The Magazine Aisles...Part I...Craftzine

So, I'm cruising the magazine aisles at Borders when these two knitted robots caught my eye. Woo Hoo, I thought, knitted toys! So, I purchased the "zine" without checking out the contents. I was in a rush...but giddy with anticipation. As I neatly laid my sandwich and chips out on my desk, I pulled Craft out of the bag and set it away from the Snapple so as not to spill anything on its precious pages. As I began turning the pages, a cloud began to form overhead. This is not the craft magazine that we are used to (ie: Interweave Knits or Vogue Knitting). This takes crafting to a whole other level, dimension, heck, lightyear. The project I searched for, the knitted robots, was actually an article about the world of creepy, cute dolls and the people who make them (but I wanna make one!). Cool, I thought, so I ventured deeper. The projects featured stretch the imagination. I thought about how cool it would be if I wore the Electric Tank Top to a club for New Years or how h-o-t-t it would be to screenprint my own personal logo on a bag or two. However, I was a bit disappointed with the knitting project...knit slouch boots. Uuuhhhhmmmm...why? (*sigh*).
Well, anyway, I have to commend the magazine on its overall layout. The projects are clearly outlined along with the materials needed and questions that one may want to ask. Some of the projects are a bit over the top, but then again, the magazine's purpose is to showcase crafts made by real people. I especially liked the marketplace section from etsy.com and the flickr craft groups (I highlighted the knitting group for y'all). Every craftster needs a bit of inspiration.

Sarah and Zipporah and Lilah

I am not a "religious" person. I tend to be more spiritual than anything. Lately, I have had this fascination with the Bible and finding the hidden truths and meanings written between the words. I remember when I was in the eighth grade my religion teacher (yep, I survived Catholic school) exclaimed that she had read one of the most fascinating books ever written. As 13 year old girls who lived and breathed Right On! Magazine and erected locker shrines to the members of New Edition, we thought either she had lost her mind or could finally understand the greatness of Ralph Tresvant's high pitched vocals as he belted out "Is This the End". What was not to love about him. However, our brief euphoria of the teacher finally understanding our obsession was shattered when she held up the Bible as if she had just won an Oscar; declaring its greatness.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I am perusing the shelves of Coliseum Books. The name "Zipporah" caught my eye. My interest was peaked, especially since Zipporah is my sister's middle name. Zipporah is the story of Moses' wife. She is a Cushite (black) woman who was adopted by Jethro, the High Priest of Midian. She has a dream of an Egyptian Prince coming to save her at the bottom of the sea. One day, while she and her sisters are at the well drawing water, Zipporah is attacked and Moses, who fled Egypt, comes to her rescue. Although Jethro and Zipporah are afraid she will never find a husband because of her dark skin, Moses does not let this inhibit his love for her...and she becomes his rock when he doubts his abilities to free the Jews from Pharoah's clutches. I finished the book in about 4 days and ran to Barnes and Noble to pick up "Sarah". Sarah is the story of Abraham's wife who was the daughter of one of the most powerful Lords of Ur. When she is twelve, she is pledged to marry a man that she has never met. On her wedding day, she flees into the city and bumps into Abram. He takes care of her through the night, however, in the morning she is dragged back to her father's home. Upon hearing that another marriage has been arranged for her, she flees again to find Abram but his family has moved. So she seeks out a woman that gives her herbs to make her barren and later is made a high priestess of Ishtar, Ur's goddess of war. Six years go by when Ur is about to erupt into war. She is reunited with Abram, her childhood love.

Although both of these stories are fictional accounts, Marek Halter makes these two women and their experiences leap off the page with every word. Sometimes people forget that the novels ARE Historical Fiction and hold the author accountable for misinterpreting the "truth" and introducing sex and passion into the stories. To them I ask, have you really read the Bible?

Lilah is the last installment in Marek Halter's Canaan Trilogy and is based on the book of Ezra. I have not read this book yet. I was side tracked by The Song of Hannah, the story of the mother of the Prophet Samuel.

Perhaps it's the lesser known stories of the women in the Bible that drives me to seek these novels out. Combined with my love for history, my appetite seems insatiable. I sat down and made a list of other Biblical Historical Novels that I want to read. Here are my top 5:

1. Lilah: A Forbidden Love, a People's Destiny
2. Wisdom's Daughter : A Novel of Solomon and Sheba
3. The Gilded Chamber : A Novel of Queen Esther
4. Rebekah (Card, Orson Scott. Women of Genesis.)
5. Rachel and Leah: Women of Genesis

Anyone care to join me?

Fearless

I was enticed by the smoky colors radiating from my computer screen...tempting me to bid...and I won! Woo Hoo, gotta love eBay. I was looking for some sock yarn for a project for my mother. I can't decide whether to make her socks or a shawl. However, I can't stop touching this yarn. It is a whopping 4 ounces (550 yards) of 100% superwash merino in smoky gray with a touch of brown and a dab of pink. Check out the eBay shop. You will not be disappointed. I have my eye on the Superwash Merino sock yarn in the Marrakesh color way. I can't wait. Oh, Deb from Fearless Fibers also has a blog...check her out.

So you are wondering where I have been huh? (Thanks for asking Kelz!) I've been lurking here and there always keeping up with what's happening around the blog scene, but I have started a new job in the concrete jungle (NYC y'all). It's a funny thing. Seven years ago, I gave up the fashion industry because I was just plain burned out. Everytime I turned around, another corporate merger made one more of my friends unemployed and left in the dust. Job security was a thing of my grandparents era and I knew I had to be prepared for the worst. To be honest, when it did happened, I was thrilled. I no longer needed an excuse to be there for every cough, doctor's appointment or much needed mental health day. I kissed the fashion corporate world goodbye, vowing never again to be victim of the clawing, cat scratching, conniving undercurrent that fuels one of the major fashion capitals of the world. So, when I received the call to help design fashion catalogs, I had to really think long and hard about it. I was getting bored with working from home, but I didn't want to give up my independence. But alas, the almighty dollar makes the world go 'round and the Mal Man is getting bigger every second. I bit my tongue, dusted off the power-suit, tightened the laces on my sneakers and hit the concrete at full speed. Things are a little less hectic on the direct-mail end of the fashion industry and I am not stressing as much as I used to. Well, a ride on the NYC Subway will make anyone lose some hair and turn gray, but all is going well so far. =-) ... AND I am in walking distance of School Products. What a perk!