Having Fun

Well I hope we are...confident that we are, but I'm writing this before we leave, so really don't know!  We've been hearing that we will be getting rain, but we'll make the best of it and sing and dance in the rain if we have to.  Suitcases are packed, now it's just a waiting game as we leave in the morning.

Thought I'd share some stuff with you though in our absence.  I found this great idea to re-use and re-cycle along with using up your scrappy scraps.  Take a look here, once it's made it could be a great storage place for all those little scraps.  Take it a step further and if you can find 12" boxes you could bind them together, cover them and store your full sheets in them.   Think about it and have fun.   Send us some photos if you make any storage boxes.

I also meant to put this into the blog earlier...I don't think it's expired yet.  You may have to sign up to the website to be able to download, but some pretty nice words and sayings that could be used on scrapbook pages or cards and the best part is they're free!

And one more thing.   If you like to decorate for Hallowe'en this will give you a head start.  You can make it simple as it is, or you could fancy it up some more.

So that should  help you not to be in withdrawal whilst we are away and there are no classes happening at the store.  Stop in and say hi to Lizette and Anita, we know they'll be doing an awesome job for you in our absence.

Oh, before I go here's a sneak peek at one of the Christmas cards we will be making in class.  Don't tell Linda I showed it to you...LOL.  Oh dear, is it too small to see much...sorry but it's worth coming to class to make.   Remember there are only a few spots left in the third and last Christmas card class on Wednesday November 2nd, so get your name down if you haven't already

Happy Crafting....

Lilian

Gosh I had no Idea!

Really I didn't realise how long it had been since I'd made an entry on the blog.  So much is going on in the background just now and quite honestly if you aren't a piece of cardstock, Christmas paper or patterned paper for a class, then you don't get much attention!   Linda and I have been steadily planning, cutting and prepping for all the classes that will come very quickly after our return from our cruise.

It's getting to be quite exciting as the time draws near.  The children are beginning to ask questions regarding safety aspects of both the flight and cruise.  Makes you realise how much goes on in their heads that you don't really expect.  Like why do you have to have a muster station and run through of how to put on your life preserver on the ship if the ship is safe?  Sigh....answer that one now.  I received an email from my sister in England to say that it was only four more sleeps.  By the time she would have read my response, it was only three more sleeps for her.  She's excited too I could tell.  She's joining us in Fort Lauderdale and coming on the cruise with us.  We've chartered a large van to take us all to Miami where we sail from.  There's a total of ten in our family group.  You'll have to ask me sometime when you're in the store about the confusion we had in the beginning with our cabins...it's quite funny.

Because of all the prep work that's going on, I really don't have much to show you in the blog, but I did find this website that may be of interest to you if you're gathering fruit and veggies from your garden.  When I first came to Canada I couldn't understand why people spoke of doing their canning when in fact they were preserving in jars???  Anyway here's a website for printing some pretty labels to put on your jars, really nice when you are giving them as a gift. 
Don't limit your imagination to these alone though, design your own with the lovely background stamps from Impression Obsession if you own some.  You don't??? Drop into the store then and purchase a couple, they are so gorgeous.  There's not one that doesn't make you say WOW after you've stamped a piece of cardstock with it.  Here's one that I love to use with two or three colours of distress ink at the same time.
   Or combine two like these together to make a stunning background paper
               
Don't forget to look at the blog when we are away as I've got things lined up for you to enjoy still.

Lilian

So Nice to Receive

Linda and I strive constantly to give our very best to the customers that enter our store.  We try to remember that when they enter the front door we have no idea the stresses and concerns they bring with them.  With that in mind we endeavour to be upbeat and cheerful with each of you.  It was truly lovely to receive on Tuesday morning this comment from one of our customers, one that we don't know by name even.  Here's what she sent us......

You and your staff are amazing.  You are so helpful and cheerful.  I love visiting your shop and do so at every opportunity.

Thanks for all you help and the wonderful supply of goodies.  Soon I shall be able to open up my own shop.   I have that much STUFF.

Thanks again.

SS

Must admit we had a moment's concern when we read she would soon be able to open her own shop!

We are continuing to prepare for both the Mega Crop Weekend and the three Christmas Card Classes and they're coming along nicely.

The response to the Mega Crop Weekend was amazing with Wednesday bringing us to the point of me saying to Lizette...waiting list only now.   A number of croppers who aren't attending the whole weekend, have taken advantage of signing up for the class being offered.  Linda has the planning stages of the class well under control now along with some of the make and takes.

Thought I'd share these stylish rubber boots with you that I saw on a blog.  I really must remember to make note of the blogs I visit, but I surf and save so much without thinking I may share it later.  Don't they almost make you wish you lived in a rainy area!

                                                                      

Here's another interesting photo.  If we could only keep that perspective daily, what a much nicer world it would be.  Perhaps it's a design that could be incorporated into our home decor with the help of the Silhouette? 

And here's one last idea.  .Would be a great way to have a herb garden indoors don't you think.  A few mason jars, plumbing clamps and some boards and voila!  The only added thing I would do, with the help of my Silhouette, is label the jars

Have you taken advantage of the button on the right sidebar that enables you to receive our blog by email whenever something new is posted?  It's really easy to do.  Just enter your email address in the block under the 3/50 project button and submit it.  All new blog postings will come directly to your inbox then, save you having to remember to look at the blog and maybe miss an entry.

Lilian

Did You Register?

Today was registration day for the Mega Crop Weekend and true to form, there was a line up at the door when Linda arrived early.  She was planning on having them all registered and on their merry way before I arrived and then saying to me, wonder why no-one is registering this morning!  Naughty girl......I arrived early too and put an end to that idea...LOL!

It was lovely though to pull into the parking lot and see one of our customers who was thrilled to be first in the line to register.  She told us she had never been first for anything before.   She had her small daughter sitting on her lawn chair patiently waiting for one of us to arrive.  What was so lovely from my point of view though, was that she had aleady booked in to participate in a half marathon in Niagara Falls telling us just this week that she couldn't join us this year.   However the lovely part for me was that she had opted out of the marathon to join us and all the lovely ladies at the Mega Crop!  It wouldn't have been the same without you Birgit.

Another customer was backed up to the door with the back door of her van open so that her children could sit and play while she waited to be registered.  What great commitment, thanks Tara.

But that's just two stories, there were many others and each and every person registered is important to us.  We are now 3/4 full, so if you're thinking about joining us, don't wait too long.

One of the registrants has told us that she has a spare bedroom if any of you "out of towners" need a place to stay and don't mind a short drive to her cottage.  Contact us if that would be helpful to you, we will link you together.

This afternoon Linda and I were deep into more of the planning for the Mega Crop Weekend as well as the Christmas Card Class.  Both are coming together well and we're sure you'll be happy with the content we will present to you.

On a totally different note, I'd like to share some photos with you that my sister sent to me last night.  If you know our family at all, you'll know we are very proud of Brian who represented Canada in the 2008 Olympics and brought home a GOLD medal for Canada.  He is now on the journey again hoping to bring another medal home to Canada in 2012. 

                             

Presently he is in Slovenia at the 2011 Worlds Championship and yesterday the team was on the podium having come in third.  Not a bad placement at all given that they were less than three seconds behind the first place winners and with almost a year to go lots of time to improve and come together as a team. 

Brian is the short one on the team and is the coxswain.  His job is to direct and encourage the rowers.   

We often don't think about the athletes that represent our country as they train for many months and years prior to their few minutes of competition.  My sister keeps our family up to date as Brian and his team mates train and compete all over the world.   Many other athletes are striving toward the same goal in their chosen sport, keep them in mind now and again as they maybe are caused to spend time away from their families and home.  Brian has a lovely wife Robbi who keeps the home fires burning in Victoria B.C. for their two beautiful girls, Brianna and Peyton.

Now for all the children as they return to school, we wish you a happy and succesful year in whichever academic level you are at.  For those going away to other cities, we urge you to remember your roots.  Stay grounded in the values your parents have instilled in you.  For the parents, don't jump up and down for joy too much as your children leave the family home, you may break a bone!

For all of you, but particularly the younger ones, we encourage you to read.  We are a family of readers.  I can recall Rachel (Linda's oldest daughter) walking around the house with her book in her hand reading.  Our family all have our e-readers, be they Kindles or Kobo's or ipods with books downloaded to make for easy reading (have to get them loaded for our vacation).  For those children that want to keep a record of the books they've read, I found this free printable reading kit that can be downloaded here.  Enjoy!

Lilian