Our phantom subscriber has made a proposal to the Iraqi Redevelopment Counsel to set up a string of stamping, scrap booking and craft venues in an attempt to pacify the country as well as create jobs for many Iraqi women. While she is awaiting word on her grant, she is asking for US crafters to save all used glue sticks, empty E6000 tubes, empty jars from embossing powder, dried up stamp pads, etc. Workshops will be established through out Iraq to refurbish these and other craft items. Have any rubber stamps that are looking the worse for wear? They will be cleaned, polished and made just like new at a fraction of the cost of a replacement.

A special note from me, The Hun was devastated, as no one asked him to e-mail a copy of his little treatise on kitchen knives, which he mentioned in his last column. He spent a lot of time putting together a little primer with information and sources, but no one asked for a copy. Look guys ­ he is difficult enough living with under normal circumstances, but The Hun in a perpetual sulk is beyond the pale. Please e-mail him at gpa@d-web.com, and ask for a copy of his little missive ­ even if you do not really want one. If you make him feel better my life will be a lot easier. And thanks.

update on shows attended

We drove down from Cleveland after visiting some old friends, missing the blackout by just a few hours. Cincinnati was spared or the show would not have taken place.

We were joined in our booth by HRH Xina. For those of you who do not know her, she is the spiritual head of both Kerchunk, the seminal information source of all things stamping, and the coolest site for the widest selection of collage material (at unbelievable prices), SkyBluePink. HRH brought dozens of her various domino/Tri-Omino sets and other goodies, and sold out virtually everything. Some crafters got so excited at the bargains we almost had to call 911.

The Hun got into a little tussle with HRH about her prices being too low. She held her own and said she was going to stand her ground and keep her prices affordable. The Hun slunk away and pouted for a while.

BTW Xina was only able to bring one Romulan Caldoggjen (not exactly the right transliteration but I always have trouble translating Romulan - there is more of a xxersh's sound at the end of the word, and for those of you who are picky, the emphasis is on the first syllable) game set with her as each of the pieces weigh about 31 pounds and there are 163 pieces to a set. "If I had a larger car" she said, "I could have sold another eight or nine sets. Sorry about the price but the freight is the killer." Next year she promised to rent a van or a trailer to haul her stuff.

The Hun was in all his glory as he was cooed over by many midwestern Hunnies who had been reading his column for years. Each got a temporary I'm A Hunnie tattoo to wear and several put them on, let me say, in some interesting places.

After Stampaway we were home for a whole three days (which included a visit from our son and his fiancée from NYC) and then off to Phoenix for the first annual ART Unraveled. [www.artunraveled.com]

Linda Young produced a spectacular stamp/craft camp for her first ever attempt. The Hilton Squaw Peak was a great venue, with a separate conference building with wonderful classroom space. The hotel really welcomed our business and it showed in the service. They could not have been nicer or more accommodating. Phoenix in August was a bit on the warm side but we were indoors for the most part. Attendance was very high and the teachers were the very best there is. I am really looking forward to next year.

up coming shows and classes ta ta!

The second annual Creative Palette is coming to St. Mary's, Georgia, February 12 thru 15, 2004. (My Lord I am already talking about 2004 and we haven't even done Halloween, much less Thanksgiving and then... But I have to, as this show was the hit of the circuit last year.) If you can only go to one away show a year, this is the one for you.

Why you ask? Let me count the ways:

1. Organized and produced by Paula Amari, one of the nicest and most fun people in craft world.

2. No dreary industrial convention hall. The vendors and classes are distributed among the many historic buildings in beautiful St Mary's. Tree shaded streets, brick sidewalks and white picket fences set the stage for the most beautiful venue of all the craft shows. The weather is mild this time of year and the short walks to and from the historic building, some dating back to the 1700s, provides a needed respite from classes and shopping.

3. No admission fee. You heard me right - zip, nada, nothing. And no parking fees as well.

4. Classes will be held on Thursday the 12th, Friday the 13th and Sunday the 15th. Saturday is reserved for shopping among the many vendors, thus no conflict of interest, nothing to divert your attention, no bouncing from class to booth and back again.

5. Some of the best teachers in the US will be there, not just me, but I hear Suze will be holding court as well. I will be teaching four classes with my long time friend, Cheryl Ross of Savannah. Just think, two for the price of one.

* Cloth Goddess Doll ­ stamped, beaded and stuffed, this is one of my most popular classes.

* Elegant Asian ­ a vessel pendant in polymer clay. This class is an updated version of my perennial Spirit Vessel class with a twist by Cheryl.

* Antique Brooch ­ a fabulous new polymer clay project.

* Beaded Bracelet ­ back by popular demand, yet another technique to make a beaded bracelet.

6. You get a chance to shop at Old Town Crafts, arguably the prettiest and most crammed full of great stuff you just have to have, craft store we know of.

7. And The Hun will be there to make your trip an event to remember.

St. Mary's is about an hour's drive from Jacksonville (just over the Florida line) and two hours from Savannah, right off the Interstate, with plenty of inexpensive lodging and food.

This year the town will believe Paula when she told them 500+ crazed crafters were coming and be better prepared. Not that it was bad last year, but the sight of the town's people walking around looking incredulous at the crowd was priceless. For info go to www.oldtowncrafts.com or give Paula a call at 877-313-6745 (and say hi for me).

On April 2nd and 3rd, 2004 I will be teaching at Artiscape, in its second year, a three day artist's retreat in historic Roscoe Village, Coshocton, Ohio (east of Columbus, near Dresden, and a hop/skip from Cleveland.)

European Papers of Columbus, Ohio, has taken a page from The Creative Palette and ART Unraveled and is putting together a retreat that will combine the best of both worlds. Over 25 workshops in an historic village setting, beautiful and reasonable historic inn accommodations, what more could you ask for. Time to ditch the kids, get hubby to do the cooking, and kick back and create to your hearts content. Alas (I told I would use this word again) it will only last three days.

For an info packet send a SASE (#10 with $.60 postage) to:

European Papers Ltd.
377 East Kossuth Street
Columbus, Ohio 43206

Web site: www.europeanpapers.com

And start preparing your spouse for the away game now.

bulletin!

the so sad powder story updated and not so sad any more

bistro hun

• We all know that when you cut up fruit that oxidizes, such as apples or pears, a little citrus juice will keep them from turning an unappetizing brown color. Problem is that I do not always have a lemon hanging around when I need it. And, at least in my market, lemons are going for 49 cents each. What I did was to buy a huge jar of vitamin C powder for around eight dollars, and mix it with some water and then toss the fruit, coating each piece. I have been using the same jar for about four years now, and, as you know, I cook a lot. Not only does it work but not one of my pies or tarts, slumps or buckles, have ever caught a cold.

• When in NYC last, I bought a stainless steel cleaver for about $8.50. It works so well I have virtually given up on using my other, and very expensive, set of knives. The weight is perfect, it takes a great edge with very little effort, and is wonderful for scooping and moving food to the sauté pan or a bowl. Do not be intimidated by the look of the thing. And you can't beat the price. If you do not have a local Chinatown, contact Pearl River Mart, 477 Broadway (Broome St.) NYC, www.pearlriver.com or 800-878-2446.

• Have some herbs and spices in your cabinet from the year before the flood (okay the year you got married) and are not sure if they have any life left in them? Rather than just thrown them out and buy new ones, rub some between your fingers and sniff. If you get a nice pungency they are just fine and you saved a bunch of money you can better spend on craft supplies. BTW www.penzeys.com is a great herb and spice house with an interesting catalog.

• Salt pasta water fairly heavily AFTER it comes to a boil (salt it before and the salt makes little white spots on the bottom of your pot), like two heaping tablespoons or so. The resulting pasta really tastes better and you will find yourself salting the resulting dish a lot less at the table. BTW I place a small bowl of kosher salt right next to the stove. It is much easier to use than a shaker when in the midst of cooking.

• When in a bind, melted vanilla ice cream makes an acceptable sauce for a dessert. Drizzle it over a piece of pound cake and some cut up fruit (tossed with vitamin C powder of course), or over a slice of pie or tart.