break's over...

So let's see... I did finish the 2010 holiday scrapbook, so that's good. I didn't finish painting -- too much drizzle for the last few days, sadly. But I did the important part of the painting, and I think that even if I don't get around to painting again until next summer I'll have done well. Though I might want to take off the masking tape.... ha.

The only craft news is that we went to Best Buy in the midst of my shoe shopping frenzy. We walked in, and a lady was demoing the Cricut. I saw her and hurried past, saying, "I don't need a Cricut. I don't need a Cricut." We went back to the guitar area, and Wil started playing with the guitars, and I decided to wander back and have a look at the thing. Well, it's awesome. The very nice lady showed me how it worked, what one needs to do, etc., and showed me how to "weld" type together -- the thing I find most amazing, frankly. Best Buy is doing a bundle -- you get the Cricut machine, 4 "cartridges", and the Gypsy for $299. Which is less than the Gypsy usually sells for. Very very tempting.

I wanted to think about it, but Wil told me I deserved a treat. So I bought it. I took it home and played with it a bit on Sunday night, but didn't want to stay up too late... so I probably won't play with it for a couple of weeks (since we're at Disneyland this weekend!).

Quite excited about the Cricut... even if I'm also a bit nervous that it will be difficult to get used to. :( Hope I can suss it out before I burn through too much card stock! :)

progress!

The weather turned a bit bad, which means I have been stymied a bit on my painting project, but it also means that I have been inside CRAFTING! Have done a lot of time -- if seemingly little progress -- on the camel. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, at least. So that's good. I also did a lot of work on the 2010 holiday scrapbook -- I'm in Disneyland Paris right now. I think one more solid day would take care of it.

So it's my last week of unemployment / hooky. Not sure how to fill the days. There's the porch painting, which will take me far longer than it should do. There's also sanding the picnic table. And of course there's always scrapbooking, cleaning the closet, etc. I'd like to do a little shopping -- need to find some shoes, perhaps another couple of pairs of jeans. And a jacket of some sort.

Unstructured time is my enemy. But also my opportunity. What to do...

more house projects!

Well.... let's see! Since I last posted, I have oiled the adirondack chairs and their footstools, wood-washed the big gate, little gate, and arbor, and done one coat of Penofin on the gates and arbor! I'm a project fiend!!!

I've also done a bit of work on my scrapbooks -- I did the Torchlight run page, which turned out great, and started the process of winnowing down photos for the Big Trek, along with the 2010 trip. Would very much like to get some of those projects started. (Which reminds me that my next task must be to order the prints before EOD Saturday while the coupon is on....)

And I made some awesome, fantastic, inspirational charm bracelents -- a very full travel one, a great running one, and my newest "50 state" bracelet. Woot! Now I just need to go to some new places! Very excited about going to Idaho for a race -- that's a new state!!! (And will bring my meager total to 5 states...)

Have also been taking some time to work on that darn camel... still much to do, but if I really focused I could get it done before the end of the month.

In other craft news... decided to make Mom and Wil's folks a scrapbooked "anniversary calendar" -- that they can use and keep year after year. I have the blanks, now I just need to start doing the planning. Perhaps in September... I decided that I will also decorate ours -- would be nice for ours to look a bit more "us".

Also, went to Hallmark today and bought three of this year's "cat frame" ornaments -- one for each grandma, and one for us. I love that.

I set up a spreadsheet to start tracking Christmas ideas... this year it might be a challenge!