It's been one of those days...

The big picture, Spawn of True scrap and eggs with funny faces (shhhh don't tell the kids)

Why is it when I'm having one of those "I have a lot going on" days, and I rush into the supermarket to buy what seems like 3 months worth of groceries, including eggs, but let me show you those later, that I get stuck walking behind a wander-across-the-aisles-can't-get-past-no-matter-how-hard-I try lady slowly browsing 15 types of everything because she has time?
And when I turn around and rush back down the aisle in the hopes of getting to the end and up the other side before she decides which laundry powder to purchase, she somehow beats me to the end?

Anyway.  Enough complaining.  It could be worse.  I could be an egg.  Like these ones I bought today and put in my fridge ready for the kids to find on Sunday (pancake day) when I am away teaching in Melbourne...

 

So.  Tomorrow I'm off to Melbourne, Paul is home with the kids.  And the eggs.  Shhh don't tell them about the eggs.

When I get back it'll be time for this event to open for registration (we're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!) The SPAWN of True Scrap.  The event that has all the fun of a super-monsterous-amazing convention or retreat, but you can do it all from home with everything you need, including the jammies which you can stay in all day.  15 top teachers (I'm included in the line-up again, happy about THAT!) presenting classes and the event includes make n takes and other cool stuff as well.  CLick here for info.  And the video which tells you a whole lot more than I can tell you on this lil' blog.

(BTW if you purchased True Scrap last time you should have recieved an email from Lain with a super cheapo offer for the Spawn of True Scrap - email her if you didn't get that offer!)

My class is something I love - here is the sneak, full details up soon!
 

And WELCOME welcome to those of you that have come here from the Big Picture Classes Big Festival!  It's my day today!  And I leave the country.  Don't take it personally, I love that you checked in, leave me a comment and say hi and I'll say hi back at'cha when I get home! 

Alrighty.  Bags to pack.  I'll let you know how the egg thing went next  week.  In the meanwhile, check out the True Scrap video and I'll leave you with a layout created for the Aussie Scrap Source blog.  I tried my very best to have a go at the fabulous amazing style that Finnibair is so well known for.  I enjoyed the proccess, but don't know if I'll go there again.  It's not quite me,. (journaling is on the tag).  It included everything weird and wonderful I could lay my hands on, including the tab from the can of diet coke I was drinking at the time.

Laters!

 

 

Summary on Sunday. Well, Monday.

Summary on Sunday - well it's Monday but functioning was an issue yesterday (thank you Lynda) so Monday it is.

I'm feeling calm.  My to-do list is being ticked off slowly.  I am under control.  I don't usually feel calm, but less procrastination and better use of time has been my focus lately.  It seems to be paying off.

I'm seeing a sign above my desk that says "Let's get drunk and eat donuts", placed there by my hubby in an attempt at sarcasm.  My appreciation for the sign goes about as far as the appreciation for the offer of raw eggs and a fish milkshake yesterday morning. My husband is so thoughtful.

I'm thinking about Christchurch.  Six months on. This time last year I was close to leaving for Sth Africa and the first of the September earthquakes hit 3 days before I left.  I remember speaking to my classes in Sth Africa about how sad I was to leave my broken little country.  Little did we know what was to come.

I'm wondering how long before I start to see signs of hayfever in my home.  My windows are covered in pollen and my hubby wrote "spring is here" in the pollen dust on my mailbox.  I love you, pollen, you tell me summer is coming.  I hate you pollen, you get up my nose.

I'm hearing Adele.  Again.  Enough of Adele. E.nough.

I'm considering writing a letter to the Handi towel company.  They never completely rip off the roll properly, unless you use two hands.  And who has two hands when ripping a handi towel off?  There is usually mess involved, who has two hands spare?  That's not handy. 

I'm creating samples for South Africa.  I'll be away for 5 days in Melbourne, I'm home for 6 days, then away to Sth Africa for 12 days.  Organisation is a priority. 

I'm worrying about my camera.  Undecided on what to do.  I have a 400D.  I'm not a photographer.  I use auto and only ever have a 18-55mm lens on my camera.  But I'm going to Sth Africa.  I remember last year feeling  a little inadequate with my little lens and camera with everyone around me using these big amazing lenses and knowing what they are doing and I didn't really take pics.  Those in the know - should I be investing in a better lens? If you could only buy one - what would it be? Recommendations?

I'm also thinking forward to the end of this week to my Melbourne classes.  I'm still getting bookings coming in.  If you know anyone else that wants to book in, I stop checking my emails on early Thursday morning.  I won't have email access in Aussie.  How I will cope remains to be seen. 

And lastly, I'm inspired by Stacey Young.  I found myself lost in her blog on Saturday while finishing off some pages for a Big Picture workshop - Double Take.  What a gorgeous little Aussie treasure she is.  You can see her inspiration in the twine circles in these sneaks from a page I created for the workshop.

Enjoy your Monday.  Laters.

 

 

 

Summary on Sunday

The hunter has returned.  Paul has just walked in the door after 4 days away.  Poor man only made it 2 steps in the door before I started telling him everything that has gone on for the last four days in his absence, I've had no adult company, what do you expect - the impatient look on his face tells me he is not concerned with the fact I could tell Braden hadn't brushed his teeth because it was a new tube of toothpaste and it hadn't been used.  Maybe later he will want to hear?

So the house is back to status quo.  We are all home and enjoying the last minute sunshine before "the once in a lifetime weather event' that is predicted.  Time for a quick summary on Sunday before settling in to a beanbag in the sunshine to finish that important toothpaste story.

I'm seeing a tidy office.  Tidy is unusual.  The calm before the storm that is the week's work ahead.  Is this the once in a lifetime weather event they are predicting?

I'm hearing the wind outside.  Windier than windy thing that is really really windy.

I'm wondering why Farmbake cookies are so small these days.  They aren't even cookies anymore.  They are bite sized bits of cookie. 

I'm reading , well actually I'm not reading.  I finished a book last night - not a very good one.  Paul is trying to get me to read 'The Confession' by John Grisham.  I don't traditionally find myself drawn to male authors.  Jury is out on whether to start this one.

I'm creating dinner in the crockpot.  Corned beef.  Perfect for a blustery winter's day.

I'm enjoying the feeling of being on track with my work.  I have a lot to do but I am on schedule.  It's eerie.

I'm linking you up with True Scrap II - The Spawn of True Scrap.  I'll be teaching at this event - teachers are being announced over the next few days.  

I'm also linking you with Super-Secret Guide to Fast Scrapbooking.  And wondering if it is something I'd benefit from myself.  Because in the 12 years that I have been scrapbooking, the words 'fast' and 'scrapbooking' have never gone together.  Oh super secret guide to fast scrapbooking, what super secrets do you have?

And lastly I'm linking you to Twist the Creme Egg in a Bar.  Is it just me or does an Easter Egg lose it's magic when it is available all year around?  And in a bar?  It's just not right, surely?

I'm leaving you with some pics I took while I was in Wairakei lately.  Abby has just seen them and asked me "Why do I look so angry at you?"  I don't know Abby.  Perhaps because you are seven and you are a girl. 
Laters.

 

I've been creating..

I've been creating on this cold foggy Auckland day.  I've been mixing and matching papers.  Curling and crafting.  Cutting and arranging.   Singing to Dido while watching the kids play outside until it got too cold.   Prima-licious - the sequel - my most popular class, is now redesigned with new papers, is ready to ship to Australia for the girls at Paperific in Melbourne. 

It's been a successful day.  Class complete.  Kids happy.  Warriors won.  Leaving you with some sneak peeks and settling in with a book.  Laters.

 
 

Summary on Sunday

It's been one of those sit-down Sundays.  Actually it's even been one of those drag-the-bean-bag-in-front-of-the-fire-and-have-a-little-sleep Sundays.  I've started at least 1800 little jobs and finished none of them.  I'm currently living in half-done-job-land.  I may have to call on some kids to help.

Despite my best intentions, I haven't blogged for a while, so I thought I'd do a Sunday summary.

I'm feeling: Content with my stay-at-home-Sunday

I'm seeing: Many half done jobs around me.

I'm hearing: Two children playing down the hallway.  Spare mattress jammed inbetween two walls to create a hut.  Giggling and laughter has been filtering down this way for an hour now.  Cheap entertainment.

I'm wondering: How many episodes of Bear Grylls Man vs Wild' that one 12 year old can watch before he grabs a backpack, runs outside and heads for the wilderness to live on bugs and sleep in trees.

I'm reading: A note above my desk that says "Hi Mum I lv u!" with a smiley face.

I'm creating: Tupperware Custard Squares.

And I'm cringing everytime I hear the Rugby World Cup countdown.  We leave New Zealand the day the World cup starts.  It'll be interesting to be on tour around Sth Africa with an Aussie and many South Africans during the Rugby World Cup.  My poor hubby.

I get many emails asking where I'm teaching and when.  Since it's a Sunday summary, I thought I'd list them all here. 

25 August - Big Picture Classes, Big Idea Festival (free!), blog post here.

26-27 August     Melbourne Paperific.  Blog Post here.

8-19 September, South Africa, website here.

22 Sept - 19 Oct "Double Take!" New workshop with May Flaum at Big Picture Classes.  Blog post here.

AND for those of you waiting on Autumn Escape details, we are very close to announcing the headline teacher for next year.  Hold tight!

Leaving you with some layouts created for BasicGrey.  These are simple layouts compared to my usual creations, I had a tonne of fun with the new lines to create these though. 
Laters