Postponed

Well, the Murarrie State School Market Day has been postponed for 3 weeks because the weather hasn't been on our side.

It's been raining over the past 24 hours; and we're in for a wet weekend - with storms as well - and so, tomorrow, the day is going to be normal; of me waking up late and making more dish cloths and having another few weeks of preparation.

This is a blessing in disguise; which is great really.

However, I've been looking forward to my first market in 2 years.

Oh well, never mind. This time will give me more time to make even more dish cloths - bigger ones and small ones as well to sell at the market when it does come around. 

Until my next post, keep creating!

A Week and a Half Away!

The markets are just a week and a half away... and I'm excited!

My business cards are ready and packed.

I've bought hand wipes for the day.

I've been knitting new and colourful dishcloths to sell (they're the last thing that needs to be done - and I'm taking my time).

And I'm looking forward to getting it all fixed up, packed and over to the Murarrie State School Market Day.

It's going to be a great day out no matter what the weather; as it will be a great beginning to another phase of 'Crafty Pegs'.

I've gotten rid of the pencils and replaced them with the dish cloths.

There's a smaller amount of Pretty Picture Frames and I've still got the magnetic pegs - of all sizes!

Then, I've restyled my whole stall to give it a better feel too! In doing so, I went through the whole lot of boxes I've got and cleaned them out to find I only need 2 boxes and the picnic basket to take with me... this gives me more room in the car to play with. 

Yep, I've downsized, and yet made the stall so much better at the same time. 

So, 14th, October is date to keep on your calendar.
The time is 8am - 2pm... I'll be there from the time the market opens to the very minute it closes. Also, if you show up closer to closing time, we could do some deals... good ones too!

Until then, keep creating!

A New Business Card

With the Murarrie State School Market Day approaching in a few weeks, I'm more than ready to hit the roads and get my little green machine and me out there selling things again!

The one thing I have run out of is my business cards. So, I jumped onto Vistaprint and sorted out a new style of business card.

Did you know that it's been 4 years since I redesigned my business cards? I had ones which had paintbrushes on them - brand new ones fresh out of the box - and it looked so pretty and new! It also looked like a stock photo I had paid for from the internet.

So, I pulled out some of the stock I had ready for the market, put it on a small table and started photographing it with my phone.

And you know? It worked out well! I tried different effects on my phone, and it gave the different feels I wanted on the photo of it all.

When it came to looking at it through Vistaprint's site, I found working on there was so easy - and so was the choosing of the card stock, how many I wanted and how soon I'd like them to arrive. I paid for it all online and then? Well, all I have to do is wait for them to arrive to my PO Box and that'll be it! 

I'm also editing a book right now... and will be looking into working on the book cover soon. Now, I wonder what that's gonna look like? 

Woah! So much going on in my life and not long ago, I had so much time on my hands.Well, until my next post, keep on creating! 

Reorganising Frenzy!

I have my first market coming up on 26th, November (in about 2 weeks this Saturday) and I've been in a frenzy of activity!

Yes, I've been organising my craft stall to go to the Logan Art Gallery. I have to be there an hour before the place opens to set up my stall and have it ready to meet the public - and the place opens at 10am. I hope so.

Anyway, I'm still working on the Book Tree painting and other craft items. I have to get in and finish up some oversized pegs and get them sprayed, glued up with magnets and packaged up and then work on more things that are just to do with image ideas for the market on that day.

Mainly I have to make sure the two new items I have planned do work out properly... well, I hope they do. I have plenty of pin cushions, plenty of picture frames, have to re-wrap my 'Adult's Lucky Dip' (I mean who doesn't love a Lucky Dip?), then I'm hoping to get in and make sure my table looks as inviting as possible; then get in and work on getting my till back up to what it was... that's not going to take long - as I don't carry that much money on me to begin with.

Anyway, that's all the news at the moment. I've updated my website, so go and have look at the new photos and blogs there for the new works I've been doing. Until my next post, keep creating! 

I'm In the Logan Art Gallery Store!

I didn't want to tell you guys - not until it was certain! But last week, I got confirmation that my Itty-Bitty Pin Cushions were accepted into the Logan Art Gallery Store between October and December!

This is so cool!

I was sent out a spreadsheet to fill in pricing and titles. Then, I had to write a bio about myself... then I had to give them a photo of myself. This was tough seeing I never like any photos of myself. 

Today, I dropped off them off in this lovely little container. Even though the lid and box don't match, it doesn't matter, they're not going to be on display, they just hold my pin cushions out the back with the label on the lid (so they know who's they are). So, they don't really have to match.
The funny thing was that when I dropped it off, Shania was amazed at the box and the pin cushions... she thought they were the cutest things! Three other ladies, who were also there, also loved them. One of them spotted the only heart-shaped one and was amazed at how I got that done - I told them that I was too! I haven't been able to figure out how I did it. We all laughed about that and I said my farewells until this Saturday when I work there.

Well, that's all there is for now. I'm exhausted. Last weekend, I spent three full days working my butt off painting pegs and other things around the place - spray varnishing them and all - to get them ready for the Bartertown Markets at Enoggera, only to find out I'm unable to go! I have volunteer work on this Saturday... darn! I was looking forward to this market too! Well, next time I guess. Until my next post, keep creating!

Crafty Pegs Update!

A few things have been going on with my hobby business and I'm very happy to report, things are humming along nicely! 

I'm still making tiny pin cushions - which have been accepted into the Logan Art Gallery's store over the last few days. I put in my application for that a few weeks ago - as the gallery showed some interest in them - and just this past week I've had an email sent to me about them. Now, I have to get a profile written, a nice photo of me and around 25 of my pin cushions all priced up and ready to go before the end of the month! 

Then, there's the Bartertown Markets at Enoggera Bowls Club which is on next Saturday. I'm hoping to sell a lot of stuff there - if I get myself going with it. There may not be enough pin cushions, but I'll see how it all goes - seeing I've got a good majority of pin cushions in the gallery now. But the rest of my stuff looks like it may sell well.

And this will be my first market back into the public eye again too. 

I'm also trying my hand at Macrame... I've bought a couple of books and found myself wondering exactly what the hell I've gotten myself into! But I do remember doing this some years ago and having fun with it. I think I'll need another craft/sewing box to store my macrame stuff; as my ordinary sewing box is filled with my sewing gear. I know that sounds excessive, but really it's not.

Well, that's all there is to it now. I've retrieved my artwork from the gallery since the Allsorts exhibition finished last month and nobody bought it ... and now it's stored away in one of the wardrobes in my house as I don't have the wall space to show it off. And I'm working hard on more pin cushions for the Bartertown Markets. Until my next post, keep creating!

New Little Ideas Coming To Light

I have had one idea after another over the past few weeks. However getting them to work quickly is frustratingly slow.

It's not that I haven't tried - it's money that's the issue. I have little of the money I need and a lot of the ideas which are pouring out of my head and I can't seem to keep up with.

I love that I am having these ideas, but it's the time I don't have to make them work... well, I was hoping to get some of the ideas working by next month, and see how they go. But it seems I have to wait on a few things and see how it all happens while I work on other projects I still have on hand.

There's a commission I am working on - which is taking its sweet time to get going as my brain just isn't switched on into is, because it's from my old work from years ago and I don't do the style I've been asked to do anymore. The customer asked me to do Aboriginal dot and in the colours and I told her I legally can't; but she pushed me about it. I'll have to see what I can do. Deep down, I really don't want to do them because I have my ethics and know I'm not allowed to make that kind of art and sell it. I'm not an Aboriginal and it wouldn't be right.

So, I've made the decision and will not do the pegs the customer asked me to do; and I will have to explain again why. Yes, I'm an artist, but no I can't do those types of designs due to the laws and that I'm not indigenous; and I'm not permitted to sell Aboriginal artwork.

Other ideas are going well, yet slowly - as usual - and I've got around seven coat hangers all in some way either in the beginning, middle or ending stages of being painted. Then, there's the picture frames... oh do I have picture frames! I have new ones from yesterday and then there's other ones from a week or two ago and then there's one I'm donating to Old School Tattoo and Barber Shop for their raffle - the big black one with gold and silver flowers I can't sell at the markets. I can't wait to get into that venture with them. 

So, what have you been up to? Now you know why I haven't been here for a bit. Until my next post, keep creating.

Mama Mia Craft Markets For August

Yesterday, I had a market in a new location at Bulimba. This was good because it had more foot traffic and bad because the last time I tried to find it - via the GPS - it took me over an hour to get my butt home.  That stupid GPS took me all over Brisbane before getting me back on the highway.

Damned thing!

Anyway, I digress.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day for the markets and I'm happy we had such great weather for what we did. The outdoor stalls had plenty of room to spread out, there was shade as well from the trees and we had more adults coming than children - which is always a plus.

However, parking was a real hassle. I had to park far away; which didn't bother me during the day, but when the market finished at 6pm, it was dark and I had to walk to my car in that darkness. At 5pm, the police came out and booked anyone parked even an inch onto the yellow lines around the place (which thankfully wasn't me) and they didn't wait for you to move your car, they just did it quickly. One of the retailers said he'd never seen a cop pounce so fast in all his life!

But we did have a good time networking and talking - even if we didn't sell many goods; due to being in a new location. A lot of the locals did say that it was about time a craft market came to the area; and some of them wondered if it was going to stick around. I hope we get to that place as a regular thing; as the locals hope too.

We did have some teething problems with setting up - as you always do in a new place - but they were cleared up by the organiser. Her friend, and helper, there came up and handled my gear without clearing with me first; shoving things against the wall and pushing my back table (where I put my cashbook, calculator and hide my water and food away from people normally) into the dressing room, saying I didn't need it, when I did - otherwise I wouldn't have brought it with me.  Of course I defended myself and the organiser came to see what was going on and backed me, advising her helper not to just grab a retailer's belongings without asking first; especially when they've begun setting up. 

So, after all those hours, we all networked, chatted and lived through that earthquake - which had no affect on any of us - and then we packed up and went home.  It was a very exhausting day and I took a little under $20... oh well, next time will be better. Until my next post, keep creating.

Moving On In A Cold Snap

Brisbane is going through a cold snap and I've been very active in my creativeness over that time... and before it too.

However I'm also not well; having come down with the cold/flu that's doing the rounds at this time of year.  Yep, I burnt myself out after 6 months of being on the go without a good rest and caught the first cold that I came up against... oh yay, how fun.

Oh well, it happens to the best of us, and it's just our bodies telling us to slow down.

But I've worked on and finished that large piece of work for my bedroom and it's looking great.  My neighbours who leave their light on unintentionally have yet to do just that to see if it does work out... but I do believe I have this little problem kicked and I'll be able to sleep a full night with a lovely painting on my wall. 

Anyway, I've been taking care of myself with this cold and the worst of it is over... except the cough, which is making me sound like a foghorn, but it'll go away soon too.

Over the last few days, I've been sanding down more photo frames to paint up for the next few markets, looking at working on more pegs, coat hangers and wrapping up more stock for the Lucky Dip for the next market so more stock gets moved on... yep, I'm hoping to get in and work on more things sooner.  Anything not sold in the market in September, is going to be in the Lucky Dip for October.

It seems as though I'm going to be busy, but I'm not really, it's just working out what will sell, what won't and how much wrapping paper to buy at the $2.00 store. So, how has your creativeness be going? Better than mine I hope!  Until my next post, keep creating!

New Table Cloths and New Stock

It's cold and raining here in Brisbane; and this means staying indoors and keeping warm and occupied with either housework (meh, boring) or arty crafty stuff (yay! Exciting!)...I'm leaning towards the latter, I know you are!

This week, I scored three free bolts of fabric from a friend who's cleaning out his house; and they're just gorgeous! So, I brought them home but left them in the car to take to my folks' place to use.

Well!  I've made some table cloths with them, and began a curtain for the bathroom (it really needed a curtain for some privacy). 

Anyway, after three and a half hours at Mum and Dad's house, a lot of measuring, pinning and tacking, I got my table cloths all sewn up on my machine on their kitchen table.  I used their house because of the space they have in the living room - which I lack greatly - and that they're not there right now... plus the wild birdies loved it that I was there to feed them today too (man, they're such cuties!).

Well, my idea worked out really well, as I came home with all my gear, left the rest of the material in the spare room at Mum and Dad's place and pulled out my tables to see how it all went... and you know something?  The table cloths worked out just fine!  

The major one was a under-cloth - a double-sided one! - of my original calico cloth sewn to the new green material so I could use the green cloth with the new overhanging floral design one market and the calico and the red/white flower overhanging designs at another market... give my stall a bit of fun and elegance if needs be.  A bigger plus is that with the cloths sewn together like this, it will also make the cloth heavier and more sturdy when I'm outside at school fairs.

Well, what have you been up to which is just as creative as this? Until my next post, keep creating.

A Busy Time

The last few weeks have been crazy. 

Honestly, it has.

I have had markets to prepare for and writer's block to contend with - damned thing! - and then I found a very cool chair in my unit complex; and I mean it's retro!

So, I took it to my folk's house and refurbished it!  It took me about a week and I loved getting to know it.  And seeing it wasn't all that aged, Dad helped with the sander - a tiny little one - which worked hand in hand with the hand-sanding, I found the work just moved smoothly.

Anyway, before I knew it, my chair was off to the upholsterer's at Slacks Creek where I picked out a fabric and they took 2 weeks to get it done... now? Well, it arrived home last Thursday; and I haven't had any time to get to know my chair.

It's sitting here in my office waiting for me to snuggle into it... and isn't it the most lovely Reading Chair you're ever likely to see?

Anyway, the Murarrie Mini-markets were on yesterday and even though there were lots of stalls, not many people showed up.  So, not many of us made as many sales as we had hoped. There were three factors working against us: the long weekend, the Life Line Book Fest and the Scrapbook and Craft Show in the city... yeppers, they were all working against us; as people were either in the city or taking off out of the city to have that great long weekend either down the coast or up the coast.  Either way, nobody wanted to go to a craft market this weekend...

Oh well... there's always next time. 

Until my next post, keep creating!

Been Busy!

Oh, yes!  I've been busy indeed!

First off the Murarrie State School Organic and Craft Markets were great!  The day was gorgeously sunny and lovely - our first Winter's day too - and the crowds were bigger than last time. There were plenty of foodies there, as well as other great things for the kiddies to do - like a huge jumping castle!

We had a few stall owners who complained that they didn't know about the market until a few days before. 

Okay... I'm going to say something that might offend some people:  if you don't do you homework - you don't follow up on your inquiries and e-mails and look on Facebook - you're not going to know anything about where the market is.  Just sayin'.  We were informed that this market was postponed for two weeks.  We were told last week about it all still being on too... so when I showed up and everything was in full swing at 7:20am, I wasn't surprised to find parking difficult.

Even though I broke even, it was a lovely day.  It didn't rain until the very end, when we were all packing up, and even then, it was just a light shower and it went away. But we all had a wonderful day.


Earlier that week, I had found a great chair in my unit complex. It was all wrapped up and shoved into the recycling area up the back.  After unwrapping it with one of my neighbours, we looked at each other as a lovely chair was revealed. I asked if she wanted it; and she said no.  So I took it home.

Over the weekend, I've been moving it from one place to the next and sanding down the arms to prepare it for varnishing.  That was on Sunday.

Today, I Dad and I took to their place where I finished sanding it and put two coats of varnish on it... and wow!... what a difference this has made to it so far!

This week, I have to put on a couple of coats of clear top coat and then drop it off to the furniture guy to get cushions made for it... now that's going to be fun! And... well, by then, there'll be more photos to show off!  So, how was your week? Busy like mine?  Hope so!  Until my next post, keep creating!

Busy Times Ahead... And Now...

Wow... it's starting to get really busy really quick and it's at the right time of getting really busy too.

I have markets starting up fast, a new line of work being included into 'Crafty Pegs' at my markets and a recycle/reinvent challenge my craft group online have introduced for us to take part in which has just started up for me today.

Okay, how did that happen?  I found a chair at the back of my unit complex.  This chair wasn't just any chair.  It was all wrapped up, looking like it was going to be moved or had been delivered or something, and the people didn't want it; so they dumped it up the back still wrapped up.
Today, I happened to put out my rubbish and chat to a neighbour who was told me that her next door neighbours just dumped their crap there, and something that was wrapped up (and who would wrap something then dump it?).  So, I went over and looked at it, unwrapped it and - OMG! - what a gorgeous chair! 

Okay, it doesn't have its cushions and it does have a little wear and tear on it, but I who cares.  I'll fix all that needs fixing on it.

It's going to become my Reading Chair... and I love it that it's got all that wear on it; that means it's got history.

Otherwise, I've been knitting up a storm of dishcloths.  People love them.  I've got a commission to make three for a lady who is an artist at the gallery; and I'm currently halfway through the first dishcloth she's asked me to make for her.  Very cool.

Well, there you have it.  I'm busy, busy, busy.  But I'll keep you updated with the chair, photos of what's going on with it, and how pretty it's going to look too.  

And the market for this week is at Murrarie State School; it was postponed from 2nd May due to bad weather conditions.  This week, it'll be back on - without a doubt! - and I hope to see you there.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Working Up A Storm!

I've been working hard on my new line of dishcloths over the last month or so.  They've come up a real treat!  The display looks wonderful!

Dishcloth Display

And today, I got back into working on my actual Crafty Pegs workbench where I sat down and painted up some pegs and pencils to some good hard rock music. 

What a great afternoon! 

I painted up 3 pencils, got some pegs all sorted out and cleaned up a lot of plates in the fridge ready to be used over the next few months.

By the time all this got done, it was around 4pm and I had started at 1:30pm.  So, there was a fair bit of fiddly word done and I sat down and did at bit of knitting for another hour or so before getting in and figuring out what to have for dinner.

I've been knitting for the last 3 hours... now that's a lot of work between two different patterns and colours to be done.  Tomorrow, I'm off to Spotlight to find a few more counters for myself.  This is so I can do more patterns on other needles and get more done.  I have only one counter, and so if I want to get in and do another complex pattern I can't while I am using that one.  

Well, what have you been up to in your craft lately? Until my next post, keep creating!

NB:  The Murarrie State School Organic & Craft Markets were postponed over the weekend due to the harsh weather conditions preceding it.  It will be held, instead, on 16th, May from 9am - 2pm.  I will still be there.

Hand-knitted Dishcloths and Other Such Things

I'm looking forward to the Easter Markets this weekend.  Not only am I completely oranised, but I'm also working on a new line of little things to add to my stall - which are also hand-made, just like everything else I have on sale there.

I was taught to knit aged 12 when I was only holidays at my Grandparents' house at Tarragindi here in Brisbane.  It was a wet day and my brother and I were both bored and so Grandma taught me to knit and show my brother how to crochet (not that he'd let on that he picked it up as he never kept up the skill).  
When we returned to school, I remember in Home Ec., we were asked if anyone could knit or crochet.  Only two girls put their hands up - me and one other girl - and we were set to work on a 10x10 stitch of knitting.  While we both found this skill hard at the time, I have kept up my practice of knitting and have been making scarves and beanies for the last few years.  

However, I've begun making dishcloths and washers to sell at my market; deciding over the last few days to start making them.  So far, I've completed two and I'm onto my third one.  Each one is individual and are of my own pattern, being made from yarn I've had for years and wish to get rid of - so the yarn is perfect.  

This will take time though.  I'm not going to put any of them out on the stall until next year.  So, even though I'm making the first few now, I've got the rest of the year to get in and make well over 60 by Christmas.  And during the New Year break, I'll be making even more while I'm down the coast too.  So, it'll be nice to be able to enjoy making them there.  

Well, what have you been up to lately?  Anything new?  Anything old that you've picked up from years gone by?  Until my next post, keep creating!

Easter Markets

This Saturday coming I'm attending my Easter Market at Murarrie Progress Hall.  There's going to be a lot of fun things there from food stalls, a coffee van, a sausage sizzle and other great stalls where you can do and buy wonderful things for your loved ones this Easter.

Crafty Pegs has an All Ages Lucky Dip... yes, you can pay $4.00 and dip your hand into the gorgeous box and pull out something beautiful to take home with you.  

I've also been creating a new line of goodies to sell at the market too: a hand-knitted dishcloths.  They're lovely, colourful, bright and very pretty to use around the house.  I've only made two so far, but I'm hoping to bring them in at around Christmas-time and then over the NYE break, I'll go away and make a whole lot more and bring in the New Year with a lovely lot of new stock to sell to you all!

I also have a few other plans on the drawing board which aren't completely set in concrete just yet, but if all goes to plan, I'll be selling more than just pegs, coat hangers and cute little pencils and magnets to you all.  So, keep your eyes on this space and on my Facebook page as well as my website for updates... you never know what might show up on those places before here. Until my next post, keep creating!

March Creativeness

Wow!  It's been going on here for the last few weeks; so much so that I've been meaning to come in here and chat, but putting it off.

But I've been working on quite a few things since my workbench has been put into my house.  

Firstly, my chair has been driving me nuts... the gas in it isn't what it is supposed to be.  But then, I'm standing up more, so that's a positive spin on that.

Then, I've been painting up a very cool tiny set of drawers for the bathroom linen closet.  I'm trying to keep things neat and tidy.  so, to do that, I'm hoping to put my hair things into this set of drawers - you know hair ties, clips and bobby pins - to keep them nice and neat. 

I'm also doing an ANZAC Day painting for an online art group.  It's going well, and I'm more than halfway through it, so I'm hoping to take a day or two off from doing work on it.  
While I've been doing that, I've worked on 3 picture frames, almost got a 4th one finished and then I've gotten another 15 or so magna-pegs all bagged up and ready to varnish too.  

Yes, I'm working hard on my gear.  However, the next market isn't far off - on 21st, March - and I'm looking at doing a Lucky Dip to move some stock out and about for the kids and adults.  It'll be $2.00 per dip and each person will get something worthwhile... I may not make a lot of money from it, but then again, it'll move stock I haven't been able to move for a long time; mainly small stuff.  Well, that's about all from me, what have you been up to?  Until my next post, keep creating.

Murrarie Mini Markets

For those who couldn't make it to the markets last Saturday afternoon and evening, they were good; for a first market of the year.

I arrived in time to be able to set up with about 20 minutes to spare, to make sure I had everything looking good.  And despite having the place next door doing some noisy building, we had a good turn-out.  

However, nobody really made any money... I sold a few little things.  But I wasn't the only one who didn't really sell anything big.

I had flowers on my stall, and tiny roses on my table as well as a vase of fake roses on there too.  Everyone loved the way I had dressed up my stall and thought my new lot of Magna-Pegs in gold, silver and all colours of pink were delicious!  I sold a few of those... and I also sold a picture frame; but not the new ones I had done up this past week.

Well, I'll be there next month.  Just go and have a look on my Crafty Pegs site on Wix.com and you'll see it on Calendar Days for March.  If you can't find me there, jump on Facebook, look up Crafty Pegs and on the left of the screen, as you scroll down a little, you'll find my website... click on it and it'll show you the rest! Until my next post, keep creating!

A Busy Few Weeks

Crafty Pegs have been coming along well lately.  I've been working on more black pegs - with some gorgeous little bright designs on them.  Some of them are their own peg collections, while others have been turned into magnets.  

Then, I had to take off to a cheapie store and find things for the Valentine's Day themed market I'm going to next week.  If found garlands, little bunches of roses, itty-bitty tiny roses, hearts (to put into my bags when people purchase anything) and then a few single roses to place on my table just to make it look nice.  All these flowers are plastic and can be put away for next year - or Mother's Day - and I'll put them into a larger box for when I need to make a themed market stall.  

My work bench is coming along well.  Dad and I have looked at my finances - and I have a good enough saved up to get what we need for it.  Tomorrow, we'll hopefully be getting the money out and buying the things we need for it.  Dad's looking forward to this as much as I am.  

Well, that's all the news about Crafty Pegs for now.  Keep and eye out for new markets I'm attending on my website - on 'Calendar Days' - and I'll keep you updated with any news that comes along.  I have been offered to return to the Murarrie State School Organic & Craft Market on 2nd May; and I've accepted their invite to it.  So that ought to be fun to do that one!  Until my next post, keep creating!

Happy New Year!

Okay, you may have noticed a few new changes to 'A Natural Background's blog... like, it's not called that anymore.

Yep!  I've changed the name of it to 'Crafty Pegs' so it can reflect what I'm doing on my Crafty Pegs Facebook page and on my website too.  

Do you like the colours and font?  I thought to go with something fun and colourful this time around so you love to come back here again.

This year, Crafty Pegs is moving forward again.  I've been planning on working on a work bench for my craft area; and my Dad is going to help me get it done.  It's going to fit into the spot where my original table and bookcase has been sitting for the last year or so and will be a standing table.  It will also double as an easel for when I want to do other canvas'.

Sounds good, eh?  I'll show you pictures on my other sites and here when it's finished and put into place.

Anyway, I've begun working on other things to do with the Markets and other projects this year... I hope they work out the way I imagine them to.  Well, until my next post (and that will be soon), keep creating!