Thursday, December 15, 2005

Prairie Fibers

The new webstore is up and running finally, sans 3000+ images and a whole lot of design issues. The new Miva Merchant 5.0 shopping cart is very different than the one we had previously. Aside from being on a shared system, the 4.12 had some real issues. The things I dislike about the MM5 is the fact that I don't know how to fix all of the current design issues, they are hidden in what I like to refer to as the dark side of the administration page, and I'm a little apprehensive about messing around with the scripting.

I have a IT team now, they are helping me with some of the nuts and bolts of the store, like putting in extra search boxes to make life easier for my customers. More later, IM is calling me.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005


Flocking, everything was flocked when I got up this morning. I took this a little later so it had melted off a bit already.  Posted by Picasa

Monday, December 12, 2005

Newsletter Debate

The previous post, which is copied from the Superior Threads Newsletter, has caused quite a stir on the Quilt Art group. Seems some folks view Bobs opinion as being both intolerant and unnecessary. Other listees pointed out that it was Bob's newsletter and company so he could do as he wished.

My comment was the ACLU inforces seperation of church and state, not merchant and state.

My solution was to offer a challenge, called Tolerance or Not. I truly dislike the word "tolerance". To tolerate is to merely put up with someone or something to get what you want, which may just be peace an quite, it doesn't have to be a material end.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Melancholic? Me... Yeah Right

You Have a Melancholic Temperament
Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything.You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life.You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you.
Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace.You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life.Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times.
At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you.You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others.You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.
What Temperment Are You?

Raw Copper

Most of the pieces that I scanned here are about 1 to 1.5 inches all the way around, for their irregularness. One piece is about 1 x 1.5 x 1/4 thick, I am wondering if I can drill a hole in it, however if did so and stitched it to my quilt piece it WILL change the color of the fabric. Copper is a mordant/modifier and definately causes natural dyes to experience color shifts. This could be cool, or it could have horrendous effects for which there is no cure.

Raw copper? Doesn't really matter I guess, I just like them a lot. Posted by Picasa

Angel, my little girlie dog. And to think I had the camera set on the red eye out setting and she still has red eyes. Posted by Picasa

In Progress Two, getting there, lots more hand stitching to do though. Posted by Picasa

A very sleepy boy enjoying the hot sun! Posted by Picasa

Snow

It's snowing again, not nearly as much as it is north of here however. I was at a Spin-In today when I left the flakes were so dense you could hardly see, that was about 13 miles north of here. By the time I got home it was raining instead, I'd rather have snow.

I'm not ready for tomorrow to be Monday again, I'm too tired to care if it's Monday or not.

Thursday, December 08, 2005


Stripes and Plaids do go together! Old Man of the Woods, aka Barley, taking a mid winters nap. Posted by Picasa

Have a Blurry Christmas! Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, December 06, 2005


Happiness is sleeping in a sunbeam, the sun is setting now, and NOT having to have your picture taken! Posted by Picasa

Almost asleep Posted by Picasa

Ok I'll go back to sleep now. Posted by Picasa

Pepper, and he doesn't appreciate having his picture taken either! Posted by Picasa

Diversions

Occassionaly a person needs a diversion. Today's diversion is Pepper, who is sleeping on my scanner snoring up a storm! I've been working almost non stop on the new webstore, it's about ready to go live any hour here now, which is exciting. Meanwhile I'm whipping up some major changes that'll make my customers lives much easier when it comes to shopping at Prairie Fibers. Now to get those employees hired, I need office help like you would not believe.

Sunday, December 04, 2005


Time to fill the Finch Feeder again. Posted by Picasa

Here's Trouble he's eating snow, must be thirsty! No je Posted by Picasa

Snow and Porcupines

It's a glorious day out so I'm going to go take some pics with my digital.

I finally removed my porcupine quills from the osage orange dye bath. They turned out a wonderful lemon joy yellow color. It's still not the deep gold I've been wanting, I think I'll have to try some other plants, but it's still a nice yellow. I think I may take some of these yellow quills and overdye them with cochineal for a nice orange.