Thank you to all of those who played with with the me today. It really helped me to cheer up and depressurize with everything that has been going on lately.

*nuzzlebomb*

Hey everyone. You may have seen my previous post regarding my Project Greenleaf shop.

As you may or may not know, I am in graduate school for a Master's in Human Factors. Getting a Master's degree is nothing like getting a Bachelor's degree. It's far more than showing up for classes and taking tests. It requires everyone you have within to get through a semester in between projects, experiments, papers, and classes and tests.

Especially when you have my advisor (they're like a boss). She's not a bad person, but she does expect a lot since it's a newer program and everyone has to help to make the program what it could be. This is why I am not on here much--my time is taken mostly by work. While I have done some great work academically, I don't have much time to develop other areas in my life.

That said, I am seriously considering closing my Project Greenleaf shop. I started it before I got entangled in everything my advisor wants me to do. Believe me, that situation is more complicated than you can imagine. Anyway, I digress. I don't have the time, and I don't a whole lot of money. Also, I have not been making enough of a profit that would help me pay for supplies while donating. To be honest, I have only been able to donate maybe $5 every once in awhile to Project Greenleaf when I could be saving my money and donating as much as $50 if I save my money.

Here is what I have sold through my Project Greenleaf shop on Etsy. Please take a look, and tell me whether or not I should continue. Be honest.

Check the totally rad mullet. Good song, though.


Here's the techno version:

I have very ecclectic music tastes, and I tend to go through cycles of what I like most at any given time. Right now, I've been listening to a lot of 80s because it's helping me get through all the graduate-school induced stress right now. This is merely a sample of all the 80s stuff I like. Everyone's heard Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round" and After the Fire's "Der Kommissar," so I posted to lesser-known songs.

I really, really need to get this off my chest. See more under the cut.

Hey gang,

I have officially left DeviantART. The last journal entry that I had left up there provided a link to where I now have my art. This journal is now a year old, so those of you who know me there have probably known where to go for awhile now.

In case you're interested in seeing where my art now lives, go here: http://www.vinovas.com/en/portfolio/Shadowfire

As you may know, I am in graduate school. This is totally different from undergraduate college where you show up to class, do your work, and get a grade. Graduate school is much more than that. In my field (human factors), I have to publish research and do labwork in addition to coursework, and graduate coursework is much more difficult than undergraduate coursework. I'm not trying to scare anyone off getting a Master's or a PhD, but I want you to understand how much of my time it takes. It is not just a "job." It's my life[, and my success in my field in contingent upon my giving everything I have to my work. This means making sacrifices and prioritizing, and I really need simplicity in my life where I can find it.

I'm not leaving TEF, so don't panic. I still love this interactive program.

Hey everyone,

As you may know, there is a project called Project Greenleaf in which players make stuff to sell to raise funds for The Endless Forest. My Project Greenleaf Etsy shop can be found under "Project Greenleaf" in the top menu on the left side of the page. The problem is I don't have any items right now due to people buying and not having much time to make stuff. That is where you all come in. [BE SURE TO READ MORE UNDER THE CUT!]

I want your input on stuff you would like to see and how much you would be willing to pay. I have been playing with the idea of just making a bunch of mushrooms with the clay I have, since I have lots of colors (including glow in the dark). These would just be pre-made. They would be a mix of 2-3 colors. If I make regular size ones, I would make fewer of them for now. If I make smaller ones, I would make more and they would probably be sold as pendants. The regular sized ones (example on left) and smaller ones (expamples on right) are pictured below. Regular sized mushrooms were sold for $2.50 each. The mini-mushrooms were sold for 50-75 cents each because I generally made them from the left over clay I had from other orders. If they're sold as pendants, they could cost 25 cents more.



I have also made custom pendants in the past. Beads would not be included as I don't have money in order to put beads on everyone's order unless I raised the price if someone wanted beads.

While venting is good, counting your blessings can have a positive effect on your emotions as well. I'll start:

I'm grateful that I found such an awesome game and community.

I'm grateful that I have been able to find time to do artwork.

I'm grateful that I have a roof over my head, food, and a place to sleep.

I'm grateful that I have pets to keep me company when at home alone.

I'm grateful that I am able to attend graduate school full-time without working.

I'm grateful that I have come so far in my studies.

I'm grateful for my sister, who is allowing me to stay at her house until she gets married.

I'm grateful for the friends I've met here.

I'm grateful that I can procure food relatively easily.

I'm grateful that my parents are still together after all these years.

I'm grateful for divine mercy. Lord knows I'm not an angel.

Since most of the active members are artists, I was wondering where or not some of you can help me with my tablet. I have looked around on the Internet but I didn't find anything about my specific issue. I figure y'all would be willing to help if you have any information on it.

I got a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet a couple of years ago. For the past couple of months, it just disconnects from the computer. It will work fine at first, but then it will just disconnect. I was in the middle of the doe sketch I posted last night when the tablet disconnected.

Has anyone experienced this problem before with their tablet, even though it's not the same as mine? I'm sick of giving myself hand cramps with the mouse.

Thanks in advance!

Tomorrow, March 14, is 's third year materialization date (or birthday). I came here in 2007, which is before the birch Forest, the Halloween stuff, and the Community Site. The support forums say I joined March 15, but that's because I actually debated with myself whether or not I wanted to join another online community. I'm glad I did. (Read more.)