A Busy Month of Hayfever

This month, hayfever struck me down like you wouldn't believe.  Normally, it doesn't, but this year, it did!  I've never had so much of it since high school; and I hated it - and I still do.

Anyway, I also got a lot done as well, helped celebrated my Mum's 65th birthday, Mum and Dad's 45th Wedding Anniversary and my 41st birthday (the last two on the same day because everyone is going to be busy on the actual day of my birthday).  

I also got myself to the Mama Mia Mini-Markets at Murarrie where I made more money than I have ever made at the Creative Markets at Springwood.  Then, on the way home, I made the tough decision of leaving those first markets I went to try out selling my Crafty Pegs to the public.  It was difficult trying to not come across ungrateful, but in reality, the rent was too high and I didn't sell enough to cover it and make a profit.  
However, I've been offered other markets and I'm taking them on!  So, where one door closes, another two have opened for me.  How cool is that?  And, you know?  I don't mind the distance to drive, I really don't.  I actually enjoy driving my car, it's a pleasure to get behind the wheel and put on the cruise control on the highways and let the car just do its thing when there's not many people on the road.  And even when there is a lot on the road, I have air-conditioning... yeah, thank the Gods for that!

Well, I've been working hard on new products, a new website and I'm saving up for new things around the Crafty Pegs workstation too.  I'm hoping to get myself a whole new workspace.  What I'm planning on getting is a large work bench - a tall one - where I can store all my stores and stock boxes underneath it and have shelves on the wall where I can keep paint, brushes and other things until I need to use them.  Then, have a stool to sit on - and stand up if I need or want to - and it can scoot under the whole bench and keep out of the way.  I'll be getting rid of the bookcase and the green card table will be used at the markets and I'll give Mum and Dad the brown one for the coast (or even give that brown one to Gabe and Kat if they want it).  Well, that's the plan anyway.

In the last week or so, I've done the grocery shopping, checked the tyres on the car, scored some cheap fuel and I also went to Garden City and scored myself a very cool bag at StrandBags with a $30 voucher I got for my birthday from Graham Love... I did had a bit of money to it to pay for the lovely bag I had spotted online and it was mine!  And what a pretty bag it is!  It's a large tote bag made from polyurethane and I paid $39 down from almost $100... now, how cool is that?  I've been using it every day and I love it!  It has so much space and I can fit in my bag organiser in it too.

Well, today is the last day of September.  I've done a few things that have really made my month special.  I've read a book - yay, I did it! - and I wrote a review on My Reading List for it.  Then, I jumped in and did up some of the photo frames (and there's around 8 of them almost ready to be varnished and wrapped - but not yet, I've got some coat hangers I have to get done for the markets yet).  And then, I wrote two chapters of my 'Angel Love' book, and it's really kicking along!  I'm hoping to finish it soon as the plot is starting to really thicken!  I'm hoping it works out well with a bit of arse-kicking from all angles and good vs evil with a bit of winning from all aspects and losing out in just the right places.  But I'm tellin' ya, I'm exhausted... this month is a short one... with my birthday coming up, Halloween, and a new market I'm hoping to make some money at soon too, this new part of my Crafty Pegs hobby business is going to take me in a whole new direction.  It will take time to get all my ducks in the row I want them in, but being the kind of person I am, I'll have the patience to make this work.

And in between all of this, I'll be working on other personal stuff... like my Great-Grandmother's sewing machine.  Yep, it's about time I got my hands on that and worked on it.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Woudn't You Know It...

I've been going well this week. There's been late nights, but I've been sleeping so well!  I've been eating well, taking care of myself, making sure I'm going well with my stress too.

Then, I went out yesterday to get some last-minute things and dropped by Mum and Dad's house.  I was suffering from some sinus - and let's face it, it's Spring, and I get hay-fever, I'm bound to get this problem - and so I ignored it.  I started sneezing a lot last night, took an antihistamine and made sure my dinner had a huge amount of garlic in and chilled out after dinner.

I even went to bed at around 10pm... yeah, now that's early!

But, I didn't sleep well.  The sinus kept me up all night and I woke this morning with a cold!  Now, I didn't get the usual warning of an earache, so how did I score a cold without my warning?  I'm still trying to figure this out... but I'm also thinking about the Mama Mia Mini Market tomorrow night; and still want to attend it as I've been told that it's a great place to make money.

I can't miss it!  I don't want to.

So, today, I packed the car and checked the stall sizes on Facebook and then ... well, I've been pumping myself with vitamins and minerals.  I've been eating plenty of super fruits and foods since I woke up and even took a boiling hot shower to clear out the sinus' this morning (and will grab another one this arvo to clear them out again).  I'm going to knock this damned cold on the head before it picks up speed on me.  I'm not going to let it effect me - not after I've been waiting to go to this market.

I just hope it doesn't rain tomorrow night as I'm not under cover... fingers crossed, knock on wood and anything else for good luck.  But really, don't you hate it when something like a cold shows up to wreck a good streak of good health?  Yeah, me too... oh well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Two Days Off

During the last week, I've been at my busiest when I should have had the week off.  

So, yesterday and today, I did the smallest amount of housework and then finished up the last two picture frames for the Creative Markets and jumped online for the internet... easy-peasy.  I didn't want to be burning myself out too much, and I didn't.

Last night, I sat down and began stitching up the ends of the Tie Cushion for my Secret Santa lady at my craft group this Christmas.  This thing's really coming along well!  I've got one end almost done and the other end is mostly just finishing the fiddly bits and then I'll stitch the bums of the ties together and it'll be done!  Most of all, I want it to give a lot, so it's not too tight and it gives a lot so she can move it and replace the inside cushion if needs be with something more comfortable, and not undo my work.

Well, after watching my dvds of 'Supernatural', it was only 10pm.  So, I made up my bed after locking up and jumped online to check my mail and do a little reading.  Before long I was off to bed, but couldn't sleep.  My mind was going a million miles an hour.  I did eventually get to sleep, but I'm not sure when - probably after midnight.

This morning, I was up at around 8:30am, made myself pancakes and packed the car for the markets - stock box and all!

I'm currently charging my iPod, some rechargeable batteries and my tablet for tonight and tomorrow.  I'm off to a friend's house this arvo to chill out and to keep myself away from any painting or work until around 8:30pm... when I come home and chill until bedtime at around 10pm.  Tomorrow I'll be up at 5am and out the door by 6:30am or so and working my butt off at the Creative Markets at the Springwood State School on Springwood Road... it's my old primary school.  It's a great place to make a little money.  And with my new line of products and new display, I'm hoping to make a bit of money tomorrow. 

Well, I hope your weekend is going to be as much fun as mine is... until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Less Than A Week...

Yeah... it's less than a week to go until the weekend... less than a week to go until the Creative Markets... less than a week to go until my next new line of products hits the shelves on my market stall!  

Wow!  

And it's been a busy old week for me.  

Last week, I ordered in new business cards from Office Works, and yesterday I picked them up.  

A few days ago, I found out that everyone at the markets were getting a QR code for the next markets. I didn't know what that was... so a photographer on our Creative Markets group offered everyone who wasn't up-to-date to a free one for their market.  I jumped in and said yes!  Now, I have one of those all printed up, laminated and ready to go!

Yesterday afternoon, I repacked everything for the markets, priced all the new stock, and made sure everything fitted into the boxes - and it did!  Yay!  I'm really looking forward to getting it all working, going and being ready for next Sunday.

I really can't wait!

I'm also organising my birthday party too.  I've begun looking at a list of people, food, music, the theme, and now, I just need a place to get in and boogie on down with my party... very cool!  

Well, that's the low-down on me this week so far.  I've got a shindig to go to on Saturday, but I'm not staying there for long, as I have an early start on Sunday morning.  So, what have you been up to lately?  Anything interesting?  Anything normal?  Anything fun?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here.

I'm So Excited!

This weekend is going to be an exciting one!  I have a a lot of work happening for me over the next few days and yet, I'm hoping to get my butt into slow motion to be ready for it.

You see I've been working hard over the week I normally take off before the Creative Markets.  This is the week I normally try to keep for myself to have a bit of 'me' time... however this month didn't work out that way.  Oh well, can't win them all, right?

Today, though I varnished and wrapped up all the stock I needed to take with me to the markets this month - and some for next month - and then sat back and did nothing, zero, bupkiss... yep, I'm not doing anything tomorrow either.  Well, okay, after my Romance Writer's Group, I'm not doing anything.  But then, my writer's group is a relaxing thing for me as it's about my passion of writing.  But tomorrow, I'll be packing the car and getting my butt ready to go... then, sitting down and probably reading a book or sitting on the computer and writing my next chapter of another book, or editing my flash fiction.

I'm hoping to get in and just hang out and do nothing tomorrow... just to relax for myself.  Then, I snag myself an early night and I won't be in a hurry to get to the markets on the way there.  It'll be a good day.  But like my title says:  I'm so excited!  Well, I'm excited about family coming to my market stall on Sunday.  My brother, his girlfriend and my niece, Riley are coming to see to attend the market and see my stall.  It'll be fun!  It's the first time they've ever seen my stall in action.  And I'm working on changing it up again too... adding to it so my new line of goodies have a place to be.  But I'm not saying anything yet on what it will look like, just that my table will have to move back a little and things will look slightly different, and yet the same.

Anyway, I'm really happy with the progress I've made with the work I've done.  So far, I've made 4 picture frames, 6 Mega-Pegs and I'm looking forward to doing more of them next month so I have a good line of them to sell at the August Creative Markets - which will be now known as 'The Handmade & Boutique Markets' ... a mouthful, but a much better and more descriptive way of showing them off.

I'm just thankful today is a nice sunny day.  I've been able to get my laundry out on the line, and it's drying well.  I also got the car washed and I've gotten the clothes clean that I want to wear to the markets on Sunday too.  All I need is a couple of good early nights and I'll be set.

So, how has your week been?  As busy as mine?  Or same old, same old?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Busy Weekend Ahead

I was up before 8am this morning, and I could still see my breath.  Yep, Winter is most definitely here in Queensland.  On Facebook, my cousin, Anthony put up photos of the ice he found on his van before he went to work this morning.... now that's something!  Ice on our vehicles - I haven't seen that since I was around 7 years old or so... but then, I haven't seen ice on our windscreens since high school.  Oh!  Wait until we have to scrap that off our cars!  

Anyway, I dressed quickly and got into doing some housework before breakfast - and during it too.  I started the laundry and by the end of eating my pancakes, I had 3 loads of laundry out on the line.  It was full to the brim with clothes, sheets and pajamas.  I had gone out to my folks' house yesterday and changed their bedding from Summer sheets to Winter sheets; and thought to wash their sheets today - seeing I had some laundry to do today too.
While the last load of laundry was being done, I got in and washed the car.  It badly needed a good wash.  As I hosed it down, one of my neighbours who live down near the front of the complex was working out his new phone nearby spotted me and he called out.  He said that he had seen the car and thought I moved out; but I said no, it was a new addition to my life since my bird died.  He was sad to learn my little bird had passed away, and hoped that I was okay.  But he thought my Little Green Machine looked sweet, asking all the usual questions of where I got it from and looking at the space inside and how clean it was and everything.  I said that I've been washing it every week since I got it and vacuuming it out every few weeks too... and this week is a vacuum week with a dust-buster.

After we said our seeya's, and I got in and finished the car, I hung out the last load of washing and started in on the washing up in the kitchen.  I got halfway through it and really needed a break.  I had been going for about 2 hours straight and I really needed a break.  So, I let the water out and cleaned up the lounge room, bringing into the kitchen the teapot and anything I left on the coffee table last night.  I then sorted out what I'd need for my Queen Bees Craft Group on Monday and put it all in my late-Grandma's knitting bag all ready for me to work from tonight.  The purple travel box went back out the back in the craft area so I can fill it back up again with paint and pegs and brushes on Monday morning.  Otherwise, the loungeroom got tidied up and now, all I need to do is dust and vacuum this afternoon and it'll look lovely for the weekend.

By around 11am, I really needed my coffee drink.  So, I made sure I had turned off the washing machine and made my drink and headed upstairs to put some clothes away with my camera and phones... then hopped online to check my mail and to work on some of my books today for next month's romance group.  It should be good. 
The house is looking better each time I have a go at decluttering it.  It's taking more time the more I go through things, but that's expected as I moved toward going through this last room of the home office.  Anyway, that's my day of work to get done.

Tomorrow, is another busy day out and about.  I'm off to the Romance Writer's group and then home to pack the car for the Creative Markets for Sunday.  And then, I'll be out the back yard to mow the lawn and tidy up the yard and make some dinner once the afternoon turns cooler.  Then, I'll have an early night and be up at 5am on Sunday morning and be off to the Springwood Road State School for the Creative Markets... my brother, Gabe and his girlfriend, Kat are coming to this one.  I can't wait!  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Lazy, Crazy, Cold Kinda Week

Yeah... I have a feeling this week is going to be anything but lazy and relaxing.  Yesterday, I was out and about at my craft day with the ladies teaching me how to attach ties to fabric.  I took a tiring two hours to just attach the top of one!  Oh well, so long I had fun doing it.

Then, today, I've been doing a lot of things I didn't want to do; and yet, I had to get them done.  I washed the sheets and got my handwashing done.  Then, I put away clean laundry.  And then, I varnished the last of the Beautiful Coathangers for the Creative Markets next week.  Soon, I have to get myself into doing a stock take of what I have so I'm ready for counting this time next week.  Oh, yay, how much fun is that?

Anyway, it's been exhausting... I didn't even finish breakfast or take my vitamens, but it's been a busy morning of housework, talking to Body Corporate people from over the fence and finding out about things I didn't know about the caretaker of my complex.

Then, this afternoon, I'm hoping to get a few other things done around here.  I'm hoping to work on getting my handbags put away, hung up inside the wardrobe doors on proper hooks - well some of them anyway - and sorting through some of the bags of crap around here.  I want to sort through the rubbish and throw that out and put the books to one side to sort through too and move around here too.

Hopefully, I'm going to get my nose into some Romance Writers works this afternoon.  It's a cold day, it ought to be worth the read and edit them.  And then, I want to get in and clean up the lounge room and make up and bed, vacuum, dust and make the place look at least a little bit presentable before Thursday where I want to get my butt to my folks' house to clean it up, change the sheets over and clean their house up a little.

Yeah, a busy week for me - and all at home.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Tuesday

I slept in today.  Well, I had a very late night last night, and so I stuffed around in bed until after 8am; besides, I didn't feel like getting up... not until I was ready.

And once up, I grabbed the clean laundry, sorted it and then grabbed the dirty laundry and put on a load of smalls and my pajamas before I started breakfast.  I read some of the Sunday paper and listened to the radio and then hung out the first load and put on the second small load and hung that out too.  
By then, breakfas was finished, I had begun putting away the clean washing up and I wanted to get out there and wash the car.  So, I pulled on my wellies and organised myself and got out there into the car port and washed my Little Green Machine.  It took me about an hour to wash it and put everything away and lock up the car... but it felt good to have a nice clean car to use.

Once that was all done, and all the stuff that needed drying out was hung up on the line, I got talking to my neighbours.  They're staying on for another 6 months and their landlords are going to look into having the other fences around their place fixed up.  It ought to go well, once their fences are fixed and the place looks good.

But I'm going to be on here for another hour before I get in and put away all the laundry in my bedroom, tidy up the living room, wash up and tidy up the kitchen a bit.  Then, I'll get in and do a bit of painting of coathangers and see how far I get with them; as on Friday, I'll be doing a big varnishing and wrapping day for the Creative Markets before taking next week off to do my own thing.  

Yep, today is going to be a busy one.  I hoping to be able to work out my weeks better soon.  With a car, I want to be having one day out a week where I'll take off for a day to a place I used to drive in the Celica and I'll tell you guys about the place.  I might even take up ice skating again... now that ought to be great!  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Autumn Days Have Arrived

I woke this morning to my alarm and looked outside at the dawning day to find that I didn't want to get out of bed.  Nope... it was still dark, so I snuggled under the covers more and went back to sleep.

The 7am alarm went off and I really didn't want to get up... but tried, and failed... until half and hour later, I didn't have a choice.  I rolled out of bed and looked outside at what was going to be a lovely, hot sunny day. 

This meant I could do all my laundry.  Yay!

So, I grabbed the sheets off the bed, all the towels and laundry sitting around and put on the first load of sheets and made myself breakfast as I organised what I was going to do today... which was supposed to be housework.

Instead, I've been stuffing around on here on the net.  Oh yay... the promises we break on ourselves, eh?

Well, I got all 3 loads of laundry out and potted up a small half-pot and hung it onto a post in my garden, and then made myself a drink and jumped online.  Facebook wasn't working, so I ignored it for about an hour and found that it was slow... it does that sometimes, but I really wanted to see how my Crafty Pegs page was going.

Then, I Googled A-Mart All Sports at Underwood and sussed out a set of hand weights there... and found a sweet set of hand weights for $50!  They come in their own hard case and look good.  I'll swing by there tomorrow and look at them.  However if they're not good enough, I'll look at others that are more my speed.  
I've also gotta go out and do some banking and buy a plant for the halfpot I have for my yard.  Now it's stopped raining long enough, I'll be able to work on the garden more - and also it's coming into Winter, I'll be able to repot my plants again.  So, I'll be looking for pots for some plants I have to separate and get more potting mix to backfill other plants to make them look and feel fresher.

Otherwise, the garden is really looking good right now.  The lawn hasn't looked better since I began feeding it with budgie seed and lawn food.  However I'm looking forward at saving up for some park benches to give my backyard a nice homey feel to it... and I'll be able to work more on getting more plants hanging off the fences in pots as well as plaques.  This is all long-term projects, of course.

Anyway, that's about all there is for this month to do.  Dad and I have to keep looking for a car.  We've decided to not go back to the auction yards as they seem to recycle the cars that have been sold because the owners aren't happy with the prices the cars are being sold at.  But he doesn't remember us agreeing on this.  Anyway, it looks like we'll be working on looking at other car yards further afield.  

The Creative Markets went off well.  I had a good time there, despite the weather being humid, dull and wet.  And the public weren't put off by that either, showing up in droves.  I made a lot of my money within the last 2 hours of the markets - as usual - and have been given a cool nickname: The Peg Lady.  I love it as it's so cute.  Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Rain

Brisbane is getting one hell of a huge downpour of rain over the next few days.  I'm glad it's happening, but it's also very dangerous out on the roads - or is it?

This morning I was out there driving an it was a matter of me taking my time, keeping my distance between the car in front of me and my front bumper and keeping the car under the speed limit a bit.  And I had to make sure I wasn't in any hurry to be anywhere - and I wasn't.
I had research to get done for my next book; and so I was off to the Logan North Library to find books on Angels.  This wasn't something I normally read up on, but it was worth looking into as it's something of interest to me as well personally.

After that, I drove to Browns Plains and checked out their books on the subject and found they had a number of books on Angels and I picked up one that covered on Archangels by Doreen Virtue.  However, there is an encyclopedia of Angels - which covers all of the Heavenly Hosts including their rank, what they do, how they work, right down to the colour of their halos and wings.  This is the kind of book I was looking for; but the bookstore at Browns Plains didn't have it.  So, it looks like I'll be looking for a brand new copy of it around the ridges of heading off to the other bookstores I know of around the inner city to search for this particular book for a second-hand copy.

I returned home just in time.  Within the hour, the rain really began to pour from the already grey skies over this city.  With the markets on Sunday, I'm only hoping it doesn't keep the crowds away... well, it shouldn't if people really want to attend.

Well, it's Thursday.  I still have a few things to get done around the place before the big day.  What has your week been like for you?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Epilepsy Awareness Day

Today, it's Epilepsy Awareness Day, and the colour to wear for today is purple.  So, I sorted out my wardrobe last night, and am wearing my purple shirt, purple stocking-socks, purple underwear, have my purple handbag and went out today to do my grocery shopping... very cool. 

However, I spent a lot of money.  Damned inflation. Oh well.  At least I didn't spend any more money than I had to.  I spent money only at Woolworths, Coles and at the Big Apple Fruit Store.  So, really, I only bought what I needed and came home.  Not a bad deal really.

But the last few days have been very tiring and I've been feeling very burnt out; and this is because I spent most of last week out and about doing things for the next Creative Markets.  Then, I hit a wall and had to slow down and make myself go to bed well before midnight - this didn't mean my body wanted to sleep; or my brain - it just meant that for a good three hours in the night I was wide awake trying to sleep.

Not fun.

As of yesterday, however, I had finished up everything I needed to do with my market.  The rest of my works were all sprayed, wrapped up and put into the stock box, then I figured out how much stock I had made (money-wise) and it was a lot!  So, I made sure I had my money right, and put everything away and sat down with a glass of ice coffee and felt very pleased with myself; and very tired. 
This week had taken it out of me... really taken it out of me.  So, for the next few days, I'm going to finish up a few things around the place have been ignored, do some reading, do some writing and put away things I've been meaning to put away and make sure I have the float for the Creative Markets by Friday night... then spend Saturday just chilling out and writing the end of Fry Nelson: Bounty Hunter - book 3.  Yeah, that sounds good.

So, what are your plans for this weekend?  Anything grand?  Anything interesting?  Or just hanging out and watching the world go by?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Another Busy Week Ahead!

It's past 10pm and I'm about to go to bed.  But I thought to let you all in on what's been going on in my life first.

It's been a busy weekend.  I had Chiropractors on Friday.  Then, I had my Romance Writer's Group on Saturday.  This was great as I got a lot further with the work I had handed this time than last time.
Then, once home, I packed the back of the car with two table, a sheet of metal and my art easel, strapped it all together and put the main shop box in the back and stock in the front and the car was ready to go for Sunday morning.

I had a light dinner of an open sandwich and headed off to bed by 10:30pm; not that sleep came all that easily to me.  For some reason, I do find it hard to sleep the night before a market day.  But once the alarm goes off, I'm up and going... yeah really weird, eh?

Sunday went off almost without a hitch. 

The Creative Markets were 12 stalls down, and very slow.  But that's something some of the retailers have found in the beginnings of the years:  it's slow in February but picks up throughout the rest of the year.
So, I didn't worry about it when people just walked past and didn't buy anything.  I saw funny things happen and not-so-funny things.  Like when I watched the sibling rivaly between two kids of who controled the relationship in the family.  The older sister went and bought anything she wanted and got her face and arm painted while her younger brother hesitated at stalls and was shoved out of the way by his sister, and was dragged from the stalls he wanted to stay at to buy something.
Then there was a lady who kept on saying she liked my Magna-Pegs everytime she walked past my stall.  She must have passed by around five times, then she walked out the door of the place.  Before long, she was back, walked straight up to me, smiling and said that she'd take two Magna-Pegs.  I grabbed a bag and she chose two... how cool is that?

But really not many people made that much money yesterday.  I made a good amount.  I even scored a commission from the stall next to me - the lady who makes baby clothes needed pegs to hold them onto the tiny coathangers better.  So, last night, I filed down and painted up 24 pegs all the same colour, and today, I began to paint them the same design... so far, tonight, I got up to 6 pegs.  *Phew!*  That's a lot to get done in around 12 hours for me.  But there's plenty to get finished.  I have to buy two or three more tubes of paint and then I'll finished them complete.

Otherwise, I banked the float and the money I made yesterday and organised a transfer each fortnight - so I can really get in and make a bit of money on this and pay for my stall each month... and now, I'm into this Crafty Pegs thing.

Well, anyway, I have to move all my potted plants for the fencing guys tomorrow.  They're not actually working at my place tomorrow, but it's best to be ready than not. They'll be working on my place on Wednesday.  So, I'll move all the plants from the back fence to my house and then making sure they can get through my side gate... and will most probably move the car back for them.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Mostly Restful Week

This week, I'm hoping to get in and do as little as possible, you know, keep my stress down, sleep as much as I can and eat well... well, we can always make plans, keeping to them is the problem.

On Sunday, I was off to Brighton to see my brother and his girlfriend, Kat.  I used the GPS and followed the directions exactly; and the stupid thing nearly got me lost anyway.  It kept telling me to get in the right hand lane, and then told me to get off the highway - how dumb can you get, right?
Anyway, once there, we had a great day.  My brother helped fix one of my Glo-Mesh handbags, they both looked at my work I was going to sell at the Creative Markets - and ended up buying one of my Itty-Bitty Jugs - and then we decided to go for a swim down at the waterfront. 
Once there, we were almost blown out of the water as it was very windy, and it was also really choppy too, so I didn't stick around in the water long... instead I walked along the beach and picked up shells to bring home (in some places this is illegal, I know, but I don't have a lot of shells in my home, and would like to have a nice little container of them).  We all hung about the house after lunch and coffee.  Kat looked through photos while Gabe and I hung around in hammocks near his work shed for about an hour before I thought it was time to take off home.  I didn't want to be caught in the afternoon traffic on a Sunday afternoon.  What a day!

Yesterday, I had a big morning of running around.  The plans were small-sounding in my head, but once on the road, I found they were big.  
I headed off to Bunnings to get another card table.  This one was for the markets; as packing up my craft table was going to be a shit of thing to do every time.  So, I spent the money and just did what I thought was right.  This card table is only going to be used for the Creative Markets (or any other markets that I'm going to be doing) with my little tresle table and easel.  No fuss, no muss.  I'll just load them all onto the 2 wheel trolly I have and take them into the markets, then the second trip will be for the boxes and then I'd move the car... 
Anyway, after getting the table, I went to Garden City to go to Suncorp.  I had found a cheque from AGL (an energy company which sent me a refund cheque in 2012 and I forgot to cash it).  Anyway, I'm hoping I got it in on time... fingers crossed!  
After that, I went to Riot Stores and found they were having a 'Spend $40 and get $40 free stock' sale... yay!  So, I did.  I bought a collection of things I needed and scored as much as I needed to have in return.  It was great!  
Before long, I was on the road again and back to Springwood, this time to Mum and Dad's place.  They saw what I bought and Mum was impressed.  I made my drink for my Craft Group and then we chatted about what I bought and I opened a portable water pot... this thing folds up to a quarter of its size!  How cool is that?  I love it.  So, I bought two - one for me, one for my niece, Riley.  

This week, I'm hoping to get in and do some cleaning up, washing up, packing the car on Friday or Saturday afternoon.  Then, I'll cook something in the slow cooker for dinner on Sunday.  But then, during the week, I have volunteer work, a chiropractor's appointment and other things to do.  But I'm hoping to get a lot of sleep and eat well so I have the energy to get my butt into the Markets.  I do have those appointments and small outings, but they aren't too stressful.  Anyway, I how is your week shaping up?  Busy, lazy, or just ordinary?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Busy Few Days

I've been working on a few things over the last few days, all around the house.  I'm still organising this place - which is a good thing - and I'm happy with my progress.  Yes, it's slow, but I'd rather slow than a standstill.

Anyway, I cleaned up the area next to the side door to the car port.  I threw out all the rubbish bags there, picked up any paper and newspapers there and threw it all away.  Now, it's nice and neat and tidy.  Any plastic bags that are floating around this house that can't be fitted into the plast bag tube thing in the kitchen, well, they get thrown out in the bin.  I don't want them.  
Then, I attacked the garden yesteday afternoon.  The lawn mower came out, I moved the pots and pulled weeds, grass and other bits to make the garden look and feel neat an tidy.  And now it looks and feels like it should - lovely and pretty.  And I'm glad I got in and did that work too.

Then, I made myself a pasta dish and ate early.  I worked on my digital recipe book and watched some Supernatural on dvd - Season 8.  
Before long, I was sitting at my craft table working away at the pegs, pencils and magnets again.  I'm looking at getting as much done as I can before the next market.  And this week, I'm hoping to buy some coat hangers to paint up and make look nice too... paint them with flowers and flames in cool colours for anyone who wants them.  Take my stall in a new direction.

Anyway, that'll be for March.  This month, I owe money to another artist who has got some jugs I want to buy and other little things she's offered me to help market them.  I'll be seeing her on Saturday.

Last pay, I bought a 6 litre box for the stall gear.  This means, I have 2 boxes for the stock to fill; this is good.  I can't wait to see how all of this goes.  So far, I've put all the bagged stuff into one box and the wrapped stuff into the other.  The store box doesn't look much, but really it will have a few more things before the next Creative Markets comes up.  Mum reckons it's a good idea I have graduated it from a small box to a larger one, as it's easier for me to expand it when I need to.
I've told her my plans to get a proper desk for my craft area... one that doesn't move when I bump it.  I need one with drawers and is sturdy too.  She nodded, and said that it's best if I get myself one which climbs the wall in front of me so I can store stuff there too.  She knows what I'm thinking of too.  That's what's so good about Mum.  She knows what I'm on about with Crafty Pegs.

Well, it's been busy around here.  From cleaning out junk I don't need, to getting my stall ready for the Creative Markets, it's all on the go here.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Been Cleanin' - What About You?

I've been one busy little person.  I've been working on my next stall of the Creative Markets over the weekend.  Organising myself of what will be new there, what will be seen as a regular item there and what I can do there as something to do sometimes.  And then, I organised something for the table cloth to make it look light, pretty and just right for every month.

Today, it was shopping/grocery day.  I went out and worked on looking at what I could use in the new and improved market stall of Crafty Pegs in February to keep people coming back.  
At Officeworks, I bought 2 business cards holders and they look great.  They're black metal mesh and so will be durable for the times ahead.  Then, I scored myself a 6 litre plastic box to put everything for the stall into - that's to prepare the table and easel with; to make it look good.  This is so there's not so many trips to the car and back, and I don't have to carry too many things myself.
At Coles, I purchased some paper lunch bags and thought it would be cool to pop the pegs into something old-fashioned and fun and basic instead of plastic bags - even the pencils would go well in them too.  This is until I get myself a set of bags with my own emblam on them - that will take time and a little bit of looking around.

Anyway, I had a good day shopping.  I bought what I needed to buy.  The groceries were good.  I found out the post office across the road was held up yesterday by a nut case with a machete.  The good thing is that nobody got hurt, but the bad thing is that the nut case got away with money.  I hate that... and I live so close to the damned place.  Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Friday, Friday

Today is a lot milder than it was yesterday - which was a real stinker!  It rained and we had a storm which left us with a more stinker of a night than we expected.  
This morning, I woke to a lovely mild day and so I put on a large load of towels and sorted out what I was going to do this morning.  I had to check the mail, head over to Mum and Dad's place and then return home.  I did that and found a parcel had arrived from Brunswick Heads for me... it was the top section of a set of togs I was hunting around for at Rockmans which they didn't have here in Brisbane, but they had in Byron Bay, and Mum had to post to me.  What a huge problem that was!  I finally go and get a new swimsuit for the first time in 8 years and I find that I have to get one part sent to me via the mail... how frustrating.

Oh well, it arrived just in time for the weekend where I'll be driving to a friends' place where they have a saltwater pool at their unit complex.  Very nice.  So, I've gone and washed it and it'll be ready to wear by tomorrow.

Otherwise, I've got to get in and reorganise my Christmas Ornaments into the plastic box that all the books are in currently so I don't have to carry them around in cardboard boxes.  In the New Year, I'll get in and work at getting a few more plastic boxes just like them for my Halloween stuff and my wardrobes will look a far sight neater than they do now... and when the time does finally come for me to move, it'll be a lot easier for me move out because it'll all be so organised.
Then, I have to vacuum and dust around the place, clean the bathroom and toilets and washed up and then wash the floors, sweep out the car port and wash the car.  Phew!  So much to do and only the weekend to do it... well, okay half the weekend; as Saturday is filled with outings.

Yesterday was busy as hell too.  I was out and about for most of the day.  First off, I was off to Bunnings to check out the tressel tables they had advertised on television for $39... but they were far too big for what I had in mind.  So, I asked around there and one of the workers told me to look in the next aisle and I found a tiny tressel table for only $28!  What a bargain!  So, I grabbed one of those for the next market next year and then remembered I saw something cool on Better Homes and Gardens I wanted to buy from Bunnings and it only cost $40... so I went in search of it, but needed help with getting it.  Once I found it - well, okay it was a set of metal punch stamps - I knew I'd get a lot of use out of them.  I'm planning on finding old spoons at second-hand stores, flattening them out, then labeling my plants with them... and then writing verse on pieces of metal and propping them up around the garden as monuments to the plants and nature... it's just an idea.  I'm also thinking of getting in and doing a price list on my Crafty Pegs on a big metal sheet to show at the next markets; see if it works out first.
But instead of using the set of metal punch stamps straight off, I thought to give them to myself for Christmas... so I wrapped them up and put them under the tree.

Anyway, that's what's been going on here.  A lot and not much otherwise... I am looking forward to seeing the family over Christmas, as well as friends too.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm/cool and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Few Days

Today was shopping day; and I got out there and bought everything I needed and wanted.  Yes, I spoiled myself a little with a few little ornaments for the piano from Coles and bought up more groceries than I needed.  But I do this around this time of the year; as I don't wish to be caught short as the real Silly Season draws near... you know the type I mean; when people rush around and forget things at the shops and act a little strange in the shops.  I've seen them... they look like they need to go to the toilet in the check-out line when they've got one item.  Thank goodness for the self-service check-outs, eh?

Well, today, I paid off my last lay-by for the year, bought my Topamax for the next month, and spent a lot of money at Coles... yeah, I over-spent a little, but that's just me at Christmas.

Once home, I unpacked and put everything away and found that my pantry and fridge were both bursting at the seams with food!  Yay!  I love it when that happens.  And it's the most wonderful feeling to have food in the house - I often feel like having a dinner party; but who would I invite???  Most of my friends can't make it or are overseas.

Anyway, I spent my afternoon online and then had a few hours working on my Crafty Pegs, mowed the lawn (where a nest of Green Ants were peeved enough at me to attack!  One bit me on the ball of my left foot! Yeowch!) and then I had a nice cool shower, washed my hair and began thinking about dinner as I watched 'Happy Days'... I love that show; but then who doesn't?  They keep on playing the repeats on channel 11 and it's wonderful to see it keeping on our televisions when everything else fades away eventually.

I made a salad for dinner, watched a little more television and did a bit more painting and then packed up my paint, brushes and locked up my house to come upstairs.

However tomorrow, I'm not going to be sleeping in; as I was hoping to do.  Nope... I'm going to be over at Springwood to get some plastic boxes to store my Christmas ornaments - big boxes - so I don't have to have the cardboard boxes in the wardrobe anymore.  And I'll buy another one for my Halloween stuff too.  So, I'll be able to put away the wreath that hangs in my window too, as well as the scary skull I put on my door for Halloween and all my ghoulish stuff into another box.  Sounds good, eh?  
Then, I'll be off to Bunnings to get a table where the legs fold in.  I saw them advertised for $40 each.  This will be my own table for the Creative Markets; and will save me borrowing the light metal one from Mum and Dad every time - as I know they want that one back.

So, tomorrow morning, I'll be taking some stuff out of the back of the car, putting down the seats and pulling things out of the storage facility to return to Mum and Dad's place... and I'll be out for a few hours before returning home with some goodies.  I can't wait... I'll have some great things to organise, but my wallet will be a fare bit lighter.  However, I know it will be worthwhile.  

What are you doing for the rest of the week?  You know that tomorrow is a busy day for me.  Friday is my rest day, before I'm out and about on Saturday for the Volunteer's Morning Tea at the Logan Art Gallery and then off to little Zoe Treagus' 1st Birthday Party at Thorneside that afternoon.  On Sunday, I'll have a cleaner house, hopefully, and be able to dust and vacuum it by then.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

The Creative Markets!

5:45am:

I was woken by my alarm.  I didn't want to get up, but I did.  The morning was nice and cool.  It had been raining only about a half hour before, and it looked like it was going to be a rainy day.

6:40am:

I had eaten breakfast, put on make-up, loaded up the car with my goodies, packed my lunch, bought a litre of milk (yeah, I drink that much in a day) and then bought a paper and was off to the Springwood State School. 
The roads were clear.  It was such an easy drive... and I forgot to buy some tissues, so I went to the 7/11 down the road from the school and bought a travel pack.  Ironically, I didn't need them.

By the time I arrived at the school, it was just on 7am.

7:30am:

I was set up, put all my boxes, excess stock to the back of my stall and opened my green chair.  I had an hour to kill before the Creative Markets actually opened.  So, I took some business cards and walked around to some of the other people's stalls to see what they were selling.  There's some very talented people out there... 

8:45am:

People started coming in dribs and drabs.  By 9am, the place was filled with stall owners and customers.  I had a few people walking and looking at my stuff, but not buying yet... then they'd come back with their kids and they'd buy something.  When the kids didn't like the prices of the pencils, I made them a deal and made a quick sale... they walked away happy.  So did their folks.

10am:

Kellie Smith came to my stall and had a quick look-see.  She loves my work!  She picked out some pegs and sprung pegs too and was my first sale of the day!  She was amazed at the detail work that went into the designs!  

11:30am: 

My feet were killing me.  I was on my second home-made ice coffee (and boy did I need it!) and Vivienne Treagus showed up with Little Miss Zoe in tow... they were wonderful to see!  Vivienne bought some pencils and a couple of magnets and then went away to give Zoe some lunch.  But they returned to sit with me for the rest of the time until 1pm.

12:20pm:

The crowds came in waves - I found.  So there were rest times of around 5 - 10 minutes at a time... this is good.  But I was told by some of the stall owners that sometimes, it's more hectic... while other times, there's no sales at all.  
Then, my folks come through the crowd that was there.  Dad first, then Mum.  They had driven up from Brunswick Heads to collect the boat and take it back down there.  They were so proud of me and Dad said I looked tired; but it must be fun doing this kinda thing.  

12:56pm:  I pack up in 3 minutes... seriously!  So did everyone else.  Mum had walked away 6 minutes ago, came back and I was packed up!  She was stunned!  Dad was a great help with carrying a few things out to the car for me, so I didn't have to carry them out in two trips.

Summary of the Creative Markets:

I had a great time.  It was under cover, so we didn't have to worry about getting sunburnt or the weather.  But it was very humid as the multi-purpose shelter we were using wasn't designed to let in much air.

I made enough money to cover my $55 rent on my spot.  Otherwise, I made $3.00 profit after that... which isn't bad seeing it's my first time.  

I've decided to have another go there at Springwood in February when the Creative Markets come back next year... I'll have more stock, more variety and more designs to choose from.  

Tomorrow is My Day Off

Yep, tomorrow is the day where I sleep in, eat pancakes, do pretty much nothing at all but contemplate the fluff in my navel... it's also the calm before the storm of the Creative Markets on Sunday morning.  It's the day where I'll be organising what I'll be eating, drinking, wearing and doing at 6am on Sunday morning.

This won't take long.

Seeing I've spent the last 3 weeks organising myself to the last little letter, little bit and every little piece of thing I have ever needed in between, I have all the stuff I want in the car.  My two boxes filled with stores and items for the table for the market.  I know exactly where my stall is at the market (as I was sent an e-mail of where it was in the hall last Monday - and it is subject to change on the day).  And I have bought every kind of food I've ever loved to eat from the Big Apple and at Coles - which is snackable and tasty... so there's nothing that can go wrong.

Unless I accidentally go back to sleep and forget to get up, dress, scoff down breakfast and race off to the markets in a huge rush, I don't think anything will go wrong.

Last week I did have a horrible nightmare though.  I dreamt that the markets were moved to Dreamworld; and so we all got there and the organisers wanted us to haul all our stuff onto the train there and we had to set up at Koala Town (is that still there?).  Then, at around 8:45am, they just went around and told us that it wasn't any use and we had to pack up and leave the premises before the themepark opened... at 9am!  I had to pack up on my own and nobody would help me drive my Kombi van out of there.  I was being glared at by all the people walking around the theme park and I felt terrible and didn't sell a single thing or get my money back.  I was thankful it was a dream.

I know that was down to stress... damned thing... but I think it was because I'm walking a road I've never traveled before and it's scary and weird.  And once I've done this and know it's not that bad, I'll do it again and know it's fun and stressful and exciting... so, I'll make a little money and enjoy it. 

So, I'm looking forward to the Creative Markets at Springwood State School on Sunday.  I'll be stuffed when I get home, but it'll be worth it when it's done.  Dad's worried about how much money I've put into the Crafty Pegs venture... but I do believe it's the setting-up costs and the first year that actually does cost the most in a business; after that, it does start paying itself off little by little.
But I have noticed that I'll never get my time back from my Crafty Pegs.  It's just how it goes.  I enjoy painting - fortunately - and it's something I will be getting back into again and again.  

So, tomorrow is a day of double-checking that I have everything.  That I have enough money for a float... that I have my outfit sorted out, the right shoes for the day, that I get enough sleep the night before and make sure I secure everything right for the drive over and back.  I know that sounds basic - the last one - but I don't want something to be smashed in the back of the Pajero when I'm not going too far for a market.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

The Devil's In the Details

In a week's time, I'll be attending the Creative Markets at Springwood Road State School here in Logan City.  My stall will be called Lynda's Crafty Pegs.  I'm so happy, tired, sleepless and broke... but I'm glad to be doing this as it's a new experience.  However, I have been told that it's the first market stall that does send you a little broke to start with - and the setting-up costs that does that to you as well.  And once you've got all that set-up costs out of the way, you can work out anything else you need to do afterwards.

Well, now, it's the devilishly details stuff.  I have a few more pegs to get done, the last varnishing session and wrappings to do on Tuesday.  Wednesday is my grocery shopping day and then on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I'm going to be doing nothing... absolutely no Crafty Pegs stuff, so I'm not exhausted.  But that doesn't mean I won't be doing something on those days.

On Thursday I'll probably get some much-needed housework done around here.  Yeah, I've been washign up, doing a little laundry here and there, but I really need to get some major cleaning up done around here; as it's been ignored of late.
On Friday, I'll be out of here early with Mum to go to the hair dressers to have my hair looked at... well, I know it's a lovely long bit of hair, but I really do enjoy having it done the way I did last year - all flipped and wavy in the 1970's style.  And I'll also be doing it to have myself look nice and neat for the markets too.
Saturday is the day where I'll pack the car with everything I need to take to the market.  This means I'll have the car competely emptied out of boxes, bags and anything else in there - except what will be needed.  This also means I'll be getting a few things to tie things down and together while I'm out shopping on Wednesday so nothing slides around and damages the car interior.  

Next Sunday morning, I'll be at the school before 7am... yeah, that early... to set up my stall.  I'm hoping to have my Aunty Helen help me out at the stall that day for the few hours and then help me out packing up too.  Otherwise, if she can't, I'll be okay on my own with a two-wheel trolley (which I'll nab from Dad for the weekend).  

Yep, the devil's in the details this week. And I have to get everything right.  Dad's worried that I've spent too much money on this Crafty Pegs business venture, but I have said to him that it's the setting up of anybusiness that usually costs the most; then after around a year, it usually starts to pay itself off bit by bit.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.