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

Have a Happy Halloween!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Halloween. 

My daughter says to me last night, "Mama I like Halloween better than Easter."

Now you think that I would know better than to ask the next obvious question. But no, I had to ask, "Why do you like Halloween better than Easter?"

And without skipping a beat, and in that matter of fact tone, she replies, "You have to work to hard for candy on Easter. At Halloween you just stand there and people give it to you."

She left me speechless.

Oh, this just showed up in my email the other day and I had to share it.

Have a Happy Haunted Day!!

until we meet again,

Voting isn't a Privilege it is a Right Exercise it!

After my husband picked me up from the airport, I answered a few emails and then went upstairs to just wind down from a long four days away.

I kissed the kids good night and whispered into their sleeping ears that Mama was home and I loved them.

I went in my room and he had CNN on the television.

Yes, it was all the crazy things that the media would like us to think are important. As if I really care about her clothes more than the fact that I don't believe that she is qualified for the job.

So we are sitting in the bed and having that conversation about voting day. He asked me why I did not vote early.

I told him that I wanted it to be a very special day for the kids.

I can remember my mother taking me and my brother into the voting booth. She would make her choices and we would pull the big grey handle and then the curtain would open.

I always voted.

I did not realize how that one action made a difference in the way that I thought about my rights.

I never thought that I would not vote. I always voted, it was just what you did. It was a time to be heard.

I always believed that that pull on the handle had a profound impact on Washington.

And then my mom would look up and we would say "Thank you". It was never in a voice any louder than what was needed to be audible.

Of course, being the precocious kids we were, we would say "Your Welcome".

And every time her eyes would well up with tears and we would say "Don't cry Mommy we won't do it anymore".

And every year she would say "Don't you dare stop!"

So this year, I am taking my kids into the booth and I am going to let them pull the grey handle and wait for the curtain to open and I am going to look up and say "Thank you".

It is just amazing how things just seem to come full circle.

until we meet again,

3 weeks and counting to Nashville!!!

Rebecca is pulling out of all the stops
for a day of fun in the Music City!
Come and hang!

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Hello Everyone!

Wow!  The Nashville Fisk-a-Friendzy is less than three weeks away, wahoo! 

I wanted to touch base with everyone that has registered so far and go over a few things. There is a lot of information here, please read this over carefully!

1.  If you are spending the night in Nashville and will need a room, the Radisson At Opryland is giving us a special room rate.  It's only $89 plus tax for two people in a room, and $10 extra for each additional person after that, with a max of four in a room.  I asked them to give me approximate prices, so here they are:

2 people/room  $105.07 total, 52.54 each.
3 people/room  $116.60 total, 38.87 each
4 people/room  $128.12 total, 32.03 each

You can call 615-889-0800 to register, don't forget to mention the Fiskateer event to get the discounted rate.  You can also book online here: http://www.radisson.com/reservation/clearReservation.do   Make sure you use the promotional code FISKAT to get the Fiskateer rate.  Here is the link for the map & directions to the hotel:

http://www.radissondestinationguide.com/locationMap.process/OID_EB39EA2D/?hotelCode=TNNASHOP

They have also just told me that we can have the crop room ALL NIGHT LONG!  That's right, you can crop until the wee hours of the morning!  So, if you are thinking of staying over, please make your reservations soon!

2.  If you have not yet paid the 20.00 for your spot, please do so now.  I have to have final numbers to catering by 11/4, so anyone whose payment doesn't reach us by 11/3 will be removed from the list.  Payments should be sent to:  Carrie Woodward, Brains On Fire, 148 River St, Suite 100, Greenville, SC 29601.

3.  Registration begins at 9 am, and the doors will open at 9:30 am.   There will be cropping, games, and a great make n take by our special guests, Tricia and Brian from Li'l Davis!  You'll also get to meet Suzanne Fanning from Fiskars.  In addition, we will have the use of two Canon printers, so everyone will be able to print out two photos for free during the crop.

4.  We'll be having lunch at the Radisson.  I'll be sending out a menu selection later in the week.   After lunch, we'll be splitting into two groups.  The first group will head to the recording studio, while the second group stays behind to crop.  The bus will then return to pick up the second group and take them to the studio, then the first group will come back and crop while the second group is recording.  Please let me know if you will need any assistance getting on or off the bus.

5.  Once we're back from the recording studio, we'll have pizza and a trip to the Nashville Palace for some line dancing fun, not necessarily in that order!  Once I have final numbers, we'll be able to determine what time we'll be able to have dinner.

6.  After the Nashville Palace or pizza, more cropping time and fun!

7.  There will be a sewing machine available if you would like to sew on your layouts.  Please bring your own thread!

8.  This event is for Fiskateers ONLY.  If you have not yet joined, please email me, rebecca@fiskateers.com.  We'll get you signed up right away!  You are welcome to tell your friends about the event, just make sure to remind them that they must join the Fiskateers in order to attend.  Also, we regret that we cannot accommodate children.

9.  Don't forget your cameras!!

Feel free to email me with any additional questions you may have.  I'm looking forward to meeting all of you!

Rebecca
Lead Fiskateer

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OK, and y'all know that I am a slacker so I am sending my money in today to KEEP my spot. CYA there!

until we meet again,

Fiskateer Rebecca Peck is comin' South!

I'm a Fiskateer... Are you a Fiskateer?

Do you have a Fiskateer Number?

I am going to Nashville!

And I get to hang out with my good friend

Rebecca Peck in

Nashville on November 15.

All the information is listed below!

Send Rebecca an email at rebecca@fiskateers.com

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‘Cuz the Fiskateers are headed your way in November!!  That’s right, we are going to be rockin’ the Music City Fiskateer-style on Saturday November 15th! 

We’ll start the day at 9 am at the Radisson Hotel at Opryland for some croppin and Fiskateer fun!  Suzanne from FiskarsTV will be with us, along with Tricia and Brian from Li’l Davis! 

We’ll have lunch in the beautiful Atrium at the Radisson,then we’re off to become music superstars! 

We are headed to the The Parlor, a Grammy Award winning recording studio! 

We are going to record the first-ever Fiskateer single!  How cool is that?!?

After our recording session,  it’s back to the hotel for a casual dinner and more cropping fun and games.  Then we’ll burn off that dinner with a little music and dancing at The Nashville Palace, a great honky-tonk within walking distance of the hotel.  For you night owls, the crop room will stay open until midnight!  All this for only $20 per person!  WOOHOO!  I can’t wait, we are going to have a blast! 

Remember, this event is limited to the first 100 Fiskateers that sign up.  Please send an email to carrie@brainsonfire.com with “Nashville Regional Event” in the subject line.  Be sure to include your name, Fiskateer #, mailing address and email address.  Also, the Radisson is offering special discounted rates for this event, so please be sure to mention the Fiskateer Fisk-a-Friendzy when you reserve your room.

Can’t wait to see you there!

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Now y'all know that I cannot carry a tune in a bag with handles, but I am going to sing sing sing. I am going to have a great time. I hope to see you there!

until we meet again,

I'm back from the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Hi Y'all, just got back from Alexandria, Minnesota.

I promise to blog tomorrow about all of my WONDERFUL experiences.

until we meet again,

IT IS SNOWING HERE!!!

IT IS SNOWING HERE!!  CAN I SAY IT AGAIN,

IT IS SNOWING HERE!!!

I woke up thismorning and it was snowing. I dont like the cold and I hate snow. I am on my way to the store to teach a copper class.

I would love to say that I did not expect this. But the fact of the matter is, I did not think that it would REALLY happen!!

I just needed to vent and I knew that I needed more than 140 characters.

So let me say this just one more time...

IT IS SNOWING HERE!!!

until we meet again,

The Gallery is open!

Without any further ado, let me say that the Gallery if officially open!!

I have received so many emails asking where to purchase my blank books and other mixed media pieces.

Well, now that many are making their way back into my studio, it seems only fitting that they finally get to continue on their journey.

I must admit that while I love making them, I am anxious to let others experience them in new and different ways.

I will continue to put more pieces up as I get them back from publishers.

If their is a piece in the Gallery of Galleries that you have had your eye on, shot me an email and I will let you know if it has made it back to Georgia.

Thanks for all of the love,

until we meet again,

Why do we cover everything with paper?

Working with acrylic albums can be a real challenge.

First let me say this. I have clearly (pun intended) made my stand on this whole trend.  So here it is:

Why are you covering it with paper? You can buy chipboard.

Why are you covering it with paper? It is not clear chipboard.

Why are you covering it with paper?
There are so many great techniques that you can do that do not require that you what ladies... Cover it with paper!

I swore off making another album. I swore off making any more clear anything that was mass produced and marketed to the scrapbooker.

And let me just say this. I have shouted it from the roof tops and I had drawn my line in the concrete.

Well, once again, someone has suckered me.  I have been hoodwinked, bamboozled and high jacked.  Yep, I was mugged into making another album.

So of course, I made a few cavets before I would agree to do it.

1. Can I do anything I want?
2. Can I make it just like I would make it for me?
3. If I can't take it where I want it to go then I just can't do it.
4. Are you sure? Are you positive?

Well, Andra Wheeler from Scrapbooking Up North in Minnesota did it. She got me to do one.

Oh and did I mention that she was on the Ranger Design Team and that she got me in trouble all the time when I was there. She would make me laugh out loud and it was always followed by the look.  You know that look. "Who me? Not me? Oh Lauren Stop that!"

Well, it has been a labor of love, but I have found a happy place that uses paper as an accent and still lets the acrylic be acrylic. It is completely me. I did it for me with pictures of my trips back and forth to Africa when I was in my 20's.

So give the store a call if you think that you are going to be in the area.

110 5th Ave. East
Alexandria, MN 56308
(320) 763-2400
sun@gctel.net

I will be teaching this class at her store on October 25th. If you are in the area, come on over and hang out with me.

until we meet again,

Going to hang with my peeps...

Well, today has been a busy day.

Mom had knee replacement surgery today.  She came out of it well. 

Oh no worries, she is your typical mom. She is short and stout.

She has raised two kids, chased us all over the globe and now has grandkids.

So I am off to do my tour of duty.  I get the evening shifts.

I am going to get some peaceful crafting done while I sit in the hospital with my mom just doing what I do and letting her know that I am there.

Wish there was more to say, but it just a matter of keeping up with this thing called life.

until we meet again,

Private Gallery Showing @ EveythingAltered

OK, so here is the deal. I have decided that it is time to have a private gallery showing.

Yes, it is true.

You will be able to purchase any number of my handmade blank journals.

Yes, this includes the copper journals and all the published pieces as well.

I'm excited to finally get to a point where I have a large enough body of work to have a fantastic showing.

I'm adding a few things never seen before. 

I will make a great big announcement in the next few days so stay tuned.

until we meet again,