End of week catch up

I seem to have lost a week or so since Warana! Things have been just too busy.

Peter has been away last week - up with his Mum in Rocky - while she underwent a single mastectomy. She's back in Mt Morgan (hospital) and still waiting on all the test results. We'd love to all be a bit closer to her (in distance) at this time as Peter had to come back here on the weekend but has been in touch daily to keep up to date with her progress. Her spirits are high which is great!

The girls are also busy in the final week or so of the school year! End of year functions, assessment, Speech Night etc is tiring for us all. They finish next Thursday for approximately 2 months!!!!

Some of you may remember me mentioning eldest DD sitting her first AMEB exam for euphonium recently - well she passed!!! With only a C+ but she passed! Music director at school and her teacher have both mentioned this result is not a true indication of her abilities and they aren't worried given it was her first (nerve-racking) AMEB exam experience!

Danah has indicated she'd like to try and get some part-time work during the school holidays(even though she's only 13 apparently the law doesn't restrict by age anymore with jobs). So we're on the look out for something in retail/stock work just for over the holidays.

Peter & I had a "date" on Tuesday night (while the girls stayed with Mum & Dad) - starting with Thai in my favourite restaurant (we ate in like real grown ups!!) before heading off to Boondall to see John Mellencamp in concert (with Sheryl Crow & Shane Nicholson). A nostalgic evening. Couldn't believe JM is 57!!!! Still managed to sing up a storm although I must say I've been ruined by attending the P!nk concert last year....NOTHING will ever bet that experience!!!

Loved all the "old" songs but also enjoyed one of his newer songs...Longest Days...inspired by his 100 year grandma (had me in tears at the concert) - check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEGEELbyIeM&feature=related

I've been busy doing more "thank you" gifts for teachers etc. Tara made these two lovely bright cards for her two drama teachers....along with the notebooks I made for them.

I'd like to say a BIG Happy Birthday (Friday 28th) to the beautiful Chelle ...

It was also my Dad's birthday last Sunday...

I made him a canvas of one of his favourite photos from their recent UK trip...highlighting our connection with the London Metropolitan Police - through Dad's Great Grandfather who was an Inspector of police with them.

Happy birthday too (for last Wednesday) to my lil' bro' --- Andrew!

Wonderful Warana Weekend

Well Warana November 2008 has been and gone!

What a wonderful weekend! To escape from the everyday - relax, scrap, enjoy the company of some great ladies and have a few laughs! A huge thanks to Gyps for organising another awesome weekend!

I also got to do a Point Shoot Play workshop on Sunday with Mel and the lovely Sara (who I haven't caught up with in way too long!!! - can't wait to catch up again --- with Alicia too!). Learnt lots about Photoshop Elements and how to do things much easier than the way I've been doing!

Here are the results of the weekend!

Warana Sketch Challenge (my take on the sketch ;) )

Mystery Pack (Girl) from A Passion for Craft ... (with detail shot)

November 123 Monthly Challenge - (scary face photo, monochromatic, lace)

Stamp Shak Monthly LO Challenge (sketch - as exact as I get!!!)

LSBS Mini Christmas challenge #3 (non-traditional Christmas colour LO)

Scrap Therapy Monthly Challenge (colours from horse #11 in Melbourne Cup!!!)

My Inspiration Challenge for Warana - inspiration from your favourite coffee cup (my favourite mug/bucket below)

The first of my 2009 calendars --- for youngest DD's male teacher

LSBS Mini Christmas Challenge #1 --- OTP item as gift for someone (MIL's 2009 calendar)

Warana card sketch challenge

Stamp Shak Monthly card challenge

Extra Christmas card (that started out for the Stamp Shak challenge but evolved beyond the challenge specifications!!!)

A favourite part of Warana (for me anyway) is the opportunity to let loose with Sing Star! These two kept me entertained all weekend - sitting on the same table - the sweet Chelle and Lexie! Yes - Saturday night was wig night! (notice Tanyah & Sarah in the background) Don't have any pics of my stunning "head banger blonde" wig --- but I'm sure someone else will have one!!!



After our Point Shoot & Play workshop on Sunday we went down to the beach to witness the huge storm brewing (and heading towards us!!). A few of us stuck it out for quite some time in pursuit of the elusive lightening shot! I managed to snap this one. Think Sandy got a good one too!

The storm meant I had a hairy drive home Sunday night (with Chelle following) - through driving rain, lots of traffic and accidents! Finally made it home about 9.30pm!

Now we can start the countdown to the next Warana weekend in May 2009!!!

Quick post...

Quick post...

Slow weekend for us --- which was divine. Should have started packing for Warana NEXT WEEK END ... but didn't quite get to it! Guess I'll be doing it during the week!

Completed my last Scrap Chat Project Scrap Away LO - 10 weeks went too fast!

Also did the Scrap Chat November digi challenge...

I've also completed part of Challenge 2 for the LSBS Mini Christmas Challenge... 5 cards and 5 tags...here's the cards - working on the tags now!

Today was sewing day... made my first Melly & Me "Candy" pattern bag ... birthday present for a close GF (who hopefully won't check my blog before her Bday). This is quite a small bag and is quite cute! Hope she likes it!

Music Maestro or Misery??

Eldest DD (13) has just done her first AMEB examine for Grade 4 Euphonium this afternoon! She was so nervous and had practised so much. I could hear her playing (with piano accompanist) and on her own during the exam - and all sounded good to me.

BUT she was all upset when she came out. She finally managed to tell me she fluffed the two questions he asked her at the end.

So we'll have to wait and see what the results are now as I have no experience with this type of thing! Hopefully her playing will get her over the line.

However she goes with the exam result - we are extremely PROUD of her!


Halloween on Friday saw both DD's go trick or treating with friends - first time we've let them do this. They enjoyed it (and got loads of goodies) and I did manage to get some photo's!


Onto scrapping...

I had a busy weekend doing my second last LO for the Scrap Chat Project Scrap away challenge - see "Double Figures" and participating in the Stamp Shak cyber crop.

I also had a go at my first "blind" scrap challenge at Scrap Therapy. Instructions are posted and you have to put the LO together without any images etc. Quite fun ... here's my LO!

Also need to get organised for our next weekend at Warana in less than two weeks! Can't wait for another fun-filled sleep deprived weekend of scrapping up the coast! If you want to see what we'll be up to and follow all the pics afterwards...check out the blog at http://scrapchat.wordpress.com/