anti-war.

Anti-war posts, because more people want love than want war.

Operation W.A.N.T.

| Betsy

There few things that I like more than projects that bring to light the visceral raw truth of situations. It’s so easy to ignore these things happening so far away. It’s frighteningly easy to have it fade into the background news and to have it happen to other people.

That’s one of the reasons I started writing about craftivism, because I think it has the visual punch that is necessary to think about problems in new and different ways, ways that hit you in the gut and make you personalize what’s happening.

The photos above are from Operation W.A.N.T. (We Are Not Toys), when 7 members of the LA chapter of Iraq Veterans Against War placed 4,170 toy soldiers in a parking lot of a gas station on October 11th.

I especially like the fact that they used children’s toys to show just how many people (and how many families) have been changed forever thanks to the past years of conflict. And that’s just a tiny fraction of the number of individuals doing their jobs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Seeing all these little green army men lined up in a gas station parking lot (a place where we do pay attention to the numbers) hopefully personalized current events in a way that the 6 o’clock news never could.

With all the attention paid to gas station prices lately, watching them rise and rise and fall, we show that we can, indeed, pay attention to numbers. Just not when it doesn’t pertain to us.



Thanks to Rayna for the link who found it via Groundswell.

(photos: Jonas Lara)

decorating DIY.

| Betsy

This is what greeted me as I was going to get some coffee the other day:

homeland.jpg

There’s something similar about the state of the car and the state of the union. Rusty. Patchy. Old-fashioned.

But it seems that the political tide is somewhere betwixt and between right now, like the boot of the car. Mixed. Both colors (parties) fighting to take over the whole of the trunk.

Photos from Massive Knit’s event Tuesday.

re:defining.

| Betsy

Below is a response to a post earlier in the week that I thought was so beautiful that it warranted a post of its own.

Sometimes people ask me what craftivism means. Sometimes I don’t know quite what to say. Or know how it’s related to me.

But craftivism is more than just a way to express your politics and views, it’s about finding a way to better your life and that of others through creative endeavors. Because I believe that everything we make with our hands has power. Just what that power is, is your own decision.

flags.jpg

I’ve just discovered this site and it chimes so many bells with me. In my younger days I went on protest marches and rallies and carried banners and chanted chants. Now I have three young kids and I don’t seem to do that stuff anymore. It’s not that I no longer care about the same things – believe me, having kids has made me care even more. But nowadays I am more likely to make a sturdy shopping bag out of all the plastic carrier bags in the cupboard cut into strips and knit together, or crochet an afghan out of lots of leftover yarn from my late mother’s stash and give it to my father as a Christmas gift. Things like that. Currently I am braiding a rag rug out of all my old maternity dresses (boy does that ever provide closure!)

What would have happened if I *hadn’t* gone on all those protest marches back then? Nothing much. Everyone else would still have showed up – 30,000 people minus me is still lots of people. But if I hadn’t made that afghan for my dad, I never would have got to see the glistening in his eyes on Christmas day, and the tears in my own eyes when I visit him and see it folded over the arm of his favourite chair, obviously much used.

I never had a name for this before, or for the quilts I made for my kids which I tuck round them extra tight every time I hear another mother’s son or daughter has been killed by a suicide bomb, or the cookies we bake together from scratch because I want them to understand where food comes from (and also they taste good), or all the things I repair around the home not because I can’t afford to replace them but because … because … well just because I *prefer* to. And now I do have a name for it. Craftivism. Thank you.

Home mortgages

| Betsy

A home loan is a great form of financial assistance if you are short on cash, or are not in favor of liquidating your savings and buying new ones, as it gives you the option of having your cash available to you in an emergency. It is also a good form of insurance in the event of a bankruptcy and/or foreclosure.

Mortgage repayment deferral | Stone Real Estate

The first thing I want to stress in this post is that there are many options available to you when it comes to obtaining a home loan. There are different types of loans available, like traditional, REO, FHA, VA and I believe to be in the near future, even private mortgage backed securities (PMBS). It really is best to start by getting the basics down before moving to more complicated options. That is why I am going to give you a primer on home loans and give you a basic understanding of the different types of loans available for obtaining a home loan.

When it comes to home loans, there are a number of types that can be considered as being on the same level. There are two main types of loans; a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and a loan backed by your house. Before you choose one of them, be sure to answer the question of “how much home can i afford“?

HELOCs

This is the most common type of home loan and usually has a monthly payment of between 3% and 5%. Because the amount is so low, you may want to think twice about taking out this type of loan. HELOCs often require that you are paying for at least 30 years and sometimes require a down payment. HELOCs are typically best suited for people who don’t own a lot of land and have a lot of flexibility with their monthly payments. FHA Loans FHA loans are generally a little higher in monthly payments than HELOCs but come with an extra perk: you can take out a FHA loan with a down payment. FHA loans are also preferred by people who don’t own a home.

HELOCs vs. FHA vs. VA Loans: Which Is Best For You?

The biggest advantage of any type of home loan is to have a steady income to pay off the loan each month. That’s how you will pay down the loan early enough to make it a good credit risk. The best way to get a loan for your home purchase is to get an appraisal. A good appraiser will give you a better idea of the home’s value and will help you get a mortgage. Here are a few things to consider before you get an appraisal: The appraiser will check to see if the home meets local zoning laws.

An appraiser may look at other houses in the area to see if the area is good for development.

A good appraiser will also conduct an extensive home inspection. A lot of buyers find an appraisal too intimidating to be worth their time. If you decide that you want an appraisal, it’s best to contact a reputable appraiser before you buy.

The price of a house is only part of your decision to purchase a home. Another important consideration is the location and character of the area in which you live. For example, if you live in an area that has lots of shopping centers, parks, schools, and services such as hospitals and parks, then your price will be considerably lower.