Traveling expenses

Maybe I just don't get out of the city often enough. I mean, after almost sixteen years of living in New York, I guess I've grown accustom to buying my craft supplies from either the high-end shops or the warehouse-style "discount" stores. Craft stores aren't exactly plentiful in New York, and the selection can be almost dismal at times.

So every time I set foot in Michael's or in Hobby Lobby, I'm astounded by the variety of materials that are available. Craft foam? Whoever heard of that, and what's it for? Colorful jumbo pipe cleaners? I've never seen those in New York. Faux marble columns? Oh, wait. I can't even comprehend why or when anyone would ever need one of those, so never mind. And Crayola sells other things besides basic crayons and markers? Not where I shop, they don't.

So of course I made Grandma stop at Michael's when I was visiting. I promised I would speed shop, but I should never make promises I know I can't keep. I just had to see the new Martha Stewart line, of course. But I had no idea what would greet me just inside the front door: a full row of Martha. Whoa.


I managed to find a few things I really needed. Oh yes, needed. I'm a sucker for great packaging. I passed up a few other items as well. For example, my mental crystal ball tells me there will be some tissue paper flowers in my near future, a la Sally's lovelies. And the magazine holders would have followed me home were it not for their size in comparison to the size of my carryon bag. Oh, and there were a few other things as well. But I exercised restraint. At least a little bit.

Ok, not much. Did I miss anything good in my rush? Because I'm going back in about a month, so please tell me if there's a big hole in my stash here. Oh, and how great is it that they have baker's twine in six different colors? Someone at Martha has been reading our minds. Or our blogs. They certainly knew what I like, at least. Really, I would have been satisfied with just the red and white, but once again the packaging got me.

I think the store was bigger than the Martha aisle. I seem to recall a cavernous space that stretched out into the distance ahead of me endlessly. But none of the other aisles registered with me. I guess I really didn't need craft foam at all, did I? I mean, Martha didn't seem to have it in her aisle, so why would anyone else need it?

Hmmm. I don't recall seeing any faux marble columns either. Hurray for Martha!