i had a thought the other day…
…and it lead me to a realization that is important to keep reminding myself of, and anyone else who wants to remind me is welcome to…you are …you really are…free. regardless of legalities, and obligations, your mind,your person and your soul is yours and yours only…so let it be!
it is strange how instinctively i still feel controlled, nervous, and afraid, and its sad that for awhile i not only reclused but let that fear inhibit my ability, my desire, and my drive to design, express, and create… i have forgotten how to simply…be. well, that stops now!
over the last little bit i have written and rewritten this first post…how can i do this and not be negative to everything that has happened, or not skirt around the truth…or should i just omit all the hurtful stuff that happened…on and on my thoughts have gone, and then it hit me…you have always prided yourself in being real…raw…so why stop now…so, i am sure over time the story will unfold, but for now, for me, for my emotional me, let’s keep to the facts…here goes…i am no longer with heidi grace designs, and i am starting over…(wow…it was not as hard to write as i thought it would be, although i am still crying…) iknow its been quite awhile…and everyone already knows, but it was still extremely hard for me to publicly announce…admit…let go of…that has been the hardest…letting go…
how do i feel about all this…truthfully the real, raw truth…i am still not sure how it all makes me feel, and i am ok with that for now…there is too much to feel and still too much to process. can you really be devestated but releaved all at the same time? i will keep you posted when things get clearer.
it’s strange how this feels weird…it is my blog…MINE…so heidi, you have now given yourself permission to exclaim what ever you want to the world and most importantly to yourself…just be!
seriously…how do i start this after so much…craziness?
most important…a report on the family…it has been almost 10 months since my old blog was removed…and so you can only imagine how much my darlings have grown…it is insane! I LOVE THEM SO VERY MUCH!!!! ireland and reagan both walk, talk, sing, dance, play, argue, listen, repeat, observe, learn, eat, sleep, snatch, get-into, sneak, beg, stomp,clap, cry, laugh, scream, sass, and love. they are so amazing. for real, having them has been a dream in the making!
so…my newest adventure…well,
i started a new company called…’clever’
check out my site here. it is a little bit of everything…(pretty much anything that does not fall into my non-compete…which is not a lot, but still plenty to work with) it mostly consists of children’s clothing, children’s decor and one of a kind art pieces.
i opened a little boutique here in my home town where i sell things, and eventually when i get my act together i will open my etsy shop. i do a little bit of wholesale too. it has been so awesome to put together a children’s line! it is freeing, fun, and…it is totally liberating to be on my own again…it took my a long time to be able to say that…but seriously, i am so thrilled to just be creating again, with no boundaries, and no expectations.
i promise to post pics of the shop and some of the newest clever creations soon!
Well, Hello there Heidi . . . I don’t know what happened, but I’m so glad to see your back!
I’ve missed your blog as well. How did your marathon go??? I finished up mine and am again back in training for this years race once again in Leavenworth (only this time I’ll just doing the half marathon). I’ll definitely be checking back . . .
I don’t know why Fiskars as discontinued your line (along with their other paper lines). But I think it stinks that we, the consumer, will no longer be able to purchase your scrapbook line. Fiskars should release you from that non-compete, especially since they are no longer choosing to “compete” by not selling consumable products.
I first discovered you when your big thing was the acrylic embellishments. I had not seen anything like them before and to be honest, nothing sense.
Keep designing and I hope to see your designs on paper products and embellishments in the near future. Muck Luck in your new venture.
Alisa
Heidi,
I want you to know my sister and I love your work. We used to go out and drive to all the scrapbook stores in our area with one mission…to find Heidi Grace paper. This was a ritual for us and we had so much fun! We would talk and giggle as we drove to each store hoping to find your new line. This time spent with my sister will always be a most cherished memory and you made it possible with your beautiful flocked and shimmer papers. Thank you
Hi Heidi,
Love your blog and just wanted to say hang in there, girl! You’ve got great things ahead of you. You are so incredibly talented and have so many of us waiting for you. There are posts all over the message boards and every single person is behind you and knows that you are going to come out of this and do amazing things. Love the photos of the babies…they’re so precious. Watch every moment, it goes oh so fast!
Hey sweet girl,
Your stuff was unique, Awesome, selfless, free…everything you are!!!! Dont ever forget that..
I am devestated by our loss of such a talented designer in our industry..
But as they say onwards and upwards..
so excited to see what you have come up with…Good on you!!! Go get them…
Your girls are just beautiful and so so so big now. I rememeber seeing baby Reagan and she was a little doll..Now she is a beautiful little walking, talking princess…a credit to you an Ryan..
Good on you Heidi. you are a fighter and you will go on..so proud of you..
Hugs and XXXX’s
Sarah
Heidi,
I am so sad. I do not scrapbook, I quilt and I only just discovered you;( I saw your fabric at JoAnn Fabric’s and bought way too much. I loved it, I wanted it all. Please tell me you are going to try and pursue a fabric line. Google yourself and take a peek at all the wonderful things that have been created with your fabric. Good luck and I look forward to hearing about all your new adventures.
Heidi, so glad to see a blog for you again. I have always adored your scrapbooking creations and will always remain a fan. I look forward to Clever and your new creations.
Dear Heidi Grace,
I was so relieved to find your new blog! I was so fortunate to meet you when you were visiting Madison, WI on one of your business trips. I think you were pregnant with Ireland. I loved your line before meeting you, and now after meeting you, I fell in love even more with your products. I was devastated to hear that Fiskars basically dropped your line. I instantly thought of you and what was going to happen to you. I have been searching high and low for any word from you, and I am relieved after a few months to finally hear from you.
I think your new endeavor is great, but I am so sad to not have your line of scrapbooking items anymore. I really hope that something comes along that you can continue your great creative talents to the scrapbooking world.
I am hoping to hear the whole story sometime soon from you, and see the great pix of you and your family. Did you run the half marathon? I look forward to hearing so much more from you.
Kelly Pitzlin :0)
So happy– mom found your blog!!! We just feel terrible about what happened (even what little we know from public releases and rumor mill), and had hoped we would see you again!!!
Glad to know your family is doing well– Erin just got a little sister in April, and she could not be happier!
I hope to see what you will have in your store very soon, and glad that your are starting to feel “free”!!!! If we can start a grassroots movement to nullify that nasty old non-compete, let me know!
Hugs, Kate
Hello Heidi,
Its your old childhood friend. I’m glad you see you blogging again. With life keeping us so busy I’m glad I can at least hear what you are up to. Truely sorry to hear that we won’t get to see your line of scrapbooking grow. I remember us all sitting in the back of your dads store packaging your product wondering how it would all go. It was so nice to walk into the store and say that I knew her when. =) I look forward to coming to your store. STay strong and keep be creative.
Hugs Nicole
I JUST FOUND OUT!!!!!!!! I was trying to set up an acct with fiskars to order your forever love line!!! WHAT THE HECK??? Are you selling any of that wholesale? Please let me know right away!!
Krissy
Hi!!
I have been a huge fan of your scrapbooking products for awhile. I even took it upon myself to find every design you have made and have a nice little collection. Only special people have their gifts made of my ‘heidi grace’ paper
And I tell them that too 
I was devastated when i found out that fiskars wasnt going to be selling your paper anymore. I absolutely love your designs….its going to save me money but i’m so sad that i wont be able to create with your papers.
I will be a huge supporter of your new company and will tell everyone I know about it. I wish a a great big good luck!!!!
Kristy
Heidi, I too had to re-invent myself about two years ago. Mine was not because my product was dropped, but i dropped out of the race. And then the repercussions of my decision hit and they hit hard. Here I am two years later knowing that i made the right decision, but still trying to figure out who i am.
life without Heidi Grace paper is like an oreo cookie without the creamy white filling, a snowball without snow and worst of all, creativity without tools.
Chin up, you are you and as cream rises to the surface, so shall you – again. I’m really sorry about all this because it’s been a blow to your fans. Big companies are just that, the bottom line and nothing else. good luck, i’m glad i found your blog.. we are all still behind you
Hey, I found your website @ yahoo and i have read allot of your other posts. I like what u say ! I just added you to my Google News Reader
. Keep up the good work . Look forward to see more from you in the future.
You probably hear this often but your writing is just so fun. Thank you for adding entertainment in my life with the pieces you do. Please don’t stop with all your originality.
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