WiseArts

So some of my (few) loyal readers have wondered what the hell happened to my blog, and why I’ve neglected it over the past few months.

Well, I’ll tell ya what the hell happened… THIS!

After completing the MS150, I was hooked, and dove head-first without looking into the wonderful world of road cycling. My parents were at the finish line of the MS150 to cheer me on, and were very enthusiastic about my accomplishment. My dad is certainly a fan of anything with wheels that can race, and offered up that he should buy me a proper road bike. We didn’t go out and buy it that day, but I did hold him to his word a little later on in the summer. So my new baby is this lovely 2008 Giant TCR C1.

I did a few other organized cycling tours in the area, the Tour De Tonka - 67mi and the Rum River Bicycle Classic - 63mi, and I’ve been riding as much and as often as I can on my own. I want to use what little outdoor training time is left this year (cold winter approaching!) to work on general skills, endurance and speed. When spring hits, I want to learn racing skillz and maybe find a team I can ride with. Minnesota is a great place for cycling. There’s tons of places to ride, lots of great teams and events.

So, being obsessed with cycling, dancing with a Japanese dance group, and spending long days at work… my summer was pretty well packed! I didn’t have time for crafting, and thus, haven’t posted. I have enough crafty ideas floating around in my head, that I could darn near write a book! When I have time, I’ll make some stuff and post it! But, when I’m not feelin’ crafty, I think I’ll write about some of the other things going on in my life too. (You might hear a lot about biking next summer! haha)

Not to bore you completely, here are some thrifty things I got at the last 50% off sale day!

Some linen-y fabrics and a crazy retro print on stretch knit. Couple bucks per chunk.

A copy of McCalls Needlework & Crafts - 30 cents, Folk Tales of China cute 1st. ed. book - 50 cents, a knit mice kit - $1.50. (I think I’ll stuff ‘em with catnip for the kitties!)

This cute little Ukranian apron and potholders set was 85 cents.

Cute retro cross-stitch kit for $1, and The Wilton Way to Decorate for Christmas - 30 cents! This book drew me in with it’s musty, sitting-in-a-box-in-the-basement-for-years smell and it’s retro holiday goodness inside.

This page was dog-eared. I wonder if someone made a few of these cakes with plastic doll heads on ‘em!

One of my favorites are the “Gay Holiday Wreaths”. Despite them being coated in acrylic spray and assembled with airplane glue and wire, I think these mint sugar wreaths would be a sure-ticket for holiday pest problems! ha

This was my cheapest find, but one of my favorites. This darling little television has a lenticular image of hula dancers on the screen, they dance when you tilt it back and forth. Then, look through the little hole on the back and it’s like a mini View-Master. There are 8 uber-vintage looking photos inside that change when you press down on the little white lever. (Images are titled: Kamehameha Statue, Aloha Tower, Pagentry of Old Hawaii, Nuuanu Pali, Graceful Hula Maidens, Kilauea Volcano Eruption, Waikiki Beach, Surfing & Canoeing At Waikiki) I’d guess this as being from the 60’s or 70’s?? I can just picture it in one of those shops filled with crummy souvenirs. The original tag says it’s from a shop called Nagasako, and it cost $1.25. I paid a mere 15 cents for this little made-in-Hong-Kong plastic treasure! A steal at twice the price!