January 2009 Inspiration - Patience

Here's the inspiration for the January kit. Feel free to come on by Scrapbooking from the Inside Out's MB and Gallery and keep posting LOs on the topic of patience...we'd love to see them!

Journaling Prompts:

Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Many of life’s victories are achieved not in great bursts of glory, but step by step. How do you experience the difference between process and outcome? Do you find yourself keeping a steady pace in your pursuits, or dashing for the finish line? Is there someone in your life who exemplifies a quiet patience or a brash lack of patience – someone whom you would emulate or from whom you would differentiate yourself?

Just Wait and See: There’s so much in life we can’t control. It’s hard to wait for the results of certain events or investments we make. How much do you worry about the outcome of what you do? Are you able to let things go and release them to the universe or god, or do you watch and wait carefully as things progress? Do you find yourself thinking about things you could have done or should have done differently?

Music - Click on 'Pop-Out Player' to load and play:

Quotes:

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake. Victor Hugo

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew. Saint Francis de Sales

Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius. Comte de Buffon

Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind. Leonardo da Vinci

Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success. Brian Adams

It is very strange that the years teach us patience - that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting. Elizabeth Taylor

How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success? Elbert Hubbard

How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees. William Shakespeare

Patience is the companion of wisdom. Saint Augustine

Patience is the greatest of all virtues. Cato the Elder

He that can have patience can have what he will. Benjamin Franklin

With love and patience, nothing is impossible. Daisaku Ikeda

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it. Unknown

Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. Plato

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. Chinese Proverb

With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown. Chinese Proverb

A man is not old until his regrets take the place of his dreams. - Yiddish Proverb

Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence. Unknown

Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly ever acquire the skill to do difficult things easily. Author Unknown

Patience is the key to content. Mahomet

There are times when God asks nothing of his children except silence, patience and tears. C. S. Robinson

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Aristotle

It is not necessary for all men to be great in action. The greatest and sublimest power is simple patience. Horace Bushnell

There are two main human sins from which all the others derive: impatience and indolence. It was because of impatience that they were expelled from Paradise, it is because of indolence that they do not return. Yet perhaps there is only one major sin: impatience. Because of impatience they were expelled, because of impatience they do not return. Franz Kafka

Whoever is out of patience is out of possession of his soul. Men must not turn into bees, and kill themselves in stinging others. Sir Francis Bacon

If something anticipated arrives too late it finds us numb, wrung out from waiting, and we feel - nothing at all. The best things arrive on time. Dorothy Gilman

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. Anne Frank

Wait for that wisest of all counselors, Time. Pericles

Until the day when God shall deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words,--'Wait and hope'. Alexandre Dumas

Between the wish and the thing life lies waiting. Unknown

The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit. Moliere

I began to have an idea of my life, not as the slow shaping of achievement to fit my preconceived purposes, but as the gradual discovery and growth of a purpose which I did not know. Joanna Field

Slow and steady wins the race. Aesop

Links:
Developing Patience
How to Develop Patience
Tips on How to Develop Patience
Developing Patience in Your Children
Why Patience is Important in Life

The CHAllenge of Singing Your Own Song

There's SO much to see at CHA, it can be overwhelming...we actually had to take breaks just to clear our eyes and get ready to see more. I was imagining my mind as an etch-a-sketch - had to mentally 'shake my head' once in a while and erase to make room for something new.


As I walked the aisles and aisles of product, I was reminded that there are so many kinds of scrapbookers out there - and that all kinds of scrapbooking are valuable, creative and meaningful. So how do we choose what goes into Scrapbooking from the Inside Out's kits?

There are a lot of kit clubs out there. What I wanted to create was something that would inspire and challenge - artistically and emotionally. There are lots of pretty products...and kits that focus on finding the most coordinated pretty things they can offer. That's great!

My goal is different - to offer kits that have a core 'intention'. I look for design, color, icons and a 'feeling' - I want to be truly inspired by products to explore a part of myself. It was so much fun to have Nancy and Paige with me to search for the right things with that frame of mind...three heads ARE better than one!

It occured to me that creating a kit (and a business) is a lot like writing a song. You have a melody in your mind, a lyric in your soul, which springs from your own life experience and your essential uniqueness. You could write the song that you think will sell best, or you could write the song that expresses your heart. SFTIO is my song...


We may never be the biggest kit club and community, but I know that we are accomplishing something together that has great meaning. I feel so blessed and so fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in some small way in you choosing to be totally yourself when you scrapbook. If one person's life has been opened up in some way, if some measure of comfort, support and encouragement is taking place, then I am doing my job right.

Thank you for continuing to evolve with me on this journey...I am grateful.


The February kit is about to land. Make sure to join us Sunday morning for the launch of COMPASSION...it won't be the same without you!

Everybody Loves to CHA CHA CHA

California, Arizona and Colorado...different walks of life:

Anyone care to venture a guess as to whose foot is whose?

Do we look tired? We are...but so happy to be together!

CHA secrets? We can't say. Or hear or see. Just kidding. We'll tell you EVERYTHING!

Spent the evening at Disney after walking the show floor all day. If we could, we'd unscrew our feet at the ankles. But it really was magical to be in the park at night, sandwiched between my two friends, one of whom was visiting Disney for the first time, the other who is the Queen of Disney. I was the beneficiary of the wisdom and the wonder!

More tomorrow...tired...MWAH!

February Sneak Peek from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out

COMPASSION.

This is our beautiful February kit, all about getting in touch with compassion for ourselves and for others, as well as the larger world around us.

This is about the heart, the soul and spirit...we can't wait to share the rest of the kit with you February 1st...

In the meantime, please come visit the site. We look forward to seeing you there.

Stay tuned for reports from CHA, starting tomorrow!

Exciting Days Ahead - and Our Winner!

Tomorrow afternoon we're on our way to find the best and most meaningful scrapbook supplies at CHA. Can't wait!

Paige, Nancy and I will be posting once a day from the show with pictures of the goodies we see and stories to share. We're really looking forward to your comments and feedback.

And make sure you read my blog AND go to Scrapbooking from the Inside Out during CHA - we'll be playing games and having giveaways to celebrate this most important Scrapbooker's holiday!

Here are some of my favorite moments from the summer 2008 show:

See a trend? I love to be inspired by women of depth - Renee, Melody and Ali are artists and businesswomen I admire for their connection to the meaningful in life and helping people access it.

Congrats to Veronica for winning the Inside Out mini kit for guessing the sneaks I posted last time...Veronica, please email me your snail mail address at rachinla@aol.com and I'll get your goodies out to ya right after the show.

Hugs, everyone, and see you at/from the show!

CHA, Here We Come: Passion and Vision

In just a couple of days, my amazing colleagues (and friends), Paige and Nancy will be joining me for a wonderful journey to the center of the earth...better known as the Craft and Hobby Association's Winter Trade Show.

CHA is a great time for many reasons - not the least of which is its main purpose - to see and feel all the new products that are available to the craft world so we can choose what we'll be including in our future kits

It's also a great chance to connect with others in our industry - artists, designers, and other retailers.

For both those reasons, I'm REALLY excited about next week. There's so much inspiration available in the form of media, texture, color, design, and even in displays. And for me, being around inspired people is very uplifting. Not because they're 'celebrities', but because I love to understand the heart and soul of passion and vision - whether regarding businesses that are about being of service, or creating art, since I cherish both.

My goal is to use my time at CHA to grow in my ability to infuse our kits, our site and our community with passion and vision, about ourselves, scrapbooking and the world around us.

Here are a few things (and I mean JUST a few...too many to share right this second) we've already seen online that we're excited about...

More to share soon, including pics and our reports from CHA, hilarious photos of what you know will be some crazy adventures, and the sneak of Scrapbooking from the Inside Out's February kit...stay tuned!

Let's see if you've been out there scouting sneaks...if you can identify the 4 lines or items above by manufacturer and line or item name, please comment with your response. The first person to guess all 4 correctly will win a mini-kit from Inside Out! Have fun...

Haaaave you met the NEW Inside Out Design Team?

Here are some of their fantastic projects with the January kit, PATIENCE. How incredible are these?

These ladies (in no particular order...this is how the photos uploaded) are the epitome of art and heart...just what Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is all about.

Nicola Booth:













Nancy Doren (Design Team Coordinator):













Laura Croft:













Anam Stubbington:













I am so blessed to have these talented artists on my team. They inspire me - and I hope they will inspire you too!

It's not too late to join us to explore PATIENCE...come on by and play. We have some great challenges going on right now. You don't need a kit to play along, but if you buy a kit, you'll be eligible for fantastic prizes...click here for more info.

Challenge #1 for January: Wait For It/Punctuation

Is there something you're waiting for (or waiting on for your southerners )? Or have you been through the experience of waiting for something (or someone) to come your way? Please create a layout about waiting...past, present or future.

For the design twist, please include punctuation of some sort in a creative way...maybe time to break out those brackets from the last few years! And you know I'm a fan of the ellipsis...(...)

Here's a fun read on punctuation and typography you get you started:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuation

To add your layout for this challenge, come on by Scrapbooking from the Inside Out's message board and show us what you've got!

One Little Word for 2009

My word for 2009 is SAFE. While I venture out into new territory in business and life in 2009, I want to hold the intention that all is well, that I am safe, secure and on my path as I move through the world.



Can one little word make a difference? I think so. I'm grateful to Ali Edwards for reminding her readers, many of them in the Scrapbook world, that what you put your attention on is what your reality is. I don't mean that in the 'Secret' way (no offense though if that's your thing). I mean that so much of how we experience life is about how we frame it (thanks, M, I know, I know).

Like having a personal mission statement, having one word to focus on, or use as a touchstone, can be a very powerful thing. I know that I will check in with my word when things get complicated. I will use it to remind me that things are going well when I'm being too tough on myself.

As scrapbookers, we know that language matters. One of the reasons I love this art form is that it allows us to combine words, photos and visual design to tell our story. And what I love the most about Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is that we use a word that describes a feeling as our way of getting started each month.

At Inside Out, each of us doesn't only have one word, but many. Each month we take on a new word, and explore it from different directions. During our first six months, we've explored Freedom, Confidence, Comfort, Joy, Gratitude, and Regret. This month, we are delving into Patience.

If you love the One Little Word concept, come by Scrapbooking from the Inside Out and join our amazing, supportive community - and get an extra 12 words for 2009 that can help you explore meaning, and that you can share with other thoughtful, caring artists and crafters. I look forward to seeing you there!

Effort and Patience

While I'm still mulling over my 'one little word' for the year (thanks, Ali Edwards, for the wonderful inspiration) I am really feeling connected to to this month's theme at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out, Patience.

I'm learning that starting a new endeavor like Inside Out requires a delicate balance of effort and patience. You can put your heart and soul into it, but then you need to let go of your expectations, your need for certain 'outcomes' or the speed at which things move. Business, and life, has its own rhythm and flow. So I'm practicing moving with the stream and trusting that all will continue to grow and flourish...

I'm so excited about our plans for the coming year. We're debuting our first Inside Out exclusive product with the February kit (designed by the wonderful Nancy Doren) and planning for more products. We will be launching a program to work with Art Therapists to provide scrapooking kits for use with clients. We'll be working on creating an Inside Out kids club called Square Foot to encourage teen and tween girls (and boys) to express their emotions, thoughts and dreams through our craft. And we're envisioning classes, retreats and hands-on inside-out style programs for scrapbookers and non-scrapbookers alike to expand the use of this uniquely theraputic brand of our art form.

Check out this month's kit and inspiration page to explore patience, and let us know what comes up for you...what do you want to accomplish, and how can you expand your capacity for patience as it unfolds?

Here it is...PATIENCE is a virtue!

So thanks for waiting! Here's our Scrapbooking from the Inside Out kit for January 2009 - PATIENCE.

As a new year begins, and we endeavor to shed the past and embrace the future, what better time to choose to be kind to yourself, to care for yourself, to have PATIENCE.

This kit is wintry and sparkly with amazing glitter, die cut and richly designed paper from My Mind's Eye, Crate and Basic Grey, beautifully textured fibers, Tim Holtz aged metal philosophy tags and Basic Grey's new Chocolate Chip chipboard in two colors.

The PATIENCE kit includes soft, subtle blues, greens and beige with chocolate accents. The designs are of the moment, with open framework grids and stylized nature images. There are brown pearls, crocheted flowers and a gorgeous calendar stamp you'll use over and over...

We'll be working and playing together, creating a plan for the coming year that inspires and encourages us while helping manage our expectations and let us make lasting, meaningful change...join us!

10 Sheets Patterned Paper:

Kaisercraft Reminiscing Recollect (double sided)

Kaisercraft Reminiscing My Love (double sided)

Basic Grey Granola Almond

Basic Grey Granola Trail Mix

Basic Grey Granola Organic

Basic Grey Granola Sunflower

Crate Prudence Consideration (double sided)

Crate Prudence Discretion (double sided)

Crate Prudence Virtue (double sided)

Crate Prudence Fortitude (double sided)

4 Sheets Specialty Paper:

Crate Prudence Charity

Crate Prudence Hope

My Mind's Eye Laundry Line Strength

My Mind's Eye Laundry Line My Boy

Embellishments:

Basic Grey Chocolate Chip Alphas, Delilah Milk, full package

Crate Prudence Twist Alpha Stickers, full package

My Mind's Eye Laundry Line Encourage Journaling Tag, 1 pc

My Mind's Eye Laundry Line Aspire Journaling Tag, 1 pc

Basic Grey Granola Chip Stickers, 1 sheet

Kaisercraft Brown Pearls, full package

Tim Holtz Philosophy Tags, 3 pcs

My Mind's Eye Laundry Line Crocheted Flowers, Natural, full package

American Crafts Boutique Noir 3 Ribbon, ½ yd

American Crafts Boutique Moss 6 Ribbon, 1/2 yd

Basic Grey Granola Fibers, 2 yds assorted

Cardstock:

Coredinations Cardstock – Reflecting Pool

Coredinations Cardstock – Vienna Lake

Coredinations Cardstock – Coconut Cream

Coredinations Cardstock –Sandstone

Coredinations Cardstock – Olive

Color:

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stickles, Antique Linen

Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabber, Cloudy Blue

Alterable Item:

Basic Grey Chipboard Album, Lotus Dark Chocolate Chip

Stamp:

Maya Road Singleton Oval Calendar

Contents may vary slightly.

Come on by the site for inspiration you can't find anywhere else - music, quotes, links, and the beautiful work of our NEW design team, led by the fabulous and talented Nancy Doren. Can't wait to see you there! Come join us!