrees with everyone else to attempt to keep the peace. I'm the type of person who cannot bear to let someone repeat a lie they believe about something without presenting evidence that it is a lie if I know it. Most other gatherings - even ones with the cousins we can usually talk about plenty of other things... but certain ones I go to they're usually watching Fox Noise and have to repeat the political propaganda they hear or have very closed minded religious discussions - I feel intentionally when they know I'm around... If it happens this time I may end up on a long walk alone with my iPod.

One thing I want to keep straight - I don't care if you're a Christian or not. Just don't be preaching Hate and Fear because I do not believe that is what Jesus was trying to teach. I have my own feelings on Jesus, Mary, Sophia, Mary Magdelen, the Holy Spirit... they don't always mesh with mainstream Christianity. But I support anyone who follows a path of Love - no matter what you call your god or goddess... or even if you don't have any deity - Humanists also follow a path of Love - doing the right thing just because it's right and not because a religion tells them so... Religions are made for humans as a tool to connect with The Source. If the best way for you to connect with the Source is to be a Christian, a Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Pagan, New Age, Shinto, or any other religion or no religion at all then that's the path for you to follow... but don't preach hatred towards other people who are not like you. Respect all, Love all, and I will do the same.

****************

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Just a stamp update :)

*phenyxangel — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:07:16 PST

****My Sites****
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I'll throw some random features in too

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

Well it's now Halloween.... In Wiccan traditions tonight is when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is the thinest and we are likely to be able to communicate with our ancestors and loved ones who have passed from this world. Since I'll be spending most of the day (until 8pm) working and I'm not involved with any coven I'll probably light my altars and leave offerings of treats and something nice to drink on my ancestor altar - maybe have Heather and Debra over and watch Nightmare Before Christmas again or something.

I think I need to keep my TV on something neutral like HGTV or Food Network or History Channel or something until after Nov 4th because the negativity surrounding the elections is just getting to be too much. I've kind of gotten the message that I need to cut down on the negativity in my life - and the news is a big part of it. I'm happy when my candidate speaks but when the the other comes on and starts firing off negative bashing - it's not so good for my blood pressure or my spiritual energy So no more CNN until Nov 4 - and probably limited even after since I'm sure whoever wins there'll still be griping and bashing well on up to inauguration day.

I found pre-cut art card size canvases in illustration board, watercolor paper, and acrylic canvas paper. Whoo hoo! These little cards are neat and a good way to get me in practice drawing - and maybe even practicing with mediums that I'm not so used to without worrying about messing up more expensive canvas.

I've started a virtual ACEO Collection just now since I'm becoming obsessed - These are my new favorites from a quick search - mostly halloween related

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

So it seems there's a trend involving tiny artworks both originals and prints on 2.5 inch X 3.5 inch size cards. I'm starting to be fascinated by this trend and printed out my favorite recent fractals (as seen on my digital art account *PhenyxDesigns in that size and I did 5 drawings in chalk pastel in that size - which I'll post later when the fixative dries. Now I need to figure out where to get the little plastic card protectors... Wal-Mart didn't have any so I'll have to try Michael's or maybe Hobby Lobby before work... hopefully they'll have them.

I've also been working on other ideas... One came to me after the renaissance festival.... gemstone dangles for clipping into the hair, and in a related idea ... shaman feathers... a name I picked up from someone's description on ebay... ok *Sphinx47 had the idea first when she made me her version for a rave a while back. I had done something similar and added them to a ceremonial crown I made. And I now make them on hair clips. My version has complementary colored feathers and beads and added charms. I'll be taking the photo of the "Earth Shaman" set I made the other night soon... Also tonight I was playing with my acrylic paints and painted spirit images on clear glass pebble shaped gems and coated them with a protective glaze. I'm just getting all these ideas and feeling the need to create! I just hope I find buyers for these new things because I don't know where I'd put all these creations! LOL - I do seriously need to sell some dolls before I make too many more... the shelf where I keep them is quite full!

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I had a lot of fun this weekend at the Alabama Renaissance Festival. It's just a small one with vendors, belly dancers, sword fighting demos, musicians, and a royal coronation... But there's something about getting out of your usual space that brings inspiration. I have a goal to be ready to vend at next year's festival. I really have to get organized though. I need to clean up my own space to have more room to work and less cluttered energy. I think that's another reason I get all my ideas when I'm not in my apartment. My energy here is too cluttered. I have a hard time finding time to both organize and create. So I need to work and save money, create, get a tent, and a couple more portable tables, and create things to bring to next year's festival. I'm going to work with my husband's cousin and our good friend Debra to have the inventory to do so. I'm also wanting to look into other events within driving distance of Huntsville, AL that we can vend at. I don't know if they'd go with me to any pagan events - but I want to do renaissance festivals and craft shows... I'd love to go to Pagan Pride again someday if there is ever a well organized one within reasonable driving distance. That's actually where I got my start. I shared a booth with a former friend and had a couple of my pagan goddess necklaces out along with some used books I wanted to sell. I brought my beads and started making earrings while I was there and a few times I had people show up at my table who totally matched my creations. The first was a pair of earrings with cat head shaped beads and ankh charms - a few minutes after I finished them - a woman wearing costume cat ears (it wasn't near halloween yet either) who loved egyptian stuff came to my table. The other I remember was a combination of little dragon charms and blood stone - and then a woman who was crazy about dragons and loved bloodstone.... I've been making jewelry ever since then and I've been constantly inspired to keep creating. I'm not sure if this will ever become my main source of income - though I would like it to be - but I've had plenty of signs in my life that this is what I need to do. I have branched out a bit since those days. I now do jewelry, spirit dolls, spirit bottles, candles, oil blends, digital art, some spirit drawings, engraved runes, pendulums, and anything else I'm inspired to pick up and try. I have thought about doing things like wishing boxes and/or portable shrines. I have a lot of new ideas after going to the festival. I watched a lot of belly dancers and I'd love to do belly dancer inspired jewelry. I'd also like to get back into doing some more celtic creations. But first, I need to get some sleep - then I need to work on this mess I currently call a workspace... then I'll get to creating again!

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

sick of the negativity

*phenyxangel — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:10:33 PDT

****My Sites****
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I've decided to put the "Just for Today" affirmation taught to Reiki practitioners back in my journal. I think if everyone lived by these affirmations it would be a more peaceful world. I'm so sick of the negativity politics is bringing out in people. I'm reading certain journals and it really makes me sad. I've made my choice of who I support... based on his own words and his stand on the issues. It ties my stomach in knots dealing with people who support the other person when they repeat lies passed around. I just want this election cycle to be over. I hope the one I support wins... but I put the desire out there to the spirits and the angels that whichever one gets elected they will do the job with fairness, good judgement, and a focus on peace.

Just for today...
...I will not Worry
...I will not be Angry
...I will do my Work Honestly
...I will give Thanks for my Many Blessings
...I will be Kind to my Neighbor and ALL Living Things

****Clubs****

****Friends****

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

I took Merlin back to the vet to get the staples out of his leg. I also realized he's about that age to get neutered - I'd really rather catch that before he decides to start spraying everywhere.... so I'm going to get that done as well... So he's staying at the vet for 2 nights. My poor baby... My older cat is probably thinking "Oh goody you got rid of the brat" She'll have an unpleasant surprise Wednesday when he comes home then...

My older kitty Swiftclaw really hasn't seen the vet as often as she should... she hasn't had vaccines in about 9 years (she's 10) and I haven't tried to take her to the vet again since she got violent 8 years ago. I was concerned about what looked like blood in her urine at one point and I took her to the vet and she turned totally evil. She can be totally loving to me and my husband but hates strangers - on top of being in a strange place....

So I really didn't realize how expensive caring for a kitten can be - ACK - and at a time when economic worries are hitting everyone so people aren't spending money even on ordering food for delivery and gas prices are higher...

I still love the little furball and I don't regret adopting him - but ouch. Hopefully things will pick up next month - maybe people will forget the economic worries long enough to start spending on the holidays? I hope ... I hope... I hope...

Yes I believe in Hope and Change (maybe even some spare change )

****Clubs****

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

Well I worked for a whole 2 hours - they booted lunch shift pretty early today. I made $19 in tips - not too bad for two hours I guess though I wonder if I should have just taken the whole day off after all. I met up with my family to go out to dinner. I was craving German and since mom didn't have time to cook we went for the next best thing and ate at Old Heidelburg Cafe. It was almost as good as mom's but I think she tends to put more pickle and spices and a bit less onion in her rouladden. I also kind of know one of the waitresses there - she bought some of my oil blends from me at the artist market. The meal was good but my brother didn't watch what he was doing and knocked my mom's glass of wine down - all over me and I was wearing one of my favorite blouses - at least it was purple - but it got in my face and on my glasses as well and my blouse and jeans. My brother really needs to pay more attention to what he's doing

Right now I'm cracking up watching Larry King and deciding what kind of art I want to do or if I should just go to bed. I do have a long workday tomorrow - ugh... I want to do another doll but not sure what theme or spirit I should do... I think I'm starting to repeat myself with elementals and seasonal spirits and love goddesses... any one have any suggestions? This isn't a request for commissions orders - just need new inspiration.... I know we all need money and many are looking for love or honor love spirits. I've done a couple forest gods and ocean goddesses, many variations of Mother Earth. I'm thinking a Brighid might be nice and Freya - two of my favorite goddesses... I do need to spend some more time listing my creations on Etsy. I have enough stuff to fill a 6 foot table and then some that I don't carry to the Artist Market yet I only have 19 items listed on Etsy. I think I need to get to work on my store...

****Clubs****

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
****Clubs****

****Friends****

****My Sites****
Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
****Clubs****

****Friends****

...

Getting Political

*phenyxangel — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:15:20 PDT

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
***************

I apologize to my non-USA watchers for this but I'm frustrated with the lies that are still being passed around in connection to the presidential election. I try not to get political here because this blog is about the art and I have people of many different backgrounds, persuasions and many who don't even live in the USA. DA is actually the most international community online that I have ever been an active part of and I find that pretty fascinating.
But I can't stand the lies being thrown around. Yes I support Barack Obama. His issues are the closest of any candidate to my beliefs. I refuse to support any lies about any of the candidates - there's one specific about Gov. Palin firing a librarian for not banning books... I know from my research that she did inquire about banning books - which is scary enough - but she never fired anyone for not doing it. I really can't stand her and don't agree with any of her issues - She stands for the opposite of everything Hillary Clinton fought for all these years, so I really can't see what makes anyone think Clinton supporters should turn to her. How stupid do they think women are?

As far as the lies about Obama, his campaign has it's own site to debunk the lies - Fight the Fears

There's also tons of articles on Snopes - [link]

Most importantly - [link] - debunking crazy claims that he's a secret "radical muslim" or even muslim at all (as if his religion should matter anyways)

*****I seriously feel that whether you agree with me in supporting Obama or you support McCain or a 3rd party candidate, please do so because you agree with that candidate's issues and platform and NOT because of lies spread on the internet or anywhere else. Do your research first.*****

To be fair I'm adding Snopes's listings for McCain, and Palin as well...

[link] McCain
[link] Palin

Interesting that those two lists are no where near as long...

Ritual Oil Blends

*phenyxangel — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:14:57 PDT

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
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***************

I'm getting ready to re-launch my ritual oils. I finally found the notebook where I wrote down my original blends and now I've decided on a new label. I originally used "Luna Rose Creations" with an older version of my logo of my goddess design on a pentacle. It seemed that logo was not going over well at a new age festival I was vending at. For the last year or so I have been using my winged goddess design with two crescent moons and a spiral. I can thank my mom for coming up with that modification to my logo! I recently labeled my oils as "Studio Nocturna Oil Blends" because I've been selling my creations under my Studio Nocturna website. I finally decided on Magickal Oils by Luna Rose since Luna Rose Nocturna is my craft name and Studio Nocturna is the name of my site and online shoppe.

I'm also re-vamping some of my recipes and the way I make them. I now only make my oils in small batches instead of trying to create large master bottles full. This also means I end up using a larger percentage of essential oils vs. carrier oil. I now blend primarily with sweet almond oil as a carrier - in the past I used safflower oil - a good light base but it didn't hold the scent as long. I sometimes use Jojoba or a blend of Jojoba and Almond. I'm also adding herbs, resins, and crystals in each bottle in many of my blends, not just the master batch. This means I might no longer be offering my oils in a 1 dram size, except for the ones I already have prepared. I'm planning to order new bottles soon in half ounce and 2 dram sizes.
The half ounce will look similar to this, which I poured into a recycled cobalt blue 1/3 ounce bottle. Only I've decided to go with the clear rounds though I could get blue or amber.

I currently have tall narrow 2 dram bottles... which aren't too bad but are harder to work with when adding certain herbs and resins. The dealer I'm ordering from has short wide 2 dram bottles which I have ordered before and while it wasn't what I was expecting at the time, the wide style works out much better for my current plans.

Blends I have currently available are
Queen of Heaven - a goddess scent based in myrrh, sandalwood, frankincense, rose and a hint of camphor.

Full Moon - recently re-created with a new recipe involving myrrh, lavender and anise with moonstone crystals.

Money- has several parts but includes patchouli, cinnamon, tonka, High John, and basil. Newer blends will also include peridot and aventurine gemstones and Job's tears.

Love - a mostly floral mix with some patchouli and dragons blood as well as tonka for attraction. Each vial has rose quartz and rose petals.

Fiery Wall of Protection- a traditional recipe often used in hoodoo rituals. A bit of a spicy blend with dragon's blood and myrhh.

Angel- a light spiritual and somewhat floral blend

Peace - a Eucalyptus and Lavender blend - it's magickal properties are good for healing and peace, but it's aroma also seems to help the sinuses!

Holy Healing - sandalwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, chamomile, hyssop

Fast Luck - a traditional hoodoo recipe for Red Fast Luck - a blend of vanilla, wintergreen and cinnamon.

Attraction - this one started out as a variation on Love oil but with more oils meant for attraction and a somewhat sweeter floral scent.

I live in the wrong town

*phenyxangel — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:39:08 PDT

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot
***************

I finally had the chance to check out a local pagan shop I've never been to and talk to the owner about consignment. Her hours are much more daytime oriented than mine and usually open while I'm at work. I might be able to sell some of my jewelry and/or my smaller spell dolls there - maybe display one or two of my medium to larger spirit doll creations. But the reality of it is kinda sad. I've gotten into candle making as well and what pagan doesn't like candles? But in this area quality, craftsmanship, and natural materials doesn't matter unless it's cheap. Yeah you can get a votive sized container candle at Wal-Mart for a dollar... made with low quality petroleum based pariffin wax and cheap fragrance oils - mass produced in china... I can't get my votive containers for less than 50 cents and the ones I have currently were 99cents plus palm or soy wax and essential oils and only made in small batches... I might be charging too little at $3.00 and $7.00 for the 8oz Jelly jar size... but she said most of her customers tend to prefer to get the cheap wal-mart products. People around here don't care about supporting local artisans and fellow pagans. I've made some jewelry sales at the Flying Monkey artist market - but it's the artistic neutral stuff - not the goddesses or pentacles... there's pagans there but they come in with empty pockets just looking at all the pretties... same with any Pagan Pride festivals I've gone to in the area. Most of my real sales if any have been online through Etsy. Usually up north, out west or overseas (most recent being La Sirene to the UK). And yes I've seen this all before. People who come into my former friend's shop and pull out pocket change asking how much insence will that get them. It really makes me wonder - am I the only pagan in town besides these shop owners that have a steady job? I almost get made to feel like some kind of elitist because I have a little money to spend (that I work my ass off for) once in a while. Shortages usually happen when I have unexpected things like my recent alternator replacement in my van. My mom thinks I should stop marketing mainly to pagans and spiritual people and make spiritually neutral art pieces - I but I don't feel fullfilled personally if I'm not doing spiritual art. She thinks my seasonal dolls would make nice centerpieces for holiday tables and I should call them something other than Spirit Dolls. She doesn't think Art Dolls work either - I don't know what else I would call them. Any time I've had any consideration of giving up on all of it I get signs that I'm not meant to... so I have to keep creating... it seems to keep the spirits happy or something ... It would be nice though to see a little more results so that I could drop my fast food job or at least go part time and spend more time creating...

Perception Personality Image Test

*phenyxangel — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:45:42 PDT

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

NFPC - The Artist

Nature, Foreground, Big Picture, and Color

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on what's in front of you (the foreground) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the colors around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to deal directly with whatever comes your way without dealing with speculating possibilities or outcomes you can't control. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You are a down-to-earth person who enjoys going with the flow.

The Perception Personality Types:

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at Hellouizzy

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

Updates

*phenyxangel — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:58:59 PDT

I got paypal working properly on my webstore - [link] - now I just need to finish stocking it... La Sirene has been sold (through my etsy shoppe) and is on her way now to her new home in the UK... I'm nervous because it's my first overseas shipment!

**** Arrgh - I'm responding to comments one minute and the next click my subscription is gone... seems DA has quit warning us all of a sudden...

Money's too tight right now to renew It would help if some more stuff would sell... at least they've improved the non-subscriber features - I just hate the fact I'll have to reset my CSS whenever I'm subscribed again....

Studio Nocturna
My online shoppe
My Etsy shoppe
Myspace
My Art Plot

New online store for Studio Nocturna

*phenyxangel — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:42:42 PDT

I'm currently working on stocking my new online store... I'll still use Etsy but I also want to sell directly through my store - [link] - I'm using Cube Cart which is a new ecommerce application to me - I'm used to osCommerce, but so far I'm liking Cube Cart much better - for one thing it automatically sizes my images and makes thumbs I have a few items up now and will continue to update as I go... I'm actually using my image folder of for sale items as a guide to what needs to be listed so it seems I'll be listing in alphabetical order for a while! LOL

My Etsy Shop
Studio Nocturna
Blog
LunaRoseCreations
Myspace
Phenyx Designs

Ergh - DA must be having issues tonight - I just added several new pics and many aren't showing up... hopefully that will be resolved soon - I'm going to add my pics to my MySpace then go to bed!

these are posted on my other account which I'm no longer using:

My Etsy Shop
Studio Nocturna
Blog
LunaRoseCreations
Myspace
Phenyx Designs

Lately I've been feeling drawn to the roots of my jewelry making - prayer beads or rosaries. It all started several years ago with an online discussion of rosary use in rituals and alternative rosary prayers and designs. I first learned how to make a traditional catholic rosary and made mine first with a celtic solar cross, then I added a pentacle and currently it's just the pentacle (as seen in the last thumbnail). I'm fascinated with rosaries and gladly accept gifts of rosaries from well meaning Catholic family members since I understand they are more than just Christian symbols. Prayer beads are used by many cultures as a focus for prayer and meditation. They are a ritual tool. I've researched different types of prayer beads - Catholic Rosaries, Anglican (Celtic) Rosaries, Witch Ladders [link] and different interpretations of pagan and witch rosaries. I've even come up with a few interpretations of my own... many of mine are wearable, but not all... some are chaplets inspired by the Anglican style... some are witch's ladders which are often a strand of 40 beads with a charm on each end. I have some more photos of creations I never posted here - I may try to dig them out of my files soon... The point though is the fact that I've had the strong desire and inspiration to return to making prayer beads... I've made three witch ladders, and an alternative traditional style rosary so far and need to photograph them soon for posting. I haven't felt inspiration this strong in a while - and last night while making one of them I raised so much energy I had to seriously ground off the excess... sometimes it's good to get back to your roots...

these are posted on my other account which I'm no longer using:

Artist Market

*phenyxangel — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:07:54 PDT

I still haven't made anything major lately - I have some ideas but not sure yet what I want to do... I am listing more of my jewelry and any creations that I've forgotten to list on my Etsy Shop slowly... can't sell it if it's not there can I? I enjoy going to the Flying Monkey artist market and talking to the other artists there. One told me about the Summer Art Stroll [link] downtown - I may try to get into that... So speaking of other artists... I found out one of them has an account here on DA - ~SilentThunderer - nice guy and a cool chain mail jewelry artist (which is something I admire since I haven't figured out how to do it myself! LOL)

Ack! I'm so behind!

*phenyxangel — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:17:45 PDT

I can't even begin to catch up with all the messages I have - seems to be mostly journals... I haven't even gotten around to saving off my Renaissance festival photos - not to mention recent spring flower photos I've taken in my mom's garden...
I guess what's been taking most of my time besides work is the fact that I've been obssessed with comic books again... about 10 years ago I used to read comic books all the time - mainly ElfQuest and X-Men - and then I stopped buying them... part of it may had to do with a certain distraction known as my relationship with the man I'm now married to (and have been for soon to be 9 years now) LOL I think some of that also might have slipped away for a while due to hanging out with that woman that's no longer my friend.... I kinda feel like I'm going back to being myself now. The new obsession started with seeing the Iron Man movie - I totally love it! I now have a new favorite Marvel character besides Wolverine! The thing is - back when I read comic books all the time, I had tons of ideas for my own sci-fi stories.... now that I'm doing that again, I have so many new ideas and I may finally write this story that's been floating around in my head....

The only problem is - I've been in a crafting slump - I think in part due to my new obssession and desire to work on my story... but also there seems to be no interest in my creations - and as much as I enjoy making them - my shelves only have so much room. I've had some signs from the spirits that I'm not supposed to give up on my jewelry and spirit art, but I'm not sure where to go with it right now, and when I try to make myself make something it just doesn't work out right... I guess I just need to take a break from it for a while and do something when the inspiration comes back...

My Etsy Shop
Studio Nocturna
Blog
LunaRoseCreations
Myspace
Phenyx Designs

I'm sitting here in the hotel - everyone else is out cold and I'm on the hotel wifi excited about tomorrow...

I can't help it - I love things both futuristic and ancient... I'm not so much into the present day I guess. When I was 12 I went with my parents to a large renaissance festival in Maryland. I loved it. I still look back on photos from that time and smile fondly... Many years later I got involved in the SCA... Weekly meetings getting together chatting about medieval oriented events, chivalry, monty python and the Holy Grail, and the Princess Bride... I go to the Alabama Renn Faire every year but really it's not much of anything - great vendors and stuff but not a real festival - nothing like that one in Maryland. This year I finally get to go to the Georgia one - in the morning we'll be going and spending all day there.... plenty of stuff to enjoy too (including a Lipizann Stallions Show).... after the event we're going to dinner at Medieval Times - where we have dinner with a medieval theme while watching a jousting tournament and show... oh yeah I'll be taking pictures!

pricing myself?

*phenyxangel — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:38:30 PDT

I'm still not done unpacking... and I can't find half the stuff I've been wanting to work with... I just ran out for chalk pastels because I have no idea where my old batch is packed - I guess when I finally find them I'll have extra... still want to find them because I remember it having more colors than the one I just bought! I bought a small art box specifically for my pastels as well so when I find them they can stay found!

I created a journal poll because I have no idea how to price my abstract spirit drawings.... I want to get frames for them so I'd have to include the price of the frame - they're one of a kind and just kind of flow out of me without any real plan... they don't take as much work as an oil painting or something but no two will ever be the same or re-printable... I don't want to devalue myself as an artist, but want to be fair too... anyone have an idea? I'm not asking what anyone could afford to pay - more what you would charge or if you were a buyer what you would think something like that is worth paying for...

My Etsy Shop
Studio Nocturna
Blog
LunaRoseCreations
Myspace
Phenyx Designs

Happy Easter everyone! I've fallen behind on my deviantwatch and comments again! Anyone who's faved or added me sorry if I can't get to your page and comment - I'm so behind... I have had a TON of stamp favs since DA started this new drag and drop collection system... I'm not sure if I like that system so much since people don't have to even glance at my gallery when they find my stamp in a journal... I do plan to respond to my comments... I'm just so behind with moving and stuff - I did produce one new piece of art this week, and found out in the process I wasn't as close to being fully set up as I thought I was... I do read and love and appreciate everyone's comments - I definitely like getting feedback on both the art I post and the thoughts I post here in my journal... I promise to reply soon but I'm going to be spending a lot of my spare time this week trying to unpack the rest of my apartment!

Getting organized

*phenyxangel — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:10:49 PDT

Well I'm ready to move on from this whole former friend drama bs. I've been used and dumped. I guess she couldn't deal with the positive changes I was making to my life. Now I need to get back to work on those changes. My studio space (the third bedroom) is coming together nicely and yes I plan to take pics when it's done

I still have photos of jewelry I made for Christmas/Yule gifts I need to post.

I need to take photos of jewelry creations I made but haven't posted yet and put them up for sale...

I need to update my etsy shop with items I've had available but forgot to post for sale.

I got my dolls, bracelets, bath salts and soaps back from my former friend - including one I made her as a gift. They're all on my altar being cleansed and recharged before they go back on sale.

I found out about a local artist market that happens every Saturday afternoon and I'm looking into vending my work there...

I have a lot to do...

My Etsy Shop
Studio Nocturna
Blog
LunaRoseCreations
Myspace
Phenyx Designs

One of my main sources of inspiration for my spiritual path and art has suddenly flipped out and turned on me... this now former friend is one who I met at the beginning of my pagan path and is the one who introduced me to vodou and working with the Lwa, as well as the one who introduced me to my reiki master who initiated both of us to level I ... many of my creations were produced out of both the intended spirit and out of the desire to impress her with my latest pretty.... so there's lots of thoughts relating to her still in my work. It won't be until I can cut my karmic ties to her and stop dwelling on this situation that I can go back to creating my art in the right spirit.... the energy will be all wrong in my creations if I let my thoughts drift.

She claims that my energy gives her husband migrains and she's been stuck in the middle of it for 7 years... come on in all that time if there was that much of an incompatibility why did she ask me to be part of her coven and support and encourage my art and even sell it in her shoppe? If she has been really having issues with me so long then she must have hesitated because all the free webwork and hosting I've given her... I feel so used. I think what really happened is that during this recent trip with her she realized exactly how much of a geek I am and the fact that I will never change for her. Gods - it sounds so much like 5th and 6th grade.... I never had any friends then because they all picked on me for the clothes I wore - nothing crazy just that most of it mom made, bought at the thrift shop, or the PX, or Ames (like K-mart or Wal-mart) - not Macy's or some other extremely expensive store like that... I'm getting a similar attitude from her since she grew up in a wealthy family and always had designer clothes ... I learned to be practical and make the best of what I could afford. She's 45 years old... I'm 31.... why does she have to act like this is 5th grade again?

I'm planning on trying harder to connect with local pagans who have nothing to do with her shoppe. I'm gonna go to the local Pagan shop tomorrow. I plan to try harder to go to meetups in my area and maybe make some good connections with this other shoppe owner so I have a new venue to sell my creations. I'm also about to put a new profile on witchvox.com since my old one had an email I lost access to and apparently is now deleted... Also while I'm still going to work with the Lwa and Orisha, I would like to bring back the connection I used to have to the Celtic and Norse gods, and of course continue working with the Angels... yes I need to cut my ties to her and give my path and craft a fresh start.

and oh yeah - if she can claim her husband gets migranes from my energy --- I've had thoughts that led me to wonder if she might have done work to keep me from ever conceiving? She doesn't like children and I got a distinct feeling she wouldn't want any of her friends having any if she can help it... my cycles started getting strange around the time she befriended me.... and now (with the help of medicine) they're getting better...

I am ready to dump her influence from my life.... I'm still not sure where that will take my art though...

My Etsy Shop
Studio Nocturna
Blog
LunaRoseCreations
Myspace
Phenyx Designs

We just got approved for a transfer to a 3 bedroom apartment! Same apartment complex... I'll finally have an art room instead of using the dining room - my husband claimed the second bedroom for his music room here so I've been crafting in the dinning room - now I can contain my mess in an actual bedroom - and so can he - unless we happen to have a little miracle - then the dining room can become his music area and we'll have room for a nursery and my mess can still be contained in a room with a door!
So now I gotta get our services transferred and change addresses and all.... This weekend! I guess I won't be online so much this week... I'm going to have to pack up my creative mess and all my altars and breakables over the next couple days and get all my laundry done so I don't have to worry about moving too much dirty clothes.....

sleep? what sleep??

My Etsy Shop
Studio Nocturna
Blog
LunaRoseCreations
Myspace
Phenyx Designs

A quick update to show off my new design for my main site...
StudioNocturna I definiely got it how I want it now! ... check it out and let me know what you think and if there's any issues with your browser or resolution!
I've been posting new digital art over at my other account *PhenyxDesigns If you like my digital work go take a peak there!

I also picked up an issue of Art Doll Quarterly today - [link] - anyone who thinks my dolls look strange needs to go take a peak at that magazine! Or type in Assemblage Doll in a search here on DA... mine look like barbies compared to some of the weirdness... what I found on DA makes me think of the evil kid from the first Toy Story... but looking at that magazine and searching online outside of DA makes me realize that art dolls are a bigger trend than some people know... I just got to find a way to get noticed in the crowd!

My Etsy Shop
Studio Nocturna
Blog
LunaRoseCreations
Myspace
Phenyx Designs

Ok finally caught up with all my comments since November - I responded to those that I felt needed a response even belated - everyone else - thank you very much for favs and comments! Just because I didn't respond does not mean I didn't appreciate it! I love feedback on my work - I always worry no one cares about what I do...

I was told by another doll artist on myspace that also happens to be a mambo (vodou priestess) that I need to put my work out there more - be a bit more aggressive with my marketing... which means as far as myspace goes I need to add friends instead of passively letting people who find me and like my work add me... and otherwise I know the more sites you have linked the higher search engines will rank your site - that and it increases the chances of stumbling on one of my sites linking to my sales site... with that in mind I've started a page on Squidoo.com [link] - a page on WetPaint [link] - and a blog on BlogSpot [link] - which I will be using quite often I think I got a process blog for my recent elemental spirit's set planned as soon as I get good final pics taken... The mambo I'm taking advice from markets her work quite a bit and tends to sell at least 3 or more dolls a week... I seem to be lucky to sell one (online) every 6 months - I'm embarrassed to admit... I often wonder if it's my work, lack of interest in the subject, or I'm not doing enough to get the word out... I have sold enough in the past couple years I've been doing this to make it feel like I'm doing the right thing as far as what and why I create... the comments I've gotten and the happiness of the customers all make it worth it... but I know the same few people aren't going to keep ordering piece I make (though I wouldn't mind either) - I know I'm just starting up business wise (relatively anyways - been trying to do this in one form or another for a few years) and the artists I look to for inspiration have been making and vending their craft for a lot longer... location for some doesn't hurt either ... folks just don't get it in Alabama...

Sorry no new features yet!

Childhood influences...

*phenyxangel — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:59:44 PST

*** this started out as a comment on a poll then got me thinking so it became a blog on my NocturnalMusings.com blog site....

I grew up reading Black Beauty, Nancy Drew, the Wizard of Oz series, and a little bit of Little House on the Prairie, along with Grimms Fairytales, Hans Christian Anderson, and any mythology I could get in kids storybook form(which included the original Little Mermaid story long before Disney)Â also 20000 leagues under the seaÂ and I had kids short graphic novel versions of the Time Machine, Gullivers Travels, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and I think a couple other classic sci-fi novels turned sort of graphic novel versionÂ(the best way I could describe them is thin paperbacks with the story laid out with illustrations comic book panel style - speech and thought bubbles included, and shortened enough for my reading level - which was somewhat ahead of my classmates at the time) I even had a non/pre-Disney telling of Sleeping Beauty in GermanÂ

The movies I watched over and over: Dune, Star Trek, Star Wars, She-Ra, The Goonies, A Flight of Dragons, The Last Unicorn, Fire and Ice, Superman, Back to the Future, Romancing the Stone, Mad Max (especially Beyond the Thunderdome), Cocoon, Ghost Busters, Indiana Jones, The Karate Kid, The Dark Crystal, Ladyhawke, ConanÂ
TV: A-Team, Family Ties, Muppets, Cosby Show, Sesame Street, Transor Z, MacGuyver, Different Strokes, Airwolf, Star Search, Carl SaganÂs Cosmos, the original Star Trek TV shows, Spiderman (Live action tv show), The Incredible Hulk, VoltronÂ

These are the things that influenced my present tastes and state of mind during my childhood mainly between 1983 and 1986Â TV was limited because we were living in Germany at the time and the only thing we could get in English was Armed Forces NetworkÂ which was so slow at getting new stuff we didnÂt even get the Transformers until 1986 just before moving back to the states (which made keeping up with the Transformers very confusing since it was after the new characters after the movie on TV here) Movies came to the army base theater at least a year late tooÂ But I remember going to see Dune, Ghostbusters, Star Trek III, Back to the Future, Gremlins, and Return of the Jedi in the theaterÂ

Oh I also had storybook versions with photos from the movies of Dune, Star Wars, ET, and GremlinsÂ

After we moved back to the states I got into the She-ra cartoons (since I only had the movie on tape in Germany), Thundercats, even more into MacGuyver, Rosanne, Star Trek The Next Generation (I remember hearing about it and thinking it wouldnÂt be right without Kirk, Spock, and Bones, but then it pretty much became MY generationÂs Star Trek… AmericaÂs Funniest Videos, You CanÂt Do that on TV, Night Court, Double Dare, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, SilverhawksÂ

That time period was when I first saw Alien and Aliens, The Princess Bride, Light Years, Robocop, and I finally got to see ETÂ

Books I got into then were the Chronicles of Narnia, Dragon Riders of Pern and The Crystal Singer (Anne McCaffrey), and the Xanth series (Peirs Anthony)Â I was totally obsessed with the Dragon Riders of PernÂ

in my Highschool years I got into Piers AnthonyÂs Apprentice Adept series, kept watching Star Trek TNG and reading Dragon Riders of Pern, got obsessed with Highlander, Logans Run, Zardoz, FINALLY got to see Transformers when the Sci-fi...

deviantART: by:phenyxangel

I like what I see with the Groups!

So much work to do...

Still no subscription???

Irritated

Where am I?

Whoops....

Focus

I want a vacation!!!!

I'm thinking about starting a club

Ah Christmess is over...

Thank you! and Winter Solstice Blessings....

I give up...

Spirituality

WAAAAY too many stamps!

Holidays

Just a stamp update :)

sick of the negativity

Getting Political

Ritual Oil Blends

I live in the wrong town

Perception Personality Image Test

Updates

New online store for Studio Nocturna

Artist Market

Ack! I'm so behind!

pricing myself?

Getting organized

Childhood influences...