Tag: craft shopping

Nine of Eleven

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

Today I went with one of my nieces craft shopping.  I used gift cards and holiday cash to make all of my purchases!  The other great thing is everything I bought was on sale – everything.  So not only did I get great deals and the materials I wanted but I didn’t spend a penny out of my own account.  Thank you to my faculty at my job, one family member, and a friend.  They made this relaxing day completely possible!

Joanns has a great sale on and I stocked up on crochet cotton.  I can’t lie – the $1 a skein made me nearly clean out their display of the colors they had.  Then I hit the aisles to look for yarn for two blankets, one scarf and other crochet cotton (also on sale) which had different colors.  The per ounce price (yes I figured out for each of the brands on sale) for the $1 per skein was FABULOUS.  I got most of what I wanted – though I never get enough yarn.

My niece and I had a lovely day together, spending time and chatting.  We went to Burnie’s rock shop as well.  It was crowded and busy and yet we both managed to find items to purchase.

I have an afghan nearly done for her and I was hoping to surprise her with it today but at 12:30 last night I gave it up and said nope… too much left to do.  I’ll keep working on it and hope to get it done in the next week or two.

Aside from her blanket, I’m going to be at the Whitewater library on January 19, so I plan to make a few small things which can hopefully fill up my table and make some sales.  At this point, I’m thinking coasters and dishcloths but I want to consult my list to see if I can come up with other things.

While at Joann’s today, I picked up pins to use for blocking several pairs of earrings, bracelets and a bookmark.  Once they’ve dried, I’ll have to find buttons for the bracelets and those can come with me to the sale as well.

I feel like I’m getting caught up.  Tomorrow I plan to work on crochet patterns – publishing and posting.  I’ve got a long list of them to work on so I’m hoping to get a large chunk of them done.  I have new patterns which include two leaflets (meaning multiple patterns) to publish.  I have three groups of patterns I’ve not posted on Ravelry and need to get those up there.  This is the task which takes the longest.  I’m hoping to get through all of them before I go back to work so the next two day I think will be taken up with those.

I’m winding down on my days off.  I feel good about the progress I’ve made with projects.  Before this time off, I always felt like I was falling further and further behind.  Now I feel caught up and ready to move forward.

If I manage to get through the crochet patterns, I think I’m going to work on the short story I had professionally edited – it was so mangled from all the different version, I needed to help with it.

I’m at the end of my day and feel really good.  It was good to get one on one with my niece and to shop for things I love.  Now I get to play with all of it, making things for others who will hopefully really appreciate the goodies.

Crafting as Therapy

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

Saturday I had a plan which changed.  My plan was to get a bunch of book work done.  When I was playing one of my games, I got several hours of free play.  So instead of being responsible, I played on my phone until my middle daughter and a friend showed up to go craft shopping. 

I was reluctant – yes, I know but true.  I felt like I had too much to do to wander a craft store or two.  I went and in the first store we were wandering.  I got some Christmas stuff to decorate my mom’s room in the nursing home.  I also found a Christmas present for my oldest daughter. 

At one point, I was by myself in the yarn aisle.  I texted my youngest daughter and she said it was dangerous.  I was good and didn’t buy any yarn in that store. 

In the second store, I wandered off to the yarn aisle by myself again.  I found the colors and type of yarn I was looking for. 

In both stores, I was able to get a lot of great deals.  The Christmas stuff was half off and I had a coupon for 40% off the other item.  At the second store, I had a 50% off coupon for one item and then a 20% off coupon.  By the time I was done, I saved more than I spent.  In the second store, I got three skeins of yarn and with my coupons, the third skein was free. 

The rest of the day was spent crafting, cutting out fabric, prepping projects and crocheting.  I spent most of Sunday (after doing the responsible stuff) crocheting and watching tv.  After all the drama and stress with dealing with my mom’s health issues, it was nice to hibernate in my house and do something which de-stresses me.

I finished one project for a Christmas gift and worked on more prep stuff for other gifts.  I’m happy with my progress on the projects even as my living room is a bit crowded with projects.  I really needed a crafting weekend to help reduce the stress. 

Craft Focused Day

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

After meeting my mom and sister to get our paperwork signed and notarized, I contacted my niece.  While waiting on her to arrive, I worked on all sorts of writing administrative things.  I got a lot done and then she showed up.

We played in my craft room for a little bit before we wandered off to Michaels.  I enjoyed – very much enjoyed – our time shopping at Michaels and the other stores.  Both of us needed stuff from Staples.  Since it’s two doors down from Michaels we hit there first and then Michaels.

I love sales.  I love yarn sales and I love wandering up and down aisles and touching different yarn.  I didn’t buy a single full priced item at Michaels.  It was all sale items.  I found pretty yarn both crochet cotton and regular yarn.  I filled in colors for my crochet cotton I didn’t have and even found some blues to make Stephanie happy for the items she requested.

  
We found good stuff for an afghan for my niece.  Her old one fell apart (it’s only about 20 years old) so rather than fixing it, I’ll be making her a new one.  Don’t worry people who are in line ahead of her – she isn’t butting in line.

While at Michaels we wandered the bead aisle so my niece could get some beads for some of her projects.  I’m hoping this means I will get the stuff she promised to make me.  It is always fun to wander through the bead aisles.  I like beads, I just don’t have a lot of skills when it comes to making the jewelry.

JoAnns was our next stop.  We wandered around quite a bit.  I actually didn’t spend a lot there.  Got a small package of yarn and a single skein.  My niece however spent a lot more there and got lots of goodies.

Picking up lunch, we came back and chatted the afternoon away.  After she left and Ken went to bed, I worked on daisies for the girls in Georgia.  Virginia requested purple and gray.  I was tired after all the shopping but I still tackled some more of her daisies.  I listened to Witness in Death and started working.  I was tired to begin with and after two I just wanted to go to sleep but I stuck with it and got the last six done for her.  Now I have to move on to Stephanie’s color choices.  I have a list and will be tackling them today.

Ken and I are watching Justified, since there is no football he plans to watch today, we may finish off season 5 and switch to Babylon 5.  At least that is my hope.  While we do that, I will work on the daisies for Stephanie.  I also have two infinity scarves to make so if I get bored with daisies, I can switch over and see what I come up with for the infinity scarves.

It was a good day yesterday.  I enjoyed the time with my niece.  I enjoyed making the daisies and listening to an audio book.  Today will hopefully be as productive and as enjoyable.