Art and Soul

My Rock of Love...

Yesterday afternoon, me, my kids, my neighbor Mary and her daughter and my brother drove over to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.  They gave us free rooms and free dinner and I figured we'd have a nice dinner and drop the kids off at the pool, while Mary and I had fun at the slots and throwing back several frozen strawberry Margaritas.  Plus that Fresh Harvest buffet is so good and I have no problems enticing my kids to go there to eat.  And once or twice a month, they give us free dinners.  So we go and eat and visit the slots.

To our surprise as we were checking in, Bret Michaels and Big John were in front of the spa, so we HAD to go over and see them up close (and personal, which I will explain later).

First of all, is anyone out there (besides me and Tina) addicted to that train wreck of a show "Rock of Love?"  I don't get why I watch it to the point of TiVo-ing it, but I do.  I also am amused by "Flavor of Love" and now the new "I Love Money."  But Bret Michaels, he has the best show, with the sluttiest sluts and stupidest wannabes that keep my eyes glued to the tube.  And I've never missed an episode.  Ever.  I stopped watching Flavor Flav about halfway through last season because it was just nauseating.  But I do like Bret.

So we walk over to him and Big John and say hello and they are so nice.  Really nice.  Bret talked to Connor and thanked him for being a fan and told him it was very nice to meet him.  Delaney didn't want to get anywhere near him because she said, "He's weird."  Connor handed him this cute little notebook that I had in my purse for him to sign.  Mind you it was brand new, full of empty pages with the coolest ever vintage cover, and where does he sign it?  ON THE COVER.  Not to a fresh clean page, but on the cover.  In big huge letters that encompass the entire page.  "Rock On.  Bret Michaels," it says.  Then Bret very graciously obliges us with a photo opportunity.  First Connor steps closer and Bret puts his arm around him and makes some kind of "gang sign" (and if anyone knows what that means, can you please LMK?)  I snap the photo of them and then Bret asks me if I want a photo as well.  Sure.  Okay.  Why not?  Because he is very cute and his skin is smooth, his teeth are white and I'm really thinking I want to rip that baseball cap and bandana off his head and see if there's real hair under there.  There is that controversy, you know.  So I hand my camera to Mary and give her a 2-second instructional (where to press, how to not make me look so fat), and I walk closer to Bret.  I get close enough and I put my arm lightly around his back and he makes that same gang sign with his right hand and slips his left arm around my back and puts his LEFT HAND ON MY ASS.  Firmly.  I guess that's what he's used to doing with Heather and Ambre and Daisy, but HELLO?  I'm a 48-year-old woman, and I haven't had a virtual stranger really GRAB my ASS like that in a very long time.  Except for that one time on the "El" in Chicago.

Now I hate to admit this, because I like to think of myself as a pseudo-moral compass, but I really liked Bret Michaels grabbing my ass.  He is damn cute, hot and sexy and he's a bonafide rock star.  And he thought my ass was as good as any to grab.  Kinda makes me proud.  I think I'm going to start doing some squats and working out to "Buns of Steel" now and firm up that tush.  Because you just never know who'll I'll run into at the Hard Rock.  Yep...Bret Michaels, he likes my butt.

"24" Class

Okay, here's the scoop.  I had originally scheduled the class for August 9th.  Then there were several who couldn't take it that day but wanted to take it in September, so I just thought I'd reschedule it.  Perhaps if I'm planning on doing something, I should relay that to the people in charge, instead of keeping those thoughts in my head. 

So...I will be teaching it Saturday August 9th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.  I "might" repeat it in September, but as of now, the only time will be August 9th.  You can pick up a kit, if that's your preference.

And this is what it's all about:  Twenty-four 12 x 12 layouts, which are actually 12 double-page spreads.  I've designed them to accommodate any photos, any theme.  And there are a few extras and bonuses I've thrown in that you'll like too.  If you're looking to organize a few stacks of photos, this will be your perfect opportunity.  You know those "odd" photos you're never quite sure where to put, or the spectacular ones you just can't wait to showcase?  This class will work for you. 

Now, since this class is almost 2 weeks from now, we'll be making class kits right away.  So I had to limit the class size (including those who only want kits).  If you are interested in hanging out with me for an entire day (and if you need a bottle of wine to make that happen), give us a call.  If you had planned on taking this same class in September, call and reserve a class kit, because I probably won't be teaching it in September.

Are you confused?  I tend to do this to people.  Just ask Kathie...

QuicKutz heavy over here...

Finally our shipment has arrived and there were customers diving into the FedEx truck to retrieve it.  All the new releases...animals, baby shapes, the plane, the truck, the tiara and wand and the purse and the perfect little castle...they're all here, and included in the sale.  I would suggest you hurry on in.

And to make it up to you, even though it wasn't our fault, if you are a QuicKutz club member, we will allow you to pre-order the new QuicKutz fonts at 40% off until Friday July 25th.  If you can't make it in, we'll gladly take your order over the phone.  If you're not a member, you can take 20% off. 

It's Monday and hot outside...

And what a perfect day to run errands and then hole up inside and create something.  Yesterday after the QuicKutz meeting, Delaney wanted to get in the pool and she's still too young to be out there by herself, I gathered some things from my studio, hooked up the Ipod, sat on the lanai and had some fun of my own while the water baby was in the pool.  I got a lot done and was so motivated, listening to the Mamma Mia! soundtrack over and over and over.  We saw Mamma Mia! Friday night and I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed the play.  Actually I would see both again (and again).  Such thrills for this middle-aged woman.  And whilst I was playing with my never-ending supply of paper crafts, I had the epiphany of just how much I love run-ons and alpha stickers.  So easy to use and they make such a dramatic as well as subtle statement on a page.  So the sale for this week?  Any rub-on or alpha sticker will be 30% off.  Any manufacturer.  Any size.  And we have lots for you to choose from.

I didn't go to CHA this time, I just have so much going on with the kids, summer activities and I just wasn't in the mood, but Rhonda, Nicole and Kelly did go for us and they would call and give me a play-by-play of what they liked, what they were unsure of and today I'm expecting a few boxes of catalogs they're bringing me to look through.  Anyone want to help?  Some of our reps from our beloved manufacturers did stop by the store last week and I placed orders for a lot of things that will be shipping pretty soon.  So don't worry...you'll have new things to play with.  And if there's something you've seen or heard about that you think we should have in the store, please give us a shout.  We would like to know what's out there that you like. 

Oh, and the girls did manage to bring back some goodies that we'll be passing onto you.  Our friends at Making Memories sent us a box of goodies and Keith (our usual rep) said he put something special in there for me since I didn't come.  I also had a phone call from the very lovely Sarah Milne of Scenic Route, who said she wore a special outfit for me that day, but where was I?  So she called and told me about her fabulous new release, and sent some sample packs with the girls for our design team to use and for us to give away to our customers.  And Vicki Boutin a.k.a. Pretty Kitty, if you read this, I want you to know, I really missed seeing you there.  You always make me smile...

Today at the store...

Today was fun.  Yesterday was fun too.  Probably not for anyone around me (meaning the staff), but it's been a long while since I actually worked and organized and arranged things at Ruban Rouge.  And I think it's going to be my new-found habit.   Yesterday and today, well, actually starting Sunday, we've been tidying up the place, organizing and looking at what we have in stock.  Some people call that inventory, I call it nosing around and seeing what I haven't seen in a while.  And all the while I was dropping things in a pile on the counter behind the register for me.  And another thing I'm loving is the perfect Bazzill cardstock right next to the patterned paper.  I'm actually shopping smarter now...picking the paper, the Bazzill and a few well-chosen embellishments to go on my layouts.  I'm storing them in separate paper sleeves and now I'm ready to sit down and work instead of rummaging around to find what might or might not work.

But today...why so fun?  I got to play with Tim Holtz.  Not the man himself, but his toys.  We got a huge shipment from Advantus including sprocket gears, muse tokens, philosophy tags, jump rings, swivel clasps, trinket pins, ball chains, new stamps, game spinners, unmounted stamps, word keys, numbers you can affix to things, hitch fasteners, long fasteners, hinge clips and much much more.  Totally Tim.  Some of the things I don't have a clue as to how to use, but I'm all for messing around until I figure some of it out.  Plus I trust Tim will have some samples and possibly even demos on his blog and/or website.  He's just fantastic like that.  Oh and new grungeboard.  I have a few ideas, I'm going to decorate a frame with some of the things, giving it  a "manly" twist, or rustic or just plain freaking cool.  And I'm going to distress and decorate one of the organizational cases in his line.  Tim Holtz, you've made me happy once again. 

And then there's the new Autumn Leaves Heather Bailey collection.  And new Autumn Leaves acrylic stamps and a new baby, or little small child line.  Perfect for the very young...girly and boyish.  And there are stamps that coordinate with the line and inks that match too.  Oh you must come and check it out.

I just had to share this with you, my newfound happiness.  I love getting new scrapbook stuff and playing.  And that's what I plan to do tonight.  It's late, but I think I might sleep in and show up to work late.  Because, you know I can.

Tomorrow night, don't forget, we have our QuicKutz meeting and Happy Hour.  And I'll be there for both.

What we love the most...

In the scrapbooking world, that is.  Yesterday, I had the pleasure of completing part 2 of our 7 Gyspies album, and the ladies there tried to get me to tell them what the sale would be.  "What do you want it to be?" I asked.  Because I had no idea, hadn't really thought about it and hadn't ventured over to the store to take a walk.  "Well we love paper," they unanimously replied.  Come to think of it, so do I.  And they agreed that they appreciate our efforts in the last few weeks of matching the Bazzill cardstock to our existing patterned paper supply.  It really does make it so much easier to have the coordinating cardstock right there with the beautiful decorative paper.

And the first phone call I answered this morning was a pleading voice saying she had been out of town and wasn't able to make the QuicKutz sale and could I please please extend it for her.  Not to disappoint her or anyone else who may not have been able to make the sale, and to accommodate those who may have forgotten to get a new die or two, we'll be extending our QuicKutz 50% off sale *(and 60% for members) until the end of the month. 

In conclusion, QuicKutz until July 31st, will be 50% off.  All paper, cardstock, double-sided, embossed, any size, shape or color will be 30% off.

So stock up.  It's only paper, but we can't create without it.

Anne needs your votes...

BHG Scrapbooks Etc is having a summer challenge where each week scrapbookers compete to win over $200 in scrapbook supplies. At the end of the 10-week challenge, the winners from each week get to compete for the grand prize of $2500!! Anne is a finalist this week and she needs our support to help her win! Here's her finalist layout:

You can vote one time per day through Wednesday: VOTE FOR ANNE HERE!

---Kelly :)

Back to work...

Wasn't it a great weekend?  Lots of days off in a row for most of us...celebrating on Friday and not worrying about work for two full days?  It was so nice seeing everyone in the store for the sale last week.  And Saturday's cook-out crop?  We had our regulars and there were several new faces who said they would be coming back for more crops.  Mike and Connor did a bang-up job "manning" the grill while the rest of us sat back, talked and did the occasional layout.  But it was fun, even if I got nothing done.  However, I did sort some photos, which is a step in the right direction.  Organizing is always good.

Yesterday I concentrated on the QuicKutz club layouts and the "extras" we'll be working on at the next meeting.  You'll be so proud of me...I've picked the dates for the meetings for the rest of the year.  Amazing.  Kathie will be putting them on the calendar sometime today, but this month's meetings will be Wednesday July 16th at 6 p.m. and Sunday July 20th at noon.  Don't forget we'll be doing an extra project after this meeting which should take no more than 30 minutes from the time I hand them out until the time you pack it up.  The extra project will be free this month.

And since yesterday I was in full QuicKutz mode, I had a brilliant idea.  (So now that's one in a row.)  We need to put something on sale this week that will be every bit as sensational as last week's sale.  So here we go...

Anything and everything QuicKutz will be 50% off.  All your fonts, shapes, binders, cutting mats, tools...if it has the QuicKutz logo, it will be 50% off. 

And if you're a QuicKutz member, there's even better news.  You can take 60% off anything and everything QuicKutz, except the fonts, which will be 50% off.  No other discounts will apply, as I'm sure you understand, but we will gladly stamp your loyalty card for your purchase.

And now that I've got the QuicKutz news and layouts all settled, I'm off to kit this week's Happy Hour, which is also pretty cool, I must say...

A sale...a sale...a BIG sale...

Rather than choose one manufacturer to spotlight this week, we're going to choose them all.  Everything in the store, including QuicKutz, will be 40% off, all week, until Sunday July 6th.  We will be happy to stamp your loyalty cards, but we will not be redeeming loyalty cards during this sale.

And remember, we're going to be closed Friday July 4th, because we just can't compete with the fireworks, but we'll re-open Saturday at 10 a.m. and celebrate with our all-day, welcome summer BBQ crop.

Have a safe holiday, fireworks can be freaky things...

My favorite place in DC...

With the beautiful federal-style architecture, the quaint antique shops and cutting-edge stores, restaurants, the brownstones that JFK and Jackie lived, the "Exorcist" steps, the pub from "St. Elmo's Fire," it's not hard to say GEORGETOWN was my favorite place.  We had the best lunch at a little french bistro and dinner on the roof of a mexican restaurant, got to visit Paper Source, which my second favorite store with Ruban Rouge being my first, I just loved Georgetown. 

So I think I got everyone here, but double-check me if I'm wrong...Monica Brown guessed correctly first (6/25/08 @ 2:02 p.m.), then Kelly at 6:29 p.m. on 6/26/08, and finally Kate at 8:57 a.m. on 6/27/08.  Monica gets to play with a cool Making Memories Passport album kit and matching Bazzill, and Kelly and Kate will each get a special goodie from the Passport collection.

Thanks for playing along.  And again I say, it's so good to be home...