writer's block : the beginnings of the dream

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The changes are subtle, and if you blinked you may not have noticed them, but 2011 brings a breath of fresh air to my virtual homeland. The most important and most obvious shift is in my blog’s focus and name—from Writer’s Block to Picking Poesies (which I go into great detail about here). I’ve reworked my categories and continuing articles too; expect to see more information about the newcomers in the following days. If you want to find out all the latest and greatest goings on, sign up for my newsletter which will be coming soon!

And, if your bookmarks read "http://www.marnie.typepad.com/writers_block/" or "http://marnielynadams.com/writers_block/," please change them. The correct link to my blog is "http://www.marnielynadams.com/" and will lead you to the Picking Poesies homepage. Thank you!

P.S. Are you worried about my spell checker? Think my eyes are going bad? Wonder why there is an extra “e” in “Poesies”? Well, you’ll just have to read about it. Go here. ;)

 

Ready… Set… Goal!

Having treated myself to a nice refreshing Coca-Cola quite regularly for as long as I can remember, I have racked up quite a few points in their My Coke Rewards program. After perusing through their catalog of selections, I chose a subscription to O, The Oprah Magazine—and I have to say I couldn’t have made a better choice. With a focus on positive living, healthy choices, and self improvement, the publication promotes everything I am looking for in my life and what I wish more media, internet, and print would offer for public consumption—a happy and uplifting message. No question in my mind: I will be renewing my subscription when the time comes.

This month, I was thrilled to find an amazing and mind-altering article on goal setting by Martha Beck. Words to the Wise (alternately titled “How Three Simple (But Powerful) Words Can Put You On The Path to Happiness” on the magazine’s website) completely changed my view on establishing and reaching my heart’s desires. After reading the piece, several times, I’ve spent more time contemplating what I truly want to accomplish and am totally psyched about my fit, creative, and productive new year!

 

The Art of Joyful Living – Week 18

To join in the fun, read how The Art of Joyful Living works in this post.

Week 18 Theme: Television

Use any or all of the following in your project:

• What is the first television show you remember watching?
• What show would you watch after school?
• What cartoons would you watch on the weekends?
• What theme songs would you sing? What ones can you still sing today?
• What is your favorite television show of all time?
• What show do you watch religiously and plan your schedule around?
• Where do you gather to watch television?
• What changes has technology made to your television viewing (hulu, tivo, youtube)?
• Who do you watch certain shows with?
• How have certain shows changed your life (named a child after a character; changed lifestyle based on television advice; set new goals)?
• What is your current favorite show?
• Who is your favorite actor/actress?
• How do you keep track of your show if you miss an episode?
• What show have you followed the longest? What do you love about the show?
• What character do you have a crush on?
• What show did you begin watching because your parent/friend/child does?
• What type of shows do you enjoy watching?
• How much time do you spend watching television each day? Each week?
• How does television viewing fit into your life?
• How does the television rating system effect your family’s rules about what shows may be watched by your children?
• What shows do you enjoy watching as a family?
• What shows are your children not allowed to watch?
• If there is a conflict over shows, how do you decide what to watch?
• Who is the master of the remote control in your house?
• How do you discuss controversial subjects or breaking news that may be upsetting to the younger members of your family?
• What current events do you have your children view on television? How do you handle the topics on the show?
• What show is guaranteed to make you laugh or bring a smile to your face?

Please post links to your completed pieces in the comments. I look forward to seeing what you make!

 

Patchwork Quilt: Dreams, Friendship, Success, and Wish Collection Minis

The importance of having close, dear friends that not only appreciate and accept you, but also completely understand your creative livelihood cannot be understated—and I am blessed with some of the very best. This summer during a getaway, the four of us—Theresa, Trish, Amanda, and I—were inspired to design together and recently all of our planning and hard work came to fruition with our quartet of kits, the Patchwork Quilt Collection Minis.

Sharing one color palette and design direction, every set complements the others while taking on its own separate theme. With Dreams, Friendship, Success, and Wish you will find how they each tell a chapter of the same lovely story.

 

Merry Christmas!

"Very Merry" digital scrapbook card ©2010 Marnie Adams

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

P.S. Okay, so I didn’t get my cards mailed out exactly in a timely manner: I reached the point where I decided anything postmarked before the holiday itself meant it was good to go. There are a few people out there that may find this card suspiciously familiar early next week when the printed one arrives (and no, the color didn’t print correctly, but if I would have had them reprinted, no telling when those silly things would have gotten sent). Oh well, Fa La La!

 

"the night before" digital scrapbook layout

"the night before" digital scrapbook layout ©2010 Marnie Adams

Growing up, reading “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore was one of my favorite parts of our holiday celebration. My brother had a pop-up book version which we would carefully peruse while activating all the sliding sections and pull tabs. Going through those beautifully illustrated pages was the perfect fodder for my imaginative mind and a lovely way to end the day while we pretended to go to sleep. I enjoyed sharing that tradition with my children and some day, in the distant future, hope to continue the custom with their little ones.

Inspired in part by Mr. Moore’s classic tale, my Very Merry Collection Biggie was born, and I created a version of the mystical trip Santa makes every Christmas Eve in this scrapbooking page.

 

"the night before" digital scrapbook layout uses:
• Very Merry Collection Biggie
• Ho Ho Ho Collection Mini
• Digital Stickers: Near the Manger
• Gather Together Solids Paper Mini
• Loverly Collection Biggie
• Loverly Solids Paper Mini
• Raquel's Baby Collection
• Grand Old Flag Collection
• Circus on Parade Collection

 

"better not pout" digital scrapbook layout

"better not pout" digital scrapbook layout ©2010 Marnie Adams (photograph by Amanda McGee)

Check out Amanda’s cutie pie: He’s in a Christmasy mood and has his list ready for Santa. I’m betting tomorrow morning he will find a few treasures under the tree from good old St. Nick. You’ve gotta love adorable kiddies during this time of year with their sparkling eyes and the excitement just oozing right out of them. Very Merry indeed! ;)

 

" better not pout" digital scrapbook layout uses:
• Very Merry Collection Biggie
• Ho Ho Ho Collection Mini
• Scrapbooking 911 - 20 Sketches to Revitalize Your Digital Scrapbooking - Book 4 eBook
• December Days Collection
• Jolly Elf Collection
• ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Jelly Candy 6101 Super Biggie
• Campfire 2 Collection
• Snow Delightful
• ScrapSimple Type Paths: Brackets 2101 Biggie
• ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Textured Paint 2

 

Limited Time Only: Very Merry Photo Mask Special

Rush over to Scrap Girls to download my Very Merry Embellishment Special—it will only be available for a few days. I designed it to match my Very Merry Collection Biggie, and this png digital scrapbooking element will work perfectly with Christmas and winter themed layouts as well as everyday ones too.

I’ll be posting the sample layout soon, and later in the week I will also be sharing a few of the tricks I used to make the background appear dimensional using a new feature I just know you are going to love.

 

The Art of Joyful Living – Week 17

To join in the fun, read how The Art of Joyful Living works in this post.

Week 17 Theme: Celebrations

Use any or all of the following in your project:

• What holidays and special events do you celebrate with your family?
• What holidays and special events did you celebrate as a child? How have they changed in adulthood?
• What celebrations did you inherit from your spouse or significant other’s family?
• What traditions do you include in these celebrations?
• What new traditions has your immediate family started or adapted for specific holidays?
• What specific practice or ritual does your family do to mark the inclusion of additional members (new stocking; name added to family tree; birthday added to official family calendar)
• Where do you go for specific holidays or celebrations?
• Where do you stay during specific holidays or celebrations (favorite B&B for anniversary; in-laws for Thanksgiving; rent campground space) ?
• Who in your extended family acts as the event planner and coordinates everything?
• How does your family keep track of birthdays or family plans (blog, newsletter, calendar)?
• What type of foods are created especially for each event?
• Who is famously known for their yummy recipe, their great decorating, or their pretty family snapshots?
• How does your family exchange gifts? Do you buy for everyone or draw names? Is there a white elephant or dirty Santa game?
• What one thing do you always include in your celebrations (singing, silly portraits, buffet dinner)?
• What do you do differently if your family cannot attend the larger family event?
• What would you miss if you didn’t do on a specific holiday?
• What is your favorite celebration to date?
• How does your family commemorate the events of the past (scrapbooks, home movies, online gallery)?
• How has technology changed some of your family holiday traditions?
• How do you keep in touch with long distance family and friends during holidays?
• What new traditions have you begun incorporating into your celebrations as the children, nephews, and nieces get older (volunteer at a food bank; take a family ski trip; have a cookie baking party) ?
• What changes in your holiday celebrations have been made due to births/deaths, job transfers/promotions, marriages/divorces, and geographic limitations?
• If you could add one new custom to your events, what would it be?
• Who all participates in your celebrations and what roles do they play?
• Which holiday is the most important in your family? What do you do to reinforce the importance and celebrate that fact?
• What do you enjoy most about your family events?
• What special plans do you have for future holidays or celebrations?

Please post links to your completed pieces in the comments. I look forward to seeing what you make!

 

The Art of Joyful Living – Week 16

To join in the fun, read how The Art of Joyful Living works in this post.

Week 16 Theme: Odd Facts About You

Use any or all of the following in your project:

• What is your first memory?
• If money were no object, what one silly, just-for-fun thing would you buy?
• If you had the technology or know-how, what gadget would you invent?
• What odd food combination do you enjoy to eat?
• If Wonderwoman and Catwoman were to fight, who would win and why?
• What section of the paper or news website do you read first?
• What game does your family avoid playing with you because you are just that good?
• What are your top five all time favorite movies, books, authors, artists, musicians, and athletes?
• If you could invite one person to spend the weekend with anywhere in the world, who would you invite and where would you go?
• What indulgence do you hide from your family (secret stash of dark chocolate; closet reader of romance novels; privately practice ballroom dancing)?
• If you were a super hero, what would your name be? What would your special powers be? What would your costume look like? Who would your sidekick be? Who would be your arch nemesis? What would be your weakness?
• What are the quirky habits about you that make you special?
• What is your favorite snack?
• Where do you want to retire?
• What makes you blush?
• What should the title of your biography be? How would you separate the sections or chapters? Who would be the other major characters?
• What was your nickname as a child or teenager and how did you get it?
• If you could bookmark three websites on the internet, which sites would you choose?
• What would be the “perfect day”?
• As a child, where did you hide things (diary, found treasures, money)?
• What is your favorite midnight snack?
• How would you rather spend your money and why: On a new car, a new camera, or new shoes?
• What is the funniest thing you have ever seen?
• What reality show would you like to be on or what reality show should be designed around you?
• What do you always carry with you no matter where you go?
• Where and what do you dream about?
• What do you always say when answering the phone? What do you say when hanging up What do you say when arriving somewhere or greeting guests? What do you say when it is time to leave?

Please post links to your completed pieces in the comments. I look forward to seeing what you make!

 

Limited Time Only: Very Merry Word Art Special

Click on over to Scrap Girls to download my Very Merry Word Art Special as it will only be available for brief time. I created it to coordinate with my Very Merry Collection Biggie, and this png digital scrapbooking element will be the ideal finishing touch to your Christmas themed layouts—particularly those featuring adorable, read: ornery, little ones.

Watch for the post of the sample layout I made with this piece; it’s one of my holiday favorites.