CraftSanity with Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

The wonderfully inspiring Amy Karol is back to star in another episode of CraftSanity. (She made her debut on episode 27, so be sure to check that out if you missed it.) Amy is still as artistic and crafty as ever, but there have been some major developments since we last heard from her. She just had another baby girl and published her first book, "Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew." Congrats, Amy!

We taped the interview before Amy went into labor, so you'll have to visit her blog for the latest news from the homefront.

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My local Hancock Fabrics store closed for good today. I was among the final customers to buy fabric for 25 cents a yard. That's right 25 cents a yard. I brought my digital recorder along to record some audio just before the final close. I'm really going to miss this place and all the cool ladies who have cut fabric for me and kindly entertained my sometimes ridiculous sewing questions over the years. Watching strangers pick through the store's final fabric bolts was difficult. It's too bad it had to end this way. Listen to the audio story at the end of CraftSanity episode 55.

Julie Jersild Roth is a soft spoken woman with big talent. Like Nell, the lovable character she created for her book "Knitting Nell," Roth has a quiet voice.

But listen up, folks, because Julie, 48, of Minneapolis, Minn., has a wonderful story to share. This week, Julie is going to tell us what it's like to be a children's book author and illustrator and even read her book to us.

And in the usual CraftSanity fashion, we talk about a bunch of other stuff, too. Take a little audio stroll with us and get inspired for your next creative project. (And find out how you can win a copy of "Knitting Nell.")

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Today I rode my bike more than 100 miles. I started after breakfast and finished at dinner time. My quads are feeling pretty torn up right now and my rear end is equally agitated. Mentally, I'm quite pleased that a day of pedaling up and down West Michigan hills has allowed me to cross #66 "Complete a Century Bike Ride" off my "Things-To-Do-Before-I-Kick-Off-List."

Six short months ago I was in no condition to complete this ride, so it's quite a kick to have the experience behind me.

I was invited check out the 100 Grand century ride that starts in Grand Rapids and winds through West Michigan farm country by the Rapid Wheelmen cycling club and I'm glad I did. It was a great challenge that led me through parts of West Michigan I would not see otherwise.

As many of you know, I launched myself into a serious fitness mission in January and documented my weight loss in my newspaper. My fitness series ended after I lost 21.5 pounds in three months. And now I'm trying to to keep the sporty momentum going. I ran my first 25K May 12 and I'm beginning to train for my first marathon.

While I still have A LOT to learn, I've come to appreciate cycling as a beautiful way to explore the area where I live. Had I not taken up the sport, I would not have seen a delicate and barely-there rainbow hanging against a backdrop of puffy clouds above a field of green, or the lovely country homes with white wrap-around porches on which I'd love to sit and knit. I would have taken pictures of these things, but I wasn't able to lug my digital camera along on the ride. (If anyone has any recommendations for a high-quality, pocket-sized digital camera, I'd love to hear your suggestions.)

I rode the first 90 miles with my trainer, Gary, and completed the ride pedaling alone through a downpour, a nerve-wracking thrill, I must say. As you can see from the photo below, most everyone else had gone home by the time I finished the ride.

"105 miles, baby!"

I love my mountain bike, but it doesn't hold a candle to a road bike in the speed department. I didn't want to buy a road bike until I proved to myself that I'm serious about cycling, so I decided to have thinner road tires put on my bike along with a new, female friendly seat and a odometer/speedometer. Now I know why serious cyclists don't ride centuries on mountain bikes. I wouldn't ride that far on a mountain bike again. Now, I'm officially in the market for a sweet road bike. (Do any of you kindred spirits have any bike recommendations?)

I want to figure out how to make a kick-butt "CraftSanity" cycling jersey with those convenient pockets in the back. I figure if I'm going to put in the mileage, I might as well spread the word. : )

A special thanks to my awesome, enabling husband, Jeff, who watched the kids today. He supports all the crazy stuff I do. I'm a very lucky gal to have such a wonderful man in my life. Today's new addition to my big list is to complete a century ride with him on a tandem road bike. I usually cross one thing off and immediately add another. What's on your list?