Priestess of Words

The Portals of Lost Socks

2025-11-17T19:02:00.001-07:00

"Master of the Portals" by Christine Graves via Leonardo AI

It was typical Sunday morning. I'd gotten out of bed and started my day. It was early and everyone else was still asleep, or so I had thought. I heard something in the laundry room, but I couldn't make out what it was.

I went in to investigate, expecting to find my youngest child trying to hide from me or getting into something he shouldn't. But there was nothing nor anyone in the room. I chalked it up to not having my morning coffee and went on my way.

As the family began to stir, I got breakfast started and decided to do a load of laundry. I'd thrown a few things in the dryer the night before, mostly socks and undergarments, but never took them out to fold them.

I got one load started and pulled the other from the dryer. Nothing out of the norm, just threw them in a basket and took them to my room to fold.

As I began to match up my socks, I realized that there were several that were missing. I always had a missing sock here and there, but this seemed different. Almost every single pair I'd thrown in the laundry the night before was missing its mate.

I barked at the kids, reminding them that they had to bring me ALL of their dirty clothes, to which they bellowed back that they had. I knew better. It sparked a full day of cleaning out closets, under beds, corners, and anywhere else I thought they may have left a lonely sock behind. To my dismay, we only found three.

At the end of the day, I got the kids bathed and off to bed. It was quiet in the house once again and I was set on enjoying a little of it before heading off to bed myself.

As I sat in the silence, I heard something in my laundry room once again. I was sure my youngest had snuck out of bed and was into something he shouldn't be. I decided to sneak up on him and surprise him, but that's not what happened.

As I entered my laundry room, I noticed a tiny being digging through my dryer. I was stunned and a squeaky breath left my body. The sound jolted the being out of my dryer and I stood there staring at this creature before me. It looked like a tiny human, but had pointed ears and was wearing a red velvet cloak.

I could tell it was just as scared as I was, so I didn't make any sudden movements. We stood there for a few moments, then it reached out its hands to me. That's when I noticed it was holding most of my missing socks.

"Forgive, please," it said in a tiny voice. "No hurt, please." The thought sent shivers down my spine.

"No, I won't hurt you if you promise not to hurt me," I whispered.

"Need socks," it said with its eyes turned down. "Need socks to go home."

I had no idea what it meant and it apparently realized this. It put most of the socks back in the dryer, except for one of my heavy woolen ones. The little creature held the sock up, closed its eyes, and began to chant in a language I'd never heard before.

The sock began to swirl and a portal formed in the center of my laundry room. I could see through the portal that a beautiful woodland lay on the other side. "Home," the creature said, pointing to the portal.

I only nodded in silence, still to stunned to speak.

"No come back," the creature said in a saddened voice. "No socks for to come back. I not mean bad for you. I go home now."

My heart felt as though it were being ripped from my chest. I watched as the little creature began to step through the portal.

"Wait," I exclaimed. The tiny creature stopped and looked back at me with apprehension in its eyes.

I slowly walked to the dryer and pulled the matching sock out and handed it to the creature. "You can come back and you can have all the old socks you want. All I ask is that you leave our newer and nicer socks alone."

The creature smiled and its eyes lit up. It stuck the sock in its cloak, bowed to me, then popped through the portal, which closed as soon as the being was through.

I wasn't sure if what I'd witnessed was real or if it was just an elaborate dream, as the next thing I remembered was waking up in my chair.

My children are all grown up now and have children of their own. I live on my own and have a fairly good life. However, I still go out of my way to make sure I have extra socks and leave a few in the dryer for my little friend to come and go from their world into ours. I've never seen the creature since, but I'm always pulling socks out of my dryer and wonder where their mates have gone.

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Hello, my lovelies. I know it's been a hot minute since I last wrote. Life has a weird way of getting away from us when we're not looking.

The above story is from a prompt I received from Gemini AI. I use Gemini a lot and it helped me get out of my slump. I mean, it's helping me get out of my slump, I'm not there quite yet. But this helped.

The prompt was a "what if" prompt. Here's the whole prompt:

What if the reason you can never find the matching sock after doing laundry is because all lost socks are actually consumed by a tiny, velvet-cloaked being who uses them to weave portals to the past?

As odd as it sounds, this was exactly what I needed to get back into writing. Gemini wanted me to do a freewrite--only write for 5 to 10 minutes--however, once I started, I couldn't stop. It just flowed. I haven't felt that in several months.

I'm hoping to get back into the swing of writing again, but I've got to find my rhythm again. I know I can't do that overnight, but this was a great way to start. Thank you Gemini. You're the best.

My Redbubble Coffee Mug Collection

2025-08-30T13:43:00.005-06:00

"Gone Fishin'" mug by Christine Graves on Redbubble

~~~*~~~*~~~

I've been working on a little something I haven't really told anyone about...yet. I've been creating a line of coffee mugs, as well as notebooks and journals, stickers and magnets, and several other things. And I'm doing it all through my Redbubble shop.

When I first started using Redbubble, I had no idea what I was doing. I thought it would be a way to get some of my AI art seen and maybe sell a couple of T-shirts with my images on them. I started out just throwing out images and slapping them on whatever products Redbubble had to offer. And ironically, I didn't sell a damn thing.

I got a little frustrated and walked away from the shop for a while. But when I went back, I had a different outlook. I removed a few of my uploads and tweaked a few others. I figured out how to edit my images to fit on the products better and add custom colors to enhance the product as a whole.

Also, when I first opened the shop, I was putting my images on just about everything. Redbubble has a lot of stuff you can add your images to, such as T-shirts and hats, wall hangings, bedspreads, shower curtains, and even throw pillows. I was pretty overwhelmed.

However, I've gone back and changed a few things. I've completely removed the T-shirts. I know how weird that sounds, but I've decided to focus on just a few products. One of those being coffee mugs. I'm a coffee junkie. I drink coffee morning, noon, and night. It's my beverage of choice, all the time.

Though I have several mugs already done, I've been working on a series of mug collections. Not on purpose, it just kind of happened. I was working on creating an image for something else entirely and was trying to create an illustration of a 19th-century gothic woman. I got some really cool images, but four of them stood out. There was just something about them that sparked a whole new idea.

"The Nobility Collection" by Christine Graves via Leonardo AI

I absolutely fell in love with these images. Then, something told me to put these images on Redbubble. As I did, I knew I was onto something. I played around with The Contessa first. I edited the products and the image, and was over the moon happy with the final results. From there, I had to finish out the whole collection. The only downside is I can't showcase them as a collection on Redbubble, but I'll figure something out.

I've also started promoting my products on Pinterest. I've got quite a few of my items listed, but still working on how I want them all presented. I have one board just for my coffee mugs and another for my notebooks and journals. They're not all in order yet, but I am working on it.

I know I'm never going to get rich with all this, but I'm having so much fun. And no, I still haven't sold anything, but at least I'm giving myself a better chance of doing so. I'm getting better at shameless self-promotion, but it's still a struggle.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to work on my next collection, The Fisherman's Collection. The image at the top of the page is just one of four mugs in this collection. I'm also working on a Hunter's Collection, and Hunting Dog Collection, and a Waterfowl Collection.

Until next time,
Miss Chris!!!

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

Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs four other blogs. Graves Publications, Library of the Mystic Realms, Promptly Creative, and Collected Keepsakes. She also writes for a platform called Medium.com where she runs several publications.

A Chatbot Helped Me Start a New Blog

2025-06-25T23:37:00.004-06:00

"Chatbot Blogger" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

In my last post, I talked about my month-long journey into writing anything, just to say I'm writing. I've been doing quite well. I've managed to write something just about every single day, though there were a couple of days in there that I let my brain shut off.

I've worked to make sure all my blogs (including this one) were updated for the month. I know I should be updating more than once a month, but at least I'm keeping them updated. I've also written quite a bit on Medium this month. Still not making the money I used to, but that's okay. It's really not about the money anymore. Yes, there was a time when that's all I thought about with that place, but they fixed that issue for me. But that's for another time.

Other than writing, I also make sure to create at least one AI image a day. I love NightCafe Studio and some of the images I've created over the last two and a half years. I like NightCafe because they offer incentives to keep creating. For every day I create an image, I get five credits. Each five-day streak I get 25 credits and it goes on and on. I'm on day 275 and I'm on my way to 365. Yep, it's my goal to say I created something every day for a year.

Yesterday, as I was hanging out at NightCafe, I noticed someone had a badge that said something about LoRA. I had no idea what that was, but found out that there were a lot of LoRA badges. I didn't know where else to look, so I asked Google's chatbot, Gemini. (my favorite chatbot)

Gemini explained the whole thing to me in great detail. However, I'm an old broad and had no idea what the hell she was talking about, (yes, I refer to Gemini as a "she"). I had to have her dumb it down for me. Didn't work, I still had no idea what LoRA was but I did catch a few keywords that Gemini had offered.

I talk to Gemini like an old friend over coffee. I know it's weird, but I'm weird and I own that shit. However, as the chatbot was explaining LoRA, it said something about it all coming down to focusing on your image prompt". Oh, hey. I know prompts. I write prompts. Then, Gemini gave me some ideas on how to improve my image prompts. I didn't just fall down a rabbit hole, I jumped in with both feet.

I mentioned to the chatbot that some of my favorite styles or themes were Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Victorian Era. Gemini gave me some ideas that blew me away. She said to try other styles such as Ukiyo-e (Japanese Woodblock print), Rococo, Russian Avant Garde, Papercut Art, and even Symbolism.

She told me how to adjust the weights of my images and what that would do to them. Lower would create a more subtle image while a higher weight would create a more dominant image. I haven't tried that one yet, but will just to see what she means. I'm still a little confused on that one.

She told me to add mood and atmosphere to my prompts. Not just a situation, but a serene situation, or an ominous situation. Not just a sunset, but a peaceful sunset, or a breathtaking sunset.

She also said to try specific lighting details in my prompts. As if to look at the piece as a photographer would. Add the term "studio lighting" or "golden hour" to the prompt for ambiance. Also, think about the shot you want seen, such as a close-up or a panoramic view. She even used the term "snake's eye view".

She said I should use known artists styles for my ideas. Though she threw her own ideas out there, I came up with a few of my own. Now I want to try some of these prompts in a Boris Vallejo style, or a Beatrix Potter style, or in the style of Rea Irvin. I could do a lot with those ideas.

Gemini went on to think about all the senses when creating my image prompts. She said to try different mediums in my prompts such as oil painting, colored pencils, or even CGI 3-D. She also mentioned adding textures to the prompt such as "weathered" or "gritty".

Finally, she said to work on combining styles and descriptions. An Art Deco moonscape or an Avant Garde space opera. In the end, she said to "break the rules" and "avoid the norms". This was the best advice I'd gotten from my little AI friend.

I told Gemini that I enjoyed her weird ideas, and because I was one to embrace my weirdness, I was going to put together some weird combination. Gemini gave me a few examples to start with. Though I did save all of them, one jumped out at me. Her example was "an old man sitting in a salt desert knitting a scarf from the threads of the Northern Lights". I can't explain it, but that one grabbed me.

I explained to the chatbot that in my mind, I could "see" the image. I could see the salt desert and an eerie pink/grey haze in the air. The old man was sitting on a mound of salt a few feet away in the distance and was knitting a scarf of light.

Gemini came up with a very detailed image prompt and said give it a try so I did. This is what came out of that.

"The Salt Elemental" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

We went on to discuss my being a writer and how the same prompts I would use to create my images could be used to create my stories. Not just use the prompt to create an image to go with the story, but use the prompt itself to create a story as well as an image.

This morning, after having slept on the idea, I had a wonderful conversation with my friend, Julie Foss. As I was telling her about my prompt session, she came up with a wonderful idea. She said I should take all the information I'd gathered the night before and start a new blog. A blog for creative prompts that could be used by writers and image creators alike. And so I did.

I've spent most of the day working on this new blog, but I think I'm happy with it. Introducing my latest blog, Promptly Creative. I've got it nearly finished, though I'm sure I'll be tweaking it a bit as time goes by. I have added my first post, however. That's usually the hardest part of me starting a new blog, but this time it was natural.

I'm very excited about this new blog. I've made it my goal to keep blogging alive for as long as possible. I've always loved blogging and I think this is going to be a fun endeavor. I have a lot of ideas in the works. And when I get stuck, I'll call on my little AI friend, Gemini, for more wonderful ideas.

Until next time,
Miss Chris!!!

~~~*~~~*~~~

Everyday Writing Every Day

2025-06-05T21:23:00.007-06:00

"Dear Diary" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

I'm working on a personal mission. I'm trying to write a post a day on at least one of my sites or publications across the line. I missed posting something on the first, but I did do a freewrite on my Penzu account, so I'm counting that one.

I posted three posts on Medium between the 2nd and 4th. And here it is the 5th, and I'm doing a post here. It's not about writing something amazing, it's simply about doing some everyday writing every day.

I didn't write much between the middle of March and the first part of May. I had so much going on in my personal life that I just had to step away. The problem is that I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. But I am trying.

One of the reasons I'm doing this is because I'm trying to keep the art of blogging--true blogging as it used to be--from fading into obscurity. I know I'm only one person, but it could happen. I miss those days. I've always loved blogging and still do today.

I've heard it said a hundred times. In order to be a great writer, you must write something every day. I get it and can see how this could be true. But that's not what this is about. It's simply about writing for the sake of writing. Finding joy in the written word once again.

I'm having a particularly hard time tonight as I'm wiped out from my new job. I've always been one of those people who feel they need to throw themselves into a project, mind, body, and soul. And did that and more today. I might be the boss of my department, but I'm using muscles I forgot I had. (If you ever stay in a hotel, please thank your housekeeping staff. They work their butts off)

My brain is mush at the moment. I have the desire to write, but it's hard to focus. I'm exhausted. But it's a good exhaustion, if there is such a thing. Yes, my mind is numb and my body hurts, but I love knowing that I put 100% of myself into my job.

This post is going to be short, but at least I got one done. It's not a post for the masses; it's just a grouping of words that form an idea. It won't gain me a fan base or any paying leads, but that's okay. This is just me getting a few things off my mind and onto the page. It's off my mind, off my chest, and put to the side. Time to move on to the next.

This won't be the last post for this month, I'm sure. If I want this experiment to be successful, I need to make sure to post something every day.

Until next time,
Miss Chris!!!

~~~*~~~*~~~

Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs three other blogs. Graves Publications, Library of the Mystic Realms, and Collected Keepsakes. She also writes for a platform called Medium.com where she runs several publications.

Focus on the Miracles

2025-05-09T21:47:00.003-06:00

"Tiny Miracles" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

Hello, my darlings. I apologize for missing the entire month of April with my posts, but life has been going a hundred miles an hour lately and I'm still trying to get caught up.

In my last post, I talked about the craft fair I was making all those refrigerator magnets and other things for. Well, it was a gigantic FLOP. I made a whole $7. But, at least I tried.

Also, my granddaughter (who lives with me) turned 13. I am now officially raising a teenager. Somebody send help. She went from being my feisty little missy, to a full-blown hormonal bundle of disgust. Yay!!!

I started a new job this past month as well. After 11 years in the direct care service, I changed direction and went back to my roots. I am once again cleaning rooms in one of our nicer hotels. Okay, I'm not just cleaning rooms, I'm the Executive Housekeeping Manager. Yep, I'm the boss. Who'da thunk it???

Finally, my daughter and now son-in-law finally made it official and got married. It was a beautiful affair and my daughter and granddaughters looked gorgeous in their dresses. However, if anyone ever asks me about weddings again, I'm totally going to advocate for eloping.

I've spent nearly two full months preparing for and going through some unbelievable changes. I could look at all the stress I've been through in the process, but I've actually been focusing on all the little miracles that I've been blessed to have witnessed.

I believe that focusing on all the good things that have happened, rather than the bad, I'm making things easier on myself. Yes, there were some extremely stressful moments, but that's all they were--moments. The good moments far outweighed the bad.

Though I only made $7 on my first craft fair, I did make some money, and I got that first fair out of the way. My granddaughter turned 13 and turned into a typical moody teenager, but I'm getting to watch my grandbaby transform into a beautiful young woman right before my eyes. I started a new job later in life that comes with a lot more stress, but it's also a chance to set myself up for a more stable future.

I spent an entire weekend living through the mood-swings and stresses of my daughter's wedding, but I also got to witness my little girl live out her dream of having the fairytale wedding. Even with everything that went wrong, it had a happy ending.

No matter what we go through in life, it's important to enjoy the brighter points. It's the little miracles that make life worth living.

Until next time,
Miss Chris

I Unplugged for the Whole First-Half of the Month

2025-03-12T21:13:00.001-06:00

"Handmade Beauty" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

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Hello, my darlings. I can't believe it's almost the middle of March already. I took the entire first half of this month off from any writing. Not because I'm done writing but because I've been on a creative energy burst that has completely swallowed me alive.

In a few weeks, I'll be doing my first craft fair. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. I'm in the process of making as much stuff as I can to try and sell. I'm afraid that I won't have enough to get me through the day, but at the same time, I'm afraid I won't sell anything and will end up bringing all this crap back home.

I do a lot of crafting, but my current crafty love is paper crafting. I make a lot of handmade gift tags and bookmarks. I've also made a bunch of refrigerator magnets that are all different and just gorgeous.

My handmade bookmarks

My handmade refrigerator magnets

I've had a blast putting these together and have spent half of this month unplugged. Yes, I checked my email and stuff like that, but for the most part, I stepped away from the Internet and just let my brain run rampant. It's been so amazing.

I still have a lot of stuff I want to make. My biggest problem is that I have too many ideas and not enough hours in the day. I'm trying to focus on just a few products (the magnets, bookmarks, some gift tags, and a few greeting cards). If I try to make too many things, I'll burn myself out and won't get anything done.

I find it very relaxing to just sit and create little works of art while allowing my brain to wander off on its own. My hands and my brain seems to disconnect somehow and each one does its own thing. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes not.

We spend every day of our lives tied into our digital lives. Doing something that requires only the human aspect allows me to reconnect with a time long ago. And I highly recommend it to anyone who needs to...unplug.

Until next time,
Miss Chris

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Christine is an avid collector of vintage anything and an arts-and-crafts kinda gal. She is a sucker for a garage/yard sale, secondhand stores, and auctions. Because of this, she's opened her first real online shop called Prairied Treasures and another that showcases her AI artwork called Pathways through the Past.

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Soft Music and Ambiance

2025-02-06T22:19:00.004-07:00

"The Coffee Shop" by Christine Graves via Leonardo AI

It's amazing what a little soft music and ambiance can do for the soul. I was sitting here trying to come up with something to write about and decided to jump onto YouTube for some soft music. I love videos that are just images with soft, instrumental music. I find it very relaxing.

I found one that showed an image of a cute little coffee shop (not the one pictured above) and some soft jazz. I love soft jazz. I thought, "Yep, this is the one". Little did I know I'd get swept up in the image itself and my mind would wander off into another dimension.

As I stared at the picture, with what appeared to be a sweeping rain outside the windows, I got lost in a never-before-written story. In my mind, I ran that coffee shop and it was a cold and rainy night. A homeless gentleman entered the shop, simply to get out of the rain. There was something about him that told me he wasn't looking for a handout or was there to hurt me. He just wanted to get warm.

I offered him a cup of coffee and a muffin. Though at first, he declined, I convinced him to accept my offer. I told him to remove his wet coat and I'd throw it in the dryer (I'd, of course, live above the shop). I had some old clothes in the back room and found him a dry pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.

I handed him the clothes, an old towel, and a bottle of hand soap. I showed him where the men's room was and let him go in and wash up. He explained that he couldn't pay me for the kindness, but I didn't care. I wasn't looking for any money, I just knew he needed someone to give him a chance.

When he came out of the restroom, he sat down and enjoyed his coffee and muffin. I poured him another cup and joined him. He told me his story. A veteran down on his luck, trying to find his way in society. I could hear the sadness in his voice.

I asked him what he did in the military and was surprised by his answer. He'd been a culinary specialist in the Navy. Then he told me what it was like cooking for hundreds of his fellow crewmen. I saw the gleam in his eye and the pride in his soul.

He finished his coffee and thanked me for the muffin. I asked him where he'd be staying for the night and he said he was hoping I'd let him sleep in his car in my parking lot. I told him no. Instantly, his eyes dimmed and his shoulders dropped.

He said he understood and thanked me for the coffee and muffin once again. As he stood to leave, I asked him to follow me out the back door. Out behind the coffee shop was a small building that had been converted into an apartment many years before. I'd often used it when family came to stay or if a friend just needed a place to sleep.

I let the gentleman know that there were pillows and blankets in the closet and the stuff to make coffee in the morning. He couldn't hide the shocked look on his face. He said he couldn't accept it as it was too much. I just smiled and reminded him that it was too wet and cold to sleep in a car.

He finally accepted my offer and made his way to the apartment. I told him good night and locked up the shop.

As I opened the next morning, the gentleman greeted me as he walked back from his car. He entered the shop and I poured him a cup of coffee. He smiled and thanked me, then asked me a curious question. He wanted to know what the pie of the day was. I'd never had a pie-of-the-day, but the idea sparked my attention. When I shared this piece of news with him, he offered to bake a couple of pies as payment for the room. I agreed.

The gentleman grabbed his coffee cup and headed for the kitchen area. As he rounded the corner...my cat jumped up on the desk and broke me out of my little trance. It was gone. The gentleman, the coffee shop, the pies...all gone.

Oh well. It was all nothing more than a dream. Not a dream from sleep. Not a dream of success. Just a few moments in an image of a coffee shop filled with soft music and ambiance.

~~~~~~~~~~

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If You Believe, Anything is Possible

2025-01-26T22:03:00.001-07:00

"Endless Possibilities" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

I did a post a few weeks ago about the feeling I've been getting about writing more about God. Though I'm not a very religious person, I do believe in God and I do see myself as a very spiritual person.

Anyway, I keep getting a message telling me I need to bring Him into more of my writing and look to Him for more guidance. Then, something happened that brought it all together.

Let me give you a little backstory. My great-niece, (she's 19), found out she was going to have a baby. Though the father isn't in the picture, her parents, (my nephew and niece-in-law) were ready to help her out any way they could.

The baby's due date was late February/early March. We had planned on having the baby shower today, (January 26), but the Universe had other plans. Baby boy showed up on January 19th, a month and a half early.

As you may expect, he's been in NICU since his birth. He's having issues breathing and he's still in critical condition. His mama has been discharged, but this poor girl is just numb. She's trying to put on a brave face, but you can tell all she wants to do is sit down and cry.

The family decided to go ahead with the baby shower. They felt it would be a nice distraction for the mama and help get her out of her funk. Then, my niece-in-law called me last night, crying. She asked me if I'd be willing to deliver the prayer at the beginning of the shower. The baby is struggling and it's almost more than either she or the mama can take. I didn't even hesitate before saying yes.

I woke up thinking about it. I wanted to make sure to say all the right things and not accidentally say something that would hurt someone's feelings. Without thinking, I was scrolling through social media and something popped up I wasn't expecting. It was a post about a Bible quote. Mark 9:23 says, "Everything is possible for he who believes".

Now, keep in mind, I'm not normally the kind of person who stops to watch these types of reels. However, something told me to watch this one. It hit me...hard. I started crying myself. Then, I knew I had the message I needed to pass along.

I went to the baby shower and gave the opening prayer. I made sure to bring up the verse and how I believed that all would be well. I must have hit the mark as I turned around and my niece-in-law was bawling her eyes out and little mama ran up to give me a hug. Auntie loves all her babies.

Now, here's the kicker. It hit me that this verse doesn't just pertain to a tiny baby and my family members. It pertains to EVERYTHING!!!

I've been working hard to bring my dream to fruition. I'm not making a ton of money with my writing, but for some reason, I'm not sweating over it. In fact, I'm enjoying myself. Maybe it's because I've moved more into the old-school blogging thing, instead of the "writing for the masses" thing. I just feel better about it. And I believe in it.

I wholeheartedly believe that I will make this happen. I may not make this happen in a couple of weeks, but I will make this happen. I've taken on the mantra, "I'm the only person who can stand in my way". And this is also something I truly believe.

Even if you're not a religious or spiritual person, most people believe that a positive attitude is key to making it in this world. If you don't believe in yourself, why would anyone else? If you believe you can achieve something, you can. However, it may not be exactly what you were expecting. Remember, even a little win is still a win.

If you believe in your own abilities, you will succeed. That doesn't mean it will be handed to you on a silver platter. You have to work hard and find your path. You have to set small goals in order to reach the big one. And you have to see your failures as learning curves.

Yes, everything IS possible for those who believe. Do you believe?

Until next time,
Miss Chris!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

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Creating a Newsletter I Can Be Proud Of

2025-01-11T22:17:00.002-07:00

Hey Y'all!!!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope the new year is being good to you all. I'm having a blast right now.

I've been in the process of revamping my Substack newsletter and it's coming together. I have a real plan in place, though I do still have a few kinks to work out.

I'm planning on doing both a free and a paid subscription. For the free subscription, I'm going to do two issues per month. Each issue will have links for any new posts I've added to each of my blogs (including my Medium.com account). I will also have links to any new items listed at my online shops and links to any new literary releases I might have.

Another thing I'm planning on adding to the free issues are links to other creatives around the web and reviews of sites I think y'all might like. I don't want the free issue to simply be about my stuff. I still want you all to find something of use to you.

As for the paid subscription, I have quite a bit planned. I'm going to open an artists' chat for all paid subscribers, as well as working on doing a few podcasts and/or videos. I'm planning on having a few writing contests and possibly some artistic contests.

I won't lie. I'm still working out all the details, but I am working on it. By this time next year, I'd really like to see this become a wonderful resource for creatives of all types. There are a lot of sites out there geared toward creative writers, as well as several places made especially for artists. I want to bring all those sites together in one place.

Though I've been writing for more than 30 years, I'd never thought of myself as an artist. One of my best friends in high school was an amazing artist. She could sit down and draw just about anything and it was just gorgeous. I was so jealous. It wasn't until here just recently that I began to understand that my crafty side was a form of artistry. I may not be able to draw or paint beautiful images, but I create unique gift tags and greeting cards that are all one-of-a-kind items. I built a miniature diorama of an old saloon. It was really cool.

I was pretty proud of this one. It took me like three months to put it together. It was 10"x10"x12", and made mostly of balsa wood, popsicle sticks, leather, and cardstock.

This was the piece that made me believe that some of the stuff I created could be considered art. And if it took me that long to figure out that what I did was art, how many others out there feel the same? My goal is to find a way to bring some of those quiet voices to the forefront.

Though I have a lot of plans, I also know I have to take a step back and do this the right way. I don't want to overwhelm myself and burnout before I even get started. I want to make this newsletter something that everyone looks forward to receiving.

I've already sent out Issue 1, and Issue 2 should come out around the 15th. I don't want to overwhelm my subscribers and I really don't have enough stuff to send out to warrant sending more than 2 issues a month.

If you're a writer or an artist and would like to see this journey come to light, I invite you to become a subscriber. I won't lie, as of right now, I don't have a lot put together for the paid subscriptions, but I will have something put together by the next issue. And if you'd rather opt for the free subscription, just to see how things roll for a while, I totally get it. I don't blame you either.

Thank you for stopping by. I very much appreciate it.

Until next time,
Stay Creative!!!

~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to sign up for the Graves Publications newsletter to stay up with all the latest news.

Happy New Year to You and Yours

2025-01-01T10:54:00.002-07:00

Happy 2025 to you, one and all. I hope this year brings you all happiness and prosperity in whatever it is you do. I'll be honest. I'm so glad 2024 is over. It wasn't a horrible year, but I did get to a point where I felt like "Oh, this is what we're doing now? Okay."

I have a lot of ideas for 2025. I've spent most of my Christmas vacation working on making some stuff to put in my online shop. I've been making handmade gift tags and greeting cards. I also make a lot of embellishments for people who make junk journals. I'm hoping to get that up off the ground and bring in a little extra money.

2024 was a trying year for me. I got divorced from my husband of 10 years (hubby #2). We're still friends, we just suck at being married. I was in a minor accident and had no choice but to get a new car. I needed it, don't get me wrong. My previous vehicle was on its last leg anyway. I just wasn't ready to put myself into that much debt.

I did have some high moments as well. I was celebrated by the company I work for as I hit the "10-year employee" milestone. Might not sound like much, but it was a major pat on the back for me. I got to rekindle a relationship with my youngest granddaughter. She's been through a lot in her short 9 years of life. Please keep her in your prayers. And I got to meet my online bestie, face to face. She's even more amazing than I ever dreamed.

Throughout the entire year, I've learned a lot about myself. I'm 56. I didn't think there was any more I could learn about myself. Turns out I'm a lot stronger than I gave myself credit for being. Last New Year's, I was figuring out how to support myself and a granddaughter (my oldest granddaughter lives with me). I was dealing with a failed marriage, juggling my finances, and a lot of low self-esteem issues. Here it is a year later and I've learned that I can do this on my own, I just need to remember who I am.

I'm not making any New Year's resolutions. The last time I made a resolution, it was that I'd never make another New Year's resolution, and to date, it's the only one I've ever succeeded at. I won't say "I'm going to do this", but will wait a bit so I can say, "I did that". I have a plan, I just have to make sure I've got the gumption. (Yes, I still use words like that, I'm old).

I pray you all find love and prosperity in the coming year. Thank you to those who have stopped by and read any of my posts. You make me smile. I hope I'm doing the same for you. One of the things I'm hoping to do is get my newsletter up and running again so you can be notified of new posts. Wish me luck. For some reason, I really suck at newsletters. LOL

So, if you've read this far, Happy New Year. Just knowing you were here means my year is already a success.

Blessings to you and yours,
Miss Chris

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Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs two blogs, Graves Publications and Collected Keepsakes, and currently writes for a platform called Medium.com where she runs several publications.

Be sure to sign up for the Graves Publications newsletter to stay up with all the latest news.

Merry Christmas from Our House to Yours

2024-12-14T14:55:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas my beautiful friends. I hope this finds you all doing well. I'm feeling a little better since my last post. Sorry I threw a pity party out there for y'all. I was going through some feelings, hate that. However, I've managed to get myself back up and running.

I love Christmas, but this has been a tough year. I've had a car accident and had to get a new one. Car payments and higher priced insurance (because of the newer car, not the accident) have made things a little tight around here. And now I find out that my landlord may have to raise my rent because of higher insurance on the building. I'm sweating it, but I'm not going to let it get me down. I can't. I've got a granddaughter to raise and she needs to know that all things are possible, even if that means a few extras need to be let go.

However, I've managed to get most of my Christmas shopping done and I still have money left over. Nobody's getting anything fancy, but everyone will be happy. I've been doing a lot of crocheting in the past couple of weeks. I have 5 totes full of yarn and it's about time I put it to good use. I believe handmade gifts are way better than store-bought ones.

I've also been fortunate enough to find little things that will make great stocking stuffers and have found a couple of gifts at thrift stores for those who have specialized collections. My son-in-law is a huge Star Wars fan and I found him a Star Wars beer stein for next to nothing. He'll be over the moon.

I wish I could buy everyone one fancy gifts, but that's not what this holiday is about. It's about giving from your heart, not your wallet. It's about telling those around you how much they mean to you. It's about coming together and filling your hearts with joy.

Please, this holiday season, find a way to love with all your heart. Be kind to those around you and forgive those who have done your wrong. Even if you only do it for your own peace of mind.

I wish you all a spendid and meaningful holiday season.

Until next time,
Merry Christmas

~~~~~~~~~~

Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs two blogs, Graves Publications and Collected Keepsakes. She currently writes for a platform called Medium.com and runs several publications through them.

Christine is also an avid collector of vintage anything and an arts-and-crafts kinda gal. She is a sucker for a garage/yard sale, secondhand stores, and auctions. Because of this, she's opened her first real online shop called Prairied Treasures and another that showcases her AI artwork called Pathways through the Past.

I Think My Brain is Broken

2024-12-10T23:04:00.001-07:00

I think my brain may be broken. I'm having a hard time forcing myself to write anything. I've been so busy with all the holiday stuff, my full-time job, and the grandbaby's stuff at school, I haven't had the motivation to do any real writing.

I've been working on making some homemade Christmas gift tags, and I've had a ball putting them together, but it's been more of an excuse not to write than anything else. I keep telling myself that I'm doing it to help bring in a little extra money, but the truth is that once I've made those tags, I don't do anything else with them. I keep saying I'm going to put them on my online store, but I don't. I just put them in bags and set them off to the side.

I will say that I've been more interactive with the outside world lately. That may sound strange but I could be a shut-in tomorrow. It wouldn't take much for me to crawl inside my own little world and never come out. I've been that way for a long time. I never used to be. Before my first marriage, I was the life of the party. Now, almost 40 years and two marriages later, I am the proverbial homebody.

As much as I hate to admit it, I actually enjoy being home alone. It's quiet, it's peaceful, and I don't have to share the TV remote. I'm raising a grandchild, but she has her own things going on between school and her circle of friends. Fortunately, I know most of their parents and the kids have a habit of talking to each other on speakerphone, so I can hear everything that's being said.

I go through this every so often. I'll be writing away, then...nothing. Everything I write sounds and feels forced. If I have to force it, it's not worth it. On the bright side, I've gone through this enough times to know that I will come out of it eventually and start to write again. I just can't say when.

I'm hoping that once the holidays are over, I'll get back to work. I have a few things I want to try, but I have to have my head clear in order to do so. I've already written and published one 30-minute read on Amazon and am planning on doing more. I'm going to try several different angles to see which one works best. I read that if you're going to do something along these lines, it's best to use pen names for each genre. I don't see me doing that. I'll just use my real name and hope for the best. If it works, cool. If not, at least I tried.

Okay, I think I'm done with my rant. I'm so glad I revamped this blog so I'd have a place to just write whatever comes to mind. I don't have to worry about SEO, or keywords, or even making sense. This is just a space where I can let my hair down and be myself. It's very cleansing. Get all the clutter out of the attic and make room for some new ideas.

Remember, my friends, make time for your family. Hang out with friends. Step away from the daily grind and make some memories. We're only given so much time on this Earth. Be sure to enjoy every day of it.

Until next time,
Miss Chris!!!

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Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs two blogs, Graves Publications and Collected Keepsakes. She currently writes for a platform called Medium.com and runs several publications through them.

A True Reason to be Thankful This Year

2024-11-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

We're still a few days away from Thanksgiving and I'm over here thinking about the things I should be thankful for this year. It's been a hell of a ride and I really do have a lot to be grateful for.

Okay, let me give you some perspective. In January, I will have been separated from husband #2 for two years. He left me. I was mortified. It took me a good six months just to be able to not burst out into tears around other people. I lived in the house we had shared...for a time. It was an inheritance from his mother, so I had no choice but to move. Another hard slap to the face.

He'd left me with most of the bills and half of the money. I had to get help from various sources (I was also raising a grandchild), but I managed to find a place for the grandbaby and myself just before Thanksgiving. It was hard for me to get into the holiday mood. I was starting to get past the initial trauma, but it still hurt.

Just about a year ago, I cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner in my little apartment. Just me, the grandbaby, her mom, and her step-dad. It was an amazing dinner and we all had a wonderful time. It was the first time since my husband had left me that I actually felt thankful for anything. I still had the grandbaby. I still had my daughter and she had given me an amazing son-in-law.

For the past year, I've worked my ass off trying to keep my head above water. My husband had taken the new car we'd just purchased together and left me with his piece-of-shit pickup. What's worse? He never made a payment on the car and I either had to make the payments or let it get repossessed and have that on my record as well as his. I paid that car off, even though I wasn't driving it, and added a few good marks to my credit report.

I finally saved up enough money to file for divorce. I didn't get an attorney, I just filed all the papers myself and even made sure he knew what I was doing. I'm not sure if he'd realized what he had done, or if he thought I was bluffing, but we were getting along pretty well. So, after I'd filed, I had him come over for dinner. I served him spaghetti for supper and divorce papers for dessert. Mmmm, yummy.

He signed the papers, then signed the title for the pickup and handed it over to me. It was still a piece of shit, but I had a clear title so I could sell it if I had to. I wanted a new car, but I didn't think I could do it on my own. Between trying to pay rent, pay the bills, and still put food on the table, I was barely getting by. Fast forward two months to the day we went to court for the divorce.

I stopped at the bank on my way to the courthouse. I wanted to make sure I had enough cash on me to pay whatever was left on the divorce. However, the Universe had other ideas for me. Someone came out of the bank, obviously pissed off, and slammed into my driver's side door. The door wouldn't open and the window was shattered, and I was supposed to be in court in less than 15 minutes.

I called my (now) ex and told him what happened. He got to the bank before the police did. He was pulling chunks of glass out of my door panel when the police finally arrived. I explained the situation as he took my information. Then, he sent us off to the courthouse, which was (thankfully) just across the street.

We made it just in time and the judge signed off on our divorce. Still, I was now driving a piece of shit pickup with a door that didn't open and no window...and it was October. Brrrr. I spent a week driving that damn thing before I decided it was time to get a new car.

A friend had me call her guy. She knew a guy who worked at a local dealership. And not one of those places with the cardboard signs written in black marker. Like, a real dealership with cars inside the showroom and the whole thing. I called him around 10am on a Friday morning and by the time I got off work that afternoon, I was on my way to sign for my new car. I was so proud of myself and so freaked out over what I had just done. I pulled up my big girl panties and did a thing. WTF???

So, here it is, a full year later. I'm still struggling, but I'm still here. I have a new car that I feel safe driving and don't worry about putting my grandchild in. We're warm, we're safe, and we're fed. And that right there is a lot.

I'm thankful for the people I have around me, however many or few there may be. I'm thankful for the chance to be the person that I've become. And I'm thankful that I've been given another chance to prove to myself and the world that I will be okay.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs two blogs, Graves Publications and Collected Keepsakes. She currently writes for a platform called Medium.com and runs several publications through them.

Opening a New Online Store Through Redbubble

2024-11-17T22:36:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite forms of creativity is in creating computer-generated artwork. I have a couple of different places where I create AI art and I've created a lot of images over the past two years. I use most of them for stories or articles I write on Medium.com, here, and on my other blogs.

The problem is that I've created way more than I'll ever use and I'm wasn't sure what to do with the rest. Now, I have an idea. I've opened my own Redbubble store and added some of my artwork. I can add my images to all kinds of products such as T-shirts and coffee mugs.

Okay, so here's the thing. I enjoy the whole creative aspect of having an online store, I just suck at the whole getting-it-uploaded-and-ready-for-sale part. Redbubble has taken care of that. All I have to do is upload my artwork, choose which products I want my image on and hit the button. They do the rest for me.

The downside is that I don't much off any sales. I get 20%. It's not a lot, but it's still something. If I actually sell something, I'll be blown away. Honestly, I'm having more fun just adding my images and seeing what they look like on real items. And all those images I've made in the past? Yeah, those are still sitting on a flash drive somewhere. I've been creating new images for my shop.

I've been looking over some of the products others post in their shops and am blown away. There are some very talented people out there. I thought I was doing pretty good, but some of the stuff they're creating shows just what an amateur I really am.

However, rather than getting frustrated, I'm learning how to edit my images on those products so they stand out a bit more. I'm learning how to customize my own work to make it a little more sellable. I'm learning how to create images that stand out from the rest. I still have a long way to go, but I'm learning.

So, if you're in the neighborhood, stop on by my little shop, Pathways Through the Past. You can see some of my artwork and see what it looks like on everything from stickers to comforters. I'm always adding new artwork and creating new products. If you don't see anything you like today, come back and look again in a couple of days.

Until next time,
Miss Chris

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs two blogs, Graves Publications and Collected Keepsakes. She currently writes for a platform called Medium.com and runs several publications through them.

A Month of Gratitude

2024-11-02T11:57:00.000-06:00

"Being Grateful" by Christine Graves via Canva Pro

It's the month of November and I have a lot to be grateful for. There are days when it doesn't feel like it, but I do. I have to remember where I was even just a year ago and I've come a long way. I've spent the past year making my own way in this world while caring for my grandchild in the process. I know it sounds weird, but this really is the first time in my life I've had to do this all on my own.

Today, I'm grateful just to be here, typing this post out, being able to sit in my own home and play on a computer I paid for, with the help of the Internet I pay for each month. Does that sound bad? I hope not because that really is what I'm most grateful for. I'm grateful that I've had the drive to keep myself going even when I felt like throwing in the towel.

I'm grateful that I've got a decent paying job and am able to afford a few small things. I don't go out to eat all the time and I've got to be careful with my spending habits, but I've been doing this for almost a year now. I just hope I can keep up the momentum.

I'm grateful that I still have the power to get myself up each morning and get myself out the door. Trust me, it wouldn't take much for me to become a hermit and never come out of my cave. I don't have much of a filter anymore and it takes a lot for me to keep my mouth shut in certain situations.

Finally, I'm grateful that I got to see the sunshine again today. I'm at the age now where I'm starting to see the obituaries of people I went to high school with. I know I could be next. I'm not getting any younger and though my health isn't horrible, I've had a few scares over the past couple of years. I'm so thankful that I'm still here to hug and kiss my grandbabies.

Throughout the month of November, I'll be posting about things I'm grateful for. I'm so thankful that I get to do this and I'm even more thankful for those of you who stop by to read my silly little things. I consider each of you a blessing.

I hope you have something to be grateful for today. May you all be blessed.

Until next time
Miss Chris

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs two blogs, Graves Publications and Collected Keepsakes. She currently writes for a platform called Medium.com and runs several publications through them.

God Wants Me to Write about Him

2024-10-28T23:02:00.001-06:00

"Faith in God" by Christine Graves via Canva Pro

Okay, I know how weird that sounds, but it's true. I've had it on my heart for quite some time now that God wants me to do a blog about Him. I've tried to chalk it up to my overactive imagination, but I'm pretty sure it's really Him pushing me.

Here's the thing. I was raised a Protestant. I've been part of the Baptist faith, the Pentecostal faith, the Methodist faith, and even the Koinania faith (it's a non-denominational faith). I was raised to put all my faith in God and trust that whatever happened was God's will. I wasn't always happy with the outcome and God knows that.

However, even with all the Christianity I've been a part of, I'm NOT a religious person. I believe in God, with my whole heart, but I think the term "organized religion" is a load of crap. God knows this too. I can't say He's happy about it, but He knows how I feel. I believe in God, not all the crap that comes with that term.

So, I've decided to listen to Him and start posting more about Him and how He works in my life. No, this isn't going to become a blog completely dedicated to God (sorry Lord), but I will be doing more posts about Him and His work in the world. I think we all could use a little help from God in the world today.

I'll be honest, I'm not exactly sure what I'll be writing about just yet, but I'm sure He'll tell me what he wants me to say. Anyway, I hope He does. I've got a few ideas. One of my very first stints as an online writer was a little blog called Finding the Father. I was pretty proud of it and I spent a lot of time bringing it to life. However, it was through a site called Webseed.com and they went belly-up and took my little blog with them. I was bummed.

I realize that most people don't want to have Christianity shoved down their throats, and I get that. I'm one of them. But I'm not looking to make this into that kind of place. I want the focus to be on God and His word. Not all the other BS that humans have woven into the mix.

I hope you'll stop by in the coming weeks and see where I go with this. I promise I'll still have other things here, but I want to bring God into this and give Him a place to be heard. I just hope I can do Him justice.

Until next time,
Miss Chris

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs two blogs, Graves Publications and Collected Keepsakes. She currently writes for a platform called Medium.com and runs several publications through them.

I Published My First Amazon Short Read

2024-10-17T22:58:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, I finally did it. I published my first book of fiction on Amazon. It's not the first book I've published here, just the first book of fiction. It's a strange feeling knowing I've finally done something I've dreamed of doing for years.

The book is called Investigating the Beyond--Celeste Bordeaux. It's the first book in a series, and it's a short read, only about 5,000 words. It's listed in the 30-minute read section. In the first 24-hours, my book made it to the top 100 in the 30-minute read/teen and young adult category. I was over the moon.

Of course, that didn't last long. But I'm okay with that. It just means I've got to finish Book 2. I'm about halfway through at the moment and am hoping to have it finished this weekend. Once the first draft is finished, I'll let it sit and simmer for a couple of days. Then I'll go back and re-read it. I'll fix a few things, make sure it's as close to perfect as possible, then send it off to my editor. Yes, I have an editor and she is amazing.

I also have a designer to do my book covers. I love her work. Some of her book covers just drop my jaw to the floor. If it wasn't for these two women, I'd probably never have had the nerve to hit the publish button.

I've wanted to be a published writer for as long as I can remember. I've had a couple of stories published in print, a few poems, and have been publishing online since the early 2000s. But this is different. Yes, it's still online but I can honestly say I did it. I've written a story, had it polished and packaged by professionals, and put it up for sale. That's amazing.

Here's the kicker, I actually made a little money. No, not a lot...less than a dollar...but I made a little money. For me, that's a win. It was never about the money. If it was about the money, I'd have given up a long time ago. It's not for the chance to be famous. I'm okay living in the shadows. It's simply one of those dreams that never seemed to go away.

I'm in my late 50s and I've finally seen my dream come true. And I'm not done yet. I have a few more writing dreams to work on and now I have the drive to do so. I'm not the best writer in the world. Not by a long shot. But I love what I do. If someone out there loves it too, awesome. If not, oh well, on to the next.

Remember, you're never to old to dream. Embrace your dreams. It's what makes you, you.

Until next time,
Miss Chris

Starting My Online Store Through Bonanza

2024-10-12T23:30:00.002-06:00

Well, I did it. I've officially opened my own online store. I'm not going to lie, I'm not sure what I'm doing. I do, however, think I've chosen the right place to get started. I've opened my shop on a platform called Bonanza.com.

I first found Bonanza about 8 years ago, but didn't really set up a shop until 2020. Even though I had set up a shop, I never did anything with it. In truth, I chickened out. I had myself convinced I couldn't do it, so I didn't. I want to prove myself wrong.

I have a shop set up on Etsy, but to date, I've never made a single sale. Granted, I don't have much over there, but I've had a few digital items listed for almost a year now. Honestly, I haven't done much in the way of networking or marketing. And yes, I know that a crucial element to success. I'm just not sure how to go about promoting my shops other than what I'm doing right now. Post it on one of my blogs that get literally NO traffic.

Anyway, about the shop. I call it Prairied Treasures. This name came to me a long time ago. In the early 2000's, I was thinking of setting up a shop on Ebay and the name just came to me. I live on prairieland and most of what I'd planned to sell were handmade items and vintage pieces I'd collected throughout the years. And just when I was about to go all in, life went sideways and it never happened.

Fast forward ten years and I was finally able to get back to the idea of setting up my own shop. The problem was that things had gotten way more technical since I'd last played with the idea. I had to learn how to do things all over again.

Of course, my first stop was at Etsy. I set up my shop and began the learning process of how to make it work. I'm still learning, but I've managed to figure out that it costs money to list the items, as well as costing money when you make a sale. It's not a lot of money, but still...

Etsy charges a 20-cent fee for each listing and will automatically renew those listings every 4 months. Depending on your inventory list, that could get a little pricey, especially if you're not selling much.

Also, Etsy limits what you can sell on their platform. According to their What Can I Sell page, they allow handmade items and vintage items that are at least 20 years old. And though that means you could potentially sell anything made before 2000, you still have to be very careful.

Finally, there is a lot of competition on Etsy. I mean, A LOT!!! It's hard being a little fish in such a huge pond. I make a lot of handmade paper items, as well as make a lot of Junk Journal embellishments. There are hundreds of other shops on Etsy that sell the exact same thing.

So, why Bonanza? There's NO LISTING FEES. Bonanza does charge a one-time shop set-up fee of $14.99, then charge 25-cents per transaction plus a Final Offer Fee (3.5% minimum-30% maximum depending on choice of advertising package)

They are a little more lenient on what you can and can't sell on their site, but you should still look through their prohibited items list just to make sure. Most items on the list are common sense. No guns, drugs, get-rich-quick schemes...that kind of thing.

I don't have a lot on my new shop yet, but I am working on it. I've got several Christmas brooches I'm planning on listing, as well as a lot of junk journal embellishments and ephemera kits I'm working on. I think this is going to be the best place to work my magic.

Now, I just need to figure out how to do some proper marketing and I might have a shot. I guess we'll see. Stay tuned.

Until next time,
Miss Chris

Freewriting for Ideas

2024-09-29T14:17:00.000-06:00

"Deep in Thought" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

I'm so glad I found this blog once again. I like the idea of having a little space to just let my fingers dance across the keys and see what comes out. I've been working on trying to open up an online shop, but I keep distracting myself with details. I'm sabotaging myself, really. I do it all the time.

I've been using an AI generator to help me come up with ideas. I really like Gemini AI. It's helped me come up with some really cool ideas. Now, with that being said, I also have to admit that I don't like the idea of having AI write my pieces for me. Just doesn't feel right. As a writing prompt creator, I'm all for finding ideas to write about wherever you can find them. But to have an AI program write FOR ME? No, thank you.

In correlation with me opening up my own online shop, I'm also trying to revive my website, Collected Keepsakes. I've been trying to come up with ideas on the types of articles to write that has to do with collecting, collectibles, and collectors. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. It sucks. "Hey, get a niche site," they said. "It'll be fun," they said. "Oh, just go with what you know." I'm trying.

I've got to figure out how to combine my "collectibles" website with the idea of creativity. I've been in a very creative flow lately. Problem is that I'm trying to swing from writing a full-length novel, a short series of 30-minute reads, and keeping up my Medium sites, to trying to get stuff put together for my shop and getting the word out about it. My brain's turning to mush.

I've decided that I'm going to try and sell a few of the things I've got around my house. I have a whole jewelry box full of vintage Christmas brooches that I'll never wear. My mother collected them, so what better idea than to pass them along to other collectors and let something she thought of as beautiful, go to a new home. She would have loved that. I'll keep a few pieces that have special memories, but this is something she would have fully approved of.

I also have way more crafting supplies than I'll ever use. I get most of my crafting materials from second-hand stores, garage sales, and auctions. Plus, I used to work in a craft store and got 20% off everything, including clearance items. I may have gone a little overboard. That was 10 years ago and I still have totes and boxes full of stuff. Time to let some of it go.

Maybe if I work on doing a specific post each week. I thought of doing a "Pinterest Find of the Week" and talk about finding ideas on how to make your own collectibles. I'll have to think on that a little deeper. I can show off crochet items, sewing projects, tips on making miniatures, or do a spotlight on different websites. Yeah, I'll have to think about that one.

I have a lot of ideas, but nothing solid. I do know that it's never going to happen unless I just do it. Stop coming up with reasons why I can't and just do it. Stop whining about not getting it done and fix it. I'm the only one standing in my way.

Okay, I'm done for now. I'm so happy I found my little blog again. It's not the blog I thought it would be when I started it 14 years ago, but it's still here. I'm still here.

Until next time,
Stay creative!!!

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Christine Graves has been writing online for nearly 30 years. She has written everything from fiction and poetry to reviews and ad campaigns. She runs two blogs, Graves Publications and Collected Keepsakes. She currently write for a platform called Medium.com and runs several publications through them.

Christine is also an avid collector of vintage anything and an arts-and-crafts kinda gal. She is a sucker for a garage/yard sale, secondhand stores, and auctions. Because of this, she's in the process of opening up her first real online shop called Prairied Treasures.

Asserting Dominance Over My Dream

2024-09-22T10:36:00.003-06:00

"Bucket List Book" by Christine Graves via NightCafe Studio

Don't you just hate it when someone hasn't touched their blog for over a year then just out of the blue, they're like "Surprise, I'm back." Me too, but here I am.

I think I pop into this place every now and then simply to make sure it's still here. I don't know why I care, as you can see I don't touch it on a regular basis. But I like knowing that if I need a place to just write something...anything...I can do it here.

The sad part is that once I get this all done, I have to reteach myself how to put in the image and all the other stuff that makes it pretty once it's done. Weirdo.

I'm thinking of using this spot as my freewrite space. I know I've said that before, but I do like the freedom of my Blogger space. It's here and no one knows me. If y'all run across this by accident, stop in and have a cuppa joe.

I've got a lot of things going on in my head these days. Since I'm no longer married, I spend a lot of time alone. So, what does an old, single woman do when she's all alone? Well, she writes of course. Silly, what were you thinking???

I'm working on a 30-minute read series I'm going to publish on Amazon Kindle in the next few days. Well, the first installment will be. I'm kind of excited about it, and kind of nervous. I'm not sure why, I just am.

I'm also in the process of writing my first full-length book. It's taken me almost 2 years and I'm still not done with it. It's called The Pin-Up Girl Murders and it started out similar to a Kindle Vella but I was publishing it on Medium. I've got a nice little following so hopefully it will do me some good.

Now that I'm on my own, I don't have to worry about someone telling me that they don't want me spending all my time writing online...or at all. I've always wanted to be a writer, but someone has always tried to stop me. My first husband would tell me it was a stupid dream and I needed to spend my time taking care of him and the kids. Husband #2 got it in his head that I was doing things online that were immoral. And all I was doing was trying to make a little extra money doing what I loved. Assholes.

I need to get it out of my head that I'm not good enough to do this. I need to remember that this is the dream I've had since I was a kid. I didn't want to be a doctor or a lawyer. I didn't want to be a model or a movie star. I wanted to be a writer. Well, I wanted to be an archaeologist too, but writing was my first love.

I'm hoping that if I get back into this whole blogging thing, I'll get my flow back. I walked away from writing altogether for 6 years. I've spend the past 6 years getting my groove back. Now, it's time to take it to the next level. I have to do this. I'm the only one standing in my way now.

This will be my "I need to get my fingers and my mind limbered up" space. I'll throw in a free write, maybe post about some random shit I find interesting online, probably talk about ancient history and that kind of thing as well.

I don't know what I'll do in the meantime, but I'm going to be a writer. A paid, dyed-in-the-wool writer. You watch.

Let's get this party started.

Just Shut Up and Do It

2023-03-05T22:07:00.000-07:00

No, the title's not meant for you, it's meant for me. I'm having a huge procrastination situation. I'm in the process of trying to find a way to earn a little extra money online by writing, but I'm not having much luck. Partly because I refuse to write for pennies, and partly because I'm good at sabotaging myself.

I've joined up with Fiverr and Upwork. I've created a few gigs on Fiverr, but it's Upwork that I spend the most time at. I look through the job listings on a regular basis, but I'm not all that impressed. I'm shocked at the number of people who want to hire a ghostwriter for a 20K-40K book and only want to pay a half-cent to a penny per word. Um, yeah...no.

First of all, I'm a short story writer. I've tried to write novels, more than once. I've done NaNoWriMo on a couple of occasions and actually hit my target once. But I quickly realized that I didn't have the patience or attention span to do novels. I write short stories because they're, well, short.

I read a great article on Medium titled Why Fiction Writers NEED to Write Short Stories. Author Cameron Thomson goes into detail about how and why short stories are a must for anyone who writes fiction. It really hit me. Though most of it was stuff I already knew, it still resonated with me. Then I got an idea.

Instead of writing a whole book for someone else, write one for me. And rather than doing a complete novel, do a short story collection. If I can write ten different stories of between 1,500 and 2,500 words each, I would have the equivalent of a novella. I did, however, look into the word count needed and found it's not as cut-and-dried as you'd think. One place says a novella should be a minimum of 10,000 words, while another says it's a minimum of 20,000 words.

I guess I'll just go with the flow. Write the stories first, then worry about word count. I mean, without the stories, it's just a blank document. So, now I get to come up with ten ideas for stories. I'm not a planner, I usually just let the words flow, then go back and re-read it, hoping it makes sense.

The first thing I need to decide is whether it's going to be a book of fantasy stories, mysteries, or something more contemporary. From there, I'll come up with some interesting titles. Those will probably change as the stories come to life, but I have to start somewhere.

I still have quite a bit of work ahead of me. But I'm doing it for me, not someone else. And rather than sit around and feel sorry for myself, I just need to shut up and do it.

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Image by Pintera Studio from Pixabay

Sunday Free Write 2/19/23

2023-02-19T19:55:00.001-07:00

I think it's time I did a free write here. I do a lot of free writing when I'm having issues getting inspired. I've had several weeks in a row that were less than fun and found it hard to be creative while in a funk. I'm working hard to get myself back to normal and back to writing on a regular basis.

If you look at the title of this piece, you'll see I'm calling it a SUNDAY free write. The reason for that is that I'm hoping to do this once a week. I know from experience that getting a lot of the junk out of my head helps in getting it all sorted out and into some form of semblance.

I never know what I'm going to talk about in my free writing. It could be anything from the act of writing itself to a book I read (or tried to read). I might rant about something I read on Twitter or just jabber on and on, kind of like I'm doing now. It's not so much what I'm saying, just that I'm saying something.

When I first learned about free writing, there were rules. You were supposed to write constantly for a set number of minutes. Yea, I threw that rule out the window. I'd rather just write freely about the stuff in my head as it comes along. I feel like that dog in the movie Up. Squirrel!!!

If I do end up doing a free write every Sunday, I may have to come up with a list of topics to cover. Even after doing this for years, I have trouble focusing on a single topic. I'll have to see what I can come up with. Fair warning, I may come up with ideas that are so far off in left field, you'll think I've gone bonkers. It's okay, I have.

One of the things you'll never hear me discuss is politics. Nope, not my field of expertise. Not even something I feel comfortable discussing with friends and family. Some people get squeamish discussing bodily fluids or more intimate topics, but those don't normally bother me. Politics, however, makes my skin crawl.

A few of the things I may end up talking about are anything to do with ancient history, mythologies, unsolved mysteries, ways of releasing our creative sides, and/or reviews of various places and things. Hey, look at that, I already started a nice list. And that's why I free write.

The best part of free writing is you not only get stuff out of your head, you dig a little deeper inside yourself. You may realize things about yourself you hadn't realized before. It's so good for the soul.

Well, I think that's it for this week. I will try to do this each week, but I make no promises. As soon as I make a promise, I'll break it. However, I will try.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find something out there that inspires you.

Until next time,
Christine

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Image created by Christine Graves on NightCafe

Night Cafe' Digital Art Studio

2023-01-24T15:47:00.004-07:00

Priestess of Words created on NightCafe'

So, I went and did a thing. This old broad decided to do something "new" and tried my hand at this Digital Art thing. And guess what. I'm addicted...already. It's only been a few days, but I can't stop. It's actually pretty fun.

I checked out a few sites I found through Google, but just wasn't finding anything that struck my fancy. Then, I ran across a site called Night Cafe Studios. Oh, my stars, this place is awesome. I'm still in the learning stages, but I'm having fun checking stuff out.

I had no idea what I was doing but jumped in anyway. After a few trial runs, I sort of started figuring it out. My first attempt wasn't too bad, but it wasn't stellar. I called it Horse Cart. Okay, the truth is that I just typed in the words horse cart and this is what came out.

Horse Cart created on NightCafe'

One thing I do need to say up front is that each digital image requires a certain amount of credits. Users can purchase credit packages--though will have to deal with ads on their pages. However, users can subscribe and get credits every month without ads. There are several different subscription levels, depending on the number of images the user needs to create.

BUT...here's the thing. There is a way to earn credits. Actually, several ways. The cool thing about this site is that they offer a ton of ways to earn credits and network with other artists. Creating an account, tweeting your artwork, following and/or commenting, and publishing images to your profile are just a few of the ways to earn more credits. And the really cool thing is that you get badges each time you cross a milestone. Dude, I love the badges.

NightCafe' holds daily challenges/contests. On day one, artists can submit one creation centered around whatever that day's theme may be. It might be vampires, candles, or 3D images. Once in a while, they have a "no theme" day. Anything goes.

On the second day, submission voting begins. The voting goes on throughout the day and the artists can see stats on how well their creation is doing. I submitted one of my creations to the 3D Image challenge yesterday and have been watching it off and on all day. As of the time of this writing, my submission has a 2.94 out of 5-star rating. Not bad for my first challenge.

Laughing Pickle Face created on NightCafe'

On the third day, totals are tallied and prizes are handed out. 1st prize is 250 credits, 2nd prize is 150 credits, and 3rd prize is 50 credits. You can also win credits if your creation lands in the top 5%, 10%, or 20% of votes. I still have a couple of hours before I know how well I did. I've already created and submitted my piece for tomorrow's voting. This place could totally get me in trouble.

I want to mention that the beautiful girl at the top of the page is our priestess. While playing around, I simply typed in Priestess of Words and she appeared. I actually got a little giddy. The sad thing is I'm not exactly sure what I did to make her happen. I've started following a few of the more experienced artists and trying to learn their secrets.

I really am having a blast doing this. I've always wanted to draw and/or paint, but I am NOT an artistic person. However, this is something I can do and, if I can do it, anyone can. If you're on NightCafe', look me up. You can probably teach me a thing or two...or ten.

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Myth Monsters Podcast

2023-01-17T07:33:00.001-07:00

I love all things mythological. I've always been fascinated with gods and goddesses and heroes and legends. But it was the creatures that always kept me coming back for more. Winged horses, harpies, the Minotaur, and, of course, mermaids and sirens. I just couldn't get enough.

As I got older, I began to read up on cryptids (though I didn't know that's what they were officially called) such as Mothman, the Yeti and Sasquatch, and the Jersey Devil. Believing that there had to be a grain of truth in some of the stories, I always wanted to know how these stories began. I still do.

I've been listening to a lot of ancient history podcasts lately. I used to watch ancient history documentaries on YouTube, but I think I've pretty much seen them all. In my search, I came across a really cool podcast called Myth Monsters. Yep, I had to go check it out. So glad I did.

Myth Monsters is based out of the UK and is run by a feisty little redhead named Erin. I started listening to her podcast from the beginning and found myself both informed and entertained. She cracked me up.

The thing I love most about this podcast is that its main focus is just the creatures. Not the heroes, not all the hype that surrounds the creature, just the beasts themselves. And it's very well done. I especially like the segment near the end of each episode where Erin talks about whether she thinks the creature is/was an actual being. And, in a few episodes, she sings. It's awesome.

Myth Monsters look at beasts from all around the world. I have to admit that I knew many of them before the podcast, but Erin's done a few about Japanese creatures that I'd never heard of before. I enjoyed learning about those. Note to self: study more Japanese mythology.

Seriously, if you're looking for a way to learn more about mythic beasts and cryptids, check out Myth Monsters. The podcasts are short and sweet, as well as fun and educational. You can find Myth Monsters on several venues including Apple and Spotify, or follow them through any of their social media sites.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some mythic monsters to go study.

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Images used in this post are the sole property of Myth Monsters Podcast and may not be used without the owner's expressed permission. Images were used in this post with permission. All rights reserved.

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Meet My Great, Great, Great, Grandma Gray

2023-01-12T18:55:00.001-07:00

Meet my great, great, great-grandmother, Rachel Gray, nee DeGroat. Born in Vermont in 1804, passing on in 1875 at the age of 71 in Little Blue, KS. When I look at this photo, my emotions run the gamut between sheer awe and total fear. She is a scary-looking lady.

My daughter has an Ancestry.com account and has been searching for our family. I say it that way because there is an entire side to my life that has been missing since I was a small child. I have very little information about my biological father's side of the family. Not just because he and my mother divorced when I was four, but because he was adopted.

Though she wasn't able to find much about my father's side of the family, she found a slew of information about my mother's side. Wholly Buckets!!! She was able to find leads stemming from the late 16th century. That made my history-loving heart so happy.

What really blew me away about this picture is that I remember visiting my Aunt Donna (mom's older sister) and spending hours staring at a portrait much like this...only it was a man in a Union soldier's uniform. His name was Andrew Gray...Rachel's husband. I'm sure the look on my face when my daughter sent me this picture was priceless.

I've always had a thing for those vintage photographs. This one seems, to me, to be more of a painting, but I don't know that to be a fact. The portrait of her husband in my aunt's house looks almost exactly like this, only not as dark. I find them so haunting.

My daughter is still digging for more information, but she's hitting a brick wall. We know Rachel had only one child. A son born in 1842, though we don't have a name as of yet. And she hasn't been able to find any information on Andrew Gray. I hope at some point, we'll have more of the details.

How far back can you trace your family roots? Where are your ancestors from? I love this kind of thing. I'm not just someone who loves history, I'm finding out that thanks to my ancestors, I actually have a history. And that makes my day.

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