Two More 5" Square Cards

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After I made this I decided these looks like poinsettias.

I always take Pine Tree Designs things to work on during my lunch hour. Yesterday I was cutting out sunflowers to make into pins. I got a feeling I've had before. Most times I'm working to get things made, deadline, show coming, deadline, deadline. All of a sudden I remember, "The show is fun! I get to spend the day with my fellow crafty vendors listening to people say nice things about my work. And make money besides." It's funny how I forget that sometimes. I mean it's always fun, even if it feels a little stressful at times. I'm doing what I love. This past Sunday I spent 13 hours working, taking breaks for meals and a 1 hour nap. But I can't imagine doing anything else for 13 hours. But that, that was fun!

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Pine Mandala

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Blue Bookmark

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I have an order for a half dozen bookmarks so I'm making extras for the upcoming shows at the same time. I made 14 blue ones last night. The patterned paper varies but the rest of the bookmark is consistent for all of them. I plan to make at least 5 more sets of colors.

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Please keep a good thought for my friend Stephanie as she goes through some really hard times right now.

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Wreath

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Next time I make this I'm going to count the number of punched pieces. I think that would make a good marketing tool. I have a vision of this wreath mounted on a brown cardstock door with vellum windows but haven't quite worked out the details of that yet. This wreath turned out a tad bigger than the first one I tried so it's good by itself.

Full credit for perfect bow tying goes to Anne of Packrat Productions. Instructions are here. I learned this technique at a Demo Day at the old Stamps to 'Di' For store. I know the instructions were published in one of their newsletters but I guess I didn't keep it, shame on me - I knew it was a keeper. So Anne saved my butt today.

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Halloween(ish) Cards

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A Good Marriage

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This recent essay from our local paper really struck a chord with me. With Jillian's permission, I give you:



A good marriage more important than a flashy, expensive wedding

Jillian J. Stankewich
Guest essayist
jstankewich@hotmail.com


(October 16, 2006) — One young woman cited in the Oct. 4 article "Next year's 07-07-07 sets off frenzy to wed" had already booked her wedding reception when she "didn't yet have a ring — or, technically, a proposal — from her boyfriend." The story said this "didn't strike her as odd."

Well gee, it strikes ME as odd.

She didn't have a ring or a proposal from her boyfriend, but she books a reception? I'm not trying to be insensitive here because he was a soldier in Iraq. But come on. You have to love the line "Yes, he knows there's a step to be taken." What if he doesn't want to marry her? What if he doesn't want to get married next July? What if he doesn't want to have his reception there?

Between the Cinderella weddings on A Wedding Story to crazy brides on Bridezilla, this whole culture's idea of weddings is driving me insane. Now don't get me wrong — I'm not against marriage. I'm not being a bitter, scorned woman here, or even saying marriage is pointless. I believe in marriage, and hope that I will marry someday. But the whole business of elaborate weddings baffles me. One friend of mine told me about a bridal shower that was supposed to have 200 guests — at the shower, not even the wedding!

Aren't these people missing the point? Maybe every little girl dreams of her wedding, but I don't. The only thing I dream about is being with someone I love, not showing off for 300 of our "closest" relatives and friends. I'd rather be that cute little old couple 60 years from now than divorced just because I jumped too quick, being all excited about diamonds and dresses.

I don't understand women today, rushing to get married, wanting just a wedding so bad so they can be a "princess" for a day. I feel like women's lib has been so harmed by the last two generations of young women. Why would you pressure someone to marry you anyway?

Another thing that gets me is TheKnot.com, where the woman has set up her entire page of where she wants to get married, what songs, registry, etc., and there's no man. So it says "Shelia and ???" So you've planned out your entire wedding, knowing exactly what you want, but not who you're marrying? Basically, you're saying just "insert any man here" and that's the marriage you want? Till death do you part? Shouldn't it be something you plan together, and customized for your relationship with that person? It's like when I see those photos in the wedding announcement section of the newspaper, and every once in a while you have a picture of just the bride, instead of the couple. So her husband didn't even matter enough to be in their wedding announcement, more just "hooray I'm married ... to what's-his-face ... but, whatever, look at me!"

I do know women who have had spectacular weddings, married young, had their Cinderella time, and are still happily married. But I watch a little girl playing "wedding" constantly, watching her parents' wedding video and A Wedding Story with her mother repeatedly, and always talking about brides and dresses and weddings ... and I just want to buy her some Ani DiFranco CDs and women's lib books.

Maybe I'm just wondering where the LOVE is in some of these lavish spectacles. As for me, I'll send you a postcard from Vegas someday.

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Sunflower Card

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Long time reader and online friend Joan has started her own blog, Beyond Panic. It's good! I think she's another of us write-like-I-talk types. Welcome to the world of blogs, Joan!



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New Stuff

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I redid the mantle this past weekend. I bought the wreath at JoAnn's. The glass beehive thing in the middle I had hanging outside all summer. It holds a tealight. I bought new tealights too - they are turquoise too - can't remember the scent right now. Gretchen gave me the vases - from Ikea.

I love these blue guys! I love that they were on sale at Pier One. (I love that I once again successfully post more than one picture to my blog.)

I believe my sales at MJ's Craft Sale were successful. She'll send me a check later this week once the customer checks have cleared so I'll know more then. But I do know the adhesive note pads and pins were big sellers, just like at the previous craft show. People particularly love the sunflower note pads so I made a bunch more sunflowers Sunday.

Last night I started assembling them. I wasn't sure at first if they are too seasonal for November shows but figure I'll give it a shot. Along with other designs too, of course. (You can see some in the picture above this one. I've been saving odds and ends to make into these note pads.)

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Yellow

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Black Ironwork

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I can finally post a picture here again but I had to do this stupid time-consuming work-around. I should have time this weekend to fiddle with Blogger. Ergggh.

Anyway, I totally love this curly border! I bought the swirl punch weeks ago just for this purpose - had no idea it was going to work out so nicely.

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Two New Cards

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I have no idea why Blogger won't accept my jpgs anymore - but you can see two new cards here.

Good Show

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I've been trying to post this entry since Friday - Blogger will only display this picture, out of five. Click the Flickr Badge over on the right to see the others. I can see them if I look at the html version but they show up as thin outlines when published. Anyone know what's going on?

This is the screen my dad made for me. As soon as Steve & I set it up I said, I should back that with some fabric. Steve raised an eyebrow at me because he suggested that weeks ago and I pooh-poohed the idea. "People will be looking at the art, its fine," I said. Oops. I'm still leaning towards black but white and a subtle pattern was suggested too. Guess I just need to try a few things to see what I like. Any suggestions?

I sure wish I'd had more framed art ready. What I really wish is I hadn't taken those 8 pieces out to the store that carries my stuff. But I have some pieces in the works and am very motivated to make more so it will be okay. It was very well received and I sold 7 pieces. One customer that came to see me specifically, bought the four smallest pieces you see here, first sale of the day! I left the hooks up so people could see that I did start out with more inventory. My friend Jennifer teased me about putting empty hooks up just for that effect.

I had developed a sore throat last Monday night. I totally attributed it to the hand rails in the schools buses used for shuttles at the Hilton AppleFest that weekend. But I downed lots of Echinacea and refused to be sick. Worked fine all week while I was running on adrenaline. Last night, my body said, "Guess what? Now you do have time to be sick." It's not bad, just one of those "inconveniences". I woke up with a headache so pounding that I lie there thinking, "So this is what a brain aneurysm feels like." It's just sinus crap I guess so once I got vertical and showered, I felt better. It will be over soon and I'm just grateful my body allowed me to get through the show.

I'd call it a success. I was pleased. I made more money than I did at the May show. There's another show on 11/2, same venue, same vendors too I bet. That's billed as a Holiday Show so I'm expecting even better sales. I try to keep my expectations low - and then get pleasantly surprised. I made some new vendor friends. I was able to help one vendor out with some tips about a type of glue. Another vendor hipped me to the fact that there are battery operated cash registers available. I'm pretty sure I'll buy one soon. Found some online.

Mom and Gretchen stopped by. Mom brought me lunch so I saved the lunch I brought for work the next day. Mom also bought Christmas presents for Gretchen and me. Good thing I'd had a chance to scout out other vendors before the show so I could point her in the right direction. :-)

Good show, good day. Time to keep at it - will be busy making stuff all weekend. Have some new ideas even.

I wrote the above part Friday and here's the update after that.

I did next to no crafting this weekend! I finally did the grocery shopping for the first time in 3 weeks. I got caught up on personal and Pine Tree Designs paperwork - I was a couple of weeks behind in that. Did some laundry. Ran some errands. Got my flat tire fixed. (Happened at work on Friday so I called AAA to change it for me then - and had the tire repaired Saturday.)

Oh! One of my errands was that I bought some black fabric with a subtle pattern in it. Sort of a black-on-black thing. I'll staple it to the frame tonight and post a picture before I take it over to MJ's Tuesday night for her Home Show this weekend.

I did start making some pumpkin pins that are pretty cute. I'll post a picture tonight or tomorrow. I want to get to work early this morning - busy week there too. But check this out - I was finally allowed to hire someone new for our department! Last week was her first week and she's doing a bang up job. My AR counterpart had her carpel tunnel surgery last week so she'll be out for a little while.

Steve turns 50 today! We celebrated Saturday night - I took him to dinner at the Norton Grille in Honeoye Falls (hi Nantz!) and then we went to see The Departed - highly recommend it. It's pretty violent, of course, but the acting was outstanding. This is only the second movie I've seen Leonardo DiCaprio in - he's excellent in this. (I saw him in that Howard Hughes movie.) Before that I've always thought of him as one of those generic young male actors. I think I was mostly impressed with him in this movie because I already knew I like Matt Damon. Jack Nicholson was good but I can never forget that I'm watching Jack Nicholson. It's like he can't help being a caricature of himself or something. Anyway, it was an enjoyable evening.

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The Day Before

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I'm taking this afternoon off from the day job to tie up loose ends before tomorrow's show. I think it's all going to be okay. I feel like by working up until the last minute that I didn't plan ahead well enough but I tell ya, I honestly don't think I could have worked any harder these last few months. Year round really but I've really been bustin' a move for months now. It's all great fun though.

Steve and I are going to see Blue Man Group tonight. Not the best possible timing but I've been wanting to see them for a long time and so it goes.

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Muddy Sneakers (not the ice cream!)

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I made a bunch of these centers - some will be cards, some will be pins and some will be adhesive note pad covers. Apparently this Thursday's craft show at Casa Larga is on my mind - Saturday night I dreamed I left the room that my booth is in for a minute - and found myself naked. I had no way to get back to my booth to get my car keys so I could drive home naked and put clothes on. So I woke up, thank God. Stress much?? What a classic nightmare though, huh? Naked in public. Ewww.

I'm only stressed in a good, excited way, not in a bad way. She says defensively.

What a mudfest the Hilton AppleFest was! The field was so wet the organizers put straw (or is it hay?) down in the aisles. I worked for my glass painter friend, MJ, both days. Saturday was beautiful, we were very busy - largely because Sunday was predicted to be cooler and rainy. It did rain overnight and a shower finally let loose mid-afternoon, but otherwise Sunday turned out nicer weather-wise than predicted. It's a nice show and I got to visit with some other vendor crafter friends. (I highly recommend the Apple Pie Fudge, should you ever have an opportunity to try it!)




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