I Love You Because...

Deleted

Remember my post last Friday? Good thing I reposted it here. Today THIS is what my 'baby' looks like. The average reader might not notice any differences but I sure do... mainly the fact that I'm not there. It's not the posting I'm talking about but me... I'm DELETED. No posts I've done over the last 18 months are there... Even the one from last Friday! You can't search for me and you can't look up past projects of mine. It's like I never existed. 

If last Friday I thought writing that blog post was hard- this new situation has been like granite. There is nothing I can do but say the my blog baby is dead. I said my goodbyes and it's in someone else's hands now.  

That being said, I have a few ideas for what in store for me next and maybe, just maybe, this time I won't be quite as emotionally attached. ;) 

Closing a Chapter.

I've been avoiding posting about this for over a month because I've had the entire range of emotions in the last 30 days and I'm not sure which one I'm settled with. In the end.... I'm content with my decision but that doesn't mean I'm exactly happy about it. 

(Taken from my last post on The Tombow Blog....) 

See that? Those are my babies. Cute, right? Yeah, I sure think so. They mean everything to me and I've been lucky to be able to work from home so that they can get as much Momma time as possible. Now, if you've talked to me at all in the last 18 months you also know I've had another baby that I'm just as much of a proud parent about... this blog. When Tombow came to me a few years ago about developing a blog I was ecstatic, such an amazing company with such high quality products, I knew I'd have a blast helping to build this idea. I knew the blog world inside and out and I couldn't wait to get started. I knew what type of design team I wanted and I couldn't wait to share all of that with our readers. I thought I knew a lot but I had no idea how emotionally attached I'd become to y'all. I had no idea how much our readers would help me grow or push me creatively, I had no idea how much I would love it and no one at Tombow had any idea how much of a success it would be. So THANK YOU READERS WE LOVE YOU! 

Back in December we (the DT, Tombow VP's and I) decided we wanted to rework the blog, new designs, new content, update and jazz it up a little. Spring cleaning... everyone likes a little update now and then, right? After a looong conversation about our social media presence it was realized on both ends that in order to do everything that we had planned the hours I was putting in needed to be amped up... a lot. A full time office switch was in order. After an even longer internal struggle I realized that I just couldn't do that in my present situation... My dream job? YES! Who could have asked for a better opportunity, right? BUT- did you see those faces? You wouldn't be able to stay away from them either. As much as I love my Blog Baby...... I am not able to help it grow the way it needs to anymore. It's time for it to spread it's wings and fly.... 

which means there is a new Blog Editor in town! Sharron Callahan joined Tombow the week before CHA as our Internet Marketing Specialist.  Sharron had to jump right in by joining everyone at CHA and was responsible for all the fabulous posts that you saw on Facebook and Twitter during the show. She will be your go-to girl, sharing with you her own Design Team, showing you the latest and great techniques and sharing with you the best companies to team up with. Sharron is a Cincinnati OH, Central Academy of Commercial Art Grad with degrees in Marketing and Interior Design. She has been running her own business for over 5 years in the Internet Marketing and Media Design field and I am excited to tell you that her eye for art and design is top notch. Sharron is full of personality and poise and I'm thrilled for you to get a chance to know her better. She paints murals and loves photography in her free time, she enjoys reading, riding her bike and going to the beach. Her claim to fame is that in 2008 she was in the movie by Tyler Perry, “Why Did I Get Married”, as a flight attendant. :)  You're going to love her. 

....and I am going to miss you.

Thank you Tombow for the opportunity to work with such an amazing company and even more amazing people and THANK YOU READERS for the strength and love, support and inspiration you've given me. I couldn't have ever known how much you all would impact my life but I know you'll take good care of my baby and be there to watch it grow into something so much more. 

 

Love Forever,
Joanna Wallace

 

Photography by Dixie Taylor Photography.
If you're located in Georgia, call her.... she's amazing and I promise you'll be happy.  

All Tied Up

This is totally what happens when I'm tied up on a conference call. Owen starts off happy and content watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, then he spots something that he knows he's not allowed to touch (like my Divine Twine) and quietly gets himself tangled up into messes that he can't get out of, as soon as I'm off the call I go check on him and always find him standing in sticky puddles, covered in food or in today's case? All Tied Up! 

"I stuck, Mom!" he says... I think next time I'll skip the show and go straight for tying him down. 

Layers

Seriously, I'd be a brave girl if I took a picture of my desk right now. Actually let me rephrase that, BOTH desks. It would horrify my mother! There are layers and layers of projects on my creative desk and layers and layers of files on my writing desk. Too much to do, and too many interruptions. The major problem with this is that I've been asked to 'Share my Space' and create a little video/picture tour for another scrap blog as a featured designer. Apparently there is a deadline to my mess. So in an effort to document the chaos and live in the moment (and procrastinate a few more minutes) I'm going to clean it up just enough to tell you what is hidden.

First up? My writing desk. Let's see we're planning a disney trip so I know there are files and confirmation numbers and notes on that somewhere. I'm assistant Scout leader and I have TONS to catch up on there so again, I know that it's here somewhere but, not quite sure which pile. My murder mystery package came this week so that box is right on top along with about a dozen notes, random decorations and skulls. I finally printed out a bunch of pictures for my Project Life book so I have photo paper right on top too. I need to pay bills but can't find the sign-in info. to do so. I'm betting that it's somewhere on this desk too. I've had three BIG meetings with Tombow this past week and I'm working on new formatting and design, there are about 3 files for that, only one layer down. Lorali did her homework next to me yesterday afternoon so that is underneath today's emails. oh and flight plans and information for the funeral is glaring at me from one top of Owen's crayons. (on a side note, THANK YOU AMERICAN AIRLINES FOR BEREAVEMENT RATES. SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU!)

My creative desk? It's literally crying for me to have a few days of UNINTERRUPTED time and attention. I bought some fun new embossing tools about three weeks ago. They are sitting unopened on top of a cookbook project I am finishing up. I have a layout I designed the other day on my flight that is sitting half started on top of that. On one side I have a pile of Project Life, on another side I have Dallin's album basically done but for some reason I can't bring myself to actually add the pictures and journaling. In a bag I have pushed against the wall i have last summers mini album- which is a really fun concept but it's so labor intensive that work deadlines push it further and further off the edge. I just planned a few partnerships for Tombow so I have a file for that right on top and I'm working on a couple projects for the blog that were squeezed into any open spot I could find. Owen got into the puff paint today (interruption!) and Ethan pulled out a few too many markers for his birthday card to his teacher tonight so those are basically all over my chair and behind the desk.

I could go on and on. Needless to say.... I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and I wish there was more (alone) time in the day. I'm off to clean another layer or two before bed. 

Tick-Tock- I'm taking a hammer to the clock!

The clock is ticking. It has been for 2 hours and 21 minutes now. It was then that I sat down, already exasperated from a crazy morning routine that included a daughter screaming mad at her mother for making her wear pants (heaven forbid the 8 school dresses she owns be dirty- yes, I know I'm behind on laundry), a tantrum from a first grader because the bus comes too early for him to watch the news (note to self, record the Today Show from the day before to play when needed), a missing spouse (I hate the travel aspect) and a two year old who thinks that 3am is morning time... You get the idea, It's been an incredibly long day already and at 9:30 I sit down to put the finishing touches on the formatting for the Tombow Blog (on a side note check out yesterday's post.. some classic picts of Husbandface for the whole world to laugh at err... I mean with.) I sit down and the wonderful program that imports pictures to the blog refuses to upload today's batch. I try another program. Nope. So I re-boot my computer. Nada. So I try uploading it to a remote site and them linking the two. Laughable. GRRRRR.... two plus hours later, an hour late on my deadline and I'm no closer to finishing today's post then I was yesterday. The work is done, the pictures are taken and now the site has gone on strike as if planning a small technology revolt against me. "I'm not posting your stinking pictures, just because you stink, I can smell you from inside my gigantic 27" head. It's 11 am already, Go take a shower lady!" 

So I'm going to listen.... and hope that the computer takes it as an offering and magically fixes the unknown problem, making my day slightly better.

back to work.

So I'm back. Back to reality, back to schedules and back to work. I follow roughly 25-30 blogs for work, and about 15 personally. Most don't update as often as either of my two blog so the daily required reading is usually under 30 mins. I got back in town. Booted up i-magine (pronounced; eye-ma-gene, yes I named my computer, which is an entirely separate story) and sat down ready to work, ready to respond to the dozen of urgent e-mails, ready to upload pictures, ready to write and ready to start scheduling out August. First a little catch up reading on google. HA! 766 posts waiting for me?!  So maybe it won't get done all in one sitting BUT... at least I know I can put off cleaning off my desk for a few more days. 

Opinions Please?

I write all the time. For this blog, for my scrapbooks, for work. ALL THE TIME. But, its a whole new ballgame when you're given an assignment to write about yourself. Specifically a bio. 

"Who are you? Why do you do what you do.... in one short paragraph" 

Ha! I've been writing this blog for 6 years and I haven't managed to be able to answer those questions yet! 

"Yeah, sure, have it to you by Thursday".

 So... here's my bio. The 'ultra-short-need-to-know-basis' version.. Doug thinks the picture is too 'churchy'. (because I've worn this blouse to church before?! I swear... that man!)  Seriously, share your thoughts! Should I include my private blog? Too personal? Should I take out my location? Add more creative stuff? As Joanna-readers you have to answer. Deadline is today!

Joanna is the Tombow Blog Editor and Design Team Lead. When she is not writing or creating she is trying to navigate her way through raising 3 children and a husband of 9 years. She currently lives in the Georgia country but her heart is in the Mountains of the West.  Joanna has been teaching classes in the industry on the local, regional and national level for 6 years and loves sharing her passion. While most of her classes focus on technique she is has a soft spot for all things vintage. You can read more about Joanna's Life, Art and Adventures at joannajune.typepad.com.

Working From Home

When people find out I work from home, I get a lot of comments. Mostly positive, "Oh, that must be so wonderful", "I wish I could work in my jammies", "I'm so jealous".... blah, blah, blah. Yes, I am appreciative of the fact that I've found a solution that let's me be flexible with my time. Because let's face it, any regular 9-5 job wouldn't exactly be okay with the excuse, "Sorry boss, I have to go home, my 6 year old just bit his teacher... again." So yes, this is our perfect solution. Between my Tombow Contract and my Inviting Designs work I'm working plenty of hours and actually loving it. Yep, it's totally stressful sometimes but, seriously I don't thing anyone's life isn't. I'm just not that unique. 

But since the working from home life seems so glamorous to the rest of you I thought I'd share a little bit of my world with you. Meet my one and only co-worker. He's in his terrible two's... and yes, this is a daily occurrence.

the ole' switch-eroo!

I'm giving up one mess...

   For another! 

I'm in the zone people! Creating, and having a ball with some fun Imaginisce products... I know, I know, you've heard it before... I LOVE MY JOB! This morning was story time at Lorali's school, then off to run errands all morning and now nothing is on the to-do list but create and play... oh and I'm sure the kids will get hungry at some point but, maybe Doug will be home by then! ;) It's a good thing too because the last few days I have been in an ornery funk. Today it's sunshine and scrapbooks, baby!

Happy Tuesday!

Creative. Kinda. Maybe. Please?

I haven't felt very creative lately. I haven't been on creative roll for a few weeks now and let me tell you that when you have a job that demands that? well, it puts the pressure on when you aren't up to snuff. I'm still creating but, I used to have 10-20 projects at any given time ready to post and share. Now I'm down to my last reserves. So I've decided to take a few little inspirational injections this year and pump up my reserves. I want to go to a few retreats this year but haven't found the right ones yet. I just looked into Creative Escape w/ Heidi Swapp but, registration is already closed. (grr...) and if I felt like I could ever talk Doug into spending that much money, GREECE w/ Ali Edwardswould be my dream retreat, maybe next year? :) Maybe if someone else wanted to go with me, I could swing it. What do you say? You wanna go to Greece this Fall with me? (Come on, you know you want to!) Okay, so Greece isn't your cup of tea? how about Paris, France w/ Donna Downey?!  A few years ago I went to the Scrap Etc. Event in Alabama and it was inspiring and creative and fun. Unfortunately it doesn't look like they are doing it anymore. The one I'm leaning towards to most is Inspired. Artist Workshop. It's in Mid-May in North Carolina and looks like the most plausible option as of now.... so the question remains, are you in? :)