The Memory Bee

3.30.11 On my way!!!!

After a year of anticipation and months of preparation, I'm on my way to Paris for Version Scrap this weekend and then some touristy time of sightseeing and shopping with Michelle White who is meeting me there on Monday. Look out Paris!! To say I can't wait is an understatement! Today I'm meeting Donna and Bill Downey in Charlotte and then we'll be in Paris tomorrow morning... tired, I'm sure, but ready to GO!

My husband dropped me off a the airport this morning (he's already brushing up on his French for my return trip next year!) and gave me these envelopes to open along the way...

Is he a gem or what?!!! (Michelle, tell Scott to get on the ball!) I hope to post a few pictures along the way... praying for good weather!

Yesterday the happy news was announced that I'm going to be the guest teacher for the National Scrapbook Day celebration at Scrapbook Island in San Jose in May. It was so hard to keep the secret all this time! Laurie and I have been planning since last fall, so when I said goodbye to the students in February, it was killing me to not say "see you soon!" I love those girls and can't wait to spend the weekend together! On Saturday we'll be doing a special Alice in Wonderland project (wait till you see!) and then on Sunday I'll be teaching two mini workshops that are open to the public. There will only be space for 25 students in the workshops but I'm bringing kits for 50, so that those who want to just take a kit and work on it during the crop can easily do so. The sign ups for the workshops will be starting in just a couple days at the Island. I'm looking forward to being in the new crop room... looks perfect!

Just a little update... Brandon and Alicia are safely back in Texas! I can't wait to see them Easter weekend!

Bon voyage! Au voir!

3.27.11

I'm in Philadelphia waiting for my flight home to Buffalo after such a fun weekend in Ottawa with all the gals at The Scrapbox! I'm going home with a heart full of gratitude for all the friendships, encouragement, hugs, smiles, great food adventures, and good times!! A big thank you to Jenn for all her thoughtful planning that made it a special weekend for everyone. Can't wait to do it again someday! (All your cute pictures are in the album on the side. :)

Here we are at the Montreal airport with the stack of suitcases that I travel with. (We drove to Montreal for me to fly home to save a couple hundred dollars... why does airfare to Canada cost more than airfare to Europe?! That's crazy!!)

I already posted these pictures on Facebook but not everyone checks there, so I'll post them here too. After class on Saturday we went downtown to get me my first poutine... french fries with cheese curds and gravy. I love cheese curd so I was pretty sure I would like poutine! It was good! I couldn't eat a ton of it but it was fun to try!! We had the sweetest, most patient waiter... I had to get a picture with him and his t-shirt. A cutie, that's for sure!

The girls couldn't believe I still wanted beaver tails after having poutine, but a girl needs dessert, right? They were up for it, so we headed to the market and the official Beavertails location to get the most yummy, warm, melt in your mouth piece of fried dough. Loved it! Thank you for indulging me... I hope it's true that the calories you eat in a foreign country don't count!

I'll be hitting the ground running at home to get ready in the next two days for two weeks in Paris and London! Yikes!!! So much to do!

I was so, so happy to get a call from Brandon on Saturday night. He's still in California but out of "the box." He said the first week was pretty cool but the second week was just hours and hours of sitting in a humvee. Pretty boring. So good to hear his voice though!

3.25.11 O Canada

Up EARLY and on my way to Ottawa this morning and looking forward to my return trip to The Scrapbox to teach classes this weekend. Got to get me some poutine this time! 

I have finally graduated to the world of die-cutting with the arrival of this...

Is that not the cutest thing ever?! Tim's attention to detail just makes me happy... even the stickers to put on the "suitcase" (machine) are "meaningful." 

I've already cut some diecuts for an upcoming class! For those who haven't seen a Vagabond before, you slide the button on the top and the sides open out to form the platform to place the dies on. The plug is stored in one end and once you plug it in, the magic begins... this is one powerful tool!! Love and highly recommend it!

I'll be home on Sunday with only two days to unpack, repack, and be off to PARIS! :)

3.21.11 I'm here!

Sorry so much time has gone by since my last post! Time is flying by as I get ready to leave for Paris next week with a little trip to Ottawa to teach at The Scrapbox this weekend! I don't know who made this schedule (oh, I guess I did!) but after I return from Paris and London on April 13, I'll be home for only ONE day before I leave for Florida to return to Whim So Doodle (can't wait!) then on to see Brandon and Alicia at Ft. Hood for Easter, from there to El Paso to teach classes for the first time at Pizazz (new date... watch for details!) and then on to San Diego to teach at Paper Tales! It will be May before I'm home again, so there's a ton of details to take care of!

I had a great weekend at Buffalo Stamps and Stuff! It was so nice for a change to just drive down the road and be there instead of multiple airplanes and all! I loved catching up with everyone... seeing old friends and making new ones... I am so blessed! Look who tried to go along...

I've been working on a special project that I'll be teaching... somewhere! :) Here's a peek at what I'm working with... I'll show more when I can!

I'll be back with more soon! I promise! (no word from California since my last post. Missing them!)

3.11.11 One of those in-between days

I've got lists to keep track of my to do lists but with this day at home and fanciful thoughts of upcoming travel filling my head, I've not done much today but watch the coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I can't imagine the loss and the pain of the people... my heart and prayers go out to them. 

Three weeks from today I'll be teaching here again... can't wait to see Cecile, my translator and friend, and all the sights of the city.

I get tingly with excitement to wander the streets again... 

where even the graffiti is charming and the signs of spring enchanting...

In the meantime though I have two very special teaching dates... one next weekend here at home at Buffalo Stamps and Stuff (love seeing everyone and catching up!) and the next weekend in Ottawa at The Scrapbox. I'm looking forward to a great weekend there again this year!!

I have kits to pack (my "helper" got a temporary job) and projects to work on and lots of praying to do for my two soldiers who are at NTC (the National Training Center) in California right now. They are in "the Box" for two weeks. (I'm learning a lot about things I never knew existed!) Here's a link to a video if you're interested. Who knew?!! the video link So thankful for the training they are getting!

3.6.11

It's a beautiful day here in Texas!! Enjoying the sunshine and a little caprese salad for lunch on my way to the airport and home again. Just delightful! I sat there and soaked it in and counted my blessings for a great weekend at Scrapbook 'n Such and for such sweet students and friends who touch my life and make me so grateful to be able to do what I do! You all make it worthwhile!! Thank you to Terry and Debbie and everyone there for making me feel so welcome! Can't wait to see you all again!

Be sure to check out all your CUTE pictures in the album on the side.

In a few minutes I'll be on my way to Chicago and then on home. Tomorrow is income tax day... always such fun! (Not!) and then packing kits for upcoming classes and working on a couple special projects... I'll post peeks when I can! 

I didn't get to see Brandon and Alicia while I was here although they weren't all that far away... they left today for a month for NTC in California for their intensive training for deployment this summer. It feels really weird and sad to not have contact for a month! Pray for them... to be strong and safe! Thanks!!

3.3.11 Texas time

Time to pack up again and head to Texas again... my flights seem to criss-cross the country from here to California to Florida to Texas and back around again with a couple stops along the way! I would never have dreamed that I would spend so much time in Texas but I love it and the people! I'm looking forward to a great weekend of classes at Scrapbook 'n Such about 2 hours north of Dallas in Wichita Falls. It's my third visit there so it's fun to see friends and new faces too! 

Those of you who have taken classes from me during the last couple years know that I've had you sign a notebook which was my scrapbook of my classes... this year I decided to change things up, and so this year, I'm asking my students to write on a blank ATC card and maybe decorate it a little with some of the supplies I bring along or some of their scraps or bring one from home... and then I'm keeping them on my work desk. I love it! It makes me happy every time I look at it! If you're coming to one of my classes in the future, be prepared!! :)

I'm putting a few extra kits in my suitcase if you still want to join us!