Pickles Patch

A whole New Year

2012-01-03T23:35:00.002+13:00

So 2012 is upon us...I cannot help but wonder what it will bring with it.
Check out this gorgeous Daily Truth ...A little Birdy told me email I received today from The Brave Girls Club today....

....Makes you think doesn't it!

If you like this as much as I do then pop over to Brave Girls .com and sign up to receive their Daily Truths letters direct to your inbox each day.

While on the subject of the year ahead check out my latest art work, which is a work in progress

While I was tyring to decide on what challenge I was going to put onto the NZ Paper chase blog I was given two great ideas from a couple of the ladies who take part in the challenges. Tanya Watson suggested a recipe challenge and Angela Knight suggested a Mini Book Challenge. Both great ideas...thanks ladies. I got to thinking and was inspired to create this mini book album cover and to use a recipe on the cover, only my recipe is for a "Happy Year", instead of a tasty treat!

I found a clothing tag, saved amongst my ever growing 'could be useful one day' stash and decided it would make a perfect title for my album...Life Space, pretty much sums up what my album is going to be about.

I hope by the time I get to the end of this year my Life Space album is going to be full of happy positive beautiful memories with more ups than downs and more triumph's than tragedy's. I also hope that YOUR year will be the same :-)

As I was saying some where near the beginning of this post.... this project began as my example for the latest challenge over at NZ Paper Chase. Check it out HERE...and feel free to join in. We'd love to see what you do! And please do join up to our Face Book page.

Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up (Official Lyric Video)

2012-01-03T18:27:00.000+13:00

Good Bye 2011

2011-12-30T23:28:00.002+13:00

The end of 2011 is not far off now. 2011 has been an interesting year I guess. Its had its up and its downs and I've had good days and really great days and some not so good days, and some really feel low days. But I'm blessed with beautiful friends and I have people around me who love me, and I live in a gorgeous country I have food to eat and clothes to wear and I have tomorrow to look forward to. I'm lucky and I know it.

In 2012 I'm going to embrace all that is good in my life and forget about all of the stuff that doesn't matter. I'm going to refuse to be sad and mope over things that never were, and the things that never can be. I'm going to stop hating being 45 and be thankful that I'm healthy and I'm going to continue to shed the few extra pounds that I want to shed. And yes I am going to do lots of positive thinking!!

Things will happen in your life that can't be stopped but that's no reason to shut out the world. There is a purpose for the good and for the bad.

Below are a few photos of Christmas at our house...

Waimate Rodeo, on the of 27th December saw Cam get his first ever Rodeo placing of 3rd, and his first lot of prize money of $171. Now our boy is extra keen to never give up this silly 'hobby'!

And on the 28th of December we went to another Rodeo, this time Omarama. Cam didn't bring home any winnings, but he had a pretty awesome ride, and he lasted the 8 seconds, and didn't get hurt! All good!!

Tomorrow Andrew and I might go to the pub and have a few drinks to see the new year in. I don't remember when the last time was that I went to the pub...a long time ago. Our children are all off doing their own thing. Aimee is at Coromandel Gold. Cam's spending New years with Abby and Cody will be doing what he loves to do...hunting somewhere out in there them hills. I am struggling just a little to get motivated with life now that our children have all left home...that's something I really need to embrace in the new year...getting used to being with me...LOL...I don't like it, my life kind of feels empty. I always thought Id love it when the children all left home. I'm so used to always having someone at home with me. But now on week days Andrew is not even at home and I have a few hours to myself in the afternoons...I hate it... but I know I will adjust, just need to give myself time I guess.

Happy New Year to all of my wonderful friends. I wish you all only the very best of everything!!

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Official Music Video)

2011-12-15T16:47:00.000+13:00

Visitors

2011-12-04T22:23:00.000+13:00

We had the pleasure of dear daughters company for a short while this weekend. Aimee brought her ten baby rats for a visit, along with mum and dad rat. So I just have to share a few photos with you.

These little fellows are 9 days old already

Dyni' (dad rat) is Aimee's pride and joy

I feel a scrapbook page coming on...not tonight though. need to get cleaned up ready for the busy week that lays ahead.

Fancy a December Challenge??

2011-12-03T23:51:00.002+13:00

Its been a little while since I've been a-scrapping. But after being inspired by Donna Oleary's blog last week I got to work and created this page and a sketch for our December Challenge over at NZ Paperchase.

I do not normally scrap me...but have had this photo hanging around for some time now so decided to do something with it.

Oh to be this young again!...

Our Challenge this month is to 'Mess it Up'

I have used paint on my page and left threads attached (instead of cutting them off neatly...

I have stamped and coloured ...

I have ripped and doodled, and generally just had fun!

Steph Milne from NZ paper Chase magazine has put this lovely prize up for grabs this time around...Prima Flowers and...

.... a Twiddlebitz shelf for you to get creative with.

Pop over to the Blog (Click HERE) and check out the details for our December Sketch Challenge..we would LOVE for YOU to play along with us!

See you there maybe??

Ages..and ages

2011-11-28T16:51:00.001+13:00

Its been ages since my last post! Life can get crazy and its easy to lose your way, then getting back to the things you enjoy is a huge struggle. 2011 is fast coming to a close and I have to admit that this year has been an odd kind of a year for me. Its been super busy with a handful, or two of 'stuggle' thrown in and a sprinkling of 'stuff ' from the past that come back to make life interesting. Sometimes 'interesting is good, then somethings its not so good. Sure makes you think though and reflect on where you are at in the big scheme of things!
Ive had the pleasure of getting to know some 'cyber friends' a little better. The lovely Kristi come to stay with us earlier this year and Ive gotten to know a lovely lady by the name of Annie a little better through emailing. Its a shame Annie lives so far away because Id love to meet this lady, she is an inspiration to me.
I have text chatted, and spoken on the phone to a very old friend from yesteryear, its nice to remember that I was young...once!
Anyway...back to the 'now'
Sometime ago I was asked to illustrate a book.I'm not good at saying, no..never have been, sometimes I curse myself for my inability to do so!! So I illustrated...lol this was a slow process for me. I love to draw, but always realistic drawings. I was given photos of people and animals and asked to animate them..shock horror!!
After many bin fulls of drawings and cursing and frowning at my attempts the job was finished and now the book has been published. Here's a sneak peek at the finished book...

First the cover

The first page...

Here is the Black witch dissolving...had many attempts before coming up with this one!

...and the very last page in the book.

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of meeting Cody's Hannah's mum and dad who come to NZ for a visit all the way from Germany. Thomas and Petina are such lovely people, so full of fun and 'sunshine'. And I stuck a deal with Thomas, I learn enough German so that when they return for their next visit in two years time I can have a conversation with them in German, and Thomas is going to improve his English...which, is very good already. So far I am doing okay...one new word every few days.I know I'm going to have to get a little faster to know enough to have a whole conversation!! Hannah is now on a plane home to spend Christmas with her family. We will miss her while she is gone. I do think we will have the pleasure of Cody's company at tea time though, and already Mash, (Hannah's dog) has appeared at our house and is settling in for a bit of a stay it would seem.

We have recently had another visitor as well, dear wee Max, who is son of Rachel and Barret, and grandson of my dear friend Robyn. This wee guy is so cute and it was a delight to get to spend a little bit of time in his company.

Our Garage is up and running and we are at week four! Sadly Andrew has been plagued by a pressure area just one week after opening and has had to be on bed rest for a good part of week two, and is now on bed rest again, for the same problem. Its looking like he may not get to the garage this week at all. Life does tend to dish out its fair share of 'issues'. Never mind though, tomorrow is another day and I'm ever hopeful that many bright moments will come this way.

One such bright spot come just last week when Camden gained the award of Top Student for the year in his Poly tech class. Today is his first day of being in paid employment. He was super excited to finally be getting the chance to work as a heavy machinery mechanic, I hope things keep getting better and better for him!

On a final note Aimee texted me on Friday morning to say her rat 'Dora" had produced eleven baby rats!!!! Hmmmmm I'm hoping she does not bring them all home for the holidays!!

Show Room done!

2011-10-16T23:41:00.001+13:00

Today, at long last I managed to finish off the show room at the garage. All that's left to do is the rest of the tidying up in the work room and a big clean-up out side. Tomorrow I'm taking the day off to tidy up around home, lawns and garden are very neglected and I need to launch myself into the box of projects I have received from Steph Milne, for the next NZ Paper Chase magazine. So much to do...so little time to do it all in!

Here are a few before and after shoots of the garage show room..... (sorry some will be repeats)

...I am very proud of my door...LOL, I had to 'bling' something up...I'm yearning to be back in my craft room now!

Dido - White Flag

2011-10-14T19:36:00.000+13:00

Gone Orange

2011-10-13T23:54:00.000+13:00

Just a very quick post before bed...Check out our orange!!!

Today I took the brush to the desk top as well.

Train Live at Daryl's House - Hey Soul Sister

2011-10-11T11:54:00.000+13:00

New Challenge

2011-10-08T23:26:00.001+13:00

Beverly Cunningham has designed the October Challenge over at the NZ Paper Chase Blog...if your a multi photo scarp'per then this is the challenge for you! Pop over to the blog and check out details and see the awesome prize that's up for grabs! (click on the sketch below)

It's been a huge week!

2011-10-08T00:02:00.000+13:00

Tonight I think I will sleep well. This week has been a busy one at the garage. At last I'm seeing improvements and thought Id share a few before and after photos with you,because I'm feeling very proud of my efforts!

Still have some painting to go in here....

Looking better isn't it. But just take a peek out of the show room door and look into the work room........

...this awaits for the weekend, so guess I should go and get some sleep!!!

2011-10-05T23:56:00.000+13:00

Wow, Its only Wednesday, the days are all rolling into one of late! I am still scrubbing and painting at the garage, progress is slow but sure!

In the weekend, between coats of paint I managed to flick together a quick page...just because I was worried I might forget how to scrapbook altogether if I didn't do something!

This page is rather a quick, messy one. Lots of spray, paint and ink!

I even managed to use my Cricut to cut out a boarder...had almost forgotten how to use that as well...had to blow the dust off it!!

Thank you for stopping by.

Birdy - Skinny Love [Official Video]

2011-10-05T20:25:00.000+13:00

Painting still

2011-10-04T23:51:00.000+13:00

Goodness me, I forgot what it was like to work this hard!!

After two weeks of slog we are beginning to notice an improvement at the garage...white walls again!

I spent Friday and Saturday painting the walls. And today I re-painted the floor. Tomorrow I get to scrub the stone piece of the floor before I polyurethane it...yay for a change!!

After the floor I'm going to add a splash of colour to the white...looking forward to painting on a fun colour!

Cannot wait for the finish...then I can sit in my room and craft again!

Junk...every where I look !!

2011-09-28T23:57:00.001+13:00

Its awesome to have great friends! Thank you Barry for the hard-yards you did today at the garage!

I spent the day in the 'showroom' washing down the walls so that I can paint them in the weekend...but we are not even half way through the clean-up yet...I only had to step out into the workroom to realise that!

Wow...just what are we going to do with all of the junk...that, I'm told is not junk at all?! (Looks like junk to me).

....Hmmm..not looking much better here either!

And then there is the lube bay.....

Angels on Canvas

2011-09-27T23:20:00.001+13:00

At last...I've found some 'mojo', but only thanks to a special cyber friend who challenged me to a swap a month ...or so, ago. This is the canvas I created for Carol, and like most of my work it has rather alot going on, so warning...loads of photos ahead!!

Originally the 'frame' of my reverse canvas was going to be white...but it just didn't work with the background somehow, so I got out my 'flat' and metallic paints, wax and texture paste and .....

...I made a huge mess. I even managed to forget that I had wax melting in my pan...until I turned to see it was pouring onto the carpet! I must say a special thank-you here to a friend who told me how to get it out of the carpet. Lay paper towels over the wax areas and gently iron over the top, until all of the wax has been absorbed into the paper. ( change the paper towels as the wax is absorbed). I really didn't think that would work but WOW...there is no sign of wax at all now, not even a stain.

Over the layers of lace, fabric, wax and paint I added some favorite embellishments

And I added an angel poem around the sides.

I made the little angel from paper clay and dotted the tulle bow with dots of kindy Glitz.

Must say cutting the birds nest in half caused me some grief, it really wanted to fall to piece's ...I was saved by my craft glue!

Thanks for looking!

Now pop over to Carol's blog and check out her amazing canvas creations!

Change's on our horizen

2011-09-25T23:32:00.000+13:00

Our Duntroon Garage stopped...just like that...on the 22.08.04, the day Andrew broke his neck. Ever since that fate'ful day there has been no operating garage in Duntroon, but that is about to change! Very exciting for Andrew as that garage was the love of his life! We are looking at re-opening on the first of Novemeber, all going to plan! First though there is a lot of cleaning up to be done...take a look.

...

Life has been busy these past seven years and the garage show room has been forgotten!

I have cleaned the windows for the first time in seven years (shame on me), took me several hours, over two days!!

I guess now that day-light saving has arrived I will have an extra hour in the day, just as well because I'm going to need all of the hours I can get my hands on!

Wish me luck!

Avalanche City - Love Love Love (Official Video)

2011-09-25T16:12:00.000+13:00

Have a great weekend

2011-09-16T23:06:00.000+12:00

Another week gone. Hope you all have a great weekend. Tomorrow my boys are off to Dunedin to bring the horse's home because the Polytech holidays are coming up once again. I am going to get creative! I've almost finished a 'wall hanging' I'm making for my lovely friend Carol.

Check out this fun song by the Foo-Fighters (below)...I know its not the sort of music I normally go for, but I love the words and its a 'catchy' tune.

Back soon!

Foo Fighters - Everlong

2011-09-16T22:59:00.000+12:00

Happy Birthday to me!

2011-09-13T23:22:00.002+12:00

Saturday was my birthday...I'm VERY old now!! I had a lovely day and was very spoilt by my family (although two of my children were a little slow to remember what day it was)! My dear friend Robyn come to visit, loaded down with goodies. Robyn always brings the sunshine with her! I received 'happy mail' from my lovely cyber friend Carol, whom I would dearly love to meet one day!

Carol made this gorgeous gift for me.....

...take a peek on the inside....Lovely sweet smellies!

Thanks to all of my face book friends for the birthday wishes and to all of you who made my day special! And note that next year I'm going to flag my birthday and stay the same age...not too fussy on getting any older!!

Popped a couple of lovely songs on my blog today, check them out below.

Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up

2011-09-13T15:38:00.000+12:00

Tyler Ward - Somewhere With You (Acoustic)

2011-09-13T12:08:00.000+12:00

Keep an eye out....

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000+12:00

Check out the latest edition of NZ Paper Chase..it will be in the shop any day now.

And...remember to check out the NZ Paper Chase Blog for our latest challenge...and check out the prize for this month!!

Challenge you to win this!

2011-09-07T22:24:00.000+12:00

Pop by NZ Paper Chase and join in with our September Challenge. The prize this month is a lovely K&Co 12" x 12" Specialty paper pad. Just click on the image below to pop over to the Paper Chase blog and check out the details! Would LOVE to see you there!

Busy

2011-09-06T21:52:00.004+12:00

For quite some time now I have been working on illustrations for a book, written by a friend. At last I think I'm finished!! Check out my new improved witch...in this picture she is in the process of disappearing!

For the past two days I have thrown my energy's into cleaning up our carport come wood shed...it used to be a wood shed only...

..but now there is acutely room for two cars, and the wood!

...and now I've even painted the fence!

And, I'm happy to say that at last I have a crafty project on the go, thanks to my wonderful far -away cyber friend Carol!

Cow poo!

2011-09-03T13:44:00.001+12:00

Hello to every one out there in blogger land. This week has been a little busier than the usual at our house. Aimee and her lovely flat mate Bridget have been at home. We have been blessed with the constant aroma of 'cow poo'. The girls have been working 5am to 7 pm every day on a local dairy farm. Tonight, after work and a shower they head back to Dunedin. Aimee begins her brand new job as a Four Square girl tomorrow morning. We will miss them both, but not the smell!!

Camden and Abby arrived home very late last night and headed off into the hills at 6.30 this morning . No doubt everyone will arrive home hungry at some stage!

Tonight we are off to a 21st up the Haka Valley...I will not be drinking anything alcoholic by the way, because last time I did that I forgot when to stop!!

Now that the house work is done and my clothes line is too full to add anything else I'm off outside to mow the lawn...once you start for the summer your at it all of the time I know, but I figure I have to do it some time!!

I still have not sunk my teeth into anything crafty,its been about 3 month now...Hmmm...not sure whats up with me these days!!! Life just keeps getting in the way.

Anyway Carol and I have organised a swap between us, because Carol is 'struggling as well to find inspiration. So soon I will have something crafty to share.

Wishing you all a safe and happy weekend.

Jake Owen - Barefoot Blue Jean Night

2011-09-03T13:14:00.000+12:00

On Being Brave ...

2011-09-01T22:48:00.001+12:00

I read the following on an email from Brave Girls Club, its rather lovely so thought I'd share it with you....You can sign into this site and receive lovely messages everyday...

Dear Courageous Girl,

Please don't for one minute think that you are not courageous just because you are afraid. Please do not minimize your power just because you are feeling a little lost. Please do not believe that you are not on the right track just because you are in a bit of a slump....and most of all, please do not EVER think that you are the only one who has hard days, rotten days, weak days and even days when you feel like you have messed up everything, gone backwards or that all is lost. Even your greatest heroes and role models have days just like you have.

These feelings will pass. If all you can do is HOPE that these feelings will pass, it will be enough. Never lose hope. You made it to now, and you will make it to tomorrow. The clouds will blow over, the sunshine will come again and you will have learned a few new lessons along the way. BEING BRAVE does not mean that you do not sometimes feel scared, weak and lost....it just means you keep going anyway.....and that is what you do best.

You can do this, friend...you really can. Keep going........don't stop now!

You are so loved!

xoxo

... very wise words I think!

Now to business as it were, I have just this moment updated the NZ Paper Chase Blog so I hope you will pop over and check out the latest challenge brought to us by the lovely Pam Nelson.

Just to tempt you take a peek at Pam's super page...

Maybe tomorrow I will be a 'brave girl' and get my teeth into something crafty...its been quite a while now!!

My niece is a scrapbooker to!

2011-08-31T23:02:00.000+12:00

My lovely niece has just joined Blogger land. Laura is a budding scrapbooker. Take a moment and pop by her blog and check out the album she has created. You can find her here at ... Pickles scrap

Gardening

2011-08-24T00:14:00.002+12:00

These past two days I've been pruning...with my chain saw!!....

By the end of yesterday the trailor was covered over, (photo below) but now the whole drive way is pretty much taken over by off-cuts!

My herb garden is springing into life again, check out my garlic...it lives!!

Seven Years today....

2011-08-22T21:52:00.003+12:00

This time seven years ago, I was sitting in ICU wondering what the next minute was going to throw at us.

Today is the anniversary of the day Andrew broke his neck, and the anniversary of the day that really did change our whole way of life.

This post is a 'wind back' to that time..I have a book full of newspaper and similar articles that were collected during this time, below are just some of them.... (if you wish to read any of the articles just click on them to make them larger).

This photo was taken not long after our move from Christchurch's Intensive Care Unit to Burwood Spinal Hospital.

I took these photos as Andrew was being 'sat -up' for the first time since his injury. Sitting up is not as easy as you may think it would be after a long period of lying down.

Andrew is still attached to his breathing machine at this time. He was very lucky to eventually learn to breathe on his own again, thank goodness, because I got very tired carting this machine with us when ever we made an escape from the hospital...when the doctors and nurses were looking the other way!

Lunch time never used to be like this!

Here is Andrew taking a few worrying minutes off the ventilator.Some people at this level of injury never get off these machines...we were lucky!

...and even luckier to have the amazing support of our local community behind us. People are good!!!!

Andrew's lungs collapsed not long after arriving at Burwood, so here he is being stabilised before being carted back to ICU. One of Andrews lungs never recovered from this collapse, so breathing is always going to be laboured to some extent. And for this same reason he has to be carefull to try not to pick up colds and flues.

Two months on and the wonderful folk back home are still rallying around for us!

...mean while I seem to be doing alot of 'sitting around'

...Looking back I really should have made the most of sitting around, because I had no idea at this time just how busy my life was going to get, or just how much worry and stress was in store.

...And still more support....Incredible!!....

Andrew had the brightest wall in the Spinal ward, people used to pop in just for a peek at his walls.

Here's my dad arrived for a visit. Mum and dad were kept busy at home looking after our Children. We could have moved them to Burwood for a while, but it made more sense for them to carry on with the life they knew, rather than up-rooting them at this time.

We were never short of visitors.

...or support....

Burwood quickly become home and we slid into daily routines. Andrew spent his nights at the hospital and I lived in a little unit on the hospital grounds. We made some very lovely friends, who had sad stories of their own to deal with.

We met and befriended some wonderful people in the hospital as well. The Doctors, nurses, and other patients were all cheerful, something that amazed me in our early days here.

In this photo Andrew is playing blow-darts with Anaru, with the help of nurse Lyn.

The boys worked out this challenge where by the looser had to have their finger nails polished...Andrew lost and went around with red nail polish on for quite some time!!

Eventually is become lovely to escape the confines of the hospital, even if it was just to sit outside in the garden!

Some where along the way the sitting around ended and the hard work begun. There was plenty I had to learn before we had any chance of being able to think about leaving this safe place and heading back home to carry on with our life.

Who would ever have thought that being paralysed was anything other than just not being able to walk...its sooo much more complex than that!

I remember well the day that 'Superman' died. Christoper Reeve's death brought a somber day to the Spinal Unit. This man had been an amazing advocate for spinal injured people everywhere.

School holidays were great. It was kind of squashed in my little unit but wonderful to have the children back with us. And once Andrew was able to cope with being up in a wheel chair for a few hours we would all leave the hospital and spend time being a family again over at my little home on the hospital grounds.

A real high for us, at this time, come when Aimee was chosen to be part of the rep soccer team who would go to the UK.

And...one day we went home, only our house was too little for all of the equipment that now had to accompany Andrew. So we all moved to Oamaru for a year. Our two oldest children were at boarding School in Oamaru by this time anyway and our wonderful friends Robyn and Graeme transported Camden back and forth to Duntroon School each day for us.

...Our home now looks like this..although usually we do not have the snow !!

And from time to time, when Andrew's health goes belly-up we trip back to Burwood. In a strange way it kind of feels like 'going home'.

Thanks to everyone of you who joined us in some way, big, or small on our journey.

We could not wish to live in a more wonderful community!!

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin--real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.-- Alfred D. Souz

2011-08-22T14:35:00.001+12:00

Hi there, still very little to report on the craft front I'm afraid...but I have just up-dated the Paper Chase Blog so check it out here. Also find us on Facebook we would love to hear your creative ideas. Today we are talking 'fussy cutting', pop in and share your favorite fussy cutting techniques or ideas with the rest of us!

I am sad to say That Birds of a Feather Craft Together has come to a halt. I would like to say a HUGE thank you to my dear crafty friend Carol for her awesome inspiration and wonderful creativeness, she was the brains behind this blog and I have enjoyed working along side her. Thank you to the ladies who have kept us going by partaking in our challenges and sketches, you are all an inspiration to us. I love seeing your works of art and will still be popping by your blogs regularly!

Now I'm going out into the garden to prune some roses...not very exciting I know, but a job I keep putting off, and as the sun is shining I thought it was high time I made an effort.

Before I head out amongst the thorns I just thought I'd shear this with you, I pinched it from my friends face book status...

The biggest obstacle to any kind of transformation is the voice that tells you it's impossible" Geneen Roth
Interesting exercise when you want to achieve something big....
who's voice is it telling you in your head that you can't?
where have you heard it before ?
who said it and when?
Why do we allow ourselves to keep living by it?
Ask yourself this when you are feeling like giving up, or feel like something is impossible......

...nothing is impossible, not really!! Have a great day everyone

Lost and Found

2011-08-18T14:32:00.001+12:00

Things are very slow on the craft front at my house. I am tiring to get my illustrations finished for a children's book that has been written by a friend. The witch has given me some grief, but is almost complete at last.
This morning I went on a Dog hunt. Eldest son lost two of his dogs last night and they were still missing this morning. However just after I phoned dog control this morning I received a phone call from a farm, a little way from here. This farmer and his wife had spotted two dogs that they thought might belong to Cody. So I jumped into the van and after driving for quite a while up a farm road, still coated in plenty of snow I spotted the 'terrable two'. They both looked pleased to see me and quickly tucked up in the van to catch some well needed zzzzz's on the way home. They have both been fed and are now tucked up fast asleep in their kennels.

Thought today I'd share a favorite song ,(see below) I love Jame's Blunt music, and this song is one of my favorites. His performance here is just gorgeous, he puts so much feeling into this one!

James Blunt - If Time Is All I Have (Live at 1 Mayfair)

2011-08-18T14:20:00.000+12:00

Fire and Snow

2011-08-14T18:31:00.003+12:00

Today has been a little on the chilly side, but tonight is going to be alot on the chilly side! Just a short while ago I snapped this photo out of the upstairs window, but by the time I grabbed my camera and memory card and got outside this spot looked like .....

...this! the snow is falling thick and fast still, so I guess our trip to Timaru tomorrow will not be happening now. I dont think my Tui has seen snow before!!

The snow looks so nice doesn't it, but I feel sorry for the lambs and calves about to born in this

Aimee was on her way home from Dunedin, an hour ago, but rung to say she was stuck in the snow, and had not even made it as far as the Motorway!! Camden and Abby have headed to Kakanui for the night as its going to be impossible for them to make it back to Dunedin. So at this stage they plan on coming back here to Duntroon tomorrow, and weather pending maybe heading back to Dunedin tomorrow afternoon, although I'm picking they will be staying here for another night or two by the looks of things!

AND...thank goodness I did cut down those dead trees yesterday because our wood supply is dwindling!

This afternoon Camden had a Fire call out, and I managed to grab a couple of snaps of him (in uniform) between the fire and the fire station! Tui is checking him out!

Now, its back to the fire and some hot soup.

Stay cosy out there!!

Blue Day

2011-08-13T22:57:00.000+12:00

The world is round and

the place which may seem

like the end may also be only the beginning.

Ivy Baker Priest

...okay, so today I'm having one of those 'blue' kind of days, might have something to do with lack of sleep, or maybe I need a holiday. Anyway, the only thing to do, when your feeling blue is to ...cut down a tree , or two, that was what I did anyway.

We had a couple of dead tress in our garden so I went out to have a clean-up, and what a nice surprise I got when eldest son turned up to help...

Cody no sooner started when his chain saw run out of petrol, so he left again!!

...but youngest son come to the rescue when the chain come off my saw, and after fixing it he test drove it for me.

And Andrew come to soak up a little of the sun and 'over see' progress.

Oh dear...yes I am looking like I'm in need of loads of beauty sleep...and a holiday me thinks!!

Tomorrow we are supposed to be in for snow, but Jack Frost is well and truly tucked in for the night here at our house.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

21 Today

2011-08-08T23:29:00.001+12:00

My little baby boy is all grown up, today Cody turned 21!!

I wonder where the years have gone to when I flick back through the old photos from yester-year!

Cody was always a bit of a handful, but I guess your first child always is?? That 'first child' teaches you so much about yourself.

...and teaches you to have patience, and makes you realise that there is more to life than clean sparkling windows and walls!

And as my baby grew and began to explore the big wide world wrinkles and grey hair come my way with abundance!!

...LOL...funny things began to happen to my baby boys hair as well~!!

Cody found hunting and out door pursuits and a whole set of new worries brought more grey hairs for me.

This boy grabs life with both hands and lives for the moment.

He has his dream job...that takes him to new heights and extreme conditions.

Also, I'm happy to say that this young man has a lovely lady to love. So now I can hand some of the worry over and find spare time to dye away my greys!!!

And, I don't have to bake birthday cakes for him anymore...Love your cake Hannah!

Happy Birthday Cody

2011-08-06T17:01:00.001+12:00

Last night we went to a Charity Dinner/Auction with dear friends Graeme and Robyn

I am not a big drinker, under normal circumstances, but have to admit to having had several glasses of wine too many!

Even Graeme and Andrew are looking a little 'rosie' in the checks.

Lucky for me....me (being the sober driver), that lovely daughter Aimee, who was coming home for the weekend didn't mind her trip home being interrupted ...soon its back to town we go to pick up her car.

The rest of my weekend will be very quiet!

Be in to Win with NZ Paper Chase

2011-08-03T20:15:00.006+12:00

NZ Paper Chase have this very cool Tim Holtz prize up for grabs this month....

To be into win just pop over to the Blog...you can find it by clicking HERE, and check out the awesome sketch created by the very talented Gwen.

While you are there please leave a little bit of love for last months winner, and for the ladies who created such wonderful pages, you are sure to be inspired, I was!!

Birds of a Feather Craft Together- August Challenge

2011-08-03T20:03:00.000+12:00

Check out the August Sketch challenge up now at Birds Of A Feather

No tricky bits this month, all you need to do is to is use at least three photos and some of your scrap paper stash, somewhere on your page.

Have Fun!

Anything but square!

2011-07-29T16:11:00.001+12:00

Here is my last card as Guest Designer for Tickled Pink Stamps. I have enjoyed my short stint among the talented ladies at Tickled Pink...thanks for having me Kellie and DT!!

I do hope some of my clever readers will join in with the latest Challenge, which is...

Anything but a square

My images are both digital stamps from the Lil Little set of stamps, check them out HERE

This sentiment is also from Tickled Pink Stamps

My card base consists of three circles layered and sewn together, then I simply scored the circle at the 3/4 mark, and decorated. Pretty simple this time around.

Hope your weeks going well.

Happy creating to you all

Winters here

2011-07-24T22:34:00.001+12:00

Winter is here for sure. We have snow all around us, but not in Duntroon it's self, which is amazing...and, if you ask me just plain lucky!

On Thursday last week Andrew come for a walk with me, he hasn't been since as he is still cold from Thursdays excursion! I took the camera I won from The Scrapbook Awards competition last month with me and had a play with it along the way.

Check out my 'snaps'...

I love to view the end of a winter's day from the top of this hill. The view is awesome.

Andrew only stopped in the sunny spots! One of the many down sides of being a Tetraplegic is that ones circulation does not work as it should and 'cold' is an issue.

I just had to photograph this gate before heading for home.

....you may be able to tell that I pretty much walked home alone...Andrews only thought was to get back home to the fire...

I'm pretty sure that this week it will just be Tui (my dog) and I out walking alone again.

Today Camden and Abby, who were home for the Fire Brigade AGM and dinner last night were to head back to Dunedin today, but the Motorway closed about mid-day, so instead they headed to Kakanui (to Abby's house) for the night. Maybe tomorrow they might get back to Dunedin, but its not looking like a sure bet yet as I believe the snow is still falling.

Hope all of you in the South, and the North are warm and cosy tonight.

Spots and Stripes

2011-07-22T13:34:00.002+12:00

Spots and Stripes is the theme for this weeks challenge at theTickled Pink Challenge Blog

I have used the recently released Lil Little Lad Frankie on my card. How cool is he!!

The sentiment on the card front is also from Tickled Pink Stamps, it is part of a set of Digital Sentiments designed by the talented Cheri, especially to go with the Lil Little series of image stamps.You can find them here.

Here is a close-up look at my spots and stripes.

Thanks for looking and I do hope you will join in the fun at Tickled Pink Stamps, the prize this week is one rubber, or two digital stamps of your choice from Tickled Pink . Remember you must use a Tickled Pink Image, or Sentiment on your card, Wilfred is a free bee, so head on over and 'pick him up' today!

Happy creating Everyone

Colbie Caillat - I Never Told You

2011-07-21T14:20:00.000+12:00

Cute as a Butterfly - template

2011-07-18T21:42:00.004+12:00

Hi there, just a quick post with a template for the inside of the card (below).

The red lines are the ones you cut and the dotted lines you just fold, some are Valley, and some are Mountain folds (as marked).

The front of this card is made separately, and attached along the line shown in blue.

Make the front of your card 21 cm (portrait) and 14 cm - or there-abouts (landscape).

Cute as a butterfly

2011-07-15T23:58:00.000+12:00

Here is my latest card for Tickled Pink Stamps.

This weeks challenge is to make your card 'cute', which is not hard to do because you need to use a Tickled Pink Stamp on your card, and these stamps are all super cute!

Your card must also have a butterfly some where on it. I used a strip of 'projector transparency' to make my butterfly 'pop out'.

The image I have used is called Lil Little Lolita Ivy, and you can buy her here in digi form if you are super quick. Lolita Ivy is also available in 'rubber'

This is what my card looks like on the inside'

Check out the Challenge Blog for inspiration and prizes HERE

And find the latest and loveliest Stamps HERE

Sure hope you get a chance to join in with the challenge this week.

Adele - Lovesong (album version)

2011-07-15T23:36:00.000+12:00

Happy mail

2011-07-13T21:07:00.000+12:00

Look at the lovely surprise I found in my mail box yesterday.....

I have this super talented friend who knitted this gorgeous scarf just for me. It's super cozy and could not have arrived at a better time, as just a couple of days ago we awoke to snow on the nearby hills.

Thanks so much Kristi, your an angel!

Have a little faith

2011-07-11T00:08:00.000+12:00

Today it feels like winter has arrived, at long last! For the first time I dug my coat out of the wardrobe to go for my walk. The wind was coming straight from the snow covered mountains that I can see from my window!

Thought I'd share this quote with you that I found on face book.... I've copied it and stuck it on my wall...just so I remember to keep it in mind!

Sometimes you have to stop

worrying, wondering and doubting.

Have faith that things will work out, maybe

not how you hoped, or planned, but just how it's mean to be.

Hope everyone had a wonderful, and safe weekend. Time I was getting to bed, because I see, on my clock, that Monday is already here.

The Killers - Human

2011-07-09T20:17:00.000+12:00

Clout!!

2011-07-09T20:00:00.001+12:00

Ouch! My baby got in the way of Abby's space yesterday!! It was a case of having his head in the wrong place at the wrong time!! Poor Abby must have gotten quite a shock when her space landed in Camden's head! Camden does not look too perturbed about the 'clout' he received. This photo was taken before Abby took him to the hospital.

Here's Camden today, not laughing quite so much!

Aimee headed back to Dunedin this morning, bright and early because she wanted to get organised before the big night ahead...Rio (I think that's what she called it) Week, kicks off tonight, so basically her coming week will be one of partying and not much else!

This afternoon it rained...I'd almost forgotten what rain looked like, its been ages since we have had any of the 'wet stuff' here. I love to listen to the rain on the roof, so took advantage of it and headed upstairs to my craft room to catch up on my mountain load of craft work.

Camden and Andrew headed off to the garage to do 'boy stuff'. So my day has been a quiet one. Not that I'm complaining!

Hope YOUR day has been a good one.

Lil Little Lolita

2011-07-08T10:41:00.001+12:00

Check out the latest new stamp at Tickled Pink.

This month I get to be a Guest Designer again, lucky me!

Because I always tend to make cards I thought I'd go for a change and use this lovely stamp on a little bag.

The challenge element this week is to use a doily on your creation

When the little bag is opened it looks like this....

If you want to have a go at making one yourself then you can find instructions at Inkido Blog by clicking here.

Thanks for looking and remember to stop by Tickled Pink Stamps for inspiration and lots of yummy stamps!

2011-07-04T23:34:00.001+12:00

Not much news at our house. In the weekend Cody and Hannah took Andrew off to watch the "Mud Plug". Aimee was at work and Camden was off hunting with his team in The Hunt for Hell competition, which the boys managed to win. I spent my time alone doing house work, it took me pretty much most of the day. What an exciting life I lead!!

Today Andrew had to go to the dentist to have a nasty cracked tooth fixed, so the trip to town took care of the best part of the day.

Tomorrow at lunch time we have our young mechanics group eager to get the four wheeler motor bike going and after that it is back to town to get Andrews toe nails trimmed.

I have been working into the small hours to try and get my Tickled Pink Stamps, and my Paper Chase work done, progress is slow. I do tend to get side tracked by my computer,I really should turn it off!

Check out this funny old photo of me and these two gorgeous puppy's (lady and Roy)

I had a little bit of a play in photo shop , fixed up a few scratches and played around with the colour, and for an old photo it has come up okay. Might have to scrap this one, if nothing else it will give my children a giggle!

Adele - Don't You Remember (Live at Largo)

2011-07-03T14:24:00.000+12:00

Dont be stuck!

2011-07-02T13:38:00.000+12:00

...stuck for Ideas that is? Hop on over and check out the Paper Chase Blog, its back and we have the new Elite team lined up to bring you plenty of inspiration and tips to make your page's shine.

This month was almost at its end when I drew up the roster, so thought I'd best do the decent thing and get the first challenge under way.

My page is all about one little person who was a little bit stuck....

This little guy is my nephew,after riding on the Go-cart he found himself a little bit trapped in his helmet.

Check out how I made my 'wing' embellishment over at Paper Chase...you can find it by clicking HERE

And check out the latest challenge and the Bo- Bunny prize. See you at Paper Chase.

Be Enchanted by Tickled Pink stamps!

2011-07-01T21:39:00.000+12:00

A few days ago I received an email from the lovely Kellie just reminding me that I was a guest designer at Tickled Pink stamps for the month of July...and wouldn't you know it...I'd totally forgotten.

Anyway, I pushed panic to one side, along with the large pile of work I was wading my way through at the time, and got straight to work.

The Challenge this week at Tickled Pink Stamps is to use flowers on your project, along with a Tickled Pink image. I love flowers, so luckily I did not have too much bother coming up with this design...

Hope some of you will take up the Tickled challenge.

Did I mention that there are stamps to be won?? Check here for details

2011-06-26T22:08:00.001+12:00

Today we went for a walk around the Duntroon Cemetery, really makes you realise just how short life is.

Yesterdays trip to Mosgiel was a big one. Camden's 'lovely' horse did not want to get into the float, I had to admire Abby's patience and perseverance. Rose had a major choking issue when she inhaled some hay she was eating into her lungs (or where ever it goes)?? And was a very sad pony for a little while. However today she is very happy and enjoying the sea under her hooves and the wind in her mane. I doubt she will want to go back to Mosgiel.

Photos compliments of Abby Bowman's face book page.

Horse'in around

2011-06-24T22:09:00.003+12:00

Hi there. Not much news today, today was much the same as yesterday. Friday began when I woke up at 4am...feeling hungry!! I'm being very good on sticking to my 'no junk food and no food between meals' rule, but this morning was the third morning in a row that I have woken up at 4am hungry. And then of course my mind begins to think of peanut butter on toast (which I'm not eating either) and lots of other things, as your mind does when there are no other distractions. So once Aimee got up at 6 am I got up as well. One would think with such an early start I'd achieve alot in the day....but no I have to say that I did not.

Tomorrow is going to be my first ever go at towing a horse float, complete with two horses all the way from Dunedin...that's if I manage to get the float to Dunedin in the first place! Youngest son and his girlfriend Abby are coming home for their three weeks of holidays, and it would seem the horses must come to. So if your on the road and see a large white Transit towing a horse float then....beware !!

For the rest of the weekend I'm sure to be washing as Camden always saves his washing up to bring home for me.
Hope you out there all have an awesome weekend. And to those of you lucky enough to be at SENZ, have fun, wish I could be there as well.

Just because I hate to post here without a picture (words always look boring by themselves don't they) I'm going to pop on a painting I did a while back of our dear old dog Bonny

And here's another song form the album Adele 21...I'm in love with her music...can you tell............???

I'll be Waiting - Adele

2011-06-24T22:06:00.000+12:00

Walk with me?

2011-06-23T14:21:00.003+12:00

I'm turning onto a new chapter of my life...not before time. I have taken up walking everyday and I've cut out junk food so I'm hoping for a new, slimmer, fitter, younger looking me. Watch this space!

Thought you might like to come on my walk with me today.....

First thing I pass when I get to the end of our street is the church, check out the little cross sitting in the window .....

A right turn at the church and I'm on Earthquakes road...this is what I see....

Up the road I come across our three sheep, well ours by default really. We own a little farm cottage with a little piece of land and two of these sheep were left here for a short overnight visit by their owner, that was about three years ago, still no sign of the owner. One of the sheep had a lamb (but that's another story) and as its a bit of a chilly day we shall press onwards.

To the left of me the scene looks pretty much like this for most of the way....

Looking to the right again and we see black sheep, these girls are not ours, but do seem to find me somewhat entertaining!

Are you puffing yet?? I'm puffing a little bit

This is why I always walk the same way everyday, I love the view and the peace and the feeling of solitude once I get to the top. (you may need to click on the photo for a better view).
The road that runs between the trees is the Kurow- Oamaru main road

My lovely dog Tui always comes for the stroll, and seems to enjoy the view as well

Often I carry on up the next hill, but today this is as far as we go because it really is getting chilly!

It's the little things that make life big!

Award excitment

2011-06-22T22:41:00.005+12:00

Last night I received an email from Scrapbook Awards to tell me that my page I submitted last month had been chosen by the judges for first prize, and that's not even the most exciting part! As a category winner I'm now in the running for the title of International Scrapbook'er of the year! Fat chance, and no show of me ever winning that, but what a buzz just to get in! And by all accounts I've won a prize, no idea what, I never expected to win any category, so Ive never studied the 'prize' part.

For some reason blogger is playing up and will not let me add any photos, which is a little annoying as I photographed my walk today and did intend sharing them...maybe tomorrow blogger might be sorted.

All go this morning with the uploading of photos, so now I can show you my page...

Wow! I just found out that I have won a Fuijifilm Finepix 12 megapixel digital camera
How cool is that!
Dear daughter has reminded me also that she needs a new camera, so its not looking as though I'm going to end up with this prize.

Now I know many of you are wonderful scrapbookers so why not pop a page in the latest comp running at the moment, if I can win something then you will have no trouble at all claiming a prize!
You can find Scrapbook Awards HERE

3 Doors Down - Here Without You

2011-06-19T15:45:00.000+12:00

2011-06-18T18:31:00.003+12:00

Today was another quiet one, I scrubbed my house from top to bottom, baked Louise cake and went for a long walk...thought I might be able to find my 'mojo' :-)

Mojo is still in hiding, but I did find this lovely quote that caught my fancy (not on my walk), so thought Id share it..

Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad, but it’s what’s in the middle that counts. So, when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up. And it will!

Hope Floats -1998

Aimee is coming home sometime to night, so my craft space is going to be a little crowed, my room is off her room, so unless I take the lift I have to trail though 'her space' which she is not always that happy about!

Aimee is going to find three weeks back in Duntroon very quite after living the hi-life in Dunedin, check out these photos I stole off her facebook page...(sorry Aimee)

I'm guessing that's not orange juice??

...and just what is that guy doing with your hair???

Youngest son rang today to proudly tell us that he and his girlfriend Abby celebrate their 6 month anniversary of being boyfriend and girlfriend today...ain't love sweet. Today they are going out of tea, with a donation from us of course.

Here is a recent snap of the two of them.

Eldest son is hunting still, the cold weather does not seem to phase him at all. Below is a photo he took on a recent 'outing'. Cody seems to be quite a 'handy man' with his camera. (This photo is worth clicking on for a larger view...check out the frost on the grass..Brrrrrrr )

And, last but not by any means least here is a photo of the lovely Hannah (Cody's girlfriend). This German girl can give any kiwi girl out there a run for their money I'd say.

Hope you all had a great Saturday and that Sunday brings sunshine and smiles your way.

P.S Check out my two latest favorite songs below.

A Frosty start

2011-06-17T18:10:00.000+12:00

This morning sure was chilly at our house, in fact the whole day has been chilly.

Check out the ice on our roof Brrrrr.... I wasn't outside for very long!

...and I fear that the herb garden I have been tending all summer long is not going to be with me for much longer.

Today has been another very unproductive day for me, my 'mojo' is still missing.
Aimee comes home this weekend, for three weeks and Camden comes home the next weekend for two weeks, so things are going to busy up around here for a while.

Cody's lovely girlfriend Hannah has been successful in obtaining her visa, so we are going to have her around for a while yet, which is awesome. WTG Hannah!

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

2011-06-17T17:40:00.000+12:00

Adele - Someone like you (lyrics in description)

2011-06-16T22:12:00.000+12:00

Just photos today

2011-06-16T16:57:00.003+12:00

Hi there. Today I have no crafty stuff to share with you. I've been a little slow in that department the past few weeks. However I am working on my next brief for Paper Chase Magazine, only, I am not allowed to share that with you...sorry.

Have you seen that latest issue yet? Its in your book shop now.

Anyways, thought I'd share a few photos with you. First of all here is one of me, taken 5 minutes ago. LOL, I hate photos of me , for obvious reasons!! As you can maybe tell I'm sitting in my craft room in front of my computer tyring to find my mojo!!

...now, just for a laugh here is a photo of me taken 100 years ago (well it feels like 100 years ago)

I am quite sure I WAS happier than I look :-)

Recently Andrew brought me a DigiTech negative scanner, so I've been going through my box of old negatives and converting them into photos. The colour is not as vibrant as it could be, but other than that these little gadits are wonderful. Check out the cute pups in this photo.

...and...now I'm going back 200 years ago! Goodness me how the years have flown.

Thats all from me today, off to get some tea on the go now. Hugs to all and thanks for popping by. xx

Tickled Pink Blog Hop

2011-06-13T23:59:00.001+12:00

This month I have been super lucky to have been chosen to be a guest designer for Tickled Pink stamps and today is Tickled Pink Stamps release day Blog Hop.

All week there have been previews of these scrumptious Pinkett, Tom Boy stamps over on the Blog. Now is your big chance to be in to win some amazing stamps for yourself.

Now.....if you have arrived here from the lovely and very talented Tasha, then you are right on track!

Here is my card, created using the super sweet 'Audrey'

I've added a bit of net (from and old onion bag) to try and create a 'fish net'

...and of course I had to add a fish!

Thanks for popping by and best of luck to everyone taking part in the blog hop. To continue on with the hop you now need to go and visit the lovely Agnes HERE.

Tickled Pink with Bobbi

2011-06-10T13:49:00.000+12:00

Bobbi is the name of the stamp I received from Tickled Pink to work with today. I decided to go with a simple colour combo, in keeping with a 'tom-boy' theme. I really struggled as I always over-do and just love to add flowers! So, here is my no flower take on Bobbi....

The challenge this week at Tickled Pink Stamps is to add texture to your card, so I tried to keep this in mind and created plenty of texture using cardboard, paint, clay, tulle, feathers, paper ribbon and textured Bazzill.

...oops, and stitching, I almost forgot about that.

Because I really, really felt a need to add some flowers somewhere I made another card...

There is heaps of texture on this one...

...and my flowers

Thanks for looking. Hope you can join in with the challenge. The prize up for grabs is a choice of 2 Digital, or one rubber stamp of your choice...and what a choice there is, check out the Tickled Pink Stamp collection here. To see some scrumptious cards, using this image of Bobbi click HERE

Im a Pinkette...for the month!

2011-06-09T23:00:00.000+12:00

This month I get to be Guest Designer at Tickled Pink stamps, which I am , well, tickled pink about of course! This is the card I made using one of the soon to be released Pinkette Lil Tom Boy stamps.

Check out the blog to see the rest of the clever Design Team's wonderful cards. And join in with the challenges if you dare, Kellie always has wonderful stamps to win!

Check out the latest issue of Paper Chase, I have created a couple a cards, that are in the magazine, that also use tickled Pink Stamps. I'm addicted to them!

Home for the weekend

2011-06-09T22:40:00.000+12:00

Last weekend we had visitors a plenty at our house.....take a look.....

first up we had Rat-A-Tat...

...and we had Star...

...and some hairy lad...oh...I do believe that is youngest son, who has forgotten how to use his razor since leaving home??

And, last but by no means least we had the lovely Abby to stay as well.

Its always lovely to have to have company at the weekends.

I've been a scrapp'in

2011-06-01T22:34:00.000+12:00

Hi there, Ive been a long time absent. My mind has been else where lately, but here I am back again. Tonight I am tyring hard to get some cards made, so far I have completed half of one card and Ive been at it for 3 hours, so tonight has not been a huge success. I have also been playing with a computer programme lent to me from my lovely friend Kristi, who is the star in my scrapbook page below.....

Kristi come to stay with us a little while ago, she was lovely company so I just had to scrap the event.

I have lots of layering going on in this page, which is based on the sketch I put together for this months challenge over at Birds of A Feather.

This is another page using the same sketch, this time I have attempted a Vintage type page. (Sorry Christopher and Andrew I'm not really inferring that you guys are vintage)

I've never really mastered the art of 'Vintage Scrapbooking', I always add too much colour and too many embellishments.

I found these acorn 'pockets' in the garden and thought they would fit right in!

The 'boy' image was one I found on this lovely blog.... http://clearlyvintage.blogspot.com/

I love these Prima leaves and printed flowers, they add such a lovely texture.

Here is this Months Sketch and...

...here is the prize that's up for grabs. Be sure to check out our blog for details, simply click on the following link http://challengejournal.blogspot.com/2011/05/its-june-sketch-timeand-chance-to-win.html

Tomorrow we are off to camp Iona Andrew has been asked to be the Guest speaker, at the moment he is busy working out what he is going to say...must say that his progress is not looking any better than mine! Could make for an interesting speech!

Bye for now, and thanks for looking :-)

Busy day

2011-05-23T22:15:00.004+12:00

Today has been a busy one at our house. After raking up leaves this morning I got it into my head that it was high time I cut down the dead conifer in our garden. Then I eyed up the large willow tree (the one that is dropping all of its leaves) and I must have had a moment of insanity because I made a very rash decision and decided to take the chain saw to that one as well.

So, I'm not much of a 'woods man' and I almost took out a window and railing around our veranda.

Andrew looked on with much concern, and plenty of instructions!

By mid-afternoon I was pretty much over my rash decision. Guess what I will be doing for the next few

days...maybe even months!

On a brighter, craftier note I have been meaning to show off these amazing bags made by my very clever friend Kristi. This one she finished off when she come to stay. I sent this one to my sister for her birthday and she loves it.

This one Kristi made for me, its totally gorgeous and totally unique. Thanks again Kristi!

Yesterday I received this very funky photo from Kristi. Not only can this girl knit shes pretty clever on her computer as well, and her OTP projects are something else again!

Thanks Kristi

ATC's for remembering Christchurch

2011-05-21T00:06:00.001+12:00

Recently I took part in an ATC swap, run through Birds of A Feather.

I thought you may like to check the cards out, the theme was Remember Christchurch and the colour theme was black and Red (Canterbury colours, of course)

This simple, yet stunning card was created by Ann and is a wonderful clear reminder of the Earthquake that struck Christchurch.

Carol used a very clever transfer technique to create 'Rise Up'

Danice made her ATC's all a little different, below are some of her wonderful cards.

Kathy, was also super creative and has more than one design of card as well, each one is stunning.

Lainie's Gothic shape represents the ChCh Cathedral and the flowers, the garden city.

Nicki's lovely card says..."Let hope rise, Rise within you, Fill with morning light".

Robyn has created this 3D type master piece

Sandra, who experienced the quake first hand has replicated the 'shaking' so very well.

I was amazed by the many, many people who pitched in and got behind Chch in its time of need, so my card is titled "lending a hand to Christchurch. My quote says Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.

Over at Birds of a Feather we have another ATC swap on the go, we would love for you to join in, details can be found HERE

A little bit on the sketchy side!

2011-05-19T00:02:00.001+12:00

Hi there, just a very quick post to show you why i have been MIS over the past couple of months. I have been working on illustrations for a children's book written by a friend. I have filled my rubbish bin time and time again with reject sketches, but at last I seem to be making head way!

I think for the most part I just gave up being so fussy, and hoped for the best!

Below are two of my 11 completed sketches.

Just two more pictures to go and I have completed book one!

I will not be giving up my day job to make a career of this any time soon. LOL.

Tomorrow I will be back to show you the ATC's from a swap I recently took part in.

Sweet Dreams xx

2011-05-16T22:57:00.000+12:00

NZ Paper Chase, Winter Edition coming soon!

Projects include:

“In my Grandma's stitches” – heritage home decor
“Edwardian Office” – stationery featuring 7gypsies product (note image also on cover)
“Cloth, paper, scissors” - multi media albums by NZ guest artists

Layout features include:

Domestic Goddess – retro page spread
Animal Magnetism - celebrating ‘paw’ footed friends
“All the world's a stage” - clear cutting taken to the max
“A to Z” layout special

Card features include:

“Precious Metals” cards – featuring stamping onto clay with metallic paints etc.
“Friendship” cards – including latest ‘steam punk’ imagery
Birthday Bash – great ideas for cards and party favours
Heartfelt travel – romantic travel correspondence

Where have the days gone??

2011-05-11T22:35:00.002+12:00

Wow, here was I thinking that once I left my wonderful job I would have nothing to do! I was very, very wrong. I could write screeds and screeds on what we've been up to, but that would be pretty boring so here is a quick 'photo recount' that kind of covers the basics.

First up,I was super lucky to have a visit from an 'online blogger, crafty friend' Kristi in early April.

Kristi come and stayed with us for a couple of nights, which really was not long enough. However, we managed to fit in a visit to Mt Cook. Kristi had not seen much of the South island so it was a joy to show her some of the sites.

We had the yummiest coffees and muffin at the Hermitage and dreamed about settling in for the night with a nice bottle of wine. (I know this photo is not a great one, but thought Id show you anyway)

Darkness was descending on the mountain as we headed for home.

The next day was my Mums birthday, so Kristi and I had a quick tour of the Elephant Rocks and Fossils around Duntroon, before meeting up with my mum, dad, Aunt and Uncle, and Andrew of course ,for birthday lunch.

All too soon the time come to take Kristi to the bus station and wave her goodbye.

Next, on the 15th of April, come my last days of work. I was treated to a scrumptious dinner and the movies by the lovely ladies I have been lucky enough to work with for this past year and a half.

Then Cody disappeared into the hills with my camera for a few days. This is one of the photos that come back on my disk.

During this time I was busy working on my projects for NZ Paper Chase , keep an eye out for the magazine, which is due on the book shelves soon.

By this time the School holidays were under way and people were coming and going, home was a little like Paddington Station, which was nice, we do miss having our children at home.

We had a lovely visit from Abby and Camden (about the time Cody was away with my camera). They disappeared and Aimee and Bridget ...and Dynamite (the rat) turned up, as did Cody with my camera.

The girls stayed a few days and during this time one of Aimee's work mates (from her holiday job) was sadly killed in a road accident. So Aimee took Bridget back to Dunedin and returned to go to a funeral and help out at work.This was a sad time, as both of our boys knew Mitch as well, and it was quite a shock for them all to realise just how fragile life can be.

Aimee returned to Dunedin the same day as Debz and Pat (from Christchurch) come to stay with us to help with the Grape Harvest at Ostler Vineyard. The harvest is done by a team of volunteer's, along side a wonderful group of perminate staff. The money made by the volunteers goes to the Connecting People programme. This programme goes towards helping families and spinal injured people get back to a normal, as passable life. A big focus this year will be to help those people who have suffered spinal injuries as a result of the Christchurch September Earthquake.

Andrew is the coordinator of the volunteers, and this really is quite a big job.

Day one, and two were gorgeous days in the vineyard. It felt great to be alive and great to be part of this wonderful cause.

I am sure you would not find a better team of people anywhere in the country!

Day three, four five ....through to day 8 were wet,very wet, muddy and cold, but still friendly chatter and laughter could still be heard coming out from under the nets at quite a distance away. I donned a woolly hat, for the first time in my life, and layers and layers of clothes...I know I must have look a site but I really did not care, tyring to keep dry was a hopeless mission, but try I did!

Saturday and Sunday brought two days off picking, well at Ostler anyway... Both days I was helping to pick my Dads grape crop, once again in the wet!

Now we are back to Tuesday and Wednesday Mechanics club with our very keen group of school
children. We are still grape picking, but its looking like there are only two or three days of picking left to go. Fingers crossed the rain will stay away so we can get on and get the job finished.

And...look, I managed to whip up a scrapbook page at last! I have almost forgotten how to scrapbook,and I'm not 100% thrilled with my efforts here, but its a start back in the right direction, I hope!

My inspiration come from this months sketch at Birds of A Feather..found here

I have used a bottle top for my metal embellishment (one of the requirements for this challenge). The image inside has been stamped and sprayed with Glimmer mist, then glazed with Glossy Accents.

I have made my letter tiles using paper clay and an alphabet mould.

That's about all from me for now :-)

Christmas Card Challenge # 2

2011-04-27T16:58:00.008+12:00

Its only April and already I've made Christmas card number two! Thanks to Tickled Pink Stamps for the 'kick start'.

This months Christmas Card Challenge was 'Bells'. I already added bells to last months card so I had to come up with something different this time around. This time I have used three small bells,two of them are looped them together with a gold ring and secured in place with a brad.

My image is called Lolita Evie, she is on special at the moment, so if you like her grab her over at Tickled Pink Stamps now.

I have used Webster pages paper to make my card and done lots of cutting and layering. I have also used rub-ons and gold paint and glitter to jazz up the tiny bells

Thanks for looking.

Now, I really need to get on with some Scrap booking, must say I

have been a little slow in that department lately.

Duntroon's Autumn ...on a card

2011-04-20T22:21:00.001+12:00

At last I managed to finish my card for the Guest call over at Tickled Pink Stamps.

Below is the sketch for this challenge.

I decided to use my all time favorite paper for this one, hence part of the reason my card has been so long in the making...my favorite paper is hand made rusty paper. The 'recipe' to make this was given to me by my crafty friend Kristi. You can find the instructions on my blog HERE ...Click on the sixth photo down in that post to enlarge the image, that way you will be able to read the instructions.

I had a play around with the sketch and turned the required elements around, just a little bit!

I decided to cut out my image ,called Pinkettes Pippa, she is a new release over at Tickled Pink Stamps, and place her onto perspex which I backed with tulle. This way I could avoid covering up my rusty paper too much.

I wanted my card to reflect the autumn colours that are all around us here in Duntroon at the moment. So behind the perspex rectangle I have an embossed image of wintry looking trees and I have added white lace to image the snow that is on our surrounding hills. I still have some bright yellow daisies in my garden, so I have added them to my card as well...well added some fabric daisies that look pretty much like the real thing.

.... without any more woffle here is the inside .

Thank you once again for popping by.

Good luck to everyone who has entered the Guest Challenge ( I will be needing loads of luck, and a miracle to get anywhere with this one!) Check out the gorgeous entries here at the bottom of the post.

New Pinkette's

2011-04-17T16:22:00.001+12:00

Check out the very cool card Sketch provided by Emma for this weeks Pink Challenge at Tickled Pink Stamps.

Kellie has some gorgeous new stamps available, and if your super fast you can purchase them in Digi form.

Of course I just had to purchase two of them...and latter the same day I purchased the other two in the set of four. I simply could not help myself!

Anyway...on with the sketch, I have used Lil Pinkette August on my card, and I have used copics (for the first time) to colour her lovely little face, legs and hands.

I Know they say "blue and green shouldn't be seen", but thought I'd risk it and put these colours together anyway.

...inside my card....

...and a close up peek of the details

Thanks for looking.

Tickled Pink Stamps have a Christmas challenge on as well as a Guest call, why not challenge yourself and have a go! details are here for the Christmas Challenge

and here for the Guest Call

Pink Challenge #14

2011-04-14T18:50:00.002+12:00

Challenge #14 at Tickled Pink Stamps is...Pink!

I've been so busy tring to keep-up with life these past couple of weeks that I have missed the last two challenges, so this afternoon I decided to get busy a create a 'pink ' card.

By the time I had this finished its was almost dark, so my photo is not wonderful, but here it is anyway....

...and here is the same card the next day, I was not happy with it so I have added and made a few small changes.

Tickled Pink have a Guest Call running at the moment, to be in with a chance to win this spot all you have to do is create a card using the sketch below, and a Tickled Pink Stamp.

Click on the sketch to go to the web site and check out the details.

Good Luck to all who enter :-)

Rose for you

2011-04-04T21:15:00.002+12:00

Today it is pouring with rain here, such a nice change, its lovely to sit here in my craft room and hear the steady pitter patter on the roof. We have snow on the mountain peeks now and there is a definite crispness in the air. Winter is on its way. I love winter, it means I can snuggle into my craft room and not feel bad about not being out in the garden!

Today I do not have much to share, I have been busy all weekend working on my Paper Chase brief, but am not allowed to share that with you. Instead I will show you the very simple page I put together to go with my sketch for BOA F

As I said, its simple. I have used a denim strip of fabric, in keeping with my son's jeans, I have also used leaves and a single stem of barley grass, in keeping with the photo. This challenge calls for a little, or alot of distressing. I added just a little, in the way of an embossed 'smudge' near the bottom of my LO.

This is the sketch, simple as well, which I hope allows you plenty of room to do your own thing.

To join in with our challenge, and to check out Carols awesome take on this sketch, pop over to BOAF

Latter this week I am going to have the pleasure of Kristi Wrights company. I 'met' Kristi a few years back through the Glamour Girl Stamps Swap site, and got to know her reasonably well via the computer.I have had the pleasure of meeting her in real life at SENZ last year, now this week she is coming to stay for a couple of nights! How cool is it when you get to meet up with on-line friends.....VERY very cool indeed!

Thanks for popping by and have a great week!

Distressed!

2011-04-01T23:09:00.000+13:00

April is my month to provide the sketch challenge for Birds of a Feather.

Here is one of the sample pages I created to go with my sketch.

Pop over to BOAF to see the sketch.

I have used Liquid Applique, stamped in place to create some texture to my lay-out.

I have used the applique to add a little interest to my flower as well.

This weekend is going to be a busy one, I have my Paper Chase work to start (and finish) ,I'm also still working on illustrations for my friends series of books, and I have ATC cards to create, for the swap at BOAF.

This afternoon I was busy helping out with a working bee at school, and tonight I'm feeling quite tired, so that's not a great start to a busy weekend!

However, tomorrow is another day. :-)

Enjoy your weekend everybody.

Off the Scrap Desk

2011-03-22T21:49:00.003+13:00

This weeks challenge at tickled Pink is one to get you thinking! It is called 'Off the scrap desk' and the challenge is to embellish your card with items that are not intended for card making.
I must say that I found this one really tough, as there is not much that I have NOT stuck on my cards at one time or another. Eventually I turned to the outdoors, as I often do if I'm stuck for ideas. Always in nature there is inspiration of one type or another, you just have to open your eyes and look around!

This is what I took back inside with me, an empty drink tin, from the back of our son's truck, a handful of acorn ends and tiny cones.

...and I also picked up a hunk of chicken coup wire, don't ask me why. I just thought it looked useful!

After a whole day of fiddling around I finally come up with this....

I made the leaves by cutting out shapes from the tin can and carefully rolling the sharp edges under. I coloured the tin (and the chicken mesh) with Alcohol Inks. The little acorn ends made perfect little flowers, I just glued a small beads in each one.

From 'off of my card making desk' I also used string, corrugated card,and craft wire, but these are items that I have used before. Check out the stamps on my card, I just had to use more that one! The sentiments, little boarder, swirl, and heart are all part of a set, called Pink Valentine Sentiments, from Tickled Pink Stamps. These stamps are awesome to use, and they leave a lovely fine imprint (just check out the word 'love' on the little hearts) There are no high pieces of rubber to leave messy smudges on your work either. Check them out!

Molly Mittens is a rubber stamp as well, and also from tickled Pink stamps, like the sentiments, the rubber is cut nice and deep so you get a lovely clean, crisp and fine impression every time you stamp.

I'm not sure that my colouring has done Molly justice, but I will keep tiring to improve. practice makes perfect, well, that's what my Nana use to tell me anyway. Sure hope she was right!

Now I'm going to have to put aside card making for a week or two as I received my NZ Paper Chase brief today, and I am also supposed to be illustrating a book for a friend.

Don't forget to take a peek HERE to check out more 'takes' on this challenge, and join in if you can!

Shining Bright

2011-03-17T22:50:00.002+13:00

Over the past couple of days I've squeezed in a little bit of scrapping.

This page was created for two reasons really, mainly because this song called Stay the Night by James Blunt makes me think of my lovely daughter, and her flat every time I hear it. There are that many similarities that I just had to scrap this song.

Reason number two ...Birds of a Feather, I created a page for this months blog, but somehow managed to scrap the wrong month, January instead of February, so this page (well one side, anyway) is take two!

This page uses the Birds of A feather Sketch, check it out, and join in the 12 months scrapping challenge with us if you fancy doing so :-)

I decided to add in a second page after I completed my first page simply because I had so much more that I wanted to say to Aimee.

I gold embossed at random over scrunched up vellum paper, to add 'Gold' and 'Shining Bright'.

I had fun and flicked paint (before I added anything else to my page).

This challenge called for a button (or beads) so here is a button...

To check out the sketch and other layouts,click HERE to be directed to Birds of A Feather

2011-03-17T17:39:00.000+13:00

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that Kylie, from one of my favorite Blogs (Tickled Pink Stamps) has this adorable 'Blog Candy' up for grabs! Pop over to Kylie's blog for details, (just click on the picture below to get there).

Black and White with One

2011-03-14T21:56:00.001+13:00

This weekend was a little slow on the crafting front, but I did manage to get a card on the go for the latest challenge at Tickled Pink Stamps. This time around I challenged myself to keep this card uncluttered!

My sentiment clips off, I have my cards up to date at the moment (thanks to the on going Tickled Pink Challenges, and ever increasing choice of exciting stamps), so just in case I'm in need of a card for something other than a birthday I can simply unclip my sentiment and replace it with another one.

The challenge this week is to use black and white + one other colour only.

This sweet image is called Mollie Mittens with Flower you can purchase her, and her friends here.

I'm happy to say that at last I have Pay-pal sorted!

Tickled Pink have a Blog Hop on, show casing the new release Lil lad stamps. You really do not want to miss these, they are totally yummy! If your after the chance to win stamps, or just want to liven up your creative juices be sure to check this blog hop out, you will not be disappointed!

Love Blog

2011-03-09T22:43:00.000+13:00

I recently received an award from the very talented Lyn, her blog is called Arty Aspirations. Lyn is a very talented card maker. Check out Lyn's lovely blog HERE .

Thanks so much for the award Lyn.

This award is to showcase some of the not-so-well-known blogs. We have some talented crafters out there and this is one way for you to find new and interesting blogs. All I have to do is nominate three to five blogs I read and want others to get to know .

If I tag you and you want to participate, create a post where you post the 'LOVE BLOG' image. You should also blog the persons link that gave you the award and inform her/him that you accept the award. You can then choose 3 - 5 favorite blogs which you also link in your post, then inform each blogger that they have been tagged.

I have many favorite blogs that I visit so here is just a small collection of them....

http://karen-strange.blogspot.com/ this lady can turn her hand to anything crafty. Karen is quite new to blogging so pop by and say hello.

http://bevsscrapbookingworld.blogspot.com/ who not only scraps, but can make amazing cakes as well (check her latest blog post)

http://pittapittas.blogspot.com/ who lives far away in Germany

http://whinneys-whims.blogspot.com/, a very talented papercrafter

http://donnabrisbois.blogspot.com/, whos photos I adore.

and...and I know this is 6, but I really need to mention my very good friend Carol, who is not only clever but super kind as well....check this out...
http://4carol.blogspot.com/

Special Note from the Originator:
Dear bloggers:
The aim of this action is that we bring unknown, good blogs to light, so I would ask you not to blog fellow bloggers that already have 3,000 followers.
I chose 3 that I think deserve more followers than they have, because in my opinion they are very talented and make stunning creations...Please pop over to see their blogs - I promise you will NOT be disappointed.

Sunshine and smiles

2011-03-09T15:36:00.001+13:00

Wow, I was very surprised to receive an email telling me that my LO submitted to The Scrapbook Awards had made the 50 vote mark, what a buzz , I did think I'd be lucky to get any votes at all.

Well, the sun is shinning brightly here today, work is finished for the day, and our Mechanics crew have had their day at the garage. This term we have 22 children in our 'Mechanics club', a very big crew indeed. Several of the children are working on Go-carts, three are working on a motor bike, another couple are working on a tractor and the rest all have Steam-Punk projects on the go. Steam Punk is new to our group and a little out of hubby's comfort zone, but I think we are all going to learn heaps, and have alot of fun in the process.

Now, I'm off to clean out the spouting along one side of the house and to mow our ever growing lawns.

Crafting is sadly on hold for the rest of the day, sometimes you just have to do stuff you wish you could forget about I guess.

Im still making cards!

2011-03-08T23:07:00.001+13:00

I know I did tell myself I was going to scrap, but I just cannot get enough of Tickled Pink stamps !Perhaps I will use one, or two on a scrap book page, that should get me motivated!

In the mean time here is a card for the latest challenge (sewing) that I made using one of the lovely stamps I was lucky enough to win in the Fabric challenge.

This sweet little image is called

Birthday:Cherrie

For this challenge there has to be sewing of some type, somewhere on your card.

I have sewn a vellum overlay over my background paper, which, by the way I downloaded from a gorgeous site called Bearly Mine.

I have added a little hand sewing in the way of swirls beside some of my flowers.

There is more sewing in this corner, some machine, some hand and even rub-on faux stitches.

I have sewn my centre pieces together on the machine using a floro orange, which I thought would be a fun contrast to the pink paper. The paper in the foreground is also from Bearly Mine

If you look very closely you may spot a little more stitching in amongst my layers. The tiny little rose buds are made out of paper.

I have carried the sewing theme through to the inside of my card as well.

Thanks for looking.

Now I really do need to get some scrapping done, not tonight though! Where O where does the time disappear to??

A taste of Christmas with Tickled Pink.

2011-03-06T20:21:00.002+13:00

We have had the pleasure of youngest son's company, for a short time anyway. Camden come home on Saturday afternoon, dropped his washing off and promptly disappeared again with his mates, only to reappear again in time for lunch today. And now, hes on his way back to Dunedin already.
Camden was here long enough to tell us he was buying a horse...I am not thrilled about that, we only just found a home for Aimee's horse, but there you have it. Horse will be staying in Mosgiel, so long may it stay there!

This weekend I had planned to catch up on some scrap booking, but instead i spent the weekend making a Christmas card, crazy I know, but Tickled Pink had a free give-away on their blog last weekend, a cute little elf which I really wanted to have a play with, and they are running a Christmas challenge with an awesome prize up for grabs, so I just had to have a go!
So, without further a-do here is my first completed Christmas card for 2011....

Check out the wee elf, isn't he super cute, and he looks so concerned about his little snow- man, that is perhaps about to melt??

My card has many layers, as usual! I decided to sew tiny gold beads onto my 'tulle' layer, to add a little more interest.

I've added red lace...

... and a bow, complete with a bell, cherrie's and gold beads, which I threaded onto craft wire.

Below is a wee look at the layers that make up my card.

I began with this...

Next I have gold embossed two pieces of torn paper and added Rub-ons, by Fancy Pants.

Behind the paper I attached tulle, then I hand sewed the tiny beads into place.

I used more rub-ons over paper, attached this to card and sprayed with glimmer- mist.

Next I embossed a chip-board shape, and attached it to some Christmas paper, which I swiped with ink.

Then I created my festive bow.

and then I put everything together, and added a few more bits and pieces, including my elf.

Wow! That's a long post!

Now I'm about to clean up, I have created a huge pile of mess while I've been making this card.

Thanks for looking and Happy Crafting to you all.

If your need a little inspiration then check out Tickled Pink, I'm addicted to this site!

There is a freebee HERE, so why not grab it and join in on a challenge.