The warm glow

...actually has nothing to do with Hallowe'en. My warm glow is supplied by the passage of a deadline! Yesterday was 2 Scrap Ladies' Christmas Card Marathon. Me, Scrap Lady Ally and Lunch Lady Jan set about creating a day of card-making with a hot lunch, punctuated with cups of tea coffee and most importantly, fabulous home cooked cakes. About 6 varieties.

The girls that came included Kay who got out of bed early to get on the train from London, Hilary, who came from the Bridport seaside and Anna and Eileen who zoomed up the M3 from Wokingham. Impressive, huh! Yeah. And nerve wracking when people put themselves out like that!

It was a glorious Autumn Day, Slipper Lady's 25th birthday, and it seemed to go without too much of a hitch. Attendees were kind and complimentary - I think the greatest skill is of course mine - and that skill is finding friends that can pull it off for you. Really.

So thanks of course to Ally, without whom there would have been a paltry number of fairly uninteresting cards. And thanks to Jan, our Lunch Lady, without whom the catering would have been much less cheerful and very uninteresting.

So this is a self indulgent post. But hey, it's good manners.

How do you do it?

Yesterday, mid morning, mid workshop. Sun shining through the windows of the shop, defying forecasts. Eight women, busily making cards. We're having a very sociable time. Nothing like a big table and some crafting to make you feel like a chat. A relative newcomer to the world of Thursday workshops is Willpower Woman. She's lost three and half stone and still refuses cakes biscuits and sweets without so much as looking up. No fuss, no showing off. So unlike me - I'm full of admiration.

Last week, Willpower Woman and I spent a good couple of hours chatting over coffee while I was *cough* being a shopkeeper. Naturally, when she left, she had a bag with some craft shopping in it. Bling, I seem to remember, and ribbon, for sure. So yesterday I asked her if she'd managed to add the new stash to the existing work desk collection without it bein

g noticed. She laughed and indeed confirmed that she'd felt pretty clever in sneaking the bag past Mike. Well, that set everyone off in turn, about how they deal with their purchases - as in, how the bag physically gets across the threshold of the house and into stash central. Isn't it amazing, and funny, how our guilt manifests itself! Some leave the bag in the car until the other half goes out or at the least, upstairs. Some transfer it into a familiar shopping bag and breeze in with it, all front and pretence.....stroll casually past the partner and then leggit to the desk. No doubt that it seems not to be truly un-returnable until it's safely stashed - or added to the general work on the desk top. Then ownership can begin. I suspect this is more about the feeling that if it's on the desk it kinda just gets 'absorbed' into the general 'stuff' and can't be told apart as new or not - unless you're the one that has just acquired it of course!

Mr Dunnit seems utterly immune to my matter-of-fact approach

to this dilemma. I front it out - just walk past him and dump the bag on my desk...almost daring him to say something. He never does. There are moments when I feel guilty about the amount I shop (wouldn't be blogging about it otherwise, probably!). I can' logicalise' this for you though dear interweb......I shouldn't feel guilty; after all, I'm not spending any money that isn't mine and we're not going without food or shoes because of my habit. It's because he DOESN'T complain that I feel guilty - it would seem (in my head) that I should have the opportunity to raise my voice and make my point about my financial independence. *more coughing*. So it's his fault. And still he smiles; he knows that he's twisting the guilt knife when he says that it makes him happy if I'm happy. And he knows I know. Which is why he does it. He thinks it's funny. Which is probably how (or why) we're still together. Someone want to logicalise that one for me?!!

Thanks for asking about the Manga costume, I promise to show it when Miss D gets back from convention with the promised kerjillion pics...I'm not really one to miss a showing off opportunity, now am I?! And if you're reading this and booked into the 2 Scrap Ladies Card Marathon tomorrow - go to bed, it's an early start!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday

I've been gathering supplies to get the cutting and kitting ready for the 2 Scrap Ladies Card Marathon this weekend. So although it's new stash, it's not really for me. But it is me that's working on top of this pile. I'm frightened that if I move it, I'll lose some essential piece of paper! The very shiny Christmas lettering at the bottom left of thepile is a piece of foiled scrapbook paper - doesn't it look great in this weird flash lit yellow light! The Copic colour chart is only out because it was carefully stored inside a pad of thick A3 papers that I'm now using to make sleeves to hold the card and paper supplies for the weekend. So I guess it needs a new home, which means it will be a while!

It's all over the dining table too. Here are the sleeves full of stuff - so far...more than half still to be done. The sewing machine is still out because I've just finished another Manga costume for Miss Dunnit - there's a convention this weekend. She's going as a Pokemon trainer. If you don't know, probably better not to!

So despite all the dark and gloomy photos, I've shown you mine - now you show all of us yours! Photo your desk, workspace, counter top, lap tray - whatever you're doing, put it on your blog and then visit here to leave a link. Then loads of us will come by for a rummage. Simple. It's all about sharing what you're doing and showing us what you've got! Thanks!

Tales from behind the till. Epsiode 8,0746329

another completely unrelated photo, it's a skill you know.

Well, it's episode four I think, but do stop me if I get boring. I'm back at my real job now. Believe me, even the excitement of a new desk made to order and fitted into a proper office can't compare. Actually, all the new stuff is just a smokescreen; Mr Dunnit doesn't want me to realise how permanent this job is!

So back to bedlam; I can't remember which day it was, but I know I wasn't alone in the shop (you never are for long). I was definitely sitting at the workshop table, and I think I was bravely pretending to make a card. I know I was chatting. Anyway, in comes tall gentleman, beautifully dressed for autumn in a nice jacket and a cravat. Perhaps he was going on to luncheon. He asked if I sold epoxy resin. I regretted that I did not. He asked why. I explained that us paper users tend to stick with tape and PVA, or as emergency use, Glossy Accents. Well said he, epoxy glues are a craft item. I suggested that they are if you're a model maker, but that this shop is all about paper crafts and besides, we wouldn't like the smell of epoxy glues. He sagely pointed out that I wouldn't have to smell it if I just kept it for sale. Score. I sagely pointed out that I'd never sell any if I didn't use it, for lots of people wouldn't know its application. Score back! He expressed his disappointment that the sign over the shop says Kraft Crazy but it was not a general craft shop as implied. The sign also says scrap booking, card making and children's crafts, says I, again adding regret that I can't help. He wandered around for a bit, expressed a couple of further disappointments and left. And blow me, as I went to close the door before 80 thousand leaves blew in, he was standing in the middle of the road, reading the shop sign. He waved - I don't think it was a two fingered salute.

Really, more tales from behind the till

Of course, the LO has nothing to do with the post, I just like a post with a picture!

On Tuesday, Laura and Kelly called in. I met them both through crafts and their connections to the shop - they are core members of Ludgershall Crop, too. I cannot begin to describe them - vivacious, opinionated, chatty and totally and utterly up for anything. They leave me enriched with laughter and very, very much the wiser. They watch things on tv that I've never heard of, they erm 'educate' me in the art of life; there are no moments spent with them that aren't utterly entertaining. Both of them are devoted wives and mothers and they are both married to serving Soldiers. They have burdens to bear. But you wouldn't know it.

So, in they breeze, make themselves at home and do some double-act type shopping. I should add at this point that two other gals are there and really, we laughed till we cried but also - we had our mouths agape at some parts of the conversation. But get this - Kelly taught me something really important. And that is - when you get to the till, stop yakking and start concentrating. REALLY. She paid for her shopping with a credit card and I did the deed, turning it to her for PIN number entry as we chatted. Naturally, she entered her PIN number. After all, I'd handed her the machine for just that purpose, remember. Yeah, but I'd missed an important part of the button pressing and Kelly's pin number became part of the debit amount.

Oh yes, I tried to charge her £176,000 and some change (which I can't tell you because it was her PIN number!)

And as if that wasn't enough, it wasn't me that noticed! I did void the transaction and correct it and she was very, very gracious. We laughed about her husband's reaction. Correctly, I hope!

So there's a real lesson - don't distract me at the till, it's unlikely to be to your advantage. And another good reason - there isn't really room in front of the till for fainting.

Tales from behind the till

I know, how much more blabbing about my week off I can do? Oh, loads, believe me. So the idea was that over the week, I would when possible, make a few cards - perhaps a couple of samples to demonstrate new stock - nothing in particular and luckily, no orders! I made one card this week. It's not that there wasn't time, it's much more that when I was alone in the shop, I tidied and straightened stuff - with the temperament of a huffy person who's own personal stash had been mis-handled I can tell you! This activity had two results - I learned a lot more about what is in stock and where it lives, and I spent a fortune.

Exhibit A: This is the one card.

I bought the 180 sheet 12" book of papers to use, the stamp, the bronze ink pad and the Cosmic Shimmer embossing powder (that actually you can't tell from this, it's gorgeously pearly and pinky brown) and then a packet of red buttons. In real life it comes to about £28. So if you get this card from me for Christmas, please be chuffed to bits! Because I'm special and because this is for next weeks workshop, I qualify for a discount, which I don't take for granted, believe me. But I hope Mr D doesn't read this - he doesn't get it. but he'd probably start taking a more active interest if he knew how much I needed to spend to make a card!

On Wednesday, late lunch time a lady came into the shop. It was very busy - the workshop table covered in stuff that 7 people were playing with and working at and chatting and supping coffee. Quite noisy too. This particular lady needed a walking stick and she leaned upon it carefully as she made her way up to the table...I was a bit trapped by people and was trying to get to her to save her a journey - you know what I mean. I called to her and she asked for a crochet hook. I apologised and said that we didn't have any. She looked very cross with me and said 'you do, I only just bought the wool from you about an hour ago'. She hadn't, this shop doesn't sell wool either. I apologised again, told her the best I could do was sell her a pack of needles - perhaps she'd got the wool further up the road (a very good Charity shop about 5 doors up). She got very impatient and said I was wrong, waved her bag of wool at the workshop table and said 'if you don't sell all that stuff, why are they doing patchwork in here then?'. Well colour me dumbstruck. To convince her, I had to let her see that the fabrics were actually papers and everything associated with cutting and sticking. Ah well, a sale lost. But at least she had the good grace to tell me that I wasted her time and effort!

It's been a week..

As you know from WOYWW, I've been shopkeeper and loved it. What you didn't know was the full SP of where - I didn't want you to think I was being a blatant non-stop gabbling advert. But, if you wanna visit - the shop is call Kraft Crazy and is in Station Road, Tidworth, Hampshire. Closed on Sunday and Monday. I sound like a real shopkeeper don't I? Here's the thing though - if you do visit, please let me know - if you can bear it I'd love the chance to whizz in and meet you.

Here's something else you didn't know. Where've I been all week? Well settle in, there's always a story: Paige taught me two more things about my iphone - one was how to increase the text size at a stroke (literally) and the other was how to blog from it using an App. (That would bring my total number of Apps to 6). And what happens? Blogger informs me that my site is hosting malware. So, frankly in a state of blind panic, I follower Blogger Help to try to sort it. Trouble is see, my browser won't let me into the blog. And Blogger won't let me fix it unless I do it through the blog dashboard. You have no idea how vexing I found this. Well, OK, you probably have. So I got WOYWW done and haven't been able to get in since. Fixed now; with all the free time soaked up reading instructions and visiting help blogs.....oh em gee, I so could never be a geek. So I'm really behind with WOYWW and thought that it would be a great idea to actually utilise my new found iphone powers - aha! browse on the phone when the shop's quiet! YES! Er, NO. Safari on my phone has completely seized up. Been like it since Tuesday night. Am deeply out of love with this thing - it's a replacement phone after some sort of catastrophic failure earlier this year. I had no idea how dependant I'd become on the small percentage of its functions that I actually use and/or understand!

On the bright side - an elderly gentleman strolled carefully into the shop at lunchtime. He stood still, in a large patch of sunshine and waited his turn. He was wearing a very long stripey scarf in lovely bright, cheerful colours, slightly eccentric against his tweed jacket - you know. He had a bit of a look around him and then leaned conspiratorially toward me and said "do you sell sweeties?" . For a few seconds, I really wished I did.