eye candy catch-up.........

Just catching up on the work i haven't shown you all this year so far. xxxxx

The times they are are a changing.........

So there is something in the air about change, and big changes this year isnt there? or is it just me?

I have had a job change, changed scrap store DT teams, we are sub dividing our block, we got a new kitten, i had my hair cut off, i am in the middle of a massive de-stash in my craft room.

Both my Brother and Sister in-law have split with their long time partners.

What elese will be changing soon? who knows.

So as you all know i have been working full time since February this year, and have been struggling with all my extra curricular activites for sometime now. There just isnt enough time in the day, and i just can not stay awake longer than i am hahahahaha.......................................... so i have had to drop a few of my commitments.

Very sadly i have had to resign from my position on the Twiddleybitz Design Team. I have loved being apart of the team and had such great adventures with them over the last year or so. Please continue to follow them and there great product. You can join their ning site and be apart of the fun there, plus show everyone what you have made using their product. Ning Site.

This is a Laout i have recently done using there new Baby themed chippy bits. Its such a wonderful line.

Also I have recently made these cards using the coffe cups from the Angie Delaire range of products. Her paper embellishments are so bright and fun to use. These are one of my favorite designs.

The challenge for September is to you the Baby onsie embellishments whichan be found here and ribbon to create something. Check back here to see what i create and you can also see the work of the rest of the DT at the site.

I have been teaching classe at Tomorrows Memorie's for a good few months now, and im just loving my time there. There are some very very exciting classes coming up so pop over to the website to have a look at the calendar and the samples. Just gorgeous work to come and make.

Mel

x

Re-Define............

so i think lot of you know Ali Edwards and her one little word concept right? i have chosen a word probably every year only to forget it within a week or so. this year was, is, different. i chose myself a word. i photographed that word, i thought about that word, and how it related to me in the world, and how i related to it. my word re-define has been lingering in my head and around my being all year. i think this could be it.

i'm tired, im restless, im drained, im feeling very very stale and just can't seem to pull myself out of this creative rut i'm in. i am creating, don't get me wrong. you all see the work i produce on a fairly regular basis, but it just isn't doing it for me anymore like it used to. am i in a creative groove that i can't get out of? am i just stale? am i trying to find meaning in something that doesn't really need any. i feel like i haven't created just for the sheer joy of it in sometime. not that i don't have fun doing what i'm doing, but i just don't get that high, that buzz that makes you work through the night to meet deadlines that are nigh on impossible to make anymore. am i just growing old and the stamina i once had is eluding me? is the lure of a warm comfy bed just far to tempting during winter? is it just sheer laziness? i'm not sure of any of these answers. and i'm really not sure what to do about it. i feel like running away to a whole other country, to experience something new again something that might spark that passion, that love, that excitement in my soul again.

Do i need to just stop. breathe, let the sun shine on my face, although that would be pretty hard right now. do i need to think back to how i used to play creatively, even without producing anything, just to play, to make marks, to play with colour, to see again? do i need to re-define?

how i create, why i create, re-define the reason i create? or re-define my creating to meet my reason?

is it just that old adage of the creative person struggling with who they want to be against who they have to be in this world?

i do think it's time. time to re-define all of it really.

wish me luck.

xxx

Wow, long time between posts!.....

I think as has everyone else, I have been busy busy, busy! Simply haven't had time to sit down and blog.

I have been working away behind the scenes and can finally put up a bunch of work you may not have already seen yet. xx So let show and tell begin.

Gabrielle's Angel printers tray.........

Why not spend this Saturday at Tomorrows Memories and do an amazing class with none other than Jenny Burns.



Using the gorgeous Gabrielle paper range and Dusty Attic printers tray, this is aclass not to be missed. Call TM's on 9279-2183.

While your there check out the mazing Create at Home kit that has been designed by Mistra Hoolahan.

Love

Mel xxxx

Brisbane Craft Expo this weekend..........

So if you are in the Brisbane area and are looking for something to do this long weekend, Twiddleybitz is going to be at the Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention centre. We are stand #60 so come along to get your hands on some of the very lastest release Twiddleybitz items, as well as being able to see work form all your favourite Twiddleybitz designers in the flesh!. And seriously just when you thought it couldn't be any better i have to let you know that 4 of our extremely talented team will be there all weekend long for you to meet and maybe hit them up for their favourite scrapbook secrets. So come on down to meet Melanie Forbes, Tiff Sawyer, Jennifer Hodges and Lisa Kamphius!!!!

June 11 - 13, 2011 June Long Weekend Open 9am – 5pm daily Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank EXPO TICKET PRICES Adults $14 Seniors, aged and disability pensioner $12 Children (5–16yrs) $7 Children under 5yrs free TICKETS ALSO INCLUDE ENTRY TO THE TEXTILE ART FESTIVAL!

Free Shipping at Angie Delarie's Etsy!!!!......

Get yourselves over to the Angie Delarie shop for free shipping on all her yummy goodies. You'll need to use the code: musictomyears. Its worth a look as she has some awesome stamps and embellishments for you create bright and fun scrapbook layouts.

Mel

xx

So much happening..........

Where to start?........................ from today i think.

Twiddleybitz has had a bit of a makeover on the Ning! it looks so fresh and clean, it's just lovely! While your there stop by the forum and sign up for the card swap that is being run. It looks so much fun and I'm just about to head over and sign up myself. Also, there is a super awesome sketch challenge this month! such a great sketch, and i am totally playing along with this one!

What else?........... Tomorrows Memories is hosting a Biggest Morning Tea this Saturday to raise money for the Cancer Council. All the details can be found at the website. There is an Auction planned for the morning with both work, from people like Donna Salazar, and packs of new release product from all your favourite papercrafting companies all up for grabs. All the money from the Auction goes straight to the cancer council, so be sure to come along and join in the fun.

I think that is it for now, busy creating loads of new stuff to look at, so come back soon to see what i've been up too.

Mel

xx

Where oh where have i been?......

Well its been a few months since i have checked in hasn't it. Sorry for neglecting you little blog, but i have been so amazingly busy. What have I been doing you might ask???

Well i spent a good month or so job hunting. Applying for soooooo many jobs but im glad to say i am working again now. It took me a good few weeks to get used to the early starts and the full time hours and getting my head around all the procedures and computer packages, but im up and running now and having a fairly good time where i am. I have an amazing manager, he's just a pleasure to work with. Here's the view from my office window.

What else has happened in my life of late???? Well i have joined the team at Tomorrows Memories. I'll be teaching there from June and Im also a member of their Design Team. Its such a gorgeous shop and you should come check us out sometime. Vicki, Jo and Clori the owners are amazing, and the design team is to die for. So if your struggling for inspiration pop by and just take in the amazing work on display in store.

What else??? Well Twiddleybitz have released some more amazing chippy items. You should stop by the Ning site and see what all the amazing Design Team girls have been up too. I have had the pleasure of being able to play with these over the last month or so as well. So much happening isn't there! its keeping me busy and out of trouble! hahahaha. Here's some of the things i have been creating with the new chipboard.

So i have mor to share but i don't want to over load you today! come back soon for some more inspiration. I have been playing along with the "She art girls" series, and will show you my finished canvas's so far! xxx

Mel

xx

Some Angie Delarie product love......

Stop by the Angie Delarie Blog to see what the amazingly creative design team had been up to with her cool scrapbooking goodies.

I have had some fun playing with her Baby Jumpsuit Paper Embellishments. They are soooo very cute and could be used in so many ways! xxx

I have also been playing with one of her cute little stamps. This little guy is fast becoming one of may favourites. Firstly i used a simple stamped image on a layout, and then i stamped a whole bunch of these guys onto shrink plastic and made charms to create a charm bracelet.

Mel

xx

Twiddleybitz Showcase at Aussie Scrap Source......

Oh there is some yummy yummy Twiddleybitz inspiration over on the Aussie Scrap Source blog today.

Stop by and check it out, delish projects to drool over. xxx

a sad goodbye......

Hiya Everyone. Just letting you all know that I have resigned from my job at Scraptivate today. It is time for me to move on and do something new.

I feel so completely privileged to have make some amazing and awesome friendships directly from my time at Scraptivate and also generally from within the amazing scrapbooking community. Thank you to everyone who has made me smile, offered their friendship and support and especially to those lovely customers who gave myself and all the staff at Scraptivate such lovely gifts and treats at Christmas.

I would like to thank Natalie Wolfe for giving a relative unknown Scrapbooker the opportunity a little over 4 years ago the chance to work and grow within the scrapbooking industry. It has changed my life.

Don’t despair though ladies, I am never to far away. I am here on face book far to often and my little blog is still ticking away so you’ll always know what I am up to.

Thank you. xxxxxxx

So much for two posts in one day! ..........

hahahahaha sorry girls, i seemed to have gotten distracted for....... oh um seems like nearly two weeks.

I will say i have been very very busy sorting and packing all your donations for the QLD flood ladies and have just re-surfaced after a bit of a rest. If you would like to see how all this is going check it out on the special blog Jenny set up for this. here

Now i am getting straight down to it. I have been meaning to share exciting news for over a month now and just never get to it so I am doing that first up tonight.

First exciting news..... Im excited to announce that i have been chosen to join the Angie Delarie DT here in Perth. Im so excited, she makes the funkiest stamps and paper embellishments you have every seen. Go check them out here and whilst your there check out all the DT action.

Second big news...... Twiddleybitz has been picked up by a distributor in the USA!!! Yay twiddleybitz. thats only part of the big news. the other part is the DT was asked to do some very special work to go across as samples for the amazing chipboard they make at CHA!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!! i was sooooo excited. Just knowing my work was there was incredible. almost as good as being there but it could be the closest i get i think! hahaha here's what i did to send across to show the americans how clever our Aussie scrappers are.......

Ok next up. I have a Layout class coming up next week at Scraptivate. If you would like to come do a class with me just call the store to book your self in. Loads of fun distress techniques to grunge up your layout but while still keeping it pretty in a Mel kinda glitter and bling way.

Mel

xxx