Wishing all our @Home readers a safe and happy Easter.
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April 24, 2011
April 23, 2011
Good Friday
This year we celebrated Easter and my sister's Anzac Day birthday a little earlier and got together yesterday - Good Friday.
More pics to come but wanted to share these...the kids are getting SO BIG! We try and line them up, youngest to oldest, for a photo each Easter we are together. They used to be so cooperative. These days - not so much!!
Here they are Easter 2006
Easter 2009
and oh my goodness they don't even FIT in the doorway anymore..Easter 2011
Yes, smiling faces - you would think they all cooperatively joined in and got their photo taken with no fuss and no bother. Believe me they DIDN'T. The whole lot of them were horrors!
All grown up. But not too grown up for the annual Easter Egg Hunt though. More pics once I edit them:)
Meet The Support Team - Lisa Pate
------Lisa Pate------
1. What craft do you like to do curled up on the sofa in front of the tv (if any).
I am not much of a TV watcher.... BUT my husband travels quite a bit for work so when he is away and I am trying to get the kids to settle for the night I often pop in a DVD and prep canvas backgrounds at the coffee table.
2. Is there a craft you would like to try?
I think I have tried most art/craft activities. I would love to try my hand at pottery, it just looks like so much messy fun. Wet felting is another craft that appeals to me. I have all the supplies here ready and waiting, it’s just a case of finding a little more time.
3. What's your earliest crafty memory?
My mum teaching me how to sew by hand with a giant darning needle, wool and an old hankie. I would have been about four years old. The memory still makes me smile because my mum is not a crafter at all, and that was the limit of her ability. I was so desperate to learn she grabbed what she had on hand and taught me.
4. Have you always been crafty? yes!
5. What other crafts have you dabbled in?
Cross stitch, sewing, knitting, card making, art stamping, latch hook (as a child!), drawing, painting and general mess making
6. Do you consider yourself arty or crafty or a bit of both?
Both. I think the two can co-exist quite happily. Most of my friends sho scrapbook would definitely label me as arty. The same friends would also label me as messy. Somehow they arty/craft and mess making go hand in hand.
7. Where do you get your craftiness from? Does it run in the family or are you the only crafty person in your family?
My Grandmother is an amazing sewer. I remember her making most of my dresses as a young girl, and she really inspired me to start sewing at an early age. My mum is not arty/crafty at all. My family is very creative though. My dad and brother are both exceptional musicians and my brother is a web designer. Besides my darling mum, we all play instruments, sing, and generally love anything creative. So yes I do come from a creative family, but not really a crafty one.
8. Finish this sentence.."I am most happy surrounded by...."
My family, good food, good wine and a giant pile of arty mess.
9. What crafty or arty projects are you working on right now?
I am really busy working on a series of artworks based on the theme of “home”.
The series currently has small mixed media canvases, but the whole series will also include larger art works, embellishments for crafters, cards and smaller miniature canvases too. It’s all coming together so well and I couldn’t be happier.
10. Who would you love to sit and chat and create with ..if you could choose three people?
Ok this one is so tricky. My first choice would be a small group of girls I call my besties Helen, Marg and Melinda. We all live in different States and we get together once (or twice a year) to create. They are the most wonderfully supportive and fun girls. Other than them I would love to spend a whole day with Donna Downey, Emily Falconbridge and Christy Tomlinson – such creative souls, hopefully a bit would rub off on me.
April 22, 2011
Meet The Suport Team - Mel Nunn
------Mel Nunn------
1. What craft do you like to do curled up on the sofa in front of the tv (if any).
I like to crochet or hand quilt in front of the tv, but mainly in the winter.
2. Is there a craft you would like to try?
I have tried so many crafts, I can honestly say that at the moment I don't feel like i have any left to try! Recently (in the past 2 weeks) I have been learning to draw and paint with my sister so I am content getting my arty side out!
3. What's your earliest crafty memory?
I remember being taught to knit at age four. My mum and my grandma bought huge needles and chunky wool for me. I also remember that when I was about 6 or 7 i made up my own booklet of house designs. I first drew the outside of the house and included the floor plans. Not sure why i had this little obsession, but it kept me happy for a few weeks :)
4. Have you always been crafty?
Definitely. i cant remember a time when I haven't had some sort of project on the go. Even as I toddler I apparently liked building things out of toilet rolls and cereal boxes.
5. What other crafts have you dabbled in?
All of them! Not really...Knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, embroidery (including cross stitich, stumpwork, ribbon and crewel), folk art, art journaling and mixed media, painting and drawing.
6. Do you consider yourself arty or crafty or a bit of both?
Tough one... I guess I always thought I was crafty, but recently I have been creating things that come more from my soul and that have no particular purpose, other than the process of creating. I like to think now these soul-food pieces that I paint and draw as arty.
7. Where do you get your craftiness from?
Does it run in the family or are you the only crafty person in your family? Apart from the knitting that my mum and nan taught me, I'm the only one! I don't take after my family generally so that isn't much of a surprise. My sister however is an amazing artist and I have always been a teensy bit jelous of her talent.
8. Finish this sentence.."I am most happy surrounded by...."
Friends, music, laughter, food and some sort of craft/art... (and some chocolate ;)
9. What crafty or arty projects are you working on right now?
I'm working on an art journal of painted ladies and I have a quilt on the go as well.
10. Who would you love to sit and chat and create with ..if you could choose three people? Apart from the amazing Support Team girls that I love to be surrounded by, I would choose Donna Downey, Kelly Rae Roberts and Christy Tomlinson. (and my sister ;)
Here's a closeup of Mel's beautiful art journal.
April 21, 2011
Meet The Support Team - Yvette Adams
------Yvette Adams------
1. What craft do you like to do curled up on the sofa in front of the tv (if any).
I pretty much always have a cross stitched Christmas stocking on the go. I've made them for my family and my nieces and nephews. Right now I'm working on one for my niece or nephew due next month.
2. Is there a craft you would like to try?
I just want to be able to crochet! I have tried lots of times and I'm hopeless. I haven't given up though!
3. What's your earliest crafty memory?
Making padded fabric picture frames with my mum and sisters. And around the same time doing little cross stitch projects.
4. Have you always been crafty?
Always. My mum is very creative and my sisters and I always got involved.
5. What other crafts have you dabbled in?
Dressmaking, quilting, embroidery, cross stitching, drawing, jewellery making, card making, tapestry, long stitch, latch-hook (now I'm going waaaaay back!)
6. Do you consider yourself arty or crafty or a bit of both?
A bit of both but I do more craft than art.
7. Where do you get your craftiness from?
Does it run in the family or are you the only crafty person in your family? My creativity comes from my mum, who inherited it from her mother.
8. Finish this sentence.."I am most happy surrounded by...."
Finished projects!
9. What crafty or arty projects are you working on right now?
My only ongoing project at the moment is the cross stitched Christmas stocking.
10. Who would you love to sit and chat and create with ..if you could choose three people?
Michelle Allyn Clement http://michelleclement.typepad.com
my sister Charlotte http://charlottekingman.blogspot.com/
my dear friend Lea. http://weliketomakestuff.blogspot.com/
The attached photo is of a cot quilt I made for soon-to-be-born niece or nephew.
April 20, 2011
More paint-y, messy fun!
Yesterday Lisa and I headed back to Pages 2 Scrap in Tuggerah for another arty, painty class, this time with Nathalie Kalbach who had travelled all the way from Germany to be with us.
Nathalie works for Tattered Angels and as I only own ONE SOLITARY SINGLE bottle of their Glimmer Mist and KNOW I don't use it to it's full potential, I thought it would be good to get to see what all the glimmer mist fuss was about.
We only had a lovely small group of ladies which was good for us as it meant lots of teacher attention and free reign of all the pretty bottles of Glimmer Mist and chalks and glazes, screens etc that Nathalie had with her.
And we got inky and messy as we layered and gesso-ed and sprayed and painted and embedded Vintaj bits and inked and stamped. And Lisa and I also chomped our way through a packet of mini chocolate caramel Easter eggs...yummo...
I wasn't at all happy with how my canvas was evolving during the class and felt a bit like the needy student up the back struggling with the spray bottles!!!!! but I figured I was learning a bunch of cool things I can use on other projects and I was enjoying the company and the break away from work....I was looking enviously around at all the other TOTALLY COOL canvases from the other girls and feeling so sad that mine looked so blah!
BUT once I grabbed a paintbrush toward the end of the class and some glimmer glaze, I felt instantly more at home with the paintbrush compared to handling the spray bottles, and I was able to "fix" my little canvas and some shine and glimmer and a more painter-ly finish and now I am pleased to admit...I LOVE it. Phew.
I don't get to be a student very often but it was nice to settle back and learn a few new things with Nathalie who was such a lovely lady. And there's certainly a few ideas she showed us that I look forward to trying out on other canvases...
Am I now a glimmer mist convert?
Um, not really. I love the pretty colours and the effects other people achieve with the glimmer mists but I am much more at home with my paints, inks and a paintbrush:) Although I do like a little spritz here and there of beautiful glimmery colour ..just now and then.
Our family photo was taken by the lovely Rachel Greig several years ago now..these days - Brandt's curls are now gone, my hair is shorter and blonder, Capri's hair is straighter, Kens hair is a bit thinner and Jamison is now 6'3" tall!!!
Meet The Support Team - Sheree Forcier
------Sheree Forcier------
1. What craft do you like to do curled up on the sofa in front of the tv (if any).
Lately I’ve been hand stitching hexagons and doing a little crochet…both perfect ‘on the couch’ projects that I love to do.
2. Is there a craft you would like to try?
I’ve always wanted to try quilting and I’ve recently started on my first ever quilt. It’s a simple design but I’m learning a lot along the way!
3. What's your earliest crafty memory?
I think it would be making my own Barbie clothes out of scraps of fabric and old t-shirts.
4. Have you always been crafty?
Definitely! As a little girl I loved playing with a toy sewing machine that I got for Christmas one year…and I’ve tried a few different crafts since then.
5. What other crafts have you dabbled in?
I did cross-stitch for years before I discovered scrapbooking but I’ve also had fun with tapestry, embroidery, sewing, knitting and crochet.
6. Do you consider yourself arty or crafty or a bit of both?
I don’t think I’m very arty so I’d have to go with crafty.
7. Where do you get your craftiness from? Does it run in the family or are you the only crafty person in your family?
I remember both my Nannas creating the most beautiful crochet blankets, doilies, etc. My Mum has always sewed and now loves stamping and dabbles in scrapbooking too.
8. Finish this sentence.."I am most happy surrounded by...."
...family, friends and something crafty to work on.
9. What crafty or arty projects are you working on right now?
I’ve got a few things on the go at the moment…crochet squares for a blanket, my first ever quilt and I’ve got an unfinished scrapbook page sitting on my desk.
10. Who would you love to sit and chat and create with ..if you could choose three people?
Oooh that’s a hard one! I always love a good chat and craft session with my close friend Melanie, but there’s quite a few online friends I’d love to catch up with again or finally meet in person. I don’t think I could narrow it down to only three!
Here's a peek at Sheree's FIRST ever quilt..beautiful!!
April 19, 2011
Meet The Support Team - Janelle Wind
------Janelle Wind------
1. What craft do you like to do curled up on the sofa in front of the tv (if any).
Usually you will find me with needle and thread in hand, either hand stitching my latest design or stitching press studs onto the back of my tiny doll dresses that I make for my etsy store.
2. Is there a craft you would like to try?
I can't think of any craft I haven't tried as I have tried SO many over the years.
3. What's your earliest crafty memory?
At approx. age 8 I was given my first sewing machine and let loose to stitch to my hearts content. I vividly remember designing and making my own Barbie doll clothes, wrapping them in glad wrap (such beautiful packaging) and trying to sell them at a family garage sale that we had. Sadly no one purchased any of my wares, but thankfully it hasn't stopped me LOL
4. Have you always been crafty?
Absolutely yes, if I can't create, I don't feel whole.
5. What other crafts have you dabbled in?
I have tried so many - cottage craft, cross stitch, tapestry, pottery, painting, drawing, dressmaking, embroidery, macrame, string art, knitting, crochet - just to name a few.
6. Do you consider yourself arty or crafty or a bit of both?
That's a tough question. I really just describe myself as a designer - I am not really arty or crafty I don't think. Others may think differently though - I often find it hard to describe myself and what I do.
7. Where do you get your craftiness from? Does it run in the family or are you the only crafty person in your family?
Both of my Grandmothers were stitchers, one a beautiful dressmaker and the other a milliner. I am the only crafty one in the family though - my mother is very capable but doesn't craft.
8. Finish this sentence.."I am most happy surrounded by...."
Fabric, thread and peacefulness.
9. What crafty or arty projects are you working on right now?
Right now I am working on three stitched projects, one for a store club, one for a magazine and one for a retreat. I am also constantly working on my etsy store and trying to keep things original and unique to me in there too.
10. Who would you love to sit and chat and create with ..if you could choose three people?
Ohh that is a tough one, I am not really sure who I would like to sit and create with as I work best on my own. I would just choose Mardi every time. And I would also choose Stephanie Nielson, Kelly Rae Roberts and Elizabeth Kartchner
Here's a look at what Janelle is creating at the moment.
Meet the Support Team Girls
For our lovely new @Home blog readers as well as our beautiful regulars, I thought it was time to introduce you to our @Home Team.
Without the support and creativity of these beautiful girls, the @Home site would be nothing like it is today! They all work hard to produce additional samples for each of our workshops as well as designing and teaching their own classes from time time over on the @Home site.
Each of the girls has their own unique style and I do love to see how they interpret each class and give their own twist to our projects. They are all incredibly talented girls who aren't just papercrafters but all round crafty, arty souls!
Over the next week I want to introduce you to each of the girls as they talk about their crafty projects, arty endeavours and the projects that are keeping them busy right now. Plus we take a little peek at what they are working on in their crafty/arty world!
We kick off this afternoon with our first Support Team member. So check back to see just who it is.
April 18, 2011
Wingham
On Saturday mum and I headed off up the highway in the torrential rain to Wingham where I taught at the Scrapsidaisy Retro Retreat. Long time readers of my blog may remember that I was born in Wingham - well, I was born in Taree hospital but my parents lived in Wingham at the time.
And I have a special fondness for the lovely little town of Wingham which is just outside Taree on the NSW North Coast and about 2 hours or so from Newcastle. We still have very dear family friends who live there and Mum came along with me for the day so she could visit with Barb and Tony while I taught my workshop. Perfect!
The rain was relentless ALL the way up and ALL the way home from Wingham. But it didn't matter as we were so looking forward to meeting up with the Bakers again..
Now the Bakers are LONG time friends of our family. My mum met Barb when she was only 20 years old, not long married and newly moved to the tiny country town of Wingham from the big smoke of Sydney after my dad was transferred there with his job. They met the Bakers and became instant friends.
Even though we then moved to other country towns we always stayed in contact with the Bakers. And had a LOT to do with them when we were growing up. I remember Timmy pushed me down the steps when I was four years old and I split my chin open and have the scar to prove it (thanks Timmy), Mark was my partner for my Year 12 formal, Janet lived with us for six months while she went to Uni in Newcastle and my mum is Paulette's Godmother...Barb and Timmy are probably the only two people who STILL call me Kimbo to this day!!!
Here we are..check out the fashions..very 70's..and we are all in need of a haircut..thats me in the red shirt buttoned RIGHT up to the neck, navy knitted vest and navy slacks. Lookin' H-O-T
Anyway, back to Saturday - Barb and Tony had made us a lover-ley lunch and Paulette also called in for a visit. I wished I could have stayed longer to catch up..Was wonderful.
I then headed off to the retreat to teach my class...
The girls were lovely - so friendly and welcoming and busy bees during the class..I had met some of them before in other classes so it was great to see some familiar faces. And lovely to meet some new ones.
And it was great to teach face to face again. I realised I missed that connection of real life teaching and meeting people etc as all of what I do these days is online.
Here we all are ...That's Leisa in the yellow on the far left - the owner of Scrapsidaisy and me peeking out over there on the right..
After the class I headed back to pick up Mum and had a cuppa and more of the delicious and far too fattening slice Barb had made while we had a catch up with Janet, another of the Baker kids who had called over to see us!
And then it was home again..more rain. And we arrived home tired out but happy! Was a lovely day!!!!
