Create Kate

For those of you at home

Everyone seems to be away at CHA this week, but for those of us at home, I thought I'd share 5 of my favourite sites. Cool places, cool products and cool inspiration. Just fun cool stuff. Stuff that in a perfect world, where money grew on trees that I would get. Well, in a perfect world, I'd be able to solve world poverty and cure many diseases but that's neither here nor there. So, onto the goods.

1. Shoptwenty2- WALLBANDS!  Yes, they renamed wallpaper borders as wallbands and voila, they are cool! Who would have ever guessed it? But check out these babies, totally funky. I think one would look really fun around my dining room or in my scrap room- ooh now that would be fun!

2. Thomas Paul Pillows- now we are onto my love for pillows. The more I delve into paper design and the design world in general the more I love pillows. There are so many fantastic pillow designers out there. tons people. Who knew? Thomas Paul is my absolute favourite. His pillows are bold, funky and plain fun. I think his pillows almost serve as a reminder to not take design and home decor so seriously. Let some colour in people. Anyone who knows me knows my two recurring themes, fun and colour. Thomas Paul has both of these in spades.

3. Amy Butler- a lot of you know of Amy and her gorgeous work and for those of you that don't check her out. Seriously great stuff. Another one who follows my love of colour. Her fabrics are so bold and fun. She makes me wish I could sew. I mean really wish I could sew. But then again, I'd have to take time away from scrapping and well surfing the net and everything else. I can't really entertain another hobby now can I? But alas, I wish I could sew. Amy Butler does that to me.

4. French Bull- So we have covered fabric, pillows, and wallpaper bands- what else is there? Why bold and funky dishware of course! I swear this is the FUNNEST dishware out there. totally. I want to order some so bad. Maybe that can be my late New Year's resolution. Save up enough money to order one item from each of my five sites listed tonight. Sounds like a good plan to me, no? Alright back to French Bull. What I love the most here is the BOLDNESS. So fun. Do you see my recurring theme once again? How many times can I say fun in this post tonight? I just love this stuff!

5. and lastly- Giftwrap!  Ahhhhhhhh giftwrap.  I think that would be cool to design as well. Maybe I'll have to look into that one day. So Heidi is my choice. The colours are bold. Orange is prevalent and oh so orange. Love it. The patterns are modern and clean. Very contemporary. I need to to get some of this stuff. Not sure what to do with it yet as I highly doubt I could bring myself to waste it wrapping up a present. I could go on all day on the subject of giftwrap. I love it. tons. The gift show is coming to town this Spring and let me tell you, I am determined to be there.

So that's my top 5 for the day. Enjoy the browsing. If you have some faves let me know as I love knew sites.

Waitttttttttttttt.. there is one more.

6. Kids room decor- Check this out- Wall Candy- so in the spirit of wallbands for my room, I think my little kiddo would love these. They are so fun! (There's that word again!) But it's true. There really is only one word to describe these beauties. Check out the rest of Modern Seed too - it's a cool site.

Ok that's it for real this time.

Over and out. Good times, good times.

Sending you away again...

I'm sending you off to another blog again today.  I sent you off to Erin's yesterday and today it's off to Kah-Mei's. She's got a cool post there today if I do say so myself. Something I've been cooking up and excitedto see released. Hope everyone enjoys it! That's all for now folks.

Get the kleenex handy...

So excited for my friend Erin. I have been lucky enough to become friends with her over the past while. I first met her in Phoenix in 2004. But what cemented the deal was this past fall in Vegas. I am so excited for her . Today she got her first copies of her new book, Supply Savvy and I couldn't be more excited for her! She is truly a wonderfully talented and sweet sweet girl. Seeing at is a special day for her, I thought I'd list just a few of the things that make her a rocking chick.  She is one of the most product talented gals I know. I swear, the girl can take ANYTHING and make it look good. And, I am also sure her book will demonstrate this perfectly. She has a super quick wit and cracks me up. Yes, this girl is not only talented but hilarious. And boy can she write. Have you read her blog? Seriously people. Good stuff. And to top it all off she is warm and oh so nice. A total package. So, let's raise our cyber glasses in a toast!!!! Head on over to her blog and check out the sweetest post ever. She just got her books delivered and she filmed it! Totally choked me up.

PS- E- the green is just for you ;)

Superwoman I am not...

  Oh no I am not. This month has proven that. With my return to work three days a week, I have found that it can't all be done. The days that I work I am up at 6:30 and get home at about 5:00 so not too too bad by work standards, but in retrospect that's a LOT of hours gone that I had before. Missing those hours. enjoying work and making a difference teaching those little munchkins to read but missing those hours nonetheless. For some reason, I have this bad habit of thinking I can do it all. Yes, there is this nagging voice that follows me around saying, "KATE???? What are you nuts?" but more often than not, I am really good at squelching that voice. In the end, something has to give. I have decided this week that for now it will have to be entering HOF. My papers are done for Fontwerks, but I still have work to do for Designer Digitals and I just recently agreed to do some digital work for Corel on a program called Painter Essentials 3 (It's a darn cool program I think and I'm excited to work on this!) Add into the mix a family that loves me and needs me and well there is no time left. I know that for me, if I entered I would want to spend the proper time on my entry. And at this point, I don't think I could do that. So it is with some trepidation and some relief that I am letting it go. For now. There is always next year. And, I have promised myself that my camera skills will be another focus for the upcoming year so that will help even more if I do decide to take another run at it again in 2007. I almost feel like writing a little letter to Creating Keepsakes that would go something like this:

Dear CK,

I'm sorry I can't enter this year. Please know that I'm still out here kicking around. I'll be back. I'll still be scrapping but for now I'm not superwoman. Thanks for all the good times. You've been great to me.

Love and hugs, Kate

Is that corny or what??? And CK girls, if any of you are reading this well then I guess in the end I have written you a letter now haven't I?

So back to Superwoman. What is it about us alpha females that makes us think that we can:

a.) have a career (yes that means work with a capital W)

b.) have a family (you know, those people we love and who we love to scrap- the fuel behind it all)

c.) have a prospering scrap career (ahhhh this is where the passion part comes in)

d.) have a fullfilling friend and social network  (can't forget those good buddies)

and

e.) have a blog (one that will make people want to stop and take the time from their own superwoman filled day to read said blog)

f.) keep it all together all the while maintaining a clean and orderly house! (why do we do this to ourselves?)

I tell ya. We are nuts aren't we? It's hard, but something keeps pushing me on. Maybe it's the part in me that comes from my Mom. The woman will come over to my house for a visit and proceed to tell me how she has just had minor surgery and she needs to relax and recup. OK sounds good to me. Ha! She'll then sit on the couch for 20 mins. maximum and pop right up. "That was good." she'll say, "Now, what needs to be done around here? What can I clean? Got any laundry?"  Actually, now that I think about it, it DOES come from her. Thanks Mom. But, in the end, it is fulfilling and I couldn't imagine it any other way. And, it also puts a little smile on my face to think of where I am now and where I was 1 year ago after my initial MS diagnosis. I'm doing good. Yes, I'm no Superwoman but I'm doing good. Three needles a week and I'm good to go. Yes, I'm doing good. And HOF will still be there waiting for me in another year.

Emerging...

Coming out of the creative fog. Been crazy busy. But it's all done. Phew. The papers are off to the printers and I'm celebrating! Thinking I may start with a glass of wine and a night watching t.v. TV? What's that? In the end, Kah-Mei and I put our heads together and worked out a line I am happy with. It's totally fun and funky and well simply neat.

Now that that is all done it's time for me to pick up my newly aquired camera and start snapping. My poor Christmas present has been sitting beside my computer for over a week now and hasn't snapped a single picture. So sad really. Poor girl. It's not just the busy schedule, it's the weather. We have had constant rain here for weeks. It stopped on the weekend for a day and a half, but it is back once again. Such dreary light conditions. What's agirl to do?

You can head on over to Kah-Mei's blog to find another sneak piece of paper. and It wouldn't be nice of me to leave without one as well, now would it?  I'm in love with this pattern. Really I am. Can't wait for it to come back printed and ready to go. I think it may just call for a night out with the girls and some more celebrating when it arrives. I mean, it would be crazy to deny any chance to celebrate. And seeing as I can't make CHA this go around, I need to think creatively to find more reasons to celebrate. Enjoy. Let me know what you think too as I tend to get a little freaked out right before release time. This one's called "Simply Decorative" and the one on the post below is called "Simply Delicious"  Do you see a pattern here? Simply divine no? Hmmmmmmm maybe that's another one. You'll have to wait around and see.

What's going on...

So so so busy right now. As I write this I am even saying to myself, "Kate, what are you doing spending time composing a blog entry for???? You have work up to the gills lady!" yes, I really do talk to myself like that and this comment is said to myself after spending a good 30-40 minutes reading other people's blogs. And they said computers would save us all so much time. ha!

So many tagged entries going on out there. Was tagged myself, but I'm deciding not to play this time around. Something about the tag games makes me uncomfortable everytime they go around. They always end with... and this is who I am tagging. It's an inherent part of the tag game. Something about that bothers me the way it's often a look at me and these are the people I know, kind of like this is my club and this is who is in it. Not all bad, but it just always strikes me as odd why that part of the tag games always has to be included. It's not a bad thing to play games and sahre little unknown details about yourself, it's maybe the manner that it is played that makes me go hmmmmmmmm. Maybe we just need a site that lists random question lists and we'd all say- OK on the15Th of the month we all go and answer the questions in section seven. Are you with me here? I suppose it would take the fun out of "ooooooooooooh so and so tagged me and look at so and so they know so and so." Women. We can be silly. The irony of what I am saying is not lost on me believe me. The fact that I just typed this whole paragraph is interesting enough in and of itself. Point made. Women can be silly. Myself included.

Feeling the need to stop and spend some time working on my photos and scrapping. I am missing it. A lot. Some days I get so busy I don't even realize it and then other days, I just feel that need to scrap. I'm hoping after all of my papers are all set to go for CHA that I can devote some time to it. Much needed time. It's been a bit of a crazy week with papers and all. Some news on that front as well. I'm no longer with A2Z. Not a bad split, Heather is a great friend and I am so thankful for all that they have done for me and for letting me release my first line. Things happen, life goes along on one course and then all of a sudden the path changes. Not necessarily bad, just different. Thank you to A2Z for everything. I wish them nothing but success! Amber McDonald recently announced on her blog that she has joined them for CHA and I know her papers will be fantastic! She is a total sweetie pie to boot. Got to meet her at Memory Trends and she was great. Best of luck to everyone over at A2Z!

Onto my news. I have joined forces with Kah-mei over at Fontwerks. Well, I shouldn't say joined forces, as she still runs the ship over there. I could never do what she does and I am constantly amazed as what she has done with Fontwerks. So proud of you my friend!! We had a little meeting last week and it was so fun to finalize paper plans, talk about the future and plan. Good things are in store. My first line of papers with FW will be released at the end of this month at CHA in Vegas. Work and babysitting were not co-operating with me this time so unfortunately I won't be able to be there, but I am already planning for CHA Summer. So going to be there. With bells on. I'll miss seeing all of the AMAZING Fontwerks girls. Gotta say, Kah-Mei has put together a wonderful team.

In leaving, I'll give you just a small taste of what is to come. Enjoy.

Tidbits

A few things going on...

New Years was great. My best friend from childhood came over with her husband and two kids. The kids had such fun getting out EVERY toy we own!  My sister also came over with her boyfriend as well as Tim's parents and their Japanese exchange student.  A nice relaxing night. Appies spread out, world Junior hockey on TV early in the night then games the rest of the night. Cranium and Rummoli were the highlights. Boys against the girls too, even more fun. LOVE games. I love getting a crowd together and just laughing so much it hurts. My kind of fun. That's what the games were for. Tim's Dad had us in stitches trying to hum a few songs and impersonate people. The kids all managed to stay up and helped us countdown to midnight then ran around banging spoons on pots while the adults toasted with champagne. Couldn't ask for a better night. And, we all got to sleep in until 9:45. nice.

I have never linked this yet and was browsing her galleries today. My dear friend Melissa has set up a photography site . It looks fantastic I think. I didn't do the site for her, but I did have a hand in the logo and colour choices. So fun. I am so proud of Melissa too for following her dream. She has really become one fantastic photographer. On another note, I have been practicing with my new Rebel XT fora few days now- LOVE the 85mm lens. It has been so dark and dreary though so I keep waiting for that sun to shine. So much to learn- mostly what buttons do what!!  Eeks.  I figured out the ISO buttons and the White Balance.  Been shooting a bit in aperture priority and next up is manual- still need to figure out a few more buttons :) Totally enjoying it though and I say the wait was well well well worth it.  Rachel has asked me if I would like to come along for a few wedding shoots this summer too so that should be fun. Great learning experience I hope.

Next up, HOF. So, it's that time of year again. I have sat down a few times to work on pages for this year's contest and I freeze up. So, I walk away- go journal in my book or add sketches. I have a lot of sketches. I'm torn too- do I do 8.5 by 11 paper or 12 by 12 digi or a combination of both? I'm at the point now where I love both of them. Decisions, decisions. I have a bunch of photos at the ready, sketches all set, but something is holding me back. The quest for perfection maybe? Who knows. I do know that I have taken a BIG break from any sort of scrapping except for the odd page here and there. I am feeling the need to scrap again, been missing it. Hopefully the creative wave will hit at the right time. My scrapping always seems to go in waves. I'll do like 35-40 pages over the course of 5-6 weeks and then wham! I'll do nothing for 3 or 4 weeks or more. So, I'm getting ready for the next wave. Trying not to put too much pressure on myself after two honourable mentions. I have always told myself, give it three tries. So this will be number three. we'll see.

Lastly, been having so much fun this week checking out the kit clubs that are showcasing my papers from A2Z. Scraptivity and Pick of the Patch in Canada have the Groovy papers this month. Soooooooo much fun to browse the designer galleries and see the papers in action. I was blown away by my pal Vicki's pages. She totally worked the paper!  Love it!!  This one particularily grabbed my attention. The butterfly is just ingenious! You rock Vick! The papers have arrived at all the stores now too so I am starting to see pages show up over at twopeas. How fun is that? Some days I still feel like I am floating on a cloud. The response has been great too so that has put a huge smile on my face. Thanks everyone!