True Confessions

They say, "A clean desk is a sign of an empty mind." Can you imagine how full my head is right now?!!

Remnants of the last several projects I've been working on fill nearly every inch of my work space...I think it might be wise to take time to "sharpen the saw!"

Excited to be well represented at CHA!

In a sidebar, to the right of this post, you'll find a list of the places you'll see my work at the upcoming Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show. I'll be working in the Krylon booth on Mon. and Sun. mornings until 1pm...stop by and say HI!

Exciting News!

I just found out that something of mine is on the cover of the new Krylon catalog, which will be released at CHA! My source would only give me hints...so I have no details. I'll post more when I know more. I'm excited and honored!

Don't strain your eyes!

I give up for now! But, I WILL figure out this mosaic maker...just not today. Here is a sneak peek of some of the projects I've been working on for CHA (the upcoming industry trade show). You can actually see these with your bare eyes, enjoy! (This will make better sense when you see the teeny tiny mosaic in the next post :)

CHA Sneak Peek

Ok, to answer the question, "What have you been creating?" Here is a sneak peek for you. As I've discussed on this blog before, I have to be careful not to show whole projects that may be published in the future...but her is a teaser mosaic just for you!



OK, so you need a magnifying glass...not sure how to fix this. I have soooo much to learn!

Best Seller List!!!!!

Imagine my surprise when I was poking around Amazon.com and noticed that my Party Favors and Hostess Gifts Book is #4 on their Best Seller list for Parties!!! WOOHOO How exciting is that!!!

Some Relief!

Walking out of the FedEx drop-off place yesterday, this relief came over me...kinda like the feeling I remember having when I finished my last final exam, or wrapped the last Christmas gift. My car had been packed with 5 large boxes, all loaded with projects for a couple displays for the upcoming Craft and Hobby Association Show, which I'll be attending early in Feb. How do you spell relief...well sometimes its F-E-D-E-X. My dear patient understanding hubby didn't have to bump into any cardboard boxes when he came home yesterday...I'm sure he was relieved as well...at least until those projects were replaced with the next wave of projects to be finished. This time of year my whole house looks like an arts and crafts studio. I do try to keep the kitchen clean, our bed made and run an occasional vacuum, but there is evidence of lots of work being done here. I'll post pictures when I can...but for now you'll just have to take my word for it...I've been a kinda busy lately!!! For those of you who have been asking, "When are you going to teach another Book Arts class?" Hang in there...I'm looking at the end of March.

I'm trying to FOCUS...

...on one batch of projects at a time, but my brain is thinking through one project while my hands are working on another. The problem with this is that I don't feel like I'm accomplishing enough. I'm nearly finished with all the projects for the Krylon booth at CHA...despite the battle with the weather. Next will be the Designer's Fashion Display...I'm looking forward to sewing a few vintage style aprons! I bought a beautiful new sewing machine about a year ago, and it hasn't seen nearly enough action. I may have to reread the manual! Then it will be onto my own Designer's Showcase...lots of ideas in my head...now to just bring them to life! I'm trying not to think about how little time we have left until our flight leaves!

By the way, there is a great inchies swap going on over at our Yahoo! group "The Meeting of the Muses." Email me if you are interested in joining the group. There are lots of great artists supporting and encouraging each other as we learn together through conversation, sharing and swapping. Get in on the fun!

One more thing...I just have to share this hilarious post from another blog I frequent. Lauren is a CHA designer, also, and she and I do lots of design work for the same manufacturers...check this out, I laughed so hard I just about peed my pants... 'cause I can relate so well.

OK, enough chit chattin' gotta get back to work. Now, where's MY Yoda?

Grandma's Knight...

The handsome feller on the palomino is my Grandpa Davis...he was Grandma's Knight in Shining Armour, and a very special man in my life. I just hope he knew how very much I adored him!

Candice and I were honored to be asked to design a piece for Artistic Outpost under our "RockCandy Designs" partnership. We had such fun playing with the new "My Knight" stamp plate and the background finishes on this frame. You can find the step-by-step instructions for this project here. You don't have to put my Gpas picture in your frame unless you really want to :)

Ode to my Southern Friends

I heard my friend say, in a most shocked voice, "... but you have to have black-eyed peas and cornbread on New Years Day! It's a Southern tradition!" So before our New Year's Day in the woods I put a crock pot on with soaked black-eyed peas, onion, celery, and ham. That may not be the way all the Southerns do it, but them were some mighty good peas, ya'll! And the cornbread wudent bad neither! I'm sure we ate enough that this otta be one heck of a lucky year!





Being the good little wife that I am, I let Bob talk me into a trip to his hunting property while those peas were simmering. A long walk in the woods on a crisp winter day with no spray paint fumes tainting the air was a very welcomed distraction from the projects I've been working so hard on. What I found most distracting in a very good way, was that man of mine. Looking fine in his Levis and his new camo jacket, it struck me how lucky I already am. We've been married 30 years this coming April (I can't believe its been that long...only old people are married that long, right? Must of miss counted!) Whether in his camo or the suit and tie he wears to work he still gives me butterflies...no, it doesn't take peas...I've been blessed all along.

FOCUS!

One of the blogs I frequent is Ali Edwards'. I always find inspiration and motivation there, not to mention that she is from Eugene Oregon and she talks about and photographs places and events that I'm familiar with. Makes me feel a bit closer to home. One of the big things she does just before new year is to encourage people to find a word to reflect on during the coming year. My friend Marci also has blogged about this very thing. I spent a lot of time thinking about a word that would aim me in the direction of my goals for 2008...there were so many...but the one I settled on is FOCUS.

FOCUS on my family
FOCUS on my health (weight + exercise + eating organic and local when possible + be outside more)
FOCUS on keeping the promises I make to myself
Finding FOCUS in my creative work
FOCUS on simplifying my home and studio (get rid of excess!)
FOCUS on steps towards moving west

Should be a busy year...if only I can stay FOCUSed!