I'm getting pretty!

I've been playing around with the sad looking blog this morning and I think it's finally starting to look a little bit prettier. I've been over to the fabulous new site House of 3 which has been created by Heidi Swapp, Rhonna Farrer and Janet Hopkins. They have some divine blog couture as well as elements for digital and hybrid scrapbooking. I'm going to keep exploring their wonderful site and see what else I can find that I can't do without.

I'm having a very lazy Sunday. Hope your day is fabulous wherever you are.

The Scrap Review

I heard about this site on Felicity's blog and I must admit I'm quietly excited. I'm looking forward to them being up and running and seeing what they think of the myriad of scrapping products out there. It will make things so much easier when you look in one spot for information rather than searching endlessly on the web. This is what they say about themselves

We are a group of crafters who wanted to know the real deal about new products, expensive tools and industry trends. We report on and review everything from adhesives to trimmers to big ticket personal cutting systems. With easy and comprehensive rating systems and TSR top picks, choosing the right products to add to your stash is just a click away. We strive to be an interactive community where all are welcome to share opinions, ideas and inspiration. We have insightful articles, easy to understand rating systems newsletters, give-aways and commit to bring you the latest and greatest from the Scrapbooking world.

- We will never sell ad space on this site.
- We will always give you an honest and unbiased review.
- We will never report industry gossip.
- We will host a crazy amount of freebies and give-aways.
- We will take your comments and suggestions for this site into consideration.
- We will moderate this site properly so that it is a good experience for all.

So go and check out The Scrap Review. I've added the site to the bloglist so you can find them again when you need to.

Calling All Scrappers

As scrappers, one of the most important things we deal with on a daily basis are memories. Family memories, memories of loved ones, memories of holidays, birthdays, christenings, bbq’s and days at the beach. These families in Victoria have got no tangible evidence of their lives left. No family photos. No happy snaps. You can replace a fridge, but you can’t replace years of mementos.

In order to help out these families begin to put their lives back together Sarah Gladman has started a scrapbooking project - called “MEMORY GIFTS”.

Quite simply, she asks each and every one of you who read this to donate a 12 x 12inch almost completed scrapbook layout to the “Memory Gifts” program. Each page will be sent to Sarah and she will collect them and bind them, then hand them over to the head of Pastoral Care for the Victorian Catholic Education Office, Maria Kirkwood in Melbourne. It will not be just Catholic families benefiting, it will be anyone who needs it. The albums will then be distributed to the principals of the 4 schools that burned down, who will know exactly who to give them to.

Each family devastated by fire will be (in time) given album pages to help them begin their memories again. Those families can then approach their own families for copies of photos to put into the albums, or simply start putting in fresh memories.

If you’d like to be involved in this project, drop your completed layout in to

The Scrapbook Scene

435 Highbury Rd

Burwood East

9017 4133

by March 15th and we’ll pass them on to Sarah for you. Anyone can be involved in this project, so tell your friends and let’s get as many pages done as we can.

You can check out Sarah’s Blog for more details http://sares1911.wordpress.com/

Many thanks on the behalf of the Victorian families who have lost everything.

Beyond belief...

The past few days I feel as if I have been walking around in a fog and I know I'm not alone. Victoria is in the midst of the worst natural disaster Australia has ever seen. I hope we never see anything like it again. The fires that began on saturday have resulted in an unfathomable loss of life and the destruction of over 1,000 homes, not to mention the disintegration of over 400,00 hectares of beautiful bush. People have lost absolutely everything and the stories that feature on the television and in the newspaper are almost too much to bear. Everyone you speak to knows somebody who has been affected in some way, such is the magnitude of this disaster. It's not over yet. While the fires are still raging there is no guarantee that more homes will not be destroyed. I pray that no more lives will be lost.

It's heartwarming to see so many people rallying to raise much needed funds for the disaster relief fund.

You can donate to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal directly here

Coles Supermarkets are donating the profits from all sales on friday February 13th to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. If you need groceries, please make sure you support Coles in the effort to raise as much money as possible

Melly and Me are holding a silent auction for some of their gorgeous creations with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. Check out Mad Mozzie.

The RSPCA is calling for pillowcases, green shopping bags, leads, pet food etc... as they struggle to deal with the amount of injured wildlife who have been caught in the fires. The image of 'Sam' the koala and the CFA officer who rescued him is one of the most amazing pictures I have ever seen.

The Scrapbook Scene will be holding a special Crop for Bushfire Relief on Saturday March 28th. Check the Blog for details. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

Ngaire Bartlam has organised an auction for one of her masterpieces with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. Check out the details here

Clair Bremner is donating all session fees for her See. Be. Art. photography sessions in March. If you'd like to have some gorgeous photographs of your children and famliy, check out the details here. Be quick though, there aren't many session left.

Emily Falconbridge is donating all the proceeds from her prints to the Red Cross Appeal. Check it out here

To all the volunteers who are working so hard, 'thank you' just doesn't seem enough.

Stay safe.

If you love Scrapping...

... then you absolutely positively have to go and visit Flourish ScrapArte Studio in Brisbane. If you don't live in Brisbane then you need to get on a plane and fly there. Make sure you take an empty suitcase with you so you can stock up on some deliciousness.

My divine sister-in-law Jan and her friend Ruth have just opened this store and I am so damned jealous I could scream. I think I'll be visiting her a little more often. Here are a few photos from their opening on friday night, but you need to see more. Check out Flourish here.

Congratulations Jan. It is absolutely beautiful.

Flourish ScrapArte Studio
3/12 Kenrose Street
Carina
QLD
073843 1115

First Day of School

Well we made it. Max is officially a school boy. Mummy was very brave and didn't cry too much and Jemima was very jealous that she didn't get to have her first day at Pre-Kinder today. She has to wait 2 more sleeps.

I miss him . Roll on 2.30 when I can go and pick him up.

Tomorrow is a big day

Tomorrow is Max's first day of school. He is SO excited, and so am I.... mostly. I'm excited because he is so ready for the challenge and stimulation of Prep, but I'm nervous about my baby boy going out there on his own. School seems like such a huge step and nothing in our house will ever be the same. 5 mornings a week of being out the door by 8.45am, 5 days of lunch box menus, 5 days a week of making sure his uniform is clean, washed and ironed. Hmm...this seems so much more about me than about him. *wink*

But starting school is about him and trust me, my head has been swimming for the past few days as the big day approaches.

Last year Clair Bremner's little boy Koby started school. I remember reading her blog when she documented her thoughts about starting school and everything she wrote resonated with me. Yesterday I searched through her archives and found that post to see whether I still felt the same way she did this time last year...and I do. I could have written it word for word.

This is what she wrote...

I'm scared.
I'm worried.
I haven't taught him enough.
i have babied him too much.
spoilt him.
haven't spent enough time with him reading.
Going over numbers.
teaching him to write properly.
to spell.
I haven't taught him enough about the world and how mean people can be.
I'm worried he will be bullied.
i'm scared he will become a bully.
What if i'm late picking him up and he gets scared?
what if he thinks i'm not coming?
what if i embarrass him?
what if he gets lost?
what if one day he's not there when i go to pick him up?
what if no one notices?
What if he gets hurt?
What if he feels too pressured?
What if he cries in front of everyone and is labeled a baby?
a mummy's boy?
what if he can't keep up?
what if he gets bored?
i can't protect him anymore.
i can't stand up for him
i can't unwrap his fruit bars.
i won't be there to tell him to slow down.
to pay attention.
to pick up his rubbish.
to join in.
to smile.
i'm not ready...... but he is.

I'll be back tomorrow with some photos from the big day... after I've had a good cry because my baby has gone to school.