A new find....

Just found a new product called "Sure Cuts a Lot". Its a software program you can download onto our computer. You can cut any shape or font that is on your computer on your Cricut. I can't wait! I've been playing with some fonts that I use regularly, downloaded some new free fonts and I can also cut the logo for the store! Can't sleep. I keep thinking of new ways to use it.

Trouble is, I'm in TX now and don't have my Cricut with me. BUT I'm loving being with my family, so that's okay. I'll just have something fun to look forward to when I get home!

So that's alright....

Didn't make it for Ranger U. Again. Ugh.


I am in Texas right now getting my accent tuned up, lots of love from my fam and way lots of Mexican food. I'll take pounds off later. Gots to be acceptin' the blessings, you know? Also, Blue Bell ice cream. Mmmmmmmmm........

Ranger U

I'm applying to Ranger U again this year. I am VERY excited and hope I am selected! You guys know what a Tim fan I am and today's post is dedicated to showing a representative sample of my work for my application.

Tim, if you're viewing this, thanks for considering me and I'd love to learn from you and Claudine & Suze in June. My peeps here in the Rocky Mountains hope so, too; they are eager to come to classes and play with all things Ranger!

Ribbon Cabinet

I bought this tall narrow piece at a flea market. I'm not sure what its original purpose was, but I thought it was perfect to use as a cabinet to display ribbon spools in the store! I painted it black and distressed the edges.

It was a plain pine piece with 10 wooden drawer pulls. I took off the knobs and replaced them with 10 different drawer pulls. It gives it a really fun, whimsical look.

Here's the cabinet open with a spool of ribbon inside. I can't wait to get it in the store and fill it with lots of colorful ribbon!

Remodeling!

Ok, truly, I cannot wait until I am blogging about paper and techniques, and new things and creating and on and on. But right now...PROGRESS! So glad to see guys with big bulky belts and dust everywhere and the faint smell of paint and drywall. Clean new ceilings and walls. We've been shopping flea markets for furniture and appointments and I'm sending in new orders every week to restock inventory.

So. On the march. Feels good. Can't wait to see you all there. We expect to be reopened June 1. If you are in town and see us cleaning and setting up and getting ready, please feel free to stop in and say hello!

Working on orders!!

One thing that is really exciting about the reopen of the store is the chance to bring on new lines that I didn't have before. Hero Arts makes quality products and the projects I've seen completed with their stamps are so creative and beautiful! I can't wait to get some product in and do some samples.

Every year after Christmas, I am so ready for some bright and pastel colors. I like to age just about everything to get a vintage look, but pastel things get old, too, right? The Hero Arts catalog is so bright and pretty it really gets me in the mood.

What???? That's right!

What's going on with the store?

Are you going to reopen? When?

Are you getting frustrated?

Why is it taking so long?

What do you do all day?

Can you order something for me?

Are you doing workshops?

I miss Rocky Mountain Memories!!!!

These are just a few of the questions I get daily from friends and customers who wonder about what's going on and when the heck we're going to reopen and start playing again!

So here's a little progress report:

The store itself is cleaned out, gutted and ready to rebuild. We are meeting with the construction guys this week to discuss the finish out and I'll know more then. We are planning for a reopen this spring, but I can't publish a date yet. Because I don't know one. And if I knew one, I probably wouldn't trust it to remain unchanged!! As soon as I can reasonably let you know something, I'll publish it here.

The Park Theatre Mall is gone. The slab is largely cleaned up, but there is some remaining debris. The future? Not sure. Sharon plans to rebuild but I don't know what a new building looks like or what the timeline is. I don't think Sharon knows that yet either but, like me, I believe she's working each day to make that happen.

In the meantime, I'm working. I'm working on a new logo, a new floorplan, new furniture for my studio (yippee!), reordering inventory, and more. There's SO MUCH to do. So while we wait for the rebuild, Rick and I are working full time to get ready. Thanks for your questions, your interest, and I hope to see you soon in a newly remodeled store that smells like stinky new paint & carpet. I happen to LUV that smell. :-)