On the 4th day of Christmas Kallie Maughan, Kathy Wilkins and Melody Ross Inspired Me

Merry Day 4 of Christmas!

I realized that as I listed out all the ladies that I wanted to include in my 12 days, I couldn't figure out how to stop!  So on my 4th day of Inspiring Women, I am including three.  This is not to take away from each of the inspirations these three have given, but since they are family I thought I keep them together :)

Melody, Kathy and Kallie are all a wonderful part of Brave Girls Club.  Many of you already know them, love them, and are inspired by them everyday.  For those of you who aren't familiar with these beautiful souls, here is a little bit of what inspires me about these three.

Melody and Kathy created Brave Girls Club years ago.  Every day they bring together more women to share gentle reminders that You are LOVED, You are WORTH it, You can DO IT anyway, Life is Beautiful, and other words of encouragement that seem to come at just the right time through their Daily Truths email you can sign up for FOR FREE!

They have created a wonderful Brave Girls University that for a small monthly cost you can take hundreds of soul-filling, crafty, artsy, supportive classes from TONS of amazing teachers.  I am so honored to have a class available and am working on my next.

Beyond these forums Melody and Kathy have created that have given such JOY, LOVE, and HAPPINESS to so many women their inspiration goes further when you know what type of women they are.  Both are mothers and grandmothers to large loving families.  They have built their business to include their families and friends.  To do what needs to be done to keep their family close and tight.  

{How is this for a throw back Brave Girl Camp photo, circa 2010?!  Kallie is in the middle, and look how young Malary is on the right?!? }

Kallie is Kathy's daughter, and I've loved getting to know her at Brave Girls Camp when she could make it given her important role as a young mother of a beautiful family.  Knowing being a mother comes first, she has been able to fit in some time to work at Brave Girls Club and even helped me through a bit of drama with uploading my class videos with little to no internet speed!  She has a calm easy spirit, like her mother's that I find comforting and I am inspired by her cute comments about her kids and their conversations on Facebook.  

So much more can be said about these three, but I'll stop there for now.  Some gifties with be sent over to the Brave Girl Clubhouse for these three to enjoy!  Thanks Ladies for inspiring me!  Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Years!

xoxo
-Rach

On the 3rd Day of Christmas - Stephanie Ackerman Inspired Me

Merry 3rd Day of Christmas!

My inspiration on this 3rd day of Christmas is Stephanie Ackerman!

Stephanie taught at Handmade U a couple years ago.  I remember I was trying to find a talented doodle/letterer and came across her art on Facebook or the internet, and with perhaps just another friend's agreement that she looked like someone we needed at Handmade U, I reached out to her and invited her to come.

We were so lucky She said YES!  Stephanie came to Omaha.... she taught, she learned, she shared, and she connected.  Her class was joyful and FUN!  I know we all want her to come back, this time at the Red Barn....we are working on it...it WILL happen.

Beyond being inspired by her at Handmade U, what has continued to inspire is what she's done since her time in Nebraska with us.  Her goals and dreams are probably not all that different than many artists/creatives....to make, to inspire, to create, to share her god-given talents, to dream bigger, BUT what does stand out to me is she puts in the work, the effort, and the HEART, to MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I'm so happy for her success in sharing herself through shop visits and classes, retreat classes, her SIZZIX line, the Documented Faith series and products, and her daily dose of Faith and crafty inspiration.  I don't know how she does it all, except from the strength in her deep
Faith, and pure adrenaline!  I love it all, I love her!

Stephanie inspires me to not just Dream, but to PUT IT INTO ACTION!!  To be excited about where the dreams will take you.

Thanks Stephanie for your Inspiration, your gift is on its way!!

xoxo
-Rach

On the 2nd Day of Christmas - Kerri MacDonald Inspired Me

It is the 2nd Day of Christmas and as I thought about all the women I know, and some I only know mostly via social media, I landed on a special person as my inspiration for Day 2 of this Christmas Season.

Kerri MacDonald.  I met Kerri at Brave Girls Camp in March of this year.  She is a very bright spot of Sunshine.  She is positive, encouraging, and a Brave soul.

I love seeing women being supportive, positive and "a good listener" even on social media.  I see Kerri cheerlead for her friends each and every day.  In this day and age of busy lives and information overload, it reaffirms the meaning of being a friend to see someone that still maintains friendships not only with likes of cute pics, but with words of encouragement, checking in with one another, and patting someone of the back for their talent and efforts.  I know I will try to be more like Kerri and spread positivity, encouragement, and love to my friends in person, and also via social media.

Thanks Kerri for being a great model for us all!

Kerri is the cutie in the middle ;)

Kerri - your special gift will be headed your way tomorrow!

Merry 2nd Day of Christmas!

-Rach

1st Day of Christmas - inspired by Michelle Geller

Merry 1st Day of Christmas!

If you read my last post you'll know that for the 12 days leading up to Christmas I'll be sharing someone that has inspired me.  I'll be sending a fun gift to each!

My first inspiring lady is the one and only Michelle Geller or @holddear on Instagram.  Many are inspired by her collections she shares frequently on Instagram.  Many too, I would guess, are a bit green with envy of her crazy talent/luck of stumbling upon wonderful stashes of ephemera, specifically Dennison labels.

Not only her ability to be drawn to the best finds at an antique shop, or goodwill is inspiring, what is more is her journaling skills.  From start to finish, the creating of a journal, ( her travel journals are divine) , to collaging, color choices, and her handwriting for the actual journaling, all the best of the best.

Michelle's book making swap at one of the Silver Bella art retreats inspired me to create my own art retreat, since I just wanted to be taught how to do what she did.  From that inspiration Michelle went on inspiring 3 semesters of students at Handmade U and many more being a student at 4 other semesters.

This pic is of Michelle and I nearly 5 years ago when we finalized the plan to have her teach at Handmade U!

Love you Michelle!  Thanks for being an inspiration of creativity!!


Merry Day 1!

-Rach

The 12 Days of Christmas.....

If you're like me, you are having a hard time believing Christmas is just 15 days away!!  15?!   With the weather in Nebraska unseasonably warm (65+ today), it is even tougher to grasp that the year is nearing its end.  We still need to decorate the house and find a few more gifts in the next week or so!  YIKES.

Jim and I celebrate the holiday with the 12 Days of Christmas.   Each day leading up to Christmas we exchange little gifts and a card.  It is a treat to have a little surprise every morning and nice to share a card with a sweet message or funny memory.  The gifts might be a special Christmas Tea, or chocolates, maybe a DMB CD...anything that we think the other would enjoy (and maybe even share ;)

This season I have decided to add one more tradition along with our 12 Days of Christmas.  In the same vein I am going to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas by sending out 12 handmade gifts to 12 Ladies that have inspired me in some way.  Each Day I'll share with you who these women are and what they have done to be surprised with a little something heading their way.

I am sure I could come up with 100 women to send something to, however, I do need to be a little realistic on how much I can get done in the next 2 weeks!  

Would you like to join me??  I have way too much to do, but after participating in the Secret Sister gift giving and getting a handful of sweet surprises I thought why not pay that forward and send a few more gifts out??  If you don't find the time to send 12 gifts, why not just send a few?  It could be a handmade card, or gift tags, anything that your recipient would enjoy!

If you do join me why don't you tag photos of your handmade goodies with #12DaysHandmadeGiftGiving  

I would love to hear about who inspires you!  

Happy Handmade Holidays!

Stay tuned, it all begins Sunday!

Cheers!

-Rach