Mortira's Lensography

Ranked #2,531 in Squidoo Community, #219,762 overall | Donates to Earthjustice

Whatever did I do before becoming a Squid?

This is a complete list of all of my Squidoo lenses to date. Each lens that I create has a special heading, which allows me to categorize them easily. When viewing my profile, readers can alphabetize my complete lens list, in order to easily find lenses about similar topics. This happened somewhat by accident, as my first two lenses were meant to be about my jewelry business, and therefore had a heading and title. As I started to create more lenses, I liked the idea of grouping them together by theme this way, and I will continue to do so whenever I can.

Octopus and Squid-Shaped Kites Fly Above Berkeley Marina Park

Beading and Jewelry Design

Beads have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, my mother used beads to decorate Native American style clothing and artwork. After she moved on to other hobbies, I enherited her bead stash, and have had an obsession with beads ever since. For years I used them mostly for crafts and simple art projects, until one day I picked up a necklace kit. I really just wanted the beads, but I tried out the design, and found myself totally hooked. That was in December 2006, and I've been designing jewelry ever since.

In 2008 I decided to create a website featuring step-by-step tutorials of various beading techniques, because I had yet to come across a place for beaders to learn everything they needed to know in one place. After I had created The Sage's Encyclopedia, I decided to create a lens or two to enhance my tutorials. A Sage's Cupboard became my first group of lenses, named after my line of beaded jewelry. Once I had opened my jewelry shop, The Sage's Cupboard, I simplified and altered my lens titles, though the content remains the same. While I work to develop my own skills as I designer, I continue to share the joy of beading with others.


Close-up of Beads

The Soundtrack of Creativity

Goldfrapp is one of the artists I enjoy listening to when beading, or when Squidooing. I'm also a big fan of Tool. I find it strangely relaxing. I usually bring some Tool MP3's along when I have dental work done.

Goldfrapp, however, is something that just about anyone can enjoy. This is my favorite Goldfrapp tune.
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Beadwork Basics

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Beading Tutorial Lenses

These lenses feature specific projects using different beading techniques. I started creating these pages to enhance The Sage's Encyclopedia and offer beaders ideas and instructions for projects.
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Handmade Resources

Since opening my Etsy shop, my focus has been on promoting my own beadwork, and my fellow Etsy team members. I do enjoy helping other shops get a head start in such a big, competitive marketplace. These are some of the helpful lenses I have created so far.
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On My Bookshelf

I have three overflowing bookcases in my tiny apartment. Although I've collected a lot of serial books like Harry Potter and The Dark Tower, nothing is more abundant than my beading magazine collection.

Bead & Button

I used to work in a book store, so I love dropping by there once a month to pick up B&B and chat up the staff. I never bother thumbing through it first. I always know that the editors have printed useful projects and interesting articles. It's such a valuable resource for seed bead artists, and provides instructions for delving into new areas like wirework, polymer clay, and fibre arts.

Crafts and Creativity

Once I was bitten by the Squidoo bug, I started thinking of all the other creative things I do that I could share with the world. I was in a holiday frame of mind, so I started with two of my favorite subjects: thrift store Hallowe'en costumes, and making gift baskets for Christmas presents. I've tweaked these two lenses over and over, adding new ideas whenever they come to me. I have a lot more Creative lenses on my to do list that I can't wait to get started on.


Arts and Crafts Oak

That's Creative Lenses

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In My Craft Drawer

Mr. Sketch scented markers were a very coveted craft item when I was growing up. I'd never dream of doing kids crafts without them.

Mr. Sketch Scented Water Color markers, 18-Color Set(20071)

These great quality markers come in fabulous colors and yummy scents. Not only are they fun for kids, but they're great for all kinds of crafts and coloring projects. The firm wedge tips have an even flow for perfect coloring, everytime! They work great on paper, poster board and even fabric.

I Love Color

Don't You?

Every week on Embracing Color I take a look at one fabulous shade, and why it makes an impact on our day-to-day lives. Then I invite you to share your ideas on what makes each color fabulous!
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Pregnancy and Motherhood

I hated so many things about being pregnant, I vowed that one day I would write a book about it. Then I found Squidoo. As soon as I could, I created a list of all the things that drove me crazy while I was pregnant - especially all the unsolicited comments from strangers.

Professor Baby is a series of lenses where I hope to pass on the things that I've learned about having and raising kids. I was lucky to have an entire team of experienced mothers to learn from, but not everyone can draw from family and friends to get trustworthy advice.

The lens photos are of my son, Cyrus. I thought about using stock photos, but decided that there's nothing more unique than my own baby - no other lenses will have the same pictures!


Playtime



In 2009, I decided to mix things up a bit, and I renamed my parenting and baby series to "New Mom". I think that the new title describes the content a little better. I also created a group to go along with them, for both moms and dads trying out the baby thing for the first time.

"New Mom" Lenses

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Kid Lit Lenses

These are my lenses dedicated to great reading for kids and parents. When I worked in a bookstore - my favorite job ever! - I always took on the task of reading to kids in the mall on Wednesday mornings.
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The Three R's

I've been trying to live green and encourage others to do so for most of my life. Recycling and energy saving methods were actually part of the curiculum at the elementary school I attended. Sometimes I run into a few cruel ironies, though. Because I don't drive, I can't recycle some materials like glass, because they aren't picked up by the city's waste collection contract. I have a really large collection of glass jars and bottles under my sink!

I started the Recycle It! series when I kept discovering really awesome lenses about reusing household materials. Because I didn't yet have a Green Living lens, I didn't have a logical place to lensroll them to. So I created my first lensography - a collection of all the great Three R How-To's that I'd stumbled upon across on Squidoo.


Please Recycle

Recycle It! Lenses

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Green Living and Eco-Awareness

There's a lot more to living green than just the Three R's. These lenses are about other environmental issues that are important to me.
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For the Love of Film

My movie collection is almost as ridiculous as my book collection. My husband and I buy clearance movies 2, 4, sometimes 12 at a time. Our tastes are pretty broad, and we have a hard time deciding what our favorites are.

Way back when I first started making lenses, I created a Lens To Do list. On it was a lens about why I love Pitch Black but hate Chronicles of Riddick. My husband laughed at the idea of writing a movie review about something that had been released years ago. That's when I decided that I would give my lens the heading Movie Classics. I got sidetracked writing about horror movies because I had Hallowe'en on the brain - Movie Classics: The Riddick Trilogy is still in the works, along with some lenses about Star Wars!


Star Wars

Movie Lenses

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Top-Tens and Best-Ofs

Everyone loves lists! (The module picker told me so.) It's true that top tens, top fives, and other countdowns get people talking. Just look at David Letterman, MTV, and the hundreds and thousands of blogs that count down the best and worst of things. One of my favorite shows to watch is MuchMoreMusic's "Listed", which lists 20 artists, songs or albums according to interesting categories.

I think that of all the things you can do with Squidoo, making a countdown list is the most fun. It's like all of the modules were made for list lovers like me. I could make lists everyday and never get tired of it. I have a lot of favorite things and pet peeves!



A Squid-Shaped Weather Vane Atop a Cupola

Lenses that List

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Squidoo Help Lenses

Sharing my experiences and notes with my fellow Squids.
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Groupmastering is Fun Too!

...And it's just as much work as being a lensmaster. I know how frustrating finding good, useful groups can be, so I try to put in as much effort into groups as I do into my own lenses.
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Family Groups

When calling my first group "Family Time", I didn't realize that many lensmasters wouldn't take the name as literally as intended. I had to make a few more groups to redirect all of the off-topic lenses that get submitted.
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My Blogs and Websites

If I had known that there were more careers for writers besides 'journalist', I might have gone to university and be making lots of money by now!


Diary

The Sage's Cupboard Jewelry Shop
My metal-free jewelry shop. My designs include necklaces, bracelets and rings, often inspired by nature. I also enjoy doing custom work, and I'm always open to new challenges. Some of my favorite designs have been requested by Etsy customers.
The Sage's Cupboard Tutorial Shop
A selection of easy to follow PDF beading and jewelry tutorials using a variety of techniques. Most patterns are available in both Personal Use and Commercial Use formats.
Inspirational Beading
A look into the creative process for beaders and jewelry designers. Thrice weekly topics include artist features, tutorials, bead spotlights, and explorations of inspiration and design.
The Sage's Cupboard Facebook Page
I share updates about my jewelry shop and beading hobby here on my Facebook page. Exclusive sales and sneak previews are just a few of the perks of being a fan!
Embracing Color
This blog is a spin-off of Inspirational Beading, and explores all of the world's many colors, and the reasons we love them.
Oh Canada!
On behalf of a wonderful group of Canadian Etsy sellers, I write a fun little blog about the world of handmade. Topics include fashion trends, ecofriendly products and Canadian history and trivia.
The Sage's Encyclopedia
An ongoing collection of beading tutorials, tips and patterns for beaders and crafters. These basic techniques are suitable for beginners and intermediate beaders.
Squidophile
Confessions of a Lensmaster. Just my thoughts and ramblings about all of the things I love about Squidoo. Also included is a list of some of the best Squidoo blogs.

Thanks for Dropping By!

Thanks for stopping by my lensography! Please feel free to leave a note or query, I'm happy to answer all kinds of questions. If you're not already a Squidoo member, join today and create your own lens!

  • Ashly_Rain Oct 16, 2010 @ 11:38 am | delete
    Great lens! And, you have so many other fantastic lenses. I just added you as a Featured Lensmaster in this lens that I am finally putting the energy it deserves into - http://www.squidoo.com/artisan-jewelry-community. Squid Angel blessings on your lensography too!
  • spirituality May 15, 2009 @ 8:53 am | delete
    Great lensography - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
  • GrowWear Jan 31, 2009 @ 3:51 pm | delete
    Interesting and well-done lensography. :)
  • TheGreenerMe Jan 25, 2009 @ 12:30 pm | delete
    Nice work, you have some excellent lenses. I'm going to lensroll this to my own lensography.
  • JaguarJulie Nov 18, 2008 @ 6:01 am | delete
    Ah, this is an adorable lensography. Very creative touches. That mousepad looks like jewelry. PS the worst thing to find in the dryer is kleenex with the dark load.
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Mortira

I'm hoping that one day Squidoo and blogging will help allow me to be a full time, stay-at-home parent. No daycare is getting their hands on my littl... more »

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