Knitting or Xanax? (Midwest)

Dang, TV is hard to watch these days. It's so stressful. There are reminders of the intensities of our current situation everywhere. In an effort to keep myself calm during my sporadic tv viewing, I am back at my knitting. If I'm about to sit down for the evening news, I need my knitting for protection!

I started this warshrag when I was in Chicago with Laurie. The pattern is from the Mason Dixon knitting ladies. Love them! I see they have a new book out, too. I must add that to my wish list.

I'm sure to finish the warshrag during the VP debates, so I will need a new knitting project. This is exciting. It will require going to the yarn store for some hard core yarn fondling. Maybe I'll take my camera. The rows of colorful fibers would make a good study. Any suggestions on what I should knit next?

Red (Midwest)

I have surfaced to post. I've been sick. Sam decided to share his intestinal virus with me last week, and then his cold. Of course my body was so clever, and created a nifty sinus infection from the cold by products. Anyway, bedrest, aspirin and antibiotics saved me and here I am. Posting. With not much to say.



I will just put up a few pictures from yesterday's apple picking excursion. Red wagons. Red apples. Red berries. Red t-shirts. Hooray for a theme!

Rain-e-gade (Midwest)

Laurie and I have successfully completed our first Renegade Craft Fair experience. I can sum up the fair with one word - wet. It rained almost 7 inches the first day, a record one day rainfall for Chicago, and another 2 or 3 inches the second day. Despite the rain, people still came out. And, when the rain stopped it got really busy. Sales were not bad considering the weather. A huge thank you to those of you who donned your rain gear and came out.



Sharing a booth with Boh Bon Soap Co. was definitely the way to go. Setting up a wet tent in a downpour was much easier with three people. And, we were able to take breaks as often as we wanted.




The time we spent before and after the fair was great, too. Our hotel was very cool and smelled great (seriously).


We bought two day El passes to get around. We ate yummy food at Penny's Noodle Shop, Milk and Honey and CBA. We shopped Wicker Park and Armitage (twice). Yesterday, when the rain was finished, we drove through the Loop and up Lakeshore Drive. I am in love with Chicago. It's a fantastic city.

So now I am home unpacking, drying my shoes, stowing the show tables, etc. It's nice to be here and think about what's next. I have a moving card to print and some wholesale inquiries to follow up on.

Finally, I'd like to thank those who posted about us and Renegade. We sure appreciate the blog mentions. Thanks, bohaute, Poppytalk, Roadside Scholar, Broadway Paper

Off to Chicago! (Midwest)

This week I have been packaging up card after card after card after card after card after card after card (you get the idea). It's time to road trip to the most amazing craft fair ever. It's time for Renegade!

Tomorrow morning after I drop the squirts at school I'm off to O'hare to fetch Laurie for our long weekend of craft fairing, knitting, eating, hoteling, shopping, etc. I don't think we have ever been on vacation together, just the two of us. I can't wait. Of course we will be busy with Renegade on Saturday and Sunday (come see us!), but there is much time to play beyond our fair obligations.

I'm excited to introduce Laurie to Chicago. I lived and worked in the Windy City several years ago and I still miss it. Whenever I'm there I get a rush. Sometimes, I fantasize about buying a loft in Wicker Park as a weekend home. I could set up my loft with fully stocked art studio complete with letterpress area. Sigh.

Back to reality, I need to tidy up a few things and then start packing. Fingers crossed that it doesn't rain as planned.

Holiday Buzz (West Coast)

Temperatures out west are soaring this past week, but I am busy inside working on my winter stash of cards. It seems strange to be printing up holiday cards when it still feels like summer! My printing area is in my garage, and by 11:00 a.m. the heat is unbearable. My ink is drying before I finish each run. Today I cleaned the press twice for one run of red ink. I am making progress though, and the weather report shows cooler temps to come next week.

Off to get some ice tea!

Text Finally! (West Coast)

Next week is Renegade in Chicago and I have been working hard trying to print a variety of cards for our booth. I liked the way these floral cards turned out. They are my first larger run of multiple colors. I printed about 60 of them. I plan on selling groups of 3 as well as singles.

My kids are home, and waiting for a homework helper (me). Have a nice evening...

Summer Sets (Midwest)

A quick post here to say good bye to summer.

Good bye, Summer. I will miss your warmth, your long days with pretty sunsets and the birds singing. I will miss the time spent in bare feet and the chlorine smells in my hair. Mostly, I will miss the freedom you gave my children to play without schedules and responsibilities. Kiss. Kiss. I'll see you in nine months.

Hello School Season! I'm so happy to see you.