The ART of the heART! the essence of life is art, everywhere creativity captures the soul of the artist and the audience. Whatever the medium used it is the means to bring a message to life. A message that is vital to the artist to express and one that the audience interprets individually and is touched, changed forever by the piece. I am very blessed to know many artists and creative people. Actually everyone I know is an artist, the difference being only, many know they are artists and many are unaware. I watch my daughter mixing and tasting another delicious dish, the aromatic flavors dancing into the air around her. Would she consider herself an artist no and yet her art touches my soul each day as she lovingly creates works of art that delight all of the senses.

I believe art is really about giving yourself permission to express yourself in a way that is meaningful to you. A way that touches your heart, brings a harmony to your life, it does not require lessons or special supplies. All it requires is a way of thinking and being, of mindful actions. It is also about valuing your creativity, your artistic self and not being afraid. We are our own harshest critics as adults and yet as young children we would try anything just for the pure joy of it. So my offering this week of the heART is to express yourself in a way that brings you JOY for an hour. Simply pencil to paper and declare I am an Artist!

I have declared for myself this year to try many artforms and mediums, to not judge my results but to celebrate them! Please celebrate along with me and make this the year of your heART! (This piece was inspired by a dear friend's clay creation and my interpreting it through my stitching and poetry).
Follow your dreams, follow the JOY! Debra

While at CHA (Craft & Hobby Tradeshow) I had the chance to try Zentangle, a form of repetitive, intricate doodling which in its execution is both meditative and freeing. The design influence is showing up not only in paper but in wearables, fabric collages and home decor. Suzanne McNeill has a new book out on Zentangles basics. Suzanne will be talking about Zentangles on Inspired at Home with Tiffany Windsor February 21st. At CHA my good friend and talented designer Marie Browning introduced me to Zentangles. Zentangles are created on 3 1/2" square art paper with a pencil and a black permanent marker. Deveoped by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, the art of Zentangle can reduce stress, improve focus and the creative flow. I have started creating Zentangles at night and finding it very relaxing at the end of the day. I am also working on pieces to incorporate it into my fabric. As this is the week of the heart my Zentangle is entitled "Love is all Around!"

Creativity is inherent in all of us, whatever we draw, paint, sew or craft it is more about the process than the results. The time spent with mind and hands in harmony both relaxes and frees your being. It is not about being "good" at something for we are all capable of our own "masterpieces" just as we are all unique and perfect as ourselves! 

Follow the JOY! Debra Quartermain, CEO! 

"I believe" the title of the Canadian theme song for the 2010 winter Olympics. All this past year our young athletes' faces have appeared in TV ads with the message "I believe, do you Canada?" (Click link in pink Twitter sidebar box and scroll down to I believe music video) We are hosting the Olympics in spectacular Whistler, BC among the majestic Rockie mountains. My brother lives there and is a volunteer for the Olympics, his own dream.

What do we believe? I believe we are given the gift to dream because we also have been given the ability to make our dreams come true!  So to all the dreams that will fill our country over the next few weeks, may they all come true! Just believe! Debra Quartermain, CEO!

Valentine's Day is this Sunday, I have always loved Valentines whether I had a special Valentine of mine own or not. I always had my darling daughters and with February mid winter, cold and snowy a brightly festive box decorated with hearts and filled with surprises brightened the month. Now they are fully grown with their own special Valentine's and I have a very special one of my own they are happy to have the box retire. Makes me a little sad but I know down the way there will be a new generation of little ones who will love the Valentine Box!

The January February issue of Creative Homearts magazine features a Valentine keepsake on the cover which I created using Nunn Designs beautiful pateras. It is always exciting to be a cover girl! This piece features family photos and vintage buttons, lace remnants.

                  (photo courtesy of Creative Homearts Club)

I think special days that remind us of who we love and give us a chance to show our love are important. Yes we want to do that everyday but something special and unexpected, a surprise, a token of love always touches the heart. It does not have to be expensive or take a lot of time but a handmade card, heart shaped cookies or a simple "I love you" note tucked into a pocket or lunch bag is a reminder of being loved and cared about. All anyone really wants is to be loved and cherished, to know they matter and are cared about. I have always believed that "Life is simply a love story!"

Always Follow the JOY! Debra Quartermain CEO!

Fran here! We are back from Anaheim and the Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show (CHA)! Debra had us run ragged with all of the show events. Well not actually we got to sit in the booth all day looking pretty while she ran off to book signings and demos. At the end of the show though we got to spend time in the sunshine by the pool. We had to share our sunshine with Oliver Owl, Debra brought him along as well to keep us in line! That was funny as who was the first one to the champagne celebration and poolside? Freda & I think the JLo glasses are a bit much but hey his first time to sunny California. He was a bit star struck after seeing Carol Duvall, the Crafty Chica, Tiffany, Heidi and Aleene, the marvellous Margot Potter and many other of his crafty favorites!

It also did not help that little clones of Oliver popped up by the pool too! We just had to suck it up and let him have his day in the limelight! Here we are with his new buddies Fleur de Hoot and some surfer dude with a very fetching Mohawk!

           (Fleur de Hoot created by Marie Browning and surfer dude by Helen Bradley)

Not wanting to start any rumors but you probably notice in the picture that Fran and I are the only two standing and Oiver's glasses well slighty askew. While we were in the pool apparently a bottle of bubbly appeared and the owls pretty much partied hardy!

So apparently the saying about the wise old owl well then you have never taken a trip with one, try three! I know Freda has had her moments (the incident with the rooster from Hatch.com, the bottles and her dancing on the deck singing "oh what a night) however she is a tame turkey um chicken when compared to those owls. They know how to party!

So it is back to the snow, bikinis packed away and Debra busy on show follow up what ever that is. The only thing we are following is catching up on our favorite shows we missed. Remember to Follow the Fowls! Fran & Freda! We are lobbying for a FB Fan page, Debra pleeease!!!

One of the fun things at the CHA show was Kathy, the Crafty Chica's cutout. We all took turns having our picture taken and it was a hit throughout both the supershow and tradeshow. Kathy was autographing her books, so exciting for her with the release of her new novel Waking Up in the Land of Glitter. Anything is possible and she makes it happen! The photo op gave me a chance to sport a tattoo, the only one I will ever have!

The Make &Takes were lined up and dear friend Candie Cooper was sporting an awesome Tee and demoing Plaid's Simply Screen stencils and paint. The line there was constant and long!

Trying out new products is always fun as well as being fundamental to my career as a designer. Keeping up with what is new and incorporating it into my work in my style makes for some very interesting results! We played with Cloud Clay from Amaco, a very strong, pliable air dry clay. Marie Browning and I made Zebra Unicorns instructed by the very talented clay artist Michelle Zimmerman.

Yesterday I tweeted about decluttering which resonated with several people. This time of year in mid winter lends itself to the task of clearing away unneeded or unused items. It can seem a daunting task yet like everything when feeling overwhelmed break it into manageable steps. It does really work, a drawer or shelf, a box at a time means an entire room done before you know it. Life is busy, stuff happens and stuff collects, it is a fact for all of us. Attach no emotion to it other than the sense of accomplishment and enjoyment when each step is done. Clearing space allows for a new opportunity to come into your life.
Always follow the JOY! Debra. CEO!

Back from the CHA show (Craft & Hobby Association) in Anaheim! It was a busy week beginning with the two day consumer Craft Supershow. The highlight of the consumer show was the Inspired at Home PJ party Friday evening. I felt like Vanna White as I got to carry Tiffany Windsor's laptop around while she and Maria Nerius broadcast to the Facebook fans. The 100 participants in the PJ party had so much fun crafting and winning all kinds of door prizes. Each table got to try a different craft from sponsors such as Walnut Hollow, Beacon and Plaid. Aleene was there as well with her daughters Tiffany and Heidi, it was a great evening and Tiffany made all of the volunteers a beautiful momento necklace. She is such a lovely person and I thoroughly enjoyed the event and the creative energy was sparked with fluffy robes and a variety of bunny, turtle and monster slippers!

The tradeshow opened on Sunday with the bagpipers which always begins the show with an exciting energy.

Carla Schauer and I exhibited in the L&D (License and Design) section of the tradeshow. Her Dad built amazing folding shelves which were perfect for the booth and I added the fabric accents. The majority of the exhibitors in this section have flat art but there were several designers exhibiting as well. It is an opportunity to meet with Art Directors flown in from the gift and home decor industries and manufacturers at the show usually visit this section on the last day of the show.

The L&D section grew this year but the show itself was smaller due to the effects of the economy. The Craft Supershow before the tradeshow with the thousands of consumers who did attend showed though the enthusiasm that people have for crafting. Creativity is now well established as being instrumental for our health and well being. Celebrate Creativity! More from the show this week!

Always Follow the JOY! Debra Quartermain, CEO!  

CHA Tradeshow!
License & Design #2639

I am off to the show! Never feeling prepared and there is always so much undone plus last minute emergencies but it happens to us all. Looking at what is done though, feels good! Excitement is starting to build, flight leaves in four hours so this Cinderella better finish packing and get ready! The Eternal Optimist is ready and thanks to my daughter's very talented photographer boyfriend Dylan Buell I have some brand new photos, about time! Been five years since an update so wish me luck on that star up there or cross a finger or two! Always Follow the JOY! Debra CEO!

It has been fun taking part in the Sizzix Scoreboard Blog Hop especially with designer friend Eileen Hull's brand new line to be launched at CHA! We got to play with the new die shapes, so versatile! The last one is the gift box, when Eileen sent out the samples, she thoughtfully included some buttons in my package knowing my love of sewing and all things related!

It turned out very cute and so easy my pretty little button box. Use scraps of ribbon and glue overlapping across bottom and top of box. Cover sides with a strip of ribbon gluing it all the way around. Make four loops and stack on top of box. Glue buttons together in pairs to make four sets of legs. Glue four buttons together and glue to center of ribbon loops. This pretty little box matches our booth colors in the L&D section of the CHA show, #2639. It will be handy to keep tacks, pins etc in, useful and pretty, what more can you ask for! Follow the JOY! Debra, CEO!

The CHA Craft Supershow is only a week away! It is going to be a two day consumer show followed by the CHA, Craft & Hobby Tradeshow. Fran  Freda are busy packing, thought I noticed a couple of boas and bikinis! Working chick attire apparently!

At the show!

Jan 22 Inspired at Home Craft PJ Party  7-9pm

Jan 24-27 Exhibiting L&D, License & Design Section Booth #2639 with the talented Carla Schauer.

24-27 CHA Designer Global Gallery Display 30 Designers create designs inspired by 30 CHA member countries!
 
24-27 Demos at Homearts Booth

24 Sunday Designer Showcase 12-5pm, Room 303 open to Editors, Publishers and Manufacturers, Meet & Greet 5-7pm

25-26 Monday, Tuesday  F+W booth #4228, 11:30-12:30, Sweatshirt Remix book demo

I am busily preparing new designs, display pieces for the show. Getting excited to go and reconnect with everyone, to be part of the creative excitement and energy!

Follow the JOY! Debra, CEO!