I'm Back

It's been 3 months since I've posted.  I just wanted everyone to know I'm alive and kickin'!  I haven't been very creative lately but I'm hoping that will change very soon.  Stay tune....

                              Have a Very Merry White Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope all of you have a blessed holiday!

Getting ready...

Yesterday and today have been days of cleaning the art studio and cleaning off the pool table (I've taken over the pool table with my "stuff") and the floor outside my studio...AND the rest of the basement!  I really don't know how this happens.  I hope there is never a show called Papercrafter Hoarder because my family might call in for an intervention! 

After the work is done I have a couple of projects to finish and prepare kits for card class on Wednesday.  I've got to say I'm loving my card classes.  So many nice ladies!  I have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the classes.  Thanks to everybody who is signing up! 

Well back to work before my family holds an intervention!

Remeber to check the Inkspots website for a picture of the Christmas Banner class, Dec.1st at 1:00 and 6:00 pm.

Another Card Class!

I just scheduled another card class.  "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown"
The Peanut Characters are back.  I'm loving these Peanut stamps.  Check out  the Inkspot's website for pictures.

The date is Wedndesday, Nov.10th at 1:00 pm and again at 6:00 pm.

I f you take all of the Christmas cards classes offered at The Inkspot, you'll have all your cards done and mailed out on time!

I finally have the dates of my card classes at The Inkspot in Kirkwood.

Class 1:  Hero Arts All Occasion Cards (You will learn to make your own backgrounds and learn how to use your color pencils effectively.)

1:00 on Monday, October 18th
              and also
6:00 pm on Monday, November 1st

Class 2:  Good Grief, Charlie Brown All Occasion Cards.  ( These cards are stinkin' cute!)

1:00 on Monday, October 25th
              and also
6:00 pm Monday, October 25th

I hope you can come!  There just might be a little surprise waiting for you!

Thank Goodness!

My mojo is back!  I cleaned my studio and then laid out the stamps I needed to use.  I turned the IPod on and played my downloads from Glee, The Eagles, and The Beatles.  The ideas have started flowing again.  Check out The Inkspot of Kirkwood and look for my new class.  They are All Occasion Cards.  They are very versatile.  I am teaching one class on two different days, one at 1:00 pm and one at 6:00 in the evening.  I'll put the dates up later.  Have a great weekend!

Do you Remember?

Do you remember where you were when the towers were attacked? I'll never forget.  I was getting ready for the first day of preschool.  I remember seeing it live on TV and the first thing I did was call my mom and dad.  I then called Mike to inform him.  He works close to the Federal Reserve and the Arch so I wanted to make sure he was being careful.  I remember the faces of the mothers dropping their children off at school worried that their children would be okay and reassuring them that they would be fine.  I remember picking my children up from school and hugging them like there was no tomorrow.  We put our flag out, the one we only put out on holidays.  It has never come back in the house.  I remember going to church with my family.  I cried and prayed.  To this day I can't watch the TV when they show the towers colapsing.  Today I'm remembering and praying for those lives lost, their families, and those  firefighters who worked endlessly.  I am also praying for those in the Armed Forces and their families who have sacrificed so much. 

Just Wondering????

Do any of you just get a creative block?  I'm really struggling to actually make something, anything.  I have the ideas in my head but can't seem to start on them.  Should I just stand in my studio until a start?  I need to get my mojo back!!! Any ideas?  I'm just throwing this out to the vast universe of the internet.

Today is my baby boy's birthday.  He is now 23!  Hard to believe.  Happy Birthday Gregory!  He's such a great person.  We went to dinner to celebrate the big day.

Friday's was my baby girl's birthday!  I can't believe she turned 25!!  She has become a beautiful and sweet woman.  I'm so proud of her.  She is a great teacher and working hard on her Masters degree in Elementary Guidance Counseling. Last night we went to the Cardinal game to celebrate.

Today I'm learning about the Cinch Binder.  I've been watching several You-Tube tutorials and... I think I might have the hang of it now.  I tried using it a couple weeks ago and couldn't figure it out.  Made a mess out of the paper.  The tutorial really helped.  I was missing some key tools on the machine!  I can't wait to try it again on a card book.  I'm binding together all of Greg's graduation cards.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can do it this time!  This week might be a good time to work on projects since it will be too hot to be outside.  I can't believe another hot week.  I love summer but not everyday in the high 90's and humid.  Maybe we could have a couple of weeks in the 80's?

Just a quick note to say I'm still here.  I have finally gotten the basement cleaned just in time for the big July 4th weekend.  I am now preparing for Greg's graduation party.  It has been a busy summer.  I'm looking forward to sharing pics of the July 4th festivities and the grad party. Greg has finally heard from
UM-St. Louis.  He is going to work on a Masters in Accountancy and play baseball.  I'm very happy for him and thrilled that I will be able to go to home games!  It's hard to believe but Steph has her first day with students tomorrow!  Of course she'll get 3 weeks off in late September, early October.

The big news in my house is that I cleaned my art studio!!!!  I can walk into it now and have several open places to work.  What is it about a clean area that helps the creative juices flow?  After this weekend I can start plannig for classes at the Inkspot.

Have an artsy day!

Freedom Isn't Free!

I know we have all heard this saying, but it really hit home to me this year at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France.  I thought today would be a good day to post these pictures.

Omaha Beach                                                                                                                                                            Half of the wall that has the names of soldiers whose bodies were never found.

The beach and the English Channel in the background.

Many of the grave sites were unkown soldiers.

Let's keep our service men and women in our thoughts today. 

Happy 4th of July!

Enjoy your families!

It's Official!

It's official!  I'm going to teach classes at The Inkspot in Kirkwood.  I'm very excited.  Julie and I met today to finalize everything.  I will probably start teaching in August or September.  I love stamping so this is a great opportunity to work with all the stamp companies I love. 

Life Has Been Crazy Busy!

School's been out and I'm still trying to catch up on projects at home.  I'm almost done!  I have to finish up the basement by putting away school stuff.  Little by little I've put away stamping and scrapbook supplies and stuff ( I mean treasures) I've bought over the last 4 months.  That's right 4 months!  My goal this summer is to put the "treasures" away and then start making things.  It's about time to get back in the swing of things and move forward creatively.  I've taken a few of Sue and Missy's classes at FKS and that has seemed to get me motivated again!

My baby graduated from college!  Greg graduated Summa Cum Laude with a major in accounting and minor in finance.  He's planning to get a Masters in Accounting but he will be living at home during this time.  It's been really nice for Mike and I to have both adult children living at home for a little while.  We know this time is coming to an end soon, so we're enjoying our time with them.

I'm sorry it has been awhile since I've blogged...    I'll continue my trip to France next time.  I hope you're not tired of looking at the pics!  

Cruising....

One of the many locks we went through on our way to Rouen.

Next.... The American Cemetery in Normandy.

The Louvre continued....            Part of  Napoleon's Coronation and of course Mona Lisa.

It is very  difficult to get a good picture of the Mona Lisa.  She is encased in a climate control wall and behind bullet proof glass.  

John the Baptist by Leonardo Di Vinci.  What is so amazing is that when you visit the St. Louis Art Museum, you see one of this artist and one of another artist.  At the Louvre you saw masterpiece after masterpeice. We were told if you looked at every piece of art at the Louvre 24/7 and spent one minute at each piece, it would take you 29 days!

I think the Louvre is a place I would visit each time I went to Paris. I took more pictures at the Louvre but I don't want to bore you!

Next time cruising down the Seine.

The Louvre:

The Inverted Pyramid.  This leads to a parking garage, an underground shopping mall and some places to dine.

Aphrodite of Melos, known as the Venus De Milo.

The Winged Victory of Samothrace. c. 190 B.C.

This monument commemorated a Rhodian naval victory.  Victory was originally stood on a base in the shape of a ship's prow in a sanctuary at the top of a cliff.

Notice the shape of the wings.  Victory in Greek was Nike.  This statue was the inspiration of Nike's trademark.  Isn't that cool? 

More of the Louvre later. 

I have work to do before the weekend begins.

Have a great weekend and try not to get wet.  This might be a good weekend to work on paper projects!

                                                                     

We spent one night on the boat, in Paris, before cruising down the Seine River.

The view from the deck of the boat.

The Eiffel Tower in front of the boat and the Statue of Liberty behind us.  The Eiffel Tower was lit up and every hour on the hour for 10 minutes there was a light show.  It was awesome!  The Statue of Liberty is very small compared to the one in New York.

Our last day in Paris before we set sail, Suzette and I went shopping at Chanel and made our purchases.  On the same street was the US Embassy, which we were not allowed to photograph.  Also the Presidential Palace where the French President and Family lives.  We could stand right across the street with the journalists and take pictures.

The afternoon was spent touring the Louvre.
Pictures of the masterpieces next time.

More from France...

Did the exciting stuff today like buying a new matress and going to Dierbergs (for those from outside St. Louis, grocery store)!  Came home and worked on stuff for Preschool.  It always feels good to get done what you need to have done!

More pics from my trip:

Waiting for the Metro. 

Musee de Orsay

Napolean's Tomb

Notice the size compared to people in background.



The outside to Napolean's Tomb.