Fighting the 'Flu Funk

Hey there Bloggers.
As the title of this blog post suggests I have been in a bit of a funk (creatively). What can I say, it's super-hard to be buzzing with creative ideas when you are coughing and spluttering and aching all over.  Normally I shake these things by now, but this years 'flu has been agreed upon as being a tenacious bugger. (When you can't even face a cup of coffee and start drinking hot water you know you are in trouble ;)
There has been alot of new stock come into the store lately though, so I'm hoping that some of it will inspire me to do something.  Plus one of my super gal-pals Rachel helped me sort out my craft space last week and as I continue to tidy up the chaos the miracles she wrought are slowly being revealed and realised (lets just say we moved everything and painted everthing white ;)  When I have tamed the clutter I shall post some pics. 
Anyhoo,
I'm off to feed the ravening hoards, and fingers crossed the inspiration fairy will visit me ;)
B

An Interesting Life

I love how there is a curse that goes 'may you lead an interesting life'.  Some days (to be honest, alot of days) I crave banality.  I yearn for uneventfulness (if that is such a word) and boredom.  There always seems to be some sort of drama lurking around the corner.
For now, though, I am choosing to focus on the good events that are occuring.  Only 3 more sleeps until 'Operation Tregenza'!
I can't remember if I have mentioned that that is what Rachel and I are calling our upcoming trip to Adelaide to do an All Day Scrap at Seriously Scrapbooking which is Jane Tregenza's shop.
I'm very excited, I've never been to Adelaide, and am only slightly worried that I will probably freeze. (it's Winter, but here in Brisbane I get away with wearing a t-shirt and jeans most of the time during the day) One very helpful customer today said that I should quiz the very next elderly lady I see and ask her where she gets her thermals.  I thought that might be a bit too risky and I'd end up being beaten over the head with a sturdy handbag ;)

Anyhoo, I'll leave you with this pic, I took it last week or so during the school holidays.  It's of Connor (in the middle) and his BFF's BJ and Noah. I was walking behind them with Hamish so it's a bit blurry but I don't mind, I love it.

Look after yourselves, Bloggers, be kind to each other and to yourself, you never know what life will throw at you.
B

Barbara's Birthday Bonanza

You gotta love the names given to some of the classes we run at the shop.  Fiona's mission is to get 'So You Think You Can Stamp' on the schedule, whereas mine is 'Fun With Flock and Glitter' (try saying that 3 times fast) so far we are at a nil-all mexican stand-off.  Although we are all so tired at the moment they both may end up in the next schedule just because we can't think of anything else ;)
So, after having a semi-frantic phone call yesterday reminding me that I had a class this Friday involving 6 cards and the one card I had actually already done was lost somewhere in the chaos that is my craft desk I then proceeded to stay up until 2am this morning making cards in time to be put in this morning's newsletter.  Ah, such fun. Check out those moustaches though - I HAD to have that stamp set when it came in.  Anyone who has known me for 5 seconds or longer knows that I compulsively turn all manner of objects into moustaches.

Not too shabby really.  The wheels spin on the bike and you pull the icing part of the cupcake up to reveal the birthday message.
Only 11 days until Operation Tregenza (yay!) I am a little worried that I am going to freeze, so I may just have to wear every item of clothing I own at once. (I hear the Michelin man look is very in this season ;)
Anyway, I'm off to wrestle the chocolate from the children, and finish cleaning out the car.  It's off to the 'Car-Doctor' (Hamish-ism) tomorrow for an indetermined amount of time (sniff). Fingers crossed it wont be too long.
Have a great night,
B

Life, The Universe and Everything

I'm warning you all now that I'm in a bit of a weird mood today. 
I don't know whether it's 1. the freezing cold (I mean really, 4 degrees?  Couldn't it make the effort and warm up a little?) 2. the consistent lack of sleep (mostly my own fault - I've become addicted to Craig Ferguson's late, late show - honestly, I'm powerless against a mad Scotsman with a sleazy gay robot side-kick ;) or 3. the fact that I'm coming to the conclusion that I must have accidently set off some catastrophic Mummy curse at some stage (my only logical conclusion - I mean, now someone reverses into the front of my car?  Has it not suffered enough?)
Anyway, that's enough whinging.
So, I've been driving my poor gal pal Rachel mad by torturing her with my complete lack of computer savvy.  If you witnessed the weird-looking appearence of my blog for 12 hours or so - that was me torturing Rachel to help me change my blog, failing miserably and then ringing her at an un-godly hour begging her to teach me how to change it back ;)
So, any ideas or tips for revamping my blog without losing my header (or making it green) please, bless me with your wisdom ;)
You may have also noticed the little BublTree etsy store jigger on my blog (if the whinging didn't scare you away ;)
The aforementioned Rachel and I have just opened our own etsy store together where we will be selling all manner of crafty goodness. 

 

(check out my super fuzzy crocheted coathangers ;) we are still slowly adding the items we've made so bear with us.

It was Hamish's birthday last week - he turned 5 (eek) and is very cross that he isn't going to school now.  

Check out the awesome Dino cake that my gal pal Lyndal made

I've also been super busy at work, teaching lots of classes.  Most recently my 'Creativity Journal' which is really just a fancy name for a folder that you can use for organising stuff.

We also had our all day Christmas in July class yesterday.  Where there was far too much laughing and guffawing going on.  (let's just say that I'll be suspicious now whenever Dion cooks dinner ;)

Anyway, I'm off to make 19 sets of dog-tags for a 7yr old's birthday party (fun) and need to get off the computer before Connor's head explodes with impatient fury.

Thanks for stopping by.
B

The Immortal Class

Hello!
Yes, I'm still alive.  I know that some of you may have wondered if I'd fallen off the face of the Earth, but rest assured I am still here.
For those that have been into the shop or went to the show, you will know that I have been working like the proverbial!
 One reason is the ever-popular Vintage Journal Class that I've been teaching.  I can't take the credit for the popularity though - the class is one that I did with the fabulous Jane Tregenza.  I'm particularly giddy with excitement at the moment as I'm off to Adelaide in July with one of my gal pals Rachel to stay at Jane's for a couple of days and do an all day crop at her store.  (yay!)

 The other classes that I have been teaching alot has been the Take-Away menu folder (one of my favourite creations - it's a spiral bound book that you make with pockets to put your T/A menu's in!)

 I've also been teaching my Tree-mendous cards (that Fiona loves a pun ;)

My favourite is the card with the girl on the swing, the set also comes with a boy on a tyre swing that you could add instead (very cute.)

Anyway, I'm off to have a hot shower to attempt to warm up (it's freezing! And apparently last night was the coldest night in 2 years - brrr)

I'll try not to be such a stranger ;)
Thanks for stopping by!
B

Discovery Break

Hey there bloggers,
Well what a fab long weekend ( I know, I know, we've just had two long weekends in a row and then we go away the weekend after - what can I say, third time's a charm ;)

Some of you already know that  we have been getting a bit of assistance from an organization called CAP (Christians Against Poverty).  When Dion and I lost our jobs one after the other a couple of years ago they were there to help us get our finances under control and start to get back on our feet.
They are a wonderful group of people that do all that they can to support people that are having a hard time and even though Dion and I were very upfront in saying that we weren't Christian they have never judged us or pushed us.

Anyway, the point of this rambling is to say that they nominated us as a family to go away on what they call a Discovery Break.  Basically a chance for families having it a bit tough to get away for a few days as a family and relax and have some fun - all expenses paid.

So we went down to the Gold Coast on Thursday late afternoon and came back Sunday lunch time.  We stayed at the Paradise Resort and had a great time.  There were activities for the kids, playgrounds, pools, a spa, and on Saturday a trip to Sea World.

Dion playing coy with the walrus

super cute penguins

Hamish showing off his best penguin moves

proboscis fish

super cute boys ;)

Attacking scurvy pirates at castaway bay

Hamish had to be pulled off the stage when he tried to kiss Grover good-bye (I don't blame him Grover's a hottie ;)

Connor reveals hitherto undiscovered strength in the strong man competition and is rewarded with the coveted fuzzy puffer fish toy

 

Playing on the playground at the resort

I would have taken more pics but my camera battery died and I forgot to take the charger with me (aarggh)
We had such a wonderful time.  It was the first time that the 4 of us had done anything like that together.  We met some lovely people, genuine and warm and they all certainly left an impression on us, we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to go.

Anyway,
I'm off to make Connor's birthday party invites (can you believe he will be 12??!!) have a great Wednesday!
B

Quick Pic of My Babies ;)

First let me warn Kylie that she may want to look away ;)

I know I've been a complete blog-slacker (technical term ;) my only excuse is that I feel like I've had the plague (which one? All of them! ;) and that I've been busy, busy, busy trying to finish classes in time for the new schedule, finish Mag stuff by deadline (snort!) and simultaneously explain to the children why they can't have corn chips for breakfast.
So I thought that I'd distract you all with a quick pic that I took a couple of days ago of my babies, well 3 of them.  The pic's a bit dodgy but I was trying to take it with one hand and  make sure the others didn't escape with the other.  But how could I resist when they looked like they were doing a froggie congo line?  Exactly.

 

Aren't they adorable?  I just wish I'd gotten a pic the day one of them decided he wanted to spend the day sitting on one of the other frogs head.  All day, even when the poor sap on the bottom was shuffling around going places.  Freakin' hilarious.
Have I distracted you from the fact I haven't posted a crafty pic in ages?  Didn't think so ;) Don't worry, there will be crafty pics this afternoon.
Anyway, I'm off to have a breakfast intervention.  
Have a great Tuesday!
B