Kim Archer | Mindful Living

Thursday catchup

Happy birthday today to Marie. My movies and hot choc buddy.

I'm meeting her for morning tea this morning before she heads out for a lunchtime celebration with her Mum. So...happpppy birthday Marie..not that she even READS this blog. Marie can barely send an email let alone look up my blog. I've had to talk her through sending an email over the phone before when her kids were at school and unable to help her! Bless her!

And tomorrow(Friday August 1) is a BIG day!

I've been working on a project which is very exciting. All will be revealed tomorrow so stay tuned....I can't wait to share with you all...It's a new thing for the @Home site and something I am really thrilled to be involved with..

I'm off to whip up a quick card for Marie before I meet her at 9.10am and as it's now 8.22am and I am still sitting here in my dressing gown and have to get Capri out the door as well I had better moooove it..

Have a great Thursday!

WINGHAM here I come..

I've got a few face to face teaching gigs coming up. The first one is on Saturday 9 August 2008, and my mum and I are travelling up for the day to Wingham which is a small town outside Taree, NSW. I'll be teaching for Leisa at Scrapsidaisy (such a cute scrapbook shop name!) and we would love to see you there.

I was born in Taree hospital and we lived in Wingham when I was a baby so I have a soft spot for the area!! We still have very close family friends who are still in Wingham and it will be nice to visit and catch up with them as well while we are there.

Soooo, what am I teaching?

I have two workshops starting from 10am on Saturday. Lots of giveaways/prizes and fun ideas to share. Our first class is a 12X12IN layout project where we will talk about the different ways to use transparency film in our scrapbooks. We'll be making a cute little clear stitched embellishment and creating a transparency overlay with some hidden journaling for our layout. Here's a sneaky peek at our sample..

SCRAP IT CLEAR

Our second class is a mini book designed to use a whole heap of random happy photos. Made from chipboard and showcasing the new Making Memories passport range, this fun book is packed with lots of photos and quick and easy ideas.

MINI RANDOM MEMORIES

So if you live in the Taree/Wingham area and would like to join us (we would love to meet you!!), please give Leisa a ring on (02) 65535307 OR contact Leisa via the Scrapsidaisy website here.

Hope to see you there.

WE HAVE OURSELVES A WINNER!!

{EDITED TO ADD: Leeanne, my emails to you are bouncing and I can't seem to get a message through to you. Congrats on winning one of the prizes..email me when you can so we can organise your prize. Kim..}

Well actually we have THREE winners.

Thanks guys for entering my little blog competition. I've loved reading your comments!! Some of your comments also opened up some questions about the Fresh Vintage style. I guess the main thing to remember and the main thing Helen talks about in her vintage classes, is there's NO RULES (my kinda class).

I wanted to share with you the welcome message form Helen's first Fresh Vintage class. This pretty much sums up Helen's approach to this style of scrapbooking...

Helen says: "I have been creating lots of vintagey type layouts lately and love searching out unusual and unique trims and braids and things for my scrapbook projects.

For this layout, the only time we will be using a ruler is for
placement of items on the layout and even then, you don’t really need to measure precisely. My dimensions will be a guide only.

This workshop is all about throwing away your fears of having the ’perfectly’ cut piece of patterned paper or the perfectly trimmed photo. It’s time to get shabby and have fun.

Forget about what you see in magazines or blogs - let go of the boundaries we set and don’t listen to that inner voice that tells you - “oh, no you can’t do that!!”. Let’s have some fun - the shabbier the better!! The more crooked a cut, the better!!

It all adds charm to the layout…"

Sooo for those looking at an introduction to Fresh Vintage, you can't go past Helen's first class which you can check out here. Helen talks about the style, where to source lots of vintage goodies and she explores how we can mix old and new together to come up with something fresh.

The next step up is Helen's FRESH VINTAGE 2 which you can check out here.

AND NOW...A DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

It's time to announce our lucky winners. These three people will each win a free FRESH VINTAGE WORKSHOP. I've decided to let the winners choose whether they would like to come along to the first or second class in this series of workshops.

IF THEY ARE ALREADY BOOKED INTO THE CLASSES THEY WILL WIN A $10 VOUCHER TO SPEND ON ANY OF THE WORKSHOPS AT THE @HOME SITE.

Are you ready.....

It's time to announce our winners....my trusty assistant, Capri has chosen three names at random..and here's our winners...

[Have I built the suspense enough?]

our winners are.......

Hi Kim

This class looks great I'm starting to get into this vintage style after seeing the sneak peeks. Just might have to sign in for this one.

Posted by: Joanne |July 25, 2008 at 08:19 AM

Hi Kim

Just dropping in to say hello and thanks for extending the compdeadline! Looks like a great workshop. Cheers. Annette.

Posted by: Annette |July 24, 2008 at 10.04PM

What a nice gesture a free class and a gorgeous vintage kit. As you know I love Helen's classes, her work is stunning. cheers Leeanne x

Posted by: Leeanne O'Connor |July 23, 2008 at 09:41PM

A HUGE CONGRATS TO Joanne, Annette and Leeanne. I will be in touch to organise your prizes. Have a great Friday everyone..

KIMx

PS..I forgot to also say that for a limited time, anyone booking into the Fresh Vintage 2 workshop will go into the draw to win the Glamour Girl vintage kit. I can't get this post to format properly..but at least the lines are gone!!!

Fresh Vintage 2

[edited to add: I have extended the blog competition a little longer. Winner will be announced Friday 25 July at 4pm (AEST)..good luck and thank you so much to those who have dropped by and said hello and those who have also booked into classes!!]

Back into work today and I thought it was time for a giveaway here on the blog.

Would you like to win a FREE WORKSHOP????? In celebration of Helen's Fresh Vintage 2 workshop over at the @Home site, I am giving away ONE FREE PLACE in Helen's online class.

A little overwhelmed by using fresh vintage products on your pages? Helen's step by step instructions are easy to follow and she has some great ideas for creating layouts with a vintage flavour. PLUS myself and the other Support Team girls have all created some additional layouts, some showing that you can add some colour and still get that vintage feel to your projects.

Here's a sneaky peek at my sample for the class:

Sooooo leave me a hello message here on the blog and you will automatically be entered into the draw to win a FREE Fresh Vintage 2 workshop.

More ways to win...IF you have already booked into Helen's latest class (thank you so much!!), you can still leave a hello message and be entered into the draw. Instead of winning a place in Helen's class, you will win a $10 gift voucher which you can use for any of the @Home classes.

PLUS!!!!!! for everyone who books into Helen's class up until next Monday 29 July '08, you will be in the running to win a GLAMOUR GIRL FRESH VINTAGE KIT jam packed with goodies just perfect for creating a vintage layout!

So, even if you haven't ever left a comment here before, I would love to *meet* you!! But hurry, this is a quick comp..you only have until Thursday lunchtime to leave a message and be included in the draw!!!

Back to work

Today is my first day back at work with the kids officially back to school this morning. I have really struggled these school holidays to balance work and the school holidays and usually do a much better job of it!! My whole schedule was out of whack and I couldn't seem to keep up with everything so a few days into the holidays I just resigned myself to the fact that a few days off work was ok and reminded myself that this was one of the reasons why I had my own business - so I COULD have flexible working hours.

Anyway, today I have a massively long to do list. Lots of energy and enthusiasm (hope it lasts!!). And a few big projects I am working on which will be revealed over the coming weeks and months. Plus some great new classes to upload. AND A GIVEAWAY HERE ON THE BLOG. I will upload details later on today once I organise some stuff.

Soooo, yesterday was the last day of the school holidays and we had a visit from cousins Jake and Chelsea. All kids got on well. Boys entertained themselves with Guitar Hero on the PS2.

And the girls were busy, busy, busy..cartwheeling out the front...they stopped long enough for me to grab a few photos as they were showing me their Top Model poses (we had just watched an episode of America's Next Top Model!!)...

..played Club Penguin on the laptop..(they were over the camera by this stage *sigh*)

and then Chelsea asked could they do some scrapbooking. Capri doesn't do a lot of scrapbooking but she does have a little album and her own things so they set themselves up at the kitchen bench and started creating. And they both did a great job with no help at all from me. I just let them loose.

Here's the result..ooops...Capri's page is sideways..

that's better...

Check back later today for a blog comp PLUS I have been awarded a couple of blog awards which was so cool!!! And I will do a proper post about that next including my pick for who I will pass on the blog awards to next...stay tuned.

Friday catchup!!

Almost the end of the school holidays! it's flown by in a whirlwind of activities!! And I've enjoyed the sleep ins and the relaxed, casual-ness (a new word!) of not having to be here and there all the time!

Yesterday Capri and I travelled down to visit Janelle, Emily and Jasper in their beautiful new home! We had the best time! The kids always get along very well and while they don't see each other at all regularly, they seem to take up from where they left off the last time with no problems at all. And Janelle and I talked non stop from the minute we arrived!

Janelle's new home is just beautiful. I am so happy that she is happy and their new home just suits them all perfectly. Capri and I could have quite easily stayed there for another few hours as we were so relaxed and having such a great time.

Here's a few pics...

Thanks Janelle for making us feel so welcome AND the de-liciously de-lightful scones and morning tea, thanks Emily and Jasper from Capri for being so fun and thanks for a great visit:) We will have to arrange another visit again very soon.

This afternoon Capri and I met up with Marie and Bridie At Jesmond for afternoon tea. The girls enjoyed an hour at the Sand Wizard craft stand just outside Big W before we dined on ice chocolates, milkshakes and mini muffins.

Netball's back on tomorrow. Back to early mornings. Hope it's not too cold!!

Happy 18th birthday Brandt!!

**Warning. Warning. Another long message below.**

Well this time eighteen years ago I was pretty much exhausted and in a state of shock after an excruciating eighteen hours of labour with Brandt!! And tonight I am pretty much exhausted and in a state of shock that he has now turned eighteen. Way back then, several hours after my labour and Brandt's delivery, he was whisked away with neo natal pneumonia and in a humidicrib for 5 days where we couldn't feed, touch or hold him. Thankfully he eventually came home safe and sound!

Annnnnyway, today he is eighteen. EIGHTEEN. He's been counting down the days until he turned this magically legal age since he turned seventeen! He is the sort of kid who embraces every new stage of his life with great enthusiasm!!

I have been BUSY sorting through old photos, video footage and collecting video messages from family to pull together a DVD for him. I have had little sleep for the past few days trying to get it finished (which is why the afore mentioned exhaustion) and I was very much OVER the entire project!!!

To top it off, the iMovie program I use decided to have a hissy fit and all of the music tracks I used were jumpy and not playing smoothly (anyone who uses the program and can offer some trouble shooting advice - it would be GREATLY appreciated). SO now I need to go back and try and work out the problem. Anyway, we didn't have the family viewing this afternoon of the infamous birthday DVD that I had imagined. But that was ok. And we will all check it out eventually when I have finalised it all.

Also busy were members of my family in various cities and up on the Gold Coast. Each recorded happy birthday messages and sent them to me.

We had a happy birthday video message from the Fraleys. A lovely rendition of the birthday song from my cousins Kristy, Jacki and their kids in Sydney including party poppers, a handmade sign and even a candle to blow out afterwards. More singing and dancing to the chipmunks version of happy birthday from my cousin Jodi and Michael including another handmade sign. And from my Aunty and Uncle on the Gold Coast who didn't have access to a video, they sent a photo of themselves with their Gold Coast hats on, beach towels and gorgeous Broadbeach backdrop as well as another handmade sign!!!!! My friend Marie sang a great song at the top of her lungs in the carpark of Glendale shopping centre as a last minute message on Friday after we met up to take the girls to see Mamma Mia. Ken's mum also recorded a message as Ken met up with her in Sydney last weekend. And then my family also recorded some great messages including Jake and Chelsea jumping on their trampoline in time to their very fast happy birthday version of the song!!!! Thanks family:)

I also secretly recorded messages from some of his mates. So I played the messages this afternoon and they were a hit!!!! He was chuffed to have so many nice messages and also had had no idea I had done any of it. So that was good!

Well, rewind a little....

His very good mate Nick came to stay yesterday from the Gold Coast. These two have been friends since kindergarten and it was with great sadness that we farewelled Nick and his mum and brother in year 8 when they left to move to Queensland. You may have seen layouts of Brandt and Nick over the years..he really is like part of the family and its been great that the boys have kept in contact with each other even though they live in separate States.

Here's a flashback couple of photos...

And today!!

Today started with mum and dad arriving with bunches of balloons and party poppers and pressies. And he also opened our presents - clothes and an iPod docking thingy which was well received!! Capri gave him a family block of Dream chocolate and Jamison gave him a bag of lolly teeth - his two favourites in the sweets department!

Brandt has had so many cards and presents arrive over the past few days - from unexpected people! It's been so lovely!! And everyone has been so thoughtful and generous!

We then headed to the Mark Hotel in Lambton for lunch with the family plus four of his closest mates. Brandt has had plenty of other partying with friends over a number of days!!! and we had deliberated over parties and what to do and decided to have a lunch out together rather than a big party.

Had a great time. Here's some pics.

and another flashback!!

Above is Brandt, Nick and on the right hand side is Kyle. Now these two have also been mates since kindergarten and I discovered this little gem of a photo taken at Brandt's 10th birthday!!

Sooo, I could say much more but I am tired out and really wanted to get all this down while it's still the 13th July!!

Other news..just a couple of random photos I want to add into this post...firstly..Brandt chased the Black Thunder from the local radio station and won a bag of GRAVY CHIPS!!!!! It was quite an exciting time in the house as we all listen to Hamish and Andy and have been following the great People's Choice Chip story!! They tasted very much like BBQ chips to me!

And finally...these two were busy in the kitchen last night as I wrapped Brandt's presents. They made chocolate fondue and dipped marshmallows, pieces of banana and strawberries...de-licious!

Thanks for reading all this! Trying to post shorter, more frequent posts but I seem to get sidetracked and then theres a build up of stuff I want to record, hence the mega posts!!!

KIMx

Step by Step Fresh Vintage

Ok, so it's not mid morning here in Newcastle now and I am a bit late BUT it's taken a little longer than I expected to coordinate everything for today's post!!

Sooooo, firstly, Helen's FRESH VINTAGE 2 class is now open and ready for bookings. It's another gorgeous class from Helen and I am very excited to share it with you. BOOK IN HERE. Everyone most welcome.

I am looking forward to tackling Helen's workshop later today and will add in my sample and the other Support Team girls' creations in the classroom over the next few days.

In celebration of Helen's wonderful Fresh Vintage style layouts, I created my own version of a fresh vintage layout. And what's more, I have turned it into my first video tutorial...well, not my first video as I have been quite busy with iMovie on the Mac since Christmas and I've made a few DVDs for birthdays for family members BUT this is my first little scrapbooking one!!!!

oooh, it's a bit nervewracking launching my first video..but here we go...

I hope it works!!

Have a great weekend girls!! And make sure you check out all of our new workshops over at the @Home site!!

KIMx

Fresh Vintage 2 Update

Helen's Fresh Vintage class will open this morning...yay.

Plus I will share another fun little show and tell here..on the blog. stay tuned. About mid morning if all goes to plan.