Who is that person?

Yes, you'd be right in thinking that's my gorgeous daughter!

I got to spend the weekend with her in New Plymouth, and we spent quite a bit of time on the beach enjoying the sun.

This pic is looking south towards the city of New Plymouth and the coastal walkway.

This is taken from the coastal walkway looking north.

 

We decided the beach looked far too good to ignore.

 

A huge tanker heads north from the Port of Taranaki.

 

While walking on the Coastal Walkway we came across this new bridge. I'm not really sure what I think of it. It doesn't blend into the environment that much.

But I guess it could look like carcass of a whale with all it's bones.

Or maybe it looks like a dinosaur laying in wait with it's long tail?

The water was lovely. Peaceful. Soothing even. 

Calm after the night before when it raged in Japan.

It was a lovely mini break, and a chance not to think about the natural disasters Mother Nature is throwing at us.

Carole :)

Week 2 winner and another giveaway!

And we begin with a drum roll as the piece of paper is drawn .........

and the piece of paper reads........

JENXO!

Congratulations Jen, you have won the birds and the fish!!  LOL

Let me have your snail mail address and I'll pop your winnings in the mail to you.

Now for the exciting part.

The gift that's up for grabs for week 3 is a little something I made.

Using a wee snippet of tape and a very old spoon,

here's your very own art spoon.

All you have to do is leave a comment during the week. At the end of the week

I will draw a name from them all to find a winner!

It's that easy!

Good luck!

Carole :)

what some of the girls said about my journal class.....

 

“This is the best on-line class I have taken. Your attention to detail is outstanding. Besides, it was nice being among cyber-acquaintances. It made it even more fun! Thanks Carole!!!”   Dotti

“BTW I have absolutely loved your class and when I say it has been the best one that I have done I am not joking. The videos were fantastic very easy to follow”  Doreen

“Carole, I can't think of one even slightly negative thing to say about this workshop. You are a skilled teacher, quite organized, creative and just an all around lovely person. It's nice to be in such good company!”  Jan

“Seriously, this is my 4th online class and it is by far the best because of your ability to generate a great atmosphere among the students!”  Dotti

“I have now started my first journal and I want to say 'thank you' for such a good course.” Sharne

“Carole, thank you so much for the lessons here and the inspiration and motivation this lovely blog gives me to get off my butt and do something!” Julie

“I want to thank Carole for teaching this class.  I have had tons of fun and I definitely got carried away!!  Carole - you are a GREAT teacher.  Every step was described in excellent detail and yet you left a great deal of room for individual creativity.  Being able to use what was in my stash was pretty incredible.” MA 

“Carole, this is just a blast!!” Maggie

“Carole this class was such a blast and I really had so much fun creating my journal.   I already am thinking about all the future journals. :-)  Thank you for putting together such a super class!” Gail

“I want to thank you, Carole, for the chance to take your course. It is the most fantastic journal and just suits what I wanted to do. Your instructions are excellent! What a great teacher you are.” Carol K

“I am having the most amazing fun - thanks to Carole's course.” Lottie

“I echo everything that has been said about this course. Carole you have been fantastic and having had a couple of bad classes lately you have restored my faith. Inspirational! And a huge thank you.” Maggi

 

Would love to have you join us this year for some creative goodness! 

Carole :))

last years journals

My journal class will be starting soon, on the 2nd April. I was taking a wander through the blog for last years journal class and I am still blown away by the incredible talent and the stunning journals that the girls made.

Here are just a few examples.

Handmade by Magpie's Mumblings

Handmade by Yitte

Handmade by Gail

Linda's journal in the making

Handmade by Penny

Handmade by Doreen

Handmade by Val

There were so many beautiful journals and the inside pages were stunning too.

Some I would consider far too nice to write on! 

Thank you for letting me share a glimpse of your journals here, they are too nice not to share!

Carole :) 

A winner and week 2 giveaway!

We have a winner for week 1 of my blogging birthday month!

From all the comments left over the first week..........

QUEEN OF DREAMSZ!

Congrats and please email me with your postal address and I'll get your gift in the mail.

If I don't hear anything by next weekend I will make another draw.

Now, moving right along....

Time for week number two gift.

a ten metre spool of my fantastic bird tape plus

 some good old kiwi chocolate fish to keep your energy levels up! LOL

All names left during the week will go in the draw for these :))

Carole

I think someone might like these....

Thanks to everyone who left me a Happy Blogiversary message, you are all far too kind for you own good! LOL I am sure I don't deserve it!

ANYWAY, 

I have been searching for something little to give away during my birthday month and found these.

I thought someone may like them.

A fabric pencil case, but I think I would use it for something else, 

What could you store in it?

What about some paper clips?

I will draw a name from all the comments posted on my blog this week and that person will win these two items.

Carole :)

Something a little more festive....

On a more festive note, it's the 1st of March today and that means one thing only...

I am celebrating 4 years of blogging!!

That's right and I want to say thank you to my followers and those friends who leave comments for me on a regular basis. 

Thank you to those who have followed my blog since the beginning, 

and to those who have joined me along the journey.

 

I am giving away some wee gifts every week during the month of March.

I love reading your comments, they make me smile.

 

At the end of each week, I will draw a name from all the comments left 

during that week and one person will win something special.

 

Hope you are able to pop by and help me celebrate.

Carole x

**cup cake image borrowed from www.lawmemo.com

 

Thank you for your kind wishes

A word of thanks to those of you who left kind words on the last post.

Our hearts are with those in Christchurch.
Our tears are for those who have lost loved ones.

Carole

The Christchurch earthquake

This is the result of a 6.3 earthquake which hit Christchurch on Tuesday 22nd Feb at a depth of 5km. 

It was very shallow and hit in the middle of the day when streets were crowded, people were sitting outside under verandas at cafes enjoying the sun and having lunch.

Tourists were out sight-seeing and people were shopping or going about their daily chores.
In an instant their lives were changed.

These images were all taken from the TVNZ website.

If you would like to see more images of what the people of Christchurch are going through, here are some links:

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/

If you are looking for a family member or friend and can't contact them, ring 0800 RED CROSS to report a missing person.
You could also try the following:

http://christchurch-2011.person-finder.appspot.com/

I have spent hours manning the Red Cross Missing Person phone line yesterday and the Christchurch Earthquake Helpline today, receiving calls from people who can't find relatives, neighbours or friends. People who have found dogs and are looking after them. People who have been found, and calls from people who simply don't know what to do.

In some cases it was hard not to cry, stories were heartbreaking.  I hope that in my lifetime I never have to experience what they are experiencing. They are so courageous.

So many people have lost everything, their homes are rubble, they have nothing but what they stand up in.

My heart is with those families with loved ones missing.
Carole

OMG! March is nearly here!!

And we all know what I celebrate in March!

Are you ready to celebrate with me?

Carole :)

to be frank with you...

I have to be frank about this...

....sometimes things take a turn for the strange...  

....and as much as I want to fight it....

....I find it incredibly hard....

....take this sudden all things bird fascination I've developed....

....I've ignored all warnings,

and now see what I've bought....

....well, I mean to say, handbags are meant to make a statement aren't they???

What purchases have you been carried away with lately?

Carole :)

p.s. thanks for the postcard Nathalie!  (you are my conscience x)

think I'm having a bird phase

...working on another journal for the class...

Carole :)

For moments when ones outfit requires a new necklace!

I got the idea from Kelli Nina Perkins

Check it out!

Carole :)

Random words......

Carole :))

Class Registration Opens!

Registration is now open for my online class

'I'm making a journal'

Starts: April 2nd
Cost: $US55.00

Join me from the beginning of April and make a sturdy practical journal for everyday use,
special project, or to give as a gift. 
Start with a theme in mind or go for random!

In this workshop we will work through every step together from
preparing the fabrics, choosing covers, designing pages and signatures, embellishing
to final construction of the journal. 

I will be there every step of the way to advise and guide you,
to answer all your questions and to watch you
create some fabulous keepsake pieces.

You can follow my lessons and make a journal similar to mine, or be adventurous and make

a journal that is unique to you!

The workshop will run through a special

"invitation only" blog that only
  students will have access to. You can visit the blog whenever you want to, night or day and I am only an email away from you
if you need help.
 

There will be loads of instructions, photos and videos, and
scissors and rulers will be outlawed!

In this workshop you will be using your computer,
your sewing machine,
doing some hand stitching, dyeing, embellishing,
stamping, transferring.

Last year the girls doing the class all had fun, and some days the classroom was a complete shambles, now I could tell you about the online parties, but that's a whole other story! LOL 

There will also be lots of deconstructing

No two journals will look the same!

Please make your class payment via PayPal, (link is on the side bar)
include your
blog address so that I can find you.


As soon as I see your payment
I will issue you an invitation to join my class
Please check your spam for my email if you don't hear from me.

A list of the things you will need
will be added to the workshop blog well before the start of the class so you can go hunting and gathering.

The class blog will be up and running until December 2011, during this time you will have full access to the blog as often as you need so that you may work at your own pace and revisit it as often as you choose, you can even go back and make a different version to your first journal
I will be available to help at anytime during the year.

Please Note:Once your workshop fee has been paid there will be no refunds

If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me
(link on the side)

'I'm making a journal'

An online journal workshop
Starts: April 2 2011
Cost: $55.00

I look forward to meeting you in class,
I know we are all going to have loads of fun together!!

Carole :)

2011 On-line Journal Class

Starts Saturday 2nd April 2011

Make a delightful and practical journal 

This is the same journal class that was so successful in 2010!

If you missed out last year, this is your chance to join in!

Class registration opening soon!

Hope you'll join in the fun!

Carole :)