#Spring break ideas for crafting projects

[kentnaturaltribrid]

Overall still got to wait for some of these to dry, but for the most part finished with some of them and waiting for the second half to dry. Beyond that it’s still going pretty well and they’re all doing pretty even. Mostly just spending spring break doing some projects here and there, might as well finish up the rest of it as is regardless maybe tomorrow or The next day if I have time later.

[simpingforstardew]

muse

pairing: sdv elliot x reader

synopsis: elliot is struggling with severe writers block; if only he had a muse...

note: a while ago i talked about having a derivative idea for an elliot x reader fic; here is that fic !! the premise is completely unoriginal, but i'll leave the references at the end of the fic to avoid spoilers hehe

warnings: i don't even know for this one gang, wholesome w/ an ending that could be read as spooky? let's call it a doomed romance !! tw/ relationships that are doomed by the narrative !!

word count: 1.5k

Adronitis

A heart so damaged; tender; sore—

You ever-blooming sycamore,

Through hunger pangs; my deliriousness,

I mourn my mortal catoptric tristesse.

With starving dreams, your warmth I crave—

I worship you, I must embrave,

Indulge me, lay your fear ahind.

Our sanctuary; your piece of mind.

My amorous famine demands more […more what?],

So I feast on your smile […] petrichor.

i am just writing this right niw so it

looks lije i am being pro ductive oh Yoba

andnow leahs comin g over this

is alll shit im jist going to star t overrr

“How’s the writing going, El’?” Leah peers down at Elliot with a smile, wiping the sweat from her brow. “We’ve been at it for a while without a break, you know?”

“Oh, Leah! It’s going splendidly, and yes, it seems we have…” Elliot coughs, avoiding eye contact while tearing the paper from his typewriter. “Why don’t we call it for today then?”

“Without showing me what you’ve done? C’mon,” she whines, “What do you have?”

Elliot and Leah had decided, sometime early last Spring, to meet in Cindersnap forest every Wednesday to work on their current projects. ‘Parallel play for artists,’ Penny once called it when walking Jas back to Marnie’s ranch. For Leah, this weekly rendezvous has (so far) allowed her to complete 2 clay sculptures, 3 wood sculptures, 23 drawings, and 8 paintings; for Elliot, the last few months has allowed him to create…

“Nothing,” Elliot sighs, packing his typewriter’s case with a frown. “I have, somehow, written nothing! I mean, I wanted to craft a Petrarchan sonnet, inspired by Poe’s romantic, yet macabre sensibilities. I ended up with trash I couldn’t even make hendecasyllabic. It’s embarrassingly Shakespearian and—”

“Whoa, whoa, buddy, that’s okay. That’s fine. I’m not sure what any of that means, but…” Leah scrunches her freckled nose, hoping to find the right words to calm Elliot down, “It seems like you’re expecting perfection from a first draft. Maybe we should call it for today, and you could revisit your poem tomorrow?”

“Yes, you are right,” the authors scowl softens; after a moment of meditation—feeling the summer breeze tangle in his hair—he looks towards Leah with a smile. “I will see you next week, Miss Faraday.”

Elliot didn’t return to his typewriter until later that week, deciding instead to bask in the sun’s warmth on the beach. The author sits on the pier with a contented sigh, the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore providing a soothing backdrop to his afternoon reverie.

Even still, despite the Elysium that he has found himself in, Elliot cannot shake his frustrations; his linguistic discouragement plagued his every thought.

“Ahoy there, my boy! Perfect weather for fishing don’t ya reckon?” Willy smiles, closing the front door to the Fish Shop behind him. Elliot

“Ah, hello Mr. Tucker,” Elliot waves as the fisherman sits beside him, attaching a small blue tackle onto an impressively shiny rod, “I suppose it is, although I fear I don’t have my fishing gear with me today.”

“What’d I tell you about calling me that? No need to be so formal, son,” Willy chuckles, casting a line into the vast depths of the saltwater, “Say, aren’t ya usually off in town around this time? Feel like I never see you this early on a Wednesday.”

Elliot still had to adjust to the predictive routine of a small town, and the horrifying consequences of straying from said routine: becoming the topic of mid-afternoon gossip.

“Yes, well, I um—,” Elliot sighs, looking into the deep blue below as if the ocean concealed the antidote to writers block, “I have been, writing with Leah every Wednesday and… actually can I ask for some advice?”

“O’ Course ya can, my boy.” Willy nods.

“I have been… struggling lately,” The taller man slumps as he runs a hand through his auburn hair, his voice heavy with uncertainty, “I feel as if I have lost my spark, my… capacité artistique. I cannot, for the life of me, write anything of quality! I just… I feel broken, Mr. William.”

Willy takes a moment to think, slowly breathing in the salty air, “Hmm, I see your problem, lad— but it’s important to know yer not broken. Aye, nothin’ about ya is broken.”

A fish tugs at Willy’s fishing line: desperately; hopelessly.

“It’s like if yer pal Willy couldn’t fish anymore… I’d sooner swallow a sea urchin than lose my ability to do what I love,” Willy pulls the rod towards him, putting up a fight with whatever poor creature is on the other end of the line, “but sometimes it’s tricky doing what ya love 24/7, son! You got to remind yerself to take breaks, and…”

The creature is hurled out of the ocean, flapping helplessly as the fisherman releases it from his tackle. Willy holds the freshly-caught octopus up to Elliot.

“Remind yerself why ya love it!” Willy chuckles, before mumbling to himself about throwing his newest catch in a tank lest he ‘gets inked’.

As Elliot sits in contemplative silence, the ocean offering solace: the rushing winds, the distant cry of seagulls, even the smell of salty air. Over the last year and a half, he has grown to love it all.

As he rises to his feet, Elliot considers his friends’ advice. He certainly didn’t want to remain in this slump forever; so he needs to find a reminder of why he loves writing; a source of reinvigorating inspiration.

He needs to find a muse.

A muse in a village with a population of 27.

‘Well,’ Elliot thinks, slamming his cabin’s door shut behind him as he slides onto his desk chair. He sets up his Olympia SM 9 for the second time today. ‘If I can’t find my muse in life, I will simply create my muse in art.’

For a moment, the black page loaded into the typewriter stares back at Elliot, mockingly. Then, as suddenly as the crash of thunder that bellows from above, the author began to write.

Elliot bursts into the Fish Shop, his manuscript clutched tightly in hand, a triumphant gleam in his eye. “Willy, my friend, you’re incredible!” he cheered, his excitement palpable. “I truly could not have done this without your support.”

Willy grins, offering a sincere thumbs-up. “Glad to hear it, lad! So what was your reminder, eh? What got you back on track?”

Elliot coughs, a flush creeping up his freckled cheeks. “Well, you see… I made it up.”

Willy arches an eyebrow, bemused,“Ya made up yer reminder for why you love writing? Now, son…”

“No, no,” Elliot hastens to explain, “My love for writing is genuine. But my muse, my darling muse, is not.”

“I’m not following, my boy.”

“I have spent all night crafting the narrative of a completely fabricated person, it’s all here,” Elliot elaborates, “They’re genuinely kind, talented and hard-working, despite never being appreciated. They have the most charming mole on their neck, and they’re delightfully witty! After their grandfather passed away, they—”

“Son,” Willy interrupted gently, his tone tinged with amusement, “Yer a peculiar one, ya know that? How is this going to help with yer writing?”

“It does sound ridiculous, but dedicating my sonnets to this idealised character… thinking of them as I work on my novel… It has been phenomenally motivating!” Elliot laughs, re-reading through the pages before stopping in his tracks, “Oh, I do apologise old friend, I barged into your shop like a man possessed.”

It had been months since Elliot had felt such a fervent desire to write; his unbridled excitement was contagious; a smirk spreads across Willy’s face, crinkling the corners of his dark green eyes.

“If it were anyone else instead of you, I’d be furious, lad,” Willy chuckles, reaching into his mini fridge, “‘Ere, I whipped up too many crab cakes last night, and I know they’re yer favourite— consider it a gift.”

As Elliot arrives back at his cabin, writing snacks in tow, the muffled playing of his piano greets him. He chuckles softly, before preparing to shoo Harvey out of his home so he could resume his day of writing.

“Sincerest apologies, I—,”

“Oh! Honey, you’re back so soon.” Turning away from the piano, your eyes catch Elliot’s with a familiar warmth. You admire the way your boyfriend’s hair always forms delicate waves when exposed to the sea spray.

The author was struck speechless, his heart pounding as he stared at you with more focus than you have ever been subject to.

It couldn’t be real. And yet there you are. You. The muse Elliot had crafted— who's entire life was written mere hours prior on the pages that were now strewn about the floor— was standing before him in flesh and blood.

Every flawless detail exactly as he had imagined.

“Elliot, darling, are you okay?” Your smile becomes wry; nervous as to why your lover was acting so peculiar, his pale skin was now a ghastly white. “Would you like me to pour some wine? We can—”

Before your suggestion was made, Elliot was gone; the door slamming shut behind him.

note #2: okay if you didn't catch it, my inspiration was the 1960 episode of the Twilight Zone: 'A World of His Own', and (more relevantly) the 2012 psychological horror romcom Ruby Sparks !! if you check out either that episode or movie, pleasepleaseplease lmk what you think <33

[tokushudesu]

Undertale belongs to Toby Fox Character: Ink!Sans [Belongs to Comyet (aka Mye Bi)] Photographer & editor: iitucos Cosplayer: Me

This spring and summer 2024 I started after many years pause my new cosplay project which was Ink!Sans!

Last year I got back into Undertale related content and also fell even more in depth in Undertale AU's than I had previously been into and that lead me to find Inktale and Underverse. These two gave me so much joy and emotions to go through and I fell in love the concept of Ink!Sans so naturally I wanted to make a cosplay, especially since this character gave me a perfect excuse to learn how to make pants similar to japanese hakama pants!

The pattern that I used for the pants was bought from online throught Etsy [link to there here]. Other cloth patterns I had from my basic cloth seeing book which I edited to fit more to myself or created myself from fly with trial and error.

The ink bottles contain small origami wishing stars that I folded from paper that I colored one line at time, turning 8 papers into colorful lines with one color's different shades to make them look good and it took at least 8 hours to color all the papers. I made the decision to do these just in case in conventions it's not okay to bring small bottles that contain liquids/paints because of the rules conventions can have about cosplay props + I don't wanna stress about these glass bottles falling from someone's hand and breaking while containing liquid/paint inside ;w;' I also thought it could be a fun idea to share these small stars with other cosplayers and people who I meet during conventions! ^^

The cosplay is now wearable and presentable but not 100% finished which I intent to do slowly through months and the following year. I gotta take time with the head prop and other details since my arm injury can't handle too much crafting on one go. I'm especially having hard time to make Ink's head prop work properly and look like I want it to look so I'll need to deal with it with more focus, time and get other resources for it + I wan't to make the giant paint brush Broomie too so there's still more things to do! I'll have more photos of this cosplay later during September!

[bunnysnuff]

Younger Genderfluid Spring Sibling Headcanons (With Charlie & Tori):

Pairing: Charlie spring x gender fluid!sibling!reader, Tori spring x genderfluid!sibling!reader.

Trigger warnings: none.

Request.

Theater Kid Energy: They’ve always been the dramatic one in the family, and while Charlie finds their love for theater endearing, Tori rolls her eyes at their over-the-top monologues. Still, they’ll make Charlie and Tori sit through endless practice runs of their lines, demanding feedback. Charlie, ever supportive, gives thoughtful critiques, while Tori usually mutters something like, “More angst. Less volume,” before walking away.

Goth But Loud: Charlie is used to their younger sibling’s loud music and even jams out to a few of their emo playlists from time to time. Tori, however, is constantly threatening to throw their speakers out the window if they don’t turn down the volume. Despite the noise complaints, both siblings secretly find their goth aesthetic kind of cool—even if it clashes with their loud personality.

Lazy Stoner Vibes: Tori is the first to call them out on their laziness. “Do you ever do anything?” she’ll ask, watching them sprawled out on the couch. They’ll lazily lift a hand, point to their phone, and say, “I’m mentally preparing for my next role.” Charlie just laughs, shaking his head as he watches the back-and-forth, knowing his sibling will never change.

The Scapegoat Sibling: Anytime something goes wrong at home, Tori is usually the first to assume it was them. “Who ate my chips?” she’ll ask, already glaring in their direction. Charlie, on the other hand, tries to be more fair, though he often gets pulled into the chaos when they inevitably put on an exaggerated performance, defending themselves. “It wasn’t me, I swear! I’ve been too busy perfecting my craft!”

High-Key Loud: Charlie is used to the noise. He grew up with them constantly talking, singing, or performing in the background. Tori, on the other hand, has a much lower tolerance for the chaos. “Do you have to be this loud?” she’ll ask during a quiet moment, and they’ll respond by speaking even louder, dramatically declaring, “Silence is a prison, Tori!”

Gothic Aesthetic Meets Theater: They always try to convince Charlie and Tori to help them with costumes for their shows. Charlie has been roped into helping with makeup or costume ideas more than once, while Tori usually watches with amusement from a distance, arms crossed, occasionally offering sarcastic suggestions like, “Why don’t you add more chains? You can never have enough chains.”

Master of the Lazy Slouch: Tori can’t stand their laziness. “You literally do nothing,” she’ll mutter as they lie on the couch, barely moving. Charlie, however, is more understanding and sometimes joins them, offering a more peaceful vibe. They often watch TV together in comfortable silence, while Tori just shakes her head at both of them.

Secretly Emotional: Charlie is the one who notices their emotional side the most. He’s the sibling who’ll sit with them during tough moments, offering quiet comfort without making a big deal out of it. Tori, though a bit more distant emotionally, can sense when they’re feeling down, and instead of a heart-to-heart, she’ll throw something sarcastic their way, like, “Get out of your emo phase for a minute, alright?”—but it’s always said with an underlying note of care.

The Ultimate Procrastinator: Tori constantly reminds them to get things done. “Did you finish your project?” she’ll ask, already knowing the answer. They’ll shrug lazily and say, “The deadline isn’t real until it’s tomorrow.” Charlie, on the other hand, tries to gently encourage them to be more productive, though he’s learned it’s a losing battle.

Life of the Party (Even When There’s No Party): Charlie finds their endless energy amusing, and sometimes even joins in on their spontaneous outbursts of singing or dramatic retellings of their day. Tori, however, often needs a break from their high-energy performances. “I’m going to the kitchen,” Tori will say after an over-the-top story, clearly in need of a quieter atmosphere. But even Tori can’t help but crack a smile when their sibling’s antics get especially absurd.

[valentinadrdt]

realising i like every ship between arturo and the rest of the main cast so here's a headcanon or two for allat. also the "beautiful" thing is of course entirely from arturo's perspective.

ace

beautiful: ❌❌

romantically: stereotypical old married couple. constantly breaking up and getting back together. the platonic roots of their relationship stay in tact, and their attraction to one another always comes back eventually, but they also don't get along super well, thus the cycle.

sexually: ace is the much more dominant one in bed. my omegaverse expert friend has stated that ace is undoubtedly an alpha as well so do note that.

arei

beautiful: ❌

romantically: bully x hater. neither of them know what they see in each other but there's something.

sexually: arei has a waterboarding fetish because i say so. femdom to the max of course, very degrading, she steps on him as she should.

charles

beautiful: ❌

romantically: charles lowk fell at first sight. mostly just hang around each other. bickering but not as toxic as aceturo. they never discuss it but they have a sort of underlying trauma bond regarding their family situations.

sexually: their relationship is entirely asexual.

david

beautiful: ❌❌

romantically: both of them horrendous at being open about anything, either of them confessing is just not happening. also, david may not be of the pretty type, but he is still famous and being in his private life makes arturo feel real ...nice.

sexually: alcoholic!david × maidturo

hu

beautiful: ✅

romantically: arturo just likes authoritative women idk. hu has a lot of baggage and arturo is like an emotional support dog with rabies.

sexually: they don't do penetrative sex and are overall pretty vanilla in bed.

levi

beautiful: ✅

romantically: kinda random but for some reason i imagine them as this two-man mafia of medical malpracticioner and bodyguard.

sexually: muscle man (no idea what he's doing) × lanky lad (no idea what he's doing). yes of course YSYWM was arturo projecting.

min

beautiful: ❌

romantically: two cogs of the system, thinking they're the exception. study buddies :D

sexually: arturo ship most likely to yield off-spring

nico

beautiful: ❌

romantically: their relationship is entirely aromantic.

sexually: slippery... eels...

rose

beautiful: ❌

romantically: best friends who are practically dating.

sexually: i've sent multiple arturose asks here before but she lets her dog(bf) sleep in her bed what the frig!

teruko

beautiful: ❌

romantically: she is the center of the universe. their banter is cute as hell idc.

sexually: they play doctor and it does have a weird underlying vibe to it.

veronika

beautiful: ❌

i don't have anything to add here they're kinda done to death already /lh

whit

beautiful: ❌

romantically: their relationship is entirely aromantic.

sexually: whit would do cbat but with a twice song. it'd be intentional but arturo would react to it the same way as the girlfriend in cbat.

xander

beautiful: ❌

ok i lied i don't care about this ship i don't like xander

eden (entirely platonic)

craft buddies :]

aight i'm not saying much on jturo beyond that their relationship is entirely aromantic and j can't deny that arturo's good in bed🤗

I LOVE JTURO I LOVE JTURO

[smasonarts346]

ARTS 346 - Blog 8

There were a few key points from the reading that stood out to me. Pilloton mentioned her emphasis on designers applying their skills to “blind spots”—areas where people need life-improving solutions. I found this perspective insightful and inspiring. Also her use of wording was what initially intrigued me. 

Another idea that caught my attention was her approach to design, which starts with “criticism laced with optimism”. I thought that was particularly interesting because it highlights the importance of giving yourself constructive feedback while also maintaining confidence in your skills. This is something I definitely want to incorporate into my own approach to designing mindfully.

This week, I gathered all my materials and began working on my packaging. I brought my sewing machine from home along with various threads so I could start crafting my products. It turned out to be more challenging than I anticipated—not only because I hadn’t used a sewing machine in a while, but also because I had to figure out the best stitching method for the elastic material I purchased.

I ended up hand-sewing one of my keychains, and I absolutely loved the result. My concept and overall vision feel solid; now, I just need to find a more efficient way to execute my ideas. Hand-stitching them was surprisingly simple, so I’m confident that using the sewing machine will make the process even smoother, allowing me to produce a lot with the materials I have.

I plan to continue working on my project over spring break, but I know this will be a work in progress until I finalize my designs

[handmadewalldecor]

Buy Colorful macrame wall hanging

The Art and Joy of Colorful Macrame Wall Hangings

Macrame, the age-old craft of knotting cords to create intricate patterns, has seen a delightful resurgence in recent years. Once a staple of 1970s home decor, it's now making a vibrant comeback, particularly in the form of colorful wall hangings. These beautiful pieces add texture, warmth, and a splash of personality to any space. If you’re new to macrame or just looking for inspiration to brighten up your home, read on to discover the magic of colorful macrame wall hangings.

The Beauty of Macrame

At its core, macrame is about creating art with simple materials. Using various knotting techniques, crafters can create anything from simple plant hangers to elaborate wall decorations. The versatility of macrame is one of its biggest appeals. It can be minimalist or complex, monochromatic or bursting with color.

Why Color Matters

While traditional macrame often features neutral colors like beige, cream, and white, adding color can transform these pieces into stunning focal points. Colors can evoke emotions, set the mood of a room, and reflect your personal style. A colorful macrame wall hanging can:

Brighten Up a Space: Vibrant colors can make a room feel more lively and inviting.

Add a Pop of Interest: Even a single colorful piece can break the monotony of a plain wall.

Showcase Your Personality: Your choice of colors can reflect your personal taste and style.

Choosing the Right Colors

When selecting colors for your macrame project, consider the following:

Complement Your Decor: Choose colors that match or complement the existing color scheme of your room.

Create Contrast: Bold, contrasting colors can make your piece stand out.

Seasonal Inspiration: Use colors that evoke the seasons, like pastels for spring or rich, warm hues for autumn.

Personal Preference: Ultimately, choose colors that you love and that bring you joy.

Getting Started with Colorful Macrame

Ready to dive into the world of colorful macrame? Here are some tips to get you started:

Gather Your Materials: You'll need macrame cords in various colors, a dowel or branch for hanging, and basic macrame tools like scissors and a tape measure.

Learn Basic Knots: Familiarize yourself with basic macrame knots such as the square knot, lark’s head knot, and double half hitch. These will be the foundation of your project.

Plan Your Design: Sketch out your design and decide where each color will go. This will help you visualize the final product and ensure a balanced look.

Start Knotting: Begin with a simple pattern and gradually incorporate more complex knots and designs as you gain confidence.

Experiment with Techniques: Don’t be afraid to try new techniques and patterns. Mixing different knots and colors can lead to unique and beautiful results.

Inspirational Ideas

If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some ideas for colorful macrame wall hangings:

Rainbow Delight: Use a spectrum of colors to create a vibrant, rainbow-inspired piece.

Ombre Effect: Gradually transition from one color to another for a beautiful ombre effect.

Geometric Patterns: Incorporate bold, geometric designs with contrasting colors.

Nature-Inspired: Use earthy tones and natural colors to create a piece that reflects the beauty of nature.

Caring for Your Macrame

To keep your macrame wall hanging looking its best:

Dust Regularly: Use a feather duster or a soft brush to remove dust.

Spot Clean: Gently spot clean with a damp cloth if necessary.

Avoid Direct Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can fade the colors over time.

Conclusion

Colorful macrame wall hangings are a fantastic way to add a touch of creativity and color to your home. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a beginner, the process of creating these pieces is both relaxing and rewarding. So grab your cords, pick your colors, and start knotting your way to a more vibrant home!

4o

[radicalradcinema]

Scheduling

Alrighty, I think I have a grip on this project. After feedback in class, I'm liking a lot of the suggestions about what exactly I can make.

Someone also brought up whether or not I was going to be on camera, and I think the answer to that is no. I want it to be about making things, not about me making things, you know?

Anyway, here's the schedule I'm thinking of. This past weekend, I picked up materials to begin crafting.

Feb. 18-24: Begin setting up room to film. Film first clips the 24-25 - painting.

Feb. 25 - Mar. 2: Continue filming. Finish up paintings

Mar. 3 - 9: Begin filming other crafts; match tower, model city of toothpicks, etc. (pick one big one)

Mar. 10 - 16: Spring Break! Edit footage gathered thus far, get further clips (as things develop, use this time for further ideation/ideas/execution not yet discovered.) Get rough cut together.

Mar. 17 - 23: Critiques in class. This is also the week I film my Fiction, so I'll be focusing on that. May have some time to edit.

Mar. 24 - 30: One-on-ones. Implement feedback and perhaps do some pickups

Mar. 31 - April 6: Critiques and editing. Pick ups should be done, but I can always spend an afternoon getting more footage.

April 7 -13 Finalizing edit and sound

This gives me that final week to do whatever I need to, whether that be last minute footage, editing, sound, etc. That final week will also be me collecting supplies for my installation, though mostly just ways to display everything that was made on camera.

This will be subject to change, especially as my Fiction picks up. I want to have most if not all my footage by the time I shoot my Fiction, and also a rough cut, so that I can allot my time accordingly to each project.

I've got all the supplies I need to begin filming, and it will likely be on the weekends that I do most of it. I'll start painting this week and next week as that will be the majority of the art that I will make on camera.

[stampwithtami]

Transforming the Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin Kit: A DIY Gift Box Tutorial

LOVELY LAVENDER TREAT BOX Welcome to a delightful journey of creativity and repurposing! In this tutorial, I'll share how you can transform the Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin kit into a stunning gift box. By combining elements from this kit with embellishments from the Saleabration Promotion, we'll craft a unique and elegant presentation for your gifts. The Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin kit is a treasure trove of beautiful die cuts and decorative elements. By thinking outside the box (quite literally!), we can repurpose these pieces to create something truly special. To add a touch of sophistication, we'll incorporate the Pool Party Crinkle Ribbon and Opaque Faceted Gems, elevating the final look of our gift box. Repurposing Materials: One of the joys of crafting is finding creative uses for every element at your disposal. In this project, we'll repurpose the pretty Pool Party tissue paper that the kit pieces come wrapped in. By transforming it into lining for the gift box, we ensure that nothing goes to waste and add an extra layer of charm to our creation. Personalizing with Vellum Leaves: To enhance the aesthetics of the gift box, I added delicate leaves made from vellum and the Love of Spring Dies. Drawing inspiration from the die cuts in the Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin kit, we'll create coordinating leaves to adorn the exterior of the box. This personalized touch adds depth and dimension to the overall design. The transformation of the Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin kit into a charming gift box demonstrates the endless possibilities that lie within our crafting materials. Whether it's for a special occasion or just to brighten someone's day, this DIY gift box is sure to leave a lasting impression. Get ready to dazzle your loved ones with your handmade touch Don't Miss Out 🗓: If you're as excited about these crafting adventures as I am, make sure to subscribe before February 10th to secure your February kit. Join the Paper Pumpkin family and look forward to a monthly dose of crafting joy delivered right to your door. Click here to subscribe. The Opaque Faceted Gems and Pool Party Crinkle Ribbon are available free during Saleabration which ends on February 29. Click here for details.   CARD INSTRUCTIONSINSTRUCTIONS, BOX TEMPLATE & CARD SUPPLIES INSTRUCTIONS PDF ⬇ The instructions include measurements and step by step directions to create this card. There is also a clickable supply list.  DOWNLOAD PDF SUPPLIES I USED TO CREATE THIS CARD ⬇ Click the thumbnail links to view and purchase in my Online Store. WHAT ARE PAPER PUMPKIN KITS? Paper Pumpkin Subscription: Monthly Creative Surprises For those craving a regular injection of creative inspiration, the Paper Pumpkin Subscription is a monthly adventure that arrives at your doorstep. SUBSCRIBE Key features include: - Monthly Mail Delight: Subscribers receive a specially curated kit by mail every month. Each package includes designed projects, precut pieces, a stamp set, and ink. It’s like receiving a surprise creative adventure in your mailbox each month. - Exclusive Subscriber Benefits: Subscribers to Paper Pumpkin enjoy special perks, including access to exclusive products and offers. It’s a fantastic way to stay connected with the crafting community and unlock additional creative opportunities. - Endless Possibilities: Where will Paper Pumpkin take you this month? With a subscription, you’ll discover new techniques, themes, and crafting styles. It’s a journey of endless possibilities that keeps your creativity flowing. - Acrylic Block: Your first Paper Pumpkin kit will arrive with a reusable acrylic block for your stamps. - Refills: Depending on availability refills for each month’s kit are often available in my online store while they last. - Control: You have full control over your Paper Pumpkin subscriptions and can take a break / pause, cancel and rejoin at anytime. - Alternate Ideas: Go outside the box each month with me as I share alternate ideas for each Paper Pumpkin kit absolutely free on my blog. See my tutorial gallery here. - PPX Bonus Videos: When you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin kits through me, you’ll receive 6 additional videos for alternate projects to the kit. These PPX videos are exclusive and not available anywhere else. Paper Pumpkin kits have a deadline to subscribe each month by the 10th of the month in order to get that month’s kit. That month’s kit isn’t available after the deadline but depending on availability refills will be available in my online store.  LEARN MORE ABOUT PAPER PUMPKIN KITS SUBSCRIBE JANUARY PAPER PUMPKIN UNBOXING VIDEOLOVELY LAVENDER KIT Make love-themed cards for special occasions, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and more with the Lovely Lavender kit. We just love how the tags punch out from the card front for even more crafting possibilities. Plus, this kit perfectly coordinates with the Perennial Lavender Suite Collection. SUBSCRIBE TO PAPER PUMPKIN KITS MONTHLY STAMP SET CASE INSERTS LEARN MORE ABOUT PAPER PUMPKIN STAMPIN' UP! CATALOGS CURRENT SPECIALS PHOTOS I transformed pieces from the Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin kit into this stunning gift box. The die cut pieces are from the kit. I cut some leaves from Vellum to match. Don't let anything go to waste! Repurpose the pretty Pool Party tissue paper that the kit pieces come wrapped in. Use it to line the inside of the box for an extra special touch. You can use either the printed polka dot card base OR the matching envelopes for the printed paper on the box. The kit comes with Garden Green leaves and when you flip them over they are white on the back. I used the white side. This beautiful kit and refills make stunning projects both per the instructions and repurposed for alterante cards. These are my alternate projects for the Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin kit. Stay tuned for more tutorials. I added Iridescent Pearls for some bling. Click here for my Upright Z card Fold Tutorial. These are projects created with the January 2024 Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin Kit. The kit made 3 of each of the projects. One of the joys of crafting lies in the ability to repurpose materials creatively. If you've already enjoyed your Lovely Lavender Paper Pumpkin Kit, fear not! Refills are still available, allowing you to recreate this masterpiece and explore new, imaginative possibilities. CLICK HERE Want to save these ideas for later? Pin them to your favorite Pinterest board. Have you tried these designs? I love to see your creations! Be sure to share them on #shareyourcrafts post every Saturday on my Facebook Page    Read the full article

[thedaveandkimmershow]

It takes an excessive amount of self-confidence to say "I Do", to mean it, and then to assume it's a done deal. BAM. There's your Forever.

Of course we were young, we were in the throes of young love, and seriously. What more did we need?

So I said "I do", she said "I do" and then.

All hell broke loose.

Much like that book "What To Expect When You're Expecting" there's a metric ton of stuff you're not led to expect when you're teeing up a marriage. For sure there's what you do expect. For sure there's stuff we shoulda expected. And absolutely, uncategorically, without apology, there's stuff that in no way should we have expected.

There's stuff that should not have happened.

And then thirty one years later, here we still are. We definitely bent along the way... but we did not break.

We did not.

Break.

Believe it or not, we were asked as recently as last night by our bartender how you do that. How you last thirty-one years. And in a nod to both the romantics and realists out there, the answer I'm leaning toward is that from Day 1 ( if not sooner) you're actively crafting yourselves into individuals who really are meant for each other. The idea that we were both perfect and perfect for each other as twenty-somethings is simply naive. There's so much growing up as individuals, so much growing you do and continue to do as you gain experience and knowledge.

We are not now, for example, who we were when each of us said "I do". Those versions of us are now preserved in time capsules stashed away in our memories, our writings, our videos, and our photographs.

We were, obviously to each other, within the same ballpark as human beings. We were both creatives. Both photographers. Both writers. Both passionate about our careers. We both shared some of the same habits, humor, and intellectual interests. We had projects that overlapped and friends who overlapped. We had a common view of the world along with opposing views of the world that we declined to make deal-breakers. We had young love, laughter, fun, and chemistry.

And then yeah. In retrospect, even though I don't think this was something we did intentionally, we crafted ourselves into individuals who really are meant for each other and who really can prevail against Time and Circumstance and heinous Plot Twists.

So much of life is having to make The Call without all the information you need. Definitely parts of life spring surprises on you as a couple that are treacherous and breathtaking. You have to learn how to navigate both profound ambiguity and massive emotional turmoil.

Together.

You have to do that together.

And whoever we started out as, each of us, we grew through several iterations of ourselves leading to who we are today. And each of those iterations of Me, each of those iterations of Her, were sufficient to prevail against what we had to prevail against at the times we had to prevail against those things.

Even so, the experiences themselves were brutally messy. The most important thing, though, is that we bent.

But we did not break.

I won't lie. Marriage is the ultimate test of character. There are so many personal and professional abilities you're required to put in play even though you don't have all those abilities when you say "I do" and she says "I do". There's so much you have to improvise, learn on the fly. There's an Everest of things you learn about each other and what you do with that knowledge is the difference between success and failure. Between something you endure and a Life you cherish. Between being stuck and growing up.

Into your best self.

Into your best selves.

Which didn't just happen, by the way.

I know because for thirty-one years she has challenged me and continues to challenge me to be my best self. I did not and do not go quietly into that best self but it's a helluva thing I ended up pursuing that version of Me anyway.

So.

It takes an excessive amount of self-confidence to say "I Do", to mean it, and then to assume it's a done deal. BAM. There's your Forever.

But there you are: we're thirty-one years into this adventure and we are well on our way to Forever.

☺️

[k2kitchensnaples]

Redefining Spaces: Bonita Springs' Premier Kitchen and Bath Remodelers - K2 Kitchens

In the charming town of Bonita Springs, Florida, where coastal beauty converges with thriving communities, your home is more than a structure; it's your sanctuary. And at the heart of this sanctuary are your kitchen and bath, two spaces that should seamlessly blend functionality with elegance. This is where K2 Kitchens, the leading agency for Kitchen and Bath Remodeling in Bonita Springs, excels. With a rich history of excellence and a passion for redefining spaces, K2 Kitchens is your trusted partner in transforming your home into a haven of style, luxury, and comfort.

The Artistry of Kitchen and Bath Remodeling

Your kitchen and bath are not just rooms; they are reflections of your lifestyle, your taste, and your aspirations. A well-designed kitchen and bath don't just enhance your daily life; they elevate the entire atmosphere of your home.

Why Choose K2 Kitchens for Your Bonita Springs Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Needs?

Craftsmanship Excellence: At K2 Kitchens, they are not just remodelers; they are artisans who craft spaces that seamlessly blend functionality with beauty. Their designs are a testament to their dedication to creating kitchens and baths that are not just practical but also visually stunning.

Customization: One size doesn't fit all when it comes to remodeling. K2 Kitchens understands this and tailors each project to the unique needs and preferences of their clients, ensuring every detail reflects your style and taste.

Functionality Redefined: Kitchens and baths need to be as practical as they are beautiful. K2 Kitchens' designs are rooted in functionality, ensuring that your new spaces not only look amazing but also serve as efficient hubs for your daily activities.

Quality Materials: K2 Kitchens uses only the highest quality materials for their remodeling projects. This guarantees durability and longevity, ensuring your investment stands the test of time.

Attention to Detail: From the choice of cabinet handles to the placement of lighting fixtures, K2 Kitchens pays attention to every detail. It's these small touches that elevate their designs to the extraordinary.

Experienced Team: With years of experience in kitchen and bath remodeling in Bonita Springs, K2 Kitchens' team of experts brings a wealth of knowledge to every project. They navigate challenges with ease and deliver exceptional results.

Budget-Friendly Solutions: K2 Kitchens works within your budget to deliver the best value for your investment. They find innovative solutions to create stunning spaces without breaking the bank.

Client-Centric Approach: Your vision matters. K2 Kitchens collaborates closely with you, ensuring your ideas and desires are at the forefront of the project. Your satisfaction is their ultimate goal.

Transform Your Home with K2 Kitchens

For homeowners in Bonita Springs, kitchen and bath remodeling isn't just about renovation; it's about transforming your home into a space that reflects your personality, enhances your daily life, and adds value to your property. K2 Kitchens specializes in redefining ordinary spaces into extraordinary havens, creating kitchens and baths that are not only functional but also works of art.

Conclusion

Your home is your sanctuary, and K2 Kitchens is the key to transforming it into a space that reflects your style, enhances your daily life, and adds value to your property. With their expertise in kitchen and bath remodeling in Bonita Springs, K2 Kitchens can turn your dream spaces into a reality. Redefine your home with K2 Kitchens and experience the artistry of remodeling at its finest. Visit www.k2kitchens.com today to know more.

[quichelewoof]

Awoo! Spring is coming! Murkwood is thriving with the energy of spring and the swamps bloom to life. The chorus of frogs fill the air as flowers blossom out across the bogs, marshes and pits. Water voles run along the riversides, bird song returns as they migrate back to the warmer weather and bats shake off their hibernation to fill the evening skies. From catkins budding on the willows to the crimson buds of wych elms, the wetlands burst with colour.

And with spring comes tying up loose ends and organising our spaces. There’s so much to do before launch comes round! Finishing den lore we’ve put off. Saving wolf profiles for launch. Crafting customs for our starters. Deciding our future breeding projects. Drawing page breaks and shop fronts or scenes from our lore. That’s why with the help of Kate and MaggotJuiceBox, we’re hosting Lorch! A month long creative challenge revolving around Lorwolf with a spring twist. Every day during March, anyone who wants to participate in this challenge creates either a drawing, writing or any other creative task involving their wolves or Lorwolf in general and post it online. We’ve put together 31 days of prompts to get the creative juices going. (See above.) Not liking some of the prompts? Here's a word bank you can replace any of the days with:

Transition - Rejuvenation - Sprout - Flora - Growth - Dew - Forest - Fountain - Home - Tidy - Breathe - Expand - Hope - Freedom - Voyage - Wonder - Energy - Alchemy - Delight - Acceptance

Rules:

You can post your submissions on Tumblr, in the Lorwolf’s Discord Lorch Channel under contest/challenges, or Lorch forum.

All creative tasks are counted, however irl activities like baking, knitting, woodwork, and clay-making do require an irl photo.

For written pieces: The minimum word count is 200 words. (The exception is poetry, but you must spend at least 20 minutes on your poem.)

All creative tasks must be created by you specifically for this event.

Prizes:

Prizes will be given as a code to use at launch!

Creative Task Ideas:

Aside from drawing and writing, there’s plenty of other ways to join in on Lorch. Creative Tasks can include cross-stitching, paper-folding, creating a tune, paper mosaics, crochet, scrap-booking, ceramics, cake decorating, making tea blends and jewellery. As long as it can be tied in to the prompts and Lorwolf, your den, lore or wolves, it’s a great task to do.

Don't forget to tag your submissions with #Lor-ch or tag @quichelewoof​ if posting on Tumblr, so others can find your wonderful creations and they can be tallied towards your prizes.

[itsdaytime]

New Design

viktor x g/n!mechanic!reader

word count: 3.1k

You’re a skilled mechanic enrolled at the academy. You’ve made quite the name for yourself, and with your newfound recognition comes a slew of employment offers. Various faculty members seek you out as an assistant or a protégé, but only a certain pair of innovative geniuses is successful in convincing you.

Taglist: @freementallyillkid @perpetualphilomath @subbing-for-clones @edenstarkk @mischievous-piltovian

Notes: I hope this is okay!! It’s my first time posting x reader stuff hehe. Please feel free to leave feedback in the replies :)

You always liked to tell yourself that people are just like machines. It made them easier to decipher if you pictured them as conglomerations of gears and springs as opposed to the fully sentient bags of organic matter they really are. It was tough to figure out exactly how people tick, so why not apply your vast knowledge of machinery to make it simpler? Flawless logic, you’d tell yourself with a dry laugh. You know very well that both are equally complicated.

Despite the complications of human nature, this approach works with just about everyone you regularly interact with and observe at the Academy. The talkative boy that sits in the front corner of your hydraulics lecture? The reason he volunteers early on in class is likely because he never finishes the assigned readings. And his friend beside him? There’s only one way to interpret his overeager assistance and prolonged eye contact... Although almost everyone at the Academy is brilliant, there aren’t many surprises in their designs. A smile always conveys what a smile should —joy— and a scowl, distaste. At this point in your life, you’re confident that you’ve figured people out.

If you consider yourself skilled in understanding and reading people, then when it comes to machines, you’re a downright genius. You’re so well practiced that you can detect an issue by sound alone, repairing an impending slip-up before it has the chance to cause a problem. You craft devices from the ruins of another, breathing new life into something one once considered worthless. Your hands are strong and steady, your many calluses and scars proof of your experience. People tell you that the way you work at an intricate problem is akin to the way the gentle fingers of a piano prodigy make the instrument sing. When something breaks, you always find a way to make it work again, no matter what it takes. Once you take on a project, you see it through despite the bumps you may hit along the way. Your skill, paired with your determination, sets you apart from others in your field of study.

What started as acknowledgment from your own professors grew into widespread recognition of your abilities. Peers and members of Piltovan high society alike seek your assistance with their mechanical mishaps, the latter demographic often offering hefty compensation for your services. You sometimes overheard talk from faculty about your appeal as a potential assistant. Why would someone in the chemistry department want you as an assistant? You’d be nothing but a glorified repairman; the thought alone makes you shudder. You want to be involved in something that will make an impact. Part of you is flattered by the attention, but the rest of you just wants to complete your education and pursue your own interests in peace. As talk of others’ plans for your future increases, so too does the number of hours you spend locked away in the engineering workshop.

Over the next week, you reject three professors’ offers; their work simply didn’t align with your personal goals. I’m starting to sound like a broken record, you think, a pensive scowl on your face. You wonder how many more times you’ll have to say, “I’m honored, sir, but I’m afraid I’ll have to decline,” before you’ll eventually have to crack and accept an offer. The thought fills you with dread. The idea of spending the rest of your time at the academy teaching in a classroom just doesn’t appeal to you. You want to contribute to society in a way that will benefit people. You want to help build a brighter future for those who need it most, which is why your heart nearly stops when the creators of Hextech come knocking at your workshop door on a Monday morning.

You had rolled your eyes and huffed a heavy sigh before rising to your feet to answer the door. You didn’t want to have to turn away another poor educator this early in the day. You pulled the door open and started your generic greeting.

“Good morning, how can I help y-” You freeze, finding yourself face to face with the two most relevant people in all of Piltover. Jayce Talis stands in the left of the doorway with his shoulders held high, a charming smile upon his chiseled face. His partner Viktor is beside him, leaning nonchalantly on his cane as he studies you patiently. This was the last thing you were expecting. “Oh shit,” you breathe, unable to contain your shock. Your comment makes Jayce snort, but he quickly clears his throat to hide it. Viktor, on the other hand, chuckles unabashedly.

“I’m guessing you know who we are, then?” Viktor asks, the grin he shoots you not at all helping your frazzled state. Your brain is going a mile a minute, your heart hammering in your chest. You have to be dreaming, right? There’s no way this is real. Everyone, and you mean everyone, wants to get their foot in the door with these two. Hextech is the most promising invention in decades, and its possibilities are pretty much endless. For them to come looking for you… It feels more than surreal.

“I- Of course I do! You’ve only pioneered the most potentially limitless field of technology to ever exist,” you reply enthusiastically. You’re shocked you can even speak.

“Please, Hextech is hardly that polished,” Jayce says with a wave of his hand, pride painting his cheeks pink. “I’m Jayce, but I assume you already knew that.” You exchange a firm handshake and turn next to his partner. Viktor is already waiting expectantly for your hand, his head tilted with intrigue.

“Viktor,” he says as you take it. His hand is much colder than the other man’s, all tendons and long, dexterous fingers. You hold on for a bit too long, garnering a playful eyebrow raise from the scientist whose hand was the object of your lingering gaze. You quickly drop your hand back to your sides and hold them there stiffly.

“(Y/N). It’s an honor to meet you both.” It’s then you realize you should probably offer to let them sit down somewhere. It’s rather odd to hold a conversation hanging halfway out of the room. “Um, would you like to come in?” you ask, motioning over your shoulder into your workshop. “I have couches and coffee, if you’d like.”

“That would be fantastic,” says Jayce, and that’s how you end up with a pair of geniuses on your couch for half the day.

At first, they simply ask about your studies and current projects, which you are more than happy to answer. Nobody really wonders this kind of thing, and it’s indescribably freeing to be discussing your passions as opposed to potential repairs you could make for someone else. Of course you like to help others, it just sometimes feels as though people only value your skills for trivial reasons and ignore the bigger picture of what you could accomplish. Anyone can fix a busted radio; you’d rather dedicate your time and energy to more interesting projects. Jayce and Viktor listen intently as you speak, Viktor making note of something you say every now and then. They’re genuinely interested in what you do and what you believe in, which makes the real reason they’re here all the more exciting.

“I must admit that we’ve been keeping tabs on you over the past few months, and this is an offer we’ve been contemplating and discussing for just as long.” Viktor has such a nice voice; you find it surprising that he doesn’t do more public speaking. You’re drawn into his words, the cadence with which he speaks keeping you on the edge of your seat. You decide then and there that you could listen to him talk all day.

“Spending the morning with you today has proved to us beyond a shadow of a doubt that you fit the mold of what a Hextech scientist should be.” Jayce picks up where his partner left off, smiling as he speaks. You’re practically vibrating in your seat, breaths shaking with exhilaration and anticipation. You can’t remember the last time you’ve felt this excited. “So, (Y/N)... How would you like to join the team as our new assistant?”

The words are music to your ears, and you feel tears start to prick at the corners of your eyes. Over the past few weeks, you had been so worried that you’d end up trapped in an unwanted apprenticeship that you’d almost forgotten what your goal was. Now, with the future of Piltover and possibly all of Runeterra before you, you remember. With them, you could change the world without a doubt.

“I would love to.”

Your apprenticeship is going smoothly aside from the typical explosions and other scientific mishaps, and you become acquainted with Viktor and Jayce fairly quickly over the first two months of being their assistant. Spending extended amounts of time in their lab with them means bearing witness to all sorts of conversations.

Sometimes things get deep and the two contemplate life and existence, wondering what it’s all for and lamenting their failures and mistakes.You often worry if you should even be listening; you brought it up to Viktor once, who assured you that you’re privy to most all information as part of their team. It was that comment that dispelled any remaining doubt you may have had about your worth or status. If Viktor, the less outgoing of the two, considers you a teammate, then you must be doing something right.

Other times, they’re bickering over little things like snacks (“Viktor, please make room in the fridge for something other than your ridiculously sweet drinks”) or the messiness of each other’s notes (“Jayce, as long as I can read it it does not matter how ‘scribbly’ my handwriting is”). If they reach a stalemate, they often turn to you as a tiebreaker. They entertain you endlessly and provide good company, and all of that is on top of being brilliant mentors and colleagues. You find yourself waking up exhilarated each morning, willing your classes to end quickly so your time in the lab could come sooner. In short, you couldn’t be more content.

That being said, you’ve encountered quite the surprising challenge: Viktor himself. If he were a machine, you think, he’d blow up upon ignition. He’s a powerhouse of a scientist, always going yet never slowing. He murmurs to himself as he works, his deft hands writing at incomprehensible speeds. It’s a wonder that his pen can keep up with his mind. Sometimes you catch yourself staring in awe at his quick movements at the chalkboards, desperately wanting to take a look inside his enigmatic mind. How can one man be the vessel of such brilliance? One of his most impressive talents is waving off Jayce’s pestering whilst conducting experiments. You’re extremely hesitant to interrupt him when he’s doing something of questionable safety; you have a hypothesis as to how it would end, and you’re not too sure you want to test it.

Viktor has taken it upon himself to keep you on your toes. You’re sure he has the quickest wit in all of Runeterra; trying to banter with him lands you pouting defeatedly at your workspace. His sense of humor is dry and sarcastic, and he’s capable of clapping back without even looking up from his notes. When he knows he’s won, he sports a smirk that can only be described as teasing, his eyes glinting with excitement. That look never fails to make your heart skip a beat. He renders you a flustered mess only to turn right back to his work like nothing’s happened. You weren’t complaining in the least; he makes your work even more exciting. He’s part of the reason you’re so eager to arrive in the lab each day, but you’d never tell him that.

Tonight, you find yourself slipping into the lab well past midnight. Your academic responsibilities held you hostage most of the day, and on top of that, you had to finish an engineering midterm project that kept you in your workshop for hours on its own. You’ve barely had a moment to breathe, yet somehow your mind isn’t tired. It must be the adrenaline of approaching deadlines. You didn’t initially have much to do Hextech-wise tonight, but you came up with some (arguably pretty good) ideas whilst slaving away on your project. You just needed to make a few quick blueprints and submit copies of your notes to your superiors and then you could go sleep off the impending doom of exam season.

Upon entry to the lab, you make note of a couple things. First, you notice the view of the moon through the window. It’s vast and glows a pale yellow, its light casting long shadows into the lab and illuminating any visible glass. It feels like a completely different space this late at night. The lighting makes it feel almost… magical. Next, you become aware of Jayce’s absence; there’s an unfamiliar silence to the large room without his mumbling and rhetorical questions filling it. Finally, your eyes land on Viktor, standing before one of the chalkboards like it’s still ten in the morning. Is this normal for him? How late does he stay here? You know he never goes home before you do, but you had no idea that he works this long into the night. Your eyebrows furrow and you clear your throat. He straightens slightly and turns to greet you with a puzzled look on his handsome face. He’s practically glowing in the moonlight.

“(Y/N)? What… are you doing here?”

“I could ask the same of you.”

“Questioning me in my laboratory, hmm? You’re a bold one.”

You huff a heavy sigh before replying. “It’s almost three in the morning, Viktor. You’ve been here all day, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have. Is there a problem with that?”

“I mean, aren’t you, you know… tired or something?”

He takes a step toward the nearby podium his notes are on, the sound of his cane hitting the floor echoing in the darkness. He picks up a mug full of what you assume is coffee and wiggles it at you. “No.” You decide not to press the matter any further. He knows his limits, you’re sure. He’s a grown man, and a genius at that.

“You, eh, still haven’t told me why you’re here,” he says, breaking your pensive silence. He awaits your answer with his typical anticipatory expression: one corner of his lip quirked upwards with an eyebrow raised. He always looks like he knows something you don’t. “Jayce said he gave you the day off.”

You swallow, feeling small under his gaze. “Uh, he did. I just had some ideas and needed to get them down on paper, you know?”

He laughs softly. “Oh, I know. I can respect that.” He pauses to take a sip of coffee, but you’re too busy basking in the fact that he just proclaimed his respect for you to make much note of it. “Though, you should probably get some sleep. It is midterm season, no?”

“Well, yeah, I guess. But this is more important! Look at all that I came up with today,” you say excitedly, closing the distance between you and Viktor in a few eager steps. You thrust your engineering sketchbook at him and look at him with wide eyes. He takes it from you with a soft hum, opening to the first page of your new additions. He studies your ideas in silence, flipping through the pages without a word. You’re holding your breath the whole time. You become more embarrassed the longer he looks. Why did you assume someone so brilliant would be impressed by a few of your messy invention concepts? When he finally looks up, he finds you with your hands fiddling with your shirt hem and your bottom lip between your teeth. His face betrays nothing for a few agonizing seconds, and you want to sink through the floor. Dammit.

Suddenly, he smiles. “These are fantastic ideas, (Y/N). It’s impressive you were able to produce so many in one day.” He flips back to one page in particular. “Especially this one, it’s my favorite. I think it’ll be very doable once we manage to stabilize the crystals. Well done.”

You nearly pass out from relief, your shoulders visibly slumping as you release the tension. You offer him a breathless, “Thanks,” and take the book back from him. Your heart is hammering, and you feel drunk off his praise. Your hands tremble with nerves. You can’t believe someone you respect so highly is showing genuine interest in your original ideas. Is this happening?

“If you wouldn’t mind, could you make me a copy of your sketches at some point?”

“Oh, uh- Of course! I was actually here to make some rough blueprints and copies anyway.”

“Perfect. I’ll be getting back to my work now, just yell if you need me.”

You nod firmly and retreat to your workstation on the other side of the lab. Copying your sketches –legibly, no less– was a tedious process, but you barely took note due to your good mood. You and Viktor work in silence on your respective tasks, the only sounds the purposeful strokes of pencil and chalk. As you’re finishing up, exhaustion starts to rear its ugly head. Your adrenaline has worn off, and the fact of how late it is has finally registered in your preoccupied mind. You let out a loud yawn, and you can hear Viktor chuckle quietly. You decide to call it a night here, knowing your future self was going to have one hell of a morning if you didn’t.

“I’m off to bed. Need anything before I go?” You ask Viktor as you pass him on the way out. He turns to look at you with something you can’t quite place in his eyes. His gaze lingers for a moment before he shakes his head.

“No, I’ll be alright, thank you. Have a good night, (Y/N),” he says with a soft smile. You wave and turn to leave when he speaks again. “Do feel free to visit me here again some other night. Working alongside you like this was… pleasant.”

Your heart skips a beat and you stop dead in your tracks, a goofy smile fighting its way onto your face. You feel giddy, all smiles and positive thoughts. Part of you wants to skip back to your dorm room like a little kid. You compose yourself briefly in order to respond. “I…feel the same. Goodnight, Viktor.” You leave in a hurry afterward, anxious to get to bed (by which you mean ponder your interaction with Viktor for the remainder of the night). Needless to say, you didn’t get much sleep.

[uomo-accattivante]

Excellent article about bringing a re-make of Ingmar Bergman’s Scenes from a Marriage to fruition, and the twenty-year friendship that Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain share:

There were days on the shoot for “Scenes From a Marriage,” a five-episode limited series that premieres Sept. 12 on HBO, when Oscar Isaac resented the crew.

The problem wasn’t the crew members themselves, he told me on a video call in March. But the work required of him and his co-star, Jessica Chastain, was so unsparingly intimate — “And difficult!” Chastain added from a neighboring Zoom window — that every time a camera operator or a makeup artist appeared, it felt like an intrusion.

On his other projects, Isaac had felt comfortably distant from the characters and their circumstances — interplanetary intrigue, rogue A.I. But “Scenes” surveys monogamy and parenthood, familiar territory. Sometimes Isaac would film a bedtime scene with his onscreen child (Lily Jane) and then go home and tuck his own child into the same model of bed as the one used onset, accessorized with the same bunny lamp, and not know exactly where art ended and life began.

“It was just a lot,” he said.

Chastain agreed, though she put it more strongly. “I mean, I cried every day for four months,” she said.

Isaac, 42, and Chastain, 44, have known each other since their days at the Juilliard School. And they have channeled two decades of friendship, admiration and a shared and obsessional devotion to craft into what Michael Ellenberg, one of the series’s executive producers, called “five hours of naked, raw performance.” (That nudity is metaphorical, mostly.)

“For me it definitely felt incredibly personal,” Chastain said on the call in the spring, about a month after filming had ended. “That’s why I don’t know if I have another one like this in me. Yeah, I can’t decide that. I can’t even talk about it without. …” She turned away from the screen. (It was one of several times during the call that I felt as if I were intruding, too.)

The original “Scenes From a Marriage,” created by Ingmar Bergman, debuted on Swedish television in 1973. Bergman’s first television series, its six episodes trace the dissolution of a middle-class marriage. Starring Liv Ullmann, Bergman’s ex, it drew on his own past relationships, though not always directly.

“When it comes to Bergman, the relationship between autobiography and fiction is extremely complicated,” said Jan Holmberg, the chief executive of the Ingmar Bergman Foundation.

A sensation in Sweden, it was seen by most of the adult population. And yes, sure, correlation does not imply causation, but after its debut, Swedish divorce were rumored to have doubled. Holmberg remembers watching a rerun as a 10-year-old.

“It was a rude awakening to adult life,” he said.

The writer and director Hagai Levi saw it as a teenager, on Israeli public television, during a stint on a kibbutz. “I was shocked,” he said. The series taught him that a television series could be radical, that it could be art. When he created “BeTipul,” the Israeli precursor to “In Treatment,” he used “Scenes” as proof of the concept “that two people can talk for an hour and it can work,” Levi said. (Strangely, “Scenes” also inspired the prime-time soap “Dallas.”)

So when Daniel Bergman, Ingmar Bergman’s youngest son, approached Levi about a remake, he was immediately interested.

But the project languished, in part because loving a show isn’t reason enough to adapt it. Divorce is common now — in Sweden, and elsewhere — and the relationship politics of the original series, in which the male character deserts his wife and young children for an academic post, haven’t aged particularly well.

Then about two years ago, Levi had a revelation. He would swap the gender roles. A woman who leaves her marriage and child in pursuit of freedom (with a very hot Israeli entrepreneur in place of a visiting professorship) might still provoke conversation and interest.

So the Marianne and Johan of the original became Mira and Jonathan, with a Boston suburb (re-created in a warehouse just north of New York City), stepping in for the Stockholm of the original. Jonathan remains an academic though Mira, a lawyer in the original, is now a businesswoman who out-earns him.

Casting began in early 2020. After Isaac met with Levi, he wrote to Chastain to tell her about the project. She wasn’t available. The producers cast Michelle Williams. But the pandemic reshuffled everyone’s schedules. When production was ready to resume, Williams was no longer free. Chastain was. “That was for me the most amazing miracle,” Levi said.

Isaac and Chastain met in the early 2000s at Juilliard. He was in his first year; she, in her third. He first saw her in a scene from a classical tragedy, slapping men in the face as Helen of Troy. He was friendly with her then-boyfriend, and they soon became friends themselves, bonding through the shared trauma of an acting curriculum designed to break its students down and then build them back up again. Isaac remembered her as “a real force of nature and solid, completely solid, with an incredible amount of integrity,” he said.

In the next window, Chastain blushed. “He was super talented,” she said. “But talented in a way that wasn’t expected, that’s challenging and pushing against constructs and ideas.” She introduced him to her manager, and they celebrated each other’s early successes and went to each other’s premieres. (A few of those photos are used in “Scenes From a Marriage” as set dressing.)

In 2013, Chastain was cast in J.C. Chandor’s “A Most Violent Year,”opposite Javier Bardem. When Bardem dropped out, Chastain campaigned for Isaac to have the role. Weeks before shooting, they began to meet, fleshing out the back story of their characters — a husband and wife trying to corner the heating oil market in 1981 New York — the details of the marriage, business, life.

It was their first time working together, and each felt a bond that went deeper than a parallel education and approach. “Something connects us that’s stronger than any ideas of character or story or any of that,” Isaac said. “There’s something else that’s more about like, a shared existence.”

Chandor noticed how they would support each other on set, and challenge each other, too, giving each other the freedom to take the characters’ relationship to dark and dangerous places. “They have this innate trust with each other,” Chandor said.

That trust eliminated the need for actorly tricks or shortcuts, in part because they know each other’s tricks too well. Their motto, Isaac said, was, “Let’s figure this [expletive] out together and see what’s the most honest thing we can do.”

Moni Yakim, Juilliard’s celebrated movement instructor, has followed their careers closely and he noted what he called the “magnetism and spiritual connection” that they suggested onscreen in the film.

“It’s a kind of chemistry,” Yakim said. “They can read each other’s mind and you as an audience, you can sense it.”

Telepathy takes work. When they knew that shooting “Scenes From a Marriage” could begin, Chastain bought a copy of “All About Us,” a guided journal for couples, and filled in her sections in character as Mira. Isaac brought it home and showed it to his wife, the filmmaker Elvira Lind.

“She was like, ‘You finally found your match,’” Isaac recalled. “’Someone that is as big of a nerd as you are.’”

The actors rehearsed, with Levi and on their own, talking their way through each long scene, helping each other through the anguished parts. When production had to halt for two weeks, they rehearsed then, too.

Watching these actors work reminded Amy Herzog, a writer and executive producer on the series, of race horses in full gallop. “These are two people who have so much training and skill,” she said. “Because it’s an athletic feat, what they were being asked to do.”

But training and skill and the “All About Us” book hadn’t really prepared them for the emotional impact of actually shooting “Scenes From a Marriage.” Both actors normally compartmentalize when they work, putting up psychic partitions between their roles and themselves. But this time, the partitions weren’t up to code.

“I knew I was in trouble the very first week,” Chastain said.

She couldn’t hide how the scripts affected her, especially from someone who knows her as well as Isaac does. “I just felt so exposed,” she said. “This to me, more than anything I’ve ever worked on, was definitely the most open I’ve ever been.”

“It felt so dangerous,” she said.

I visited the set in February (after multiple Covid-19 tests and health screenings) during a final day of filming. It was the quietest set I had ever seen: The atmosphere was subdued, reverent almost, a crew and a studio space stripped down to only what two actors would need to do the most passionate and demanding work of their careers.

Isaac didn’t know if he would watch the completed series. “It really is the first time ever, where I’ve done something where I’m totally fine never seeing this thing,” he said. “Because I’ve really lived through it. And in some ways I don’t want whatever they decide to put together to change my experience of it, which was just so intense.”

The cameras captured that intensity. Though Chastain isn’t Mira and Isaac isn’t Jonathan, each drew on personal experience — their parents’ marriages, past relationships — in ways they never had. Sometimes work on the show felt like acting, and sometimes the work wasn’t even conscious. There’s a scene in the harrowing fourth episode in which they both lie crumpled on the floor, an identical stress vein bulging in each forehead.

“It’s my go-to move, the throbbing forehead vein,” Isaac said on a follow-up video call last month. Chastain riffed on the joke: “That was our third year at Juilliard, the throb.”

By then, it had been five months since the shoot wrapped. Life had returned to something like normal. Jokes were possible again. Both of them seemed looser, more relaxed. (Isaac had already poured himself one tequila shot and was ready for another.) No one cried.

Chastain had watched the show with her husband. And Isaac, despite his initial reluctance, had watched it, too. It didn’t seem to have changed his experience.

“I’ve never done anything like it,” he said. “And I can’t imagine doing anything like it again.”

###

[gaviicreates]

Experiments with Mohair + FO: Friends Ear Warmer

Good Morning, Crafters! In my fiber crafts learning journey this week, I made my first finished object using a merino wool, held together with mohair. It seems that crafters are either a fan of mohair or dislike mohair, and I haven't seen anyone in between. So I figured it was time to figure out where I stood in this equation.

A couple of months ago I picked up some colorways in the relatively new Hobbii "Friends" Collection, the idea behind this product line being that you can mix and match the exact colorways across multiple fibers and weights. I think this is an excellent idea to create a line with varied, but reliable colors, and very well has the potential to be a staple when wanting to use a base of solids. There's cottons, kid silk, wool, a cotton and acrylic blend, and extra fine merino for all your fiber fun needs.

As I mentioned, I chose the extra fine merino and kid silk (79) - it will be the same across all fibers, which is also a nice feature and makes my organized brain all happy - also known as "Open Sea." Find the yarn here: Kid Silk, Extra Fine Merino Find the Friends Collection Here. With kid silk, I am getting not the pure experience of mohair, as it actually is a blend with 72% Mohair, 25% Silk, 3% Wool. I don't have a comparison, but I can tell you the silk probably gives it a bit of shimmer and possibly softens the yarn. But merino and mohair from what I've read both tend to be considered soft wools, and are not the experience one might think of. If you are thinking of the scratchy stuff, these are not it. I can attest they feel like clouds, so I think they would be good for those with sensitive skin. As long as you are not allergic to the fiber, which can happen too. With my yarns delivered, I first wanted to go about exploring the difference in the color. There's always bound to be some variety based on the way the fibers are able to hold the dye (I am sure there is a scientific word for that), but I was surprised to see that not only was the color as I expected based on the colors on my computer screen, but also that they did match each other even closer than I expected. I also ordered a pink in the kid silk and cotton (37) or "Rosewood."

It was then time to start working up my skeins to see how they worked together, and to determine where I stood with these materials.

Since softness was key, I figured I should test it on a pattern close to the skin. I chose a headband pattern from Hobbii, that was designed for their Universe line, but is an easy one to adjust for different yarn weights and desired width. This is a crochet pattern, and will create a gorgeous texture with alternating post stitches. You can find the FREE pattern here.

The first thing I realized - the mohair creates a GORGEOUS natural halo. And that I think is the first thing to recognize about your own aesthetic when deciding whether to give mohair a try. Halo is those errant strands of fiber around your work - sometimes occurring overtime with use - and in this case, added intentionally because it will change the look of your fabric, but also provide extra warmth and softness. I think an ear warmer was the perfect choice of project for these yarns, and in my case, I really enjoyed the slight nuance of the new fabric I was creating - the kid silk adding just a bit of light to the matte of the merino.

There's a downside - this was not a froggable project. When I was first beginning the headband, I wasn't happy initially with the width and wanted to pull everything back to make it smaller. When I went to frog, I only felt comfortable going back a row, worrying that I would break the strands if I tugged it harder. Since I only had the one skein each, I chose to keep going forward. I am glad I did, because the end result is just right with the twist sewn in. You know - perfect - just as we are about to go into the warmth of Spring.

I'll keep it for winter. <3

In the end Mohair - would try again! I feel like there could be a definitely appeal to expand into more adventurous color combinations now that I've seen how the strands and colors work together. I can definitely see that rosewood color way with a different yarn that could completely transform the look. I get it, I definitely do. **I am new to this fiber journey**

[nawilla]

Craft Goals for 2023

Upcoming Craft Goals for 2023:

January: Finish the Big Boba Fett Cross Stitch and get it framed.  Hope to have the stitching done by the end of January.  Framing will take longer since I still have to find a good frame.  (I’ve found some good frames for other projects at Goodwill, still looking for the right one for this one).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086X1PP7W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

February:  Gingerbread Tree Skirt.  This is a pattern from the Crochet Crowd and Yarnspirations, and the yarn has already been purchased.  The hope is to have a full-sized Christmas tree next year, so this is the skirt that will be used for it.  

https://thecrochetcrowd.com/gingerbread-afghan-tree-skirt-pattern/

(I want to do it in these colors, I think it will go well with my living room.  The pattern also allows one to make a round blanket, so if I like it I may make one for the back of the couch).

March: I bought all the supplies, um, before the pandemic to make a spring wreath and I never even unpacked the box.  I want to actually do it.  

https://www.bhg.com/holidays/easter/crafts/make-a-tulip-wreath/

I picked different colors when the silk flowers were on sale, but hell if I remember which I chose, so I guess I have a surprise in April.  It was pastel but not pink.

April: I found some sock yarn I still haven’t used so this spring I want to knit a pair of socks for me.  I also expect to be doing some yard work so I’m not planning anything bigger than that.  Hopefully I will find my sock needles by April.  They are . . . somewhere.

May: I bought an embroidery kit at ALDI sometime during the pandemic and I want to actually start using it.  I already know how to cross stitch but other than a kit I never finished sometime in the 2000′s the last time I learned to do embroidery was in sixth grade home economics class.  Eventually I want to put together enough supplies to cross stitch and embroider regularly.  Friends IRL, expect thready gifts in the future.  

https://www.hinkler.com.au/create-your-own-embroidery-box-set

June: Another kit I purchased years ago and never used is the Star Wars Crochet Kit.  I definitely want to use this (and if I like it, there is now a Mandalorian kit).  

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Crochet-Editors-Thunder-Press/dp/1645176010/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=star+wars+crochet+kit&qid=1672609548&sprefix=star+wars+crochet%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-4

July:  July is going to inevitably be hot, so it may be time to break out the rock painting kit I bought and stop trying to work with textiles.  Yes, I’ve been buying kits because I haven’t had the brain space to buy supplies and everything is ready when I am.  I also purchased this one from ALDI (this year.  I was about to buy a second identical embroidery kit and realized I already had one at home).  I have no idea what I will do with them, but we’ll see if I like it.

https://www.amazon.com/Metallic-Rock-Painting-Tuck-Box/dp/1488936358/ref=asc_df_1488936358/?tag=&linkCode=df0&hvadid=393872337347&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17191787448781098786&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005930&hvtargid=pla-756203764489&ref=&adgrpid=78517715221&th=1

August: I have a knock off Diamond Dots kit and August seems like a good month to try that.  It’s supposed to be similar to cross stitch, but again, no textiles in the heat.  If I like it, I already have a few more kits that I bought on sale/on a whim/for free shipping on amazon. Those can be considered in 2024.

https://www.hinkler.com.au/crystal-creations-proud-peacock

September-December:  When fall comes Christmas is just around the corner.  I want to keep some time available to start doing holiday gifts, but I hope to do some craft painting.  I’ve got quite a few ceramic ornaments to paint that I’ve collected over the years, so I can work on those.  I also used to make marbled glass ornaments and fall is a good time to do that because they can take weeks to dry but only need to be turned 1-2 times a day so it’s good to make a bunch at once.  Also I will be doing Inktober again, so that covers October.

https://www.marthastewart.com/274467/christmas-ornament-projects?slide=f755a21b-ca8d-4267-91c5-c207114819cc#f755a21b-ca8d-4267-91c5-c207114819cc

https://www.favecrafts.com/Ornaments/Marbelous-Ornaments

I have a few orphan projects I may do when I have time (like that Mandala blanket) and I know I won’t make all of these goals.  And I’m sure holiday gifts will totally derail some.  But these are the fun plans.  And I may do some smaller cross stitch projects in between.