Well, not Russia...but to a Russian... IN Russia. AND I did it in Russian! Well, I WROTE in Russian... in Cyrillic even! And best of all? Russia wrote back to me! Talk about technology changing our lives! Not a single hour spent agonizing over those nasty past or present tense verbs either! Whoo, hoo... I talked to Russia and she talked to me and it's all thanks to Fee Bee Dee, Dee, Dee!
WISE WOMAN MARKETPLACE
You may have noticed my little "Wise Woman Marketplace" over to the left there... It's full of wonderful women crafters and store owners who's places and products I myself patronize and recommend. ANYHOO... I was planning on talking about it anyway but NOW I'm about ready to jump out of my skin to talk about it! LOL Why? Because today...Have I mentioned it? I TALKED TO RUSSIA!
There is a brand new vendor on the Marketplace - WOOLFELTINGART - It's a little Etsy Shop run by IRINA. I stopped in there a week or so ago and was thrilled to find some great art yarn that I had been searching for for a specific quilt... it was almost perfect for what I needed. I whipped off an email with a photo of what I was planning to do and asked her if she could do something for me. Meanwhile, I started surfing her shop. OH MY GOODNESS! Incredib ly cool things were to be found within - really different. I looked at her profile - OH, no wonder they looked so unique - the woman is half a world away in Russia. The next day I got a return email asking for me to be patient as she needed to have a friend interpret for her. No problem ... but then I got to thinking... translate, computer... there had to be a way. GOOGLE! Sure enough. Type "translator" into the Google search box and up it comes! Click on the original language and then click on what language you want it to end up in and then just type away! By the next day we were both using it and Holy Moly... you'd think we went to High School together! No kidding... Russia!
IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS IN JULY...ISN'T IT?
Irina gave me her Russian shop address and let me tell you... I have my Christmas money spent 10 times over already! I'm torn between showing her stuff to all of my friends and "hoarding" her site until after the holidays so that I can buy gifts for those SAME friends FROM that little treasure chest of goodies! What a conundrum! LOL I did finally decide NOT to be a selfish brat and I posted her link on my Facebook page... Good Pamela! Woof!
IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL...
What I still am, however, is absolutely amazed at the power of Etsy and Artfire to bring people together. My journey there started with a lovely artist of whom you've heard me talk about many times. Phoebe Baker. Phoebe has now become a friend and mentor of sorts; always willing to share her hard won knowledge base and talent with me. She is an amazing photographer and digital artist along with printing the most fun and thought provoking fabric art! Before "FeeBeeDee" I simply used fabric from off the bolt!
It never occured to me to incorporate anything different. She opened my imagination to a VERY BIG WORLD by giving of herself and also by pointing me in the direction of other creative spirits that she thinks will twist my brain around. Love the tweaking, Feebs.. keep it up! Don't know how I'll ever repay you tho... Those of you reading this - if you are ever looking for a print or greeting cards for "THAT" one person in your life. (you know the one) check out FeeBeeDee's site on the Marketplace - you will be SURE to find the perfect gift. I guarantee it!
After Phoebe I ran smack dab into Vicki Welsh, Fabric guru extraodinaire! She makes the magic happen and her blog is something else. When I grow up I want to be just like Vicki. Nuff Said. Click her Etsy site from the Marketplace, her blog from the Typepad Launch on the right.
UNIQUE...UNSTUFFY
How great is that for a description of a shop? Doesnt' that just make you want to "come in?"... GABS BAGS......... So many of you have commented on that perfect little bag I use when I am using my cane - it came from here! If anyone knows a lovely lady who is, like moi, a "3-legger"... do her a great favor and when it comes to gift giving time? Buy her one of these lovely bags; They don't bang, or fall, or open up and drop stuff all over! It's all in the unique design this brilliant woman came up with...kinda like they were made for this specifically but they weren't! LOL I told Gab if she didn't start marketing these I was going to beat her with my third leg but I would rather not. Tee, hee, hee. Trust me. Check 'em out! And for those who are simply purse-a-holics in their own right - Consider yourselves warned.
SO MANY HERE.... AND YET TO COME!
If you are in the Chicago area - there is Fabrics, Etc. 2 - better known as FE2 - my hangout, my best friend's store - the best quilting and embroidery shop around. Miss Mary - she taught me everything I know. Her - you'll find more out about later...
And there is Rainbow Girl Sarah from England, andthe Golde n Onetoo with her beautiful scarves and Anita with her beautiful fabrics as well, and, and... wonderful women crafters and artists from all over the world... all gathering together on my little blog page.
Blows me away, it does. I encourage each of you to take a peek thru the market when you can. Each of these ladies works hard at what she does; honing her skills and perfecting her techniques. If you can patronize their shops, please do. I would appreciate if you would let them know that you found them here, as well. :-) Ladies, lifting one another up. I like that. Especially when my arms can reach all the way from Rolling Meadows to Russia and find a friend.
From Feebs to Fabric and purses to possibilities....But most of all,
From the Marketplace with Love, Pamela