THE QUEEN OF QUIRK

holiday cheer!

Ok, it has seriously been way too long since I've blogged. Sorry about that! But I've been a busy busy bee lately. Hunched over my sewing machine, cranking out gifts for my chubby little princesses and ordering things from all corners of the world for Christmas gifts for loved ones. Making quite a few dents in Etsy.com....I simply adore that place! CRAZY busy. Decorating the house, baking cookies, finding new music, battling a seemingly endless cold, making Christmas cards for the kiddos at school and for teachers....waiting impatiently for my snowflake cookie cutter to arrive in the mail...really wanting that box to arrive! LOL! :)

The kiddos will be in a school play on Tuesday, so we're gearing up for that...I've heard the darn songs so much, I'm sure I'll be sing sing singin' along during the performance. My only consolation is that all the other mums and dads will be doing it, too. :) Lara is going to be a sheep and Mia is going to be a cat. Can't wait! Speaking of singing, Norah is slowly starting to get the words to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". It comes out roughly as "tinko tinko....... how why......up up UP!" :) Then, of course, lots of clapping and shouting and exclamations of "YAY!!" Here she is singing it for me...

Besides that, been busy on backstage digi....many, many things going on. First of all, the December Songbird Avenue kit is up and it is PHENOMENAL!! We had the honor of working with Michelle Coleman and the kit is just scrumptious! And we're already hard at work on January's kit...time sure is flying! :)

You can pick it up HERE. Remember, the kits are only available for one month! :) Come and help us support the Make a Wish foundation of Utah and maybe pick up a gift certificate for a buddy while you're there! :) Don't forget to keep up with all the events over at the Songbird blog. Michelle always has something fun for you! :) When you stop by the blog, you can see the receipt that Meredith posted from the Toys for Tots website. We managed to raise $1,814.05 last month! You guys are amazing! Thank you SO MUCH for your donations!!

Also, we were mentioned in Ali Edwards' latest newsletter....kinda mind-boggling and gloriously exciting at the same time. It's SO COOL to think that we inspired her the way she inspires us. When I think of "do-gooders" Ali is pretty darn high on the list...so to have her give us a shout-out is such an honor! Thank you, Ali!

A fab new collaboration kit is up at Oscraps! Check out Jolly-O! It's loads of fun!

I'm also working on some holiday stuff...hopefully I will have it ready in a couple of days. I know there are tons of yummy kits out there, but I think I'll throw my hat in the ring as well! That reminds me...I've have simply GOT to get started on my Christmas cards...I don't even have a photo yet! :( Last year's beautiful photo was pure luck...not so sure about what's going to happen this year. It's a nightmare trying to get all 3 girls to smile at the same time and have their eyes open and all be looking at me. I'd probably have better luck if I told them all to pick their noses.....hmmmm....methinks I have the new holiday card theme! ;)

Ciao, all and take care! See ya soon! :)

busier than a one-armed paper hanger

Ok, so I take back my previous comment on how I want to have the internet injected directly into my brain. Remember that? Yesterday, when I said that? That was a bad idea. I'm already sick of the internet and PS...grrrr...Photoshop.

I have made considerable progress, though! I know everyone gets all super-jazzed every month when we debut the new Songbird Avenue kit...but it is non-stop behind the scenes work for us, our CT and our guest designers. Our CT is always out there helping us get more exposure and our guest designers are always knocking our socks off with amazing designs! November's kit is already finished and I have to tell ya...it's gonna be hard keeping this one a secret. We've got a bit of a twist for November and, since I just finished the preview, I know you are gonna LOVE it. But, before we start yappin' about November, we need to get through October! Make sure you grab our kit with Nancie Rowe-Janitz. We're benefiting the St. Jude children's Research Hospital.

Man, time is flying, isn't it? Can you believe Halloween is just a week and a half away?!?!?! I've got my girls' costumes almost done..but time is definitely slipping away from me! We haven't carved pumpkins, bought candy, or even figured out what we're going to do! LOL Definitely need to get the ball rolling!

And speaking of fabulously spooky fun, I've got a treat for you all. It's an oldie, but I gave it a little jolt and a ghoulish makeover. You could even say I brought it back from the dead. ;)

I hope everyone likes it! :) Even if you bought it from me way back when, you can still download this one and get the extra goodies!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

I'm working on some fun little additions...hopefully I can have them done in time. I've gotta dash. Ciao, all! :)

howdily hoo, neighbor!

K, we are barely settled in. Just popping in to say Howdy and I hope everyone is doing well. We still don't have internet at our house, so I'm sitting at an internet cafe with Lara (she's happily playing Diego) and I'm trying to tackle the mountain of emails and online "errands". They sure seem to pile up. And, of course, I forgot to bring my camera. So, sorry! No photos to post! :(

Most of the house is unpacked.. the dreaded office is still a massive pile of horribly full boxes. That will probably be the last thing we unpack. The girls are having a blast playing in their 2 (yes, TWO!) backyards! Lara and Mia love school and Norah is having fun having a huge house and garden to roam around in. I finally have my own little space in the conservatory and the light is just amazing. I have my easel set up and I am so excited to get drawing again!

I also hope everyone has had a chance to check out Songbird avenue's October kit with Nancie Rowe-Janitz. It is so soft and sweet!

You can check it out HERE. :) I have to dash. Lots of things to do. Again, I hope everyone is doing well! Ciao, all! :)

aw, shucks

Wow, you guys are way too sweet! Thank you so much for all the amazingly nice comments. :) You made my day! I hope everyone is enjoying the paper...and please let me know if you scrap with them! I'd love to see your layouts!

Here are a few new pages I did...I should have posted them MUCH sooner, but I completely forgot! I'm so scatterbrained! The first 3 were for my wonderful guest artist spot for Shabby Miss Jenn in August. She is so awesome and I really love working with her designs! Check out Back 2 School and French Attic!

1ST GRADE CREDITS

JUST US CREDITS

KISSIE CREDITS

This one is for Meredith Fenwick's CT. She took a break in August, so the whole team has been itchin' to have some new stuff! LOL! We were totally blown out of the water by her "Happily Ever After" kit. It is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. You can get it HERE.

ANY CUTER? CREDITS

I'm busy busy making papers and getting things done for Songbird Avenue. We've got so many plans in the works...it's a bit overwhelming, but it will be AWESOME when it's done! I just have to find time to do it all! We're still packing up...almost the whole house is in boxes. It makes it easier for us, though. The girls have a couple of boxes of toys they can get to, but other than that...we're just too tired to pick up after them! :0) The essentials are out, though...Playmobil, Polly Pocket, and Barbie movies. So we don't hear too many complaints. :0) We're hoping to have the whole house ready to go so as soon as we get the green light, we can be out of here in less than 2 days.

And I cannot begin to describe how excited I am about England. I LOVED London...amazingly fun and friendly city. So, to get to live there is beyond anything I can imagine. The shopkeepers on Portobello Road will know me by name in a month. I'll see to that. ;0)

i almost forgot! :)

Can you believe it!??! I almost forgot to post about Songbird Avenue's September kit!! What I dufus I am sometimes! We got to work with Carrie Stephens and the kit, Faded Sapphire, is absolutely gorgeous! Our creative team has made some INCREDIBLE layouts with it! First, here's the kit preview:

Isn't it gorgeous?!?!? I am so pleased with it. So yummy and beautiful and packed full of goodness! And here are a couple of amazing layouts from our creative team. Gosh, they blow me out of the water every month!

I don't want to spoil all the fun...there's lots more to be seen at our site, in the inspiration gallery! Check it out if you get a chance. :) Also, we are having our monthly "Blog it!" challenge over on the Songbird blog and we are handing out 3 Shabby Shoppe gift certificates to 3 random winners! Instructions are posted on the blog, if you're interested. It's super easy!

I'm still hard at work on designing! I haven't forgotten anything (ya know..like uploading stuff for you to download! LOL) But I think there may have been a bit f confusion...yes, I'm designing, but I'm not selling again. I'm still as cheap they come (free!) but I want to make sure every thing's perfect before I release them. Promise it will be soon! :) I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday! Ours is sunny and there's a crispness to the air...fall is definitely on its way! :) Time to get the sweaters to the cleaners! WARM FUZZIES! :)

no matter how busy a bee is

he can only make so much honey. :)

Crazy busy around here...getting lots of things done and that feels good. Keeps my mind off all the cruddy stuff, kwim? Here are a couple of layouts: :0)

CREDITS

CREDITS

CREDITS

The deadline for Songbird Avenue's September kit is rapidly approaching and this time of the month is always a bit chaotic, but in a good way! :) I hope everyone is doing well. Happy Monday! Ciao :0)

my happy place

I know that there is a much bigger group of good people than bad, but it makes me so happy to have a cheerful little corner of the digiscrap industry. Rarely am I ever caught up in conflict, but I have seen so many downright mean and despicable things that it makes my heart ache for anyone who has ever been hurt or used or abused because of our hobby. It really is sad. Today, however, I was uplifted by Corina Nielsen's blog...she posted a little "be kind" freebie and I think it's just the sweetest thing ever. (kinda wish I'd thought of it hee hee :) Here's a layout I made with it today...Lara has been asking me every day to take pictures, and I thought this one was amazing that she took....she's really getting good! LOL :)

CREDITS Thanks, Corina! :)

So, in an effort to be kind, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for all of you who have ever supported Songbird Avenue in any way. Meredith and I are extremely lucky that you all trust us to put your money to good use and we are always so grateful for the praise, kudos, support, and commitment you have towards the project. We have raised over $6000 because of your kindness! Not a bit of what we've accomplished could have happened without your generous and continued donations. Thank you so much. And just to further extend my thanks, I will give away a $25 gift certificate to the Shabby Shoppe to a random commenter on this post. Just leave a comment on this post telling me on ekind thing you have done today and I will pick one lucky winner tomorrow morning. :)

Ciao, all! And do something kind for someone today. :)

scraphappy fool

While working away on Songbird Avenue's September kit, I've been taking MANY breaks to scrap. Since my EHD is away being worked on, I only have the photos we have taken since June...so now I am close to what most scrappers can only dream of..

I AM CAUGHT UP.

Too bad it's only by default that I have accomplished this....thousand of photos had to be taken out of the equation in order for this to happen...but it's kinda weird. Now I want to scrap and I have very few photos to choose from. Guess it's time to break out the cam, huh? :0)

I don't know what's going on, but I haven't been able to get into DigiShopTalk for almost 2 days. Here are some new layouts if ya wanna take a gander. :0)

CHS: this is my fave photo from my HS reunion. :) CREDITS

CP: I loved this shot of the girls in Caesar's Palace...love that they weren't shy at all. They had such a blast with these guys! CREDITS

DUBLIN: Loved this shot of my first pint in Dublin. :) CREDITS

ST. STEPHEN'S GREEN: My favorite photos from the park near our hotel. We walked through it everyday while we were in Dublin. CREDITS

The last 3 layouts all use goodies from one of my closest girlfriends, Liz Lee. If you haven't checked out her designs, you're missing out on the ultimate in scrap sophistication. Love you, Liz!

GRATEFUL: I can't take any credit for this layout...the fab Leah Riordan has an amazing freebie that will be available at Oscraps tomorrow. This layout is also included and it rocks! Don't forget to go and grab it tomorrow! CREDITS

That's about it for me today. Just been busy scrapping and designing. Too bad I can't show you what we're working on for September over on the Ave, huh? hee hee hee hee hee :P

summer's almost over!!

Can you believe how quickly time is passing us by!?!? It seems even more strange because here, in Germany, we simply haven't ahd summer yet. We had a couple of weeks of warm weather, but right now it is 49 degrees! It's August, man! LOL

Fortunately, there is a bit of sunshine to brighten up our days. Have you seen Songbird Avenue's August kit? It's a beauty! :)

We had the opportunity to work with the amazing Robin Carlton! She is such a wonderful store owner and designer! Thank you, Robin! :)

So head on over to the Ave. and check it out! We have lots of fun plans for the Songbird blog and we are looking forward to a very exciting month. Time to get back into the swing of things! School's almost here!

few and far between

Ugh. My posts on this thing are borderline pathetic! You would think I could keep a better handle on this blog! LOL! Wouldn't you!??!

There are some updates that seriously need to be shouted out today! First and foremost, have you checked out Songbird Avenue's July kit? If not, you are truly missing out! We collabed with Gina Miller and the kit is everything you'd expect from a project like that~ colorful and FUN!

And the creative team layouts that were done with this one just plain rock! You can pick up the July kit HERE and help support the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation. For some fabulous inspiration, go HERE. :0)

As for me, I am taking a long weekend to Athens. A friend of mine is getting married and she's having her engagement party in Athens. Talk about a wild time! My dear, sweet hubbie is watching the kiddos for me so I can go and celebrate! We had a blast at my HS reunion and I am so looking forward to being there!

So that's about it for me right now. My EHD crashed so I'm slowly trying to recreate my design tools and I'm trying to rebuild my scrap stash. My chubby little baby dropped the HD on the floor and knocked a board loose. Nice, huh? So although I will have that sent off to a clean room to have it repaired, I have to start recreating my stuff just in case my info isn't recoverable. 7 years of photos, 3 years of digital layouts, all my design tools, and hundreds of dollars in product. Talk about a kick in the face. So, here's my advice to you:

BACK UP YOUR HARD DRIVE. NOT TOMORROW. DO IT TODAY. AND MAKE SURE YOU BACK IT UP TO DVD OR CD. BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN A CHUBBY LITTLE PRINCESS WILL WALK OVER TO YOUR CONTROL STATION AND THROW YOUR VITAL ORGANS ON THE FLOOR.

Please go run and do it right now.

If you don't I will most certainly dance around and do a "nanny nanny boo boo" when you say all your stuff is lost. And then I will say "I toldya so."