Last week had me overwhelmed. Early in the week I felt like I was always doing something, but not really accomplishing anything. It held good things and sad things. I look back now and realize that I need to make more room for changes that bring good things. Changes that will be more uplifting and help me to handle the things in life that can get you down.
What should I start with?
Let's get the bad thing over with because honestly, I've already spent too many hours dwelling on it. I think of it and I feel like crying (although I only cried once last week over it)...but thinking of it brings back all of the crummy emotions again.
Sometimes the things that get us down in life are really little things. Small in the grand scheme of the troubles of the world, but all of my fellow creative friends will understand the hugeness of this small thing to me.
On January 20th, I shipped off a big box of my work to the CHA Winter show. There were 15 projects in that box. I was so happy with the results of my efforts. Never mind the hours that I put into them, or the staying up until 2 a.m. just to finish one last thing before the two deadlines that we had.
So, the box is scheduled to arrive on January 22 in California--one day before the lovely ladies at the Melissa Frances booth needed them. You know where this is going, right?
You guessed it. The box never arrives in time for the show. I check several times a day on the internet site to track my box. I call California, I call where I shipped it from here in MN. I go to confront them;-) I call the hotel in California several times and talk to some poor clerk at the front desk , who I get to speak to several times throughout this whole ordeal (bless his heart for putting up with my random calls.)
The show started on Sunday the 25th and went through Wednesday the 28th. I. CALL. EVERY SINGLE. DAY. -- starting 2 days before the show starts. I search the internet, I talk to random people daily. Everyone is nice and apologetic, but nothing can be found.
Finally on the last day of the show, I give up.
I'm so sad... and I think the worst part is that I feel like I let Melissa Frances down. Not that the world will stop spinning without my projects in her booth, but I've let someone down. Didn't meet up to their expectations...and worse yet... I have no control over the situation. :-( Did I mention that I was sad?!!
So my friend Gayle, reminded me to "Breathe"...
...and she took me to a place called "Cornerstone Wellness Center" and made me exercise. Made me lift weights, ride bike, work the elliptical and the treadmill. Out with the bad and in with the good. Breathe, breathe, breathe!
I feel sooooooo much better. It didn't make the lost box situation go away, but it moved my energy to a better place. THIS was a good thing that happened to me... thank goodness for friends and for positive energy and thinking.
"Friends are angels here on earth."
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Let's talk about this past Saturday. Oh my gosh.. it was amazing here in MN. Almost 50 degrees--in January! So I cracked open a couple of windows and cleaned until after 7 pm. I took down every bit of winter that I could find in the house and added something to encourage Spring.
I love these daffodils.
A fresh white little vinette for the bathroom. :-)
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How about a look at the CHA projects that I did for BasicGrey?
A Spring cone made from the new Wisteria collection. Pretty purples and greens. It was so fun to work with.
A Valentine's Day angel made with Bittersweet papers, cardstock stickers, and chipboard. She is made from paper mache and clay. I even made the little roses for her dress from paper. Look how she sparkles!
Then there is this happy project made from their Lime Rickey collection . I mimicked the funny birds on one of the papers and added them to the top of collector boxes that say "Live, laugh, love". This line will be so great for kids pages.
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Another product line to share...
from Creative Cafe. More of their pretty flocked papers made into a gift box and candy container.
These projects also feature the Creative Cafe stamps by Hampton Art. Awesome, awesome clear stamps. Plus, I used the AccuCut diecutting machine to cut out the pieces for these projects.
I also did this shabby heritage layout using the "Photos" stamp set from Hampton Art and lots of Creative Cafe chipboard shapes.
Whew! I had a lot to share today! There is plenty more to follow soon, I just need to take a breath.
Oh, and I almost forgot that there was a bit of a happy ending to my lost box story. It finally showed up -- just in time to head back to Canada with Melissa Frances. I shared a few of my projects that were shipped to CHA in my previous post, but here is one more in honor of the resurrection of the box ;-)
One of the new diecut papers with tiny pink polka dots and the new Girl Chipboard Flash cards. That photo is of my daughter--almost 28 years ago (her birthday is in 3 days!) and she is wearing a little yellow dress from her great grandma and a gold locket from my friend Gayle, the one who saved me last week.
Here's a good look at those Flashcards. I mean, how cute are these?
There is always so much to do and so little time, but I'll be back soon with more to share. My best advice for now... "breathe....just breathe".
Love to all,
Linda
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