iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

New drop from #MGismsInk. Link in bio. Check out our latest mini mag with creative #prompts from #WorldFolkLore. This week, it's one of two stories about the #BraveLittleTailor.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I have some special treats to give away. Comment below or message me to receive a PDF of the first edition of our #CreativeSoup issue with the story of Thady Rua O'Dowd. Limited time offer. Available while supplies last. #StPatricksDay #LuckOfTheIrish

Graphic with green writing and line art on a cream background. The text "Happy St. Patrick's Day" appears over line art of a seal standing beside an Irish hat.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

It's March! Today is Monday! Spring break is either upon us or in the near future. Women's history is the focus of the month, and we'll be celebrating the wearin' o' the green shortly. ☘️ 🍀 ☘️ So tell me your #GoodNews today. Bonus points for pictures. 😍🤩😍

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Happy #InternationalWomensDay! Take a moment to tell me about an amazing woman. Who is she? What do you admire about her?

Graphic is a silhouette of a woman's head, created from a collage of other women. Text reads: Happy International Women's Day, March 8

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

March is #WomensHistory month, and tomorrow is #InternationalWomensDay. So today, let's celebrate women-owned businesses! Tell me about the women-owned businesses you love!

Graphic shows silhouettes of several women in shades of black, blue, and purple. Text reads: women empowerment, support women-owned businesses. Set on a light pink and purple background.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Did you know that global warming has given us some of the most bone-chilling tales in all of #folklore?

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Auto correct of the day: They have papers on microfiber from the 1870s forward. 🤣🤣🤣 #library #research #autocorrect

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

It's a good day for hanging out at a #library and working on #folklore projects. What stories from wold folklore do you love most?

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

What are you doing on #EconomicBlackout day? I'm staying off Meta products, so you get to see more of me here.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

What are the #glimmers in your world today? Is it a sunny day? Did you get great customer service from a small business? Tell me more!

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Fresh issues of #CreativeSoup drop every 1st and 3rd Thursday. Link in bio.

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Reposted by Marie Gail Stratford

SarahJSloat @sjane.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

For #smallpoemsunday, my visual poem "Lady Writer," an erasure using Ali Smith's "The Accidental." I called it "Lady Writer" bc of the way the woman's hair falls around her face, as with the knowledgable writer in the Dire Straits song. (Which I understand is about the writer Marina Warner.) 🙂

There's not much she doesn't know
She spoke for ages one afternoon
about
kneeling

(erasure poem showing whited-out text and small collage of woman's face obscured by flowers)

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

#QOTD: I do math when I'm stressed out. Math is comforting.

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Reposted by Marie Gail Stratford

Natalja Saint-Germain @nataljastgermain.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

In East Slavic lore, cornflowers are associated with rusalkas. In summer, when these flowers are in bloom, rusalkas can be seen dancing in the fields. So if you see a lady with a cornflower crown on her head – run. And in case you forgot: rusalkas are dead girls. #folkyfriday #dailyspooklore

Dancing Maidens by Léopold François Kowalsky

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

"Slow and steady wins the race." is the moral to the story in this week's issue of #CreativeSoup. Link in bio. Photo courtesy of @synapseed.bsky.social

Photo of an embroidered red-ear turtle, still in an embroidery hoop with a threaded needle above the work. Behind and to the left is a black-and-white template with handwritten notes.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Creative Soup, Creative Soup, Creative Soup, Creative Soup! The second updated, rebranded issue drops a week from today. Have you checked out my Etsy store yet? Link in bio. #CreativeSoup #Folklore #CreativePrompts #MiniMag

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

To all you young people with your #CuteWinterBoots: Keep up the good work. Also, remember that keeping a secret is essential. Be careful what you share and with whom.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Today, I'm thinking about the mindful use of #socialmedia. What does that mean to you?

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

The popularity of #Wicked is a great example of how people love to revisit familiar #stories. Some of my own favorite books and movies are retellings of the old stories. What are some of your favorite retellings of folklore or classic literature?

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Do you have a story from #WorldFolklore that you want to share in your own voice? I want to know all about it! Please share.

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Reposted by Marie Gail Stratford

The Daily Beans Podcast @dailybeanspod.com · 22/01/2025

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde Hero.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

This seems appropriate to post today. I'll be spending some time today recharging so my light can shine brighter tomorrow.

Picture of a cashier's light labeled "5". The light is out and a pink sign is taped on the side reading, "Yes, I'm open. My light is broken."

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

I'm currently reading Gregory Maguire's #Wicked from cover for cover the first time. It does not disappoint! Adult content notwithstanding, this is definitely the book that little Marie Gail, who devoured every Oz book she could find, needed to read once she grew up.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Today is the day! The first issue of #CreativeSoup is now available for purchase. Issues will drop on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. #MiniMag #StoryPrompts See 🧵 for details.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

The re-release of #CreativeSoup begins Thursday, and I have work to do. Tucked into a cozy corner of my local #library for optimal productivity on this snowy January day.

Picture of a laptop computer open on a table, surrounded by wooden chairs. In the background is a library display of popular magazines.

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Reposted by Marie Gail Stratford

Absolutely Torifying @kindatorifying.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

There is a little bit of terrible in everything, but that doesn’t mean everything is terrible.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

My lesson from the weekend, after dealing with vandalism and false accusations: Don't give your power away. Reactionary responses almost always take away our power while doing little to resolve problems.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

The re-release of Volume 1 of #CreativeSoup has been scheduled to begin with single-issue drops on 1st and 3rd Thursdays beginning Thursday, January 16. More details below. 🧵

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

"If the first time a person receives a basic resource . . . is through criminalization, then it is a sign of how badly our social systems have already failed." From Dr. Mark Spencer, Fulton County, Georgia, declining to cooperate with programs of incarceration. www.facebook.com/share/r/1F3N...

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

I'm contemplating a limited-release spinoff of #CreativeSoup that explores prayers from around the world as inspiration for your next artistic endeavors. #coexist #PeaceOnEarth

Line art drawing of a cobalt blue dove flying above a green olive branch. Between the two are the words "creative grace" in script. The dove's eye is a red crescent and star.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

#Epiphany: The day when Christians around the world wake up and realize it's time to take down the Christmas tree. 😆😆😆

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

1/3 Bad news: 60% of incarcerated adults are functionally illiterate.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

I spent the afternoon building plans for the re-release of Volumes 1&2 of #CreativeSoup and also creation of Volume 3, which will be released in 2026. #StayTuned for details. #Folklore #Art #CreativePrompts

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

#QOTD: That's the most autistic thing ever: watching instructional videos on how to be autistic. #ActuallyAutistic #MyLife

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

I first noticed that the man standing and talking to the family at a table near us in the Chinese restaurant was annoying them 20 minutes ago. He's still monologuing at them. #MidwesternNice #SitDownAlready

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

@newsier.bsky.social One strange thing about having been denied marriage equality for so long is that right in the middle of Christmas each year I'm surprised by an anniversary that means nothing & everything--the day we took vows in front of a judge so the government would recognize our marriage.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

I adore my sweet little dove #menorah. We've been lighting it up every evening this #Hanukkah. There are many opportunities these days to #BeTheLight. #LightItUp

Gold dove-shaped menorah with 4 candles and one servant candle sits on a table covered with a red-and-white lace runner and red placemats.

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

A year ago we entered 2024 with our piles of hopes & dreams, fears & regrets. The past 12 months brought us each a unique set of gifts & experiences. What were your favorites? #NewYear2025 #2024InReview

Almost a year ago we entered 2024 with our piles of hopes & dreams, fears & regrets. The past 12 months brought us each a unique set of gifts & experiences. What were your favorites?

***Graphic contains the above quote on a field of black decorated with festive gold ornaments. To the right of the text is a strip of film with 3 pictures of people celebrating the New Year.***

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Marie Gail Stratford @mariegailstrat.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

Where are my #gamer friends? I'm playing The Game solitaire today as I rest up from merry making. Check out this win!

Picture depicts a winning round of The Game. Top left, 39; top right, 29; bottom left (tallest stack), 98; bottom right, 2.

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