RuneScape is my MMORPG

I've been reading a bit about the latest expansion for World of Warcraft. It sounds like it's a much needed improvement to a game that hasn't really been out that long. Well, as long as RuneScape has been out anyway.

I love RuneScape! It's a "live" role-playing game that you can log into via internet through your PC. No need to buy extra software, no need to buy the main program either. All you have to do is go to the main page (www.runescape.com), create your character and begin the fun. Well, if you want a smaller version of the game anyway. There is a free to play version of the game, which only lets you access 1/4 of the entire RuneScape world, but you get to complete quests, level up many different skills, including mining, smithing, crafting, cooking, fishing, etc.

The pay to play section gives you complete access to the entire RuneScape world (assuming you have completed certain quests to have access to certain parts of the world, anyway) and the ability to train in all skills, such as hunting, farming, agility, fletching, etc. The membership fee is only a paltry $5 a month to enjoy hours and hours and (in my case) HOURS of computer fun. Nothing to buy, no extra software, no worrying if your computer has the right connection speed. Dial up users can play as well as DSL or faster users.

I have been playing for about 2 years now and I absolutely am hooked on it. I just wish there were more hours in the day to play. True, the graphics may not be as flashy as WoW, but the skills more than make up for it. To tell you the truth, I am so busy having fun talking to my online friends that I don't even care about the graphics, unless I'm being attacked by a tree spirit, or the Mysterious Old Man pays me a visit. I've even had a mime come by and get me to play a rousing game of monkey-see, monkey-do.

As far as my stats are concerned, well, they aren't the best in the game, but they are rather decent. I am currently in the top 86,000 overall scorers, and I am in the top 25,000 on several stats as well. I have now progressed to the point where higher leveled players are impressed with my stats.

Go and check it out. You'll have spent 3 hours there without even realizing it. Give me a PM too, I'm under the character name of Ashlyn Hart. I could even help you learn your way around the world too.

See ya there!

Pain is in the eye of the beholder

Ok, strange title, I know. But let me explain.

Last Tuesday, I felt a strange "pop" in my lower back region. Next thing I knew I was out of work for three days lying flat on my back in bed, barely able to move. Is it too late to ask Santa for a new back? Anyway, here's a brief rundown of what's going on.

About 4 years or so ago, a good friend of mine decided to give me a good bye hug. Only this friend did not come straight at me, he came at me from about a 45 or so degree angle. He gave me a tremendous bear hug which torqued my back farther than it really wanted to go. Approximately 3 days later, I woke up with tremendous back pain that left me in bed for a week solid.

I went to doctors, chiropractors, had MRIs and X-rays done. I was diagnosed with a dessicated (sp?) disc, a degenerated disc, and a pinched nerve. I thought I finally got a handle on the pain, and my limitations after about 1 1/2 years of chiropractic treatment. Apparently, I was mistaken.

I am now back to square one with a high possibility of surgery in my future for replacement discs. That will be an option of last resort. I am now on Vicodin three times a day and have heat placed on my lower back 13-14 hours a day. It's a very good thing that I work in the equivalent of an igloo. My coworkers are all menopausal and are having hot flashes from Hell.

Anyway, I hope that this will be the last time I have to go through this level of pain. I wouldn't even wish this kind of debilitating pain on my worst enemy. Just keep me in your thoughts.

Thanks for continuing to read this blog through all the changes.

Happy New Year!

It's a brand new year and a brand new look for my blog. Since Carrot Top Crafts did not go as well as I expected, I decided to use this as my "whatever" blog. I will talk about anything and everything that comes to mind.

If you have any comments or questions that you would like me to talk about, feel free to contact me and give me something to talk about. Otherwise, it's a moot point. There are only a few rules I personally have about this: No vulgarities, no adult/mature (NC-17 or above) topics will be discussed, and above all, have fun.

And to a certain reader, congrats on your new Mustang! May you have fun in it, but don't get any traffic tickets. And come and pick me up and we'll go cruising!

May you all have a wonderful year!

Heather

End of an era, unless you order now

I know I haven't been posting for a while now. Unfortunately, it's not because I have been very busy with the crafts...

Unless you, my loyal readers, inundate me with orders soon, Carrot Top Crafts will go the way of many small businesses have in this day and age. I will no longer create new inventory, I am drastically trying to sell off what inventory I have. I wish I could say this would be good news, but alas...

So I guess this will be my announcement of a "Going out of Business Sale." All orders I get will have free shipping until my stock has completely been sold out. I still have over 100 pieces of jewelry, many crocheted items, and several cross stitch pictures waiting for homes.

I had really hoped that things would turn up better for me and this venture, but the timing just wasn't right, and life threw me some curve balls that couldn't be avoided.

But fear not, I will still try and do some special orders here and there.

Anyway, I guess I'll just leave you with a smile and say that it has been a pleasure and hope to hear from you all soon.


Keep stitching,
Heather

More things added to Carrot Top Crafts

I have now started volunteering for Project Linus. I think this is a wonderful organization that gives stitchers like me a chance to put my talents to very good use. I already have 3-4 blankets made for children ages 1-5, and I am now working on a hexagonal afghan for a twin size bed. They desperately need more blankets for the bigger kids. Not to say that they don't need infants blankets as well. I have decided to keep my "blanketeering" narrowed down to the kids that always seem to fall in the cracks, the ones too big for baby blankets, yet too young to care for themselves.
Please take a moment to visit Project Linus. Not only do they need dedicated "blanketeers", but they also need donations to keep this wonderful idea going. If you can't crochet, knit, or quilt, please consider giving them a small donation to keep it going?
I am taking yarn donations as well, to keep my part of the chain going. If you happen to have some yarn that is in good shape, I would be happy to take it to integrate it into my next blanket. If you are seriously wanting to help me out, send me an email (at carrottopcrafts@mail.com) and I can give you the specifics of how to get the yarn to me.
Until then, happy stitching!
Heather

another project I have worked on

This is another cross stitch pattern that I have worked on in the past. It is called "The Guardian" and it was designed by Teresa Wentzler. She designs a lot fantasy genre pictures and the colors are absolutely gorgeous in person. This picture really doesn't do it justice, but it's hard to portray the mulitude of hues in a snapshot.

She designs fairies, dragons, merlins, and all sorts of other designs. I am partial to the fantasical though.

I will be posting some other pictures of either items I have worked on, or something similar to what I have worked on. I have done all sorts of things, so there is a vast array of cross stitch I can do.

Please email me (at carrottopcrafts@mail.com) or Instant Messenger me (at yahoo! carrot_top_crafts). I would love to hear from you.

Thanks,
Heather

New Items to be added

I will now be taking special orders for cross stitched items. My specialty is larger items such as the pictured quilt patterns here. Each completed cross stitch pattern is around 8 inches by 10 inches (or larger depending on the type fabric used) and is absolutely gorgeous. I have completed several of these patterns already as Paula Vaughan is my all-time favorite designer. They turn out absolutely beautiful.

I have also completed a Thomas Kinkade cross stitch picture in the past. For those of you who know his works, the pictures are very intricate and colorful and well worth the effort.

I also work on smaller cross stitch items, such as tea towels, samplers, cross stitch baby blankets, and pillow fronts.

If you are interested in having a personalized item, I do have a cross stitch software program at home that can convert .jpg images into cross stitch patterns and I can cross stitch your family or pet from your own image you send me. I will be trying to take some pictures of projects I have already completed to post so that you may see the quality of my work.

Some of my completed works include: Precious Moments pictures, Thomas Kinkade patterns, Paula Vaughan patterns, stamped cross stitch baby quilts, cross stitched name tags, personalized clothing (send me the item you want the picture or monogram on and I will add it, or tell me the size needed and I can send it to you that way), samplers, animal patterns, Biblical patterns, mythical creature patterns, triptychs, and Christmas patterns (like small ornaments).

Please feel free to contact me with your specifications. I will begin working on Christmas orders this month, so don't delay. I want to make sure that you get your gift in plenty of time before the Christmas rush, I work quickly, but not THAT fast!

I can still be reached via email at carrottopcrafts@mail.com or you can send me an instant message through Yahoo! by my ID of carrot_top_crafts.

Have a great day!

Heather