San Francisco skyline from Mount Tamalpais

San Francisco skyline from Mount Tamalpais
Originally uploaded by Sam R

While I still feel like I'm taking a bit of a break from things, I felt the need to blog about something very peaceful... very serene.

The summer of 2003 brought about many changes in my life. I had not been financially responsible in college and was facing that square in the face that summer (guys, credit cards do not need to have a max limit of $20,000 when you're not working and going to school - it wasn't completely my fault that I maxed it out), the winds were changing direction in a serious relationship I was in (although I didn't know it) and I would soon be starting my last year of college. It was madness and I'm not sure how I handled all of it.

I did take a trip to California that summer. The main point of the vacation was to hang out in San Francisco (quite possibly my 2nd favorite place... Paris sits in spot number one), however, there was some hanging out across the bay from San Francisco and in LA as well. On the first night there, I stayed at a lovely B&B on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County. I think my party was the only group there. We had a room with a balcony that overlooked Marin County, the bay and San Francisco just beyond that. The red woods were gorgeous, majestic, and quiet and the view of the city was calming for some reason.

Sometime during the night, the door to the balcony blew open. I was awakened just as the sun began to turn the horizon pink. The lights of San Francisco were still on, it was still very dark, a bit foggy, and completely calm. I stood there, not upset because I something had disturbed my sleep, but completely thankful that I was able to stand there and take all of that in. It was so beautiful... I miss that scenery. I feel like waking up to that for a week is just what I need right now.

California could use my tourist dollars... right? :)

Big, huge sale this way!

This doesn't count as blogging... just a bit of promoting for the AREtsy Street Team. Click on the image above to be taken to a HUGE list of shops participating in the AREtsy Christmas in July sale through Sunday, July 19.

What are you doing still here? Go... shop... get some good deals!

Time out

Warning - I get personal here.

I'm one of those blog readers that rolls their eyes when someone blogs that they are taking an internet break. How on earth could updating a blog be so taxing?

Well, sometimes it is and go ahead, roll your eyes at me because I would.

For lots of reasons, most of them to do with the brain cancer that my mom is having to put up with, I'm tired. I have lots of projects I love to do and want to do on an almost daily basis, but it's been well over a week since I've wanted to do them. I think that is a sign that it's time for a break. I'm requiring myself to finish up some samples for the July Phat Fiber box, but other than that, I'm going to sit on the couch, watch season 6 of the Sopranos (yes, finally) and maybe knit stuff... for me.

I realized that something had to give today when I actually pondered putting my wool stuff away in the basement because I was tired of the mess in my house. Yeah, hold the phone, what was I saying? Before I get to that tragic point, I'm going to see if I just need a vacation from the extra (normally fun) stuff.

Aside from being tired from the time I wake up in the morning, which has been an hour or 2 earlier than usual lately (and waking up at 5:30 just to stare at the window watching it get brighter outside is not as nice as it sounds) until I go to sleep at night, I've also found myself getting really peeved at things that I would normally find enjoyment in. Normally I'd smile at someone going out and having fun - for the past week I've just scowled at them. Normally your jokes would make me laugh or at least smile to be nice - for the past week I've yawned at the humor.

I'm hoping that just chilling out for a while and looking forward to my best friend coming to town next weekend will help me snap out of the funk 'cause I have to tell you, the funk kind of stinks.

Oh, and this weekend is the weekend to blow things up so hopefully I'll find a good buy one get 3 free tent and get lots of fun, bright colored explosives to light up the night sky on Saturday. If that doesn't help me out of my funk - I'm not sure what will.

SO - please don't forget about my blog if I don't post for a while... I'll be back with clever, witty, cooking inspired and crafting inspired things to say soon.

See this...

I make it now!

Okay - sorry about the poor attempt to reference my favorite, still to this day, SNL clip.

But I make them now! I blogged a few posts ago about a batt that made me fall in love with all things wool. It only seemed appropriate that I eventually learn to do them myself. I purchased a used Strauch Petite drum carder on Ravelry about a week and a half ago. It came in a few days ago and I've been in love ever since. My first couple of batts were not overly colorful and didn't photograph well, so into my spinning pile they went.

However, the next 4 batts are tugging at my heart strings. They are fluffy, textured, colorful, soft and oh so lovely. I've already got more wool on the stove dying up in a variety of colors so I can card more batts. I can already tell, this is going to take up much of my time.

It's Friday - it's Fiber - it's Fiber Arts Friday! Be sure to go check out the other lovely, fiber related posts:

'Cause I'm kind of popular like that

The lovely Janell over at MooneysMusings awarded me with the Kreativ Blogger award today. I suppose I'll accept this award since I do consider myself creative... and I blog... so I suppose I'm qaulified.

Oh, and I'm highly honored as Janell has been one of my favorite bloggers since I started blogging about my Etsy/Garden/Cooking things.



Here are the rules of the award:

1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. List seven things you love.
4. List seven blogs you love.
5. Leave a message for your nominees, so they know they've won the award.

Seven Things that I Love ~
1. my sweet boy
2. my family
3. my closest friends
4. my Schmoo cat
5. getting my hands dirty in my garden
6. wooly things (yarn, spinning, fiber prep - love it all)
7. cooking

Seven Blogs that I Love ~
1. JunqueRethunque
2. CloudLoverDesigns
3. Hobbledehoy
4. So Mellifluous
5. And Now Ladies and Gentlemen
6. Oh, well, la-la
7. Casserole

Fayetteville Farmer's Market first timer

farmers_market_yarn
Originally uploaded by mel5545

I've been a long time patron of the Fayetteville Farmer's Market. It goes back to the 1980s when I would sit with my grandparents at the market on Saturday mornings while they sold veggies, wood crafts and honey. I almost ALWAYS got my face painted (thanks, Grandma, for the $$ to do that) while there.

I've since moved beyond face painting and have been purchasing veggies, fruits and flowers at the market since moving up here in 2004. Oh, and I prefer to not think about the money spent on hot coffee and delicious breads and pastries while at the market.

This past weekend I moved from patron to vendor. As I said in a previous post, my sister and I both were accepted to sell our goods so we shared a spot and set up shop. It went VERY well. I sold almost half of my yarn stock so I'll be busy spinning this week. Sadly, I left my camera at home, but thanks to some very awesome photographers, plenty of pictures were taken. The one above was found on Flickr and taken by mel5545 on Flickr. Maybe next time I'll remember my own camera.

In so many words

I've struggled with booth/fair set ups since my very first one almost 2 years ago. I don't think I've ever done the same thing twice. The nice thing about most of the craft fairs around here is the booth size is at least 10'x10' to accommodate the canopy/tent sizes. That gives you quite a bit of room to work with.

Or is it a nice thing?

Tonight I worked on my set up for the Fayetteville Farmer's Market. I'm not going to have 10'x10' to work from, I'm going to have room for a table and if I'm lucky, room to park my car behind it (but I don't think I'll get the good spots like that until veggie season dies down). I discovered something while working with my small space - it seems that designing a set up for a small space is WAY easier than I thought it would be. In fact, it's easier than when I have ample room to work with.

Huh. Who knew?

I'm finally going to be able to utilize the inside of the vintage suit case I purchased earlier this year for the Farmer's Market. I need to rig a better way to keep it open (right now it's a couple of pencils taped into the inside) but for now, it works. I'm also using a white, metal shelf my sister is letting my borrow for my roving and it could not be more perfect! A little bit of tea colored muslin and some signage hung by clothes pins, and I'm set. We'll see how the first weekend goes and I'll decide then if I like it - but I think it stands out and hopefully will sell my yarn and roving like hot cakes. I'll take my spinning wheel so people will see what to do with the wool and, if they are like me, they will start buying the wool before ever having a way to spin it.

Yup, that's the plan. So, wish me luck. It's my first time at the Farmer's Market as a vendor and I'm a bit apprehensive but VERY excited.