Good News and Bad News

The bad news is: SIS had to reschedule the webisode till this fall. That is certainly a bummer, because I was really looking forward to meeting that whole group. The idea of a webisode is just fun to me. The good news is: we are definitely going to be in the August issue of Country Woman magazine. As I was checking out my groceries at the local Piggly Wiggly today I noticed they have it in the stands by the register. I had to smile and come to terms with the fact that YES, I am a country woman.

While I haven't learned the fine art of canning veggies, and large animals still scare me, I do love living in the country. My hometown is nicknamed "Doolittle." As I type, my husband and sons are hoeing up the garden and I'm watching a family of Canadian geese out the window that come to vacation in our pond each spring. The city does have a huge draw for this Indianapolis native, but today I'm proud to be a "country woman."

How Cool is THIS??

OK, I probably should wait till Jeanette puts out her announcement about this, but I JUST can't stand it anymore...Petticoat Junction is going to be featured in an upcoming webisode on Scrap In Style TV!!! The SIS gang is coming to Normandy the weekend of May 22nd to scrap, chill, eat, laugh, and film! The extra cool part is that you could be part of this! Keep checking http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/ for details on their contest to join them at PJ for this fun weekend!

Also cool...we are going to be featured in the Aug-Sept. issue of Country Woman magazine. Those awesome photos that Jenna Henderson did really paid off. We're going National Baby!!

Update

It's been forever since I posted. The holidays are past, and new year has begun. So much has been going on in my life! My husband is an elementary school principal and started a new position last summer. His drive that was already long is even longer now and we are contemplating leaving our farm home of 10 years for the city life. Everytime he gets sad about leaving, I keep reminding him that "we are taking the memories with us." They don't stay with the house.

That always makes me think of my scrappers at the Junction. What a service you are doing for your families! I look at the books you all put together and think, "that is such a treasure!" Our lives take us so many different places. That toddler of yours may end up teaching in Japan or your baseball star may be traded to 7 different big league teams around the US, but they will always have the memories you all preserve for them to tie them to home and give them that important sense where they came from. Seeing the time and care that went into your scrapbooks will assure them beyond a doubt that they were loved.

Just one more reason I feel good about Petticoat Junction. Aside from the much needed girl time and belly laughs, you can know that your weekend is not just for you. It's doing something of enduring value for your family.

We MIGHT be in a magazine!

In a recent and never ending attempt to gain exposure for PJ, I sent an email to several magazine editors. Country Woman magazine is very interested in doing a feature, and requested a photo shoot. The fabulous Jenna Henderson of http://www.jhendersonstudios.com/ came out today and yesterday. The group in residence this weekend were such good sports about being primped and posed! Who knows, this could be your big break into modeling girls!!

I cannot wait to see these photos! Jenna does such good work. Keep checking PJ's photo page for the new shots. Also check out Jenna's blog as she might post some there before I actually get my hands on them.

This weekend I also met a super talented scrapper named Barb. She is a scrapaholic with passion! We are going to team up and do some classes at the Junction. You do not want to miss this when we announce it. She is hilarious and has a scrapping resume to impress! Barb also booked her birthday weekend while she was here. What a GREAT idea! How much fun would that be, and what husband is going to say no?? But HONEY, it's for my Birthday!!

Don't know what the deal is, but all of a sudden I got about 6 inquiries for retreats this winter and spring. If you are thinking of booking a weekend, you'd better grab your date now. It looks like they'll be filling up fast! Yippee!

Out with the Old!

Hello all! The house has been empty for a couple of weeks (oh the shame, Normandy is gorgeous right now!) so I've been working on getting rid of my old ebay inventory. I used to sell children's books on ebay and in elementary schools, but there is no way I can keep that up now that I've found my DREAM job!

This past weekend I set up a booth at the Bell Buckle Craft Fair. If you were there, you know it was a BEAUTIFUL weekend! I really enjoyed myself and my mom even showed up to help so I could take a potty break every now and then. And oh yeah, sneak away to shop too!

My favorite booth (besides the $1 jewelry guy) was from a shop in Murfreesboro called Bungalow. It's just opened up on Vine St. and I can't wait to see the actual shop! The owner, Kim is a delight. She had antiques mixed with new vintage style gift items (think bottle brush trees, etc.) I was so smitten with her stuff that I spurged and bought an antique buffet for the dining room at PJ! It's perfect!
Kim is going to pass out PJ flyers at Bungalow for me, yeah!

PJ is empty next weekend too (Sob! Where are you people?) so I am going to try the Nashville Flea Market. I'll be in Wilson Hall. Look for the Dr. Seuss books and the PJ poster. Come say "HI!" Hopefully I'll be able to sell and not shop, but I doubt it. I love the flea market! Have a great week!

If you remodel it, they will come.

No one can know the joy it gives me to see actual scrappers with all their stuff spread out, cropping their little hearts out in the room we worked so many days in this summer, wondering if it would ever be done! Seriously, I get tingles just walking in there! I know Lori's group from Nashville thought I was Nosy Rosey looking over shoulders at all their pages, but I am truly fascinated! It is the coolest thing seeing everyone's families and the love these ladies have for them displayed with wonderful care and creativity on a table in my house that purposed for that very thing. It's just not often you get to see a dream come true in such vivid detail right before your eyes!

What a great bunch of girls! This group came equipped with "Scrapping Mix" cds, and other libations to keep the party rolling. They had done this a time or two together and you could tell! Again, awesome food Ms. Brenda! Apparently I missed out on the "Brenda rolls." You'd better do those again and save me one!

My next group doesn't come till Oct. 3rd, so I guess I've got a couple weeks to work on things like PUBLICITY. If anyone has any media connections of any sort, throw me a bone! So far, we've been in the Shelbyville Times Gazette, and will be in The Tullahoma News "Tempo" magazine September edition too, but I'd love to reach a broader audience. Wish us luck!! Bonnie

PJ's inagural weekend!!

Alright, it's almost a month later and I'm still grinning about the Junction's first group. Sherrie and gang were an awesome first bunch to host! We had our die-hard scrappers up till 3am and our sisters from Maryland just here to visit and see the sights.

By all reports, everybody had a great time! Ms. Brenda, your food was to die for! Thank you so much! Danielle and Sandy gave awesome massage and nail services. Danielle did mani's and pedi's for 12 hours straight! Those fingers and toes looked fabulous and your customers raved about you!

I knew when I drempt this up that I would love this job. As I was sitting around and talking to all these cool new people (while eating my banana creme tiara cake and sipping my coffee) the notion was completely confirmed. I DO love this job! All the months of intense manual labor, complete family neglect, and financial strain were just vague memories while watching the girls have such a good time. That's what we're here for: making new memories while helping you preserve your old ones!

My camera died that weekend, so I only have a couple photos. I'll post more when I can. Thanks to all my Dream Girls, Glamour Girls, Girly Girls and Cowgirls for a great first weekend!!