Nothing beats....

....A gentle nudge from the nose of a familiar furry friend.

Love at first sight!

CHA Summer 2010 sneaks have been coming thick and fast over the past couple of weeks!  There are so many new lines that I have fallen in love with, but several new releases have particularly caught my eye (and have duly been added to my already extensive wish list!).  

Togetherness is by far my favourite new release from Cosmo Cricket.  Love those patterned papers!  And I'm so excited about their new line of stamps.  

There were fewer sneaks of Cosmo Cricket's Wanted collection, but I thought these chipboard stickers were awesome when I first saw them...with their rugged theme, I think they would be perfect for card making (masculine cards are so much harder to create and embellish!). 

I've developed a bit of an obsession with Tim Holtz products lately.  It started with his Distress Ink Pads and cemented itself with the Tim Holtz Alterations embossing folders (which are currently on sale at Craft Obsessions if you're a fan!).  It looks as though my obsession is only set to continue with the arrival of his seasonal paper collection and those amazing license plate salvage stickers.   

 

October Afternoon is one of my favourite manufacturers at the moment.  Although Seaside is a themed collection, it looks as though it has a lot of practical applications as well.  It reminds me (just a little bit) of On Holiday by the Girls' Paperie, which I am currently hoarding in great quantities!

These printed tags for the Dear Lizzy Enchanted and Dear Lizzy Christmas collections caught my eye immediately...so very pretty and perfect for gifts!  I also LOVE those stamps and the plastic rose brads.

I'm so excited about Studio Calico's Elementary collection.  Each new release from SC is incredible (I can't wait to pick up Documentary during this month's reveal!).  Also, I bought July's Magellan add-on  because I couldn't resist the label stamps that co-ordinate with the Photo Labels punch from EK Success....so I can't wait for the new Label Stamp set to be released!

Before I head off, I just wanted to thank you so very much for your kind comments on my previous post...they did so much to lift my spirits.  There are some difficult months ahead, but I am doing my very best to remain optimistic.  In the meantime, I am so thankful that I have this outlet...I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging over the coming weeks :)

Have a wonderful week!

The road ahead

You never know what hazards lie on the road ahead.  I sat down on Friday night and tried to write a post explaining my prolonged absence...After a frustrating 45 minutes, I gave up. I just couldn't find the right words. 

But then I remembered these apposite words by Joseph Campbell that recently arrived in my inbox, which convey almost exactly the thoughts that have been circulating in my head for the past two weeks.  So, why try to say it any differently?

The one thing that I would add is this...it is frightening how fast and how unexpectedly your life can change.  What is more astonishing, perhaps, is our ability to cope in the face of great adversity.  That, for me, is the most reassuring thought of all.