It s been so long since I started this blog ....and the posts have been so far PATHETIC!!!!

Never mind...its never too late to start again right???

I decided to have a go at this challenge by the once upon a sketch blog. The brief was to use the sketch and the jounalling criteria was

Journalling Criteria : A memorable year - Your title must be a year, and you must journal at least 2 lines on why this year is memorable for you. Examples: the year you got married, the year you graduated, the year you moved to a new house/country, the year you started a new job, the year your child was born, the year you lost someone dear. Your journalling can be in any language and any format (written, typed etc)

I decided to make a shadow box canvas of Rhys and his girlfriend Kelsi at their school ball. Not the nicest photo of my boy, but Kelsi looked just stunning!!

I have pretty much followed the sketch, but used a quote for the journalling since it is a piece of wall art.

 

Close up of the wee felt flowers I made with the dienamics dies...they are so darned cute!!!

The papers I have used on this project are from the My Minds Eye Lost and Found II range. I just love the colours of these papers....very classy!!!

I intend to give this to Kelsi for her 18th birthday....sure hope she likes it!!!

My "art attack"

I know these photos are not the best....but just to let you see what I have been up to lately. These oils were painted from photos I took on the Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park. They do look much better from afar!!! The one on the left I am unsure whether I mat titivate it a little,by adding some tussocks in the foreground

I have also been working on some layouts for the family album, which have been fun!! Cannot wait til next week, when the first box of goodies for my design team work arrives on the doorstep!!

So what have been up to on the scrapping front this weekend?? This LO was inspired by a sketch I made from a LO I saw somewhere!!! Apologies to the original artist....I did not note who you were!!

It seems like so long ago that I created this blog.....that's 'cause IT WAS so long ago!!!!!

So I guess it's pointless to try and recap whats been going on....there has been such A LOT!!!

I will be trying to use this blog as a reference of things that have been going on in our lives, and to update on a regular basis. ....time will tell won't it???

Toady I had an awesome day at my Art class in Gore. I managed to finish two paintings today that are of places on the Kepler track. One I am not sure whether I have finished tinkering or not, but the other is quite acceptable! I was pleased that Aiden and Ali recognised the spot, so I must have captured the likeness OK. When the camera is charged I will take a snap to show you.

I felt a bit guilty taking off the class today though, with Barrie having just come out of hospital yesterday. He is such a toughie....no painkillers since her walked out the door. He seems to be coping a bit better this time round, with the after effects of the anaesthetic, even though he has been suffering with a dreadful cold.

Spent the evening with the boys helping Blake with his homework, and reading through Loren's assignment before she submits it.......and now UPDATING MY BLOG!!!

My biggest news I guess is the appointment of Design Team member at SBO www.scrapbookoutletnz.co.nz I can't wait for the term to start....officially its the 1st of June, but I am sure there will be some action before then...watch this space.

I have been working on some LOs for the family album, and trying out techniques using the Tim Holtz book as inspiration. Nothing concrete as yet, I guess practise makes perfect doesn't it??

I also have been designing some LOs for my upcoming scrapbook class at SIT www.sit.ac.nz in Gore. I have 8 weeks of demos and LOs to organise using my most "canny" tricks to save $$ and of course the latest and greatest papers on the market!! I keep chopping and changing my mind depending on what paper I see, and the papers that are due to come into the country in the coming weeks.....Classes start in July, so I have a bit of time up my sleeve. I love teaching...it gives me a real thrill to see people start to gain confidence in their designing capabilities, and to see them use my classes as inspiration in their own Layouts.

My how time flies!!

Now August, and we are into calving. Boys have both finished rugby which is going to make life easier for a few weeks until cricket starts!!

Been busy doing not very much really. Had a wonderful time scrapping the weekend away In QTown with some southern scrappers. It was lovely to get away from the guys....as much as I love 'em and have some female company.

On the scrappy side. Taught a class at a shop here in Gore a few weeks back. I dont know how it went....I hope I did not scare anyone off!!! Apparently they have had some good reports so thats all I can ask for.
Working on a project right now to teach at an upcoming event.....but my lips are sealed!!! Lets just say its going to be INTERESTING!!!

I need to set aside some more time to get some stuff done. It s amazing how comfy that sofa gets in the evening, and I dont even like to watch rugby!!!! (Well....not EVERY night!!)

Barrie had surgery last month and is recovering....but not doing what he has been told at all. Typical male I reckon.

Beeter set off for bed....the mornings are getting progressively earlier and I am getting progressively GRUMPIER!!!

Ciao for now

Cannot believe it.....have created a blog!!! Only about 2 years too late!!! Will endeavour to update this regularly to let you know whats going on in our house.

So far this year.....

Its true what they say...you can take the boys out of the Waikato....but ya cannot take the Waikato out of the boys!! Both of the boys are keen supporters of the MOOLOOS and the Chiefs. Its a wonder they have not been given a black eye over their fervent support of their teams. Rhys had a day out on Saturday with his friend to go to the Riverton races and the Highlanders match. He must be like his grandfather....had a $5 bet on the race of the day and came home with $90 extra in his wallet!!!

We had the first snow of the year last week. It is always so pretty to see the snow falling. It did not stay around, although it was pretty cold. Thankfully we now have a heat pump to keep us all warm and toasty. Pity our Aussie visitors were not able to see it!!

We are looking forward to our whirlwind trip up north for Alicias 21st party, grandma Newport's 80th, and Alicias graduation. Its less than a month away....so many things to organise, so little time......We will not have a chance to catch up with anyone on our travels as we are only there for a few days. We cannot take Rhys out of school for too long, as he has lots of internal assessments around this time. Suppose its better than nothing though.

Went to a wonderful weekend away last weekend, with a bunch of scrapbookers from down this way. They were a lovely lot, who kept me up too late at night, and woke me up too early in the morning!!! Took a few days to catch up on lost sleep I tell ya! Got a fair bit of creating done which was good. Also has inspired me to get some more stuff done. Sat with some amazing women who did some beautiful work. Now looking forward to the next one in Queenstown at the end of June.

Not long now til duckshooting starts. Barrie and the boys are keen!! Not sure where they will be shooting yet....but no doubt they will find somewhere...they tell us that Southland is the home of the duck, and this shooting thing is more like a religion down here!!! Hopefully Ed the dog will still be around. He has been plagued with a nasty ear infection which is resistant to antibiotics, and it does not want to clear up. Am going to have to start with the manuka honey treatment again....

Life on the farm is good. We are well ahead of last years production total, so things are heading in the right direction. If only the payout could do the same thing....Next year should be better given that Barrie will have set up the farm how he likes it. Loren did a stirling job of painting the houses on the farm....pity her mother has not been as pro-active with the finishing of the windows on our house!!! Once I figure out how to post photos will show some before and after photos....boy they look GOOD!!!

We are hoping to get away for a holiday next week for a few days. Fishing will probably be the order from the troops!!! We will head up to Moeraki for a few days if the weather is fine. Its lovely up there. Last time we went, we had a lovely albatross fishing with us....MAN they are big birds!!!

Its been fun exploring southland over the summer. We have found some really lovely spots to visit. Hope to take a trip to Fiordland soon to see Te Anau and drive though to Milford Sound. Hopefully the weather holds for us to do that while the boys are on holiday.

Alicia is loving her job...looks like she will be posted in Coastal Taranaki. She is ok about it, but the Waikato would have been her first choice I think. I would think she will settle in New Plymouth for a start, as it will be easier for her to meet some people her age there.
Loren is flatting in Jaffa-ville now. Loving her physio course I think.
Cannot wait to see the girls again. We sure do miss them heaps.

Well thats it for a first blog post!!!