If prosperity teachers truly KNOW some SECRET around making money, they need to prove that it can be done without picking the pockets of people. Otherwise, their only "secret" is that a lot of people are willing to pay a lot of money to learn some elusive "shortcut" to riches.

Crafters are creative and can transform simple things into works of art. As we continue to process the stages of "grief" around the loss of community that once resided in our neighborhood Joann stores, we can move on into new ways of being in community, finding and/or creating activities and small groups that promise a different way forward on our crafting and fiber journeys.

I suspect that a decent proportion of my fabric and yarn stashes came from past sessions of "therapy browsing" on Saturday afternoons or evenings at Joann's, Michaels or in local fabric and yarn shops. While I have created many things over the years from those purchases, I have ALSO purchased a lot of fabric and yarn simply because I liked the color, or the pattern, or the texture, or just felt like I couldn't leave it in the store.

My urge to shop for fabric and yarn picks up as the season here in Western Pennsylvania turns to Autumn, bringing chilly weather and thoughts of the holidays. With Joann now only a memory, I thought that (maybe) I’d have an easier time this year, but Michaels has picked up their game around sewing and yarn, so the challenge remains.

I wrote this initially for my fiber arts blog, but I think it has a spiritual theme, so I’m sharing here too. I realized after completing my Lost Souls crochet shawl that while I generally consider myself to be someone that is eager to display my handiwork, I also have some reservations. This past week I finished my Lost Souls shawl, and it ended up being wider across the top than the span of my arms.

I started this blog several years back to highlight the positive benefits of fiber arts activities for our emotional, mental and physical health. I continue to be awed by the depths of its healing potential - for myself as well as for others.

...(a)nd then we begin to wonder if perhaps that aching scar tissue is just a louder version of that still, small voice.

I've had to dial back my consumption of news over the past several months for the sake of my well-being, state of mind and overall health. My preferred hiding place for all of this is in the Fiber Arts world, which for me is centered on crocheting, knitting and sewing. I also have some quilting goals in mind, but that may come after retirement gets here.

Tonight I made my (1st) Halloween cross-body bag following the pattern I have used to make several other bags. Since I’ve made multiple variations of it, this bag went together fairly quickly. Here…

As I work to finish my Lost Souls crochet shawl, I find that I’m easily distracted by some of the cute pumpkin-centric patterns that are popping up everywhere. It started with late night yarn-scrol…

A lot of Good could be accomplished if the egos were removed, and the lure of "easier" money was eliminated. No one needs a teacher for these things, but a lot of folks could benefit from an open hearted leader (without an agenda), a warm and welcoming community, and the support that flows naturally from a combination of the two.

I was so tickled with the mini-project that I featured in my previous post, THEN I took it to work and it added it to the top of a bookshelf in my office. The scent is subtle (I have a private office with a door that closes), pleasant for that sized space, and it seems to fit in reasonably with the other things located there.

Sometimes being “crafty” can be short, sweet and simple. Tonight I was running a few errands after work and stopped by the local “dollar” store to see if I could find a small bottle for an idea I had earlier in the day: a DIY reed scent diffuser. The reason I chose a DIY option was that the last one I purchased was priced at $50.

Today, as it has always been, "lost souls" exist all around us. It is no different now, even though it may seem to be a new era. People are hungry for a place to belong where there is compassion, kindness, and love, which means the opportunities for service are abundantly present and ready for action. Ready to serve? I have some good news! The job requirements are simple: a sincere and abiding desire to serve, in love, and without an investment in your own power, money, or control over others. In other words,... in TRUE service to others, "there is (indeed!) only love".

People continue to appreciate (spiritual metaphysical) principles, and are interested in the history (somewhat) and its application to their lives today. What seems to remain elusive to the people on the inside is that technology came along and pulled the rug out from under the empire that was being built on promoting that one group (THEIR group) has the inside, TRUE information on spiritual metaphysics. The same technology that allowed people to find once-obscure physical Centers, allowed people to remain at home on Sunday mornings and listen to a live stream or recording of the same, or similar, lesson. It ALSO allowed them to get the information at the pace THEY wanted.