cjacks.com

Welcome to cjacks!

I am so happy you have decided to visit my blog. Here you can see some of my musings, creative projects, recipes and whatever else catches my fancy. You can also check out my social media.

Between Waking and You

This song was generated to express the love once shared between the two main characters in my novel project – Isolden and Bastian.  This is one of my favorite ones about them and I love the image – definitely captured how I see them. Listen on Suno Lyrics…

Gone Too Soon

This round, I decided to do a song with my own lyrics. I had to tweak them and generate a few iterations to try and get the AI to break the lines where I wanted it to, but now that I have a better feel for tweaking my own words so it turns into a melody closer than…

The Sun Will Soon Arise

Years and years ago, I used to write novels with my partner, Jonathan.  In fact, we even put one out long ago on Amazon, not that it ever sold a solitary copy, I might note, but still.. And yes, we did it under a nom de plume. Don’t get me started on the cover…

Cracks in the Silence

A friend of mine recently introduced me to Suno to make AI music.  I hadn’t had a chance to use it until the other day. I was feeling pretty down… thinking about my partner of 18 years who died October 12, 2022. Though it is going on four years since…

Cost of Progress

Today we ask Google (Bing, Siri blah blah) for information instead of asking those with experience. My knee-jerk reaction is to ask my elderly folks (I am pre-Google, obviously).  But I stop and think: I don’t want to bother them when I can get flooded by…

Seed Stitch Knit Cowl

In my never-ending attempt to finish half-done projects floating around and use up some of the enormous stash of crafting material avalanche threatening to suffocate me, I finally can cross this off my list. I started it last year when I, again, decided to try…

Kitsune

A while back, I found an image I liked and it inspired me.  Unfortunately I can not locate the image.  But, I really enjoyed trying to find 9 “elements” for a nine-tailed fox and adding antlers.  Kitty View OneView LargerKitty View TwoView LargerKitty View…

Cat Felted Figure

A felted cat figure made with cat fur.

Watercolor Doodles

I was in the mood to dig out the watercolors the other day. It had been a while since I last did one, so I decided to try a few doodles to scrub off the rust, so to speak. I didn’t have too much of a plan besides trying a sunset or two.  That evolved into using…

Pattern Review: Pineapple Peacock Shawl

This is going to be a pretty short review.   I have made this pattern a few times and really enjoy making these. They work up pretty fast, but you will need to watch your counting.  Be sure to lay it out occasionally to ensure there are no skipped repetitions!  I did…

Sunset

Watercolor Doodles

I was in the mood to dig out the watercolors the other day. It had been a while since I last did one, so I decided to try a few doodles to scrub off the rust, so to speak. I didn’t have too much of a plan besides trying a sunset or two.  That evolved into using…

Pineapple Peacock Shawl

Pattern Review: Pineapple Peacock Shawl

This is going to be a pretty short review.   I have made this pattern a few times and really enjoy making these. They work up pretty fast, but you will need to watch your counting.  Be sure to lay it out occasionally to ensure there are no skipped repetitions!  I did…

Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past

Years ago (2015-2017) I had the privilege of living out a childhood dream – to be in a band.  I never shared any of my videos and photos on my blog, but it was an experience!  We were known then as Psychedelic Revival and played mostly 60’s music. As the…

Hippie Bench Revamp

Hippie Bench Revamp

A few years ago My folks were getting rid of an old beat up bench that they had, so I decided I could take it and have a few more years use out of it. Well, after a year, the middle board rotted and I thought it had outlived its usefulness. But, being who I am, I…

Pokemon Graphghan 3

Pokemon Graph-ghan

TIPS This is my first graphgan. It has crossed off one thing from my huge bucket list whilst simultaneously making what, I hope, will make my friend happy (and warm)  during these cold months in PA.  This is my first attempt at doing a graphgan.  I created the pattern…

Basic Bralette

Pattern Review: Basic Bralette

 Using some leftover yarn I had, I decided to give the basic bralette pattern by Morale Fiber a go.  Overall, I found the pattern extremely well written and it worked up pretty quickly. I am pleased with the result, with a few caveats: 1. Check your gauge.  I *never*…

Bastet: La Chatte Noir

Bastet: La Chatte Noir

I have long loved Art Deco/Art Nouveau and Poster Art. Back in the late 90s, I saw Théophile Alexandre Steinlen’s 1896 Color Lithograph poster for the cabaret called Le Chat Noir.  I had always wanted to try my hand at doing a version of the poster but never got…

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