It's been one of those days...

Ace Ventura, Buttons and Lightening.

And the worst movie ever award goes to "Ace Ventura Junior - Pet detective".  Taking a successful Jim Carrey movie - don't enjoy the man myself but he has a great following - and trying to remake the same movie without him was real ambitious.  I thanked God all the way through I wasn't stuck in a cinema and I could at least, make excuses to get off the couch and relieve the awful monotony.

First day of holidays. 
Tasks for the day... take all Mummy's buttons, sort and arrange into rainbow colour order.
(no you can't have the TV, playstation or computer on).

Followed by drawing pictures of lightening bolts. Why lightening bolts?  We've had a few thunder-lightening type storms over the past week or so.  that's an awfully colourful lightening bolt there, Abby, but my favourite part?  He attempt at spelling the words.  Clever chicken.

 

Sad days.  I found out today that Cadbury changed their dairy milk recipe.  I didn't actually shock horror like the last packet of freddos I had - I guess these news articles shows why.

Looks like CK has sold...

Please check out this link - the Creating Hope Blog.  Lots of artists - we are hoping up to 100 artists creating to this one piece and every is able to buy raffle tickets.  I don't get involved in a lot of this kind of stuff but couldn't turn this one down.

Aussie Scrap Source has some new challenges on their blog.  They involve colour challenges and words - this one went up recently.

And this was my contribution.  Ya know, when Pink Paislee first appeared on the scene, I wasn't sure about them.  They have quickly become a favourite.

    

This week is a whole lotta BasicGrey creating for the CHA booth, and a whole lotta class kit packing for SENZ.  And a whole lot of avoiding the TV and playstation.  Good luck to me.

laters.

Just quickly

Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler.  Anyone seen it?  Oh my.  Loved it. 
Sometime during this coming school holidays promise me you will gather your children with a sinful amount of hot fish'n'chips opened up in the newspaper on the lounge floor and laugh til can't laugh anymore.  I'm not a huge fan of Adam Sandler but this may have changed my mind.

Feel free to return the favour in recommending other DVDs.  We also watched the dragon story, Eragon, and Brady was enthralled.  Glued.  Amazed.  Anyone know of any other movies like the above?

And of course the movies this past weekend were a result of heavy rain warnings and near-on a thousand lightening strike storm coming over.  As soon as someone says heavy rain warning I head , well actually I head straight for the nerd weather blogs, but second of all I head for the DVD and duvet.  And cuddles from the kids.  LIke I need an excuse.

Just a quick hi from me today.  I'm head-down working on Big Picture Scrapbooking Workshop, Point of view, and projects with new products from BasicGrey - CHA is only a few weeks away.  It's head down creating booth work for me this time of year.

Laters

The downhill slide to summer

Are we there yet?  July?  It certainly feels like it, the sun is barely making it over the neighbour's trees on it's lonely trek across the sky , a sure sign that we are in the depths of winter.  As if the 8 degree days weren't a clue.  Good news though, is that we have passed the shortest day.  Celebrated in our house with a few drinks (and a few drinks more just to make sure we well and truly passed the shortest day, we can't do anything by halves) and a toast to the downhill slide to summer.  Through all that nasty equinox wind and rain. 

State of Origin tonight.  Despite being Queensland supporters, we'll be screaming for the Blues tonight.  There is nothing like a one-all result to make the final game somethin' special.  Go the Blues

Random fact - did you know that the NZ ministry of Health is on Twitter?  Regarding the Swine Flu epidemic?  Iknow.  Totally random.

Another more fun and entirely more relevant fact - Cosmo Cricket is having a DT call.  I love the quote at the top of their page.  "If we were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters"
And did you know that Cosmo does fabric.  Ahh yes, apparently so.  Scroll down their blog and read for yourself.

And a new scrapbooking company, here.  Shabby Green Door.  I've taken quick peek - long enough to be told 3 times my browser was out of date.  Yes, Shabby Green Door, my browser is indeed out of date.  As is my wardrobe as I fight tooth and nail to avoid the tights-boots-long-top-with-belt trend... it's Ok.  Accept me as I am (in my jeans and sweatshirt, no sign of tights-boots-long-top-with-a-belt) and let me see your gorgeous new product. 

Leaving you with a layout now to go watch that league game - go the blues.

This one from the latest Tarisota Collection. Laters

Classes. Senz. And the policeman that made my day.

 Code Yellow Pandemic.  Who would have thought when I was pulling together extra supplies for the Bird flu 3 years ago that it would be the pigs that finally broke through.  I'm sure some people think I was silly stocking my pantry to unimaginable levels, just incase.  I'm grateful I repeated the process in recent weeks now as I still have sick kids home.  I can't get to the supermarket.  It's just a regular winter cold and I believe they are past contagious and are well enough to be out and about but I certainly don't need the sideways looks from other shoppers if they cough or sound like they have any sort of lurgy.  So at home we stay :o)

Talking of code yellow - I had to go to the labs today and get some blood taken for tests and the place was covered with 'Code Yellow' notices.  They want us to wear a mask if we feel sick.  There is a pile of them available.  They want us to sit 1 metre apart.  It's really too bad if you wanted to read while you were waiting, all magazines and books have been taken away as they are a meeting place for wannabe swine flu germs. 

(Looking for a fun slide into this next topic but the one I thought of wasn't really appropriate ...)
I got stopped by the police yesterday.  Checkpoint.  I rolled my window down and looked at him, he looked at me and said "Beautiful" and waved me on.  I admit his vision was through the windscreen where perhaps my warrant sticker was and he wasn't quite looking at me in the eye when he talked but hey... I'll take away from it what I will.

Anyone after some stamp drawers?  I've got some on trademe.

SENZ!!  Tickets are on sale, classes are open for registration, in fact three of my six possible classes have SOLD OUT already - registration only opened recently, so if you are thinking of joining me, make it a quick visit to the SENZ website!!  I'm joining my fab friend Jill Geraghty Groves in teaching at SENZ, the Friday list of classes is here, the Saturday list of classes is here, and the sunday list of classes is here.

I'll leave you with a run-down of what we are both teaching...(I won't show you the ones that have sold out!)

laters

'The Gift Class'
By Nic Howard
Friday 2.30-4.30
Saturday 2.30 - 4.30pm

 

If you are looking to create something special for someone, or if you just love to create gorgeous projects for yourself, then this class is for you.  Join Nic Howard as she takes an everyday item and turns it into something fabulous, showing you just how easy it is to create something special when you're looking for a gift.  You'll walk away from "The Gift Class" with a completed altered composition book and a little set of gift cards to match. You'll be set for a present for that next special occasion or shhhhhhh keep them yourself, we won't tell. 

All you can crEATe, Card Buffet

by Nic Howard
Friday 12.00 -2.00 Class FULL
Saturday 9-11am
(Note this class has new content!)

 

Join Nic Howard in most popular class - the Prima Card buffet!  The original card buffet has had amazing reviews all over New Zealand - but at SENZ we are adding our own twist.    Imagine  2 hours creating as many cards as you can possibly get done with gorgeous papers, lace, flowers, and the 'Buffet of Prima goodness'...all laid out complete with crystals,  leaves, buttons, ribbon, bling and flowers in every colour you can cr-EAT-e with!  New additions to this class for SENZ include Heidi Swapp and Tim Holtz products and a few cards just for the guys.  If you've done the card buffet before, you'll want to do it again with the new products being offered.   It's certainly different from your average class,  it's a little bit of everything ... it's fast paced, fun and sure to inspire!  You'll receive sketches for a possible 20 different cards - we'll complete 6 in class and you'll leave with plenty of technique and product inspiration to keep on creating for hours.

 

And some temptation from Jill...
Butterflies Art Box
by Jill GG

Friday 9.00 - 11.00am and Saturday 12.00 - 2.00pm
This gorgeous 3-D art box is made with Collections products and would make a wonderful gift for someone or home decor item for yourself.

 

Tiny Houses

By Jill GG

Friday 12- 2pm

Sunday 12.2pm
Aren't these just darling? Using Collections chipboard and German Scrap products to create a tiny house (a few inches in size).
Make some more at home and create a little village, there are 5 different houses in the set or put the string on them and make it into the most amazing Christmas Tree Decoration.
 

 

A Page in History
By Jill GG

Friday 2.30 - 4.30

Sunday 9.00 - 11.00am
Will feature papers and embellishments from Collections Elements.  Very vintage with the vintage mannequin in finely detailed dress.  Looks fabulous with a sepia photo (6" x 4").

 

Layout class: On the Beach
By Jill GG
Saturday 9am - 11.00am
Using a 7x5 photo learn how to use ephemera including a wax seal on your layouts. Also featured is a hidden journalling or photo tag and a bookplate.
 

Layout Class: Magic Happens
By Jill GG
Saturday 2.30pm - 4.30pm
Use 7Gypsies papers, Autumn Leaves Twill, and Chipboard Scrapware to create this double photo layout. All Levels.

hanging out at home

We've done nothing all weekend and it's been fabulous.  It's been a long time since we had nowhere to go and nothing to do so the lack of a list was a welcome break.  As a family we all slept in until past 8.30am on both days too.  With winter rain pouring outside and the fire on inside it was fun to just hang out together.  When did we last do this?  Or rather, when did we last do this without feeling like we needed to kill each other?

Back to school tomorrow of course, although I have 2 kiddies with coughs and it might mean I'm sharing the fireside tomorrow.  We've had a newsletter home from school in the past week to ask us to make sure if kids are sick to keep them at home,  along with asking us to keep kids at home for 7 days if returning from overseas holidays.  I'm lucky I work from home but my thoughts certainly are with those that work away from home with the disruptions that are bound to happen soon with the Swine Flu. 

SENZ, Auckland classes are being released over the next week - keep an eye on this site from Thursday for class descriptions and times, I am teaching three classes at the event.  Of course if you buy a 3 or 2 day pass you get earlier access to registering classes.  

Only four more weeks to register for my Big Picture Scrapbooking 4 week workshop, point of view.  It starts July 9th.  Registrations are hot for this - I'm excited - there is nothing like the buzz of the BPS message baords, emails, work going into the gallery etc during a workshop.  Bring it.

Exciting stuff for the Autumn Escape with the 3rd tutor being confirmed - we are just figuring out some final details but should be able to let you know the lovely lady that will be teaching alongside myself and Rachel Tucker soon!  Watch the Autumn Escape blog!

Tarisota gallery is up - this is the collection that all the Tarisota ladies made up together.  The message thread was huge with alsorts of ideas and then eventually French Market was born.  And I looooved it. 

With that said, it's time to go create something amazing for dinner.  Braden made my night last week by saying "Mum, I have nooo idea what I'd do without your cokking" while he was eating dinner.  Oh lordy, his future wife is in so much trouble.

LEaving you with a layout celebrating Jacob and ten years old.  Made with that fabulous Tarisota French Market kit.

laters.

ice. ice.ice.

If it wasn't so annoying, it'd be funny.  I'm sitting here in the office with a scarf wrapped around my 'mouse' hand, as it is FREEZING.  It's nearly 10.30am and there is still ice outside.  The Timaru ladies would be proud, look what we woke up to. 

3rd frost in a row, ice was over everything, including all the rooves on all the houses, I can't remember it like this for so long...

here is the one from Wednesday...

 

 

I don't remember ice like this since I was a kid.  Of course back then it was sooo much worse... we used to walk 6 miles to school in the snow and if our feet got cold we had to... noone's going to believe that story, right?  My thoughts now go to the ladies I met in Canada that live with snow for 5 months of the year.  Digging the car out of the driveway type snow.  6 foot banks of snow each side of the road as they drive anywhere, type snow.  Amazing.

So I sit here trying to get some assignments done, but my mojo is frozen.  I have big Picture Scrapbooking assignments to finish, as well as Aussie Scrap Source assignments and I have the new BasicGrey here to do some samples with.
I'm also teaching at SENZ this year so I'm creating those samples.  I have three classes half created for that...as well as a few other things.

Autumn Escape - it did pass sell out point!!  We didn't tell anyone, we just quietly suspended registration for a bit there as we were in hot negotiation with the venue but we have now managed to secure about an extra 20 spots.  So we have a new maximum to work to, which is a relief as we have a great bunch of ladies from all over New Zealand (right down to Timaru and Christchurch) as well as Australia!  I have heard some feedback that some people don't think registration is open to the everyone, but only those that attended this year - not so!  This year's participants got a few days prior notice but registration is well and truly open to everyone! 

Alright, leaving you with a tag i created for Tarisota... I got all vintage with their latest kit - gallery goes up on the 8th but here is a sneak peek.

Laters.

 

A world of black and white.

I often wonder what I'm going to do for laughs when my kids grow up enough to stop wanting to talk to me.  Paul and I sat after dinner watching Abby dance her way around the room to random 1990's videos - whatever happened to Nenah Cherry? - including her version of the newly popular shuffle dance the kids all seem to be doing these days.

She then posed like a ballerina in full curtsey - well as beautiful as a girl in pyjamas that have dinner all over them can be - and declared that she is glad she lives in the present, because in the past there was no colour.  "Everything was sooo black and white, black and white clouds, black and white skiiiin, black and white clothes, everything, everything was black and white"

I questioned where the colours came from.  One day the clouds were black and white, and everything around us was black and white and what happened? Apparently coloured clouds came across the sky and then the colours came.  that was the first time I asked anyway.  I tried to get more information on soemthing I clearly had missed when I studied the earth's history but she shrugged and said "i don-know" and skipped off out of the room.

Seriously, how will I get my kicks once these children have locked themselves in their room and will only grunt to ask for dinner?

Autumn Escape is close to 3/4 full - we will sell out soon so please register if you intend to do so... and those of you that know people that were interested, ask them if they have registered!  We do have a maximum number we can go to!  Click here for info on registering!

Did I tell you all I have a 4 week workshop coming up for Big Picture Scrapbooking?  Point of View runs for 4 weeks from the 9th of July.  It has 4 weeks worth of handouts, including instructions for projects for each week, a lot of tips and tricks from me (as well as a few audio messages!) and a gallery of layouts from myself as well as talented ladies such as Suz Doyle, Trina McClune, Ginger Williams, and Hera Frei.  Hoping to see some of you there :o)

Alrighty... a layout.. this one didn't download out of my head as well as I had hoped, in fact I didn't like the way it turned out at all, the version in my head was way better - I think this is something that happens to everyone though so I can't be too disappointed.  Created with the May tarisota kit.

Laters

Orders

I've had orders.  They came in the form of a little girl carrying "The Power of One" book with a piece of toilet paper marking the page she was apparently up to.  Obviously, she is clever, she takes after her Mum, I was a six subject school C student but I don't recall reading Bryce Courtney at 5 years old...

"I need a bookmark, Mum, and I think you could make me one".

Sure - what kind of bookmark do you want?  What do you want on it?

"Oh you know, my favourite things.  Pictures.  Like of my favourite stuff.  You know, computers, playstations, love hearts, flowers, sausages, toys, cool layouts and lights that are square "- she was looking around the room at that point and was grasping for things to say, I think..."

Okaaaaay.  Sure thing... I'll do that this weekend, is that alright, Abby?

Yep - just let me know when it's done and I'll put it in my book.

The kid is ambitious.  I'll give her that.

So this week I found my mojo.  And for those of you that took the guess - pixie caramel is the answer and I try not to find my mojo in them.  I avoid them.  They are the new freddo frog and will be avoided at all costs.  They are the number 1 reason I could never move from New Zealand.  Number 2 reason being that I'm a homebody and couldn't stand being away from my stomping ground.

Unfortunately though, although I found my mojo and wanted to scrap, I have a love-hate relationship with my photos right now.  I love taking pics, I hate the download from camera-edit -figure out which ones I want and get them printed process.  So I just don't do it. And I use the same pics over and over.  And I now have thousands of unedited neglected pics on my harddrive and I've even stopped taking pics because I don't want to add them to the pile.
I think someone would make a fortune as a 'in home editor of photos".  Is there anyone that has been made redundant that has those skills?  I'd love someone to take all my pics and edit, name, sort and present them back to me all beautiful.  Seriously.  Money to be made.  A business to start up.
Anyone else feeling the same way?  A pixie Caramel might fix it.

A layout I created for Tarisota.  I saw this stamp of Princess Diana and just thought "Oh wow, if only she knew what was coming" 

oh and one last thing - for those of you that saw the gorgeous pic of the house made with Porcelain basicgrey at the Autumn Escape?  It's now been made into a class. Scrapbook Studio in Mt Wellington have Nickie Mouncey teaching her fabulous Porcelain house as a 2 part class - Fridays 5th and 12th of June at 10.30am!

laters

One year on

This time last year we were living with just tarpaulins between us and the weather outside.  We were huddled around an oil bar heater in a room the size of an average single bedroom.  I distinctly remember all moving with our dinner down to Jacob's room one night and sitting in there to eat dinner because it was too cold elsewhere.

So much has changed in a year.  I have three children at school now and freddo frogs are no longer my favourite. (Take a guess what are).  My commitments have been cut right back and I have time to think about what to make for dinner during the day instead of creating a 20 minute magical meal out of leftovers.  And we have a roaring fire.  And I'm certainly thankful for that.

Another thing we did a year ago?  We got two gorgeous kittens, now favourite members of the family.  Curled up at the end of beds during the day and harrasing the town by night. 

One year on..
laters

oh - Autumn Escape details being posted on the blog tomorrow night.  Keep watch!

It's been a bittersweet week...

Bittersweet for so many ways. The downfall of Memory Makers Magazine was the start.  Then the realisation that the Autumn Escape really was over for another year.  Post event crash, isn't that someone clever told me?  I couldn't find a cure for post event crash online so I invented one and it comprised of purchasing American Crafts Thickers online and watching Grey's Anatomy after 4 rums.  I'm not sure I'll enter my cure for post event crash in Wikipedia though.  I woke up Monday morning with a bigger credit card bill than the night before and a nagging headache that screamed "You should have drunk more water and less alcohol".  One can only but try.

Talking of Autumn Escape - here are a few pics...

 

I have heard * rumours * that the 2010 Autumn Escape is booked tentaively for the 16th, 17th, 18th of April 2010.  It's rumours of course, but time will tell... registrations should be open in the next week or so.  And we listened to all those feedback forms.  We are hitting for a full day on the Friday and more optional classes spread over 2 days.  Price will go up a little to account for the full day conference charges etc but not too much, we've been working hard to keep them down!  Watch the Autumn Escape Blog.!

In the mean-time, take a look at this video.  Ahhhh memories :o)

Thanks SO MUCH fabulous teacher, photographer and all round awesome lady, Kim Archer for preparing the video!

Leaving you with some images of Collections boxes from the latest Tarisota collection.  I made 2 of the smaller boxes into shaker boxes with beads and butterflies (again from Collections).  Then I used them as a front and back for a little book!  It's for Abby and has pics of her favourite treasures.  All tied with a pretty bow.  Fun to do, although it took me a few days trial and error before I worked out what I was actually doing. 

Thanks for the lovely comments on the previous post.  Onwards and upwards...