Paper Crafting, Really?

Well, vacation is over and I managed to do a few scrapbook pages (nothing exciting, no journaling, no titles, but I did put pictures on paper), about 14 cards after a very inspiring trip to the Heirloom Stamp Show in West Springfield, MA. Now really, did people think we were just going to the Berkshires during the first week of June for the sight-seeing? I did pick up some great stuff - my favorites were from Invoke Arts - including a few unmounted sets and some Luster Rub-Ons. I can't stop using them! Unfortunately, scanned cards don't quite show the loveliness that are Luster Rub-Ons (yes, I have been looking at them for years and never gave them a second thought - until I saw them being used!)

Here are a few samples:


and



Really nice stuff, if you know how to use it! I was also finally introduced to Eclipse Art Masking Tape - amazing stuff! Yes, I am still hopelessly in love with my Twinkling H2Os - and hooray that they are not going away after all! Now, if you have seen my collection, you would think that I'd never really need another color, but...

Well, it wasn't just a paper vacation, but there was a little fiber too - no spinning, but I did finally break out that Vesper Aquamelon and cast on another Chevron Scarf (SO Summery!) and cranked out a Noro Kureyon #149 Booga Bag that I started at noon on Saturday when I finally made it to A Yarn Over Marblehead (Jean we missed you!) and it was removed from the washer (2nd load) at 11:00 Sunday night.

So, yes, I have been a busy crafty girl...

6 months later...

and I'm still here.

I have spent lots of time lately reading the hubby's blog...

Fast ended - quickly, quietly and with an amazing deal...

Well, the day after Thanksgiving I didn't leave the house until 2:00 - no need to face the madding crowds so I didn't. What I did do was head over to Cranberry Fiber Arts in South Hamilton (which, being from there I prefer to refer to as "downtown Hamilton"). Laurie was working and she is only there on Fridays and just how many Fridays do I get to go play? Not many! There was a lovely bulky sweater draped over a chair when I walked in and what does she say to me? "Helen found a bag of that - it's Noro Yoroi - long discontinued - and she put it in the clearance for $6/skein. If you don't take it home, it's going with me." Darn challenge! She gets me every time!

Won't you know (you saw this coming) I grabbed the whole basket and brought it up to the counter... it's mine, all mine! Here's my debate - I really want to knit a pullover, not a cardigan, but I think it'll be too warm. Should I go for the ever-so-popular Einstein Jacket? I think I have enough - and I'm about the only one in my knitting group who hasn't done one (or two or 5)... I might just have to bite the bullet and knit miles and miles of garter stitch for myself. I think I have enough yarn... now I just have to get my hands on the pattern... and with a nice vacation coming up... ugh!

I can't believe it's time for the Bizarre Bazaar this Sunday! Hooray! Guess it's time to start my Christmas shopping (ok, I'm not counting Esty and Amazon purchase!)

21 days in and I'm still fasting

Well, I did have to purchase a new tool in case I need it for doing up Thanksgiving next week - but it's a kitchen tool... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00064NDY0 - a new hand mixer. I just could not find the beaters to my old one and I can't have a kitchen without it. (They may be in one of the "declutter boxes" from last year when we had the house on the market, but who knows.) For my 30th birthday (it seems so long ago) my mom gave me a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer - love it so much, but it doesn't always make sense to lug the bad boy out (if you've ever seen my kitchen, you'd understand why it has to be stored away!) I am hoping that this lives up to the 4 1/2 star rating it received.

I guess I need to go make up my menu and shopping list for next Thursday!

Um, yeah... about that fast I was going to start today...

First, hooray! I love hearing about all of the meetings that our President-Elect keeps scheduling - as my hubby says, it was so nice to vote for someone and not against the other guy (or for the "lesser of two evils").

Next - OMG, did I have a terrific time this weekend at The Gathering! It is the biannual conference for the Northeast Handspinners Association and I learned so much! I took three amazing classes that I'll discuss later, but I have to confess something right now... I think it was fiber fumes...

Well, last night I happened upon eBay for a moment and for the heck of it looked up Spinning Wheels - I do this every once in a while just to see what's there. God knows, I don't really need a 4th one - and I love the ones that I have. Well... there was a listing for the following:

I don't really know a whole lot about this spinning wheel.
It is a nice hard wood and seems to be in good condition and all there I have a spinning equipment glossary of parts and it does all seem to be here.
I can not find any marking on it
It comes with 2 hand cards and 4 books
Golden Press Step by step Spinning and dyeing by Eunice Svinicki
Hand spinning Art Technique by Allen Fannin
Spinning your own Yarn by American Wool Council
Spinning Wool Dryad Leaflet 83

Will arrange for local pickup only (no shipping). Location: Melrose, MA

Now, if the package had not said that last part about local pick up only and had Melrose, MA not been within 10 miles of my house... and at that time the whole package not been listed for only $105, um, yeah, well... I put in a bid... a whole $112.63 (I've always bid weird prices like that) and at the end of my lunch break I received an e-mail that I had won it. OH MY! Now what do I do? Maybe my friend Laurie might learn to spin after all!

So, now, today, November 10, 2008 starting at 2:00 pm, I am officially starting a 6 month "purchasing fast" with only 2 exceptions:

1. The Spunky Fiber Club - this is automatic and very affordable
2. Accessories only that are needed to finish a project (ie. buttons for a sweater, envelopes for my Christmas cards...)

But that's it. And now that I've put it in writing, I'm sticking to it! I, like everyone I know, have WAY too much stuff to play with. Sorry all you vendors out there that I love so much, you'll have to wait see me in May 2009.

And now we wait...

Done - we voted this morning and were only 10 minutes late to work. Not a bad line - it moved pretty fast (it helped that after 10 years I finally remembered which precinct we are in!)

What will I do NEXT Wednesday?

Last week we made a whirlwind 27 hour tour to NYC and the Martha Stewart Show and this week I got to see the Yarn Harlot for the 3rd time!

Martha was so much fun - we left Salem, MA around 6:00 pm, got to the hotel in CT around 10:30 (gotta love that Connecticut traffic!) and were up again starting at 4:15 AM to get to Stamford and the train into Grand Central. Every time I go to Grand Central Station I think I fall in love with it again - honestly, there is nothing like it! The food, the people, the ceiling (always my favorite part!)

When we were outside of the studios on 26th Street, Angela and I were overtaken by Joey Kola:



So we got into the show and it was really cool - it was a live show so everything was on hyperdrive and the huge staff was flying around the floor - moving things and people. I was so happy that we were on the Everyday Food show - since I'm such a Sirius radio geek and love to listen to the cooking shows all day long! What did I do before satelite radio?



When the show was over, Joey said that there were a few tickets available for the 2:00 pm taping - and we were lucky enough to get our hands on 2 tickets and 2 standbys! All 4 of us (Tracy - great job getting the tickets!, Angela, Keli and I) all got in and I'll just say that a taped show is a very different vibe than the live one. The most fun part was getting to see Francesca and Sharkey - Martha's 2 French Bulldogs. I think that the show is airing today...

Well, time to get back to work - more on the Harlot later - she was as brilliant as ever!