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Nserviam

Nserviam
Date Joined: June 23, 2010
Last Online: March 5, 2024
Birthday: July 13
Country: United States
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About Me

UPDATED: February 27, 2024

ADDRESS UPDATE: My address will be changing March 22nd, 2024. If you are sending me things between now and then, please message me for the correct address!

I'm from the middle of Iowa and am trying to keep the Muses from driving me crazy. I write, craft, and try to keep the inspiration flowing. I live with my husband and three rabbits.

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

Favorite Crafts

Favorite crafts that I do:
Sewing stuffies, crochet, embroidery, tablet weaving, lampwork glass bead making, sewing, and writing.

Other crafts that I do:
I do a lot of random stuff so I am always forgetting something on this list... jewelry making, cooking modern/vintage/medieval foods, drop spinning, resin jewelry, etc, etc, etc. I like making stuff.

I just started getting into photography. I use a k-mount digital pentax camera.

Favorite Books

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 and urban fantasy.

Favorite Music

My tastes vary and I give anything a try. I am currently in love with the Folk Punk genre. I like alt, folk, banjo covers, video game music, etc. I'm weird.

Here are some of my current favorites:

  • Never Meant to Be, by Tejon Street Corner Thieves
  • I Will Rise, by Benjamin Tod
  • Stronger Than Dead, by Amigo the Devil
  • 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

I also love podcasts:
* Old Gods of Appalachia
* History of Rome
* Revolutions
* King Falls AM
* Lore
* Noble Blood
* The Magnus Archives

Writing

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.

Planning and Organizing

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.

Currently using a discbound junior size notebook (5.5x8.5) for my bullet journal. I've recently discovered Hobonichi style planners and am experimenting with them. I'm not really one of those that pretties up their planner - I don't have time and I'm always afraid I'm going to mess something up.

I use Scrivener for my novel writing and Google Drive for pretty much everything else.

I am trying to get into using 3x5 index cards as a commonplace book on a regular basis.

Things I Like

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?"

Other things I like:
* Tea (english breakfast and gunpowder green especially)
* Plain coffee, cold brew coffee
* The colors gray, black, dark blue, dark green, turquoise/teal/blue green, argyle, and varied stripes
* Quotes (see above)
* Pinback buttons
* Writing prompts
* Rabbits, Crabs, Goats, hedgehogs, gnomes * The Kraken (tentacles, ships, anchors, that sort of thing) * Skeleton keys
* Tea towels
* Handmade dish scrubbies and potholders (patterns work too!)
* Washi tape
* Mason jars
* Recipes from before 1960
* Crystals, semi-precious stones, neat rocks you found on a walk/vacation
* Bangles and bracelets (seed bead, semi-precious stones, cord, etc)
* Macedonian chocolate halva
* Nail polish
* Hobonichi, fauxbonichi, discbound planners
* Lip balm (Burt's Bees especially)

Things I Don't Like

Please don't send me religious (Christian) things. I'm a Pagan and have been for ages.

I am running out of room for notebooks. Please don't send me notebooks right now.

Other things I DON'T like:
* Coconut
* The color pink and most primary colors
* Gold
* Hibiscus tea
* 3D scrapbooking stickers
* Coconut
* Glitter
* Puffy paint
* Sequins
* Eyelash yarn
* Flavored coffee

Other Things I Like / Fandoms

  • Catbug from Bravest Warriors
  • Lore, Noble Blood, Unobscured, King Falls AM, History of Rome podcasts
  • Terry Pratchett's Discworld - Especially Tiffany Aching, Moist von Lipwig, Sam Vimes, and the witches
  • Sailor Moon
  • The Big Lebowski
  • Studio Ghibli movies - Especially Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Spirited Away
  • Supernatural tv series
  • Great British Baking Show

For Specific Swaps

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. 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.

Pagan Themed Swaps:
I'm a Hellenic Pagan and an eclectic witch that leans toward cottage witchcraft. I like herbs, crystals, and pendulums. I've been out of practice for ages and I keep meaning to get back to it....

Ratings

ariestess rated for NaNo 2023: Let's Get Prepping! on Mar 13, 2024
5
rating
Comment: I am SO sorry for this late rate. I swore I'd already rated for this when I got it, as I'd noted it in my "already rated" pile/column. Thank you SO much for the lovely swap!
ArtsyKarma rated for Zine-Go-Round #35 on Mar 11, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Thank you so much for the fun zine!
VAgardengirlgirl rated for Zine-Go-Round #34 on Feb 11, 2024
5
rating
Comment: Crystal, your package was put in a room& I didn’t realize it had been put there. Anyway, I got it & I’m excited to fill in last page & send it home! Thank you!
5
rating
Comment: Ahahah ! I love this story ! I want to read more of it ! Also that's a wonderful postcard ! Thank you so much ! Have a nice day :)
Artistic rated for NaNo 2023 Midway Check-In! on Nov 28, 2023
5
rating
Comment: You wrote: "I probably have more notes about how to make the scene work better than I do actual scene." Remember, all words count during NaNo. Count those words. On these last few days of NaNo 2023, I hope your sprints are victorious.
ariestess rated for NaNo 2023 Midway Check-In! on Nov 19, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for sharing your progress and the encouragement! I always say any words written are good words written and better than no words at all. You've got this!
Artistic rated for NaNo 2023 - Adopt a Character on Nov 5, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Great set of NPCs. No. 1 Will: quite intriguing! And when I got to #3 I gasped. That's a former coworker's name! :) The character is the exact opposite of the person I know who is blonde, outgoing and the cheerleader who was everyone's best friend.
ariestess rated for NaNo 2023 - Adopt a Character on Nov 3, 2023
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for sharing these characters! They could be quite fun to add to some of my stories!
Artistic rated for NaNo 2022: Post & Grab Prompts on Nov 22, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Three good ones! I'm immediately grabbing the second one! Hope you are steaming ahead with your 2022 project.
ariestess rated for NaNo 2022 -- Inspire Me on Nov 13, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for sending me the lovely little zines of inspiration! They're awesome!
Artistic rated for NaNo Prep -- What's my Logline? on Nov 2, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Hidden agendas and conspiracy theories make for great storytelling. Have fun! You've got this.
ariestess rated for NaNo Prep 2022- Pep Talks on Oct 30, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for sharing! I'm not sure I've read either of those pep talks! Good luck in November! You've got this!
ariestess rated for NaNo Prep -- What's my Logline? on Oct 28, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for sharing! Your logline has me curious to read your novel!
lrm1980 rated for Zine-Go-Round Round 16 on Oct 13, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Thanks for the pretty zine to work on. Your white trout lily photo is beautiful, and it reminds me of the yellow trout lillies I saw blooming in Oklahoma 2 years ago.
luluvision rated for Zine-Go-Round Round 15 on Sep 19, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Received the zine! Your contribution is so pretty! I already added to this zine but it's on the last page so I'll just do another page! :-) Thank you! And thank you for the washi tape!
dvmac rated for Zine-Go-Round, Round 14 on Aug 19, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Hi Crystal. Nice job on the zine. Your contribution definitely evokes that small town diner vibe. Thanks
Artistic rated for 2021 Recap & 2022 Resolution on Jan 5, 2022
5
rating
Comment: Well, we are most definitely two of a kind on the recap and outlook. I looked up the Jessie Kwak website. I don't see a current class, but I am going to watch the videos on the website and will hunt up the book. Thanks for the recommendation. Wishing you a productive and creative 2022.
ariestess rated for NaNo 2021 Midway Check-In! on Dec 1, 2021
5
rating
Comment: Thanks so much for sharing your midway status with me. Your encouragement was fantastic and what I'd needed to hear at that point, even though I didn't cross the finish line.
itsnobody rated for NaNo 2021 Midway Check-In! on Nov 21, 2021
5
rating
Comment: HI! You're doing very good keeping the work. I know I get bundled up in re-editing a lot too. Haha my boyfriend also keeps me away from writing haha. So we found a solution - we go to a cafe with our laptops and write there for an hour. I'm writing my book he writes his thesis ;)
Artistic rated for Plotter or Panster? on Oct 31, 2021
5
rating
Comment: You've got this. And you have 30 days to prove it to yourself. Write on!

Rating Overview

Overall Hearts Stars Hosted
4.9948 298 19 20
Completed Fives Threes Ones
325 383 1 0
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Uncategorized
53 134 138 0
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Currently In

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Currently Hosting

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Comments

samsstuff on Feb 27, 2024:
Artistic on Dec 24, 2019:

Dig now. There's a present for tomorrow in the 2020 box!

Artistic on Apr 11, 2018:

How many stories have you written this month? In the middle of the second one now? Chat me in the cabin!

Artistic on Apr 6, 2018:

See notes for you in Camp NaNoWriMo cabin.

Poftoffel on Nov 1, 2017:

Swap-bot sent me a message saying I had been rated for the "Scary Story" swap - but nothing has shown up on my profile! A site glitch? :-)

BlueberryLady on Feb 13, 2016:

Welcome to Crazy for Cloths - We love Dishcloths Knitted or Crocheted... Keep watch for our Next Swap for March which will be posted soon... we do just 1 swap a month.. Can't wait to have you try out 1 of our Swaps... Hugs from Jean in Ohio...! !

Artistic on Dec 1, 2015:

Thank you SO much for the great weekly rewards for NaNo. Love the bag which I opened Sunday and will be taking with me on a writer retreat this month!

rngstgstll on Sep 11, 2015:

urock

Spiders everywhere are celebrating the Anansi Boys love!

Artistic on Jun 7, 2015:

Sorry to have cancelled the 3x3x3 swap. We didn't have enough people, even after I extended the date.

Artistic on Jun 2, 2015:

When I saw those really big index cards, I was like hmm. "I wonder if she'd like these?" Score!! So glad you like them. Enjoy your retreat!

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