Last week I spent a couple of hours with a local embroidery group that my mother is involved in. I had been asked to talk to them about journals and journaling. I was to present ahead of a local journalist who was going to talk about her garden journals.
This appointment came upon me quickly, even though it was scheduled last year. I had thought about the subject matter off and on for the last year, but never spent any time putting my thoughts down on paper. As the time drew nearer, I had thoughts of journals rolling around in my head all the time. (Always while I was driving of course, so I couldn't put them down in my journal).I have to say that I have not given any kind of speech since I was a freshman in college. At San Diego State University---a speech class--a prerequisite. (why else would someone who hates to be in front of people take a speech class, right?) The topic I chose for my speech way back then was Cheese. A Wisconsin girl, daughter of a man who grew up on a dairy farm, giving a speech on Cheese to a group of Californians. I will never forget giving that speech, with the cheese that my mother sent to me from home, in a freeze dried package. I clearly recall the looks of disinterest on the faces of my fellow classmates. Remembering this, I was having visions of disinterested ladies listening to me talk about journals.

Journals. I had samples of my own journals and mini books and layouts containing journaling to take with me. As well as a general idea of the content they wanted me to cover in this presentation. I knew what I wanted to say, for the most part. The kind of stuff that people around here have heard me talk about for years---the handwriting stuff. The legacy stuff. The importance of Words stuff. I can talk forever about the power of words. I just love words. I get all passionate and emotional about those things. I just love the thought of leaving that piece of yourself for people to discover some day. and while I was thinking about all of that, i realized that when you think about it, its no different from a journal. Like your own personal handwriting, a journal is also a piece of yourself that is left for others to discover. I began to gather journal samples---Sabrina Ward Harrison (Spilling Open; Brave on the Rocks), Sark (Succulent Wild Woman; the Bodacious Book of Succulence), and other of those types of illustrated journals. And then I got to be thinking about memoirs, and the book that I have of Love letters written by Ronald Regan to Nancy. (I Love You, Ronnie: the letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan). Journals can come in all forms. I grabbed Donna Downey's book on Decorated Journals. and a book on how to made hand made journals and added those to my growing pile to take with me. I was getting so excited about this, excited about thinking about Journals. Excited about the things that people put into journals and the things you can discover about a person by these things in their journals. My mother has always been an embroiderer, designing and creating her own samplers. As I prepared for this presentation, I was struck by the thought, that something such as her samplers could be considered a JOurnal of a sorts. What do the colors, the designs chosen, the fibers, the fonts for the letters and words, the fabrics and the creation as a whole tell someone about the person who created it? Generally, they are signed "done by Me". I was just so thrilled to have gone down this direction with my thoughts for this presentation. Oh my, the possibilities spinning around in my head. While I was getting myself wildly off-the beaten path for my presentation, I was so excited about this stuff.
The morning of the presentation I reread all of my notes and looked over the materials I was bringing once again. Confident I could just make this work. I was so nervous, looking out at this group of women, artists, who I wanted desperately to understand what I was talking about. I can't tell you how many times I said "Um...". I had asked them in the beginning to be casual and to please ask me questions as I went along. It turned out so good! They were excited and eager and asked me so many questions, and I didn't even feel like I really got started on half the things I could have talked about!! I realized when I was done, that I could have spoken with them for hours. I got so comfortable once I was enveloped in my passion for the things I was speaking about.
It amazed me the things they wanted to ask me.... I found it delightful that they wanted to know how long it took me to create things, what my space looked like, and how many supplies I had. I loved telling them about the supplies and the hoarding and shopping that we love to do, and the importance of scrap spaces and how on Two Peas, people are always sharing their creative areas. They just loved hearing about these things. and it made me so happy to have shared it all with them. I walked away that day feeling like I had conquered a new thing. I could confidently stand in front of a group of people I didn't know, and speak intelligently about the things I love. That was a great day.

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The remaining Super Sale products prices have been reduced to 75% off their already lowered prices. The Ki Cards and envelopes are now just $1.05!!! Stickers, embellishments, papers! Everything has to go!

I find birthday photos a challenge. I guess not just birthdays, but most "events". I really enjoy the layouts and pages that I can pour some sort of expressed emotion into---and usually birthday layouts are not that. Sometimes they are just the facts Ma'am. Do you take good birthday photos? I am always disappointed with the photos that I get of birthday gift openings and cake/candle pictures. Everything always seems so chaotic and hectic, so the pictures are blurry. Perhaps then they are an accurate representation of the event. An event filled with such excitement and fervor that it is hard to capture. And I am not just talking about the kids!! At Two Peas in a Bucket, we always go out for an evening at an establishment of the birthday person's choice. Over the years, I have taken a lot of pictures at these events. And they are all blurry, crazy and filled with things that would get me in big trouble for sharing. While I cherish these photos the most, these crazy photos of the birthday events, I struggle trying to capture all of that in my papers.

It seemed that this theme gave everyone in the Creating Garden some trouble. When they started out on the layouts for the theme, there was much trepidation about it. but once they got into it, and the sharing began among the girls, the idea just flew. and I am so happy to have all of these wonderful layouts for inspiration. So many different styles. different colors. different approaches.

When did you start scrapbooking? How were you introduced to it?
I was introduced to scrapbooking by being invited to a creative memories party by a friend and that was the beginning of a very LONG story! ;) My first page was of my dog since at the time I had no children...and our little puppy was our baby! I had always done some sort of "scrapbooking" with lots of collages and cutting and pasting pictures in albums so this was right up my alley. I went home that night with lots of goodies to get me started and that is where is all started for me. About a year later our little girl was born and then I really got into it! And the addiction just grew more and more until I got where I am now and it only seems to grow bigger and bigger all the time! I love this hobby!

What are your sources for inspiration?
Just about everything! I feel like my eyes are always looking for cool inspirations everywhere I go...from tv commericials; billboards; a dress I buy for Kiersten at the Gap; magazine articles; color combos on signs...just about everywhere you go you can find inspiration and I find myslef saying, "now that would look good on a page" all the time!

How do you get started on projects (layouts, etc)?
Well my pictures are pretty much the start to every page I do. I pick out my pictures and then the fun begins. I start pulling patterned papers out; ribbons; embellishments and all the goodies and just lay them around my pictures and then start the process of deciding what I want to use. And then just start playing and creating my project!

What things do you like to communicate through your work?
I love to communicate my feelings for my subjects (mainly my daughter and husband) through my pages. I have always been a journaler so journaling is very important to me on my pages. Not that all my pages have to have some deep meaning but I do have quite a few of them that do! I love for them to read my pages after I am done and see their reaction! And I know years down the road that there will never be any question as to how I felt/feel about my family and friends and that makes it all worth the time! I love the share the story behind the picture and take different twists you may not expect when you see the page. I tend to be a much better communicator through the written word so there seems to be a lot of meaningful thoughts on my pages and I love that part of scrapbooking for me...gives me another outlet to express my deepest thoughts to those around me in a wonderful way that they may never "hear" otherwise from me.

What have been your biggest achievements or greatest layouts or moments with this hobby?
I would definately have to say my biggest achievements to date would have to be winning two honoarble mentions in the CK Hall of Fame contest. But there have been so many opportunites that have come my way just because of this hobby it is hard to describe my experience...in one word it is all just WONDERFUL! I have met so many wonderful people (lots of peas!); been on some amazing design teams; seen my work in lots of magazines; and just shared my love for this hobby in teaching and other avenues it has just all been amazing to me. Scrapbooking has added so much to my life in so many ways and I love that part of it so much!

What kind of goals do you have with your scrapbooking?
Now that is a hard question! Goals...I am not a big goal setter really...I am a live in the moment kind of gal and find it hard to look that far ahead.

But in all humility I would say my biggest goal I would like to reach is to win Hall of Fame one year just to say that I did it! I know that probally sounds silly to some of you but that is about it! I love where this hobby has taken me and am always humbled to have the opportunities that I have had come my way and never want to take a second of it all for granted!

Where do you scrap? Do you attend crops or conventions?
In my office at home! I used to go to crops but found it lots of hard work getting everything ready and then I would just end up talking and not getting much done so it was not worth the time it took to prepare! So I gave up taking stuff and just went to socialize! LOL! I love being in my room at home and having all my products at the tip of my fingers; my computer; just everything I need to be inspired to work. But here is a little funny story for you! Kristina contacted me a couple of days before I was leaving for Memory Trends for this and I really didn't know what to do!

I didn't want to say no but like I said above I find it hard to scrap outside of my office. But I said yes and gathered up all my stuff for layouts and did them in my hotel room...definately different for me but I had fun! And a big thanks to Kristina for this AMAZING opportunity! :)

Where does scrapbooking fit into your life? Do you scrap in the morning, evening, late night? When do you do your greatest work?
All of the above...LOL! Really I scrap whenver I can get a free moment and do it at all different times. My little girl is in school now so I have the day to scrap if I want and find myself doing that alot. But I know some of my best scrapping has come in the wee hours of the night when everyone is asleep and I am up in my office just playing around. I wouldn't say that I love pressure but I have done some of my greatest work with some deadlines I have had and pushing myself to create something new to me and just have fun with it.

What does your family think of your scrapbooking?
My family are my biggest supporters and that means the world to me. My husband is so proud of what I have done with this hobby and tells me all the time.. he is just the best! He gives me great feedback when I need it and is always encouraging me along the way. And Kiersten just thinks it is pretty cool since she is the "famous" (as she puts it!) one in magazines and such. She is too cute when I get a new magazine and asks "Am I in that one Mommy?!" or if I meet scrapbooking friends and she is with me and she whispers in my ear; "Do they know me?!" I love that! There is no way I could do this hobby without the support of my family and it means the world to me for them to share my joy in all that I do.

Do you have a favorite product line, paper, sticker, or cardstock color?
Now that is a really hard question! There are SO many things I love about this hobby and all the products are definately one of my favorites. Some of my favorite products are: Ribbon (who scraps without it...lol!) I have quite the collection of ribbon and I don't think that addiction will ever stop! I collect it wherever I go! Patterned Paper is another of my favorites: I love all the color combos and have fun mixing it all up!

Some of my favorites lines are Gin-X; Basic Grey; Urban Lily; Chatterbox; Scenic Route; Fontwerks; oh the list can go on and on because I really just love it all! ;) And I love embellishments of all types! I am not a heavy embellisher on my pages but I love to find creative uses for them and find it hard to do a page without them. Some of my favorites are buttons; brads; flowers; watch crystals. Company favorites would have to be: Lil' Davis; 7 Gypsies; Maya Road; Junkitz; Making Memories. When I go shopping I never come home empty handed! ;)

What do you want the peas to know about you?
A little more about me...I live in Western North Carolina with my husband and little girl. I met my husband in college and we have now been married for almost 13 years! Man time sure does fly! Kiersten is 6 years old know and the light of our lives. We also have 3 cocker spaniels that keep us pretty busy (two of them are actually staying with my parents in Ohio for a bit though so our house is a quiet!). I was born and raised in Ohio; went to college in Georgia and fell in love the mountains and weather here and never looked back. All my family is still in Ohio and they would love for me to move back "home" but we have fallen in love with this area and just can't bring ourselves to leave. Besides scrapbooking (yep there is life outside of this hobby!) I love to cook and read and just spend time with my family.

I just want to thank Kristina for this wonderful opportunity to share here and what a honor it is to be asked! And a big thanks to the Garden Girls for the constant souce of inspiration you are! Thanks for letting me share my pages with you and for the inspriation to create the pages for this spot.

Two peas in such a source of so much for so many people and my life has been so enriched in so many ways here..thanks Geek and Kristina again for all you do!

Click here to visit the Guest Garden Girl section and view all of the layouts!

1. Here is an overview of my desk area. My favorite thing is my “Family” plaque flanked by framed pictures of my kiddos. I got my desk from Office Max on sale for $100.00 and it works really well. The magnetic board holds pictures I really like but don’t want to scrap and color combos on paint chips I like and cards…notes…whatever. On the side of my desk is a plastic Rubbermaid bin that actually holds a ton of paper scraps and templates. The black canvas binned shelf I got from T.J. Maxx and the first bin holds 7 gypsie albums, 2nd bin holds big chipboard items and third bin holds my acrylic paints.

2. Is just another view of my desk area and you can see my wooden storage shelf on the right side of my desk.

3. Close up of my cardstock inside my desk shelf. It really should be all white since that’s what I use most of the time. J

4. Close up of the top of my desk. I bought the tiny jars from big lots for 5.00 dollars for the set and it hold small things like buttons, clips, and brads. I purchased the artist form from Barnes and Noble for like $10.00 and it hold business cards that I picked up at CHA. See my packs of Foofala buttons (I adore these). I keep all my Heidi swap tapes on the top of my desk as well.

5. Just another angle of my canvas shelf system.

6. On the top of my shelf I keep a galvanized bucket with all my paintbrushes, paint tray, Luminarts, Ki soup and my very expensive sewing scissors. That Jones soda is special edition MM Jones soda that I won at CHA.

7. Close up of my wooden shelf system. I bought this at a local unfinished furniture shop just stained it. I keep all my stamps and ink in the bottom 2 drawers and die-cuts, quote books, stickers in the others.

8. I sew so much that I have a dedicated area to sew. My desk is from target and it is supposed to be for a computer so the drawer slides out for a keyboard but I just keep fabric scraps in there. The magnet board was a staples purchase and I than found a wedding favor store online that I purchased the metal times at for real cheap and applied magnetic tape on the bottom to stick up there. It works well holding my odds and ends.

9. This little metal drawer holds my needles, thread and bobbins. I love the distressed look of it and the cute little dragonfly.

10. I have gorgeous built-ins in my dinning room and on one side I keep baskets of fabric in them for when I make my Scrappers Tool belts.

11. A view of my paper storage (I know it sucks) I seriously have to find a better way to store PP. I also have this cute wood box that keeps small embellishments, and wood file holders that hold Rub ons, sticker sheets and die cuts that are still on the sheet.

12. Close up of my wooden cabinet and some of the things I keep in it.

13. I love, love this shelf. It holds a ton of goodies for me and looks cute to. I keep Rob&Bob stuff in the little metal lunch box and MM chipboard letters next to that in a small straw basket. I just keep them loose in there and it’s easy to find what Alpha I’m looking for and than I just toss them back in.

14. A view of the top of my shelf were I have these totally cool suitcases that hold my MM stamps and more ribbon in jars.

15. I love idea books and they really inspire me so I keep my favorites displayed for easy access on my shelf. I also keep my photo box open with pictures I have already decided I will scrap book.I have more photo boxes in my built-in that I will not use for scrapbooking.

16. Inside view of one of my drawers and as you can see it’s filled with Christina Cole products.

If you have any questions..feel free to ask.