The Crafty Cafe

eileensideways: haaa, those are all cute; the yodels look good enough to eat. thanks for sharing. i have all the ing...
Elisabeth: Okay, those button cookies are too adorable! I can't even imagine the time it took to make the knit...
Robin: Thanks for the kind words about my buttons!
Pam: I have a wall in my room that is off white and I did all the different words for love in tan, it is ...
Ry: Wow, what a wonderful story! And can somewhat relate since my fella and I both work in theater (thou...
Vickie: So sweet! Your layout is lovely too. I tried digi scrapping during the summer but I can't afford p...
Damaris: MS. Jess...YOU ARE BLESSED. Wishing you a ton of more years together full of happiness and health. ...
{leah}: Aww... too sweet, Jess! And I totally know what you mean. ;) I feel the same way.

Announcing.... CraftyCon!

Here on this blog… because if you’re a crafter who Tweets or Facebooks you’ve probably already heard about it.

I’m so excited to share though (in case you haven’t) about this fantastic conference for Crafters BY Crafters which will be held in Chicago (my home base) October 21-23. This unique get together for professional crafters (or those that dream of being one) is put together in part by the editorial team at Craft Critique, so I’m a little partial to saying I know it will be a blast. And you can bet I’ll be there!

So, how can you get involved? Click the logo above to be taken to the website where you should sign up for notifications that registration is open and more. Currently there’s a call for speakers too, and I know there have already be some A-mazing submissions.

Next, follow along on Twitter here: @crafty_con

And become a fan on Facebook here: CraftyCon Fan Page

I’m so excited just thinking about all the amazing crafty minds that will be there to network and share ideas. Seriously, from what a little bird has told me…. this is going to be AWESOME. I’ll of course share more as I learn more (and can), but in the mean time go on and sign up for those updates. Yay!

Now back to your regularly scheduled craftiness… what’cha doing this weekend? Something creative I hope. Nothing helps cut through these winter blues like splashing some color around a scrapbook page or canvas. I’ll be here this weekend posting some fun projects – I’ve got the itch to get some crafty on!

Thanks for stopping by today, and see you soon!

(And Happy Friday – you made it!! Woot!)

Mwah.

Make No Apologies.

When you’re being yourself.

When you’re making art that speaks to YOU.

When you sit down to create and just pull things together that you love, be it color combos, patterns, whether it’s “in” or “out”.

When you decide a ball cap and sweats is as ‘chic’ as you’re going to dress today.

Or tomorrow.

When you order an appetizer and a dessert (and a glass of wine… or two).

When you get a little off schedule.

When you disagree, strongly or just a little bit.

When you agree with the unpopular choice.

Don’t ever start a sentence with an “I’m sorry but….”

Because life is really too short for “I’m sorry’s” when it comes to just being who you are.

And the people that matter would never expect you to apologize for what they love about you.

And anyone else can simply get over it.

And if they can’t they should apologize to you.

To which you can answer with a “That’s Ok”…

And walk away with your head held high.

Knowing you grew just a little bit more as a person for doing so,

And left them wishing they could make no apologies too.

Created with Leah’s No Apologie Kit available at Funky Playground Designs.

Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend…. full of stuff you do for you.

XOX – see you soon.

Jess

Projects in Progress…

Hello there! How are you friend? Just a quick drive by post to show you what I’ve been up to while I participate in Style School. I’m having a great time soaking up all the inspiration and looking for ways to make the projects my own. Or sometimes not… sometimes it’s just really great fun to simply follow instructions and play along!

These are all “Projects in Progress”. I’m really inspired to create lately… but not really feeling like finishing anything… if that makes sense. I feel like I have so much to catch up on that if I start them then I can always go back later and finish these up. It keeps my creative juices flowing and from feeling like I HAVE to finish a project every time I start it.

See… look at how easy going I am in 2010.

Go me.

First up is what I’m most excited about so far in class, compiling a “Style File” of images, sayings, ideas that inspire me to create.

I’m having so much fun perusing catalogs and the web just searching for images that speak to me on some level. It’s pretty empty right now. But it’s begging to be filled!

And here’s a few projects from class:

I think this one is done – but it needs a permanent home.

Want to add a few more embellies to this journal cover.

This apron is seriously begging for a ruffle on the bottom.

My wardrobe doesn’t contain enough ruffles.

And yet what girl’s does?

And here’s one more in the very early stages:

I live by that most days. Let everyone else be the first to arrive at work. I’ll get there on time, and that’s enough.

The second mouse needs her Starbucks.

I’m excited for this one… I’ll show you when it’s done.

Getting over a cold this week too. You’ll be proud to know that we (ok Alan) finally got the Christmas tree put away today. And I was ok with it being out that long.

See? See how easy going I am in 2010?!? Go me!!

Where’s that pom pom maker thingy I just bought… let me go make some and shake them things around.

I’ll make some for you too… and people shall cheer our names at how easy going yet creative we are.

(Did I mention I’m a bit tired and slap happy these days too?)

I hope you’re doing well and creating when you can too. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and see you again very soon.

XOX,

“Easy Going Me” *shake shake shake*

Happy 2010!

Created with Leah’s portion of the Bling in the New Year colab kit at Funky Playground Designs.

Well hello there.

How have you been my friend?

It’s been quite awhile from me I know, and I cannot thank those of you who keep clicking over to see if I’m here. You push and inspire me to get back to it more than you know!

I’ve been out of my crafty zone and mind-set while I went through some changes at ye olde day job that sapped a lot of my creative mojo… good changes that led to a promotion, but it took lots of time and effort to get there. But now it is set, I am UBER blessed, and ready to get back to it!

So rather than ramble at you let’s do a super quick catch-up shall we? Cause good friends like us can do that.

In October Alan and I celebrated our 8th anniversary with an amazing trip to Stratford, Ontario to immerse ourselves in amazing theatre. We saw an 6 shows in 5 days. It was perfect for us.

In November, Thanksgiving flew by. (Turkeys can fly right?) But I kept up on a few crafty things here and there. Here’s my favorite layout from that month designed for Leah’s team:

Created with the super cute Vintage Thankful Kit.

And I completed a glass etching review for Craft Critique that was full of more messes than successes… (Armour Glass Etching Kit Review), but the comments from the other great crafters that have tried this product and love it have inspired me to try it again. Someday-ish.

And then December – where in the heck did December go?! Confession time – our tree is still up. It has been un-decorated (cept one Superman ornament left hanging to remind us we need to replace a bulb in that spot before bagging it up…), but it’s there. Was Santa good to you? He was amazing to me. In fact he read this article on Craft Critique and my stocking was full of Stickles… go figure.

I continued having a wonderful time with Leah’s digital kits. Honestly if it wasn’t for her Creative Team I might not have done anything these past months. Geez! Here’s one that makes me hungry,

Created with the rightly named Christmas Cookies Kit.

And finally, here we are in January. January 2010.

A new year.

A new decade.

Wow.

Let’s make this one the absolute best shall we?

I mean, I know we always say that. This this will be the year “I”…. blank.

Shake off all the promises to yourself, and the promises to others. If you’ve already not done every day what you swore you would, I’ve got news for you….

No one cares but you.

So get over it, and make 2010 the best by just living every day the best way you can.

And try to create a little something every day too.

I WILL be around, I promise. I’ve decided that to get back into the groove I’m going to take a class from the girl that never fails to inspire me to live creatively. And as the icing on the cake my ‘buddy’ for the class will be one that never fails to get me motivated too. (Love you both!!) So you’ll be seeing lots of projects from me. It’s time I re-prioritize my creativity.

Thank you again to you my friends, and I hope the first bit of 2010 has found you well, motivated, and ready for a year of YOU.

Thanks for stopping by today, and see you very, very soon.

XOXO

Jess