candice mclean

CHA-W releases - my top 10 picks!

the CHA (craft & hobby association) winter show is currently in progress in los angeles (jan 29th - feb 1st). after surfing the net, i found myself admiring and in some cases drooling over a few new releases. so i thought it would be fun to list my top 10 picks.

for a more complete list of releases checkout craftcritique.com, papercrafterscorner.com or scrapscene.com.

[my top 10 picks]

1. graphic45. loving their new releases. my favorites - le cirque and curtain call. graphic45 collaborated with hampton art and released these stamps (clings). c'est magnifique!

2. tim holtz with stampers anonymous. love the new stamps. and loving the ranger distress stains.

3. cosmo cricket. jumping for joy over their new lines including the social club specifically these papers blue eyes and manhattan. upcycle is sweet! love re-peat and re-verse. and salt air is perfect for the coming summer season and i absolutely love sea garden and deck chairs.

4. studio calico's countryside collection. ooh la la!

5. GCD - Melody Ross Designer Collection. OMWord!!! loving loving loving soul food.

6. pink paislee. loving their butterfly garden collection. 

7. sassafras. the starters collection is way cool. love it for journaling pages, scrapbook pages and mixed media altered projects.

8. shimmerz paints. the coloringz and shimmeringz. cool new tints. perfect for mixed media projects.

9. basic grey. adoring the new lauderdale collection. great color and pattern combinations.

10. crate paper. loving toy box and emma's shop. it's so hard to find good designs for boys and i'm loving the toy box collection for these reason #1. i will definitely have to have some of the toy box collection. i'm also in love with their portrait collection. although it looks very classic, it's very versatile.

portrait collection

toy box collection

emma's shop collection

okay so that was a whole lotta love. and adoration. and favs. what have you spied out there? do share your favs. come on. post a link... those who attended CHA, i can't wait to see your pics and posts. ciao!

 

 

 

january week #4

this week. 10 things to do.

1. make valentines with kiddos. hearts. hearts. and more hearts.

2. color inspiration. what color combos am i digging for this spring season?

3. CHA. i have a crush on ______________. (fill in the blank)

4. alisa burke sketchbook delight online workshop. sign up.

5. lunch date with my kiddos on friday. no school! please let it be sunny. i'm thinking picnic.

6. bloggity blog. update my blog header.

7. yoga on wednesday with miss ruth ann.

8. pedicure. maybe thursday?

9. post a photo. like it's been 4eva.

10. in the kitchen... make a new recipe.

the facebook project

every morning, i begin my day with a cup of coffee and head to my computer. i check my email and my facebook. i quickly peek around to see who said what and who did what. if time permits, a make a quick comment or click the famous "like" button.

[sidenote] when will fb make a dislike button? [end sidenote]

then, i proceed with a quick google search for my creative quote of the day. i love to begin my day with something positive. something creative. something to give me motivation. something to make me think outside of my little box.

perusing the internet last night in search of my favorite blogs, i stumbled upon kelli crowe's blog. scrolled down through her most recent posts and voila. there was the most brilliant idea. the facebook scrapbook.

[sidenote] why was i searching for blogs? i upgraded my mac os and voila... lost all of my bookmarks. very frustrating. many favorite blogs & sites full of information, inspiration, places i visit on a daily basis vanished. lost. currently rebuilding bookmarks. sigh. [end sidenote]

i can't remember when i joined fb, but i know it's been at least 2 years or more. after reading kelli's post i started to wonder about my own stuff. comings. goings. rants. photos. basically, my online journal.

all of my stuff, my online journal, is sitting there in cyber space. kelli has inspired me to go capture it all. print it all. and place it all into it's own binder/scrapbook (just like kelli. see her post - fabulous). and like kelli, i plan to do this once a month to maintain my onging online journal. how cool! thank you kelli crowe for another genius idea. you're brilliant!

online workshops

second attempt. i had this beautiful post with links and argh! for some reason... it did not save or post.

breathe in. breathe out. a bit better. almost.

continuing with my *40 things to do list before i turn 40*. i listed online workshops - signup for a workshop or shops for creative inspiration and education. i've been researching online workshops and a few are speaking to me. there are many options, many great workshops; but i must pace myself and not get overloaded with projects. i tend to do that. i'll find myself super excited and full of ideas and boom - overload.

so in no particular order, here are my four workshops. definitely planning to signup for these!

1. alisa burke's hand carved stamps. i *heart* stamps and the thought of creating *carving* my own stamps makes me oh so happy. can't wait!

2. alisa burke's skectchbook delight. i keep a sketchbook on my nightstand and when i'm inspired, i journal, doodle, sketch. however, i need a better challenge and prompt. this workshop looks perfect.

3. mary ann moss stencilry workshop. i took mary ann's remains of the day workshop and loved it! great pdf files and how to videos. packed with wonderful inspiration and great techniques.

4. art journaling 101 with dina wakley. i've been an admirer of dina's work for quite some time. i visit her blog often. her journaling style is mesmerizing. love it. very excited to take her workshop.

okay, so there you have it. my list of online workshops. do a google search and find something that inspires you. online workshops are awesome... usually self-paced and available at all times. however, if online doesn't work for you... you need that in person relationship, take a workshop within your community. there are many options... check your LSS (local scrapbook store), stamp store, paper store, craft store, library, community colleges... do a google search. always challenge yourself and continue your education. books, blogs, videos, classrooms, workshops - you can never stop learning and being inspired. go singup today.

my list. my progress. starting with OLW.

one little word. choose a word for 2011.

my goal. OLW for 2011. hmm? newly transplanted in a foreign country, i started asking myself what do i want to do, see and accomplish? that's easy... i want to explore all of okinawa. i want to explore the backstreets finding the best and most unique shopping markets, art districts, textile markets, yummiest eateries. my goal - seek out the hidden treasures. to see and experience through exploration.

okinawa. some ideas. visit the world heritage sites (castles, ruins, shrines and temples). attend a few of the many festivals (cherry blossom, tug of war in naha). experience okinawan culture (origami, traditional tea ceremony, ryukyuan folk dancers).

japan. explore mainland japan. kyoto again! visited in sept 2010 and fell in love with the area. must see nara. there's a temple in nara i wanted to visit and did not. going there this year.

other countries. explore surrounding countries. ideas for 2011 - thailand. cambodia. singapore. korea.

myself. as an artist, i'm always exploring new ideas, opportunities and techniques. with 2011, i want to learn more (take a few classes), be more adventurous, be more bold and explore who i am as an artist.

definition. definition for the word explore. (definition from yourdictionary.com)

ex·plore (ek splôr′, ik-)

transitive verb explored -·plored′, exploring -·plor′·ing

• to look into closely; examine carefully; investigate
• to travel in (a region previously unknown or little known) in order to learn about its natural features, inhabitants, etc.
• Med. to examine (an organ, wound, etc.) by operation, probing, etc., as in order to make a diagnosis

intransitive verb

• to search carefully, systematically, or scientifically for oil, minerals, treasure, etc. 

until next time, go explore.

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Hello October | twenty13

hello 2011

eek. it's 2011. it's been 6 months since we left the USA and moved to okinawa, japan. wow. 6 months. 1/2 a year. man. that flew by!

okay 2011... are you ready? got any goals? i'm a goal oriented person. i have to have something to work towards.

kay. this is going to be a big year. a great year. but a big one. with 2011, i will celebrate my 40th birthday. yep. wow. i'm not scared of the number. nope. bring it on. i do however have a few things that i want to accomplish before i hit the big 40. i adore lists and if you've been here before and read the bloggity blog, you've seen a few of my lists. well... saw this birthday list idea on hula seventy two years ago and i've been practicing it ever since. so here it is... my list of 40 things to do before june 2nd. i'm keeping it real - some of my goals are super simple and some are pretty huge.

1. choose my one little word.

2. travel to thailand.

3. begin a new painting series. 1 subject. 9 paintings.

4. make a necklace using my soldering kit.

5. enhance my photography business. *lightbulb* (inside joke)

6. travel to the most northern point of okinawa. take a photo.

7. have a picnic lunch with chip and the kiddos on the beach.

8. travel to most southern point of okinawa. take a photo.

9. join an online photography challenge group (52 project).

10. run 3 miles nonstop.

11. once number 10 has been accomplished, enter a 5k. i need a friend to join me. takers?

12. visit the art museum in naha.

13. take an online mixed media class. this one prompts a future blog post to feature some of my favs.

14. host a cocktail party. thinking mardi gras.

15. learn more japanese words.so far i've conquered... hello. thank you. excuse me. your welcome. good morning. i'm sorry. now, i need to learn more!

16. write chip a love note. handwritten. (confession) it's been a long time since i've done this.

17. organize my favorite 2010 photos into one book.

18. complete a photo collage for our home.

19. have lunch with a friend at pizza in the sky.

20. frame wood block prints from kyoto.

21. learn to like being "in" the ocean a bit more and actually try snorkeling.

22. go hiking with chip and kiddos.

23. see the cherry blossoms (jan/feb).

24. take a pottery class. yomitan?

25. atten the annual tug of war in naha.

26. take a hop somewhere from okinawa.

27. visit kyoto. november.

28. read at least 12 books. one per month.

29. learn to crochet.

30. make a scarf after number 29 has been accomplished.

31. attend a traditional japanese tea ceremony.

32. collect sea glass from the beaches.

33. travel to cambodia.

34. buy a bike. we left ours in the states.

35. get hung. ideas... gift shop. coffee house. gallery. it's all good.

36. sell 100 items in my etsy store.

37. complete a self portrait once a month.

38. write a short story.

39. get published in one of stampington's magazines.

40. on june 2nd... see something new (site, shrine, gallery... anything as long as it is "new" to me). taste something new and unfamiliar. be with those i love the most-est.

so whatever age you are turning in 2011... get started on your list. keep it simple. keep it real. keep it honest. it's meant to help you accomplish small and big goals but not to set you up for failure. wipe away your fears and begin 2011 with purpose.

if you want to participate & share, make your list and post a link wtih your blog post in the comment section below. i'd love to see what you are hoping to accomplish in 2011.