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Windy City Scrapbooking is a large store in the heart of Chicago
eager to offer the urban scrapbooker the best quality products and customer service.
The store is packed with
everything you need to create your own scrapbook to keep you memories
from blowing away. We specialize in lines from smaller manufacturers as well as
larger manufacturers that we love using. And we're always looking for your feedback
and suggestions for the store. Please feel free visit the store or to contact us.
We are building our store
to be a central meeting place for Chicagoland
scrapbookers to meet, learn and share their ideas. Please check out the
Calendar page
for classes, crop nights, demos and other events.
We encourage you to visit
and hope to see you soon!
If you do not yet receive
our email newsletter "the Breeze', please sign up on the
mailing list page.
Inspiration
Windy City Scrapbooking got its start during the summer of 2002. Scrapbooking
was a hobby that was fulfilled by driving to the suburbs to buy supplies. "Why not
change that?" she thought and she decided that she would open her own store in the
city of Chicago that desperately needed scrapbooking stores. That fall she worked
with the Women's Business Development
Center and wrote her business plan and began looking for spaces the
following spring. The perfect space on Clybourn was found in December 2003 and has
now evolved into Windy City Scrapbooking where they won't let your memories blow
away!
About Our
Team (in alphabetical order)
more coming soon!
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About
Alraynita a/k/a "Al"
Alraynita, affectionately know as "Al", resides on the South
Side of Chicago, and has been married to her husband Rick, for over 6 years.
Together, they have 4 year old boy/girl twins named Alexandre and Allegra
& their "Dynamic Duo". Alraynita is also stepmom to 13 year old, Adonis.
After the birth of her twins, Alraynita left her job as
an United States government employee of 5 years to become a full time Wife/SAHM.
She was introduced to scrapbooking by a fellow SAHM. A little over 1 year
later, she has found her passion and has made Windy City Scrapbooking her
"HAVEN" away from home, only to explore her hobby, but also to fellowship
with others who share the same passion. She loves taking classes and learning
new tips and techniques not only to adapt to her style but also to share
with others.
Alraynita belongs to various organizations to which she has been able
to share her passion of scrapbooking. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority Inc., Mocha Moms (support group for African American SAHM), Clusters
(support group for mothers of multiples) and she scraps monthly with her
scrapping circle of girlfriends S.O.S. (Scrap On Sistah). She also belongs
to Mocha Memories, an online support group on MSN and is an active member
to 2Peas message board (Username "Mama of Twins").
Besides scrapbooking, Alraynita loves to shop, especially for scrap supplies.
She also likes spending time with her family and friends. She wears many
hats here at Windy City -- she is a Team Member, an Instructor, Design Team
Coordinator, and is on the Design Team. Al also aspires to one day be published
in any of the popular scrapbook publications.
You may find out more about Alraynita on her blog at
www.inspiring2be.blogspot.com
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Angela "Angie"
Angie started scrapbooking in the fall of 2002 in an effort to record
her newborn daughter's life. Six years later, she continues to be an avid
scrapbook artist and has completed over fifteen albums for her family. Her
style leans more towards clean and simple lines, but she loves to try out
new embellishments and techniques on her layouts, especially the use of
machine stitching, felt, fabric, chipboard, and ribbon. She has taken classes
at local scrapbook stores, the Great American Scrapbook convention, and
Creating Keepsakes University and looks forward to sharing her passion for
the art of scrapbooking with classes at Windy City Scrapbooking. Aside from
scrapbooking, she has a Ph.D. in History from Loyola University and is growing
a business photographing children and families. Her photography blog is:
www.angelaschlater.typepad.com
and her personal blog is:
www.thatissocrazy.blogspot.com.
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About
Christina
Prior to opening WCS, Christina was an elementary school teacher for
7 years both in the city and suburbs. Although she misses the children,
opening her own business -- a scrapbook store -- has been her passion for
a few years. Besides scrapbooking, her other hobbies include traveling,
scuba diving, listening to 80's new wave, and supporting her favorite team
in town -- the Cubs!!
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About
Deanna
My name is Deanna, and I am
fairly new to scrapbooking. I am a chiropractor in my professional life,
and a scrapbook junkie in my personal life. I graduated from Bradley University
with a B.S. in Biology and Psychology. After that I went directly to the
National College of Chiropractic in Lombard. I decided after so many years
of left-brain activity that I needed to wake up the right side of my brain.
My landslide journey into scrapbooking began in late December 2004 when
I made the simple statement to myself, "I think I'll make my own Christmas
cards next year." When I started researching info for that, I was bombarded
with all of the great scrapping info and products out there! In January
of 2005 I took my first class at Windy City Scrapbooking with Alison - "Invitations
and More". After that class and being in the store for the first time I
was hooked! In the coming months I took every class that time and money
would allow! And in June 2005 I became a team member at Windy City where
I can now be completely engulfed in my habit! I've now come full circle
and in February of 2006 I will begin teaching some classes at Windy City
Scrapbooking! I'm looking forward to learning and teaching new and exciting
ideas and techniques!
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About Jen
I have had a passion
for scrapbooking for most of my life. I started out by putting clippings
and pictures in memo books I think when I was about 10. I started scrabooking
when I was 14 and I have not looked back. I love the feelings and memories
I get when I look through all of my completed scrapbooks.
I have been married to my Highschool sweetheart since August of 2002 and
we are looking forward to starting a family in the near future. We moved
here to Chicago in May of 2006 from Traverse City, Michigan and we are really
enjoying it here!
Besides scrapbooking I enjoy traveling, surfing the internet and being a
moderator at www.lifetimemoments.com
, reading, photography and Baseball. GO CUBS!
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About Krista
I began my love of scrapbooking
7 years ago, when my son was 1 year old. After being a dangerously frequent
customer for two years, I began working at Windy City Scrapbooking in June
2006. I enjoy getting to know other scrapbookers and helping them find products
or brainstorm creative ideas. I have been lucky to have layouts published
in Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers and Scrapbook Trends. I have also enjoyed
winning some page layout contestsone prize was $1000! Most of all, I enjoy
the creative process and recording special events, personality traits and
family history for my children.
I have been married for 15 years and have two children, Patrick, 8 years
old; and Caroline, 4 years old. We live on the north side of the city. My
husband and I have enjoyed many international travels, including Papua New
Guinea, Vietnam, Morocco, Peru, Europe and Central America. Our most exciting
two trips were to Siberia, Russia to adopt our daughter.
Prior to "retiring" 4 years ago, I was a Hospital Administrator at a large
Chicago hospital. I have a Bachelors degree in Biology and an M.B.A. and
an M.H.A. (Master's in Hospital Administration.) I enjoyed my career, but
I love having the time at home to devote to my family (and scrapbooking!)
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About Melissa
Scrapbooking is my creative release in a life of hectic schedules and
loud children. I have been scrapbooking since my college days when I helped
my sorority sister create an album for a friend. Scrapbooking has evolved
a lot since then; so has my style and technique! Beyond traditional scrapbooking
I also like to create home decor, greeting cards, mini albums, and will
even scrapbook digitally. Working at Windy City Scrapbooking allows me to
keep on top of the current trends and techniques. I also expand my knowledge
by attending conventions such as Creating Keepsakes University and taking
classes with industry leaders (a.k.a. scrapbook celebrities). I can then
in turn bring the latest and greatest to you in my classes and custom projects.
I graduated from Bradley University with a B.S. in Marketing. After spending
the next several years at a large consulting firm in Internet quality assurance,
I left my professional life to raise my family. I now have a beautiful family
and fun travels that are great subjects to scrapbook. You would think I
would have lots of time to scrapbook being a stay-at-home mom but sadly
the opposite is true. However, that just means I enjoy my scrapbooking time
that much more and it truly is a form of relaxation.
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About
Sesil
Sesil has been scrapbooking
for the past six years. She has seen & tried out many techniques in the
past six years and loves to share her knowledge to everyone that is willing
to learn. Besides scrapbooking, she is an avid rubber stamper and paper
crafter. With the arrival of her first child she enjoys the time being a
mother and exploring her hobby of scrapbooking and rubber stamping.
Besides scrapbooking, Sesil enjoys
reading, surfing the web and playing with her daughter Samantha. She also
is married to her best friend Robert.
Prior to working at Windy City
Scrapbooking she was an Event Coordinator for a local public affairs firm
in Chicago.
Sesil on TwoPeasinaBucket
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About
Susan
I have been scrapbooking for as long as I can remember!! I have a very
simple style of scrapbooking but I love the finished look. I also enjoying
making cards and stamping.
I am lucky to be married to my college sweetheart and we have one beautiful
child, Evan who is our world. When not chasing after Evan I also enjoy reading.
My husband and I play sports together as well-volleyball, softball and
floor hockey. We enjoy being outside.
Windy City is such a fun place to be at I feel so lucky to work with
a wonderful bunch of woman.
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