Could have, would have, should have . . .

backed up my photos onto my external hard drive or to CDs before Eliza pushed it off the couch the other day! I set my sweet little Macbook on the couch while I got up to go to the kitchen for a minute and while Eliza was watching TV her foot inched my laptop right off the edge of the couch and it came crashing onto the floor. Luckily I have an Apple Care Plan, so repairs are totally covered (and, trust me I've used this OFTEN!! over the past 2 1/2 years). I am a BIG fan of the Apple Care Plan if you have a mac or any Apple product. But, of course all of the times I thought about backing up my recent downloaded photos, I put it off, so I only have pics backed up through a few months ago. Oh well, you'd think I'd learn since this wasn't the first time I've lost data! anyway, I'm trying to use the power of positive thinking and convince myself that the data wasn't lost, but that the computer just crashed b/c of the big leap it took of the couch! Pray for my little Macbook and all of my priceless scrapbooking photos!!!

It's HERE!

Sweet Heaven on Earth!, my beautiful wide-format Epson 1400 has just arrived via Fed Ex!!!! This printer was a Black Friday STEAL!!! This baby does everything I could ever want for all of my scrapbooking/craft projects, will print up to 12" x 12" layouts (and even a bit bigger!), OH!, and did I mention that I've wanted this puppy for about 3-4 YEARS now!?!! I found it when I was doing photography on the side and thought about purchasing a professional quality printer to print customer orders rights at home. But, alas, it was WAY too expensive at the time. Well, last week Staples had it advertised for Black Friday for a mere (ha ha!) $179, compared to the $300-400 it went for when it first came out! Well, it is supposed to be my bday present from my mom . . . but, well, we'll see if Santa lets me open it early and just forfeit my bday loot rights! I just CAN'T wait to open it and try it out!!!!! Too bad I'm too lazy to repackage it, otherwise I'd break into the baby right now and stick it back into the box good-as-new on December 24th! LOL! ok, gotta go and stare at the box a bit more! LOL!

An Addiction

Last night, as usual, I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning making art. It's so strange what happens to me when I have a bit of inspiration and energy . . . the combination is like crack. I get obsession to create when an idea pops into my head and I can't think about anything else until I get it all out on paper, fabric, canvas, or whatever I am working with. I had this ah-ha moment last night when I was going through my stamps and wanted to do a project with text from a book, some Grungeboard, embossing inks/powders, some new Pink Paislee papers, and some gorgeous Prima flowers. I wanted to do something "different". While the techniques are common to artists -- I think the concept I came up with for this altered art project is pretty killer. I finished it all but adding the pics to it last night and couldn't wait to show it to someone, so when I heard Ian still watching tv upstairs, I ran up there and asked him what he thought. Usually, he flips through things quickly, asks me, "YOU did THIS!???," and it's over. But, he kept flipping through it, backwards and forwards, inspecting it, and I felt *chills*. I almost wanted to cry! To create something so beautiful that it makes someone STUDY it, is just TOO MUCH for words. To feel something so strongly that you NEED to express it through art and then have that feeling transferred and felt by the person looking at your art makes my chest swell. This is what art is to me. This is why I dream about it, wake up waiting to create more, and can't sleep when I'm tired because I'm still thinking about it. All my life I've been so practical -- now I feel alive. I feel like I've waited all my life to have the means and the time to create art. It fills me with breath, and I hope I can do a little of the same for those who enjoy my art.

note: I wanted to post pictures of the project I created, but at this time I couldn't b/c of my desire to enter it for design team submission. I will, however, post it after I have submitted it! (so, keep your eyes on the blog!)

Scrapbooking products I ADORE

last night I took an hour or so cleaning out my studio and organizing. It NEEDED to be done! I have so much product that I haven't even unpacked from our move to this house ( a YEAR ago!!!). Anyway, now it's nearly all unpacked and I'm even thinking about decorating my studio now. I think I'm going to do a section on the wall for inspiration and a clothesline-looking spot for newly finished projects. I am so excited to finally have a great big, private spot where I can put everything, be inspired, and create. I recently was asked to be on the Scrapdoodles (lss) design team, and it has been a blast! I can't wait until I submit to Prima and pink paislee this month for their design teams. I just love the papers and rub ons from pink paislee. Their designs are so current, with some cool distressing, I can never wait to get my hands on their new releases. Then, there's the INCREDIBLE color saturation with Prima. It just speaks to my soul. If I could paint a picture of my spirit, the very deepest part of my being, it would flow with the amazing colors and creations that exude from Prima. You can practically taste their product, it's so juicy with color!! ahhh, talking about all of this has me itching to get back into the studio now, and since the kids are busy watching TV and Hudson (the baby) is almost ready to nap . . . you know where to find me!! ha ha ha! I actually found myself today wondering how I'm going to fit in time with the fam and eating on Turkey Day since I have so much scrapping to do for my DT submissions!! Oh well, that's what multi-tasking is for, right!?!!