Saturday, I needed an artist date, but I wasn't sure I had the patience to break out of my routine and do something. I've been wanting to get a picture frame for several weeks, and decided that I could do that and squeeze in an artist date at the same time. So I headed off to Joann, Etc. and their picture frame department.
I love to hit craft stores. I love looking at all the scrapbooking stuff (even though I don't do scrapbooks), and the rubber stamps, the papers, the Christmas Ornaments (they're already 30% off at Joann, Etc.) the candles, the seasonal fabrics (even though I don't sew), etc.
I usually buy my picture frames at yard sales. But finding frames you can hang are a challenge. Most of them are "table top" frames. And, Joann, Etc. only had table top frames. Bummer. So off I went to A.C. Moore down the road. This store has a different feel, and is smaller, but they seem to have a lot of different stuff. I totally resisted the urge to check out the wedding aisle--it's been 18 years since I got married, but I just love looking at all the wedding stuff--the Jordan Almonds, the netting, etc. And I had to avoid the pen aisle, too, else I'd be heading home with a ton more gel pens (that I don't need). They had a great assortment of frames and I found the perfect one for my photo.
And, luckily, it was on sale for 40% off. Win-win!
So where do you go for your artist dates?
I go to my local quilt shop and gaze at all the fabric choices. If I had the room, I would buy them.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have a Joanns here in the city but when I travel to a place that has one, I love going up and down their aisles pretending that I do those other crafts.
My artist likes to go to the movies, but my inner Howard Hughes has a problem with sitting in a dark, unsupervised room with a lot of strangers and noise. No, maybe that's my inner Agatha fretting.
ReplyDeleteI like Industrial Metals Supply (too far away, now) where they have all kinds of fancy metals: sheets, pipes, stamped, plus coatings and cutting tools. Great place. Nice post, too!
Yarn shops, thrift shops, ethnic food shops, book stores with huge magazine sections full of unusual ones I've never seen before, antique shops, office or teacher supply stores (I love gel pens too!). Best of all is a funky urban street, like S. Congress in Austin, that is packed with all kinds of neat shops, and great places to eat too. When I can sneak away and spend several hours browsing someplace like that, my well runneth over!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Do really nice restaurants count as an artist's date? I do get great pleasure from having beautifully arranged food served to me.
ReplyDeleteOther artist's dates: book stores, yarn stores, and any gift store with unusual,artsy selections.
On a side note, I'm currently reading Julia Cameron's memoir Floor Sample. I'm thoroughly enjoying this indepth look at the woman behind The Artists Way.