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12/18/2006: "how do i get so darn busy?"

1. annual art sale in luck, WI at cafe wren was a big success. andy helped me make a new puppet stand that looks like a layer cake. the puppets are adorable. (must remember to take a picture)

2. worked two saturdays at the midtown global market in mpls. it is a big food/craft market with international theme. we went as the "5 Centers for Art". minneapolis is so cool that we have 5 centers - textile, photography, book arts, clay, printmaking - that all do classes, kids stuff, gallery etc in each of our unique art forms. i demonstrated weaving with a floor loom and needle felting. i had a ball with the needle felting, but you will have to wait until after xmas for a picture because my project is going to be a gift.

3. learning about needle felting. went on an adventure to a yarn shop across town to find wool roving and got myself all set up with the stuff to keep me busy for months. new blends of merino/wool/metallic fibers that are too fun. i had only done 3-D needlefelting up until this point. now i have taught myself needlefelting "applique" on to wool fabric. it is really like painting with wool.

4. 16 christmas ornaments on the dining room table waiting for stuffing, 5 projects needing the last 10% to finish them up. everyone is getting things late from us this year, but i promise it will be worth it.

5. andy gets all the credit for the christmas card this year. he came up with the concept and did the graphic work. i just advised and assembled. they are great! we always make our cards (since before we were married) and although some years i wonder about our sanity, i am so pleased when they work out.

6. shopping. while i was working like crazy, andy went to the annual sale at our favorite games store. 3/$10 clearance games. 2 of the 6 he got are good, verdict is out on 1, 3 yet to be played. i recommend vampire and sword & skull.

7. new camera! the puppets bought me a new camera. our old and much loved camera finally gave up the ghost and andy talked me in to getting a pentax K100. fancy schmancy digital SLR. we have a collection of pentax lenses, flashes etc from our old 35mm and one we inherited from andy's brother and all of these will work with the new one. when i say that the puppets bought it for me, that's because it is a business expense, since i need it for selling my art. the puppets are very generous.

8. i got another ornament from my swap. an adorable little crocheted pouch in brown, red and pale blue. this one has a place on the tree. i am of mixed feelings about the swap. i have only gotten about 1/2 of my ornaments and my group hasn't been very chatty. i even have one ornament that i am pretty sure isn't handmade. i am not sure if that was in the "rules" but that was my impression. nevertheless, i had a wonderful time making my ornaments, so i am hoping that my group enjoyed them. you can see some gorgeous and creative swaps here.