Just for Georgie..................

Yes I am still in the land of the living Georgie, I've just been really slack with the whole blogging thing. Mainly because I've had nothing to share,as I also haven't really done any scrapbooking.

The only scrapbooking I've done is for Kim Archers round robin, so I've actually scrapbooked for 3 others so far with 2 more to come. It's been fun putting my additions to the other girls layouts and also a little daunting as well.

My other confession is that I've become a little addicted to Facebook. Not really putting much up myself but checking what everyone else is up to. It's certainly not the same as blogging but addictive none the less.

Work is also keeping me busy and Madeleine I joined contours Gym about a month a go. So far we are both really enjoying it, and I love it because having her come with me is keeping me motivated to go. We have been going at least 4 - 5 times a week.

This long weekend Neil is off to the Port Fairy Music Festival and Madeleine and I are planning our girlie weekend. That usually involves Gold Class, breakfast out, hanging around in our jammies watching dvd's and basically doing what we want to whenever the mood takes us. Gotta luv that.

Ok short and sweet as I still don't have anything to share. So I will be back when that scrapbooking bug kicks back in. Hopefully that's sooner than later.

cheers

Leeanne xxx

Still not back in the swing of things

I'm hoping when Madeleine goes back to school on the 3rd February I'll get back to some kind of routine.

Still can't seem to get really motivated for scrapping. I did sign up for Kim Archer's seven layouts in seven days, and managed to get 3 of them done. All seven layouts (plus one bonus layout) are terrific.

Here's two out the 3 completed.

1. Seriously Cute GIRL- I really love this one, there's a bit of stamping (on calico (title)) I got to pull out my little davis alpha stamps which haven't seen the light of day for quite some time. There's also machine stitching, hand sewing. Good old fashioned brown paper thrown into the mix, an old piece of dressmaking tissue and lastly some very cute frilled gingham trim. Kim's layout used the green version and I just had to go out and get me some of that, It is so cute.

























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2. Obsession - This one's all about Madeleine and her Twilight obsession. Yes I know I'm obsessed too, but I thought it might be a bit sad if I was seen kissing a poster of Robert Pattinson. (hehe). Another great design of Kim's this one is the 8x8 format and she encouraged you to use some sort of packing on this one. I used the top of packing from my MM alpha. Now I'm looking at my stash to see if there is some other pieces I can use instead of throwing out when I open a packet of something.


























I haven't taken a photo of the third layout yet, so I'll share that next time.
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Now for a quick catch up on other events that have happened over the last couple of weeks.

The 14th was my sister Julie's and brother Michael's birthdays. Michael lives up on the Gold Coast so I gave him a call and sang a lovely rendition of Happy Birthday to him. We caught up with Julie for dinner and went to our fav Thai restaurant in Patterson Lakes.
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The next day Madeleine headed off with Neil's sister to Ballarat. They stayed over night at the Motel at Sovereign Hill to see Blood on the Southern Cross.

It's a sound-and-light show like about the story of the Eureka Rebellion, a dramatic battle between gold miners and Government forces at Ballarat on 3 December, 1854, is retold nightly at Blood on the Southern Cross, Sovereign Hill's acclaimed sound-and-light spectacular.
Set under the night skies at Sovereign Hill, Blood on the Southern Cross involves no actors – just voices, dazzling sound and light effects and a stunning open-air set.

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Then on Saturday Madeleine and I, along with other friends went off to see a local production of Grease at the Frankston Arts Centre. It was brilliant, the company is the Peninsula Light Opera Society (PLOS) and they usually put on around two shows a year, and all are absolutely fantastic.
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Sunday Neil, Madeleine and I headed off to the McClelland Gallery for lunch and a walk around the sculpture park. The food is simple and delicious and some of the exhibits are amazing.


















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Other than that it's been a fairly quite week. Oh except for poor Neil who ended up with a severe bout of Gastro Monday night. Not good, I don't think I've ever seen him so sick. Luckily it seemed to be one of those 24hr things and he was back to work by Wednesday.

Madeleine went off to Camp with Youth Group on Thursday morning, so it's been even more quite around here. I got a brief text message this morning telling me camp was awesome!!!
They get back at 1pm tomorrow afternoon so I'll get the low down after that and hopefully she'll have lots of pictures to share.

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Last night we had an impromptu invite out for dinner around 6pm. Luckily I hadn't started dinner so I quickly said yes. We had a beautiful Indian feast.... I so love it when I don't have to cook. Anyhoo then we went and sat out on their decking and it ended up being one of those easy nights where you sit around chatting and laughing and before you know it you've drunk way too much. Needless to say I have been a little weary today.
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Well that's it for me

Have a fantastic week

Cheers

leeanne xxx

Out of Practice

Re keeping my BLOG up to date.

I've come in to start this so many times and it just felt like I'd left it so long I didn't know where to start again.

So decision made here it is. I'm not going to go into the crazy CRAZY month that was December, except to say we had a wonderful Christmas day with family. Two roast dinners in one day, I don't know how we do it but we somehow manage it.

Boxing day as usual we spent with our wonderful friends and their families (25 in total). The day starts for me at around 8am, shopping, preparing, setting up etc Then the gang starts showing up around 2pm and we finished up around 12:30am. I love boxing day. Seems to me though, that it's taking me longer each year to get over both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

New Years Eve we spent with friends who live walking distance from home and had a lovely evening. Earlier in the day my not quite one month old Laptop decided to completely stop working, and as it turned out I lost everything on it when it was decided it was the Hard Drive that was the problem. To say not Happy Jan would be an understatement.

I had time off work from the 23rd December to 5th January which was fantastic. This week back though has been a little crazy. I've been working 8 - 8 1/2 hours days. Me thinkst having time off is not always a good thing. Neil is still on leave though so he has been home for Madeleine which has been great.

Last Sunday we had our annual Sunday Lunch out for Julie and Sue's birthdays and this year Lynne and her husband joined in as well which was lovely. Lynne and Sue both celebrate (or commiserate) their birthdays on the same day, this year is was another winery down on the Peninsula. The winery is in Merricks North and is called Willow Grove and the restaurant is called Salix. The food was magnificent and presented so beautifully. I only got photos of the desserts but they give you an idea.

So far Madeleine has seen Twilight 6 times and me I've seen it 3. Robert Pattinson is now officially her number one pinup boy and future husband apparently. We went to see it in Gold Class a couple of weeks ago which was very nice. I took a few photos of Madeleine before we left in one of the new dresses she got for Christmas and I also got to take a couple in Gold Class but had to sit down when I was apparently embarrassing her.

We've also been to see Yes Man which I laughed and laughed and then laughed some more in. Bedtime Stories which was a nice film nothing really special.

Madeleine has also been to see Marley and Me we apparently is very sad and you need to take a couple of boxes of tissues along with you. Think I might wait to see that one on DVD.

This week I've also been out to dinner with another couple of girlfriends. One of whose birthday was on the 2nd January. We went up to Vincents in Beaumaris another lovely evening.

Nothing much planned for this weekend although Neil and I may go and see Slumdog Millionaire at the movies which is supposed to be fantastic.

I managed one layout during December (no photo taken yet). Another one of Charlie when we visited the Gold Coast back in July.

I'm going to try and get back into being creative this weekend. I've signed up for another Kim Archer workshop called Seven. Seven layouts in seven days to help get you kick started for 2009.

I've also signed up for Kim's roundrobin layout swap which start this week. There are about 4 or 5 groups participating in this. My group has six girls in it, so I've sent my layout off to the first person on the list and I'm just waiting to receive one. Can't wait to see how my layout turns out after it's visited the other girls so they can add their touches to it.

If you haven't seen this months Tarisota Kit you really should do yourself a favour. The kit is full of absolutely gorgeous goodies. This month the guest DT member is my talented friend Helen Karinfilovski. Go check out the Tarisota Gallery to see her fabulous work along with all the other Beautiful work done by the DT, it's simply stunning.

Ok Ok that's it for now,

Happy Belated New Year to everyone

Cheers

Leeanne xxx

Back shortly with a proper update

Now besides going to spend a day with the fabulous Heidi this week at create 08, which by the way was FANTASTIC.. caught up with alot of the old dollies and Cherie which was great...but more on that later. I have just noticed that this weeks Weekend Inspiration over at the Aussie Scrap Source blog is all about Heidi Swapp products.


Go and check it out because A) the DT have done some beautiful layouts using Heidi Swapp products but B) they also feature one of MY layouts called cousins.

I was so pleased when they asked a couple of months ago if they could use it, when they featured Heidi's products on the BLOG and even more excited tonight to see it actually up there.

So enough of my bragging.


Life has been super super busy lately so I will be back shortly to update properly about the happenings in the O'Connor household. So I will pre warn you that it will be a lengthy one.

I'll leave you with a photo I have just pinched from Wendy's Blog taken last Tuesday of Willisa, me, Heidi and Wendy. Notice how we all coordinate with Heidi. Gotta love that.
















Cheers

Leeanne xxx

CCG # 98

Last weeks colour theme was - moccasin - cool copper - dewy green/blue - bistre (aka chocolate). Certainly not colours I would normally think to put together, however once I started collecting it all started to come together. If you want to check out the website click here.

I decided this layout would be 8 1/2 x 11 and I would go down the keep it simple path. I'm always inspired by Belinda Venables work and love how amazing her work is. This week I used more photos of my gorgeous great niece Charlie from back in July when we visited her on the Gold Coast.

Bathtime Fun: PP: Sassfrass Lass, Scenic Route, Autumn leaves & Basic Grey- Alpha: American Craft and MM, Accents: American Craft felt flower, Junkitz brad, 7gypsies sticker and Scenic route journalling sticker, machine stitching.



















5 more sleeps until the Twilight preview. Both Madeleine and I are excited by that, her friend Alex is coming along and my friends Lynne and Wendy and also my sister and her two girls. After that it will be under 10 days until create 08 with Heidi Swapp. Then of course after that under 10 sleeps until the big one Christmas.Phew!!! so much excitement, I don't know whether I'll make it through. Seriously where has this year gone????

Madeleine officially finished Year 7 today and is now on holidays, although she still has to go over the next 2 days for Band practice. Presentation night is on Thursday evening and the band is playing, so they are having two days of practise, much to her disgust. (hehe)

Cheers for now

Leeanne xxx

Blog Award and Pencil Line Sketch #112

Look what I won. I was very excited to see that the lovely Evelien had nominated my blog fopr a Kreativ Blogger award, Thank you Evelien I was thrilled. Evelien is from Beligum and her work is so lovely, she has just been accepted as a DT member for Creatively Yours. Well done Evelien that's fantastic news for you & well deserved.













Here are the rules:-

The rules:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award
3. Nominate 5 blogs for the award.

1. Wendy Treseder
2. Cherie
3. Cecilie
4. Kerry
5. Sheree

I love seeing all these ladies gorgeous work and just reading what they've been up to. Thanks for sharing girls.

Next is this weeks Pencil Line sketch. When I first saw sketch 112 I wasn't sure I would do it,however I love how this turned out and the earthy colours, work well. These are some of Madeleine's new clothes she picked up the other week. New Jeans, New top and New scarf, she has developed a really good fashion sense and an eye for putting things together.

STYLISH:




















Our neighbours of 22 years are having their goodbye party tonight, so I better head off and make the dip I'm taking in and also think about dinner.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Leeanne xxx

Working 9 till 5

Well at least for yesterday anyway. Yesterday was the launch of CHOICE Switch. What a day.... it was hectic, it was stressful, it was tiring and it was Fantastic. Fantastic to get such a big response so quickly,the phones were running hot all day. CHOICE had spots on Today, Skye News and 3aw here in Melbourne and people were immediately checking out the website. Months of planning finally came to fruition yesterday and it was so rewarding to see people's positive reaction to it.


Not a huge amount happened on the weekend, Madeleine's netball team sadly did not make the Grand Final, so that's it for Saturday netball this year. Her Tuesday night team is playing in the Grand Final tonight, so fingers crossed for that one.

I did mange to complete this weeks colour combo challenge #97. I really liked this weeks colours, so that makes it much easier to work with. I apologise for the picture of the layout it looks a little crooked but everything is actually straight, I just couldn't seem to get a good photo.



Enjoy Life: PP October Afternoon, Bazzill cardstock, heidi Swapp book plate, brads, fancy pants crochet flower, prima flowers, kaiser bling, Alpha: Heidi Swapp, reminisce and carol lees creations.






















Well that's it for the moment thanks for stopping by.

Cheers

Leeanne xxx