Happy 2013, muchacha/chos! Are you ready for a little New Year's News? Well, first, lemme show you a little paper-crafty-somethin'-somethin' to get you in the mood:
See that? It's what we in Oklahoma refer to as a 'calendar.' As in, it tells you the days of the week and what-not. And see that shiny, happy image? That particular stamp is the "Happy New Year" a la carte from one of the sweetest companies in stamping, TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS.
Here's a close-up, so you can see how bright and shiny it is - much like the New Year, itself - thanks to a coat of Glossy Accents:
Don't you love? I do. I'm a long-time fan of Taylor VanBruggen (the gal behind the company - she was one of my first 'stamping idols' when I discovered Splitcoaststampers, way back in 2006) and her namesake company, and I think I might even be one of TE's very first customers, way back in the day.
So, imagine my immense thrill - nay, shock! - when Taylor invited me to join her fabulous design team! I was verklempt, speechless, rendered assunder, and practically paralyzed with glee; in short, I was HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY (as Phil on Duck Dynasty would say)! As Taylor is announcing on her blog today, I am one of the newest members of the Baker's Dozens; the other new members of the Dozen include Kerri Michaud, Tammie Edgerton, and Lynnette Kauffman. I'm giddy to be in the company of such talented gals (both new and 'old'), and I'm honored to represent a company that I've been a customer of and have admired for so long. I sincerely hope to do TE proud.
On that note, I've been working my large knuckles1 to the bone of late to have LOTS to show you next week for Taylored Expressions' January Release. It's explosive, dynamic, and extraordinary, to put it in the mildest of terms.
I'll be back soon, with all the cute/sweet/elegant/fun goodness that TE has in store to whet your paper-crafting whistle! In the meantime, why not create your own (say it with me, now) CAL-EN-DAR with these products you can find in the TE webstore:
- Happy New Year a la carte stamp
- 2013 6"x6" Dated Calendar Download
- Frame Your Imagination Vertical Stand
- Copic Markers
- Inkssential Glossy Accents
Footnote:
1. Years ago - November of 2001, to be precise - Sean and I were traveling in Ireland with another couple, Peter and Amy. I really wanted a claddagh ring from Ireland, so Amy and I went into this jewelery store in Dublin to look. I started trying on rings with the the help of a sales lady, but all the ones she showed me were too small. I'm what I would consider a medium-sized gal: 5'7"-ish, and back then, I probably weighed about 125 lbs. (oh, how I wish I still weighed that... New Year's Resolutions, right?) Anyway, in her lovely Irish brogue, the saleslady informed me, "You have such very large knuckles!" Needless to say, I did NOT buy a ring from her! Or from anyone else, for that matter. Instead I found a claddagh charm to put on my charm bracelet (which in no way would draw attention to my FREAKISHLY large knuckles...). I've been a little sensitive about my digits ever since.
YAYAY!!! Welcome sweet Carole!! I have been a long admirer of your work and am so excited to work with you! You are hilarious, sweet, inspiring and an amazing creative artiste!!! Much love and hugs!
Posted by: Sankari | January 03, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Whoo Hoo Carole!! Congrats to you!! Look forward to seeing yoru creatiosn :)
Posted by: Marisa | January 03, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Welcome, welcome, welcome! I'm so excited to have you as part of the TE Team! Just for kicks and giggles I looked up your very first order with us which was 4-5-2008! That was even before I started doing stamps... your order was for ribbon and favor boxes. What a walk down memory lane! I look forward to seeing your creations and making new memories in the year ahead!
Posted by: Taylor | January 03, 2013 at 10:40 AM
Big congrats to you, my friend!!! LOVE the glossy accents on your darling calendar...just the right touch!
Posted by: Amy Rohl | January 03, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Congrats Carole!! You are going to rock the TE world, I just know it. Your calendar (that's what we call it in CO too) is darling! Loves me that Glassy Accents!!
Posted by: Karen Giron | January 03, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Congrats!! Wonderful calendar!
Posted by: Danni | January 03, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Congratulations! I've been a fan of your work for a long time and can't wait to see what you'll come up with for TE :)
Posted by: Cassie T | January 03, 2013 at 01:15 PM
Wow...how did you slip under Taylor's intense background check? Guess she didn't find out about your sudden uncontrollable outbursts and deep affection for the drink. Welp---I love ya anyway! So great to see you on this team--you are gonna be a great addition! Hold on, Taylor! (hee!)
Posted by: Carolyn King | January 03, 2013 at 02:22 PM
Yay!! You + TE = MAHVELOUS!! So happy for you, sweets!! I knew we were twins separated at birth, by the way, the second you mentioned "Duck Dynasty"!! Oh my gosh - my fave show of late! Those people crack me up - and so do you! Can't wait to see you in some days . . . counting the minutes! XOXO
Posted by: Karolyn Loncon | January 03, 2013 at 03:06 PM
Congratulations! How funny that I just posted about you on my blog! If I had known you were making such a large announcement, I would never have mentioned my connection with you. Gotta keep your ego in check! JUST KIDDING! Taylor certainly made the right choice! Cannot wait to see what my QDM creates! Happy New Year and Happy Taylored Expressions to you!
Posted by: Lesa | January 03, 2013 at 04:46 PM
Yay!!!! I {heart} TE!!!! You, my friend, are the perfect addition! Can't wait to see what fantastic creations you have in store for us!
Posted by: Debbie Carriere | January 03, 2013 at 07:30 PM
YIPPPPEEEEEEE! Welcome to our team! I'm so excited to be able to stamp with you and get to know you better! Love your work! Have a happy day! :-)
Posted by: Wanda G (stampcat) | January 04, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Carole, your calendar page is too cute! I love that you used the glossy accents!
But your story about your knuckles moves me to tell YOU a little (and very true) story about small Irish hands (which I have).
1. I have been a tax lawyer for 30 years.
2. Under US tax law, business expenses are allocated to the income the expensed item produces.
3. Some taxpayers - now this is the shocking, rated R part, actually do not like paying their "fair share" of taxes and try to manipulate income and expenses to there is more taxable income in low tax jurisdictions, and less income in high tax jurisdictions.
4. Congress thinks this is a bad thing and economically inefficient, so they periodically enact legislation to foil the tax avoiders, er, those who try to minimize their tax liability.
5. Bausch & Lomb had a factory in Ireland, a lower tax jurisdiction.
6. The IRS asserted the aforementioned legislation (see #4) and argued Bausch & Lomb only had the factory there to avoid taxes and they were allocating too much gain to the Ireland factory where it would be taxed at a lower tax rate than had the income been allocated to the U.S.
7. Here's the important part about Irish knuckles: Bausch & Lomb argued they had the factory in Ireland because Irish women have such small hands.
8. Bausch & Lomb won that case.
9. So you see, Irish women MUST have teeny tiny hands because a US court said so.
Your hands/knuckles are only huge in Ireland where they have freakishly small hands justifying a factory that produces contact lenses. Feel free to find a US store that sells the Claddaugh - they'll have your size and think nothing of it!
This is all true and public record! I could not make this up! And, in fact, my mother never became a concert pianist because her hands were too small!
Thrilled to have you on the TE team, I've long admired your work and having your show it off with TE products is just a bonus for me.
XOXO, Mary (aka, she of the tiny hands!)
Posted by: Queen Mary | January 05, 2013 at 07:49 AM
Congrats!!! You will no doubt bring your trademark humor and COLOR to the team! :)
Happy New Year, my friend!
Posted by: Christina Fischer | January 05, 2013 at 04:34 PM
Congrats on making the Taylored Expressions team! LOVE the calendar... it's amazing! The bright colours and brilliant design are perfect. Thanks for your sweet comment on my 40 things post...
Posted by: Glenda J | January 06, 2013 at 11:36 PM
Ugh...I'm just now getting around to checking out your "first" TE post. Busy, busy, busy! I love your work Carole, and you absolutely crack me up! I can't wait to meet you at CHA!
Posted by: Tammie E | January 07, 2013 at 04:20 PM
Hello Carole! You won´t believe, but yesterday I was watching a movie and in a particular piece of it, they talk about this Claddaugh ring and I thought the meaning of it so lovely, really amazing. And I promise to myself to see about it today on the net, but I completly forgot to make it. So, I was surfing on the net, seeing kraft things I found your blog and stop by to read this specifically post. It is not incredible?!?! I loved your story and that´s why I became your follower. xxx Mon
Posted by: Monica Bramorski | January 09, 2013 at 12:16 PM