Great Harvest Bread Co.

I'm giving a shout out to one of my new customers!

Great Harvest Bread Company, a nationwide chain of bakeries, was one of the new companies this year to order custom gift card holders from little ol' me! Check their website for a store near you! Buy a gift card, and a gift card holder to go along with it! You can even buy gift cards and bread on their website.

Happy Shopping!

Workshops Coming Up This Weekend!

Hello All!

Just an FYI, that I have three workshops coming up at Artful Living this weekend - all in one day! Sign up for one or all three!

I have also updated my website with classes for the first part of next year at Viva Gallery.

Sunday, November 16

10am-12:30pm Wine Presentation Box $35

2pm-4:30pm Personal Assemblage $30

5pm-7pm Handmade Holiday Cards $35

We will be making a special wine gift box, hand decorated by YOU! Price includes most materials. Here's a sample of what you can make:

Next, we will be using the top of this box (if you want to) to make an assemblage chock full of personal images and meaning. Learn some basics of creating assemblages. Use the end result as a gift for yourself or someone special!

Finally, spend two hours with me, a card crazy woman, making as many handmade cards as we can muster in 2 hours. Lots of supplies are included in the cost of the class, including paper and some goodies in the store. Below is simply some suggested designs, and I will have supplies for all these designs available for you. Or, make your own designs. I will be brining lots of extra stamps, papers, and goodies. You will likely walk out with at least 20 cards at the end.

You better believe I'll have that beautiful ornament stamp for you to emboss with gold or silver sparkly embossing powder, along with that yummy hand dyed silk ribbon, printed satin ribbon, and German scrap!

If you don't manage to accomplish what you hoped, do not fret! I will be bringing my supply of my Papier Studio cards for purchase at a nice discount!

Please call Artful Living to sign up for the classes and for supply lists, etc. 805-640-0800.

Taming the Tiger

by Tally Oliveau

I open the cage door
every day,
hearing the growls
of my angry tiger.
Pensive,
I find myself deluded
by thoughts
that I have trained
my tiger well,
and that it is
ready
to do my bidding.
Snarling
Prowling,
in its dark cave
it awaits
to pounce.
Knowing
I am unaware.
Knowing
I am naive.
Knowing
I stand alone
at the cage door.

Lookin' For a Good Time?

Ahhhhhhhhh...no more ugly campaign ads and no more ugly warehouse look to my family room! Things are lookin' good, baby!

While I like having big orders, especially in this dismal economy, I didn't like having a family room that looked like a warehouse. Lots of big brown boxes full of pretty cards and envelopes. Well, they're all gone now, except the normal stuff that lurks around here anyways, and is at least semi-contained and out of sight.

So, if you're lookin' for a good time, go here! Click away and see what happens!

Yes We Can!

Can you feel the excitement in the air? There seems to be a new hope, a new energy, about what the future holds for this country as of Tuesday night. From both sides of the political spectrum, there is a wide smile as we prove to the world that America really is the greatest countries on Earth. Our hearts swell as we can all truly say, that we are proud to be an American.

We will make a comeback – but as Obama said – it isn’t going to be easy. What I liked most about his speeches and his plans was that there was a lot of “we” in there. I think most of us know that one man, even the president of the United States, cannot make sweeping changes anywhere. It is The WE that will make those changes. It will take some sacrifice, but WE can do it. WE can make it happen. WE will survive, WE will grow, WE will prosper. Yes WE can!