Season 3 and More....

The night before Halloween and season 3 is in the books. After being on hiatus since the end of February, I will admit I wish I had a better show for you. I set a deadline for myself, and I didn't want to miss it. I have been procrastinating the start date of season three off and on for three months... first it was the beginning of September, then the first day of Fall.... and then Halloween.... and since September it's been one thing after another. You know, life happens when you're making plans. 

I will promise my listeners this, it will get better.... but I need your help. Listeners... I need feedback. The basic premise of this podcast is crafting (primarily), self- care,  encouragement and general sassy-ness... confession here, I'm not spot on 24/7.... 

You ask yourself..... how can I help?

* spread the word .... I'm on Instagram @theduchessofsassytown .... that's where you'll find most of the news about my podcast. Leave me a message...Also, friend me on Facebook... I'm also known as Kimberly Cole and the group is known as the Creative Cafe, and I will invite you to join the group... lots of fun going on there... You'll also get a mention on my podcast, about you and your favorite craft or hobby.

 *  When you leave a message suggest what you'd like to hear about... in paper crafting (a new technique or product, books (something juicy or encouraging that you've read, self care subjects.... or just general sassy-ness. I'm not the only one out there...

Me.... doing what I love, sharing my passion, self-care and encouraging others with you...

So make yourself heard.... I'm listening....

Leap Day.....

February is finally over... it's been a rough start to the year, and frankly I'm ready for a reboot.  This afternoon I'll be launching a special announcement on my podcast about the future of The Duchess of Sassy Town. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, just working and creating a better creative experience for my readers and listeners. I posted yesterday about holding back because of fear... Elizabeth Gilbert wrote about it so eloquently in her book Big Magic. Her words of encouragement in this book have really helped me push through the rough patch I've been in, and through a lot of other fears. What did I write? I feel like what I've been putting out isn't good enough, isn't hitting the audience I have been courting. That I was still that invisible thirteen year old geek that used to be bullied for wearing second hand clothes and jeans from KMart.  

So what a better day to start the reboot of my brand... than the odd day of the year. My mantra is 'Be you, not them'. I'm still the big geek, I'm still the non-conformist, and in the words of Frank Sinatra I will do it 'my way'... only because that's the only way I know. Don't get me wrong, I do play well with others, but I still not change my story to make other people comfortable. I will be honest, but kind. I will encourage you to be you, and to love the stuff that makes you who you are.

Where the magic happens

In this reboot, I am stepping out of my comfort zone and will be re-launching my YouTube Channel with a plethora of easy to do crafty videos.... so stay tuned, along with more in depth blog posts and a podcast full of crafty and self care goodness every other week..... and on that note it's after one in the morning and I need to rest. So sleep sweet and see you in the morning!

Christmas in July....

I have heard the term 'Christmas in July' pretty much all of my life. In my youth I didn't really get it. Now that I'm all grown up... well, for the most part, I get it. Especially since I've become a crafter. First of November rolls around, then it's planning the week ahead for Thanksgiving, then it's too late... no way humanly possible to design and create all the cards and crafts you have dancing around your pretty little head. You want to be Wonder Woman of the Crafting world.... but then you wonder how your got yourself into the situation.... five different kinds of NEW Christmas paper and embellishments and not enough time to get stuff done. Now I get it... now I no longer mock those buying green and red ribbon in the middle of July when my face is melting from the triple digit heat.... 

This month on my friend Tracey's 'Scrappy Like a Fox' group on FB, we've been celebrating Christmas in July with a series of crafty challenges. Mixing it up with using non-traditional holiday colors, and all kinds of fun stuff. If you haven't found a good scrapbooking group, this is it. Tracey manages a fun and friendly group that is drama and politics free. My fave and fabulous paper crafting and DIY guru Heidi Swapp has been up to mischief  last week down in Gilbert, AZ, home of Scrapbook.com, where she has been filmed product tutorials for her new holiday line Winter Wonderland... I am so loving what I'm seeing so far, bold plaids, gold foils, classic wreathes all with that wonderful Heidi Swapp twist. So stay tuned to SB.com's coming soon and new arrivals page to see when it is available for purchase! Winter Wonderland single double sided paper is already available... oooooh that tease! I want it all NOW!!!! (I'm so stomping my feet, I can if I wanna).

What have I done for Christmas in July? Well, I've already dug through and sorted all the Christmas paper I'm going to be using for this season's cards for Holiday Faire and I found a Christmas Chewbacca Pop Vinyl (yes, my geekiness of Star Wars and Chewbacca is never ending)...

Found him on Amazon...

The Great Debate....

With life happening at a fun pace here lately, I have decided, after great pondering, to cut the podcast to an episode every two weeks. I've found myself scrambling to finish content, edit and record and something that I love to do is starting to stress me out... funny how that happens. All this is new to me and I really want to give my listener's something they deserve, a solid, crafty podcast... I somehow thought I could magically, overnight, turn into a million subscriber podcast overnight... haha. Funny.  Reality check... So I am taking a step back to do some more podcasting homework, bend the ears of some industry friends, as well as heal from this latest health setback. Thank you for bearing with me, and I would love to hear your feed back.... I haven't heard any so far....