Tracey Niehues

WARM...sunny...Florida, here we come!  We are getting a jump start on spring and leaving this long Missouri winter for a week.  Of course, I realize that it's not going to be as relaxing as in past years because I'll be sitting in the shade with our 5 week old.  As long as I can hear the ocean and take in some fresh air I will be happy.  Kyle loves the beach.  He has been thinking about this vacation for months.  This is a layout that I did for CHA.  I used K&Company's new "Blue Awning" line which I LOVE...LOVE...LOVE!!!  I'm anxious to work some more with this product.

My Talented Friend

Thanks to all the well wishers for our new baby.  We are so blessed to have so many friends.  Addison is doing great.  Eat...sleep...poop...repeat.  At the rate that she is eating she won't be little for long. 

I wanted to post this picture of a card that a dear friend sent to me.  Thank you, Nancy W.!  You are truly talented.  The antique stroller and crown are embossed in silver.  The pink foil wings are my favorite.  I must have these!!  This will make a wonderful addition to a page in her scrapbook.

 

Meet My Newest Project!

This is Addison Nicole Niehues.  She was born on February 5, 2008 and weighed 6 lbs. 3 oz.  We are so blessed to have her.  She has definitely changed our household in the short amount of time that she's been here.  First of all, there is pink everywhere!  I am having a good time with all the pink clothes for girls.  Kyle is adjusting to the added noise and commotion.  He's very good at blocking out things that he doesn't want to hear, including..."Did you get your homework done?"  He has asked me several times if she is ever going to talk.  I can just imagine in a few years him asking, "Is she ever going to be quiet?!"  Bob is already smitten by his little girl.  She will be tightly wrapped around his fingers in no time at all.  Addison loves to be held so I am happy to oblige.  We spend a lot of time watching the Food Network and reading books.  She is truly a joy!

But don't expect me to sit around for long.  As soon as I recover from some serious sleep deprivation Addison & I will be heading up to my scrapbook room to work!  I am so excited about SCRAP ST. LOUIS which I will be teaching at on June 5 - 7, 2008.  I love the For Keeps Sake girls!  They really know how to host an event and their store is fabulous.  If you are ever in the St. Louis area this is a MUST stop!  And if you're fortunate enough to be there for SCRAP ST. LOUIS, I'll see you then!

CHA Class

Normally during this time of year I would be scurrying around getting ready for a CHA class or make & take.  This year it saddens me to say that I won't be able to go to CHA in Anaheim.  I believe that this is the first trade show that I have missed since being with K&Company.  I will miss seeing all the familiar faces from past trade shows and meeting new enthusiastic artists/owners who just leaped into the business.  These shows are always so much fun not only because of the trade show events but also hanging out with the really cool people at K&Company.  Sniff....sniff.  BUT....part of me will be there in spirit.  My project will be taught at the K&Company class.  Here is a looksie at it. If you attended Creative Escape last year this may look familiar to you.  For this CHA class I used the Wild Saffron line.  This is one of my favorites!  The folder cover is created from a poly string clasp envelope.  The folders are added to the bottom gusset of that envelope with book tape and brads.  The envelope folds around the folders and is held together with a ribbon and the string clasp.  I have done these for daily journals, Christmas organizers and a keepsake folder for a new mom.  They really are so easy and fun.  So...I hope those attending the class will enjoy it.  It will be tough for me not to be there with you!

New Addition!

I'm happy to say that I am once again a very proud "Auntie".  This little guy was born yesterday to my sister-in-law and youngest brother.  He is just perfect.

Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Well...we survived the 4 day birthday marathon!  Thanks to all the friends and family who helped to make his birthday special.  He will be busy for months with all his toys.  It's really hard not to get sentimental when these milestones occur.  I had to kick myself out of my "he's not a baby anymore" funk and realize how great these nine years have been.  He has brought so much joy to our lives.  Sniff....sniff.  The cake was his idea.  I couldn't talk him into something cute and harmless like little frogs or Disney characters.  I wanted to cut their little guns from their little plastic fingers but that seemed violent too.  The targets on his protective Nerf vest are a nice touch!  He's a boy...it's normal...right?

Ok...ok...ok!

After much pressure from friends and family I will try to do better about blogging.  It's just that I haven't had too much time to create.  Apparently, there are a few of you who don't mind if I just babble about my dog, son, husband, or ordinary life.  So I will try to open my mind to ideas that seem pointless to me.  Actually, there is a "wee" project that has been keeping me a little busy.  But THIS will stay under wraps for a while.  Sorry!

The focus this week has been on this one!  He turns 9 in a few days!  So hard to believe.  He promised me that he wouldn't turn 5 and he did.  Now he's a big kid and it isn't cool to kiss your mom at the entrance into school.  I miss those baby snuggle days with him but I also love how he is growing up.  I am so proud of him.  (When I got this picture I was so impressed with how alert he was.  Yep...new mom...didn't know that someone claps their hands before the picture is taken to STARTLE the poor infant!)

My recent obsession

OK...here's my little secret.  Don't tell!  I am doing an art journal.  Actually, I became addicted to doing art journals a few months ago after trolling blogland.  I know that this was meant to be for me.  I came across this blog by Suziblu.  Her videos are a hoot.  She is so artsy and animated.  I just love her.  She spoke to me that day and I have been her blog stalker ever since.  She has these videos that she does to get you started with art journals.  Of course, I ran right out and bought a moleskine and a ton of art supplies that I had no idea what to do with.  I still don't know what I'm doing but I am having so much fun playing with the oil pastel crayons, the colored pencils, the charcoal pencils and the watercolors.  These are my first pages that I did.  Don't laugh.  The skull was an assignment that Suzi gave to create a self portrait.  I can draw stick people and kooky cartoon people but an actual self portrait is not my thing.  So that's me!  My son, Kyle, gave me the idea for the headband.  (I think that there might be a little artist in that kid!)  The second page's title came from a Yogi Tea bag tag.  Yup!  Suzi has me drinking herbal teas now too.  Each tea bag has a little quote.  I used Suzi's little girl and drew her on a book text page.  After preparing the background in my journal I glued the entire page in and finished up with more paint and colors. I'm hooked.  While at Silver Bella I met a super fab artist, Janey Jennings.  She was working on her art journal at Starbucks.  She journals everyday and is AMAZING!  We tried to talk her into creating a blog.  Hope that she does.  I wish that I had everything else in my life organized to work in my journal every day.  It really calls me.  What's that?....leave the laundry and dusting until tomorrow?...OK!  I'm off to smoosh some paint!  I'm thinking maybe a Christmas Art Journal!

Why Not Wednesday?...We are driving where?!!

This week's installment of "Why Not Wednesday?" can be credited to my good friend Therese.  Therese lives "across the river" from me in Kansas.  She decided that it was time to get me, my mom and another friend, JoLynn, out of our zones to discover her shopping/eating discoveries in Wyandotte County, Kansas.  She entitled the day, "A Day in the Dotte".  We started the day off right with cream cheese danishes and coffee at Mema's Bakery at the Legends.  Yum!  Then she surprised us with "Dotte Dollars" to spend for our Christmas gift.  She is so clever and on the ball with things.  And she is ONE busy chic!!  We all bought those standing metal wreath holders at Burns Floral.  I can't wait to get a wreath on that baby!  Magnum Opus was amazing and Jill, the store owner, is so fun.  She had this jewelry that African women made from grasses.  There is a whole amazing story with these that I will officially get and share later.  We all bought a ton of these.  Provence on the Prairie was a houseful of the neatest Christmas decorations.  Lots of glitter and nostalgia.  The Pink Zebra was a girly girl's dream.  Everything was pink and bling.  So many have-to-have accessories.  They even have a room all made up for dress up parties.  I may just have to grab my sweet little niece, Hannah, and get her all dolled up!  Miller's Too...was another fun stop.  The store screamed Christmas memories for me.  We also did manage to stop for some lunch at Elsner's Jet Fuel.  So delicious and they even treated us to a sampling of their fabulous desserts.  The chocolate provided much needed energy!  Sooooooo fun! If you haven't been shopping at these places...you must.  I definitely enjoyed our day out of the "driving zone".  Thanks Therese!

It's Official!

The Christmas season has officially started for me due in part to the red Caribou Coffee cups.  There is just an added joy for me when I pull up to the drive-thru and they hand me the festive paper cup...it's the little things, right?!  Speaking of all things merry and bright...I attended Silver Bella with my mom last week in Omaha, NE.  It was amazing!  So many talented people.  Theresa McFayden did a fabulous job.  She must be exhausted about now. Country Living Magazine was there to feature this event in an upcoming issue.  So impressive!  It was just the artsy inspiration that I needed.  I will try to post some pics of the class projects this week. 

These are the thank you gifts that I gave the instructors.  I have always been so blown away by the generosity of the little thank you goodies that I have received as an instructor.  I wanted to show my appreciation also.  There is a lot of work put into these classes.  I have actually made quite a few of these water bottle charms.  My family was always drinking out of the communal bottle because nobody finishes the one they open.  Now we have these markers.  The rubber ring comes right off the empty one and onto the next bottle!  Plus it's just more fun to drink water...bleh...I need to do that more!