Terri Conrad Designs

Your Element in Design

Earth, Wind, Fire (no, not the band) you!  What element are you and how does this relate to your design ability?

Let's think about the four elements for a moment: Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire.  Living in Santa Clarita, I've seen quite a bit of the destructive quality of the latter. However, is fire always destructive?  Absolutely not.  As with most aspects of life there is a yin and a yang - balance. 

My element is fire. Which element are you most like? 

A simple, easy way to discover your element is to look at the time of year you were born. The twelve sun signs are grouped by element. Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius correspond to Fire. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces correspond to Water. Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini correspond to Air. Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo correspond to Earth

In Laurie Beth Jones' life changing book The Path she asks the reader to list at least twelve characteristics your element has. Here's my list.

What does this have to do with design ability you might ask - well, for example, I am aware that I feel compelled to move people with my designs.  I want my designs to speak to you, to provide more that something romantic or mesmerizing to look at - I want to convey a generally powerful (encouraging, inspiring, nurturing) message with my designs.  How about you?  Have you ever given it any thought?  If you are not designing based upon your own unique qualities, then what set's you apart from the rest of the very deep talent pool?

This week find some time to one, determine what element you are, and two, take the list of your element's characteristics, and daily read aloud the list placing your name at the beginning, "I, Terri, and fire, I am  my list (create your own word picture). In being aware of and understanding a bit of who we are, we can convey that in our designs.

I'm going to go a step further, and you can too - I'm going to create a piece of mixed media art that expresses my element. I have no idea what I will create, but like the element that I am, fire, I am fairly certain it will have design components that are compelling, powerful, romantic & moving.  I'll show you my design if you show me yours . . .email pics to me ;o) and with your permission, I'd love to share a few.

Until we meet again, enjoy inquiring within and discovering your design element...next time I'll discuss actual elements of design, such as line, shape, color, texture. I'll let you in on a little secret, because I do what I do (create and design) intuitively, I just know it, feel it & see it without knowing how - this (technique) is something I have to think about with my left brain (urgh!) - ahh, the yin to my more predominent yang - balance.

blessings to you til we meet again.

A Fresh Twist on Tag

       I need a bit of fun - how about you? I received a note from my sweet friend, lori, tagging me.  Merci mon amie, and now it's your turn friend.  Simply,

Instructions:
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself (on your blog, we all want to know them).
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Here are 7 random/weird/silly things about me...

1. my favorite comfort food is a peanut butter & brown sugar sandwhich (it's really scrumptious)

2. I was in the film Jerry Maguire;

3. I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 8

4. I have compulsive tendencies, and ADD (attention to dreams & desires!)

5. I married the same man twice (really)

6. I always wanted girls (God blessed me with two)

7. I am often times eerily intuitive (my girls have inherited this ability)

Now it's your turn:

Tasra Dawson

Angie Pedersen

Lisa Johnson

Amy Westerman

Trudee Sauer

Lindsey Botkin

Robin Beam

    Okay, ladies, reach for those stars and tag one, oh, I mean seven for you, and your friends!

    Please be sure to check back later today or tomorrow when I will begin my Create, Cultivate & Communicate series discussing our basic element. If this interests you, share the link with a friend ;o)

    Hugs to all!

Terri

Under Fire! and Scrapbooking News

I live in Santa Clarita, a city just north of Los Angeles.  As you are aware, we've been in the news, with the rest of Southern California.  Just after breakfast Saturday morning, an officer rolled down our generally quiet street, speaking into his bull horn, "there is a mandatory evacuation.  You must evacuate immediately."  Leaving out a lot of details, we gathered our still young children, spoke briefly to them assuring them of their safety, then moved into immediate action.  Where does one begin to take into account what is critical to pack? I have, in my life, had the experience of literally losing everything (The Signal News)...save my faith, my hope, my children and my life. I have learned not to worry about things - this wisdom, however, has not come easily.  What I considered first is my childrens' comfort.  We gathered their lovies (see my earlier post about LuLu Bunny), a few articles of clothing, a few books to read (I had no idea where we were headed once we got into the car), and their Nintendo DS (preoccupation is a good distraction).  Then I gave them each small jobs, "get the dog's leash, get a bottle of water for each of us . . .and wait together for mom and dad."  I have a tendancy to under react to drama and chaos (a learned behavior) while my husband, bless his heart, tends to over react.  Honestly, I'm not sure either is better.  He and I packed a few things, got the girls, the dog, and away we went landing at a friend's home in the middle of town.  Ah, the comfort of a friend with an open door. As I write, we are safely back home, back to business as usual - but the fires continue to burn and I am not completely certain that we're at the outside end of this, or in the midst of the calm before the storm.  It is quite awesome to look around your community and see fire to the North, the South, the East, and the West, literally. As a means of my own distraction - and on a completely different note, I have been looking around the net, seeing what I could see about this and that - and being a newbie to the craft and hobby industry (see Webster's Pages) I'm still learning my way around.  I bumped into a couple highly valuable sites, one of which is Nancy Nally's Scrapbook Update where a reporter's perspective is offered on CK Hall of Fame. I guess "under fire" can have a couple different meanings - yikes! I'm eager to begin writing the creative stuff, and creating all things that make me feel good...sometimes tho, we need to go thru the fire, be refined, and begin again. I will leave you with a question: What element do you think you are?  It just so happens, I am fire.  Give this some thought, and we will begin there next time. For now, give thanks for your safety, your well being, hug your loved ones, and take a moment to take into account what is critical to pack in your one suitcase. Love to all - Terri

Create, Cultivate & Communicate

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. Albert Einstein  My Imagination brings me joy.  The result of my imagination brings me joy. The fact that I get to share the result (the manifestation) of my imagination with others thru the products that are manufactured by such wonderful companies as Webster Fine Art & Webster's Pages brings me joy.

I created this blog following the July CHA show, as a means of connection with you.  It is thru this show, and my product with Webster's that many of us have come to know each other. With every new post, and message you leave me, my heart grows more full of inspiration and drive to create, cultivate & connect with you and for you.

Although my creative career began long before my relationship with Webster's Pages, it is thru my license with them that we know, and are getting to know each other.

It is no coincidence that my first license is for product that encourages us to capture our moments in time, and  nurtures connection with one another.  I LOVE to create, I LOVE to cultivate, and I LOVE to communicate with you.

So it is, and so it shall be.

I will create and share designs with you that are Heart & Hand Crafted. 

There, you will have opportunity to show your creativity too, and here, in my posts I will endeavor to cultivate your creativity with writings that will engage and exercise your creativity. 

And, finally, I will communicate with you - I will open my heart & mind (it can get kinda wiley in there sometimes!) hoping to encourage, nurture and inspire the unique beauty, beloved spirit and unlimited possibilities in each of us.

As designers, and paper crafters, does this appeal to you?  At CHA July, I had a wonderful opportunity to invite a couple women (one was the owner of Pazzels - talk about innovation!) into the Webster's booth.  We walked together looking over each of my papers, (and irrespective of the sheer beauty of each, teehee) talked about what worked for stampers, for card designers, for scrapbookers, etc.  WOW!  such insight - thank you ladies. 

What's your niche, your design focus . . . cards, stamping, scrapbook, decor & gifts?  Do you want to learn more about technique, the creative process, or?  Do you yearn for more opportunity to connect - say like a weekend retreat - with other women to uncover and/or discover the joy of your creatvity?  Are you motivated by contests and give aways? 

I want to hear from you, from your friends & your blog readers, and from the retailers where you shop.

It is a gift to be creative, an honor to cultivate your creativity with product that inspires, and a delight to communicate with each of you!

Caio for now

"Fresh Baked" or "Over Cooked"

"Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else sees, but then reassemble those floating bits and pieces into an enticing new possibility.” Rosabeth Moss Kanter Let's play a free association game . . .I say "rolling pin" and you think _____________?  My husband and I had the wonderful opportunity this past Sunday to leisurely walk the Rose Bowl flea market sans children who were happily playing with friends.  I went looking for vintage jewelry, bits & pieces, vintage fabric, lace, shutters, old windows - any sort of something special that caught my eye.        This this little beauty, sat all alone propped in a bucket filled with old cookie cutters & kitchen tools.  As I picked it up and eyemarked its length, I immediately thought, "I can do something really fun with this . . ." as I envisioned wrapping my paper around the spool of the pin, and, and, and . . .It's not quite finished yet, but here's the work in progress - wrapped in my Fresh Baked paper from my Coco Collection (get yours at Webster's Pages).  So, I ended up purchasing a dozen of these little beauties who have diligently served their primary purpose, and been saved to fulfill yet another.  I will bring them, one by one into my studio to breath new life into one of a kind pieces that will make wonderful gifts just in time for the holidays.  Hopefully, they will be available within the week on my web site.  I'll bet'cha you didn't think paper craft when I said rolling pin!  My husband always give me a hard time (lovingly of course) about the way I think.  I just seem to see things, the world, differently.  I am thankful for the vision God has given me. Know what else I am thankful for?  I HAVE BIG NEWS . . .Extra, Extra, Read All About IT! Lisa Johnson of Poppy Paperie and Amy Westerman of Heartfelt Greetings (this is Lisa to the left and Amy on the right) have graciously accepted an invitation to join Webster's Pages' design team. I shared with Lisa that retrospective vision is such a funny thing . . .all three of us had opportunity to meet each other, independant of one another, at the summer CHA show - and now we are working together on the same team.  I could not have "designed" a better team. I love how God works (when we get out of the way and let him!) Lisa is gracious and warm, and a very talented designer, well published (check out the current issues of  Gift Maker magazine and CK Media's "Holiday Cards & More" magazine. She is a sought after concept designer in the paper crafting industry and we are so blessed (and excited!) to be the recipients of such scrumptious talent. I've seen some of Lisa's recent designs with my paper - ooh yummy - but, those are under wraps until publication.  Stay posted! Amy, well, gosh, she's warm and gracious too, and oh so talented!  Ya know, birds of a feather . . .oh, I fell in love with Amy's designs the first time I saw them.  This girl has a natural talent that is reflected in each piece she creates. She even made one especially for moi.  Amy has reached a place in her career where people, as well as media are taking notice.  Amy's work will be featured in an upcoming issue of Stampington's Take Ten magazine.  (I love the all Stampington products).  You simply must see Amy's recent card she designed with my Winter Wonderland Collection. Please pop in to visit Lisa and Amy to send warm, squishy hugs and heartfelt congratulations.  We are so delighted you both have chosen to share your talents with us. I've been very, very busy behind the scenes. . .alas fewer opportunities to connect on my blog.  I will have more news to share in the upcoming days.  Please do visit again, I so love to have visitors, and even more so, to connect with you - I am always so excited when someone leaves me a note.  It's a wonderful opportunity to introduce ourselves, and get to know one another.  In retrospect, say a year from now . . . who knows :o) Blessings to all, Terri

Something sweet & spicy

     Warm the oven and put on a fresh pot of coffee - here it is ladies - the Spiced Orange Gingerbread recipe that was tucked inside the reciped card holder pictured in my previous blog entry.  It was lovingly piointed out that I'm supposed to provide the recipe for the baked goods too (oops! - thanks Keri). 

And you gotta love it - Keri's blog name is "Pink Lemonade" just like one of  my Jan '07 paper collections :o)

Now, such a yummy recipe certainly deserves to be forever saved on an equally yummy card (shared for your personal use only, thank you).

    I designed a set of recipe cards using both my Coco and Parlor Collections.  This pattern is "fresh baked" from my Coco Collection.

    Although this recipe calls for a square pan, I'm more of a bundt pan kinda girl - I like things that are pretty and interesting to look at. And, alternatively you could try sprinkling powdered sugar over the gingerbread, or cream cheese with a touch of vanilla and orange zest - okay, is that coffee ready yet - I may even need to try this recipe.  I just LOVED when I read an article in ME Home Companion magazine where Mary Engelbreit herself, shared that while she loves her kitchen, she never cooks. Me too Mary, me too . . .

I've been quite busy behind the scenes creating all kinds of goodies for all kinds of reasons and seasons in life . . . and since so many of my friends at Splitcoast Stampers have inspired me with their work (Amy and Trudee among them) I decided to give my hands a try at card making . . . (designer paper from my Classical Garden Collection, Terri Conrad Designs mfgd by Websters Pages, card stock - my absolute fav of WorldWin Papers is creamy cocoa, velvet ribbon, little rusty bird, string, & I think the brad is from K&Co.  The detail is a bit faint, but the cardstock is dry embossed with a scallop.  Tag and photo corner are computer generated and hand cut. 

This second card is just a little something designed for my husband for our anniversary - ditto on the supplies.  The little footstool btw, was an unfinished piece in pine, I stained, painted, and then laminated my Pear Blossom paper to the surface.  The terra cotta pot flower pot is hand made too.  I'm a girl with a serious champaign taste on a lemonade budget . . .well it's been said,  "neccessity is the mother of invention," and "where there's a will, there's a way."  I suppose that's what got me started in this business in the first place.

I'm curious, with so many card makers/designers, how and where do you store your finished cards - or do you give them all away? I would love to hear from you.

The oven is preheated and ready for your spiced orange gingerbread.

Bon Appetite!

 

this WE like . . .

        Check it out . . .My favorite muse, Mary, and her staff at ME Home Companion Magazine,have joined the world of blog http://www.homecompanionmag.com/blogs/.  That's not all... take a peek at my Coco Collection papers featured on the the pages of the editor's "this we like".  Well, a great BIG merci to the wonderful editorial staff at ME Home Companion.                             In this picture I've created some recipe cards using my Coco Collection designs.  I hope you're inspired to get out the mixing bowls, flour, sugar and vanilla and create something devine.  Or, I suppose  you could get out the scissors, glue, and a bit of chip board and created a little something like this yummy one-of-a-kind cook book (I designed from the cardboard insert to a brand new set of bed sheets) to store all your recipes in, be they cooking or designing recipes.  Hmm, that just gave me an idea!                     

Either way, I'm sure you'll come up with something delicious. Hope you'll show me.  Emm, I'm wanting Fresh Baked chocolate chip cookies and a tall glass of ice cold milk right now. 

Warm hugs to all.