Touching Base

My apologies for being MIA this month. As you have probably guessed, we have now made THE move and we're slowly getting organised. I'm yet to set up my stamping space... but have taken over the dining room table (much to Paul's horror - it's started again!!) to make a few bits and pieces, which haven't yet been finished. It's a bit of a shock to the system heading back to full time work. I am enjoying it, and the challenges of clinical, but find I'm SO tired by the end of the week.

Here are a few photos of our big trip and life in the Red Centre so far....

Leaving Katherine. Paul had headed out about 4 hours earlier than us. Luana was asleep before we had even travelled 10 minutes down the road!

Rest stop at Devil's Marbles. Luana had a great time exploring.

Our first full weekend here we went to Desert Park. Luana loved the birds and the nocturnal house. She's checking out the mala in this photo.

Hopefully over the next couple weeks I will have a bit more to share with you. I have had every intention of playing in a few challenges in the last week or so, but my bed has had a stronger calling!! I have seen the new Summer Mini (launching 1st December) and I LOVE IT!!! Seriously, I think this is the best Mini yet! So when I place my order, I am SO looking forward to playing.

For those of you here in Alice, I'm going to have a Christmas Stamp-a-Stack in the next few weeks. If you would like to join me, drop me a line here.

Until next time (no promises when....), have fun!!

Victorian Bushfire Appeal

Those of you here in Australia will know how devastating the bushfires in Victoria have been the past few days - they have now surpassed Ash Wednesday and Black Friday as the worst fires in Australian history. Paul and I have been rocked to the core watching footage of towns that have literally gone up in smoke, and thanking our lucky stars that our family in Gippsland are ok. However, tonight the death toll was at 85 and expected to rise to over 100, and so many families have been left with only the clothes on their backs.

We were talking about what we could do to help; being so far away we can't volunteer our time. Tonight on the news they featured the appeal that has been launched by the Red Cross and the Victorian Government. This is where we can all help.

I was planning on holding a Sale-a-Bration workshop at my home in the next few weeks anyway, so I have decided that I will donate the fee for this workshop to the appeal, as well as 20% of the value of all orders placed on the day. I will hold this fundraising workshop Sunday 15th February at 2pm. We will make 3 projects and cost will be $10. In addition, for all orders placed with me until the 28th February, I will donate 10% of the value of the order to the appeal. Please contact me here to book a place at the workshop or place an order (Sale-a-Bration bonuses are available until February 28th).

If you live overseas or would like to make a more substantial donation, please go to www.redcross.org.au and click on the Victorian Bushfire Appeal link.

Together we can help the families devastated by these fires start to rebuild their lives.

Zarna's Blog Candy

I found Zarna's blog through her entries into Makeesha's challenges - in fact, our styles are scarily similar!! It's her birthday this month (and mine too - could that be a reason for the scary coincidences?) and she's giving away the presents.
Check out her awesome blog at:
http://www.zarnasworld.blogspot.com/

Good luck and Happy Birthday Zarna!!

Butterfly Award - Thanks Leah!!

One time when I was able to access a computer while I was away, I was pleasantly surprised to find Leah had awarded me a Butterfly Award - thank you!! If you haven't already, check out Leah's blog - it's amazing (I love receiving your swaps Leah - my Summer Mini one is on the way) and she has a great monthly inspiration challenge.

Part of receveing the award is to forward this onto 10 other blogs. Most of the other blogs I visit have been awarded this in the past and they are all wonderful, but may I suggest you check out:

Kylie http://www.kyliestampinstuff.blogspot.com/

Nat http://www.happydaks.blogspot.com/

Check them out!!

Happy Birthday Helene!

Yes, there is meant to be an 'e' on the end of the name, although I can't get the song 'Happy Birthday Helen' out of my head now (is that showing my age......?).

Last weekend we travelled up the track to Darwin to spend a bit more time with my visiting brother, but also to celebrate my wonderful friend Helene's 30th. I managed to put this card together for her - I had 2 criteria; it had to be green and include paisley. Did it!

I have only recently bought the word window punch, so was itching to try it our with this Big Buckle Card from SCS. Once again, Petals and Paisleys DSP was the inspiration (I LOVE this white DSP), with the coordinating Petals Jumbo Wheel and Polka Dots & Paisley stamp set. Old Olive and Certainly Celery provided the green. I cut out a flower from the wheeled image in Tempting Turquoise and layered it onto the So Saffron belt with a Pretty in Pink brad. To finish it off, I used Tempting Turquoise and Pretty in Pink markers to colour in the Celebrate stamp from Sweet Serendipity and added some Styled Silver hodgepodge. I'm really happy with the result. Hallmark Volkan?!?

And here's a picture of me with the birthday girl (while the night was still young!). Thanks for a FABULOUS night!!

I know I haven't put a lot of photos on here in the past, but I thought I'd share these with you of my brother's visit - and they do fit into Helene's birthday theme..

At the Barrawei lookout, Katherine Gorge.

The people you run into.... With my cousin and brother while out for Helene's birthday.

Taking Luana in the waterslide at Leanyer Water Park.

Blog Hopping

As I am now a lady of leisure (for a week - we thought it would be a lot longer!!) I have been doing some blog hopping today - what better way to kill a bit of time while the washing is on?!
I came across a gorgeous blog by Beth, and bonus, she has blog candy on offer too.
Anyway, Beth has some VERY sweet cards featured on her blog, so check it out - www.mylittlecardblog.blogspot.com

Thank you Nerine

My sister demo Nerine recently nominated me for my very first blog award.

Thank you so much Nerine - you are incredibly talented and I am honoured that I inspire you!

Tried Tie Dying!

I have finally handed up my last assignment for my first diabetes educators subject - yay! That's why it's been a while between posts.... Another reason is that last week at work I was really busy with Mataranka S*ports and Arts Week - a fabulous week where around 200 primary school kids from mainly the Katherine East region came together for a week of fun, sports and arts. And they didn't even realise they were learning!! I was there to hold the food sessions for 2 days, and we had some great creations emerge - we made Vegie Man faces with the younger kids and mini pizzas with the older ones. In the breaks (which those of you who work with kids know aren't really breaks) it was great to catch up with the other activities, one of which was tie dying. I have never done this before, so I took the opportunity to give it a go and tie dye a water bottle bag. (Thanks Caroline!!) This is my effort (not bad for a first timer I thought!), but as predicted, it has been claimed by Luana!

Can you help?

Just for this post, I'm going to take off my creative hat, and put on another - my AFS volunteer one.

As you may have realised from my tagged blog, I was an exchange student to Paraguay, which was one of the best experiences of my life. So, now to help other students have an awesome experience too, I am a volunteer with AFS Intercultural Student Exchanges.

In August, we will be welcoming a new group of students to Australia, and we are looking for 2 families in the NT to welcome them into their homes and make them feel like part of the family (if you don't live in the NT, but are interested in hosting, we are looking for families in other states too). It's experiencing another culture without leaving home!

We have 2 young men who we are looking to place - a 16 year old boy from Italy and a boy from Brazil. I have more information available upon request.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer host family, please let me know at natashamurray12@gmail.com ASAP. If you live outside the NT, I will pass your details onto the appropriate people.

If you would like to find out more information about hosting, or if someone in your family is interested in becoming an exchange student, or you would like to become a volunteer, please feel free to contact me, or check our the AFS website www.afs.org.au

Thanks!!