Ocean Blue In The House! Featuring Michelle Allen ! SPRING IS IN THE AIR!!!

Well, again my life has set me back with the blogs. Hopefully, as I keep saying, things will be more consistent, but I fear , until this basement is done, Im still going to be running two steps back! 

I hope you have seen Tamra’s Graphic 45 Ocean Blue Creation,  Its gorgeous!! AND THERE’S A KIT!! NO WAIT!! THERE ARE THREE KITS TO CHOOSE FROM! I’m a  kit person- I cant help it- I love having all the bibs and bobs at hand , so when I sit down to make something, I don’t have to stop because I missing an embellishment, ribbon, or whatever the designer used to make the project.

 Don't for get about the gorgeous Fruit and Floral Kit! Oh that paper collection! To die for!!!

https://www.countrycraftcreations.com/products/g45-fruit-flora-tutorial-kit-embellishments-only?fbclid=IwAR1vZCMDuBGN4ydyrOgz65Xzr1mZhPg45wHxOCV1xe7r7_ES3Gc63tXSSyI

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Today I highlight our designer Michelle Allen. I asked her to tell me a little about herself.

“I am so excited to be a part of this awesome group! I am married, mother of 3 and grandma to 5. I also have two 15-year old fur babies. I have been crafting since before I remember learning how to craft, thanks to my awesome mother. I love paper crafting, especially making mini albums. I also crochet, knit, sew and cook. When I’m not in my craft room, I am groupie to my husband’s 60-70’s rock and roll band, and we like to ride our Harley Davidson. My favorite tools are the basics...a sharp pair of scissors, an exact-type knife, my bone folder, my scoreboard, my centering ruler, a corner punch and my favorite edge punch. Lastly, excellent quality papers and adhesives. If you have these things you cannot go wrong!

Michelle sent me these beautiful words about her husband and home a couple of months ago when I asked her for pictures of her Christmas Decorations for our blog. (Yep- I’m still working on that by the way)

I'm going to start at the beginning. Twenty-two years ago, I met my husband. We fell in love at first sight, very literally, and were married within the year. Tomorrow, the 5th is actually our anniversary. I have had 22 of the best years of my life with this man. We have three children (his and mine) and we now have 5 grandchildren. Neither one of us ever considered ourselves a stepparent. We believed that we not only married each other but also our children. They ranged in age from 18 to 5 when we met, and are now all grown, out of the house, and two of the three have children of their own. Our first home was a modest home, and all three of our children lived with us in various combination and lengths of time for the 17 years we were in that house. It was small but it was our first home together, and did I mention we were married in that home in front of our Christmas tree and fireplace? So, the years passes, and a couple of years after the last child left the nest, we decided it was time to move. We were expecting our second grandchild, and we started thinking about things like big family get-togethers and sleepovers with grandchildren. We did the opposite of what people usually do...we bought a house twice as big. It was hard for me. He had to convince me it was the right thing to do. After all, we were MARRIED in that house. For me, it was one of the hardest things to have to think about. But, long story short, we found the perfect home. It not only had room to accommodate our hobbies (crafting for me, and music for him) but it had room for grandchildren!! So, we moved. It turned out to be the best decision we have made. Our formal living room is huge, and we have a 12-foot tree, and right front and center is the first ornament we received after we were married. Our love birds have graced our tree for 22 years. We have had some fabulous family gatherings and epic sleepovers. Our family that lives out of town have a place to stay in the new home, which is something that couldn't have been done in the old home. We are truly blessed to have a place to have our gatherings. I will always cherish the memories of our first home and will never forget our wedding day. The Christmas tree is a symbol for me of the love that brought us together and completed my family, and a reminder of the bond that my husband and I have together. There's another tree that is very important to us also, and that is the ceramic tree. My husband's grandmother raised him. She had this tree and when she passed, he was able to keep it. We have had that tree in our home every year and it is the first tree lit when we decorate. She was a wonderful woman who raised an exceptional man, and he misses her every single day. I wish I could have known her. We honor her memory every year by having that tree lit, and it lives in a place where it is the first thing you see when you come into our home.

Did you know she’s a motorcycle mamma!!! A grand motorcycle mamma!!!My initial thought was – omg= how cool is that! Then, I quickly wrote back… ARE YOU CRAZY!! THAT'S SO DANGEROUS!! Here was her awesome response:

“I grew up on motorcycles. My dad rode as long as I can remember. He used to take all of us kids on rides all of the time. There is nothing like being on the bike on a nice country road in great weather. So, relaxing to get “wind therapy”.” I totally get it! BUT IT’S STILL DANGEROUS!!! She goes on to say, “The beach is my favorite place in the world. I love the ocean. I’m so thankful that I live in Oregon, so I am close to the coast, I wish I could.”

I also loved the way she talked about her BEST Friend, who is her crafting buddy.

“My BFF and I are talking about the retreats. Utah is the closest but trying to combine our work schedules is tough. Hopefully in 2021. Her daughter will be in college then so she will be able to go. I don’t know if I’m brave enough to go by myself. She’s the reason I found Country Craft Creations and encouraged me to try out for the design team. I need her to come with me! I’m a baby also about some things. My BFF and I do crafty stuff together all the time. When the scrapbook shows come to our area we always go. For years we did a girl’s week for the Seattle show. SOOO much fun! Two years ago, they didn’t have one, so instead we went to Hawaii!!! Oh, my Gawd!! it was so much fun! We are planning to do it together again next year. But seriously, I want to go to a CCC retreat so bad! Oregon is amazing. From where I live in about 1-2 hours in any direction you can have it all. Ocean, mountains, desert, you name it. The Columbia river is amazing. It’s beautiful here.”  

Well, we all know I totally sympathize with the being a baby thing. I hope she makes it to Utah; I can’t wait to meet her! I also think Oregon would be a gorgeous respite for a retreat!

Ok.. Im off to organize more, move the same things from one place to another, then back again, pick paint colors and fixtures for bathroom and find a very relaxing yoga class to calm my nerves! IM ON MY LAST NERVE WITH THIS HOUSE..... but my little entrance room, the only space neat and clean in my house, and of course my AnnaLee's and bunnies are keeping me from jumping off a bridge!!! !!!!!!

 I hope you are all getting ready to decorate our little dollar store tree with our scraps!

Sending Joy and God's incredible Grace,

Sallie