Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A great source for craft supplies

Just wanted to share with you all a great team of people. It is a 'street' team of craft and sewing, jewelry, handbag and almost anything you can think of for supplies.
It is www.etsysupplystreetteam.etsy.com and you will find lots of suppliers listed by store name for you to purchase your crafting supplies at reasonable prices.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Good Sunny Morning in April

Rain, Rain go away, guess it worked on the rain this past weekend, cause the sun is shining now. We are hoping,as usual, for some warmer weather this next week.

I have been working on my etsy shop, TheDuchessCollection@etsy.com and adding new items.
and I found a new blog I like called Crafty Dream, cute and a blog which advertises other peoples work.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Easter Dinner and ramblings

We had Easter dinner the night before Easter to make it easier for travelers to be home on Sunday. Lots of family and some new friends attended.
Great food and drink. A special Crepe and Lemon Curd cake made from a Martha recipe, took lots of time, not too hard.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Warm weather, all things being relative.....

Good Morning on this beautiful 48 degree day. We have had 2 beautiful days and I am enjoying the snow melting. We still have 5 foot snowbanks.

I have been papercrafting, making rosettes and banners. Oooh what fun, much easier than quilts and quilting. I did take a class for a new quilt which I am anxious to make, not so anxious as to put away the papercrafting, so I will do it when the spirit moves me and keep out my papers and cardstocks for now.

One thing begets another and I am making some of my own embellishments. 3 D embellishments, chickies, hearts,presents and eggs. (Easter,of course)

I did find a great punch this last week, it is Martha Stewarts lacy one, pricey but worth it.
I also bought some of Martha's border papers and stickers, all at Michaels Craft stores.
Papers fascinate me.

My daughter and I are going to set a date to go to Amherst for a couple of day visit with Ashley, she is at Hampshire college for her last year. We will eat out and visit the bead store, as well as the yarn store and dangle through all the stores in Northampton, there are vintage stores which sell the things we all threw out when our closets got to crowded. I always wonder about the people who still had all this 'crap' we wouldn't have worn on a bet. Even though I am not 'in fashion' and hate to shop I would not have kept bell bottoms or acrylic sweaters or corduroy jeans and outdated heels. Bad me, I could sell them in some of the online vintage stores.

Well, enough blathering on for now. Have a nice week everyone.

Monday, March 1, 2010

March 1 in like a lion.......

March came in with snow for us, not a lot, just enough for Al to have to plow. Now that he can see again I do not have to ride in the plow to say/scream left ,left, left.

I have been having fun in my workroom, working with the boxes and boxes of paper which I have stacked everywhere. Using my Cricket Expression and my punches and stamps. I know it is not as productive as doing a large project like a quilt etc. But it is fun and not too mind boggling. I have been making rosettes for my etsy shop. People have been purchasing them so that makes me happy. I will eventually use some for banners for the kids birthdays and for Ashleys graduation. They are cute for cards, badges, gift wrap, banners and decorations for many things.

I took a quilt class last week at Candlelite Quilts in Chelmsford. It was Eleanor Burns quilt called "How Charming". I spent more on fabric, charm packs etc. than I would normally but it was my catering money so I figure I am entitled. It is a nice quilt and something I have not done before. If I eventually get this one done I may make another, but will cut my own blocks, not buy charm packs.

Monday, February 1, 2010

End of January Blues....

Ground Hog day tomorrow, can Spring be far behind?

Monday, January 18, 2010

8" of snow today.....

I was driving home from a catering job last night in the darkness and rain, I was panicking because the weather report said SNOW, which since my 10 years in Florida, I am very concerned with driving. Driving on Route 2 I was in Leominster and still rain, not snow, I breathed a sigh of relief until I hit the exit for Route 31.

Tricia made me the birthday cake for this job and it was a huge hit. Buttercream frosting is the only way to go on a special cake. It was yummy.
Does anyone remember the 'old' frostings, lard and confectioners sugar? Awful but it was the only kind you could get on a 'store-bought' cake. Imagine all that lard in our arteries.......

Wow, driving snow, it was coming at me like a hurricane. Fortunately I only had about a mile to go. I drove in the gate and there was already a couple of inches of the white stuff. Boy, I really made it "home" in the nick of time.

Al had it nice and cozy for me, and our cozy means 80 degrees. I got in my "jammies" immediately and flopped on the couch. Since there is nothing on TV lately that I like, in about 20 minutes I was snuggled in my bed with a book.
Tonight one of my favorite shows '24' starts again, so Monday night I will not be reading I will be watching the TV. We will see how this season progresses.

I need to get into my craft room today, I have neglected my crafting for too long and I have crepe paper to ruffle and projects to make with my new supplies. No trips to Michaels or anywhere else for today.

Well, they are plowing the way to my craft room so I will hurry in and get some work done. A short day for me today I am sure.
Have a happy day all.