LNS events

This post is going to focus on my LNS experience.  LNS stands for Late Night Stampers, a wonderful group of paper-crafters. I came to know about LNS when I was preparing to attend the Stampin' Up Convention for the first time in 2012.  I had sent a message to my upline asking about finding some roommates in need of another person, as most people will share rooms with 3-4 people in each room to help with the cost of the hotels downtown SLC.  I was matched up with Angel and Marie, both from Dallas/Plano TX area, and we clicked so well, they are now my roomies every year.  While doing the initial contact messaging to make sure we were all compatible roomies, they clued me into the LNS events.  I became interested and signed up.  I had so much fun that I signed up for this year's event as soon as I got home from Convention.  This year I was signed up for next year by the end of the first day!

We arrive on Sunday, and even before Convention starts we make our name tags,

have a white elephant type gift exchange of handmade gifts, do 2 stamp camps, 3 shoebox project swaps, a WOW event, a Reunion Party, a Welcome Party, and an 80+1 card swap.  OODLES of crafting, creativity, and meeting awesome people!  And then Convention starts!

I am so happy to be a part of the LNS clan!  I am so looking forward to next year.  I met some really great people this year and am anxious to see them again.  I've already started the pre-planning for my swaps.  I can work out the basic framework for the swaps, and then when the new SU Catalog is released, I finalize the details and start production.  I really enjoy creating the tutorials for my shoebox swaps.  Here are the ones I did this year:

note paper holder

heart shadow box

chalkboard easel card

 

Here is my 80+1 swap card:

Another sweet element of the LNS Preconvention events is that we all stay in the Radisson downtown SLC, and all the LNS events are in the hotel ballroom which is so convenient.  The hotel is very nice, the employees are wonderful, and the rooms are great.  And bonus, this year they had mini fridges in all the rooms.  We even had our reservation in for 2014 halfway through the first day of events.  Because we have such a large group of people that stay at Radisson every year, we get a group rate that is even better than the room rates Stampin' Up offers.  And it is so nice to know where you are staying months (even a year) in advance.  No waiting for SU to open up their blocks rooms just a month in advance and hoping that you're quick enough to snag a room before they're all taken.  Our arrangement with the Radisson is simply awesome!

And when Stampin' Up Convention starts, we are merely steps from the back doors of the Salt Palace Convention Center.  So our walk to the meeting place and main stage area is in air conditioned comfort.  Being SU's 25th Anniversary they had nearly 6,000 demos attending Convention this year.  So long lines for activities was unavoidable.  One cool thing about that was you had a chance to talk to and get to know complete strangers, whomever you happen to be standing next to in line.  I told so many people about the LNS events, I wouldn't be surprised to see some of them joining the LNS crew next year. While we were seating and waiting for the final main stage session to begin, SU had the question "What was your favorite part of your Convention experience?" on the main screen encouraging everyone to text their answer.  I couldn't help myself, I wanted everyone one to know about LNS, so I texted in that my favorite part was the LNS events including the fun crafts and the wonderful people.  And it popped right up on the screen for all nearly 6,000 people to see!

The rest of the year, LNS holds online Treasure Hunts, Blog Hops, and shares projects daily in their Yahoo groups.  LNS includes SU Demos and non-Demos alike. 

If you are an SU demo, planning to go to Convention next year, and want to know more about LNS, feel free to contact me!  If you are not a Demo, you are welcome to join us online, and if you want to attend the LNS Preconvention events, I feel it is worthwhile even if you can't participate in the SU Convention stuff.

Getting back to it...

Question is... where to start when you've taken some time off from your blog posts?  I guess just start in somewhere....

Well, went to Stampin' Up Convention and had an awesome time!  This year I drove up to SLC.  It is about a 14-hour drive, and only 10% of it is Interstate highways, so it was mostly state highways which slows me down.  If it was mostly interstate highways, I could make it in 9 hours.  It was awesome having my vehicle there, so we could just hop in it whenever we wanted and drive to Target or Michaels, or out to eat someplace farther than walking distance from the hotel.  And it allowed me to bring as much stuff with me as I could stuff into my RAV4, which is a lot.  No worrying about my luggage weighing more the 50 lbs this year.  My little RAV took quite a beating though, as there are a lot of hills between here and SLC and its little 14 year old 4 cylinder engine wasn't very happy about that.  I really hope by next year I have a decent enough job that I feel comfortable taking on a car payment and I can upgrade to something with a 6 cylinder engine.  More on the trip later.  I have pictures and so much to talk about.

I am officially retired from the Air Force now, my first day as a civilian was 1 Aug.  I am now looking for the perfect anti-Obama bumper sticker for my vehicle, since now I am allowed to speak my mind on the matter. 

Alex started 1st grade on 12 Aug.  He is doing well.  Having a few issues with learning proper behavior, and just having a lot of energy, but we are making progress.  We took him to the public library today, and he was so excited to check out 4 Fly Guy books.

Stitching has slowed down, but not stopped.  Tree Frog is making progress, but still working on the same shade of green as stated in the last update.  I've also gotten a couple other project's grid work done. 

Well, that's a start...  and no more just not posting anything because I feel overwhelmed that I have too much to catch up on.  I hope to just pick something to blog about every few days, allowing myself to be as random as I need to be.

My SU up-line posted something on FB recently that I thought was great, it is a little e-poster that says "When people ask me 'How did you get to be so creative?' I tell them it's because I ate paste as a child." 8)

Sunday Status and LCE

One more week... another status...

Tree Frog has some progress, still working on first color green:

And just for the record, I have abandoned using the railroad method to keep threads laying nicely.  I decided to go for speed over perfection, although given the nature of the piece it wasn't a tough decision.  Although now when I have a twisted stitch, I can't just ignore it, I have to try and get the threads to lay a little nicer by fiddling with it using my needle as a sort of laying tool.  By the way, I am liking the stretcher bars very much.  They are so light.  And there is no adjusting the tension or having to move the q-snap to a different spot.  Q-snaps are still my go to frame for travel projects though.  I have taken this one out of the house, but it is a bit awkward, and it just barely fits in the backpack I use to carry it.

Introducing the new small project... I've had this little kit in my stash for quite awhile.  It is called Sunny Thought by Dimensions.  Interestingly, it is on a small plastic mesh instead of fabric.

I've finished the first color so far.

As you can see, I didn't grid it as usual, since it is so small, but I did have to use a spare bit of thread to do a quick line on two sides to mark the gridline points to help with stitching the separate areas.  Should be cute when it is finished.

 Now for the LCE (life changing event)... I am active duty in the Air Force, and after 22 years it is time to retire from the AF.  Friday was my last duty day...yay!  Tomorrow is the start of my terminal leave (aka using up all my accrued vacation days).  After the terminal leave is done, I am officially a military retiree.  Then I really having to figure out what to do with myself next.  I have to look for a job, since even though military pension is nice, it just isn't enough to pay the bills and keep a family household going.  So, the job search begins.  And I am going to have to learn to dress myself to go to work, no more just throwing on the uniform everyday.  I am very happy and scared at the same time.  One good thing is, until I get hired somewhere, I have more time to stitch and stamp.  Stamping may have to be a priority while I am prepping for the Stampin' Up convention in July.  After that though, I can get back to stitching until my fingers go numb.  8)

'til next time... happy stitching (and stamping)!

 

 

Max's Moon progress

Life has finally slowed down a bit, so I am getting back to posting on my blog.  I did include the disclaimer in my blog name, hence Realm of Randomness.  The random part applies to not only what I post but how often I post.  So, now I would like to show you the progress on my current cross-stitch project... this is Max's Moon.  I've had this kit for a number of years and finally pulled it out of my stash and started working on it.



progress on Max's Moon

Actually, because I've been working on him nearly everyday, I have made quite a bit more progress since this picture was taken.  His back half is finished along with the right stump and fern.  I am currently working on all the little fuzzy hairs on him.   After that, it is just a few backstitch details in the face and paws, and it will be finished!  Since this is the first time I've shown him, I will include an image of the full project, as I plan to do every time I introduce a new project.  I know when I am blog surfing, I appreciate seeing what the finished project will look like.

Max's Moon stock photo

Tonight I am prepping the fabric for projects I plan on starting on after this one is done.  Cutting the fabric (mostly Aida, but one linen as well), remembering to add 8" to the finished size when cutting (I like 4" margins), and ironing the creases out.  I had a eureka moment tonight that I just have to share.  A couple months ago I was organizing my cross-stitch fabric stash, including measuring, cataloging, ironing, and storing  either flat in a portfolio or rolled in tubes I got from U-line.   The ironing wasn't working so well.  I spent a few hours researching online for any methods that would work better.  There was no real consensus, so I tried a few methods, like wetting the fabric and freezing it  before ironing, using the highest steam setting on the iron, and spritzing the fabric with vinegar.  All resulted in limited success.  So tonight I lamented to my hubby and Mother-in-Law about it when was again struggling with the task of getting creases out of aida and linen.  Mind you, they were both present for the multi-day task of fabric organizing I mentioned, so you'd think that if they had any helpful advice it would have come up at that time.  Well, not so much.  So imagine my surprise when MIL instructs me to use a damp ironing cloth over top the aida, and IT WORKS!  It works beautifully!!!  I can't tell you just how thrilled I am that I can finally iron aida and linen smooth of all creases so easily!

The other tidbit of happiness today... I got registered for the Stampin' Up Convention coming up in July. Woo-hoo! It is their 25th year, so they're going big this year.  Between the main Convention and the pre- and post-convention LNS events, I am going to have soooo much fun!

' Til next time - Happy Stitching (and Stamping)!