Notes from A Cottage Industry

Last day for April showers...

...and I found these just in the nick of time. (I told you, Ms. Crafty got me hooked on looking for these to decorate for April...)
    Aah, the thrift store, on half off day, no less.A whole whopping dollar twenty five. Yippee skippy! These little darlin's are just too adorable, don'tcha think? Perfect little puddle jumpin' centpiece for my table, even if it is the last day in April.

Coming to an inbox near you....

    Instant gratification, that's what it is. No waiting at the mailbox days or weeks for a little box to arrive. For those of you that have been asking about my various crafty templates, I have created a kit full of patterns and templates that can be printed on any color paper, and used as many times as you like. The new kit is now available and it will arrive in your email inbox, so no waiting by the mailbox!

Make it special! Flags, menu and placecards, vol.1

Included in this kit are instructions and templates three different themed projects, complete with 10 pattern pages and 2 instruction sheets:
Celebration Flags, Foofy-la-rue brocade chandelier place cards/ gift tags and menu/invitation cards, and Nest of Happy thoughts place cards/ gift tags and menu/invitation cards

If you'd like to purchase a "Make it special! Flags, menu and place cards" to arrive in your in box, simply click here for all of the details, and then order the kit with the button at the bottom of the details page. You'll receive your kit in your email in-box within 24 hours. Cost: $20 (Which is just $2 per template sheet)

reTreat joins the Tumbleweed Cotillion Vintage French Market

     Oh, people, people, people. Cancel any vacation plans you had for June 27th and 28th. You just don't want to miss this. Really.
    All the way from the pacific northwest, Seattle's own reTreat has been added to the vendor list at the June Cotillion. They'll become"Rue de Retreat" for the two glorious days of the vintage French Market here in the biggest little city.

Deb and her dream of a husband, Bob, are the visionaries of reTreat. She's an incredibly amazing and talented designer, he's an equally amazing and talented contractor/builder, and they both love to thrift, scavenge, and rescue forgotten items. (Now, that's my idea of a dream man!) 
     I've known Deb for many years now, first online, at the iVillage message boards, then with the "Bliss Boards" from the original Victoria magazine. Then, later again, with the Women Take Wing community...becoming good friends without actually meeting in person...until last June at the life changing Willows Nest event (very near the spot where I first discovered the real Stars Hollow Camas, Washington!)The following October, we got to meet in person again at  the Victoria magazine launch event.

*sigh* They are incredible people.

Anyway.

Deb has been trying to see if they actually had the time and the inventory to make the Cotillion. You see, they are already doing the Farm Chicks show in Spokane in early June. Last night, they made the decision to just go for it, and do both shows.

To give you an idea of Deb's creative vision, here's a quote from one of her emails to me last night..."And wouldn't you just know it, as I go along, I am also finding a BUNCH of stuff that I could create an absolutely FABulous booth at the Tumbleweed Cotillion French Market. White, ivory, tan, rusty foofy and frenchy stuff. Filigreed frames and candelabra and wire urns and white scallop-edged dishes. I have furniture & mirrors & lamps that could go with it, too. I can picture it, all arranged, in my head - like a soft-focus tintype photo in sepia tones. Madeline Peyroux murmuring French songs in the background. Welcome to the 'Rue de Retreat Flea Market'......"

See what I mean? Mark your calenders, people.

*sigh* Such inspired people.

One flirty little apron

...made by the Sewing Queen, of course. Isn't it just about the cutest apron ever?!
     I love it! The toile, the stripes...the ruffles!(not to mention the bits of my favorite Robin's egg blue!)

Email me if you'd like to purchase, and I'll send you a PayPal invoice and get it shipped right out...$34 includes shipping and packaging.

SOLD! Thank you!

Words to llive by - week 65

Once you choose hope, anything is possible.
                                                                                Christopher Reeves

A fabulous workshop, but no pictures to prove it.

     I am so ticked at myself. I meant to take pictures all through the workshop this morning, but...too much talking, teaching, and cupcake eating, and I somehow  forgot to get pictures from about midway on.(I even forgot to take a shot of the completed paint can full of supplies and work books!!! Augh!

In the end,everyone left with a completed chalkboard in an antiqued frame, and a cute paint can full of everything they'll need to make more.

Yes, I'd say a very good time was had by one and all.

All set.

    It's Friday. Aah, one of my favorite parts of the week these days. I've been busy painting pieces for the Tumbleweed Cotillion, and I'll be sharing the paint finishes this Saturday at my workshop. I have them all arranged in a sort of mock booth set up.  I think I already have more than enough for my Cotillion booth space, and that makes me very happy. Now, I'll be able to spend time working on some papercrafts I've been wanting to add to my inventory.
Speaking of papercrafts....I will have some new "Make it Special" kits, along with something else I am working on, coming out within the next few weeks, so keep watching!

A little post with a big thank you.

      Better late than never when it comes to blogposts, right? (I hope so, anyway)

     Just a quick little late evening post.....for the many sweet souls that emailed, (or called and left messages)wondering where I was, with no post this moring.... thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I certainly didn't mean to alarm so many folks! I am fine. 
      Honestly, I simply didn't get time to post this morning, and I was sure I'd find time a bit later. Today, later never happened.
     You see, I thought I'd get time in the early morning, but after heading out the door at 6:30 for Toastmasters, our event manager at my grown up girl job had some last minute emergencies (today we had our largest event of the year) and needed help picking up some signs...the next thing I knew, it was 5:10 p.m. and I was finally heading home to finish the set ups for the workshop at my cottage this Saturday, which actually means I came home to change clothes and head out the door to run errands till after 9:00. Whew!
   I did find time to give myself a treat though...Last weekend I got a super deal (Are you ready for this? $29.)on a close out of this fabulous little stereo that would usually sell for nearly $100 (complete with ipod docking station, no less!) at the JC Penney Catalog outlet store here in Reno. Tonight, I took it out of the box and got myself all dialed in, people. Well, it's all dialed in, in the kitchen at least, for tonight. Tomorrow night I'll move it to the living room armoire.
     Since becoming suddenly single, I have been using my daughter's old stereo that we gave her in middle school. Not to sound ungrateful, but let's just say this bad boy has seen better days. After it plays for a while , it skips...er..sticks...you know, like I'll be listening to Jack Johnson and suddenly, it's like Jack has the hiccups or something. It drives me nuts, especially on Saturdays when I am home and want to listen to my housecleaning music way up loud. The old stereo is well over a decade old. What did I expect? It was time for it to go to stereo heaven, or Savers.

Anyway.

Thanks for all that bloggy concern and love. I'm gonna go take my bubble bath and listen to some good music (way up loud) and think about just how blessed I am to have so many people care about me.

*sigh* Really. You people are rock stars.

Full house of painting ladies....

     This Saturday is my "Make it Special" Furniture Painting Workshop, and I'm thrilled to tell you that it's all sold out. Yes, all my seats are full! This workshop is going to be so much fun.
     Last night I began assembling the goodie supply kits for the attendees. Oh! They are coming along nicely and I think everyone will like them.
     I'm using gallon paint cans that I bought and added bright colored paint drips to, along with coordinating color drenched paint brushes (which are part of each attendees place cards; they will have each person's name attached!)
     Drop cloths with brightly splattered paint will cover the work table and each attendee will have their very own take away little containers of primer, paint and antiquing glaze.
     I completed the take-away booklets last night, complete with a perfect quote from Edgar Degas. (Click the picture to see it enlarged so you can read it)

Tonight I'm prepping some of the items I'll be demonstrating techniques on while our paint dries between steps. Then, all that will be left to do is bake my treats for our little break and I think I'll be all set.

Ooh!I can't wait!

Happy Earthday, 2008: A completed vintage dresser re-do

      In honor of Earthday, I thought I'd share one of my most recently completed recycled pieces. Remember the old dresser before?

Well, it's all painted and antiqued now, ready for my booth at the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion's Vintage French Market. It's so sweet that I kind of am tempted to keep it, but I really have no place to put it in my cottage.
     Not only would it be darling in a bedroom, but I can picture it in a living room with a fat candelabra up top, or in a dining room with a silver tea service gracing it, or even at the end of a hallway, with vintage family photos tucked in the corners of the mirror. Oh! How about in a large bathroom, with some hand towels and a vase of flowers up on top? Done up plain or fancy, there are just so many spots it could go.

*Sigh* So much nicer than in a landfill, don'tcha think?

Pretty little post-it note holders

      Aren't these the prettiest little covers for Post-it notes? I'd say this falls into the category of "living a beautiful life", wouldn't you? Making the ordinary extraordinary. Little everyday details that make us smile. My sweet friend that was over for breakfast last weekend (the card designer) made these covers. Yeah, that's right. She made them. In "my" colors. She found the cute post-it's and then, made the cover to coordinate. (sooo classy) Notice the wording on the adorable label? (It reads, "Live your Bliss") Perfect for me, wouldn't you say?
*sigh* I just love 'em.

Words to live by - week 64

*sigh* I need to remember that.

WWJD?

    I don't mean to sound sacrilegious with my title,  I'm just wondering.
     There weren't many yard sales today that were in our "area" (three to be exact) so it didn't take long, but, oh baby, were they worth the trip. The first stop was right around the block from my cottage and I snagged a silver plate gravy boat and a picture of Jesus. Not just any picture of Jesus, mind you. It's the exact picture that I had hanging in my room when I was a little girl, except mine was a little bit smaller and was in a gold plastic frame. Uh huh.
    I think it was from one of those "Home Interiors" parties in the early sixties, or maybe it was a church fund raiser. At any rate my Mom apparently bought it. I remember that it hung on the left side of the bedroom window with the made-by-Mom pink with giant white polka dot curtains. The curtains matched my coverlet on my twin sized bed. As I recall, I really loved that whole ensemble. Girly, but hip at the same time, you know?

*sigh* It's funny how things like that can remind you of all kinds of trivial, but oh, so warm and fuzzy memories from way back when, isn't it?

Anyway.

     When I went to pay I told the woman having the sale my little story about how it brought back memories of my childhood and such and she said she actually felt "weird" putting a Jesus picture in the yard sale. She thought it might be considered offensive to re-sell Jesus like that. (The truth be told, I think I made her feel better about selling him by sharing my little story)
     What I didn't tell her, because I thought it, might in turn, offend her, was that I bought the Jesus picture for the fabulous frame. Really. It's going to be incredible when I get it all painted and antiqued. Then, I will add a chalkboard to the center of it and it will be all set for the Tumbleweed Cotillion.

*sigh* Now, if I can just figure out what to do with the picture of Jesus inside the frame. Somehow, it just feels kind of "weird" to give it away.

Press Kit pretties

      Aah, Friday. my favorite day of the week, currently. And, a busy week it has been. (sheesh, do I say that every week, or what?!)
      I spent last night  painting furniture and working on foofy details for the Tumbleweed Cotillion Press Kits. (oh! That's one of my favorite parts of all of this!)
    Since this faire is called the "Vintage French Market" I am going a bit more French with the marketing pieces.
     See the darling little Annie Oakley looking girl? I just love her, with her serious face, and her lasso, six shooter and big floppy French hat.

    Tonight I'll finish assembling the kits. (and just wait till next week, when you see the little chocolate fleur di lis I am putting on top of the cupcakes we'll be delivering along with the Press Kits!)

One grand bakery.

    I came upon this picture yesterday when I was googling bakery stuff  researching something terribly important to economic development at my grown up girl job. It's an old oil painting of a French bakery at the Champs Elysees back in the day.(sorry, I saved the name of it and now I can't find it...) My, oh my. Isn't it grand? Going to that bakery must have been quite an affair.
Look at how high the ceilings are. And the chandeliers. And all of the pastries on the counters. It's all so terribly chic.
I'm not sure why I am sharing this with you, except...I was so busy last night, and I'm rushing off to Toastmasters this morning. I thought I wouldn't even have time to post today ...and for some strange reason, I can't quit thinking about this painting...about that bakery, and the grandness of it all.

A is for adorable...(that's what these are to me)

    Do you buy cards right when it's an occasion for card giving, or do you keep a stash of great cards on hand? Me, I'm a card stasher. But only amazing cards. Special cards for special people, you know. And, me being ever so slightly Type A, I have them organized by occasion, in a little basket, with cute labeled cardboard dividers for each occasion. (What? Doesn't everyone do that?)
Anyway.
     Cupcakes are pretty much my favorite thing these days, (but, you know that) and not just those I bake. Last Saturday when I had my friend over for breakfast, she brought me the most adorable bunch of cupcake cards. You see, she's a card designer.(Oh, she's too modest to call herself that, but that is what she is) She's been making cards for years. Look at them closely. The embossing, the color coordination, the perfect rubber stamps she used. (Seriously, can you even believe the cute cupcake stamps there are out there these days?) These cards are so adorable, I almost drooled on them. Really. 
   I tell you, I hate to give them away. See what I mean?  A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E.

   

     OK, so as long as I am bragging on her handmade one-of-a-kind cupcake cards, let me also show you her puppers cards too. Mmm hmmm, adorable, I know. I have two friends with wiener dogs, but... I afraid I can't give this wiener dog card away, 'coz I like looking at it so much. (Actually, it almost makes me want a wiener dog. No. Two dogs are plenty for me. For now.)

     It might seem funny, but as many things as I make, cards are not one of them. (Oh, once in a great while I might do one with a photo of the person I am giving the card to, but outside of that, nope.) I like having this nice little basket full of perfectly adorable cards, right at my fingertips, anytime I need a special card for a special someone.

*sigh* And, just knowing that someone handmade some of them (especially for me!) to share with others, makes them even more adorable.

The grand-daddy of all cupcakes

      A few weeks back, Ms. Crafty told me about Target having the Wilton giant cupcake pans. We decided I needed one. (I did need one, right?)
     Once I got it, I needed to find the right occasion to break it in. Well, Sunday night was that occasion.One of my favorite people had a birthday yesterday.
     She's a third grade teacher, and I thought I'd surprise her and her little students with something special. (Can you think of anything more special to a class of third graders than a giant cupcake?)

     This pan is really odd, and I am very disappointed in Wilton and I will tell you why. (They are supposed to be the experts in cake pans you know...) See the pan down there, laying on it's side? Well, as any experienced cake baker will tell you, when baking two cakes at a time (like 2 round 8 inch cakes for example) they bake at the same rate...why? Because they have the exact same amount of batter in them. Not so with this set up. Look close. The cupcake top pan (on the right) is much more shallow than the cupcake bottom pan.

Hmmm. I was concerned as I poured in the batter. Yup, sure enough, the top of the cupcake was done and ready to be pulled out of the oven a good 5-7 minutes before the bottom part of the cupcake...but I couldn't do that, because the pans are connected. Consequently, the top part of the cupcake was slightly over cooked (this is the worst thing to me as a baker...it makes for a dry, dry cake, and yes, I am a perfectionist, I know.)
     Anyway, live and learn. Next time I will bake one cake (one side of the cupcake) at a time so I can cook them until they are just right...not under done, not over done...
It did come out awfully cute anyway. Oh, and my friend and the kids loved it (one little girl shrieked, "I don't know who you are, but I love you!" Is that just the cutest?)

Words to live by - week 63

    Those truly linked don't need correspondence. When they meet again after many years apart, their friendship is as true as ever.
                                                 Deng Ming-Dao

     I had one of the loveliest blessings unfold over the past few weeks. I lost touch with a very good friend several years back. The exact reason is not important. Misunderstandings and menopause, along with life changes, and suddenly, half a decade had passed without so much as a phone call or email to one another.
      Through a series of nothing short of divine interventions, our paths crossed not once, but twice in a matter of a couple of weeks, and we found our way back to one another. It left me feeling puzzled as to how we ever let this happen in the first place, and feeling abundantly blessed at being given the opportunity of a second chance to have my dear friend back in my life, as though no time had lapsed at all.

A very easy little craft project that I did for free.

     I showed you my hallway photo wall work in progress earlier. Now, here is the little project I was telling about in that post.
Here's the old framed country art. I've had it since the early 90's and it had already done it's time. I love the long rectangular frame. The picture inside, not so much. I'll take it all apart and recreate it into something I can love again....

    First of all, I am going to dismantle the frame and the matte...taking the double matte apart with the "proper tool" (they glue these together at the factory, you know...dental floss works well also.)

Next, I will paint the frame and both of the mattes with spray paint (The frame and the inner matte are both black, the outer matte, white) and put them back together...

Now, to add a computer generated verse to make it perfect for my family photo wall.(Don'tcha just love this quotation?)

See? Easy peasy. And, one of my personal favorite 4 letter words...F-R-E-E.

Hall of frame...in progress

    What's in your hallway? I've got the family photo gallery goin' on there. I went almost a year with nothing on the walls in the hall. It looked OK to me bare...but, when I hung these pictures a few months ago, wow. What an improvement.
It warmed things up. Added so much charm. I love it.
     With the weddings still "in progress" I kind of did things a bit backwards. I hung all my frames, and waited for the pictures to fill some of them. I did it this way so that I could arrange the frames in a fashion that worked visually as you look down the hallway. (I actually got this idea from my bestest friend since 5th grade- thanks Brigid!) I put the family photos I already had in many of them, but saved some for those fabulous wedding shots.

My frames come from all over the place. Some very old, some newer, most thrifted...or from TJ Maxx. Some are matted, some not. (It's amazing to me what a little matt can do for an ordinary snapshot.)
     Also, I had a couple of old 1990's long skinny framed "country art" type things that I hung as well, because I like the shape of the frames.      
     Tonight I'm doing a little make-over project to bring them up to 2008. (I'll share the project later! Wait till you see it. So easy, cute and free!)

Who's the best speaker of the week?

Me, thats who. (Somebody, pinch me!)

I am really not into shameless bragging..but...this morning I finally got to give my second speech at Toasties. Three speakers are lined up each week, all three evaluated, and then the entire club votes. One of the other speakers is a seasoned guy (been a Toastie for 30+ years!) and to put it in perspective....he was dressed in western attire, and I truly felt like I was up against Mark Twain. (and that's putting it mildly) I mean, this guy rocks. A real pro. So, once he spoke I was sure I'd be a let down for the crowd.

Not so. (Somebody! Pinch me again!)

I get to keep the trophy for the week. It's sitting proudly on my desk at my grown up girl job. They said my speech was the caliber they look for in competitions. Oh. My. Ga.

*sigh* I'm walking on clouds today, people.

I was Green before green was cool, people.

...and I know lots of you were too....Her, for example. And her. And her. Oh! and of course, her.

Green....Um, ya. You know, renew, reuse, recycle. Recycle. That's what we nutty and obsessed serious yard saling, junker types do. (I wonder if we junkers could be LEED certified?) We re-purpose discarded items, skillfully size up what may appear to the untrained eye to be trash, unearthing a real diamond in the rough.
Such was the case this past weekend. I spotted this fabulous antique dresser on craigslist last Friday and emailed the guy. We set up a time after the writer's conference on Saturday for me to go take a look.
Can you see the inner beauty? Look close. It has the original wooden wheels (like those last 2 chairs I bought!) It is so darned cute. So perfect. I got it for a great price, and after a little bit of repair work on the drawers I will work my painter's magic on it.
     I love it. It's gonna be another positively adorable piece for the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion....(if I don't keep it!)
     Once it's done I can enjoy the cuteness of it and be proud of myself at the same time. After all, I saved it from an everlasting life in the landfill.

Another "Make it Special" workshop!

It's time for the third in my series of workshops.
     This time I am trying something new...a "hands-on" workshop. That's right, attendees will be creating their very own take away project... we'll learn all the tips and tricks for priming, painting and antiquing furniture, accessories or cabinets. We'll practice it all on framed chalkboards to take home, and while we wait for our paint to dry between the steps, I'll be doing more demonstrations.
     The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 26th, from 9:00-noon at my cottage. Cost is $105. and includes all supplies to create your chalkboard.
     I'll be serving refreshments (cupcakes, anyone?) and have some of my latest finished works available for peeking at during our break...sound fun? If you're in the area and would like to attend, please sign up here. (space is limited!)

For those of you not in the area, I do plan to be doing a DVD shortly on this same workshop. I'll keep you posted!

Does this podcast make by butt look big?

   
    **note** It's another one of those blog days with 2 posts...

Have you heard of ZNE? It's one of the largest mixed media focused art groups in the world today, with over 1,000 members worldwide. A very cool place online. I had known about it from my sweet Georgia friend Dawn. They have forums, and share ideas and hold events, both in person, and via podcasts, which brings me to my little bit of shameless self promotion. …ehem…(this puts me completely out of my comfort zone, folks)
    I did my very first ever podcast interview last night. (I can't believe I'm typing this) Mmm hmm. Me.Moi. Yours truly. Chelise Stroud Hery, the founder of ZNE, emailed me a while back and asked if I’d do an interview. I was shocked. I was thrilled. And flattered. I said "yes, of course, yes!"

 Anyway.

  Last night was the night. My night. I’m not sure why, but I thought it would be something like a short ten minute spot (who, other than my friends and family, would want to talk to me for longer than that?) Well, let me warn you now, people. If you want to listen to the podcast, you’d better get yourself a cuppa something and have a comfy seat, ‘coz I ramble on for an hour with the fabulous Ms. Chel. (the truth be told, I’m afraid to listen to the podcast, because I know I rambled and blabbered lots of stuff that I will then critique half to death and pick apart, followed most likely by a long period of being mortified at the things I said.) With all of this being said, I must say now that the best thing about a podcast is that you can do it in your jammies, and not worry about if your having a bad hair day, or if the telephone makes your butt look big. (just one more reason I love the internet, people.)
    So, listen if you like, (and please, before you tell me, I am aware that I sounded sappy in more than one spot of the interview, yammering about living a beautiful life…just know that I was nervous, and as syrupy as some of it may sound..yes, I do believe that stuff I said…I just didn’t mean to sound so cheesy.) and be sure and check out the ZNE site too. (Thanks so much Chelise, for my moment in the spotlight. I had a great time!)

Go to this link, and then I think you'll need to click on the Blogtalkradio box on the right hand side.

A charming little chair re-do

     It's funny, the wonderful stuff  you'll find, right around your own home, when you open up your mind.
     I've had this little chair for more than ten years. It was a cherry wood colored stain

(and I forgot to take a picture of it in the true "before" state, but here it is, half primed with spray Kilz) and I have moved all around my cottage looking for a spot that it would fit in. Finally, it ended up in a box of "maybe - I'll - donate - this - stuff", and that is where it has been sitting for the past year.
I decided last weekend that what the little chair needed was a little make over.
      I primed it, and painted it a soft Robin's egg blue. Then, I antiqued it ever so slightly.

*sigh* Instant charm.

What have you got around your house that is waiting to look fresh and new again?

I'm afraid I might be a laundry room weirdo.

      OK. So, I have a thing for laundry rooms. There, I said it.
     In my last house, my favorite room was the giant laundry room...and I had such grand plans for the little "walk-through-on-the-way-to-the-garage-from-the-kitchen" laundry room in my sweet cottage, but now that it's on the market I've put them aside. I'm afraid they'd be too personalized... (I was going to paint the walls Robin's egg blue and put in stick-on vinyl tiles in black and white checks...)
     Last week, when my friends were over to assemble the tiny flags, one of my guests commented that they had never seen such a "staged" laundry room. Hmm...I wasn't sure if I should be offended or flattered. (Who am I kidding?! I was a wee bit offended. I tried to tell myself she was just jealous.(wink, wink!)Poor thing. Maybe her laundry room was boring and sad and pitifully neglected, and so she felt the need to attack mine...or...could it be that she thought I was... suspenseful background music here.....a laundry room weirdo?)
     I told her it wasn't staged, it was how I lived. I take the basket off the washer when I do wash (hey, it's only me and I have 2 loads of laundry, per week, on Saturdays..No big deal, right?) She looked at me like I said I had just returned from a flight to Mars with George Clooney. 

Anyway.

   It got me to wondering...am I the only person that decorates the laundry area of her home? (surely I am not!)
       To clarify, (and to defend my sanity and sense of style) the basket of ivy and the washboard are concealing the very high-on-the-wall water knobs for the water to go to the washing machine. (They are like the ones on a bathtub- huge..and very ugly...to me, anyway) See? It serves a purpose.
    The lamp...well, it brings some black and white toile,(which is in my kitchen) along with a whole lot of ambiance into the little room, which, when lit up at night, is seen through the lacy French door in the evenings, and adds a touch of romance to my kitchen (...once again, for me, anyway.)
     The framed quotation (oh, you know how I love good quotations...) makes me smile every Saturday, because I do find joy in laundry, in being home...in nesting.

*sigh* If that makes me a laundry room weirdo, I guess I'm OK with that.

Words to live by - week 62

Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.                                                                                  Harold Whitman

One cool conference, and an epiphany.

     A little update here... I'm home from today's big event. It was very inspirational, and I learned a lot about the steps to getting published, as well as some basics I can tackle right away. Basics like making a time line ( I love goal setting and time lines, so I'm starting this project tonight.)Oh, and little tips with huge impact, like not over using words like "was", "had" and "that" when I write. I tell you, it was great.
     At our lunch break I was able to go and chat up one of the speakers to bend her ear for some advice. She gave me all kinds of valuable advice on where to go from the point I'm at right now.

Wait! Did you just read that last sentence I typed?

Remember this?! Oh. My. Ga. I do believe Toastmasters has made quite an impact in my confidence about speaking off the cuff to strangers about my passion. Wow. I've grown. I've learned something and actually applied it somewhere, like it was second nature. Wait until I tell them all about this on Thursday morning. The Toasties are gonna be so proud of me... heck, I'm proud of me.

What I wanted to be when I grew up

    Funny, the things we remember about our childhood.
    I remember that I loved to read.(I still do) My mother took us to the public library often, and I was allowed to order a book from the paperback book club at school each time the little brochure came around. (What a treat that was! It was like picking out your own birthday present.)
    I remember that we had a school librarian who was amazing. She was a published author herself and she could speed read. (she had taken one of those speed reading courses, you know...)
      You could ask her about a book, and she'd read it very fast, running her hands down each page, almost like she was reading braille, and then tell you all about it, so you could decide if you wanted to check it out or not. (So impressive to a fourth grader. Actually, it still impresses me today.)
     Then, in the fifth or sixth grade, we were all asked to share what we wanted to become when we grew up. I announced that I wanted to become a mother, a social worker, and a writer. (I am not sure how I even knew what a social worker did for sure, but I pictured myself helping people)
     Anyway, years passed, and I got married and forgot about writing somehow. Until Blogging. Writing daily on this blog rekindled my passion for writing, and the more people commented on my posts, the more comfortable I became with writing, and I found my style. I found myself.
     When I start writing, I completely lose all track of time. After what seems to be a few minutes of writing, I will look at the clock on my computer and be shocked at how much time has passed since I sat down and began typing. Writing has become for me, a thing I need to do, not simply want to do.

I know what I am now. I am a writer.

      So, today will be another first for me. I am attending my first ever Writer's Conference. It's an all day affair. I'm excited, like I used to be for the first day of school. Really, I am.
     First Toastmasters, and now this. Who knew?! No one is more surprised than me, that's for sure. It makes me wonder ....what's next?

*sigh* God help me. Maybe I'd better stop watching "Dancing with the Stars". (I just might find myself in a dance class!!)

A lil' treat in the mailbox...and great minds DO think alike!

    Look what I found in the mailbox.

Wait a minute, let me back up. First, my sweet lil' Georia friend sent me this calendar. (Oh! You know I loved it!) and then...then my daughter (the most-recent-maid-of-honor...) sent me the actual cookbook! And, not just the cookbook, but the cookbook crammed full of post it notes with comments for me to read...(and the cutest post-it's I'd ever seen!)
     So, there I sat, all cozy-ed up in my bed last night, reading recipes, and drooling on my duvet. A positively wonderful way to spend a Thursday night (with all new episodes of the Office playing on the TV while I read)

I think I'm going to try out the lavender and honey cupcakes to see if they might just be the perfect treat to serve at the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion's Vintage French Market at Lavender Ridge...now, doesn't that sound just perfect?

500 flags down, 500 to go

     Whew! We worked. And chatted. And ate. And worked some more. Lots of fun.

We'll finish them up next week and be ready for the big event. I can't wait to see them on all the tables, sticking out of the charming little cupcakes!