Ann Arbor trip...lots of cold and some shopping

Well, Art and i went to Ann Arbor (Michigan..home of the Universtiy of Michigan) It is such a beautiful city. I enjoy walking around and shopping in all of the little stores and boutiques. Of course for me the most interesting ones are the ones that have stuff to make things and ones with books. So I started my morning off at 9am at Borders. I dropped Art off, at his course (the reason we came) and then headed over to the parking lot right behind Borders. A green tea latte,a huge bag o' books and an hour later I emerged, to stroll through the bitter cold to explore the town further.

First though...this is what resulted at home. Stephanie took the boys over to Kalamazoo for lunch and some sledding. Tyrus was playing hot-rod sledder and took the ramp of snow...and landed on his wrist. Xrays this morning confirmed our worries...yup! it is broken...poor guy. He hasn't complained though of the pain..said it was around a "4"*edit* Art just told me that Tyrus said this morning at the hospital that he was airborn and despite the pain..and that it was all worth it...rofl! My Border's Bookstore finds...a digital photography magazine..the latest Belle Armour and Bernie Berlin's ATC workshop book, She invited me to participate in her next book..so i figured I better get the first one so i know what I am getting intoThe biggest book i have ever owned. I just couldn't resist, according to the introduction this is the most complete book on Leonardo ever published...it is aWesome!The Michigan Theater...a most beautiful example of theaters of the early 1900's. this theater was completely restored afew years ago. It is amazing~Art and I were able to go see a restored version of the movie "Metropolis" from approx 1926. A silent film of course. the cool part is that they had an organ player playing the musical scores that were created for it...just like in the old days~Look at all the snow i had to trek through..brrrrMy goodies that I found. I went to a shop called the Bead Gallery on Liberty street...wow~ I want to make more button and bead necklaces...One in red and one in greens..later at the end of the day I found this jar of vintage buttons...in green and reds no less...YAY!!~that was in the Kerrytown mall where Hollanders paper store is and a little shop upstairs called "Found"

a close up of the "shroom" pendant...see it inside?..It is going on my "lucky" green necklace...i think it will have a foresty theme...with some shamrocks thrown in for good measure..lol pure yum!!!i LOVe vintage buttons. I took a picture of the jacket from my dad that inspired one of the papers in my Father Knows Best paper set...and there are vintage buttons on that...I made that at least 17 years ago...so vintage buttons have always been a soft spot for me. I am thinking of digging out my vintage canning jars and organizing my buttons by color. Every time i see someone's studio or craft room i drool over their buttons when they do that~
I also visited this fun boutique called Orchid something or other..geesh my memory. They carry clothing, accessories and decorations from all over the world. They buy directly from the artisans, so they do a great job supporting the artisans of the different areas. These felted flowers are from Nepal~
I always visit a shop called Peaceable Kingdom. I found that cute fairy mint tin in the above picture and couldn't come home empty handed for the boys..so I bought them these cute retro tin wind up toys
Turner is my ham....and such a poser in front of the camera..lol~

I hope you enjoyed my little adventure and shopping trip...i am closing this today with my last picture..of my new friends that I found for half off at Hobby Lobby last week....they need names...aren't they fun?

now off to go make some necklaces with those new beads and buttons! Happy Sunday every one!~

just playing...

okay i hate when this happens...i finally feel better....and then get the "now what?" Well i had to do some thing..so i played with Oscar..and a tropical themed shoot...haha! totally amatuer but it was fun...i gathered the tropical supplies and armed myself with "TREATS!" and played for a bit. Tyrus helped me.

so here he is:

Tropical Pug!

some out takes..."mom! I know you are going to give me that treat...!!

see here now...I reeeeeeeeaaaally want that cheese, I'll even shake on it..

puuuuleeeeeeeze!

he did really good. He is such a sweet dog. and fun and smart. I have never had a dog that was this much fun...so be ready..we have more ideas brewing...bunny ears were purchased today...along with other things...lol~

so please bear with my play time....it is so funny~

Somaybe after a couple of days I can show you my project I created for Stampington.com. I hope they like it..haven't heard yet....iof nothing else I did have a load of fun making it~

so off to find some other things to get into....(not that i don't have a list a mile long..and actually Tropical Pug does have an end use..ha ha~

Now that i can breath a little, the fog is clearing from my head

WEll so much happened it will take me a minute to collect my thoughts. I am just so happy to be home. I got so sick in the middle of Weds night....ugh! My throat isn't quite so sore...things are coming up(dry hack is the worst) and i don't seem to have a temperature. I did go into the Doc's Friday to make sure i didn't have strep...test came back negative...so the only thing i can do is wait it out and treat the symptoms.

So lets see.....CHA. WE had such a nice time. It is always so much fun and all of the gals at Dream Street are such sweethearts. I enjoy getting to know them a bit more each time. As always there are too many of us in the booth...none of us want to miss anything..and it really is exciting when people come into our booth with sop many nice comments about out papers. We switched to a new printer and every one was so impressed(as we were too) with the brilliant saturated colors! Usually after the first day and the initial excitement wears off and the first day crowds thin a bit we all have to opportunity to explore our surroundings a bit. I was ab le to visit with tim HOltz and watch one of his demos again..so talented~ I found the Stampington Publications booth...they had tons of their new publications to peek at....I was so excited to meet Sarah Meehan that I have been working with doing samples for their newsletter Creative Impulse and Postscript. She asked me about a new product and if she should just send it..I said just send it...so you will see more of my art in their newsletters. Again she said she was thrilled with my ATC calendar and also stated that she enjoys it every day looking at it sitting on her desk!...lol! OOh and remember those paper flowers i made?..the yo-yo ones?...well I got the idea and directions from Sandra Evertsons new book "fanciful Flowers" I was so thrilled to turn around and realize she was sittting right there behind me, demoing her fun new ink blot stamps. What a sweet person! Her stuff is a must have!

On Tuesday one of the girls was waiting on a customer in our booth...and i heard "oh and she is an altered artist too(referring to me) i perked up and looked and looked at the womans badge and saw "Bernie....." I didn't have to look any further to realize it was Bernie Berlin!!!!!! (see her banner at the top of my side bar" Bernie and I have "known"each other for years now..running in the same circles of groups. I was sooo excited to finally meet her in person. She too is another wonderful and sweet person..we also realized we are the same age withing a few months. for some reason i thought she was ton younger...she looks it too! Any way she invited me to join her group for me to have my artwork in her new ATC book! So exciting!!

i got to see a ton of fun new products and gorgeous new papers...i am a paper-holic..so i was in hog heaven. I ran into a celebrity every day going to and/or from the show and didn't realize it until the last day. The Crafty Chica!! She is so cute and so full of life. I happened to walk by her on the floor after seeing her a half dozen or more times during the previous days. then it hit me...I stopped and said hi and told her i finally realized why she looked familiar. She gave me a cute bobble head of herself..ha ha..and also two canvas bags with artwork that her husband made. One of which is a Day of the Dead bridal couple. I plan on using that some how for Cat's Day of the Dead RR book.....see Cat i was thinking of you..so i asked her for a second bag for me...it has aheart on it...very cool artwork!

My all time favorite product...a labeler. Very much like the Dymo, but it has interchangeable fonts I am thinking round 6 or8 and tons of fun tape colors..including some metalics and designs. I told them my story of emailing Dymo...i had mentioned to them that they could break into a multi million dollar industry if they only would come up with a few nicer colors for their tapes...their answer at the time was that they were not accepting any ideas for product improvement..what idiots. Any way...this labeler has been available for a while now ...it is made by 'around the block" I have to dig out my notes ...as soon as i find a retailer i will post a link!

Another cool [roduct i noticed was the "purple cow" cutters...wow! guillotine and also with wheels and all sorts of options...they also have a cool hot laminator that poses many fun and exciting design options...my mind goes in whirls thinking of all the things you could do with it..

Prima's booth was amazing...lots of new stuff including laser cut ribbons of all sorts. Their paper designers are precious and so fun to talk to. When i go to CHA it is so fun to run into people you have met before...we are becoming like one big happy family...well sort of. it is loads of fun! Oh and the page frame gals...have added etched pieces to their evergrowing clear plastic mini book line....i stuill one year need to email them to get some samples to play with...it is just kind of weird for me to ask kwim!?..i just love their products~ the clear albums have been such a hit!

oh with my papers..it is kind of interesting how it seems the people that like my papers the most are the foreigners...the Swedish and Australians in particular...it's so cool! My papers have gone global..lol! Now what would be the most fun is to see pictures of what people are doing with them!!! If you have a project leave a message here for me with your email addy adn i would love to post it on my blog....

Speaking of which, i love to reply to comments...but there is one problem, most of them don't have an email attached to it so I can't send a reply....please don't feel bad if i can't acknowledge your comment..if you would like to hear back from me please leave an email....I read each and every email and really appreciate all the lovely comments and compliments! you can always email me directly too if you don't feelcomfortable leaving your email here. Mine is geminiangelart13@yahoo.com~

okay enough for now..and i know i am forgetting something...but i will post more if i remember!

Your Color

Which Colour Represents You??? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as White White represents purity, calmness and innocense, and you fit all this. You are angelic to the core and would never dream of hurting anyone on purpose. The events of this world tend to shock you and you cannot wait to escape to a better place. You believe in the good of people. Your kind and loving nature makes you very hard to resist. White 89% Green 89% Yellow 67% Orange 67% Purple 61% Pink 61% Blue 50% Red 44% Black 33%

CHA part deux: my gorgeous roomies...and opening day

I have to share our beautiful surroundings with every one.....here is what we got to see at night outside of our hotel...i wish that i could have taken pics of the palm tree forest outside of the convention center....this is for all of my fellow northern gals that are shivering in the single digit temps lately! the atrium of our hotel...we stayed at the Embassy suites...breakfast buffet in the morning...with everything you could ask for including made to order omelets and also free happy hour every evening....the lion on top of the rock would roar every hour or so...koi in the streams and the soothing sound of water fall

opening morning....here i am all made up...ready to go...lol
my absolute precious roomies Alicia and Lara. Alicia is on our DT and Lara is one of our very talented designers

The Dream Street Booth, Dana and Tracy's lines on this wall

The other side....Natalie, Audrey and my paper linesClose up of my wall..Alicia did the gorbgeous samples for mine. Her designs are amazing!! She seems to always be able to portray what the designer had in mind for her line...i was stunned!
Lara's papers on the left and Kelly's on the right
Alexis' papers Alexis and Amy's on the right...Amy's are the ones that are the easiest for me to work with..they have music notes on them and some really cool other elements and flowers

Dana and then Tracy's two lines

We actually were able to get a picture of all of us designers that were at the show all together...unfortunately Tara (the owner) had stepped out to phone in orders...and all of my photos of her are either from behind or blurry....darn!

left to right

Audrey,Dana, Tracy, me, Amy(she is feeling my butt see!...rofl...j/k), Lara and Alexis

and my traditional CHA visit to see Tim Holtz' do one of his demos....i figured after 3 previous times a photo might be fun! He is great and ever so talented....
now after i recuperate..more news of fun things that happened to me...not many photos but lots of cool stuff!

to be continued.....maybe tomorrow

I have been very sick today with temp over 100 and horrible cough that is painful since my chest hurts and throat hurts....if i don't feel better tomorrow i am going in to see if i need meds..

set up day CHA 2008 Dream Street Papers Part One

a little peek of what goes on behind the scenes at a trade show...we started at 8am and couldn't believe we were done with most of the set up by 3pm saturday. here you see all of the crates the booth is shipped in...and the panels in place
garbage everywhere!!! it was crazy and messy. The workers would run it all over on their forklifts and stuff and just push it around. They had a full crew of cleaner uppers with giant carts and brooms cleaning up the debris
Amy attaching the sign with our newly developed high- tech technique...packing tape...lol once we left the show floor we went and grabbed a bite to eat at the restaurant across the street from our hotel..delish mexican food...then walked over for a 2 hour tour....yup sing it to Gilligans Isle...a two hour tour.....Target can get like that..the huge ocean of goodies. We picked up last minute supplies for the booth and personal items and whatever else fell into the cart..then we went back to our rooms....actually we mostly congregated in one room and made more samples for the booth..to bed early....haha! around 11:30..which translates into 2;30am for me being an eastern time girl

Alexis creating her most amazing mini book.....it was a crowd stopper. Her work is just so amazing to me to be continued..........

SECRETS TO REALLY LIVING

i saw this on the bulletin board on myspace...i had to repost this here...so wise and so uplifting..I needed this today...

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.
2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.Buy a lock if you have to.
3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4.) When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to________ today.'
5.) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.
7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.
8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of Six.
9.) Dream more while you are awake.
10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.
11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class ......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.
25.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27.) Forgive everyone for everything.
28.) What other people think of you is none of your business.
29.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!
30.) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31.) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.
32.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
33.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. God provides, remember?!
34.) The best is yet to come. (in Heaven)
35.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36.) Do the right thing!
37.) Call your family often.
38.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for __________.' Today I accomplished _________.
39.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A GIFT ... UNWRAP IT! Have a Blessed day. Please share with friends!