triplesee

Hello peeps.

I am sure you have forgotten about me... seeing how I wasn't giving much to this relationship. I will repent.

I have grand goals and they sometimes take over my life...

And now because it has been so long, I am a little shy. Lets just jump...

First... Justin is a rock star.

    My personal rock star. On Monday, December 7th, Justin understood I had a To-Do List as long as my leg... but he also understood I needed a night to not think. So he took me to see Garrison Keillor at Kingsbury Hall.

Laughter is the perfect medicine for stress, and Mr. Keillor knows how to make people laugh.

We even had the opportunity to go back stage to people watch and meet Mr. Keillor. (I think we may be one of the youngest couples to donate KUER... because we were easily the youngest couple at the meet-n-greet .)

We had a few drinks... of hot chocolate, of course...

It was hot... (Justin is going to kill me for posting this picture... hehe.)

But it tasted good.

 

We did get the last photo with Mr. Keillor. (With my iPhone...)

 Not sure who's hair is crazier... Mine or Mr. Keillors... Any votes?

Although, the best part was a lot of this...

Just us.

Being together.

Talking.

It is great being married to your best friend.

Like I said... He is my personal rock star.

The Chalkboard Wall saves my Sanity

I painted one of the wall at Patina with black chalkboard paint.

On Thursday it saved my sanity....

You see, I stress and Thursday wasn't going the way I had planned in my mind... So I de-compressed by playing on the chalkboard wall.

(Getting my hands dirty always makes me feel better.)

(excuse the pictures-from my phone)

First I drew the above image...

Danielle (aka. sister Mini Me) walks in as I finish and says,"Why are you doing those colors?"

"They are Christmas colors."

"OHHHH..." (translation: I think it is really ugly.)

I proceed to erase it ALL.

 

I copy some illustrations on the calendar by the amazing  Mufin. (I figure I can't go wrong with copying a master.)

Justin drops by.... and walks right past...

"Did you notice the chalkboard wall?"

"No." A long stare gets him to back up and take a LONNNNGGGG look.

"Looks good." But is voice says, shoulder shrug not impressed.

"I did this first." Showing him the first picture.

"WOW. I really like that!"

Did I say the chalkboard wall saved my sanity?

To see amazing chalkboard art go here. Marlene you are amazing!

Three easy steps

1. Remember I have many amazing friends. One of them is named Lyndsey.

2. She is doing something amazing... check it out here.

3. YOU = make/buy a card.

The End.

Reminder to self- See how is easy things are when you break it down into steps...

Bijou Market...

Well peeps... It is the best time of the year... AGAIN.

(I love when good things happen three times a year. Can I get anyone else to help with the legislation for Christmas twice a year?)

Emily, Nicole and Rashelle put on one of the best shows in the valley... They have a new location, all the same great artist plus tons more! You can see all the seriously serious coolness here.

Some seriously serious coolness = neato, nifty, AND I WANT THAT! (Serious... now you understand.)

the idea

And he huffed and he puffed. And the wolf blew the house down... Wait. Wrong story.

My story is about me... (as is everything on this blog. I know. A little narcissistic.) My story has me overcoming great odds, climbing mountains, and doing it all while wearing a sexy (but modest) little black dress. But THAT story is still happening...

My now you ask? My now is focused around this building... 

 
This is the home of my latest schemes and dreams. It's name is Patina.

Patina is (or will hopefully soon become) a weekly handmade market where local artists/crafters/creators can gather to sell their creations AND learn from each other.

I had a vision of a community art center. A place for everyone to learn about art... artists and not-yet-artists alike.  But also a place where those artists who would like to support themselves with their creations can do so...

I was given an opportunity and with Justin's help Patina is coming to life. 

Here's the breakdown:

Patina will have a different set of 8-10 artists every week. (This is my favorite part... The cream of crop will be picked. So there will always something new to see. Always a variety in the products offered.)

Patina will be open Wed. - Sat. 11-7.  

Patina will have a class every Thursday starting at 7pm. It will be a minimal cost - just to pay for instruction and product used- so it could even be a fun date night. (Ok maybe this is my favorite part. Classes for everyone and anything...from book binding to sewing to painting. Let us know what you want to learn and we will find someone to teach you.) This also means we are open later on Thursdays ;)

Patina will be located at 200 South Main St. Pleasant Grove, UT in a section of a very cool old house.

AND... Although the inside doesn't look like much right now... I thought I would give you a little tour... (Please don't judge. NOTHING was done in these photos.)

You saw the entrance above.

This is the main room looking back at the door.

This is the Main room looking right. Blah here but we have some great wall/shelf's we have built... And I just picked up the paint for the little curio... Dark Raspberry. Yummy.

The main room looking left. I love the beautiful antique wardrobe we found! The bulky piece next to it is a minty green. The little table next to that is a big question mark... to stay or not to stay... You can also see a hint of the second/class room.

 

Curtains will hide the sink and this table was voted out. Also the wall is now painted with chalkboard paint. (This room looks TINY in this picture. It is a bit larger then it appears.)

And so... My little dream is slowly becoming a reality. You may now understand why I haven't returned emails or phone calls or done anything but this... As you can see there is still TONS of work to do to make this location magical. (We are going for an Anthropologie vibe... and they are crazy good at what they do!)

Come and visit.

We are having a "soft opening" on November 12-14 (meaning we aren't advertising tons yet but there will be artist's creations there to purchase... we just want to make sure everything is running as smoothly as possible). And the grand opening Nov. 18.

I hope to update here a little more regularly.. but you can check out the Patina website for more information. (This too is under construction... please forgive the mess.)

AND let me know what you think... Justin and I would like Patina to be a community based thing... we are open to suggestions and comments- even the nice ones.

EEK!

My friend, Jefra Linn, just posted the photos she took at our sealing. So much talent in those fingers...

 

my favorite... (even if I am not suppose to have favorites)

 

Check the rest out on her blog of awesomeness.

I bet you thought with no job I would be posting on this here blog a lot more...   Yea... Me to. This not having a job thing keeps me busier then have a job. My new little adventure, Patina, is keeping me pretty busy. More on that to come... but it will be worth the wait. (Or so I am telling myself.)

Opportunities

I apologize for the wait on photos from the sealing, the past few weeks have lead to some big changes... The change inspiring my title you ask?!?

On Tuesday it was my one year anniversary of working for American Crafts. Around 4:47(ish), I was asked to join my boss in his office... and was given a blow to the gut (and tear ducts.)

Laid Off/Fired. He wasn't sure the difference... We finally settled on laid off. I was to clean off my desk, hand in my key and here is a check for the rest of the month. You are a friend and this is hard. Thank you.

First. Call Justin. I knew I needed him near me. He just heard me crying on the other end of the phone... panic... Where are you? Can I get to you? What is wrong Nichole? Finally a few words made sense. I will be there in a minute.

Second. I call my dad. He has been laid off before and I wasn't sure of any procedure that should or shouldn't take place. Trying to keep my voice low the story came slowly. It will be ok. Yes the check is ok to take. Do you have vacation time? Ask for that also. (Already taken care of, Thank You AC.) It will be an opportunity. Every time I have been laid off, my life has landed in a better place. My dad, the eternal optimist, helped. He calmed me down and got my mind spinning on the possibilities.

I could then call Justin back and in a much calmer voice ask him to bring some dvds to burn all my photos on to... (It took 6 dvds. I know... put the camera down and slowly walk away.) He was almost there, but being the guy he is he turned around and picked up dvds, and bags to pack the accumulation of the past year.

Just being near Justin (aka. My Rock) helped me refocus. We would be ok. We have been saving for a while now... (for a kid but unemployed is also a good reason.) We will focus on making Cavalcade a success. We we we... I know it will be ok. My Rock will be with me.

We stayed late gathering and cleaning. And now I am here. On my second unemployed day. (The first day I ignored everything... and just enjoyed "a vacation day.") Now on the second day it has hit. It is real.
I am unemployed.

This may not strike you as strange... currently many are unemployed... but from my 18th birthday until a year ago I have had two jobs (+ school off and on.) This is the first time I had a job that left me feeling fulfilled enough to not seek a second job.

I have enjoyed taking life at a breakneck speed. I think I even like a to do list as long as my arm. I know... I am strange. This is my opportunity to play catch up. It might be nice. AND My dad is always right... What a great opportunity! I have the abilities and (if I do say so myself) the talent to make things happen. Most importantly I have My Rock. He will support me... AND we have dreams.

So here is to the future and here is to possibilities. WE are coming to get you.

Hide and Go Seek

Our Sunday activty.

He is stuck with me.... FOREVER!

(and lucky me... I am happily sealed to him forever.)

more tomorrow...

Work Adventures.

Sometimes we work so hard we have to release stress. I think that is what is happening here....

I think.