SA Scrapbook Convention

I attended the SA Scrapbook Convention at Emperors Palace last weekend, and I really enjoyed the 2 days.  If I were to rate the projects based on the quality of products and new ideas and thinking, then my overall score for the convention would be low.  There were only 2 projects (out of 6) which brought fresh ideas and products to South Africa, the rest of the projects were ho-hum.  I think that our South African Scrapbook teachers stand head and shoulders above the overseas teachers, we just don't have access to the sheer volume of products that are sponsored for the international teachers.

 

Glenda Viljoen is the 'boss' of the SA Scrapbook Convention, and she is friendly, helpful, down to earth, and an awesome lady.  Thank you to Glenda and the team of South African 'helpers' who worked soo hard to make the convention a success.

 

 Amber Crowell from Simple Stories was our first teacher for the day, and she presented a lovely project.  She was supported by her husband Kevin, and they are such nice people

My friend Tanya; we had such fun at the convention.  We have the same 'mad love' for scrapbooking, and we even grumble about the same things. 

I think that the friendship and chatting and just being around creative people is what makes it a good event for me, not just the projects 

With Amy Tan from Amy Tangerine.  Such a sweetie, and she was sooo nervous!   We hand-stitched the mini book below.  I like mini books and albums, so I loved this cute project

 Michelle, Amy, Alison and Tanya

Traci Hudson from the UK respresented Authentique - she was also a great teacher.  Kerrie Gurney from Australia showed up, handed out the course pack and notes, and then left us to get on with it while she wandered around.  Not what I paid for :-(  I felt sorry for the new scrapbookers in the class.  Matthew Lanoy from BoBunny was a real sweetie, but he presented one of the ugliest projects that I have seen in a looong time:-)  I obviously changed the page (a lot!).

 

Trish Ladouceur from Canada is a very unpleasant person.  But... she presented the best project of the weekend, using Pink Paislee and Heidi Swapp products.  We made this beautiful file binder, with lots of flips and pockets and pieces.  I may use it for photos of my late sister, Rose-Marie.

 

 

Blog hopping

I love blog hopping.  I get so inspired by visiting a number of blogs on a regular basis, I get ideas, I am encouraged and uplifted, I am comforted to know that there are people out there just like me.  And many awesome people who are very different to me.  People who live here in South Africa and people who live all over the world.  Mostly women.  I am inspired and delighted by this online community of talented artists.  So I'm sharing some of my favourite blogs with you ...

 

Ali Edwards

Mary Ann Moss

Skinny Taste

Amy Tangerine (I'm meeting her at the scrapbooking convention tomorrow!)

Kelly Rae Roberts

Lynette

Stephanie Ackerman

May Flaum

What's for dinner

Macaroon (good site for some Christmas prezzies.  Just saying...)

Brene Brown

Trading pounds (awesome story)

29 Gifts (you gotta read the book)

Elisa Blaha

Memory Shed (go visit Lisa)

Best cupcakes in Joburg

Love Letters Stationery

Mati Rose

Thula

Be more with less

Kamers vol geskenke (great site for gifts)

TinkerLab

 

It's a cold, wet weekend in South Africa.  Stay indoors and go blog hopping.  Tell them that I sent you

 

Christmas 2012

There are less than 4 months to go before Christmas, so I am making my list and thinking about what I want to get for the special people in my life. I don't just want to give meaningless mindless gifts to people, I want to give gifts which remind ME of the gift of Christ in my life, and because giving gifts to my people brings great joy to ME. So I don't want to get hooked in the commercial madness of the retailers. I want to be mindful and loving as I choose small, useful gifts for family and friends.

 

I have bought the first gift for 2012, this bag for a friend who loves birdwatching.  I will fill it with a few pamper items.  It will be great to keep in a handbag or backpack.  Useful.  Thoughtful...gifts from the heart

 

Weekend in review

I am still battling the after effects of a kidney infection, so I took it easy this weekend.  Apart from a few errands and a haircut on Saturday, I spent most of the time at home.  I did some slow gardening on Sunday, assisted by gorgeous miss Ruby.  She was having fun in the garden until a stinkbug sprayed her; poor baby! (Mom killed the stinkbug and his friends!)

 

the rare striped brattus cattus plant 

I don't love Clivias but there are lots of them in my garden left by the previous owners and they are all blooming now, so they get a reprieve before being tossed or moved to the communal garden in the complex

there is no grass in our new garden,

so I got some kitty grass for Ruby - it's good for her digestion 

 

I even planted some lettuce, spinach and rocket for summer salads

Hello spring...