This week has flown by, mostly because it was short, but also because I have been super busy.

Weigh in was on Tuesday and I was pleasantly surprised to see a new number. 248. Down another pound even after a long weekend away from home. I have to say that everywhere I went last weekend, people made sure I had good things to eat. Visiting our friends, Michael and Edie at their log cabin in the mountains (they live in a log cabin!), Edie served us turkey burgers and veggies. The snacks were veggies and dip and the dessert was angel food cake and fruit! She must have been counting points for me when she planned this meal. How nice is that? Then my mother in law also made sure to have plenty of fruit and angel food cake on hand for when I went looking for food. At one point I went to the fridge looking for ice cream, none to be found.

So with the help of others, I was successful in losing another pound.

The rest of the week was crazy drama and I am not used to crazy drama like this. I had been in the DC Craft Mafia for about 6 months and from the very beginning wasn't too sure about it. Joinging a new group whose members don't come together organically was a little weird to me, but I figured it would work itself out. I spent the day with two new members a few weeks ago and then our meeting was on my roof. It was all very nice and I really enjoyed tabling with the new ladies at Western Market even though I hardly sold anything!

Anyway, I had been disagreeing with the DC Craft Mafia about most things, including marketing, web presence, etc. If you don't know, the original Craft Mafia was formed in Austin by a group of crafty girls who were friends and wanted to band together to promote their brands. New groups have been cropping up all over the country. It sounds cool, but might not work with the wrong set of people, which I found out this week.

My biggest argument had to do with not wanting to put a webring on my website and wanting to be a little bit more organic about marketing. I believe that no one is interested in anything that is marketed to them, that people like to find cool things on their own or have a friend tell them about it. I have never really "marketed" my little store and I think I do fairly well with it. My idea is that if you have an interesting brand and something cool, then people will find it. This was a little too punk rock or whatever for the group, though. I think some of them actually excepted me to shut up and not "stomp my feet". But, I do stomp my feet and I do know when to trust my judgement. Then, a new member had a question about the "leader" and it was taken the wrong way and things went to hell. I had had had to stand up for this new member because she is rad and had a good question. There shouldn't have been a "leader" anyway if we were in a collective, but whatever.

In the end, I quit. I sent an email to the group telling them why, outlining why I thought the person in charge shouldn't have started this group, etc. It was a tad snobbish, I will admit. But my points were valid, mainly that you shouldn't live 30 miles from Washington, DC and start a group for the city of DC. Anyway... I was honest with my opinions of the group and I paid for it. Mostly I just got publicly attacked by someone I had never met. It was ugly. Oh well, that is the last time I join a group with people I don't know.

Which brings me to the new creature. 5 of us from the old group are forming a new venture, which we hope will be fun and cool and rad. We are calling it the Craft Mutiny! *making bad crafts walk the plank since 2006*. Anyway... I am excited to work with these ladies, all of whome have rad brands and fun products. But the best part is, we are all on the same page and get it, ya know? There is nothing like being on the same page as someone.

Here are the members of the Mutiny! so far:

heidi at mypapercrane.com
jessee artschooldropout.com
joy at charmingvices.com
debbie at 60bugs.com
and of course me at ilikeseamonsters.com/catalog

And if Leah reads my blog, give me a call cause we have a sword for you.

Once the website is up, I think we might begin to build our empire with more members. The whole idea is to have a relaxed group that meets socially and also trades ideas and just helps each other.

How the hell do I have time for this crap anyway? I don't know. I haven't even mentioned the one act play (about zombies!) that Jeff and I are writing or the little book I am planning to self publish. Anyway. It is Friday and I will spend the weekend chasing little girls around a tiny apartment. I will not get much else done and that is ok. There is always time.