Seems I'm just not happy unless I am ridiculously busy. Can anyone out there relate? Here's a couple of things that have been keeping me happy/busy...
I have been itching to share with you a stash of recently acquired vintage loveliness I received from sweet Jessica's Very Vintage Spring Ephemera Swap. Who knew such magic could be held in one manilla envelope! Check it out!
When I laid everything out it literally looked like a sea of happy springy ephemera! So many wonderful and generous goodies! Perfect! Jessica made a most fabulous blog post showing all the participant's bundles here. Thank you again, Jessica, for hosting this wonderful swap and thank you to all the amazing artist's who participated!
The thing that has probably kept me the most busy (very happily, mind you) is the prep work for a class I'm teaching in September. I get to travel to Omaha, NE to teach at my very sweet and talented friend Rachel Velder's first ever art retreat she's hosting, Handmade U! I am so thrilled and honored to be teaching at this event and teaching something I love so much! And another super fun thing is that I have met some of the people attending so that is making this very special to me! There's still room so if it looks like a good time to you (and I know it will be!), please join us!!!
I've been kind of heads down working on the class samples. I am making two journals to have to show...what can I say...I'm an overachiever! The first journal...
This journal will be left blank. But not the second journal...
The second journal will be my Souvenir of August journal. I have a very fun-filled and exciting August planned! I'll be using to document my trip up to Seattle to attend two classes at Teesha's ArtFest Annex with Hope and Cassondra. Then later in the month, I'll be heading to California with my girlie to visit my family. SO happy and content knowing these trips are coming up! Three states in one month!
A view of one of the journal's pages...
Here are both journals stacked with all their pages, made from primarily vintage ephemera.
Now that the class samples are completed, my reward is to put together the class kits! Oh my buttons, they are gonna be stuffed with treasures! Can't wait to see everyone's faces!
One last thing...I just had to take a picture of what was happening outside my window last night. We live at the top of a hilly cul-de-sac. We see a lot of skateboarders and bicyclists climb to the top and then head down, seeing how fast they can go. I'd never seen the skateboard and lawn chair combination. Too funny. And of course they had to video themselves.
I heard no sirens so I think these boys faired pretty well. Happy summer!
I hope to help you fill up that August journal with lots of pictures of us smiling! And those kids with the skateboarding lawn chairs.....TOO funny!!!
Btw, your blog is always a visual feast for my eyes!! Love you!
Posted by: Simone | July 27, 2011 at 05:46 PM
I can hardly wait for Handmade U! We are going to have the best time!
Posted by: Lisa | July 27, 2011 at 06:07 PM
I would love love love to go to Handmade U! Since I can't, I'm looking forward to hearing about it! Those skateboarding chairs are hilarious! I love kids!
Posted by: Laurie | July 30, 2011 at 07:49 PM
I am so excited!!!
Posted by: Stephanie O. | August 01, 2011 at 08:09 PM
I love your journals & I love you too. I am so excited to attend!
XO~Hope
Posted by: Hope Ellington | August 02, 2011 at 06:10 AM
SO lovely! Ahhh! I can't wait!
Posted by: Mollie McCabe | August 02, 2011 at 06:16 PM
Michelle, the ephemera swap was too much fun. I loved the tickets you included for each participant. It was fun adding the newly acquired ephemera to my collection!
...Your journals look so wonderful, and I wish I could join you in Omaha!
Those boys were not using lawn chairs! That is too funny!!
Posted by: Jessica at Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping! | August 02, 2011 at 06:30 PM
Hey there - I'm new to your blog but am loving your journals. I am absolutely obsessed with journaling too and so was happy to find you! Your enthusiasm is contagious - I live in Canada and we have very little (if no) art retreats close to home - I will however travel as a promise to myself for next year!!
Posted by: cathyb | August 11, 2011 at 11:22 AM
OMG! What wonderful stuff!! Your journaling is awesome! I'm still trying to get at all my supplies with hope I can start journaling again. The last year has been so horrendous, I need to art again!
Posted by: Maija | August 13, 2011 at 08:58 AM
I love the journal kits you're putting together. Will you be making extra kits to sell in your shop?
Posted by: Linda | August 15, 2011 at 12:53 PM