Top 10 Year in Review

I did this last year and I am going to do it again as a reflection of what I've accomplished in 2008. These are my Top 10 favorite layouts this year. I have grown so much as an artist in 2008 and have been lucky enough to design for several teams: Crop Addict, We B' scrappin, and Scrap N' Art ezine... I won Bad Girls Top Designer contest and guest designed for them. I hope big things are in the works for 2009! I'm on a roll and I'm feeling so blessed about it all. This is the year for change (not only in politics) in our house with a new baby arriving soon and Mark starting Kindergarten (maybe) in the Fall. I'll be staying home until September and I hope that the baby is a good sleeper and allows me to have some scrap time to continue my growth. I plan on starting a visual journal while I'm home and vow to do at least one page a week this year! Okay, so that seems obtainable. Now, onto a recap of my year's creations:

This one is my favorite from the Top Designer challenge. I am a sculpture by training and I was trying to add dimension to my page and capture a feeling of wonder and warmth. There is a multitude of techniques used here. I printed the photo of my sono on grosgrain ribbon (this is a technique that I invented!), ripped the top layer of the cardboard base off and added paint, papers, and gold leafing to it, the wings of the "butterflies" are metal and distressed with a texture hammer, and I sewed the nest using wire and ribbon onto the cardboard. I love this page... I am going to frame it for the baby's room in a shadow box.Butterflies of my Heart

This layout is one I made using the handmade paper from this summer. I took a week long workshop with a very wellknown local artist and created sheets of handmade paper in her studio. This is one of the pieces that I used from those. I used glimmer mist to create the masked swirls in the background and outlined them in black marker to emphasize the shape a bit more. Then I used modeling paste to create the raised dots with sequin waste and painted them. The lines were made with painted cardboard stamped onto the page and then foam stamps for the title. I love this photo of my son on a beach in Florida from our trip. It always reminds me of the peace and calm I felt that day.Calm

This next layout was done on cardboard again... I've been very into the recycling of mailing boxes in order to do my part for the sake of art. I altered this photo using filters in Photoshop to create an aged and distressed look. It is my hands forming a heart over my belly at 4 months pregnant. I am now less than 4 weeks away from this miracle and still putting faith and time in the almighty's hands. It truly is a miracle that we can give birth and I'm anxious to meet this little man. I used Bad Girl's December kit here and was the guest designer for that month.

Faith & Time

This is another Top Designer layout that was inspired by Cari Fennell... not for the design, but just her prompt was to layer elements and boy, did I LAYER! I had a great time making this page and the photo of my son from a visit to our local zoo did wonders to inspire me. He looks so serious and sullen here, but he was just taking a break and watching the ponies and donkey intently. I love using orange lately and all the elements here are some of my favorite things. Touches of paint and texture are found thorughout the piece. It's a modgepodge of stuff and I love it!

Layers of You

I created this page on cardboard again (see a trend with me lately?) and collaged papers, metal tape, and inks/ paints over the surface. Then, I added the photo, which is printed on ribbon of my hands over my son's hands. As a mother, I am bound to my child through love and instinct. I love the passionate and gothic look to this page. It's another Top Designer piece.

Ties that Bind

Think Pink is one of those pages where I just wanted to try some new things on it. I altered the hue and saturation of the photo in Photoshop and printed the journaling on transparency to layer over it. Again, I used masks and Glimmer mist here in the background. I also used more of the handmade paper from this summer. After layering, I stitched the edges of the photo to hold the transparency and the edges of the page for unity. I created various butterflies around too. The journaling is about being a woman good and bad.

Think Pink

I did this page with a photo from Florida of me. I feel so at peace and tranquil on the beach. It just erases my worries and makes me feel at ease. I used colors here that compliment and punched butterflies from Hambly. I also used cork as a textural element. I love the feel of this page.

Temporarily Tranquil

This one is for the Bad Girls Dec. kit Guest DT spot and I love how it came out. I printed this photo on muslin and of course grunged up the cardboard. This is my new favorite size for pages; 6" x 12".

At Peace With Myself

I love the contrast with the black background and the colorful threads. I just had to do something that made me not obsess... I just had fun with this one! Love the photos and my design here. This is one I will pull out to look at again just to remind myself to just have fun with the materials!

Stop Obsessing

This isn't a page, but it's a piece of sculpture or altered art that I made as my final exam piece for Top Designer. I am so happy with this piece. I used wire hangers for the cage and really just poured my heart and soul into this one. I hope that I can do another one and start a series of these.

The Guilded Cage of Motherhood

Okay, so there you have it. My top 10 layouts for this year. I think I've just recently found my style and am getting comfortable with playing with materials and letting mistakes turn into art. I hope my creative mojo stays with me for this coming year! Happy New Year!

Bah Hum Bug

Yesterday we got so much snow that we had a SNOW DAY! I love the feeling I get from finding out that school is cancelled. Just like when I was a kid. Being a teacher, I have mixed emotions about it. At first I'm excited! Then, the "Oh NO! That means we'll be one day behind in our lesson plan". Oh well! It's a great day to snuggle in and get some Christmas projects done. I can't post the pics yet of the finished pieces as those that have yet to receive them might see them before they are surprised. So, I'll post them later in the week.

I can't believe that Christmas is 2 days away. Where has the time gone? Why is this year flying by so fast? I'm feeling a bit Bah Humbug this year in regards to the holidays. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE this time of year, BUT... I'm not loving how fast it all is coming and going. The malls are MORE crowded and the snow is piled up so high. It's a gloomy and cold December. I am VERY pregnant and feeling very slow. So, this fast paced world is just making me feel even slower. I can't catch up and I can't help feeling helpless. I am uncomfortable and starting to really dislike the aching hips and waddling that is slowing me down even more. I just want to nap. Of course, that doesn't happen much with the holidays and a 4 year old. I skipped the 12 Days tradition this year too. I know Mark won't remember, but I feel guilty all the same. It's a tradition and it went by the wayside this year due to lack of time, effort, and energy on my part. I'm sad about that, but some things had to go. I am glad it is vacation time, but with all the hustle and bustle I'm feeling rushed and grumpy.

I have to remember that it's not about the gifts and not about the stuff, but about family and friends. I have to remind myself that I have a new life waiting to be born in the new year and that I have lots to be thankful for. This year is going to be one of change, patience, and love. I am going to focus on my blessings and try to be patient this year with myself, my family, time, and my destiny. What will 2009 bring?
Will the year come in fast and slow down for me to savor the moments or will it just pick up the pace and leave me holding on for dear life? I can't fight it either way. I have to be flexible and open to all it's possibilities. THere is little choice in the matter.

Patience... that is my word for the year... 2009. I have to exercise more patience and let things be. Just go with the flow and try not to buck against it all so much.

Love more and not fight so much. Make priorities and try to be patient with others who don't have full realization that they can't control time or events that are beyond them. I want to find peace with my dreams and goals and family. Learn to love them with all their flaws and talents. Try not to be judgmental and defensive. It's gonna be hard especially in the face of certain sleepless nights and trying times with a new baby in the house and a 4 year old that is certain to resent the little brother at times.

I can only do so much and let others help where I can. I can only give love and time when and however possible. I will do this for me and for those I love. I will be patient at least in practice. It's going to be a work in progress...

This year I will start a journal and remind myself daily or weekly of my blessings and of my commitment to being more patient.

5 Fave Friday

I have slacked off for this week... well, not really SLACKED off, just no free time. I have had something every night this week. Parties, workshops at school, grades due, and doctor appts. I am beat! I got together with my girls (Cari, Amy, Sherry, Bon Bon, Kathy, Marty, and Nicole) for a fun, holiday gift and cookie exchange. I had lots of snacks, sweets, laughter, and scrap goodness. I didn't get home until well after midnight! I'm dragging today. We have my work holiday party tonight and I need to go to the mall for some maternity stockings and a pedicure! I hope Matt doesn't give me a hard time about it. I need a little pampering! I'm feeling huge and not very pretty right now. It's only about 6 more weeks until my due date! The panic is setting in, not because I'm afraid of the impending birth, but because I have so much to do BEFORE he comes! I have to do so much at school to prepare for my leave and then at home to prepare for baby!

In between panic attacks, I am scrapping or HOPE to be. I just got my LAST Design Team kit for Crop Addict. It is truly fabulous! I will share sneeky peeks after Christmas! I think it's the best kit from Crop Addict YET!

On the Bed Girls front, I am Guest Designer this month and I shared sneek peeks last post and now here are the entire layouts!
Okay, now for my 5 favorites this week:
1. Sparkling Grape Juice that looks like Champagne from Wegman's. I LOVE this stuff. It's my holiday substitute for wine. I can't drink alcohol due to being pregnant so this is my stand in. While it's nothing like my Semi Chardonnay that I covet, it is a good festive substitute and I feel like I'm not being left out of the party. I have at least 2 bottles on hand all the time now. The White is fabulous too because it is so like Champagne (cheap champagne, but bubbly no less).

2. Heidi Swapp Mirror book... Ooooo I love this little beauty. I haven't gotten one yet, but I am dying to get my hands on one!




3. Handmade paper making: I taught a workshop as a result of a grant I received from my school district to allow me to take a summer workshop with Margie Hughto. I had 5 participants in the workshop and we made paper! It was fun, messy , and creative and not all of them were art teachers or artists. They were science teachers, special ed teachers, art teachers, and a student teacher. It was wonderful! I took pics but they are on my laptop, so I'll upload a few pics later.

4. Good FRIENDS... I love my girlfriends! They are the sweetest most generous girls. We had a cookie and gift exchange last night and I had a blast with them. We laugh our head's off and lose track of time. They are the best! They even volunteered to help with my shower alongside my mom... totally volunteered... I nearly cried! I can't ask for better buds! LOVE YOU BARBIE BITCHES!

5. Bath and Body Works Coconut Lime Verbana hand sanitizer... okay, so throughout this pregnancy I've been a bit obsessive about my handwashing. I am now using this little gem. It smells heavenly and is not drying my hands as badly as the school's soap!

So that's the scoop this week! Have a great weekend!

Bad Girls Guest DT- Sneak Peeks

I want to wish you all a very blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope you have a day long filled with peace and family. I plan to eat myself silly and take lots of Tums tonight! YUM! I feel so blessed for my family and what we have and what we are looking forward to... a new baby in two months!

I just finished up my layouts and project for the December kit at Bad Girls! I am so excited and had a great time yesterday working on them. I got the kit on Sunday and did it all yesterday. A new record for me. I love the results! The kit is charming with a vintage feel. Lots of goodies to work with and I loved the colors.

Here are some sneak peeks from the kit:

Just a little teaser until Monday when it is revealed!!! You won't want to miss out on this one! I am going to go get ready to leave and I still have to finish frosting cookies to take with us to Matt's relative's house... Have a great holiday!!!

FAVE FIVE FRIDAY

I'm a little late in posting this.... Friday got away from me... well, I guess the whole week got away from me a little too quickly. Here are my favorite things right now:

1)Uppercase Living Vinyl rub ons- This is my new discovery and I'm loving it. I'm hosting a party on Thursday and can't wait to share this fun new way to decorate.

2) Blue Patina Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels - GORGEOUS color and shimmer!!! You can buy it at Bad Girls by clicking on the link above!3) Also in the Bad Girls store is the new Tattered Angels Window albums!!! LOVE THIS!
Makes me wish I had a little girl to make one for... maybe I'll make one for myself!


4) On a hunt to find cards I found these that I wish I had with me when that idiot cut me off in the parking lot! So funny!!!
Scotiacards



5) Finally something I REALLY want for Christmas OR before this baby comes.... A COACH Baby Tote


I must have this!!! Really, how can I tote around all that baby stuff and my stuff in style? I have to have one this time. I went without last time and I will NOT be denied this time. LOL! Seriously, I really really really want one... Shallow? Yes, but PLEASE Santa?!




That's it for today. It's raining and I'm snuggling in to create Christmas layouts and projects today! Join us at BAD GIRLS to join in the fun!

BIG SALE!

Okay, I just have to share this... This is my final months as a Design Team member of Crop Addict and they just posted a HUGE sale on Thanksgiving... Check out the details here:

Crop Addict

Also, as a TOP DESIGNER (can you tell, I'm still basking in that title???!!!LOL!) I am teaching a class for the Holiday classes! Check out the blinkie to the right for more details... All I can say is that the workshops will be SOOoooo worth it! The supply lists are posted on the message board so you can be ready to create next weekend!!! They projects are FABULOUS and mine is on Saturday! Check it out!!!

FAVE FIVE FRIDAY

Okay, so a few of my favorite bloggers have done this and I thought it would be good to start this so that I actually blog on Fridays!

Here's my Friday Fave Five:

1. Evalicious Etsy shop... Just gorgeous and fun stuff!!!

2. Target
Otherwise known as "TAR-J" spoken in a French accent. LOL! This is my favorite place! I love their advertising, their store design, the cheap clothes, etc... just fabulous!

3. Feeling the little guy kicking and hiccuping today! It must be getting a bit crowded in there.
4. Little Debbie Nutty Bars.... YUM. My new favorite treat while pregnant. I'll worry about those few pounds afterwards!
5. The new Tim Holtz goodness! Masks, gears, keys, and more!!! LOVE it all! Tim's blog

Well, it's been a long week with my sinus infection, grades due, and dealing with loaming deadlines for projects. I am really looking forward to the weekend and some creating time. We have a party with some good friends tomorrow night and that will be fun. WAIT! What the heck am I going to wear???!!!! Maybe I need something new. Hmmmm.... Maybe I'll go check out Old Navy tomorrow. LOL!

TOP DESIGNER!!!

I won... I FREAKING WON! Can you believe it??? Well, I'm still letting it sink in. I stayed up until 11:00pm to see who won. I couldn't believe my name was there.... right after TOP DESIGNER! I am officially the BAD GIRLS KITS 2008 TOP DESIGNER! Seriously, if you don't know what this means, well, you need to go check out the competition.. I was up against over 300 girls from start to finish and then in the finals down to 10 other VERY talented and creative girls. It couldn't have been easy to pick a winner! I feel so very fortunate and blessed that I was chosen. I get a rockin' prize pack, but better than that, I get to be a guest designer for the December kit with the possibility of staying on permanently as a BAD GIRL DT member. I'm just floating on clouds right now and have screamed it all day! I keep going back to the post to check to make sure I really did win! LOL! I worked so hard on all my class projects and LOVE these 7 pieces more than any others. The classes were so inspiring and I felt creativity just FLOW out of me! The final exam is a sculptural piece that I feel so good about. I'm going to show it in a few art shows locally too. It's pictured below in the last post. I can't tell you how much winning this and the support I've gotten from my family and friends have meant to me! I am so humbled and beyond thrilled. It's a dream to get to this point and for the #1 kit club in the world! WOW! Just fabulous! Check them out! www.badgirlskits.com

FINAL EXAM!

Okay, I haven't TAKEN a final exam in many years, but at Bad Girls Kits, I am! I made it to the TOP 11! I just posted my final exam project. The assignment that Lead Bad Girl Extraordinaire, Wendy, gave was to altered something from it's original state or use. I decided right away to do a sculpture. I went looking for a bird cage at the thrift stores only to find NOTHING. So, Tuesday morning Matt was taking his dry cleaning off of wire hangers and I nearly tackled him! He handed over the 6 hangers and I went right to work on changing them into a bird cage! That's right. After fighting with Epoxy and wire hangers, I fashioned a bird cage and spray painted it gold. I painted, gold leafed, and altered a paper mache dress form into a female representation for motherhood. I cut a door that represents the womb with an egg (featuring my last sono). The nest is twigs, feathers, wire, ribbon, and strips of motherhood sayings.

Details:










The butterflies are made with metal, sheet music, grungeboard and wire & beads. The wings on the woman are made from sheet metal.





My idea was that being a Mother is both a treasure and sometimes feels like being caged. Even though things look beautiful on the outside, a woman can feel conflicted and imprisoned on the inside.
I am very happy with how it turned out and am hoping beyond hope that I win the contest and become the TOP DESIGNER!!! I would shout for joy and just about pass out! What an amazing experience this has been and I am on a creative high from it all! I just can't stop! I'm bringing this baby to the State Conference to display in the member's exhibit! I am so happy that I actually finished some new artwork to share with my fellow art educators too... Okay, keep your fingers crossed!!!

BAD GIRLS- TOP Designer!

OMG! I made it to the 6th round of the Top Designer contest at Bad Girls Kits! Here's the link to see the classes and work: BAD GIRLS ACADEMY . I am beyond excited! I love their kits. They are full of scrappy goodness and oozzing of charm and creativity! I have made some of the best layouts I've ever made during this contest. My mojo is pumped up and I'm ready for anything! Here are some of my layouts that got me to where I am now.

Here's the one that I did for the color challenge:
Now, can I make it to the final 1o??? Well, I have tons of ideas flowing thorugh my head, but are they TOO crazy? Are they not out of the box enough??? I'm up against so much talent! It's amazing that I made it this far. I'm honored and feeling so very lucky! I am just happy to have made it this far. I am gonna give it my best shot and cross all my stained fingers and toes (It wouldn't hurt if you all cross them for me too! LOL!) and just get crazy!

MOVE THAT BUS!!!

Extreme News! Extreme Home Makeover is doing a show here in CNY. They are building a house in Geneva for a deserving family and it is all the buzz around here! Just by chance... I got to meet one of the stars... well, THE star in my opinion! I was at the Bob Dylan concert in Canandaigua, NY last night with hubby. Matt had to work the VIP wine tasting in the VIP box seating, so he asked me to go. I was grumbling about it because Bob Dylan is not my favorite singer, but a night out is a night out right? Well, after the tasting was done, we stayed in the VIP seating to watch the last 20 mins. of the show when who shows up? Standing less than 3 feet from me??? Ty Pennington!!!
i am still in shock! Matt asked his security guy if I could get a picture with Ty. I was so excited. I introduced myself and probably mumbled some strange sentence. BUT, I got a pic with him!!!! WOW! I'm swooning! So, here's one for the memory books! I'm going out to the site on Friday or Saturday to see the building for myself. When will I get this chance again?

Stress!

The preggo brain has set in and so have the hormones. I am a walking time bomb. I am happy one minute.. calm and relaxed and then BLAM! I remember I forgot to do a million things and I become cranky, crazed, and mean! I don't remember being this unreliable in my first pregnancy. I am forgetting stupid things... I forgot to put stamps on some mail and it was returned to me... now it's late. I forgot to check what day I made a spa appt on and it turned out that I made it for a Tuesday instead of the Saturday that I showed up. I was super pissed about that one! I forget what day it is sometimes. I'm a mess! I can't concentrate either. I try to start a new project, get sidetracked (usually by a very bossy 3 year old) and then end up accomplishing NOTHING! I'm thinking I need a vacation from summer vacation! I need to go away for a weekend by myself. I'm no good to anyone right now. I am anti social and crabby. I just want to do what I want to do with no distractions. Is that crazy? Where would I go? How could I possibly do this on my own? I'm so tempted to just go! To where? Well, I'm pulled to the water... a beach of sorts. I would love to go to the Cape, but that is too far to drive by myself and too expensive to justify. SO, I am thinking just renting a room at Sylvan Beach on Oneida Lake and veg out. Scrap all day, eat when I want, sleep when I feel like it. Just sit in the sand? okay, it's a dream. It's probably not going to happen. Life is not fair and with Matt working and everyweekend filling up, I am having a hard time just planning this. I feel guilty and tempted all the same. I do have a week until I spend an entire week (Mon- Fri. 8-5) at a papermaking workshop with Margie Hughto. She is a very well known artist locally and has work all over the world. I am so excited to see her studio and spend a week making ART for myself! Maybe that will re-energize me. Art always does. NO disruptions, just artists working together. I'm super ready for that! So, I will post pics when I am done with that workshop and who knows, it might take my scrap art in a new direction! Now, to get some stuff done and stop putting it off and stop whining about all that's making me crazy in my life.

Preggo again!

It's official... I'm pregnant again. That was quick work. Really excited and happy about it. I have another sono today to see that little bundle. I saw the baby 2 weeks ago with a heartbeat! So, my due date is set for January 25, 2009! That seems so far away. I'm nervous, excited, scared to death, and worried all at the same time. I am hoping today's sono is perfect and that I can breathe a bit easier. I'm trying to take care of myself, but it's been a rough month. I've felt cruddy, exhausted, and FAT! Yep, I'm in the stage where nothing feels good. Just the thought of exercise makes me want to run and jump into bed. I'm wiped out! It doesn't help that Matt has been gone out of town for a total of 2 1/2 weeks this month for "work". I say that with tongue in cheek as it doesn't sound too bad to be childless, feed for free, provided with entertainment and drinks, and around intelligent adults all day. So, excuse me for being a bit resentful. He says it's not fun and it's tiring.. POOR baby... Try working, being a "single" mom for a week at a time, carrying a child who is wrecking havoc with my hormones, and dealing out discipline for a mouthy 3 year old. It's not fun at all!!! I am so in need of a vacation. I'm not talking Caribbean... well, that does sound nice, but something close by and only for a weekend would do. I am thinking a room facing water and sand, even if it is a lake, with a table for scrapping and a blender for virgin daiquiri's. I want no responsibilities at that time and no time schedule other than to eat when I feel like it, nap when I'm tired, and scrap the rest of the time. Really? Is that too much to ask? I would love the company of some other girlfriends, but I'm really thinking that being all by myself doesn't sound too bad either! LOL... maybe it's the hormones. In any case, I need a break!

Bloggity Blog Blog....

I am so not good at blogging. I try to remember, but with all the other craziness in my life right now, I, well.... forgot! So, what's new with me? School is NUTS! I 'm so ready for summer vacation! The kids are working on my last nerve. Today, I seriously repeated the same thing like 100 times! "Sit down" "Stop yelling" "wash that brush" "Finish your work!".... YIKES> I sounded like a broken record. They are losing braincells... and sucking mine out of my head just with their stupid questions! I'm glad to be back in control after a LOOOOOONNNNGG student teaching semester. She was good, but I felt like I was doing double the work and after being out so much this year, I am so behind. It is only 2 weeks until FINALS! Yes, that's right... 2 weeks to go. I have no doubt that many are not going to pass due to lack of effort. It's bad this year... much laziness and neediness. I hope I'm wrong, but kids today (don't I sound like my grandparents now???) are whiny, have week coping skills, and not very creative! They want to be told HOW to do it and given a grade or reward for doing very little. Sorry, that doesn't fly with me! I expect work to be done and risks to be taken in art. Make mistakes and learn from them kids! Don't whine about it... learn from it! I guess that comes with age and experience. They are missing their front lobes after all... haven't developed the ability to think to the future and grasp that what they do now (or don't do) will affect them many years down the road. They don't get it... was I like that??? If so, SORRY MOM!!!!

Oh... if you are up for a challenge, check out the Scrapdragons blog. I'm on the DT there and they have cool scrappy inspiration. Here's the link: Scrapdragons

Happy Scrapbooking Day!

It's a day just for us! One where we get to scrap all day in our jammies... Well, not for this mama. I have a miserable little boy on my lap as I type. I plan on scrappin later when little man goes to bed! So, if you are able to sneak away for a few hours to scrap or have major plans... check out this challenge:

http://www.scrapnart.com/news.php

There are prizes involved!!! Now GO FORTH AND MAKE STUFF!!!!

Scrap N' Art ezine!

I am so excited to share a sneak peek of the premiere edition of Scrap N' Art ezine! It is so fabulous! Full of fun pages and tips.. this ezine is unlike any out there! It is truly a fun and fantastic read... So without further ado...

Go here for a link to the first 7 pages of the May/ June issue!

IS it Spring Yet???

Today was one of those days that makes me seriously LONG for Spring... I mean in a "I can't take it another minute!!!" type of longing... I am having serious sandal withdrawals. My favorite boots have lost the battle with winter. They are my black leather pointy toed high heeled... feel like a million boots. The toes have holes in them on the underside and the heel has lost the rubber cap so I am walking on a nail. Now, I hate to just throw them out. We've been through alot together... Many miles have been walked in those sexy boots. So, what to do??? Well, I've decided to look for another pair just like them. Well, that didn't go so well at the mall tonight. I found some that have a higher heel (nope... dangerous at school), a low heel (nope, feel too short and squatty), a wide toe (already have a pair of those), one with stitching and buckles (too fussy), and one that was close, but of course didn't have in my size! So, now I am trying to find a shoe fixer... would that be called a cobbler still?? Someone that can fix my soles (and my soul) and save my beloved boots for a reasonable fee. I mean I WAS going to buy new ones if I could find them. So, I would pay a fee to have them saved and restored. Any tips??? Huh.. Huh??/ Bueller? What's a girl to do?
Well, I'll figure it out and they WILL be saved!!
Here's a pic of my loves...

JOIN me!!

I'm sorry that I have been bad at updating my blog... I'm just not good at the daily rambling thing. With so much going on with DT assignments, publications, projects, teaching, and dealing with a troubled pregnancy, I am drained! I really hope to get back to normal and move on with everything... we sure will have fun trying again.. Tomorrow is the day for the sonogram that will confirm that we either have a baby or not... if not, I will go in for a D&C Thursday and it will be over... I'm sad, but anxious to have closure here and move on.

On a fun and happy note, there is a new scrappy forum opening today!!! The Little Scrap Shop is making our forum public... Here's the link: The Scrap Pad
This forum ROCKS! Seriously, it is a group of fantastic girls so far and we are so excited to open it up to other fun scrappers to chat!!! Please come and join us there! We are having an online Cyber Crop the weekend of February 22-25th!!! So... HOP on over to the Scrap Pad~

Top 10

I just posted a new post over at The Little Scrap Shop's blog. Check them out! They have fantastic kits... I just picked the items for January's kit which debuts tomorrow! I'll just say that it's full of fun, colorful hip product!
Here's a sneak peek:






Here is the link:
http://www.thelittlescrapshop.com/blog/

What's your Top 10??

Reflection on "Why I Scrap"...

As this year comes to a close , I thought that it was appropriate to update my personal statement for "why I scrap"! Maybe reflect on why I started and where I want to go with it. It's been a productive year for me. I have been accepted on several Design Teams (with a few more hopeful applications out there), been published (3 times), taught classes, and made well over 200 pages this year! I am on a roll creatively. It's just amazing that it's the end of December and I'm excited to see where 2008 leads me. So, reflect on what this art means to you and what are you scrap goals for 2008?

What is this crazy artform about? Well, for me, it is not only a venue to express my feelings, thoughts, and memories, but it's also a place to experiment with materials, record observations and just CREATE! I am a 3D artist by training and, up until I had my son, practice. Now, it's not convenient or practical to create in clay, metal, or plaster with a 3 year old around. So, I turned to scrapbooking. It's essentially 2 dimensional, but I can play with 3 dimensional qualities and techniques on a medium that is flexible. I can leave it and come back whenever I have the time, need or energy. I NEED to create. It's something that just feeds me. I feel whole and free when I make something. I must touch the materials, feel the textures, see the colors, and rearrange the elements. It's vital to my existance. It just so happens that this is also a way to capture my life (in it's crazy entirety) and hopefully engage my viewers to want to get to know more... want to try the techniques that I've tried and create their own art. That is my personal fulfillment... to inspire myself and others.

What are my goals for 2008?
1. I would love to become a member of a Manufacturer's Design Team
2. Get a few more layouts in publications
3. Finally tackle grungeboard - got a bunch, now need to figure out how I can manipulate them!
and
4. Maybe complete an album or two.
5. Finally, I'd like to get organized... mentally, physically, and get those layouts in actual books this year! LOL!

Wish me luck! Happy New Year!

Note to Santa

My friend just sent me this and I thought I would share.....


Dear Santa,

I've been a good mum all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children
on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two
cases of choc.bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school
playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several
Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on
the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows
when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any colour, except purple,
which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but
are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the lolly aisle in the
grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of
my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide
to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mummy'
to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and
three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power
tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting 'Don't eat in the
living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice
seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard
by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time
to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a
Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten
the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare tomato sauce a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet
under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave
crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, MOM...!

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children happy, healthy and always believing.

Where has this month gone???

Here we are after Thanksgiving... Black Friday. Did I get up ungodly early and go shopping? YEP! Matt thought I was nuts and even tried to "forbid" me to go. BLAH.. do I listen, NO! So I got up at 5 am and showered, dressed, and headed for the mall. The plan was to stay away from toy stores, electronics, and large retail chains. I went to Macy's first and got Matt a ton of stuff for his b'day next week and Christmas. Good start! Then, after dropping that all off in the car, I went back in for more. I got a Latte and then headed for Old Navy... I got Mark a couple things for his b'day and as I worked my way down the Mall, I thought about how much I love shopping for others at the holidays. It just feels good. I have to admit that I did buy myself a few items. I got a couple pairs of pants, gloves, a new bra, and a new coat. I needed the bra and coat badly... the others were a bonus. Kind of a pat on the back for making it through the last couple months. It's been a crazy few months. Just to recap... I finished a ceramic tile mural at school, managed to NOT kill any kids (that is said in a *Wink Wink ** sort of way), threw a Halloween party, finished DT assignments, had numerous doctors appts.... both for myself and for Mark, had a Colonoscopy ** more about that in a minute**, got a new car (well, a mini van to be exact), attended a conference where I presented 2 workshops, managed to NOT kill the hubby, and am now planning birthday parties and Christmas! Whew!!!!
Okay, about that Colonoscopy... totally was not a big deal. The worst part was the prep. I got there and they had a hard time inserting the IV... Apparently I have no veins. They put me out and I woke up dopey and feeling pretty good. I got photos of the interior of my a** and found out that what was causing my discomfort was a few small interior hemis... Okay, I can deal with that. BIG sigh of relief. No surgery, no pain... very easy. So, I immediately wanted fries and a diet soda! Matt was a sweetie. He didn't even argue with me. It was the best soda and fries I had ever eaten! I was pretty loopy all day.
Now that that is out of the way and I know I'm all clear... literally, we are starting to try to have a second baby. Yep, you heard me. I am ready to make my life crazier than it is now. I can't believe I'm saying that. Mark is potty trained and ready for a big boy room and I'm ready to return to diapers. Well, now that I write that, it doesn't sound so great! LOL! I think this is the perfect time. If we don't have another soon, life will be too comfortable and we will never decide it's a good time. So, we are putting it in the hand's of a greater power and having a good time while we're at it! Our parents are thrilled of course...even with the possiblity of having another baby in the family... mind you, we aren't actually prego... they just swoon at the thought of it being a possibility.
Anyways, I have a million things that I need to finish... creatively speaking. I'm working on 3 mini albums... one is a DT assignment for The Little Scrap Shop and the others are gifts. One I have been "working" on... ie: procrastinating... since last March. I'm also doing Christmas cards, a garland project...I'll share later, gifts, and other DT projects. In all my "spare" time, I need to finish at least 5 more artworks for my group artshow in January.. What was I thinking??? I better get moving on that! I'll post some previews when I get them done... let's just say I'm going to be doing some mixed media and prints to go along with my sculptures.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

YUCKY!

Okay, this post is going to be full of TMI... I am having a Colonoscopy(sp?) this afternoon. I am one mean bi*ch today! I haven't eaten solid food in over 24 hours! I'm not a happy camper. Not to mention the constant potty time I've put in... I never thought I'd be having one of these at my age. I've been having some rectal bleeding (sorry...it's not pretty for me either) and was worried. So the doc thinks he should have a look. I'm not really scared, just a lot embarrassed. You'd think I'd be over it after having a child, but that is an area that I don't let anyone look at. I was more worried about excreting while giving birth than I was about the blood thing. It's a private matter. So why am I making it public? Well, it's not that bad. The worst is not being able to eat and the inconvienence of having to stop what I'm doing and go potty. I hate that! My FIL is a pro at this procedure.. he's had over 10 of them. SO, he assured me it was no biggie.. I was skeptical and still am a bit. I just have 4 hours left before the event. All I have to say is... they better knock me out! I don't want to know anything that happened until it's over. I'm not interested in seeing it. I just want to know that whatever's there is not a problem or that they took care of the problem. I can't wait to eat tonight! That's what I'm holding out for!!! So wish me luck and sorry if I grossed you out.

TOOT TOOT!

It's been a week since I've been on here. I've been busy. Life is crazy right now. I'm working on so many projects and trying to keep up with grading my student's work! It's just one thing right after another! I'm going nuts trying to keep up with home, school, art, wife, etc... SO bear with me.

Good News! I just got notice that I'm going to be published in Scrapbook Trends Embellish Ideas Book! So effing excited! See that layout on the right? My Prince? He's going to be published! I'm taking it down this week. IT's already been removed from the online galleries, but I can show it her for a bit longer. I have to mail the original out by Tuesday... that part always has me panicking! I can't stand to part with it! I know I'll get it back, but you never know with the mail or things that happen, so I'll just cross my fingers and hope I get it safe and sound. Thanks for letting me ramble!

The Art in Business

I just got back from our first artshow at our District office... It's not the first time we've hung art there, but usually it gets viewed by the administration and those few souls that come to the D.O. (as we teachers lovingly call it). Our new Fine Arts curriculum coordinator organized this event to coincide with the monthly VITAL (Vision in the Arts at Liverpool) meeting. It was packed with both Elementary and High School students and parents viewing their child's art and enjoying goodies. I presented my "Why Art?" video to the public. I have been working on this video for the last couple months. I used imovie and pretty much did it all by myself. I'm pretty proud of what I did. Everyone raved about it and I think the music people were pretty jealous (if I do say so myself). It was great. My vision was to promote the visual arts in High School targeting administration (who are clueless that art is a HUGE part of today's business world), middle school students, and parents. It's great for all levels. It shows artwork and images of our students working on art in the classrooms mixed in with quotes from business leaders and artists stressing why art is important in today's workforce. I think it got the point across. I wish I could post it here, but the file is WAY too big! I'm going to try to link it to my school's website and I'll post it if it works. If you go back to my first post ever, you will see my opinions on art in the business world. Any computer program, marketing strategy, or formula can be taught to older kids in a short time, but creativity and innovation must come from young minds that have a background and long term exposure to the arts in order to generate new ideas for retail, marketing, and sales fields. It's sad that most of our guidance counselors don't even know that kids have to have a fine arts portfolio in order to get into Architecture or Design schools. They are clueless... So, here's to our own "marketing strategy" and how the arts are important for ALL kids!

Design Team!

I have wanted to be on a design team for awhile now. I am now on 2! They are both great sites. Full of inspiring artwork, tips, challenges, and more! I just had to share. I'm an Island Girl with We B' Scrappin (here locally in Cicero , NY ) and with The Little Scrap Shop (online...based in Georgia). It has been an overwhelming experience in such a good way. First of all, I am honored that they want me to create artwork for them and two, I love working with other designers who share my love of art. It's not merely a "scrapbooking" venture, but a partnership of sorts. I love that this is going beyond a hobby and that it is actually my "Art" right now. Being a Fine Artist, I fought against this infiltration of scrapbooking... so crafty. Okay, I admit, I LIKE being crafty. I feel good making cute, fun things. I'm a Martha Stewart wanna be (well, except the jail time part). That being said, I struggle against the way I should think as an artist... who defined what "real artists" should be or shouldn't be? In college and even with my artist friends (the ones that actually make a living on their art), you would NEVER consider crafts a Fine art.... Anything remotely crafty is evil in their minds. It's a very snobby world in the Fine Arts world. However, craft is definitely becoming a regular art form... ceramics, fibers, felting, quilting, collage, and mixed media is being considered Fine Arts. Well, it's scrapbooking a combination of all of that... I consider it Mixed media. I just think the word "Scrapbooking" conjours up images of cut out triangles, 12 photos on a page, and stickers. Yes, that is where most of us "scrappers" started out. That company (you all know the one), has come along way, but still caters to the simple and quick. It's now about the art, the process, what I can do that's totally unique, that thrills me. I feel bad that I don't attend that company's crops anymore. I love my friend that sells it, but I just feel stiffled there. It's not particularly creative. People who go there are also very snobby... they don't like my devient behavior in using paints, drywall tape, or "Gasp!" mixing patterns. It's a loyal bunch. So, to look down my nose at my professors who boast that Fine Arts must stay traditionally categorized, I say... "get an open mind and look at what is being done around you!". This industry is growing faster than the Fine Arts industry! I will always consider myself an artist whether I sell my work to a magazine or in NYC. I enjoy the creation process and whatever my medium, I am very proud of what I do!

Gorgeous weather... when will the bottom drop?

I really never thought of myself as a pessimist, but seriously, how can we be on such a lovely weather streak? It's Central New York after all. We NEVER get consistent weather. But none the less, it's been consistently beautiful and DRY! I'm loving it, except for the allergy thing, but I have to wonder, are we in for it? Is this just a kind of sick joke by mother nature? Will she dangle this lovely wonderful weather we've had and slam us with another 12 feet-of-snow-in-a- week-kind-of-weather? When will the bottom drop out? I guess I should just enjoy it right now and not worry about it, but I am coming to HATE CNY winters! Really, 33 years is enough to jade anyone with winter blizzards, cold, slush, and short summers. It's depressing to say the least. So, why have I not moved down south? Why stick it out and complain all winter????

Well, here are a list of pros and cons for CNY:
Cons:
1) inconsistent weather (long, cold, snowy winters & short, warm summers)
2) humidity (BLAH) except for this year!
3) horrible roads (due to snow and road salt)
4) Rude and miserable people in the winter & spring
5) High taxes resulting in high prices overall
6)because of the high taxes, businesses are leaving and cultural opportunities are not diverse or plentiful.

Okay.... PROS:
1) Autumn is spectacular!
2) Housing is reasonable.... low cost to build.
3) Summers are usually mild
4) Salt Potatoes ... our specialty (love those summer babies!) Produce is cheap and yummy in the summer
5) NO hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, forest fires, monsoons, sand storms, or tsunami es Just ALOT of snow... snow melts... Oh yeah... no scorpions, tarantulas or other weird deadly bugs.. that I know of. Just a lot of mosquitoes and flies... nothing major.
6) What doesn't kill us makes us stronger (because we are used to the terrible weather, we don't shut down with an inch of snow! Life goes on!)
7) Wineries and fine dining abound! We have it all!

Okay, so there are probably more Pros or Cons, but those are the ones I can think of. It's definitely not too bad, but I still hate CNY winters!!!! So, I'm getting my coats dry cleaned and my boots waterproofed and preparing for the worst... We'll see...

Here's some beautiful CNY pics to share:

IS anybody out there???

Seriously, I don't update my blog daily because I thought NOONE was listening... well, some of my girls at We B' were telling me that they do in fact read my blog... WOW! I am pretty happy about having a small audience! Thanks ladies. You make me feel loved.... LOL!

Okay, today's blog is about my first week or so back to school...
It's been fast and furious. The kids are nice so far except really immature. They are either really small OR really tall. Weird combo! I like most of my classes though. I've already made some of them mad as that I had to move a few seats around in order to make the room less chatty while I'm chatting! Oh well... life isn't always fair. I warned them and they either didn't believe me or didn't care UNTIL it came down to me following through with the consequence I threatened. So, I've decided that it's much like having your own children. It's always a work in progress. By the 10 week report, I will have them BELIEVING that I mean business. Anyways, I have a few kids that are particularly excited about the visual journal project and have ALREADY starting creating on their pages!!! WOW! So cool or kewl, as the case may be. Okay, they are rough diamonds right now, but I'll have them sparkling in no time! We did our first "playtime" activity yesterday... Inking backgrounds. I'd read somewhere that mucking up your white pages will make the experience less intimidating! So I decided to show them how to use block printing ink and a brayer to roll a colored background. Fabulous results... I went to a crop last night and then home and decided to try it on my own pages. I've used paints before, but not a brayer... I'm excited to say that it is freeing them to make a mess and creativity is at a high! The kids, and myself, were have a fabulous time playing... We had 2 firedrills, but just so happened to occur AFTER cleanup! YES! Thank you Lord... that would have been interesting to walk out with ink all over our hands and try not to touch anything! Okay, here's my playtime results....

One last thought... PLEASE leave me a comment so I know you are out there! LOL! No seriously, leave me something!

A Fantastic NEW site/ kit club

I am trying out for a Design team on this fantastic new blog site and kit club. The product is so great and the site has a great feel to it. Angel is the blogger and owner of the site. She is so supportive and fun! It's a small site and the gallery is growing! Stop by and check it out... The blog is called "Stop, Drop & Crop". Look in my "Links I Dig" below for the link to the site! It's a great site for ideas and how to advice in scrapbooking. I'm loving the new challenges and prizes too. It's very motivating. Need a kick to your mojo? Check it out!