HAPPY NEW YEAR

RESOLUTIONS- The magazines, web, newspaper,and radio all have info on resolutions for the New Year.  They all warn against setting unrealistic goals (I'm going to loose 50#, yea right!- they say it is better to set a goal of I'm going to loose 10# and then when that goal is reached set it for another 10# etc).  I don't make resolutions generally except one that I have yet to meet for my business of getting better organized with receipts, etc so I'm not scrambling at the end of the year to find receipts and get them in the ledger (yes I do it on paper, that's not going to change).  This year I've done better than last year and most if not all of my receipts and info I need is in one file folder/box. I still have to put the info in the right colums of the ledger but that's not as stressful as looking all over the house for a receipt that I know I got for something I bought. I do hope for everyone good health for the New Year.  It would be great if we had less natural disasters this coming year too.  So many areas of our country and the world were affected.  It often takes years  to recover from the devistation that takes only moments to happen.  So stay safe and healthy this New Year.   

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas with family- good food and good times.  My nephew is in the army and stationed in South Korea but we were all able to say Merry Christmas to him via Skype even tho it was the middle of the night for him (of course we are worh him loosing a little sleep over!).  I made everyone Grandmas coffeecake and delivered it to the various households when I got into town last night  so they could have it on Christmas morning just like we used to.   The thing with family is that they don't forget- they like to remind you of the time you did this or that (some things are best forgotten but are still brought up often at family gatherings),  Family also remembers the good times.  There is always a lot of joking and kidding at our get togethers. Tomorrow morning I am spending with my 2 brothers and tomorrow night is girls night- we'll all get together and go out to eat and to a movie.  I don't get "back home" as often as I once did so I treasure the time I get to spend with my family.

CHICAGO,CHICAGO

Had a great time in Chicago. Took train from Grand Rapids Thur am.,checked into hotel early as our room was ready( stayed at Hilton Garden Inn, a very nice place that we really like), ate a delicious lunch at the Weber Grill (located in hotel), and then walked to the Merchandise Mart where the One Of A Kind Show was held. The weather was clear and warm (for Dec in Chi ) and not too windy.  There were a lot of new exhibitors at the show or maybe just new articles.  As you can see from above picture I bought a clock for living room wall that can be hung either vertical or horizontal.  I wasn't even looking for a clock but I really liked it and a number of years ago I saw another clock that moved and just didn't have the money for it and don't know where I put or even if I got a business card and they have never exhibited there again so bought this one with not a lot of pondering. I bought it from Twisted Dimensions Art.  It was a bit bulky to carry arround on Fri. tho until we stopped at a store on the Magnificent Mile (Arts and Artisans) and they gave me an oversize bag which made carrying the clock so much easier.  This store carried the work of wonderful artisans- everything was beautifully crafted. You would have thought that 5 hours of walking the show Thur. and all the tempting items I saw would have been enough but no, in I go.   I seriously considered a beautiful coat that was fitted and looked great on but decided that I really want to loose weight and one big purchase was probably enough, but I kept there business card and will stop back there next Dec. for sure unless I get to Chi. before that.  Macy's window this year is Believe and the Make a Wish Foundation is the  recipient of money from % of sales of certain Christmas ornaments and other items. Saw an article on Yahoo that listed the top corporations/businesses that give to charity and Macys was one of those listed.  Overall a wonderful time- both Kathy and I found things to buy for us and/or presents.

Thankful

Yes, I know I'm a few days late but I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving day.  I went to Meijers early thur and got an ipad.  Yes, I know I'm still computer challenged but it's going to be nice to travel with and I will be able to download books even when I am on the road (for some reason when we went to N.C. to SAFF I only took 2 books and enough yarn to do one baby blanket and had read both books and finished the afghan by  early on the last day of the show. Ended up buying a book to read on the way home but that was finished long before we got home. Now with my ipad that won't happen) Anyway the ipad was a good deal as I got a coupon for $80. to spend at Meijers. So I am VERY thankful for my friend/computer guru who got my ipad up and running for me.  Black Friday I was at Joann Fabrics getting a few things for organizing more of my stuff.  Am off to Chicago later this week to go to One of a Kind Show.  They always have wonderful/talented exhibitors.  We will get to wander the Magnificent Mile and eat out.  And it looks like the weather will be decent for Chi. in the winter.  

SAFF Pictures

The first 3 pics are of the arena below us with vendors and you can see other vendors set up around the upper level. We are on a platform that is temporary and built over the upper cement steps/seats.  There are a number of these temporary platforms for vendors.  In the fourth pic you can see the wood railing (with electrical cord taped to it) and directly below us are a group of ladies that were knitting and catching up with each other.  You would find groups like that scattered on the seats, sometimes it was spinning or knitting.  Not all of the areas were of groups of people that knew each other- often there were signs that said "open spinning" etc and all were welcome to come and join. Even without a sign indicating an open group most everyone would welcome you into their group if you asked to join them.  The last pic is of part of the booth and the bracelets displayed on rack and brooches on the table. 

Pictures!!!

Repetition-repetition-I may get the hang of this if I keep posting pics -so here are 2 of the bracelets I made and some pins.

Winter is here

Winter is here at least for a while- yesterday we got snow, so pretty. It didn't stay but it snowed again last night and that has stayed at least til it gets wrarmer tomorrow. Have been reading some blogs that have wordless wed with pictures only, and some posted pics each day for a year ( a bit too much for me) but I'm going to try to get the posting of pictures down so I can at least post when I want. So here goes, a few pics from yesterday. 

Surface Design Class

In Sept. I got a brochure from a college close to where I live.  I was looking thru it and noticed a Surface Design Class on Tue nights.  I thought about taking the class but found out 2 other gals at work were taking classes on Tue nights and since they were taking nursing related classes for their degrees I figured taking every Tue. night off wasn't going to fly.  I also had )figured out the cost and of course I live in a different county than the college is in so decided I would do my own surface design class and work on a new surface design each week (starting after the Oct. show). So this week I am going to do 2 projects to make up for not doing any yet.  Have been going through some books and looking online at different blogs and their projects for inspiration/guidance. Will let you know how they turn out. Tonight I am waiting for 9pm so I can watch the movie Certain Prey based on a John Sanford book by the same name.  He is one of my favorite authors and the movie stars Mark Harmon so what is not to like. 

Successful SAFF Show

Even though we drove  in rain all but the last 2 hours to Asheville, N.C. we unloaded in sunshine, yea.  It was a good show, the bracelets sold well as did shawl pins, brooches and of course buttons.  The weather was sunny and warm.  Was nice to see other venders that we  only see there and to visit with others that we see at other shows.  Did my part to support other venders and bought silk roving, caps and hankies, merino roving, mixed wool roving, and yarn.   Now I have to decide on projects for my purchases. On the way back we stopped at the Kentucky Artist Center in Brea and bought some Christmas presents.  Now that the shows are over for the year I can concentrate on my blog, learning to take pictures better and put them on the blog.  I also need to get the basement more together so I can work on projects easier.  Have been thinking of trying to put some of my bracelets in a shop here in town and at a craft/arts center in the next biggest town. Will have to explore that more.

On the Road Again

Tomorrow we leave for Asheville, N.C. for SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair).  It is our last show for this year.  When I get back I will post more often and learn how to take better pictures and to post them.  I did get 14 bracelets done but forgot to take pictures and now they are packed in the trailer.  Will try to remember to take pictures when we get there and set up.   

Beautiful Fall Days

We had a beautiful fall weekend after rainy and unusually cold week.  Though the nights were cold and it took a while to reach nice temperatures it did come.  Went to the farmer's market Sat. and probably bought more than I had planned on as it was 38 degrees out at 9 a.m. and I felt sorry for the vendors who were trying to stay warm.  So I have 1/2 bushel of tomatoes to can, also in smaller quantities carrots, beans, eggplant, plums, spinach and  spaghetti squash to eat. Looks like a vegetarian week!  Got the garage cleaned out and organized for winter.  Also read a book "The Affair" by Lee Child, one of my favorite authors.  Tomorrow is fiber time- need to finish the dozen bracelets that I have woven but need embelishment/closures.  Also want to experiment with using a sander to speed up the felting  process. Will let you know how that works.  I have been neglecting keeping up with my posting and will try to do better.      

Unexpected act of kindness

Yesterday I went to Brimley to visit with friends. We worked on bracelets and and got caught up with each others lives. It's always a pleasure to visit them -they are "family" tho we are not related.  On the way back I had my money out for the toll at Mackinaw Bridge and when I stopped and went to hand my money to the toll booth worker she said "she paid for you"- I didn't think I had heard right and asked "what?" and she repeated "she paid for you" and pointed to the car ahead of me.I was suprised and it made me smile that a stranger paid my fare ( tho I certainly was  able to pay my own way).  I've read on occasion of "random acts of kindness" but have never been on the receiving end before.  We all do things for people we know, sometimes they know what we've done and thank us and sometimes they don't who did the kindness but we know and are happy to have done them a favor.  But this was a stranger and there was no way for me to thank her but it is a kindness that I will remember.                                                                                        Tomorrow Dawn and I are off to Romeo, Mi to Mt. Bruce Station's Sheep and Wool Festival.  It is a fun time for us to get together and go out to eat with friends that also exhibit there.  The show is at a wonderful farm that has lots of activities for families- pumpkin painting, rides on wagon around the farm, a huge hay labrynth, fall flowers and decorations, wonderful food and quality vendors.  If you are in the area do come out and enjoy the festival.  If the weather is nice I will take some pictures and try to post them.  My pictures of the bracelets that I've gotten done did not turn out as well as I'd hoped and then I forgot how to download them onto my blog so will have to consult with my nephew again.  I thought I had written down the instructions but can't find them.  My computer was down for the better part of two weeks and I didn't post and it seems until I get it more in my head I don't remember some computer things. I will keep pluging away at it until it sticks.

Busy getting nothing done

It seems like I've been busy getting nothing done- lots of projects started but not finished, house straightened in areas but not really neat/cleaned.  Hopefully I will have pictures in a few days of completed projects- bracelets, purse, and journal cover.  Have some felt that I need to work more so I can make some fiber art dolls from it. Am experimenting with fiber fusion and had to redo some of the pieces as I tried to increase  the ratio of the water to textile medium and it didn"t work so will stay with 1/1 ratio.   Have spent a fair amount of time the past few days (ok a lot of time) on the computer reading blogs- some of them I've read from the beginning (like 3 years worth of posts) so it has been time consuming but educational too.  It seems like my computer was being fixed  more days than it worked in Aug. so hope it will work more consistently  this month.  I did go to  garage sales yesterday until it rained and today for a while.  My one big find was a butcher block table that I put in my "metal room".  It will be great to pound metal on rather than my workbench -as all my tools jump and move when I pound on the bench.  In one of my books on metalsmith jewelry making the author uses a tree stump for her pounding but I think I will be happy with my butcher block table.  Jewelry making will have to wait until Nov.  Have to get fiber things done for the shows in Sept and Oct.      

Two for Tuesday- Favorite Cities

Two of my favorite cities are Santa Fe and Taos, N.M.  I go back to those two cities as often as I can.  I always feel at home when I get there. I like the temperature, not too cold or too hot.  The culture and art inspire me.  The colors of the desert and mountains are beautiful.  Artists abound and I have found that they are friendly and sharing.  The food is delicious and I love trying new foods when I am out there.   The farmers market in Santa Fe introduced me to many new and wonderful foods. The Indian Market is a great place to buy directly from the artists that make the unique southwestern Indian jewelry and pottery.

continued post

I ran out of space,too many pics maybe, so will continue on here. #5 pins from hand loomed fabric/beads--#6 Harry the camel--#7 calla lily class, shape close to being done--#8 calla lily "parts"--#9 hibiscus petals--#10 close up of design on felted vest,covered in tulle and about 1/2  way felted--#11 mama and baby alpaca  #12 back to the booth-honey and beeswax candles  Dawn's family-- #13 Trimming sheep before judging--#14 my handmade shawl pins--#15 Dawn's soap and one of my roving brooches.  Don't know how I got the huge calla lily captioned at beginning of the Mi. Fiber Festival post and don't know how to get rid of it so there to stay for now.  Will have to take pics of my purchases for the weekend later and post.

Michigan Fiber Festival

The Michigan Fiber Festival has come and gone for another year.  The weather was not as hot as usual so I was pleased about that. Did of course have some rain.  Unexpected was power outage Sun. not only of the fairgrounds but the town and surrounding areas.  Was pleased that it only lasted for about an hour considering the wide area affected.  As I have mentioned before I share booth space with my friend Dawn( Little Acres) at the fiber festivals. Sometimes one side of the booth is mine and the other side is hers and sometimes like this past weekend both of our items are mixed throughout the booth. Pictures are of stages of projects of the two classes I took with Heidi Bukoski, a really nice lady and good teacher, booth items and animals.  Still need to learn to label pics but for now will list them and tell about them.  #1 my needle felted sheep and alpaca teddy bears--#2 /3 buttons and button display board (one side)--# 4 my roving/bead brooches--

Two for Tuesday- Favorite shows to take classes

Bead and Button show and Quilts,Inc. Cinncinnatti show (formerly in Chicago area) are two of my favorite shows to take classes.  I attended both this year and took classes from some wonderful teachers.  More on the classes and teachers later but now I have to pack  so I'm ready to leave for Allegan (Michigan Fiber Festival) in the a.m. I am taking a 1/2 day class tomorrow and full day class Thursday then have to set up our booth with Dawn after class is over. Hope to see you there.    

Two for Tuesday- Books I'm Reading

I love to read and often have several that I'm reading at any given time- Two that are on my nightstand at the present time are LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold and SPLIT SECOND, an FBI thriller by Catherine Coutler.  I had not read anything by Alice Sebold before but any enjoying it greatly.  I have read all of the previous FBI thrillers by Catherine Coulter and she is one of a handful of my favorite aurthors.  Give either or both of these books a try.    

Michigan Fiber Festival

The Michigan Fiber Festival is fast approaching. It is Aug. 19-21 at the fairgrounds in Allegan, Mi.  It is a wonderful festival with lots of vendors, fiber animals,and a dislpay of old tractors for the guys to check out.  Classes start on the 18th and there are still some classes that are not full so check them out. My friend Dawn and I share booth space at the shows and at this one we are listed as Little Acres and Silver Fox Ladies,A12 and 13 in the Delano barn (in a separate part of the barn the rabbits are on display and also alpacas and llamas). Sheep and goats are under pavillion outside the barn. Dawns family owns Little Acres and I own Silver Fox Ladies which I will be changing to Flair for Fiber soon.  So come on out and get your fiber fix. It is a  large festival as you can see by the vendor list and activities on the website so you are sure to finds lots of fiber related items to add to you stash or new equipment to play with.

Two for Tuesday- Quotes

"There is only one success....to be able to spend your life in your own way" Christopher Morley                   If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun- Katherine Hepburn

Outagamie County Fair

Friday night I went to the Outagamie County Fair in Seymour, Wi with my sister -in -law, nieces and a friend of  one of my nieces. It was really nice weather and there were wonderful animals and displays to look at.  It is wonderful to see so many young people making creative articles, from fiber to woodwork to cooking.  The animals are always fun, love seeing the different types of chickens and types of rabbits. The girls got to go on the fast rides and of course loved it.  I decided not to go on the ferris wheel as I had planned-they've changed it so it's not a bench seat but round with seats on both sides and it now has a top over each seat so you can't see the stars so will just go with my memories of the way it used to be. 

ANN ARBOR ART FAIR

The Ann Arbor Art Fair is acctually 4 art fairs in one- Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original; State Street Area Art Fair; The Guild Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and Ann Arbor South University Art Fair.  Looking at the official event guide I estimate that  there were around 1100 artists/craftsmen there in all mediums and 500,000 visitors were expected to attend. .  I always find it inspirational to look at various mediums and see the colors used and shapes.  I saw a very pretty pastel painting and thought " oh, that section would make a beautiful purse".  I try to look at everything but sometimes will think "that's so ugly or tacky" and someone will come up  beside me and say "I just love this"-and that's what makes art and life so interesting, the variety. So even though it was hot, Hot, SWELTERING HOT it was worth it.  I sunscreened every hour, took breaks inside to cool down, drank plenty of liquids and took my time.       

I'm Back

I didn't post last Sunday as I have pneumomia (again).  Spent Saturday a.m. in the emergency room so didn't feel up to posting last week.  Have spent this past week doing nothing, just didn't have any energy.  Went to my doctor Thursday and got put on an additional round of antibiotics when this round finishes tomorrow but the good news is I am finally starting to feel better and not so worn out.   Today I finally was up for more than two hours before I felt like I needed to go back to bed.  Wish I could  say I've gotten some craftwork  done while lying on the couch but that hasn't been the case, just didn't feel like it.  This week should be better as long as I remember to listen to what my body is telling me and take it easy.   I plan on going "back home" in 2 weeks and learn how to upload pictures and a lot more that I don't know about this blogging business and computers.  So until next week take care of yourselves.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

As I am learning the ins and outs of blogging and until I learn to post pictures I'll probably just post weekly.  Hope all of you have a safe 4th holiday weekend and BUCKLE YOU SEAT BELTS AND OF THOSE WITH YOU.  I've started to read a book that was reviewed in Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Summer 2011 issue on how to make etsy work for you.  The book is "How to Make Money Using Etsy: A Guide to the Online Marketplace for Crafts and Handmade Products by Timothy Adams. So far it is interesting and will be helpful when I get to the point of being ready to open an etsy shop.  Stay safe and take care.

I Have a BLOG!!!!!!

This is unreal, I have just created a blog and it was easy- now to customize it- found background after looking at thousands of designs so will have to get help putting that here and subtitle (Exploring fiber with side trips @ metal,beads,jewelry,food,travel and other wonderful stuff) but this is the beginning and a BIG step for me and my generallly lack of comptuer skills. Also need to find out how to put pics on here. I am soooo excited to be joining the blogging world and now that I have a google account I can post comments on the posts that I love-have procrastinated about getting a google account but now I'm getting up to speed. Spent last two days organizing my "metal room" which also has my rapid fire kiln and glass supplies.  Am so fortunate to have the majority of the basement for my crafts. My roving is all organized in hanging 6 shelf fabric organizers.Still need to get fiber/bead room together. Will post pics as I learn how.  Hope you enjoy my musings and explorations.Peggy