Giftcards Galore

Several months ago a friend on Etsy was making things from used-up giftcards. i offered to collect them at work for her. I'd mark them as void and put them in my apron pocket to bring home. After I sent her a couple batches she seemed to lose interest, but I kept on collecting the cards. And collecting and collecting . . . . .

Last week another Etsyian showed off the earrings she'd made with cards from Michael's, so I asked if she'd like some more. When KatieAnnCreations said sure, I started rounding up the cards I'd brought home. At first, I thought I'd have six or seven. Then it was 10. The final total is 15! Needless to say, most of them are from work. :o)

I've got several Christmas designs, including 5 of the blue bow. Then there are the year-round designs, like these. (I love the yarn cones design.) I even brought home a couple of the cards we use for no-receipt returns! LOL

Finally, I have some cards from bookstores. I got them for Christmas, but I guess they were out of everything but the birthday cards at Barnes & Noble.

Tomorrow morning I'll send this batch out to Katie, and start replenishing my stock, ready for the next inventive Etsyian. ;p

Just Added --- More Marvelous MicroMitts!

Tonight I listed 2 more pairs of micromitts, in a yellow floral and a blue check. The plan was for the blue check set to be "manly man-sized", but I didn't allow enough fabric :o( so they're the regular size.

I did list another pair of man-sized mitts the other day, though. The fabric of these blue agate mitts reminds me of the blue enamel cookware that's been around forever.

The Missing Seconds

Ever notice that when you copy music to your computer, the tracks rarely end up the same length as on the cds?

I got several giftcards for Christmas and decided to splurge on books and movies and cds. Everything I got is an old favorite, just right for enjoying again and again, especially the cds. My original cassette tapes are over 20 years old and beginning to wow just a bit.

I put all of the cds on my computer so I could enjoy them while I'm online. As I was naming the tracks, I noticed that very few had the same time listed on the cd label. Some were a few seconds longer, some a bit shorter. And then there was the final track on one album, that was 30 seconds shorter.

That's right. Not 2 or 3 or even 5 seconds, but 30 seconds.

What I'd like to know is, where did all that time go? Is it being recycled to provide extra space for the occasional long-winded classical piece I copy? Is it going to add to the total run-time for my computer before it dies of obsolescence?

Or did it just get sucked into a musical black hole in the space-time continuum?









And yes, the answer is 42.

Repeal the CPSIA!

The CPSIA was created to protect children from lead in toys, but the lawmakers went too far in their regulations. Thousands of small business owners will be forced to close because they cannot afford to have EVERY COMPONENT of their handcrafted items tested. Most of these components are items that have already been certified by the manufacturers, but the law assumes that everyone is guilty until proven innocent.

Download this PDF about the consequences of the CPSIA, click on the links provided, and sign this petition to change or repeal this legislation. Don't let the handcrafting industry go the way of the dodo!

A Cough-less New Year's Eve Night and a Happy New Year

I don't know about anyone else, but my New Year started out happy. For the first time in days I slept for 6 hours without having a monstrous coughing fit every two hours! (Take that, bronchitis!) It's so nice to be (nearly) fully rested. I've been like a zombie the last few days from lack of deep sleep.

I've coughed since I got up, but it's been a) minor and b) extremely productive –– lots and lots of gunk is no longer clogging my lungs and nasal passages. I know there's lots more to come, but right now I don't care! o)