Wednesday's Word of the Week

Hey there bloggers!
As part of my plan to keep up my blogging momentum I thought I'd try out a (hopefully) fun concept.  I'm sure you've heard of the 'Wordless Wednesday' blog posts, well mine is going to be a 'Word of the Week' Wednesday.  Now, I'm not the most erudite of people but I do like to read an awful lot and English was one of my favourite subjects in High School (Theatre and Art being the others - yes, yes, very surprising ;) Anyhoo, part of my obsession with the english language is a complete despisement of incorrect spelling (drives me INSANE - especially deliberate shortenings such as nite, aaarrrghh, and don't get me started with texting - I use complete words - yes, I am one of those ;) and also secretly wanting to re-expand the repertoire of words that we all use day-to-day.  We need to stop dumbing ourselves down and instead smarten ourselves up!  So, I thought that each Wednesday I could post my favourite word that week, complete with definition, example of use and visual interpretation....ie make a card or layout or just find a pic that I think depicts it.  So, bear with me as I embark on this mad mission!
So, without further ado, this weeks word is:

dir·i·gi·ble

[dir-i-juh-buhl, dih-rij-uh-] 

noun

1. an airship.

adjective

2. designed for or capable of being directed, controlled, or steered.

Example of use:  

' "What ho!" said Boots.  "Can I be of any assistance, Lady Maccon?"  The basket-shaped gondola of Lord Akeldama's private dirigible came down out of the sky like some kind of fat and benevolent savior.' - Heartless, Gail Carriger.

'Auto-gyro's rush in where dirigibles fear to tread.' - Dion Shepherd.

Here are a couple of images I found on the web: 

I particularly like the addition of the chicken on top of this one ;)

 

And here is my card offering:

So, your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to work the word dirigible into a  conversation this week - let me know how you use it!

Thanks for stopping by!
B

First Day of School

Hey there bloggers!
Well, it was the first day of school for alot of kids today, my boys included.  It's going to be an interesting year this year as Hamish has now started Prep and Connor is now in Grade 7!  Eek! It was like a beautiful back to school miracle today - I woke up and Connor had awoken early, got himself AND HAMISH dressed to shoes AND gotten them both breakfast!!! Now, normally it's a nightmare to get Connor to dress himself on time but it was so wonderful to wake up and he had gotten himself and his brother ready - I nearly cried!
Hamish was so ready to go to school - he told me that he was 'so ascited!' to be going to school.
Dion's mum came this morning to see him and Connor off - she was the only one with separation anxiety, we literally had to drag her away from Hamish's classroom.
Check out the cutie:

No, he's not going to school in the jungle, that's our lawn that desperately needs mowing ;)

Connor - too cool for school?

Mimi not wanting to leave

 Anyway, I'm off to get the scones out of the oven for my starving boys, I hope that if you have kids that went to school today that they enjoyed their first day back!
B

Fun Stuff Friday

So, I've staggered over to the computer (I'm battling a massive headache - I think we've reached an impasse;) because I kept having the idea of 'Fun Stuff Friday'.  I thought I would share any amusing craft-related (mostly) stuff from the week.
This weeks winner, hands down, is the freakin' HILARIOUS book my gal pal Rachel gave me this week.  It's called 'Simple Times - Crafts for Poor People' by Amy Sedaris.  It is a side-splitting tongue-in-cheek book about crafting. It's full of amusing pictures, poems and articles such as crafts for the 'handicraftable' (which includes CUI: Crafting Under the Influence) but I think Rachel's and my favourite chapter so far is the 'Safety Meeting'

Here is a short excerpt:
"The best protection from crafting injuries is to avoid other crafters.  This is not a general dismissal of crafting clubs or a negative judgement about those who choose to craft in pairs, including same-sex crafting or even mulitple-partner crafting known as 'decoupage a trois'.  This just means that when crafting with others, take sensible precautions.  Don't share buttons.  Divvy up felt scraps before crafting.  Never go dutch on the dry flowers."

 The Drug and Alcohol bit (above) is funny if you can read it ;)

There are actually a couple of recipes in the 'Confectioneries' chapter that sound tempting - such as Rich Cocoa Fudge and Ooey Gooey Bars, but considering that a few chapters on it suggests that dried bean pods make wonderful exotic instruments in the bedroom....maybe it's safer if I give the recipes a miss ;)

Meanwhile, I shall leave you with another image from the Safety Meeting chapter - about the importance of Stretching Before Crafting ;)
Happy Friday Bloggers!
B ;)

Hello 2012

Hey there Bloggers!  Did you miss me? ;)
Sorry for the tardiness, but I'm back and raring to go! I've decided that 2012 is the year for taking the bull by the horns!!  So I invite you to join me for the ride!
So, the news so far for 2012...
Shop for Sale.  Yep, just in case you hadn't already heard, Fiona has put the shop (Stamp and Scrapbook Madness) up for sale.  Her husband, Justin, has been given a promotion at his work, unfortunately this involves them moving to Perth. So, if you know of someone that has always dreamed of owning a fabulous and successful Scrapbook shop....complete with kooky staff ;) (I keep telling Fiona that she needs to put a caveat in the sale agreement that I am included (like the stock and the racking ;)
Frankly I'm trying not to think about it too hard.

Meanwhile, it's business as usual at the shop.  Fiona keeps ordering more and more stock like a crazy person (which we love) and is still constantly sourcing new stock and suppliers (which we also love).  She's abandoning me next week to go to CHA so I'm sure she'll come back with lots of goodies that I will covet ;)
(and a signed copy of Compendium of Curiosities 2 for my Birthday if she knows what's good for her ;)

I have 4 classes this schedule - Paradise Cards, Jumbo Stamps Cards, Birthday Book and the upcoming Kaisercraft paper pad class.
Here's some pics:

    

 

I've also spent half the day updating the work blog, so if you haven't checked it out yet, the link is here

Anyway, I'm off to read Dr Seuss and brace myself for tomorrow (I've got a BIG day at work tomorrow)
Thanks for dropping by,
Barbara