It has been a month. since we opened (quietly) for business.  Thank you for such a wonderful and warm welcome.  
In that short time we have met many of our neighbors, had a fabulous private Girls NIght Out event, held a successful Indie Kindred screening with director, Jen Lee, have begun planning our fall calendar of playshops, workshop and events, AND, blocked the calendar for our Grand Opening weekend... Sept 26th.  SAVE THE DATE and stop by the shop... we will have door prizes, giveaways, playshop and workshop calendar, refreshments and more.

So far some of the classes we will be offering are: All-Occasion Card editions, Hand-bound Coptic-Stitch Books, Halloween Picket Posts and more.  Be sure to sign up early as seating is limited.

And.... we are almost ready to unveil the Grown-Up Girls Club details.  We will be launching this one of a kind club in October.... more details coming to you soon.

What are you most excited about... what are you hoping to see?

One of the more important aspects to me, in starting this business, is providing a space where grown-up girls can play... explore... share.... learn.... grow.  Together.  In a safe environment. With other grown-up girls.

And so my promise to you is that we will have a Grown-Up Girls Club... we will play.  We will learn.  We will grow. Together.

Hi there... !  It's been a crazy couple weeks full of packing, painting and moving.  Yes.... moving. We made the move to our new location.  First a big shout out to Nichole Lovett owner of Harmony Haus, and eco-conscious painting company.  She and her crew did an awesome job of providing me with the perfect foundation to create what's about to become The Collage Cafe.

I still have a LOT of work to do, but it's going to be a fun chunk of time as I pull the place together, build the workshops, and get the front end stocked with all kinds of goodness. 

I thought, though, you might get a kick at seeing behind the scenes..... WARNING.... what you are about to see will send those of you who are organizers into a bit of a panic attack...

I love books... I really love books... and craft books.... well they hold a special place in my heart.  I love seeing the pictures, the new techniques, and there is very little that I don't want to try.

But.  Here is a secret... I don't seem to make the time to work through many of the fabulous books I have on hand.

If you are anything like me, you have accumulated quite the collection.  So I have come up with the antidote.  The Collage Cafe is going to create a monthly book club.  But this one has a unique twist.  The books we will review will be our beloved craft/maker/artsy books.  And we won't just review the books.... we will dig in and together decide which one of the fabulous techniques we'd like to try that month.  Then, as a group we will dive right in and teach ourselves and each other the great techniques!  I can't wait.  If this sounds fun, go ahead and leave me a comment or send me an email and I will be sure to send you information when we are ready to launch.

What is one of your favorite craft books that you've never read....?

I have been getting this question more and more lately.  It makes sense.  With a name like The Collage Cafe one would think that is exactly what I am doing.  However.... no.... The Collage Cafe is not a restaurant (although at any given time, there will be plenty of wine on hand, and if we run out, just down the block is my favorite wine store, The Wine Goddess.

So here it is.... I am a mixed media artist and transformational change expert.  In January I left corporate America (a job I loved, by the way).  My goal is to take all that was good and wonderful in that chapter and bring it forward into my next.

I am opening a space that will allow me to conduct playshops, workshops, create art and combine it with an eclectic retail space.... I will also have the space to coach individuals and groups so they (you) too, can have your dreams take flight.

What's your big dream?  How can I help you take a step into your dream?

xo

Last year at this time I was dreaming and scheming... thinking about how I could take that 4 year plan and turn it into a 3 year plan.... And then I thought... hey, wait a minute... let's get creative.... what would it take to turn that 3 year plan into a 2 year plan??? And so I decided to be courageous and answer the question 'What's Next?'

What is funny is that even now, as I look back just over the past 12 months so much has changed from what I thought I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it... bringing me to this point...

What if there were a space you could go and explore your crafty and creative side... play with paints and paper and glue.... discover that inner wisdom deep inside your soul and let her bear witness to your discovery and growth... a place where you could hang with friends and share a glass of wine.... or find that perfect little gift for yourself or someone special.... would you want to gather there?  

Well, my friends.... I am getting ready to open The Collage Cafe this summer in Evanston and it will be all that and more.... and I am so happy you're going to join me on this journey! 

What are you most looking forward to or would you most like to see? 

xo