i am no longer a Hobby Lobby virgin. {gasp} you read that right. i went to Hobby Lobby for the VERY FIRST TIME on Saturday, October 8, 2011. and well, my life will never be the same…….and neither will my pocketbook! haha fortunately, the closest HL is almost 2 hours away from where i now live in eastern VA. {much to Davis’s relief}
my first trip to Hobby Lobby. for reals.
gotta love that cheesey smile and squnity eyes. ugh. not my best pic. but whatev! thanks to Kristol from The Magic of Ordinary Things for taking it!
now before i get too far ahead of myself, i need to give you the background of how i ended up in the above picture…….{kinda feel like an episode of How I Met Your Mother??}
Sweet Tea Social
last saturday, i headed back to my old stomping grounds of Richmond, VA to meet up with some local craft and DIY bloggers. it was loads of fun! Allison from A Glimpse Inside and Michelle from Dream Home DIY were the event organizers…..and they did a fabulous job! it was a lovely afternoon filled with delicious food, laughter, and great company.
here are the gals i spent the afternoon with….
Cheryl {she would not disclose her blog, so i don’t have a link to it. sorry!}
Kristol from The Magic of Ordinary Things
i think don’t remember their names!! ack. sorry!!! but i loved that her cute daughter snuck in and hung out with us for the last little bit. {and yes, that pic is a bit blurry. they were laughing :)}
Becky from Farmgirl Paints and Brandee from Smooth Stones
Michelle from Dream Home DIY and Anjie from Frugal Freelancer
Allison from a Glimpse Inside
Jennifer from An Apple for the Crafter
we devoured some delicious food from The Cheesecake Factory. {yummers!} and then i was the super luck winner of a $20 gift card giveaway to Hobby Lobby that Michelle and Allison sponsored. {thanks ladies!!} sooooo of course this little card was burning a hole in my bag and it had.to.be.spent.immediately. so 5 of us trekked over to the brand new Hobby Lobby in Richmond {which opened around the time i moved from Richmond this summer}.
and that’s where the first picture of my in front of Hobby Lobby comes in.
we had a blast going up and down each isle and soaking in the crafting goodness. and michelle found this ugly little thing for her “ugliest christmas tree ornament” contest. which she has lost the last 4 years. i think this piece of work just might be her lucky charm. or should i say ugly charm??
and here is me making my very first HL purchase using that fab gift card. Photo Credit: Kristol
here is the fun group that hit up Hobby Lobby with me. i have to say, they were kind of light weights. they bought next to nothing compared to me!! {thank goodness for that Gift Card i won!} Left to Right: Jennifer, Kristol, Allison, Michelle, Me
thank you Michelle and Allison for planning such a fun event! i’m crossing my fingers we’ll do it again. soon!!
*i love meeting people from blogland! so fun. i am starting to think about blog conferences next year and trying to decide which ones to go to. what ones are you going to? i’d love to meet you!!!
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LUCKY!! We don’t have HL around here (PA) so I have to live vicariously through you!! Congrats on the gift card and first purchases!!
thanks, heather!! i’m glad you stopped by and said hi :)
happy crafting,
linda
I recently started following your blog (from the Sweet Tea Social invite!), though I’ve stumbled onto it a few times in the past.
I’m so sorry I missed the event this weekend. I came down with a stomach bug on Friday night that didn’t leave in time to make the Social. Hopefully next time I’ll get to meet everyone! I had a LIST for the Hobby Lobby too; now I’ll have to make the trek out there without fun ladies to hang out with!
oh no! hope you’re feeling better, Vonda! the stomach bug has been going around here too. no fun!! hopefully we can meet up at a future Sweet Tea Social!
happy crafting,
linda
PS thanks for the follow!! :)
Great photos, Linda! I’ll be sure to link to your post since, um, I have two broken cameras and took no pics on Saturday. :) I think, too, that Michelle’s onto something with…who IS that ornament supposed to be? JAN Travolta?
hope your cameras get feeling better soon, Brandee! loved meeting you! you’re so fun. and i have no idea what or who that ornament was supposed to be! it was just so ugly!!!! lol hope to see you at another STS!!
happy crafting,
linda
OMWord!! Never been to HL?!!! Well, I’m glad that has changed for you now. I love how you said “fortunately” you don’t live near one! Haha! That’s how I (or better yet, J!) feel about Target!! Can’t wait to see what you make with your stuff! Thanks for sharing!
i know. i can’t believe it took me that long to finally enter the pearly gates of Hobby Lobby! haha and Target! that’s a whole other post! lol <3 target
thanks for stopping by!
happy crafting,
linda
you cutie pie! thank you so much for sharing your photos (great job) ! I will be looking forward to more meet ups. I loved the iced tea social ! :) Glad I was invited! :) now I have to learn to get as techy as you girls are! I am impressed
***the one you don’t remember her name is PATTY but I don’t know her blog, I loved her , hope I can reconnect with her through the net if you find her please hook us up. :) now………… I need to know , do you mind if I “borrow” a couple of your pics for my blog? will credit you of course.
aw thanks! I’ll go back and fix that. i’m so glad you remembered! and of course you can borrow some STS pics!
it was great to meet you!
linda
We don’t have hobby lobby here in Canada. So I am beyond excited to get to go to one next Friday when I go to PA shopping!!!!
enjoy your shopping trip!! how fun! thanks for stopping by, Vicky!
happy crafting,
linda
Girl, where have you been…I go to Hobby Lobby every other day…the clerks are on my Christmas card list…(not really, but they should be). I am so proud of you..welcome to the club…
i know, right?! if only HL was closer i think i would live there! haha i’m so glad yo be in the HL club! ;)
thanks for stopping by, Missy!
happy crafting,
linda
It was SOOOO nice meeting you this weekend :) Thanks a million for coming and being our unofficial picture snapper for the afternoon! Here’s to MANY more….although I’ll have to head your way next time so you dont have to make the long trek LOL
it was great to meet you too, Michelle!! THanks for planning such a fun event! i thought everyone had already taken pics before i got there since i was late. how funny! but yes, i would love to have a STS out this way sometime! can’t wait for the next one :)
happy crafting,
linda
I <3 Hobby Lobby! Unfortunately for my husband there is one 20 minutes from my house. =] It's a happy place to walk around and be inspired. And shop, of course. I looooove your shirt, where did you get it? Or did you make it?
not fair your HL is a mere 20 mins away! lucky!! {your poor hubby haha} i got my shirt at Downeast Basics. {my fave!}
thanks for stopping by, Rebecca!
happy crafting,
linda
Oooo glad you got to experience the Hobby Lobby goodness! It is a happy place. Kind of like Target.
exactly!! HL and Target are on the same level! hope you’re feeling well!
happy crafting,
linda
I’m currently a HL virgin also…but only for about 10 more days!! I’m heading to visit my daughter in Texas next week and WILL be going to HL while I’m there!! :)
I’ve never been to HL either! Michael’s are so much closer and there are a ton in my area!
We JUST got a Hobby Lobby!! I’m dying to go check it out!! Literally I think it opened on Sunday but it’s only 20 mins away but I can’t wait!!
not fair!!! i wish my hobby lobby wasn’t 2 hrs away! enjoy yours!!
happy crafting,
linda
Uh oh, you’ve discovered Hobby Lobby! I LOVE that store and have TWO near me — soooo bad for the pocketbook!
…and she was never the same again! I feel a bit guilty since we have so many HL’s around me (Houston, TX). I have more purchases at HL (just ask the Husband Unit who monitors the check book) than any other place…even grocery stores! It’s almost i ntoxicating to be in there. I love all HL’s and wonder if some year I will receive a Christmas card from corporate headquarters since I support at least one employee with all my purchases! Ha! Oh, wait until yo see the after Christmas sailes. Items go down to 80% off!
Oh wow can not believe you have never found a HL. I worked for them at one time. Actually was hired on 9-11 2001. When I told my daughters where I had been hired ( as fabric and needlework department manager) my oldest said. ” But mom I thought you wanted a paycheck you will never make any money working there) And you know she was right. I would run across the parking lot and cash my check and come back to pick up all my saved goodies. LOL All the mangers would bring me clearanced things from the craft department to see if I wanted or needed them before even putting them out.
I am still stocked up on several things I bought.
Karan
Linda, thanks for posting all these great pics of such a wonderful afternoon. However, that photo of me is horrible!!! LOL:) You should explain why I look so distorted. I really hope we can all get together again very soon!! And, like the other’s have requested, if you don’t mind, can I borrow a few of the pics for my blog?
sorry Kristol!! i tried to get a good pic, but i think the whole “neck wrinkle” thing threw off your posing! haha and yes of course you can borrow some pics!
take care!
linda
ps sorry for being the spazzy driver! ack!
My husband does not like to go with me to Hobby Lobby. He would actually rather sit in the car in 100 degree weather than go inside with me! It looks like you had a lot of fun your first time! :)
Mine too! I could spend hours walking around HL- I am not kidding when I say hours! Thankfully, my 17 month old daughter also loves HL…I have someone to wander with me now.
after going to HL, i can totally see it! i would love to get lost in there for a couple hours….each week!! that is so perfect your cutie likes it too. that makes it so much easier!
happy crafting,
linda
haha I love this post!! Let’s just say my Hobby Lobby knows me by name… and my kids names! My husband would LOVE that 2 hour distance! lol!!
lol that’s how my joann’s was before we moved. i became FB friends with the day manager there and they’d show me their newest shipment of fabric. love the VIP treatment! haha we need to chat sometime! i keep hoping we’ll hear about Snap…..
I am lucky to have more than ONE within 10-20 miles of our house! BUT, getting there with a 2 1/2 year old…not a good idea even if I know EXACTLY what I need to get :-) Some of the girls in my moms group even did a whole night devoted to shopping at HL! :-) Love that place!
Can’t believe that you haven’t been to Hobby Lobby before! Love that place. Looks like you had fun on your first trip!
I used to hate Hobby Lobby because of the long lines and only one cashier…I have since learned to love HL and when to shop to beat the crowds…they do have awesome stuff….I get in so much trouble there…
i love that you have your HL trips all mapped and planned out!! awesome. i wish i lived closer to an HL. the craft store in my area are pretty bare bones. thanks for stopping by!
happy crafting,
linda
I have 3 HL, 3 Michaels & 3 JoAnn’s all in a 3-7 mile radius from my house….so it is deadly for me…I sometimes have to give my wallet a break…I also have individually owned craft stores that I buy more unique supplies that the hobby stores do not carry..like the Tim Holtz fall colors….and I am on the waiting list for winter colors already…lol
It was awesome to meet you, and I’m so glad I got to join you on your first trip to HL!
it was great to meet you too, Jenny!! hopefully we can meet up again at the next STS!
happy crafting,
linda
So glad you got to experience HL! It’s my favorite craft store because their stuff goes on sale a lot, so you can always score good deals. I must go there too much because last night we were baking pumpkin muffins and my 4 year old son smelled the pumpkin pie spice seasoning and said “mmm I like that smell, it smells like Hobby Lobby”
I’m not being stalkerist but I live on the eastern shore of Maryland – so I don’t know what you consider east Virginia – but about 25 to 30 miles from the Maryland Virginia border there is a Hobby Lobby – I don’t know if this would be closer to you or not.
lol i love stalkers ;o) i live in southeast VA near Newport News. but i go up near the maryland border every once in awhile, so its good to know there is one up there. now i can hit HL when i go!
thanks for stopping by!
happy crafting,
linda
I was at that exact Hobby Lobby on Monday. :) Love it. I had no idea that there were so many more craft & DIY bloggers in the Richmond area. (not that I am one, I’m just addicted to those types of blogs.) Now I must venture over to their sites to check them out. THANKS!!!
that’s awesome you live in richmond!! i think they’re going to do more Sweet Tea Socials in the future. I hope you can come! i’d love to meet you :) and i’m jealous the HL is so close to you!
happy crafting,
linda
Hobby Lobby is the best. So glad you all were able to connect and browse a crafters heaven! :)
Man this looks fun! Wish I could have joined you :)
that would have been fun!! thanks for stopping by!
happy crafting,
linda
I am agree… Hobby Lobby is the best crafts store I ever knew…(sorry Michaels)…. but we dont have any near San Diego (I live in Tijuana, México). Enjoy it
Hobby Lobby is great!! wish it was closer to me too. thanks for stopping by, Cristina!
happy crafting,
linda
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I go to Hobby Lobby at least once per week. BUT our Michael’s went out of business! I love H.L. – and we have a new JoAnn’s *HUGE* that is in the same mini mall. Who knew Iowa could boast so much! Looks like you gals had a blast! I still haven’t worked up the nerve to start a blog – besides, I follow so many, I don’t think I have the time! You should show us what you bought!! :)
Carmen
now that’s funny your michael’s went out of business! lol so jealous you have joanns AND hobby lobby close by. how lucky! thanks for stopping by, Carmen!
happy crafting,
linda
I have a HL less than a mile from my house…that is DANGEROUS! Just so you know just about every week they have a 40% off coupon on their website! :) http://hobbylobby.com/weekly/coupon.cfm
awesome! good to know! thanks for the link, Emily!
happy crafting,
linda