All our bags are packed....

Hello from LAX! We just landed from leg 1 of 3 of our journey and are all excited to get to our destination of Marose, Haiti at 8am tomorrow morning!
Please pray for another 2 safe flights (and some quiet so we can rest throughout the night). Our team has been great and fun and full of smiles so far.....also a lot of laughing at me and Elke but that's to be expected when people aren't used to our generally amusing material and secret languages (yes we have more than one).
Welp, were off to scan the airport for Zefron, Channing, and Amanda Bynes! Also, there has been talk of starting a dance party in the terminal to some GaGa - look for us on YouTube soon!
Love and airplane trail mix,
P and E

PRAYER REQUEST #436

Hello all! I would love to request that any and all of you checking our blog to pray for our last-minute prep for the trip....we leave next Tuesday! With Elke finishing her one last final EVER and me moving, it's been a stressful week but we are both confident that God will grace us with patience and ease as we pack and prepare for a long day of travel to Haiti next Tuesday.

We would also love for you to pray for the other members of our mission group that their prep will go smoothly and for safe travel next week. We love you all and can't wait to share stories.

Just a reminder that the New Generation Blog (see the link to your right) will be updated each day we are away so you can check up on us and pray DAILY!!!!

Love and packing,
Patti and Elke

THANK YOU THANK YOU....

...to all of our lovely friends and family for participating and bidding on our items last week! Here is the list of our lucky winners....

TOM Custom Vinyl - Leslie Roosma $45
TOM crafting kit - Jennifer Smith $20
2 hours of Invitation Design with Elke - Leslie Roosma $45
Photo Walk with Patti - Annie Phare $50
"Welcome Home" Canvas - Stori Robertson $25
Set of 3 Elsie Flannigan canvases - Kim (kimee_42) $30
Custom Wedding Mini-Album - Zach Wurtz $75
Etched Wine Glasses - Jake and Staci Jarvis $25
Custom Scrabble Photo Decor - Liz Kennish $20
Custom T-shirt Vinyl - Mary Rodriguez $15
Studio Calico Kit - Michelle Feil $35

Please email Elke, elkestevens@hotmail.com, to discuss where to send your payment to and how we can deliver your item to you. Also, if your item is a custom one, one of us will be contacting you shortly to discuss how to best personalize your item.

Again, we appreciate all of your bids and all that's left to do now is pray for our preparation and beginning travel plans. We love you all!
P and E

That's all folks!

well. It is that time my friends to end the bidding. Congrats to all our winners (official list and email to follow!) We would like to thank you all so very much for you support!

Personalized Wedding Mini-Book created by Patti (Value $85)

This 6x6 mini-book includes acetate pages, stickers, and your favorite wedding photos in an adorable and unique mini-book. This would make an amazing present for a friend or family member for their wedding (or 1 year anniversary). You just have to hand over some photos, answer a few design preference questions, and Patti will do the rest. (min. bid $45) Want to see more pictures of a similar sample? Visit:
http://treasuryofmemories.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/riddle-of-the-day.html

Set of 3 Canvases with Elsie Flannigan Prints (Value $45)

This set of three canvases feature prints from the popular scrapbooker, Elsie Flannigan. The three designs read: "I (heart) photography, I love music, and I love coffee." They make cute wall hangings together or seperated into different rooms. (min. bid $25)

Personalized Photo Decor Gameboard (value $40)

Looking for a new and creative gift idea? This adorable photo decor piece will be personalized for the lucky winner of this auction item! You hand over the pictures and a few words you want spelled out in tiles and we'll do the rest. (min. bid $20)

**photo courtesy of the lovely Miss Carly Tee (http://www.carlyteephotography.com/) ...gameboard will be slightly different and can have elements added if you so desire!**

Beggining Quilt Class (Value $85)

6-week beginning quilt class with Laura Stevens. This class is sure to be a fabulous beginning to your quilting journey! (class offered through Quality Sew & Vac in Bellingham , and there are multiple date options-- click here for details). (min. bid $40)

Custom Set of Etched Wine Glasses (value $25)

These fun and personal wine glasses make a great gift. You choose the name or saying and we will etch the glasses for you. Just add wine! (min. bid $12)

"Quilting Bee" Studio Calico Kit (Value $40)

Studio Calico is one of Patti and Elke's favorite scrapbooking kit clubs and this kit was featured a few months ago. It includes a ton of cute patterned paper, coordinating cardstock, and lots of fun smaller goodies to make amazing pages in no time (and without all the guess work of what goes with what from your own stash)! (min. bid $20)

http://www.studiocalico.com/

All items will be posted by noon Friday, July 16th

Hello all! Thank you for following our little blog auction....we decided to fast forward the process and post all of the items by noon tomorrow. Look for a couple more tonight and tomorrow morning, choose your favorite and bid away! Also, make sure and tell your friends how fun and exciting our auction is (or how fun and exciting Patti and Elke are....either way....spread the word)!!

Collection Kit from Treasury of Memories (value $30)

This fun-filled kit is bursting with goodies from the "Dear Lizzy" collection by American Crafts! Enjoy double sided patterened paper, cardstock, Creative Imaginations mini book, AC Glitter Thickers, AC felt flowers, AC ribbon assortment, tags, fabric, buttons and more. With just one kit, we created FOUR scrapbook pages, a mini book AND four cards too! (min. bid $15)

Photo Walk with Patti for you and 3 friends (Value $80)

Walk around with Patti as you get "in-the-moment" tips and tricks on how to use your DSLR and take fabulous photos! Lessons will include photo composition, depth of field (that blurred background behind your subject), and aperture and shutter priority settings....if you don't know what those mean, you will after our class! (min. bid $40)

Custom t-shirt vinyl saying (value $20)

Custom t-shirt vinyl saying (add to a plain t-shirt, canvas bag, etc) Think of something sassy for your bestie...or something sweet for Grandma....great for birthdays or any special occasion! (min. bid $10)

BLOG AUCTION rules

Let the blog auction extravaganza-ness begin....to bid on an item:

Include your name, bid amount, and email address in the comments section of the item you wish to bid on. Bidding will stay open until Midnight (PT) next Wednesday, July 21st. Please pay attention to the minimum bid for each item. Good luck, check back often for new items, and HAVE FUN....remember, it's all for a good cause!

(new items will be posted each day through Saturday....we have so much fun lined up so stay tuned and tell your friends!)

Custom Wall Vinyl from Treasury of Memories (value $50)

Design your favorite quote, family name or perfect saying for any open wall space in your home! (min. bid $25)

11x14 Welcome Home Canvas (Value $20)

This wonderful handmade canvas will be a great addition to any home, or the perfect housewarming present! Canvas is painted a dark grey and the patterned paper is bright yellow....great color combination for any room. (min. bid $10)

Custom Invitation Design w/ Elke (value $90)

Create the perfect invite sitting side by side with Elke! This auction item includes 2 hours of custom invitation design...perfect for your upcoming special event! (min. bid $40) (printing and paper charges vary upon design)

Who's ready for a BLOG auction????

Our blog auction is set to start this coming Wednesday, July 14th and will run for one week through Wednesday, July 21st. During that time, we will be posting new items daily and the bidding will stay open for the entire week through midnight on the 21st.

You may bid on an item by leaving your bid amount, name, and email address in the comment sections. The item will go to the highest bidder so check back often to see if your bid is still good!

Here is a little preview of some of our items we have lined up:
...plus much more, including:
2 hours of custom invitation design with Elke
Gift Certificate to Coconut Kenny's (a Patti/Elke FAVE)
more Handmade Home Decor
Photo Walk with Patti
beginning Quilting Class
Custom Vinyl from Treasury of Memories (who doesn't love some of this...)

Love and Crafting,
Patti and Elke

Benefit Crop this weekend!!!

Hello all! In case you haven't seen on our facebook page or the TOM blog, we are hosting a very fun, very fabulous, very life-changing Benefit Crop this weekend at the new Treasury of Memories warehouse in Bellingham, WA.

The crop will be Friday, July 16th from 6pm-11pm and Saturday, July 17th from 9am-4pm. The cost is $50 and includes:
Snacks, beverages, lunch
FREE photo walk (photography tips and tricks) with Patti Saturday morning
Canvas class
Goodie bags, door prizes, and much, much more!!!

Please email Elke, elkestevens@hotmail.com with questions or to sign up! We promise it will be a good time, even if you don't want to crop and just come hang out....we would love to see you!

...in a land not so far away...(the story of us: Elke's version)

So. Ok. I have this amazing crafty job, with amazing co-workers (of which included BF's and roomies, and my 2nd family!) etc. etc. etc. my life is pretty good, right?

Welp...then, it got better. So, this girl who had been coming in fairly frequently--who I kinda recognized--apparently heard we were hiring and brought in some layouts with her resume. Right off the bat, judging by her amazing scrapbook pages and UBER-FUN outgoing personality, as far as I was concerned, this girl had got the job! In addition to being seemingly oh-so-very fun and outgoing, one of her gorgeous layouts she had brought in was about one of her players who had cancer, it was so very sweet and caring (a prominent characteristic I later found out!) I cried (of course), and KNEW (OK, hoped...) we would be friends.
And we were.

Patti has become a huge part of my life. It feels like we've been friends forever, when in the grand scheme, it's only been a couple of years. She gives the best advise, is my cohort in crime, and cares abundantly for her students (I just love watching her run into her kids from school...they react as if they saw a celebrity!) We have more fun than anyone else I know...even if it's simply cause we are entertaining ourselves, and no one else would get it. From simple good'old county fun or bowling, to getting all dressed up (sometimes for no reason) or going to the movies or just watching TV...even in the mundane, we never have a dull moment!

Mission work is something that has always been on my heart, and I have been lucky to have had God put multiple opportunities in front of me, at exactly the right moment. This time was no different, but when I was originally planning this trip in my mind...I never imaged that I would get it share it with this amazing girl. I am blessed and SO excited to I cannot wait to see us in action; building meaningful relationships and many memories to add to our already-abundant list!

Patti, I cannot wait til we're 85, and can look at each other across lawn-bowling area at our retirement community...and remember all of these amazing little moments we've shared. LYLT.

Here's to all our many adventures to come,
Elke
If you would like to enter the pool for betting how many children we will bring home; please send your vote and $500 to me. I am betting on at least 3. (just kidding, in case you thought I was serious--well mostly kiddding).

Once upon a time (the story of Patti and Elke)....

One of my favorite parts of Treasury of Memories (the oh-so-wonderful scrapbooking store formally known as my workplace, formally known as my inspiration spot, formally known as my 2nd home) were all the layouts scattered throughout the store as product samples. It was amazing and inspiring that these creative women were displaying their families, friends, and personal lives for all to soak in.....it really is like reading the personal diaries of some of these women, complete with pictures and a little product for good measure. One day PTG (pre-TOM girl), I happened to be looking at one of Elke's scrapbook layouts where she included multiple pictures of her and her friends' self-portraits (you know the ones....whoever has the longest arm gets to hold the camera awkwardly and then some one's head gets cropped out but it's still fun because hey, every one's smiling). I vividly remember thinking to my self, "Self, that is someone you should be friends with."

Little did I know at that point in time, that TOM would be hiring just 6 months later and I would get a magical part-time job there. Also, little did I know, that when I did meet Elke, we became best friends in a matter of weeks. Elke and I have so much in common including similar faiths, outgoing and social personalities (shocking news, yes I know), a great love of all things local and county-related, scrapbooking and other artsy endeavors, patience in finding boys that will put up with us (and with the other "half" being invited on all their dates) and countless epic and fabulous memories in Whatcom County and beyond (long arm self-portraits included).

I am so excited to get to share this new adventure with Elke in Haiti this August. For all who know Elke, she is in constant service to others in a number of ways, personally and professionally. Now, I get to join with her and serve a group of people and most importantly, children, who need it more than anyone right now....I couldn't think of a better way to spend my summer vacation!

Lots of love and self-portrait taking,
Patti P.S. Be looking for Elke's side of our "fairy tale" friendship coming later this week....

Here's what happens....

when crafty photo-editing meets mission trip planning at 10:30pm after a long day at work.

Patti and Elke start a blog

Here Elke writes something witty and meaningful. Then Patti does the same and maybe adds a picture. Then a whole bunch of people read and laugh and send them money so they can make big things happen in Haiti.