Articles written by The Spinsterz

May 18, 2010 (Bend, OR)- True North Parenting Magazine and Nashelle invite you join them in a trunk show block party event that will kick off summer like no other while raising awareness and funding for Mary’s Place and FAN (Family Access Network). This event is designed to bring our whole community together to support local businesses, artists, and two nonprofits serving our community’s most vulnerable members.

At 11am on June 12, 2010, Bazaar will kick off an unforgettable trunk show with 30 + booths offering up a wide variety of goods as well as food and drink. The following are just some of the vendors attendees can expect to see:

At 2pm the FREE musical entertainment will begin with popular local bands and musicians that are sure to pack in the crowds.

2:15PM-3:15PM Jason Schweitzer
3:30PM-4:30PM Tim Coffey
4:30-5PM: Gypsy Fire Belly Dancers
5PM-6:15PM The Sweet Harlots
6:45PM-8:45PM Eric Tollefson & The World’s Greatest Lovers

There will be activities for all ages including a community art projects, a petting zoo, free henna tattoos by Allura Henna and much more. To top off the day’s events The Spinsterz stilt walkers will amaze both young and old.

Throughout the day tickets will be on sale for an evening drawing that includes a multitude of fabulous prizes. All proceeds from the ticket sales will go to support Mary’s Place and the FAN.

Mary’s Place is a supervised visit and exchange center offers a safe visitation situation for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, dating violence, and stalking. Mary’s Place takes the risk out of the process and allows the supervised parent and child to interact in a closely monitored and positive atmosphere with highly skilled, professional staff who are aware of the obvious and subtle ways that safety can be compromised.

FAN is a network of community partners who collaborate to ensure that all children in Deschutes County have access to basic-need services and attend school ready to learn. They provide Family Advocates in all Deschutes County Public Schools who link children and families to critical social supports with the goal of keeping children in school.

For more info please contact Annette Benedetti at True North Parenting Magazine.

Stilts and stilt walking

Stilting or stilt walking on peg stilts can be a great way to exercise, maintain motor skills, and even make new friends. Stilting teaches coordination in children and adults. It’s an exciting way to become stronger and to stay fit. It’s an activity that can be learned at virtually any age, and you don’t need much more than stilts to get started.

Stilting has become more popular over the past few years. You can see stilting on the internet, in a parade, at a circus, or you may have seen a stilt walker at a corporate party or event! More people are becoming interested in the art of stilt walking. You can learn in practically any city by attending a workshop, or hiring an instructor.

There are many kinds of stilts to choose from. The most common are Peg Stilts. Peg stilts are good for the beginner adult or child. They are light weight, and easy to strap on and off. Ordering a pair online is simple and there are many options. Try out http://www.thespinsterz.com/stilts/stilts.htm, you will find a few different designs, both of which are made carefully and with you, the stilter, in mind. They make Professional Level, Performance Peg Stilts, and Introduction stilts. Both are handmade, by stilt walkers and performers. They offer instruction, and will answer your questions as well.

When you do get yourself a pair of peg stilts, get a friend, your knee pads, helmet and head to an even, but firm piece of ground. You don’t want soft grass, it’s too slick for a beginning stilter. Nor do you want steps or gravel to deal with. Your friend will act as your “spotter”. He or she will lend you his or her shoulder to help you get used to your new legs. You will have to have a place high enough for you to put your stilts on, that way it’s easier to stand up. Sit on a car, on a high railing of a porch, etc. Your friend can help you stand up, and be there to support your weight as you “become” tall. It depends on the height of the stilts you choose, as to where you will be starting off from.

You can choose sizes anywhere from 1 foot to 3 foot, or taller. Most of the people I see on stilts are using 2 to 3 foot stilts. There are even Poweriser Jumping Stilts. These are not for everybody. Strap on a pair of these and soon you’ll be running at speeds up to 20mph, jumping cars and even doing flips! There are many videos of people using these “Jumping Stilts”. Check them out, you may like them.

Stilting will make you the center of attention, no matter where you are. Once you have walking and maybe even “falling correctly” down, you can start running, dancing, and even do "Acro-stilting". That's with a lot more practice though... Strap on your new peg stilts, get "high", and discover a new world. You'll be glad you did!

Purchasing a Fire Hoop

Fire Hoops seem to be a very talked about subject these days and more and more people are looking to buy one. I see a lot of talk about which fire hoops are the best, which are the lightest, heaviest, most portable, etc. So what should you look for when you are buying a hoop?

Weight

a heavier hoop is going to travel a bit slower and give you more of a workout, it will also give your internal organs a nice massage.
a lighter fire hoop is going to be faster, easier to do tosses with, not tire you out as fast, but might also be harder to hoop with.

Size

The size you pick for your fire hoop should be close to what you hoop with already. The spines do make the hoop feel like it is much bigger than it actually is. I recommend that you get one that is slightly smaller than the hula hoop you normally hoop with. The added weight of the spines will compensate for for the size difference.

Tape or Sanded?

This is a new feature in the hooping world. The people that like sanded hoops are those that like a super duper uber light hoop. You can get a sanded hoop here http://www.thespinsterz.com/hoops/build_a_hoop.htm
a taped hoop still seems to be the way most people are going as it just looks so much nicer than a bare black hoop.

Collapsible or not?

Getting a collapsible Fire Hoop seems to be what most people buy these days, although if you are not planning on traveling much, then you shouldn't really need for it to be collapsible. You are not going to really notice any difference between a collapsible hoop and a non collapsible hoop. Both react the same and have the same qualities. Some people may say that a collapsible hoop is wobbly, but that all depends on the manufacturer of the hoop.

Flexible Spines or Rigid?

The idea behind flexible spines is that when the spine hits the ground it will bend to absorb the impact, a rigid spine will not and bend or break. Flexible is becoming the industry standard for most beginning fire hoopers. If you are more advanced and never drop your hoop or let your spines hit the ground. Then a rigid spine should be just fine for you.

Hopefully this will help a little bit in your search for the perfect fire hoop. Remember that all fire hoops are going to have different features, benefits and draw backs, so take your time and find the right one for you.

BAZAAR
Benefit & Trunk Show
Presented by True North Parenting Magazine and Nashelle
Sponsored by The Source Weekly, POWER 94, In the Pocket Artists and AC Sound
Emceed by Brad Bailey

Stilts and stilt walking

Purchasing a Fire Hoop

Subscribe

BAZAAR Benefit & Trunk Show Presented by True North Parenting Magazine and Nashelle Sponsored by The Source Weekly, POWER 94, In the Pocket Artists and AC Sound Emceed by Brad Bailey

Stilts and stilt walking

Purchasing a Fire Hoop

Subscribe

BAZAAR
Benefit & Trunk Show
Presented by True North Parenting Magazine and Nashelle
Sponsored by The Source Weekly, POWER 94, In the Pocket Artists and AC Sound
Emceed by Brad Bailey