11.12.06
Chalkboard Vinyl Possibilities
At the Craft Bazaar at my alma-mater Saint Bernard High School yesterday, many of the customers were excited about the possibilities in my chalkboard vinyl placemats and name sign message centers and had lots of questions. Chalkboard vinyl is a material that has been out for a few years and quilters have jumped on the possibilities. I have seen several different quilt patterns using chalkboard vinyl to make placemats. After playing around with it for a little while, I came up with a smaller placemat with simple borders and built-in chalk pocket for sale at my fairs. I decided last year to incorporate these vinyl panels into my name signs. An option I offer to customers ordering a name sign is to have their sign turned into a message center. The chalkboard panel hangs under the name and a pocket runs along the bottom to hold chalk and other messages. Though I have hung this sign at different shows this year, yesterday was the first major interest it’s gotten this craft fair season. I have a bunch of samples posted on my website in the name signs section. I was thrilled yesterday to have people so excited about the possibilities! Some lucky children are going to be receiving personalized message centers at the upcoming holidays!
11.01.06
Halloween Fun
Lucy had a blast with Halloween this year. She was too cute. She told me she wanted to be a duck so my in-laws pulled out her old duck costume for us. It still fit. My sister-in-law gave me a pumpkin costume and a dog costume. Both of them fit too. Lucy had until the last minute to decide which one she wanted to wear. The decision? The pumpkin! A couple people asked me if I made it. HA! I quilt – not sew. Everything I do stays flat… I was VERY happy not to have to buy a costume this year.
Our little pumpkin went house to house with us and tried to run into most of the houses so we had to hold the back of her costume to prevent her taking off. I think the dog costume would have been a more appropriate choice. 
We only went to about 10-12 houses total since they are pretty spread apart. We live on a country road at the foot of a big development. We are not part of the development but have a sidewalk that connects us to it. I was so sad for my neighbors that so few trick-or-treaters came around. For many of the houses we stopped at, we were the only ones who came by. I was thrilled that we could bring our little pumpkin around to brighten the Halloween nights of some people. It makes it more special.
The first year we were in our house I was sure we’d get lots of people. After all, we were in a house! I think I bought 6-8 bags of candy. Well, nobody came. I was so disappointed. Brett went out the back door without me noticing, ran around the front and rang the doorbell in 40 degree weather with short sleeves and a plastic bag. The doorbell rang and I was SO excited. Finally I had a trick-or-treater! I was not so amused to find my husband out there shivering. It really was very sweet – in hindsight!
