Its been that long???

Since I last blog. How embarrasing :) Ok am at work so will keep it short and upload some layout later since I'm at work... so heres goes

1) went back tot he coast one week later!! Another long drive but this time to Waipiro Bay. My dad said we were from there but failed to mention we are FROM there. Walk into the wharenui and am surrounded by my ancestors hanging from the walls with there names of which was Wiremu kururangi the first and second, my dad being the third adn my son being the 4th. So he got a buzz. was overwhelmed and even missed the fact that my grandfathers photo was hanging there, in which case had I seen it earlier I would have parked my family under his photo. So had a bit of a word with dad re that, because it took me off guard and I wasnt quiet prepared to see the many version of my physical features :). So off course had more opportunities to take more photos!

2) Scrapcamp was awesome. Reading Karen Ridgeways blog one can appreciate that life presents us with difficulites that leave us in situation where we are best to be at home. However there is also a process around managing one commitments and communication is important. There was none of that and to say that you have a class prepared and someone else is delivering assumes you have done exactly that. This was not the case, as there was no class, just two organisers out of pocket and stressed waiting for instructions to a class that never arrived. So my shout out to Yolande and Liane who managed the weekend successfully given the circumstances that they were put under!! it was for all accounts a successful weekend (and yes there are always those whop are going to moan and those who are actually going to provide constructive feedback NOTE there is a difference) and the New Zealand talent is still amazing so a big thanks to Faye and Nic. There we're 2 classes and 2 challenge packs where as in previous years there were 3 classes. By default I enjoyed the pace of this weekend. There was opportunity to do your own work, meet blogging mates and buy... which of course did fully... last 2 camps I was blown off my feet and didnt get as much as I wanted to do, stuck to my own table so to mingle was great all round :)

3) work is going well, and being mobile is testing my management skills a little but thank goodness for technology :)

well so much for quick. Also was awesome to meet all the forum friends and blogging crew, nothing like kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) and seeing their talent in action is awesome too :) ok LO photos later

M

It was a long drive

but it was worth it and had a great time with my whanau. Am used to working at the marae, done it most of my life but was better at it (aye sister) when I was younger. More of a take the meeting minute, be on the committee kinda whanau memeber now, but being out in the sticks is different. You cater for lord knows how many, we were expecting 100 there was 200. kithcen is no bigger than a kitchen you would find in a three bedroom house and about 20 people in there dishes preparing meals cooking meals carving meat, but all ammenties like a shop for extra kai are miles away.Also the dedicated man hours are insane at the marae. And its all volunteer and the meals look like they are fit for a king and its all done with love, laughter and sweat. Its awesome.

The drive was 5 hours and the coastal roads were stunning, so was stoked to get some photos. what I loved mainly though were the little hick towns with building of character and colour. I'm talking green building with purple trims and orange doors that looks terribly disgusting usually but in places where people are scarce they liven the area and that doesnt even include the beach itself.

Wondering who they stunning women is, well thats my baby sister and happy birthday sis and yip this is you and it looks 20 times better in the frames your getting for your birthday so happy birthday Hiria, you are the best sister and I'm stoked that God gave us each other and our brother (ps that the guy in the photo with my girl on the wharf and outside the hotel at waihau bay)... yip they are both spunkier in real life its disgusting...

Wow where did all that time go?

Can you tell I'm loving black n whites at the moment, love the emotion and detail it evokes and especially with the contrast and dark blacks I'm using am stoked with the way they turn out... this photo is my cousins son....I love this photo!!

Ok so starting a new job has been fantastic but of course as the balance of acts goes, somethings hit the floor while others stayed in the air. Scrapbooking hit the floor as did my blogging.. . Well its my 7th day into the job and its feeling good... but that me, i have learnt to go with my instinct and trust it so again so far so good and I think I'm going to like it, like it a lot actually.

But what have I been up to, well scrapooking wise, because its not an everyday thing like it was have had a bit of a pit stop so this week only managed to do a double layout, plus Yolande online class which was my first class and really enjoyed. Hoping to do her next one as well as Chris Millers class but I'd better get in quick. Also postie fulla ow, where my November SO Kit??

.

Whanau wise have been back home to our Marae at Pukehina in the weekend and had a working bee on the wharekai as it needed some zuising. Our whanau was raised at the marae and for me given I was raised by her, my kuia was one of the "old ones" so being at the marae was an everyday thing. However on her passing, as matriachs go, as a wider whanau we dont go there much. its also a small hapu marae so we are fortunate that events like tangi are few and far between, but then so are wedding and birthdays... anyways wasnt looking forward to it cause it sounded like hard work and hardly anyone turns up but when we got there had an awesome time catching up with the cousins, and I know its corny but I could feel her, a warmth, a presence and it was her.... so with the kids playing bullrush at the front, and the nannies singing and the koros drinking I remembered her and took a moment just to see my childhood for a moment through my kids playing with my mum, there grandmother... okay thats enough of that but these are some of the whanau that were there

This weekend though we are off again to Ngati Porou East Coast for my dads brothers unveiling and taking as usual my camera. As we are off to the sticks, whops whatever you want to call it (ie Rangitukia and Tikitiki) and hoping to capture some more intimate whanau photos as well of those of locals being being local!!

PS Congrats to the new DT for Scrapbook Essentials. Tu much!

Sad that is over

The long weekend that is! I love hanging with the whanau, especially now that I'm off to work tomorrow in my new job as a primary healthcare manager. Will get back to you on what that actually means when I find out myself :)

Ok so had an awesome time this Saturday with Yolande and her family. So heres the story and some sneak peaks to go with...........

The weather wasnt being kind but in the end it worked out all good. I was a little nervous because as a friend whom I respect and enjoy being with, I didnt want to sux. She off course never gave off that kind of pressure it was just me and my expectations around what if my style isnt what she was looking for and what if I sux!! In the end it felt good, really good and afterwards when I took some notes and did some reflection about the shoot, came away with some seriously good grounding stuff. Yip I reflect! Everytime I do a shoot I scribble in my notebook (which will turn into a scrapbook once I'm finished with it) around what went well and what could be improved. Anything from what order to take photos in ie. water shoots last cause jeans get wet, to thinking about clothes colours and how I handle myself and the family I'm working with.

So am taking bookings in the BOP area and am avalaible weekend and most afternoons which with the summer months are looking good, especially with those reflections and have just posted out some info for those who have requested it :) Re my prices , a session for up to five people is $100.00 with travel cost if outside the Te Puke area. Sessions are from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, we have heaps of fun, cause thats the kinda atmosphere I love especially for families and you have up to 30 photos to look at :)

As for scrapbooking, as a reminder be gentle on me Yolande, its my first time for the SO online class. So go here where the uber cool people will be this Friday. Order my first kit to from SO so looking forward to that. Also I have a new love. Clear stamps.. OMG why did it take me so long to know... but I soooooooo want these and these and heaps more but I dont think its gonna happen yet... soon but not yet.........

And family wise, wow flippa ball rocks. My family ie my sister, mum, dad and me have always been competitive, not so good with the social thing if it means not winning. And given I like fun, being competitive doesnt translate into me getting a personality transplant and turning into a crazed monster! But mate are some parents clowns. If I was the ref I would have told them to leave or shut the hell up! Man they were terrible if not to other children then to their own. My 8yr loved it and we loved it cause its a sport he choose to do without his so very talented brother being involved. Its something just especially for him. But boy the thrill of it is amazing... bring on summer!!

Im so tired

Nothing like a new job to hurry all the things you meant to do over the past four months and havent!! Mate theres heaps and I'm to bugger to care .

Did my first kohanga shot to day and have got another couple of the next week but man was it amazing and hard work!! Did a bit of a special deal for the kohanga cause wanted to use the opportunity to help me perfect a couple of techniques so just a few photos of the poor children (there was 19 of them) who had to under go the trauma that was me!!

Hopefully the parent will like them as I think its a little different to the standard photos we get from the school photos, but may not be the parents style at all .... ugghhhh now I'm scared... oh well so tired I'm gonna knock myself out with self so it wont keep my up, maybe tomorrow night it will

Monday 15th October

Woah were did the weekend go. Not much of anything to report had a quiet one I think??? Enjoyed my night on Friday at Bookem and managed to do some layouts instead of just talking and getting nothing done. Saturday went out to dinner with DH at the local rugby club here and had an early night though DH got in much much later:) Was suppose to go out on the waka ama on Sunday but it was too choppy so I opted out cause it can be pretty rough and I was in the scrapbooking zone. hehe.

Havent been to many blogs this weekend either cause I have exceeded my usuage on boradband so I have to wait till tomorrow till I'm full speed and then I'm a go again. How do you handle the dial up thing, its driving me nuts!!

So some layouts to share...

Friday 13th September

Just wanted to say thanks to all those who a) visit and b) comment. Love that you do that and just to support that it what makes me blog, honest, I love the audience:) So my new challenge is to comment on at least 80% of the blogs I visit. Thats scary I tell yah becuz I visit heaps but I like that feeling so I'm gonna give it back...

Ok to start with cause Janine has done it on her site, here are some of

My favourite things

1 Cream Paua made by my mum

2 Laying in the summer sun reading a good book

3 Being unexpectly served a triple gin lime and lemondae while reading my book

4 Morning cuddles from my kids (only if I'm awake already)

5 Sitting in a spa on a star lit night

6 Having a spotless house

7 Listening to music from my high school and uni days

8 Being at the marae with whanau

9 Watching my children swim at the beach with a picnic

10 Kicking back with hubby when the kids are asleep

Some other "unusual" things about me (your only getting 10 )

1 Last time I cried was in 1999 about my nan (she died in 98) and before that 1984 when I

was 9yrs old in hospital

2 I eat my KFC on a plate

3 I am terrified of birds

4 I kill at least 2 birds a week while I am driving (its weird)

5 I am the best person I know at guessing story lines in movies and tv. It amazes hubby even

6 I like reading outloud to my hubby when hes driving on long trips

7 I have my showers or bath at night with no light on (nice and peaceful)

8 I vaccum my floors 3 or 4 times a day

9 I dont watch horror movies. Last one I watched was in 1989 called hell raiser and thats only becoz my cousins pinned me and held eyelids up!!! LOL

10 My mother doesnt like me drinking front of her. Doesnt mind my bro or sis just not me??!?!?!

Yip thats enough. Plus cant think of to many more

Also been thinking about my scrapbooking and to date its all the good stuff and if you looked at my pages, albums, life looks pretty damn sweet. So thinking on this decided I'm gonna do some of the not so sweet stuff. As life has it, had my share of blows in life and love for that matter so am looking at putting some of that down... not sure what it looks like but going to give it ago.... its been inspired some part by the new ad on tv encourging kids to stay in school and has these ghostly images of kaumatua (older person) while the schools are in class, walking home in the hallways and doing poi but the message at the end which I can remember right now prompted me to think about my past and I think the one of the greatest things I can share with my kids, later when it comes up, its the hard stuff and the hurt stuff. So ummmm gonna think on that! Am off to Bookem tonight for a midnight scrap so looking forward to that as well.

Ok and to answer Sandra I will now be working for Poutiri Trust based in Te Puke but has 20 providers across New Zealand. So I'll be managing the Primary Care Sector..... I start 24th October and am doing my photography in the weekends until it might one day become full time:) Oh well better get some work done

Damn I'm employed again......

but yeah at least its in time for Christmas. So have decided to bite the bullet and am going back to work, after 4 glorious months of being a SAHM to my 4 awesome kids. Honestly I know it is hard and that being a SAHM is under rated, but hands down it beats the shit out of having to deal with stinky adults, firing and discplining staff, managing egos and political agenda and writing and researching reports :) So start the Monday after Labour weekend and managed to negoiate myself what I think to be a sweet deal where I get to work from Te Puke (not at home but at the offices) and only have to travel 2 days a week to Rotorua. Initially it was full time in Rotorua but loved it when the ball is in my court.

Upside also is that I can again becoming a consumer of products. I do it so well and looking forward to Lisa site going up also. Still struglling with that dame altered project, I think I need a mentor??#&*! Me and altered projects are not the go. So anybody running DT with just layouts... any body???

Lastly, yesterday was a historically moment for many of the whanau of Maketu. Yesterday I had the privilege to travel with Ngati Whakaue as I was asked to document what had in essence been a journey of over 50 years. In Maketu we have the Marae Whakaue and its trusteeship is unusual as the trustee were court appointed and were members of the Te Arawa Maori Trust Board based in Rotorua. Ok so there are issues, heaps and finally yesterday trusteeship was disolved from the trust board and handed to "some" of the whanau who have over the years acually been responsible for the marae and its running. This was the 3rd attempt and twice it was suspended due to individual submissions which lengthened and delayed the process. After all 50 years is a lot of maori mens life time and so was pleased that many of our elders were there. Finished? Kao. Momentous? absolutely and am stoked that I was to be there.

Just some photos to share

Had an awesome time with this whanau and was stoked to be asked to record a generation of 4 women (well 3 and a girl) so to this as part of my "product line I am putting together a 1 pager on each women and then making a stylish book. So should be intersting hopefully successful. Noted of course are the men folk, they saw they women having fun and wanted to join in. To be honest this shoot was scary. Why because of the kuia in the photos. See my nan was grumpy, real grumpy, yelled at the photographer waved her tokotoko (stick) at him and he took it, and just smiled at her.... and as a reult he passed the test and she went from crabby to angelic. I was afraid of the same thing. But no this kuia was lovely from the start. We had orginally intended to go to the beach but it was too cold so we stayed at the house. So improvising is my next skill and Delys yip I will be prepared!

Made some cards for my sons today. They have been away the whole week so was missing them and made them a card, telling them how much I missed them. It was cool and more so when they both took them and said they would look after them for life (that should be at least 2 days)! Was gonna post it but cant be flagged going to get my camera from the lounge! Will do that Wednesday.

Also have been scrapping and am soooo struggling with the altered project! I'm more of a layout girl I think! So have done the layouts for both Scrapbooking by Design and Scrapbook Essential but &$*@# to the projects. I need a design theory in my head so it looks right to me...... oh well ... might put up some sneak previews instead (can I do that)

Finally on beta blogger adn I'm liking it. Took them long enough to ask me:) So am having a tutu but love the label function and the ease of use. Now to get my counter back and my old vid clip... help!

October 3rd ......already

The date....Thats scary... the kinda scary that tells you Xmas is coming and you've only just gotten over last Christmas.

Am in a good mood, did the Moke Whanau on Sunday at the Beach and was pleased with how it went. It was good meeting someone elses kid and trying to figure out how to connect with them, especially when there arent related. But hey humans come in all sizes and as a general rule find these size humans not to bad:) So some photos to share from that photo shoot. So loving the grunge look at the moment, especially with mum and son against the orange wall and the one with mum in the chair and having the sea as a backdrop!

Also big shout out to the newly selected Up2Scrap ET! Awesome ladies and looking forward to being inspired by you guys................ and and to tautoko Yolande, way to go NZ Scrapbooking!

Story Boards I tried to load.......

Like tried a hundred times with blogger on my last post gave up and just did a new post! Busy weekend. Had people over so I didnt get to participate in the Queen competition as I would have liked to so bummed over that. Permanent note to self... dont have people over during cyber crops to much to do and to much fun to miss out on :)

Gray Anatomy update go here for some lovely juicy bits but dont go ther if you are wanting to be surprised for next season... its a catch 22 thing i know :) And go here to check out the new stuff and KS

I'm out

Saturday 30th September

Huh! See what happens when you resigned to a challenge, you completely give up and hello a few days pass again before you say hello to your friendly bloggers again.

Had fun last night with SO cyber crop. It was sooooooooooo good to be scrapping with friends. Managed to complete one lay out and thats here in the gallery but have now decided to post it cause last nights one was taken under the veild of my shadow and this one looks better. See judges it does!!

Have got a photo shoot this arfternoon so looking forward to that. Spent most of last week with potential suppliers. Mate thats a whole new part of the game all together! I've decided a few products and will just stick with that for now and grow it as I go along. So far have got block photo mounts (these are wicked) canvas, frames, storyboards and standard prints and for my older teenagers (or teenagers that have paying parents) posters and bragbooks.

Obviously my logo isnt in the one that they get, though I'm thinking about it! So if your in the BOP area and looking for family photos for Xmas let me know! $50.00 for a session with one teenager and they get 6 4x6 prints and $100.00 for a family with up to five people with 6 custom made christmas cards with a photo of you choice. Shameless I know :)

Well better get moving, I want to be a Queen this weekend!

*******************************************************************

Aaargh blogger wont let me add my photo... I'll try again later

Change in pace

Ok so did my best and am resigned to bloggin not so often. Admittedly was good motivation to get pages done so I could have something interesting on my blog. So another layout which is ok and one of those quick slap it on a page and see what happens. Um answer was an unbalanced not quiet right page. But I'm struggling, struggling to use pattern paper as th background, I only want to use white! I know. But I'll get there, well maybe I wont but hey.

Also started my Today You album last night so that should warm me up for my DT entries. Well I hope it does. At the moment have been spending time reading up about design concepts. I think I could improve my style by picking up on some theory and going from there. Just a little bit and just doing some reading over the internet so at least its free and I dont have to leave home for it.

Waka Ama rocked. Was a little "worried" about taking my big butt out on to the water and having done rowing since I was in the rowing team like 15 years ago and share in the stories that Sandra shares. My dad was just as a side note, the coach from hell and I've never been partial to waking up at 4am since. But relly enjoyed it, it was relaxing and not as hard on my body was I thought it was going to be. Might be from being a mother and picking up ompa lompa sized babies :) Plus what a great way to get a tan.

Ok better get the house work done!

Sunday 24th September

I'm getting in early as I may not be able to blog later tonight because my body may be detached from my arms. Going out for a paddle this arvo. Maketu have got a waka ama group together and have a beginners run today so gonna give that ago hence arms detached from body. (PS that photo is of Motueka High and from their website)

Here is aPage I finished last night (well maybe this morning at about 2am), which is a scraplift of a page Yolande did a little while ago. Really like writing my own words now cause it saves heaps of time and Imean heaps. Havent gotten over how ugly my writing is but have gotten over trying to line up the paper and the text on Microsoft Word.

Oh well going to hurt myself now... ouch!

Saturday 23rd September

Not sure what going on but after having a bit of a tutu with Explorer 7 can honestly say I'm getting it all wrong. Have been trying to use the browser and not having alot of fun.

Oh well will have to search out how to use it properly cause I do like the tab feature.

Am stoked to have won the No8 Metal challenge. Wow my first challenge win. What a buzz. Looking forward to having a go at the Flower for a Boy layout but I'll see how I go.

Today managed to get some scrapbooking in as well as doing a photo shot for a young girl who has left high school. Had an awesome time and she was so cool to work with.

Have spent a bit of time lately going around town looking for different location and found this cool orange wall. Also had my brother in law so might be get a chance to practice in some of the cool industrial areas that I found. Not sure if the council no that some of them exsist either. Funnily enough you know that house that has all the dead cars out front, the one that you know is just bringing down the value of your section well they now rock.. Cool place to take some young men. Did get the required permission though and when I rang to let them know they were all really good and a couple asked if I could send my work in to their marketing director for approval as well.

Ok like Evana, I too have decided that the postie doesnt like me or has a chipboard fetish and is spending secret time with my packages. Come on NZ Post where are they!!! And yip agree with Lianne this is a hell of a challenge

Did another layout yesterday of my baby boy Joseph and love KI Memories and SEI papers. Need more lots more

21st Thursday September

Photo wise have been practicing making eyes pop! Its all the go in child photoraphy and yesterday I took 3 bookings for November from people who were non-related, not whanau, not friends just referrals so yippie! Also have a job at Papamoa with a family who have a blue house with a big red door and its funky as so looking forward to that too. Just some exapmles I have of eye popping. Some people like it some dont I'm just practicing it!
Meetings. It seems that I am always in meetinsg. Apparently cause I'm not working the organsiation to which I am a trustee for send me to meetings. Long ardiuos, lots of community imput meetings.


Went to Bookem yesterday to buy more white cardstock and lakeshore as well so looking forward to doing more pages. And looking forward to Lisa getting her website up as well for and definantly going to have a go at that DT. Been thinking about DTs and at the moment have been enjoying scrapbooking cause I can, can some do something with that. Not because I have too but because I can.

Ok going to play with that white yummy cardstock:)

Wednesday 20th September

A bit of a quicky and was fun making a mess ! Was great to use the paints and the MM stamps again as I hadnt pulled them out in a while given all my work with white cardstock and chipboard (whatever)

After the metal dare decided I needed more of that type of motivation to use whats in my stash rather than buying more new stash but in saying that some more chipboard letter arrived to day, yummy and waiting for my package from scrapbook essential which is my new favourite place to get chipboard and theyhave some new heidi swapp stuff too. Cant wait for those arrows.

Ok thats about it unless you really want to here about my washing:) Bye