Connections Old & New

January seems to have been all about connections for me, on all sorts of levels...

I received access to the designer area at DST in January (thanks Shannon!), where I've made some interesting new connections on a professional level. I've also connected with lots of sweet new fans and customers through my blog and DSFX. It's been wonderfully uplifting reading all your positive comments/emails and seeing some of the beautiful layouts you've created with my art - I can't help but feel somehow connected to you!

On an even more personal level, I unexpectedly connected with 6 different people who I haven't heard from in half a decade or longer. Each time it was like...wawawaWOW...and after the fourth or fifth time it got downright freaky! It's all good tho, in fact two of them are people I've missed tremendously, and look forward to (hopefully) resuming a close friendship with.

I can't help but wonder if all these connections are just some odd coincidence, or if it's happening because my life and mind are finally OPEN to connections. Either way, it feels good. :)

Laura and I and the rest of the crew have been connecting plenty too... developing some exciting things for DSFX in the months and year to come. Really, TRULY, cool ideas and innovative products that I can't talk about yet even though it's killing me to keep my lips zipped. Eek! There's a couple site-related things I can tell you though....

1. I received an email this morning informing me that my Retro Valentines will be spotlighted on the Dishin' the Digi - Coast 2 Coast show on DiSc Talk Radio which will run from tomorrow January 30th through February 5th. I even got this really cool blinkie:

You can click on the blinkie to listen in (it's free). To celebrate my excitement, I'm marking the Valentines 25% off for the entire week. So if you've been eyeing them, you'll be able to get all 4 sets for $6! Plus, the $5 RESOLUTIONS promo code is still good through the end of January... so... what a deal, eh?

2. We're going to be launching a "Define Yourself" series of mini-kits, complete with thought-provoking blog challenges (new blog coming too!), fun freebies, and cool prizes for those who wish to follow along. The purpose of this series is to create an entire album about yourself, because really, isn't it time to connect with and celebrate YOU??? Look for more details about this after Valentine's Day.... I think it'll be a lot of fun.... and worth all the work involved! lol

Oh! Speaking of Valentine's Day, if you came here for free Love 'N Stuff, you can find it here.

That's about all the news I've got for the moment.
Cya! ;)

Astrology Insights

Astrology has always fascinated me, and today I found this email in my box. Those of you who know me on a personal level will totally get the "wow-ness" of this:

Sagittarius Year Ahead 2007
Sagittarius: (Nov.22-Dec. 21): Jupiter your ruling planet, the planet of luck and largesse is transiting your sign for the entire 2007 year! When we think of Jupiter we always think of luck, prosperity, personal philosophies,travel to exotic places and things done in a big way! it will be hard to curb your enthusiasm and hold yourself back when taking on new projects this year. Your positive attitude and go get it philosophy will simply scare the other Sun Signs! There will be those close to you who will say, "stop, not so fast, slow down, and wait"! You probably won't listen until Jupiter retrogrades and you are left to pick up the pieces! Most likely you will thumb your nose at anyone who doesn't go along with your large scale plans this year!
A desire to finally break free of a restricting family situation or relationship will be prevalent this year. You've out grown so much, and it's time for the bird to leave the nest. Moves are a real possibility this year! Too many Sagittarians have simply had their wings clipped in stifling relationships and family situations, this is your break free year!
If ever there was a time to start a new business, go back to wok, begin a new career, and sell your skills and services it's now! Saturn father karma in your solar 9th house lends a double dose of luck. The 9th house rules publishing and I am sure there is a novel inside every Sagittarius! Put your hand to writing and who knows, success could follow. Thinking about going back to school, learning something new, or traveling to exotic locales? Many of you will do just those things! In Lawsuits of any kind you should be favored as well as finding yourself a new philosophy to live by or new religious training. You simply will not be happy sitting idly by and letting life pass you up this year! If you are completely set on changing your life and it requires any kind of courage this year, you will be blessed with strength and moral courage to always do the right thing!
The eclipses in 2007 prepare the way in your solar 4th house of home and family and your 10th house of career and reputation, Preparations are in effect right now and the inner stirrings of far off places is calling. This suggests that early on in 2007 you are restless emotionally, and may dream of moving and will rebel against a confining situation. Beginnings and endings are already starting!
Mars transits through your solar 1st house of freedom and independence to your solar 8th house of joint resources. Part of your struggle to free yourself involves dividing up the goods! Divorce could be indicated for some of you or a break up of shared resources, inheritances and money.

Interesting, eh?
You can get your own free 2007 forecast here.

Ooh the Nerve of People!

I am rejoicing with the rest of the nation over the amazing rescue of Ben Owenby and Shawn Hornbeck. And like everyone else I have questions, especially in the case of Shawn.

My intense fascination with this miracle does not mean I'm an insensitive dolt who derives a sick thrill out of a juicy story. I think that's safe to say about most people. It's human nature (which parenthood only compounds) to be curious and almost desperate to learn the whys and hows of something as stupefying as Shawn's story is turning out to be. Our safe little world of denial has been seriously unsettled; we're forced to face the undeniable fact that Shawn could've been our own child. Naturally we crave the details so we can somehow, some way, devise a perfect prevention plan to preclude ourselves from ever having the Akers' and Owenby's shoes double-tied on our own feet. AND THAT IS THE CRUX OF THE AKERS' MESSAGE.

Where then, do so many people get off thinking they have ANY right to pass judgement on Shawn or his parents?! The decisions they make for themselves are their own to make, and it's really none of our damn business if they want to spread their message through Oprah, Larry King, The View, American Idol or even Jerry Springer. Let them shout it loud and proud! And listen to them for cripes sakes! They are graciously sharing their story with us and we thank them by suggesting they are fame-seekers?! Ugh.

How can [collective] we say what we might do differently? Very very few of us have walked in their shoes. Almost none of us can comprehend the anguish and pain these families have suffered. Only THEY could ever understand their own motives and methods of coping, and I find it absolutely abominable for anyone to question or criticize them.

Personally, I am in complete awe of this family. Despite the atrocities Shawn may have faced for over 4 years, he did what he had to do to survive, and never lost hope that he would one day be reunited with his loved ones. That doe-eyed cutie has shown amazing strength, obviously stemming from a deep-seated faith his parents instilled at a young age. (I hope this serves to save him life-long agony.) He was a terrified, innocent child who was taken against his will. How dare we expect him to defend what he did or didn't do to outwit the twisted grown man Michael Devlin is [alleged to be]? Instead we should be up in arms, demanding to know how this nefarious crime was allowed to happen right under our noses. Several people went so far as to ask Shawn if he was Shawn! How could so-called friends fail this child so miserably by not coming forward with their suspicions?

As for Pam and Craig, how can I not admire them? They adopted a magnificent cause in an effort to cope with the anguish of not knowing where their son was, if he was dead or alive, if he was being mistreated, etc. I can not even begin to fathom what they went through then or now, much less how I might react myself. In the midst of enormous tragedy they selflessly dedicated themselves to searching for ALL missing children; working tirelessly to save parents everywhere from having to endure the same wretched pain they were bearing. Searching for the lost and preaching prevention is all they have known since Shawn disappeared. This cause means the world to them. I think they're courageous and brilliant to take advantage of the massive media attention to spread their message.

Bottom line: We have NO RIGHT to judge them. We are NOT entitled to answers. We are not Pam or Craig or Shawn. What they do or don't do is up to them alone. We should be grateful that they care so much about our children to put themselves "out there" like they have. We ought to be inspired by them and heed their message. Instead of speculating, second-guessing, and slamming these victims we should be standing and applauding them.

Thank you Pam, Craig, and Shawn from the bottom of my heart. Your tremendous sacrifices, your critical message, and the power of your hope have not been lost on this mom.
**************************************************
On a related side note: I want to share a picture of a boy from my hometown who has been missing for 17 years. His name is Jacob Wetterling and his information can be viewed by clicking here.
This young man went to school with my sister. I was a teenager at the time and I think it made me grow up faster than I might otherwise have. His disappearance drove home the realization that evil is real, and we never really know where it's lurking.
Now, I can't help but see similarities between his case and Shawn and Ben's, but then, there's never been another case I wanted so badly to be solved. What happened to you Jake?

Love N' Stuff

Yay! I got January's freebie kit done a day earlier than planned. It may look kinda familiar to a few of you because it's a kit that I designed a whole year ago.
I debated for days about re-releasing my old stuff or not. On one hand, I have gobs of old kits done and ready to go so it would free up my time to work on store stuff. Plus many people have requested the old stuff. BUT, when I look at my old designs I sorta shudder, because my skills and style have changed soooooo much from back then. The designer in me wants to re-do everything! But time constraints dictate otherwise. :sigh:

So yeah. I present to you Love N' Stuff.

It's a little revamped but mostly the same as the old XO kit. You can download it from 4shared if you like it! The only catch is that you MUST keep in mind that these re-releases are by no means my best work, so please don't judge the quality of my work based on this one kit. I hope you'll check out the store to see what I've been working on lately!

Download Links:
Alphabet (46 mb)
Elements (23 mb)
Papers 1 (25 mb)
Papers 2 (24 mb)

I check every day to make sure the links above are good, so if you get a time-out error the server is likely busy - please try downloading again later. (soon I'll be able to put all the freebies on the store server so there's no more download issues... until then... sorry!)

Oh, and if you didn't see my previous post, there's another small Valentine freebie you can download from the store.

Don't forget, bloggy love rocks! ;)

Have a great week everyone!
~Sheila

Retro Valentine Freebie

Here's the freebie add-on for my Retro Valentines series, now available at DSFX.

You do have to register to download them. You knew this was inevitable right? Eventually all the freebies will be on the store's server. This will also cut down on the number of people who aren't able to download from 4shared. I am sorry to those of you who can't get the mega-kit(s) - but I really don't know what else I can do. All I can suggest is to try downloading another time? :(

Oh, and do not confuse this retro freebie with the free January mega-kit. I am revamping an old kit and I will be releasing it here on my blog in the next couple days. Check back!

In a Day's Work

I'm back from vacation - the time went by much too fast! I didn't get to do much touristy stuff, but it was a nice break. Got a few pics to scrap too.

The store is now open - yay! At least, we're pretty sure it's all working correctly! Go check it out - we've got a New Year's special during the month of January if you should decide to shop.

Laura will soon be adding my latest products. Here's what I did today:

I found these super cool retro valentines at an estate sale about 5 or 6 years ago. Just took me this long to scan 'em in and clean 'em up! LOL!

Keeping this post short so I can finish January's Freebie kit. Stay tuned!