Saturday TastyLinks!

Oh it's time again, yes once again, for your Linky Love shower! Break out those slickers and throw on your wellies!

I'm not feeling very chatty today, which is a rare occasion, so savor it while it lasts, people. A big crafty welcome to the delightful and talented Carmi Cimicata. You're going to love her! Do enjoy this week's craftacular linksplosion from "The Crafty Bloggers: We've got glue guns and we're not afraid to use them." (tm)

The Artful Crafter
Artist profile of June Crawford, “A Creative Dreamer” who crafts her dreams with words, charming art dolls and fantastical doodles – among other things. Take a peek into another artist’s creative world.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Silver French knot sunburst embellished tote using the pattern in Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts

Mixed Media Artist
What can you do with some vintage sheet music, fabric, and a photo transfer?

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge has a new DIY Website! Come read all about it and check it out!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is spilling some of the beans concerning a new project she's working on - jewelry making kits!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a tutorial on how to print on tissue paper from the book Creative Wildfire and a chance to win a copy of it, a super cute tutorial on how to needle felt a hedgehog, making a tole painted message block, and the latest Look, Learn, & Create video with Lisa Kettell.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi turns wood curtain pulls into pretty dolls.

About Family Crafts
Check out this collection of free printable projects for Father's Day. Print and make Father's Day cards, coupon books, tags, and much more.

Promises, Promises

Studio Rehab Part Two!

Demo Step Out Samples Video Shoot!

Me and my big promises!  I've been working my pretty little fingers to the bone this week to prepare for a video shoot this morning.  The studio was totally rehabbed (with a lot of help from my wonderful hubby.)  Samples were made and step outs were planned for seven segments.  At one point yesterday I was starting to worry I wouldn't get finished on time...but I did!

Huzzah!

The video crew gets here today at 9am.  I'll spill the beans when this goes live, just trust me when I say this is really, really good!

So I won't have today's promised contest results or project to share until next Wednesday.  That gives you plenty of time to play!  Come on...don't be shy!

Until next time...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

Yes, I have no free project.

Today I'm not going to post a free project or a picture of a project or anything even remotely related to...a project.

Did I mention I'm not posting a project today?

Just so we're clear, I will reiterate. There will be no free project in today's post.

I've got so much to do in the next two weeks my brain hurts. Even so, there are two project ideas that aren't on the docket that seem intent on nagging me until I explore them. What is that? Is that just some sort of subconscious passive-aggressive procrastination or...am I really the Craft Whisperer? It started with a small bottle from my backyard vintage bottle collection. Suddenly and without warning this bottle started suggesting I turn it into a mixed media necklace. I tried to ignore it, but alas my efforts were in vain. So it's sitting on my desk now and I've promised to address it when I get caught up, but it's an insistent little vintage bottle. I also have this idea for inked and altered acrylic charms that has been running through my brain in cleats for three weeks now. Why can't I just sprout two more arms and get on with it?

Why indeed.

I'm trying to set up and fine tune some future appearances and engagements, but every one of them requires me to make samples and map out plans and it's becoming increasingly apparent that I'm not Super Crafter and I can only do so many things in any given day before I start to hyperventilate. Why can't I have minions to do my bidding? Is that asking so much?!

I've got boxes filled with samples from companies waiting for me to test them out and present them with projects and ideas. I've got a big deadline from a manufacturer for about 15 innovative designs looming and an overdue project for a book that's totally out of my comfort zone that will require immense amounts of craftastrophic potential before it's finished and book worthy. I've got to finish the text for my book and send out the materials for the front matter photo shoot, labeled and ready to roll. There are boxes that need packing and shipping and other boxes that need unpacking and organizing. We haven't made a new video in months and I'm slated to go out of town and film a promo for the cruise...

Thus is the story of what I do every day. In case you were wondering. The life of a freelancer is a tricky one. We have to take the work when it comes, because it's never consistent. Then we have to know when to say, "No." Which sounds fairly simple, but is not. It's hard to say no when your income pays a big portion of the bills. On the plus side, we schedule our own breaks and we can work in our PJs. So there's that!

I have officially hit the wall, so until I get caught up, I'm afraid that I will have to say, "No!" to any future requests.

Mrs. Potter regrets...

xoxo
Madge

Inspired at Home Radio

What are you doing this Sunday night from 7-8pm ET? How about joining me on Inspired at Home radio? I’ll be on air along with a Dean Saether from I Love to Create/Duncan Ceramic arts with host Tiffany Windsor. Why not join us for some crafty good fun during this holiday weekend?

I hope to see you there! If you can’t make it, don’t fret. They have the archives available on their website.

Oh and here’s a pic of Miss Avalon sporting her I Love to Create altered t-shirt. She loves it! Yay!


I have a design to make with a bottle from my backyard antique bottle collection...it began talking to me this morning and it seems determined to be heard. Does that make me the Craft Whisperer? My sources say...maybe!

xoxo
Madge

A Window into Madge's World

Madge waits, demurely, for her next adventure. Photo copyright Avalon Potter
Madge says, "Bring it on, baby." Photo Copyright Avalon Potter

Today, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to write. I'm running out of free projects to share...so I'm going to share some of what I do every day. I think there's immense value to folks who think they'd like to do what I do to see that...it's a lot harder than it looks...and it's much like being on a tightrope without a net...including the circus costumes if you're me.

I lost the part time job that pays a fair share of our bills recently and it's put immense amounts of pressure on me. I'm still 'employed', but I have to wait until a new position opens up. Since there are only a smattering of these positions, it could be a long wait. I'm not sure how long we can afford for me to wait...so in the interim I'm ramping up my efforts here at Studio Madge. If you're one of the many companies that reads my blog...please feel free to contact me to discuss possibilities. (She says without an ounce of shame.)

I've had a concept for a book series in mind for a while now and I've finally forged ahead with the proposal for the first title. I'm very excited to report that so far it's being met with excitement from the publisher. This would be a departure for me. Actually it would be less of a departure and more of an expansion or maybe it would be more aptly described as a tangential pathway. I can't clue you into what it's all about because I have to sell it first and then write it and then wait for the publishing date to approach so that I can finally spill the beans. I can say that it's bigger than a bread box and it's also bigger than my current focus. It's kinda like taking everything I've done in my lifetime and mixing it all up in a pot and saying...Stew's ready!

Yeah, it's like that. I think it's a mighty tasty stew, too.

I've also been working on scoring a TV show. I have some good folks working with me, so I'm confident it will happen eventually. It's tough right now because no one wants craft shows. The old model is broken, but we knew that already. No one wants to see the same host/guest/project format. It needs to be mixed up and given a new life. I don't really want to do just crafting...I want to be more of a Lifestyle Expert...but with a big twist. I'd like to think of myself as Julia Child with a glue gun or a slightly irregular Martha. I'm not afraid of showing the seams, making messes, being bold...and I want to inspire women to break out of their normal routine and try something outrageous. So...that's the plan. I'm getting closer. I know with absolute certainty that it's my destiny. It's what I do best and no one else is doing it like I would.

Speaking of Martha, I applied to be a guest on her show yesterday again. I don't have any formal 'in' so I just go to the website periodically and fill out the form. It's a total shot in the dark. What the hell. I think Martha and I would be funny together. We're totally different yet similar enough that I think we could find common ground. I really want to show Martha how to make jewelry properly. I keep seeing jewelry projects in her magazine and the instructions are...well...how do I put this delicately...incorrect. I know how much she likes doing things excellently and I'd love to show her how. So if you're connected to Martha and you read this blog, please don't hesitate to sing my praises. (She says without an ounce of shame.)

We are forging ahead with Beads and the City! Madge is taking you to NYC and we're going to bead shop until we drop! May 13-16th 2010. I will have info for signing up very soon. We can only bring 30 people, so the spaces will be limited. Also if you're interested in our Crafty Cabaret Cruise, please consider signing up. It's a small deposit and small monthly payments and you can elect to cancel up until three months before the ship sails and get a full refund. If you wait too long, we won't know how many people to plan for...

So my little Smurflings...along with the multitudes of other projects and deadlines I've got on my roster...you can see my work is cut out for me. My studio currently looks as if it's been attacked by a Tasmanian devil and I simply don't have time to stop and tidy it up. I've got largish rabbits to pull out of smallish hats and no time to stop and clean. Messes be damned...my muse is in the house!

Until next time...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge

Dear Blog Reader

Dearest Blog Reader

Madge returned from the CHA Summer Show and was immediately swallowed by a ginormous straw pile. She's working on an epic blog post for your enjoyment tomorrow. Do forgive.

If you're not a Margot Potter Facebook Friend, consider becoming one today. You can win signed copies of both of her new books if you are her 700th friend! Also please consider joining The Impatient Crafter fan page!

Check out the fab videos Threadmaster Christopher Nejman made at CHA Super Show! Look for a special guest appearance!

xoxo
Madge's Personal Assistant
(Okay...really Madge.)

Saturday TastyLinks™!

Well galdangy, it’s that time again! I don’t understand how it could possibly be Saturday already when I could swear it was just Monday. I’ve managed to finish the projects for my new book along with the instructions and all of the written material that I can complete prior to the shoot. There will be some small tweaks after my editor reviews things and then I’ll pack it up and ship it out. I can’t believe I did it a month ahead of deadline! I am the world’s biggest procrastinator. No seriously, I am. I’ve learned to fight that tendency by forcing myself to work ahead. It’s quite easy for my attention to be diverted by shiny things or deep thoughts about the meaning of life and why gum loses its flavor so quickly.

I have to assemble kits for the Zig Zagged Necklace class I’m teaching at CHA and the segment I’m filming for Fiskars TV. I’ve been asked to teach this fall at two different places, so that means classes need to be designed and then there’s the cruise this fall for When Creativity Knocks. One of my manufacturers just backed out, so I have to redesign the classes on the fly. It’s always something, isn’t it?!

But before I blather on endlessly about my never ending straw pile...I shall leave you to your weekly linky love shower! Enjoy!

My friend the immensely talented Lilian Chen is hosting a week of jewelry making classes in Tuscany in 2010! What fun! Here’s the 411.

Here’s what the Crafty Bloggers have going on this week:

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Vickie's 10 Craft Tips for Busy Parents!

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares the 411 on how she made a gorgeous crystal, rubber and exposed wire collar inspired by African jewelry.

The Crochet Dude See a sneak peek video of Drew's new pattern line that launches August 1st!

The Artful Crafter If you’re a polymer clay beginner or just want a quick professional looking project, use molds!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Dada Mosaic, or is it surreal? You be the judge.

Mixed Media Artist Do not fear...making altered books will not cause lightning to strike you!

Cross Stitch at About.com What do you do with odds and ends of embroidery floss? Read these ideas and share your own.

Crafty Princess Diaries Have you thought of starting your own craft weblog? Here is why crafting rocks when it comes to niche blogging.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside there is the latest episode of Look, Learn & Create featuring the fabulous cloth doll artist, Patti Medaris Culea, a fun vegan recipe for Frushi (fruit sushi), a how-to on making a tennis ball training tool, and an Illustrator tutorial to make a digital word ATC and as always a bunch of questions that if you answer you are entered to win a free book!

Cathie Filian When you need a crafty break - whip up this quick and easy snack of homemade hummus and baked bagel chips.

Aileen's Musings Aileen gives you a sneak peek at some felt banners she's making for a swap, and tells you how to make easy rolled felt flowers to use as embellishments.

About Family Crafts As a parent, one of the biggest crafting dilemmas you may face is what to do with all the wonderful masterpieces your child creates. How do you display each piece so it gets the attention it deserves?

TastyLinks Sunday!

I came up with a clever plan to relieve some of the pressure on meeting my book deadline. I can’t say what it is yet...but it’s made my life much easier and I think it’s going to give the book lots of bang for the buck. Huzzah!

This week I took the proverbial bull by the horns and started work on one of my big dreams. I’m hoping that it will result in the next level for my career. It’s time. I’ve built a strong foundation. I’m fine tuning a big idea and we’ll see where it leads. I’ve been re-visiting Dream Big starring Olivia before bed every night for inspiration!

There are a lot of big ideas on the burner in my world right now, and it’s all simmering nicely but I’m ready for something to boil. That’s the life of a freelancer and an entrepreneur. We have to make it up as we go along. Well really that’s life...it’s just that some of us realize we are the star of our own movie and some of us think we’re extras. Step away from the donut table and get your ass center stage!

(Olivia the Pig Images Copyright Ian Falconer)

The fine folks from Rings and Things are looking for a few good blog partners. Go here to find out how to join the fun!

It's TastyLinks time yet again and here’s what’s happenin’ with the Crafty Blogger Gang:

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Keep your kids busy this summer by setting up a Crafty Challenge for them!

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares a technique in this post about embossing on slick surfaces!

The Crochet Dude Read Drew's first installment supporting the 3/50 grassroots project!

The Artful Crafter “Panadieres for Zambia” is a neat story and one small example of crafters helping crafters – all around the world. As Eileen likes to say, “Crafters are just the nicest people.”

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery See how to make a card and card album themed for a rock and roll mom to be that uses cute die cuts in a cool way.

Naughty Secretary Club Arty Masterpieces are over rated; it's all about the Glittery Crafterpieces! Take a peek at the handmade art around my house and try your hand at making a fun glittery deer picture!

Mixed Media Artist Have you been wondering what happened to "Layers Upon Layers"? Cyndi's still hard at work, but has moved to "Mixed Media Artist". This week she's got a round-up of fabric painting ideas for you!

Cross Stitch at About.com Work at Your Own Pace - An encounter with a critter in the yard has Connie thinking about Cross Stitch (imagine that!) and speed.

CraftyPod Sister Diane reviews an intriguing new book: Micro Macrame by Annika DeGroot

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy uses her jewelry making skills to create some beautiful and functional stitch markers.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside you can watch the latest Look, Learn & Create video that includes tips on drawing, two techniques and projects for cutting photos up, a bit of fabric eye candy, and a free paper stencil and project from the new book The Art of Decorative Paper Stencils 2 and if you leave answers to the day's questions you are entered to win free books!

Cathie Filian If you are wondering what to eat, craft and play on the 4th of July then head over to Cathie's blog for ideas.

Aileen's Musings Hard as it was, Aileen has narrowed down the playing field and needs your help again to choose from her favorite sayings that have been posted for her blog giveway! Stop by and pick your favorite.

About Family Crafts What are your cleaning tips for crafting with kids? Please take a moment to share your tips and then browse through tips shared by others.

Peekaboo...I see you!

Peekaboo Mixed Media Necklace Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

Sometimes the muse is with you 100% and can take you from inspiration to fabulous finished designs in seconds flat! Yay Muse! Yay fabulosity! Yay something else but I’m not sure what so I guess I should stop typing now...

The folks at Rings & Things just keep coming up with wickedly cool products for the jewelry making afficionado. Here’s a design I whipped up super fast using their new hammered oval footage gun metal chain, black rattail #1 weight and some random stuff I had lying around the studio. I have a bead board on the sliding component of my work desk (the one the keyboard should go on...were I even marginally normal) and it’s my catch all for the beads that didn’t quite make it into a design. This bead board is constantly overflowing, but it’s a great one stop shop for accent beads! I rummaged for some beads that matched and added them to the chain and the top of the rusty vintage keyhole I decoupaged with a flapper image peeking through. I have a keyhole collection I’ve been slowly amassing over the past few years...I have plans for them. Yes. Yes I do. I added a gunmetal key and one frayed rattail bow accent and that was all she wrote. The plan is to let that rattail keep unraveling...so this piece gets cooler with age.

Rings & Things also sent me a copy of their extensive and information packed Gemstone Bead Index. I have always felt they have THE best website in the jewelry making biz in terms of information about what you’re actually buying and extensive gem history, lore and fun facts. Love them for that.

They sent me three cell phone lariats and a serpentine necklace in both gold and silver plate. Leave a comment and I select someone to receive these goodies along with a generous mix of beads randomly selected from my Bead Board of Wonders! I’ll announce a winner next week, please check back to see if you won and email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com if you have problems leaving a comment and if you win so you can claim your prize. I can’t hunt you down all over the interwebs...it’s up to you to get that mailing address to me!

xoxo
Madge

Three Big Things!

Copyright Margot Potter 2009 Butterfly for Houston Museum Holocaust Project
Copyright Avalon Potter 2008 Butterfly for Houston Museum Holocaust Project

So much to share, so little time! Eek! I have three big things to share today.

First I wanted to let everyone know we are nailing down the details of the Beads and the City trip for August 13-16th 2009 and the Crafty Cabaret Southern Caribbean Cruise for October 9-17th 2010. As soon as I have links to the sign up info online, I’ll post them here along with details about both trips! I hope you can make it!
Secondly I received my Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements Ambassador kit on Wednesday afternoon. Calloo callay! I am one of 21 designers who have worked with the CYSWCSE brand as teachers and consultants and were invited to become official ambassadors. A few folks asked for a sneak peek, so here is a little of what I got. I also received bead mats, a Create Your Style color wheel, the ginormous catalog, a look book for Spring/Summer 2010, a jaunty mouse pad and educational materials. As always, impeccably presented. I’m so honored to be among such a talented group of designers and to be an ambassador for a brand in which I wholeheartedly believe. Plus...we all know how much I love to sparkle. Here’s a little sneak peek at some of my kit.

My daughter and I worked on butterflies for the Houston Museum Holocaust project. You can see our finished designs above. We both used Tim Holtz™’s Grungeboard Elements, CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements and Ranger paints to make these vibrant three dimensional butterflies. Avalon did a stellar job, I love the colors she picked! I followed her pop art vibrant color lead.

The Houston Museum is attempting to collect 1.5 million handcrafted butterflies for a display that represents the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust. My dear friend and gifted poly clay artist Michelle Zimmerman asked me to participate. Her father is a Holocaust survivor. Everyone is invited to join the cause and I truly hope if you’re an artist or even if you’re not, you’ll consider making a butterfly and sending it to the museum. If you’ve never read the poems written by the children of the concentration camps, you should. They are deeply moving and viscerally powerful. It is my hope that one day we will live in a world where this sort of thing is impossible. Unfortunately, we’re not there yet.

Here is the poem that inspired this project. Amazing.

I Never Saw Another Butterfly

The last, the very last
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.
Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing against a white stone....

Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ’way up high.
It went away I’m sure because it wished to kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto.
But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut branches in the court.

That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.

Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942
Born in Prague on January 7, 1921.Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942. Died in Aushchwitz on September 29, 1944

Finally if you posted about internet piracy and copyrights this week, send me your link so I can do a link round up for tomorrow. Thank you very much for your participation!

Love,
Margot

I do, YuDu!

Image and text copyright Margot Potter 2009

It’s been ages since we created a new The Impatient Crafter™ video. So on Saturday we hauled out the lights and the camera and got to work. Drew worked his editing magic and we posted it last night on YouTube, you can watch it below!

When the wonderful folks from ProvoCraft sent me a new YuDu home screen printing system to explore, we knew it would make a great video topic. We did this on the fly working from the instructions that come with the machine and we found it very easy and super fun. It took us about 6 hours to film since we were working in live time. I also spent about 2 hours fine tuning my sketch you see above, it took about ten versions to get to this one, and I'm really happy with it. Provo has images you can purchase and of course you can mine Dover books and other permission free sources, but I really wanted to make something from scratch. You can use this machine to screen print on a wide variety of materials and items, t-shirts are an obvious choice...but check out the YuDu site for some really fascinating ideas including book shelves, belts, shoes...

It’s an investment, but screen printed items look so much better than the decal style items you can have made online. If you've got a team or a troop or a group event or a fundraiser, why not make your own shirts? I’ve got a lot of plans for this machine...

While you’re here, please check out my interview with the inspiring Sister Diane of CraftyPod on branding. If you’re trying to navigate the complexities of creating a personal brand, we’ve got some insights to share with you. These days, in an ever expanding sea of talent, branding is the key to standing out. Diane is a savvy lady whom I greatly admire and I was honored to be invited on her pod cast. Thank you Sister Diane!

My muse awaits...so until next time...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Margot

No Worries, Mon

Illustration Copyright Enoch Bolles

Our trip to Jamaica begins tomorrow early, early when we drive to the airport. I woke up at 2am this morning and could not get back to sleep. Apparently I was practicing. We have a layover...ergh. That means customs in the second city, which I'm hoping doesn't mean baggage claim and lugging our bags around the airport because I'm just not that into it. Look I'm a girl who needs to bring a variety of outfits, shoes, hats and accessories. I want to be prepared for whatever fashion emergency I might confront. I'm not a tank top and scruffy shorts kinda gal. I check my bags because there are huge bottles of 50 plus sunscreen in them. It's just the way it is! Yet another reason why I need a personal assistant!

I like the travel part, once you get to the destination. I just hate the hassle of flying. Remember when flying was fun...well except for the food. I actually miss the food now. Going through security is a nightmare. It takes so long to strip and pull all of your crap out of your bags and then shove it all back in while hopping on one foot and trying to get your other shoe on fast enough for the grumpy people behind you. Sheesh. Give a girl a second will ya?!

I got buried in work yesterday so my bedazzled 'Vamp' swimsuit is still unbedazzled. I'm hoping to rectify that today. I'll share with the class when I get back. I did finish two really cool projects that I can't share until they publish. I had a moment yesterday while rebuilding one of them thinking about how the simplest, repetitive patterns are often the easiest ones to screw up. It took three tries to get that danged bracelet right. Is that a metaphor for life? Methinks...yes.

I won't be plugged in AT ALL during our trip. So please don't email me or leave comments unless you are willing to wait until Monday for a response or approval. I intend to sit my booty on a hammock, sip tasty beverages from pineapples and enjoy the scenery for five fabulous days! WOO HOO! Congrats to Holly Davis of Girl's Night Out Designs for winning last week's Exposed contest! Email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com with your snail mail addy and I'll get your prize shipped out after we get back!

Until my most auspicious return...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge

The Not Very Miraculous Miracle Suit and the AC Moore Event

With The Fantabulous Robin Beam at AC Moore

Hi Gang!

Two more days until we leave for Jamaica and I am SO looking forward to it. I really need a tropical getaway to refresh and refocus. We're all counting the minutes here at the Potter Homestead. Got our house and animal sitter lined up, clothes picked out to pack, gallons of 50 plus sunscreen for our fair skin and hats...ya gotta have hats! After the AC Moore event on Saturday we zipped over to Macy's to pick up a bathing suit for moi. I had ordered a few from Newport News last week and paid for expedited shipping, only to discover that they'd neglected to let me know two of the suits were on back order. Hullo. So I cancelled them and did some online research. Macy's seemed to have a decent selection.

Avalon is my style advisor so she bravely joined me in the dressing room for a parade of ill fitting and highly unflattering swimsuits. I hope that one day she recovers from the experience. Good LORD what is it with the people who make bathing suits?! I think they're sadists. If you can't rock a bikini, you don't have a lot of options. I like a swimdress, but give me a little cleavage action and make the skirt long enough to cover my arse! If it was worth revealing, I'd rock a bikini! Let me accentuate the positive! Show me some retro fabulosity that has colorful and lively fabrications and all of those little details that divert the eye from things we don't wish to hilight! I've decided that I need to design a line of bathing suits and resort wear for real women, meaning the majority of us who aren't built like 14 year old boys with huge boobs. Just because we aren't a size 2 doesn't mean we want to look frumpy. Seriously, I think that's a gold mine!

But I digress...

I tried on a 'Miracle Suit.' The only miracle is that I managed to get it on and get it back off again without a large shoehorn or a team of mules. It got stuck half way over my tushie and I was seriously worried we might have to have it surgically removed. We were laughing so hard we both collapsed on the dressing room floor while I flailed about like a beached sea elephant! I finally managed to get it on and looked like a very lumpy sausage stuffed into a tiny casing! Thankfully the retro 40s style shirred 'vamp maillot' Jantzen suit fit like a glove and shoved the lumps into a delightful hourglass shape. Huzzah! I plan to bedazzle it, because it was only available in black and it needs a little pizazz. This is why I love being crafty, I can trick out any fashion item in a flash. Break out the hot fix crystals and the sew on stones and call me Esther Williams!

I had a great time with the AC Moore folks and everyone who made the earrings seemed really pleased. They were easy to make and they looked quite fetching, so it was a win-win. Most folks aren't going to sit down for too long, so I made it a short attention span concept. My bestest buddy Ms. Robin Beam came to support me, which was super sweet of her. I just adore Ms. Robin!

I'm finishing up some samples for a new book query and fine tuning the concept so I can hopefully get it off in the mail before we go along with a couple of magazine projects that are due. Then we're off to Jamaica to unwind for a few days. No worries, mon.

xoxo
Madge