SquidCasts from stazjia

Senior Squids Challenge: My Hero - The Person I Admire Most

Stazjia — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:21:23 GMT

I issued the Challenge to Senior Squids this week on the subject of My Hero - The Person I Admire Most. This is the lens I made to go with the Challenge and it lists the lenses made for it although I hope more will be entered as I didn't put a deadline on it. The heroes written about by Senior Squids aren't the people who won medals for bravery but the ones who showed different types of courage.

A Look at Artist Jack Vettriano and the Books of his Work

Stazjia — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:31:13 GMT

I've never seen any of Vettriano's original paintings so I can't comment on their quality. I do find myself fascinated by the subjects he chooses for his work and the air of mystery he gives them. That's why I decided to do a lens on him and the books about his work.

Tweets about Glastonbury Festival 2010

Stazjia — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:24:30 GMT

What are people tweeting about the Glastonbury Festival with nearly 6 months still to go? Find out here.

I Shot an Arrow Into the Air

Stazjia — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:48:23 GMT

This is the first line of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It is called The Arrow and the Song and I've just added to Classic Poems for Kids. I hope you enjoy it.

Fresh posters on this lens

Stazjia — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:42:00 GMT

Because Allposters.com is no longer selling all the Queen posters I had originally used on this lens about the way this band helped me recover from depression, I've replaced them with fresh ones.

Wowee! I'm Actually an Angel

Stazjia — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:01:29 GMT

When I read that Kimberly had received about twice as many applications to become Angels as there were new Angels required, I thought that's my chance gone then. I was wrong and I'm really an Angel now. Here's my Angel's lens.

Henry Died on September 25th, 2009

Stazjia — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:26:15 GMT

I have finally updated this lens about Henry, my cavalier King Charles spaniel with information about his death two weeks ago. I couldn't bring myself to do it sooner.

Have a Look at how I make Crazy Quilts

Stazjia — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:15:31 GMT

In this lens, made for a Rocket Moms assignment, I've shown pictures of crazy quilts I've made and one in I just started. I write about the way I make them because, although I sew the patches by hand, I don't want to quilt in the traditional way.

My latest Rocket Moms lens

Stazjia — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:47:55 GMT

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, - World Heritage Site - are one of my favourite places. I've been there at different times of year and I've never been disappointed.

You don't even have to be a very keen gardener to enjoy a day out there because it has so much to see. There are Grade 1 and 2 Listed Buildings and record breaking plants as well as some so rare they are endangered in the wild. It's also a place of peace and tranquility even at its busiest, there is always somewhere quiet to sit.

My Latest Rocket Moms Lens - This Time a Recipe

Stazjia — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:34:08 GMT

I dragged myself away from my computer yesterday afternoon to make this Quick and East Blueberry Cake and to take photos at each stage. Some of the pictures were OK and others were a bit blurred. I was in too much of a hurry, probably.

Anyway, the results of those efforts are this lens I finished about an hour ago. It really is delicious. We've not got much of the cake left which proves it.

Skills from the 1940s, Useful Today

Stazjia — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:40:43 GMT

This is my latest Rocket Moms lens about the way people in Britain had to 'make do and mend' their clothes because of rationing during World War II. I've also shown how those skills can still be useful today whether its because people are economizing during the recession or because they want to save the planet by recycling. Hey! Some people reconstruct their clothes because it's fun and they like to have original and unique things to wear.

Vote for or against teddy bears

Stazjia — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:52:37 GMT

I've added a new poll and I'm asking people to vote on various options ranging from "Yes, mine goes everywhere with me" to "No and I never liked them". Where do you fit in this range? I hope you'll take part in this poll.

Please add your tips

Stazjia — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:16:58 GMT

I've put a text list plexo on this lens and I'm asking for more tips for keeping your garden looking great even though you have a cat or dog. If you have any ideas, please enter them on the plexo list. I'd really like a lot more than the couple already there.

It Might be Summer Now But It Will Soon be Autumn

Stazjia — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:10:44 GMT

So the challenge I gave to Senior Squids for this week was 'Fall: Season of Mellow Fruitfulness'. As always, Senior Squids rose to the challenge and made beautiful and interesting lenses, all linked to from this mini-lensography. I hope you agree that I've contributed something more than just a bunch of links too.

Just finished this lens

Stazjia — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:44:37 GMT

I wrote this as a tutorial for the Wiwon Challenge Group and I hope other people will find it interesting and useful too.

This lens got a purple star

Stazjia — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:42:38 GMT

The email said the purple star gave me bragging rights so I thought I'd use them to let you know about this lens, published a week ago and which I hope you'll find useful. I'm amazed and delighted that someone thought it was good enough for a purple star.

Railways and the Time

Stazjia — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:01:37 GMT

Until the coming of the railways, there was little need for most people to know the exact time and so places operated on 'local time'.

Trying to run a railway timetable when places can't agree on the time is difficult so the railroad companies had to find another way of doing things. Time was never same again!

Stories of the UK Antiques Trade

Stazjia — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:12:19 GMT

I spent more than 30 years working in antiques publishing, first on a trade newspaper, then on a glossy specialist magazine, finally as a freelancer.

During that time I made many friends among dealers, fairs (shows) organisers and others associated with the trade. I heard a lot of stories and was present when some of the things I relate here actually occurred. There are many stories of the antiques trade that I haven't told yet, maybe I will sometime...

Moonflowers - A Lens for the Senior Squids Challenge

Stazjia — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:18:51 GMT

This is another lens I've made for the weekly Senior Squids Challenge. Drifter chose the topic this week - The Moon. We could write about anything to do with the moon, even flowers.

Moonflowers are so beautiful and they bloom all night perfuming the air with a lovely fragrance. The flowers can grow to a massive 6 inches in diameter. I would love to grow them but can't where I live now. Instead I enjoy the pictures on this lens.

Legends of the Old West - Senior Squids Challenge

Stazjia — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:10:59 GMT

I set the challenge last week for Senior Squids on Legends of the Old West. As a girl growing up in England, I loved movies and TV shows set in the 'Wild West' and I wanted to find out more about the real people.

I wasn't disappointed with the response with lenses on outlaws, pioneer women and native Americans. They are fascinating and I've made a lensography of them so I hope you'll take a look.