This is part of my series in supporting local women and businesses. The first blog is about nails. I did a new set of nails this week using color strips. At first I was hesitant, but as I started actually using the product I grew to love it. I purchase them from Chelsea over at Manis with Chelsea on Facebook. You can find her link to the right.

Chelsea introduces herself as "a stay at home mom. I have Marcus 11, Brody 8 and Torryn 4. I call them the wild bunch. Marcus was diagnosed with leukemia on 04/17/17, 2 days before his 10th birthday. We've been through horrible tough times but Marcus is a fighter and he is doing great! He's been in remission since May 2017! He still has a long journey ahead though. He is estimated to end chemo treatment in August of 2020. I can't wait for it! I started selling Color Street because first off I am absolutely passionate about it. After my first sample and first manicure I did myself with Color Street I was hooked! It's affordable, it's easy to apply and there are great styles. What isn't to love about it! Second I knew with Marcus being sick I wouldn't be able to go to a job. There are way too many hospital stays, physical therapy appointments and chemo appointments. A job isn't realistic right now. I knew I had to make some money though to help my husband out. Color Street was a perfect fit for my life and what I needed! Please feel free to ask anything! I hope you all will love the product as much as I do! Thank you for your support!

These are Connes-fetti over Manchester Mauve. So much fun, easy and gorgeous, don't you think?  And I can get four nail changes for the cost of one manicure. Now don't get me wrong. Occasionally I need a professional manicure and pedicure to clean up my nails. But in between I has a fabulous time playing with color. The strips last 2+ weeks without chipping and are so easy to apply!

My Pierce County Clothing and Textile group purchases dolls and makes and purchases clothing and accessories for foster children. Bought these dolls, Ella, Madison and Paige,at JoAnn's today with money provided by Starr K. The start for Christmas 2019 donations.

While at JoAnn's I scored on some art projects for my granddaughter. $9.00 for all. 75% off plus another 20% 4H coupon. I get that discount because I occasionally help with 4H sewing.  There is a decorated Christmas tree, three ornaments and some postcards. I'mani will have fun making these. She loves arts and crafts.

This month I am embarking on a new adventure. I am resurrecting my love for crazy quilting by participating in Take a Stitch Tuesday (TAST).https://pintangle.com/tast-faq/

Every week she gives a new stitch to master. Never one to just practice and not create a project, I am creating crazy stitch quilt blocks. Not sure of the final project yet. Here are my first blocks. I found the heart partially completed, so now I will finish it too. Since I have some background in embroidery and crazy quilting, I may also try the advanced stitch of the week. This lasts 52 weeks with a couple of planned catch up weeks. The square is called a naked block.

I will post pictures of the completed stitches.

In early November I decided I needed some fairly quick, inexpensive gifts to have on hand. I purchased this yarn at JoAnn's on close-out for $3.00 a skein. The yarn is wool, mohair and silk. These are the ones left over. They will be put away for future giftie needs.

During  December 2018 I participated in knitting for peace for the third year. This is an event that starts on December first and culminates on December 21, This years  project was a cowl with purl rib and flying geese sections. Of course I had to make the longer cowl, so 350+ stitches were cast  on. I restarted five times because I always ended up with a twist. On the fifth cast on, I left the twist as a design element. One year I gifted the finished project to my daughter Tara and the next my sister Nancy was the recipient. I will keep this one. It should go well with jeans. Here is my finished project. It is a soft merino wool.

I went to my daughter's mother-in-laws house for Christmas dinner. One of the other guests admired my scarf, so I gave it to her at the end of the night. It was a pink cloth scarf. I decided I needed a new pink scarf, so I made myself one from the $3.00 a skein of wool, mohair and silk purchased at JoAnn's. 

Now I am working on the special wool purchased at Tolt Yarn. Excited to see it progress.