Lucky 15 Paper Arts

A long road...

I know that it has been months (!) since I have last posted...  and many are wondering if I fell off the face of the Earth (?), so here is the scoop.  In December along with the news that we would be having a little baby girl we were also told that I had Placenta Previa.  (fyi - when the placenta attaches over the birth canal)  Although I knew that the potential for complications was there, the doctors were so up beat that I really just put it out of my mind...  Well.. the placenta refused to move and at the end of February it got a little more complicated and I was forced to be on bed rest in the hospital... and that it where I stayed until April 17th, 2008 when we welcomed Margot Marion Olesen into this world by scheduled Cesarean. 
   
She came about 3.5 weeks early and she is tiny, but she is healthy and needed no extra help after birth and came home with me a few days later.  Maryanne is so excited to be a BIG SISTER, and Michael and I are just glad to be a family again...  Thank you to everyone who was there to support not just me but Michael and Maryanne too...  So it's a little crazy here, but I hope to be creating again soon.

It's a...?

GIRL!!!  Today was the day that we had our 20 week ultrasound and along with finding out that our new little wee one is healthy (not to mention super active) but that we are going to be welcoming another girl to our household... 

I should have known, Maryanne has been insisting that her new sibling was a girl since we told her to expect this new addition a few weeks into the pregnancy.  So, now all we have to decide on is a name.. it has to start with an "M".. (that way we all have the same initials..)  and that is the big update!!  Soon I will post all the goodies I have been working on for Christmas gifts.. and hopefully I'll have my etsy shop up soon too!!  In the mean time you can check out my latest creations at Frances...  and don't forget to buy local, buy handmade and keep your local crafter in business..

'tis the season...

Some of you may recognize these flags...  Well sort of.  I was excited to be able to contribute to Frances' holiday window display... So much so that you can look for a smaller form of these and other festive things at the 2nd annual Indie Crafeteria.  I am going to have a booth there so come out and join the fun...  First Friday December 7th from 6-10 pm in the parking lot behind Frances..!!

What I'm Thankful for...

This morning Maryanne and Michael got up and took a bike ride together.  She was so excited to be up high on the back of her daddy's bike, and then off they went.  As they rode away I thought about how thankful I am that they get to have this time, that I get to watch them play together and that even now as I write this, I can hear her outside laughing and playing.

It was six months ago this month that Michael and I almost lost this wonderful light in our life.  And as I tell the story over and over again or think about the what ifs and could have beens,  I am thankful for her kisses and her hugs and her silly little laugh and for the fact that she is still just a regular 2 and a half year old with an extraordinary story.  To me she is more amazing now, because I realize what it would be without her, and that I am thankful for.
I wish everyone a wonderful time today with friends and family.  It is important for us all to find those things that make our spirit smile and give thanks for that everyday.

 

Catching up.

I can't believe that it is already the end of November!!  I hate it when the end of the year is here and you are left wondering what happened...  But to catch everyone up on what has been going on... 
Maryanne was a fairy for Halloween...

I made her costume out of dresses and well, curtains that I found at Goodwill.  I had really wanted to only use recycled stuff but I had to break down in the end and by some tuille to finish the skirt.  So it turned out to be 95% recycled...  Of course that night she refused to wear the jacket with the wings (they were scary), but with a little candy bribe from her daddy she was off to the serious business of candy collecting. 
I finished my projects for the new Making Memories book that is coming out soon.  I can't tell you what it is about but we got to use all new, really fun products.  I will keep you posted on that..  But if you are interested in the latest book A Season of Joy, it is now available in the stores..  GO get yourself a copy and get busy..!
Other than that, I am working on all my products for the annual Indy Craft Fair that is held at Frances.  This year it is the First Friday in December (that is the 7th) from 6-10pm.  Came out and do some holiday shopping and support your local artist.  If you are interested in having a booth (they're free) call Georganne at Frances (follow the links)
I hope that everyone is having a good time (in the 80 degree weather we are having) and stay tuned for more...

Long Time..

No post.. I know it has been FOREVER since I last updated everyone.. So I apologize for the long post but there is a lot to get caught up on.. 

So first off Maryanne started preschool at the beginning of the month.  She totally loves it and I am excited to see her make new friends and learn new things..  Now all I have to do is find room for all the art projects she's bringing home.   

I can finally say that I am a published author... The new Making Memories book, A Season of Joy is out and I am in it!!! Yeah! 


I am really excited to have been included in this book and owe a big thank you to the MM team.  So when you get a chance check it out.. Lots of great ideas for the holidays both for gifts and for you.  And the last bit of news is that we will welcoming a new wee one into our family in May.. (this would be the reason for the gap in posts)  I am excited to be adding one to the nest, however I could do without the first trimester thing. (this is so a boy!!)
So needless to say I have been busy.. The website is still working (however it has been on hold while I get my strength back..) and I am working on more fun retail items for everyone to enjoy..  Thanks to everyone for all your love and support..  and go forth and make art!!!

She's Finally Open

Olive Annie that is...  My very wonderful friend Lani has finally filpped her open sign!!!  Olive Annie (the name of the store) has all sorts of very cool frocks (I swear I want all the jewelry) for you and your home... All local or small independent vendors (like me!!!) and ohhh so cool..  Yes you will find some of my personal creations (check out le mur de toilette) there and more to come after the web store is up...  I am so happy for Lani and her Olive... Congratulations!!!

Craft My Ride

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a marketing firm in LA about a contest that Scion (toyota) is sponsoring call "Craft My Ride."  Basically the contest is to come up with car accessories for a Scion that are hand crafted.  The winner gets a new Scion xD.  I am expecting a press release next week with more details and I will make them available when I get them, but in the mean time for those of you that think this might be cool... Start your crafting engines...

Totally Fresh!!!

As part of our New Year's Resolution to shop local, I have been dying to get my act together to start doing my product shopping at the Public Market that is held every Saturday morning in downtown Phoenix.  So... This past Saturday Maryanne and I loaded up our blue Goodwill basket (new use, makes a great shopping basket for the market...even Maryanne can pull it around) and headed to the market...  It was hot (get over it people...) but for the wonders of the fresh produce that no kidding was harvested the day before, I will brave the sweaty morning. 

These are the carrots that we bought (Michael thought that there was something wrong with the purple ones) and let me just tell you, they taste like CARROTS.  Sweet and loverly.  It reminds me of my Culinary Basics Instructor who would talk about how his tomatoes that he grew himself tasted like "TOMATO".  As he would yell the word across the room and we would all look around like this guy was a little too excited about fresh produce... BUT here I am...  Anyways, the tomatoes were super good, the peaches that Maryanne picked out OMG!!!  Seriously, take the time to go find out what fresh really tastes like and you will never want the picked before it was ripe, flown in from another country (oh yes, Strawberries in December.. not grown here) product that you generally find in the supermarket...  The farmers market is YUMMM. 
So off the soup box...  I will be at Art Unraveled this weekend and the site should be up in just a short time...  Just working out a few bugs and we are up and running.  For all of you "crafters" check out the Church (of Craft)  blog for info about a new contest coming up, just for you.

tempt your palatte???

So I told you that I would post pictures of my most marvelous morsels and here they are... 

I am having so much fun doing this... {not that I am giving up on the paper arts}  I love that I get to just make what ever and I LOVE the fact that you never know what is going to be in the bakery case and so I have people coming in and asking for their favorites... 

And I can guarantee that all my pastries are made with love and above all else that's what makes them good...