My life...just not on the road I expected (but it's still dang good).

And the bad blogger award goes to....

I know, I haven't been my usual blogging self for the last few months.  Just lots of busy-ness going on around here.  (But I think things are starting to slow down a bit.)

Annie and Tater-Tot picking strawberries at Grandma Jo's (or as Annie calls here 'Dramma').

Shortly after this perfect little moment caught on film, Dramma took Annie's water-logged diaper off (she had been in the pool) and told Annie to be sure to tell her if she needed to go potty.

Next thing I know, Dramma and Annie are walking towards me with flies swarming around them.  (Which is coincidentally the same time Josh turned up missing.)

I'll spare you the details.

When told that she needs to go potty in the toilet like a big girl, Annie says, "I yar not a bid girl, I yar my Mommy's tiny wittle baby!"

And some other things...

1. I used some more of the Photoblast actions found over at Polka Dot Potato on this one too (I used Vivid Color Pro at 40% opacity, Acid Wash at 40% opacity and the EZ Vignette at 100%).  The Polaroid Transfer action I used the other day should be available on the site very soon.  (Sorry about that.)  If you have questions about these actions or how to download them, contact Polka Dot Potato.

2. For all of you gals in Maryland, Scrap Happy KT is having a huge warehouse sale on August 2nd at 1333 Liberty Rd. in Eldersburg.  You can find out more details here.

3. And for all you gals in Texas (or anyone who wants to drive drive to Texas)...

I'm teaching 10 Reasons on Friday, August 15th and Interactive Scrapbooking on Saturday, August 16th at the Paper Garden in Amarillo.  806 322 2060.

and

I'm teaching 10 Reasons on Saturday, August 16th, the One 8+ hour Day Photographers' Workshop on Sunday, August 17th and Interactive Scrapbooking on Monday, August 18th at Scrapbook N Such in Wichita Falls. 940 691 8777.

All of the classes in Wichita Falls sold out really quickly and there was a big waiting list, but I just got off the phone with the owner, Terri (who feeds me lots of cheese dip, chips, margarita's and good conversation while I'm there to keep me coming back) and she just secured a new location for the classes, so she's got more spots available now!  In fact, the Photographers' Workshop has gotten so big that I'm going to do it for the first time in a PowerPoint presentation (so excited).

Here's the scoop though, I'm shipping all the kits on Monday, so we've got to try to get an accurate, updated headcount before then (so call either store right away if you want to sign up).

Just a few things...

Annie saw a bird go under the car. (I love that girl.)

And some other stuff...

1. I'm a sucker for actions and found some new ones, called PhotoBlast actions over at Polka Dot Potato. I used the Polaroid Transfer and the EZ Vignette actions on this one.  Loving them and will try to post more photos with them this week.

2. Studio Calico has a bunch of Narratives in their August kit and also in this add-on kit and this one too.  They've always got the coolest kits.

3. It's a big day around here...we're in the last week of my first online Photographers' Workshop and starting the first week with a brand new class today.  I know I haven't posted a ton about it just because I have been so busy around here, but I think it's all going really well.  I know a lot of you are hoping to hear what the students think of the class, so maybe a few of them will post any feedback they have here in the comments section.

4. Yes, I am going to offer more online photography classes.  I posted awhile back that I was considering offering a class that runs through Nov. and Dec. if there was enough interest.  Well, I got TONS of emails (so apparently, there is enough interest).  So I will be adding this class along with more in 2009. 

5. I will be opening up registration for the following classes on Monday, September 8th at 9:00am PST (that's 9:00 in the morning for you gals who were trying to register at 9:00 in the evening last time):

The Photographers' Workshop running Nov. 17th - Jan. 25th.

The Photographers' Workshop running Jan. 19th - Mar. 29th.

6. The class was originally 8 weeks, but has turned into a 10 week course, with a 1 week intermission midway through.  The class fee is $275.00

7. I know registration was crazy last time and I'd like to say it won't be crazy this time...but I just don't know.  Don't worry though, I plan to continue teaching this class as long as there is interest.

Hope your week is great!

The Season Opening.

Blackberry season just opened up at our house.

 

Which means that every morning at 6:30am, Annie is out in the backyard picking her breakfast.

These blackberry bushes started growing over our fence and are trying to take over our backyard (as you can see).  Josh keeps trying to cut them down - but whenever he does, I freak out and tell him that he's ruining blackberry season.

So he's given up for now.

And despite the blackberry stained fingers, clothes and teeth (we do lots of extra brushing during blackberry season) I look forward to it all year.

Oh, and that frame is also available at Polka Dot Potato.

Right now...

Right now I'm working and just overheard that Ross has Cole locked in his room and is refusing to let him out until he repeats the words "I Cole, am a princess flower-bottom."

I'd like to go and save Princess Flower-Bottom, but I have work to do.

I love him.

I love him.  I love him.  I loooooooove him.

He's been gone most of the summer, but he's home now.  I forget how much more settled I feel when he's around.  I don't know why that is.  Maybe it's because I've never known adulthood without him (I had him when I was 19).

We talked for a long time the other day.  He's so grounded.  The concept of a solid, grounded teenager is just so foreign to me as I was such a flaky, insecure, irresponsible teenager.

He told me that he sometimes feels like I make rules for him based on the mistakes that I made as a teenager without taking into consideration that he isn't on the same path that I was on at 16.  He's right.

But that's a hard thing to let go of sometimes.

It's a hard thing to want so many good things for a person's life, but to know that you have to step back a little in order for them to pave their own way.

It's a hard thing knowing that he'll be out on his own in two years.  What if he doesn't pay his electrical bill?   What if he doesn't study for his finals?  What if he drinks too much one night?  What if he gets his heart broken?  What if he eats too much fast-food?

I just want so badly for him to avoid my mistakes.  I just want it to be easier for him.  I just want it to be less painful.

Although I got my electricity turned off a couple of times in college...and I still turned out ok.

Thanks for the talk Ross, you are seriously one of the coolest people I know.

And totally off topic:

1. The border I used on the photo above is available as a brush over at Polka Dot Potato and is also available to print directly onto your photos at Scrapbookpictures.com.

2. Ross is not really a cowboy.

3. Even though I am no longer designing stamps for FontWerks (Creative Imaginations launched their own acrylic stamps, so all of my future stamp designs will be released through CI) the stamps that I designed for them (FontWerks) are still available.  And you can find those ever elusive Flitter stamps here. 

4. I am teaching 10 Reasons at the Scrapbook Connectionhere in Grants Pass (my hometown) this Saturday at 9:30am (541 474 4404). 

5. Have a great day.

Grandma Jo's.

Just a warning...I went a little crazy on the editing for a few of these (much more than I normally do) but am all over Pross Crocessed #1 and #2 (at about 10-20% opacity) and Old Skool, from Totally Rad Actions.  They just came out with a brand new set of actions too, which I'm going to get as soon as my life slows down enough for me to download them.

Grandma Jo got a little pool (and she's the only person I've ever seen convince Annie of getting into the water.)

Courtney Lee.

 

Tater-Tot (Taylor).

Grandma Jo.

Coley.

Yannie.

And Baby Brooke (who's four...but the nickname stuck).

 

Kids with all their teeth coming in just cracks me up.

Misti (my sister-in-law) couldn't figure out why Taylor was sticking rocks in her eye and up her nose...

Oh, and Me & Ross (nice face Ross).

All the women in Josh's family are amazing cooks...I just take pictures though (I did cut up a few cucumbers and a tomato...and brought some hot-dog buns).

Grandpa Tom.

And Josh Downs (I probably won't ask him to take his sunglasses off next time.)

I love him, but I feel like his mouth is in a perpetual state of motion.

And I love these little lovely girls too.

And I really love this girl (even if she's not that fond of me).

I shot everything with a 24-70mm.  Oh and I had to reduce the number of posts on the front page of my blog because it was taking an eternity to load.  So if you're looking for older posts, you can find them in the archives section in the left hand column or you can just keep pressing the little arrow at the bottom of each page.

They're home.

Ross, Dillon and Cole were in Idaho with my Mom and Uncle, visiting my Aunt Kelly and her family.

My Mom called the other night to tell me that my Uncle Donnie was driving Ross and Dillon home on Friday but that she was going to stay for awhile longer with Coley.

Friday night at 7:00pm, the boys called and asked me to meet them.  I loaded up Annie in the car and told her that Ross was coming home.  She got all excited about seeing Ross and then paused and asked "Is my Dillon coming home too?"

 

Then my Uncle Donnie said that he had something for me in the back of the truck...

And it was Coley.

   

Taking the week off.

 

Taking the rest of the week off from blogging - I've got a couple of different deadlines looming and need to give them my full attention.

If you have sent me an email...no, I am not ignoring you and yes, I will respond eventually.

If you live outside of the US and ordered a kit from me recently, I'll just apologize now for the box you may recieve (I ran out of boxes and had to mail out some of the kits in leftover Christmas boxes with pictures of snowmen on them.)

ETA: I shot this picture of Annie with my 50mm (I was standing in the river).

Have a great week.

More stuff.

I also added to the Antique Cream collection (imagine that).

And my favorite thing releasing at this show might just be the last four images here...

They're 12x12 page protectors with built in pockets.  The designs are printed right onto the page protector.  You just cut your photos to size (2x2's and 4x6's), slip them in the pockets on both sides of the page protector and you're done (although you could certainly add rub-ons and other embellishments too).

I won't be at the show (too much going on here at home) but if you're going...have fun.

CHA Summer 2008

Just wanted to share my additions to the Narratives Bloom collection that is releasing at the CHA Summer show (shipping in Sept. and Oct.)

My favorite thing is the die-cut paper below that looks like old doiles (I've been trying to get this paper to market for over two years now - so excited to finally see them).

 

And (for the first time) I've got acrylic stamp sets through Creative Imaginations...

 

If you are a retailer and would like the Catalog pages for my CHAS 08 release, please email me at karencrussell@charter.net and put in the title "Please email me your catalog pages".

Will post more stuff tomorrow.