CM Life

Time is on my side

Well, the Rolling Stones' song was boastful about having plenty of time, but when it comes to real life, time seems to be something most of us lack. We don't have enough, it's moving too fast, and it's often a figment of our imagination, as if it never even existed.

When we talk to people about their interest in using Creative Memories product and services, time is often the heart of conversation. We ask, "Where are your photos? How do you celebrate your photos and stories?" And inevitably, we witness discouraging attitudes toward time. Most people love the idea of the celebration, but can't imagine a life with enough time to create it.

In my personal life, I've learned the best lessons about the value of time come from people who have plenty of time on their hands.  

When I visit my 77-year-old dad in the nursing home, he often says, "Stop back again soon." I say, "Sure, how about Sunday?" He says, "That would be great." While he maintains his stoic stature and unwaivering control, I can't help but notice the excitement in his voice. Deep down, he holds on to the anticipation that someone will stop by in a few days and help him pass the day away.

For my dad, time can be painful. The hands on the clock don't move fast enough, and when one day pours into another, what's the use in keeping track of what day it is? Because it's only Tuesday, and he wishes it were Friday.

I realize more and more every day that time is what people really need, so we can focus on the things that matter most. And thankfully, Creative Memories is sensitive to how precious time is, providing product solutions that help us showcase the best of life as we know it today.

With products like Page Prints, Predesigned Pages, Photo Panels and other products from the Digital Center, we can quickly create a masterpiece that showcases the best times of our life. For me, that means more time to make new memories. And for that, I am very thankful.

With Creative Memories, time is on my side.

I see creative people...

Everywhere. My home is accented with several beautiful reminders of the friends and family members who decorate my life. They include photographs, drawings, rosemaling, hardanger, handmade cards, pillows, blankets, and hand-painted scenes on glassware and furniture.

I see creative people at work. Lots of them. And when they come together for a brainstorming meeting, they charge the room with a special energy that gives me goosebumps and raises the hair on the back of my neck. I've been "zapped" so many times, I think I've earned an honorary degree in creativity. I can dream, can't I?

Today I want to show you just a spark of the creative juices that flow from my co-workers. I'm starting with a sketch of Peppy, my dog, that Carrie Hyopponen did for me.

Carrie's drawing is especially dear to me because Peppy, my best friend of 14 years, died last summer. When I look at it, I'm reminded of Carrie and the many wonderful, caring and talented friends I have in my life.

Carrie is an illustrator here at Creative Memories. You may have seen her designs in the Black & White Power® Palette and Discover and Delight products.

The next two pieces were done by Amy Imdieke and Lacie Schwanke as part of this winter's 1 x 1 Art Gala: a Creativity Expo, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation of Central Minnesota. Participants were asked to take a 1' by 1' piece of particle board and make it into something cool and creative. All pieces were presented at a silent auction with a portion of the proceeds going to the District 8 Education Foundation. The two pieces I admired most and won in the auction just happened to be ones done by colleagues.

Amy cut her board into various sizes and attached them to a white shelf. She painted the pieces black and used them to frame black and white photos she had taken on different trips — wooden flowers from the Forbidden City in Beijing, China; stone and marble patterns from a museum in Amman, Jordan; and wooden designs from the Hanging Church in old Cairo, Egypt.

Amy is an illustrator at Creative Memories and you can see her work in the Featured Artists projects. You may have also seen the Cozy Winter Digital Kit she designed last year.

Lacie found three photos on the Internet she thought were very moody and interesting. "I thought their style would appeal to a wide range of people," Lacie explained. She sketched the three faces in the photos and mounted them on pieces she had cut from her particle board. 

Lacie is a graphic artist at Creative Memories and works on various projects from printed materials to graphic designs for our website.

I've also seen detailed drawings done by Creative Memories designer Megan Blondeau. She did this first piece, a large self-portrait, in college. Not only was it chosen for the student art show, Megan's drawing was purchased by St. Cloud State University to hang in the Atwood Memorial Center.

Megan works on multiple projects at Creative Memories, including our Product Catalogs, Idea Books, DigiKnow e-newsletter and promotional materials. Megan won a gold Addy award last year for her illustrations for the exclusive Halloween Sticker Pack pictured below.

Senior Designer Laurie Middendorf is another co-worker who has many talents. She's responsible for several Consultant and consumer promotional pieces, apparel designs as well as the creation of many of our event logos. Laurie is also a great photographer and is currently taking classes to hone her photography skills. Below are a few of Laurie's photos.

 

 

Lisa Larson is another inspired designer, photographer and videographer. Lisa works on many projects at Creative Memories, but her specialty is designing Scraps, our Consultant magazine. Using our Love products, Lisa created a bouquet of flowers for the January Scraps cover shown below. You can find instructions on how to create this lovely bouquet on the Creative Memories Project Center.

Lisa is also an amazing photographer and below are a few of her pictures.

Like I said earlier, I see creative people ... too many to feature in one blog. It would take me several blogs to feature all the creative people in my life. The special thing about creativity is, it not only presents itself in art. Creativity is found in the way Eve tells a story, or Leah writes an article. It's everywhere! And that's the way I like it. Where do you find creativity in your life?

Watch out for the Studniski Scooter

In December Creative Memories Consultant Marketing Specialist Robin Studniski underwent surgery on her ankle. That meant she would be limited in her mobility for several weeks. After a few days at home Robin showed up with a wheelchair to get around. Robin took all the jokes about getting older (such as being late for Bingo) and her limited mobility in stride. 

But a wheel chair was too restrictive for a high energy co-worker like Robin, her next mobility progression resulted in her riding a Knee Cruiser around the building. This vehicle quickly got the nickname the Studniski Scooter.

In the Creative Memories spirit of “celebrating everything” and of course taking pictures, several co-workers felt the scooter, while practical, was just screaming for accessories. Within a day Robin ended up with an old fashioned bicycle horn and some other decorations mounted on the cruiser steering wheel (see picture).

We could always hear Robin coming down the hallway. The good news is she has made a full recovery   and is back to walking. Robin said the cruiser was much better than crutches especially with icy sidewalks in the Minnesota winter.

Stop and smell the......hoar frost.

It's January in Minnesota...there are no flowers right now. And, boy is life busy! So busy, that I think we forget to stop and enjoy what's around us. What could be better than taking a beautiful winter walk during a crazy, busy work day? Sharing it with you, of course.

There's a great walking path across from the CM parking lot. I've taken plenty of opportunities to spend a summertime lunch break there, but never in January. It's about time I get out there to see it. Not only did I see a wonderland of whiteness, I got to meet Ruby as she avoided her owner. (She at least got to run through the snow.) So, whether there's frost or sunshine where you're at...go make some time for it!

Nerkles

Years ago there was a comedian named Rich Hall. (Actually, I guess that somewhere there's probably still a comedian named Rich Hall.) He did a couple of seasons on Not Necessarily the News and Saturday Night LIve... He had an ongoing, signature bit he called "sniglets" – any word that isn't in the dictionary, but should be.

This was his 15 minutes of fame and he ran with it. He came out with about five books of these things and they were actually pretty catchy for awhile. (My mom still works her favorite sniglet into conversation every once in awhile; but never gets it right. The sniglet is, "musquirt: the couple of drops of watery residue that come out first if you don't shake the mustard bottle." For some reason, my mom consistently refers to "musquirk." I've stopped correcting her.)

At any rate, one of my favorite sniglets was, "nerkle: a person who leaves his/her Christmas lights up all year round." In fact, I liked this one so much that, as a junior high boy, I trotted down to the basement and dragged out a couple of strands of Christmas lights – just so I could revel in my self-proclaimed nerkliness by hanging them in my room and leaving them there indefinitely. (Don't ask me why. No, seriously. Don't ask me why.)

It's mid-January now. So let's take a walk around the office and, without naming names, out a few nerkles.

What would make you happier?

Here at the Home Office the executive team and many of the department managers are headed for Arizonia for our Leadership Conference. Which may or may not have anything to do with this story, but just thought you'd like to know. What's that saying, "When the cats away, the mice will play"?
 
Real Simple magazine conducted a survey among 2,600 women and men. The findings included what would make each of them happier. Not surprisingly, both their answers and priorities differed pretty dramatically.

 

10 things that would make women happier.

1. A permanently clean home.

2. A luxury trip.

3. A big house.

4. Losing 10 pounds.

5. A great body.

6. Time for themselves.

7. A really romantic relationship.

8. Being smarter.

9. Saying “no” more.

10. A luxury car.

Now for the men…

10 things that would make men happier.

1. A big house.

2. A really romantic relationship.

3. A luxury trip.

4. Being smarter.

5. A luxury car.

6. A better sex life.

7. A great body.

8. A permanently clean home.

9. Losing 10 pounds.

10. Having a personal assistant.

Personally there are only about three items on the men's list that would make my top 10. What about you?