A Glimpse of Heaven (May '07)

Well, I'm back from my R&R... and I'd love to show you a glimpse of what I got to experience. This is a day in the life of a weekend with Heaven Gabriella Lauren Haraldsen! I'm proud to say she took right to me.... it's almost as if, even though she'd never seen me before, that she knew she was supposed to love me and hug me and accept me for just who I was... Auntie Lori. Because the first time I held her she buried her head in my shoulder and hugged me back! (Ok maybe she was just tired - it WAS close to midnight!)





Oh! I couldn't wait to introduce her to everyone! I wish I could have brought her home and let everyone give her their own hug. Because Heaven loves hugs and kisses! She is such a delight.... such a delight... giggling, laughing, full of wonderment and surprise and love... she is Heaven...





And like counting on the clock to tick - when she's concentrating on something you can count on her little pudgy feet to start "going a mile a minute"... twirling and twirling...






Look at that smile! Can you tell she loves Auntie Lori (photographer extraordinaire)?! A photographer simply can't tell a baby to smile (say "cheese")... babies only smile at those who look funny!





And here is Heaven adorned in a dress and bonnet made by her Great Grandmother Helen Haraldsen!




Daddy - you're so mean...







So may I introduce you to the newest member of the Haraldsen household... this is Heaven and her proud mommy and daddy - Jody and Loren.

Images captured in a quaint old town of McKinney, Texas ...

R & R

Well, I'm off for a few days of rest and relaxation.... much needed and well deserved! My emotions have been up and down this past week ... and coupled w/ the normal busy-ness of LIFE I just need to get away. Why the emotional roller coaster? This past week a long-time family friend passed away... we're also celebrating the engagement of some friends ... and absorbing the news of a potential divorce for another couple of friends.... and then of course I'm dealing with guilt from not getting my mother's day gift to her in time.

So what will I do? Where will I go? I plan to 'disconnect and reconnect' so to speak. Disconnect = from my cyber world. Reconnect = with my life. I'm travelling to visit my lil' brother in Dallas... and his new little bundle of joy... Heaven Gabriella. Auntie Lori has yet to meet little Heaven... and I'm so looking forward to bestowing lots of hugs and kisses and oohs and aahs on her! Fun pics to follow upon my return... Cheers...

My old friend...

I have an old friend

He looks like a gnome

We don't talk very often

But he reminds me of home!

- L. J. T.

OK - so this is another one of my favorite retiring sets. While I didn't use it very often.... it was the very first set I purchased when the new catty came out!

So I wanted to share my gnome friend w/ you...

Details, details...

Stamp Sets: Knobbly Gnomes

Colors: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Always Artichoke

Playing w/ Pearl Ex!

I just have so much fun playing w/ all of my toys! This one highlights the Pearl Ex assortment from Stampin' Up!

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Well-worn words BG, Quirky Quips
Colors: Appricot Appeal, So Saffron, ivory ribbon

I took the challenge...

Well, I took the challenge. There was a card-making challenge (hosted by a user of SplitCoastStampers) that just looked too good to pass up. If I can remember it and describe it correctly it went something liek this - this card should have contained 3 significant pieces. 1) A rectangular (and upright) card structure. 2) A half-circle figure aligned to the left side of the card. and 3) The last layer being a square/rectangular shape slightly covering half-circle.

Is that clear as mud, or what?!

Well - I took a clue from someone else in making the flower. Since I don't have a large enough circular cutting system of any sort (and since I apparently can't even trace a circle from a small plate or cup rim)... I decided to make a circle shape out of flower petals (using one of my SU! punches).

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Paisley background, Farm Fever

Colors: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Always Artichoke

Accessories: large oval punch, large circle punch

Happy Mother's Day!

How great of a daughter am I?! I made this Mother's Day card a few weeks ago. And tomorrow is Mother's Day - and it's still sitting on my stamp table! Ahh!!! BAD GIRL! Anyhow, wanted to share it... here's my ode to the soon-to-be-retired In Line colors and my favorite stamp set (also retiring!) Hmph!

What does YOUR Mother's Day card look like?

Details, details...

Stamp Set: Mixed Bouquet

Colors: Cool Caribbean, Vintage Violet, Certainly Celery

My Stampin' Space!

I LOVE, love, love my stamp room! See those windows?! That's the secret (well, not really a secret anymore, I guess)... to my creativity. You see... I have nature all around me - streaming through those windows. And when nature is around my creativity starts flowing!

My stamp collection is contained in the bins on the left. My inks are right in front of me... and these tables make for ample work space.

Anyone want to come over and play with me?

Wonderful celebration!

I'm just sick over the fact that both of these sets are retiring! But, I had to have fun playing with these colors and layers. So, I share today an anniversary card ...

Details, details...
Stamp sets: Wonderful Words, Happy Hearts
Colors: Apricot Appeal, Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke

Encouraging

OK - so this is more of a "had to share" than a stamping technique... but it's stamp-related none-the-less. I share it because you just never know what's going to happen on a stamp day! This one proved to be ever so uplifting... to the point that we stopped and prayed for one of the members... tears and kleenex were involved.

This weekend I held a Stamp-A-Stack and there were only 3 ladies there. One of my regular customers, one of her new friends who has been to a few events, Jodie.

The newest lady, Jodie, emailed me this today in response to a follow-up email I sent her:

"Please Lori, know that I truly enjoyed my Saturday morning with you and Lisa and Tasha. What a Divine appointment. I thoroughly look forward to another Saturday with you all. Your impact and welcome got me charged up to stamp so I came home and made a really cute card for a dear friend of ours whose husband passed earlier this year. I was so excited as it was from your knowledge and love that I was able to make such an adorable card that I know she will be truly touched by.

You're the best Lori. You have a wonderful combination of gifts of creativity and the Holy Spirit to share. I'm so blessed.

With love and gratitude,
Jodie"


THIS is why I share my quiet Saturday mornings w/ other women! It really truly is about the relationships! And I don't care one bit that there were only 3 people in attendance! It's what "needed to be".

Here it goes... my stampin' blog!

This is my goal - to post new stampin' items regularly! This goal should include fun new color / design ideas, cards / templates, even techniques for the fellow addicts! So - stay tuned... there will be prizes to give away from time to time... starting next week!!!

Stampin' Hugs!

Lori