What? Announcements without a project??!!!

I just wanted to share some info while I am in between three projects-- just some news I thought you might find helpful!

First of all, check out Gina Piazza on the Cricut Blog!  OMGosh she shows us how to make realistic looking feathers from paper.  I have a "thing" for Mingo (Ed Ames from the old Daniel Boone television series) and this puts me a bit closer to figuring out a Mingo-inspired project.  (Ok- maybe my Mingo love isn't news you needed to know but definitely check out Gina's Caught Our Eye feature!)

Second, check out Curt Jensen's blog!  Wow!  Finally a blog not from a stylist, but from an actual illustrator who designs the images on Cricut Cartridges!  Fun insight and a great blog!  He has a challenge up through November 11 featuring one of the cartridges he designed, Campin Critters.  I have to thank Sis Patterson for emailing me about this blog! 

Next, a creative and smart crafter, Bonnie (known as GypsyBoricua on the message board) has contacted Ryonet (the aftermarket Yudu-compatible supplier that many of us use for inks, screens, and liquid emulsion).  Bonnie, my new hero, has convinced them that they need to manufacture specialty mesh screens for the Yudu Cardshop!!!!  Holy cow, crafters!  This is awesome!  Bonnie has requested Ryonet to provide meshes like 40 for using glitter inks!  She gave me her contact at Ryonet, Ashley Rudolph.  Ashley responded to my email on Saturday (same day I sent it) and has told me I can order from her by calling her directly.  Bonnie has already placed her order and I plan to order 40, 86, and 220 screens on Monday.  This is so new that none of this is printed on their website (so be sure to verify pricing if you plan to place an order in the event that changes have been made):

• The company is Ryonet Corporation (silkscreeningsupplies.com)
• To place an order for Yudu Cardshop screens, call Ashley Rudolph at Ryonet Corp 1-800-314-6390 ext 133.  To ask questions, you can email Ashely at arudolph@ryonetcorporation.com
• Price for 24-110 mesh $13.00 each
• Price for 125-180 mesh $13.50 each
• Price for 200-280 mesh $14.50 each
• Price for 305-355 mesh $15.50 each
• Price for 380-420 mesh $17.00 each
• There is a two week lead time for the screens since they are a new product -per Ashley in her email to me.  This is good to know for anyone who is used to Ryonet's usually super speedy delivery.
• Note:  These are blank Yudu Cardshop screens.  You will need a regular Yudu or other device to burn your images into the screen! 

*****************Edited December 28, 2011 to add: 
I received my Yudu Cardshop screens!  It took six weeks to them, which is longer than I was originally told, but they are FANTASTIC.  They have metal frames just like the other Ryonet screens for Yudu and they are just perfect.  I just wanted to pass on the lead time change!***************

Last bit of news, I have revamped my blog a bit to make the home page load faster by adding pages at the top of my blog to remove some images and text from the sidebar... and I have a few new things up there too!  Check out the tab Art From Friends to see some of the beautiful works of art that have been sent to me from the crafty geniuses I know!  I have also added some info on altering figures as well as pages that feature answers to questions I receive the most.  I hope the new features are interesting to you and help to make my blog work more efficiently.

Best wishes... and I promise, my next post (tomorrow) will feature a project!!