Thanksgiving weekend I entered a tree in a contest at an art fair at the Kane Co. Fairgrounds. I needed to figure out a way to decorate that would tell observers what my business was all about and not cost me much money. Four strings of “thread spool lights” from Moda, 5 yards of white rick-rack, 2 dozen cheapo ornaments with more rick-rack hot glued around, handmade cardboard and fabric scrap “fabric bolt ornaments”, and a eleventy billion and one various sized fabric yo-yos stitched together for a cool garland, and I had a tree!

  
The weekend before the craft show I had it set up in the back room and almost all decorated when I remembered that it still needed a topper. I swore I had seen plain paper mache dressmaker’s dummies at Joann’s or Hobby Lobby. But after a futile search I gave up. I looked online, no luck. Then I found a fabric pincushion dummy at Joann’s and decided to paint it to mimic my logo. Awesome.

Have I ever mentioned that I have a secret love of tacky things? You probably will never see me wearing a Bedazzled cowboy hat with rainbow feathers but I have a secret appreciation for that type of thing anyway. (I am such a fashion icon that there is a blog dedicated to watching what I wear. What’s that you say? Oh! That Mrs. O! Never mind.)

But vintage tacky I really can’t resist. Back in November I attended my church Women’s Retreat. Our Saturday evening entertainment was a White Elephant Gift exchange. I got stuck with won a “frog environment”. For some reason none of the other women tried to steal that fabulous prize. But at the end of the night I found myself coveting someone else’s gift.
 
Lo and behold, when I shared my admiration with its new owner she was more than happy to regift it to me on the spot (no need to even trade my lovely amphibian abode). This beauty is an approximately 11×14″ red velvet and paste rhinestone extravaganza of holiday bling!
  
Too bad it is the only one of its kind in existence huh?

I was asked to help chaperon a field trip tomorrow to the Art Institute in Chicago. I’ve never been so I jumped at the chance. I’ll be accompanying the St. Charles North high school art students so it should be fun. I think there may be some other little side trips involved but I don’t have my itinerary in front of me so I’m just going from memory.

It was a tricky decision to make to close for a day during the holiday season but I don’t want to miss out on opportunities like this with my daughters if I can help it. There are going to be fewer and fewer field trips and things to chaperon as they get older and I’ll really miss these little things. Plus I like teenagers. No really. I find them very entertaining and often their perspective can be enlightening. I’d much rather spend my day with a room full of 14 year olds than 4 year olds or 4th graders. (But I’d certainly never want to be one again!)

The sky is clouding up now and they are saying that we are in for some winter weather today into tomorrow. I hope it isn’t so much that we have to cancel the field trip. On that note I’ve made an executive decision regarding weather related store closings. If St. Charles schools are closed because of the weather I will probably be closed as well. Now some days I’ve found that the roads get cleared up mid-day and there is no reason to stay off them. On those days I will probably venture in. So I guess I’m saying if the weather is bad the best thing to do is call ahead (630-443-4770) and make sure I’m here before heading over.

 
If I had to list my Top Ten craft materials wool felt would definitely be in the Top 5. (Hmmm, maybe I will think on this and actually make a top ten list…)
There is just so much to love about real 100% wool felt (or the 80/20 stuff if you just can’t find or afford the 100% stuff).

 
Last week my shipment of wool felt packs arrived. The fat quarter bundle (7-22″x18″ cuts) is $41.99 and the Charm Pack (36-5×5″ squares) is $21.99.