This week I took some items down to a local tattoo shop, Painted Lotus, because they're hosting a pretty swell charity event in May. Last year was their first "May the 4th" event, where they were offering Star Wars themed flash tattoos by donation. They were also auctioning off some various Star Wars related geekery, including film cells from the shooting of the movies. What happened with all of these hard earned dollars? All proceeds from the event were donated to the BC Children's Hospital.

I got my newest tattoo (and my first since I moved to BC!) in November, and my artist asked me about my badass ring (Mars Attacks) and whatever necklace I happened to be wearing that day. After I explained what I had been making, he asked if I would be willing to donate a few pieces to the 2014 event- how could I say no? This year, he explained, they are expanding to include more types of nerd-core; including Star Wars (of course), Star Trek, Doctor Who, Firefly and a couple others.

I took a quick shot of what I was taking, before I wrapped each item and left the house. Star Wars belt buckle, featuring R2-D2 and C3P0, Doctor Who and Star Wars key chains, and a necklace with a (totally metal) Spock throwing around some devil horns. Here's hoping I can help out with their fundraising and auction. Since I finish up work the weekend before the event (this year they will be holding it on May 5-6 for the weekend) I might even be able to pop by and witness some festivities. The photos from last year promise me people in costumes!

Explanations and Introductions.

How am I supposed to (re)start this blogging thing?
It feels weird to just jump right in, and start randomly talking to the internet, as if we were somehow in the middle of the discussion and suddenly the reader realizes they haven't been listening. I'm hoping that if I'm lucky, I will be months into the blogging gig before anybody discovers that I'm an impostor. I guess while I try and come up with a decent list of topics to write about, I will tell you some stuff about myself, and my business.

1. I hail from the Canadian prairies, Saskatchewan to be specific. I moved to the West Coast almost three years ago, and now I live on Vancouver Island. 

2. I moved here with a boy- and as these things often happen, I am now on my own. Which is fine, because I'm pretty great without backup.

3. I run a small business making jewelry, and accessories with recycled comic books and game pieces. It's pretty nifty, and gives me something to do with my hands so I can feel productive when I'm watching (listening) sitcoms.

4. I pedal my wares at local markets, as well as two shops in the area, and online through Etsy.

5. Although people tell me that I'm very creative and I should make stuff like this as my full-time job, I don't want to because I would hate to get tired of it. So I'm going into trades school this year.

6. Starting next month I will be in the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Foundation program at a local college. This is pretty exciting because I like building stuff and working with steel pipes is akin to not only building with Lego, but making the Lego as well. It also makes me feel burly, which is awesome.

7. I've spent the last seven years in retail, selling shoes. I love doing it, but I am really stoked to not be doing it anymore. Also I think I have bought enough shoes to last me four lifetimes, it's become an almost crippling addiction.  

8. I made a really tasty cake yesterday morning with chocolate a stout- which is always a winning combination. Really- whenever I make something with stout, savory or sweet, you can bet your ass there is chocolate involved.

9. Yes, I'm a crafty lady who likes to bake and is also in trades school. I also own a pink hardhat, but I refuse to wear it because it was purchased for me as a joke.

10. I lied, I'm not much of a traditional lady. I smoke, swear, and like to kick things.

First Post

When I buy a notebook, calendar, or agenda, I will often spend an unnecessary amount of time picking one out. I run my fingers over the cover, flip through the pages, and convince myself that this book will be different. This one won't have to have pages torn out to make them more portable. This one one won't be riddled with spelling mistakes and crossed out sentences. I won't accidentally skip a page. It won't become the random mish-mash of recipes, grocery lists, to-do lists, and doodles. I wait awhile, I open the first page, crack the spine, start to write promptly smudge the ink.

Here's to my first ink smudge, and a ridiculous amount of run-on sentences.