A short Aussie Holiday...

Onward to Sydney!  It was a bit overcast when I landed, but the rest of the week was beautiful and crisp, just like fall should be!

Before heading out to the country, we stopped in at a cute little shop in Epping called, Note To Self.  I managed to find a few vintage things I couldn't live without.

My friend Sally lives in the Southern Highlands.  Polar opposite of the city...think rolling green hills, lots of cows and horses, and trees...lots of trees. 

See the place on the map called Sutton Forest?  Nicole Kidman has a country house there.  Of course you can only see the roof line and chimneys from the road.

 This was taken at the end of her street.  Talk about picturesque!

In town, there were piles of leaves on the sidewalk.   Coming from CA, we don't see many colored leaves like this so it's always captivating (of course, I do not have the job of raking them up, so they just look beautiful to me).

One day, five of us took the trip to the coastal town of Berry.  To get there, you have to drive over the mountain and through Kangaroo Valley.  One of my favorite drives to take.  I didn't get a picture of the valley because most times the trees were too thick (and there are no pull outs on this windy road) but if you ever have a chance to take it, it is beautiful.

Once in Berry, we stopped at some darling boutiques.

Lunch was fish and chips at yet another cute shop, just off the main drag. 

We shopped some more and ended the day with coffee (or hot chocolate depending on your preference).

Thanks to these girls (Lorraine, Donna, Sally and Ree) for the friendship over the years.  It is always nice to spend time with you, laughing till our sides hurt and we can barely breathe.  I have purposely not posted the pictures of us acting ridiculous with the fake candy teeth (seriously who's idea was that?), leaving a restaurant because it was too hot for middle age women, or two certain people waltzing in a clothing store with hip music.  

Of course I faced my biggest challenge (totally self-imposed) trying to use the Aussie slang term "fair dinkum" correctly in a sentence (meaning true or genuine).  Not sure I ever got it right, but boy did we ever laugh about it.  Oh, and it now has it's own hash tag (#fairdunkum).   

Good Times girls, good times....

(insert segue here)

Creative Play

I taught a class at the local scrapbook shop in Moss Vale on Saturday.  The last hour of the class time was spent as creative play time, where each student created layered tags with Distress Stain, Ink, Layering Stencils, Stamper Anonymous stamps and the new Spritzer.  I captured a few shots of some of the tags created that day.  Enjoy!

layering stencils and stamps

monoprinting...

distress stain techniques...

learning to fade ink colors across the stencil

I had to include this picture of my friend Tammy who takes "distressing" seriously.  You might notice she has her Tonic Paper Distress tool on a wire clipped to her jacket!

Thanks everyone for coming to class and for Pam for hosting the day.  I always feel at home in Moss Vale!

I will be back soon with our regular programming before leaving on another plane destined for Quilt Market (Tim's second release of Eclectic Elements fabric will be released at the show).  Looking forward to hanging out with a couple of my favorite guys.

carry on,

paula

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Autumn Escape New Zealand

Reporting in today on my trip to New Zealand to teach at the Autumn Escape Event.  After much preparation getting ready, I was finally off to the airport with two 50 pound bags...the majority being Ranger product for the classes.  Thank you to Mario for the extra suitcase that showed up at my door!

I arrived via Air New Zealand to the most beautiful sunrise.  I was on my way down the long hallway to customs, but had to stop at the window to snap this photo.  I knew it would be gone by the time I was done, and I was right.

After a quick stop in town to load everything up, we were on our way to the Wairakei Resort in Taupo, a mere three hours away.  Plenty of blue sky, lush landscapes and good company (Nic, Lucy and Shelly) to make the trip seem quick.  I was pretty proud of myself that I only fell asleep for about 20 minutes after my all night flight.

 Nic and Lucy and their team did a wonderful job setting everything up.

Friday was the first of 3 days of classes given by myself, Nic Howard and Natalie May.
These photos were taken during the Worn Cover Journal class where everyone chooses their own colors of Distress Stains to color cards for the pocket pages in the book.

 Kim and Kathy working away...

 Some of the completed cards.

Now on to the cover of the book...you know we all love stencils!

and Remnant Rubs...

And Distress Ink.

I know these girls do!

Janelle did not have enough room on her table, so she left her cards to dry in the potted plant near by.  I think they make the plant look better!

 In another class the students worked with Distress markers and water brushes.

A few attendees were asked to create cards for the sponsors of the event.  LeeAnn Thoresen had the task to create one for Tim, which I will hand deliver to him next week at Quilt Market in Philadelphia.  She did it up just right! Really awesome work LeeAnn!

The Ranger card was created by one of my favorite classroom helpers (two events running) - Tania Sansom.  She is as hardworking, as she is nice...couldn't be happier to call her my friend.

Not sure with I like better, the card or the envelope??  Both created by an amazingly talented Kim Ravenscroft.  Both are stunning in person.

  And for Mario...created by very talented Leslie French.

In fact here's Lesley, with a really nice layout she completed.  Love it.

 And one very goofy picture of Kim, Lesly and myself...just being silly after a long day.

 I walked by one table at the crop and spied my friend Vicki Boutin's book!

 Ann and Janelle (hope Janelle got her cards out of the potted plant).

These lovely ladies put on the event each year- Lucy, Lynda, Lianne, Nic, Tania, Kate, and Rachel.  An amazing amount of work goes into each and every event.  They really treat the ladies like family.

What a great group of women!!  Thanks to all who came and took my classes - I taught 204 students over the 3 days and had a blast doing it.  I love it when someone gets to try a new product or technique.  You can almost see the light bulb go on in their head!  Again, what a great time in the classroom and in the crop room.  Love you girls!

At the end of the event, this quilt created by Melissa Brooks, was presented to Nic Howard.  All the fabrics are from Tim's first fabric collection and beautifully quilted by Melissa.  All I can say is wow!!

Also a shout out to anyone traveling to or through Auckland.  I stayed my last night in NZ at the Novotel (at the airport) and despite being almost on top of the airport property, it was super quite.  They must have some kind of special soundproofing because you could see the cars and planes, you just couldn't hear them.  Pretty swanky too.  I mean how many hotels have a headboard that lights up? (outside of Vegas that is).  Don't think I didn't try out all the light switches!

Just to show you how close it it.  I am standing at the entrance to Departure gates and that is the hotel across the street.  Talk about convenient.

Well, off to a stay with friends in Sydney.  I'll be back with a short post about that tomorrow.
Like the sign says, RELAX.

carry on,
paula

Karen - Alterd & Inked

Name - Karen
 
Name of your blog/business - Altered & Inked
 
What city and or country you live in?  I live in a little town in Queensland, Australia.

When I was a child I wanted to be? 
When I was little and grew up I wanted to be a teacher! I used to love going to school, and still love to learn. (This helps with staying inspired as well! ).

I wish I’d never worn?  
Ohh this one is easy.. Many years ago now I had a pair of pants that I fell in love with when I saw them at the store. They were a burnt orange, brown and straw sort of coloured plaid pattern... Yes really!  Thinking back now I really  do wonder what I was thinking. I only ever wore them once.. 

Five things on my desk right now..
A creative mess that is a half finished tag...
A pile of metal embellishments
My craft pick
Remnant Rubs - Botanical
Forget Me Not - Archival ink
And a green rabbit

My favorite guilty pleasure?
My homemade Orange Chocolate Chip cheesecake slice..  What could be better.. Orange, chocolate chips, condensed milk and cream cheese!  

I’m very bad at...

Saying thank you when people give me a compliment... Like a lot of people am most certainly my worst critic!
 

My favorite movie of all time?
The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  I've loved it from the very first time I saw it and could watch this over and over, and I'm sure I will!
 
Do you collect anything?
I collect  bird cages.. Smaller sized ones for decoration. Actually I just added another to my collection yesterday.
 

What’s your strangest talent?

I'm not really sure if it's a talent... And it's a bit yuck.. But I can twist my thumb backwards so it sits on the top of my hand... See I did warn you it was yuck! Giggle.
 
If you got a free plane ticket to anywhere, where would you go?
It would be to Turkey, to visit Anzac Cove - Gallipoli.  It's somewhere I've always wanted to go and would be a very special  place for me as an Aussie to visit.
 

How did you get started?

I started my creative journey as a scrapbooker, never 12 x 12 size though, always smaller - 6x6 and then for a little while 8x8. I don't do any actual scrapping anymore,  I create almost entirely on tags. I love the challenge of the small work surface. I would also never have thought of myself as a stamper.. Stamps used to make me run for the hills..But now I love to use stamps!
 
My go to products are...
I tend to find a product I love to use and often find it hard to use anything else.. Ones I find I always reach for are Tim Holtz Distress inks and markers.  Metal embellishments and trinkets - some faves are of course Tim Holtz Idea-ology, Prima and Graphic 45. Pattern paper - 7Dots Studio is a favourite. I always use Multi Medium, Glossy accents or plain old double sided tape to stick anything down. And though it's not a product, I never feel like a tag is finished unless I've pulled out my sewing machine.
 

How do you get inspired or stay inspired?

I stay inspired by regularly visiting my favourite blogs, learning new techniques and also doing little challenges with my wonderful crafting friend Anita, by text.. We each chose a colour, items, technique whatever the case maybe, and give ourselves normally until the next morning to send each other a picture of our completed project.   

How/where can people find your work?

At the moment you can find me @ my blog Alterd & Inked or on Facebook.  I tend to post pictures there a bit as well.. 

Thank you again Karen for sharing your work with us.  We are inspired.

now carry on,
paula