Sunday Afternoon...

Just scrapping away, playing with inks and sprays on this lovely sunny Sunday afternoon.

I have the house to myself so I get to pick the soundtrack.

                                                  

I can recommend heading to his website getting a copy of this album for free... beautiful music from the lead singer of The Beautiful Girls.

Happy Scrapping,

Trace* xox

Sore Back = Time For Stitching

Last week I was pretty messed up with a bad back. An hour long deep tissue massage aggravated a long standing inflammation problem I have. Combine that with the set up and pack down involved in running a Crafternoon, and by Sunday night I couldn't sleep and could barely move.

The doctor prescribed a bunch of pills, rest and some physio sessions. This meant for the week I couldn't drive myself anywhere, or do much of anything, really.

For me, that much down time is scary and guilt inducing. Wasted time - not my idea of fun when there is so much to do!  So I passed the time by trying to complete some stitching projects that are way overdue. I really am a slow cross stitcher!

Luckily I had Turtle to keep me company! The 'Keep Calm' project was meant to be a gift for Fleur's 30th birthday - I've only got less than a month until it becomes 1 year overdue - luckily only one and a bit letters to go!

I will post some pics once they are all finished and framed, but since I go back to work tomorrow, who knows when that will happen??

Tracey* xox

OMG!!

On Sunday I got to meet and do a make n take with one of my scrapping idols Amy Tan. OMG!!!

If you aren't familiar with Amy's scrapping, she is the designer behind the Amy Tangerine lines from American Crafts, and you can check out her work here at her blog. I love her awesome use of colour, and her layouts and handmade embellishments really speak to me. And did I mention her Daybooks? Divine!

She is currently touring through Australia (and then NZ) through Spotlight to promote her lines now being sold at their stores. (ahem... they have been sold at Dizzy Izzy since Day 1!)

I dragged Matt along to Spotlight Miranda so he could take photos, and hung out near the Make N Take table they had set up, waiting for her to arrive like a creepy stalker.

With Amy

Amy and I chatted while we waited for the make n take to be set up. It was so exciting to tell her about my scrapping story and Dizzy Izzy. She laughed when I told her I have been too scared to post a comment on her blog, and encouraged me to blog more (and here it is, lol!).

The crazy thing is.... no one else came! Just weird considering she was swamped that morning in Melbourne. Oh well, I'm not going to lie... I loved it! I had Amy all to myself for an hour - who else can say that?? You hear that other people - you snooze, you loose!

Matt gets his craft on...

So Matt and I got to make a card with Amy, using her fun products. She taught Matt how to use a border punch and we got to chat some more about how she got started scrapping, and how her collaboration with American Crafts came about. We also heard about some of her favourite things coming out soon in the new Ready Set Go line like a date stamp & sheer letters - I can't wait to check them out in person.

Amy snapped this one 'just pretend you're being crafty'

 

I was even lucky enough to get a signed Amy Tangerine apron - you can bet that will be making an appearance at the Crafternoon this Saturday. PLUS she gave me a make n take kit to give away as a prize at the next retreat! Awesome!

Signing my apron

The big thing that I got from this was how much Amy loves creating - and it comes through in everything she does. She is living the crafty life and loves what she does. How lucky am I that I get to do what I love as well?

Happy Scrapping,

Tracey

a dog named Wendal

This week was a hard one for me.

It started out with us celebrating our dog Wendal's 16th birthday, we had a family bbq at my parents place and spent some time with him. I took some photos so I could have one for my Project 366.

Unfortunately on Wednesday Wendal passed away suddenly.

If you have ever lost a pet, you will know how heartbreaking it can be.

Farewell little buddha. I hope you get to have endless belly rubs and eat as much ice cream and licorice you want now. Good boy.

xox

sick, but still stitching!

I've been a little under the weather for the last week or so. After having a cold a few weeks ago, I thought I had finally shaken it, so I resumed swimming laps at the local pool.

I was wrong.

Unfortunately, the next 48 hours were awful. I dragged myself to work only to be told by the boss to go home (thanks, Dad! xox) and spent my time curled up on the lounge with a blankie and the cat, wishing I would die.

I have improved slightly, but the horrible, gross cough remains. Yuck.

On the bright side, I've caught up on some Dizzy Izzy work, played ALOT of Draw Something, AND I've been getting in a little cross stitching. Yay!

Here's some highlights:-

cat + blankie = toasty warm love

can you guess it? lol

what a poor me!

Easter breakfast made by My Man

just after I had to unpick a whole section... doh!

I hope you are all well out there!

XOXO