I always find it hard to go to the industry Trade shows. I am so eager to get there, see all the new products, see everyone again, and just be immersed in my business. But I get so worn out being there! It is so exhausting! I began to realize a couple of years ago, after attending shows for more than a year, that I really go into hiding or hibernation when I get home. It is all so overwhelming for me, that I need to unwind and find my ground again. In fact, after this last trade show, Jeffrey and I took our 3 kids and went away for 7 days. It was nice to get away and spend quiet family time with our kids.

I apologize for not getting any kind of ACCI trade show wrap up prior to this newsletter. I know that there have been reports, photos and comments posted all over the internet, so I am going to tell those of you who are already know all of this stuff that I am sorry for going over it again.

I think this show, as always, was interesting in the trends and products presented, the attendance of the industry’s members and professionals. So many manufacturers noticed a lower attendance, but higher sales than last year. I personally noticed that there were a lot more products being offered at this show than I remembered in the past shows. I was very happy to see so much patterned paper being offered by companies! I Love patterned paper! Rub ons are hot!! Everyone has rub ons this season! Alphabets and monograms are everywhere. Textured cardstocks are a huge hit---Bazzill has really cornered the market on this with its new collection and texture offerings. Great new colors and textures for several of our favorite companies. Additions to existing collections were introduced--- Ki Memories, Chatterbox, Art Warehouse, Sonnets, Narratives, etc. I love the collection additions; it is so helpful and cool to have new updated products to match and coordinate with older favorite products. It keeps me grabbing and buying all their older products as well as their new ones.

We ran our Acci trade show countdown and preview and are currently offering a lot of the new products on Pre-order!! We will be continuing to add new products on a regular basis. I think this is the harder than anything---waiting for the new products to arrive at the warehouse. I can’t wait!!!

It is hard to believe that it is already August. I know, I know, I talk about the passage of time in every single one of my newsletters. But it does affect me so! I always want to stop time and make things stand still. I want time to stop for my children sometimes. I am determined to make the most of this last month of the summer before school starts.

As summer winds down, and fall begins, we have a bunch of neat things lined up for the site. I have been working on the fall calendar, jotting down and preparing for all kinds of fun promotions. I will keep you updated as we get into the new season.

 

Heartland 8.5x11 Places We Love Packs Cardstock (Bazzill)	Golden Gate 8.5x11 Places We Love Packs Cardstock (Bazzill)
A is for... 12x12 Monogram paper (american crafts)	Alpha Squares 12x12 Monogram Vellum (american crafts)
Granny's Kitchen Border Stickers (SEI)	Farout Flowers Hippie Chick 12x12 Paper (SEI)
My Girl Wisdom 12"x12" KI Memories Patterned Paper (Collection IV)	Colorful Wisdom 12"x12" KI Memories Patterned Paper (Collection IV)
Love Tags - Great Room (Chatterbox)	Designer CD - Billiard Room (Chatterbox)
"A Girl & her Grandpa - Lil' Davis bottlecaps" by Amy Grendell	"New Sonnets Stickers" by Jennifer (Ditz) McGuire
"{ stop & look • new SEI }" by Ali Edwards	"Buds:New KI Memories" by Shannon Tidwell
"New Products: Lil Davis Ribbons!!" by Jackie Bonette

We have a lot of new product coming from the summer ACCI Trade show! Be watching in the next 2 months for all the great new products! Below is listed only some of the new items we are expecting to come in:

Paper Fever papers Autumn Leaves office collection additions, new Rhonna Farrar collection, books, calendar and more 7Gypies Paper Making Memories ---Metals, fabrics, cards, patterned cardstock, and MORE Doodlebug---papers, cardstock stickers, rub ons, additional Oh My Words, 123s, Etcs, textured cardstock Paper Fever---lots of new Papers! LOVE THESE! My Minds Eye Monograms die cuts Paper Loft Rusty Pickle Papers Lil Davis papers, chip board alphabets and numbers, embellishments Pebbles—new stickers & papers Deluxe Designs Alphabet collections---papers and stickers EK Success nostalgiaques and Inspirationables Art Warehouse, Sonnets, David Walker, Sports line from Danelle Johnson, Narratives, and more from Creative Imaginations
"Coming Soon-(New Mustard Moon)-Mr. Serious" by Shannon Tidwell	"Coming Soon - Rhonna Farrer" by Jennifer (Ditz) McGuire
"Hello Friend - KI card and envelope" by Carrie Colbert	"Newsletter ~ Coming Soon ~ Autumn Leaves Sports Pogs and Number Stencils" by Lisa Russo

When did you start scrapbooking? how were you introduced to it?
I started scrapbooking in November 2002. Chris and my Dad were away on their annual hunting trip so Simon and I headed to the coast to spend time with my Mom. I knew that I wanted to create some order out of the photos and mementos that I had been collecting since Simon's birth. I boxed up a bunch of photos with the intent of heading to the local scrapbook store to see what this was all about and potentially putting something together. At just about the same time I read about a scrapbooking website called Two Peas in a Bucket (from an online home organization site) - it was such a unique name I had to check it out. And BOY what an impact it has made on my life.

What are your sources for inspiration?
I have come to believe that a better question may be, what are NOT my sources for inspiration? Man, there really is inspiration everywhere! Things Simon says, feelings I want to have recorded, etc. I have recently been inspired by photos from my childhood - they have given me a break from scrapping Simon all the time and let me drift back into my own past.

How do you get started on projects (layouts, etc)?
Lately most of the projects I have been working on have some direction built in - a product that needs to be used, a technique demonstrated, a theme for an article. I really like this type of scrapping - that little bit of direction can send me off in so many cool creative ways. I also like to work with a vision in mind. Having a vision helps me communicate better what it is that I really want to say with my page.

What things do you like to communicate through your work?
Love of family, humor, real life & everyday experiences.

What have been your biggest achievements or greatest layouts or moments with this hobby?
When it really comes right down to it, I think this hobby has allowed me to live a more reflective life. To slow down and assess the things that are really important. Scrapbooking has actually helped me make positive choices in my life. It is so much more than the *work* - it is the memories that are now recorded, and the thoughts and feelings that have been shared and will be available to my family for years to come. That is really my biggest achievement.

On a professional note, being asked to be a Garden Girl, being named to CK's Hall of Fame in 2003, and now joining the CK team as a Contributing Editor have all been really important to me as an artist. I am also really excited to be having a book about designing scrapbook pages published by CK in the fall as well.

What kind of goals do you have with your scrapbooking?
My main goal is to just keep on keepin’ on. Really. Keep doing what I love and keep it all in perspective and balanced. Keep meeting wonderful people who share this passion. I love that part of scrapbooking.

Where do you scrap? do you attend crops or conventions?
At home in my studio. I don't attend any crops locally. I attend conventions when I can and will now be teaching classes at CKU's and other CK Conventions. I am looking forward to traveling more.

Where does scrapbooking fit into your life? Do you scrap in the morning, evening, late night? when do you do your greatest work?
I scrap at all times of the day - it is a big part of my life. Lately I have been working a lot in the mornings while Simon attends a school program in town. He gets out and about and I get some quality work/scrap time. Most days I try to close up shop when Chris comes home from work, depending on my workload and deadlines.

What does your family think of your scrapbooking?
My parents LOVE it. They want to see my new pages each time they come through town. I think Chris has a love/hate relationship with scrapbooking. He can see how much I love it and he can see how cool it is as family history and a creative outlet for me - as long as I am keeping things in perspective it seems to be OK :). Right now, Simon could care less! Of course he does love my supplies :).

Do you have a favorite product line, paper, sticker, or cardstock color?
My favorite cardstock colors right now are Skyline (very dark navy), Crimson (red), and white. There is just something so crisp and clean about white. As for product lines, there are so many that I love - it would be so hard to choose one or two as favorites. Some of the ones I find myself reaching for often these days are : Narratives, KI Memories, American Crafts, SEI, and Chatterbox.

What do you want the peas to know about you?
That I love scrapbooking. That it makes me happy. That I feel so lucky that I have found something that I am so passionate about - I never really knew what having a hobby was like before all this. That I get scrappers block just like everyone else. That I love the mixture of artistic expression and history. That I love the stories.