tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53053088956164212262024-03-13T21:39:37.296-07:00Cleaning My Craft RoomAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735392939478883315noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-68432635640219301022013-02-08T18:18:00.000-08:002013-02-08T18:18:40.153-08:00More Beads - aka Gasparilla Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oN38yHOTNzI/URWwkwovg5I/AAAAAAAAAAo/qsYeoFa1X30/s1600/DSC08382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oN38yHOTNzI/URWwkwovg5I/AAAAAAAAAAo/qsYeoFa1X30/s320/DSC08382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tampa has a huge celebration every year called Gasparilla. It's a Pirate Invasion of grand proportion. It's been an annual event since 1904. Part of the joy of Gasparilla is attending the parades, and in all my parades I have yet to leave with less than 100-200 bead necklaces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being in Miami now, I didn't expect to be going back to Gasparilla any time soon. But we had an offer we couldn't refuse. We were to attend the main parade (over 100 floats) on the Bayshore as the guest of a major corporate sponsor, after which we were invited to their home for a post parade party. I thought, this was pretty awesome, but I promised myself I wouldn't bring home any more beads. After all, I had just finished two chandeliers and a mosaic, and my supply was nicely cleaned out, and I really don't have room for more in my much smaller craft closet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived at the corporate tent, and were promptly given a few necklaces, such a pretty one with the Jose Gaspar ship on it, I can't say no. Every table was covered in beads, and there were even a few large cooler size treasure chests filled. No - keep walking, I don't need any. But they were pink, and the necklaces are long, and the big beads, I don't have any of those.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before you know it, the parade was starting. I had front row, up close and personal with the Pirates. It was awesome. Honest, I wasn't trying. I wasn't shouting or waving or fighting for them, well, as much as the people beside me. But then the age old frenzy started, and cries of <span style="color: purple;"><b>BEADS, BEADS, BEADS</b></span> could be heard throughout the land. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An amazing thing happened, magically one landed around my neck - that pirate had good aim as it was thrown from on top of a passing float. Then more landed at my feet, and some without effort were caught in my hand. Then there were the strolling pirates, who couldn't pass by without handing out a trinket or two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In all, I ended up with about 75 necklaces, 10 "gold" doubloons a stuffed manatee, and a squishy light bulb And I brought them home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A neat thing about the necklaces, yes I am now rationalizing my hoard, is that this year's were more fabulous than the plain beads from yesteryear. This year I got Pirate skulls and cross bones, butterflies, footballs, iridescent hearts, and Budweiser beer caps. And crawfish, and shrimp, and footprints, and faces, and palm trees, and pyramids... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got home, my daughter and her college roomie got busy decorating my lampposts in the backyard. Mardi Gras is coming up soon. With the remaining beads, including probably a good bit of the older stash, we had plans for a fabulous glittery tray for the party hosts (and former neighbors of my inlaws). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It ended up being a group effort. My mom-in-law had purchased the tray 15x23, and a wooden letter "B". We picked up some glue and some frame molding on clearance, so that we could rest some glass above the beads. My father-in-law got busy with an old saw and miter to cut them down to size. Then the fun began with my mom-in-law, daughter & I cutting up about 70 necklaces bead by bead. Then we got out the serious glue. Fortunately it was about 80 degrees today and perfect weather to work outside. Yes I am rubbing it in, it's the begining of February. I love living in Florida.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few hours later and we had the finished product, and the beginning of a business plan to make many more of these. Maybe it's time to start selling some crafts. Hmm.</span><br />
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<embed flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed1075.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw436%2Fsuzilfb%2FBeads%2Ffeed.rss" height="360" src="http://pic2.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="javascript:void(0);" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/embed/btn_geturs.gif" style="border: none;" /></a><a href="http://s1075.beta.photobucket.com/user/suzilfb/library/Beads" target="_blank"><img alt="suzilfb's Beads album on Photobucket" src="http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/embed/btn_viewall.gif" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735392939478883315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-64483154946400175872013-01-10T09:44:00.002-08:002013-01-10T09:44:38.908-08:00The Move<br />
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Getting ready for the move –</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the weeks leading up to the move I traveled most of the
time. It’s not easy going through everything you owned to figure out what would
we keep, but to do it while travelling yourself and working full time, it was
pretty near impossible. Imagine my
relief when hubby found a large home, with garage and a room to use as an
office, instead of the 3 bedroom tiny condos we had been looking at. I knew then that everything would be OK. I didn't have to get rid of anything – ya right. But at least the pressure was off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started a new craft to keep me occupied at night while
hubby was gone as well. I had always
wanted to do something with the kids event t-shirts, but I knew a quilt wasn't my style or forte, and frankly we had gotten rid of the t-shirts as they became
worn or outgrown. But I had a supply of
about 30 Girl Scout and race shirts of my own that I would not likely wear
again. I decided on a multicolored latch
hook rug that I had seen so many posts for.
I had all the supplies. I spent a
couple evenings cutting 1 x 4 inch strips.
Each shirt made about 220 pieces.
With the size rug I was making I figured I needed to cut 25 shirts. Not wanting to end up short and having a
block of one color, I went ahead and cut up all 30 shirts. I tumbled the pieces in the dryer to remove
the fluff and mix them up. If you plan
on doing this, clean the lint trap every 5 minutes. Then I dumped everything
into a bag. Got my supplies, looked at a
couple of sites that had tutorials, and started. I discovered this to actually be a good
travel craft. I filled a gallon size Ziploc
bag with pieces, and packed the rug, hook and pieces in my suitcase. Not so good if you are tight on a plane, but
I usually check my bag, so it worked out great.
I have about 1/9<sup>th</sup> complete, and now it sits by my couch
waiting to be worked on. I haven’t
touched it since the move. I think
tonight’s the night.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>The Move, and the mess</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We put our house on the market October 16th. We thought it would take 6 months to
sell. I spent the first weekend packing
up lots of little things, and most of my kid’s stuff, to get the house ready to
show. This also meant cleaning the craft
room for real. I thought I had
everything all nicely organized and ready for the move. We had a pending contract by November 13<sup>th</sup>. We still hadn't found a new home and we were
supposed to close the first week of December.
Fortunately for me, the bank is slow.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We moved the week before Christmas. I had separated out a few crafts that I
thought I would work on before Christmas.
I did manage to make a mini scrapbook of all the castles my daughter had
visited in 2012. I haven’t touched
anything else. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the move, my son
came home for Christmas, he declared that he would unpack all the boxes in the
office and get it set up. I was rather
skeptic, most of the boxes were craft stuff.
Amazingly, not only did he get all the boxes but 2 unpacked, he put away
all my scrapbook/paper supplies and did and pretty good job of it. After he left I had to reorganize a little, to
make it my own. That left 2 boxes in the
office, and 2 more in the garage. Hubby
helped me unpack the 2 boxes. We
discovered the file cabinet drawers wouldn't open or close. After a lot of effort we got them open and
emptied. The office is a mess, and I
still have 2 more boxes to go. My goal today,
get the current stuff put away, and figure out the file cabinet. Tomorrow will be the last two boxes, and then
I craft. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735392939478883315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-57233504393406369752013-01-10T09:19:00.000-08:002013-01-10T09:19:22.532-08:00Sooner Rather Than Later & the Party<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Sooner Rather Than Later</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I started the blog on my birthday, my husband was
looking for a new position. There was
the thought that we might have to move.
Well the move happened, and we have made the relocation to Miami
Florida.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the initial shock I was determined to not let go of everything
in the craft room that meant first finding a place big enough to support my
stuff, and second, realign my priorities in my craft room cleanup. I put my husband in charge of looking for a
home. I must say he did a fantastic
job. Although smaller, I still have a
shared office/craft room. I now have to
share a desk, but with the addition of IPads for both of us, my husband is
rarely at the desk. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>The Party –</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In October, when it was decided we would make the move, I
reviewed my inventory. There is a lot of
stuff that I probably will never get around to using. Every year I get together with my Girl Scout
leader friends for a crafting camping trip.
What better way to use up supplies, and ensure that so much goes to a
home that will use it up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I set up our annual
trip this year to camp (sleepover) at my house.
What an awesome weekend that was, me and 6 of my best friends, my
daughter fresh home from 3 months in Germany (we actually picked her up half
way through the party) and 2 of her friends.
It was so much fun. A few ladies
brought some supplies, but the general idea was, we had to use my
supplies. I went through the closet and
room – brought so much downstairs. I had
several chipboard album pages, so I asked each person to decorate a page, took
pictures of us, and now I have a keepsake of my friends and the good times we
had. We decorated frames with paint and Girl
Scout swaps and added more pictures. We
decorated tiles. I made a magical crown
for my daughter, and we decorated welcome home signs. There were lots more
things that I put out to use, and after my first couple glasses of sangria, I’m
not sure what everyone made. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friends know I always had a rule, that if there was left
over food after a camping trip, I never brought it home, it was split among
them. I applied the same rule to the
supplies at this event. So by the end of
the weekend I no longer had my flowers, polymer clay, clay machine, a whole
bunch of paper, and so much other stuff that I had cleaned out.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-90106871307515679852012-09-21T14:04:00.002-07:002012-09-21T14:44:32.560-07:00My Dollhouse<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had a good friend 7</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-9</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
grade when I lived in Hamilton Ontario. Her name was Stephanie W.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She is probably my earliest crafting
friend.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It started with joining the
model train club in 8</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> grade.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">OK, she & I joined and were the only 2 girls in the club.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We weren’t stupid.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All the cute guys were in the club.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had so much fun climbing over the
structure, learning how to solder, and making things in miniature, flirting with
the cute guys and going on field trips to visit really big model train tracks.
One day while we were at Stephanie’s house she showed me her notepaper
collection.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe that where I got
hooked on paper too.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I know it wasn’t
long before I had my own collection.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But
the real draw was her dollhouse that she and her dad had built.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t remember what it looks like, but I
remember after seeing it I knew that I wanted my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn’t long after that we moved to Ft
Lauderdale. There was a store near my house that had dollhouse kits. I
always had to check them out. Finally in the summer before my junior year of
high school Country House Model #1002 was mine.
It took 2 ½ years to finally put it all together. At one point, I had to painstakingly wet it
down, dissolve the glue, and rebuild the walls because everything had warped in
the summer humidity. After the build
came the electricity. I was so proud of
myself, 18 years old and wiring a dollhouse for electricity, and it worked! That is until that same humidity shorted
everything out a few years later. I
built a few walls to add a bathroom, after all what home doesn’t have a
bathroom. I wallpapered with fabric,
reupholstered a chair, stitched a rug and made Christmas decorations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My kitty loved to sleep in the house, and the second
floor is forever warped because of that. The house moved when I moved. It almost didn’t make the last move. But after my Father-in-law gave me a stern
talking to about how this house was such a part of me, and therefore it was
important to him, I found it a place in our new home. After all, it’s not often my Father-in-law
comments on decorating or stuff, so when he has an opinion, I usually act on
it. The house has collected dust over
the years, I’ve added some lighted Christmas & Halloween decorations
(battery powered, as I never put the electricity back in). It was never a play toy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few years ago my daughter & I decided it was
time to redecorate. Out came all the
wallpaper and flooring. And was replaced
with fresh wallpaper& parquet flooring in some rooms. I
added a pretty lattice to the bottom. We
decided the bathroom would be moved to the other side of the house (as in the
rooms that are on the other side of the hall, so it’s invisible now. Harry Potter movie posters were hung in the
boy’s room, and Monet water lilies in the girl’s room. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s been gathering dust again. Which brings me to the craft closet. Up on the shelf in the closet is a green
plastic bin. Today’s craft project was to
check out the green bin. I tossed the
old electric stuff. The quilling paper and instructions to make flowers, they
are going in the give-away bag. The
hooked rug kit, not started, and the ¾ finished cross stitch rug, I will keep
for awhile and maybe one day finish them. The photo album was falling apart so
I took out the photos and kit instructions and scanned them. That left three items. My official project for the weekend has been
determined.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had two kits for furniture Chippendale style, a desk
and a chest of drawers, and a kit for a staircase. I pulled out the furniture kits. Amazingly I had all the pieces. After reading the instructions I discovered I
was missing 8 itty bitty screws. I was
also supposed to use tinted glue and stain the furniture when I was done. Quick decision was made, I didn’t want the
fold down writing surface, and mahogany stain was boring anyway. Problems solved. I have everything I need to
complete the furniture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve spent a few hours gluing and assembling and
painting. And to top it off. Glittering.
I had some glitter left over from a prior project that was shades of
green, copper & brown. Much more
sparkly than boring stain.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s always bothered me that the dollhouse didn’t have
any way to get to the third floor. It’s
something little kids pick up on instantly.
I had bought a staircase kit when I started with the earlier
renovations. I’m pretty sure it will
fit. Gluing the spindles is crazy hard –
the instructions say to be sure they are 1/8 inch from the edge, centered on
the step, and dry straight. Really? Do they know how skinny these spindles are? And I don’t want big globs of glue on the
bottom. Every time they fall over,
there’s another glob at the base. I’ve
scraped away so much, it’s a wonder there is any glue holding it up. I managed to got it done and painted. Now </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">staircase fits in the dollhouse and the doll family can make it up to the third floor</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All that’s left for this weekend to is to dust and
straighten out the rooms. </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-79630696097143866262012-09-08T23:09:00.000-07:002012-09-09T17:14:10.896-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Inspiration came when I saw a pin of a mosaic made
with Mardi Gras Beads (you can see it on my Pinterest boards) It was a simple
design. I can do that. I have all the supplies, so it follows my
rules. I started with a blank canvas,
and decided on a design. The beads were
natural for our NOLA patio, and a castle for my love of Disney. I drew the design and then colored it in with
permanent markers that way the space between the beads isn’t all white when the
glue drys. I picked my colors, and
started cutting the beads off of the necklace.
The pain with Mardi Gras beads is that they aren’t strung, the string is
fused into the beads. Each one had to be
cut off. I tried a small area to see if
I liked it. Lots of my favorite tacky
glue applied very thickly, and lots of beads later I have an awesome piece of
art work. It took about 8 hours to cut
the beads and glue them on. I figure it
will take a few days for the glue to fully dry, and then I will spray it with a
sealant, especially because I think I will hang it on my patio. I can't believe I still have a box full of beads. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-89754618226907806642012-08-27T16:58:00.000-07:002012-09-09T17:05:35.847-07:00Earlier Crafting<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was probably about 8 or 9, it was summer, and my
two cousins Maureen & Charlene were spending their summer days at my
house. It had been raining, and I’m sure
we were driving my mom crazy. From
somewhere out came a preprinted cross stitch baby sheet with 12 panels of
bunnies. She cut it out so we each got 4
panels, 2 boys and 2 girls. That summer
she taught us how to pick out colors, and do some basic embroidery stitches. My Grandma told me when I finished it she
would quilt it for me. I don’t know
about my cousins, but I didn’t do a whole lot of it during the summer, and the
pieces were stacked away in the one day I will do this pile. I started my stash early. Perhaps this was my first long term craft
project. I remember carting it around
with me when I moved first to Hamilton then to Ft Lauderdale, and ultimately to
college. In college the craze was
counted cross stitch. My friend Donna
& I made all kinds of projects our freshman year, pictures for the wall, pillows
and sachets. One day I finished the
bunnies. It probably only took a few
hours. My grandma quilted them as
promised 10 years ealier, and my children used the little blanket when they
were babies. Kimi later used it for her dolls.
It now has a place of honor hanging on my wall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VsiMnkq5IM4/UE0uI9Nv2SI/AAAAAAAAAC8/gtM5SVF-vIs/s1600/DSC07177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VsiMnkq5IM4/UE0uI9Nv2SI/AAAAAAAAAC8/gtM5SVF-vIs/s320/DSC07177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mom owned an art gallery in St Catharines Ontario - Folkersen Art Galleries at the Penn Center when I
was little. I loved to see the artists
when they visited. I had a huge crush on
John Par who did portraits. I one year he went to Morocco and brought me back a few glass beads. I wonder what ever happened to them? The gallery was cool, but for me what was
better – Mr. Galloway’s store at the other end of the mall. The Galloways played cards with my parents,
so I think my mom was ok that I would hightail it over there every chance I
got. Mr Galloway was always quick to
give me a package of beads that had a tear in them. I think sometimes he tore them just for
me. The big craze then was tri-beads. I made necklaces for everyone. But my favorite beads were
glow-in-the-dark. The beads didn’t make
it to Florida.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-5914522342942128832012-08-26T16:32:00.000-07:002012-09-09T16:56:54.252-07:00Where to Start<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do I clean the whole closet and room right now, or just one
type of craft at a time?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I should start with a general clean up so I can start with
everything put away in its place – however this isn’t what I’d call a deep clean,
it’s more a stuff the shelves so my work table and floor is as uncluttered as
possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is why it’s hard for me to craft. I have the closet, and the vanity, and the
wall with the paper crafting, and even a bunch of file drawers. But I hate to put away stuff that I am
working on. I’m afraid of the out of
sight out of mind. But it’s also
depressing have to step over it all. It
would be so much more fun if I just clean up a little, then do something fun,
then I will clean up some more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Started with the beads, because I couldn’t get the box lid to
close, which meant they wouldn’t fit back on the shelf. My objective – get all beads into one box,
and all bead making supplies into another.
Started by dumping everything on the floor. Transferred the beads (many of them vintage
from my mom) into small Ziplocs or into the bead containers that I bought many
years ago. Sorted them. Look – there’s the broken coral necklace that
Mario brought back from Italy – when I was in 9<sup>th</sup> grade. I wore it death, and when it finally broke I
couldn’t bring myself to get rid of the beads.
I swear, that’s the only one I’ve kept.
Then not too long ago I was looking in a jewelry magazine and saw a very
pretty necklace with a piece of white coral hanging from it. I have the picture, the white coral, the pink
coral and all the tools. I’m going to do
this tonight. By the time I had all my
beads and supplies put away nicely, I had pulled out four projects that I want
to do right away. The coral necklace,
and a second one, a rose quartz kit, and a fabric covered button necklace. I spent the rest of the weekend making the
necklaces. I finished them, posted them
to facebook. That was last weekend. It feels good, friends like the necklaces,
some more than others. Everyone likes
the pink coral – it’s the only one I have no intention to give away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G_Waa8nXJ_0/UE0qPEBHpbI/AAAAAAAAACA/TzdDj0P9n-A/s1600/555619_4536582933032_1820722327_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G_Waa8nXJ_0/UE0qPEBHpbI/AAAAAAAAACA/TzdDj0P9n-A/s200/555619_4536582933032_1820722327_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K91hWnQfPDU/UE0qSN13jQI/AAAAAAAAACI/-1Iej3QYjbw/s1600/309256_4536584853080_444133888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K91hWnQfPDU/UE0qSN13jQI/AAAAAAAAACI/-1Iej3QYjbw/s200/309256_4536584853080_444133888_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OugIpKYsU5Y/UE0qWJkdG8I/AAAAAAAAACQ/wwjCW-k7it4/s1600/547297_4536585693101_1778932618_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OugIpKYsU5Y/UE0qWJkdG8I/AAAAAAAAACQ/wwjCW-k7it4/s200/547297_4536585693101_1778932618_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zh8TMyvC2k0/UE0qYfpL7OI/AAAAAAAAACY/LUWeIlJcSE4/s1600/417352_4536586653125_268402171_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zh8TMyvC2k0/UE0qYfpL7OI/AAAAAAAAACY/LUWeIlJcSE4/s200/417352_4536586653125_268402171_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next project – sitting on the floor under my window – two
large bags of mardi gras beads, the hanging plant hanger, and the needed
wire. I had already made one hanging
beaded chandelier (lights with an LED tap light) and I wanted a second
one. Both of them are for my NOLA lanai. Kimi was busy finishing packing to head to
Germany for three months, and had a friend coming over. Blake was already away at school. And hubby
Chris, was doing his favorite thing – reading the Sunday newspaper, made better
because it’s the day before the Republican National Convention in Tampa, and so
the newspapers, yes we get two, are huge.
I started to clean the next area of the home office/craft room. You know, if I make the chandelier, it sure
would clean up a big space. Having
already made one, I brought out my notes on the supplies that I needed, cut up
the necklaces, precut the wire, and I was off.
The best place to hang it from while in process is on the knob for the
cabinet right in front of my computer.
That’s when I got the inspiration to start the blog. Oh I’ve thought about it before, but never
had a focus. So here it is 4 hours
later. Kimi has gone to the movie, will
be back soon. Chris is at the grocery
store picking up dinner. My parents will
be here soon. The chandelier is
complete, and hanging in the lanai. I
started my blog in Word, until I can figure out how to actually write a blog on
the internet. I got this inspiration from </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/09/video-make-a-beaded-chandelier/" target="_blank">http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/09/video-make-a-beaded-chandelier/</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rfQe2p5TgJY/UE0rKcrVuyI/AAAAAAAAACg/SAJhRqc_048/s1600/DSC07172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rfQe2p5TgJY/UE0rKcrVuyI/AAAAAAAAACg/SAJhRqc_048/s200/DSC07172.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-skkApBCTv8I/UE0rPsJAEHI/AAAAAAAAACo/HlK2JwR7rDs/s1600/DSC07173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-skkApBCTv8I/UE0rPsJAEHI/AAAAAAAAACo/HlK2JwR7rDs/s200/DSC07173.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It feels good. I feel
like I’ve accomplished something. Not
just by starting and completing a project for which I had everything. I’ve also started a focus to craft
intentionally. Now I need to follow the
rule above, and put everything away. I
took the left over beads out of the bags, and put them in a box so they sit on
the shelf. Tools need to go away, and I
need to put away the next craft that I started to pull out.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--> <br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-66676571216548903152012-08-26T16:14:00.000-07:002012-09-09T16:31:29.629-07:00Inventory<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I figure I
have enough basic supplies to keep me crafting for 3-5 years without buying
anything other than small bits and pieces needed to complete a project. To be added to as I clean out the crafts and
figure out what I have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Supplies</span></span></u></div>
</div>
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mardi Gras/Gaspirilla Beads Fat Quarters Vintage
Zippers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Buttons Thread Floss<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Felt Fabric
Paint Acrylic
Paint<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Paint Canvas Cross
Stitch Fabric Sand<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Shells Driftwood Coral<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sea Glass Mosaic glass/tile Paper – all kinds<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chinese paper Card stock, plain and patterned Origami<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dollhouse stuff Ribbon Beads <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wire Fimo <o:p></o:p></span></span>Charms<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Glass sun catcher pendants Stamps Stickers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ink Magazines Silk flowers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">T-Shirts Corks Wooden
plaques<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yarn Soap
making Lots
of kits</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="WordSection3">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tools</span></span></u></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="WordSection4">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Computer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sewing
Machine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cricut<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Adhesives<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Paint
Brushes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Basic
tools – pliers, small drill, hammer, screw drivers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Knifty
Knitter looms<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Knitting
needles, Crochet hooks<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bead
loom<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lots
of books<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2 Ott
lights<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ziplocks
all sizes, lots of boxes, all sizes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Clay roller (pasta machine)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Projects in the works</span></span></b><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Scrapbooks
– I really would like to organize all photos, including digital, and start
scrapbooking again. Maybe make photo books. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Greeting
cards </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Annual
Christmas book – is it a craft or a writing project – all I know is that I am
on the 2</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 25 years of family Christmas book, and I am several years behind. I want to bring it up to
date and give to hubby as Christmas present</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Various
cross stitch projects</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Magazine
purse –I have all the chains made, I just need to try my hand at sewing them
together. Make a commitment for 4
rows. If I like it, wont be hard to
finish. If I don’t ditch it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Shell
garland – for the bathroom</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Christmas Ornaments - all kinds, beaded, cross stitch, digital photo, frames</span></li>
</ul>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5305308895616421226.post-79458070383562871192012-08-26T16:02:00.000-07:002012-09-09T16:07:29.164-07:00The Plan <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am fortunate to have a very large room including walk in closet and vanity to house and work on all my craft supplies. My craft room also doubles as my home office, so the desk can get extremely cluttered. I also have a very bad habit of not finishing what I start, and combine that with being a visual person, my room is a mess. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am interested in so many different crafting mediums, and I have to have all the tools. The kids are in college, and we are thinking that we may downsize our home in the not to distant future. I don't want to give up my craft stuff without a fight. So I need to have a plan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's the day before my 49th birthday. And I've decided to write about my journey to clean out my craft room. Not by just putting it away, or getting rid of stuff, but by using my stash.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The starting point - incriminating photos. This represents most of the supplies - I'll save you from the under and on top of the desk and the floor stash.</span>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Plan</span></span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Figure
out if there is a craft style that I truly love and would be able to take with
me to a smaller home</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Complete
craft projects – or dispose</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use
up my stash</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Make
stuff for me & our house. I have so many artsy craftsy things that others have made
for me, but very little that I have done.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Make stuff for family and friends</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Make
stuff just to use up the product and then try to sell it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Give
away supplies for things I don’t like doing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Rule
#1 Put away everything at the end of the day – that means I probably need to
clear off a shelf right away so I have some place to put unfinished project</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Rule
#2 Purchase only what is needed to complete a project like adhesive – OK I have
an exception. If while on my travels, I
find something that I gotta have</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">The
craft has to either be a complete kit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Must
be something for me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Must
fit in with my themes for my house</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Rule
#3 Always bring a project when I travel,
these are where all my kits come in handy</span></li>
</ul>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3