Pokerwork: an Old Fashioned craft

Pokerwork is "writing with fire". It's sometimes called pyrography, but usually called woodburning. A simple process of using a hot tool to scorch the wood surface that can have amazing results. With practice, one can gain incredible control of the tool.

Pokerwork allows for rough and raw appearance, or it can be delicate and precise. Special surfaces (like gourds or cork) can present some pretty tough challenges; like this rolling pin. The effect of the burning is permanent, making the finished item one that will be forever be altered.

As a woodburner, I welcome the difficult details. I seek out the intricate and tricky application of my talent. My craft requires great patience and bravery, so I must bring those traits when I burn. I've met many fascinating woodburners and woodworkers that have developed their own style, and I'm always picking their brain for more.

Visit my ArtFire shop for my pokerwork that is for sale; or you can stop by youtube and view my woodburning videos.

*Thank you for being on my blog today*

Tate the Great Part V

The final article in a series that spotlights my GreatUncle Tate Bower and his service during WWII

In 2002, Tate was interviewed in great detail about his experience in the war. The researcher was Herndon Inge of Mobile, AL. And you can follow the link to find out more about Inge and his feature in the Ken Burns documentary The War.

(Tate pictured with Herndon Inge)


Tate was also presented with these custom made shadow boxes that proudly display his most treasured WWII surplus and medals

Our family continues to respect and admire Uncle Tate. He has such a genuine personality and is just a joy to conversate. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tate as he struggles through some health problems. I'd like to tell Tate the Great that we deeply appreciate his service for our country when we needed him most.

Veteran's Day, Nov. 11th as we celebrate our freedom, my thoughts will be with Uncle Tate. Find out how a shoe store keeper in Kansas campaigned to have Armistice Day turned into Veterans Day here. and another easy to read article about Armistice Day here

Parliament of Owls

These handpainted creek rocks was sold to a very good customer of mine. They sent me messages to tell me how much they enjoy the owl family in their living room.

You never know what you might find on the Edge of the Wildwood




Wiki on owls

Snuggie and Crocs together at last

If the bill-shaped, bright colored footwear didn't capture your interest...

then perhaps you'd be impressed with Snuggie?

snuggie sightings

Why not have the best of both worlds and wear the Crocs with a Snuggie!?

The fleece-looking panels of the Snuggie allows for the wearer to 'go turtle' and hide their head under the material.

Cross between a superhero cape

and a bath robe....gives the individual the

"I've- just-been- rescued-from-a-flood"

look.

Then adding the molded plastic shoes

that make you waddle when you walk If you glance down at your crocs

while entering the hosptial, your feet look alot like a happy clown who's come to entertain the children.

headlines read:

SUPER-CARNIE RESCUED FROM RIVER

Don't go there. Please.

I'm waiting to see a Snuggie/Crocs combination on one of my favorite TV shows"

COPS

officer #1: Halt! police!

(takes pursuit)

(pursuit ends quickly, suspect cannot run in Crocs)

officer #2: arms behind your back...wait, your back. hmm, where's his head going?

officer #1: I think that is his back, go ahead and cuff him so I can search this bathrobe

murder of crows

A ‘murder’ of crows is based on the folk tale that crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behavior of a member of the flock. If the verdict goes against the defendant, that bird is killed (murdered) by the flock.

The basis in fact is probably that occasionally crows will kill a dying crow who doesn’t belong in their territory or much more commonly feed on carcacarcasses of dead crows. Also, both crows and ravens are associated with battlefields, medieval hospitals, execution sites and cemeteries (because they scavenged on human remains).

In England, a tombstone is sometimes called a ravenstone

Wiki on list of collective nouns

Pumpkin Carving

Neat and Easy Pumpkin Carving Step by Step Instructable - More DIY How To Projects

Tate the Great Part IV

This series of articles is in honor of my GreatUncle, Tate Bower and his distinguished service during WWII.

As part of Patton's 3rd Army, 62nd Armored Field Artilley Battalion, Tate was sent from Casablanca to Tunisa to Italy. And now his unit was shipped to Scotland to prepare (and to wait) for D Day. On June 6th they crossed the English Channel and landed at Normandy. A soldier next to Tate, named Pilch was killed.

Tate was wounded by some schrapel that hit him in the shoulder. The projectile traveled to his back, where it is still lodged today. Tate was sent back to the States with 2 bronze stars.





For details about the Invasion of Normandy - follow the links built into this article. Part V of 'Tate the Great' will cover his medals and the documenting of Tate's experiences during and after The War.

Another great link to explore ; eyewitness accounts of D Day

burning ring of fire

i fell into a burning ring of fire

i went down, down, down

and the flames went higher

and it burns, burns, burns

the ring of fire

the ring of fire

BLOGFIRE is a gathering of creative bloggers from ArtFire. You'll find hundreds of interesting posts about subjects ranging from everyday life to specialty crafting. These bloggers keep their postings fresh...and HOT!


An easy way to cruise thru each members blog is to follow the webring... click this image found on the right >>>>



and it loads the next blog page; find the image or blogring link to preceed to the next.


You can also find the most recent postings listed in brief on BLOGFIRE with selected posts on twitter! Discover some cool reading material, and visit some friendly faces:)

Beware! go back

This large handcrafted sign is a perfect decoration for Halloween:

Warn others of the dangers of this place! And you may need to leave it posted year 'round in an especially creepy area.

On sale now for $135 from Edge of the Wildwood

Have a Spooky Halloween!

Caturday

those zombies sure know how to party

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

25 years together

We are celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary today!

Let me take you back to October 1984. The arrangements and decorations have been a group effort by both our families, and our closest friends are there to wish us well. An evening ceremony will make for nice candlelight, and the beautiful church is a lovely setting.

When I arrived at the church in my wedding gown with one small makeup bag,I made a quick turn into the ladies room. In about 5 minutes I came into the lobby, and I guess that was the cue for the ceremony to begin.

I remember the pride I felt when I saw Jody at the altar. I don't recall anyone else being there at that moment. We were both shaking and smiling. It was perfect.

Over the years, I have learning to appreciate the good marriage we have. And I look forward to 25 more years with my Jody:)

Wordless Wednesday

Tate the Great; Part III

My GreatUncle, Tate Bower served with honors in WWII. This series of articles will interest readers and also allows me to give tribute to a brave man.

Tate's 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion was active in the Eurpoean Theater Be sure to view some photos of the soldiers here. They were sent to N. Africa to fight Germans with Patton's Own 3rd Army.


As they moved forward to Bizerte, Tunisia, Tate saw thousands of Germans surrender. He said they were so glad not to captured by Russians, they put down their weapons and walked down the road to a holding area. Tate recalls the hills and roads were blanketed with German soliders walking to that place.

In the Tunisia Campaign, 230,ooo German and Italian troops were taken as prisoners of war.

Photo of Tate's parents:

Be sure to catch the next in our 'Tate the Great' series - and find out Tate's role in D Day.

zombies attack back

delightful kitchen apron

My little shop on ETSY is filled with vintage goods from the 1940's - with a special shop section for the wonderful collection of VINTAGE APRONS that are available for sale:

$20 for any of the waist-tied styles you see here - just click on the photo to follow a link to the apron. These vintage aprons bring back so much love from the past, and they are a delight to wear while working in the kitchen.

Take a look at this pair of vintage smocks that my cousin Lucy got for her birthday:

CAREY & LUCY

Lucy and Mama helped me come up with names for the aprons that I have listed. I still have one more apron to name...maybe my blog readers would like to try?

Get a 10% discount on aprons from my shop in the month of October

Enter the code "LUCY" when you process your order on Etsy...

then wait for me to send you an adjusted paypal invoice

to your email address for your 10% savings

Wordless Wednesday

Tate the Great; Part II

This series of articles about my GreatUncle, Tate Bower and his service in WWII


Tate was in the 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion. He was a forward observer in a tank and part of Patton's 3rd Army.

When the plans for the Allied conquest of the island of Sicily called for a British Army to capture the key port of Messina, Patton decided the would get there first. On August 17, 1943 American troops took Messina from the Germans. At the Strait of Messina Lieutenant General Geo. Patton gave Tate a pat on the back and a pep talk!

I found an interesting book on Amazon.com calld FIRST AND TEN that might also interest my readers, An account of a forward observer in 3rd Army.

infamous pirate attack

sparkplug crawfish

My very talented Uncle Ricky has put together some colorful and creative crawfish creatures!

This type of craft is called assemblage: when random parts are assembled to represent an object.

Ricky used sparkplugs for the body of these crawdads, and I love the bright color patterns.

If Ricky decides to put these creatures up for sale online....I'll be sure to post you a link:)

HBD2U

I want to wish my Wonderful Husband, Jody



a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY with many returns...



I love you!!!