pamgarrison

looking ahead

And just like that, fall is officially over and if feels like we are rounding the corner on another season. Which, of course, leads me to think about what's coming up in the future, both near and far. A little bit ago, I decided to try to travel less, which means applying to and accepting less teaching jobs. I have only one more committed travel-to teaching event for the entire next year actually: Donna Downey's Inspired Artist Workshop. 

As I work on my class offering for that event, I thought I'd ask you, those that might be attending or wish you were, what your wishes might be for class content. I'd like it to have a journaling emphasis, playing with all different sorts of materials and mediums, but I'm open to hearing other ideas as well. So for those of you coming to play with me and coming to get inspired, what would you like out of the class? Let me know!

hope you had a happy thanks

As I continue the clean up and put away, I wanted to stop and say thank you to you: friends I know, and friends I don't, lurkers and commenters, regular visitors and first timers. I am grateful for all this blog has brought to me and that includes you. With many thanks and good wishes, xox, pam

current goings on

Making some gifts for friends and family that are joining us on Thanksgiving. Still love these boxes from Martha Stewart (I bought at Michael's over a year ago). Always wish Martha by Mail still existed. Sorry that it takes me so long to get to projects and by the time I do the products aren't in the store anymore.

 

Making some Christmas paper things using photos of mine and even a flyer from Restoration Hardware.

 

Making a special gift for one of my best friends, Kelly (that those who attend Silver Bella get to know), who's had a hard year. Such a hard year that she's behind in her blog reading, so no worries that the surprise will be revealed too soon. We used to live on the same street. We met while she was out pushing her babes Max and Sam in a stroller and walking her dogs Dave and Greg alongside.  I knew I would love her and her funny take on the world right then. We used to be creative playmates and then she moved across the country. Still makes me sad to think of the loss, but I do get to see her when we meet yearly at Silver Bella. So I'm sending this pick me up. An advent calendar sort of gift box. 25 treats for her to open whenever she feels the need, or one a day until Christmas.

 

Of course, what I really need to be doing is grocery shopping and cleaning. I am so easily distracted to making things instead. So much more fun. But seriously, in an attempt at honesty, here is the office desk this morning, as is, untouched.

 

Need I say more? I think not. Hope your Thanksgiving Holiday prep is coming together with a little less feet dragging than mine!

amy came over to play

{Amy's view of my closet, for more shots through her eyes, go here}

Amy came to play today and we had so much fun! We never really get together much; living about 30 minutes away from each other, and having the limitations of our kids' school and sports schedules, (mixed in with everything else of life) but we decided that a little time is better than no time. We're going to make that our new way of thinking and try to get to each other's houses more often.  We didn't get much done, but it was inspiring and that was the point. Just by talking ideas and looking through each others stuff  our creativity gets awakened. There was much talk of Thanksgiving tablecloths, Christmas ornaments, and project ideas. All the pictures here are parts of a project she came up with that I'm working on. What usually happens is we will talk about a new idea on the phone, we'll each start it, maybe email some photos along the way and then talk about it some more. This time, after the phone conversing and photo emailing we got to see the project in process and give feedback, then continue our projects alone and start at step one again, phone call,photos, ...you get the idea. But as you know, everything is better in person, so we are going to try to include that step more often. Whenever we meet each other say for lunch or somewhere, we always bring whatever we've been talking about, but getting to each others homes is sooo much better.

 Creating alongside Amy is one of my favorite things ever, it's so fun to be with someone who thinks similarly yet different than you. She thinks she's messy, I think I'm too neat. I think I'm too colorful, she thinks she's too monotone. We appreciate the differences in our creative styles, and draw them out in each other, pushing each other to someplace we wouldn't get on our own. Creating is  just so fun that way, have you found a playmate yet?!?

silver bella '09

  Teresa has gone and done it again! Another  Silver Bella event has come and gone. I was a teacher along with these other great gals.  Silver Bella is a whirlwind weekend of community and crafting and celebrating the season that is now upon us. It is always fun to see the reuniting of old friends and the making of new ones, the over-the-topness of gifts and booths, and supplies and outfits. It's such a festive feeling from start to finish.

How cute is T in her flowery necklace? Very. I didn't take a ton of photos but I did remember to take a few. I have stopped traveling with my good camera, trying to lighten the load and get around the country more easily, but I think my little camera might be getting a bit tired, these photos seem a bit blurry. That seems fitting, because the weekend is a bit of a blur as well. Time goes by so fast and is so full that I feel like I didn't get a chance to visit with friends for more than a minute, or create, or sleep. I even brought a laptop and didn't even take it out of it's case. Each time I attend any event, I think I'll feel more prepared or more in control of time, but I think it's about time I gave that delusional thought up and surrender to the blurriness of it all. With that, here are my somewhat out of focus photos:

 

Charlotte, Kaari and Anna, all teachers, during the opening night welcome dinner.

 

 

Dawn (Kaari's T.A. and dear friend since 2nd grade) and  teacher Rebecca at the same dinner.

And Denise and Jennifer, teachers too.
 

 

Here  Jo (the guest speaker) and Kaari are deep in discussion.

And one of my dearest friends in the whole world, Kelly,  that I seem to only see once a year at Silver Bella, with another dear friend that I met at Silver Bella years ago, Charlotte.

The attendees are one of the very best parts of Silver Bella. They have such enthusiasm for the entire event, and continue to up their game each year with trades, and sisters, and gifts and supplies, and I could go on and on.... Here's the gang from my first class Friday am:

We've got Alisa Nobile, Amy Huff, Carol Ryan, Carolyn Logan, Cynthia Flores, Denise Nelson, Eileen Clough, Elisa Osnaya, Elizabeth Shea, Ella Marie Jenkins, Heather Ales, Heidi Gordon, Heidi Wallingford, Jennifer Day, Jennifer Hayslip, Joanna Lewis, Karla Nathan, Leanne Shawler, Lori Oles, Lynn Lebsack, Marguerite Blanks, Robin Sanchez, Sheila Ann Rumney, Stephanie Harris, Susan Elseth, Suzanne Duda, Terry Frias, Valerie Jones, Leocadia Eyre, Kelly Jacobs. 

 

This is a photo of the Friday afternoon class with: Andra Hepler, Andrea Singarella, Betsy Begens, Cammie Polak, Catherine Aguilera, Cheri Schmitz, Christina Sequino, Christy Spencer, Cynthia Sanders, Danielle Muller, Gabrielle Messina, Jane Jennings, Jennifer Kershner, Jodi LeJeune, Kana Conger, Karla Steele, Kelley Kirk, Kim Hanauer, Kristina Malone, Linda Richter, Michelle Arnold, Pam Keravuori, Peggy Lucas, Shannon Arnold, Susan Skinner, Tracy Hughes, Virinia Burrows, Meleen Dupre, Kelli Flitton, and Hope Wallace.

Lineage of Love was my Friday workshop. Here's a photo of one of the samples:

I have to thank Janice at Papier Valise and Jenny of Jenny Bowlin  for their sponsorship. Love their products so.

 

 

My Saturday workshop was Holly-Days Countdown Wreath (an advent calendar concept, adding one holly leaf a day until the big day). For this class I owe Heather Bailey a debt of gratitude, for generously donating some of her new, beautiful felt.

 

Joining me on Saturday morning were: Alianna George, Ali Gripp, Amy Smith, Andrea Singarella, Bianca Gaspard, Cheryl Stoneham, Colleen MacDonald, Debe Leone, Denise Nelson, Gabrielle Messina, Gina MacIntosh, Jennifer Norman, Kara Ward, Karlene Gray, Kristy Street, Linda Richter, Lisa Baggett, Lisa Orme, Marsi Bennett, Megan Hunt, Melissa Danner, Michelle Early, Paige Bingham, Rachel Velder, Rebecca Gawryl, Robin Kesner, Shannon Johnson, Shawn Street, Sheila Rumney, Valita Baxley, Vicki MacIntosh, Virginia Burrows, and Stephanie Spacy. Jo Packham joined in the photo fun too.

At the end of the day Saturday I had the same workshop but unfortunately didn't remember to take a photo until the very end. Lots of people are missing in the photo. Some finished up, some were exhausted from a weekend of crafting,  some met friends at the free happy hour in the hotel, etc. Here are the die-hards:

 

All the students in the class were: Amy Littlejohn, Beth Evans-Ramos, Corrine Ayers, Cynthia Heath, Debbi Schuldt, Georgia Evanson, Heather Rowley, Janet Doherty, Jenny Lor, Jessi Nagy, Julie Fjell, Kari Ramstrom, Karla Steele, Kim Caldwell, Kim Hanauer, Lana Koch, Leocadia Eyure, Lori Oles, Maija Lepore, Margie Dickinson, Marlene Haveron, Molly Hughes, Sabrina Sane, Sandra Navarro, Shannon Arnold, Susie Vergenz, Valerie Jones, and Joy Campbell.

This photo sums up the fun. My friends Kelly and  Cori,  these two always have me in stitches.  I'm sure scenes like this go on all weekend long in room after room. If you want to see more Silver Bella photos, you can go to the Silver Bella flickr group. Hopefully, lots of finished projects will end up there, they all were so great you'll want to see all the different classes. Thanks again T, great job as usual!

Can you understand why it took me so long to do a recap post? I've never had so many links in one post ever! That said, if yours is missing, or incorrect (I know there are some of those), please let me know. Now I'm going to resume my typical let-down/re-entry behavior I always feel/do after being away at any retreat: as little as possible, ha ha!

fun day sunday

 

As seems to be becoming my standard M.O. , I took not one photo to share.

Bad blogger.

Thankfully, Jenny took these, and Heather took tons too. Heather's a professional photographer after all, so I knew she'd capture the fun beautifully. I think Amy captured some good shots as well. Check their blogs in the next couple days for more glimpses of the fun.

And fun we had. Here are some of the lovely ladies that came out to shop the Rose Bowl flea market with like minded creative friends old and new. And to those of you that came late, left early, or were just plain camera shy, we were happy to see you there too! 

At least 6 came from San Diego, and one from Santa Ynez to join in the fun. {Too bad she was busy visiting to pipe up when the prize was awarded for the person who came the farthest distance!} There is talk of others hosting more of these blog world flea marketing mornings, so maybe one will even end up being in an area near you. 

One fun part of flea marketing together is reviewing the finds. Over lunch we shared our favorite purchase. It's great to see through someone else's mind for a moment and hear their plans for using their treasure. Hearing the deal they got when buying it is super fun too.

I'll show mine here for those that enjoy that part too. I can take photos of those, now that I'm home. Here's my favorite purchase of the day. It was my first purchase too. An antique spun cotton bell ornament. I saw this at the flea market before (for $35.00 firm), but it was finally a price I could (sort of) justify. $20.00. A lot for an ornament, an extra, an indulgence, but it makes me so happy and I will treasure it, especially on the tree this Christmas.

 

Here are some things I found to share with my Silver Bella classes:

 

Some Rogers Brother's "first love" silver plate   to add to our everyday silverware basket:

 

Some supplies for future creating fun:

 

And some fun things to use in the house:

and one last tiny pin that I thought was funny as I head off for Silver Bella... wonder if this is how my family feels about me!

 

 

congratulations to

Karen Johnston

I love your blog. A friend recommended it to me. That book is amazing, if you haven't done the draw please put me in:) 

Thanks Karen. Please email your addy info to Dawn Sokol, the author, at  [email protected] and she'll get your signed book on it's way to you!

I'm sorry for everyone else that was hoping to win the book. That is the no fun part about give-aways. I truly wish I could give one to everyone!!!!  Now that would be fun.

Looking forward to meeting up with some fellow flea marketing bloggers tomorrow morning 9am in front of the Rose Bowl flea market entrance!  We'll be sure to take photos for those that can't make it!

new fall flickr favorites

{If you are interested in the book give-away, be sure to leave a comment in the post below titled "more journaling fun" before midnight Friday...and, don't worry, if you mentioned your comment number and it's different. Because there is a delay in comments published, your comment number may not be what you thought it'd be when commenting.}

 

1. {Echo} Week 1 - Emerge (2), 2. antique petit point purse, 3. night flys, 4. Untitled, 5. Heaven can wait 2, 6. Untitled, 7. leaves for fall, 8. a nice beret is what we all need, 9. Monster Zora, 10. #449, 11. Untitled, 12. Day 12, 13. Japanese textile, 14. yum barkcloth and wool, 15. osv, 16. flowers on the ..., 17. W A R M T H, 18. Untitled, 19. This is what we see when we step out of the shower in the morning, 20. sorting through, 21. sun dust tree

the prepping for silver bella continues

{If you are interested in the book give-away, be sure to leave a comment in the post below titled "more journaling fun" before midnight Friday}

 

I'm in the thick of finishing up the Silver Bella kits...the fun begins next week!!!!

more journaling fun

As I mentioned in the last post, I have a give-away for you journalers or journal admirers. Dawn Sokol, author of 1,000 Journal Pages, has kindly offered one of her books (a signed copy) as a prize. Congrats to Dawn for having her books among the offerings at Anthropologie. That must feel like a nice stamp of approval, we all love that store so! Dawn's got other ways for you to journal with her over at her blog, both NaNoJouMo and her upcoming online class, {12.31}, so pop on over to see about those.

If you want to be entered in the 1,000 Journal Pages give-away book, just leave a comment on this post. I'll use random number generator to pick a winner this week. Let's say you have to leave a comment by Friday night midnight, and I'll announce the winner Saturday. I've got some journal pages in the book along with many many other artists. If you like looking at journal pages, you've got 1,000 here.  

And, for more journal inspiration, or if you want to journal, but don't know how to get started, Teesha Moore has some really great videos that walk you through her process, step by step. I think Teesha and Tracy did a great job putting them together, and you'll enjoy them whether a beginner or a regular journaler.

Ok, gotta go find my journals, all this talk about journaling has me itching to work in them!

{Ed: The book contest is over now, sorry to those that missed it!}