I love to blog daily but this month I have been taking a bit of a hiatus. There are several things that have been taking my time away from my blog :) I just wanted to take a moment to explain because I really do value everyone who reads my blog — I think of you even when I am not here physically blogging, I really do!
At the beginning of the month I virtually fell off the face of the earth because I needed some rest time to recover from Art-Full Horizons as well as time to do all the post-event work. I am still working on things but we are effectively closing Art-Full Horizons. Our lives are taking us in different directions than we imagined back in September 2010 when we started AH and for us to move forward, we really need to close this chapter before moving on to new and exciting adventures. We had such a great time and loved every moment with each and every one of you who attended and supported AH. Anyone who has put on a big event knows how much work goes into it and you don't really know until you get there. To say the least, it is intense. It is exhilirating, exciting, and exhausting all at the same time. I left so tired I could not keep my eyes open but on the same token, I was so inspired, pumped up, and joyful about teaching and sharing papercrafting as a result. Seeing my friends, long time students, and new friends having such a wonderful time, learning, being inspired, and making new friends of their own was the kind of reward you cannot descirbe. I definitely plan to be part of something like Art-Full in the future. I am excited to work on something new, take the lessons learned from Art-Full and use them to make my business and whatever new ventures I work on even better. I am so thankful for everyone who was part of making Art-Full Horizons a success, from Laura to Mykle to the instructors, to Jennifer C. and Vanessa, to Sheila, Kelly, and Liz for their help, to all the fabulous sponsors and everyone who promoted AH, to our wonderful Deminar instructors, and to everyone who vendored and taught at the Grand Garden Tea but most of all, and I really mean most of all, to everyone who attended the event and the Grand Garden Tea. I cannot tell you how much my heart has swelled from the support of you and to be able to share crafting with you in the setting that Art-Full offered. It was a pleasure. I have appreciated all of the feedback we have received during and since the event. I am excited to start this next chapter when the time comes and hope you join me in whatever that new adventure holds.
My kids are both home for the summer. I want to enjoy that. Childhood really does fly by and I never want to look back and wish I had done more with my kids. One of my friends, tammyi, is always having adventures with her kids. Just get in the car and go! See where the day takes you. I used to do that when I was younger but then I had kids and became an old fuddy duddy. This summer is all about having those adventures and making memories with my kids and husband. We have already gone on several day trips and most likely I will be tagging along for a few days as my parents take the grandkids to Yellowstone this summer. I am so excited about making the memories that my kids will talk about to their kids. And in being a part of their lives. We bought 200 water balloons and 8 water guns last week and went to town!
And one final thing, let's just lump it all together, is business related. Hydrangea Hippo is branching out into retreats :) I am in the process of creating and decorating a retreat house. I will make a formal announcement after CHA so keep an eye out for that, a dedicated website, and more info, photos, etc. Painting, decorating, working in the yard are all taking me away from the computer but closer to my dream plans for the retreat house. I cannot wait to share more with you!! Also, Hydrangea Hippo's etsy shop is having a grand re-opening on June 25th. I will make a fancy schmancy announcement about it tomorrow :) In preparation for that, I have been working working working with several of my friends and my family to create new items, get new kits packaged, do inventory. It is going to be amazing!! I am so excited for what is “in store for the store”!! teeeheee.
I am also neck deep in creating CHA samples and submitting my work for publication. I love to share a project the moment I create it and it has been maddening NOT TO but I have been submitting more things for publication and one of the caveats of that is not to share. At least not until I know it has been picked up or rejected. Hopefully I get picked up for more pubs as a result! I hope to share some sneak peeks of those CHA samples soon. I have really enjoyed creating for this show!!
I hope to see you at a crop or class soon–there's lot of memories to be scrapped so let's do it together :)
Take care sweetie….