I spent 2 hours at Joann's yesterday. No, not my friend Joann, the crafting mega-store Joann. I don't like going there anymore. There are no service people. You know the ones I mean, like at Home Depot, the ones that help you find what you need. I had three projects in mind, and I had the supply lists. Two things I couldn't find, and had no experience with, were
paintsticks and a "workable fixative." Well I found
Gesso, which proceeded "workable fixative" on my list, so I thought maybe the
sprayable varnish, listed as workable, next to it could be the correct product. I wanted to be sure though. Search as I may, I could not find help. Then, after an exhaustive scan of all paints available at the store, I sought out someone who could give me a definitive answer to the question "do you have
paintsticks?" One young girl, headed up front to man a cash register, took me back to the fabric paints, but we did not find anything described as
paintsticks. So much for crafting time. I HATE shopping. Online must be the best way to go. You just have to plan ahead better than I usually do. But it will beat getting a sore back and headache at Joann's.
I did score a couple of nice buttons. I would have rather scored them at a yard sale though. I told mom I'd bought buttons, and she reminded me that she has plenty, so buying buttons is kind of silly. I agreed. The pictures above are some of the buttons hanging about in her studio.
Today I am off to the
paintsticks class at
Intown Quilters ; I must get there early to purchase the actual real
Paintsticks and the "
pdf' fabric from my supply list. I called
Intown, and they told me that "
pdf" fabric is specially "prepared for dyeing". I am also taking some
pre-washed, steam ironed fabric of my own just in case that is all that "specially prepared" means. I spent $100 at
Joanns despite discounts, so you know I did find some of the supplies I was looking for, but, honestly, I think making stuff from what you already have on hand beats the insane amount of money you spend being crafty with the help of the mega store. I'm just
sayin.'