greetings!

[Lyra P iCraft Writer]

hey there iCrafters!

my name is Lyra (pronounced LEE'rah, everyone asks it's a constellation that appears in the summer triangle) and i write articles for iCraft on topics relating to arts, crafts, and fashion.  i'd love to get to know everyone in our iCraft community better and hear about anything and everything that interests you!

as for me, i'm basically in awe of anyone who does what they love to do.  i'm also insanely jealous of people who can draw and/or cut a straight line, as these skills sadly elude me. if you have tips, feel free to share them

and now, in an attempt to help you get to know me better, here are:

5 things i like: cooking, running, red wine, reading (currently steppenwolf - so good! ...call CNN? haha), writing

5 things i don't like: packing/unpacking, bad grammar, cold weather (yay canada), closed minds, needles (i pass out. lame i know)

5 things i think i will like: writing a book, painting with oil, running a marathon, travelling in south america, playing the guitar (properly)

please give me your own 5s! i'd love to hear from you + hopefully we'll get to know each other better

[Roberta Murray]

Hi Lyra;

Thanks for bringing us those articles. Keep up the good work. My tip for drawing - If you can't draw a straight line, don't try to draw a straight line. Just draw without thinking. Let your hand tell you what it wants to do, and don't judge yourself on whether anything recognizable comes out of it or not. Just doodle and play and don't put any expectations on yourself.

5 Things I Like: a good western movie, horses running free, flower gardens, a summer storm, seeing people who have found their soul mate

5 Things I Don't Like: rudeness, greed, cruelty to people or animals, poverty, self-promotion, visits to the dentist

5 Things I Think I Will Like: being a grandma someday, 2009, learning Spanish, Quebec, icraft.

Cheers,
Roberta

[AndrewBoyce]

I am a factory manager from the UK. I've been working in factories now in various capacities for some twenty five years and I'm just about fed up with them !!  :cry:
Some day I hope to do my artwork full time, but its so difficult getting my work seen by the right audience. I do get really nice comments, but people rarely open their wallets!
Marketing the work seems to take up more time than creating it in the first place. It is great though to find a thriving community of fellow crafters here at icraft.  

Hmmmm,
 5 things I like:  That wine has gotta be near the top!, walking, sculpture, photography, astronomy.

5 things I dont like: Bigotry, intolerance, violence, closed mindedness,.....and seafood  :oops:

5 things I think I will like: Quitting my job, travelling more, getting a job as a movie propmaker (!), pottery, stone carving.

Keep up the great work here on the site, and best wishes to all in 2008!

Andrew

[Lyra P iCraft Writer]

thanks for replying!

i love your answers! roberta that line 'seeing people who have found their soul mate' is so lovely... perhaps i shall borrow it someday haha

are you moving to quebec soon? or is it a travel destination?  i love montreal and have been a few times, but would love to see quebec city.  i've been travelling quite a bit over the past year, but sadly i still have a lot of canada to see!

andrew i'm shocked at your hate for seafood! hahaha... but to each his own, of course  

i hope you get to quit your job as soon as possible too! i know that feeling... but at least you are still able to do what you love.  plus, your pieces are so beautiful that hopefully we can help find you the right audience and bring you a little closer to the factory-freedom era!!

[Dancing Monkey Jewelry]

5 things I like:  (1) Walking in the woods with my dog, Bruce., (2) Wine - Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin, and Firehouse Red by Tamarack Cellars are my very favorites, (3) Reading - My favorite authors are:  Bill Bryson, Stuart McLean, Larry McMurtry.  (4) That period of time when the sun is setting and the world is bathed in that orange-y, gold color - my husband likes to refer to as the "gloaming hour", (5) Eating - especially with friends.

5 things I don't like: (1) My current president (and everything his presidency stands for, (2) intolerance, (3) mistreatment of children and animals, (4) that sense of entitlement that some people seem to have and really haven't earned it  (5) and certain car models (which I shall not name because I always end up offending someone)

5 Things I think I will like:  (1) Quitting my job and working full time for myself.  (2) Becoming a success (3) Traveling to England to spend my vacation with my husband's family, on his mother's couch - they're not travelers (4) Getting into shape so that I can take that hike in The Enchantments:  http://www.alpinefever.com/index/trips/Enchant-Prusik-cover.jpg (5) The future - I see good things happening for me and my husband.

[Lyra P iCraft Writer]

hey martha,

i always feel so bad for americans who disagree with bush... he's really messed up the universal view of what it means to be american and it's so unfair.  which, i suppose is the tip of the iceberg in most people's eyes... at least it's almost over!

i checked out the photo you linked and it looks incredible! where is that? it kind of reminds me of banff, alberta -- where i unwittingly went hiking. haha.. i was in the nearby city calgary with my sister for her softball tournament, and a bunch of her teammates said they wanted to take a day trip to banff, so i went along. however, they all failed to mention we were going hiking - i showed up in flipflops and a skirt and had to do my best  :?

haha, so i definitely agree with your decision to wait until you are prepared for it!

[flower323]

Thanks for writing articles! I found some of them pretty interesting. And I'm interested to place some of the existing and probably future articles on my website. So, my question is: what are the terms and conditions to use your writing skills?  

Nice to meet you!  :oops:

[Lyra P iCraft Writer]

Hi Zoya!

Thanks, I'm really glad you like them!!  If you are interested in linking articles on your website, you can read about our policies relating to reusing iCraftGifts.com material in our FAQ section here: https://icraftgifts.com/help/

Basically all you have to do is email the editorial team at editorial@icraftgifts.com and get their permission.  Here's the official take:

"It is always okay to link to iCraftGifts.com articles. Should you wish to re-post an iCraftGifts.com article on another site, a Permissions Request must be submitted for our review. Articles written by our contributors are eligible for re-posting, as long as permission has been granted, and a written credit and link back to iCraftGifts.com is sited on the external article page."

Thanks for your interest!! If there are ever any topics you'd be interested in hearing about, please let me know!

[flower323]

Thank you, Lyra!

One more question: how should the credentials look like?

Zoya
http://mylovelybeads.com

[Lyra P iCraft Writer]

Hi Zoya,

I think that it's fine as long as you make it clear that it came from iCraftGifts.com... If you have the title of the article, and underneath say "By Lyra Pappin, icraftgifts.com" and have the link to the original article somewhere it should be fine.  Just confirm with the editorial team when you send them your request.

Thanks!

[flower323]

Lyra, please have a look at how I publish article from other sources:

http://www.mylovelybeads.com/internal.php?act=guide/displayArticle.php&id=2

I think that's complying with the rules you've just told me. And for sure confirmation should be obtained.

Best regards,
Zoya )))

[Roberta Murray]

I a bit late with my reply. However.....better late than never.

Quebec would only be a travel destination. It's very high on my list of places I'd love to go to. Especially the more remote areas of the province.

Yeah to Larry McMurtry novels, and novels made into movies. We just finished re-watching all the Lonesome Dove series.

Cheers,
Roberta

[Dancing Monkey Jewelry]

Roberta:  You're my kind of woman.  I love "Lonesome Dove" - I've read the book several times and have watched the series even more than that.

[UniqueGrabs]

Hi Lyra,

You look attractive in your avatar!

I am Richard from Singapore. I have read some of your articles!
I am into card making.

It's great to be here! and nice knowing you!

Richard

[greenwillow]

Hi, Lyra.
I'm really new--last night! This seems to be a very friendly site and I appreciate that!

I enjoyed reading your 5's. If that's you in your avatar, you're very young and pretty--I could be your grandmother, ha. I'm *ahem* much older, but love, love, love my crafts!

Well, here are my 5's.

1. "Hanging Out" with my best friend and soul mate, my DH of 46 years.

2. Spending time with my 5 grandchildren (who range from 2 yrs. old to 17 yrs. old)

3. Crafting - creating of any kind, any time, although I mostly do photography, cards and notecards, and sewing of all kinds.


4. Reading

5. Playing with my chocolate lab, Luther
 

Well, it's good to read about everyone else here. Great to get to know folks. I'm going to enjoy looking at everyone's creations.