Happy New Year!

WOW! It's apparent that I have NOT been a good blogger! But hey, let's be honest, when have I ever been good at it! Oh well, lots of good reasons I guess. Fall was a VERY busy season for me as I travelled extensively teaching.

Minneapolis for Scrapfest, Las Vegas for Inspiration Unlimited, the Netherlands (and a quick day trip to Paris) teaching at The Fairy Tale Event for Paper and Pictures and finally the Prima Road Show in Australia. Yup! It was busy and that didn't leave a lot of time for me to update this baby!!!

It's a new year though and what better time to start fresh than RIGHT NOW! So... here I go! I will update when I can and try to give you something interesting once in awhile in hopes that you'll come back!! LOL!

So lets start out the New Year with some updates. A lot of things have changed over the past few months. I did a lot of soul searching, trying to determine where I wanted to go with this little career I have going on. I have to admit that like most, I struggled to find balance in my life and I didn't like the toll it was taking on me and my family (although I LOVED so many other aspects of it of course!). I was finding myself in a "rut" more often than not and that is when I decided that CHANGE IS GOOD! It's almost necessary. It's not easy and frankly can be scary as hell. It can also be pretty disheartening when the change you THINK you want to make doesn't pan out so then what do you do? Well, onto Plan B (or C,D, E or F)... there are a lot of letters in the alphabet so you can just keep moving until you find the place you are MEANT TO BE.

I have found that place and I am so very happy that things turned out the way they did. One door closes and another opens. Sometimes you have to have the courage to"knock" before that door will open but if you are patient, that door will open and often you will be invited in. Heck... you just might meet someone really cool behind that door and you will be grateful you walked out of the door before it.

I am soooooooo extremely grateful for the opportunities that came to me and am looking forward to the changes they bring. I am confident that it was the right decision and I am going to make the absolute best of my time as long as I am welcome.

So how about I share some of the changes and the exciting changes they bring.

First up, let me tell you about a sweet gal who came into my life just this past summer CHA. She and her husband (who is also pretty cool) own Authentique. Have you ever met someone with whom you immediately "clicked"? Well, we did! So much so that she even came with me to Holland and France this past fall. We work well together and the fact that we travel well together is a HUGE bonus! I am one of their AUTH-orized Educators and will be teaching plenty of Authentique Classes in 2012. I really hope you will come and join me occasionally. Their papers and embellishments are beautiful and the fun I have had working with their products thus far has been fabulous. Keep an eye on this new company as I have no doubt in my mind that they will do very well in the Scrapbooking world! Once this next CHA comes (at the end of January) I think you will hard pressed to find a store that DOESN'T carry Authentique as it's popping up EVERYWHERE!

Next up is Pink Paislee. Imagine how surprised I was to find out that I made the "cut" for their 2012 Design team as a Special Events/ Education Designer. They have such an extensive line up of amazing talent that I am extremely honoured to have been invited to joint their team. I am so looking forward to incorporating their products into this next years classes and I am certain the students who come will like them as much as I. I have always LOVED so many of their papers and embellishments and now I will actually get to play with them on a regular basis! I am sooooooo looking forward to this!

So let's touch on some of the classes or events I have in the works for 2012.

The first major one is Scrapbookers' Paradise's CAMP CROPPIN'! I had the privilege of teaching at this event last year and it was a RIOT! The ladies were great, the teachers were fab and the organizers amazing! I do look forward to being a part of this event again as I share a few Pink Paislee Classes and Make and Takes. I know they are just starting to get details listed so be sure to check out their Facebook Page and as I have more info, I will surely pass it on!


The next BIG DEAL and something I have been working very hard on for the past month getting it ready to launch is ARTSY ADVENTURE. When I was in Australia this past November as a part of the Prima Road Show Team, the ladies were all so very sweet and extended the invite to come back one day. Well, little did they know that we were actually able to make it happen! My ARTSY ADVENTURE tour will happen in May 2012 where I will teach at 11 different stores across Australia! How amazing is that?! Be sure to check out the blog and facebook page dedicated to this event. As time goes on, it is my intention to really work on taking my classes to the next level. I LOVE sharing my passion for paper crafting and am honoured so many feel that I am worthy of that privilege.

Well, I am stepping it up this year! YES I AM! SO many exciting plans in the works and even though I can't spill it all right now, I trust this will give you enough to peak your interest. I hope you will join me on this newest adventure and check back often. I promise I will do a better job at updating this blog.

Happy Scrapping!
Trisha