be yourself: live with passion

NOTE TO SELF:

...Reading a magazine article to the finish may be hazardous to your self-image.

This morning, I was browsing through the Costco magazine while eating my breakfast cereal.

I came across an article called "Spring-cleaning for your life" by Rhonda Abrams.  She is the author quite a few business books so I thought it might be worth reading her article.  Plus, God knows, I could use all sorts of helpful hints about spring cleaning right now!

She's writing about organization and this paragraph caught my eye:

"Neat is not the same as organized.  Oh yes, honey, I'm with you on that... continuing on...I have piles of papers on my desk, but I know where everything is...Amen, Sister, same here!...So do many other entrepreneurs, salespeople and creative people  Uh-huh, still with ya!...That's because many of us are "out of sight, out of mind" kind of people.  If I put something in a drawer, I may never remember it.  Well, duh!  Why do you think my scrapping stuff is out everywhere?...

OK, now is where they should have inserted a caveat "the but to follow".

She now says:  Get rid of stuff.  You have got to be kidding, right?  While clean isn't the same as organized, messy isn't necessarily the same as organized, either.  Sheesh, talk about bursting my bubble!  Feeling quite deflated now.

Cuz, somehow I don't think that she's going to think my "up from the floor onto my project table"  will qualify as organized piles.

I should have stopped reading while I was ahead. :))

P.S.  Still working on our floors.

Surprise!

Yep.

That's where Tena Sprenger and I will be tomorrow.  Surprise, Arizona at Keepsake Trends, a fabulous scrapbook store owned by Ginger and Steve Ditton.

We'll be doing a Lifelines book signing from 10:00 a.m. until noon and then a fun little make and take from 1:00 until 3:00.  If you have a few extra minutes in your schedule and you live in the West Valley, stop on by;  we'd love to see you!

In the meantime, I'm living in chaos. 

Vern cleaned our carpets today in anticipation of having houseguests and Ashley's graduation party in May.  Next on the agenda is the refinishing of our Saltillo floors which entails stripping them down, resealing them and then waxing the tiles with a matte finish.   It's quite an interesting sight around here...all the small stuff that's normally on the floor is on top of sofas, tables, desks...you get the picture.  Chaos!  But, it will be worth it in the end...or so I keep telling myself.

Hope you have a happy weekend.  Hope to see you in Surprise!

I've been working on something BIG...

and it's for Big Picture Scrapbooking!

This summer, I'll be teaching an 8 week online class called Colors of Your World.  I'm so excited to be able to do this class...think a little scrapping, a little art journaling, some collage, a lot of color and a whole lot of fun!  I've gotten quite a few emails over the past months from blog readers wanting to know if I'll be in their area to teach.  Now's your chance...since my travel schedule is pretty limited, this is an awesome way for me to connect with so many more students.  If you want to be notified when different classes are launching, including my class, just register here and you will receive emails about new classes.

Between formatting my class for BPS and teaching 4 Heidi Swapp classes at the Arizona Scrapbook Convention last weekend, I have totally been out of the blogging loop...no posts, no blog reading, just lots of creating, formatting and learning technical stuff.  That, by the way, gives me more gray hairs than anything.  I am a techno-lame brain!  Thank goodness for Kayce at BPS and for friend Tena (who fortunately didn't need her glasses to help me!  Gotta read her post to get it!) who both have given me tons of help. 

Missed all of you...it's amazing what a vital part of my life blogging has become.

sharing...

I was tagged by the fun and energetic Paula, of BPS, to share five blogs that I enjoy and read a lot.  I'm kind of fickle when it comes to blog reading and the ones I'm reading a lot right now may end up on the bottom of the list next month.  You know how you get caught up in the stories and the photos and keep coming back for more, then some other blog catches your interest and you're all over that one?  That's how I am with blogs...but, for right now, here's what I'm reading a lot:

1.  Tongue in Cheek:  Cory's photography is amazing and I love the little stories she writes about the photos.  Plus, I spend a lot of time drooling over her French flea market finds...we seem to have similar taste in what we like so that makes it especially fun and inspiring.

2.  Jeanette's:  I discovered Jeanette's blog after she posted a comment on my blog and I've been hooked ever since.  The cool thing is that Jeanette and I have become friends through the blog world and email back and forth...I'm finally going to meet her in June when I teach at her LSS, Scrapbooks Plus.  I tell Jeanette that of all of my friends, she is the greatest enabler.  If you need to find something, she's your gal.  She has resources...she knows peeps...who know peeps.  But watch out...you'll find your plastic coming out more frequently!

3.  My Minutia:  Teresa's blog is a great combination of little family stories and great creativity.  I've loved Teresa's work from the time she launched Foof-A-La (now owned by Creativity, Inc./Autumn Leaves).  She has this amazing attention to detail in her art and she has this ability to create the coolest names for events, names of projects, even titles for her blog.  I don't think her brains ever go to sleep!

4.  Out of Hand:  If you're looking for inspiration and encouragement for living, look no further than Rebecca's blog.  Great quotes, cool pictures, and honest life experiences abound in her blog.  I'm looking forward to meeting Rebecca at Creative Escape this year and can't wait to see what project she comes up with.

5. Curious Sofa Diaries:  This blog is written by Debbie Dusenberry, owner of the store, Curious Sofa, located outside of Kansas City, Kansas.  It's on my list of stores that I want to visit before I die.  From the pictures I've seen in Country Living magazine and on the blog and web sites, I would dearly love to move a cot into that store and just live there for a while and savor the environment!

I love expanding the network of great inspirational blogs so I'm going to tag three great networkers to share their current favorites:  Kim Kwan , Kelly Lautenbach, and Suzi Finer...these are awesome bloggers whose journals I read a lot too!

Since today is sharing day, I thought I'd share a page I created for my art journal last night.  Over the weekend, I finished up a project for one of my classes at Scrapbooks Plus in Virginia.  It's a pretty and somewhat girlie project and it put me in the mood to create a pretty art journal page.  I've been loving all shades of aqua lately, plus as I'm sure you know, I'm totally into birds right now.  I created a spring wreath out of scraps, layered them, created a layered floral nest for my little birdie friend, added mini flowers punched out of an old book, glued on a few beads and of course, gessoed the whole thing.  It made me happy...hope it makes you smile today.

a first time for everything...

In the 6 years that I have been creating memory art, I have never been to the Arizona Scrapbook Convention.  Shameful, isn't it?  I didn't feel this overwhelming need to go since I had access to so many products through my local stores, plus I often taught at my LSS the weekend of the convention.

This year marks my first trip to the Scrapbook Convention in Mesa and I will be there as an instructor for Heidi Swapp/Advantus.   How exciting is that?

I'll be teaching 4 one hour classes-  Friday 4/20, 3:10-4:10 (It's All About The Circle) and 4:30-5:30 (Heidi Swapp's How-To Products), and Saturday 4/21, 3:10-4:10 (Circle Class) and 4:30-5:30 (Product Class).  If you plan to attend the convention, hope to see you there!  It'll be fun!

Just wanted to leave you with a taste of spring...for my friends who still have the heat on in their homes, I'm not rubbing it in...really.  Just wanted to share some of the goodness of our weather this week.  But, will you promise me that you will send me a taste of fall in September and October when we are still into triple digits in Arizona and I'm pining for cooler weather?  OK, it's a deal.

restoring order...

This morning, I'm working on building a project for a deadline.  I spent over an hour looking for a pack of embellishments I knew I had, and yay, I did find them.  I was thinking that maybe I should call this "The Seeking Hour" seeing how it's a Sunday...somehow it doesn't have the same ring as The Hour of Power!  :)

Anyway, during my search, I uncovered a crate from the last class I taught that I had forgotten to unpack.  Ooops.  It was the container with all of the Heidi Swapp masks, paintbrushes and stipple brushes, most of which weren't cleaned right after class, some of which had dried crud on them.  Luckily, the masks clean well and most of the stipple brushes had ink on them...they wash really well with warm water and a little dish detergent.

This isn't the first time I've left cleanup for a much later date...fortunately, I came across a tip on the Liquitex website about cleaning dried paint off of brushes.  It definitely works...thought I'd share it with you.  Pour a small amount of fabric softener into a glass or mug (keep the liquid on the bristle portion of the brush only) and insert your dried, crusty brushes.  Allow to sit for an hour or two, then rinse under warm water.  At this point,  I usually wash the brushes with a bit of diluted dish detergent and warm water, using my fingernails to pull off some of the loosened dried paint, rinse well,  then allow to air dry on a stack of paper towels.  They won't look like new but they will be usuable and when dipped in paint again, will soften a little more.

Brushes are clean, masks are clean and product is found.  Order is restored.  Time to go play!

Do you have any good clean up tips to share? 

simply irresistable...

This morning, the garden was calling to me.  The list of projects due is lengthy, the hamper is filled with dirty clothes, the bathrooms need to be cleaned but when the garden is calling, that's where I go.  It's irresistable.

I recently heard on the radio that gardening is good for longevity.  Apparently, there is something in the soil that becomes airborne when you are digging in it and that "something" gives you a sense of well-being and contentment.  I don't know how scientific that is....and honestly, I don't much care.  I do know that I experience so many good and happy feelings when  my ungloved hands are in the dirt and I guess that's really what counts.

Thought I'd share some of the good and happy feelings by giving you a bouquet of daisies from my backyard.  Hope they make you smile!

Speaking of irresistable,  here's a dress form that called to me.  Tena and I had our first Lifelines book signing at Mystic Paper  in Mesa.  There was a lot of energy in downtown Mesa last night and Tena and I had so much fun sitting outside the store at a little patio table, talking to customers and just catching up with each other.  The weather was simply gorgeous...just a perfect night to be out on the town!

Right before we were leaving, I spotted this dress form and it was simply irresistable...I brought it home.  It's a little over two feet high and it just oozes cottage charm.  Plus, it's just a great addition to my ever growing dress form collection!  Thanks, Kim and Jennifer...I think you have impeccable taste.  If you're into dress forms, they have at least one left in this style and a couple in a smaller, cottage white style.

I hope that you have a great weekend...I hope there is something in your life today that will give you a sense of well-being and contentment...something that is simply irresistable.

As always, thanks for reading...and for writing.  I love hearing your thoughts and experiences. 

Junk Market Style hits the house...

If someone had told me 5 years ago that I'd be bringing someone's trash into my home, I would have laughed them out of the room.  Are you kidding? 

I've always liked a well-worn, used look but I usually bought new stuff made to look old (much to the chagrin of my parents and in-laws:))

Our town offers a once a month service that they call curb side pick up.  It's for large items that don't fit into your trash dumpster and yard stuff like trimmed branches, etc.  This week was pick up which meant that people started putting out their junk last week.

We have neighbors who have a house that is just meticulous...a perfect front yard, beautiful interiors-like a model, just pristine.  They are an older couple and are trying to sell their home to move into a smaller single level home.  As a result, they are purging their existing house...ruthlessly! 

So I'm driving by their house last week and I see that they have this perfect line up along the curb-dishes, silver, serving pieces, etc.  It hit me as I passed by that this is their trash...oh my word.  I immediately put Maxie into reverse and stopped right next to their junk.  Amazing stuff like this silver wine cooler, just perfectly patinaed, a silver coffee pot, a footed glass gravy boat, a serving bowl with roses etched into it...just to mention a few (and I ones I brought home).  There was also a set of china, some candleholders, and cut glass serving pieces, but I pretty much found what I wanted with the cooler, coffee pot, gravy boat and bowl.  The picture above is of the wine cooler with some kalanchoes shoved into it.  Imagine what a gorgeous vase this will make with bundles of white daisies...yum.

I actually felt a little weird doing this...does it kind of make me a bag lady?  I figured that if I saw these pieces at a flea market or yard sale, I would have bought them.  According to Junk Market Queens Sue Whitney and Ki Nassauer (they do a monthly column in Country Home magazine, plus have written a couple of books),  it's the totally trendy thing to do.  There is one thing they do that I draw the line at though.  I don't plan on rooting through dumpsters for junk...that's just kind of gross.  (Even though these ladies swear they find their best junk there...have at it girls, it's all yours!)

Now we can say that our eclectic style incorporates some Junk Market in addition to vintage, shabby, cottage and garden styles.  Guess that makes me trendy...or maybe just plain strange. :)

feeling refreshed...

It's a gorgeous day outside.  The flowers are in full bloom right now, the sun is shining and there's a bit of a breeze.  A perfect Arizona day.

Yesterday was such a refreshing day for me.  For the first time in a long time, I totally disengaged...no computer, no art, no housework, no nothing.

Our Easter service at church is my favorite of the year...it was so emotionally moving that I was either teary eyed or feeling chills up and down my spine for half of the service.

Vern's sister had brunch at her house this year...it was sooo good...and soooo good not to have to cook!  I actually went down to the barn with Vern and Ashley last evening...my twice a year visit to see the horses! :))

Feeling good and refreshed this morning.  Ready to tackle the mountain that is before me.

Last week, I completed the last of the projects for Tarisota, an Australian company that specializes in kits and classes.  Being their guest designer for the month of April was a real honor and I totally enjoyed working with the pizza box full of product that they sent me.  I met the owner of the company, Tamar, back in 2004 when I was teaching at the Inspirational Scrapbook Convention in Gold Coast, Queensland.  How fun to be able to continue to work together in this amazing industry.  Anyway, to see all of the projects created by Tarisota's exceptionally talented design team, check out this gallery site.  I just wanted to post a few of the projects I did...Tamar thought the kit was definitely up my alley...vintagey, with lots of fabrics, ribbons, mini doilies...so much fun.

Little accordian mini-book...a fun way to incorporate lots of pictures.  On the cover, I put my picture of the family of black birds in the tree across the street.  It made me laugh when I picked that picture...just like most families, even though they are squabbling with each other, they still enjoy hanging out together. :))

One page layout using Cosmo Cricket papers...love the shabby, cottagey look of them.

Two page layout with same family of patterned papers, using the theme of clocks and time with rubons and clock parts from Delish Designs.

A card with a bird...you know I'm totally into birds right now.  This one was cut out of fabric and glued onto Melissa Frances paper, accented with little flowers and Heidi Swapp chipboard letters.  Fun, fun, fun!  Thanks, Tamar, for asking me to be part of the April gallery!

My kitchen counter is cleaned off right now...which means it's time to start creating more stuff! 

Hope those of you that are snowed in are enjoying some good creative hibernation time!

from our house to yours...

                                                                       HAPPY EASTER!