Out of the Pink Sky

Interview with Karla Ross, Jewelry Designer with a Heart of Gold

Who are you and why should we care?

I'm Karla Ross of Adornments by Karla, jewelry designer, crafter extraordinaire and proud member of Etsy Team Columbus!  You should care because I make fun-spirited and affordable baubles with the intention of putting a smile on your face and a bounce in your step.

How do you plan to take over the world with your creations?

Ah…I plan to fuse art and vanity and joy and color until every woman and young girl finds they are addicted to the wonderful way they feel wearing my creations, and therefore cannot get enough.

 If you had to be on one reality TV show, which one would it be and why?

Right now I really love Clean House with Neicy Nash.  It’s a home makeover show.  I have way too much STUFF and want to take steps toward living a greener, simpler life.  I’m hoping to accomplish a major Spring clean-out in the next few weeks!  Reduce, reuse and recycle is my new mantra.

Describe one of your prized possessions.

Of course I’d choose my children but they grow more and more independent each day and remind me that I do not “own them”…so, I’ll say it’s old black and white photographs of my grandparents when they were young...I think you can read so much more about a person’s character in black and white images as opposed to color.  Anyway, my grandmother had a very hard upbringing and my grandfather was this handsome sailor and Pearl Harbor survivor…he swept her off her feet!

Taking the characteristics of different animals, describe your ideal hybrid pet.  What would you name it?

I love the way cats are pretty low maintenance (we own two), and how puppies are so small, cute and affectionate.  Fish are kind of zen & can definitely mellow you out…so I’ll say my ideal pet would be a small land & water, cuddly, non-needy creature named Skitzo since it would have so many interesting personality traits!

Answer the following statements, for each category, in such a way that it expresses the diversity of your tastes:
 
a.  Music:  I like Enya, but I also like Marilyn Manson.
b.  Movies:  I like Hotel Rwanda, but I also like Bridgette Jones’ Diary.
c.  Food:  I like Krispy Kreme donuts, but I also like Crawfish Etoufee.  (just never ever together)

Are you gonna go my way?

Only if you get Lenny Kravitz to ask!

Birthdays are Nature's Way of Telling Us to Eat More Cake

Ah, I'm turning 35 today.  Can I stop here, at 35?  I think I'm done getting older.  Mentally, I think I'm more like 12 sometimes.

On a different topic, I spent most of yesterday creeping myself out by reading up on number stations.  I'd never heard of them before, but they're both extremely interesting and incredibly eerie to me.  Hell, I even had the old shortwave radio out tonight poking around in a vain attempt to find one of these mysterious transmissions.  Number stations generally operate on shortwave radio and consist of recordings that play, on the hour or half hour, dictated number sequences interspersed with odd music clips or repetitive tonal noises.  The general background noises of static, whistles, tones, and morse code-like beeps gives these recordings an extra dose of creepiness.  These stations have been operating for decades, in multiple languages, but noone will confess to being responsible for them.  Efforts to triangulate their locations have been met with defeat as they appear to frequently move locations.  There are several theories as to what they are, but the most likely explanation is that they are governments communicating with spies abroad.    They kind of remind me of the phone calls I would occasionally get at my previous phone number at 3 or 4 in the morning.  I'd pick up and be met with quiet static and the distant sound of repetitive beeping.  *shudder* Man, now I gotta go try to sleep, in the dark, while being totally creeped out....

Find out more about number stations:
Damn Interesting
Wikipedia
The Conet Project - recordings of number stations

Sleeping Like a Pretzel

Oh Where, Oh Where Have I Been

I haven't been on the computer as much as usual lately.  I'm going through a phase where my mind is just rejecting the idea of sitting here for hours on end, so my online communications drop pretty significantly.  Due to the significant and lengthy drop in sales in my Etsy store, likely due to the problems in the economy and the changes in the way Etsy works, that hasn't been as much of a factor in drawing me to this desk to check the internet incessantly.  I'm hoping that local craft shows help shore up sales where Etsy has recently dropped the ball.  As such, I've been spending a lot of time on my chaise lounge making new jewelry pieces or, more often, making loads of matchbook notebooks to give away as promotional items.  Hopefully this batch of matchbook notebooks won't meet the same end as my last batch -- I overturned a serving bowl of Lipton noodle soup in the box that was holding all of them.  Of all the places for that bowl of soup to land, of course it drops right into the box of notebooks!  Those were a total loss.  Anyway, while getting ready for the spring craft shows, I'm getting a chance to work my way through the past seasons of "Lost," a show I'd not watched before, but am now quite enjoying.  I'm about halfway through season 2 at this point.  It's definitely addictive!

Running in Circles for a Reason

They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  For the past 25 years, losing weight and getting in shape has brought me to the cusp of insanity.  Because of my PCOS and thyroid problems, my quests to get thinner always end in defeat.  I've spent months, and sometimes years, following strict dietary guidance and working out like a fiend with little pay off.  I'll get more toned, but I don't lose weight.  Hence, I don't get much pay-off for my fitness efforts.  However, despite the futile efforts to lose weight, exercise is good for various other, albeit somewhat intangible, reasons.  Of course, it's good for my heart, lungs, and other body systems, but I can't see that.  Sometimes though, it's hard to keep running, running, running when you don't SEE the pay-off, even though, logically, you know it is doing some good.  So, here's my wish...I wish there were a way to directly help causes by working out.  I know there are charitable bike rides and walks, but those basically raise their money from the participants hitting up everyone they know for money.  It's a noble effort, but one that could be accomplished without the physical part.  If there was a way for me to directly help abused animals or humanitanian efforts by working out an hour a day in my living room or at the gym, like by hooking up a grain mill or a electricity generator to an elliptical machine, I think that would be a great motivator.

Childhood Confusion

When I was really young, I would hear kids singing that spoof for "Happy Birthday."  You know, the one that goes "Happy birthday to you/You live in a zoo/You look like a monkey/and you smell like one too."  However, I was too young to understand the word "too."  I thought they meant "two."  I remember thinking really hard to try to figure out what "one two" smells like.

The cotton mini monkey hat, shown above, can be purchased here, at cite fuzz' shop on Etsy.

Interview with Miss Megan Mac, Unveiling the Essence of Silk

 

Who are you and why should we care?

I'm Megan Coyan of Miss Megan Mac, and I'm a textile designer who specializes in woven fabrics.  But as shown with my shop, I love to paint and dye scarves also.   You should care because I put a lot of love into my fabrics, choosing colors and fibers, enfusing them with good energy as well as good design.   

How do you plan to take over the world with your creations? 

I will enshroud everyone in my beautiful soft, lush fabrics, lulling them into a sense of peace and euphoria.  By the time anyone realizes what has happened, it will be too late.  The world shall be mine.  (But if that fails, Plan B involves duct tape and a giant pinata.)

If you had to be on one reality TV show, which one would it be and why?  

It should be Project Runway, as I first intended to study fashion design in school before the textile bug hit me, but truly, I want to be a guest judge on America's Next Top Model and sit next to Miss Jay.  

Describe one of your prized possessions.

That's not a fair question to ask a pack rat.  Actually, it's pretty easy.  It's my weaving loom.  I was a weaver without a loom for many years, which is like walking around missing a body part.  But ever since Maybelle (the loom) arrived, I feel centered, complete.  

Taking the characteristics of different animals, describe your ideal hybrid pet.  What would you name it?
I'll be honest.  I'm not really a pet person.  I love animals, but I'm more of a plant person.  I love my garden and the trees in my yard.  Sure, they don't really cuddle with you, but trees sure do make for good hugging!  

Answer the following statements, for each category, in such a way that it expresses the diversity of your tastes: This one's tough....             

          a.  Music:  I like The Ramones and Bauhaus, but I also like Ella Fitzgerald and Mozart.

b.  Movies:  I like Whale Rider, but I also like Times Square.

c.  Food:  I like fresh, homegrown vegetables, but I also like anything beer-battered and fried.  (I'd gnaw on a shoelace if it was beer-battered.

How soon is now?

You shut your mouth, how can you say I go about things the wrong way?  I am human, and I need to be loved just like every else does.

   

Easter Up Your Ears

Bunnies are adorable!  While there is never a bad time to wear accessories celebrating such sweet and snuggly pets, the approach of Easter makes them all the more timely!  These earrings are currently available in my Etsy shop.