New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
In Jack Finney's supernatural short story, "Where the Cluetts Are," a young architect tries to dissuade his nouveau riche clients, Sam and Ellie Cluett, from building a brand new Victorian mansion from one-hundred-year-old plans: "Look at the fancy trim all over the house inside and out. When those plans were drawn I suppose it could be bought from stock. Today it doesn't exist."1 He's talking about scroll-saw cut woodwork or "gingerbread." To call fancy wood trim gingerbread was originally an insult. The invention of the scroll saw in the mid-1800s made it easy to cut curves and curlicues into boards. Because it was so popular—it defined the American Gothic and American Bracket ...
Long before the birth of the Bedazzler, the crafting world has been drawing folx in with the allure of making things with their own hands. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment that comes from making it yourself. Pride of workmanship and seeing your project come to life brings a true satisfaction. The joy that a handmade gift brings to the recipient is well worth the many hours invested. To be honest, we would be doing it anyway for the sheer joy of the act. Crafters talk about their craft of choice with a passion that is often missed in this world. My husband tells me that when I talk about crocheting a light comes on in my eyes and you can hear the love in my voice. Relating the ...
On one of the last nice days of October, I met up with a friend in Chicago. We hadn't seen each other in a few years, despite living only an hour away from each other. We had kept in touch mostly through social media. After a while our conversation turned to social media, and the fact that both of us had cut off contact with certain friends and family in the past couple of years. Since the election of Trump to the United States presidency, a common theme has emerged among my friends: rather than tolerating racist and sexist friends or family, we had just walked away from them. With the 2020 election coming up, the refrain of, "I just unfriended my aunt/dad/cousin/high school friend. It ...
Wish bracelets are an opportunity to make a wish and watch it come true! The bracelet is tied around your wrist or ankle. Once the bracelet breaks off, your wish comes true. If you are very patient, you can make a longer bracelet and wear it as a necklace. If you mix your aspiration beads with beads of protection, then you should make the necklace because it takes longer to wear off—therefore, it protects you longer. Choose the color of beads that closely resemble your wish; this will help energize your desire for better results. Other powerful tactics are rubbing the beads daily and meditating on your wish. This is a fun project to make with friends or give as gifts. This projects ...
