Lacy Afghan - 2009 Christmas Special

JMark Afghans, etc. is offering - for a limited time - our favorite Lacy Afghan at amazing prices!

This offer is available only to readers of "Random Musings of a Curious Mind" who order before December 10th.

(To ensure that your order is completed in plenty of time for Christmas, we are offering only 3 sizes and a limited number of yarn colors.)

Ordering couldn't be easier! Simply pick a size, a yarn color, and click {Buy}. For your convenience, we offer PayPal or Google Checkout to complete your order. (No personal information is required, until you place your order through our secure options.)

As always, if you have any questions or problems - Contact Jules - for more information.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Order Now to Guarantee Christmas Delivery

Just a quick reminder that JMark Afghans, etc. doesn't crochet your afghan - or hat, scarf, or shawl - until you order it.

For some of the larger, more involved designs, that means that it takes at least a couple of weeks to finish your order.

If you've been thinking of a special, one-of-a-kind gift for your loved ones - please be sure to order now.

All of our items ship second-day, but - the closer we get to Christmas Day - even the USPS can't guarantee timely delivery.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Do Not Insult the Cell Phone!

For whatever reason, (I just don't ask anymore) Mark decided to inventory all of the cell phones that we have used, stopped using, and saved over the years. Hey, it keeps him off the streets and out of my hair, so who am I to complain? Not to mention, detangling the charger cords keeps him occupied for hours.

We have discovered, much to our surprise, that it is in no one's best interest to insult the quality of a Samsung cell phone.

The first phone that Mark pulled from the abyss that is his junk drawer was a recently purchased, but less than welcome, addition to the collection. (Both of our sons love Samsungs. Dad does not.) In response to the phone lying quietly in his hand, he expressed a personal opinion that the phone was a piece of {fill-in-the-blank} and tossed it back in the drawer.

After some time spent organizing the remainder of the drawer's contents, he went back in for the Samsung. It was nowhere to be found! Nowhere at all!

We have now determined that either the phone or our personal gremlin took serious offense to the derogatory comment. I wonder if the phone will ever reappear.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

2010 Arizona Scenery Calendars

Can you believe it?! 2009 is almost over! And, frankly, I am looking forward to the new year!



In honor of what simply has to be a better year, JMark Afghans, etc. is offering 2 new calendar designs for 2010.


Jules pulled out some of her favorite Arizona and Grand Canyon pictures, just for these calendars. Each month is a trip to another beautiful scene from the Grand Canyon State. These images are only available on JMark Afghans, etc. products at Zazzle. No other place has them!


So, don't wait until the last minute! Beat the rush and get yours today! And spend 2010 in Arizona!


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Grand Canyon Posters

Don't forget to stop by and check out my latest Zazzle creation - oooh I love that word - a set of posters that feature some of my favorite Grand Canyon Pictures. I chose a dark green border to accent, but not overwhelm the view. The view is ... everything!

With a collection of five coordinated, but unique images, they make a wonderful addition to any room - as a set, in smaller groupings, or just one, perfectly placed image.

The first two I created, titled "Grand Canyon Poster 001" and "Grand Canyon Poster 002" (brilliant, aren't I?) are slightly different views of the same location. By changing the camera angle and position, just a bit, the images appear to come from different locations. Yet, they complement each other beautifully.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

RedHeart 'Fiesta' Yarn Colors

Every so often, I review all the yarn pages on the website for changes. Colors come and go randomly. Usually without warning.

This month, the change was a bit more dramatic. It seems that Coats and Clark, the manufacturers of the RedHeart line of yarns, revised part of their website. All of the 'Fiesta' color swatches we had posted were moved.

If you haven't checked our chart of available colors lately, please drop by and take a peek. Three colors were retired. But four new colors were created. (The two darker ones - Harvest and Coffee - are great options for Fall projects.)

Great fun!

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

New Mugs from JMark Afghans at Zazzle

Just a quick reminder: JMark Afghans has designed a new series of Grand Canyon Mugs through Zazzle.com. Please stop by and see all of our "Grand" products.

Grand Canyon Mug 001:
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal." ~~ George Will

Grand Canyon Mug 002:
"You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view, as if it were a changeless spectacle from which a curtain might be lifted, but to see it you have to toil from month to month through its labyrinths." ~ John Wesley Powell

Grand Canyon Mug 003:
"The Grand Canyon is carven deep by the master hand; it is the gulf of silence, widened in the desert; it is all time inscribing the naked rock; it is the book of earth." ~ Donald Culross Peattie

Grand Canyon Mug 004:
"To stand upon the edge of this stupendous gorge, as it receives its earliest greeting from the god of day, is to enjoy in a moment compensation for long years of ordinary uneventful life." ~ John Stoddard, 1898

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Grand Canyon Mugs

JMark Afghans, etc. is proud to offer a our new series of Grand Canyon Mugs through Zazzle.com. Each mug has a one-of-a-kind picture of this amazing natural wonder and a related quotation.

Grand Canyon Mug 001:
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal." ~~ George Will

Grand Canyon Mug 002:
"You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view, as if it were a changeless spectacle from which a curtain might be lifted, but to see it you have to toil from month to month through its labyrinths." ~ John Wesley Powell

Grand Canyon Mug 003:
"The Grand Canyon is carven deep by the master hand; it is the gulf of silence, widened in the desert; it is all time inscribing the naked rock; it is the book of earth." ~ Donald Culross Peattie

Grand Canyon Mug 004:
"To stand upon the edge of this stupendous gorge, as it receives its earliest greeting from the god of day, is to enjoy in a moment compensation for long years of ordinary uneventful life." ~ John Stoddard, 1898

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Your Prayers are Needed

This is one of the things that social networking does best -- rally the prayers of those who care around people, families who need them.

A young woman was in an automobile accident yesterday and her family is praying for her return to them.

Please - I know the power of prayer - help this family, as so many of you have helped Mark and me. Pray for Kimmi and her family.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Comodo Internet Security Pro

JMark Afghans, etc. is proud to announce that we are now affiliated with:

In this day of worms, trojans, viruses, and the armies of morons who troll the Internet looking to cause trouble and damage, it's not just important to have protection. It is critical. Trust me on that one.

Starting with a solid, reliable firewall, Comodo protection adds anti-virus and wi-fi coverage to the package. Top that with live, expert support and you've got security that will help you surf happy and sleep peacefully.

Don't risk your data, your personal information, or the computer on which you depend. Take a look at Comodo. You'll be amazed!

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Grand Canyon Posters from JMark Afghans

I love creating! Whether it's a new afghan design (and there are a few of those in the works) or mugs, aprons, and posters on Zazzle. Taking a blank canvas, as it were, and watching something new emerge is amazing to me.

My latest creation - oooh I love that word - is a set of posters, featuring some of my favorite Grand Canyon Pictures. I chose a dark green border to accent, but not overwhelm the view. The view is ... everything!

With a collection of five coordinated, but unique images, they make a wonderful addition to any room - as a set, in smaller groupings, or just one, perfectly placed image.

The first two I created, titled "Grand Canyon Poster 001" and "Grand Canyon Poster 002" (brilliant, aren't I?) are slightly different views of the same location. By changing the camera angle and position, just a bit, the images appear to come from different locations. Yet, they complement each other beautifully.

Please wander by to see the rest. Choose your favorite poster - or choose them all. They were designed to need no frame, although custom framing is available.

Or start with our new collection of Grand Canyon products. (Not all of them are new, but the collection is finally pulled together for easy browsing.) I'm going to be adding to my Grand Canyon mugs, with a collection that includes different images and unique quotes.

Don't miss it!

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Spoofing Emails ... Again! and Again!

Like most people I know, I love getting mail. No longer! I now hate - with a passion - looking in my inbox.

Thanks to these spammers/ spoofers/ friggin' jerks, I wake up every day to at least 200 new delivery failure notifications. And, despite reporting the IP address, they just keep creating new websites, with dozens of subdomains - all pretending to be JMark Afghans. In the words of Queen Victoria: "We are NOT amused!"

If I weren't so busy trying to quantify and report all of this, I think I'd just sit down and cry. Or perhaps screaming would be more effective.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Spoofing Emails ... Again!

Once again, JMark Afghans, etc. has been spoofed! If you don't know what that means, in a nutshell - someone (in this case, many someones) sent spam/junk email out with a fake jmarkafghans.com email address as the sender and/or reply-to. It appears that the message came from JMark Afghans, etc., when in fact it didn't. To give you an idea of how busy these little )*@&$% miscreants were this weekend:

As of 10:00am today, we have received more than 750 - yup seven-hundred-fifty - delivery-failure notices for emails that we did not send. Apparently, there is a lovely new scam being perpetrated at IP address 119.67.72.151. Heaven only knows how many emails made it through, since many of the failure notices we received contained more than one addressee!

All of the websites to which these messages send recipients are exactly the same. Diamond Replicas is the title on the three that I was able to trace back. The IP address hosts over 70 domains, so I guess we were lucky to only get hit by 3 of them.

According to what I read, when you access the checkout / shopping cart, you are giving all of your credit card and identifying information out over an unsecure connection. You can imagine the damage they can and will do, once they get that information.

I reported everything I could and, hopefully, the IP and related sites will get taken down soon. In the meantime ...

• If you didn't subscribe to our mailing list and/or newsletter, you will never receive email from JMark Afghans, etc.
• If you did subscribe to our mailing list and/or newsletter, but didn't respond to the opt-in email message, you will never receive email from JMark Afghans, etc.
• If you ever receive a plain-text message from an individual at JMark Afghans, etc., it wasn't us!

We never, ever send plain-text messages and never have. There are absolutely no, none, zip, nada, zilch individual email addresses associated with our business. There never have been and, because of this sort of fraudulent behavior by no-goodniks, there never will be.

With that said, should you ever receive any unsolicited email claiming to be from JMark Afghans, etc., please forward it immediately to me. My email address is at the bottom of every page of the website.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Fun Tyme Entertainment Award

Happily (joyously and amazingly), for the second time in as many months, JMark Afghans, etc. is proud to display the latest award we have received for our website! (I must say "WooHoo!!" - very, very loudly!)

On July 31, 2009, we were presented with a Silver Award by the Fun Tyme Entertainment Awards Program.

I have seen the sites that were also granted Silver Awards this year, and I am honored to be included in their company. It makes the hard work worth it.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

New Zazzle Products from JMark Afghans, etc.

I had a couple of options today - do the dishes, or play on Zazzle. As you can see, I chose to create some new products on Zazzle. It's much more fun than washing dishes. (The mousepad background is an airbrush design, with random colors and graphic 'mice' to complete the look.)



This shoe started with the same abstract color design as the new mousepad. In darker colors, it will coordinate with virtually any casual outfit and resist showing dirt or stains. Something I love, because I am really bad about dust, dirt, and not washing my shoes.



Frankly, I love slip-on shoes. I keep a pair by the front door for quick trips to check the mail or pick up a soda at the store. Comfortable and easy-on, they are the best.

These shoes, in lighter colors, should work with just about any spring or summer look - whether you're headed to the corner store, an impromptu picnic, or the afternoon at your favorite museum.

Keep watching! Among other things, I plan to start collecting pictures for a 2010 calendar.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

15% off Your Order at Zazzle

Great News!


Along with fantastic products that range from shoes and aprons, to mugs and t-shirts, to postage and mouse pads, Zazzle is now offering, for a limited time, 15% off all orders - for friends and families!


Like all of JMark Afghans' designs, Zazzle products can be customized to suit your style and taste.


Simply find the shopping bag design you like, then pick the bag style that works for you. Sizes and styles run the gamut from the Tiny Tote at 14.5"w x 11"h x4"d, to the Jumbo Tote that measures 20"w x14.5"h x4.5"d.


If you'd like a little extra color, most bags have several options. Two offer colored handles to accent the natural bag. (The Organic Grocery Bag only comes in natural.)





The coupon code FRIFAMZAZZLE must be entered during checkout to receive the offer. Offer is valid through July 26, 2009 at 11:59pm PT.


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Purple Moon Award

Over the last four years, I have learned about website design - the hard way. Starting with a template from a dial-up ISP and the desire to have something unique, HTML and CSS became two of my best friends and worst enemies. But every now and then, the battles seem worth it. Apparently, Purple Moon Awards agreed!

Happily, JMark Afghans, etc. (the website) and I have been granted a Bronze Award. Please visit our Awards Page to see the beautiful Award banner and read the kind words that accompanied it. (There are some other goodies on that page that we are equally proud of, believe me.)

A healthy website is never stagnant. It grows and changes in small and large ways. That's what makes (and keeps) it exciting!

Please stop by to see what's new and different today. And tomorrow.


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Spammy Email - NOT from JMark Afghans

Several months ago, someone used my website address to send out spammy emails. I managed to track them down and report them to the government and my email provider. Within days, the web addresses were blacklisted or completely shut down. I was happy . . . until today.

After logging on to check my mail, I noticed an extremely high number of messages in my bulk mail. With all of the email accounts I have, I get spammed sometimes. But not more than 40 in one morning! Heck, some of the accounts are almost spam-proof.

Some moron or morons were using jmarkafghans.com as the reply-to on a myriad of junk messages. A little research showed that all of the bulk I received were rejected emails, bouncing back to my website address. So, for all I know, dozens got through.

Now, I get to start tracking down the originator(s) of this mess and sic the Feds on them. Like I have nothing better to do with my time! Not to mention, the risk to my company's reputation by being associated with this sort of, you'll pardon the term, CRAP!

JMark Afghans does not send spam, junk, or unsolicited email! None of the addresses, legally associated with the company, have an individual's name. We only use departments in our official emails and we NEVER send anything to anyone who hasn't subscribed to either our mailing list or our newsletter.

Please - tell your friends! And, should you ever receive spam from someone claiming to represent JMark Afghans, send me a copy of the message - with full headers - at administration[at]jmarkafghans.com and I will make sure that (for as long as possible) they are out of business.


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Computer Crash - Again!

A couple of days ago, I got up really, really annoyingly early so that I could get some work done. Not to be! (The gremlins are at it again.) My laptop, that I had shut down just a few hours before, now had a corrupt or missing system file. A little vague for a person with no caffeine at 6:00am, if you ask me.

Having been through the oh-crap-the-computer-quit more than once, I tried every trick I knew. I tried the disc for the operating system, which has a repair option. Nope! no luck there. So, not knowing what else to do, I reinstalled the software for Windows.

This is NOT a small thing, you know. It erases everything on the hard drive and reinstalls the operating system. When you push "F" for Forget-about-seeing-those-files-again, you'd better be darned sure you have zero, nada, zilch other options. I closed my eyes and hit "F".

Consequently, because I couldn't get to the files and the FTP on my laptop, I lost all of the files that weren't uploaded to my website. At this point, coffee was no longer even remotely my beverage of choice!! I had a zillion things to put back, 5 zillion bookmarks and passwords to find again, and software to re-download and setup. I was not happy.

While adding the files for XP Service Pack 2, and trying not to cry, I noticed that it was installing the very same file that I was missing earlier!! Needless to say, had I known this lovely little fact, I wouldn't now be trying to recover and/or recreate all of the files I am missing.

Other than 'misery loving company,' the reason I am sharing all of this lovely information is: I have been unable to reload blog posts from February 3, 2009 to April 5, 2009. They, luckily, are all on the website and, if you have a link, they can be found. So, no big deal, right?! Wrong!

The software I use updates the archive lists, everytime I post a new entry. As of today, all of those pretty new Archives . . . are missing February and March!! ARGHHHHH!!

It is, actually, my fault. Not the corrupted file, but the inability to recreate the information. When someone tells you to back up your files - don't make faces, don't harumph at them. Just do it!

Trust me on this one. The alternative is a pain in . . . several body parts!


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

What is Crochet?

Let's start with a simple definition. According to the Free Dictionary:

cro·chet (kro-shay)
v. cro·cheted (-shayed), cro·chet·ing (-shaying), cro·chets (-shayz)
v.intr.
To make a piece of needlework by looping thread with a hooked needle.
v.tr.
To make by looping thread with a hooked needle: crochet a sweater.
n.
Needlework made by looping thread with a hooked needle.
[French crocheter, from Old French crochet, hook, diminutive of croche, feminine of croc, of Germanic origin.]

You'll notice that nowhere in that definition is there mention of a machine.

Those of us who crochet, do not believe that anything created by a machine can be considered crochet. True crochet requires a human being to manipulate yarn, with a crochet hook; creating, over time, an afghan or scarf or sweater or shawl or hat or gloves or socks or anything that the mind can imagine.

What crocheters create today is not, necessarily, what our mothers and grandmothers created.

We use bold colors and patterns; we use decades-old patterns in new ways and in new combinations. Our efforts honor a craft older than this country.

We honor our Green Ancestors who sheared the sheep, that they raised to put food on the table, to make clothing and blankets to keep themselves warm during harsh winters. We honor a lifestyle that made use of every ounce of available material to survive. A lifestyle that didn't take more from the world than the world could give back.

In these tough economic times, especially, we who crochet offer an alternative to higher energy prices and cranking up the heat in the dead of winter. We offer a reminder of where many of us came from and the joy that is to be found in using and wearing items that came from our own hands and our own imaginations.

Crochet: v. To make a piece of history, with one's own hands, by looping thread with a hooked needle.


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules