Second Installment: Everything's SUCH a Project, Grayslake Report, More to Read, Random Thoughts

I was tickled to get such a nice response to our new feature, Everything's SUCH a Project. Yeah!! Sounds like everyone loves to get creative. So here's another idea, similar to the last but somewhat easier. Joe and I, and I know many of you, love the industrial look. Whenever boxes of mold patterns are available at a reasonable price, we always snap them up:

Many times, these molds are terrific just displayed on their own as little pieces of art. But they also make terrific bases for any number of projects. Case in point, these funky Valentine photo holders. One of my favorite guilty pleasures is thrifting, and I always scoop up wire clip stands when I see them. So just combine the two, molds plus wires. A little drilling, a little glue, and you have it! You can also make the holders from 16 to 18 gauge wire, if you have a hard time finding them ready to go.

Nice thing about these, too, is that while they are great for the holiday, they can be used any time. That's my favorite kind of decoration!

GRAYSLAKE REPORT

Many thanks to all who came out to support the Grayslake (IL) Antique Market over the weekend. I don't know if you noticed, but our look has been a little different at the last few shows. A little more urban, a little more funky. We've been having fun with it, and the response has been positive. We decided at the beginning of last year that we need to cast our product net a little wider, so shopping some different venues has resulted in some new looks for us. Stay tuned

for more!

BOOK REPORT

I am just finishing Suzanne Collins' YA novel, "The Hunger Games." What a page turner. It kind of makes "Lord of the Flies" seem quaint. The premise is that in the not too distant future, North America as we know it no longer exists. It has been resettled into Panem, a wealthy central city supported by 12 impoverished outlying districts. In retaliation for a failed rebellion, the districts are required every year to choose 1 boy and 1 girl by lottery. The contestants come to the capital, are fed, groomed and trained, then turned loose in an arena to fight to the death on live television. Chilling. Shirley Jackson times 24. But the story also asks some larger questions. Give it a try.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I will only be posting once this week. No show, but getting appointment stuff ready, plus Midland and Mishawaka. Still trying to catch up from the holidays, too. Yikes. On the cyber front, I had a great time last week visiting some blog followed by our pal, JoAn Babb. Check out her favorites when you have a minute and share some of yours. More cyber news to come. Have a great week. xo