{ Still Alive }

Kay, I know it’s been AGES since my last post and I would apologize for my absence here but my brother Dino made it known on Sunday how silly he thinks it is for people to apologize for not posting to their blog. SO, I’m not apologizing but I HAVE missed posting and I DO appreciate the fact that there are so many of you that continue to check after weeks and weeks of nothing new here.

Long story short, ‘cuz I have soooo much to post about, I returned from my Chicago weekend (which was SO much fun and I’ll definitely be dedicating a later post to that subject alone) but within 24 hours of getting home & trying to catch up from being gone for 3 days my laptop screen just suddenly went completely grey. Spent WAY too much time on the phone with tech support the entire next week trying to figure out what was wrong with it. Meanwhile, it was completely unusable. Then spent the next two weeks back and forth to the store with it having it sent in to their off-site technicians who replaced everything BUT the part that was diagnosed to have the problem. Finally after 3 weeks of messing with an extended warranty that was anything BUT ‘hassle-free’ as the brochure stated, I walked in last Friday with my laptop (which qualified only as a boat anchor at that point) and walked out with a receipt in hand for this baby… It’s exactly the laptop I would’ve picked out if I could get ANY laptop that they sold (unfortunately they don’t carry mac’s). And on top of that they threw in a new laptop bag and a new 2 year extended warranty INCLUDING accidental damage.

Also, on the bright side, I was able to back up everything from the old laptop in safe mode before it went in for service (unlike last time). And I have now transferred everything to the new one and I’m an even BIGGER fan of the ACDSee organizer because all of my work was not lost. Every single tag is in place and it works beautifully on the new machine. :)

I’m still catching up on emails so if you’ve emailed me I should be getting back to you by the end of the day. I’ve also had to set-up my outlook for my various emails for the store, etc. so if you don’t hear back from me today just holler, I may have missed a few in the transition.

Aside from the computer problems I’ve been busy sewing and getting ready for another craft show this Saturday. I’ve posted some of my favorite bags over on the Eclectic Whimsy blog and I’m offering free shipping on any order placed before midnight November 9th. The new bags all feature Amy Bulter fabric and they’re part of a new line inspired by our last craft show. Check ‘em out! :)

I was also able to finish 2 pages for the Digital Artist Magazine JUST before my laptop bit the dust. The magazine was just released and I honestly don’t know how each issue keeps getting MORE inspiring but it truly truly does. I was blown away by this issue (again!) and it comes with a kit by Kim Hill that has a gorgeous color combo, my new favorite stitches (that I intend to recolor when necessary to use them over and over) and even a gorgeous photo action. This kit alone is worth the $6. AND you have to see the featured photographer section. Unbelievable photos and a great interview. If you pick up a copy (and you’d be crazy not to) check out my LOs in the Thanksgiving LO section and a cute one of little Eva on the Take Four page.

Kay, I have tons more to post about since I’ve been savin’ up for a month but this post is already crazy long so I’ll be back with more in the next day or two I promise. Who knows, maybe I’ll post twice in one day to try and make up for the severe lack of posts. :) Not that I’m apologizing for it though (dino). ;)