- Joined
- Mar 7, 2010
- Messages
- 15,676
Today's daily crush is on Sara Gleason!
Yippie for Sara - She's seriously one of the most sunshine-y warm hug kind of humans around!
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My name is Sara Gleason and I create art and put pen to paper with a heartsong for storytelling and memory keeping. I am a self-taught designer, (retired) military spouse, homeschool mom and an advocate for mental health and natural health.
nouns: mom. storyteller. gardener. pizza snob. reader. loather of folding laundry. Cubs fan. optimist. encourager. scrapbooker. historian.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Sara for today.
I hope you get a chance to get to know her better if you don't already, because IYKYK! See above for her links too. Sara's clean storyteller style is visually so appealing. Her kits and templates prompt me to document what I really need to get down on my page.
Explore Sara's store---> Here
Where do you call home?
I was born and raised just a few miles north of Chicago, and that beautiful city by the lake has always been home to my heart in many ways, even though it’s now been years since I’ve lived there. As a military family we lived in many places in the US and since my husband’s retirement from active duty, we have been calling Ohio home.
Who makes up your family?
My husband of 21 years, David, our two children (ages 16 and 8), and our two cats.
Which came first, scrapbooking or designing?
Scrapbooking. I was an avid storyteller and scrapbooker, committed to telling the stories of my family. I had been collecting memories and scrapping them for years before I began designing. My design journey began 13 years ago and has roots in my own scrapbooking. (And once upon a time, many moons ago, I was a Polly here at the Pad). Initially, I was encouraged to create page designs from my scrapbook pages and my design work was solely template-centric. Soon thereafter I began handcrafting elements and designing kits. Now I also love to incorporate my own illustrations. But the foundation has always been the story and memory keeping for me.
How long have you been at The Lilypad?
The Lilypad has been my creative home in one way or another since 2009. I officially joined the design team here at the Pad in the Autumn of 2010.
Do you think you have a signature style?
I think my style has always been fairly classic and versatile with a splash of quirky, and definitely always story-centric. What that means for me is building a kit that is rooted in words, tone and mood, and in moments and details, with a Story in mind. It’s how I would scrapbook and it’s how I design. I love to include lots of thoughtful word-art bit and design details that connect together with a heart for storytelling. Recently, I think my designs have evolved to a more simple and minimalistic space while holding tightly to my foundation of story-centric art and stories.
What is your favorite product/kit/item you've designed?
I’ll always have a special place in my heart for my hand-crafted Petals series. I love love my various Pocket Maps and they are probably my most used.
But my most favorite products are my Plant Your Story collection and my Story Seeds collections (Story Seeds: Artifacts and Story Seeds: Friend) because they are most indicative of my style and heart for storytelling.
Yippie for Sara - She's seriously one of the most sunshine-y warm hug kind of humans around!
website | newsletter | facebook | twitter | instagram
My name is Sara Gleason and I create art and put pen to paper with a heartsong for storytelling and memory keeping. I am a self-taught designer, (retired) military spouse, homeschool mom and an advocate for mental health and natural health.
nouns: mom. storyteller. gardener. pizza snob. reader. loather of folding laundry. Cubs fan. optimist. encourager. scrapbooker. historian.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Sara for today.
I hope you get a chance to get to know her better if you don't already, because IYKYK! See above for her links too. Sara's clean storyteller style is visually so appealing. Her kits and templates prompt me to document what I really need to get down on my page.
Explore Sara's store---> Here
Where do you call home?
I was born and raised just a few miles north of Chicago, and that beautiful city by the lake has always been home to my heart in many ways, even though it’s now been years since I’ve lived there. As a military family we lived in many places in the US and since my husband’s retirement from active duty, we have been calling Ohio home.
Who makes up your family?
My husband of 21 years, David, our two children (ages 16 and 8), and our two cats.
Which came first, scrapbooking or designing?
Scrapbooking. I was an avid storyteller and scrapbooker, committed to telling the stories of my family. I had been collecting memories and scrapping them for years before I began designing. My design journey began 13 years ago and has roots in my own scrapbooking. (And once upon a time, many moons ago, I was a Polly here at the Pad). Initially, I was encouraged to create page designs from my scrapbook pages and my design work was solely template-centric. Soon thereafter I began handcrafting elements and designing kits. Now I also love to incorporate my own illustrations. But the foundation has always been the story and memory keeping for me.
How long have you been at The Lilypad?
The Lilypad has been my creative home in one way or another since 2009. I officially joined the design team here at the Pad in the Autumn of 2010.
Do you think you have a signature style?
I think my style has always been fairly classic and versatile with a splash of quirky, and definitely always story-centric. What that means for me is building a kit that is rooted in words, tone and mood, and in moments and details, with a Story in mind. It’s how I would scrapbook and it’s how I design. I love to include lots of thoughtful word-art bit and design details that connect together with a heart for storytelling. Recently, I think my designs have evolved to a more simple and minimalistic space while holding tightly to my foundation of story-centric art and stories.
What is your favorite product/kit/item you've designed?
I’ll always have a special place in my heart for my hand-crafted Petals series. I love love my various Pocket Maps and they are probably my most used.
But my most favorite products are my Plant Your Story collection and my Story Seeds collections (Story Seeds: Artifacts and Story Seeds: Friend) because they are most indicative of my style and heart for storytelling.
What occupies your other time?
I homeschool my eight year old which is where my lens is focused most of the time when I'm not delving into creative work or supporting the Lilypad in admin-y ways. I also love to soak up time with my family, watch the Chicago Cubs when they are playing, learn about natural health and gardening, and spend time outside whenever I can.
I'm most creative when…listening to music or soaking up the beauty and patterns of nature
If I were a color, I'd be…a happy soft, neutral pink.
I really wish I knew how to…speak other languages.
My favorite thing to do at home is…spend time with my family.
5 years ago I was…living in San Antonio Texas, enjoying local fresh tamales and chasing bluebonnets
In 5 years I hope to be…teaching storytelling and journaling classes
I'd love to spend a lazy Saturday…curled up with a kitty in my lap with nothing on the to-do list
For my birthday dinner I want…brinner. Breakfast for dinner is my most favorite.
I'm most comfortable wearing…joggers and a tee.
What special power would you like to have? Teleporting. As someone who is often geographically separated from loved ones I would love to be able to POOF! to where they are in a moment.
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
Seeing my designs on fabric or another surface design.
Going to a Bears game at Soldier Field.
Visiting all the U.S. National Parks.
What 4 items would always be in your refrigerator? arugula, strawberries, homemade elderberry syrup, locally raised eggs
Which board game do you like the most? Trivial Pursuit. I love trivia and games of knowledge.
What was your worst purchase ever?
Here is a true story about how I was scammed like an old lady. Not like Nigerian prince bad, but still embarrassingly. So. I succumbed to seeing this ad in my FB feed for a gorgeous autumn wreath. It was one of those that kept showing up. All the comments looked good (of course in hindsight they could have all been fake for all I know). The website looked legit. So I order, because I need a new autumn wreath. The first photo is what was advertised and what I ordered. Pretty right?
The second photo show what actually arrived at my doorstep. Yes, those are fugly styrofoam pumpkins. Yes, it arrived in a box with a return address of Sesame Street (no lie) so tightly taped that I had to cut it open, rendering it nonreturnable via the return policy on the “legit” website. Yes, an email I sent was returned undeliverable.
So yeah, this is a lesson from Sara, the super smart. Even when you think you have discernment, you can be duped something fierce. It was definitely my worst purchase ever.
Pizza and a pitcher -or- fancy 5-star dining? fancy 5 star dining. I am a bit of a food snob and love different culinary experiences.
Tell me 4 adjectives that those closest to you would use to describe you. (you can cheat and ask them)
Kind. Creative. Supportive. Loving. (I did cheat and ask).
Do you have any collections? I don’t intentionally collect anything, but my family would probably say I collect natural remedies and herbal teas. Haha. I’d probably say pens and stationery. I don’t think it’s possible to have too many of either.
What is your favorite movie of all time? It’s a Wonderful Life
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Scotland
Do you follow fashion trends? I do not. I am way too vanilla for fashion trends.
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I made a page using Sara's goodies for today.
Good Things by Sara Gleason
Persimmon by Sara Gleason (template)
Now it's your turn...
Scrap a page using Sara Gleason products
Meet the gallery guidelines of 50% TLP product
Post in Sara's gallery and share your page in this thread
Be sure to check out our LOVE Our Designers event daily since you never know WHO is going to be featured when! And who knows, the designer(s) may pop in here and there with special surprises and interactions while we are scrapping!!!
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Sara's got a special today for everyone! Today only
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