Why is it?

Why is it that the older you get the faster the years seem to roll by?  I remember when I was small that it felt like an eternity for Christmas and Birthdays to arrive.  Now it feels as though no longer is one birthday done and dusted when another one rolls around and the time in between seems less and less and you are able to achieve less and less.  The achieving of less and less could be because I seem to expect more and more of myself!  I wonder why that is.

In case you hadn't realised it's my birthday today.  I've had a great day even though the weather didn't play along and was miserable - cold and wet!  I received some really great gifts and went out for a delicious meal with friends and family tonight so all in all I've been a spoilt girl. Now I am looking forward to my favourite time of year - Christmas. Although I do have a lot of things to get done before then.  Watch this space.

Arty happenings

I have been attending a few art classes lately - not 'real art' but mixed media which is a wonderful art form for someone like me who can't draw to save herself!!

I completed this collage on Thursday. Quite difficult to get a decent photo but hopefully you get the idea!  I'm making another one which is about half finished - will post piccies when it is complete. 
These collages are so much fun to work on.  I am in danger of not getting any Christmas cards fnished!!

What else have I been doing in my self imposed time off? Well I've made some birthday cards - which for some reason I didn't photograph (must be getting forgetful in my old age..) I've been spring cleaning the house - we had a really therapeutic throwing out of old clothes today - bliss!  I have a lot of work going on outside at the moment.  We are building a deck as well as doing some landscaping - have a few things to make for outside too.

I have also been enjoying what little sunshine we've seen.  This photo was taken recently on one of our rare sunny days (Spring sucked so I hope Summer makes up for it)

What a surprise when I logged on this morning to see I had recieved this lovely award from Denyze.  the 'rules' are that I have to post five things about myself and then pass on to five people.

Five things about myself:

• I'm predominantly a vegetarian (not solely though as from time to time I do eat meat if it is free range organic) - I love discovering new vegetarian recipes.
  
• I am always surprised when I see my reflection in a shop window and discover I'm not the willowy  6 foot tall I think I am - instead I am a rather short 5 ft 3in!
• I love paper and stationery stores - empty pages waiting to be filled, handy bits and pieces waiting to be put to good use, pens of every imaginable colour - bliss!
• Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate - need I say more
• Christmas is my favourite time of year - I love the tradition of it all - trees, decorations, carols, food!

I'm passing this award to Susie, Jules, Rachel, Maggie and Twiggy.  Thank you all for the enjoyment I get from your blogs - although you are also responsible for the mess my house gets into at times, I know what i would rather do that housework! 

Now it is a glorious sunny day, it might be Monday but no one minds today because it is a holiday, I have loads of laundry to do, not to mention gardening, so I had better get started on it all!

Busy week

I thought I had a busy life before I begain The Big Adventure but I didn't know what busy was back then!!  Not only am I able to take part in my childrens school events (athletics day, after school sports, etc) which I had previously missed but I am also able to take some time to learn a few new skills.

This week I attended two creative classes, at a local art shop.  On Tuesday I went to a recycled book class - the tutor Brenda is very passionate about her subject and had a lot to share.  She taught us how to recyle paper into books (newsprint, tissue, brown paper etc) I haven't got photos to share yet as it is still a work in process.  The second and final part of the course is next week, we'll be learning how to make a book as well as an altered book - I'll post the finished projects then. On Wednesday I went to the same store again for a Creative Gifts class.  The tutor (Katz Cowley) was so inspiring.  She absolutely fizzes with enthusiasm and had so much to share that I was exhausted (in a good way ! ) afterwards.  Although we didn't make a lot of gifts I came home with so many ideas for handmade gifts, gift wrap, cards, envelopes and giving in general that I'm not sure there are enough hours in the day to create them all.  Katz also takes a creative journalling course which I would love to take sometime - hopefully she'll be doing another one in the next few months.

The rest of the week has been spent trying to stay warm (where has our Spring gone?) supporting one son at his various sporting endeavours (I know I just complained about the weather but I could do with rain tomorrow so that cricket is cancelled and I can have a lie in LOL is that too much to ask?) and helping my eldest son with his exam prep. Hopefully I'll be able to put aside some time to create over the weekend - Monday is a public holiday so I should be able to achieve it!!

Snow

I have been away for a few days.  The children have just gone back to school after several weeks off (yay!)

My youngest and I went on a mini break to the Westcoast last week.  Who knew we would encounter snow in October!!

We had a lovely few days - it rained the whole time we were on the Coast and then we encountered snow when we drove home - but it didn't matter because we spent time with people we love and really recaharged our batteries.  We are ready now for a  hectic  school term!!

Candy time

I've been away for a few days so haven't been crafting but I have bought some bits and pieces so I'm all ready to have a crafting binge!!  In the meantime I am catching up on the blogs I follow.  Bev at All the Things I love has some candy up for grabs.  Why don't you visit her and see.

More makes from Sunday

My Stampin' up workshop on Sunday was certainly productive - I came away with lots of  goodies and more importantly lots of inspiration :)  

These are the other projects we made

This adorable little guy is the tag we made for a little gift.  Not sure if you can read the tag (below), it says:

Santas heard that you've been Naughty

So listen, here's the scoop

Instead of getting toys this Christmas

You are getting Snowman Poop!

The bag has mini marshmallows in it - very cute

The next project is a flip flop mini album - very cute, just needs some photos and journaling and then it can go in the post to grand parents overseas!!