The Life Poetic

THE SPIRIT IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK

Today the CHA show will have to go on without me. I would really love to be there, but my body (and more specifically, my voice) won’t let me! My steadfast husband has been such a dear....unsolicited by me, he attended the show yesterday and today in my absence, being my ambassador and making connections on my behalf. He is such "a keeper"!

There’s just something about the concrete & steel, cold, air-conditioned environment of a trade show that frequently seems to leave me feeling “less than” when I came. There was, however, one warm and cozy corner of this year’s show! That corner was the Love, Elsie booth where a warm, retro kitchen was a homey respite from the rows and rows of corporate-craft-America panels and pre-fabrication. I am so thrilled to see talented, little Elsie Flannigan debut her product into the marketplace and wish her every success. I got to know Elsie just a little bit when she contributed to my book, and I found her to be a genuine sweetheart! Her product is being launched by Kim and Ira from KI Memories (some other quality folks I count a privilege to know in this “biz”...we go way back!) , and I suspect 2007 has great things in store for them all!

There will be Make and Takes at the Creative Imaginations booth who represents both our Sonnets Studios product lines  so be sure to drop by!
Here is that abbreviated schedule for today:

SIX DEGREES of SEPARATION

Well….give or take a few rows!

Last night Beth, Beth’s mom, Julie (my dearest of friends), and I all went to see the keynote address at CHA given by Martha Stewart. It was a rare treat to see live-and-in-person such an influential force in the culture of crafting and home- arts. What struck me most was that she seemed, for such an extraordinary person, rather ordinary in many ways (not a charismatic or enigmatic speaker by any means) and I actually found that to be rather encouraging. When I teach or give make and takes, I always lament over the fact that I’m not more captivating (humorous or otherwise animated) as a speaker….I’m just me. But you know, what: so was Martha Stewart! And if Martha Stewart can just be her plain old self, than I guess I can be my plain old self too!

Today, I’ll be working on some deadlines in the studio this morning and then running back over to the convention center for my make and takes. (I’m losing my voice though and I’m feeling a relapse of a bad chest cold coming on, so we’ll see how that goes!)

Here is the Make and Take schedule for today and tomorrow at the Creative Imaginations booth (below).
Come by and say “hi”! Hopefully I will have a voice left to respond back in kind!

HANDS TO WORK HEARTS TO GOD

Today, I’m going to miss Sunday service; it usually really carries me through my week so I’m definitely going to have to catch the podcast later. (You can catch it too if you click on Sermons/ Resources!)

Today, it will have to be “hands to work and heart to God” for me, as I head to the first day of the CHA trade show in Anaheim.  It will be a busy day of “Make and Take” crafting, and if you want to join Beth and I in creating some fabulous little projects (or one of the many other fabulous creations from Creative Imaginations’ colorful and varied palette of artists and brands) here are the details of who, what, where and when:


I’m still recovering (or more specifically, my feet are still recovering) from last night’s gala, but it was a wonderful time, especially since my hubby and daughter accompanied me. Ian wanted nothing to do with anything requiring *special attire*, so he opted for a sleep-over at a friend’s house instead. Tori, on the other hand, was excited to get a peek into what it is mommy does at these tradeshows. She made fast friends with Sierra (the daughter of one of Creative Imaginations’ owners) and they had quite the party themselves, frequenting the chocolate fondue fountain, riding the Hyatt elevators, and just being girls. Victoria is actually very glum about the fact that she can’t join us today at the convention center. (It will have to keep it a secret that I’ll be getting to hear Martha Stewart speak tonight, followed by a gathering of friends and associates through my publisher at Downtown Disney later….that would just heighten her despondency! So mums the word, okay?) 

AN EXCUSE TO GET ALL DRESSED UP

After endless days of sequestering myself in the studio, it’s fun to periodically get out and rub elbows with other artists and authors and industry friends. That’s what I have in store starting tomorrow night through most of next week! And it all begins with a pre-show gala event hosted by Creative Imaginations! It’s being billed as an elegant affair, so my high heels and long dress are waiting in the wings.

If you are lucky enough to be one of the invited guests to this Saturday night soire, you can come see Beth and I between 4:30 & 6:00 and make this fun little make & take as we hobnob!  This clever little craft turns an epoxy sticker from our Anthology:Juliet Collection into a sweet little necklace or charm bracelet. But, we couldn’t stop there! We are also using a Bare Elements: Chris box to make a home for it. This necklace and jewelry box would be a great little Valentine’s trinket for a daughter, a friend, a teacher, or maybe just *you*!

So put on your finest and come see us at the Hyatt Regency tomorrow night!

(P.S.
If you aren’t on the guest list but are coming to the CHA show, you can catch this Make and Take again on Sunday morning between 9:00 and 10:30 at the Creative Imaginations booth! )

Other Make and Takes will be posted to the blog as time allows, but here is our schedule so you can pencil us in:

Saturday- Pre-show CI party: 
4:30-6:00 (Anthology & Sonnets at table 2)
Sunday -
Anthology: 9-10:30 (table 2) / Sonnets 1:30-3:00 (table 2)
Monday-
Sonnets 12:00-1:20 (table 1) / Anthology 1:30-3:00 (table 2)
Tuesday-
Sonnets 12:00-1:30 (table 1) / Anthology 12:00-1:30 (table 2)

We won’t be at CHA on Wednesday! Already too much time away from the work of the studio!

UNVEILING PRODUCT

It’s always so fun to unveil new product!
Usually it’s something we worked on nearly a year ago, and having moved on to a billion other projects since then, we’ve long since forgotten about. Getting reacquainted with this particular artwork has been especially enjoyable because Beth & I really enjoyed working with the colors and form on these new Sonnets and Anthology scrapbook collections (being release at CHA this week through Creative Imaginations)! So insert your own soft drum roll, and a mental “Ta-Dah!” as we pull back the curtain just a bit to sneak peak you our CHA releases!

First the SONNETS release: URBAN GYPSY

When I think of “gypsy”, many bohemian images come to mind: embroidered skirts and big hoop earrings…Johhny Depp’s character in one of my all time favorite flicks: Choclat…high school days (the 80s) of listening to Stevie Nick’s sing Gypsy ("lightning strikes maybe once, maybe twice!"). I think of open markets and street music and gypsy caravans.  That’s precisely the kind of imagery that inspired this release of double sided papers, epoxy, stickers, rub-ons, and alphabets. Fashion forward banded patterns and bangles play with watercolor textures, paisleys, and medallions in tones of turquoise, lime, purple, orange and pink! Break out your tamborine.

Here are the catalogue pages and some great layouts from Jamie Harper and Suzy Plantaura showcasing this line!

You also just must check out this lovely purse creation that Jamie posted on Two Peas using the Urban Gypsy product!

Next the ANTHOLOGY release: ROXANNE

Another one of Anthology’s new “personaties” emerges with her mix of bold, tropical color and feminine curvaceous-ness.  Living in a surf-town, and with Beth being a little surfer-gal herself, this was a marriage of all the things we love: waves of sea,  florals and fauna, elegant typography, and fashion color!

Here are the catalogue pages and more layouts from Jamie and Suzy!

and check out Jamie's mini album also posted on Two Peas!

I hope these make you feel enlivened and inspired....and happy!

OFF & RUNNING

2007 is off and running and it has already been monumentally productive even in these early weeks.  Productive sometimes equals frantic, which is not always healthy in some regards, but hopefully it will be result in positive reward.

And yet, somehow in the midst of this frantic-paced productivity, everyday when I glance down at my lengthy list of “to-do”s (all scribbled and scrawled, starred and crossed-off) one thing remains
all alone,
solitary,
unchecked: Write Blog Post

Today is that day: the day that I finally get to check that off my list!

So HAPPY NEW YEAR it is!
Out with the old and in with the new…well, actually not so much!
Truth be told, I’m really not much of an “out with the old” kind of gal. I'm all about *old*. I love *old*.

Glorious old oak trees
Shimmering old brocades
Worn-in old blue jeans
Shabby old fainting couches
Dainty old teacups
Elegant swirly old wrought iron
Crackly old barn doors
Overgrown old gardens
Ancient old scriptures
Bellowing old pipe organs
Creaky old stair-steps
Nostalgic old movies
Cherished old friends
& of course
Growing older and wiser alongside my husband!

But, hey,  it’s not that I don’t love the “in with the new” part too! Afterall, who could resist….

Innocent new babies
Shiny new high heels
Brilliant new ideas
Furry new puppies
Unfurled new rosebuds
Clever new technology
Bright new guitar strings
Pristine new linens
Unheard new music
Unaired new episodes of Boston Legal, Greys, and Top Chef
& most of all
Glistening new hope, bright and full of fresh promise

There’s certainly much in the new category going on at our house and in the studio:

My little *cutie-pie*, Victoria, decided she wanted to get involved in her first-ever team sport. What did she choose? RUGBY! Yes, the *full-contact* TACKLE sport. I admire my dainty, fine-boned daughter’s grit and determination.  So what’s new in my house?
Mouth guards, cleats and Gator Green!

My towering teen, Ian, is also doing an after-school sport for the first time: BASKETBALL. Now the NBA is one of Ian’s longstanding areas of perseveration and savant, so it is really exciting to see him use that as a platform for increasing physical strength, coordination, and social connection! All awesome things for a kid with AS. So what’s new in my house? Let’s just say some stinkier articles to add to my laundry pile!

Oh! And Miss Tori also auditioned last week and was notified this week of her acceptance into the school district wide Honor Choir. (Yes, this the same girl who is scrumming and rucking, and risking life and limb; what a walking contradiction this fascinating young lady is!)

As for the studio, so much sparkling newness I can barely innumerate it. New art, new mediums, new products, new book and more all in store for 2007.  I’ll indulge you some sneek peeks of this newness in my next post, but for now:

May you year be rich and rewarding and let’s just say:
“In with the old and in with the new”, shall we?