Get ready, folks ... your favorite event is coming up again. That's right, it's almost time for another Jewelry Blowout Sale! This time around we'll be bringing out the sparklies early, starting the sale at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 and running through store closing time at 7 p.m. Then we'll do it all over again all day Saturday, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The sale inventory will include contemporary and vintage necklaces, earrings, pins, charms and other jewelry, of course. But we'll also be offering beads, findings, storage containers and jewelry-making tools and books. Also for sale will be bits and pieces of jewelry "salvage" - perfect for assemblage art. And if you can't make it to the store on Friday, don't worry. We'll be replenishing the stock throughout the weekend. So you never know when that special piece will appear for sale.

Attention ladies and gentlemonsters, boys and ghouls! Don't forget to check out The I.D.E.A. Store when putting together this year's most excellent Halloween costume. While

our store isn't a costume shop, per se, and we don't stock typical "costumery," our inventory may include just what you need to put together - or complete - your spooktacular get-up, especially if that get-up is fueled by an overactive imagination!

* A few cardboard solutions for the kids.

* Yet more green Halloween solutions. 

The I.D.E.A. Store elves are already scurrying about, making plans for a reprise of last year's popular "Merry Treasures" DIY bazaar featuring whimsical art, functional design and

stocking stuffers handcrafted from recycled, reused and repurposed materials. This year's event will take place from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 in the store's classroom area.

So, if you are a creative-reuse artist or crafter interested in selling your wares at "Merry Treasures," the time to act is NOW! We currently have vendor openings on a first-come, first-served basis. Since only nine tables are available, spots are expected to fill up VERY FAST (Hint: Consider doubling up with a friend!). If you want to participate, stop by the store or call 378-5252 to register. The fee to reserve a 3 x 6-foot table is $10. Payment of the registration fee reserves your table (and yes, we do accept charge payments over the phone).

More information is available at the store and in the "notes" section of our Facebook page.

You might say Ruta Rauber has a magnetic personality. That's probably why she was attracted to the task of organizing and displaying the many magnets that The I.D.E.A. Store receives and sells.

"I'm known as 'the magnet queen/CD-jewel-box/media person,' " said Ruta, who's coming up on her one-year anniversary as a volunteer at The I.D.E.A. Store, in December. 

In addition to organizing the magnets and jewel boxes, Rita has stepped in to fill many roles this past year: she's helped Education Specialist Shauna Carey host birthday parties; helped "woman" the store's booth at community events; and, since February, has been developing paper-crafting kits for parties, creating six different project sets using file folders and other papers.

Ruta said she also enjoys working on the sales floor. With 15 years of retail experience, she knows how important it is "to help customers with anything we can - to make sure their experience is positive."

"The I.D.E.A. Store is a nice place for me to use all the skills I've developed over the years," she added. "I just love it!"

Ruta, who has degrees in both education and geography, recently went back to school at Parkland College to pursue an associate's degree in fine art. She also works part-time in the art department. That doesn't leave a whole lot of time for volunteering, but, Ruta said, that's one of the benefits of working at The I.D.E.A. Store: Even if you only have a couple of hours a week to spare, that's OK. So, Ruta helps out one day a week for a couple of hours.

Ruta also finds volunteering at the store to good for body and soul. She recently came to her shift with a pounding headache. After getting into the groove with her duties and being around the store staff and volunteers, her head-boomer miraculously melted away.

"This place is like a healing place, where I can put myself in the moment," she said.

If YOU would like to take Ruta's lead and "put yourself in the moment" volunteering at The I.D.E.A. Store, contact Volunteer Coordinator Claire Billing, claire@the-idea-store.org.

The Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation saw a need in the community to accomplish several things: 1.  Support the arts and arts education, 2.  Support environmental education in our communities, 3. Impact the environment by reducing the rate of waste disposal, 4. create a place for everyone to have access to quality materials and 5. Support itself in light of the difficult economic times.  So donate your discards and shop re-use.  Its about making a difference!

 www.cuSchoolsFoundation.org