my other favorite C word...

besides CHRISTMAS is ...

CHA!

and believe me...

we're in full CHA mode here...

there's LOTS going on...

it's all still TOP SECRET stuff, but here's a few tidbits I can share...

I have ALL my new studio 490 stamps here & they have all been inked & tested...

I may be prejudice...

but I'm thrilled with them...

OMG!

we'll have a few flowers, a few new backgrounds & some images just might have an interesting twist...

we'll have more stamps that coordinate & work well with the current sets giving us more possibilities...

I have stepped "out of MY box" for some these images...

I can't wait to share them...

I think you'll be surprised...

I leave for CHA on January 24, so you can expect to see them...

MID JANUARY...ish

and...

I'm TOTALLY over the top excited with this second release of art parts...

and now that I've used them & made some art...

yep...

they are exactly what I envisioned...

I'm sooo happy...

again...

some of these have a different twist too...

and LOTS of potential for fun...

I'm very anxious to see what others will create with them...

here's a little art parts peek...

hey...it's the best I can do...

it's still DECEMBER!

so...

some things I'm working on ...

more projects for book #4...

instructions/photos for the book projects...

and a re-do of the tips & hints section...

my CHA class project photos & instructions...

the sample is done...

I like it...

getting supplies requested for the CHA class...

a REALLY top secret assignment...

it's pretty exciting...

my Ranger designer challenge art...

several artists are given the same supplies & we are asked to use a product line to...

make art...

these are all on display in the Ranger booth @ CHA...

it's very cool to see how each person uses the same supplies...

I WILL take photos for you...

it's a promise...

and then there's...

art parts packaging...

deciding what pieces go together to make "sets"

and the art that is needed for each package...

CHA samples...

CHA samples & MORE...

CHA samples...

so this may explain why I won't be doing daily blog posts...

or doing that other C word...

cooking...

but I'll pop in as often as I can...

I hope your holidays were fun...

and now you can relax a bit & take some time to...

make art...

wendy

ps...I'm off to dig into that art parts bag!

a post, a prize and a peek...

Hey...it's the last post of this decade...

Whoever thought @ the beginning of THIS decade we'd all have so much technology available to us?

Certainly not me....

A blog? what's that?
A blue tooth?? HUH???

Blackberry? as in FRUIT?
I-PHONE?
YaHOO GROUPS?
more groups...
I had no clue...

All this techno stuff sure makes it easy & FUN to connect with others who LOVE this ART form...

So to whoever "invented" the internet...
THANK YOU! It's PURE GENIUS!

Now to set the record straight...

In my last post I said I was BUSY...

DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR ME...

everyone is BUSY...

I was NOT complaining, I was just tring to let you know why there probably won't be daily posts until after CHA...

I absolutely LOVE the work (? play?? hmmm ?whatever) I'm doing...

I LOVE RANGER...

I LOVE MAYA ROAD...

I LOVE STAMPERS ANONYMOUS...

especially MY STAMPS...ha! and wait 'til you see the new ones.........yippee!

and I LOVE Tim's IDEA-OLOGY STUFF A LOT...

I LOVEEEEEEEEE DEMOING for RANGER @ CHA!!!

I LOVE traveling to teach...it's very inspiring and makes me happy...

I LOVE that I'm too busy to go for groceries ...an extra PERK!

I'm having FUN...and that's why I do what I do...

and when I'm not having fun...

then I'll quit.

Simple...lecture over!

Let's move on...

Now about that Christmas Eve peek...

the hand is a current stamp from the mail art set, not a new one...

Some of the stamps in the peek are obvious...

some...NOT SO...I planned it that way!

I guess you'll just have to trust me on this one...

there are 8...I know that for a fact!

I got several comments & emails too, when I mentioned "the move" in the previous post...

NO...we're NOT moving...

GOD FORBID!!! NEVER AGAIN...I HOPE!!!

I meant the cabinet move...

I mentioned we need to hire a painter before bring the cabinet home, but the other thing is that we need to find a new computer desk...

The one we are using is a vintage HUGE oak desk...

like 4 feet deep by probably at least 6 feet long...

we LOVE it, but a smaller one would look way better with the new cabinet here in the office...

and then it's probably time for a new computer...yuck...

One thing always leads to another doesn't it?

Moving on...

a few asked if I would be demoing @ the Grapevine Texas convention in January...nope...I'm trapped here in snowy UGLY Illinois 'til CHA...

But Ted will be there demoing...he's a TRIP!

PLEASE stop @ the Stampers Anonymous booth and visit with him...

his demoes are pure fun...I guarantee it!
Ask him to demo a flower...

It drives him NUTS...

I like that! It's a wonder I didn't get just coal from Santa...

I had a comment and an email asking if I make resolutions?
no...Not really...

but I do think about goals for the new year...

things I'd like to see accomplished...

DO YOU?

BOOK UPDATE...I don't have a "for sure" ship date yet...

My guess is sometime in February...but I don't have the official word from Ted yet...I'll let know know later...

but...it's coming along just fine...I'm pleased...and YES...I did use new distress ink colors...

I'm in LOVE...

you will be too!

and we have decided to NOT reprint book #1...

when it's gone...it's gone forever...

Book #2 ...according to Rick...is more advanced...

that's what he called it...I guess he means the projects?...

just thought you should know that little tidbit of info...

My dilema now is how to include the tips & hints from #1 into #2...

if someone doesn't have #1...they'll miss lots of basic helpful info...

if they DO have #1...it's a repeat...sort of...

but #2 will be updated with some new tips & hints...

I'm stumped trying to figure it out...

Hello...TIM? I think it's time for some EXPERT advice...

Drumroll...

...how about a prize for a RANDOM commenter?
Did you leave this comment???

if you did...

please send me your address & I'll send you a little goodie package!(wbv1213@hughes.net)

Well...u just crack me up! You type like I think! LMAO! Still love your blog and your work..cannot wait for new releases...luv the colors of the ink for sure...and your stamping! Jealous about that cupboard but dying to see it! You are so busy but so sweet to take time to type to us...luv that! I have to go read about random posts and packages...missed a few days over the holiday..hope yours was totally awesome! Cher

And since you ALL were SO VERY KIND to leave such nice comments...

Here's a little peek for (4) you! get it?

So the moral of the story?

*

Comments are GOOD...
Comments win prizes & more PEEKS...

*

I'm just sayin...

THANK YOU ALL for making 2009 so much fun...

THANKS to everyone who took classes...

THANKS to my blog friends...

*

NOW...

A HUGE...CHEERS!!!

Here's to 2010...

a whole new decade...

My wish for you?

Plenty of time to...

MAKE ART!

wendy

ps...take care...be safe...stay warm

and for those of you who are actually WARM already...

I'm jealous!

No word from the winners...and mail art.

Kathi Rerek & Penny from Missouri...where are you??
You both WON...see the post below to claim your prizes.

************************************************

If you want to see some very cool mail art...check out Ginny's blog & read all about her "empty mailbox contest". She's got photos of each entry, as they arrived. The photo above is mine. I sent it in a glass jar because I thought it was fun...Our local PO guy thought I was totally nuts. Oh well.............we'll see what Josh says.

I got my fingers crossed!

Happy Sunday!!
wendy

OOPS... I thought I was done...NOT...

Here's a link to the photos of the Maya Road booth. Lisa took these @ CHA.

edited @1:30pm...GREAT news...I just heard from Penny! We almost had identy theft here...someone claiming to be Kathi! HA!

But truth & justice wins out...where are you Kathi???