Redisover: Design Team

There had been some talk quite a while back about Auntie Em's Scrapbooking (in Cornwall, ON) possibly starting a design team.  I had expressed an interest in it but nothing really transpired.  Before the holidays it came up again but nothing really concrete .... until today.  I spent the day there, with Emma, Laura, Marlene & Sue, beading away into the wee hours of the morning (meaning 1am) and, at some point in the evening, I was invited by Emma to be a part of the Auntie Em's design team.  I am very excited for the opportunity to inspire others as well as the push I need to get back into the craft that I love so much.  I have always had many ideas floating around in my head so it will be nice to execute some of them in the process.  I brought home some paper and embellies tonight and let me just tell you that there isnt anything more daunting than re-entering a craft that you havent done in quite some time with a product that is out of the box and not in you normal comfort zone.  Either way, I look forward to the challenge which, with any luck, will begin tomorrow after a major cleaning of my space.  Yes, the one I was supposed to do weeks ago.  oy!

On a creative note, I assisted Marlene today as she taught two "Beading Boot Camp" classes at Auntie Em's today.  It was fun to help others learn and a bit confident boosting to know that I am developing my skills in beading nicely.  Afterwards, a few of us stayed and created away.  I made a bracelet for colleague as well as began the foundation for a second bracelet that I am going to do.  Marlene was nice enough to let me play with her oh-so-yummy camera and is going to pass on the photos to me soon.  I will also take photos of the things I did for Christmas gifts and share those as well.  Fortunately, many of the pieces I made were made in twos because I liked them so much I had to make a second for me. 

As for my Art Journal Everyday, I am actually doing pretty well with the exception of Friday and Saturday.  Unfortunately time didnt allow because, after leaving the house at 7:30 Friday and coming home at midnight only to leave again at 8:30am Saturday and return at 2:15am, I just wasnt journalling.  I plan to make up for it today by doing multiple components.  So far I have all the signatures attached and the album cover started.   I will have more work to do before beginning my first Art Journal Everyday entry but, in my head, it's all looking good.

Hopefully everyone enjoyed a snowy Saturday.  Here's to a restful Sunday with a great week ahead.  Happy Creating.

Pretty

A little something to tie you over until Sunday when I will post on more details that random nothings that I've been up to.  It gives me goosebumps each time I see it but, for those sensitive to language (which I am not), please note that there is one *f* bomb dropped in it .. otherwise, all good and very true.

Enjoy your weekend.

I did .... what????

I did  .....  THAT !!!!!!!!!!!!

You'll have to check out my other blog to see.

Vote for ME!

I can't believe that I am doing this ... but I am. 

As you may remember, this past summer I had the opportunity to be a second shooter for Oya Anzan of Anzans photography.  I absolutely love her work and, after working along side her and seeing her in action as well as coming to know her a little bit, I adore her. 

On her facebook site, she is having her 3rd fan photo contest.  After much deliberation, I decided to submit a photo of my sister (see below).  Of course, this isnt always about the best photo but often a popularity contest.  This is where you come in ... all three of my blog followers *wink* .....

If you are so inclined, please join Oya's Facebook page and go the photo album titled Fan Photo Contest - photos submitted by fans.  After looking at all of the enteries, please 'like' the photo that you want to win.  It's as easy as that.  Deadline for voting is Friday, January 14th at midnight (EST).

In other news, I didnt actually work in my journal yesterday but I did buy things to make the album so that counts. lol  I am also enjoying another book which I have added to my side bar.  I am loving this iBooks concept and I didnt think I would.  Its just way too convenient.  Now if only they had a battery saving mode. 

Enjoy what's left of Thursday. 

Rediscover: Reading & Art

I had two *rediscoveries* yesterday and I have to say that I am so happy those are the ones that I started with.

The first of my two rediscoveries was my art.  My space is a mess and I hate creating in a messy space but there was just enough room for a small project so I decided on a few ATCs.  One for me and a few to share.  I was only a few steps in when the space got to me and I had to stop.  It was then that I realized that I just started my Art Journal Everyday challenge too.  Two concepts with one brush, so to speak.  I also realized that De Serres won't have the kind of journal I want to do so I may have to make one --- or just order one from Donna Downey.  I love the inspiration journals that she uses for Inspiration Wednesday.  So today, I continue my ATC/AJE  only after I get this uninspiring space cleaned up but first --- I must induldge in about an hour of rediscovery number two ...

After looking around the house yesterday, I realized that I didn't have any unread books here but for one that I bought last year during out schools book fair.  After a second look I thought "why did I buy this?"  Oh ya .. it was a dollar.  Then my mind went back to a gift card I had seen at Future Shop and a conversation I had with Marlene on Monday night.  iBooks.  I mean, it's better than nothing and I guess I could suck it up for one book, right?  Well ... I can not put my damn phone down.  I just want to read and read and read and read.  While I will never, ever fall out of love with the feel of turning crisp pages or the sound of a spine being gently creased, I have to say the convenience of iBooks is going to be a huge plus.  Once the kind of person who was almost never without a book in her purse, I remember often reading at home only to leave the next day, forgetting to put it back in my purse and being caught in a position to kill time with no book. Or bringing it to work to read at lunch only to forget it on my desk.  *gasp*  It was torture for me.  Well ... I never forget my phone.  Almost never.  I can count on two hands the amount of times I have forgotten my phone in the many years since I have had one.  So, as long as I am reading iBooks, I will likely never be without something to read again.  *bliss* 

The first book I purchased was Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks.  Having only ever seen The Notebook, it was good to learn how great his written word is.  I am on pg 256 of 1095 and that was only after downloading the book at 1 am and not reading anything today.  Before you are overly impressed, keep in mind the side of an iPhone screen - there are only 17 lines on each page.  lol  On the downside, I was a little disgruntled over the price.  I paid $14.99 for the book - which is the same as if I went to Chapters and bought it there.  An electronic book.  Shouldnt those be cheaper because there is no use of paper or ink?  I thought one of the upsides to doing thing electronically was a slight reward of lower pricing.  Where is the incentive to encourage people to be more environmentally conscious if it is the same price either way?  I don't know.  Maybe I am just in the wrong frame of mind and just the knowledge that you did something is the kickback.  Anyone care to comment on that?

So, as I close the end of another long post --- dont worry.  i go back to work next week.  they will be neither as long, nor as frequent --- I will leave you with a photo of my first Art Journal Everyday step.  It's nothing more than cut paper (which is already labelled on the back) with tissue and gesso. I have a few ideas for what comes next but you'll just have to wait and see.  *wink*

Art Journal Everyday

I was over perusing Rachel's blog where she posted and linked to this "Art Journal Everyday" challenge.  An art journal a day ... not a chance would I be signing up for that.  Seriously.  Thats just as good as signing my name on a failure contract for sure --- or so I thought.  Then I read more ...

The concept is to do something in an art journal every day NOT create an art journal page a day.  It means that you complete the challenge by simply adding one element each time.  Maybe one day you paint the background.  Then the next day you add some photos.  Day three finds you sticking down 2 letters for the title "ME."  And so on until you are done.  It may take 3 days.  It may take 8 but its something every day.  I think I am definitely going to give this a shot ... now to find me a journal.  Maybe have to take a trip to DeSerres tomorrow (yum) which is just double fun because I can get the watercolour paints and crayons I've been wanting PLUS workout at my new gym.  Yup!  Sounds like a good day planned for tomorrow.

So ... who's joining me on this challenge?

One Little Word 2011

Welcome to 2011 and this years One Little Word.  I love that Ali Edwards inspires many to do this every year.  I love that I embrace it for the first few months but hate that I lose sight of it as life happens.  In the past, I used the word 'Baby' and 'Change' but this year, after much thought and mind changing, I have followed my heart to my one little word ... rediscover.

2011 will be about rediscovering all things.  New and old.  Simple and complex.  Creative and uncreative.  While I have a few items on a short list, there really are no bounds.  I can and will make up the rules as I go.  I think that is one of the highlights for me.  I'm in charge of how it plays out.  No waiting for fertility appointments to see if the connections between injections, ultrasounds and the big S were made like my 'Baby' year.  No concrete course of action needed to see evidence of 'Change' like last year.    Some rediscoveries will be well planned out - like a get together with a long lost friend to reconnect.  Others will be spontaneous and impromptu - like travelling somewhere for a day trip on a whim or rediscovering that one facial I enjoyed many years ago because I have two hours to kill before going somewhere.  This years word is what I make it and, for the most part, requires no one else to make it happen.  That peice of knowledge feels not only enlightening but empowering.  Not used to feeling empowered but I have to admit, I quite like it.

In the meantime, I have created my short list on paper for those rediscoveries I have planned and may also put them in a sidebar to check off as I go.  My goal is to journal them somehow.  I will use my blog as a way to capture them as the happen, of course but I really do want to have a tangible momento to relfect on for 2012.  While I would love nothing more than to say I will scrapbook this journey, I am not going to commit to that.  I know better.  What I will commit to is simply chronicalling my journey in a binder where anything can be added.  It may be a layout I created or something I wrote down on a lined piece of paper.  It may even be something as quick and the bag of a store I went to with the rediscovery date written on it.  Going with the flow will be my motto for this journal. 

As I bid everyone great things for this New Year, I will leave you with my quick list of things I hope to redicover.  I am excited to tell you that I already have one item checked off ... wooohoooo 2011.

• rediscover the gym - i started this 'change' in September of last year and fell in love as i found my inner athlete, swimming my way to a healthier heart, lungs and body weight.  unfortunately, it became victim of the december schedule and it is a few days shy of one month since i have worked out.  monday ... i swim!  i have even a goal in mind thanks to a friend.  only 9 months to prepare.  eeks
• rediscover my blogs - yes.  blogs.  i do have more than one.  i have this one which i hope to update once a week as well as my photography blog for the business i hope to one day have.  i also started a fitness blog to capture the journey to a smaller me but have only shared it with two people thus far so i figured new year, new start ... time to share.  so i am!
• rediscover art - not just scrapbooking but art in all forms.  paint, paper, die cut machines, canvas, mini albums, photoshop editing and more.  maybe something once a week.  doesnt sound like much but, if you know exactly how (un)creative i've been, you understand that this goal is really huge.  i might even pack up and go to a crop every other month.  maybe.
• rediscover photography - my camera has become dusty over these past months and the passion of capturing life in photos has dwindled as other things took over.  i need to make it a point to start taking it with me when i go places because you just never know when that inspiring moment will present itself
• rediscover learning - at the beginning of last summer, i made the decision that i wanted to take the steps required to become a photographer as a (side) profession.  with so much to learn, i signed up for a course at algonquin but it didnt deliver as i had thought it would.  missing pieces of the puzzle stopped me from being able to progress as i wanted to but guess what?  i get to add my first check of 2011 here.  a couple of hours ago, i registered for an online maggie holmes photography workshop.  i have been looking at this course for several months and now ... here it is.  did i mention this is my first check of 2011.  i'm excited.
• rediscover reading - simply put ... i love it, i miss it and its been way too long since i curled up with a tea and a great book. 
• rediscover marriage - i always joke that i'm living the married single life as the wife of a self employed man who works very long hours, too many days in a row and is too tired to do anything when he finally has time off.  truth is i joke about it ... but i hate it.  we never go anywhere.  we never do anything.  we hid behind excuses that sound logical to us but really are only that ... excuses.  well not any more.  i understand that he works like a dog.  i understand that he really does just want to veg at home.  i understand that it needs to change and the both of is need make the committment to make it happen ... even if it is only once a month.  date one starts tomorrow.  brunch.  i love brunch but never go because that really is alot of food. tomorrow - -  i eat.  monday - - i work out.  :o)

It's time to take life, life it and REDISCOVER it ... one day at a time.  xxoo