Craftstravaganza weekend has turned into craftstravaganza three weeks

Well, the weekend was fun and exhausting. Of course, I was in high anxiety mode being away from home - and knowing that the daughter of one of our fellow crafters was the sick the day before we got there. Ish. Major panic was avoided and everything was fine!

The place was pretty amazing...hugesaurus apartment with a full kitchen, large living room, big dining room table, three bedrooms, and two full baths. There were ten beds and a sofa-bed. This apartment was the upstairs of the building, while downstairs was a scrapbook store and a large classroom with twelve work tables for the renters of the apartment to use (plus another bathroom). Giant.

I made forty-two cards, a mini stocking, and a mini sweater in those two and a half days. The goal was to get a few things done for the craft show/fundraiser at my niece's school and some cards to just have on hand for random occasions. So I did that - but I also sparked this freakish marathon of crafting that has lasted through this week after the craft weekend. It's feel like it's been much longer...I can't stop doing stuff. Anything and everything I can do will be sold at this show. The jewelry I already had but need to re-tag. I also already had the matted "mini pics." I think I'm done making cards, but you never know. Then there's the dreamcatchers, sets of wine charms, and knitted ornaments that I'm trying to get a reasonable stock of - plus the bookmarks I haven't even started. I've been working on new packaging and displays and I need to inventory and price everything. I feel like I have a million things happening! Have I mentioned I'm applying for jobs and working part time, too?

Not complaining for one second about it, because even though I feel like I never get anything done I do enjoy making all of this stuff. And I'm probably kidding myself, but hoping to make a little money when the show finally comes in a couple weeks. No doubt I'll keep myself frantic until then.

In other news, Joe and I put up the xmas lights today, but I think I'm getting a cold. Boo. I'm glad I can listen to xmas music now without feeling guilty. I'm tired and this entry is boring, huh? Well, it happens.

Scrapbooking weekend is coming up!

I'm going up to the Brainerd area next Thursday for a scrapbooking weekend - although I think I won't actually scrapbook so much as make a huge stockpile of cards for every occasion. I'm excited! I love making cards because I get a product so much faster than with a scrapbook. It still surprises me that I muster the patience to do things like knitting or drawing, because traditionally I like to have a product in, oh, ten to twenty minutes.

Most of the cards will be for my own use, I think, but some may be sold. I'm pumped to be with a bunch of other women so we can use each other's stamps and punches and whatnot. My sister invited me, but I'll also know a couple of her friends.

I'll probably bring knitting, too, depending on how much paper crafting stuff I end up packing. Can you imagine? Thirteen women packing clothes, toiletries, and food for three days - plus bags, boxes, and totes of craft materials.

If only we could all make a living crafting. Difficult economy and all, it's sometimes tempting to try...

Pen Mosaics

These are a little weird. A dog and a peacock started me on this series, and here it continues. The style really came from a former co-worker, Mychal, whose form was much more admirable than mine. They combine a lot of influences; henna design, Scandinavian textile, pop culture relics, and the spirituality in nature.

Crayon Woman

I'm not much of a sketch artist, but this one works for me.

Pastels

Speaking of brief forays, these came from the one in oil pastels; Space Baobab and Lion.

Oils

These came out of my brief foray into oil painting. The red-winged black bird is an homage to my great-grandma, who would point them out on walks by the Minnehaha Creek. The dog is a portrait of my Penny, whose face I could never hope to get right.

Dream catchers

The mother-of-pearl bird may migrate to another dream catcher - don't know if I like it on this one.

Felted Pumpkin

This is my first attempt at felting, which I had to do by hand in the sink. The pattern came from knitty.com.

Two more bears

Again from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, these are for Baby Mogush and Baby Beakman (the parents don't know about this blog, so the surprise won't be ruined). As you can see, switching the yarn and needle size can make a big difference.

Brody's kitty

The cat happened when I was trying to make a bear with the round bunny head and then make the ears separately to sew on afterward - the ears I made ended up as triangles, so the bear ended up as a kitty! Add whiskers and tail; voila.

Harper's bunny

The bunny's head probably turned out the best out of all my animals because you close it as a sphere instead of making a cone that becomes ears after sinching as for the bear.

Leisl's bear

From Last Minute Gifts, this is the first bear I made in a series of what turned out to be a baby-filled year.

LAUNCH

Egret Effects is going to be my crafting blog. Yay!