Alter This

"Notbloggin"

I have officially created a new word for the Merriam Webster dictionary.

"Notbloggin"

• Pronunciation: 'not bloggin'
• Function:  verb 
• Etymology:  short for NOT using your Weblog
• Date: 2008
• A neglected website that is used for online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks provided by the writer.

I need to get to the root of my neglect and thus failure of a goal set many months ago.  My bloggin must be moved up on my dreaded "List O' To Do's".  That never ending list that I usually think I can conquer all in a day.  Not.

But today is a new day, new goal and I am going to cross this one off the list .......and then add it at the bottom for tomorrow..*snicker* 

Onto other news, Chicago was so fun! I always enjoy spending time with everyone from Creative Imaginations.  I only see them 3-4 times a year being that they are located in California and I am in Massachusetts.  Oh we speak often but getting together is too much fun! I loved seeing so many of you that came by to do a make and take or say hello! Thank you!  This year Creative Imaginations redesigned the booth adding more shelves and two stations for make and takes.  Lots of tables and space for our Bare Elements collection! 

Here are a few photos of the pre-party and our booth:  our theme for the pre-party was to dress up as a child which helped us introduce one of our newest collections, Lego! Our pre-party included childhood favorite games on each table, chutes and ladders, hungry hungry hippo, even a twister game! 

Pippy Longstockings aka Brook Behlmer and Yosemite Sam aka John.

Renae Lindgren and Marah Johnson, Allison Connors and Samantha Walker!

My friends, Deb and Colleen

I will post some more photos later this week from the show.  On a more personal note, I had a bit of a scare while in Chicago, Stefanie had some pretty intense contractions and well we were thinking that the babies would be arriving...We are happy that Stefanie is still pregnant and that the boys are each 3lbs! It will only be a short while before they are here and I have a hard time believing i am going to be a grandmother or "GG" which is what the kids named me....they said it means "gorgeous grandma"...hehehe! I like it!

I must get off and get some work done, have a few deadlines looming for some exciting stuff! I have a few more dates coming up for my teaching schedule, I will update my schedule later this week.  This weekend I am teaching four classes at Croptopia Getaways in Manchester New Hampshire.  Come up to shop, take classes, or stay for a fun weekend of cropping!  Either way please make sure you say hello!  Here are a few images of the beach book being taught:  Lots of fun little surprises inside...the project includes Christine Adolph Tidepools, Holey Cardstock, and the Chantel Scallop plaque. 

I am also teaching three classes at Scrapbook Mania in Birmingham Alabama, August 22-23rd.  Here is a sneak peek of one of the classes called "Winter Memories" - a combination of products from Narratives Antique Cream collection, Christine Adolph Winter Garden, Accucut and Creative Cafe.  You can see the other classes on their site! Thank you to everyone who took my "A day at the beach" class this weekend at Right at Home .  You asked me to teach this Winter Memories book, the class is going to be August 16th and should be up for purchase later today!

QOTD: "Some people dream of Success..while others wake up and work hard at it." ~ Unknown author

A few thoughts

I am leaving for Chicago to attend the CHA Summer Show early Wednesday..but before i go some random thoughts and a few projects!

• I love to visit message boards and see the excitement of the new releases.  I stumbled upnn a really wonderful board a few days ago.  The owner and board members are so geniune and welcoming.  If you have a chance, be sure to drop in and say hello to everyone on the message board or do alittle on line shopping! The Crafty Scrapper!
• During the month of June, Creative Imagination's worked closely with A Million Memories with a layout contest with the winner receiving a spot on our team for the month of August and a three month membership with A Million Memories.  The winner was announced and I am excited that Lori Gentile won and look forward to working with her soon! You can see some of Lori's amazing work on her Blog.
• You can see a preview of one of the make and takes on Danelle's blog.
• Check out  Creative Cafe Blog for a sneak peek of the new releases! Wow!

And to keep my promise to update my teaching..I have updated my teachign schedule a bit more - still have some to add to this list.

• If you are going to be here the weekend of August 1-3rd and can't commit to a weekend crop with Croptopia Getaways then why not sign up for a few classes {she allows the public to come in a shop as well as take classes}.  You can sign up here.  I know that registration closes in a few days...so don't wait! If you are coming drop me a line! 
• In addtion to teaching for the Creative Cruises in February, it looks like I will be teaching in Holland in November! I would love some tips of things to see while i am there....anyone?

As promised here are a few projects that i created {only one is a sneak peek}! 

This layout I had to redo for the booth, the first one was taken at the end of the show for publication. I changed it a bit by taking some watercolor pencils and adding a bit of splash to the New Antique Cream Collection.  PS Of course I had to add a bit of our new Eye candy crystals! 

Bloom...i just LOVE this new collection! The color palette is so beautiful and each of the papers match so well! 

In addition to her papers I used the following supplies

• Bloom Brads
• Bloom Epoxy Stickers
• Paper lace
• Antique Titles Swatch book

And another project I created using the new Melange Fright Night and Bare Elements Davey Treasure box,

If you are coming to the CHA Summer Show, be sure to come by and say hello.  I will be working mainly in the Creative Cafe booth but I am sure i will be floating between both booths.  Here is a peek at the front cover of the princess and magic autograph tag books that I designed for one of the make and takes using our magic and princess collection, eye candy and creative cafe!

Okay off to finish up packing.  I found this quote yesterday and thought i would share..it is so true!...have a blessed week

QOTD:  "The beauty of all things lies in your ability to appreciate them." ~ author unknown

Introducing Melange!

Melange - A new Creative Imaginations brand created by well loved artists, Christine Adolph and Marah Johnson!

The first Melange Collection to be released in August 08 will be FRIGHT NIGHT!

Highly stylized, haunting and elegant, this collection features glitter papers, glitter layered stickers and rhinestone metal cast brads to delight!  Don't miss the wonderful Fright Night Sticky adhesive rub-ons - you'll be able to add frightful foil accents to bare elements and other party decorations!

I had the priveledge of designing with this new line! 

Sneak Peeks!

Good day everyone!  huh sounds a bit Englandish, eh?  Well it is a good day in New England, warm breezes, sunny skies and no chance of rain!  In fact, it looks to be a beautiful weekend as well!

This morning is no different from the past week or so, I wake up to emails from Creative Imaginations fans inquiring on sneak peeks for the new lines ....I am posting peeks of several of the new lines on the Creative Imaginations blog.  You can also see some of the debuts on the Artists personal blogs

• Karen Russell
• Danelle Johnson
• Allison Connors
• Samantha Walker

Here are a few projects i designed for the booth and catalog. 

Christine Adolph Felicity Line with our Bare Elements Marcelina Brag Book!  Love both of these products!

The second project uses Allison Connors Beach Days Collection {a favorite of mine} and Bare Elements Latynn door hanger and Holey Cardstock {I love Holey Cardstock}

And finally do you have any plans Feb 22-28th, 2009?  How about joining me on a cruise to the Mexican Rivera.  Jone Hallmark and myself will be teaching on board Royal Carribean's Mariner of the Seas!  Check it out here: Creative Cruise.

QOTD:  There is always a way...You just have to find it!" ~ Paul Briganti

BE*HIND

Thank you for all the calls and emails - I am here and playing catchup!  The past 10 days have proven to be trying at best.  My son, Jon had some potentially serious medical issues with his shunts and we had spent a bit of time at Childrens Hospital.  Saying a prayer that this is nothing and no surgery will be needed!

The baby shower went off perfectly! Stefanie looked beautiful and the day turned out warm and sunny!  I am still working through the photos and will upload a few tomorrow!

I did manage to make it to the beach for a short time to see my nieces and nephew. 

Looking at this photo of Sam makes me feel old.  He is getting so big - he is taller than me...*sigh*

Olivia...geesh she is going into first grade in September!

And Olivia and Nick as the littlest Mermaids!!

And I am posting a sneak peek of the new lines on the Creative Imaginations blog in a few minutes!! Be sure to check often for more sneak peeks!  And it is only 7 days until CHA Summer!! Woo hoo!

Finished!!!

I am done with my catalog projects - all 25 assignments have been finished and mailed off in batches to Creative Imaginations!  For now I have a few days before the next batch of assignments start for our show boards for the booth.  I am itching to show some of the projects that our design team has been workino on....but those sneak peeks won't start for a little while.  Be sure to check the Creative Imaginations blog for some Summer CHA sneak peeks!

Besides being very busy with CHA show assignments our family has been preparing for the baby shower this weekend.  I still cannot believe that the babies will be here soon and I am getting so excited!  On Monday I went to the ultrasound and the babies are nearly 2 lbs each!  Stefanie is feeling well and looks really good!

Here is what i have left on that dreaded "To Do" list before Sunday!

• Finish planting more flowers - i have nearly 3/4 acre and i went a little overboard on the flower thing...geesh
• Make new cushions for my patio set on my upper deck
• Cook for shower
• Pick up the canopies, chairs, metal buckets and Ice
• Make curtains for my front window
• And answer a whole lot of emails...{right now i have 115 in my in box} I love hearing from you and i am so sorry that i have been so late in getting back.  If you don't hear from me in the next day or so email me again!

Okay off to take Jon into Children's Hospital for some testing..nothing serious just follow up!

And I promised to update my class kits and my teaching schedule - right now i am booked out until mid September...i love love love to teach...it is truly my passion. 

I leave you with a photo of my son, Samuele....found it today in my pictures, he must have been taking some self portraits with his camera!  Such a cutie, eh?

QOTD:  "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." ~John Quincy Adams

"If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy"~Anonymous

Have a Blessed Day!

Time

I need more of it.....or more caffeine!  I am getting depressed by my "to do" list - I am thinking that this whole idea of keeping a list is not at all what it should be.  Who taught me to keep a list anyway..I feel like a failure when i don't cross off more than i think i should in a day! Hmmmph....

Or perhaps it is my own fault...straying from the list. Oh i am famous for that ...you know the story, you think you are going to start a project but first you just want to pop onto the internet to check mail, but heck you find that Potterybarn is having a sale and well you need something right?  Before you know it the day is 1/2 over.*sigh*

Today i had great intentions..i was going to finish up my last two projects and get them out the door...but instead i had the itch to just play with some of the beautiful new products that CI sent me!!  I can't help it ...i love the new Christine Adolph Felicity line!  Oh sure i designed a really cute Bare Elements book for the show using this new line {sorry can't show that one it is for the catalog *sigh*} so of course i needed to play a bit with the product and make something "just for fun". 

Here is my layout and a loss of a few items on that list.....

Have a blessed day! 

QOTD:  "The things that one most wants to do are the things that are probably most worth doing." ~Winifred Holtby

The Graduate!!!

On Friday Jon graduated from Perkins School for the Blind, he was one of a graduating class of twelve. I am so proud of his accomplishments as well as his classmates.  They have endured so much to come to this point in their lives.  My feelings are best described by this quote by Helen Keller "Instead of comparing our lot with that of those who are more fortunate than we are, we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men.  It then appears that we are among the privileged."

On a personal level, the day was very emotional...{hence the change over to black and white on the family photo} covers the red blotches...*sigh*

Mihn getting an award!

We are hoping that Jon will start college locally a course at a time in the fall.  Jon loves to write poetry and has a very high vocabulary.  He hopes to someday do something in journalism.   Thank you everyone for your kind emails and words of wisdom. 

Before i end the post i wanted to remind everyone that Samantha Walker will be chatting tonight at A Million Memories tonight at 9pm est.  And don't forget about the Creative Imaginations contest all this month!

QOTD:  "The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but has no vision."

Thursday thoughts

I must confess that each morning before i get out of bed I listen to the birds chirping and try to identify their song with the type of bird.  I have feeders and homes scattered around my yard.  Yesterday while refilling the feeders I had a baby bird squawking to get the attention of his momma.  He was a noisy little guy who kept flappin his wings but managed only to move a foot or two.  I found myself amazed at how the momma bird kept her distance and allowed the baby to find his way....Oh she was checking the baby but from quite a distance away .  I was worried about that little baby bird and found myself going to the door to check him and listening in to his squawks until finally i saw him fly away on his own.   

Later in the day I had time to reflect on the baby bird and it's mother and found myself thinking how well it applied to me and my son, Jon.  He is at a stage in his life where he wants to fly and I find it hard to stand by and watch him - i am fearful.   The lesson yesterday with the birds helped me to understand that He needs his freedom and I need to keep my distance and allow him to have his wings. 

Today I am headed to Jon's school for a luncheon and roast.  Tomorrow is his graduation...i will be the lady with a camera behind her eye the entire time!

Before I end the post I wanted to remind everyone that Marah Johnson will be chatting tonight at A Million Memories at 9pm est.  Here is a little bling necklace I made with her metal Love Struck embellishment and some glitter!

I received quite a few emails about the project in my last post, the altered plaques that i made into a beach album.  I do not have kits...i will be teaching the project for the Croptopia Getaways in Manchester NH and locally at Right at Home Scrapbooking.  I have to check on some dates so the project is not for sale yet at Right at home.  I may also be teaching this project in August at Momento Arts In Connecticut.  On a side note, I have been asked about the inside...I am changing my project and creating what I hope to be a unique chipboard pages inside this scallop plaque book. Stay tuned and I will post a sneak peek! 

And I just love this Quote!  "People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have." ~ Richard Carlson

Hot!

So I broke down...I finally installed two air conditioners..one for my studio and one for the upstairs. I have to admit that i am NOT a big fan of AC...in fact if i run it in my car i usually open the windows but right now it is just heaven!  If you want to see a 30 degree difference in the temperature in New England, check out my last post, I was wearing a "wool" jacket in the photo with Jon at his prom.  It was so cold, damp and rainy and today it is 97 degrees!  So I guess we skipped Spring all together and went right to the dog days of Summer!

Speaking of Jon, I wanted to say thank you to so many who posted a congrats to Jon as well as so many who emailed me.  Your kindness and thoughtful words are such a blessing to me! This Friday Jon will graduate from High School...a date i never thought we would see back when he was diagnosed.  To look back over this road Jon traveled can only be described as humbling. 

And today, I finished up my classes that i will be teaching at the Croptopia Getaways in Manchester August 1-3rd.  Here is a sneak peek of one of the classes! 

My pail and shovel class was so fun - i just love teaching at Right at home! I did receive a few emails about buying some kits - I am sorry the class was completely sold out.

Project was designed with the new Christine Adolph Tidepools Collection!

Before I end this blog post I wanted to update a few things

Creative Imaginations is sponsoring a June event with A Million Memories .

We are having a weekly Artist chats {see schedule below} and a CI layout contest.  The winner will receive a guest design team spot for the month of August, a 3 month AMM kit membership beginning with the August kit and will be the AMM Featured Guest Designer for the month of August.  Here is the skinny:  Just upload a layout using 80% Creative Imaginations projects - any lines! Post your projects in the AMM Gallery and post a line in this thread.  Have fun everyone!

• Marah Johnson Chat at AMM Thursday, June 12th at 9pm est
• Samantha Walker Chat at AMM Tuesday, June 17th at 9pm est
• Karen Russell Chat at AMM Friday, June 20th at 9pm est
• Christine Adolph Chat at AMM Tuesday, June 24th at 9pm est

Okay off to finish up some more projects for some classes and the CHA show.   I will close this post with a goal post as I am actively working on a very personal goal...to run at least 4 times a week.  And i am proud to say i even ran today - i thought i was going to pass out!

"To will is to select a goal, determine a course of action that will bring one to that goal, and then hold to that action until the goal is reached.  The key is action." ~ Michael Hanson