When I posted this photo of my leftovers at the end of a torch session, many people asked, “Why not just melt those bits down?”

I don’t melt these down because this day I was using two different types of glass, Effetre and Bullseye and they have different COEs.

COE - Coefficient of Expansion. It's....

Shipping costs are increasing. 

"Wait a minute!", you say. "The banner on your website says Free Shipping!"

It does. It is. For standard shipping.

And what is up with the penguins? 

Every day when I wake up the sun is just a bit brighter. In the garden the shoots in the ground are just a bit higher. The buds are a bit bigger. The sky is a bit bluer. From one day to the next the changes are so small they're almost unnoticeable. Yet when I think back to a month ago, what's outside right now is a miracle. 

“More? More shells? You’re collecting more shells? What are you going to do with those ones?”

He had a point. I had a LOT of shells. Put me anywhere near a seashore and I will bend down, rummage around and find treasure. Then I will bring my treasure home with me.

We were sailing merrily along, when out of the corner of my eye I see something. Something rather peculiar. Uh oh. 

Introducing.... Afterpay

Shop now, pay later, no interest. Ever. 

The Sundowner is possibly the most civilized ritual of all.

Ditch the stress, I’ll deliver your gift for you!

Oh no, did you leave something until the last minute? No problem, I have you covered. I can gift wrap a special something, write a nice festive card with your message and ship it to your person. Done! It’s all part of the elf work I do at this time of year. Especially this year because really, we all deserve a special something right now.

     It’s the last free weekend of the rest of the year, that’s what this weekend has been for the past 16 years. It’s the weekend before the Toronto One of a Kind show, an 11 day marathon of a craft show. With 2 days to set up it’s a 13 day blitz that requires months and months of preparation. By the end of it you feel like you’ve been run over by a truck.

You know how it is, you're feeling a bit scraggy, rough around the edges, tired. Nothing is terribly wrong you just aren't feeling as perky as you'd like to be.

Time to hit the refresh button. 

The sky at dawn is a cold steel blue when we pull up our anchor to leave Florida. We’ve been up for two hours already, making sure that every thing is ready. I’ve checked the list twice, made lunch and battened down everything possible. We raise anchor, hug each other for luck and point Forbidden Planet’s bow east.