Auntie Pea's Blog

{ My New Bag }

I finally made my first Auntie Pea handbag. :) Took awhile since it was my first one but I loved sewing again. It's rather a relief to have time to do something like this after being so focused on the Ultimate Digi-Scrapper contest. For those of you who don't know I didn't make it through to the next round. I was definitely a little disappointed since I had been really appreciating the challenges of this contest (and lets face it - 'playing along' just doesn't give you quite the same drive). I'm so happy for the final 7 and actually maybe a little bit more bummed for the designers that I SO thought should've been in that list that weren't. It was just an amazing group of scrappers left in the top 40.

So for the next week I'll be taking a little break from the digital scrapbooking and sewing a few handbags. So looking forward to using some of the fun fabric combos that I've collected for these. I've gotta take a look online and see if I can get some 'Auntie Pea Bag' fabric labels made up. :)

Hope everyone had a great memorial day!

{ UDS Round 4 & Church }

Well, I finished my LO for the next round of the UDS contest with I think under 2 minutes to spare. I've been close to the last person posting every week but this time I was THE last person to post in the gallery. I found that I scrap best with music rather than tv in the background. Particularly Michelle Featherstone and some Imogen Heap (thanks to Lauren). It also worked much better working at a desk with my wacom next to the computer rather than on my lap. So I've gotta make work of finishing the curtains for my 'creating room' since at the moment I sorta feel like I'm sitting in a fish bowl in there. Otherwise it's a perfect place for scrapping. Maybe a big comfy chair for when I DO wanna sit and relax while I scrap. Anyway, I scrapped photos of Braelynn that I'd taken at the park when I babysat her and Selah last Friday. The challenge was to scrap in a way that your own personal style shines through but there was also mention of being free to scrap 'outside the box' so-to-speak. I think the page ended up with my own style shining through (if I actually have a 'style') and for me the outside the box things would be the way a couple of the smaller photos are cropped. I love the close up one of Braelynn blowing at the dandelion. Never would've thought of doing that without the challenge to try something different. And then I did some freestyle journaling too which I rarely (if ever) do. It's not eloquent or anything, just random thoughts about Braelynn at almost 2 years old. The 40 contestants who are still in the competition are amazing so to be picked out of this group would be a HUGE honor but I'm feeling good about the fact that I've got 4 LOs now that I'm pretty happy with and I think I've learned a lot about my own creative process. I know there have been some grumblings about this contest, the fairness of it, scrappers vs. designers, yada yada drama drama but I'm thrilled to be part of it and I'm pretty sure I'll feel the same if I get cut tonight. :) If you wanna see my 'freestyle' page you can click here. :)

Gotta wake up Andrew & Celena to get ready for church. It's a bit of a drive but I really like the church we've been going to. I LOVE the music. (surprise surprise) I don't know what it is but the same message put to song seems so much more powerful to me. Guess I just tick that way. The people there are sooo nice too. Always make you feel welcome but not in an intimidating sort of way (if that makes any sense). Plus it's sorta creative beautiful. Just a place I enjoy driving up to and walking in the front doors. Not that the building should be all that important but again, I think I just tick that way and it doesn't hurt to find a church that you enjoy going to, being in, singing at and this one is just that for me. I found a little tour of the church on their website if you'd like to see just why it feels 'creative' to me. (I think you have to right-click and 'save target as' - at least that's what I had to do.) :) There are a few things I'm not sure I love about the services but that's a much longer post than I have time for if I wanna make it there this morning. :)

Happy Sunday everyone. :)

{ My American Idols }

I can't wait to buy any cd either of these two come out with. These are MY American Idols. I don't care what the voting says. And personally, I think the voting is a crock. I didn't successfully dial in even ONCE since the first week. Tried numerous times for different artists depending on that weeks' performances and NEVER got anything but busy signals.

Tonights finale was completely anti-climactic to me. No emotion even though apparently EVERYONE was voting for Taylor right from the start. Personally I've never been a big fan. I mean I actually love his sound and it's different but my guess is you could find someone like him in almost every town across the country singing in a local bar with his band. And I'd be surprised if we even hear any of his music in the mainstream after the first single he releases. Follow-up songs will be played on adult contemporary radio where, lets face it, the music producers just aren't gonna pour tons of money into marketing to that crowd cuz they just aren't the demographic that's out there downloading tunes on itunes or running to Best Buy to get their favorite artists cd. Yep, my prediction is that once the idol tour is done and his first cd is released he'll be doing a national tour of your small town casinos. Friday night Air Supply, Saturday Taylor Hicks. I mean does anyone really see this guy selling out arena's on his own? So maybe it's just me but tonight's outcome was kindof a let down. He didn't even seem choked up at all. I don't need actual tears but you just won American Idol, something the other 11 semi-finalists would've been beside themselves to win and he totally seemed unphased.

It was a good show overall though. Slightly less cheesy than previous 2 hour season finales. Loved the duets. Chris' performance with LIVE was amazing! Loved Paris' duet - totally the kind of music she should be singing. Elliot's was awesome although not the kind of music I think he'll end up singing - still awesome performance. Mary J. Blige is just a legend. And speaking of legends, Meatloaf - WOW. And I don't mean that in a good way. But WOW. That was painful. And I can appreciate Meatloaf but he can NOT sing anymore. I'm not sure WHY noone told him. Sad. And then Clay Aiken. Wowie Zowie! What was WITH that hair?! Crazy bad. I will give it to Taylor on the harmonica playing. Very impressive. I thought the guys performance together was far better than the girls. I'd say the guys in general really had this competition. It was fortunate for the girls that they deliberately kept it even with the way they eliminated one of each each week. And call me crazy but I'd buy Bucky's first album if it was produced well. If Paris did an album of old standards like the Billie Holiday (at least I think that's who it was) song at her first audition when they asked her to sing a little bit of another song. I would buy an album of her performing that type of stuff in a heartbeat.

So that's my review of the show. I've not posted much about it 'cuz I felt like I would get hate mail 'cuz I wasn't part of the 'soul patrol' but there ya have it. I wasn't a huge Katharine fan either, mostly because I think she had a lot of poor song choices. With the right song her voice was flawless, other times, not so much. But she's drop dead gorgeous. Like in a 'way too perfect to even be real' sort of way.

Kay, I'm re-watching it on tivo and seriously, that Clay Aiken thing - What the heck?! I'm not sure which was more hilarious, his hair or the look-alike guy who I'm pretty sure wet his pants when Clay started singing with him. Classic tv right there. :)

{ Great New Software }

Gotta head off to work but for the digital scrapbookers out there I had to mention a GREAT new software that you've gotta check out. It's for organizing your digi-supplies and it works alot like Photoshop Album BUT it displays PNG's!!! Yay!! I spent alot of time setting up PS album quite some time ago but was sooo frustrated that I couldn't view half my stuff in it. This one seems to work perfectly. :) AND every paper or element you drag from the program into you scrapping software is recorded in a supplies list for crediting when you've finished your LO. I can't TELL you how much time I spend after each LO is finished going back to figure out just what it was that I used in it. This will save me SOOO much time. :) Here's a screenshot from their website. The program is called Digital Scraproom. :)

Edited to add: I have played around with it a little. With having to be more efficient, if I'm going to be scrapping for hire, it was a no brainer for me. I can even categorize by commercial use policies which will be sooo handy. So far it seems to work great. PNG's show up perfectly and the credits list will be a dream. :)

Goodbye Tony :(

It's a sad sad day. The beloved DJ Tony is leaving the Ellen show. I LOVED Tony. He played great music, he could dance, he had an english accent and taught us fun english phrases.

Well, he probably still does all these things

just not every day on the Ellen show. :(

Ellen is still my favorite day-time talk show host but it just won't be the same without Tony Okungbowa.

{ Wooo Hooo }

Well, I made it to the next round in the Ultimate Digi-scapper contest. Down to 40 scrappers now and next week they choose the final 7 to compete for the #1 spot. The challenge for this week is: Free Style – get creative and funky - this is all about your personal style and whatever it is should shine through. No rules - just scrap from the heart. Any topic or theme is ok, so get creative!

Now, you'd think that would make things easier cuz we can do anything we want but I actually am somehow more intimidated by this one. It's so wide open. No guidelines. So what picture to use? What IS my style?! I really haven't ever settled on a specific style. PLUS there's not one person in the top 40 who isn't amazing. Every week these ladies have scrapped something incredible. Not to mention some of the amazing scrappers who didn't make it through to this next round. That's pressure right there. I don't want them looking in the gallery and thinkin' man I could've done so much better than THAT! Sorta like American Idol when a singer gets through for some bizarre reason but they know in their heart the person who got voted off was far more talented. If I figure out what to scrap I'll post pics here. No earthly idea at the moment. Just happy to have made it to the next round for tonight. :)

{ Thank Goodness for Saturdays }

Once again I finished my LO for the UDS contest at the very last minute. And once again I have a LO that I otherwise would've put off and maybe never done. I knew that I needed to start adding journaling to the pages in Jacob's album even though I HAVEN'T run out of great lyrics to use. I'm glad this contest gave me the little push I needed. I think this is the first of many LOs with real journaling on them. I found out that I can just write and not worry about how it's going to sound to someone else reading it (yep, even in a contest) and I decided to not even go back over it and move things around or re-word because I liked something about the fact that it was just what came from the heart. I'm sure I'll never be as eloquent as Leeandra and some of the many talented journalers in this contest (that probably requires reading more books and poetry and who has time for that) but ya know what, I actually needed MORE than 40% of the page to write all the thoughts and feelings that I really wanted to include in this LO. Who'da thunk?! Maybe I'll have to conquer my next personal scrapping challenge of doing an actual 2-page LO.

I got to hang with Braelynn and Selah for a few hours last night too and we had so much fun. We walked to the park and Braelynn played for about half an hour which was still not long enough. She kept put 1 finger in the air and say '1 more time'. Too cute! Of course I got a few pictures so hopefully I'll do some scrappin' today. These were just a few of my favorites. :) Had to gussy 'em up a bit cuz they're too precious not to add a little doodlin' and pretty pink flowers. Found these in the tribute kit by Dani Mogstad. LOVE her stuff. :) Off to go play with Kylie over at my mom's. It's a gorgeous day so I've gotta get outside for awhile. I love Saturdays! :)

{ Undecided }

Strugglin' with the UDS contest thing again this week. So far I've scrapped one photo that I was completely intimidated by before and one AAM LO that I think I actually captured a little piece of me and recorded it somewhat creatively. So as of now I've done 2 pages that had I not moved on to the next round I'd still be so glad that I competed because I ended up with a couple LOs that I really like. Trust me, that's an accomplishment lately. LOL

So now the challenge for week three is to scrap 3 or more photos in a LO that contains journaling over 40% of the page. That's almost HALF the page. If you were to look through my gallery the only pages you'll find with more than 2 or 3 sentences (at MOST) are the LOs where I included an entire songs' lyrics. You'll also find that even those short 2 or 3 sentences of journaling found here or there that I really ran out of things to say by the end of the first sentence.

Sooo, I'm trying to decide what sort of LO I could do and come up with enough to say to fill 40% of the page. Maybe if I 'write' really really big? But no, I think these judges are pretty sharp, they'll likely catch on to that. Mom suggested a story about me being the oldest of 4 sisters and one brother. Sorta story of my life. Very sweet mom (and I love that I got all excited about having so many posts on my blog last night and half of them were from my mom). :) But really I'm not feelin' aNOTHER all-about me page for this contest unless forced to do one. LOL Plus, that would mean rumaging through boxes of photos to find THREE that are usable for a contest LO. Mom knows I spent a fair amount of time searching not all that long ago and really didn't come up with much. Although I MAY be able to count that gradeschool picture of me with the reflection of my side profile up in the corner as 2 photos rather than one. You know the set-up. Black background, one photo of you looking at the camera and in the upper right corner another photo taken from the side. Very 1983. Pretty sure I saw some hanging on the living room wall in Napolean Dynamite. Anyway, I think that would count for 2. I'll have to tuck that idea away as a back-up plan. :)

The other idea I had was to do a LO about our Wednesday afternoon lunches with my mom and sisters. It's been ages since we've had one and we're doing it tomorrow so between some photos that I've already taken the last time and maybe taking a few more tomorrow I think I could come up with 3, probably more. I think I might be able to journal enough about that. For some reason though, restaurant photos can be tough to scrap. Not sure I'm up to the challenge given that I haven't even started and I've only got two days left but it's an option.

And then I'd just purchased the papers to go with an element pack I had of Jen's from quite awhile back. When I bought these papers I thought they'd be perfect for a baby Jacob LO.  Aside from redoing some of my early Jacob LOs I haven't done a new page for his album in quite some time and I've been really wanting to do more pages with journaling rather than just song lyrics so who knows, maybe this challenge was just the push I needed. I was also listening to the latest Rascal Flatts song the other day on the way home and part of the lyrics seemed perfect at least as a starting point for some journaling. Maybe another little nudge? I dunno. I've got a few photos picked out. The one with me looking at the camera I've not scrapped because it's really not a flattering photo of me. Unfortunately for all the photos that we have of Jacob I only have a few of me holding him. So, puffy eyed or not, I know I eventually want to scrap each one to remember as much as possible what it was like to hold him. I hesitate to do a LO about Jacob specifically for a contest for a number of reasons but at the same time, if I come away with a LO for his album that I'm happy with then it sure would make it less disappointing if I didn't make it through to the next round.

I'm off to bed. Gotta be up early for work in the morning and then lunch with the sisters. I'll have to remember to take the camera along since I'm still undecided. Tomorrow afternoon I'll be finishing a wedding album that I'm working on with Nina and then hopefully tomorrow night I can make a decision and get started on a LO.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

{ Grey's Finale - Pass the Tissues }

Oh my gosh I need TISSUES. Who else watched the Grey's Anatomy Season Finale tonight? WOW! I really don't think I've every been sucked into a show quite like this. I'm such a girl. Seriously. The whole last 15 minutes of the show I was wiping away tears. To me they've done an incredible job building the characters of this show. The story lines, the characters, the soundtrack - amazing. That's just impressive that a tv show can have that kind of emotional effect. Can't wait for season 3 to start!

{ Top 100 & Hard Rock }

Yep, that's right, I made it through the 2nd round of eliminations. Ironically I was most nervous about it because I hadn't really journaled as much as most the other LOs in the contest and the next challenge has to be 40% JOURNALING. Oy vay! Just when I thought a 'real me' LO was tough. We also have to use 3 or more photos. At first I was thinking I could do the LO that I've been getting pictures of me for about my 'style' (if you can call it that) of wearing long sleeve shirts with a t-shirt over them. I have like 5 of these t-shirt/shirt combinations and it seems like that's all I wear lately (for casual attire). Anyway, I could probably journal a fair amount about my style (or lack thereof) but the thing is they talked about this challenge being about a 'story' and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't make it through the next round of cuts trying to pass off my crazy wardrobe as a 'story'. I'm just not sure what I can journal THAT much about and find 3 photos to go with it. This one is definitely gonna be a toughy.

In other exciting news: Chris from American Idol is talking with the band Fuel about becoming their new lead singer. So I thought for a day I'd do sortof a rockin' theme for my videos. A little heavier than I usually put on my blog so to appease Dino & the 66% of you who'd rather not have the music start automatically I've changed the 'autoplay' option to false so you'll have to press the play button. I've been a Fuel fan ever since seeing them in concert with my friend Cheryl probably 6 years ago now. It's the first time I gained an appreciation for some of the heavier rock music. I have a pretty diverse love for music but before seeing Fuel live I probably would've put hard rock right at the bottom with rap and opera. So anyway, I'm excited about the possibility of buying Fuels new album and hearing Chris as the lead singer and I'd definitely go see them in concert again. :)

Hope everyone had a great mother's day.