Right now....

Im having some fun.... snipping...stitching....altering...creating....

Tomorrow....I clean up the mess!

A little Bella moment...

While on the subject of our Normanville weekend....

Last week.....I created this cute little mini-book all about our weekend away....

The photos we took were just perfect to go with this adorable little mini-book created and taught by Janelle in her class at the @home / away retreat.
I was thrilled that there was kit left over afterwards for me to purchase....and it adapted so easily to my 'Normanville' theme.

So....I had fun putting it all together.... and I popped it in a basket on the coffee table in the family room.

Then along came Bella.... she was immediately interested....Oohhh something new to look at she thought....and because she was being quite gentle.... I let her go....she flipped and turned it...and pointed at the pages... and was very taken with it for quite some time...

She even read it upside down for awhile...Then she brought it a little closer to her mouth...and gave me the cutest little look.....

....then she just couldn't help it...she had to have a little nibble....

...and because she couldn't stop nibbling.... it was time to put it away....up high!

Winding back the clock.....

I have realised that I had'nt recorded our little family weekend away to Normanville...and wanted to share a few of the memories....mainly for my own record.
I just wish Id got to this earlier....I remember thinking of all the things Id need to remember....the funny little quotes and actions....but of course its too long ago now...and I have no idea what they were.... lost in the big black gaping hole in my head.

But here are the facts (while I still remember them)...
We headed off on a Friday afternoon for Normanville on the Fleurieu Peninsular...
Brent, Alex and Mitch in Brents car....and Ian , I Briony and Bella in ours... Bella slept almost the entire 4 hour trip bless her.
We were booked into some beach front cabins and it was lovely to head to bed with the sound of waves crashing on the beach.

Saturday we spent on the various tourist drives around the area.... and poking through the local antique and curio shops.... Brent and Alex even picked up a fabulous wooden toybox for Bella....which Mitch had to sit next too for the remainder of the weekend.
Ian bought some cockles to try some fishing... $ 8.00 cockles...and Brent was the only one who put his line in...and sadly no fish.
We headed out for dinner on Saturday night to a gorgeous little pub.... and had a delicious meal.

Sunday...more tourist drives....although this time we headed on around to Victor Harbour....
Ian, Alex, Briony, Bella and I walked across to Granite Island....while the boys chose a less energetic game of mni golf.

Bella loved the beach.... particularly the feeling of sand in her mouth....and squealed in delight at the waves lapping her legs.



Well thats about it..... just a little share of a fabulous family weekend.... I wonder how many more we will all spend together like this ?......very few I imagine.
It certainly gets harder and harder to coordinate weekends like this as they grow older and make their own lives....which is why we appreciate and cherish them so much.

What an AMAZING weekend.....@home / away retreat

I have no idea where to begin.....

How do I actually capture just how wonderful the weekend was in a measly little blog post....

I had the most amazing time... to finally meet Kim , Yvette and Mel....and to spend time with Janelle again was so comfortable and natural.... the girls were just as I imagined....and more

So here goes....a very quick run down of the weekend...

My weekend began bright and early on Thursday morning.....I left at 5am for the three hour trip to catch my flight....I sighed a huge sigh when I was finally on the plane...Id been worrying Id miss it..

My flight was great...I LOVE flying....well I should say it was great....OTHER THAN the woman alongside me who sniffed continuously the entire trip.....I felt like passing my serviette....and giving her the 'blow your nose look'... but I was excited...and nothing would dampen that....

Mel and Yvette arrived at the Airport within minutes of me.... very well coordinated by Kim...and we made our way to the hire car....Yvette drove us on to Janelle's.... we had that baby piled to the roof with luggage....and we chatted non-stop ... the perfect type of road trip.

Janelle spoilt us with a lovely cuppa and freshly baked Chelsea buns....delicious! It was so lovely to see where Janelle lives and to meet her Mum...and give Emily and Jasper a little cuddle again.

After our brief stop we travelled on to Kim's home... it was SO exciting to actually be there.... to meet her beautiful family...who reminded me so much of my own....and to give Kim a hug after all these years....I truly wish I lived closer...its sad that these friends are all so far away.

Kim had arranged the most fabulous three bedroom apartment for the Thursday night....and we had a lovely relaxing night....getting to know each other....sharing some gifts.... having a laugh and preparing for the weekend ahead. (note to self.... don't laugh- becasue eyes turn to slits...and face looks like beetroot) Friday went in a flash..... we had a lovely breakfast together.... and then began setting up the room for the retreat to begin. Kim had done a spectacular job preparing the decorations.....gifts and little personal 'Kim touches'.... Ive said it so many times...but its obvious....Kim is a details girl!
The room was full of adorable little touches....that made you go ooohhhh......ahhhhhhhh......awwwwwww!

(photo courtesy of Janelle)

Friday night the registrations opened.....and the girls began to arrive....
Each of the registered girls were given a gorgeous gift...it was the cute little beach bag containing a hand painted lady....and a name tag. (photo courtesy of Janelle)

it was so lovely to make so many new friends...and to finally meet some of the girls who I have considered dear friends for years... I was emotional as I saw them for the first time....

Saturday ...bright and early I taught my class....and it was fun....I have no idea where my nerves were.... they just never arrived!

Here are a few peaks of what we did in my class.....
Saturday night..... was party night..... and while the girls were at dinner....Kim's family filled the room with helium balloons....it looked spectacuar. (photo courtesy of Janelle)
The atmosphere was buzzing....it made us all feel like dancing (and there was a bit of that too).... there were games...giveaways and make and takes....
We were on such a high when we got back to the room that night (or perhaps I should say monring).... we had lots of belly laughs....and not a lot of sleep...


Sunday was sort of sad.... the inevitable 'goodbyes' were looming...and it was all too soon coming to an end...

We taught one last class....the tag team album...which was very busy...and noisy... but lots of fun....and then we began our final hugs....photos and goodbyes as the girls one by one began to leave...

I loved this huge group shot that was taken.... I LOVED each and every one of the girls I met... I just wish there had been a little more time to just sit and chat.... seriously there couldn't have been a better bunch...

Sadly all too soon I had to say my goodbyes to Yvette, Janelle and Mel..... I didn't want to let go...I wanted to keep them and bring them home with me....

Sunday night was a lovely closure to the weekend.... Kim hosted me overnight...and I got a chance to spend a little more time with her beautiful family.... I loved the tour of Newcastle....the delicious fish and chips .... and the opportunity to flop on the couch and just chat....

Monday morning Ken gave me a lift to the airport ....and I caught my flight home... so sad.... its all over... and I cant wait to do it all again.....

Scrapboxx November newsletter...

.... is a combination of the September and October Newsletters..
I'm not quite sure why its is sneakily named the November newsletter.... but I do know that poor Maria has had Internet hassles again....and the upside is....its jam packed with two months worth of layouts and news....

So my contrubutions over the last few months have been.....

September Book of You layouts with the theme - "All about a boy"

Special Feature - colour combo - brown, yellow, orange and aqua -

Special feature - scrapping a layout of an occasion and using memorabilia on the page.

I scrapped my recent school reunion and added a large pocket to my layout to keep the programme and other photos in.

October Book of You layouts - with the theme "Spring time"....

Retreat sneaks...

Ahhh....finally I have a sneak peak to show....
For those who are attending the @home retreat ...and have booked in to my class.....this is a tiny sample of what we will be doing.....

Scrapbooking Memories ...

...is once again raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation....a very worthy cause and one close to my heart...

I even got a chance to tell a little more of my story.... a follow up from last years article.
Its not easy writing about such a personal topic.... so I hope it reads ok.

...and of course there are some amazing and inspiring layouts ...by some very talented girls... I enjoyed sitting with a cuppa and my copy earlier this week...

A good read...

I'd have to say that this book...... is my all time favourite book ... I loved it the first time I read it.....and equally as much the second time around.

I dont normally read books more than once...... but I needed to refresh my memory before embarking on his latest book "World without end"

Its a follow on from the first book..... but being set 200 years later.....it doesnt really matter which one you read first...

The @ home retreat...

Wow!....Kim has loaded some class sneak peaks to her blog.... which seems to make it all the more exciting..... in fact there are sneaks of both Janelles and Kims classes.... pity I wasnt a little more organised....and there would also be sneaks of mine....

Anyway....while on the subject.... here is what Kim had to say on her blog....

Seventeen days until the @HomeAway Weekend retreat.

Two of the additional workshops on Saturday are at 90% full. And the third class is not too far behind with bookings. And I want to fill those last few spots.

All workshops are $45.00 each.

Includes tuition and full kit.

DOESN'T INCLUDE: meals or entry to our Saturday night party crop night.

Bring or buy your own lunch (wraps, salads, breads, pasta etc available for purchase at the alfresco coffee shop within the Sunsets At The Bay resort)
Workshops on offer are: MOVING RIGHT ALONG with Mardi Winen. LITTLE BOOK OF TEXTURE with Kim Archer and CELEBRATE THE SEASONS with Janelle Wind.