Last Monday

Last Monday night was evening Stamp club. Andi, the foot lady, and I worked together on a project for the evening. Andi practices Reflexology. It is a pressure technique that is applied to the appropriate areas of the foot to provide relaxation specific to the individual's stress level.
I designed a foot card using my own little fat foot as the template. It was pretty cute if I do say so myself. Sorry I don't have a picture of it. Two ladies went to the Healing Arts Center that is just 3 doors down from the Artfull Hand. While the rest of us worked on making the card. When those two returned then two others left. We did that until all of us had our feet worked on. It was wonderful. Everyone came back with a smile on their face.
I was worried about the evening as it started out with a big storm blowing through. But in the end we had a great turn out. So much so that I was caught short on parts for the card. That is always a happy accident.

September Newsletter

September 2008 Newsletter
The Artfull Hand
636-239-5995 ~~ artfullhand@sbcgloblal.net

We start on Sept 6 with the ATC Swap at 12:30. The theme is black and white.
Sept 8th is evening stamp club at 7 pm $1.There is a Beginner’s Class at 7 pm on September 10th, $10. Jane is hosting a 3 for $6 on September 11th at 10:30 ONLY. The 3 for $3 card making sessions are being raised to a minimum of $5. A few times we will go a bit higher. The cards have been more elaborate and time consuming of late. I think you would rather pay a little more then go back to simple rubber stamping and card making.
September 13th Star Book Class at 1:00 with Dorothy, $15. This class is a good 2 and half hours long. Bring stamps and embellishments along a theme that you would like to explore. Dorothy will be teaching you the fundamentals of book making which includes the stitching of the signatures. You will be able to root through Dorothy’s stash of stuff to add to your creations. This is the Saturday that the Tour of Missouri is coming through Washington. Last year Fifth St was closed down for a good hour. You will be able to come and go from the back streets. Any questions just call the shop. September 16th Linda’s Butterfly Card Class 7 pm $5. September 19th Dorothy’s 3 for $5 10:30 & 1:30. September 20th Jane’s 3 for $6 10:30 ONLY. Beginner Class $10 at 1:30. September 23rd Bev’s 3 for $5- 7pm.
September 24 Day stamp Club 10:30 & 1:30 $1. September 26th Dorothy Free Make ‘n Take 11-3 pm. September 29th Linda 3 for $5 10:30 & 1:30.
September 3oth Dry Embossing Basics Class 7 pm $10.
There may be a few additions to the calendar later. We will try to update you as soon as the event is scheduled……October 11th is the used stamp sale.

Opps

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. There has been a lot of stuff going on...
First- we took a short trip to NC to visit Baby James, Mike and Sarah. Mike is being deployed to Afghanistan soon and we wanted to see him before he shipped out. On the way to the airport at 4 in the morning we had a flat tire along I-70. We missed the flight and had to reschedule for the next day as there was a large convention trying to get out of St. Louis that day. So our little trip was cut short by one day. None of us were happy about that.
We return and got back into the swing of things around here. It has been busy at the shop and at the vet office I am happy to say. I am behind in several tasks at both places.
Last night was Bev's second 3 for $3 in the evening. We had a good turn out again. She does a wonderful job.
I'm trying to work on September's Calendar. I do know that our used stamp sale will be October 11th. So keep that in mind.

A Warm Hello

Well it certainly has been warm lately. Near or at 100 degrees the last couple of days. With high humidity of course. It wouldn't be Missouri with out that! At any rate, the above card is one I am doing at an evening 3 for $3 on Friday the 8th at 6:30pm. If you would like to attend please RSVP so I know how many to prepare for.

While I am thinking about it I would like to ask that you RSVP for Bev's evening 3 for $3 on August 19th at 7 pm. I may not have asked that in the newsletter. We would like to know so that we aren't caught short on materials or space. Usually you can just wander in for the 3 for$3s but the evening one are new for us and we are still trying to work out the logistics of the whole thing. The last one was very well attended. We wouldn't want to disappoint anyone... Call the shop at 636-239-5995. Hope to see you.

August Newsletter

August 2008 Newsletter ~ The Artfull Hand
Third Anniversary

Well here we are, our third anniversary. What can I say but, “Where has the time flown to?” And…… Thank you to our faithfull customers, old and new! I am happy to report that there are new people still finding us….Word is spreading. Keep on coming. And we will try to stay here for many more years. Here is what we have lined up for the month of August.
August 2nd – ATC Swap 12:30
August 5th - Free Make ‘n Take 11 to 3
August 8th – Dorothy 3 for $3 at 6:30 pm
August 9th – Glitter Class Dorothy 1 pm $10
August 11th – Free Make ‘n Take 11 to 3
Stamp Club 7pm $1 Dahlia Butterfly
August 15 & 16th – OPEN HOUSE - Cake & Drinks – Prizes – Free Make
‘n Take Each Day
August 16th STAMPSCAPES CLASS – 10:30 am $16
August 19th – Bev 3 for $3 7PM
August 20th – Linda – Magic Card $5 10:30 & 1:30
August 21st- Free Make ‘n Take 11 to 3
August 23rd – Jane 3 for $3 10:30 & 1:30
August 25th – Linda 3 for $3 10:30 & 1:30
August 27th Stamp Club – 10:30 & 1:30 $1 Dahlia Butterfly

Bev's 3 for $3

Well we had a great turn out for Bev's 3 for $3 last night. This is another of Bev's cards. With such a good response we'll be doing another 3 for $3 in the evening next month. Carol is doing a free make and take today.
It is the cutest penquin card. I 'll show it to you later.

Christmas Continues

This is one of Bev's cards for her 3 for $3. We are holding it tonight at 7pm for all the poor people who have a day job...which is most of us... Beverly did such a good job on the 3 cards. I'm not going to show you the other two. You'll have to go to the web site or come tonight. We are hoping for a big turn out..... See you there.

I'm Melting

I feel like this poor snowman. It has been soooo hot here in East Central MO. I used to like summer as a kid. But I don't like the heat anymore. I don't like cold either.
The above card was designed by Jane K at the Artfull Hand. I will be doing the class again this month. Check the newsletter to see when. I can't remember right now. The heat has fried my brain.

COOL!

Well if you read the July newsletter you know it is Christmas time around the Artfull Hand. This card looks totally different in person. The whole face of it is cover with sparkling glitter that just doesn't show in the photo. It is a very cool card. Not cool as in 'Cool man!' but as in nice cool temperatures. And so simple to make. It will be one of my 3 for $3 coming up on the 12th. There are so many 'cool' things planned for this month. And even some unannounced make and takes will be happening. You will just have to come by and see what we are up too.

This is a masu box (gift box)that Linda is doing today. The lid is made from one sheet of paper and the bottom is made from another sheet of paper. The flower on top is from one of our new cool punches. And the leaves are an Outline stamp.

Happy Fourth of July- Independence Day

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
I hope you all are enjoying the day.
I had to come to work for a little while but in just a bit I will be heading back home to eat lunch with DH and watch Mel Gibson's The Patriot.
Then I will start working on our bar-b-cue. Baby Back Ribs of course with corn on the cob and potatoe salad. Ice cream for dessert.
The car got fixed to a tune of almost 4 grand....And hubby seems to be mending after his heart surgery Monday last. It is truly amazing what medicine can do these days.
Yes we pay dearly for our insurance coverage. And I am sorry that some people don't have coverage.(Soap box warning) But Socialize medicine IS NOT the way to go. If we had socialized medicine I am sure that DH would still be on meds and suffering the afib attacks. Which eventually would lead to a stroke if left untreated. Then the Socialized medicine would step in and treat his initial stroke but then would leave him with 6 weeks of re-hab regardless. After that it is too-bad / soo sad.
The world still comes here for medical treatment. Yes there are exceptions. There are always exceptions. But for the most part they come to the good ole US of A to get treated and healed.
Part of my high medical insurance premiums goes to pay for the un-insured. Yes we could lower health costs across the board if we didn't pay for the uninsured. Don't make the hospitals and doctors take in the uninsured. That lowers their overhead making them more profitable.
But that is not who we are. Who we have grown to be. We take care of our own and then help the world. Lately it seems that our government has been taking care of the world first then the people of the United States. It is time that - that is reversed. Because if we fall and are unable to get up, who will take care of the world? The French? The Germans? THE SAUDIs?????? Get real.(Okay soap box warning has concluded.)
I thank God that I am an American, as the song goes. I live in an age of miracles.
I thank God that I am an American. Me! I! Silly gooffy Pokiedottie can open an stamp store. Yes it can be a pain in the butt doing all the paper work, paying all the taxes, jumping through the government hoops. But I CAN DO IT!
Remember what today really means. Read some history. Some real history. Not the politically correct crap that is taught today. And then be THANKFULL. (and that is with two Ls intentionally- Sarah!)

July 2008 Newsletter

The Artfull Hand July '08 Newsletter
It’s Christmas in July

During the month of July all Christmas stamps will be 20% off. All other holiday stamps will be 15%. All the classes, make ‘n takes and 3 for $3s will be Christmas related…..

The ATC swap will be July 5th at 12:30.
July 10th Free make ‘n take with Jane 11-3
July 11th Melting snowman card class 11:00 $4
July 12th Dorothy 3 for $3
July14th night time stamp club 7pm $1
July 15th Linda 3 for $3 10:30 & 1:30
July 17th Free make ‘n take Jane 11-3
July 18th Free make ‘n take Dorothy 11-3
July 19th Chickadee Card class 10:30 $5
July 19th Melting snowman card class 1:00 $4
July 22 BEV 3for $3 at SEVEN PM
July 23 Free make ‘n take Carol 11-3
July 25th Snowman Shaker card $8 10:30 and 1:30
July 26th Tree Card Class 10:30 $7
July 28th 3 for $3 Salli 10:30 & 1:30
July 30th Day Stamp Club 10:30 & 1:30 $1

Summertime snow man

This is one of the cards we will be doing in July. Isn't it adorable? We have the snowman in stock but for the life of me right now can't remember what company he is from. The word summer is from Hero Arts and it is no longer available. The card was designed by Jane. I will be doing it sometime in July. I haven't completed the month's schedule yet. So you will just have to check back for updates.
The web site is still under construction but I will have some updates there.
The new one will be fanstastic when we get it going.....

My word

Where does the time fly to? It's almost the end of June. Since my last post I hit a rough patch. The transmission in my Ford Explorer decided to shoot craps... The car only has 65,000+ miles on it. Luckily it decided to have a melt down locally and not on the trip to Collinsville, IL! But still the repair hurt the pocket book severely in this time of tight money. Ouch!
And next week husband goes into hospital for some heart surgery, not the usual roto-rooter stuff. He has an arrhythmia and it now needs to be corrected surgically.
I'm trying to get July newsletter and projects done ASAP. Right now what I can tell you is that we are having Christmas in July. Everything we will be doing is Christmas related. On top of that - ALL Christmas stamps will be on sale at 20% off. All other holiday stamps like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Father's - Mother's Day -oh and let's not forget Valentine's Day 15% off! So come and see us and start those Christmas Cards early this year! Ya- Right!!!

Stamp Convention

This past week-end was the stamp convention in Collinsville, IL. It was a tiring week-end but an enjoyable one.
I brought home stamps from Impression Obsession, Rubberstamp Tapestry, Stamping Sensation, Stamp Camp and Lost Coast Designs. I also bought brads and eyelets from the Quicklet People.
As Jane, Carol and I were pricing the new stamps on Monday the UPS man brought us a box from 100 Proof Press. Then today, Linda and I were finishing up the stamps from the convention and the UPS man stops by again this time with two boxes, one from Stampers Anonymous and the other was from Inkadinkado....We are bursting at the seams with rubber!!! If we do burst we'll bounce with all this rubber.
Come by and peruse all the new stamps, mounted and unmounted....

New stuff

We are getting in all kinds of new stuff at the Artfull Hand, stamps, embossing powders, papers and sparkly stuff. Besides filling special requests we are preparing for our Christmas in July. So there is alot of sparkly stuff, gold and silver.
Of course we have guy stuff for Father's Day as well as flowers and flags. HHhhhmmm that make me think of the little star book I made a while ago. It was called My little book of 'F' words.
And speaking of new stuff..... The web site is under going a make-over. In just a few days it will have a whole new look. I will be sure to let you know when it is up and running.....Hope to see you soon.

Artist's Trading Cards

These are the 3 Free ATCs(Artist's Trading Cards) that Carol is doing today, June 4th from 11 to 3 pm.
If you are not familiar with Artist's Trading Cards they are little pieces of art that people trade and collect much like baseball trading cards.
We have an ATC swap every month at the Artfull Hand. The theme for June's swap is SouthWest. The theme is up to the individual's interpretation. A few of the themes we've have had this year so far were....'In the Beginning', 'Frogs' and 'Flower Power'. Coming up some of the themes will be 'Black & White', 'Monsters' and 'Games'. The only two rules are 1. Each ATC MUST be 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"; 2. They must be traded not sold. Other then that anything goes..... In my collection ( I now have 7- 3 ring binders FULL) I have fabric, wood, leather, glass, metal and of course ATCs made from paper. Why don't you come and play with us..? It is a lot of fun....

June 2008 Newsletter

ARTFULL HAND NEWSLETTER
June 2008

June 4th –ATC Make ‘n Take –Carol – 11:00 to 3:00pm
June 7th & 8th Collinsville Rubberstamp Convention- Carpooling from the Artfull Hand. Call shop for details, 636-239-5995
June 9th – Night Stamp Club 7pm $1
June11 – Make ‘ n Take – Linda – 11:00 to 3:00pm
June 12th - Waterfall Card Class – Jane, $7 10:30 am
June 14th ATC SWAP- 12:30 DATE CHANGED BECAUSE OF LAST WEEK’S CONVENTION, Theme SouthWest.
June 14th- Waterfall Card Class – Jane, $7 2:00 pm
June 17th - Sally’s 3 for $3 10:30 & 1:30
June 19th- Beginner Drawing Class (Ages 10 and up) Jane 1:30 $20 for 2 hour class, Plus supplies.
June 21st – Dorothy’s 3 for $3, 1:30 Only
June 23rd – Punch Daisy Card Class- Linda $5 1:30
June 24th – Beginning Stamping Class – Dorothy- 6:30 pm $5
June 25th – Day Stamp Club 10:30 & 1:30 $1
June 27th – Shaker Card Class – Dorothy- 11:00 $10
June 28th – Beginning Stamping Class – Dorothy – 1:30 $5
June 30th – Linda’s 3 for $3 10:30 & 1:30

COMING

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Flying By Part Two

Geez I just realized that I haven't posted since the 15th of May and it is all ready June!!!!! The days are just melting in to one another. Speaking of melting our temperatures here in Missouri have gotten hot. The last couple of days we've been in the low 90's. So there is some melting and perspiring going on.....
Baby James came for a short visit a week ago. That is one reason I hadn't posted. I was busy playing with him.
My web site is being re-designed by Sarah the daughter-in-law. So in a little while you will see current pictures of Baby James as he will be my customer relations agent. Since the web site isn't current I will post the June news letter here.

Flying By

Where do the days fly to? Life seems so busy. And what do we accomplish on a daily basis. If you are like me you are lucky to get a load of laundry done or the dish washer unloaded.
I've been working on the calendar for June. I do know there will be another stampscapes class offered just haven't nailed down a date. Jane and I are talking about offering drawing classes. I would love to teach them but don't have the time. Jane is very talented and a good teacher. I'll let you know what we come up with.
I also have large orders placed with two of my general merchandise suppliers. Geez - I didn't realize that I was out of soooo much 'stuff'!
At stamp club Monday night I had a nice compliment. One of my customers had been to the JoAnn's Store on Manchester Road over in St. Louis County. The Artfull Hand came up as a topic of conversation. The clerk at JoAnn's just raved about the Artfull Hand. She said that it was the BEST store in the whole area!!!!! How about that??????

May Day

I really wanted to post on May 1st but stuff just got in the way.
Happy May Day anyway!!!
May is going to be a busy month around the Artfull Hand. Check out the newsletter on the web site www.artfullhand.com.
May is also birthday month around AH. We have several regular customers who have birthdays this month. And even our own Beverly has a birthday this month.
But don't feel too sorry for her as she is abandoning us in a few days to go to Hawaii.....She better send a postcard.
And of course Mother's Day is this month.... Don't know what to get Mom??? Stop by and check out our hand made items like our felted purses and jewelry. There are several nice paintings on the wall that are available for sale too. At the very least we will help you make a Mother's Day card for dear ole mum. Come see us soon.