The PaperLife

Goodbye and butterflies

Just a real quick post from California because I know my gram would want me to share especially with my family back home. I am in no shock, grandma waited and took all the pain of the wait until I was able to handle it. That was just my gram completely unselfish. You come to a point when you love someone so much you pray for them to go and have their pain taken away. I never thought I would be strong enough to let her go, but she unselfishly made sure I was. It still hurts but, she waited until I was ready to feel the joy for her to move on. She is with my grandpa and her daughter Shirley now both of whom I helped her grieve the losses of on a daily basis after everyone else had to go back to living. It was hard at such a young age but she needed me there everyday and after all she had done for me and meant to me I did not mind. We spent so much time together there was hardly a day growing up I was not with her. She would even come pick me up and take me back to college when I was feeling homesick and always tell me she missed me so much she would do it anytime. I will never forget the day I was married and gram came up to me and said how happy she was on that day "this feels like my day wedding too.". Or when she went with us to the courthouse to finalize Tucker's adoption and she told everyone in the room how much she had prayed for this little fella to come into our family. The day gram first had her stroke 6 years ago, the kids and I were staying on the farm with my parents and I had asked gram to come keep Jaycie Claire for me in the morning ,the night before so I could run to town and get diapers for 4 month old Jaycie. She was so excited to get some alone time with the baby in the morning she told me she probably wouldn't sleep. That morning it was 5 minutes past gram's arrival time. I just knew something was wrong I called and called and no answer so I called my mom who ran over from work to find her having had the stroke and called the ambulance. When I arrived to the hospital shortly after the ambulance driver was in the waiting room and asked "who was Amy? I said I was and he said your grandmother told me I had to get ahold of you and let you know she did not think she could watch Jaycie Claire this morning, he said that is all she talked about the whole ride to the hospital, her concern that you would have to find someone to watch Jaycie Claire! That sums up my grandma completely, the woman just had a major stroke and all she could worry about was me finding a sitter. Lol, love you gram! There are so many stories, worth telling about my gram, and I am sure they will be told here because, that is what I do I "write it out". But, this morning I just felt like I needed to let you know how special she really was. So, rewind to Tuesday, the last time I saw gram, I had her all to myself and I knew I needed to say goodbye. She was alert, I asked her if she knew who I was and she said, I'm not gonna lie I can't remember your name. I said it's Amy. And I swear her eyes lit up so big and she said "I have an Amy!". I said it me gram and she said your so grown up since I say you last I didn't recognize you. So sweet, I got to hold her had and tell her I would be ok if she was ready to go. She was in a lot of pain and I told her I was ready and would be ok she didn't need to suffer for me. And she said ok. And it was so peaceful, she smiled at me and said it would be really soon, and I said just take care of us from heaven and she said she always would. We sat and she thanked me for all the tome I spent with her so she never felt lonely, and I thank,Ed her for everything she did for me. It was an amazing gift she gave me once again. And then in true grandma style she wanted to know where her kids were, I said they were in the car with Jason did she want me to go get them? And she looked at me like I was crazy and said well yes! So, I even got to bring them in and they were able to see her one last time and put a smile on her face as well. Yet another gift from gram to me. And with that she and I were good, I knew when I kissed her goodbye and left that room it would be the last time I saw her on earth. I boarded a plane with my family to california knowing that and sure enough I got the call 2 days later she had passed. It hurts but, because of what my grandma did for me all the way to the end, it is peaceful and comforting at the same time. I have never lost someone so close to me that I loved enough to be ready to let go. It's an amazing way to feel. I am so happy for her right now knowing she is watching over us and up in heaven celebrating with all her friends, grandpa, and especially our beloved aunt shirley. This brings me to the butterflies. Right before I got the call grandma had passed a beautiful butterfly land right beside me at the park. So unique and special for a Midwest girl in January. I know it was a gift from grandma as she left. And yesterday yet again, I was deep in a childhood memory with my gram and what fluttered right by me? A butterfly. Thanks for those gram you couldn't have picked a more perfect gift to send me. I will miss you so much but, it is so comforting to know you are always with me still. Have fun in heaven till we all get there and keep sending the butterflies you could not have picked a more perfect gift as usual!

S.O.S. This Lady Needs a Name.

Just look at her.

Isn't she lovely?

She is a daydream believer and a homecoming queen.

But, she desperately needs a name.

You see she is the mascot of something big.

One of my biggest WISHES to be exact and she needs a fitting name.

Oh you should have seen her when I brought her home.  It was bad but, I could see her beauty.  (however, being the all or nothing girl that I am I didn't stop 2 seconds to get a before shot! DRATS!!  Oh well she said she would be embarassed for you to see it anyway)

So help a girl out.  What would you name her? Leave me a comment I would love to hear.

P.S. I have a coveted antique french dictionary that only gets its pages mod podged onto my most prized treasures and she made the cut!

Hugs,

Amy

Be Mine

*EEK ETA*  this sold minutes after I put it up and I am working on a couple of more variations of it so keep watching but, I wanted to go ahead and let it post so you could maybe be inspired.  I have some other mini's in the shop and will be adding more!

Just put this little cutey in the Paperlife shop yesterday for someone to give their sweetheart.  Used my over the top favorite material right now, burlap. And love the juxtaposition of it and the vintage glitter and velvet sprinkled throughout.  If you are interested in grabbing it, there is only one, head over to thepaperlife shoppe  and I will ship it out asap!

Next is one of my German Glass glitter clips, look for those to hit the shop in sets of 5 soon!

As for me, I am on the prowl today with my girl Echo!  We have been taking mini roadtrips all over to visit area antique and Junque shops, today is Decatur day!  Thinking about renting a few booths in some places, if you know of a good one in the central IL area we should check out please let me know!

Little Woman in Black

Ok so this is a Jaycie Claire post, it is the first week back to school for the new year and they are doing this cool thing to boost school spirit in the elementary.  They have themed all the days this week and are giving away special prizes to the kids and classrooms that participate.  (have I mentioned I love my kids school? I am lucky to have my kids in the best school in the land I am convinced)  Anyway, yesterday was "men in black" day, and the real kicker for my little fashionista was that if you wore all black you were given a secret mission!  Jaycie Claire is all into the secret spy thing since Car 2 was released, and that paired with her ability to put together an all black outfit, well, lets just say the angels were singing as far as she was concerned!  LOL!

So this is what she put together and I just thought it was so cool!  Very secret spy looking.  The girl just has a nak for fashion!

So, the secret mission was to get their classroom's symbol on all the hornet posters in the school.  Whichever class had the most, wins a prize!  Tuckers class, who ironically is not so into this whole thing, but did do all black yesterday, won!  He was so excited to get to school today and enjoy donuts in his classroom.

Here are some more pics i got of her before school.  I just love this girl!!!

Oh and today's theme is twins day, Jaycie class decided to to all dress in jeans and white t-shirts to be a room full of twins.  And Tucker, well, like I said, not so much!  LOL, he makes me laugh!

Now to get that stupid Men in Black song out of my head!  GAAAAAAAAH!

Off to the studio for the day, I am in a creative zone right now and tomorrow is roadtrip day to one of my fave Junque spots.  I will let you know what we find.

Pre-Travel, Travel Journal

OK so I wanted to do it right this time, you know have a completed album for our trip for once, within a decade of when it happened.  Sadly, not even kidding on that one.  Well, heres my story,  I have helped my friend Teresa while she taught many a travel album class, and have heard her say over and over "put the thing together and journal as you go".  But, did I listen?  Heck, no.  Oh I knew she was right, I just, well, ummm, was to lazy and "the put it off till I get home syndrome" always won over.  Well, not this time dang it, I am, in the words of spongebob, "ready, I'm ready, I'm ready"

So, you heard, Santa graced us with tickets for the whole family to go out to Cali with me this January complete with Disneyland, legoland, beachland, etc etc etc.  We wanted to do it last year but they changed locals on me for the show to downtown LA and well, I was to "sKeered."   I really shouldn't have been though, many lived to tell you I can maneuver a mean mini van anywhere downtown LA thank you very much!  Anywho, the whole crew is coming this time and I really want to make sure I document this.  So, here you go, again thanks to T. who put together this fabulous World Traveler kit, I have the "bones" of our California Disneyland trip ready set.

Now, this is perfect for my style, I am not a themey girl, and don't really go for the bright cartoony colors.  This album let me transform a more vintage color pallet to fit a Disney/Lego trip.  Now of course I will grab a few themed stickers and brochures, etcetera to throw in because I love "real pieces" of a trip.  But this allows me to do so in a much classier more me style.  I will most likely photoshop all of my pictures in a more vintage color action to tie it all together too.  Ok so, more on this awesome kit, that I truely believe you can customize to fit any trip.  I mean heck, I made Teresa Collins fit Disneyland didn't I?  LOL! (and she thought she was being all elegant with this one!  LOL! just kidding T.)

this is a shot of the tons of product I have left to incorporate after getting the "Bones" of the album together.

Above are just a few of the ready to go pages in the album.  Love that there are pocket and envelopes to tuck memorabilia in and make the album more interactive for the kids.

The above 2 are shots of punchout journaling, titling, and embellishments that are 3 hole punched and I placed in the back of the album to take along and add during the trip.  I am hoping to only need my journaling pen and adhesive while we are gone.

wanted to note a couple of cover details, the title letters are all included in the kit and there are a ton, but, to add dimension and texture to an album I always like to use pop dots to give a layered look.

The cover's background is a decoupage of some of the tags included in the kit.  Really like that eclectic feel it gives.  And you might also see my subtle, "Amy style" hint to Disney out of the TC blingage gems to look like the mouse.  I will be adding those here and there throughout the album.  May even put some real legos in for a nod to that part of the trip.

And, one more thing on this pre-trip album before I pack it, this all comes in a cool box that is perfect to store bits and pieces of your trip and the album and the supplies you will need while you travel.  Love that!

So, I will let you know how it goes, and I fully expect to get an "I told you so" from Teresa but, that's ok I might actually have a completed trip album in the end, so I don't mind!

Fingers crossed and Pixie Dust on this one!

Amy

 

 

Pre-Travel, Travel Journal

OK so I wanted to do it right this time, you know have a completed album for our trip for once, within a decade of when it happened.  Sadly, not even kidding on that one.  Well, heres my story,  I have helped my friend Teresa while she taught many a travel album class, and have heard her say over and over "put the thing together and journal as you go".  But, did I listen?  Heck, no.  Oh I knew she was right, I just, well, ummm, was to lazy and "the put it off till I get home syndrome" always won over.  Well, not this time dang it, I am, in the words of spongebob, "ready, I'm ready, I'm ready"

So, you heard, Santa graced us with tickets for the whole family to go out to Cali with me this January complete with Disneyland, legoland, beachland, etc etc etc.  We wanted to do it last year but they changed locals on me for the show to downtown LA and well, I was to "sKeered."   I really shouldn't have been though, many lived to tell you I can maneuver a mean mini van anywhere downtown LA thank you very much!  Anywho, the whole crew is coming this time and I really want to make sure I document this.  So, here you go, again thanks to T. who put together this fabulous World Traveler kit, I have the "bones" of our California Disneyland trip ready set.

Now, this is perfect for my style, I am not a themey girl, and don't really go for the bright cartoony colors.  This album let me transform a more vintage color pallet to fit a Disney/Lego trip.  Now of course I will grab a few themed stickers and brochures, etcetera to throw in because I love "real pieces" of a trip.  But this allows me to do so in a much classier more me style.  I will most likely photoshop all of my pictures in a more vintage color action to tie it all together too.  Ok so, more on this awesome kit, that I truely believe you can customize to fit any trip.  I mean heck, I made Teresa Collins fit Disneyland didn't I?  LOL! (and she thought she was being all elegant with this one!  LOL! just kidding T.)

this is a shot of the tons of product I have left to incorporate after getting the "Bones" of the album together.

Above are just a few of the ready to go pages in the album.  Love that there are pocket and envelopes to tuck memorabilia in and make the album more interactive for the kids.

The above 2 are shots of punchout journaling, titling, and embellishments that are 3 hole punched and I placed in the back of the album to take along and add during the trip.  I am hoping to only need my journaling pen and adhesive while we are gone.

wanted to note a couple of cover details, the title letters are all included in the kit and there are a ton, but, to add dimension and texture to an album I always like to use pop dots to give a layered look.

The cover's background is a decoupage of some of the tags included in the kit.  Really like that eclectic feel it gives.  And you might also see my subtle, "Amy style" hint to Disney out of the TC blingage gems to look like the mouse.  I will be adding those here and there throughout the album.  May even put some real legos in for a nod to that part of the trip.

And, one more thing on this pre-trip album before I pack it, this all comes in a cool box that is perfect to store bits and pieces of your trip and the album and the supplies you will need while you travel.  Love that!

So, I will let you know how it goes, and I fully expect to get an "I told you so" from Teresa but, that's ok I might actually have a completed trip album in the end, so I don't mind!

Fingers crossed and Pixie Dust on this one!

Amy

 

 

Well Hey There 2012

Hi, and happy new year!  2012, wow, I am kind of excited, are you?  I have some plans for this year and cannot wait to get them going.  I will share with you here first so be sure to stay tuned.  Lots going on at our house, Santa brought a trip to Disneyland on his sleigh at the end of this month, along with preparing for CHA Anaheim.  So excited to see what is in store in the paper world for 2012 too.  I will share with you what I find here and on facebook/twitter (amycoon11) so be sure to watch those for updates.  I have seen a few things already, and let me just say eeeeeeeeeeeek! you are going to love them.

So, the Coonkids are finally back to school today and I got some Christmas morning photos edited and wanted to share:

This is how we know every Christmas morning Santa has been in the house, he leaves special north pole snow off his boots all over the house.

This is the note and countdown chain left for the Coonkids letting them know they were headed to Disneyland and to help them countdown the days.  Hmmmmmmm, Santa's handwriting looks awful familiar........wink.

Just love these kids, and their joy for life, look at the faces, priceless.

Sidenote: see the orange in Jaycie Claire's stocking.  Cannot believe santa found that!  Do you watch those cheesy homemade youtube videos with the fruit and veges?  Well, Jaycie Claire loves them and between those and her Miss Teresa's videos she is always on the ipad or apple tv watching youtube.  She has taken that orange everywhere all break and it was hooked to her backpack when she went to school today.  So funny!

Big New Year Hug to you all!

Lets get this party started!

Go make a beautiful mess of your paperlife starting today in 2012!!

Amy

Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Wishing you:

EXCITEMENT

JOY:

but, most of all

LOVE:

this Christmas Day!

and everyday of the year!

Hugs, 

The Coons

Jason, Amy, Tucker, and Jaycie Claire

So Much Goes on in the "Off-Season"

And this is just one of a million things my girl TC has had going on this fall.  If I told you everything you wouldn't believe me anyway but, just know she is constantly creating things for you and your paperlife.  I am so proud of her, I cannot tell you how much time, heart, and creativity went in to what you will be able to get in January.  Even down to her beautiful cover picture she gave it her everything for all of you.  Get ready to be inspired beyond belief with this new venture between Teresa and some other amazing industry stars and North Ridge in January!

Here is the official press release:

(ps T, I love you and am so proud to call you my friend)

Northridge Publishing announces new publication “Signature Series”

(OREM, Utah) Northridge Publishing is pleased to announce their newest publication, Signature Series, featuring top designers in the industry. The crafting world’s favorite designers have teamed with Northridge Publishing to show off their latest projects in books that are uniquely theirs, each with stunning photographs, step-by-step instructions, and personal tips. These crafting icons will provide readers with fun, doable, eye-catching projects that represent their signature style. The first issue, Signature Series: Teresa Collins, will be available January 2012. A summary of this year’s features is as follows:

January/February – Teresa Collins – Learn how to bring out your inner diva and make life even more beautiful with a little bit of vintage glam and a whole lot of sparkle and shine.

March/April – Kristine McKay – Enjoy projects that will help you find quick and easy ways to beautify your home, preserve your memories with a vintage touch, and share your creative powers. 

May/June – Heidi Swapp – Heidi is famous for her classy and chic eye for design; come see what has been inspiring Heidi and you’re sure to come away with a new zest for creative living! 

July/August – Elizabeth Kartchner – Elizabeth’s scrapbooks document joy-filled days and everyday adventures. Get up close and personal with Elizabeth’s innovative and trend-setting style. 

September/October – Donna Downey – When Donna is crafting, count on an exciting explosion of fabric, paper, glue, paint, and ink. Find out what fabulous things Donna has been making lately and get tons of ideas for your next projects. 

November/December – Kelly Purkey – Kelly’s scrapbooking style is full of innovative techniques and amazing, out-of-the-ordinary ideas; this book will help you take your own scrapbooking to the next level. 

Brian Kunz, founder and president of Northridge Publishing, states, “We are delighted to team with these incredibly talented designers to provide our readers with the best scrapbooking and crafting inspiration available.”

How exciting is this year gonna be?

I will get you an official link shortly!

On another note I need to send out a "get ready alert" to the mall Santa as after school the Coonkids are armed with their lists and ready to let you have it!

Ho Ho Ho.

An idea for the hard to buy for.

Hi blogiverse!

We are BUSY! around here, I bet you are too though, isn't just about everybody but the grinch and scrooge this time of year.  We are excited Grandma and Grandpa are coming tonight for the Coonkids Christmas program debut at school.  I cannot wait to show you Jaycie Claire's Christmas dress.  I got it on etsy, where I have been doing a lot of shopping for her and I lately.  It is a red, white, and black dress with this chic french high ruffle neck cut and print.  I will snap a few tonight for you since I am not shooting the official 2011 picture until Saturday morning.  Please send positive vibes out to Tucker though, singing, stage, and a collared shirt are not his strong suit.  Please don't pull a Home Alone 2 move Tucker, please don't pull a Home Alone 2 move Tucker.......... maybe if I say it enough it won't happen.  I will let you know.

Ok another reason for this post is to let you know I have a gift idea I am sharing with you.  I did double of each of the gift albums I am giving to special people this year and have them available on www.thepaperlife.com shop one of each, completely put together and ready to give, just add you photos.  These are the ultimate give to absolutely anyone gift.  Whether it is your, father-in-law with no hobbies and who can buy themselves anything, to your Gram in the nursing home, to a neighbor next door, heck even your boss.  You know those that you just cannot for the life of you think of what to get and even for those that you have a million ideas for but, you want something extra special.  So here they are, one of each:

this is made with vintage Teresa Collins Noel holiday line that I over the top love and hoard but, I decided in the spirit of the season to share.

this is a little cutie album made with my fave glimmer mist color apple as the foundation and yummy My Mind's Eye

and last, is this over the top Yummy piece of art with the highly coveted MME Lost and Found Christmas.  Its just a book loaded with glittery holiday yumminess.

Like I said 1 of each of these are at the shop www.thepaperlife.com

under new and notable, along with interior photos and other details.

Oh and, unless you live is some remote island off the coast of alaska or at the tip of a tall tall mountain, these should get to you in plenty of time to give for Christmas as they are ready to go and I will ship out the next day.

Hope you enjoy giving a piece of The Paperlife this season or even better, put an album or 2 together from your paperlife to give.

Ho Ho Ho and beautiful holiday messes,

Amy

These Kids are..................

Christmas Crazy!

Are yours yet?

Seriously I don't know if they are gonna make it.

And, OMGosh do we have a bomb.com present for them this year!!!

I can't wait either.

Ho Ho Ho.

PS put something new for sale at the Paperlife shop tonight that is Christmas Crazy to, go check that out.

Wasn't it Halloween just yesterday?

Just kidding well.......kind of, I mean where did November go?  I sound like my Gram I know but, seriously it was November 1st and then I turned around and it's December!  It was a super fun November at our house though, so many fun things happening in our family and I am savoring every minute.  

Actually, how I realized it had turned December without my knowing it, was when I went to clear pictures off my camera to get ready for a photoshoot tomorrow and guess what was on there that I never downloaded, Halloween.  So, if you don't mind I would like to share The Coonkids in costume before we bombard you with Christmas shots over the rest of the season.

Here is her royal highness the Spider Queen:

and Stick'em up for the "under arrester":

What a pair, and boy are they excited for Christmas this year, well, minus the school Christmas program for Tucker!  HAH!  singing and a collar shirt on the same night is not his idea of a good time. LOL

Come Hang Out with Me.....

this saturday for my festive Teresa Collins Holiday album class.

I am really in love with this one and it would make an amazing special gift for someone or keep it and have a holiday album already made for this season to just add photo's to as you go.

Here is a direct link to sign up for the class online at www.thescrapbookingstudio.com in Bloomington IL at 2pm.

http://www.thescrapbookingstudio.com/index.php/holiday-home-christmas-mini-album.html

The list for what you will need is all right there and we still have space so do some early holiday shopping Saturday and then come relax and create with us.

This class is special in that I will be teaching you both a cover rosette adornment and my new "mountain back" binding technique.

Hope to see you there to make a beautiful holiday mess of your paperlife!

Hugs, Amy

Liz Kartchner will be in the house tomorrow

Thats right my good friend Elizabeth Kartchner joins me tomorrow as my guest on Your Paperlife with AMy Coon.

Liz brought by some adorable projects to do with fabric in your paperlife.  Be sure to join us tomorrow (10/13/11)  When the show goes live on 

www.mycraftchannel.com

Here is a little blurb from tomorrows show

Fabric Techniques

Amy hosts the talented Elizabeth Kartchner. Once awarded "Scrapbooker of the Year" and designer of American Craft's Dear Lizzy Collection. Elizabeth teaches us her flower making tips in today's episode.

See ya there!

Hugs, Amy

Fall is my Favorite!

My birthday is is the fall, I was married in the fall (10 years last week to be exact!) and I am a farmer's daughter so fall was always a time of joy, happiness and reaping the rewards of a summer of hard work.  So when it roles around each year I dive right in and savor every moment.  A big part of the Coonkids fall in the local pumpkin patch.  And it is just the coolest.  Jaycie Claire visited las friday for a school field trip and I tagged along.

back on the haywagon with pumpkins and friends.

decorating her scarecrows face that got to ride back home on the bus with them and stay in their classroom.

stuffing him with hay.

down the mountain shoot.

off the hay shoot.

and the best part of every kids day, jumping on the giant pillow.

So much fun! And I get to do it all over again next week with Tucker's class. Yay me!

Also, for those of you who may not have heard, my show Your Paperlife debuted on My Craft Channel!!!

It is my episode with southern california photographer Tammy Mitchell and it is very informative, check it out!

Episode 2 will release later this week.  How it works is, once the episode has released you can watch it anytime.  You might want to sign up to be a member of the site as well because they have some rocking daily deals for everyone too!!

Hope your making beautiful fall messes of your paperlife!!

Hugs, Amy

Celebrating 10 Years Today

******note: our anniversary is the 6th but I can't stay up any longer to publish this thing on the right date, so just go with it!******

Albeit not in the same house, or town, or state for that matter.  But, thats nothing to phase us.  We are still celebrating 10 great years of wedded life, Cooner and I.  And I know many of you reading this probably thought it would never happen with everything we have been given to overcome but, what can I say he makes up for my short comings and I for his, perfectly and it works, we works.

I don't think many guys could put up with me, and I recognize and accept this.  You have to be a strong man to deal with my passionate way of living life, my colorful life in general, my all or nothingness, and non-stop brain full of ideas!  hee hee.  I am pretty strong willed and determined, and really lack skills in the patience area but, Jason is the exact opposite, he can sit back and let me "freak out," go all or nothing on one of my crazy ideas, and because of the qualities that attracted me to him first, his strength and confidence, he is totally ok with it all, even actually enjoys it I think, gives him more to tease me about.  We hardly never waste time arguing, can't remember the last time we even did, and have had only a handful of fights and when we do, he always lets me win, so that works out great! HAH!

Thank you for putting up with ten years of that Jace!  What we have first and foremost is a strong friendship, the same strange sense of humor, and the ability to just "be" with each other and be ok with that.  I have been stranded in a hotel room for a month, hundreds of miles from anyone we knew, about to do the most amazingly terrifying thing I have ever done in my life, with him and we both came out alive.  We have overcome so much in these 10 years that was not always the perfect life thrown at us, and we did it together, with very little help of anyone else because, no one we knew could ever know what it felt like to be in our shoes.

And 10 years later look what we have, a marriage that survives the miles time and time again, the 2 most amazing kids on the planet, and just over all a blessed and fun life.

Happy 10'er Cooner Love You!

OK really really quick note.....

My Craft Channel is officially LIVE!!!

Go here to check it out:

www.mycraftchannel.com

my show "Your Paperlife"  will debut on Friday and my first show guest is Tammy Mitchell and amazing southern California photographer with excellent tips on how to get your everyday snapshots to tell the story!

EEEEEEEEE!!!

So excited but first, must clean the house before we all forget where our front door is located!  HAH!

Keep making beautiful messes of your paperlives!!

Hugs, Amy

Viva Las Vegas!!!!!!

Ten days people, ten days, that is how long it has been since I update the blog.  That is just crazy and I apologize.  I have been busy, in a good way, a really really good way, and it does have to do with the paperlife!!!!  So at least, I was doing something that I hope all of you will get to enjoy soon over these past 10 days!

I am sitting here currently waiting for my mom, "mama Pam" to get to my house.  I am taking her with me to Teresa's IU event this year and she is so excited!!  Mom hasn't been to vegas since I was in first grade or something crazy like that.  She is not going to believe the change!  I can't wait for those of you at IU who haven't yet met her, to get too!  She will be my teaching assistant in both of my classes tomorrow.  She is nervous so go easy on her but, you will love her she is a good one my mom!

So, am I excited?  Well, did the sun come up today?  YES!!!  I love IU.  I love all the amazing women that come and celebrated this hobby together.  I cannot even tell you the enrichment you get both in your art and your personal life from Teresa's event.  I know Teresa very well and everyone walks away from this event knowing her and benefiting from her sweet spirit too.  I love that!  I can't wait for my mom to get to feel it too!  One of the best gifts I could ever give anyone is to attend IU, and I am so glad it gets to be my mom this year.

On a Coonkid note, they are loving school, doing great, and I am going to miss them.  This is such a fun age, being so involved in school and everything happening in their lives is a dream come true for me.  They are all about homecoming this week, the parade is tonight, Jason is taking them and they cannot wait.  I am pretty sure candy is whats for dinner tonight.  Oh well, what can you do?  I love the little town we live in, the high school reaches out so much to the younger ones, in so much as the teams come over and have lunch with the kids regularly and they involve them completely in the homecoming celebration.  Such a blessing in this crazy world for my kids.

Well, thats about it, putting little last minute bits and pieces in for class tomorrow.  And by the way, I LOVE IT!!!  both of them, Melissa Frances sponsored me and it has made for 2 unbelievably gorgeous projects.  I did make extras, so contact me at acs1174@aol.com if you would like to have one or both of them shipped to you when I get home.  I will send to the first requests until they run out or get put up in the paperlife store.  My "as I started looking" art journaling class is $35 and the "Everyday Moments" mini album class designed by the fabulous, Kim Garner is $30 (all plus shipping cost).  

Ok I am off, mom and I are meeting Gentry at the vegas airport and sharing a cab so, wish me luck with that!!  Teresa would so not be happy with me if I loose her HAH!!!

Make a beautiful mess of your paperlife while I am gone!!

Hugs, Amy

Where I was When the World stopped Turning.

I am beginning this post 10 years to the moment from when I watched the south tower collapse.  On my television right now they are ringing the bell at the exact spot 10 years ago I watched as something so enormous, strong, and beyond my comprehension to that point, fell like a waterfall into the ground.  Today exactly 10 years later, I am sitting in the same place, my bedroom, but yet completely different.  I am in my home, a home I built with my husband for our family and the 2 lovely souls that share it with us.  They are lounged here in my bedroom with me, at 7 and 5, right now with our ipads in each of their laps (some things never change I just like to hang out in my room and so do the kids now too, with me).  A small treat to have our ipads with their games of choice, because, while I want them to know about this moment and "us," America, they are not at an appropriate age yet to grasp that this is over and I have to tread lightly on not frightening their pure little minds.  Something we all had before we watched the events of 10 years ago.  We all lost ours that day but, I will do whatever I can to make sure they get to keep theirs a little longer, even if at least for a day more.

This post is for them, my story, my documentation for them of when I learned what America and what we have inside of all of us to keep her going is all about.  I think this story is important for them, maybe not poignant, but important. Important, to know the moment when their mom began the journey to really love their country.  You see I think each generation has the moment, something life changing happens and we realize what America is all about, whether it is war, suffering, any shocking historical event, that wakes us up to what we have as Americans.  I have heard my grandparents moment, my parents moment, and this is mine, 9-11 was my, and my generations moment that began a journey to truely love their America and really know who she is.

So again, this is a post for The Coonkids, and like most everything in my life I am happy to let you listen in but, know it is my documentation for THEM to have and it is just a story of a girl safe and sound in the mid-west, who knew no one in those towers or on those planes personally, and can never really KNOW their stories, and will forever be grateful to each of them.  I will never know what today was to them and their loved ones, but, did have her innocence altered.  And if you are one of them reading this, please know I owe my story to each of you, and hope that it lets you know how powerful what you sacrificed that day was for all of us.  I won't forget.  

9/11/01

Ack, running late, sitting on the floor, with pages sporting redmarks and notes everywhere, laid out all around me.  My fiance, Jace, "humoring me" (LOL) while he half watched the today show and half agreed to any questions I was asking him about the content of the papers that surrounded me. You see I made him go in late to work that day so he could help me put the finishing touches on our wedding programs, that would be taking place in less than a month.  I had to get them PERFECT (eye role here 10 years later) and they, like everthing with my wedding were a little over the top.  It actually makes me smile now, knowing where I am 10 years later, You see my programs where a story about each and everyone in our wedding with us (remind me to scan those in sometime and share them here with you)  They make me smile now because I was always a story teller, a "scrapbooker" I just didn't know it had a name at the time.  I mean seriously these little books were one of the most important things about my wedding to me.

Anyway, back to the scene, totally normal me stressing about a deadline I had saved to the last minute.  Hah, they were due to the printers that morning, and I had forced Jace to go in late and join in my stress with me!  I was reading an excerpt from the pages, Jason was pretending to listen and Matt Lauer began with sheer panic in his voice to interrupt the Today show and switch the shot to an enormous skyscraper in New York City that was smoking out of what looked like a big black eye at the top of the building.  Matt was saying we think a plane has just flew into the world trade center, we can't be sure who, what, when, or why but, it "appears a plane has flew into the tower of the world trade center"

everything stopped.

Those wedding programs were printed just the way they were at that moment, I never went back to them, they were what they were and that was ok.  I HAD NEVER let something so important to me in my eyes just be "what they were and ok" until that moment. 

And then shock, it all started coming so fast, Jason and I did not say a word to each other, we just watched as our whole world changed.  Another plane was coming, all cameras were on the tower and like a punch to the gut, another plane before all of our eyes hit the second tower.

What?

Is this real?

This meant it was not an accident, this meant we weren't in control, this meant someone was after us, each of us.  This was my realization that my innocence and naivety had been lost.

Silence.

 Ok but, it was over right? We are America Damn it!  We had control back Right?

Back to Matt on tv, he's in shock but, still keeping us informed.  Both towers are smoking in New York, out of their big black eyes.  People are moving getting out, shock, panic, hurry everybody get out!

"Where is the president?" I thought, our leader, someone needs to tell him.

Back to the tv and down to a classroom of children in Florida and a man whispering something in President Bush's ear.  And the look on his face, he now knew.  This is real.

I need to grasp this.

I had a classroom of kids waiting for me soon too.  I was scheduled to speak to a classroom of jr high students later that day.  I was a counselor in the area school districts.  I had to go in front of a room full of someones innocent children today.  How do I do that, I am just an innocent child myself right now.........

back to the Today show and Matt.  "We think 3 other aircrafts are in the sky that we cannot confirm contact with.  All others are being grounded those have not."  

The south tower dissolves before my eyes into the ground as this is being reported.

I cannot comprehend.  We aren't in control. Things are still happening to "us".

ANGER.

Back to Matt, enough is enough, somebody get control of those other planes, who is in charge, who is taking care of me right now?

The Pentagon has been struck.

A plane has just crashed into the pentagon.

Washington? Our Pentagon? What? Isn't that impenetrable? Isn't there a force field that surrounds Washington, the headquarters of my country that would never ever allow this to happen? 

FEAR.

Still planes in the sky.

Back to Matt.  People are coming, running, chased by a "mushroom nuclear looking cloud of smoke dust and debris rolling up the streets behind them in New York.  Run, Hide, I start praying for them.

Bargaining with God for them.

Back to Matt.  Shots from the Pentagon, smoke, fire, chaos.  And then, the white house, surely this evil beast is heading for the white house next.  Back to check on New York, sirens, alarms, screaming terror.  Surely these people have endured all they have to, surely they are all away from the towers, surely in a millions years the second one won't fall.

And, then it does, before my eyes, crumbles on top of itself into the ground.

SHOCK.

This isn't stopping.

This is unthinkable.

A plane is still in the air. One more, and it was on its way down, in a field in Pennsylvania.

Praying, Praying, Bargaining for those people.

And the realization of what someone, those people, inside that plane were doing, they were the first to say enough is enough, you are not going to do this, they took "us" our America, back from the evil.  Within moments of it all beginning.  They are what America is, its not a place, its a spirit.  A spirit of good, doing better, pulling up the bootstraps, helping our neighbors, it is a piece of all of our souls that cannot be touched by anyone.

You see we only gave them a brief moment of victory.  If you could call it that.  I take peace in the realization that they never celebrated their victory, they were not successful, they went down with it all like the ignorance that they were all about.

So much more happened after that, so many more horrible things, and so many more equally amazing things of Human spirit.

And, there I was still in my room, unimaginable things being shown on my tv, my pile of wedding programs surrounding me, a classroom of kids waiting for me.

Numb.

I got everything together.  Hugged and told my future, Jace, goodbye, I didn't know if I would see him again later that night. Didn't even know if I would make it to my next destination, let alone marry Jason in a couple of weeks and share a life with him.  Scared unlike I have ever been in my life.   We both knew we had to go on, into the day, into life, I knew that for the first time then, or "they" would have the victory, and I was not going to let that happen.

I got in my car, headed to Kinkos, wedding program rough draft on cd by my side.  I walk in feeling really shallow with the task I am about to ask them for, in light of everything. A young college student at the counter, probably scared to death himself with all that was going on, on the tv behind him, said something to me I will never forget.  He thanked me, he said, "thank you for going ahead and bringing this in today, I will read over it all myself and make sure it is perfect.  This will put some light into a day where I am not sure what is going to happen."

You see it is up to YOU if Life goes on.

YOU have that power and no evil can take it from you unless you let it.

My life would go on, if even for just 10 minutes, I could not control the time amount.  But, until the very end it would go on!

I got back in my car went to a classroom full of terrified Jr High students and at 26 years old passed what I knew because of the experiences of the morning, on to them.

Life Goes On.

You and only You control that.

And the 2 of you are proof of just that for me.

I love you Coonkids, and sadly, you to will one day, have your generation's 9/11.  But remember, when someone tries to take your America, take it right back, because it is in your spirit, and no one can take that if you do not let them.

I am your mom, I always want you to be safe and to do that be smart but, don't let the evil control you.

Get on that flight.

Take that adventure.

Enjoy and experience joy, whenever you get the chance.

Continue to live Your life.

That is honoring and remembering what many sacrificed for us on this day.

Just some little thoughts, from your stay-at-home mom, that loves her life and both of you more than anything in this world.   

Mommy

 

 

Mini Album Mojo Back.....

I found it!  And this is what I did last night:

this is called, Little Girls Bliss and it is a photo shoot I did with my 2 favorite girls, Abby and Jaycie Claire, a couple of weeks ago.  I made the covers of the album out of a corrigated piece of cardboard I had.  I then in my true mixed media style painted it up.

the pages and most of the paper is from prima.

The girls were on the island that sits in the middle of one of the ponds on the farm.  It was at the golden sunset hour and the lighting was magical.

The girls, my niece Abby and Jaycie Claire just enjoyed a little tea party on their great great grandmothers quilt as I shot away.  These two have a special bond, they have grown up together being only months apart in age.  I wanted to document them on the eve of a big milestone in their lives, the start of kindergarten.

Wrote some journaling to them in my "love letter" style about how proud and excited I am for them.

and then they danced like fairies out on the lake.  I can't describe these photos of my girls other than priceless and magical.

Dancing is a big part of both their lives and the common bond that really joins them together.

I ended the shoot with them laying side by side on the family quilt.  They just compliment each other in so many ways, including the salt and pepper of their appearance.  Like peas and carrots those girls are.

Love you "Babs" and "Marge"!  You will take the world by the horns and fly.

But, best of all you get to do it Together!!