This is a short version of a rather icky post I’d made after Facebook banned me.
(It’s a weird, nonsensical story, and I’d like to put it in the past. Suffice it to say: Do not trust Facebook. If their AI decides it doesn’t like you, and kicks you off the site, even proving your identity with a birth certificate, marriage documents, and a passport won’t help.)
BUT…
If you’re a friend and may be at risk of losing contact with me, let me know how we can stay in touch. That might be social media, an email address, or a website.
(Leave a comment, and if you’d like that to remain private, let me know. I manually review all comments before anyone else sees them and will respect your choices.)
If you’re a childhood friend, you’ll find me at Classmates.com with my childhood name.
(There will be more ways to connect in the future, such as my Eibhlin dot com site, which is a mess while I turn it into a gallery for my fine art.)
Also, I’m setting up an actual blog at https://aisling.net/blog/ (The artsy stuff will remain here; the blog will be for life-and-adventures posts.)
Leave a comment, which I will keep private
I HATE losing contact with friends, especially when I’m unsure how else we can remain in touch.
So, in comments (below), let me know where to find you—aside from Facebook— so we can stay in touch, okay? (And now I’m returning to making art and improving this website.)
SO… this will be a weird post, but I have to share this because it’s so astonishing. It’s how I realized that electro-sensitivity is a thing, after all.
Also, in the future, I don’t plan to include many non-art posts like this (they’ll be at my “Art and Other Things” Substack, instead), but this is important.
Here’s what happened…
Some years ago, I read about electro-sensitivity (aka electrohypersensitivity, or EHS). And – curious to see if it might affect me – I moved my bed.
After all, I’d been sleeping with my head next to not one but two electrical outlets (one in our bedroom, and one in the adjoining room), as well as the outlet for our cable TV/internet connection.
Yeah… just a little electricity running through them. LOL
From the very first night after that, I slept incredibly soundly, when – previously – I hadn’t thought my occasional wakefulness was any big deal. (As it turns out, it wasn’t as “occasional” as I’d thought. Not until I slept really soundly and realized how big the difference was.)
After that, my husband & I experimented with other products & methods of reducing EHS issues, including using Earthing mats. (They crumble after heavy use, but otherwise seem to work well, especially when sitting at a computer.)
Our moods, focus, and energy improved. Not massively, but enough to think that – even if it was placebo effect – Earthing/grounding had some merit.
Less snoring? Yes, please!
So, fast-forward a few years… And my husband (who snores like a freight train most nights) tried sleeping on a grounding cloth, and it radically reduced his snoring.
Whew! That’s important since even the best earplugs won’t keep his noisy snoring out.
But then, a few weeks ago, my husband had another snoring-like-a-freight train night, even with the grounding cloth in the bed. Well, it turned out that he’d kicked the grounding cloth to one side, so he wasn’t actually in contact with it.
He adjusted it, and was quiet again for a couple of nights… until it happened again. More snoring-like-a-freight-train. But, what baffled us was that he’d been on the grounding cloth all night.
And then he realized that the cloth had come unplugged.
Next night, after restoring the connection to the grounding pin…? Totally quiet.
Next, grounding sheets
Meanwhile, Amazon Vine had offered me some grounding sheets. So I ordered them: https://amzn.to/4gASebc (I think any similar grounding sheets would work. And yes, that’s a sheet for a twin bed, because we’re in Florida and staying in Airbnbs.)
I felt relief – mild, but noticeable – as soon as I stretched out on mine. I definitely sleep more soundly with this sheet under me. (Since we can’t move our beds away from the electrical wiring in this bedroom, grounding sheets can make a BIG difference.)
[This photo shows an Encanto-themed Airbnb room, with a view of the lanai & swimming pool just outside. We haven’t stayed in this exact room, but in one nearby.]
However, my husband felt that sheet’s cotton wasn’t smooth enough. So, he’s since put his grounding sheet under a normal 100% cotton fitted sheet. And it still works!
There has been zero snoring in the weeks since then. Whew! We’re both sleeping much better.
And now, the “wow, this is amazing” pillowcase!
About a week ago, I heard about a grounding pillowcase and ordered it right away. It’s this one, which isn’t available right now: https://amzn.to/3TCXm4K (The one-star reviews are clearly from people who didn’t actually try the pillowcase. Yes, the cotton isn’t especially polished. Frankly, I don’t care. This pillowcase works!)
The first night, I noticed a difference. When I woke up, I felt super-refreshed, but – more importantly – I was able to focus remarkably well. At the time, I thought, “Okay, placebo effect is good, even if it wears off quickly.”
Several nights later, I canNOT believe the difference. Every day, I’ve been fully focused on the day’s project, and – almost effortlessly – stuck with each project to completion.
Finishing projects… finally!
Whether you call it “easily distracted” or ADHD… for me, it’s the same thing: In the past, I quit projects remarkably quickly, albeit with every intention of getting back to them in a few days.
But after using a grounding pillowcase…
This has been my most productive week in YEARS.
I’ve relaunched three books – despite daunting editing & formatting challenges – in both paperback and ebook formats.
I’ve identified two new income streams (that I’m implementing today) that are passive and relatively effortless (or at least fun, or both).
And I spent all day yesterday working on this website, fully focused on improving the pages that are getting far more attention than the other ~300 articles her.
All of this… in ONE week…? Yes, that’s a very big deal.
In addition, I’ve had some BIG “ah-HA!” moments about my family and their likely EHS.
Electro-sensitivity… hereditary?
For example, my maternal grandfather said he came up with all of his best ideas in his workroom… in the basement of his house, where he’d sit barefoot with his feet on a dirt floor. (He’d designed and built the house with that quirky basement, deliberately.)
My maternal grandfather
Papa would regularly get anxiety, big time, in the middle of the night… and retreat to his basement workroom, where he felt calm and happy and “at home.” There, he’d often invent something new and important, and then patent it. Maybe that was due to grounding, aka “earthing,” before anyone even knew about grounding.
No, I’m not giving up electronic devices
Yes, I think phones, microwaves, and a bazillion “convenience” appliances and devices may be culprits for those with even mild EHS.
For me, the answer isn’t to quit using those devices. I mean, seriously, if I don’t have a working dishwasher in my kitchen, I’m not doing much major cooking, and my husband won’t have homemade chocolate chip cookies! lol
The answer is grounding (or Earthing), and it’s working for me.
Links (and a short video) for more info
Here’s the Amazon page with even more grounding/Earthing related products. https://amzn.to/3ZsXcRq Note: The actual “Earthing” book was kind of a snooze, at least for me.
And here’s a mini-episode of The Minimalists, talking about earthing (aka grounding)…
So anyway… After this week, I’m a 100% believer in grounding. And that’s why I’m sharing my story, even if this sounds ridiculously “woo-woo” and perhaps a bit crazy.
Have you tried grounding (or earthing)? Let me know in comments! I’m interested in your experiences. (Comments remain open for 90 days, and are manually approved.)
(This Disney World birthday post was copied from my Substack blog.)
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This week, I celebrated my birthday. Of course, that meant going to Disney for a romantic evening with my husband. We went to our favorite park, Epcot, and it was a lovely, surprisingly cool-ish night. Not too crowded, either. Yaayy for romance and yaayy for autumn approaching!
Yes, I got a birthday pin. It has my real name on it: Eibhlin, which is pronounced the same as “Eileen” in English, but in the Irish language (Gaeilge) it’s said sort-of like “Eifflin.” (I say my name the English way.)
On the pin, the Disney Cast Member put Mickey-style dots over each letter “I” in my name. I love that!
Saturday night’s Disney visit was wonderful! My smile was a mile wide when the La Calle lead singer saw me… and wished me a happy birthday! (That happened around the 4:15 moment in the video.)
Presents…!
My husband’s birthday gifts to me included splurging at Barnes & Noble. Of course, I returned home with a bunch of “ooh, shiny!” magazines and books. I’m giddy with delight!
In that stack…
Take the Leap is an inspiring book. Mostly, it’s a series of short (~4 pages), true stories of people who weren’t happy with their careers and – sometimes in roundabout ways – found where their real passion is… and followed it, with success. (It’s more “here’s what worked for this person,” instead of generic how-to insights. For me, it’s encouraging to read.)
Also in that stack of treats from B&N:
The latest issue of Bella Grace, which has lots of autumn-y images in cozy, cottage-y styles.
Also the September issue of Town & Country magazine, which seems to have shifted focus to eccentric, affluent people and what they did to gain a following. (I was inspired by some of their stories.)
And finally Vintage Country magazine, which – to be honest – I bought simply to see the artwork in the photos.
Hidden in that stack is my book, Sewing and Collecting Vintage Fashions. Now that my long-ago book contract has finally concluded (whew!), publishing rights are mine again. So, in 2025, I plan to revisit this topic, update my book (the resources info is very outdated), and bring fresh energy to it. This will be SUCH fun!
Meanwhile…
During September & October, I’m still winding-down a geeky pen name that’s been ridiculously misunderstood. (Don’t ask. It’s not quite been the bane of my existence, but I should have walked away from this years ago.)
By Halloween, I’ll be able to get back to fun, creative, artsy projects. Whew!
So far, 2024 has been epic and a whirlwind, bouncing between Florida and Maine and back again. Every moment of it has been an adventure! I’m not sure how 2025 will look – or even which country we’ll be in – but I know it will include more art, more treats to share with you, and lots of laughter.
I kind of LOVE these stencils – used with easy-to-wash-off paint or fake snow or something – to leave “evidence” that Santa visited homes, especially homes with little kids. (That’s an affiliate link, btw, but I’d share this cool idea anyway.)
I’m also awe-struck that an MIT team has been working on an AI bot that will help debunk conspiracy theories. This bot can be effective with people who take conspiracy theories far too seriously. That’s kind of overdue!
And, of course…
I’ve recently resumed sharing freebies with friends. The first is this hippie-style coloring page. (I mentioned it earlier, here.)
To download your own copy, click here or on the thumbnail image below. (It’ll be a letter-sized PDF that you can print and color… for personal use only, of course.)
When I sit down (or work at my standing desk), I like all of my art journaling supplies tidy and well-organized.
If I have to interrupt my creative flow to search for a particular brush, or paint, or adhesive, or collage element, it can take far too long to get back “in flow.”
Here’s what’s on my desk as I gather inspiration for my next art journaling collage.
My art journaling collage supplies, by the numbers.
My art journaling collage supplies (see the numbers in the photo, above)
Here are the art journaling supplies I’m using in late 2022:
1) A container of bits of paper, often leftovers from previous collage art. I’ve saved them because I love the colors or subjects of those images. They’re too wonderful to throw away; I’m likely to use those bits in later collages.
2) Currently, those are pieces of a failed mixed-media painting. I’d created it on canvas. Then, about halfway through the work, I realized I didn’t like it. It was the wrong background and the wrong scale for my torn-paper art.
So, I’d cut up the canvas and now the pieces are sitting in front of me, in case there’s a way to use them – whole or further cut/torn – in a future work.
3) Vintage paper and stickers that look like vintage paper elements. In my current art journal, I’m phasing from art that’s very vintage, to partially vintage, and – eventually – all contemporary elements. That’s to convey a sense of time.
Well, maybe. I’m not sure… yet. This kind of art evolves. When I’m art journaling, I don’t always start with a clear vision of what I’m creating.
4) Sponge brushes for applying adhesive to my collage elements. I look for sponge brushes with a lot of support inside the sponge part. I use those same brushes for painting, too, and I’m scrupulous about washing them to get at least four or five days’ work out of them.
5) A very damp, folded paper towel. Every time I pick up a collage element that has adhesive on it, my fingers get sticky. The damp paper towel makes it easy to keep my fingers clean as I place each element in the artwork. No more unintended sticky spots on my collages!
6) Yes! Paste, which replaced the gel painting medium I used in my art journaling collages in the 1990s and early 2000s. (Thanks to Nancy Hansen Connolly and Milan Merhar for recommending Yes!Paste. It’s pricey, but – in actual use – is worth every cent, and it lasts a long time.)
This paste is easy to work with, rarely causes the paper to buckle, is repositionable, and easy to clean up.
It actually holds somewhat heavy (non-paper) items on my mixed-media works, too. (For example, the feather in my art journaling page of 5 Nov 2022.)
So, yes, I’m sort of a cheerleader for Yes! Paste. It’s made art journaling collages and mixed media art so much easier for me!
7) I’m currently working with a series of 30-page blank journals. They’re designed as travel journals, but – for me – they’re perfect for daily art journaling collages. And, at a price of around US$1.25 per journal, I’m comfortable being impulsive with them; if one turns out badly, it’s not as if I’ve ruined a fancy, leather-bound journal.
8) A Speedball Deluxe Soft Rubber Brayer, used with wax paper, to smooth the elements as I paste them in place. My brayer has a 3.5″ wide roller, and it’s just the right size for my torn-paper collages.
9) Miscellaneous papers:
Torn-paper elements – words and illustrations – selected ahead of time because they sort of “sing” to me. Sometimes I use them. Sometimes I don’t.
Junk mail, to go under the collage elements as I smear Yes! Paste on the back of them with a sponge brush. I keep turning and folding each page of those sale flyers and mailers, to get the most from them before putting them into the recycling bin.
Wax paper, to go on top of the collage element but under the brayer, so the element is smooth on the paper (and well-adhered) without making a mess.
A few extra magazines and tourist brochures/booklets, for images and words to use as I work. (Tip: Tourist booklets often have the best, most upbeat words for this kind of work. I keep a huge bag of them by my desk, and pick up more every time we’re near a tourist visitors’ center.)
So, those are the art journaling supplies that I work with. It’s how I’ve created my collages for over 20 years, and it’s a system that’s worked well for me.
(My real name is Eibhlin, pronounced “Eileen.” I’d adopted the “Aisling D’Art” pen name in the 1990s, when few women were online, and it seemed prudent to protect my privacy. Then, when the Aisling name became associated with the art journaling movement, I kept using it.)
Have the critics – including that inner critic – worn you down? Do you just want to curl up in bed and sleep, utterly overwhelmed by “impostor syndrome”?
If you’re fighting the snarky critic in your head (or maybe a few around you, in real life or online), Danielle Krysa’s TED Talk is powerful, and – admittedly – kind of painful at times. Watch it anyway.
And here she is, in her studio. I love the honesty in this.
Danielle also records podcasts with fellow artists & creatives. So far, she’s recorded over 150 of them, which you can access at “Art for Your Ears.”
Of course, if you’d like to see her books… well, she has lots of them for and about artists. Some are advice. Some are insights. Some are how-to. Here’s the Amazon link: Books by Danielle Krysa.
Like many people, I’m working my way through “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up…” by Marie Kondo, also called the “KonMari” process. It’s about decluttering, and surrounding yourself only with things that bring you joy.
The process has been astonishing, and I’m still early in the process.
The following is this morning’s observation, which I shared elsewhere (in social media), but… well, you may enjoy this, too.
…
Clearing out, I keep stumbling onto things I’ll like but I know I’ll never use.
Or, an item that’s long past its “use by” date in the real world, but I’ve had the idea that “I might need this someday.”
Or, the reason I bought it…? Now, it’s LIGHT YEARS off my current and projected creative trajectory.
But, I’ll be honest. Letting go of the item is, on a small scale, kinda-sorta like a divorce.
The breakup itself can be difficult (or not), but the REALLY excruciating part is: letting go of the original dream.
You know… that “ooh, shiny” moment when I acquired whatever-it-is. The idea that it would be the coolest thing EVER, when I used it for… something. Often, that was some specific event or project that was part of an even larger, future vision.
And then, my life swerved in a different direction.
A direction that made more sense and turned out pretty darned cool, and I do NOT regret it.
But each new adventure on that path took me even further from the earlier vision.
So, a lot of the stuff I’m letting go of now… it was part of a rosy, “what if..?” dream. But that’s in the past.
Often, the swerve in my life happened for an external reason.
It’s WAY too easy to blame it on someone who really DID stand as an obstacle in my path, at that point. And he or she really WAS a jerk.
But, jerk or not, my life went in a different direction. And I had fun anyway.
Probably a LOT more fun than I might have had, on the previous path.
Still, some of this process is like a divorce. And it’s FAR to easy to want to hold onto that old dream (and that related, old grudge)… IF I let myself do that.
The process isn’t easy, but it’s healthy. And, by releasing those mini-anchors to the past, I’m allowing myself to move forward with less holding me back.
This is one of my favorite quotations about the importance of your art… expressing YOUR self in a way that is unique to you. Whether it’s through music, visual arts (including photography & coloring books), a garden that delights you, or a perfectly-tuned car engine… your expression is important.
(My current “art desk” is my bed. I have stacks of paper for drawing, plus a silverware drawer insert – $2 from IKEA, but you can find similar ones at Target, Walmart, etc. – filled with pens, pencils, paintbrushes, etc.)
Anyway, here’s what’s on my writing/computer desk and (at least partially) shown in the photo:
1. Computer (bearing a Honeydukes sticker from the Harry Potter shop at Universal Studios theme park), printer/scanner, and monitor.
2. One mic, plus one headset with its own mic.
3. Two pens, four thumb drives, a calculator, a portable hard drive, and a spare USB hub.
4. Two bottles of vits and a glass of water.
5. Lots of papers: My daily to-do notebook, and yellow, lined pad for notes. Notes from said yellow pad.
6. A printed page from my upcoming coloring book, still in progress.
7. Last but not least: A white mouse from IKEA.
(If you’re just desperate to see everything in detail, click on the photo for the 800 x 600 pixels version.)
Since I’m incredibly busy right now, it’s a minor miracle that my desk is this tidy.
I decided to post this since it’s kind of in line with “Real Professional Qualities,” my somewhat sarcastic article from Professional Quilter magazine, March 1986 issue.
Since I use a lot of vintage images in my art, I’m always interested in early photos.
Lately, I’ve been especially intrigued by “selfies” from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
However, not all of them are genuine. It may be important to watch for that, especially if you’re careful with copyright issues.
One of my favorite selfies is (supposedly) dated around 1900.
It’s shown at the right.
The largest version I can find was posted by Sabine Niedola.
Frankly, the subject’s features look a lot like my own portraits from the 1980s. I’ve tried that kind of hairstyle and – even with ultra-thick hair – it turned out the same as hers.
So, I wasn’t alone with the “pouf” issue. (Yes, I know about “rats” – long, sausage-shaped supports hidden under the hair – for better-looking versions of this style. I just wasn’t that committed to the style.)
Note: Since I posted this, my friend David Locicero pointed out authenticity issues.
This may be a hoax or a cosplay photo.
Something looks a little like an electrical outlet, on the lower right side of the photo. I’m not certain it’s an outlet, but it might be. I don’t know enough about household hardware from the early 20th century, to be sure.
My bigger question is about the matted photos on the shelves. The double-matted pictures are more consistent with modern-day presentations.
In the past, someone who could afford that kind of matting would have framed the photos under glass.
There’s also the question of the light fixture (if that’s what it is) on the ceiling in the reflection. And, the high quality of the mirror reflection.
But, whether it’s an authentic photo or not, it’s not the earliest “selfie.”
The Earliest Selfie?
Robert Cornelius, self portrait, ca. 1839. Courtesy Library of Congress.
One in the running for “first selfie, ever” is a self-portrait by photographer Robert Cornelius.
He’s the dashing young man in the photo on the left.
The fashions are, of course, post-Regency, but I still see a little Colin Firth / Pride and Prejudice in that photo.
Ah, if time travel were possible…! (If he came through a time portal, like in Kate and Leopold, I’m sure many women would swoon.)
According to some, that’s his own photo from around 1839. Others simply say it’s the first actual portrait photo… taken by an unknown photographer.
It’s difficult to tell. Many websites give a nod to the Top 25 Most Ancient Historical Photographs as the source of Mr. Cornelius’ picture. That site says it’s a self-portrait.
Then there’s the Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia’s self-portrait, on the right, dating to 1913 or 1914.
The Daily Mail featured the picture in a really nice article.
I’d always hoped Anastasia had survived the attack on her family. Alas, DNA evidence suggests otherwise.
Nevertheless, I’m intrigued by the white blurry image in back of her. Online, that’s sparked some discussion with no firm conclusions. Very cool.
If you enjoy old self-portraits like these, visit Google or any search engine and look for “oldest selfies” and “earliest selfies.” You’ll find plenty.
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LOL
Less snoring? Yes, please!
Meanwhile…
