Homegrown Hospitality

Hello Last Day Of January..and Farewell.

WARNING - NO creative projects today..just a little commentary...we will return to creative programming tomorrow.

Here we are on the last day of the first month of a new decade (now, that is a tongue twister).  I have to admit that RIGHT NOW, as I type, I am filled with fussy fillings, which is something you probably do not even need to know, but by now you have read my blog and know me well enough to know that I share more than just paper craft ideas....BUT as fuss filled as I may be, I am also overflowing with a life filled with blessings and share those as well.  

As strong as my foundation is and as solid as my faith has proven, the first month of a new year has been quite a month, and there are 11 more to go..yikes!

To put it bluntly, we have already been dealt some sad crappy cards with what seems to be a parade of deaths and funerals, two more happening just this week.  I suppose it is our age, the "cycle" we are in and that it is going to happen more often, but each time we hear the news, it just knocks the wind out of us....and then the fact that the world is being constantly dealt with a 52 pick up of crappy cards, like those in Haiti.  My heart is just torn with sadness and anger, confusion and doubt...and ugghhhh...it is all too much. 

but, not to fear, as we all know...for each battle, there is a wonderful blessing!

So, although I am SURE we all have personally had some complete meltdowns, breakdowns, cry-fests and slammed our share of doors, we have also been blessed with more than we even realize and are lucky to be able to share in some amazing and wonderful everyday miracles, shared in high fives, happy hugs and content moments.

this is life.

It is how you handle it that matters and makes the difference...

so farewell to January 2010 and farewell to all of those who have left this earth and their loved ones for a better place..we will all see each other again.  I pray that GOD blesses all of us with a content and happy heart, full of peace and understanding for what is going in your world.

Saturday Morning Update

I know that you all want to see photos of the show, but honestly, besides the one's that you see on Teresa's blog, and these two, I don't have any!  The booth was such a buzz the entire time, that it was hard to get any taken...BUT, I know that YOU might have one or two....so would ya send them my way???

whoops...and this one...of "Team Collins".  Thank you to everyone behind the scenes and in the booth for a fabulous launch of Teresa Collins Designs...and to all of you out there who continue to show love and support...it is felt and appreciated!

okay, I PROMISE that this blog will be back to it's regularly scheduled program by Monday.  For now, I must go...I am off to a BIG class at Oh, Scrap! this morning, so I need to get the goodies packed!

Have a FAbULoUSly FILLed Saturday.... 

xoxo

s.

Home Sweet Home

CHA is over and we have 6 months to recover before we do it all over again (it is alot like labor without the baby!) 

 The booth was beautiful, the compliments were amazing and the TERESA COLLINS DESIGNS forecast is bright (with a side of meatballs!) and oh, how I missed you... blog world!  I went for about 5 days without creating or blogging anything while I was in what was the equivalent of the worlds biggest craft store & and I think I started to twitch a little!

THANK you all that came to the booth to say hello, to wait in the LONG LONG LONG LONG Make -n-Take lines and for all of the compliments, hugs, smiles & laughs.  One of my very most favorite things about CHA is that no matter what language we speak and whether or not we can understand each other, ultimately, we do because we all have the common thread for the love to create...

For today, I have lots of this, that and the other to catch up on, classes to create, instructions to write, boxes to unpack, laundry to do and a family to love and even though I was only about 15 miles at home and did sleep at home 2 out of the 5 nights, I missed home tooooo much and am glad to be back at my docking station!

I will be back in the swing of things by tomorrow...Thanks again for all of the love and kindness!

Be Back Soon...

Create@Home

Want to come to my house and create with Deena & I ??

 
where:my house in the "Garag-mah-hall"

when:Friday, February 5th

time:  6:00 - 9:00

cost: $40.00

what: A kit that includes everything to create 3 super cute cards & 2 clever boxes taught by Deena and One -  6" x 7" 10 page envelope book taught by me & of course, lots of treats...You Pick...create here with us or get a kit shipped to you...

don't wait to decide too long...space is limited & this is the last call for sign-up's...class closes on MONDAY.

to see Deena's projects and to sign up, just click right here ..quick!

 

 

Thank you all for your GREAT comments....that whole "fruition" thing still has not happened, but I assume that as I am driving to the airport tomorrow to get Teresa...it will.  I guess I am just at that  "Just hurry up and get here!" stage and it isn't even my company..but that is how passionate and positive I am that the world will LOVE it...

really. you will.

I promise.

Here are a few more peeks at the projects that I did....that I need to finish up...ughh...which mean I really need to go!!!

       
and.......(insert drum sounds)

the "Random Generated" winner for the Teresa Collins Giveaway is.............

I LOVE ME SOME TC! I signed up for the newsletter and can't wait to hear and see the latest and greatest that TC comes up with! Looking forward to your CHA reports. I know that your hard work and preparations will be well received and appropriately ooohd and aaahd over!

Posted by: Mamatwoboys | January 19, 2010 at 07:58 PM

congrats..please email me at homegrown1@att.net

k, gotta go!

In the Midst...

of a ridiculous pile of things I need to finish, the POURING rain (the word pouring is an understatement) a lack of sleep and just normal regular everyday mom things to do...I took some time in my car today (while securing a parking spot in that POURING rain waiting for Ben to get out of school) to work on my homework for Bible study.  We started a new "Revised" Beth Moore study called "Breaking Free" and in the midst of my CHA anxiety ridden yet excited persona, just spending  35 minutes in my car, with my bible, the rain and my workbook...

made a world of difference for me.  A total ahhhh moment...much needed!

Then, I came home, to work more on a last minute addition to my pile, took a few photos and qickly loaded them on my computer.  When I saw the photo on the screen, I exclaimed..

now, I must head to the Jr. High to "secure" another parking spot...in the pouring rain... 

I will be back later with winner from yesterday.....THANK YOU all for signing up for Teresa's Newsletter.  It will be hitting your in-box within the next few days!!!

 

a New Word, an Assignment and a Class Announcement

fru⋅i⋅tion   /fruˈɪʃən/

–noun

1.	attainment of anything desired; realization; accomplishment:

2.	enjoyment, as of something attained or realized.

I like the sound of this word...makes me think of lemonade, summer mornings and a sense of "ahhhh", as in "ahhhh, it is almost here..." CHA that is.

again for my non-scrappy's, it is the most wonderfully hectic, exciting, nerve wracking time of the year for the creative industry that I am blessed to be part of....

and it is almost here...

and we are almost done...

almost at that "fruition" point....

almost.

now, before I go, I have a little assignment for you.

In order to keep up to date on the latest and greatest of the lovely that I am working with, you need to go on over and sign up for the Teresa Collins Newsletter at the all new Teresa Collins Website!....

www.teresacollinsdesigns.com

 
now, as soon as you sign up, come back here and leave me a comment and from those comments, I will pick a winner (ew) for some brand new TC product...

so go on...

go sign up! 

oh..P.S...for all of my AZ friends....I am coming back to Making Memories Unforgettable in Tucson with all new classes using TC products and of course "homegrown & handmade" techniques like how to make these beauties.....

April 10th..details to follow, but save the date!!!

My Creative Space

please take a minute to go to my friend Julie's blog here and then go here

please.

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Many of you have asked about my "Creative Space" and so today, I am going to share a little more about it...I am BLESSED to have family & friends that support my creative efforts (regardless of the mess) and built me a place to call my own. 

Welcome to the "Shead-Teau"

 It is called that because as it was being built in the hot summer months of August & September 2007, it was constantly referred to as a "shed" by the building team, and as a "Chateau" by me...by the end, we all agreed that it would be called the "Shead-Teau" and the name stuck.

and as neat as it is to have.."neat" is NOT the word for it as this very rainy morning.  It has been hit by the CHA tsunami and so I thought I would share a photo of what it looks like right now.. 

and see that open spot on the floor in the photo on the right? That is where I sat most of the day yesterday, sometimes indian style, sometimes just squatting....good for the thighs!

I must go now...back out to my spot to finish up what I wanted to be finished with on Friday.  I have come to embrace that 90% of my best work occurs in the last 10% of time...(insert sarcastic smile and a thumbs up!) 

Here is the link to Costco.com where we purchased the ol' Shead-Teau.  (NOTE - Mine is 8' x 12' which they no longer show) and we did purchase it with the floor package but that does not mean "flooring".

We picked up laminate flooring at a side-walk sale at Lowe's and we bought a little "window" air conditioner that the boys installed in the wall. (I have a little portable floor heater, too) 

All the comforts of a "home-studio" except for that it is in our backyard!

I am a mom of boys...and not a very nice project teaser!

Naturally when I pulled the stack of "Chic Bebe Boy" products out of  "my box" from Teresa, I was naturally drawn to it..thing is, it is the line that I played with least, shame on me, the mom of boys!

but never fear, here is what I did produce with the help of one of my BBFF (bestblogfriendforever) photographer , Brave Girl Partner, IU room mate, Ambrosia..

I sent her an S.O.S email for professional photos and she sent me LOTS of awesome photos of her nephew Jude, okay, the name alone is ADORABLE, and wait till you see this precious angel face (I usually do not talk like that, but he really is...)

and since I have been singing "Hey Jude.." for over a week now, I am very relieved to be able to finally share this layout. of "Hey Jude"

and then of course there has to be a rose, not for Jude's layout, but just because...

  

If you want to see more of the "Chic Bebe Boy" line, go on over to Teresa's blog to check it out..and....I hope to have some GREAT News tomorrow regarding the BRAND NEW Teresa Collins website!

oh, and just a little "non-photo photo " hint (why do I do this to you?) on a NEW CLASS that I am working on at this very minute (well, not while I am typing this, duh!)  and that I am really loving....

mix in a little of her & her, add a little of me....and well, even to really mess with you (which is not very nice of me, and I am sorry for that) throw in a little Donna Downey...and you get a really inspiring, great project, if I do not say so myself...oh, alright one TINY picture...

okay, gotta run...literally..all this CHA work has caused me to eat too many 100's of M&M's...not kidding.