Embrace Life

Updates & Sneak Peeks

Though there is little evidence here on the blog that I've been creative and crafty, I have been and have plans to continue to be through fall and beyond!

I've been quietly participating in the Mondo Beyondo Dream Lab. I've been learning a ton from Angie Warren over at Project Photography and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a small and intense photography course. I was a guest designer on Scrapbook Sussies for July which was a challenge, and that is always welcome. I visited the greatest scrapbook store on Earth and visited with the tremendously talented Jenn - I'm hoping by breathing the same air maybe I gained some of her creativity :) I was asked to participate in TWO big projects and I can't wait to share them with you, but that won't be for a while - but worth the wait, I promise. I was asked to say a few words about a woman I greatly admire, I was thrilled for the opportunity. Then another woman I admire had some nice things to say about my blog!

I'm getting my plans together and I've prioritized a few things. Of those things, I have a few projects I'm really excited about on the go. They are all at different stages of completion and will be fully introduced and shared in the next month or two. A sneak peek is nothing without photos, right. So here they are, with a few hints:

What do you get when you combine Samuel Clemens and green amphibians? A mini book based on one of my favourite quotes.

Does 70 pages of words + photos still qualify as a mini-album? I don't know but the process has been fantastic. I can't wait to see how it looks completed!

I've always wanted a book of mine on a library shelf. This is a bit earlier than I thought but I'll take it! I'm so very excited about this project. The content is going to be incredible!

There are a couple of other ideas percolating. I've been very inspired by some blogs lately and really want to explore this, this and maybe this, too! And even with my feelings for Christmas located somewhere between Bah and Humbug, I might even do this, maybe I can put an emphasis on hockey?

What about you? What have you been working on or planning lately?

 

Scrapbook Sussies: Design Team Reveal

Way back in November 2009, Lara McClendon of Scrapbook Sussies, put out a Design Team Call and I was chosen as one of her guest designers!

This was a true test:

• I was to use only the materials in the kit
• Mail in Canada is notoriously s.l.o.w. and the kit arrived late
• All layouts were completed in 2 days using photos on hand
• Why the rush? We were off to Cape Cod and no internet or studio!

This is what I created:

All materials used came from the JULY kit:

I have a ton of materials left over for even more pages :)

Be sure to check out the Scrapbook Sussies BLOG, too!

Stories of Summer: My Submissions

When Ali Edwards asked for projects and layouts to be submitted for her Stories of Summer series, I realized a few things:

• My kids need to be equally represented, so I submitted 4 + 1
• I don't have many layouts with all four in them together
• I have not made any mini-albums about our summers
• I make way too many assignment-based projects and not enough for the simple joy of scrapbooking

I was sceptical about having any submission accepted as I was already honoured with my Week in the Life project hilighted on Ali's blog earlier this year. But another thing I've realized? You have zero chance of having your work seen if you don't submit!

These are the layouts I sent in:

What did you submit?

I don't know about you but I thoroughly enjoyed the Stories of Summer series. There is so much talent out there! I'm so inspired to capture more moments in photos and words. My enthusiasm is always there but sometimes my creativity is lagging behind. I'm more creative if I'm consistent.

You know how energy breeds energy? Well, I believe creativity breeds creativity. If you stop, you have to wind yourself up all over again. Certainly I have bursts of more creative periods than not, and that's what I was facing earlier this spring. Then I got it in gear. I started with A Week in the Life, then joined in LOAD in May, participated in Sketchapalooza over at Feeling Scrappy and it kind of snowballed from there. I've been creating in a steady hum for a while and it feels great. 

How do you create? What works best for you, do you have a process or is is stop and go?

Ahem, back to unplugging :)

A "don't miss this" course

There are oodles of scrapbooking and memory keeping and theme courses out there to take. Some are better than others, some are in the don't miss this category.

In September, over at Big Picture Scrapbooking they are offering, again, one of the best courses I ever took:

Cathy Zielske's Me: The Abridged Version

I admit that although I took the course in September 2009, I didn't manage to put it all put together until February of 2010. As far as on-line courses go, that's not too bad. It got done!

Twenty-eight pages of goodness; possibly more than you ever needed or wanted to know about me! I took this as an opportunity to embrace the pure, unvarnished, good and the bad of me and write it down for me, my kids, possibly future generations.

Last year, I had reached my fill of "all about me" pages, courses, ideas. Everyone was teaching them and participating in them. It all became so incredibly self-indulgent. Especially since every single project I do is about me in some way: a reflection of my perspective. I had signed up for the course because Cathy Zielske was teaching it. I was reluctant because of the content. Ugh. More me! Once I decided to dive right in I was thrilled with the results. It, along with my Week in the Life 2008 and 2010 projects, is the most authentic project I've ever completed. Though it took me some time, it was well worth the inner turmoil and conversations to create something of which I am tremendously proud and thankful.

Late last week I was offered an opportunity to do it again and you know, I might. Just not now. I have other stories to tell. But, if you have not yet done this course, taken this journey, do yourself a favour and sign up. So. Worth. It.

My only piece of advice: be you. Embrace the good and bad. Don't feel obligated to share on-line if that will compromise your authenticity. Go for it. What a tremendous exercise. Do it. 100%.

(Okay ... I'm back to unplugging!)

June in Review

A whirlwind month! When I sat to type out our events in June it felt like YEARS had gone past not just a mere 30 days. I cannot believe how much stuff was crammed into each day, though, I have to say that all the lovely weather makes busy far more bearable.

• Auntie Andrea with Uncle Steve and their little people moved to Oakville! We were so happy they joined us at Cole's performance as Chad in High School Musical. I was so thrilled to have them willingly attend! Cole was awesome as were all the other students.
• Chloe had her re-audition for the Oakville Children's Choir and she can't wait to get started again in September. Claire will also be auditioning to join the senior choir next year since she has no room in her school schedule to take music.
• Right after Cole "blew" his french exam, his word, we received a note from the school suggesting that he be evaluated to go into another class - the advanced course, for next year. I hope he blew all of his exams like that!
• I received an invitation to participate someplace wonderful. But it's a secret. I'll let you know all about it as soon as I'm allowed!
• Claire went to Lake Tamagami with a group of classmates. A week of wet, bugs and having to "pee in a hole" - judging from her photos on Facebook she had a wonderful time. She shared lots of stories and I have no doubt the best ones will be those we never hear :)
• Creativity Boot Camp was a wonderful experience. It was two intense weeks of virtually-meeting new people and learning new things. My brain is spinning with possibilities! Love me a good creative kick in the pants.
• Chloe had her last recording session at the Appleby College chapel - guess what everyone is getting next Christmas? :)
• Cole and his BTNL team played in the Ronald McDonald tournament in Toronto. So wonderful the experience of the boys playing with other elite teams. A joy to watch all of the boys.
• Caden had a project to do. Dugongs. What is with my kids and their love of marine mammals? He really wanted to do his project on Narwals but Ryan "stole" his idea.
• Claire and Cole really enjoy their new kayaks and I really enjoy watching them teach Chloe and Caden how to be comfortable in them on the water. It is so nice to know they can get along!
• I am enjoying a whole new hockey experience. Cole is thriving and learning. That's all I ever wanted.
• People who create jealous and petty children are really dangerous, not just to their kids, but to mine as well. Just give your head a shake, stop and grow up. Set a better example for your children.
• Cole is enjoying football. I'm just enjoying that his schedule has been reduced now that there is no rugby or play rehearsal through June. He is making the rounds - linebacker to half back to corner back. He misses being a linebacker - too much running and not enough hitting at corner!
• Chloe turned 11 mid-month. I still can't believe it.
• We finally celebrated Caden's birthday, better late than never! The original plan was to go to Marineland, but we didn't want to risk the weather, so we took the kids to Cora's for breakfast then on to the movies. Karate Kid for the youngers and the A Team for the olders.
• Louis accompanied Cole and the Titan team to Sarnia on a wet and windy day - well, wet and windy here, not there, thank goodness! Our team was "schooled" and lost a painful 55-14 trounce.
• Chloe enjoyed a full day at Canada's Wonderland with her forever friend Olivia. Olivia was celebrating her birthday and asked Chloe along. It was the day after Chloe's birthday and she was delighted to go. It turns out she is a roller coaster girl, a real daredevil, and loves the Behemoth!
• Marianas Trench is a favourite band in this house. Claire and her friends took themselves off to the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington where Cole met up with them after his football practice. A wonderful night.
• The commencement ceremony at Appleby was long and hot and fruitful. Claire finally earned her Optimates (honours) after much hard work and dedication; Cole didn't just win the Athletics award but the Arts award as well. We are so very proud of them both.
• Alex Corrance was a minor hockey player who died of a heart problem while on the ice at the age of 17, this was in 2006. BTNL sponsors a ball hockey tournament held in the parking lot at Ice Sports in support of his memorial fund. Cole and members of his hockey team participated this year. Cole's group was knocked out in the semi finals. All of the boys followed up the tournament with a pot luck and swim party at the Song's house. The perfect end to a wonderful day!
• I really do not like gossips, they really are unkind. 
• Our friends opened their shop in downtown Oakville. Gorgeous stuff!
• Father's Day was spent with Louis taking Cole to hockey lessons then off to watch Cole in Barrie playing football, I stayed in Oakville taking Caden to 3on3 and Claire to rugby. We then joined friends at the pub for a Father's Day dinner, fun!
• Claire played host to a number of friends at a Slip 'n' Slide party in our back yard. The kids were great and it was a fun afternoon with lots of water, lots of music, lots of voices and laughter ... oh and pizza, freezies and ice cream! And rain, but you know, wet is wet.
• Claire enjoyed her first rugby game, a total departure from playing baseball.
• We posted the "House Rules" after some negotiation. I finished reading "35 Things Your Teen Won't Tell You, So I Will" by Ellen Pober Rittberg. Scary stuff! With fingers crossed I hope I'm on the right path.
• Our gorgeous 3-storey blue spruce which was dead the top 10-12 feet was removed, and stumped. According to Chloe, who counted the rings, it was 28 years old. The thing with removing one problem is that it creates a whole new set of issues. We had the tree guy come in and they're going through the whole property to remove and prune. We'll see what's left in the fall!
• The G8 and the G20 were held in the GTA and area. It was a tense and distressing few days. I'm happy for anyone able to get themselves out of town and relieved that we have no reason to go to Toronto or cottage country.
• Report cards came through and the kids are all doing well with very strong marks. We are so proud of all of them. They really do represent four points on a compass and I'm always feeling like I'm going in different directions. They just choose different routes to their As and Bs.
• It was so nice to have Wimbledon tennis on during the day. And the US Open Golf at Pebble Beach? The best!
• Claire closed off the month taking care of Nicholas for 3 days. He is a lovely autistic boy, a child of a friend of ours who needs some help while she's a way and her husband is in charge.
• Louis spent his 48th birthday at a MOHA meeting where he raised his hand and is now the senior convener for Minor and Major PeeWee divisions. He has 2 years left on the board and he's already got it jam packed with stuff to do!
• As for me? Pick a project! Between Dream Lab, Project Photography, Frogs, Red Strings and 70-Days, my creative life has not slowed down. Indeed, it has picked up steam!

As I mentioned in this post a couple of days ago, I'll be slowing down the blog a bit in order to spend some time with the kids, and turn our massive "to do" into a big "ta da"! I'll pop in now and again when the mood - and time - strikes. In essence, the blog will slow, but life will not!