Just a girl

the after glow of Spark No. 3...

Spark no. 3 has come and gone.

it was beyond what i had hoped for.

it's hard to even put into words.

we planned for it for months.

we worked on it for-EVER.

it came together.

just as we had planned.

hoped for.

dreamt it would be.

what an amazing group of women who came.

so many new friendships.

so many old ones re-kindled.

i absolutely love seeing friendships created at Spark...

this year so many original Spark Sisters came back.

and of course a whole new group of girls came too.

for me it is amazing to just watch it all un-fold.

see the inspiration shared with one another.

this year i was able to do that.

i didn't teach.

so i was able to just float around Spark.

i loved every second.

i am so so grateful to my family & friends who supported me.

                                                {my dad and mom}

got me through.

held me up.

supported along the way.

there is NO way i can thank them enough.

April, Rhonna, Chrissy, Lorie, Lesli, Christy, Maggie...

thank you.

to the awesome teachers who provided so much inspiration & shared their talents with us at Spark.

April Meeker, Cathe Holden, Christy Tomlinson, Amy Tan, Donna Downey, Emily Falconbridge and Jen Jensen.

i am so grateful to call you all friends.

i am in awe of your talents, gifts and willingness to share.

thank you...

Meg and Brooke.

amazing.

without my daughters by my side i just couldn't do it.

my creative partner April Meeker.

i have no words.

i couldn't have done Spark no. 3 without your help, love and attention to the details.

i love you.

i can't thank everyone involved enough.

all of the aritisans from our beautiful Handmade Artisan Market...

the manufacutres who came and supported us in our Mini Mini Make & Take Market.

to all of the creative partnerships who donated prizes, goodies for our swag bags and class supplies...

wow.

thank you.

i love Spark.

it is a ton of work.

hundreds of hours went into handmade details.

and i loved every single second.

there will be a Spark no. 4.

Spark is in me.

i can't even imagine my life without it.

it's become part of who i am, who i want to be, and what i want to share.

it is my labor of creative love.

a way for me to share the creative life i live.

i believe with all of my heart.

if you don't share the Spark, your fire will go out.

i feel blessed beyond words.

i have taken this week to just bask in it's afterglow.

rest.

gear-up for what's next in my life.

there is always something.

what i hope for you is that you share your Spark.

light creative fires.

until next year...

kiss kiss

m.

ps. a special thanks to Maggie Holmes who was my official "Spark photographer" and dear dear friend. We will have disks available soon with all of the magic.

 

One week from today.

Spark is a week away.

breathe.

i was talking to a new friend on the phone yesterday.

in our conversation she asked me about Spark.

i know i have blogged about it a ton of times.

but.

as the week before Spark is HERE i am all over the place.

physically.

emotionally.

she asked about why i do it.

here is the answer.

i love Spark.

it is beyond a passion for me.

i don't make a million dollars on Spark.

but i spend a million hours on it.

i love every little detail, thought, work, stress & joy that go into Spark.

not doing it isn't an option for me.

i love it that much.

i do it because i believe in sharing my talets with other women.

i do it because there are so many amazing talented women who can share their art, talent & love for living a creative life.

this year at Spark we have some amazingly beautiful, talent, genuine women teaching.

coming as students.

sharing their Spark with each other.

i can't wait.

i am blessed to "get" to do it.

the women who have come into my life because of it are a gift.

my creative partner April Meeker is my sister.

she has done some amazing things.

and continues to.

she "gets" it.

i love her and feel so grateful for all she has done.

So.

one week from today Spark No. 3 will be underway.

breathe.

i wish you all could be there.

we are working on a way for YOU to be part of Spark No. 3.

even if you can't actually come.

can't wait to share.

one week from today.

i better get busy.

no busier.

ha ha ha...

happy Friday.

kiss kiss

m.

 

breathing it in.

Hello Monday.

another week gone.

only 2 weeks until Spark.

madness i tell you.

last week came and went so quickly.

such is life.

it comes it goes and most of the time i am in the middle of it just hanging on.

wink!

last week in review.

Spark.

walking.

the death of Steve Jobs saddened me greatly.

thrifting with my girls.

rain.

and more rain.

Girls' Loft kitting.

Sparking with Chrissy.

more walking.

more Sparking.

family.

friends.

work.

and finally Sunday there was sunshine.

life is full.

the next 2 weeks will be jam packed.

i went to bed last night at 10:00 pm.

never happens.

but i knew.

i needed to gear up.

i woke at 5:00AM this morning.

mentally making my lists.

things to do.

people to see.

friends to talk to.

things to make.

pack.

ship.

approve.

give feedback.

love.

laugh.

breathe.

yes.

it's on the list.

i need to remind myself in the next two weeks to stop.

to breathe it all in.

enjoy the journey that i am on.

EXHALE.

to embrace the good.

let go of the rest.

sometimes we all need a little reminder.

a very dear friend said to me once.

exhale.

so as i head into this week i will remind myself.

and enjoy this crazy life i am creating for myself.

it's a Monday.

i am on it.

i hope you are too.

chin up.

boobs out.

breathe in breath out.

kiss kiss

m.

it's a Wednesday people.

Hello Wednesday.

i just came in from a long walk.

the air is so cool in the mornings.

i am loving it.

who knew i would love getting up early getting out there and walking.

not me.

i have always said i hated exercise.

but now that i have been doing it, getting up, walking, seeing results.

i am loving it.

it gets my day going.

physically.

mentally.

just me and my thoughts out there.

love.

today i didn't want to come in.

but let's get serious.

i have a butt load of work to be done.

so my budgeted hour on the trail is all i have right now.

on today's agenda...

Bazzill work.

Girls' Loft kits go out so Brooke and Meg will be here kitting.

then of course.

Spark.

less than 2 1/2 weeks away...

still have so much i want to do.

tomorrow some of my dear Spark Sisters will be here to "work."

love getting together with friends to create.

laugh.

talk.

catch up.

i feel so blessed for all of the amazing women i have become friends with because of the creative life i live.

but today.

it's a Wednesday.

middle of the week day.

gotta get moving day.

so off i go.

still in my workout clothes.

it's all good.

hope you have something creative planed for today.

kiss kiss

m.

 

hello Monday.

Wow another crazy week has flown by.

literally.

last Monday i was in Florida doing HSN.

feels like it was weeks ago.

time just flies by when you are a crazy girl like me.

HSN was really amazing.

I had 4 segments.

selling card kits, the totally exposed mini album, and the new Marathon Runner.

loved.

it was fast.

i was in Florida for less than 24 hours.

too much to do.

jumped a plane home to get back to work!

i am in the process of working with several designers creating lines for Bazzill.

really excited about it.

I also had Studio 5 last week too.

i was given the challenge to create something with bingo chips.

5 different designers were involved.

each day a designer created something with the bingo chips.

i had black.

so i went jewelry.

i did charms.

i made a darling Halloween necklace.

then i woke up at 4:00am the morning of with a few other ideas.

i made earings and another darling Halloween necklace.

it was fun. Studio 5 is always a great time.

if you are interested in the Halloween necklace i am giving it away today over on the Spark site!

last week was my Mother's 82 birthday.

what an inspiration she is to me.

she is amazing.

she has the energy of a 60 year old.

she has a beautiful home, lots of amazing friends, takes care of my sweet dad, and serves all she comes in contact with.

Happy Birthday Missy.

while i was in Provo i spent an hour with Meg & Brooke. 

love time with my girls.

Brooke graduated last weekend from Hair school.

so so so proud of her.

she worked hard.

loved it.

and it paid off.

she is a darling girl and is going to be an amazing stylist.

i am even letting her do my hair! the rest of the week was spent working, playing, getting ready for Spark is in full swing.

every extra minute i have i Spark...

only 2 1/2 weeks.

oh my.

every little detail is done with love.

excited.

so much to do.

but love it.

Fall is here.

i am ready.

house decorated.

muffins have been in the oven and delivered to neighbors and friends.

air is getting cooler at night and in the mornings when i walk.

the leaves are beginning to fall.

change is good.

i love the seasons.

loving my life right this very minute.

right now.

as insane and busy as it is, it is all good stuff.

i am one lucky girl.

happy Monday.

kiss kiss

m.