ya think?

Don't want to rub this in, but...

I fly out for France in 42 days!!! And I am SOOO excited! Three weeks away, two in France, come back via NZ (the rest of the days in a plane!!!). I think I need the break right now!

So really, I don't want to rub it in, I need help!! You see, last time I left without a plan. I just arrived, grabbed a map and started walking, see where it took me. I discovered some AMAZING things, but it was more by luck than good management! But I also missed out on some things. Like getting to drink a REAL hot chocolate, you know, the ones made from chocolate where the spoon stands up it is so thick! Where is the best place to get one of those? Yes, I can (and have) looked it up on Lonely Planet and find out the tourist place to go, but is it the BEST place to go?

So, if you know Paris, live in Paris, have been to Paris, where does a crafty girl like me go? Where can I find the best vintage stuff on the streets? Where can I find the funkiest stuff out there? And don't give me a general area, I need specifics! Names, streets, websites!!! I don't know when this opportunity could come around again, so I want to make sure I make the most of it this time around!

Oh, and what about just outside of Paris? Places I can go on public transport in a day, or even two??

And food spots too (I don't want much do I???). OK, so I ate more pastries than you can poke a stick at last time, but where does one get a GOOD meal?? What about a vegetarian like me? I suffered food wise last time. Really suffered. I just stuck to the basics, not lashing out AT ALL. There has to be something better than safe!!!! Tell me where to go!

Now I know that there are plenty of French girls who read this blog, as are there plenty of world wise travellers. All help is sought, wanted and NEEDED! And lots of cyber hugs and kisses will be sent your way!

I leave you with this photo from my trip last year. One of my favourites...

Now if only I could afford a spanking new camera before I left... oh dreams, they are a wonderful thing aren't they!??!?!

K

I made this...

and sold it!

Did you notice the link to the left? Yep, I have opened an Etsy store. Not to the abundance of stock and wild publicity that I have been planning for the last 8 months, but eh. Whatever. I decided to do a Nike - just do it! Rather than thinking about it and waiting 'for the right time', I just got off my ever increasing butt and started it with just a few small pieces with plans to add more as time allows. It works for me, and I am happy that way.

So, this piece is exactly as it looks! A piece of Love Elsie fabric paper, handstitched and embellished with felt, buttons and a few rhinestones thrown in for good measure. I totally loved the paper the moment I saw it and could envisage the piece before I had parted with the cash. I LOVE that! I wish I could do that more often!

And now it resides in another part of Australia. I hope the owner loves it as much as I do!

What have you made recently?

K

He makes me laugh...

every time he says it...

'oh my crap'.

Gael made that one up himself. And maybe I should be a little less amused and tell him that it isn't appropriate to be saying that at the ripe old age of 3. But he just makes me laugh! And hey, it could be worse...

K

The wide world of the web...

It always amazes me who reads my blog. Although, I must admit that it mostly freaks me out that anyone with a mind to do so could come on here and read about my life (yes, that includes you, you precious thing who is choosing to be 'my worst enemy'!!! get over yourself...). But just as I become a voyeur and read about others when they don't know, there are those who are out there reading the ramblings of this madwoman.

So, the point of this long and rambling post? I love seeing comments from people who I haven't seen nor thought of for some time. I love that people I have met over the years are reading, and in some way keeping in touch. Someone said to me last year 'I am a bad friend, I am NEVER the first to email or call', but then I had to say the same thing back! I AM a bad friend. I often think about people, but have always lost phone numbers and email addresses, or only think to call them at ridiculous hours of the early morning. So knowing that those people are still out there, reading, knowing what I am up to is special to me. It shows me that in this world of so much conflict and selfishness that there are still people who care enough to find out what I am doing with my life, and care even more to write to me and tell me so. So thanks to you all! Thanks for putting up with my 'bad friend' status. And thanks for sharing yourself with others and making this world a better place in your own small but special way.

K

I soooo get it...

I was watching Jamie Oliver and his super cool 'At Home' program tonight and I realised something. Watching him work, watching him bring all the ingredients to his face, bending over the food as he serves, I realised that I do this too. And so, I believe, that as I like to think I am creating some art when I am lost in my world of paint and felt and papers, Jamie is also in a creative zone as he creates art with food. I found a new appreciation for dear Jamie, even though I already loved his ideas, his books and his amazing drive and passion for making a difference. I see him now as an artist, just using a different medium.

And I won't feel quite so weird now when people are watching me when I am in my creative zone. I realise that I am just getting 'in tune' with my supplies, not being weird at all! (please, let me just believe that, if only for a second!).

K

So what does it mean...

I had a phone call from a dear friend the other night, wondering what it meant that I was playing around with colours on the blog. You see, at the time it was all blues and greens with black. She was wondering if I was OK, cause my usual pink had disappeared, and it was green! We always say 'peach in, green out'. Peach is good, pure, harmony. Green is nasty bile. (and yes, it IS from a book I once read and then it stuck!).

So what DOES it mean?? A whole whole lot of things really!

First - I was bored with my blog layout. I had procrastinated enough over not updating it, and not changing the way it looked. A change was needed!

Second - I have a new Mac baby. Love her so much! And in my desire to play with her constantly I played with my colours on the blog. (note - OK, call me weird, but my baby needs a name. What should I call her do you think!?!?!).

Third - it is too long between posts. I WANT to commit to this thing. I want to get back out there and get my feet wet. I want to interact and chat with people once again. I can't hide any longer. You see, its been a pretty crap year for me - there I said it. Its been awful. I am NOT in a good place and am fighting to keep those legs pumping in the water. There are sooooo many things that have bought me to this, too many to talk about, too much to even dredge up. I guess I will get through it in my own time. Yes? Please tell me that is a yes!

And so I am human. And yep I am whining, but I am sure I have said before, if you can't whine on your own blog, then what's the point?!?!

Anyhoo, its kind of a double edged sword. Whilst my scrapping production is lower than ever, my artistic side is starting to blossom. And you HAVE to love that. I am so loving my time playing with felt. I feel kinda weird that my need to create with felt has come at a time when it is fasionable to use in both the crafting and scrapping world - it is 'so totally IN right now', I am rarely one to follow trends (create maybe, but follow? i try hard not to). I know that I will STILL be in love with it when it isn't in fashion anymore and all the rest have moved on. Then I can be in my own little world with it all again!

Having said all that. I owe some stuff. I KNOW I owe some stuff. Some stuff that is WAAAAAYYYYY overdue. And I am sorry. I stress over it every day. It would be some of the reason why I am still awake right now at 1.23am and yesterday until 4am. I will get there. I promise. And, my dear friends, you have THAT in writing.

So there it all is. All out on the line. I've written it, you've read it, so now I can move on and get back to being a GOOD blogger once more. Oh hold on, I've never really been that have I... Soooo, I will look at the bright side! It couldn't get any worse...

I will leave you with this...

love to each and everyone of you (well, to the few that actually read this thing anyway!)

K

Let me say a few words...

Belligerence

Exasperation

Apoplexy

Three words to sum up my day. Don't know what they mean? Then get a dictionary and look them up! Nope, not even going to give you a link for them. Nasty? Yep, in a mood tonight!

And OK, OK, so I am using apoplexy in the most slang sense of the word. But seriously, it DOES feel like my head is about to explode!

Three more words for you...

Boy

Thirteen

Hormones

Need I say more?

Ho hum...

K

PS - who else was disappointed that they didn't put Dumbledore's 'few words' in the movies?? I always laughed at that bit in the books and was waiting for them in the movie. Not much longer 'til the next Harry Potter!!! I bet HP wouldn't have given HIS mother an apoplexy...

Trying new things...

So, this weekend will see a few firsts for me...

I am teaching an online class! What fun!!! Not done this yet, so this is going to be a real initiation by fire! Why???

That would be my next first - chatting on an ITALIAN message board!!! Eeek! Thank goodness for Babel Fish. What would I do without it!?!?!?

And the last first? Well, not really a first, we have taught together ONCE before, but it was so many years ago, so lets say its a first - huh??? Anyhoo, Kim and I are both teaching classes, Kim is tomorrow (Saturday) and I am on Sunday! Yippeee!!

Wanna see what I'm teaching?!?!

If you want to join up for the fun, visit Scrapbookiando and follow the links to the forum. Scroll down the page and you will find all of the links for the weekend! I know, its all in Italian, but you can see our names!!! Make sure you have your Babel Fish window open for translation, and away you go!! Woohoo!!!

Looking forward to all of the fun!

K

Sequins!!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of teaching a lovely group of ladies at a retreat in Mulgoa, near Sydney. I had SUCH a great time! I have been feeling a little flat with scrapping since last year, and they were the boost and injection I needed to make me want to get back to it again. Not that I have scrapped since I came home, but at least now I have the desire to do it when I get a chance! Yay!!!

So, I will give you two guesses on what we focused on over the weekend... yep, felt and sequins! Yay for both!!! As we were talking sequins I remembered a layout that I did in my book that I forgot to take with me to show them. Luckily someone had a copy of the book with them, so they could see it, but it was one that I was ALWAYS so dissapointed with in photography. The sequins just look really dark and flat. Not nice at all! So have tried to photograph again and share so the girls can see!

Some notes on this layout - three years ago right around now I was writing this book, so the layout is so old!!!! Also, because of the time limits I had, my sister actually stitched the sequins for me and sent me the piece through the post. So I can't take credit for the stitching, just the layout design! Didn't she do a fab job!?!?! I am so lucky to have such a great sis!!!!

So something old for tonight. Hopefully something new to share soon!

K

Wanted to say something in French but...

I can't remember anything!!! Oh cept for Stillo Blanc - White Pen. The ONLY thing I learnt whilst in France!!!!

BUT, I have to learn some more, and fast!!!! Cause I'm off to France AGAIN!!!! Can't believe it! I am so very very excited!!! Not until September, but the way this year is flying by it will be on my doorstep before you can imagine!!

Paper & Co Show

And the best thing of all? I am going to meet one of my scrapping idols! Yep, Rebecca Sower. I have totally loved her work for years, never get tired of seeing her creations. She is always evolving, changing her style. LOVE her stuff!!! SOOOO excited!!!!!! I wonder if she she would like to go shopping for bags with me too...

Oh, and another fun fact?? Sally M is going to be there and in my classes! Whoohoooo!!!! Havren't seen Sally in forever, and thought that now she is in Scotland it would be a very long time before I did see her again. But no!!! Isn't that amazing?? I love this little thing called scrapbooking!

Fun news for today! Makes me smile to think about it. Cept for the travel. Urgh, THAT bit I could do without. Oh well, I will just sew for the whole trip again. Its amazing how quick it makes it all!

Enjoy this sunny day!

K