Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wonderful Hosts!

I drove up to Sacramento last weekend to teach a class in Grass Valley. One of my favorite parts of the state, Grass Valley marks the beginning of the gold counrty. It is situated among pine trees, just northeast of Lake Tahoe. My friend Sylvia, who I met in a class in Davis, back in April, invited me to stay at her home near Sacramento. She told me she had a comfy guest room. She didn't disappoint! Upon arriving at her home, this wonderful red door greeted me. Love the house numbers painted on the door. Now, I am just about to paint my front door a poppy red-orange so I had to snap this picture with the address. I think I might just copy this idea.

Her house was beautiful...a magazine house! Look at this guest room. Can't even imagine being in a hotel room after this. I made some good contacts and will probably be back up to teach, so look out Sylvia...this may be my permanent guest room! Love the colors, so cheery and bright. Love the touch of black in the headboard to tone down the yellow just a notch.





A bedside button bouquet

A mirror fit for a queen

Sylvia and her husband were the best hosts. She had a great studio to get inspired in, got to play with products I've never used and came away with good storage ideas. Her huge dogs Lulu and Baxter kept me laughing and her hubby was a crack up. Had a great time and hope to get back soon.


                         And yes, I had 3 blissful nights. Thank you Sylvia, Rob, Baxter and Lulu.

Monday, June 20, 2011

And the winner is....!!


A BIG thank you to all that posted and followed! I appreciate all the comments about my book. Those of you that bought it, I can't thank you enough and for those of you that want it, I thank you too! I really enjoyed writing it. It was so much fun finding that girly zone and writing not only how to do something but also about my inspirations, in hopes that I inspire someone else out there.

Well here is the list of winners! Please email me your address. artsyfartsy25@hotmail.com or message me on fb. I will get these out as soon as possible.

3rd place....Katie Holmes (not the acress sillies) She gets my clipboard thats in the book

2nd place....Allie Chandler. Allie, you can go to http://www.trashallamode.etsy.com/ if you see a print you'd rather have, let me know. I want you to have something that you want, not that I choose.

1st place....Tina from Mommyscrapsalot (sorry didn't get your last name.) You will get my book and a little suprise from the book.
THANK YOU ALL!!!!!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Blogaversary Giveaway!

Well this is it! My blogaversary! Yep, I started it a year ago, kicking and screaming. Who would read this and why would anyone want to read what I have to say! You all know what I'm talking about! This was single handedly the most difficult part of my creative journey...putting myself out there. But I was told I had to. I was told by the Senior editor, Christine, from North Light Books that I simply had to. I supposed she knew what she was talking about, after all she was working for one of the top publishers of arts and crafts books. So I listened. Then I started. I tread lightly at first. How would I ever have enough to say? I'm shy, I don't even talk that much! But I forged ahead with it. It was kinda fun. I kinda liked it. I had stuff to say! I had stuff to share! I remember my 4th follower! I remember my 16th. Hey, people might just read this! I remember a post where I whined big time and a reader made a comment and really felt sorry for me! We exchanged phone numbers and met at her house. Some of you might remember my first meeting with a blogger stranger in Laguna Beach. Paulette and I became great friends.
Looking back, I can't believe the tangled web of people that stemed from this meeting. There was Beth, editor from Stampington that was led to Paulette's beautiful treasures at the beach. There was Jenelle who started at the little cottage in Laguna and has ended up in the vintage fou fou crowd. There was Juliette, who visited from Wisconson and ends up being one of Lisa's favorite artists now.
The web of people in blogland get tangled in all directions. There was Crystal, I worked with her sister and she was led to Beth, published in a Stampington magazine, then ended up with the vintage fou fou crowd. Christine was my 3rd follower who was in my class at Urban Barn, whom I saw last weekend at The Vintage Marketplace, who went to the Lavender farm with the vintage fou fou girls. I didn't even know she was part of the vintage fou fou crowd! Oh the places you go in blogland.
There was Elena, who invited me to Key Largo to teach at her retreat. Now I see Eileen, who was at the retreat and is from NYC, is on so many blogs that I follow. Or I'll meet someone at a show and they give me their card and when I look them up, guess whos on their bolg? Yep, Eileen! I suppose it's all those fancy Tim Holtz cruises she goes on!
It's been fun looking back at the followers and comments, then connecting the dots. If it weren't for blogland I would've missed out on so many things this past year. Great times, Great friends.
So Happy Blogaversary to me! And to celebrate, I am doing a giveaway. My first! Just leave a comment and I will put your name into a hat. If you have my blog connected to your blog, I will put it in twice! And what will the winner get?



1st prize- My book Collage Couture. What? You already have it? Don't worry, give it away as a gift and there will be another little something with it!


2nd prize- My best selling print Trash, featured in Somerset Studios July 2010

3rd prize- Japanese Garden, the origami clipboard featured in the book






Monday, June 6, 2011

My First Book Signing!

I was exhausted after 2 days of selling at The Vintage Market Place in RAinBow, CA. This was a show that was bursting with luscious yumminess everywhere you looked. It takes a lot out of you to look at all this for 2 days! You can see pictures here but if you did not attend, I warn you, you will be jealous that you could not be there!



Upon arriving home, I had to unpack and repack for my first book signing at Stamp Your Heart Out in Claremont, CA. on Sunday. Now, I knew the store had been planning to give out a bookmark with the purchase of my book, Collage Couture, but I had no idea they would be something like this. I don't know why these were such a shock to me because every sample in that shop is truly amazing, but these bookmarks actually brought tears to my eyes! Little paper dolls, that if you look closely, the paper for their skin says Collage Couture on it. The handbag actually opens with the date of the event on the inside. What a surprise this was and my first reaction was that I would by the book just to get the bookmark!



I had a great time seeing lots of old friends and meeting new ones. What a wonderful feeling to see these books going home with so many creative souls! Thank you to all who came and a big thank you to Joan and her girls who work so hard at creating such a wonderful little shop of inspiration. And a huge thank you to Marilyn for making these darling bookmarks, something I will treasure always!