Monday 2 September 2013

Making it count..

I had to go to Basingstoke last week.  For a boring work related reason.  So, I arranged to meet a friend as a diversion.  Turns out that the diversion was a long walk around Hobbycraft. It's a big box craft store.  Honestly, it has an aisle dedicated to any and every craft.  You can see it online at www.hobbycraft.co.uk 
I could feel my willpower stepping away from me as we got to the card making and scrapbooking supplies.  See, the beauty of it is that I can get lines in Hobbycraft that Shopkeeper Gal doesn't stock, so I have no guilt. Well, not the sort of guilt that drives me to eat receipts for fear of Mr Dunnit, anyway.  
  I do believe that Teresa Collins designs her papers after she's seen my photos.

 See, I wasn't too rash.  Unless you count the impulse buy of the alphabet stamps, felt die cut reindeer heads and packet of tags.  

Now, this may have escaped your notice, I don't know.  But have I ever mentioned that I think generally tags are expensive?  Even in stationers.  I don't use many - I'm too mean. After all, before anyone gets to see a finished anything of mine, I've thrown a couple of attempts away. So these lovelies were a pleasant surprise.  30 for £1.99. You gotta admit, that's a bargain.  They are white, printed Kraft, but I don't care.  The core is not the part I'm bothered about.  So am quite chuffed with these.  And don't look forward to seeing what I do with them.  They are 'for stock'. 
I avoided the wool and yarns completely by not going up the stairs. It was the only way. I genuinely stood at the bottom of the steps looking up whilst my dear chum went up the   metal and glass hill, intrepid and all alone.  Honestly, I've been teaching myself to crochet for about five minutes in Julia time, and I've already got about 300 things to make on my list.  And I can't stock pile the yarns, I have too many tags.  
And then, because I like to make every visit to Hobbycraft count, I succumbed a little more.  My second or third hobby is storage.  On account of the display at the front of the store I had to open every draw, even though they were empty - and I could see that they were.  This beauty is not in the right place in my room just yet.  Nor is it fully employed. But in the best tradition of Julia World, there's a plan.  
Is that sunlight or the bright glint of smugness bouncing off my new drawers....?
So there you have it. How to make every journey count.

25 comments:

ddazzled71 said...

You can never have to much stash I say. I am loving that mustache paper and the felt reindeer heads. Sounds like a great day out!

Carmen said...

OMG - that looks precarious Julia - you watch you don't bump yourself on it! (Turning into my Mum!)

We go to Hobbycraft roughly once a year - because I could just roll around in their paints aisle and probably be arrested. Same with The Range. Those tags do sound a complete bargain though!

Carmen said...

p.s - receipt eating! That did make me chuckle!

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh don't!! I'm still giggling while I type this! Well done for not getting carried away - their storage always looks so tempting but don't think it would help me to have more space to put stuff!!! Don't go in often as I find it slightly overpowering! Fun though! Chrisx

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Another set of alphabet stamps? That makes a round 50 then.... ;-). Glad you had a good visit..I enjoy Hobbycraft too!
LLJ xxx

voodoo vixen said...

One can never have too many alpha stamps... or storage options! :) Love that moustache paper but now my head is trying to make it work with the reindeer heads... I'll think of something!!

voodoo vixen said...

LOL @ eating receipts... before Chris got used to the idea that it was simpler to give in gracefully and even prompt me to spend in scrapbooking stores I was known to fill my basket and get to the check out and offer to pay half by card and half by cash... less evidence that way!!

Kirsty.A said...

We have a Hobbyvraft in Woking - O try hard not to go very often

Krisha said...

Being such a container "junkie" those storage bins always catch my eye and yes I have to pull the drawers out too when I can clearly see they are empty!! LOL We have Hobby Lobby which sounds much like your store. Temptation runs rampant there and I try to keep my visits to a minimum, but lately I have heard it calling my name over and over.......well it has been 6 months now, and it is ONLY a 45 minute drive and, and.....I'm caving in........

Monica said...

I always feel guilty if I don't buy anything and end up with duplicates if I do buy. Box stores it seems are the same the world over.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

That is one perilous perch in the protrusion. Clearly, organization is not a strong suit, although shopping definitely is. Those moose are quite fun and so is the paper. Had to laugh about eating the receipts. Lucky me. I only have Bleubeard and if I want the receipt shredded, I just place it on the floor and he'll make scrap fodder of it quite quickly.

Unknown said...

Looks like you had a fabulous time, Julia, I love hobbycrafts, for the odd bits and pieces, I have been there so often with Hubby, that I can send him for what I want, LOL..my craftroom has 3 drawer sets from there, and keeps my craftdesk/bedroom tidy, love and hugs hun xx

Helen said...

One good thing about having no Mr L here any more is not having to eat receipts... Love the storage - but move it before it topples over... I found size 8 (Tim's standard size) at £10 for 100 if you need to know where let me know and I'll find the site!! Course, I use more than you do!!

misteejay said...

Great drawers missus and those tags were a bargain.

I don't tend to visit my local Hobbycraft very often as I either spend too much or come away disappointed.

No receipt munching here anymore but I do still feel a bit guilty when I have spent a bit more than I intended LOL

Toni xx

Belinda Basson said...

you can never have too many of those drawer stacky thingys...look at my room on Wed I can show you just how many I have!

Unknown said...

Love the paper stash!

Unknown said...

Nice nice nice. Roberta

Kate said...

Nice tashs Mrs D.

~Kate~

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Thanks for showing us your new drawers-they are a delight to all. I'm sure that is a glint of smugness coming off them. I find it hard not to over indulge at craft stores but I'm becoming aware that a lot of the impulse purchases aren't things I love.

I love that you said storage was a hobby as well. Me too! I never thought of it that way before but you are spot on.

fairy thoughts said...

Well you couldn't go all that way and not buy anything could you.anyway mus...tdash blog post to write.
P.S. those little alphabets are fab I have several they are soooo useful
janet

Cazzy said...

Eating receipts, there's a thought mwhawwwwhahahahaha!

Spyder said...

I went, the other week, coz they had buy two get one free... Useful boxes... and they are useful. Thank you for the lovely bright and ... sparkly view of your new drawersthey are lovely and I'm sure Mr Dunnit thinks so too!

((Lyn))

Dianne said...

The only store near me is Micheals and I try not to go unless I really need something badly:) that store scares me, I also spend money I shouldn't, those $1,50 bins kill me, I also got some tiny alphabets, kinda like yours boy do I find them hared to use, I can never get the letters in a straight row LOL, I make all my own tags, whatever size, alter them if I have too, now that sparkling drawer set, well you had to open them all to see they slide nicely, they are looking a bit cheeky to me but very lovely, have fun finding the perfect spot then filling them up, that sounds like big fun to me, it's been a great visiting, a pleasure, always making me smile we all need that sometimes, see you tomorrow..

Sue from Oregon said...

I am still laughing at the thought of you stuffing crafty purchase receipts into your mouth...oh what a thought LOL LOL!!! I am sure Mr D is more than happy that you are one happy crafter!!!

Rita said...

I was chuckling all the way through this post! :)