Ethnic Scrapbooking

Mother's Day

How was your Mother's Day?

Mine was memorable, but not so much in a good way...life with a pre-teen can be pretty miserable, but I did have a few noteworthy surprises on Sunday.  I got a number of e-mail, voice-mail and text messages from family and friends that were very thoughtful.  I got a very beautifully crafted card from Fred...with some genuine thoughts that made me feel really special, thanks Fred.

Jonathan and Leah made really nice cards that made me smile.  Jonathan's is the pop-up one (a new trend in cards on the market), but his was extra special because he went into my scrapbook supply stash and really embellished it up with theme appropriate stickers...love that boy's artistic mind. Leah's card was very specific about who I am and what I like to do and what she doesn't like about me...that was interesting.  Joseph...well he made a card for Daddy.

Women of Color Business Owners

Last week I had the privilege to attend a briefing on Capitol Hill to hear the results of a three year study on Women of Color Business Owners presented by the Center for Women’s Business Research.  I was interested in this two day event for a number of reasons, one, because I am an independent book publisher and two because it’s part of the work I do for my firm’s supplier diversity program.  What I found most fascinating was that these statistics had never been gathered before.  I was a part of history on Capitol Hill that day.  It boggles my kid’s mind that they live in a day in age where we still participate in Black History “firsts.

It was very disheartening to hear that the AVERAGE annual revenue for African-American business owners was only $38,000.

Special thanks to the elected officials that took the time to actually walk down the hall and meet with us personally, Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick and Congressman Mike Honda (totally funny guy)

Hearing the testimony of women of color business owners was very enlightening.  A few threads that I caught throughout the conference was that they were expected to “out perform” other women in terms of proving themselves worthy of credit and capital, they gave up marriages in many cases, they started business that were not far from their former careers.

I was really touched to hear some powerful and moving stories of true grit.  All of the speakers were inspiring.  I especially enjoyed the words of the great-great-granddaughter Madame C.J.Walker.  I was impressed to see how the legacy of Madame Walker was alive right before my eyes, to empower women to start businesses and simultaneously give back to the community.

photo of Carolyn Kilpatrick taken with my iPhone

Fundraising Crop - May 31, 2008

Wanted to let you know that a few seats are still available for a fundraising crop that I am hosting May 31st.

CLICK HERE and visit my new Maryland Events page often.  These are events I'm either promoting or will be attending.

7 Random Facts about Me

I’ve been tagged at least three times in the last month or so to share seven facts about myself. So for this year’s annual tag I’ll share seven things.

1.       I’m a pen junkie – I love writing with pens, felt tips with a slightly rounded tip puts a smile on my face. American Craft pens are my favorite right now, although for work I love the Sanford uniball penJ

2.       I prefer function over form when it comes to furniture.

3.       The next book I’d like to write will be about tea, I hope.

4.       I am known to buy the same cd twice so that I have it in multiple places.

5.       One of the highlights of living in Washington, D.C. has been meeting James and Shirley Dobson on the National Day of Prayer a number of years ago.

6.       I do NOT scrapbook every day. Usually once or twice a month if that.

7.       My goal by the end of the year is to listen to an audio book, You Staying Young

Found People Connected to Culture

Met this family at the Kensington, MD Book Fair.  A Jewish family that adopted a beautiful girl from India, I'll call R.  She was the first visitor to the booth and came back later in the day to make another paper bag album.

Kensington, MD Book Festival 2008

In Maryland this weekend?  Bring the loved ones on over to a Book Festival in Kensington, MD and stop by my booth to make a paper bag album similar to this one <CLICK HERE>

There will be lots to do and see, <CLICK HERE> for more information on the event.

WIN A COPY OF ETHNIC SCRAPBOOKING

Listen to this review <CLICK HERE> of my book by Tiare Smith and find out how you can win a copy!

I'm sharing this layout in honor of the Jewish Passover and Tiare's discussion of black & white photography.

"Leah in Hebrew"...this is one of my most absolutely favorite layouts...she's looking like a Hebrew and she has a Hebrew name...I just love it!

Feliz Cumpleanos!

happy bEARTHday to my sister Candace.  Every item on this page has special significance (that's the pervasive theme through out my book Ethnic Scrapbooking).  My sister is a global trekker, see the little rubber stamped image in the top right corner?  That's of the Great Wall of China...a future destination stop for her, that's why I included it.

She just came back from Tunisia a couple of weeks ago and her next adventure...Scotland in June.

Being Present

Our lives are so busy and can quickly spin out of control.  Last week I was really busy with work but thank God for my Joseph.  He was playing right outside the back door and whispered into the house, "Mommy get the camera, I see the yellow bird again".  I managed to get up to the neighbors fence and get a few shots for him...he was so proud that he didn't scare of the bird.  I was so proud that I didn't just blow him off and showed up in the present and enjoyed the moment.

So that I nurture Joseph's curiosity for nature I bought him a birdfeeder so he can pay even more attention to the wildlife in our yard.

Thank you Joseph for bringing some balance to my life that day.

Family Support

Well here's part of the crew wearing the Leah shirts I made for her meet last week.  They were quite a hit.

I think Joseph summed it up...or should I say thumbed it up.