DONATION INFORMATION

A quick update to the blog that I just posted below. While we are still fighting the fires, I am offering to donate 50% of proceeds from any sales through my Etsy store through the end of October to help the victims of these fires.

Other Etsy stores also donating include:
SoCaliGirl
Yummy Body Candy
BuyMySupplies
PaperZombie, Ink.
FlowerFaeries
Althena12
SallysCreations
Shellsnoel
OhPotato
Bringing Back Memories
SpazSpun
KnitBlitz
Gondancin
Earmark
Teha
Livia's Treasures
Dragon Lady Designs

Please see this blog for additional information. http://witch-fire.blogspot.com/
Click here to donate directly to the American Red Cross for San Diego relief efforts.

Here's How You Can Help in San Diego:

DONATE:

Food/Supplies: Please note that recent information is that they currently have enough supplies at Qualcomm.
You can donate to the Qualcomm Stadium Evacuation Center at Gate P (9449 Friars Rd., San Diego, CA 92108)

They are looking for the following items:
1. Prepared food (sandwiches, commercially prepared of pre-packaged food (not homemade); for both lunch and dinner)
2.Milk
3.Ice
4.Cots, blankets, sleeping bags and pillows
5.Air Mattresses
6.Sunscreen
7.Canopies for shade
8.Paper Towels
9.Handi Wipes
10.Toilet Paper
11.Paper Plates, cups, utensils
12.Disposable Styrofoam Coolers
13.Pet Food, Pet Carriers, Leashes
14.Cell phone chargers/batteries

Food Storage Trailer:
The City of San Diego is looking for a refrigerated trailer to store donated food on site. Anyone with such a trailer can call (619) 236-6167.

Money
The American Red Cross is also encouraging people to donate money online through their website. Click on "Donate Now", then under Donor Designations, pull up San Diego Wildfires DR 187-8. The monetary donations will provide shelter, food, counseling, and other assistance to victims of the fire.

Blood
The Blood Bank is accepting blood donations today at its Hillcrest and East County offices. Anyone at least 17 years old, who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good health, may qualify to give blood.

Blood Bank Locations for donations are:
- 440 Upas Street in Hillcrest (619) 296-6393
- 680 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon (619) 441-1804

There will also be "Blood Mobiles” located at Qualcomm Stadium and at the Del Mar Fairgrounds through 3:30 p.m. October 23, 2007.

VOLUNTEER:
If you want to volunteer, visit Spontaneous Volunteer Processing Center (SVPC) at 5331 Mt. Alifan Drive San Diego, CA 92111

I am thinking of you

I am fortunate enough to be in an area of Los Angeles County not directly affected by the Southern California fires that are currently raging. Having said that, because I am not in the direct line of fire doesn't mean that it doesn't affect me in other ways.

I have friends with family in Santa Clarita, co-workers who live 2 blocks from mandatory evacuation sites, a friend who is a volunteer fire-fighter and has been on the fire lines since 5am on Sunday morning. Down in San Diego, my alma mater (UCSD) has been closed, an unimaginable concept. The tenant living in a condo my parents own, and other close family friends living in Scripps Ranch have been evacuated. I used to live in that area and it's hard for me to picture what it will look like when the fire has taken its course.

Looking at a picture that someone took of the Canyon Country fires and posted on Flickr, there are many people out there who seem to think that this is some kind of divine retribution for the lifestyles that we Californians live. I find it hard to believe that there are people out there who can see this kind of tragedy unfold and think that anybody deserves it because they "should have known" that they live in a brush fire area. It's amazing that there can be such a lack of compassion when so many people are suffering.

So, to all of those who have been displaced from their homes by these fires, I am thinking of you and hoping for your safety. I am thinking of the firefighters who are risking their lives to save so many people and their possessions. I am thinking of those who are worried that they may be evacuated. I am thinking of those who have friends and family in the affected areas and aren't sure if they're ok. I am thinking of the animals that are losing their habitats. I am thinking of the beauty of these areas that are now burned and the landmarks we may have lost.

I hope that the fires will soon burn out and the Southern California communities will find safety once again.

While I do not have any photography covering these current fires, please see my previous post on the Griffith Park and Barham fires from earlier this year.

I do love action shots

I posted the things that I received in the photographer swap I was in, but they do not compare to the wonderful action shots that my partner posted of the things she received from me! I have to share my favorite picture of my favorite item that I sent to her.

This hat was knit using a raspberry colored yarn in a very basic beanie pattern. I used yarn overs to create the gaps through which I threaded the contrasting grey ribbon. Then I made a pin, using a pin-back, a paper clip, and some beads with letters to spell the word "exposure". My boyfriend didn't quite get why I chose exposure as the word for this pin, but I thought it had a good double meaning myself!

Thanks to Jac for modeling the item and doing a much better job at it than I would ever have imagined!

Music, music everywhere!

This week, I seem to have a music theme. When I was creating my new photo listing for Etsy today, I realized that I when I am coming up with the names for my photographs, I am so often inspired by songs and their lyrics (from the obscure to the ridiculous!)

Here are some real life examples:

Eyes Without A Face

London Callingand a variation on the original...
Tequila Sunset

Now, here's the challenge - can you name those bands?!

Music For My Lover

There is a thread posted on Etsy right now challenging people to make a poster sketch with the items you would buy for your lover. I found this one to be pretty easy as the thing that my boyfriend loves best, next to me of course, is his music. I might have to make him one that's poker related too... If you're interested in making your own, click here.

If I had a million dollars, I'd buy him all of these things...and an exotic pet...like a llama, or an emu (yes, name that song!)

When two photographers collide

I finally got the courage to organize my own swap on craftster.org - and of course it was a swap for photographers! Now that my partner and I have both received our packages, it's time to show you all the lovely things I got. There's a lot of images, but that's what we photographers do!!

A collection of old postcards

Magnets and some photography books

A box to hoard supplies, with a music and film theme


Original artwork by my partner and her boyfriend

Not quite a scarf

So, I have started seeing a lot of neck-warmers about. They're not quite a scarf, but serve the same function when wearing a jacket, without generating bulk or unwrapping themselves from your neck at inopportune moments.

Seeing as I'm always looking for new things to do with low-yardage skeins of yarn, and had a lovely wool blend to play with, I thought I'd give it a shot and design my own. This one involves alternating stockinette and garter stitches, with complimenting 3 button closure.I'm really happy with how this turned out and seeing as it gives me such an opportunity to play with new stitches and fun yarns, I think I'll probably end up making a whole bunch for my Etsy store and holiday presents of course!

There really is a little kid in each of us

You may be wondering what other activities I get up to when I'm not crafting. I am here to tell you about KICKBALL. Yes, the game with the big rubber ball that's kind of like baseball/softball but is generally played by 5 year olds. A couple of years ago, the company I work for found out about a kickball league close by, run by the World Adult Kickball Association, and being the nerds that we are, we started a company team - the Rhino Stampede.

Seeing as I grew up in England, kickball isn't a game that I was at all familiar with. Last "season" I decided to join the company team and find out what it was all about - has to be said, it's a lot like dork central, but a fine way to spend a Monday night! There are certainly people out there who take their kickball very seriously, having tactical meetings and secret signs for plays. Our team is the one most likely to make margaritas in Gatorade bottles and consider that an "energy drink".
My second season on the team ended last night in the semi-finals of the playoffs. Having spent most of the season doing rather badly [insert: reaction shot to our first in a string of wins], we went into the playoffs seeded 12 (out of 16 teams in our local league); however we definitely found our stride in the last few games and upset some higher seeded teams with our success.

We were finally beat by the #1 seeded team, and our bitter rivals, in the semi-finals game last night. There is no way that anybody would ever have guessed that we would get anywhere near as far as we did - in betting terms the odds were definitely long! We're kind of a Cinderella Kick-balling story...or perhaps better likened to Seabiscuit.

WE KICK BALLS!!