Happy 2010!

Happy New Year everyone! Karen and I hope 2010 is the best ever. We are going to make sure Reflections 2010 is the best ever!!!

How Does Katie Watson Spend the Holidays?

What is your favorite part of the holiday season?
Decorating for sure! I love to see how excited the kids get when we bring in the Christmas boxes to be unpacked...they oooh and aaahhhh over every thing as they unpack it.

Do you make homemade presents for people?

Yes, every year. I love giving homemade presents for people. If I had a ton of money I would buy the people I love extravagant gifts that were perfect for them but I don't...so instead of giving them some cheap present...I spend that money on supplies and create something special for them. It means much more to them anyway.


What’s your favorite holiday indulgence?
Drinking Baily's and Hot Chocolate with Christmas Music playing in the background.


What are you hoping to find in your stocking?
New makeup.......it won't happen because Santa has no idea how to buy makeup but if I could have anything, it would be new, department store makeup. All in my colors.



What scrap supplies are you drooling over this season?

The Maya Road Chandelier Beads and October Afternoon's Farm Fresh line.

Be sure to check out Katie's blog and see all the beautiful things she does. AMAZING!!

How Does Kelly Goree Spend the Holidays?

What is your favorite part of the holiday season?
Traditions. Hand down. We have quite a few of them from building a gingerbread house to baking cookies to the Christmas Tree Squirrel (A husband invented concept!) and I look forward to them all year long and the kids do, too! It's what makes the holidays complete for me.

Do you make homemade presents for people?
I'v never really "crafted" presents for people but I often do photographic gifts and absolutely love it. It might be a photo session, photo book, portraits of their kids (or mine) or an art piece that I designed, but it always comes from the heart. I love seeing how they turn out and what my friends and family think of them.

What’s your favorite holiday indulgence?
Mmmm....that's a hard one. When I was a kid it was definitely my grandmother's homemade fudge. It was so rich and packed full of nuts and truly sinful! Now it's more likely to be watching sappy holiday movies night after night and driving my poor husband crazy with them!

What are you hoping to find in your stocking?
A Tamron 18-270mm lens. It'll fit, I've already checked and Santa, I've been a VERY good girl this year!

What scrap supplies are you drooling over this season?
I am really wanting a Cuttlebug. Jen McGuire put it in my head with how incredibly she uses the embossing folders for her gorgeous cards and I. must. have. one. It's next on my scrappy list!

good stuff!

Last night we had a little party at our house and one of my friends brought a hostess gift. After the party was over and we were cleaning up I remembered and ran over to open it. It was the most thoughtful gift- Liz's book! It was especially thoughtful because my friend isn't even a scrapbooker. She remembered I wanted it and went to Barnes and Noble and got it for me. Isn't that sweet?

I was totally tired but I had to take a peek. And then....I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! Total goodness. I'm even more excited that she is coming to teach at Reflections!

Fun girls!

Last week Karen and I got to have some creative fun in Salt Lake City. We were super excited that Elizabeth Karchner agreed to teach at Reflections but after meeting her in person we are even more excited!! She is creative, fun, sweet and just the cutest girl you will ever meet. You are going to LOVE her!!

We were so happy to meet up with Haley from Sassafras Lass. She is such a sweetie and oh so much fun!! Last year Sassafras was such a huge sponsor and so supportive of Reflections. Haley and Rebecca even came to the event! This year we are thrilled to announce that they will be a sponsor again. Don't be surprised if they are sitting next to you in a class either :)

I was practicing my photography skills on Haley. Isn't this picture adorable!?! Love it!

We have people registering from all over the world. Please leave a comment as to where you are coming from. I will have to see if I can figure out how to add one of those maps to the sidebar. We can't wait to meet all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was reading Kelly Goree's blog and just got so inpired. She had the most beautiful Thanksgiving cards. Wouldn't you just love to receive one of these? I know I would!

Reflections 2010!!

We are thrilled to announce the opening of registration for Reflections 2010! It’s so exciting to be opening registration earlier this year because it allows us to offer you an excellent payment option. We’ll explain all those details in just a moment. First, let's go over some of the finer points of Reflections 2010!

We’ve officially secured the dates! Reflections 2010 will be on April 30th – May 2, 2010 with registration beginning on Thursday, April 29, 2010

Here’s the full scoop… During your 3 day extravaganza you will be treated to:

• 3 full days of classes taught by 7 amazing designers
• 3 hour long, technique packed classes
• Breakfast provided - Friday
• Lunch provided - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
• 'Make and takes'
• Isle Carnival
• A special event on Saturday night
• Kick-off Crop Thursday night
• Crop rooms open until midnight on Friday and Saturday
Plus lots and lots of surprises along the way!

The other great news… Our Reflections 2010 Payment Plan!

The pricing for Reflections 2010 is only $459, which includes all the great goodies listed above! You won’t need to pay extra for anything. You get it all! Plus, if you pay in full you will receive an exclusive project designed just for you!

To allow all of you to attend Reflections 2010 we are offing you this amazing payment option. For all new attendees of Reflections the monthly payment works out to only $69 a month! (Pricing reflects billing beginning during October and is prorated thereafter with final payment due at event.)

Now for the news we are most ecstatic about… The line up of teachers we have thus far:

Kelly Goree
Maggie Holmes – (Back by popular demand!)
Elizabeth Kartchner -
Katie Watson -

If you have any questions please contact us at info@reflectionsevent.com
Our main site is in the process of being updated but we couldn't wait any longer to share the news with you!

A Few More Pictures from the Crop

The Fun Continues

It has been so much fun continuing the fun with our Reflections group! This weekend we had a post Reflections crop so people could stay motivated to finish their projects. (Well, it's also a good excuse to get together)

We had an adorable make and take (if you have a picture will you please send it to me?). It was a cute house complete with a picket fence and a flower bed. We used maya mist to make them the color of our choice. Colette got a bit crazy with it ;)







Alex, Diana, Lupita, Aimee, and Annette were all working hard!
















Here's Shannon working on her house.
















And no crop would be complete without some fresh Sprinkles cupcakes!
















Thanks girls for a wonderful day! Star was the first one to arrive and the last to leave. 15 hours of scrappin!!
We can't wait until Reflections 2010!!

All good things must come to an end...

For months we thought the day would never arrive and now it's hard to believe that it's over...

We hope that everyone who attended Reflections this year had as much fun as we had planning and putting it together for you.

There are many things that had to come together to make an event like this successful and we want to make sure that we let everyone know how much we acknowledge and appreciate them.

A big 'Thank You' goes out to...

Our instructors, for all the talent and love for the art they brought with them. This event wouldn't have been the same without their involvement and we can't thank them enough.

Our vendors, who believed in us enough to contribute both their time and product to ensure everyone came away with something special.

The Newport Hyatt, for extending their hospitality to us and for providing a beautiful location for our inaugural event.

And above all - our attendees. We feel honored that you took the time to join us and share in our vision. More than anything, we're grateful that you gave us a chance to contribute something to your love of scrapbooking. Our promise to you is that we'll work tirelessly to make sure that each event outshines the one before.

Finally, we'd like to extend a special thank you to the many "Friends of Reflections" who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make things run smoothly, as well as providing help and support throughout the event.

We are already beginning the plans for next year's event and we're looking forward to seeing you all again and sharing in the fun and excitement of everyone's creative process.

Stay tuned to our blog for updates about our upcoming crop, pictures from this year's event and information about next year's event as we begin to make announcements.

Cheers,
Susan & Karen

23 hours, 49 minutes...and counting!

Oh my goodness! Tomorrow is the big day! We can’t believe it! If you could see the store right now you would all be giddy with excitement! There is so much going on and so many busy hands making it all happen. Thank you to each and everyone of you!
Since we are a day away we want to send a quick note regarding what to bring and how much of it to bring. =)
For the Isle Carnival Make N Take portion you will only need very basic supplies: Tape Adhesive, scissors and a small paper trimmer. That’s it. =) Oh, and a festive, spunky disposition!
For the event if we could keep rolling totes to a minimum that would be great. We suggest your basic tool box and an over the shoulder bag to carry your projects.
Okay, now that we’ve covered that we would like to introduce you to a very special person who will be a vendor at the Isle Carnival.
Here she is to introduce herself – Please be sure to stop by to see her work!
My name is Kathy Simonetta, and I’m seventeen years old. Just you’re typical teen, and by typical I mean typical Jonas-Brother-loving (yes I did say the Jonas Brothers), accident- prone, romantic-at-heart, teenager. I attend Brea Olinda High School and I’m in the eleventh grade. I have one sister who I live with. Despite what it may seem like, my life hasn’t always been this picture perfect. My background and childhood definitely had its ups and downs and so has my present. My mom became really sick and it was my sister who really stepped up and literally supports me now and everything I do, I’m not sure that I’d be anywhere if it wasn’t for her.

Art is something that has consumed my life in such a way that – if I were to be separated from it – I would never, ever be the same; a beautiful side to my personality would wilt, simply die without it. I can say with assurance, that it is the one thing nobody has ever had to correct me on, which is big when most of a kid’s life is spent being told no. If I had to describe what I do I would say my art is very realistic with a symbolic kind of twist, which in a way, contorts its realism. Meaning, that all my art has symbolism in it. I believe in looking at things from as many perspectives as possible; the more obscure, the better. I am beyond amazed at how many people have responded to my pieces being out there.

Never once did I dream that it would ever be as big as it’s getting to be. I will never loose sight of the root and heart of my art, and I promise that I will never take what everyone has given me for granted. My ultimate goal is to impact someone’s life in the same way that my friends and family have impacted me. If I can do that – with art especially – than I will know that I have not wasted my gift.
Thank You to everyone, including my sister, Karen Erickson, my friends, my second family the Sandovals, and everyone who saw my art for what it was, and not my age.

“...those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible...” – unknown

"my intention as an artist is to never let a good idea die. the difference between an artist, of any kind, and a regular person, of the regular kind, is that an artist will never let go of something, and a person will. art feeds on festering emotion” - unknown

sneak peek!

of the cover of the book that we'll be making together in my class! my husband and i are excited to roam around our beautiful hotel with you, snapping away photos and discussing photography along the way! when we get back to the class, i will help you put together this book with some of my favorite supplies!
-hero arts
-bella blvd
-heidi grace
-my little shoebox
-making memories
-cosmo cricket
-creative cafe
let me know if you have any questions! and if you wanted to pop in and answer the little photo post from a few weeks ago, please do, i will still check it :)
thanks!
Jamie

Four Days and Counting....

and I'll be in California! I'm getting so excited to travel to Newport beach, meet everyone, and do a little scrapbooking!

I've had a couple questions about my class projects, so I thought I'd share the answers here in case anyone else was wondering too.

Yes, you could easily complete the layouts without photos if you wanted to save them for an upcoming occasion.

Yes, the designs could easily be converted to 8.5" x 11" size. Or any size!

Any other questions? I'd be glad to help you prepare!

I cropped the photos of my projects a little to share some more peeks.....

Can't wait to meet everyone! Hope these help you decide on photos and get you pumped up to make some fun layouts!

Shannon Tidwell

shannontidwell@mac.com

I am....

"I am...." is the title of the mini album that I will be teaching at Reflections. 

And while I don't want to give it all away right now...

I am.... excited to show you a few more sneak peeks.

And...

I am.... excited to share with you a few of my favorite products/tools that we will be using in my class!

And most of all....

I am.... super excited to be there next week with all of you!! 

We are going to have soooooo much fun!! I can't wait!!

Check..check..

Kits are 99% done...check

Books are "zuttered"....check

Cookies baked...not yet!

Hello Reflections...This time next week,

I will be teaching,

you will be creating and

all will be well.

I officially finished kitting about an hour ago..well, with a few last minute things to do...and I wanted to give a big THANK YOU shout out to Bazzill Basics, EKSuccess/Martha Stewart and Zutter for helping me create such a wonderful project!

I also want to suggest to those of you who can to make sure and join me at the "Get Ready Crop" on Thursday night...In fact, I highly suggest that you do...we will be using LOTS of Glossy Accents on the embellishments for this project, and if you come on Thursday night...then on Friday, they will be all dry and ready to add to your project!!!

see you in FIVE days....

Fun...

Hello. Hello.
Just wanted to drop in here to tell you guys how excited I am that Reflections is less than two weeks away!!! Can you believe the class we've been waiting for for the last year (seems like) is just around the corner?! YAY! It's going to be so much fun I can hardly stand it. :) My projects are done and the anticipation is just building up. So to keep your excitement flowing I have a few sneaks today. I certainly hope you like what you see. I can't stop saying how much fun I had creating the projects for my class. I am thrilled to be able to share how to recreate them.



I've had a few emails about my class theme and the photo strip photos, so I thought it would be best to share a photo of what I did. The theme will be reflecting on ourselves. Make sure your pictures are of you. For more details see THIS POST
Here my example...


And one more sneak just for fun!

Can't wait to meet all of you wonderful ladies!
xoxoxoxo
Mara-May*

Yesterday's Travels

Introducing "Yesterday's Travels", a twelve page mini album devoted to details and a vast array of new techniques and ideas. It's time to get started on "Yesterday's Travels", so take a moment and select the vacation you want to share..the journey will soon begin at Reflections '09. Two weeks and counting....

Artistic Bliss at Reflection's Isle Carnival

We can't believe that in less than two weeks it will be time for Reflections! We are so excited and if the weather is anything like it is this weekend it will be pure BLISS. Speaking of bliss, we wanted to introduct you to Kim Caldwell. She is the owner of Artistic Bliss and she will selling her hand made, one of a kind totes at our Isle Carnival.









She will have a new summer line out and each one is a limited edition. There will only be 6 of each style made. You are going to love them!



You can find out more about them on her website.

We've Found Paradise

Hi Everyone,

The countdown is on and we hope you are as excited as we are for Reflections. We were walking the grounds today and really just felt a sense of peace and total relaxation being at the Hyatt. It is such a beautiful place. We hope everyone will really make it a true getaway and stay there. To make it even more special if you are staying at the hotel we will put you in a drawing to win a complimentary dinner for 2 at Sol Restaurant. We hope that even if you are local you will stay at the hotel and really make it a total get a way. Just think of how relaxed you’ll feel if you don’t go home and feel like you have to do laundry, clean up, make lunches, etc. As an incentive for the local girls we are going to have another RAK for staying at the hotel. If you are staying at the hotel any night you will be entered to win a complimentary Sunday brunch for 2. These certificates do not need to be used at the event so you can bring a loved one back for a special night or afternoon out. We have eaten at the restaurant and the food is delicious!

You don’t need to do a thing to be entered except book a room at the Hyatt. We will cross reference our registration with the room registration.
A special room rate has been negotiated for this event with the Newport Hyatt Regency. To get the event pricing of $139 a night, reserve your room today and enter the following code in the Group/Corportate box: G-SCRI

Sol Restaurant
Crisp, airy décor sets the perfect backdrop for the mouth-watering cuisine offered at our signature restaurant, Sol. Dine al fresco under the stars or start your day soaking up the sun in the solarium style dining room of our Newport Beach CA restaurant. Our menu reflects the eclectic mix of cultures in Southern California using the finest in fresh produce to offer inventive dishes with unexpected twists. Join us for a delectable breakfast, satisfying lunch, superb dinner or sumptuous Sunday Brunch and enjoy a dining experience second-to-none in our very versatile restaurant in Newport Beach, CA.

Sol Restaurant - New Dinner Menu

Sunday Brunch
Indulge yourself with a relaxing weekend brunch. For just $24.95, our top-notch chefs will craft a sweet and savory breakfast buffet of dishes including Cinnamon French Toast or Savory Beef Medallions with Rustico Sauce, and of course, a create-your-own omelet station. Linger all morning – it’s just $5 more for unlimited champagne or mimosas.

Sol Restaurant - New Sunday Brunch Menu

Prix Fixe DiningSavor a delicious three-course feast with our $35 prix fix menu option. Enjoy options with each course, including dishes like Seared Crab Cake with Avocado, Tomato Relish and Red Pepper Aioli, Chilean Sea Bass with Red Beet Risotto and of course, a luscious Warm Molten Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream. Each meal also includes a complimentary glass of our signature Robert Mondavi wine, a Hyatt exclusive blend.