Another Huge weekend

My brother owns a bus - a big one - and in what is beginning to look like an annual event, our family gets together for an adventure. This year is was to Reservoir! Apologies to those who live Northside but I didn't even know where Reservoir was until Sunday! My baby sister and her husband live there and wanted everyone to get together as that didn't happen at Christmas time. Kathryn has 6 kids and Mark 2, and all the cousins love to get together, Adam was the only one not there (working KFC as usual). It's just the best way to travel, with everyone together and Mum on board as well. The bus has satellite TV on board but all the kids were too busy to watch. It was a beautiful day, we travelled with the windows open which made for some very messy hair!

DeMengeFever!

It is catching and some of us have it bad!!! After a sleepless night (what to bring/is it packed? etc etc) , Gail and I were off to an early start - no traffic on a Sunday morning, Julian was ready to be picked up and we were in Brunswick before 8.30a.m.

Michael began by explaining the transparency process and techniques, the various glues as well as tips and tricks and it was up to us to plan our piece. Then we had a power tools session, again Michael explaining the ins and outs. Power Tool Queen Jenny provided the best tools! Thanks Jen.

Time to work again until the Painting techniques were demonstrated and explained. Michael is a fabulous teacher making it all look so easy. Later again we were shown metallic/interference paints, so much to take in!

If at any time you needed a bit of help, Michael was there to help you through the processes.

Most of the class got their piece(s) finished and then it was time to assess everyones work. Again Michael was so generous with his time and appraisal of our efforts. I wish I had taken more photos of everyone's work. There was so much diversity with what people started with and how they chose the paints to decorate their work. A truly amazing workshop.

My cigar box is a work in progress, my maternal great grandmother is the subject of my transparency and I want to finish it with some personal pieces rather than the "junk" that has been so treasured and discussed over the weekend.

These workshops have been a long time in the planning stage but the time today just flew! With thanks to Michael of course, Caro (Ancient Echoes) , Marg and Kathy for organising, Gail for transport and to Teresa for putting up with me. Her bum is not big.

Big Weekend

It's a big weekend in Melbourne with Michael de Meng classes at Ancient Echoes. Heaps of the Victorian Arty Oz crew will be doing classes either Saturday, Sunday or both. I copied Greta and packed my bags early, but I keep adding "things"... because we are doing a collage/assembly piece I have no idea what I will need/use.

And Gail suggested I rust my bottletops at the last minute so they are "cooking" at the moment!

I am catching up with Teresa who is hosting the Fleur de Lys swap so I got them organised today too. I have said it before and I will say it again , I love the look of the 9 identical ATC's in their pockets together. The background is painted onto water colour paper, 3 stamped images and a huge gold embossed Fleur, all mounted on Gold cardstock.

Must have an early night as Sunday is going to be a very big day!

Changes at Hann Made

Marilyn has resigned and my working hours have changed. This is the card I made for her, purple is a favourite of hers and I had to put a dragonfly in there somewhere! It was my first play with Grungeboard too, using my favourite piece on the front of the card.

Australia Post strikes again!

A frightening package arrived for me yesterday, sealed in a clear Australia Post plastic bag, with an apology for a "malfuntion in their equipment", an obviously water damaged ( I hope it is water) A4 envelope containing ATCs, one of which is still wet in it's plastic pocket!

I have no way of working out how or when my mail got soaked but it was posted in Queensland and they have had lots of rain BUT how on earth can such a large WET package be sent through a sorting machine?!? Any wonder their equipment malfunctioned!

The motto of the story is always use a waterproof pen on your envelopes!

Happy Birthdays

Last night the overnight temperature didn't drop below 30o, today being the second over 40o day in a row. I don't function in hot weather so made these cards earlier (luckily). I am not usually that organised. The first is for Jayne in "Crafty Mums" and the second is going to Queensland and might not even be there yet! I hope the Vanessa can cope with something NOT sepia'd!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Off to a great start! Had a great New Year's Eve with special friends over, sweltering indoors all night with two air cons running continuously, and I got into the pool, third time this Summer.

It's only 30 degrees today so I finished Gail's VicRR book. Her theme is Vintage Children, I did "Games". I hope she likes it, there is a bit too much light on the photo, it really does look better in real life!

This book was started in May and only for Victorians, hoping we could meet to swap rather than post. We are meeting on Sunday, a shopping crawl through Mornington, starting at Bunnings, taking in the antique stores and Paper2.