Beautiful Bags

A while ago I wrote on the LSBS Website that I had bought some patterns from the very talented Janelle Wind - well from her collection ..... I wondered really if I was going craze as I need another thing to do like a hole in the head!!!

I purchased them from Patchwork Plus for $15 each - and they don't charge postage

The materials for Thelma's Day Out were purchased from Spotlight (which was okay but not a great range) but then I remembered a store nearer to me - called Addicted to Fabric.

So last Sunday I went to the store wondering if they had patchwork materials (I couldn't remember it had been so long since I had been there). Well their fabric collection was awe inspiring..... it took me 20 mins to figure out a few fabrics and I will be back for more.

But I have had such fun sewing these and they are really lovely and the patterns are so good Janelle writes them well.

So here there are..... my version of them

Holly's Bouquet
Black denim and red patchwork print

Thelma's Day Out
Japanese inspired prints and tiny green check

I have bought a couple of gorgeous fabrics for Hai Pei - my son's girl friend for the Holly's Bouquet Bag and I am still wondering about one for Jess ..... maybe I will cover an art journal for her instead which might be a lot more her style.

Thanks Janelle for such great patterns - what fun they are to do!

Love
Carol

I am third and so happy with that

When you are in a competition with the most amazing tallented scrappers in the universe (I was going to say work but it wasn't big enough)And you come third - you have to be pretty stoked!!!

So here are the places
5th - DebK
4th - the awesome Lisa Pate
3rd - yours truly - me!!
2nd - Kayla Renee
1st - the sublime Beccyb

I am over the moon that I came 3rd and really the work was so awesome I have to be delighted with that - and I am

Thanks Scrap Therapy for the awesome competition and congrats to all the winners - we did great

Love
C

Make Believe Masters

Hi All

The Scrap Therapy Make Believe Masters is announced tomorrow night - so this is a short post to pop in my entries to this competition...... I thought I would share. Luckily for me people voted and I am a finalist in 4 out of the 5 sections - which is pretty good I think. So I am rather pleased just for that!

This was the criteria......
Criteria 1
Create a single layout dedicated to your greatest achievement in life.

My greatest Achievement

Criteria 2
Scrap a double layout using more than 5 photos
Please note- this means a minimum of 6 photos!

Bright eyes

Criteria 3

Create a single page about anything you like, but here's the catch - it can't be a 12in x 12in layout. Think outside the square and create an innovatively-shaped page.

Innocent Eyes

Criteria 4

Mystery project! Yes, that's right; we're leaving this one up to you. Show us what you are made of in any way you see fit, just make sure it's a project that showcases your talents and abilities.

True love is ageless

Criteria 5
Tell us about yourself! We want to know all about you- why you started scrapbooking, your style, where you find inspiration, your favourite technique and anything else you'd like to share with your fellow scrapbookers.

Your layout MUST include:-
A recent photo of yourself
Between 100 and 250 words of journaling!

Honeywine

Wish me luck...... winners are announced tomorrow night and I will let you know how I go!! Til then..... stay safe

Love
C

A bit of scrapping

I have been pretty busy lately scrapping away for a couple of days (on and off).

On Friday I was feeling a bit mediocre after a flu thing and unfortunately passed it on to Phil who felt very ordinary yesterday - so I scrapped for both days and finished a number of challenges which I had outstanding for two websites I am involved in.

I have also finished the Scrapbooking Masters challenge at Scrap Therapy which was great fun. When the winner is announced I will be able to pop the layouts up here too - but not til then!!

I never really enter the magazine masters challenges because usually they result in heaps of work on design teams and such and I simply don't have the time.

However I have been a guest designer on both LSBS and ST in June and July so that has been lots of fun!

Okay back to a few pics!!

Last Christmas - Jess and Jason
The tree is made of BG paper and hand pieced
Love this informal pic! Including Jason's toes

Some gorgeous scrapping girls I have got to know very well
Through the years we have shared good and bad
Laughter, joy, fun and tears
They are treasures in my life

Oh the memories - 30 years ago I was a bride!
How young I look - but then again I was only 21 I guess
Things have changed and life moves on
Thank goodness for precious photos which remind us of days
once lived and memories that these old photos evoke.

This is an oldie too.....
My brother Glenn, partner Heather and their kids 12 years or so ago
Zoe was not yet in the picture .....
I love this photo and have done a couple of layouts using it

Now the other thing that happened too this week is that I have bought 4 patterns (4!!) to make bags and journals etc from the gorgeous Janelle Wind Collection . I know I can sew and I have a sewing machine - but really - where am I going to find the time............ anyway we will see - I threw out all my fabrics a long time ago - so I guess there will be a bit of shopping next weekend for some great fabrics!!!

We are off to Scribbly Gums next weekend (Spotlight is on the way for the fabrics ;) and we will pop up tho fly screens for the windows of the sheds. So that will be good to see how things are faring - we are so dry - but it is wetter out there......

Family catchup time
Phil is busy doing an art course at Stratnairn run by the ANU. He is also kept busy with Scribbly Gums (we hope to get the occupancy certificate soon) and planning our holiday to NZ. Passports have to be done too - as both of ours have run out!
Me well potting, scrapping, work, family and friends, and soon to be sewing!

Mum and Dad are pretty well an thinking of a holiday in October when I will be away in NZ. I am hoping that they might go and see Cath and Bruce for a week - but it is up to them of course. We are all over winter - so cold here and Mum and Dad are looking forward to Spring when we can go out a bit more and they would like to pop into Scribbly Gums for a BBQ......

Ross and Sonya are in Gladstone and we will be catching up in person on Phil's Birthday Weekend. Sonya has got a new job and it is early days but she likes it so far and the people are great. Ross is working hard and often on weekends as he is on shift work.

Matt and Hai Pei are off to the Kaz Ball and I need to do a couple of adjustments to the outfit! Hai Pei is hoping to be successful in buying a house and has her sights set on one in Isaacs .... I think it is up this week!

Jess and Jason are going well working hard ..... Jess is doing more art, has a joint project with Hamish at the moment and Jason is involved heavily with Canberra Riders.

I am hoping that Sue (cousin) might make it up sometime this year for a catch up and we will definitely pop up to Dubbo next year for a look. Great to have her in our lives again.

Life is great ...... see you soon

Love
C

A surprise at the conference

I cannot believe that it has been 5 weeks since I posted - there has been a lot going on and I guess we have been busy with life - how hard it is to remember just what but I am sure it was important at the time.

So what is happening here in our world.....

Well as the heading says - a surprise at the conference! It was going to be a quiet conference - I was there with our GP from the clinic and thinking about things as I waited with her at reception. Then out of the blue a blond haired woman asked if I was Carol - of course I said yes - and she introduced herself as Sue - my cousin Sue - my Dads niece!! Well I am glad she recognised me - I wasn't so observant and we haven't seen one another for almost 30 years.....

In fact today would have been my 30th wedding anniversary - (if I didn't get divorced) and her two oldest Kellie and Penny were my flower girls. That is pretty amazing! Anyway lots of water has flowed under the bridge and 30 years have passed..... many things have changed. But it was so good to catch her up again and hopefully we will meet again this year.

So I am sending this link to Sue and Di and so hello and hope to catch up!!!

Wollongong was a lovely break on the weekend and I really enjoyed it..... it was sunny, windy and cold! I have never stayed there before but I rather liked it. The room was very small for two people but seeing we were out most of the time we didn't really notice.

On the way back we went to the Kiama blowhole - I mean who doesn't do that??? But while everyone was looking at the blowhole we were intently watching the whales blowing water and playing off shore. That was pretty awesome - I just love nature - it never ceases to amaze me.

The other thing that we are doing is arranging a 4 week break in NZ. We are hoping to catch up with all while we are over there (and I have to look at a detox rehab while we are there - so I will be able to get my airfares courtesy of the govt through tax......). gotta love that! We will be booking sometime this week! And we both need new passports too - should be a great break though and as it is end of year, budgets, reporting and annual report time I will be happy to have a break when these are over!

We are looking forward to catching up with Ross and Sonya in September too.... they are now in Gladstone and having a great time - we look forward to catching up with them and enjoying a bit of the area. Phil will then travel to Brsissy to see his Mum.

The other thing I did recently was decide to buy some furniture with Kevin's money and I have set up my scrapping room - It is much more organised now and tidy - lets see for how long.... I am loving the space - and because I paint, scrap, do mixed media and work on the computer (or play) this room gets really messy...... I now have heaps more storage and I love it!!


Desk, storage and bits - love this!

Love green so these baskets from Howard's Storage World were fab!!
And what is a scrap space without a candelabra

My desk - well one of three - the others are still in their boxes!!
Note heater under the table - so need this!

Take some plastic cups (4 for $2)
Punch a hole in them and hang on a curtain rod
Verrrrrry convenient
And even more important - stops stuff from getting lost!