What a difference 4 months can make!!

Hi Everyone,

I am still alive, very much alive. I can't believe I haven't posted since December, well I guess I can believe it, but I have missed you all!

I've been busy. Those that know me know I am typically "busy", but I have been "BUSY!!!"

In January I met someone very special, the love of my life, 9 weeks later we were engaged, and now we are well on our way to getting married on November 12th, 2011. After all these years of looking for the right person, it really does sometimes just smack you in the face, in a good way :)

Hugs -

Rach

Ho Ho Ho

Merry Christmas to All,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend.

Mine was fun and very full.

Here a few photos of my decor around the house.

The tree (which is in the kitchen bay window - due to 3 frisky kittens not being able to get into the kitchen ;)

At the beginning of December I went to the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall and bought them out of retro vintage ornaments. I had seen a gorgeous wreath online which was priced pretty high...so I thought "I can do that"....which as you'll see below I DID! (however not sure it was for less than I could've purchased it online for when all was said and done....however I'm glad I made it myself since it'll mean more in years to come.)

Jennifer Murphy is one of my favorite artists. I am always excited when she has her website updates to sell her handmade pieces. I try and make sure I am near a computer at the moment the update is opened as her pieces FLY, and I mean FLY out the door within minutes. This time I was LUCKY enough to send in my request quickly enough to get my FIRST choice!!

Take a look at the cutest ornament! It is a vintage mitten filled with a mini mouse handmade by Jennifer, and a snowman spun by hand by Crystal Hanehan. Jennifer collaborated with Crystal on a few pieces, and I think their work nicely compliments eachother, don't you?

I was fortunate enough to be able to visit Wendy Addison's shop while I was in Northern California earlier this month. Jackie Cate and I ventured to the little out of the way studio and shop to be amazed by all the beautiful pieces. This was the ornament I picked out for my tree.

I purchase an acorn for my MOM for Christmas. (given her business is Acorn Ridge Quilting ;)

Speaking of her business and her work, take a look at this adorable quilt she created for me! My mom had asked me for pictures of my cats, the faces especially. I didn't know what she was up to, but when she sent me a number of JibJab greeting cards with my cats singing Christmas songs, I figured that was it!! Little did I know she was also creating this amazing quilt.

More to come on my holiday activites, but for now, I'm exhausted, and need some sleep. Working 2 days this week, so tomorrow morning is coming along quick!

Goodnight,

Rach

December Journaling Projects

Hi Everyone,

As you may have learned if you've read my blog for awhile, on occasion, once in awhile, maybe once in a blue moon, I overcommit to too many projects or activities. I'm a born multi-tasker, however with work, moving and unpacking, and all the weekend workshops I've been taking, perhaps I should slow down on signing up for additional workshops or classes online, right?!?

I just couldn't pass up another Hope Wallace-Karney class. Although I have signed up for all of her journaling classes and haven't found too much time to work on them, I signed up ANYWAY! She is teaming up with her good friend Kari Ramstrom for this class. It is called WINTER STORIES.

I worked on the cover to my journal last night. This is what I came up with:

I am looking forward to working on this journal, and the other class I'm taking is Shimmel's Journaling my Christmas class.

Here is the journal cover for Journaling my Christmas:

The journal I purchased from one of my favorite shops for paper journaling items, Every Jot and Tittle. I also had purchased a cute valentiney mini book from her too.

Looking forward to working on my Holiday Manifesto's tonight and catch up with the last couple days!!

One of my favorite scrapbooks that I created when I use to scrapbook EVERYTHING, is my Christmas Albums. I have the few pictures we still have from our childhood in one and probably 4 or 5 years worth of the late 90's early 00's in one. I think it's fun to see year over year how people change, what fun things you do each year, and how many things remain the same.

What holiday memory recording will all of you be doing??

Happy Holidays,

Rach

Silver Bella Part 1 & December project Goals

Happy Holiday Season!!

That originally said Happy Thanksgiving...but as you can tell I'm a little behind! I've been busy busy busy with the house, and trying to get "settled". I am getting there, slowly but surely, and with the help of my parents...big time.

I am starting to see the floor of my art studio! I can't wait to get it set up so I can actually finish unfinished projects and start new ones!

In the meantime I wanted to share with you my amazing time at Silver Bella. This is the third year that I attended. It was probably my favorite time too!

This year my friend Lisa Stanton from Oklahoma came up to Omaha for the event!! Yay. I love traveling and attending these events with Lisa, it's EASY, and of course lots of fun.

I will say the lighting in hotels is just the worst, and I'm by no means a pro at adjusting colors...so I apologize for the offcolor pics!!

This year I signed up for quite a few swaps. And per usual, every time I try something new, I realize how I need to UP MY GAME!! These Bella's are AMAZING! I really need to think WAY OUT OF MY BOX, and go beyond what I think I can do. AND EMBELLISH EMBELLISH EMBELLISH. MORE IS MORE!!

My swap that I hosted was the Cupcake Swap. I was happiest with this one in the end. I spent so much time on my pages, and doing the front and back covers, as well as making cupcake pin buttons, tags, and I included a cupcake pen or pencil with each. FUN. Labor of LOVE!

The yummiest fun of course was making my cupcakes to take the photo for my page. The unfun part was the few pounds I put on from eating too many :) Oh well, you only live once.

I'll take pictures of each page to share soon.

All the women in my swap were just terrific to work with, and so happy to receive their books. Here are just a few of them:

I'll include each with their links when I include the pages.

That is all for now...SO Much more to come.

I am working on two December projects, you know because December is just usually a boring and SLOW month ;) I have blinkies on the left for Hope and Kari's Winter Stories class, and Shimmell's Journaling your Christmas class. Both are really fun..I am REALLY hoping to actually finish these projects this month....(and not just print out the instructions!!)

Wish me luck!!

-Rach

New Home - Before and Afters

Hi Everyone,

As some of you know, I just moved permanently to a new home in Omaha. I've been here just about a month, and in that time feel like I've accomplished quite a bit, but still have a ways to go. My parents have helped tremendously!

Just waiting on furniture to come from work for my home office, and that room will be more organized. I also need to sit down and really REALLY purge my clothes. I'll give you a heads up when the nearby Goodwill will have some cool deals!

In the first installment of sharing my home with you, I thought I would show some before and after pics! I LOVE BEFORE & AFTER pics!! Hope you do too!

DINING ROOM

BEFORE

Note the 60's light fixture...retro, but not a COOL retro, also the "not my style" cream carpet.

AFTER

First things first, we removed all the carpet in the dining room/living room. Oh what a breath of fresh air, it made all the difference!! A bit of a bummer the prior owners used 95million staples on it, but beyond that the hardwood floors are in great shape! (Thanks to my Dad for taking out all the staples and tack strips!!)

Also you will see I purchased a new light fixture to go with the new dining room table and chairs/bench.

The wallpaper is still in the dining room....baby steps. The painting/wallpaper removal is probably a spring 2011 project!!

LIVING ROOM

BEFORE

Again note the carpet. I wasn't sure I was crazy about the mirrors on the walls, soooo 60's...but a friend has the same wall and said "good luck removing it"...so I thought I'd live with it awhile and see what I thought!

AFTER

It makes such a difference in a home when all your own things are in it. Once I got all the pieces in the living room it all started to come together, and even the mirror wall doesn't bother me. It just adds another layer of texture.

I'm still adding things, and taking things out as I unpack a few other odds and ends. But I feel pretty good with the living room/dining room.

Maybe a new rug or two someday, but for now I'll move onto other rooms to finish!

FIREPLACE IN LIVING ROOM

BEFORE

Again did I tell you how much I wasn't a fan of the carpet?

AFTER

Another addition that made a big difference were the red curtains. These windows are huge! My Dad and I picked up the hardward and then realized it was pretty tight given I didn't include the borders in the measurements!! Oops, however I don't think they'd have made hardware any longer..at least non-customized. We had a "make it work" moment and got the poles up. I had hours of ironing that weekend, 6 panels for this large window, 2 for the dining room, and 6 more for the downstairs window!

Hope you enjoyed the first installment of my New Home BEFORE and AFTERS!!

What house projects are you all working on??

-Rach