Creator Spotlight

I decided to try a new section called Creator Spotlight where I highlight creators/artists I have come across during my writing and crafting travels.

My first is probably someone I found when I first started to learn Tatting and fell in love with her handcrafted shuttles. All the shuttles are handmade from wood and she offers custom designs as well. Unlike commercial shuttles, I find her shuttles to be very comfortable to use for long periods, particularly in cold weather as I am prone to getting sore wrists.

Below are some of the shuttles and tatting tools I have bought from her over the years. I have recently requested a custom order and if it is made, I'll add the picture of it here as well.

 

Monthly Update

I'm posting this a little early because I don't plan on making anything else this month as I have Assignments due on the 5th, 7th, and 10th of next month and I need to get those finalized. That said, I've done a fair bit this month. Enjoy!

Also I've finally moved from Lulu to Inkitt. If you want to read The Adventures of the Iron Wolves - Book 1: Alpha, It's been moved over and fully uploaded. Feel free as I hope to finally get Book 2: Beta out at the end of this year... I know I've been saying this for years but Lulu's interface and my own schedule were not helping the situation. Inkitt is a bit more user friendly also the first 100 electronic copies are free before they are pay-per-view so get in and grab them!.

 These were a pattern found in Mollie Makes that my sister wanted me to make for her along with the companion toast scarf.

Crocheted with Drops Lima yarn. Very nice to work with and I couldn't put the yarn down for very long while I was making these.

 More bows my sister wanted me to make for her. She gets me things I need from her work so I get the quicker projects done as a Thankyou.

The bow pattern was also found in Mollie Makes. Both of these bows are relatively normal size.

These were a pattern found in Mollie Makes that my sister wanted me to make for her along with the companion egg and bacon gloves.

Crocheted with Drops Lima yarn. Very nice to work with and I couldn't put the yarn down for very long while I was making these.

 Two pokeballs that my sister found the pattern for on Craftsy. Both crocheted and very quick to make.

One is made with Lincraft DK yarn and the other was either Red Heart or Heartland... Can't remember which.

 Another Mollie Makes pattern my sister wanted. This hamburger pulls apart and the filling are all individual pieces.

I'm in the process of making a batch of 8 for my Etsy store. It'll be a while before they go up.

 A needle felted bunny head. It came from Daiso but it's been sitting in my kit and project stash for a while so it was quick and easy to get done.

I like needle felting but it's quite time consuming and can be quite painful... I prick my fingers enough that I don't do needle felting until I heal from the previous time I did it.

A pair of mix media bracelets. I'm working on 2 more from the same kit but I haven't finished them yet.

The bracelet is knitted cord with beads threaded in for colour.

The next 2 are cross stitched coasters that have been sitting in my kits and projects stash for a while. Got them done this month too... Hasn't made much of a dent in my stash tho.

This one is a celtic design and the one below is suppost to be lavender.

A sewing kit I found a long time ago in Spotlight that I finally got around to. This one was fun to make and would make a good transport bag for night shifts if I'm only moving crafts or food and not my laptop.

The next two are members of the Rejected Rabbits series.

Rejected Rabbits are knitted toys that use to feature on my Etsy who use up remnants from other projects and 2nd hand yarns found in Salvos and Vinnies.

Each one is unique but all feature the button eyes, pompom tail, and embellished ribbon.

These ones were made from the remnants of the brown bun yarn from the batch hamburgers I'm making.

 Now if you know me, you know I stick offcuts and other things into christmas baubles for unique ornaments. This is one I filled this month with yarn and thread off cuts.

Always makes an interesting effect.

A prototype for an idea of ornamental coasters for my Etsy store. Turned out ok so far. I'm in the process of calculating material cost versus price if I sell these.

Let me know what you think of them in the comments either on here or on Facebook.

Lastly a beaded hair stick.

I love sound, particularly when beads click together. Also when I'm working, I tent to pull my hair back with either a headband when it is short or a hair stick when it gets longer. This one has three angels attached to it.

I found the angels on ebay and didn't have a use for them.

Monthly Craft Update

This month didn't see as many craft projects being done and I got distracted by both my new weaver and the feeling that I wanted to do some knitting.

This kit my sister brought back from her last trip to Japan. Basically it was 3 paper straws that are cut in a certain way to make animals. It was a very cute and quick kit to do before work.

 One of the old cross stitch kits I have collected over the years. This one and the kitty are by the same designer "MadeIt"

 A kit I found in Spotlight when I was yarn shopping last year. Finally got around to finishing it.

 One of the old cross stitch kits I have collected over the years. This one and the owl above are by the same designer "MadeIt"

 A bow made for my sister from the Mollie Makes magazine. This version was anime style big.

Another bow made for my sister from the Mollie Makes magazine. This one is more an appropriate size.

Monthly Craft Update

I collected the Art of Crochet series and this is one of the patterns on it. Working with plain parcel string was odd but it wasn't too bad. I might make a few more of these.

 This was a kit I found on eBay. 3D short stitch container that did originally have an American theme. Since I'm not American, I decided to alter the top to make it more diamond like.

A little kit I found in Woolworthes while I was grocery shopping. Cross stitched piece that took an afternoon to do.

 Another little kit I found in Woolworthes while I was grocery shopping. Cross stitched piece that took an afternoon to do.

 Not pieces I made but new toys I got from Etsy. I love Veronica's shop. I have a few other shuttles from her and they've all been beautifully made and quite durable.

Lastly, a free kit from one of the numerous knitting and crochet magazines I collect. Turned out a bit better than I expected, particularly with the style of buttons I used for eyes.

Natural Reality - Arc 1 - Chapter 5

It was another few weeks before Yami and Yugi were discharged from hospital. Seto had discovered that his rival’s home was destroyed and in a rare moment of kindness, repaired it to the way it looked before with extra rooms underground to make the whole place less cramped.

Yami was frustrated with the whole situation. He had not had a chance to talk to Yugi about his conversation with Heba and the moment they return home, Ryou and Malik take him to see Horakhty leaving him with Marik and Bakura.

“Did you just say Heba?” Bakura asked snapping Yami out of his thoughts. The three yami’s had been drinking when Yami murmured the name unexpectedly.

“I did?” Yami asked confused. One look to Marik confirmed that he had. With a sigh, Yami leaned back in his chair. “Heba spoke to me in the hospital while Yugi was asleep. He is… the complete opposite to my hikari.”

“Heba has… a lot of unresolved rage from when he was alive,” Bakura said carefully. “Yugi is his reborn self and I suppose that rage has filtered over to Yugi.”

“Unresolved rage?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

“You have a darkness blocking your voice,” Horakhty said softly after assessing Yugi. “I need to remove your core in order to find out where this darkness is coming from.” She indicated to Yugi to lay on a small circular mattress that was covered with soft fleece blankets.

Remove my core? Yugi asked lying down. Won’t that hurt?

“Not to you,” she looked up at Malik and Ryou. “You had better get your yami’s to restrain and distract Yami while I do this. He is going to feel a lot of pain.”

Yugi’s eyes widened and was about to refuse her when she touched his chest, drawing a large orb of light out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

‘Kura! Bakura fell off his seat as Ryou’s voice burst through his mind. A similar thump told him Marik had heard Malik as well. Yami looked at the two confused. Keep Yami busy.

Why?

Because Horakhty-sama is going to take Yugi’s core and it is going to hurt him! Yami clutched his chest, eyes widening in shock. He can’t come to Horakhty-sama’s domain without her permission!

How do you suppose we keep him busy? Bakura yelled as he jumped up at restrained one of Yami’s arms as Marik tried restraining the other.

I don’t know. Ryou cried. Bakura could sense he was afraid of what he was seeing before him. Just do what you normally do.

I’ll try. Bakura softened his tone. Will you be ok?

I think so…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“This is strange,” Horakhty mused as she probed Yugi’s core. “There is no darkness in here. But he isn’t completely here as well. It seems that part of his core is missing.”

Ryou watched as Horakhty returned to the bed where Yugi’s body laid motionless. His eyes vacant and staring up at the ceiling as she probed his body with her power. Clucking her tongue disapprovingly, she waved her hand over Yugi’s eyes.

“Heba…” Horakhty said softly waiting until the light vacant eyes darkened to the rich purple. “You should be merged with Yugi’s reincarnated soul. Why are you still separate?”

“I was tainting him,” Heba replied sitting up. “My rage was turning him dark. I had to separate from him to protect his light as a hikari…” He paused and then looked at the orb of light which pulsed in an irritated manner. “He’s getting angry. But not at me…” He glanced at Ryou and Marik who immediately blushed.

Horakhty stared at the three hikari before focusing her attention solely on Ryou and Malik. “What is going on?”

“Our yami’s are distracting Yami…” Malik said carefully. “And Yami is participating…” Horakhty looked annoyed at his evasiveness.

“They are having a threesome,” Ryou blurted out before going really red. “I don’t know how it evolved into that but I think Yugi is mad at his darkness.”

Heba nodded and then smiled. “I think Yugi will be difficult to subdue once you return his orb to his body.” He looked at Horakhty with a sneaky smile. “But I do have a suggestion on how to subdue it.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

Yami lay panting, his limbs entangled with Bakura’s and Marik’s. He knew that Yugi would be angry at his tryst with the other yami’s but he had lost himself to the lust of the other two. The tearing pain in his chest had died down and the lust had covered up the residual pain nicely.

Rolling over, he got up and pulled on some clothes. He turned to find the other two following suit. They were glad they had chosen that moment to get dressed as they suddenly found themselves sitting with their legs folded under them, their hands behind their backs, and held in place with golden chains.

Yami could see Yugi’s body lying on the mattress in front of them and beyond that was the other two hikari and an orb of light that pulsed angrily. Horakhty smiled at them in welcome.

Natural Reality - Arc 1 - Chapter 4

Yugi watched as Ryou and Malik paced his hospital room. They were afraid of the possibilities that there was another yami or even a monster so secretive that he couldn’t be found by their yami’s. The abilities of this thing was amazing considering it took out both Yami and Yugi in the space of a single night.

It’s not like it killed me. Yugi said for the fifth time through their hikari link. Once I’m healed we can try finding it hikari-style.

“Provided it doesn’t try to attack you both here,” Malik stressed running a hand through his platinum hair. “Both you and Yami can’t protect yourselves in this state.”

I have a knight. Yugi said before almost recoiling at the glare Ryou gave him. I know… One isn’t enough.

Yugi sighed and flopped back onto his bed. He smiled thinking about when he first realized Ryou and Malik were also hikari.

FLASHBACK

Yugi felt the stone ground when he landed hard. His perception of the people in the room was altered. Looking up, he felt the familiar light presence that he sensed from Horakhty.

Ryou and Malik were bent down offering him a hand up. “Umm… Thanks.” he said a little confused.

We are hikari as well. Ryou’s voice sounded in his head much like Yami’s through their mind link. Malik now looks after Egypt with Marik and I look after England with Bakura.

We have a lot of catching up to do. Malik added smiling at the increasing confusion on Yugi’s face. Hikari’s can talk to each other via a link of light. Just like how yami’s can via shadows.

Then is the bond between Yami and I still exist? Yugi asked a little worried.

It remains in place. Ryou assured him. We will teach you what we know. But you are also different from us. You are a reincarnation of a previous hikari. There may be things that only you can do.

Heba… Yugi said and then lifted his head when Malik gasped. What is it?

Heba? Malik blinked and then looked at his sister. “Isis, in the scriptures, there was a Heba mentioned, wasn’t there?”

“Heba?” Isis looked confused as to where that question had come from. “Heba was the Pharaoh’s lover. They were always together. But nothing was written other than that.” She looked at Yugi carefully before smiling, understanding where the question had come from.

“I think there is something you need to see.”

END FLASHBACK

“Yugi…” Malik’s face was close enough to kiss if Yugi had cared to try. “We have a serious situation here! You can’t zone out like that on us.”

Heba. Yugi said softly causing the Egyptian to jump at the name. I was just thinking. If Yami is the reincarnation of the Pharaoh then I would be the reincarnation of Heba. Interesting, don’t you think, that my name is similar to Heba’s?

“We never got a chance to look at what Isis wanted to show you,” Malik replied moving back to his chair with a smile. Ryou perched himself on the bed curious on the change in topic. “But it is interesting since ‘Heba’ means game in the old language.”

“Just where are you going with this Yugi?” Ryou asked curiously. “You wouldn’t of mentioned Heba unless it was connected to this situation in some way.”

Yugi nodded and closed his eyes. I was weakening from maintaining the barrier. Yami wanted to pull me into the puzzle to protect me but I became angry at that decision. I lost myself to a rage that consumed me. Next thing I know, I wake up in a hospital bed and hear that the house and shop were destroyed.

“You think that Heba is within you?” Malik asked curiously. “Reincarnated souls can’t be controlled by their past lives.”

I think something happened in the past to Heba before the situation with Zorc. Yugi opened his eyes and looked out the window. I remember being in the memory RPG and there was no sign of Heba. It was all from the eyes of the Pharaoh. Time also took a different turn as Zorc was subdued instead of sealed in the puzzle.

“I think we may need to pay a visit to Horakhty-sama,” Ryou said softly. He could sense darkness within Yugi which was growing stronger with every mention of Heba’s name. “You’ve mentioned black outs before whenever you were angry or in pain. I never thought that it might be because of an issue stemming from your past life.”

“I still maintain that a past life can’t interfere with a present one,” Malik stated flatly. “It’s just not possible.”

With humans… Yugi said catching Malik’s attention. But I’m a hikari. It might be different when it comes to us.

“Maybe…” Malik replied slowly. “Let me contact Marik and Isis. See what they think.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

Yami sat on the bed watching Yugi sleep. He could feel something was wrong with his little one ever since Ryou and Malik visited. Part of him wondered if the close proximity to other hikari’s had triggered something that the shadow cursed had left behind.

That night was a blur to Yami. He remembered yelling at Yugi to allow him to pull him into the puzzle for safety. Then, Yugi’s eyes changed from the usual light purple to a deep, rich purple before the explosion happened. He couldn’t understand what that was.

Aibou? He brushed the golden bangs away from Yugi’s eyes. Are you awake?

Once again, he was greeted by the rich purple eyes as they fluttered open. You don’t know when to leave well enough alone do you?

Yami recoiled at the harsh tone that filtered through their link. I don’t understand, aibou. Why are you acting this way?

Aibou… Yugi’s harsh voice laughed at the word. Atemu, you have really not changed a bit. Leave me to rest before I blast you out the window!

Yami was at a loss for words. Yugi had never called him ‘Atemu’. It took him a moment before he remembered the strange, disjointed conversation between Yugi, Malik, and Isis after they returned through the spirit doorway.

You’re Heba… He watched as a smirk played across Yugi’s face. How is this possible?

You’re a bright spark. Heba hissed back. I take it I am talking to Yami then instead of Atemu. Interesting. But still, I… Or more like we… Need our rest. The word was punctuated by a yawn. Just leave Yami. We don’t want to be disturbed.

Natural Reality - Arc 1 - Chapter 3

Tea, Joey, and Tristan stared at what was once the game shop. Fire crews picked through the rubble pulling out the debris in their search for survivors.

"Umm... excuse me," Tea asked one of the firemen. "What happened here?"

"You live here?"

"A friend of mine does," She could see him start to give her his full attention. "We usually drop by to pick him up on the way to school."

"There was an explosion just past five this morning," The fireman said quickly. "It took us a while to put out the electrical fire." He looked at the rubble and then back at Tea. "How many were living here?"

"My friend and his partner." Tea replied trying to contain her emotions. "His grandfather is staying in America with a friend."

"We found a body!" Someone deep in the debris yelled. "Correction, Two!

The three waited anxiously until the first was extracted from the rubble. Yami looked bad and it was clear he was struggling to breathe. Yugi looked worse. The heavy white bandages were torn revealing the cuts on his arms which were bleeding freely. But unlike Yami, Yugi appeared lifeless. Only the tiniest movement of his chest told otherwise.

"We'll get to school and let the teachers know," Joey whispered in Tea's ear. His face was pale but relieved that they were alive. "You know more about Yugi than we do. Help the doctors out and make sure they live!"

Tea could only nod in reply, her eyes fixed on their unconscious bodies. She followed the paramedic into the back of the ambulance with Yugi in it and quickly relayed all she knew about Yugi's medical history.

"Do you know anything about the other young man?"

Other than that he is a 5000 year old pharaohs and Yugi's lover? she asked sarcastically before saying "No. Yugi knows everything about Yami. I haven't known him as long as I have known Yugi." She shook her head when asked about the other teen's family. "Yugi said he had no family living."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

"How are they doing?" Joey asked Tea in the waiting room after school let out.

"Yugi is the worst hurt." Tea replied quietly. "They think he protected Yami from the explosion. They are suspicious about the long cuts along his forearms. They said they look self-inflicted." Tea gave Joey a half smile. "Yami woke up a little while ago. They took him for tests." She chuckled before adding "He refused to go anywhere without seeing Yugi first."

"Has he said what happened?" Tristan asked

"He said he was having a moment with Yugi and next thing he knew there was a lot of pain and then nothing." Tea replied. "They asked him about Yugi's cuts and he said that Yugi did attempt but he was trying to find out when it happened."

"Yug attempted suicide?" Joey's eyes looked curiously guarded. "He promised..." Shaking his head, he added "He has tried before when he was being bullied."

“Perhaps we should ask Yami about it when he returns,” Tea said softly looking down at her watch. “I better go. I have dance class soon.” She tapped Joey’s shoulder before dragging Tristan, who started protesting before seeing her pointed look, with her. “Your turn.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

It wasn’t long until Yami returned to find Joey waiting for him. “I know what you are going to ask…” He waited until the nurse left and closed the door behind her before continuing on. “Yugi hasn’t broken his promise to you. I just couldn’t tell them the truth of what happened.”

“So what did happen then?” Joey asked taking a seat at Yami’s side. “Those cuts look too straight for an accident.”

“Do you remember back to the ceremonial dual and how Yugi was pulled in after I went through?” Joey nodded and indicated for Yami to continue. “Well…”

FLASHBACK

"Just like Heba and myself," Atemu reappeared and gestured to an open door behind Yami. "If you will follow me."

Yami helped Yugi up and they followed Atemu through the door to a room that was perfectly half dark and half-light. They stared around the room in amazement. On the light side stood the Creator of Light, Horakhty, while on the dark side Zorc the Dark One stood. Both stood watching the three, and waited.

“Before the dawn of time, the World of the Beasts has existed side by side with the human world,” Atemu said softly. “I’m sure Mana told you this already.”

“She did,” Yugi replied sensing Yami was unable to speak from shock. “But that doesn’t explain now.”

“Over time, the creators of light and dark discovered that they needed those who embody those powers to administer and protect the two worlds,” Atemu raised a hand to his heart and smiled. “While I was ruling in Egypt, Heba and I was one such pair.” He waved his hand and a series of memories played where Atemu and Heba fought creatures side by side. “My beloved Heba, my light half, protected the humans of Egypt while I protected and controlled the Egypt that existed in the Shadow Realm. We existed like this until the balance was disrupted by a flux of darkness.”

“I still don’t understand,” Yugi said, partially wondering if Yami was unable to speak due to Atemu’s existence.

“It is their wish for you two to become the ruler of Japan.” Atemu laughed at Yugi’s expression. “Not in the sense you are thinking. Yugi, as hikari, you would keep the shadows balanced and away from the human world. While Yami, as a yami,” Yugi momentarily looked confused at this point. “Will manage the Shadow Realm.”

“Hikari and yami…” Horakhty said softly. “Light and dark.”

“Order and chaos,” Zorc continued. “Combined to protect and serve the nature of this world. Do you understand?”

Yugi glanced at Yami curiously. Seeing understanding and desire shimmering in his eyes, he looked back to Zorc and nodded.

“Then it shall be done,” Horakhty and Zorc intoned.

Yugi and Yami both yelped as they were picked up and thrown back through the door they walked through.

END FLASHBACK

“That’s when we were thrown back through the spirit door and it shut behind us,” Yami said softly. Joey looked shocked. “We…”

“We?” Joey asked before noticing the faraway look on Yami’s face. He had seen this on Yugi’s face before whenever he spoke to Yami through their mind link.

Yami…

You’re awake Aibou. How are you feeling?

Tired. These bandages are heavy and the one on my head is covering my eyes. Yugi sounded frustrated. The doctors are in here talking about my condition. They keep saying I won’t likely be waking up any time soon. Yami smothered a laugh at the whine in Yugi’s voice. But I am awake. I just can’t open my eyes.

I’ll send Joey in to you. Yami pulled out of their conversation to look at Joey. “Yugi’s upset because the doctors are telling each other he won’t wake up any time soon but he is awake.” He widened his eyes and quickly asked Yugi. Can you move?

My fingers. Yugi replied. Joey can be psychic for once. Yami laughed at the hysterics his hikari had gotten himself into.

Yugi paused in his mental laughter as the doctors examined his throat. “I don’t think we will hear why he tried to kill himself until he starts writing again.” Yugi’s body went cold in shock. “His vocal cords are damaged beyond repair.”

YAMI! Yugi sent panic through the link causing Yami to almost fall out of his bed as he reached for some water.

What is it, little one? He asked attempting to calm him down. Joey is on his way there.

I won’t be able to speak anymore… Yami could feel him crying in his mind. They said my vocal cords are damaged.

‘I won’t hear my hikari’s voice again…’ Yami thought before responding to Yugi. I will just have to play translator. He attempted to lighten the situation with humor. He could tell his hikari wasn’t taking this well. Is Joey there yet?

Yugi felt someone brush his hand before touching his face. “Yug, I’m here. Yami said you were awake.” Yugi moved his fingers, tracing the letters for Joey’s name on the bed. “I’m glad. Let me get the doctors so they know you’re awake.”

He is Yami.

He needs a ring. Yugi sent Yami a bundle of confused emotions at this statement. I told him about us. He thought you had betrayed him by attempting to commit suicide again. I didn’t want him to think that so I told him everything about us. Nothing yet about that night since I can’t name Bakura or Ryou until he is protected.

Oh… Yugi waited until the doctors were done re-bandaging his head so he could open his eyes. His vision was hazed with red. Wait a sec, Yami.

A board was placed under his right hand with the words ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. All he had to do was point at what he wanted to respond with.

“Can you see clearly?” No

“Blurred?” No

“So a clear image… Wrong colours?” Yes

“Streaks?” No

“Like a fog then?” Yes

“Are you in pain?” No

“Good. The last thing we want is you in pain and not be able to ask for relief.” The doctor paused and then asked softly. “Do you remember why you tried to kill yourself?” Yugi managed his best confused look at the doctor. “You have straight cuts on both arms stretching from your wrist to the inside of your elbow. They are too neat for accidental cuts.” He patted the boy’s shoulder. “Perhaps it is best you don’t remember what drove you to that extreme.” He gave a nod to Joey before leaving the room.

“Yugi…” Joey began to say before watching Yugi shake his right wrist from side to side. A faint rattle grew louder until a golden bracelet appeared. “What the!”

Yugi traced his fingers on the board. It took Joey a while to understand what Yugi was trying to say. Take a ring.

“What?”

Take a ring. You know about Yami and I. This is to protect you against the shadows. They will seek you out now because you have knowledge on us.

Joey pulled one of the rings off the bracelet. “Do I just put it on?”

Hold it in your palm. Then throw it up and catch it again before putting it on. Best to do it in the sunlight.

Joey walked over to the window and did what Yugi said, nearly dropping it when the ring grew in size to an armband. He glanced over to Yugi, who nodded, before sliding the ring up his arm until it sat comfortably around his bicep. He returned and sat near Yugi once more. He watched in fascination as the bracelet on Yugi’s wrist faded from view once again.

No one but those with the knowledge will see the ring. It will become warm if I am in danger. It will guide you to where I am when that happens.

“I’m glad Yami told me,” Joey said resting a hand on Yugi’s shoulder. “But he didn’t tell me how you got those cuts.”

He couldn’t mention another yami by name until you had my ring. Otherwise that yami would be forced to seek you out and kill you.

“As long as you didn’t do it to yourself,” Joey said fingering the band with curiosity. “I don’t want to ever see you do that again.”