I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a man, two cats, and no children as yet. I'm on Helium because my current job, while it pays the bills, has a salary rather less than my yearly tuition was for the university at which I got my degree in writing, and
+ more bio informationHTML, or "HyperText Markup Language", is the simple programming language used to tell a web browser what a webpage is supposed to look like. While it's possible to get very elaborate with HTML programming, there are a few simple things to remember that can help even a beginner use HTML correctly. The first thing to remember ... More..
When you're a beginner, button holes can be a little tricky, which is unfortunate since they're one of the things that tend to jump out at people who see your finished product; crooked or misplaced buttonholes are pretty obvious, and it's all too easy for them to end up that way. So here are a few tips for the novice sewer a... More..
The first time you unfold a commercial sewing pattern, you're likely to be overwhelmed-what do all the lines mean? Why are some of them solid and others dotted? What are those marks and why should you pay attention to them? Fortunately, patterns are easy to figure out with just a few pointers. Your reading of a pattern start... More..
The calendar of festivals used by many pagans, especially those of a Wiccan or Druidic bent, includes two types of festival, the Esbat and the Sabbat. Esbats are monthly, generally on either the new or full moon; there are thirteen of them in a year. The celebration of an Esbat is most similar to weekly church services or vi... More..
Once you have a quilt top, batting and backing ready to go, you'll be aching to get on to the actual quilting. It's the last big step before your creation will be complete. But how to make sure that the layers stay neatly aligned while you're working on them? First thing to do is put the layers down. Start with the backing, ... More..
Needlepoint is a kind of embroidery, using wool thread on a printed canvas and a large, fairly blunt needle. It's usually used to make decorative items; though it's not unknown to see needlepoint used in garments like vests, wall hangings, glasses cases, or similar accessories are far more common. The fabric for needlepointi... More..
Cross stitch is fun, and easy to get started on, but eventually everyone gets tired of printed designs; it's time to learn to read patterns so you can move into counted cross stitch. Fortunately, even complex designs are pretty easy to understand, once you pick up the trick. The thing to keep in mind is that every color of t... More..
Like roses, irises offer large, showy flowers in a variety of spectacular colors. Unlike roses, irises don't need a lot of care to keep them looking their best. A few simple tips are all you need to grow a beautiful iris collection. * When picking a site for your iris bed, remember that the rhizomes need good drainage and at... More..
White Wolf's Vampire:the Requiem is the new version of their flagship game, set in the "rebooted" World of Darkness (meaning you'll need the World of Darkness rulebook to play, not just the Vampire book). And while there are plenty of familiar concepts and names, it's got some significant changes from the Masquerade. First o... More..
For adding warmth to your floors while matching your home's decor, nothing beats making your own rugs. Of course there are many ways to get started in this practical craft, but two of the easiest are braiding and latch hooking. Braided rugs were traditionally made from scraps and old, worn-out clothing, in the same spirit of... More..
Carrie Schutrick
Marketplace Premier Writer
Marketplace Approved Writer
Articles Written: 192
Writers Invited: 24