its early in the morning and...

Good Morning!
Its really early in the morning. Its Saturday and this day in particular is one where I can't stay in bed...time to get up and get moving.

For the first time in a week or maybe more the sun has arrived to a day that isn't rainy. In fact, as the sky slowly lightens there are the sweetest little pink and grey fluffy clouds scattered around the top of the range in the distance and the rest of the sky is the softest freshest blue. The birds woke just before, chattered and squabbled amongst them selves for a bit and then headed off to start their day.

I'm excited about all that can happen in this day.End of the day you are tired , you have given it all you've got. But the start of the day. Who knows what you'll be able to squeeze in. No there are no exciting happenings here at the Gooch home. Just our usual weekend activities. This is just me taking a moment to delight in the simple joys of our day to day.

Saturdays are a particularly favourite day. We share our breakfast together always something yummy and I chatter away like an early morning budgerigar for a good forty five minutes before Russell suddenly wakes properly and tunes into the morning. He can make the most delicious coffee on auto pilot. By the time we have eaten and are savouring that cafe crema goodness, Alex has stumbled up the stairs past the kitchen door with a "hummmblumndad" to us. Since we now speak fluent Adolescent Boy we know this to mean "hello mum and dad, greetings to you both on this wonderful morning, gee that bacon smells delicious" He hits the showers.

We don't have any commitments or places to be until 9am when we drop Alex to work and so....Russell will snap a newspaper open, or grabs whatever big fat book he is currently nose deep in and announces "we don't have anywhere to be...let's have another coffee" and of course I just LOVE that...so sometimes I sit and read too, or scan through the junk mail that has accumulated over the week. Or I catch up on some blogs I follow...or I start my bumble bee activities. I buzz around the kitchen, more bacon on for Alex. Lids on jars, benches wiped...not working you know, just tidying. I pop out the back door say hello to the puppies, check my little herb garden, are my seedlings ok today?...back inside with some towels from the line that feel dry. I'm not working mind...just buzzing around...I pop some clothes into the washing machine and set it off and running. Check emails and facebook. I pause for a moment and look at what i created yesterday once more...oh love it! Back to the table and sit and quickly finish that second coffee. By the time Alex arrives for his breakfast, dressed in uniform, hair slicked and smelling of whatever delicious man scent he's decided the girls will LOVE, its my turn for the shower and so the day begins.

This Saturday we will be outside for a while, until the weather turns again as it promises. There are gardens to weed, and plants to plant. I may have to find something delicious to pop in the slow cooker for the day and tonight we can eat comforting yummy goodness in bowls in the lounge-room while Russell watches football and I play at my desk. Our simple piece of heaven.

Have a wonderful day today, and take the time to relish the simple, sweet pleasures of your day to day.
Love Linda X

And a few new Cards for the collection...

Hope you enjoy these three card samples. I'm loving the clean, classic lines and colours, the little stitching detail and of course that they are gender neutral. I'm loving the beautiful lustrious card and envelopes from Creations in Paper. reasonably priced for such lovely quality. People always comment of how nice they feel! I wish i could share that with you to ha ha.

Using the lovely Websters Pages 6 inch pads are perfect for card making. As these cards are to go into my collection for sale; please be respectful of my design copyright and not reproduce these for classes or for personal sale. Thanks.

Just a little bit of fabric art

Nice to be in the creative zone. I love that you can use the copic markers to colour anything and although its different on fabric with a bit of a play you can adapt to how much it "runs" through the fibres. I stamped the image using a stazon ink and a Hero arts Cling stamp, and the small poppies are just produced with a cheap little $2 set. The fabric was a calico and the large poppies were stamped onto a a rubber backed cotton curtain fabric. Take a bit of time to select your colours as the usual blending principals don't apply. Practice on a scrap piece first.

Its a daggy but necessary kitchen requirement lol.
Hope you enjoyed this.
Love Linda x

Using up the leftovers.

I always generate a lot of leftovers at my desk and so have developed a nice little habit of making cards, but not stopping there...actually sending them off to people. I just love getting that kind of mail myself and so imagine it would be a delight to get a pretty something in the mail and a nice newsy little note.
Here's one from today...

What am I good at, Mum?

One of the things that really tickles me about scrapbooking is that you then have a tangible memory prompt of an occasion to return to again and again. Sure we have photos of the big occasions, the weddings and birthdays etc. But sometimes its the little moments that only seem to be significant when you look back on them and mark them as milestones;turns in the road that take you and yours into uncharted waters.

My class that I'm teaching this week is using photos of Alex as a ten year old boy. Its the year Santa Clause bought him a guitar for Christmas. Its the year he discovered what it was that God had written as his purpose into his DNA, and where we as Mum and Dad saw our youngest start to shine.

The boys as they were growing up would always ask their Dad and I "What are we good at?" And we'd list through the family...Dad is really good at building things, and fixing things and teaching things to people. Mum is really good at arty things and shopping and talking to people and finding jobs for Dad to do. Ben has got a "Sciencey" Mind and loves to know the how and why of things. Jake is the artist, can draw, and write and understand weird things like hypertext markup language and 01000101001010111110 lol. And the last little voice would pipe up and ask " and what am i good at?

And his Dad and I would look at each other and wonder where our Knobby-kneed seven year old was going to shine.
"...and your a mixture of both your brothers, sciencey and arty.." we'd tell him and he'd beam a big grin at us.

Then the guitar arrived and everything fell into place.

Where Russell and Ben see the order and logic; and Jake and I see the colour and light; Alex hears differently to us.
"Can you hear that Mum...? it (the guitar)sounds like crying"
or when selling a guitar at work when asked whats the difference in two guitars "Well this one sounds big and fat and filling like a bowl of hot chips and gravy (he plays it)...and this one sounds tight and crisp and fresh like a salad thats just come out of the fridge...Can you hear it?"
And all the musicians can...and we mere mortals just smile and nod and delight in his passion.

So the class this week will feature photos from when Alex first fell in love with music. There is stamping and distressing and also making our own embellishments which can really keep the prices down which we love! Also some more of my favourite embellishment...good old kitchen string. Be sure to book a place as there are limited seats.

And finally Alex at the end of last year. We were in Brisbane and he was auditioning to get into the Conservatory of Music. Not successful this time, but a great experience and since school has finished a whole world of opportunity has arisen for him. The world really is his oyster. I'm very proud as you can tell.

love this

So Glamorous

Its still a work in progress but here is my Beautiful Aunty Marlene, well, at least a small glimpse as I will be teaching this is the next few weeks. This has been a wonderful jumble of goodies on my desk with a photo of my Aunty sitting on top for about a month...... and finally yesterday afternoon I had time to sit and assemble. There are still some last minute touches. A few paper roses to go with the Webster's Page's paper. Some nice and sparkly bling to make it pop off the page and then my favourite part, the journalling, the telling of  the story of the page.

Today I sit in on a card making class and just enjoy being with some lovely ladies, solving the problems of the world and relishing the simple joy of the 'gentle arts'. If I lived in a time of handsewing this would be a sewing bee.

The news today was all about bullying. There was mobile phone film of one boy being  hit by another at school and it had gone 'viral' on the internet. The world we live in so different now to the one we grew up in. We hold on to the belief that 'sanity'will prevail, but sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes really stinkin' things can happen to people that don't deserve it.

We seek, but seldom find, a place where our spirits can be nurtured. Where we can safely reveal our soft vulnerable underbelly and not fear that it will be torn to shreds. Where people care, where we are uplifted and not knocked down. Where we can lower our defences and just 'be'.

This is what my craft means to me and why i need to share it with others. When we gather together at a table and while our hands are busy, we can be comforted and offer comfort. Oh and at the end...there is a thing of beauty that we have created that can only bring joy to all you share it with.


Notice who else is walking the bumpy road with you today
And share a little sunshine with them.

Love Linda x

Laugh

It's class day again today and I'm teaching the lovely ladies at Julie's shop Creations in Paper. Its the sweetest little layout, made for a girly page but because its reversable, you can flip the papers and do the same layout for a boy. My bag is packed and by the door ready to go. I've remembered everything this time I'm sure. I've dressed for comfort, but to look professional as well. Well as best I can with my limited wardrobe ha ha. When I look in the mirror its nice to see my eyes shining again. I feel I can cope with just about anything.

Only a glimpse sorry as i'm teaching this one ...

Today is my day...so this afternoon I'll be working on my little papercraft business.There are pages to put together that I've waited a week to start. I have some "off the page" projects that I'm excited about and of course some more copics to practice now that I've mastered(?) the velvet look. I'll post some pics so you can see.

Its only humble, my little business, the smallest seed of something that is still making itself known to me. I'm crafting and drawing and writing and content with it all. I love teaching for Julie and watching her shop grow in its new garden... I know she will flourish now that she has moved it into the sun.

Today will be a day devoted to bringing everything up to speed. Finishing the lingering projects. Planning for the next few months. Enjoying my purpose and knowing that this is what He wrote into my DNA. While I drive to Maroochydore this morning I have many, many blessings to count and give thanks for.

Have a day filled with joy, and take the time to smile it into someone else's life.

Love Linda X

I found a weapons stash in the herb garden...

Today we worked in the garden.

Well armed with my shiny new garden tools and a punnet of Fordhook Giant Silverbeet seedings

I chose to tackle our little herb garden while Russell started on a little deck we have planned for our top garden. I tackled that earth with gusto! Weeded and fed and fluffed that soil until it looks so good 

I'm sure I'd grow if i stood in it.

And in the weeding and fluffing unearthed a machine gun, only small, made of plastic and left from a time when our back garden was used for so many other wonderful things.

Our garden is on the side of a hill and so we have three levels ...the Front, obviously the front of the house and although is steep and sloping its all counted as one section. The Back which is the immediate back yard. And then up a set of stairs that run off our back deck is the Top garden, where we are establishing a nice big vegetable garden. 

Its been on the go for quite a while now and we're really making progress but unfortunately the rain over the past three months has been pretty devastating; and just recently because of the amount of lush green around, we've been swamped by bugs, caterpillars and other critters. 

We've picked raspberries off our raspberry cane already. The passionfruit and chokoe vine are battling it out on the fence line, slow motion Matrix style. We've picked and frozen  three or four crops of beans. Struggled with fruit fly and managed at least a feed or two of tomatoes, some mean looking eggplant and some pitiful lettuce and chinese cabbage. Not a bad result I suppose but not an indication of the work we have put into it.

So now that the nicer weather is here we are planning to bring it back to productive with some weeding and feeding and replanting. In front of the vegie garden is a small section of spare space where Russell is building a deck and where we plan to sit at the end of the day watching the sun set and surveying our "farm". As the old retired Apexians say " the beer tastes better when you've worked hard for it. The wine too I must say.

  

 

ooooh...shiny new tools, and my shovel is red so I'm sure to be able to dig very fast!

 

Love the dappled light in our Back Garden, and a glimpse of our herb garden, fenced to keep out the doggies.

You can see who the real gardener is...although I love to look the part with flowery gloves and Jamie Durie utility belt.

The garden has become one of my favourite places to be, and even though I've known it for years, have advised my friends of it.... I always forget it myself until ...one day at a time of absolute hurt and need... I gravitate back to the garden, get my hands into the dirt and then I start to heal. 

Its peaceful, its honest

There is that place deep inside you where the joy lives 

and the hurts and worries of the  world can deplete these stores of joy.

Working in the garden, feeling the sun on your skin, 

smelling the earth, 

knowing by the feel of it in your hands how rich the soil is...

here is the tap to refill your joy again.

And in the quiet monotony of working the dirt

While you take the time to talk to our Maker

you restore and reprogram and return to you.

The kiss of the sun for pardon. 

The song of the birds for mirth. 

One is nearer to God's heart in the garden. 

Than anywhere else on earth.

We see this rhyme on cute little signs in peoples gardens and don't really think of what it means.

I think that until you've tried it, it will make no sense to you.

So for me?...Its about all of the above and more. Our back garden tells the story of our family. Secret plastic army stashes hidden strategically in rock walls and hidey holes. Unearthing while digging, that old mobile phone that the boys used when they played FBI agents. The nails in tree that have held Forts or booby traps, a billy cart wheel. 

One dog chewed thong. 

The constant rearranging, relocating, remodelling as our family grows and changes. Three different homes for the clothesline.

The tree we planted to one day hang a swing for Grandkiddies, is now more than big enough to hold half a dozen. The secret path that winds up through the jungle. The spectacular show our hydrangeas give us, and we all wait for Russell to say every year " they said you can't grow hydrangeas in queensland... and look at these!!!"

We still can't find the perfect spot for the barbeque.

This way...

I'm not sure about you, but I know that for much of the detail of my life  I am taken and steered in a direction;  and that with the wisdom of the years,  I've learnt to just go with it.

Today when I woke there was a bit of a moment where I questioned  'is this the right direction for me?"
Those sudden little worry moments that can stop you mid strut.

And as usual the day has answered my question for me in a hundred in little ways. The simple words of a friend that encourage. The lyrics of a song on the radio. That phone call or email that says exactly what you need to hear. I know that this is a God thing and I have learned in these moments to just let go, be reassured and not give in to doubt.

Three emails came to me today and amazingly they were all about the need to keep moving forward and not to give up And they were from three completely different, and to the casual eye completely unrelated sources.
Dr Wayne Dyers' blog , who writes about being a writer and worrying what people think about your writing to such a degree that you stop writing, and spend all your time editing, proof reading, and rewriting.
The Word_for_Today is a daily devotional that keeps me on task and today spoke to me about staying on course. And of course the brave girls club Daily Truth that is emailed to me and today said the following to me...A Little bird told me...

Dear Diligent Girl,

Put it in your mind that quitting is not an option.

Oftentimes, the tides will change, the wind will shift -- things will start coming together in the time JUST after we were sure it was time to quit. Keep moving forward, pointing yourself in the direction that you need to be going.

If you are facing the direction of your most wonderful end goal, and some days you are only FACING it, that is part of keeping going. Some days you will take steps, some days you will just keep yourself turned in the right direction. It's all important progress. Just don't quit. Never never never never quit.

You can do it. You ARE doing it! And you are absolutely phenomenal at it.

xoxo

And so I've come back to our home today and worked at my desk and been very productive.
I've also worked out how to put a Facebook "like" button on my blog and then made a page for Facebook for Linda Gooch Papercraft...and it all works.

So if you have been reading my blog and would like to comment and find that the comments section at the bottom of the blog  page is not working for you...just click "like" on the facebook page button at the top right hand corner  and you can comment there.

And stick to your task...you know what your meant to be doing....
Linda X

My Book of Me.

One of the papercraft projects that has bought me lots of joy over the years 

and that I tend to pick up and put down in the various chapters of my life 

has been my Book of Me. 

A common lament among the memory keepers of the family is that we often end up behind the camera and seldom on the page. While most of us are kind of happy about that; thinking of the years of hail damage that swimsuit photos can reveal, or the horror of discovering another chin has arrived...

it is important that we record the detail our lives as well as our families. 

Can you imagine what a gift it would be to be able to glimpse into your mothers, or grandmothers  world and know what are the things that bring her joy, bring a tear to her eye, make her laugh uncontrollably. What was her favourite food , colour, hobbies? Was she frightened as a new Mum like we are when we become mum's? Did her dreams come true? What did she look like at my age? What was her handwriting like?

I know i could go on and on.

So when I first heard of the idea of a Book of Me I was just delighted. 

As well as my usual scrapbooking here was a chance to record about me with the knowledge that my children, grandchildren  and so on could gain a little insight into my world today.

And it made me disciplined about actually scrapbooking photos of myself.

So here is another that I have done just last night. You'll notice that there is no journalling and of course thats private and I'll add it later when I put it in my album. The album I use is a ring binder and in between each of the layout sleeves I have inserted an A4 protecter that will hold my diary type journalling... 

just the story of day to day, where my heads at, what my thoughts are. 

You can also use these A4 sleeves for one off fabulous meaningful photos 

that i print in A4 size

and then i can slip a page of journalling in behind that.

I make sure to put in good memories as well as those not so good. 

After all its a whole big picture book, not a book of snapshot memories.

Its going to be a fabulous book to read one day when I've gone 

and it becomes part of my childrens inheritance. 

ha ha.

This page is about finding my inspiration again and the funny things that will trigger it.

Spread a little sunshine today...*smile*

Linda X

 

And this little bird is from a layout for a lesson so only a glimpse sorry

but wanted to share this with you. 

Using the Tim Holtz Caged Bird big Sizzix die, cute as a button I say!

Printing on little pieces of paper...A Snazzy tip!

You'll love this one! Its frustrating sometimes when you want to print a title or piece of journalling for a layout or even the perfect sentiment for a card; and of course the only piece of paper you have is too tiny to go through your computer. I know I've tried.

 Pop a little adhesive on the back of the paper. Its best to choose something that isn't too tacky and will reposition easily.

 Next, using your word program of choice ( I use microsoft Word or Publisher) type out your journalling/ sentiment and make sure its no larger than your piece of paper by using the rulers on the top of your screen.

 Press enter or move the script down the page so that it is central ( this helps prevent the paper catching)

And print it off. Make a note to yourself ...it comes out of the printer with printing facing up and top of the document first.

 Not the clearest picture here but you need to stick the paper directly over the top of the printed writing. Hold it up to a light souce ( ie window) to make sure you have it lined up perfectly.

 Pop it back into the in tray of your printer with the top of the document in first, and facing out toward you.
And then click print again.

 Because you haven't moved the position of the writing on the Word document, it prints exactly where you want it to, on to your small piece of paper. Then just ease the paper off the page and use it on your card or layout. Snazzy huh?
And for those of you interested in Fonts....this one is 2peas Giggle....very cute with little hearts as the dots of the iii's.
Have a joy filled day, you deserve it!
Linda X

Soul Food

Today has been such an important day for me. Today I taught my first scrapbooking class in almost sixteen months and it felt goood! Its funny how when its the right thing it just feels sooo right. The same as when its the wrong thing it leaves you feeling uneasy, uncomfortable, wrong!

So this morning I shared  a class room full of beautiful ladies and guided them (not that they needed much lol) through a scrapbooking page I'd created and we talked and laughed and enjoyed our couple of hours of companionship and then we packed up and tootled on our way back to our lives again. Its what I've missed, and what I'm meant to be doing. I'm so grateful to these women (all of you) for standing by me when I needed you to, and gently and lovingly letting me see that yes I can still teach, yes what I create is teachworthy (is that a word?...is now!) and that you can be the kind of people who uplift others and not lose anything, in fact become so much richer because of it. Nice does not finish last!

I'm waxing lyrical again, I know, but its important for me that you see how grateful I am for your support.

And when Julie handed me some money I asked "Whats that for?".........."its your pay..." she said  and then we both burst out laughing....I ran before she could take it back! I'd forgotten I'd been working.

What a lovely lovely morning. (smile)

The throne room needs a new throne.

Ah the joys of domesticity.
Filling my time the past few days has been the bucket brigade in our bathroom to compensate for the dodgy cistern. Its given me much to think about.
We are living in a world of such luxury.
Since here on the Sunshine Coast we haven't really had water restrictions its really bought home to me the volume of water that we waste, both down the loo and in the shower. And its potable (drinkable water)

Which then got me thinking about the old farm where my Gram and Grandad raised their six kids in the mallee where water really was a premium. The big dam that looked so dark and scary, but was warm and gooey right on the edge and with a bit of meat tied to a string you could coax yabbies out of the murk.
 The Tank on a huge stand covered in boganvillia, that housed Gram's wringer washing machine underneath and the line clothesline held up with a forked stick. And since so much of memory has to do with smell...the scent of the peppercorn trees, and their little pink dusty peppercorns. No such thing as push button plumbing in those days. Yes the past week has been a nice gentle reminder for me of how blessed we are to live here and now, and if it all disappeared in a blink of an eye, we'd still tick along, content in our world, raisning and loving our families, finding the joy in our daily lives.

The past few days I've almost completed except for some embellishments some more layouts for classes at Julies shop Creations in Paper and of course as we do, have generated a pile of scraps. Now as you know  I can't show you the layouts, ( sneak peaks coming soon) but here are some cards I completed yesterday using the scraps. Loving the colouring with Copics and they are giving away another 12 free markers if you want to go to their blog here http://copicoz.blogspot.com/
Also a little scattering of the products I'll be using to scrap a layout of my beautiful Aunty Marlene. I've used this photo once before but I love it as she just looks like an old Hollywood Screen Siren ( Elizabeth Taylor perhaps?)

Today we are off to Maroochydore. I'm enjoying making some cards at Creations in Paper with the gals, Russell will have his lappie and be working over a coffee at McCafe; then we are having lunch before heading to Bunnings for the all important selection of a new Throne.
Yes its all excitement in our world.
YOU have a wonderful day today, you deserve it!
Linda x

Serving myself the burnt chop.

I'm busy scrap booking.
Its a nice feeling to be back in the familiar rhythm of creating something every day.
It balances me, fills up that little empty place next to my heart, the jigsaw puzzle slot that is the authentic real me.
I helped a friend move house on the weekend and without divulging personal stuff, (as this is my earth sister) i noticed that even though this is now for the first time ever as an adult HER home that she can create for herself she was still deferring to everyone elses likes and dislikes.
I think we all do this as wifes and mothers and women in general.
We are the people pleasers. We want everyone to be content and comfortable, and we'll do it to the detriment of our needs.
When we serve a meal, we always give ourselves the burnt chop.
Thats why scrapbooking and writing resonate with my soul.
I comes from a deep place inside me where the joy lives.
Its when I return to my default setting.
I'm just Linda, and can lose myself in my imagination, my ideas and my thoughts.
So in my busy busy world of being nurturer to so many, its a little tiny pocket of sanity saving.

I do bargains with myself, so that i don't fall behind in my responsibilities.
"If  I clean this bathroom, then mop this floor, finish these chores then i can have the next 2 hours at my desk before they all come home from work." And then when they do?
I'm back into my peaceful place, content with Linda Land once again.

And for my darling cousin Marita...a little retrospective of work from the past. I can't show layouts that I'm currently teaching beyond a sneak peek; but this may get the juices going. The layout (with Gram and Jenny and I) has Gram's plum pudding recipe as the journalling...Enjoy XX

getting my ducks in a row...

I've had the busiest couple of days. Buzzing around the coast saying Hi the people. Keeping the castle and the Royal Family running tickety boo.....And getting my work area sorted.
It was important for me to completely turn my whole area upside down... tidy.... clear rubbish ....sort and file and then reconfigure into the new look scrap room. Ands its done.
I now have an efficient little work area, all my needs within reach and accessable.

I then decided i needed a new bag to hold my little copic totes, to have them transportable, as well as neatly stored so I made this fabric bag and I'm very happy with the look of it.

I've gone though boxes and boxes of scrapping stuff today. Things I'm selling for a friend, things that were donated to me for my craft group. Things that I have retired from my stash...And I've allocated homes to all of them, and for my friends stash...all ready now to sell on Ebay...thats will be my next big thing to learn.

Thats one of my new resolutions...to be learning some new skills to add to the repertoire and currently i have on my list ( and to be honest this will probably take me a while)

1. Learning to use Ebay

2. An online touch typing course

3. Having another look at Photoshop ( textbook in hand lol)

4. The perfect Roast Pork Belly ( Russell and Alex happy to be the taste testers for as long as it takes)

And 5.Growing my lettuces without this battle with the bugs and critters ( I swear have never known the pest problems we are having at the moment, as well as serious rain issues)

Hmmm yes like the look of those personal development projects.

Its all Tickety Boo in Linda Land.

I have class dates if anyone is interested! I'm teaching scrapbooking at Creations in Paper beginning Thursday 24th February. Yes i'm so busy creating I can't sleep at night from excitement. If you look on the horizon toward my home you'll see a whirlwind of papers and snippings and fun. There are definately not enough hours in the day and sleep is a necessity dammit!

 I've also let Julie know that I still love teaching the absolute beginners; guiding you through how to work the tools and also what you need and what you don't...so if you or someone you know would love to start scrapbooking and would like to be guided through the basics , just contact Creations In Paper

As well as slipping back into my happy place (sharing my love of this craft with others) I've also begun making cards to sell. One-off originals and a little more upmarket than usual for those very special occasions. If you'd like a closer look just contact me.

Here is one from this morning using some leftovers from a scrap page to make a birthday card for my brother. I'll also try to have glimpses of pages for you but of course since they will be taught in store they will only be a sneaky little peek to get you excited for more. Ha ha....

This is using the Basing Grey Curio range. love the colours, and of course Copic Markers to match the papers. Its so liberating know that every image, embellishment or ribbon can be coloured to perfectly match your papers.
PS. Email from Copic Australia this morning and my prize was sent on Wednesday....woooohooo!
Bye for now
Linda x

I'm a winner....

Its been a muddly couple of days.
I've found it hard to settle to anything.
Feeling tired & miserable with a summer cold.
Worrying that I'm stuck in such a rut I can't get out.
Feeling stifled with my creativity.
I have so many roads heading off in so many directions and each one could be , may be, definately is THE ROAD for me...but how to tell?

 My friend Julie from Creations In Paper has been waiting ( so patiently) for me to teach a scrapbooking class for her and I have been excited and terrified at the same time.
Excited because Julie has such a beautiful little shop and an awesome talent for papercrafting to share and I'd love to be a part of it. She has welcomed me and called me friend, before even knowing why i was so  fragile and hurt. (from having glimpsed the dark side of the papercraft world but thats another story.)
She sat me in her workshop with her lovely customers and over the past weeks and months I've healed by having my hands on papers, and glues and buttons and ribbons and she introduced me to Copics.
Terrified  because I was worried that I'd lost that something that I had that made me good at teaching.

That was yesterday.

Today I woke after dreaming all night about scrapbooking.
I went straight to my desk and haven't looked back.
Then while grabbing a little snack, decided to check my facebook ...
AND I WON THE 36 NEW COPIC MARKERS!!!!
Julie had suggested we all enter in her last newsletter and gee what have i got to lose hey?
http://copicoz.blogspot.com/
If ever I needed validation of the direction i needed to go in...i have it now.
Thanks soooo much Copics Australia. (And thanks Julie Hughes, good luck in that New Shop!!)

I'm an old fashioned gal...

Unexpectedly I find myself with a love of old soft vintage patterns. I've always love old. Particularly anything that looks like it was unearthed from an old box in the basement, under linoleum from early last century...

Here's an card i made yesterday for my friend Ann who is in hospital  at the moment. I wanted something that would look pretty in her room and cheer her up and so I chose an easel card .I really like how the lace is holding it up and i'd like to say it was a clever design by me .... but it just accidently worked as these things sometimes do...not sure if you can still get those making memories mini button brads but they are the sweetest little things and my secret stash is looking very grim. Will have to so a search....

The papers are old K&Co, from my huge stash, and i still love them. The image is an acrylic stamp  from Kaisercraft Old English Roses Collection; stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa and coloured in Copic markers YG 67,63; R 85, 83; C1,3, the greys giving that nice vintagey look...nice...loving the whole copic thing...

Have a lovely day.

Linda x

Watch this space

Just love the trend at the moment to use lovely vintage and retro images and i have a lovely little stash of my own that i've sourced around the web for free. Very handy to have.

No more dilly dallying....
Time to get serious guys...watch this space.