Here (over there on the right) is a photo of last week's prize...I forgot to post it..you will have to go to the newsletter to see if you won!!

On the left here is this coming week's prize...a set of 5 mounting tape packs from Helmar, and a dot 'n' roller from Kokuyo. I was heartened to read about everyone and their magazines...we are the same the world over!

Lots and lots of new products are arriving every day...it is cool to be opening all the boxes and getting a surprise as I finally remember what I ordered. Honestly, I could probably hide my own easter eggs. Anyway, I was thinking about how much I have learned over the years, and yet how I also tend to stick to some of my favorite techniques...so I am thinking that I will start picking some new techniques to deliberately include in my work these days. I am starting with the whole idea of masks, especially using the new masking material from Tim Holtz. My plan is to use this in my work over the next two weeks, and then, maybe, in a few weeks incorporate another technique and put the two of them together--so that would be two new techniques per month...Let's see how well I can do with this...I will post some of my efforts. How about you guys...anyone want to commit to trying a new technique, one that you have learned but not used very much??? I would love to hear what you are willing to try in order to push your art along a bit. Tell me all about it and there could be some pretty cool adhesives in it for you.

Another Weather Update (and this week's topic)

Tuesday, February 16...we are closing the store at 3 pm today, due to piling-up-on-the-roads snow...Check back with us tomorrow.
I have a picture of the free prize for this week but it is at the store so I will update the blog with that tomorrow when I get in. I like to hear that we all like mini-books...also one of my fave forms. I just heard from Margie Romney-Aslett that she wil be here at the store in November for some holiday fun...pretty sure we can get her to do at least one mini!
So, what do you do with all your books and mags...and I know you have them piling up just like I do...I have taken to reading the magazines with a computer handy so I can go to the websites noted in the ads and articles...the books I just keep in piles...the mags, I go thru every now and then and tear out articles...but after a while it does get to be a very large pile!! However, I cannot resist getting them...how about you guys??

Snow Alert!!

We are closing the store today, Wednesday, February 10th, at 1 pm, due to the huge storm that is coming our way...it would be just our luck we may get passed by, or only a few inches...but, hey, we are not a hospital, we are a rubber stamp store (really--soooo much more, I know...but trying to keep it brief) so we are keeping non-essential personnel off the streets & safe...So, come in early to get those projects and go home and hunker down. Good luck with the shovelling. We will continue with the 40% off snowflakes anad thank you stamps and stickers, etc, as a gratefulness for not having two feete of snow already...this sale continues til Valentine's Day.

Back From CHA

So many pictures to show...the trip was good, fun, enlightening...biggest trend, aside from Vintage, which we have been all over for awhile...is jewelry and charms...so you will be seeing some new items along those lines...all the usual suspects were great...7 Gypsies, Prima, Webster's Pages, Graphic 45. litle Yellow Bicycle, Making memories, Cosmo Cricket, all the Tim Holtz products...that guy is everywhere!!!...and I am pretty sure we are all pretty glad that he is...new items to watch for...a new glitter & coloring style which I will show you all when it arrives...new-to-us, the stamps from The Queen's Ink, PDQ papers from Bisous, pre-embossed papers from Core'dinations, new japanese designs form Hanko, magnets and buttons for the i-top from Imaginesce, wood stamps from a Swedish company called Magnolia (ggogle them!!)

Penny Black's newest stamps (with her gorgeous boards.)...some of the new Tattered Angels items have already arrived...anyway, here are few photos from the trip.

This first one shows all the dies from the Tim Holtz release for Ellison, except for the edge dies...and here is the cover of his new book...which has all sorts of projecfts with very detailed instructions...

These images and cards are from the Queen's Ink line...due in shortly.






Here is a photo of this week's prize...it is a kit (in very nice creams & browns) to make a 10 x 20 inch decor project, with an additional 6x6 canvas to attach to the front for a 3-d effect, plus a 2-pack of the ranger white pen. And the question for this week is: Let's talk about book binding...have you ever done it, especially in mini form??? Making mini books is such a delight...one of my all time favorite things to do, (besides soldering, Zentangles, shopping!!, and maybe a few others)
What is your favorite binding system, (Wow, I almost said "bonding system...that is a discussion for a whole 'nother day!) e.g. there are the following out there, Zutter Bind-it-all, 7 gypsies bindery punch, coil puncher machine, book rings, ribbon ties, stapling, piano hinge, hand-sewn, ...or which do you have the most experience with...and any you would like to have the oportunity to try (no promises here.) Thanks in advance for playing!

Here is the prize for this week...another two handmade tags as well as the tree stamp that is used in one of the tags. And the question is..for those of you who follow new releases from the stamp and scrapbook and altered arts fields, what are the items that you think sound good, or even great...what are some of the companies you would like me to look at when I go to California for the CHA show...I am definitely taking a look at all the new items from Sizzix, designed by Tim Holtz, as well as new stuff from Prima, 7 Gypsies, and Graphic 45 (in fact, I already ordered all of new stuff from those three companies.) Will definitely check out (and I am pretty sure to order the complete line of,) Webster's Pages...as well as new Idealogy and Stampers Anonymous stamps...any other companies you would like me to be sure to drool over?? Also, are there any projects coming up for you this year that you would like special supplies for, e.g. 50th wedding anniversary of your parents, or maybe your own??...graduations, births, trips to certain destinations??...I am happy to look for new stuff. Let me know.

Fresh Starts

There were lots of mentions of fresh starts in our discussion of New Years' resolutions...I really like that idea...especially after just doing the inventory count and knowing that I will be heading to CHA (the big buying show for 2010), in Anahem, CA at the end of the month, and getting new stuff for the store...that counts, doesn't it? I have been hearing about some great releases, especially the new portable Sizzix big shot and all the Tim Holtz dies, as well as new TH embellishments in the Idealogy line...and then there are the new inks from Ranger, new stamps from Stampers Anonymous, and I guess there will be lots of other new stuff there , too...I think a lot of you who made comments here have come in and gotten some of the BeadsforLife items...thank you so much...it feels very good to me to be connected to the very hard-working women in Uganda who are doing such a great job for themselves, their children & families and for their entire villages. I wish some wonderful "
fresh starts" to all of them, too.
Here is a photo of this week's prize...it is two handmade tags (made by Kate), a la the style of the Tim Holtz Christmas tags from this past year..along with one of the stamps used in one of the tags..the lamppost. Leave me a comment and you are entered to win this item. Here is this week's question.
Has there been a person in your life who has influenced you in an important way? (I reserve the right to re-ask this and have you mention another person, at some later date...we all probably have more than one...and I, for one, would love to continue hearing these stories...but for now, just one person.) Let's all assume that our mothers or fathers rank up there pretty high..and pick someone different...and maybe share why. I was very influenced, when my first child went to nursery school, by the main teacher at the school. She was so fair and reasoned with all the children, and both knew all about children and imparted her wisdom freely to all the parents. I have always felt a debt of gratitude to her because I believe that she helped me become the kind of parent I wanted to be. She may never read this but I will just say, "Thank you, Marietta." (I am quite sure that she is aware of her wonderful effect on all who crossed her path.)
One other thought...I would love to hear some suggestions for "question of the week." If you have some good ones...one or many ideas...please e mail them to me as a reply to the newsletter. (or send to absolutelyeverything@gmail.com.) Put "question ideas" in the subject line. Don't post them here, because I want people to be surprised!!

Inventory is on!!

As they say, "Come on down!!" We are here and starting to get into the whole counting groove...we will still have a bit of shopping time for you...until 1:30 and then the counting will start in earnest. You will get 20% off anything you buy now...we will put int into the register and you will pay for it. When you leave, you will hand us a card with your hours worked, and we will enter some $$ into your store credit which you can spend til it is gone also at 20% off. We are having heavy h'ordeuvres (pizza!) at 4 pm...so those of you who will need to eat sunday dinner with family can still do that..we will stay here counting til we are done though...I do have a delightful little treat for everyone who makes it, so we will be happy to see all your lovely faces whenever you can get here. The driving seems to be fine...most of the roads down here are down to wet pavement...or plowed really, really well. Drive carefully!