Only 4 more days to....

(Mom and I at TPC Sawgrass in Florida--yes, I am wearing heels)

Register!! There are only a few spots left for our Tidbits and Tassels Art Retreat!! Join us for a great time of friendship, laughter and inspiration!! See you soon!

Blessings--

Tidbits and Tassels 2 - August 27-28, 2010

Only a few more spots left....registration will close on July 30th. We hope to see you here for a fabulous weekend!! See my earlier posts for details....But here it is in short version:

Friday, August 27th - Dinner at my home

Sit, Stitch and Swap - a small embroidery sample with a twist.

Saturday, August 28th - Morning Delights

Le Petit Sac - an altered tote bag taught by Maryse Henry

Lunch

Pocketful of Posies - a lesson in paper flowers and collage

Afternoon delights

All of this for $70.00 - Just click on Paypal for registration/payment. I will be emailing everyone in August for all the details on swaps, hotels, shopping, etc...

Can't wait to see y'all - Until then,

Blessings

Paper Cowgirl revisited...

We returned from our vacation, our skin was kissed by the sun and our spirits renewed by the wonderful time we had. Before I talk about the trip to sunny Florida where there were shells to be picked (Presleigh picked 60 pounds worth), sea turtles to be fed, sharks to be caught and abeach to be walked on, I must tell you of Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat, the wonderful women who took my class and new friends that My girls, my mom and I made...Here are some pictures that show case the class, the good time we had..

beautiful Crepe Paper Cowgirl - by Anne Denise.

We are getting ready for the meet and greet....

Ready , set,.... create

My sweet mom and daughter looking at me....

Goodies.....

Good times and Good friends....

A few friends to mention (I wish I could mention all of you but this post would be a novel)..Landon, a sweet boy who befriended all of us and is now a good friend of Presleigh, Susan and Skye - mother/daughters gotta love em!!, Vicki and Jan - the lobby showed us some fun times. Thank you for being so sweet to my Presleigh, Jodie who I love to see even if only for a moment (can't wait until August), LaVerne, Deb and AnnDenise - new found friends who seem like I have known them all my life, Cindy and Sandra - I am so glad we saw each other again, and to all the ladies (Patty, Jan, Cindy, Renee, Cathy, Terri, Jacie, Andrea, Elizabeth, Judy, Debbe, Linda,Karin, Keely, LaVerne, Cindy and Vicki- hope I got everybody) who were in my class -THANKYOU!!

I am blessed that our paths crossed...I do hope to see all of you again..even if it is only through the blog or FB. Once again, a great weekend in Waxahachie!

Fun in the sun...and a few other things

We are heading to Sunny Florida for a great vacation. No oil where we are going (thankfully) --Ponte Vedra is on the Atlantic just 40 minutes south of Jacksonville. It is a family tradition that started when I was just a little girl. My grandparents lived in Jacksonville Beach and every summer we would travel there- where the ocean breeze blows and the sun shines. Now for the past 10 years or so we have gone and felt the same breeze, basked in the sun, have gone deep sea fishing, shell hunting, sandcastle building, shopping, swimming, resting and renewing. My parents join us and it is a treasured time that we spend.

So I wanted to let everyone know that when I return, I will Cowgirl Up and share pics and memories of a great Art Retreat Weekend!! I met some of the most talented and fun women that kept me laughing, learning and creating!! Thank you to all who took my class - you were truly a blessing! Can't wait to see everyone next time!!

Also, Registration is still going on for Tidbits and Tassel 2 - read more on my blog (older post). Space is limited so I hope you will join my mom and me for a great weekend of art, friendship and fun!!

Have a great 4th and I will see you around the 10th!! Until then,

Blessings

Where I create.....

I am honored to be part of this blog party....About a year ago we began renovations to our backyard. We dug up the grass, my herb garden of 9 years, peach trees, climbing roses...yes I cried. But the vision my husband and I shared was to enrich our lives, the lives of our children, and to use what we have as a blessing for others...So here is the finished backyard with pool, outdoor living/kitchen areas and of course, my husband wanted to build an Art Studio for me....I am forever grateful to him for all he has done for me. I love being in there, I love that my girls and my mom love being in there, I love when friends gather and they love being in there...So enjoy the pictures, some are courtesy of my friend Jodie, some are from last year and some are from today....Don't blog "party" too long - for your creative space is calling....

This is really what my creative space looks like when I am creating...I only tidy up for necessity. So I can find that which is hidden...
No matter the size of your space, create! For some it is the dining room table, part of the bedroom or even in a closet ( I have been in all of those places). I have been blessed to be able to have a supportive husband and family in my creative endeavors. I hope that you have found kindred spirits on this blog party. We all love the creative process more than our space. We love to share in the experience more than the finished product. In our creative pursuit, it isn't always about finishing, it is about discovery. I will always be thankful to God for the gifts he has bestowed to me in my life. I pray that I use them for his glory and not mine. I will always be thankful to my family who encourage me in all that I do. I will always be thankful for you - for our paths crossing. Enjoy the journey!! Come visit sometime and we will create!

Blessings - Chantal

It has been said that children become chatterboxes at night…I prefer to call it the dreamer’s lullaby. I was reminded again of the age of innocence and imagination. All too often when I lay my head on the pillow, my body and mind are so tired from the day’s daily living that I close my eyes without a an imaginative thought. Rather it is the “to do” list that is running through my mind. Last night, I was lying down with my youngest daughter, as is our goodnight ritual. We say prayers, and then usually she says “I love you, goodnight” which is her signal “No talking.”

Earlier that evening, Presleigh had begun to write a story as she often does. It is almost a daily occurrence. She has written stories about girls who become spies, girls who become animal trainers, and girls who settle a town and of course, girls are the heroes of the stories. As our bedtime conversation turned to her stories, she asked me which one was my favorite. It was so hard to pick just one, so I named a few. She asked if it was good to write stories and have imagination. I emphatically said “Absolutely.” Then she asked if I still have imagination but before I could answer she answered her own question. Her answer was a resounding “Yes.”

Where did she see my imagination? Where did I see my imagination? I get caught up in the “to do’s “of the day, of the running here and there, doing this and that.

She then explained “ In your art. Mommy you have to imagination to do what you do. “ I smiled and thought – We can still be children at heart with imagination and creativity. In our homes, in our careers, in our relationships, imagination helps us see beyond today. Creativity helps what we imagine come to be.

Some of us have imagination and never do anything with it. Yes, as children we became superheroes, kings, and queens, we could sore the heights, which gave us the ability to think beyond our limitations. As adults, our imagination can be used to create avenues to help others, to better the world in which we live, to move beyond our limitations. I love that our God, the Creator, has the most awesome imaginative mind but that his creative spirit did not remain only in thought. By his words, he created the heavens and the earth. He created our very being and the beauty that surrounds us. Our God is truly awesome!! For who could imagine that we, though sinners, are saved by grace, redeemed by love and called to be his children.

The next time you lay down on that pillow, instead of the “to do’s”’ running through your head, why not talk to your heavenly Father about his favorite story- The cross, the greatest love story ever told. And then imagine how you could share that story with your children…It will become the all time favorite!!

PaperCowgirl goodies....

Paper Cowgirl goodies are coming together...These are for all the Cowgirls in their "Goody Bag"...It's like going to a party. Everyone receives a goody bag!!! This is my little contribution. Now on to finishing my class kits and little delights for Vendor Night...It's just 2 weeks away. There is still time to register (until Sunday)!! Come on and be a Paper Cowgirl with me!!!