First a link for MagicToad, because of all the mushroom pictures: [link]

The gallery is wonderful, but the mushroom shots are amazing.

So yes... I've been off for a while, attending to "growed up" things. But the new job is in place as a fixture and that relieves some stress and opens time, which is promptly being filled up with my usual pre-Solstice/Christmas/Celebrate-the-dark dreaming and planning. This weekend marks the beginning of the doing. Many things want to be baked and shared and I was greatly inspired during a tour of some local historical homes to make some ornaments out of cinnamon sticks and other raw form spices... I made (and gave, because I am that impatient to start the season) my first sent of Fimo ornaments for Mandrell, and I was happy with how they turned out. And my partner bought a digital camera, so I can actually take and post photos of the larger scale pieces I've been working on.

Completed a commission on a drum skin for one of my former lovers, as a wedding gift to him. Funny how life comes full circle like that, isn't it?

I've been working on a ritual mask for an upcoming event, although the mask has some other objectives. It's interesting creating your own tools, especially when they start expressing opinions about things... this mask is showing up in my dreams with instructions, I swear! Been burning a lot of things to honour the dark and my denning instinct - I recommend burning Thyme if you want to feel like the space is clear in a room. Just not so much the powdered kind - the needles seem to work out better.

Bought a private sketchbook. I've never really had one, and I thought I could use one after a bunch of sketches started showing up in my writing journal. It is a very different format with wonderfully heavy paper, and I am working on a piece a moment here, a moment there and really enjoying it because there is no pressure to show it off. I'd forgotten how much fun art is when you aren't making it for other people's consumption. And it turns out I wasn't sure when I started factoring other people's opinions into it... How very strange. I've been seeing a lot of roadkill lately and those experiences are having a deep impact on me - in particular, seeing some porcupines (I've seen three in the last month or so). I've never seen porcupines before, and they are really quite beautifully absurd. I've needed reminding that beauty is not all classic representation and finished pieces.

I've even been working with small scale sculptures lately - made some "bear teeth" for friend's beserker costumes, made a mask that I saw in a dream, a small bowl. Had an idea for a series of pendants inspired by Tarot cards and my partner's minimalism. I think those will be fun.

Feeling cozy and connected to "family" lately - case in point was putting together the new vacuum... I love my friends, and that they are so good about letting me love them my way. That is such a great thing.

So yes, things are pretty epic in my world.