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Dani Donders

@curiouscrone.bsky.social

240 followers 230 following 430 posts

Storyteller, maker, wanderer, dilettante. Seeker of micro-adventures. 🇨🇦 Mom to 3. Tarot reader for events & parties. Craft workshops. https://curiouscrone.ca/blog/ Formerly DaniGirl, of Postcards from the Mothership. She/her 🏳️‍🌈 Ottawa (Manotick) Canada

curiouscrone.ca

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jun 1

Well this is an amazing bucket-list achievement: I wrote a book!

It’s a 54 page eBook with detailed instructions on basic rock wrapping techniques, supplies and materials, including 3 unique projects. And it comes with over 60 mins of YouTube tutorials too! curiouscrone.etsy.com/listing/4313...

The cover of an eBook called How to Wrap Rocks, a step-by-step introduction to the art of rock wrapping

A white rock wrapped in purple and red leather cord

A dark rock wrapped in a weave of half hitches with a star ornament

Four wrapped rocks with colourful cord and embellished with keys and other charms.

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 5d

I rescued these three gorgeous slabs of thick granite from my neighbour’s trash. I have no idea what I’m going to do with 15 lbs of granite but I’m thrilled with them nonetheless. 😂

Three thick slabs of black marbled granite about 10x10 inches each, polished to a mirror finish on one face.

Reposted by Dani Donders

Julie (unprofessional) @juliebalt.bsky.social · 10d

My delightful friend (and professional photographer) Dani aka @curiouscrone.bsky.social took some pictures of me last week. This one is my favourite.

Julie, a white person with short brown and grey hair wearing blue glasses and a black shirt, stands with her hands behind her back. The photo is taken from above.

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · 10d

This one was my favourite too!! Though the ‘boss’ photo makes me laugh at how you reacted. This was so fun!!

Reposted by Dani Donders

Lara Wellman @larawellman.bsky.social · 29d

Once upon a time a time I thought 70 was so old I wouldn’t want to live past that age. Thankfully my idea of what aging means and how it can feel has changed!

Thank you Dani for joining Rowan and I on the podcast this week! @mavenofmayhem.bsky.social @curiouscrone.bsky.social

19: Aging and Your Career with Dani Donders

Much of society thinks of retirement as the end of something important.

open.substack.com

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Aug 22

I really wish I had an internal control panel with a series of lights beside helpful tips like ‘you feel like shit because you’re hangry. Eat a banana ffs.‘

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Aug 15

The first hour or two of moving to my newly upgraded iMac (from my 10 year old one) were heady and exciting. The 8 hour long tail of figuring out which goddamn folder had my Lightroom export presets and where to put them now is making me weep. This is why I only upgrade my tech once a decade.

A new iMac computer with the ‘hello’ greeting on the screen.

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Aug 15

😂😂😂

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Aug 14

This week’s art/science mash-up: chlorophyll printing, with nothing but two leaves and sunlight. How cool is this?

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Aug 10

#3 Housing prices
#4 Relationships

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Aug 4

Pretty reflections despite the fire smoke haze this morning as I kayaked around (and through) Upper Duck Island in the Ottawa River this morning. I’m always fascinated by this odd little spot - it feels like a secret.

The end of Upper Duck Island, with green trees, is reflected in still water with hints of clouds in the sky and reflection.

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Aug 1

Oof, this was painful 😣 Connections
Puzzle #782
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟦🟨🟩
🟩🟦🟨🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 30

😂

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 29

That’s one of my favourite photos ever - he was 3 then and 17 now. :)

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 26

Ooops, I forgot to tag this for #BlueSkyArtShow - hope this works!

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 26

This hot sunny weather is perfect for cyanotypes - making photo prints from sunlight. Some of these worked better than others, but it’s fun to learn and experiment. And I have no shortage of photos in my library!

A blue and white cyanotype print of a little boy mid-leap jumping into a puddle.

Two blue and white cyanotype prints, one of a dandelion in seed and the other of Watson’s Mill in Manotick.

Two blue and white cyanotype prints, one of a sunflower and the other of two kids paddling a canoe in still water

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 22

Seven months after they rolled out the change, Instagram finally got around to making my grid rectangular today. Thanks for not forgetting me and my 300 followers entirely 😂

Reposted by Dani Donders

Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · Jul 21

The other day I drew a subway-style map for The Hobbit, and it was very well received. Some of you asked if I could do one for LoTR, so I have!

Forgive the eel watermark; I'm working on making these something you can buy, if you like.

Subway style map to go with The Lord of the Rings, showing the different pathways of various parties throughout the book. The title reads: "Lord of the Rings Transit Map: One Does Not Simply Walk Ino Mordor When One Can Ride." The map takes up the middle part of the page, and there are two keys. The one on the left is titles "Standard Service Lines, and has color keys matched to the subway lines on the map. Lines are named:
"Shire-Bree Commuter Line
Old Forrest Crescent
Wildland Scenic Line
Fellowship Line
Gollum / Sméagol Line
Uruk Hai Express
Three Hunters Line
Fangorn Slow Service
Rohan to Gondor Business Line
Black Ships Ferry Service
Oliphant Direct Line
Army of the West Line
Gandalf Express

A smaller key on the right side of the map is labeled: "Limited Service Lines" and has color keys matched to the following names lines:
"Eagle Express
Paths of the Dead Line
Nazgûl Search & Resuce
Valinor Ltd."

A note at the bottom reads:
"* Mount Doom station only accepts Rings of Power in payment. Plan accordingly."

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 21

…. Hermit is about taking the time to seriously consider the implications - the reason to balance the whimsy of the 7 cups. Fun reading, lots to think about. Thank you!

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 21

Haha, this is a wildly accurate reading. I’ve been considering moving to a new province in the next few years. 7 cups is about how random of an idea it is, wishful thinking. Judgment is how it will transform not only my life - a new start - but the lives of my family….

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Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 20

Needed an anklet. Made an anklet! (Possibly related: it’s hard to take a flattering photo of your own ankle)

Dani’s ankle sporting an anklet made with rainbow bugle beads and glass stars

An anklet made with rainbow bugle beads and glass stars on a painted surface

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 20

🤣

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 19

Such an amazing show - my first-ever Bluesfest. Future acts have a lot to live up to.

Katherine Dines 🇨🇦 @katherinedines.bsky.social · Jul 19

Thank-you Green Day for bringing your fun energy & gratitude to Ottawa Bluesfest 🙌🏻

So good for the soul!

Loved all the Canada & Ottawa shout outs!

EPIC!

Captured a few.

#Ottawa #ottawabluesfest #ottawabluesfest2025 #livemusic #love #greenday #billiejoearmstrong

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 19

I am excited to announce that local corn is in season and if my family isn’t sick of it by harvest season, I haven’t done my job.

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 19

Oh shit, now I need a new starting word!! 😂

Wordle 1,491 1/6*

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Wordle stat page showing 1167 games played, 98% success and only 2 puzzles solved in the first guess

Dani Donders @curiouscrone.bsky.social · Jul 6

I didn’t notice until the photos were juxtaposed that Lucas the teenager and Percy the cat are regarding me with the same expression of general annoyance with the barest hint of affection 😂