Nserviam

UPDATED: November 18, 2018

I'm a mom in the middle of Iowa trying to keep the Muses from driving me crazy. I write, craft, and try to keep the inspiration flowing. I live with my teenage son, my husband, an anti-social rabbit, and an energetic baby rabbit.

I am part of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and enjoy history with a special focus on pre-1600's heraldry and crafts.

We like to play card and video games, go hiking, watch movies, make stuff, both hot water bath and pressure canning. I'm sure there are a load of other things I'm forgetting in here too.

Favorite crafts that I do:
Crochet, embroidery / needlework, tablet weaving, lampwork glass bead making, book binding, kumihimo, creating heraldry, and sewing.

Favorite crafts other people do/I will learn some day: Quilting, metalwork, spinning, print making.

Other crafts that I do: I do a lot of random stuff so I am always forgetting something on this list... Origami, mini-zines, crocheting amigurumi, sewing stuffed animals, jewelry making, cooking modern/vintage/medieval foods, drawn thread embroidery, etc, etc, etc. I like making stuff.

Anything by Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman. I like humor and description. I also like Seanan McGuire, Jim Butcher, and Patricia Briggs.

I love fantasy, urban fantasy, and am learning to enjoy mystery. My guilty secret is that I pick up paranormal romances and historical romances once in a while...

I was introduced to Spotify and have been all over the map in finding new music. I really like alt folk and alt blues music. I really like banjo covers of rock/pop/punk songs. I also enjoy songs about video games. I’m weird.

• You and I, by Johnnyswim
• Glitter & Gold, by Barns Courtney
• I'm a Raven (Shake Children), by Hiss Golden Messenger
• I Don't Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore, by The Menzingers
• Ghost, by Mystery Skulls

Not quite music, but it is audio... I adore King Falls AM podcast as well as The History of Rome podcast.

I like to write novels and short stories. My fiction tends towards fantasy. I do like reading stuff with a darker edge or crazy humor and I enjoy writing the same. But I enjoy writing with a variety of styles and subjects.

Current projects: Trying to remind myself to write on a regular basis.

I am always trying to get myself organized. I have so many things going on that I often am afraid I'm going to forget something. Right now, I'm am working with the bullet journal planner system and index cards.

I make lists like crazy and am currently enamored of index cards for notes and quick lists, including the random story ideas that strike me when I'm away from my bullet journal.

I use Scrivener for my novel writing. I am still getting used to it (although I have had it for over a year) and am working on moving my short stories into the software.

I have made myself a faudori traveller's notebook...but I haven't really used it yet. I will, I swear!

Helpful tricks and tips would be appreciated for these systems.

I love quotes. Especially ones about writing, from books, song lyrics, and ones that are inspirational without hitting you over the head with it. I also like quirky messages / quotes - "The pirates are here to sack the village, would you like paper or plastic?"

Please, no religious quotes.

I prefer college ruled, graph, or blank paper/notebooks. I prefer 'half size' or 'quarter size' notebooks to full size ones - and yes, I know those aren't real terms. :)

• Tea (english breakfast and gunpowder green especially)
• MiO Energy (mmm, caffeine)
• The colors gray, black, dark blue, dark green, turquoise/teal/blue green, argyle, and varied stripes
• Quotes (see above)
• Mythology and Folk Tales (Do you have a favorite folk tale or urban legend? I would love to hear about it... and possibly use it as an idea for a story.)
• Writing prompts
• Rabbits, Crabs, Goats,
• The Kraken (tentacles, ships, anchors, that sort of thing)
• Skeleton keys
• Pinback buttons
• Postcards
• Pocket Letters
• Zines
• Embroidered tea towels
• Handkerchiefs
• Handmade items
• Scarves, both for winter and summer
• Handmade dish scrubbies and potholders (with patterns!)
• Washi tape
• Index cards
• Ball point and gel pens
• Sharpies
• Playlists (on Spotify, mix CD, or written list)
• Perle cotton embroidery floss
• Crochet cotton yarn

Unless they are about Dudeism, Discordianism, or Pastafarianism, please don't send me religious things.

I write small most of the time and I haven't used wide ruled paper since elementary school, please don't send me wide ruled paper or notebooks.

• Coconut
• The color pink and most primary colors
• Gold
• Hibiscus tea
• 3D scrapbooking stickers
• Coconut
• Glitter
• Puffy paint
• Sequins
• Eyelash yarn

• Catbug from Bravest Warriors
• King Falls AM, The Magic Tavern, History of Rome podcasts
• Terry Pratchett's Discworld - Especially Tiffany Aching, Moist von Lipwig, Sam Vimes, and the witches
• Neil Gaiman Quotes
• Sailor Moon
• The Big Lebowski
• Studio Ghibli movies - Especially Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Spirited Away
• Supernatural tv series

Dietary Restrictions: My husband and I are on the keto diet - low carb high fat - and would prefer things without bread/flour or sugar.

Recipe Swaps:
I prefer 4x6 but 3x5 is just fine. I inherited my grandmother’s old recipe cards and am enamored of handwritten index cards at the moment. If you have an old family recipe you would like to share, I would love to see it. We do like to can and we also have a pressure canner. Bonus points for recipes from before 1960.

Crochet / Yarn Swaps:
I crochet but I do not knit...yet. It's on my list of things to learn. I mostly do small projects like dish cloths, scarves/shawls, and amigurumi. I do not crochet sweaters, slippers, gloves, or blankets. One of these days I will have enough time to devote to an afghan, but today is not that day. I like wool/wool blends but I use acrylic for amigurumi. I use cotton for dish cloths and potholders. I do not like eyelash yarn.