I’ve never really moved before. I moved out of my parents’ house once, only to move right back in after a few months of school. I also moved into an apartment, but all of my belongings could fit into my brother’s truck. When I moved into the dome almost everything I had except for a bed and a table, could be moved with a cross-town trip in my trusty Saturn.

This time, Tyrone and I really moved. He liked to brag that in the last 18 years, he’s had to move 16 different times. His wisdom in the pack and the drive were priceless.

Never really moving before, I had never really had to pack before either. The definition of packing here entails configuring multiple boxes in an optimal way for space and cushioning, sealing those boxes with tape, and then not seeing the contents again for two weeks minimum. Who knew plates are stronger if you pack them on end?

I only had one piece of intuition about packing that saved us money or time: using raw crafting items for cushioning. Over the years I have amassed quite the collection of yarn, felted wool sweaters, and a library of fabrics. We used these items to cushion ceramics and plates. Jean quilt squares were used in vases and coffee cups. Skeins of even the lowest-quality acrylic yarn cradled clocks with exposed faces. These materials were even used to pack most of my crafting gear, such as my swift or my embroidery/quilting hoops.

So if you are crafter about to move, do not de-stash your yarn and fabrics yet. Once you see the price of bubble wrap, you’ll have the only reason you need to stay a craft pack rat while you pack.

These pieces of felt went on to cushion figurines, lamps, and other breakables.

I gave a bunch of people the address to this blog this week. Hopefully, the readership will increase, but it may turn into a “how to live in a cement mixer” blog for a a little while.

I’m planning on adding more patterns and items to sell to the site, but in the meantime, I will leave you with some activist craft yellow ribbon art. To everything there is a season, and this season I wish you peace:

My friends at the Star City Scene message board are talking about plastic bags vs. bring your own bag here.

This is a post dedicated to bringing your own bag…from recycled pants:

or from recycled plastic bags!

Classic bags:

I warned you I would do it.

Today is the Nebraska Democratic Caucus. I am reminding folks with my garage door.