I'm nothing if not cheap....

... or, in more polite terms, I'm frugal. So, I followed up on an email on the Canada's Minis Yahoo Group that told about a new product that Dollarama is carrying: LED mini strip lighting attached to a battery pack that holds 3 AA batteries. For $3.00 you get a full metre (39") of strip lighting. This is the kind that you can actually cut shorter lengths - as long as you cut across the middle of a set of 4 copper connectors. You would then need to be able to solder a new set of wires to the piece that has been cut off - but many of us do this anyway.

I found them in our local Dollarama yesterday, about half way down the craft aisle, and I bought 3 packages. I didn't want to be too greedy so I left several packages for others to take advantage of.

Here is what the packaging looks like:

So here's my other experience this week. I wanted to try my hand at making more flowers. I really enjoy it every time Marijke H. and I get together and she teaches me how to make a new flower type. Did I mention I have the BEST mini friends!?! Anyway - I was out shopping and decided to stop in at Staples - a large, international, business supply store, to pick up a variety of different coloured sheets of paper that would be appropriate for flowers. I went to the printing section and asked if I could buy two sheets of paper in every colour they have there. The clerk said no, they couldn't sell them that way. I had already explained what I was going to do with them - use them to make miniature flowers. She told me I could buy the different colours in packages on their shelves. I explained again that a single piece of paper would be enought to make dozens of flowers and I couldn't see buying 10 or 12 full packages of paper in order to get all the colours. She apologized and said, that's what I would have to do. So, then I said, okay - how about I pay you to photocopy a blank page onto each of the coloured pages. Again, she said no, if I paid for photocopying, she would actually have to copy something onto the paper. Why??? I have no idea!!

So, needless to say, I left there and drove to Covey's, a stationer/business supply store that is locally owned and operated and has been here for as long as I can remember. I went to their print section and repeated my request. The clerk there said absolutely! She then proceeded to go to the print shelves and pulled out two pages of each of 10 colours. The 20 pages cost me, with tax, 69 cents!!! Lesson learned - - deal with your locally owned and operated businesses first! The big international stores just don't care!

Okay - enough ranting for one day. So, I worked at the Irish Room today so didn't have a lot of time for minis but, I did put the second runner on the sleigh bed, installed twisted trim around the head board and foot board, and put on two coats of gesso.

Next will come the actual painting, then it'll be time to make the bedding. I promise, Louise, you will get your birthday present soon - it won't be any more than a month late!

Tomorrow, Louise and I are off to Montreal for the Miniature Show and Sale - whoopee - went to the bank for some cash, checked to make sure I have my credit cards packed - - I'm ready to go!!! The next time you hear from me it will be with news from Montreal. TTFN!! - Marilyn