Updates

I wanted to wait to update you all on both Charlie and Mike when I had some solid news rather than scary doctor speculation, so forgive my long absence.

I never did make it to NY to be with my grandson thanks to the American Airlines cancellations of 5000 flights. I sat in the airport for almost 30 hours waiting for someone to not show up for their flight, but it never happened. So I am still in Las Vegas but have a definite flight out on May 7th which I'll hopefully be able to keep. My belief that everything happens for a reason turned out to be true once again, because I was needed here much more as it turned out.

First good news. Little Charlie has made a miraculous recovery from the ingestion of Drano. He was in the hospital for 10 days, there were a few scares along the way but he was eventually released without the feeding tube although still unable to eat solid food. That was the first sign that he may actually make a full recovery since 98% of children with chemical burns need the feeding tube for a month or longer. Yesterday was his follow up endoscopy, and it showed that his little tummy is just fine and dandy, it's just his throat that still has to heal. He's on kiddie Ensure for now and a mashed diet, but the little bugger tries everyday to eat more. He's a tough little boy, that we've always known. :))) He proved this once again on his first day home. Shana said he was absolutely bouncing off the walls when he got home, so they all went to playground to let him run off some steam with Emma and James. Before they had a chance to stop him, he climbed WAY up a rock climbing wall....lol. He's such a minx and I thank God for that!!!

HERE is a little video Shana made from her cell phone of his homecoming, and Emma's joy that she had her dancing partner back. :))) Hopefully this nightmare is finally over, and I hope every single one of you have moved all your cleaning supplies to a place that your kids cannot get to after reading about Charlie's ordeal.

My update on Mike sadly is not as good. His tumor has turned out to be small cell lung cancer which is the most deadly type with a 100% recurrence rate within three years. He was moved to a local cancer center, and chemo was begun within two days. The tumor is 3cm in size and is in the lower half of his right lung, making a needle biopsy dangerous because his lung could have easily collapsed. Everything is complicated by his heart condition so they had to risk it because surgery was too risky. The chemo is causing him to go into renal failure and they're now talking about dialysis as a possibility though they're trying to treat it with medication first of course. He recently lost his mom to this same type of cancer, so it's hitting him very hard I'm afraid.

And me? Well I'm just moving each day on an internal momentum and trying desperately to stay optimistic. Mike too is a fighter, and he swears this will not take him - so I hang onto his courage like a life preserver. My NY trip now that Charlie is out of danger is tentative depending on Mike's progress. His kids are here and are encouraging me to go, my kids are demanding I go....but only time will tell. I know I NEED to see my babies and my daughter needs to see me, but the "what ifs" are tearing me apart. I just hope when the time comes I'll be given the answer.

I can't thank all of you enough for your continued emails and comments left here for me. It gives me so much strength to know that so many wonderful "friends" are thinking of me and mine so often. I miss my online world (and you) like you can't imagine. Creativity just isn't flowing real well right now, and since that has always been my outlet it's very frustrating. This too, shall pass though I'm sure. I'll update you again in a few weeks, and please don't forget about me!!!! In the words of the governor of California - "I'll Be BACK!" ;)

Goodbye for a bit

Friends,

I've had to take a leave of absence from Stone Accents and designing for awhile. My little grandson Charlie (2yrs old) who lives in NY, ingested Drano and is in Intensive Care in a NYC hospital and I'll be leaving as soon as possible. At the same time this happened, a mass was found in my partners lung here in Las Vegas. He's had Hodgekin's Lymphoma twice already and survived, but he has a heart condition now that will complicate any treatments for him.

This is just too difficult a time for me to be working. I hope to only be gone from designing for 6 weeks or so, but only time will tell if that's a reasonable time frame. My store will still be there however and my sale is still going on this month. I'm NOT disappearing, just taking some time for my family and I.

Please say a prayer for both of these very special people, one big and one very tiny.

Just Keep Swimming

If you hadn't heard or read yet, I've had a wee accident and will be on the mend for a few more weeks before I can get back to designing again. I am feeling MUCH better since my last post, and since I'm not spending my days in a pain medication fog anymore.....I trust myself to write. ;) In fact today I began physical therapy and although I'll hurt like crazy later, I'll be glad for it. I just gotta keep swimming.....

Like many of you I'm sure, I just loved the movie "Finding Nemo". I saw it for the first time in NY with my grandson who was about 14 months - so I got to watch it alot. A L O T Dori was my favorite little character in the movie - although each cute little critter was an amazing characterization of everyday people. But Dori - now there is a fish I can relate to. Happy, forgetful, silly, goofy and always ready for the next shoe (or fin) to drop. Halfway through the movie Dori sings a song that has become my mantra - "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming". No matter what happens in life, all you can do is keep on swimming. So here I am.....swimming. Dori, is my hero. ;)

So it's the perfect time to hold one of my monthly blog contests, don't you think???

~~Design Me A Blinkie~~

I cannot design blinkies no matter how hard I try. Consequently, I've had the same blinkies for myself and my Creative Team for almost a year now. So, I'd like you to design them for me. :) The winners of this contest will each receive a coupon good for $5.00 in my store at Stone Accents Studio.

Contest Requirements:

• I would like one blinkie designed for me and one for my Creative Team.
• Both must be animated.
• I must be able to add long names to the one for my CT. One of my ladies goes by the screen name MemoryKeeper, so keep that in mind in your design.
  
• Mine must be similar but yet different to the one for my CT ladies.
  
• Size must be 150 x 50.
• Only my designs (freebie or purchased) can be used in the creation of the blinkie/s for copyright purposes.
• Enter as often as you like for one or both categories (mine or CT) and one person can win both.
• I must be able to add long names to the blinkie designed for my creative team.
• Save your design in your program, but entries sent to me must be in .gif format.
  

How to Enter:

• Send your animated entry/s to me at pspcandee@gmail.com by April 15th, 12M PST.
  
• In the subject line type - Blinkie Contest.
• You can enter as often as you like, or send a few in one email, it's your choice.
• If you don't get a confirmation email from me within a few days, email it again please. Gmail gets hungry sometimes.
  

Winners will be chosen by myself and my team - Kathy, Rose, Jeannette, Jeannie and NOW we've just welcomed aboard Gina, who will be doing my advertising. :))) YAY.

I will announce the winner/s here in the Haven and the ladies will announce it on their Creative Team's blog on April 20th. Two prizes will be awarded - one for my blinkie and one for theirs. You ONLY need to make one for each as I will add their names.

If you have any questions feel free to email me or leave a comment WITH your email addy so I can respond to you.
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So there you have it, I hope you get super creative and have fun designing your entries and I can't WAIT to see them. Hopefully I'll be back in the designer captain's chair by then so keep on sending the healing cyber hugs. :) Stay safe out there my friends....

Girl Interuppted - again

CandeeLand continues to be under a dark, dark cloud folks. Thank you to many of you that have written to me wondering where I've been. I've had a bit of accident and will be out of commission for a bit I'm afraid. My little Debi got underfoot a few weeks ago which introduced my tailbone rather rudely to the corner of my desk - OUCH!!!!!!!! I can't sit at my computer just yet so I designing is out of the question for a bit, I'm on my sweeties laptop at the moment typing on my belly....lol. I'll be ok, I just need some time to heal and then I shall return victoriously. ;)

Again, thanks for the notes folks, you've no idea how flattering it is that you noticed I was missing in action. :))))

CT Appreciation Week - Day Four

I sure hope everyone enjoyed all of the fantastic goodies myself and the SASy Design Team gave you all yesterday. Today, we return once again to celebrating my fabulous Creative Team!! You've already met Kathy, Rose, and Jeanette - and last but certainly not least is Jeannie. Jeannie has also been with me since the beginning of my designing career and she is an extremely talented artist in her own right. She's also become a digi scrap designer herself, and you can find her store at the Digital Scrap Garden. She also creates porcelain dolls and they are BEAUTIFUL!!!! I bought one from her at Christmastime for my DGD Emma. I sent her a few photo's of Emma, and when the doll came I was absolutely awestruck!!! She looked just like my Emma!! Amazing. Jeannie is one of these ladies that have their hats in many arenas, and she juggles it all while maintaining a wonderful, friendly disposition. You can read more about her on her blog, but here is what she had to say to me.

1. Where you live: I live in Guthrie Oklahoma. I moved to Oklahoma when I married my hubby. I grew up in Springfield Mo. It has taken some getting used to but now its ok.

2. Family - hubby's, kids, grandkids, pets? I married my dear hubby in 1986. We have 2 boys, Gene is 19 and Daniel is 15. I tell you I am not old enough to have kids this old, am I? Time goes way to fast. I have to say I am probably the only one that doesn't have pets.

3. When you began scrapping and why: I began scrapping several years ago with stamps then went into scrapping. I stopped for a while then started again. I found digital scrap booking last year when I was working on scanning all of my grandmothers pictures to save them. I love working with the digital. Its fast and if you don't like it, you delete and start over. I still love to do the paper scrapping also and I am still addicted to buying papers.

4. Other hobbies: I have tried so many different things and love them all. I do porcelain doll making, crocheting, knitting. My newest thing is making soap and body products. I am working on a new business with my cousin to do spa parties. It is going to be lots of fun. I really enjoy making the natural products.

See what I mean, this woman NEVER stops!!! lol
Here is her favorite layout that she's made with my designs, and I'm not surprised at all. Jeannie is all about family, and most of her layouts are about hers - past and present. She's got some amazing very old photos of family members (I"m so jealous!!) and that is usually what she scraps about

When deciding what would be a good kit to honor Jeannie (JeannieB in forums), I knew it had to be a family oriented, and somewhat vintage kit to help her scrap her beautiful photos with.

Jeannie's kit is filled with family word charms, which look lovely dangling from a frame or a photo on a layout. Her colors are soft and vintage, and I hope you all enjoy this mini kit dedicated to her. And surely Jeans, I hope you like it. :)

You can download Jeannie's kit HERE

Well this week has sure been a buzzing one here at the Haven hasn't it??? I've had such fun reading your comments and hearing your own CT stories. And let me tell you, this chickie is POOPED from all of the excitement...lol On that note, I'll say ta ta for now and give my poor lil computer a rest for a change. Have a great day, and stay safe my friends.

Happy Spring EVERYONE!!!!!

At 5:45 PM today, March 20th the glorious season of Spring arrives here in the northern hemisphere and I think I echo everyone that lives here while I scream....

WHOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I just LOVE Springtime, it is my absolute favorite time of year. In the southwest USA where I live, the beautiful weather of Spring arrives earlier than most places. It's been in the 70's here for about 3 weeks already and I've been enjoying my new yard immensely lately. I've got most of my flowers planted, the pool is clean and ready for action and the BBQ is ready to be fired up. From my vantage point here at my desk I can watch the earth awaken every minute of the day through my sliding glass door. It's wonderful.

Today I am taking a little break from my CT Appreciation Week festivities to bring you all to a FANTASTIC blog party to celebrate this most precious season's arrival. The SASy Design Team has decided to bring you a delightfully huge Spring mega kit that we are all giving away on our blogs today. Yep, it's a BLOG PARTY and you're all invited!!!! We've created this beautiful Spring themed kit for you, called "Ornamental Spring". If you pick up all of the pieces to the kit you'll have over 250mb of beautiful papers and elements to decorate your scrap layouts. Here is a sample of what you'll be getting today.

To get each part of this kit, you'll have to do a little "Blog Bunny Hop" and visit all of the SASy ladies blogs. Here are the links to everyone that has a part of this kit on their blogs today. Be sure you visit them all and leave a little lovin' to each designer for their goodies. Grab them today because some designers will be taking them down by Friday!!! Be aware that we're all in different parts of the world so some designers may not have their goodies up just yet. But revisit them for sure because it WILL be there.

Darlene's Designs
ToyBoxDesigns
TerrellS
Creative Chaos
Stellarific Creations
BooLand Designs
Beckie Wallace Designs
Phreephorm
JenLin Designs
Skrapper Digitals
Scrappin Happens
AneczkaW

Here is a preview of my part of this glorious kit.
I just love these colors, aren't they perfect for Springtime layouts, or really any layouts!! Looking through all of the goodies you'll be getting has been a blast, there are so many doodles and flourishes which I personally love getting in kits I snag or purchase. I'll tell you, I sure am in very talented company with this scrumptious list of designers.

Addendum 3/21 - I don't know what I was thinking by putting my kit in one zip file but we'll call it Spring Fever lol. I'm so sorry to my dial up friends, so here it is split into 2 lil files for you.
Download HERE and HERE.




And speaking of mega kits,
Stone Accents Studio has just
released it's newest one, . This
is another HUGE delicious kit
that the SASy Designers have put
together for you...Frosted Spring.
Here are some closeups of the kit
for you to see the fabulous details in it. You can purchase this kit for just $6.95 for a limited time in SAS before it goes up to it's regular $9.95 price.

And last but certainly not least, I wanted to remind you that you can still get my kits Shawn Patrick and Yummy Goodness on sale for 50% off until Tues, Mar 25th!!!

Now pop on your long ears and git to bunny blog hopping!!!! Have a GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!

CT Appreciation Week - Day Three

Rose joined my Creative Team when I put out my call when I began designing. She and I seem to be running similar paths, I was on several CT's before I began designing and now Rose is a designer as well. For some silly reason, I feel very proud of her....lol. Like I had something to do with it...hehe. Our styles are completely opposite - as are our lives. But yet we've become trusted "comrades" to one another.

I ADORE the layouts Rose creates with my designs. We once again, both agree that this is our favorite layout she's done.

Leaf Pile. :))



Rose designs under the name Rose McDigital and her work can be found at K-Joi Studio.

Here is what she's had to say when asked.....

1. Where you live - The great city of Austin, Texas. It is really the best place in the world to live (in my opinion). Of course, I didn't realize this until I was an adult. We've been here since 1985. I don't think I will ever move away from here, although it is also known as the allery capital of the world so I suffer daily.

2. Family - hubby's, kids, grandkids, pets? Married to Stephen since September 1999. We have two living children, Hannah and Cayden and two babies in heaven. We also have 3 pets, Pokey and Sparky (both Pomeranians, one black, one white) and Cuddles (our cat).

3. When you began scrapping and why. I've been scrapbooking for several years. I started paper scrapping after Hannah was born. I was introduced to digital scrappin' in 2006 and was hooked immediately. It's so much quicker, easier, and less stressful for me to do it all digitally, not to mention cheaper because I'm not printing the photos beforehand.

4. Other hobbies. I'm a stamper. I make all my own cards, baby announcements, thank you notes, etc. That's my therapy. I also sing and play the guitar. I sang with Hannah on Christmas morning at my mom's church.

The kit I designed for Rose just had to be filled
with roses and their soft colors. Personally I love the red frame in here. I hope you enjoy it....and YOU like it Rose. :))

Download HERE and HERE


I don't know if anyone noticed my teaser ad on the top of the sidebar. Tomorrow is the first day of Spring north of the equator, and the Stone Accents Studio design team has combined efforts for a HUGE surprise tomorrow on our blogs.

Be sure you stop by!!!!

Have an awesome day and stay safe!!!