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100th post part 2

21. The nice ladies at Michael’s recognize me.

22. My sewing book library is expanding.

23. People are coming to me for advice on crafty things.

24. I want to learn to knit (again).

25. My little corner of the basement is getting used on an almost daily basis.

26. There are a lot of creative amazing people out there.

27. Age is irrelevant when you have an idea you are passionate about, way to go Taylah.

28. Getting a table at a craft show is exciting.

29. Creating to stock a table at a craft show is draining.

30. Wireless headphones and entire seasons of shows make crafting more enjoyable.

31. I can sleep a lot less than I used to.

32. Yoga pants attract thread. Especially black pants.

33. Free fabric is good fabric.

34. Having a photographer friend comes in handy, thank you so much Joanna!

35. Rotary cutters are very sharp.

36. Making a pattern takes a lot of brain power.

37. When you do what you love you have more energy.

38. Shipping to Canada is usually expensive if it’s ‘international’

39. A bag of scrap ribbon is so much more fun and awesome than it sounds.

40. Photo editing can be easy and fun, thanks Picnik.

100th post!!!! Oh my.

I cannot believe I’ve gotten to my 100th post already!  It’s so exciting.

In honour of this awesome event I’d like to list 100 awesome things about having this blog!  Oh, and have some celebratory cheesecake. So as not to overwhelm you all with a giant list of all 100 today let’s break it up over the next few days shall we?  Here’s 1-20.

1. I create often.

2. I get to share what I create.

3.  Here and there I get to teach what I create.

4.  I’ve discovered some amazing sites to learn even more about creating like oneprettything

5.  I’ve got fans who aren’t friends or family!

6, 7, & 8.  I took some awesome online classes thanks to the RedVelvetArt girls, Style School, Indie 2.0 and Tell Your Story.

9.  I won something online, a spot in a class!  Finally Easter, thanks Stina!

10.  I’ve expanded my fabric stash.

11.  I learned about Joann’s and AC Moore’s.

12.  I’ve made a few trips across the border.

13.  My typing skills have improved, sort of.

14.  I learned to proofread more carefully – Popple not Poople.

15. Wesley has fun crafting with me.

16. I’ve discovered some great family fun blogs like Frugal Family Fun Blog.

17. My 1st Mother’s day gift, my sewing machine, is getting tons of use.

18.  Some ‘destined for the landfill’ juice pouches have a new destiny because of me.

19.  I’ve learned more about Etsy.

20.  Going to the art store is awesome. I’d forgotten what it’s like.

Swap much?

So I said I wasn’t going to do Happy Mail again right now because I was surprised by the shipping costs, even though it was super fun. Instead I sign up for 2 other swaps!!

I got into a card swap with Missy over at Crafty Carnival AND I’m part of the fat quarter swap at Sew Mama Sew! Guess the fabric store and post office are going to see a lot me this month!

I ordered these buttons the other day, from Gnipmap on Etsy. Just felt the need for some pics.

Another online class perhaps? And surprises in the mail!

I’m already on my second online crafty sort of class for 2010 so why not add another one.  This class is happening and seems like fun.  So I’m blogging about it on the off chance I get lucky and win a free spot!

In other fun news today I got mail!!! My lovely pin cushion arrived thanks to LA’s swap. My partner was Brandy of Pinkzombies. She sent me my cute new pin cushion and some other fun goodies. I really like the ‘boys are yucky pin’.

How awesome is Taylah? Yeah, this awesome.

Ok the girls at Team Tayla are kicking butt in the blog/craft/business/happiness/creative world and they’re getting an early, early start at it all!

There’s waaaaay too many things I love about this – crafting, jammies, a blog, running with a cool idea, living a dream . . . the list goes on! Did I mention they make pjs!?!

There’s also a giveaway in honour of her 100th post!

How cool is it that she’s doing what she loves so early in life! Way to go!

My newly reorganized and improved craft space!

Yesterday I managed to get into the basement and finish up reworking my craft area. While my husband is pretty grumpy that I’ve invaded the ‘Man Space’ I’m crazy happy over the results! It’s been a crowded mess down there for the last little bit and I’ve been crafting on the kitchen table. However, it’s a pain to lug up the things I need, or have to go back down because I forgot something, so I really wanted my space ready for me to pop down when I have a few minutes and work on something and not have to move it so we could eat a meal.

Now I’m so excited about it but when I took some pictures I realized that the electrical box looks pretty hideous on film. I know nothing about drywalling but I’m either going to beg someone who does to help me, or I’ll be learning! So pardon that tiny eyesore while I tour you around my happy little creative space.

I still want to attach the powerbar to the underside of my computer desk and get all the cords off the ground and tidied up.  That thing in the corner is our freezer but it really can’t move anywhere else in the basement so for now I just covered it with a cool storage basket. The white cart under the table on the right holds all my papercraft tools and supplies.  The blue bins beside are my fabrics and yarns.

There’s my scrapbook for our trip waiting to be filled.  Along with some favourite pictures of me and my mom and dad, my Style School binder and my Jayne, “Time for some stunning heroics” and Marv the Martian mugs I use to store things.

I picked up the red, blue and green collapsible buckets at IKEA.  I’ve got juice pouches in one, buttons in another and rick rack in the last one.  At least one was supposed to be a little garbage bin on the table top but my supplies took over.  There’s my cute new sewing box, contents all organized, my fun sewing books, and my Style School wreath project in progress.

In attempt to hide the eye sore I’ve filled the space up with some fun things.  An owl from Cuba, a cute postcard, my inspiration hoop, silly faced Happy Bunny, a Beatles souvenir from London and yet another Style school project, the Polaroid art frame.  For the Polaroid frame I used pictures from when I was a kid to add to the vintage feel (wow I basically just called my childhood vintage . . .) and I love those shots.

These are some completed things I have sitting around.  I’m hoping to make a few more things this weekend and make my donation to the Craft Hope store.

Fun new fabrics.  I fell in love with the wood grain fabric used for a book cover Style School assignment so I searched some out on Etsy and found it at uberstitch. I’m going to use it with the little woodland creatures print. The cursive writing practice one was just cute, and hey, I’m a teacher, I can print! The funky red one was on super clearance at Fabricland because it’s a Christmas print, but I thought it was just neat.

So now that I’ve accomplished so much there I can focus on my Style School assignments, do my own creative things and figure out how to put my sewing machine into this neat little table my mom gave me then paint it some cool colour.

Wow, looks like I’m going to be a pretty busy bee for the next little bit. Yippee!

Crayon cozy – attempt #1.

Thanks to this tutorial I was inspired to try a crayon cozy.   It was fun and I only  made one ‘oops’.

crayon cozy

I even got fancy and added my own little lable to it.  I did however make a mistake when cutting the pieces and for some reason it’s about an inch too short.  The result is it only holds 15 crayons rather than the 16 it should.  So out you go Red-Orange, who needs you anyway when there’s Orange and Yellow-Orange!?

Unrolled

I got a little bit inventive and added a button and elastic closure.  I’m a pro at that after my car cozy and playmat.

rolled up