Crypt Stitch

Cryptic Cryptlets...

Introducing the Cryptic Cryptlets!

They live deep underground in both natural crypts and those made lovingly for them by the roots of immense trees. They are good friends with mAlice and her sisters, and like to visit them when the moon is full in the sky. Cryptic Cryptlets talk in cryptic couplets - but only at a whisper. They don't talk very often, though, preferring to hum songs the trees have taught them, and to dance wildly, flinging their feet around like accomplished Irish dancers, all the while entwining their arms in elaborate knots and unfurling them with immense drama!

I have named the first three Cryptic Cryptlets after women whose blogs have been a creative inspiration for me! Please meet:

Elsa

Heather

and Cobwebs

They'll be off to the shoppe  tomorrow! Have a spook-tacular day!

The Darke Sisters and Gothbury Manor...

mAlice , Lucretia , Artemisia and Beltaine Darke live in the sprawling and ancient Gothbury Manor, in a beautiful village not far from where you are now. Gothbury Manor encompasses gardens and fields and forests and streams as far as even an eagles' eye can see. The Manor house itself sits at the base of an extraordinary and magical mountain, whose peak is always covered with snow (you have to look high into the sky to see the top), and yet there are always vibrant wild flowers growing down towards the bottom. Nobody knows how long the girls and their kitty have been at Gothbury Manor - not even the girls themselves. It seems as though there was no time that they weren't here - and indeed time is peculiar at Gothbury Manor, it doesn't always run the same way you and I are used to - it might go forwards or backwards or even round in loops (usually dependent on the mischief mAlice is up to).

Artemisia and Beltaine tend the gardens with much help from the Fae and other magical creatures that reside there - even the plants themselves chip in, carefully placing their seeds exactly where Artemisia would have planted them, or dropping their leaves in neat piles of mulch around their own base or that of their bed-fellows.

The Manor itself is mostly Lucretia's domain - most particularly the ginormous library and massive kitchen-come-laboratory.

mAlice, when she isn't off meeting creatures in strange lands and having lots of adventures (about which she brags incessantly to her sisters) spends hours at her sewing machine in the huge attic which she turned into her own private 'imagination and creation' room - part of which is a museum of sorts for her collection of oddities.

Gothbury Manor is mysterious in that it encompasses more than one place in space and time - very occasionally, if you look out of the corner of your eye at just the right moment you can see an 'other' Gothbury Manor, with mysterious and unfamiliar (though usually friendly) beings busy about their day. mAlice is very clever and understands how to go about easily seeing and even visiting these 'other Gothbury Manors' (usually through the giant opening in the enormous Redwood 'Abigail' in the Darke Forest, but there are many other ways too). She often invites new friends to the sprawling banquets Lucretia likes to cook up, and they all eat outside on the immense granite table, with candle lit chandeliers and the moon for light, and the humming of the flowers for music.

Next time: More about Gothbury Manor, and all about mAlice....

The Awesome DVD Box Set...

Talking about Northern Exposure the other day got me to thinking about how AWESOME DVD Box Sets of TV shows are. When I was doing my BA my Cognitive Psych class was the first class (other than the requisite computer classes) to use the computer lab that had the AMAZING INTERNET CONNECTION!!! Yep, there was a room with about 15 computers hooked up to the new and shiny "Internet" for students at a large Sydney Metropolitan University to play with. It was frikin' awesome. A couple years later and two floors of the library were devoted to 'surfable' computers - it would not be beyond the realms of possibilities that if I went back now, there would be even less room for actual books in the library. You know what the first thing (not class related of course, Professor) that I looked up? The X Files . The second, my second most favourite show at the time, American Gothic . I think at that stage there were only one or two, maybe three sites devoted to The X Files (a couple also to David Duchovny), and only one real American Gothic site. The Internet was kind of intimate then. Wow I sound so ancient - but honestly kids, it weren't that long ago. Of course, I couldn't imagine a world without my computer now - whatever would I do? I love being able to look something up the minute I have the question form in the old noggin - it's educational that way. And of course it's also full of crap, but we all know that right? In any case, I digress. DVD Box Sets. I thought it was way cool when I ordered the Kindred  VHS box set (before I had a DVD player. Yup, I was alive when the Internet was invented, and way before the DVD was a gleam in some computer nerds eye, much less affordable. I didn't know that the Internet needed a capital I. But it apparently does, or at least my spell check thinks so. Weird.). All that Kindred-y goodness without the ads! And then (many, many moons later) The X Files DVD sets - with bonus interviews and added shinyness! And finally, after years of solid campaining by a determined and vocal few, American Gothic - not that long ago actually - a joy to behold after 10 or 11 years since the show aired. Again, added stuff and no ads. So where is this going? In my house, we've about given up on TV, EXCEPT FOR LOST . I would rather cut my own heart out with a spoon than miss an episode of Lost. The free to air stations jerk the viewer around by changing airing times, and stopping programs for now apparent reason what so ever - it is much, much better to just wait for the box set. Then you can enjoy it the way the actors and writers and directors wanted you to. Just bought Weeds today, couldn't get into it when it aired here 'cause it was moved around so much, so I'm looking forward to it! Can't imagine a world before Internet? My great grandmother thought that you would die if you went faster than thirty miles an hour. It's all about perspective, huh? Well, wasn't that a nice lot of waffling on?

In craft related news, I'll have some pics soon of a new creation - Cryptic Cryptlets. They talk in Rhyming Cryptic Couplets. That should be interesting!

Akasha says...

Akasha says, "I know much that is hidden, grasshopper."

Love your Earth and other nonsense...

Nature Witch posted today about "Feeding the World" after a Landline (ABC) program, and I couldn't agree more. When I think about how little responsibility the majority of those of us in "westernised" world take for the food we eat I am mortified - consider the difference in our culture even pre the second world war. Get rid of some of the perfect grass lawn right now and grow at least a little of your own food! I think the disconnect and indifference so many of us feel about the crises (climate, oil, you pick one) already underway is because we don't put our hands on Earth enough - when you grow your own food you become a more aware part of Her. [Climbing down off soap box...].

Now that winter is upon us (or there abouts) and it is getting dark not long after 5pm (and I'm seriously considering bed by 7.30), there's nothing better than curling up on my lounge chair, the requisite blanket (knee rug! Old woman that I am.) and Akasha on lap and a DVD to hold my interest. Just got done watching the last ep on my Northern Exposure Season 5 set. Oh, to live in Cicely, Alaska! There is a special place in my heart (a very, very special one) for Chris (John Corbett ), let me tell you! If you've never seen it, go forth now to yonder DVD establishment and purchase. The series isn't that old (and neither am I right?) - early to mid 90's (yep, I spose it's kinda old), but it's hilarious to see the difference in technology (and political correctness!) since then. I love it's innocence, and the characters, and the "town", and good Goddess, the scenery. It makes me smile, and that's a good thing!

Oooh, Pooka Pillows Large!

Oooh look! A larger, creepier and darker version of the Pooka Pillows! They'll be off to the shoppe  tomorrow, so enjoy your sneak peek - I've popped an apple in the shot so you can get an idea of how large they are - perfect for your lounge chair, sofa or bed! As usual, click on the photos for a more detailed look!

Happy Mothers Day!

A Very Happy Mothers Day to all mothers of  humans and fur-babies alike! Here is a picture of my beautiful mother. We had a lovely day perusing the farmers markets in Newcastle, then lunch at home with both my brothers, Mum and Dad, and my wonderful Nan, who'll be 90 this year. Nothing like some quality family time!

New Offering...

A new offering for you all, my new Goddess Dolls. Made of felt (yessss, felt ) with wool embroidered spiral. She's my first one - I'm going to make a few in black with different coloured spirals, then I may make some in different coloured felts, perhaps even some hand dyed colours. And I'll name each one after a particular Goddess, with a card as to her strengths etc. I've shown her with an Apple, sacred to Goddess (and to give an idea of size). What do you think?

Also new, the beautifully dark poison bottle in the top left hand corner of the page. Yep, I am now a proud member of the EtsyDarkSide ! Go visit and be awed and inspired, and then buy lots of our stuff, you know you want to!

Friday silliness...

Friday, Friday...la,la, so good to me...la,la..
Can you even believe it's Friday again? No, I mean really? Well  technically it is Saturday I suppose, which is even worse. Just not enough hours in the day. Cliche, but true...

Currently reading: Just finished the Twilight  series by Stephanie Meyer upon the recommendation from a work friend (she lent me her books). Wasn't too sure about them at first (without meaning to sound snobbish - the 'teen' writing style seemed dumbed down after Phil Rickman's (and God 's) style ), but then I decided it was just a bit of fun, and enjoyed them as a kind of Mills & Boons for goths! Plus I ate them (that is, read them) up like junk food, all three were done in four days - a nice distraction. Do we ever really leave the "teen" in us behind, do you think? I'm not consciously aware of thinking any differently than I did at seventeen, which seems to be the most memorable time of my 'young adult' life. Though at the same time 'worldly' knowledge and experience in the almost seventeen years later makes one view that period with an almost irrational nostalgia for the naivety - and that's really what books like this feed. And every now and then, I don't think there is anything wrong with that. They've (yes, the mythical 'They", NOT to be confused with the Wes Craven "They" as discussed previously. One would hope in any case) made a move, due out in December - oh the teenage-gothy-angst! And yes, I probably will pay to go see it.

What's playing in my car: One of my very own mixed tapes! Or rather, mixed cd's. My car isn't technologically advanced, so no I-Pod dooverlacky (in honest truth, it wouldn't matter even if it did, I don't have an I-Pod! That is one of the many items on my wish-list), so I have to revert to the ancient and archaic burning-of-the-cd ritual. Much better that trying to catch your favourite tunes on the radio, and quickly press the record and play buttons together, then try to pause or stop it in just the right moment towards the end of the song without missing too much of the end but before the add break or back announcement. And trying to judge just how many more songs you could fit on that side before the tape ran out. Oh the drama! I'm so glad I grew up in the 80's - no, really! What are my kids music recording dramas going to be about? Now I know you are dying to know what exactly is on the tape. Let me just say there are a preponderance of bands from which the lead singers wore inordinate amounts of makeup, had masses of hair which they enjoyed thrashing around (and no doubt preening), and wore spandex and or leather - tight, very very tight. Hair metal - what a strange term! I feel old.

Blog of the day: A Skull A Day . Just like it says, really! A. Skull. A. Day. Sometimes two or more! Brilliant fun, and very addictive.

Burgeoning Shoe Fetish?

After years of faithful Dr Martens boots, and Sensible Work Shoe wearing, I am apparently now going through the shoe obsession stage of my 30's. I've bought more new shoes this year than I have for probably the last decade, and I can't seem to stop looking for them - or, what is obviously more likely, the shoes themselves are beginning to seek me out. I faithfully followed a link in Cicada Daydream's latest post about some comfy shoes, and what should pop up on my screen?  Aren't they the best? And I love them in all three colours, yep Mum, even the pink. Not that I have anything to wear with them of course - that doesn't stop the coveting, though. These ones  however, are just plain weird. They are giving off a "Mad Max' vibe, and I don't know that that is a good thing. Or perhaps they were modeled off one of the dance extras in Pat Benetar's "Love is a Battlefield" film clip. Ah, the 80's. HOWEVER, when I think boots, I just don't think VISIBLE TOES. Unless I'm thinking early 20th century homeless guy on Carnivale  - Good Goddess wasn't that an awesome show? I can't believe we only got two seasons! Love, love, love Clancy Brown, yum. Enough with the shoes already!