Crystal Growing: Blogumentary Pt. 6

Lastnight I had a dream that I took the crystals down to look at them and they were white melted puddle-looking mounds on the plate.  I was obviously disappointed. I have no idea what this could represent, other than disappointment?  They almost appeared to be a white mold type of deal, as if they had started to rot and had "gone bad" in a way.  Spoiled.  That's what they were.  Molded over with a fuzzy coat.  I remember wondering why they would have gone bad, like so much rotten food.  Maybe they represent my creative aspirations?  Maybe in a way, I feel my creative side, the part of me that creates projects just like this crystal growing blogumentary, has gone sour or like so much of my molded food, has laid unconsumed so long it has been taken over by fungus.  Fungus...mold...it's what grows on things and eats them away when we don't.  Time.  Dormant fruit and time grow mold.  Mold is a growth, but a stagnant growth.  A growth in the wrong direction.  Either this project, I feel, is wrong or something about it.  Or...it's right, and my fear of my creative side rotting away is what it should teach me?

Upon inspecting the crystals today, I am fairly certain that I did something wrong.  The stones look dead, lackluster, and spent for some reason.  Maybe they've exerted themselves as much as possible.  I think their growth period is over.  They are FAR from the crystals in the picture on the kit.  I either took too much liquid out, didn't dissolve the powder enough, or just got a dud kit.  It is possible it takes longer than a week to grow?  You would think maybe they'd grow on.  I have no idea, I don't know crystals.  Mine actually look more like warts than crystals!  Glorified WARTS. Wart gem stones, I could maybe make wart wear?  Classy growths.

I don't know crystals.  I do know that I enjoyed having an experiment, I liked how easily I was able to share my phone pictures with my blog and create a post.  I liked doing a blogumentary style set of posts.  I liked getting back into the swing of my blogging after the crazy end of 2012 and the beginning of the new year. I was able to start the year off with something a little easier and more playful. 

All in all, with this experiment I have determined that I am not a scientist.  Not only that, but I apparently can't even grow a set of crystals from a kit from the dollar store.  But, I have also found that I can document it not working, express the physical change from rock to crystal or lack thereof. THAT is the power of playful creation.  I can track my progress, reflect, change, and continue.  I have the desire to make crystals out of rocks, and that's enough.  THAT...is a metaphor.

From Rocks to Crystals,
Missie Sue

Crystal Growing: Blogumentary Pt. 5

10:45AM
As you can see there is a bit more crystal formation taking place. They are bigger today than last night. The crystals seem to be changing, even the pile of powder stuff under the stones seems to be changing. It appears to have less liquid and more solids. The protruding part of the pebble on the right is maybe close to 1/4 inch or more now.  It's a long road ahead, I feel.  I'm also, I think, regretting scooping out the two spoonfuls of liquid that I did.

Crystal Growing: Blogumentary Pt. 4

8:00PM
There is some growth happening, I think. "Watch them grow right before our eyes!" My friend said jokingly as I placed the rocks in the tray at the beginning of the experiment. It has taken quite awhile, but it is actually obvious at this point that the crystals are growing and I really need to get a life.

I haven't measured them yet, but they seem to be protruding higher than before and close up they appear more "crystaly" and are starting some color changes. 

I'm starting to wonder how many days it would take for the rocks to look like the picture? I'm also curious as to why all this is happening; what are these crystals made out of? Some research would be useful at this point. I'll see what I can find. Until next time, they grow on!!

Crystal Growing: Blogumentary Pt. 3

8:45AM
There has been some slight change over night, although nothing drastic. I'm assuming these things need many many hours instead of just a few like the instructions suggest. Perhaps I am just daft.

19 hours into it and there is a definable mound of growth on the stone on the right and the stone on the left isn't far behind. I need to find a small tool to measure the height with? The box claimed I think 1-3 cm, but I am not sure offhand what that would be in 'merican.

We'll see how the day goes.  Does light have any affect on them, I wonder? It's definitely green crystals we're looking at.

Crystal Growing: Blogumentary Pt. 2

5:45 PM
It appears there is some slight change in the specimen however, so little that I am doubting my abilities to mix water and crystal powder, and measure things. I scooped off two spoonfuls of fluid from the tray because I thought perhaps I had the stones buried too deep because it appeared greatly over 3/4 of the tray. The sprinkled tops have maybe grown slightly, or maybe simply changed in appearance. I texted Christal about her rocks. She reports "minor" changes. I would classify mine as sub minor. 4+ hours in! We'll see what time does.

Crystal Growing: Blogumentary Pt. 1

Today is the day! Let's grow some crystals. I opened my growing kit earlier and acquainted myself with the directions. They suggested that I get an adult to help me with the hot water. Unfortunately, I was the only one around, so I helped myself.
Basically, you measure water in the dish, filling it up 3/4 of the way. The instructions say to pour that water into a container, remembering the level. You then get an adult to help you heat up water and fill the container to the same level. This seemed a little odd to me. I wondered why I wasn't simply instructed to heat the water I poured. Maybe that is just the way that adults do it? Anyway...
I filled a shot glass, heated the water, poured it into a glass bowl, and preceded to stir in 3/4 of the packet of crystals until all the crystal powder dissolved, or in reality, until most of it had. I poured the green liquid into the tray that came with the kit.  I then put the two pebbles into the liquid, and sprinkled them with the remainder of the powder. I have placed the container on a paper plate on the stove. It was approximately 1:30 PM when I was finished. Let's see if these things will look like the picture at all.

Christal's Growing Crystals

First off, let me say that Family Dollar is awesome. My tattoo artist friend Christal and I went to town tonight for some errands. We ended up spending the majority of our time and money there. We got some really good stuff though, good finds! Along with some killer pink zebra striped sheer curtains for her shop and some other random treasures she purchased two packs of Growing Crystals from the kids section.  The old school kits you may have seen, they've been making them awhile, I believe.  You just don't come across them that often, I reckon.  They cost like a buck fifty, they must be made for around ten cents in the worst factory and working conditions or something.  What ARE you, Growing Crystals?  Crystal Growing?!!  Explain yourself! 

IN RETROSPECT I don't know why I didn't snag one for myself, as they were only a dollar, I think. I was perhaps too excited about the buy one get one half off mirror and framed art sale, where I snagged some shadow box music art that should look slick in my living room eaves!  (Seriously, Family Dollar is awesome!  We are true Dimestore Diamonds! ...even if one of us needs to be talked down from buying a turban once in awhile.)  Anyway, after getting back to her house and excitedly opening one box and reading the directions she says about using one of her own rocks even with the kit. I wonder what they are made out of. I wonder how long it will take. Will it emit a noxious gas? Are they the color on the box? It says that you will start to see crystals within hours supposedly. Christal agreed to give me her box of green Growing Crystals ONLY IF I would blog about it, and "right away" at that, meaning tonight after the kid and husband were in bed...like now. The only thing is, I need to sleep. I don't have time to wait for growing crystals, so tomorrow morning I will begin the bloggity blogxperiment.

The Growing Crystals kit includes a tray, a pack of chemicals to be mixed with warm water, a stick to stir it, and two typical pebble-like stones. It is made in China, distributed by a company called Creative Kids Far East Ltd. Apparently they are located in Hong Kong. This pack was manufactured in a factory in Taicang, Jiangsu, China in August of 2012.  Instructions included! I'm excited and curious for the blogumentary experiment. I embrace the assignment! Thank you, Christal.  Tomorrow we will "create beautiful crystals and watch them GROW!!" ...and blog about it.  Let's do this!