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First up, thank you for your kind comments on the sushi bag! 15 comments on one post, I think that’s an e-j.com record!

Secondly, and unrelatedly: lately, I have been feeling like a reclusive crafter. I’ve been following a pretty regular routine of work-all-day, craft-all-night, with the occasional break to restock craft supplies and see family. I realized last night that I haven’t been to a stitch n’ bitch since last August (oh dear, it’s worse than I thought), and even though we’ve had some nasty winter weather between now and then, I really can’t blame the weather for lapsing into hermetic tendencies. And a lapse it most certainly is, since solitude is a bit of a natural state for me. So, while it is all very well to indulge oneself in solitude if it feels right, I can’t help but think that I am probably missing out on a vibrant local craft scene, one that is largely unknown and altogether foreign to me. So this morning, I set out for a bit of Internet sleuthing to get an idea of just how vibrant this local craft scene really is, and lookee here:

• Speakeasy – a gathering of local craft types with monthly shows dedicated to different media.
• Cabbagetown Arts & Crafts – with a pretty impressive fall sale.
• Church of Craft – my kind of church. Monthly crafty meetings, lots of special events, and Pedal to the Medal, the annual craft show, in December.
• Ladyfest Toronto – “Ladyfest Toronto is a community-based, non-profit event designed by and for women to showcase, celebrate and encourage the artistic, organizational and political work and talents of women.” And a fine looking art/craft/zine market too! Last year was Ladyfest’s first year and there is no word yet on whether or not Ladyfest 2005 is in the works, but I’ve sent a couple of e-mails and made a couple of calls and will let you know what I find out.
• Craft fair in the works? – a thread on Craftster that started in the Fall, petered out over the winter, and seems to have picked up steam again. I think I might have to throw my hat into the ring.

And so, into the breach! I can never resist a good craft fair (I’m going to two this weekend), so I think I’ll start by volunteering to help out at one or two, and maybe even get brave and rent a table at one of the fall fairs. I’ll keep you posted so you can stop by and check up on me. You know, just to make sure I’ve actually left the house.