Lauren Ferguson | There are no mistakes in art, just opportunites to embellish. (tm)

My youngest crafter ever...

OK Ladies, so you know that I have had a man in one of my classes when I was in Pleasanton, California.

Well, while I was in St. Louis, I had the youngest crafter I ever had.

Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Leah, she has the honor of being my youngest student ever.

She was in my Explosion Box Class.  She not only kept up and put her box together, but she put her Grandma Joan to shame. 

Leah was so creative, she really took her box and made it her own.

I was so impressed with her freedom to create and her "this is my project and I am going to do it my way" spunk, it just made me proud to have her in my class.

You know that generally children under 10 and in some places 15 are not allowed in class.  Well, can I tell you that when Joan to me that Leah had been crafting since she was 2 and could handle it, I was surprisingly impressed.

She cut paper just as good if not better than some of the ladies in my class.

It was pleasure and honor to have Leah in my class.

until we meet again,

I'm Beta testing for TypePad

Yes, I volunteered to Beta test for TypePad.

So there are going to be times when things on my site do not work. 

It is only because they are in the process of bringing some great new features.

So if you are having a problem viewing anything on my site PLEASE let me know.

I fixed the comments and I am in the process of working on the images in the gallery.

I should have all that fixed by tomorrow. 

So just bear with me and the TypePad engineers.  I love the new features, just trying to work out the kinks.

until we meet again,

We had fun this weekend...

You know that I have been traveling all month. 

So this weekend when I was out in Nashville, I took Chi-Chi with me to visit her friends.

Shelly watched Chi-Chi when I was working in Nashville. Chi-Chi took her first steps in Shelly's living room.

When Chi-Chi would spend the night, she would push Ms. Shelly out of the bed and sleep with Mr. Davey.

Shelly has two wonderful children Sam and Alex.

When the three of them get together, watch out.

The kids gang up on me and make me PINKY PROMISE to bring Chi-Chi back every time I come to Nashville.  And y'all know when you PINKY PROMISE, those are the ones that you cannot break.

So once again, I have promised to bring her back with me next time I have to go and teach at the store.

I am so glad that the kids have made such good friends and real love each other.

It makes my heart sing to know that the girls are going to have a lifetime bond. 

I never had friends like that until I got older and in college. 

Kids are the most amazing little people.

until we meet again,

Timeless Reflections had a Make Over

And what a make over it is!!!  Can you say fabulous.  Say it again because I don't think that you believe me.

Michelle Luther, the owner of Timeless Reflections has expanded her store!!!

It is just amazing what she has done in the past week that she had been closed.

She has knocked out two walls, added some of the most amazing inventory.

I met Michelle at my very first crop in Nashville.  It was Claudine's Christmas Crop. 

Ladies, this was even before I had the boys.  I was just starting out and she and I hit it off.

Then I got pregnant with the boys and moved back to Atlanta. 

A good friend of mine Shelly Lewis was in Michelle's store and told her that I had made the Ranger Design Team. 

And that was all she wrote.  Michelle called me and told me that I had to come to her store and teach.  I have been teaching there ever since. 

Y'all know that we do not have any local stores here in Atlanta and so I drive 387 miles one way to hang out with my ladies.  Yes, they are MY ladies and craft. 

It has never been about the money with them.  I barely break even.  It is always about the love and willingness that they have to go for the creative ride with me. 

Basically, that was the Southern way of saying that they let me test run all of my classes with them first.

Really, all of my own classes that come out of my head (read butt) are done first at Timeless Reflections. 

If you find yourself in the Nashville Area, you must, I mean MUST stop by the store and see all the stuff that she has. 

Timeless Reflection
110 Sanders Ferry Road, Suite 11
Hendersonville, TN 37075
615-822-7148

And when you get there...  Tell her Lauren sent ya' and then give her a big fat kiss on the cheek.

until we meet again,

Mesa was a blessing!!

Can I tell you how much fun I had in Mesa? 

Oh where do I begin.  First, I am just amazed at the weather.  I just loved it.  It was 87 to 90 degrees and it was not humid, just loved that.

I have to admit that there is a different type of crafter when you are surrounded by LSS.  These ladies have it going on.

I mean they do not have to drive more than 20 minutes to get to a LSS.  I mean they were looking at me like I had lost my mind when I told them that I had gone to Glendale and then to Phoenix and then to Mesa to visit all of them. 

They really do not have to drive.  That 20 minutes also does not include the fact that they must pass at least 2 of the larger Big Box stores on the way.

I went to The Creative Quest in Glendale.  I loved it!!  I walked in doing the Happy Dance. One their website they have a picture of all the paper in the store.  Oh my HEAVENS!!  I was in love.

I walked in looking for all the wonderful handmade papers on the wall.  It was better than any crafting MOJO that ever showed up. 

At one point, I must have had over 300.00 worth of stuff in my basket.  I am so glad that I learned to covet and put back. 

Then on the other side of the room, they have all kinds of cool stuff to pick up to use and make.

I was a bit jealous at the fact that the Phoenix- Mesa- Glendale Area have everything.  I mean everything.  You could find type press letters next to Heidi Swapp Masks which were across the way from altered doll forms.

I will also say that the fact that the ladies have all of the local stores in the area, they have a different way of crafting.  The are open to the whole range of paper crafting.  They alter books, they make books, they do photography, they journal, they use mixed media.

It is a crafter's heaven.  And then to top it all off, they have this wonderful European deli right next door.  I had a kielbasa to die for.  It reminded me of Alec's grandmother's recipe.  She would make them for us every Saturday.  I mean the smell, the taste and the memories came flooding back. It was so good, that it did not need mustard.  Mustard would have ruined the taste. 

i went to a number of other stores and some I just did not even get close to going.  So this has become my reason to justify needing another trip to the Southwest. Plus, I will be able to see my new friend, Jen Cushman.

Have you ever just met someone and know that you are going to be friends for life.  She is just one of the most sincere and genuine women I have ever met.  She is such an open book.  And to be honest, she challenges me to stay true no matter what. You know that type of person that goes to sleep with others on their mind and then wakes up gives you a call and tells you what they were thinking.

You know one of the girls.  I am so grateful for her and everyone that she brings into my circle.

Well, Can I say that I had one of the best classes I have ever had.  You know I teach this class called the Acrylic Princess Crown.

It is a hard class. It is a difficult medium to command.  At times, it is not forgiving and  it forces you to think in a 3 dimensional world.  You really have to be aware of placement and technique.

Well, can I say that these ladies blew me out of the water.  They came with a plan and they took a ride with me that was absolutely fabulous.

One of the ladies came with a bunch of additional stuff to add to her project.  She knew what she wanted it to look like and she just made my heart sing.  She came with a bling for the crown and she had a paint pen in her bag.  She used the transparency that I provided as a template to trace over.  Can you say to die for.  One of her partners in crime came with bling strips and flowers for her crown.

Creativity abounded that day.  I really think that these ladies in Mesa are going to set new trends in the world of scrapbooking.  They really all had the ability to take something that I handed them and truly make it their own.

And then to top it all off, the helpers for my classes were off the chain.  I mean these ladies had it going on.  Not only did they keep up with me and my Dory self...  Just keep swimming... They were able to keep up with my stuff.

They had it under control.  As the day lingered on, they were able to know what I should be doing and where I should be going.  It was very very cool.

I am coming back Mesa!!!   I am coming back!!!  Y'all are the bee's knees. Thanks for such a wonderful time.

until we meet again,

A Salute to all my Northern Friends who have moved to the South!!

I got this email from my Dad today and it made me laugh.  I can relate to all of it.  The only thing is that I got my driver's license when I was 18 because my Mother made me.  She got tired of driving me everywhere.
=========================================

Only those that grew up in New York or have lived in New York can understand the meaning of this!

 

There is no North or South. It's 'uptown' or 'downtown.' If you're really from New York, you have absolutely no concept of where North and South are...and East or West is 'cross-town.'

You're 35 years old and don't have a driver's license.

You ride in a subway car with no air conditioning just because there are seats available.

You take the train home and you know exactly where on the platform the doors will open that will leave you right in front of the exit stairway.

You know what a 'regular' coffee is.

It's not Manhattan...it's the 'city.'

You cross the street anywhere but on the corners and you yell at cars for not respecting your right to do it.

You move 3,000 miles away, spend 10 years learning the local language and people still know you're from Brooklyn, Long Island or the Bronx the minute you open your mouth.

You return after 10 years and the first foods you want are a 'real' pizza and a 'real' bagel.

A 500 square foot apartment is large.

You know the differences between all the different Ray's Pizzas.

You are not under the mistaken impression that any human being would be able to actually understand a p.a. announcement on the subway.

You wouldn't bother ordering pizza in any other city.

You get ready to order dinner every night and must choose from the major food groups, which are: Chinese, Italian, Mexican and Indian.

You're not the least bit interested in going to Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Your internal clock is permanently set to know when alternate side of the street parking regulations is in effect.

Everyone knows what a bodega is.

Someone bumps into you and you check for your wallet.

You don't even notice the lady walking down the road having a perfectly normal conversation with herself.

You pay 'only' $230 a month to park your car.

You cringe at hearing people pronounce Houston St. like the city in Texas.

The presidential visit is a major traffic jam, not an honor.

You can nap on the subway and never miss your stop.

The deli guy gives you a straw with any beverage you buy, even if it's a beer.

That's New York, baby! Ya gotta love it.

until we meet again,

It is Official...

I have done it!!!

I am officially a size 12.  I am so glad.  I have not been so excited about the whole weight loss process until something like this happens.

I have been watching what I eat and not eating everything in sight.  I hit a point where it did not matter how much of anything I did, I just was not losing any more weight. 

I switched up my videos and added some extra vegetables to my diet.  Nothing for almost three months and now it is working again.

I feel so much better about physically.  I think that this is a good size for me.  So this is where I am going to stay.  Anything smaller and I am going to look sickly. 

Plus, I have to admit I am the Mama to twins, I am just glad that I can keep up with them.

until we meet again,

Hanging with my Peeps

Yesterday was such a great day.

Mom called and wanted me to bring the kids over for dinner.  It was such a perfect day out.

I took the kids over and Mom had the BBQ fired up.  My parents just put a pond in their backyard with a waterfall.  The kids picked out some fish and this was the first time that they had seen them in the water.

But the most exciting part of the evening is when my Dad took Chi-Chi outside to ride her bicycle.

It is just amazing the memories that my kids are going to have.  My parents are in such a wonderful place in their lives right now.  They are just so full of that stuff that makes Grandparents Grand.

until we meet again,

This is for my new friends in Des Moines

Y'all, Did I tell you it snowed in Iowa.

Yes, it snowed in April in the great state of Iowa.  I have never been so cold in all my life.

Everyone was just mad that it snowed.  Apparently, it was more of an inconvenience than anything else. 

I walk into the Convention Center saying "Merry April" and heard the underground grumblings of the snow.

But I have to say that it was exciting to see snow.  When I called my daughter to tell her about the snow, she asked me to bring some home.  Gotta love the kids.

So since I had a two extra days in the state, some of the ladies came and got me to go hand out.

On Sunday, I went out with Lana and she took me to the coolest place ever.  It is called the West End Architectural Salvage.

OMG if you have no place to go and find yourself in Des Moines, you must go.  It is four floors of just stuff.  I mean the type of stuff that you wish you could put in your luggage.  But then you remember the 50 pound weight limit.

Thank God I only took 100.00 bucks with me.  I would have spent all my money if I did not know any better.

This place had everything anyone would want. They had old library draws and card catalogs. They have one right when you walk in the door and it is about 20 feet long and about 5 feet high with additional drawers on top that make it at least 15 feet high.

Then they have all kinds of other storage stuff.  They had the old map file drawers. Enough to die for.  Oh My, if I had some larger luggage.

And let me not forget the fact that they have a coffee shop.  And the coffee was fabulous.

They have it all!  I mean all kinds of stuff.  Behind every nook and cranny is some other treasure that is just waiting to be discovered.  I found a bunch of wooden press letters. I even purchased 5 copper press plates.  I am so excited about my stuff.  Yep, they are still in the bag.  One of the many bags of stuff that I found myself buying all weekend.  Here are some of the things that just caught my eye while I was there.

But that was only the beginning of the day.  We then went all over town to shop in some of the most amazing flee markets and junk shops.  I found all kinds of great stuff.  I just loved he process. 

As much as I love to spend money, I do not like to shop, so it was so much fun just looking for that one special thing that was screaming...  Lauren turn me into art.

After a great dinner and lots of hugs, I had to say good bye to my new friend.  I had a blast.

Then the next morning I got up early and went out with another new friend Lara.  And would you believe that I do not have a photo.  I am going to have to remember to take photos of people and not just stuff.

Anywho, Lara lived in the Phoenix area for years and she hooked me up with the names of places to go and see for the following weekend.  But if that was not enough, she took me around all day Monday while I waited for my flight back to Atlanta.

Y'all we crammed my large tool box and my luggage into a convertible Mustang.  That is right you heard me. I was not leaving until pm so I could not check in my luggage until 12 noon.

So off we go with my luggage in the backseat to rummage through the stores.

I had a blast.  I have never laughed so much.  And what was even more exciting every place that I went, I would call Lara and start the conversation with "You are my new best friend..."

I must admit with the snow and all, I really liked Des Moines.  Now can I say this without y'all thinking that I am crazy. 

Iowa has a state fair.  Yep, the Iowa State Fair.  It is on the list of 1000 things to do before you die.  I am going to take the boys and my friend Shirley from NJ in August.

Apparently my Dad was there last year and he saw a lady carving Tiger Wood out of butter.  And they have everything on a stick...

Yeah, that is what I thought...  What the hell...  Yep on a stick...  Twinkie on a stick, Oreo on a stick, Pock Chops on a stick...  If they can put some kind of batter or coating on it, they deep fry it and put it on a stick. 

So yes, I am going back to the Iowa State Fair and I have to tell y'all I am excited about the whole thing.

So to tell all the ladies in and my two new friends from Des Moines...  I miss you already.  And I cant wait to see you in August.

until we meet again,
 

Keeping the glass Half FULL!!!

Is harder than you think.

For all of my life, things have come easy and they have been extremely hard. 

OK, that is an oxymoron, so let me explain. 

When I find my groove, I do it very well.  The things I don't do well, I really suck at.  Nope, just make a complete fool of myself and laugh along the way.

Well, it seems like my life is just one walk through a mine field after another.

Sometimes life just happens and you have to keep going.  There are times when others would quit and admit defeat.  But I have really learned to look at the hard times and see them as a challenge to "Make It Work".

I guess, I just really feel like if I have put my best foot forward, no matter what and gave it my best effort, I should get some credit.  Yeah Me!!!

Well, the reality is that sometimes, it is just not enough for everyone and people can be disappointed.  And to those people, I can only apoligize. 

Then, I get on the phone and I have the best conversations with some of the best women on this planet. 

Y'all, I have been renewed and regenerated.  I know that I cannot please everyone, but I will tell you this, if I had it to do all over again, I still would not quit and I would have even put more energy toward making it work.

Then this morning, I am coming out of a tired funk...  I have been traveling for the last four weekends, had no time with the kids and want to stop and sleep...  Not.

Yoda has shown up and I am really feeling the need to get back to what it is that I love....

I open my email and the subject line reads:  I am inspired.

A woman who took a class with me sent me an email.  Here is just a part of it...

Dear Lauren,

I am in awe of your work, it is absolutely gorgeous.  You are an inspiration to me!!!!  I took your Explosion Box class in Mesa this past weekend, along with my partner in crime, Dana.  She was the one who came in late.

I will be at The Creative Quest this coming Friday eve working on an altered book and I will be sure to let the owners, Kathie and Judy, know how much we need you to visit for a weekend or 2 or 3..... LOL. 

Your use of color and texture sings to me, not talks, SINGS!  The detail and use of embellishments adds a wonderful dimension to your work, most artists' work looks overdone and piled on, not yours.  I now count your work among a select few that I look to for inspiration.

Y'all the email goes on for another three paragraphs with encouragement and love.  Not just about my art, but about me and my love for my family.

Can I just make a general shout out to all of my GURRRLSSS!!!

You are right and I love yall like cooked food!

until we meet again,