A tough decision to make....

I'm often asked by friends and family how I juggle my day job as a home daycare provider, keep up with my two young and active boys, and juggle my various design team commitments. Truth be told, I get far less sleep than I probably should.

This fall, I will be entering the re-licensing process for my home daycare business. There will be a lot of paperwork to do, I have training hours to complete and I also will be minding two very young children (under two years eeks!) and to be on top of that a girls gotta sleep!

I've been quietly terminating some of my additional commitments over the last few months. For example, I no longer offer stamping workshops in my home, I stopped teaching at my LSS, and also stopped designing for their monthly Copic club. While I'd love to be published again, I've stopped submitting for calls for a few months till I can get my head back above water...

Last week, I had to make a very hard call. If' you've seen Gina's blog today, then you may have seen her announcement that I've stepped down from the Gina K Designs Team. Yes, I know.... I must be crazy!!

Usually, I don't make a big production if I *stop* doing things...I just sort of exit quietly stage right. But in this instance, I wanted to say a huge thank you to someone that has been an enormous influence in my "stamping career." And I wanted to be honest with all of you rather than just quietly let the moment pass.

I can't say enough wonderful things about Gina. She's the most supportive, enthusiastic, sweet and generous person you could ever imagine. And did I mention, funny? We had so many laughs on our many phone chats and last summer in Chicago too! Her customer service is legendary, I might think she wiggles her nose and the stamps fly out the door, except I've spoken to the girls at the store, and I know how very hard they work to carefully fulfill everyone's orders.

I'm so thrilled for her that the business has grown so successfully - have you seen what a HUGE phenomenon Stamp TV is? I'm always in awe of how she manages to be Super Mom, run her own business, manufacture her own stamps, and now she's the star of Stamp TV as well!

I know that Gina has no lack of amazingly talented fans who would gladly take my place, and for that I'm so grateful. I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to represent Gina the last year and a half. More importantly, I'll always look up to her as a mentor and friend. Thank you Gina for all you've done for me.