Paper Experiments

I tried playing with a limited color palatte and a reduced number of images today. Everything else was open to whatever I wanted to do; I just couldn't use anything other than the 5 colors and 3 or 4 stamp sets.

I tried out some new coloring techniques here- I used Prismacolor markers given to me by an exceedingly generous artist friend. I really like them, but I need to learn how to test and use them before I go too far into them on a regular basis. I threw away several images because the markers were too dark or bright =(

Sorry it is a little blurry. Hope the colors and design come through. 

I plan to color this in with markers before I am finished. 

It's really hard to see in this picture, but there are DOTS embossed onto the minty green paper behind the flower. 

I am really liking this set of colors. There is a taupe that I wasn't crazy about in the package, but once I used it, I changed my tune. It's neutral but has enough depth to it to be used in many different ways. I have also become a HUGE fan of the slate color instead of black as a neutral. It has a softer, more personal look that I adore. 

I also found a card online that I am using as a reference/inspiration piece for something else. I bought a stamp set that is extremely similar to the images shown here, and so I wanted some ideas on how to use it. 

My guess is that the "you" is a die cut, because the main orange appears to be dimensional. In my experience, stamping across a flat paper and onto a dimensional image leaves you with a break in the image, so a die cut or sticker makes more sense to me here.

Happiness in Progress

the knitting continues at a satisfying pace -


not too slow (as to make me infuriated) and not too fast (as to cause mistakes or ruin the fun of creating stuff)


I can really SEE an scarf developing out of this yarn.

It's stretchy! 

I never in a million years thought ruffles would make me happy.

More Creations Inbound!

I've been working on a whole bunch of different things. Lately, my creative urges have been all over the place and I want to try ALL THE THINGS before my interest wanes. 

So as a weird cross between a joke and a challenge, I decided to learn to knit. Despite all the teasing about being a little old lady, I really wanted to get the art of yarn in hand so I could say that I can do SOME kind of fabric work. 

My initial attempts were pretty horrible, and I got very frustrated. There was even some crying- and I don't cry over much. I decided to try one last time, but I bought larger needles and bigger yarn. It WORKED! 

This is the beginning of success. 

Wonder Continues

So it's been a long time, but things on my creative front have changed. I've got some new stuff I am working on, and my direction has shifted entirely.

This is one of the things I got for Christmas, and I am having a ton of fun learning how to use it.

It's a Silhouette Portrait electronic cutting machine. It's a super fun tool that allows me to use "cut files" or fonts, or shapes, or pictures on my computer, and then cut them out.

These are some samples of the kind of thing I can cut out with this machine. It has settings and adapters that will let me cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, acetate, cloth, foil, and even a setting to create etched glass patterns.

My creative corner just underwent a huge remodel, as I got some new storage options and I rethought how I wanted to be able to access my stuff.

I have stencils and masks hanging from thumbtacks on my canvas idea board.

I got this one as a Christmas gift- I've been drooling over it for MONTHS now. I can't wait to paint, stick, glue and glitter away.

From Hazel & Ruby 

I also got about five different stripes and chevron patterns. I have a verifiable problem with circles and stripes. (don't judge!)

Oh yeah. I also got paint and glitter. This can't possibly be anything but messy and fun!

The State of Darkness

I got an email recently that lamented the lack of posts regarding World of Darkness recently, specifically mentioning wanting to know what ol' Vinnie was doing.

Well, in a word: nothing.

The Austin game wrapped up a little while ago, after the ST decided it had gone pretty much as far as it could. He gave us a couple of weeks' warning so we could work on/out anything we felt needed some kind of resolution, and then we ended the game on a nice, calm note.

Austin is dark, now.

A few weeks ago, a new game emerged in Austin's place. It is run by the same ST  (and has an additional ST to boot), and is set in Savannah, GA. The game is far more limited in scope, in that there are currently only Werewolves and Mages allowed at this time.

I decided not to join at the time, but after a few sessions, I felt the urge to write creeping on me. I started working on some characters on my own time, and talked about these ideas possibly becoming NPCs in the future of the game.  The ST seemed to like the idea and asked me to send along the finished products.

I'm not finished.

My problem has been the same as with my blog--- I have a very specific idea I want to get across, and my words are totally failing in that endeavor. On my blog posts, I have been working on a specific idea for a month or more, and I still can't get it across the way I want. With the NPCs, I have a group of three, and the third one has me stuck on a specific sentence, and I can't get past it.

I'm usually able to move around an obstacle, but these writing/blogging related issues are dragging me down like so much undertow.

At the same time as the logjam in the word department, I am suddenly thinking in visual terms, deciphering colors and shapes into ideas for cards, altered art projects and other crafty type stuff.

Inked glass is one of my favorite project types 

I've been playing around with the things that are inspiring me right now, hoping that they will carry over into the words that just aren't coming at the moment.

It hasn't happened yet, but I keep hoping. I keep looking for ways to bring words to life.

Interview for HOP-hereticwerks

I wrote a series of articles about designing better games for House of Paincakes over the past 2 months or so. While I was working on the process and developing material for the series, I conducted a good number of interviews with various people across the internet, as well as some real life folks.


This interview was almost entirely due to a conversation I had with Porky. It was  one of those serendipitous situations where one comment brought thought to another; and ideas tumbled forth unbound; all to my surprise. 

[RPG] Innovators

There are always those people that stand out from the group- doing things differently, being creative and excelling in some non-traditional and exponentially unusual way. Their ingenuity and spark is not always seen in a positive light- sometimes they are seen as rulebreakers or as non-conformists and are chided for "not leaving well enough alone".

I've had the pleasure of knowing (and hanging around with) a lot of innovators in the gaming world. Some of them like to play with rules; designing and kludging until things work to their liking. Others build worlds and environments, ripe for exploration. Others fundamentally change the way a game is played by applying a new concept or practice into the regular mix. Yet others change the dynamics of a group simply through the expression of their personality or behaviors.

I've also had the misery of being the one that had to deal with "that guy". You all know the one- the one that loves to push rules to their ---very--- limit, until they scream; develop lush and verdant universes just BEGGING to be lovingly and thoroughly delved (but NO; a one-off just won't do); the guy that won't leave the game alone and has to keep changing or adding something; or the guy that's just frigging annoying and everyone around him seems to adore him but you... yeah, that guy.

Unfortunately, quite often, they are the same guy. The only real difference is perspective. maybe the group dynamic changed. Maybe the timing is different. Maybe something else has happened to change me from a positive to a negative "receptor" of their innovative ways.

It's not always easy to recognize that one of the guys you hang out with is an innovator. Sometimes you're just in quiet awe of so-and-so's insane comprehension of the WH40K rules and his tactical ability. Other times you just wish Joe Blow would leave the darn Shaharazad alone.

It takes actively being cognizant of those around you to recognize true change and forward progress. It can be tough to turn on our brains to notice the wildly brilliant, especially if they are annoying the crap out of you. Sometimes you have to think differently.

Now, sometimes, a spade is a spade. Sometimes that guy really is a jerk or he really IS brilliant. That's fine. Just take a moment to examine the situation and try to see if you can see the other person some other way.

All that being said, I was really considering who I felt innovated in my local crowd; and why I thought that way. I realized a few things I wanted to share.

1- Innovation isn't constant. It doesn't stay the same, all the time. Some times it comes in a short burst or it might be spread out over a longer period of time, but it can't be counted on.

2. Innovation is dependent on attention. Paying attention to the thing you are working on only increases your knowledge of that subject, and that knowledge actively helps achieve excellence. You know the old saw, "practice makes perfect"... well, it's true.

3- Innovation is universal. It should be apparent to all who is, and who is not, an innovator in a group. There should be little argument over who stands out the most as the person doing something something so differently that it can't help but be noticeable. It should be understood- but probably as "that guy is weird" due to how hard it is to comprehend actual ingenuity.

But now the questions....

Is there a way to encourage visionaries? How do we feed and nurture those that dream? How do we keep ourselves from kicking them square in the [OUCH]?

Still pondering.