05.31.07
Have you heard about these…?
I’ve been keeping an eye on all the cool projects this girl has been doing with her punches. I’m clearly having punch-envy issues – I want all of them now!!!
Just as well that it is an American site. I won’t go bankrupt just yet 
Happy Birthday little brother!!!!
My *Little Brother* is not that little. In anyone’s imagination. But he is 6 years younger than me. That makes him eternally my *little brother*
He turns 30 tomorrow. Not that little at all anymore, eh, little brother? Happy Birthday to you.
Card made for little brother’s birthday using a handy sketch from Di.
05.30.07
Sketches and Awesome Layouts!
Ok – a super duper quick post as I’m meant to be serving dinner!!!
You all know how I love sketches…. just came across this one. I’m sure you’ve all been there done that – but hey I’ve just found it! Check it out here. I’m loving the round ones (……reminds me of Playschool’s *Round Window*)
And to see some cool layouts, have a look at the Pesto girls site. Kelly (memoryfairy) MUST be superwoman I think: she produces amazing layouts in next to no time at all!! I loved the ones with a fancy cut edge – and couldn’t for the life of me figure it out. Use brackets. Of Course!!!!
05.29.07
The 4 x 4 books of Art
I’m so excited – GirlFriday has got the pics up of the first FLAB pages. You can see them here. Use the click on that page if you want to take a look at the individual pics.
Can’t wait to see my letterbox now…. to see which ones come to meeeeeeee.
If you’re into swapping your creations – come give this a go.
Cross country time
On Thursday Mr 5’s school held their cross country afternoon. The kids had been practising their running over the course for a few weeks and there was definitely a buzz around the place come the day.
Mr 5 found the concept of pacing himself quite difficult – he likes speed! Still, he did quite well – finishing mid field in his age group. I forgot my camera though – silly mum!! Thankfully a friend had theirs and with a big zoom you can catch the cool warm-up antics too!
Last night I finished some pins I’m doing for a couple of pin swaps. I’m quite pleased with them: home made chipboard shapes, lots of orange paint, plus some handstitching too. These were basically for those of us that wanted a piece of the swap action but weren’t getting to go to SENZ (held in Auckland over the weekend). I had some fun doing them – maybe I’ll have to find an event to make some more for!!
05.27.07
Sharing the FLAB
Yeah – if only!
Karen has collated all our first FLAB (Fat Little Art Books) for May.
I think the concept of shoes threw me: I used to be Imelda Marcos but am recovering from that addiction. As a result I found it quite hard to channel the spirit of my shoes!
I’m looking forward to getting my swap pages back because it looks like the others found the concept a little easier!
Go take a look and definitely give it a whirl – it’s a wee change from those that sawp ATCs but I think quite fun.
Time to get busy again!
This time busy = crafty!
I’ve had a bit of a slump – probably a good thing so that I can actually catch up on real life things! But I have a bunch of ideas and inspiration floating around in my head at the moment so I think it’s about time some things came out of my head and on to paper.
This weekend – and to be honest a bunch of other days this week – has been fantastic weather wise. Summer time almost!! Balmy even! Yes – believe it!! We had a pot-luck lunch with friends at the top of our hill. A mere zephyr down our way is usually a howling gale up their way. Today: not a breath. Fantastic – gorgeous – brilliant! And in a few days winter is here! I love this kind of Autumn weather. You know what? Give me summer all year round and this girl would be a happy one! 
Speaking of paper, our Mr 3 is loving the whole arty thing too. He always has – give him a pen and some paper and he’s happy. Usually drawing lines – very precise, good looking lines. Or circles, as perfectly formed as a 3 year old can manage. However, twice in the space of 3 weeks he has drawn his family. I think it is really cute – mainly because of his explanation of it – but also because I think he is quite clever to put his thoughts onto paper at his age!
Now, you may not be able to see “dad” too clearly – that’s cos yellow highlighter doesn’t scan so great. But that is Mr 3 in green (his favourite colour), Mr 5 in orange (his favourite colour – Mr 3 knows this!), Mum in pink (gender association already!) and Dad in Yellow. As he was telling me who was who, it wasn’t the colours he was using to describe – but the length of the legs! “Daddy is the tallest so he has the longest legs, Mummy is not quite so tall but still taller than Mr 3, Mr 5 is also a little bit taller than him – but just a little, little bit – and Mr 3 has short legs. ‘Cos he’s not a grown up yet.”
How freakin’ clever is that??!!
Yes, indeed – this mummy is very proud of her little guy!!
05.25.07
I so should be doing something
different right now!
I’m sitting at the desk – in the sun. I’ve done some reading towards the latest in the course work. But it is soooooo nice outside.
So I hung some washing out. Tried to see if Hubby was available to meet for lunch. Picked up Mr 3. Came home to continue to work on the assignment. Got distracted. That should be no big surprise!
A neighbour who has been in hospital since Sunday came home today. I’m so pleased she is doing better. Unfortunately it looks like she won’t be up to being Mr 5’s standin grandma in a couple of weeks though. The school is having a grandparents day and Mr 5 has an Oma in a home thanks to a massive stroke and a Nana and Pop in Christchurch….. so no biological grands for him. But Ollie is just like a grandma to the boys, and she was delighted to be asked. Winter has taken its toll on her though. I’ll have to break the news to him at some point – not looking forward to that! Afterall, life is ALL about him and that is that!
Mr 3 is currently napping and in about an hour we’ll be heading off to big brother’s assembly. Maybe we’ll walk and get some fresh air. Love a sunny day!
05.23.07
It’s not just about me
Well – most of the time it might be, but occasionaly I’ll share! Mr 5 has been doing a Kids Crop class once a fortnight after school this term. He likes to be crafty just like his mum. Mum doesn’t like to share her stuff though!
Anyway, I thought I’d share the layout that he did at yesterday’s class.
It’s not quite as easy going as I thought it might be. Mainly due to Mr 5’s enthusiasm. Apparently all things in life must be a race. I pre-cut the photos to size before the class and had a devil of a time trying to convince him that he actually needed to measure the paper before cutting. I also couldn’t handle the slap-dash approach – as in slap it down any old where and keep slapping til it’s stuck. I think his work should look a little like the class example. 
With a little uplifting and retrying, we got the main part of the layout done. The punched accents are all him as are the subjects of each photo.
Add into the mix Mr 3. While he is actually quite well behaved, watching a video most of the time we are there, he also likes to help. Yesterday it was finding out he could get himself a glass of water out of the cooler. And bring it to the class tables. He did quite well actually – didn’t spill a drop. But man you should have seen teh grown-ups jump at the thought of water over the work!!
Mr 5 Likes: dogs, swimming, spiderman, his bike, his dad, crafting, Rusty & Puppy, and cars.
05.22.07
Tuesday Tuesday
Tuesdays are for some reason a hump day around here. Don’t know why. We are usually pretty busy and I’m having to remember where we all need to be. Maybe that is it.
Mr 5 has his kids crop class after school today. It’s an “I like” page. i’m bummed because I had a photo of him busy concentrating on something crafty and he thought that would be good to include. But now I can’t find where I have it. There’s a sneaking suspicion that I might have deleted it …..doh! Still there are a good few to pick from: dogs, spidey, bike, Puppy & Rusty, Dad…… Yes Dad! He wants to include a picture of Dad. What about mum???? Nah, you just take me there. Just as well I think it’s cool that he likes his dad!
Mr 3 has his weekly swimming lessons at noon. I dread them I have to admit – I still need to get into the pool with him. I know that I shouldn’t wish the time away – but I really am looking forward to the time he has the lessons on his own. Hopefully next term will be kindy grade….. hoping, hoping!
Then there is the usual Tuesday scenario: housework in the morning (well…..) lunch on the run between swimming and kindy drop-off, study during kindy, pick-ups, the crop, dinner… To achieve all this, I need to have all the bags packed in advance, know where I need to be – and heaven help me – don’t add anything too unexpected into the mix. Please!
From 11.30 on I’m on the move.
