still me

so lucky

man, i am so luckY!
it's moday...
my house is clean, 24 is on tonight and SO IS THE APPRENTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so excited...

i had a crazy day today, getting all back to normal from being down in Florida for the weekend and getting ready to leave again this weekend for the ck CRUISE! um... i will admit it right now... i am STRESSED OUT! so much to do... and very little time to get it all done!

so em and i went to Ruban Rouge and had a wonderful time.. it made me remember how much i love doing that... teaching... hanging out at midnight crops... meeting new people and showing them how to do stuff they had never tried!
i am really bummed, cause i took a whole bunch of cute cute photos...and i am not sure what happened, but i lost them all from my memory card.. i don't know what happened... seriously- sat night, we were sitting and looking through all the photos... and they were there, and sunday morning when i got home, and put the card in the reader, they were not... man, it makes me mad... i did ask lisa, the store owner to send me the photos that she was snapping all weekend... and we have twin cameras, so i am sure they are good!!
you should see that store... serioulsy, i have NEVER seen more heidi swapp product in one place ever before... they had SO MUCH STUFF... i mean, they had every item, and like tons of it! so if you need something you can't find... call them and i am sure they will send it to you! not that they really have time to be packing up orders...as the store is constantly crowded... it's not just heidi stuff that was stocked...everything! it's a killer store. and it really was so fun for me to walk in and see their WALLS of my product... i thought it looked great! the pink cupcakes and balloons were a great compliment to the polk-a-dot packaging!
so Friday night during the crop, i really got put to the test.. after i had a chance to talk to everyone and see what they were working on etc... Lisa, drew a name for someone to win a scrapbook page made by me with that person's pictures... she asked me if i was up to this little challenge and i was game! sounded fun... the girl who won, Suzanne Quillen, had driven in from Georgia, and it was like the first time she had ever left her daughter overnight... she was so cute... she owns a bakery and made these beautiful cookies for everyone that said "HS" and were delicious! (i'd put up a photo if i had one!!!!!!! grrrrrrr!) anyway... she gave me a photo, and i went down and picked some stuff to play with... it was about 11:30 by this time, and a lot of folks had left, so we were down to about 25-30 people there... and as i sat down, everyone gathered around to WATCH me scrapbook... ok... i am a scrapbooker, and i scrapbook a lot... right?? but never with that kind of audience. i will tell you... i was a little nervous! it came out really cute, and Lisa (store owner) gave all the left-overs (and it was a lot) to Suzanne. the whole thing was so cool! i mean, i was a little freaked, but it gave me this opportunity to demo products and show everyone how to use stuff!! i think that even though most everyone had already checked out, they were adding some additional items to their purchases!!
on this page, i showed how to double up large and small photo corners, fuzzy rub-ons, regular rub-ons (all of your favorites), colored pencils, journaling spots, edge distressor etc. etc.... it was really a fun challenge for me!

the next day we taught 2 classes, back to back... same class twice. it was an intense, high energy, technique driven class... everyone did great and seemed to like it! we did 3 scrapbook pages and i wanted to embellish an album, but that kindof got nixed! we played with the decorative tape, ghost frames, fuzzy rub-ons, silhouettes, mask, modeling paste, chipboard letters and fuzzy rub-ons...
it was so much fuN!
it was so great to meet all of you who were there! thanks for coming!!

thanks to all the Ruban Rouge girls!! they worked so hard, and it was fabulous! they really knew how to take care of me! i mean, check out this attention to detail: i got to drive Lisa's little convertible lexus... and when we got in and turned on the key...and guess what was playing in the CD player??? you got it: GWEN!!! emiliy and i were laughing... as we arrived at the store's crowed parking lot... there was a spot RIGHT in front of the door... and as i pulled in, there was a BIG sign that said... "reserved for heidi swapp" you know i was loving that!!! and the other really cool impressive detail... for lunch, Lisa got a local thai restaurant to open up special for lunch (normally they don't do saturday lunch) and we had the restaurant to ourselves... and since emily HATES thai food, they brought in a delicious looking cheeseburger just for her!!
as you can tell...we had a blast!!
thanks again...
now... i gotta scrounge something together for dinner... time to get creative! (or in the car!)
i will post photos as soon as lisa emails a few to me!!

really feeling thankful for TIVO tonight!

champions

hasn't it been just the most stunning thing to watch the competitions this week on tv?
i have to admit... i got sucked into american idol this season. i have never watched it before... and i am a junkie... seriously, 6 hours of idol this weeK? it's a curse to my life! and i can't really multi-task while it's on... i really have to watch. so in addition to watching, and marveling, at the olympics... i have been enjoying the idol competition...and amazed at the difference and similarities in the competition and judging... i mean, here we are watching people who are the best of the best.. passionate dreamers... they sacrifice and work and train... and show up to compete and in a lot of cases... get ripped apart by the judges... what occured to me as i have been watching this week, is that the thing that separates a champion from everyone else... is that they are driven and fueled by that criticism and it's that which makes them better, fiercer competitiors. you can't really compare the idol contestants to olympic athletes except that it's brutal pressure, they pour their hearts out there...and we are all watching. i am inspired... and, it kills the time before the next 24! makes the week go a little quicker!

well, i have to tell you about how awesome our trip to edmonton was! teaching classes makes me happy! i admit... for some reason, designing classes and preparing to teach STRESSES me out! i think it's a lot of pressure to come up with classes that teach something new, inspires, is simple enough to complete in the allotted time, but still challenging for the students and exciting. in my mind, a good class should inspire, educate, entertain and impress-- and in addition to that... i think it should be meaningful! to me, scrapbooking is about so much more than 'cutting the red cardstock to 4.5"x2" and mounting it on the blue cardstock!' ... you know what i mean? --of course you do! anyway, that is why it stresses me OUT!! anyway, this was such a fun class to prepare and present cause it was for retail store owners! then it was even more fun cause i was showing them new products and how to use it... many (most) of them hadn't seen or used most of what we were showing. i think that out of the 150 or so people there, 90% had never used a mask! and they LOVED it! the masks are so fun to teach... people are so pleased with the results... here is what i learned...

1. people don't know that the plastic alphabets are SELF-ADHESIVE.... they were stoked on that.
2. everyone thought that journaling spots were pieces of chipboard. in reality, there are 10 pieces of paper in each little pad. that was an exciting realization for them!
3. silhouettes are a confusing product for everyone... they are NOT adhesive or a rub-on... we convinced everyone to embrace that!
4. (and this was the HIGHLIGHT!!) i can teach anyone how to use the heidi swapp rub-ons! everyone there had had problems with them in the past, but with a little commentary from me, all in attendance were both successful and enthusiastic about the rub-ons!!! LOL
i tell you what.. the rub-ons are such a frustration to me... because i really enjoy them... but frankly, not everyone does!!! and when so many people have a problem using them, 2 things happen... you start to wonder if you are insane...and then you realize, that you have to change manufacures, cause even if they work for ME... doesn't matter! they need to work for anyone. but after this weekend, i wondered if i need to have eric do a little home i-movie to post on the blog and then i can teach everyone in the comfort of their own home! sigh... in any event, it was exciting to have people enjoying the rub-ons in the class!! LOL (simple pleasures)!

well, em and i are leaving tomorrow morning for "palm beach"... i am just wrapping up the instruction sheet. i am excited about the class.. i think it's a good one! i am looking forward to a great weekend in FL!

for all you SHE's

i LOVE this... i found it in vegas at "White House, Black Market". it was on clearance, but i was so surprised to find something totally "SHE"! i had to share it as the lovely ladies in my chicago track are working on all their 'she statements'... it's a little stationary box, filled with cute cards, papers and envelopes.... but it was the box i loved...the cover has this fabulous SHOE on it:

and when you lift the lid, look at this beautiful stuff!!!!

here is a scan of the entire inside of the box lid... maybe this will inspire you and delight you as much as it did me!!! so fabulous! i loved it... it's made by KOCO new york

cause for celebration!

what a slacker i have been! but i am HAPPY to report... all of our artwork for CHAsummer2006 is TURNED IN...and RIGHT on time. deadline met... frankly.. that is not normal for me!!!!! do you have any idea how cool that is? well, it's cause for celebration! even more cause for celebration is that after 2 weeks... eric is home from being in china for work.. and 2 weeks is too long! so we are all thrilled to have him home... we get the big 24 hours together before i am heading to edmonton! (to freeze!). so it's thai food tonight for sure!

ok... so i have to share !

quincy's crocks came in the mail yesterday!!! now we are twins!! (she is a super star)

this is my dog 'blackie'... colton named him when he was 2. it's a really original name, i know...
but he has been limping around since yesterday afternoon, and i can't figure out what is wrong with his foot... i don't ever take photos of him cause he usually doesn't show up (cause he's black) and i think he is afriad of my camera... he can't figure out what i am putting on my face!! it was so sad last night cause he couldn't jump up on my bed. he sleeps at my feet... i had to lift him up.. and he's heavy! poor dog... i think the limping is getting better... he HATES the vet...

...everyone has a favorite holiday. you know how i feel about christmas...(although the pink forest did wonders for me this year) ... my favorite holiday is easter. i think that it stems from my childhood... my grandma and grandpa k would put on pretty elaborate easter egg hunts for the grandchildren! i got pretty new clothes and i LOVEd to dye easter eggs.  as i have gotten older, i have found that easter CANDY is among my favorite as well! in particular:  candy coated HERSHEY's eggs. in the most beautiful colors... anyway, i was at target on valentines and found 2 easter end caps of plates, cups, bowls etc... and i fell in love. i went all out and got a new (well, the only table cloth i own) tablecloth, napkins, plates, cups, bowls etc... so beautiful! i am for sure going to have to throw a party. unfortunately, i am still in search of a few more lg. plates... and i am on the look out for choc. brown placemats.

i had family over for dinner on sunday night and realized that EVERY PLATE i own has a chip out of it. i didnt' have enough matching glasses and not enough forks to serve 8.  it truly inspired me to BUY SOME NEW STUFF. and c'mon the plates you see here were 2.99$ each. the glasses are really plastic. but SO cute. and i will tell you ... pink does NOT match my kitchen... but it matches ME!!  so that is good enough!  what a great reason to celebrate SOMETHING !

it's 3:30am

this is an hour i used to know well... by the time it would be 3am or so... i figured i had about another 1 1/2 hours left in me to work.  i haven't been up at this hour for quite some time. tonight, i went to bed about 10pm. couldn't keep my eyes open.  i was awakend by quincy climbing in bed with me, and me realizing i have a horrible tummy ache. i should just let myself throw up and be done with it... but instead i am trying to think of something that might calm it.  so i came to surf a little on the internet... and ended up on jenni bowlin's site. (this is the papercrafting kit that has my stuff in it! ) i think you can pretty much chalk it up to my pregnant emotions that i can hardly control... but it totally made me cry! i think for 2 reasons really.... 1. i am so happy for jenni! she is following her heart... taking a risk and doing something that she believes in.  she is freakishly talented... and such a gorgeous person.   2. she included some of my products in her kit for feb., and i think that seeing her (and faye)  use my stuff in such a stunning way... kindof was both a thrill and a little jolt of acceptance.  it's hard to explain the emotions i feel when i see my products in use on pages... it shouldn't have such an effect on me... i mean, i have been designing product for years. and when it was 'making memores' product... i certainly was happy to see it used... but for some odd reason... it feels really different now. maybe because it started from nothing. maybe because it has my name on it. maybe because it is a result of so much work, risk, frustration and determination by so many people. 
who knows... maybe i just needed a good crY! sometimes you do! but i am overwhelmed right now, with tremendous feelings of graditude... so grateful for the opportunity i have had to prove this to myself...my biggest critic! ... so grateful for kevin carpenter, pres. of advantus.. cause he really did/does believe in me! even when i tell him i am OUT OF IDEAS! which is what i told him when he signed me!  ...so tremendously grateful for the support of the people around me...eric, em, jodi, liz, my children, mine and eric's family, and my next door neighbor that probably sees more of my kids than she cares to! ... so grateful, and tremendously humbled when people tell me that i have connected with them, inspired them and how much they enjoy what i do.   my list goes on, and on and on and on...............................

so thank you jenni. for making my stuff look so good! and making me cry! i needed that...
i wish you all the best in your endeavor! thank you jared, for encouraging her, lifting her and extending her capabilities! (not that jared is reading this blog... but man, husbands make or break this stuff!)

by the way...since i'm already crying, and it's 4:30am...and i am talking about how grateful i am... there is someone i must celebrate today.  i could not survive with out emily waters. she has got to be  the hardest working, most dedicated and determined person i know.  i believe it was she that got me my job at MM, and she has been with me almost from the very beginning of the heidi swapp brand.  she threw all caution to the wind, and moved here...started a whole new life because she believed in me. she is such a true and loyal friend to me and my family.  she would do anything for me... and does.  today is emily waters' birthday. (man, she is going to be mad at me for putting this on my blog!)  i could never express my love and graditude to her for all that she has done. believe me when i tell you, i don't make anything easy! her email address is:  emily@heidiswapp.com  if you'd like to wish her a happy day! 

well, the pretzels have helped to calm my stomach.  but i am wide awake... i think i will write in my journal! 

inspiration!!

i think that i am inspired by a lot of different things... i love magazines for sure. i love target. i love going to the mall... visiting anthropologie and urban outfitters. i love skateboard shops and little boutiques and gift shops. however, inspriation is more than just visual. and can be discovered in song and applied to paint, or found in a book and illustrated in a photograph. inspiration is the fuel that keeps us going! motivates and feeds the artist inside! so when monique mcLean emailed and invited me to come and teach at her event that centered around 'inspiration' i was very interested! this is what she said in her email:

"Since I have opened the store, I have heard over and over from people that they just have a hard time finding inspiration. I want to help them find that...not with just another layout class, or projects mounted on my store walls, but I want THEM to be able to find inspiration in the "everyday" things of life. I want people to walk away from this weekend and look at things differently!"

needless to say... i was intrigued by the thought...kindof that starting at the heart of the matter...not an end point~ then she said... "i think that cathy zielske is coming..." and i knew that i couldn't miss hanging out with that amazing girl who i love! she was also contacting Elsie Flannigan and Carrie Cobert .. two awesome artists and darling souls that i don't know very well, and am so excited to get a chance to spend some time with!

anyway, i have rec'd a bunch of emails from people asking me what i am doing at the event...some that have already signed up and want a heads up and some follks that are trying to decide and want to know a little about what they'd be missing!! so... i thought i'd give a little preview...

i will be teaching 2 different 90 minute classes along with 3 make-n-takes... the first day, friday, i will be talking about something that has inspired me and changed the way i look at myself, and who i want to be... we'll be talking about the SHE book... and students will be starting a 'she' book of their own. that class will be mostly lecture, discussion and completing some 'she' exercises... that night we will work on some techniques and products that will get the pages started and give you some hands on inspiration to get the album underway. i am so excited about this class... i'm even going to give students an official 'she' album so there will be NO EXCUSES! (wink)

Saturday's class is about finding inspiration through PLAY! i don't want to give too much away here.. but you will be starting your own 'PLAYING' book, given some challenges, ideas and products to get you started on this very playful art journal concept! and i will CONVINCE you, that you DO in fact have time to PLAY... and that it will enrich and inspire your creativity more than you know! i have tons of samples and awesome inspriation to share!

aside from that ... i am going to be hanging out... taking classes from elsie, carrie and cathy! ... i have never been to AL...
anyway,
if you have nothing to do April 21-22... come play! you can find more info at :
www.scrapetc.net and www.sprapetcevents.typepad.com
if you have more questions... email me or whatever!

i am excited, the next 3-4 weeks i will be teaching at a few different events! i love getting a chance to teach! it's gotten so hard for me to squeeze it in to everything else, so when i get the opportunity... i love it!
17th going to Edmonton... meeting retailers... i am afraid it's going to be really COLD
25th we'll be in Ruban Rouge... in Tampa.. hopefully not as cold! so excited to be teaching in a store... i don't get to do that very often
march 6th... i hate to tell you... but i will be on the 7 day cruise... me and becky higgins..! cayman, belize, honduras, cozumel... (dang i wish i could dive!!!!!)
and the month will end with CKU-chicago!!! i am SOOO looking forward to that!

LOTS...going on! loving the frequent flyer miles....

impressed!

just in case there was any question ever about how cool DONNA is...
she emailed me these photos tonight in an email with the subject line reading "i made an album from your garbage!"...

these boxes are what the silhouettes come packaged in...and i think a few more things... most people don't see what the individual pieces come packaged in.. but those of you who own stores can attest to the fact that my product comes with an OVERKILL of packaging! well, thanks to miss donna, we can all open our minds to the possibilites!!!!!!
donna, you rock...

for the love of monday

why... you ask... do i love monday???
can anyone guess?????

24 is on tonight. i can't wait.
and the cleaners come on monday. my house smells so good.

i had my first dr. appointment today! pretty exciting! i got to see my baby! it was so fun to see it with the ultra sound... how amazing... it's funny how emotional that is-i was bawling my eyes out just seeing that little image wiggle around. i do think that if you wait 5 or more years in between having a baby, you revert back to first-time-mom status. (when the tech that was drawing my blood asked me if it was my first baby, i could have kissed her!)
we all know that ultra sound photos look like blobs that are really pretty unidentifiable! but since my whole family lives far away, and keep up with me through this blog, i am posting the my ultra sound photos! eric... i wish you could have been there... it looks like a swapp to me! you can see it so much clearer when the ultra sound is taking place, but the photos look so different when it takes the 'photo'.
anyway... exciting! my date matched the measurements... so all is well!
the cravings are still pretty serious! the last four days... i have been craving anything with mustard on it! i even ate a hot dog. (shaking my head)...

i am wrapping up my cruise projects... i can hardly wait! it's a month from today!

....relief....

so happy to be home! i can't believe how good it felt to sleep in my own bed... i totally slept in, and i have been laying around watching nick jr. with quincy all morning... i am so exhausted!
we had such a great show... things went more smoothly than ever... many thanks go out to the folks at advantus...especially Nik and Keith... who pulled things together and made the preparations that made our jobs so much easier! when i got home my house was clean, laundry was done, and there was even food in the house... i have to hand it to eric, he got things whipped into shape in my absence! (a certain amount of chaos was created as i was involved in all that ironing-on!)
deep breath... now onto the next set of adventures!
but not before i get a massage and clean out quincy's room... (in that order!)

my sincere thanks for all the wonderful comments and emails that have come my way... encouragement, support and congrats have come in from all over the world and it's been such a super charge! thank you...

i still have the most recent 24 episode on tivo that i have yet to watch... so i think i am going to veg-out for another hour and then put myself to bed early!