New Year Wishes to You!

I want to Thank All of you for visiting this blog and sending such sweet thoughts! You've made me feel very welcome in blogland. As the year comes to an end, I hope that you are all looking forward to a wonderful 2010. I was talking with Fridge and I want to share the advice he gave me for the New Year...

Take time to enjoy the moment, even when life is so busy...Breathe!

Enjoy Life and Have FUN!

Spend time with your Friends and Family!

Always be SAFE !

And this last piece of advice is from Kitty Kitty (real name) She says, "Sometimes, try to look at things from another point of view! It can open a whole new world for you!

From Me, Fridge, Kitty Kitty and the rest of my menagerie, Here's wishing you all a safe and
Happy New Year! Best of Everything in 2010!

E-vites going out Today!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Well, it's back to work today but it's a  really fun day for me! We're pulling the names for the guest list for the live audience taping of the Joy of Crafting show on Saturday, January 9th. So, if you entered our contest and you're made it on the list, you'll be getting an e-mail and/or a phone call today. So, check your messages!

Thank You to everyone who entered our contest to let me know what kinds of crafts you're interested in. I'm always keeping an eye out for inspiring crafters to invite them onto the show to share their creations.

Take care & enjoy the Holidays!

Oh, where is my Bear?

You all met Fridge on my very first post. He's my helpful polar bear that travels with me all over the world. Well, we're back from our trip and he's already hard at work...

So, don't forget Christmas Eve is the deadline to enter the contest to win one of the seats for the live audience taping on January 9th. It's going to be FUN and believe me, no one's going home empty handed!

Thanks for spending time with me and Fridge. We're wishing you Happiest of Holidays!

JOC Second December Show

Tonight, our second December JOC show premieres. We have some ideas for the upcoming New Year and a very special guest Hana Hou.

Our first guest is Gloria Arias from our Pearl City BFC. She shows us how to make a cute desktop calendar with the Bind-it All machine. You'll want to make a few these for your family and friends.

Then I'll help you get ready for the Year of the Tiger with this easy pop-up card.

I thought it would be fun to end the year with some laughs, so our Hana Hou features, Augie T.!

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you're enjoying the Holidays! Don't forget, you have until Christmas Eve to sign up for the contest for the Jan. 9th Live audienec taping!

2nd Annual JOC Live Audience Taping Contest

I'll be on a trip next week and I won't be able to blog. While I'm gone, you can enter my FAVORITE contest of the year! Read on...

Ben Franklin Craft Club members, start the New Year with the Joy of Crafting show!  Last year, we had so much fun taping our show with a live audience, we're doing it again!

We'll be taping two shows on Sat., Jan. 9, 2010 at the Mapunapuna Ben Franklin Crafts store. The fun starts at 9:30 am with lots of gifts for everyone and fabulous guests to entertain you with their creative projects!

This contest is for our Ben Franklin Craft Club Members who we appreciate for all of the support they give to our stores and the show all year long. Just click here to submit your entry and you may be selected as one of the VIP Guests.
You will be asked the following question: "What is your favorite craft that you like to see on the Joy of Crafting show?" I am looking for types of crafts not the actual people who do them. Is it beading? Painting? Card Making? I want to know what kind of projects you would like to see on the show.

BUT WAIT, there's more! For my Neighbor Island Craft Club Members who won't be on Oahu on Jan. 9th, I have something for you, too. When you answer the question, just add what island you're from and let me know you'll be home on Jan. 9th.

Enter by Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2009. VIP Guest List will be randomly chosen.The Lucky Winners will be announced on Mon., Dec. 28, 2009. Good Luck to All and have a great Holiday!

Make ' n Takes around the City

Do you know a Senior Citizen (55 years & older) and want them to get crafty? The Ben Franklin Crafts at Market City S.C. will be doing two make 'n takes in the Market City lobby next to Duck Lee Chinese restaurant on Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 9 am to 10:30 am. They will be doing a Ribbon Angel for $2 and a Paper Tree for $1. Seating is limited , so sign your Senior up today at 734-0282.

In downtown Honolulu at Crafts in  the City, there will be make 'n takes by Cheryl M. and Jean Y. on Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 11 am - 1 pm. I'll be doing a make ' n take there on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 11 am - 1 pm, too.

So, drop on in and come craft with us! Hope to see you all there!

JOC December '09 Show #1

Sunday night is the premiere of the first December Joy of Crafting show. We're featuring a few ideas for the Holidays.

The first guest is Gloria Arias from our Pearl City BFC. She shows you how to take a single 12 x 12 sheet of printed CS and turn it into a great gift bag.She also shares some of the designs that can be crocheted from the Big Book of Dishcloths, Potholders and Scrubbies.

Then I show how to make the Ho Ho Holiday Santa favor that I shared on the Mon., Nov. 23rd post.

Lastly, Gloria comes back to show us a gift idea that's easy and great to give to anyone, Gifts in a Jar. (She also promises to make me some of her popovers one day!)

Hope you're able to catch the show and learn a few new things. Thanks for stopping by today and hope you have a great week!

A Good Read

I love to read. I read books. I read the newspaper. I read magazines. The only thing I probably don't read are instructions, until I HAVE to!LOL!

Well, on Thanksgiving weekend, amidst all the craziness, I found time to relax with the latest copy of O, Oprah's magazine. There I found myself reading a really great story that I think relates to all of us crafters out there.

"A Stitch in Time" author, Meribah Knight, talks about her love for sewing which she credits to her grandmother. The love for crafts had skipped a generation because her mother was not into it at all. But she was inspired by her grandma's lovingly handcrafted pieces that she made. (There's a  lot more to the story and I don't want to spoil it for you when you read it.)
I connected with her when she says "Like everyone else's, my life often is dominated by the computer.At a certain point my eyes glaze over...this is when I must touch something besides a mouse." Sewing she says "immerses me in the pleasure of actually making something and reminds me that not everything is made up of pixels."
And I think you can all relate to that. Yes, we're grateful for computers which enable us to share. But in the end, it's the things made with our own hands that reach out and touch people.
Thank You to all of you who share your wonderful creations and take the time to teach others. Bless you and have a wonderful Holiday season!

Quick Gift Idea

Here's something that you can make for all ages, girls or boys, friends and family. It's a Magnet Board. This sample is from our Market City BFC.

Magnet Boards are easy to make. Just take our 12 x 12 tin sheet. Adhere some printed paper. Take your Crop-a-Dile and punch two holes on the top. Tie some ribbon through the holes for a hanger. Make your own marble magnets to match. All pau!

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by today. Hope you're all enjoying the Holidays!