Holiday in a weekend

We just arrived back from a wonderful weekend in the Swiss mountains. It was gorgeous and refreshing and relaxing and tiring all at the same time. And we tried to really make the most of it because this appears to be our holiday for the year! But these 48 hours were really just lovely and I am SO pleased that we made the effort to go.

We were visiting friends we haven't seen since we all went our separate ways at the end of the MBA in September 1999. He is Swiss, she is Japanese and they live in Japan so the likelihood of us catching up over the last years have been remote even though they travel back to Europe on an irregular basis. For a weekend trip, Europe is really small and everywhere is local when you live here but if you are travelling in for business from another continent, then the time it would take to just "pop" over to Germany from Paris for example is too much and so our paths just have not crossed over the years. But when the offer came to go down to the Alps for a quick visit, we hardly had to stop and think twice. We had our flights booked quicker than a blink of an eye. Arriving in Zurich on Friday evening, we picked up a car on Saturday and drove the short one hour to a small town on the banks of a lake a short distance from Lucerne. Living in the industrial heartland of Germany, this is another world for us. Clear blue waters, lush green mountains, typically Alpine architecture - it has it all. It was all very "Heidi" for us and I was enthralled with the place.

It was wonderful to catch up with old friends and talk about old times as well as what life has dealt us over the intervening years. There was an awful lot of laughter and fun and we said over and over that we could not believe it was "10 YEARS!"

So many changes and so much has happened and yet, we hardly stopped chatting the whole time. It felt good and we were so comfortable together. It was just a lovely weekend. Fresh mountain air did a good job of blowing the stresses of recent days away, even if only for the time we were there.

Feeling inspired and ready to create.

50 Challenge - # 2

50 is a large number! Two down and 48 to go. Maybe I should do some cards to make a dent into the number?

But this was a layout I wanted to do so I am happy to see it on paper. The culture shock of moving out here to the "country" has been very dramatic. Living in the city, we were always so surprised how quiet it was there and very often, we would look out of the window to see if anyone was on the streets because it was just too quiet. Sure we had some evenings where there were groups of people have a bit too much of a good time on the street below and the singing of the local pizzeria owner a few buildings away got a bit painful at times, but this is nothing compared to the noise here!

It's harvest time and we have watched (and most definitely heard) tractors and combine harvesters trundle past our flat at all times of the day and night over the last few weeks. As early as 5 or 6 and as late as 1.15 which is certainly something new. And the church bells... at least I hardly need a watch anymore!

And let's not talk about the rich, country smell that wafted over the village at the weekend...

Happy hump day.

A New Challenge

I am a typical type A personality who works really well with goals and therefore also challenges. I have featured several of them over the months and recently I was browsing my favourite blogs and came across a challenge (here) that I think would really be good for me.

Since packing and unpacking all those boxes, I have realised (as if I didn't know!) that I have way too much stash.

I mean WAAAAAY too much stash.

I could probably scrap for 10 years without buying much more than a bit of adhesive and maybe a sheet of cardstock or two. It's scary. And a bit embarrassing!

So when I read on Gretchen's blog that she has set herself the challenge of producing 50 items (layouts, cards, tags, altered items etc) before buying any new stash, I decided to jump on board.

50 is a lot I know. But I think that I'd like to make some cards to keep in store and let's face it, it's never too early to start with the Christmas cards. I think, for me, 50 could be realistic.

I don't buy stash very often, I am more of a binge shopper, so if I get moving on this idea, maybe I can have a bit of a splurge before Christmas!

Are you up for the challenge? Libby? What about joining in?

I started by grabbing something off the shelf to use on a layout about my lack of height (!) and was horrified to see that it was a kit - totally intact and unused - from more than two years ago. I mean, that's not right is it?? My plan is to attack these kits I have lying around, making one or two things from each before breaking up the kits into the rest of the stash.

I want to feel that I can buy some new stuff without the guilt of unused stash bearing down on me (use me, use me!).


So, who's going to join me?

Back in the scrapbook saddle

I find it hard to believe that it's actually about 6 weeks since I last found the opportunity to scrapbook. Hard to believe that I didn't find time to look at photos, print anything off or even take photos every day. Hard to believe that I didn't make the time to sit and think about inspiration for future pages. But it's true which is a bit of a shame.

I was proud to remember to take photos on the 12th July and then again last week. And it was good to realise that July was a Sunday which meant a slightly different routine and then last week, it fell on the day that Ted and I took a day off to do some sight seeing. Not regular work days which means that the photos, while a little uninspired due to a lack of mojo, were different from normal work days.

And then yesterday I managed to sit down and lo and behold, the first layout after all this time was produced. It made me happy! So today I did the same. And I am smiling as I look at my two 12 on 12 layouts.

Back in the driving seat? I hope so!

Phew...

I'm a bit of a flake. Most people who know me would agree.

I often make mountains over molehills and worry about the worst when there is nothing to show that it is likely to happen. And I get stressed. A lot.

Which is why the word of the year, "calm", is so appropriate for me. And I promise that I tried really hard during this move to stay level and calm and just to go with the flow. But it wasn't easy. And I didn't always manage it. And I often got run over by that train thinking it was the light at the end of the tunnel.

And I know that I only have me and R to think about and I know that Libby made her last move heavily pregnant (HOW DID YOU DO THAT?!?) but for me, it was hard. I "gave up" so often, sinking into bed convinced that I would never make it and that we would never climb out of the pit! (Yes, all very melodramatic!)

It's been a hard 4 weeks!

But of course, it is only Ikea screws and packing boxes and the home we have moved to is definitely taking shape.

And the old home we had has most definitely fallen apart.

We went from this in our old flat:

Via this chaos at the height of the packing:

To this sad and empty flat...

The plants are waiting to be collected and I miss them. There is still work to be done here with repainting and some serious cleaning (too scary for words when all the furniture gets moved out.) so that we can hand it back.


But of course on the other side we went from this at first viewing:

Via this with painting and balcony furniture delivery (exciting for us as it's our first balcony) underway:

To a freshly painted flat just waiting for us to move in:

And then the night we moved in. Poor Ted wondered what he'd let himself in for when he first arrived and saw this:

But it began to take shape quickly thanks to all hands on deck:

And this last weekend we were straight enough to welcome guests over for drinks:

I know that at some point in the future we will move again, but right now I am SO relieved to be in and I am not sure I can face another packing box (although I do have a few left to unpack in the kitchen...)

What's being going on with you over the last four weeks?

MIA

Just checking in to say that I am still here. Battered and bruised but unwavering in my heroic attempts to squeeze all our belongings into boxes.

I will be back in action next week but if you hear nothing from me, send out a search party. I'll be the one smothered with brown tape...

(!)

Calm amongst the chaos

We are moving. So of course, I am currently caught up with everything that that entails. Visits to the DIY store, painting, cleaning, organising, sorting, packing. And I am sat here in my little scrap "shop" and thinking, "No!"

Where do I start in packing away all these supplies and I might want to do some scrapping to relieve the chaos over the next three weeks so what do I pack and what do I leave out? Ideas anyone?

But I am surprisingly unruffled. I am taking it one box at a time and trying not to worry. The "one little word" of the year seems to be working. Deep breath, hold the breath, let it out slowly, concentrate on the feeling, calm...

And fitting in a little scrapping along the way also seems to be helping - hence the what to pack now, what to pack at the last minute dilemma.

I broke open the Bellaboo June kit - full of lovely colours and textures and fun - and worked with such a lovely picture of Isabella. I only took a handful of photos when I was there last which was disappointing and so I am trying to work through them a little, even if this means that I do not cover the three children evenly. More of one child than the others for example. But that's ok right? I do not consciously try to make sure I do X number of layouts about each one, I just take inspiration where I find it. So Cam, your time will come later in the year!

It's hot and sticky which makes me grumpy. But sitting here quietly, playing with papers is very therapeutic. Anyway, must go, packing boxes are calling!

Sunny summer days

The sun is shining although I can only see it through the windows! I have been sorting some of our *stuff* and packing moving boxes. I have a LONG way to go, but feel good that I have made a start and can see some empty shelves and plenty of things to throw away, sell or to donate.

Although I really find the moving process hard work, it is a great opportunity to clear out and get rid of all those bits and pieces that you have been keeping - just in case...

We have plenty of *junk* drawers round here and I have been finding all sorts of stuff that make me think either, "Wow, I wondered where that had got to!" or "WHY have we kept this?" I have just been to throw out the rubbish so that the evidence of what has made it to the round file is not around. These *treasures* will never be missed!

So, good and bad. Yes Jac, trundling along... (LOL!)

But I have also found the time and the motivation to do a little scrapping which is never a bad thing. Inspired by this post by Lain, I wrote down a few lines about our imminent move out of my little bit of German heaven here in the old town of Recklinghausen to a new home. I am not at all sure of the design (sometimes I try too hard!) but the sentiments I have captured are good. This is a topic I have not finished with yet as I am leaving here with real mixed emotions! Trepidation and excitement at the same time.

And wanting to do something a bit girlie, I then moved onto a page about sweet Isabella rolling down the hill at the Botanical Gardens. It is so funny that this is an automatic reaction of all children when seeing a grassy bank - roll, roll, roll - losing control but loving it! We have all done it over the years. It was a lovely moment to share with her, taking me back to my childhood but I didn't quite gather up the energy to join in. A reaction I get when seeing an area of flat grass is to do cartwheels and handstands. Don't dare to do the former any more with my old creaking bones but can sometimes be persuaded to try out the latter - and I am really bad! Again, trying to hard with the design, but it's bright and pretty and I am happy enough with it.

Challenge

Another trick I use when I am meeting a bit uninspired or demotivated to pick up the glue stick is to rise to a challenge. Libby and I have been doing these on and off since the very beginning and now that she has a bit more time to scrap (which is SO fab!) we have been doing them again recently.

The last one was on the collectibles and honestly, those Momiji dolls were so adorable (here) and this time, I set the challenge to create a layout using different manufacturers and collections. In other words, try and make sure that everything on the page is different. Sarah beat us all this time and speed scrapped a lovely beach layout and after my minor successes last night with my 12 on 12, I moved on to mine too.



I had such a rummage through my stash to find papers and bits and pieces and tried hard not to make everything coordinate too much - think I do that too often!

So here is my list of supplies:
Cardstock - Bazzill

Patterned Papers

Green dots: Rayher Classic collection Dots
Pink solid: Little Yellow Bicycle Delightful collection Pink Bird
Pink Heart: CreaMotion
Apple: Sassafrass
Turquoise: MME Penny Lane
Blue scallop - Creative Imaginations
Blue lace - KI Memories
Words: unknown (from Germany)

Journalling spot: MM Noteworthy collection

Chipboard letters: American Crafts Thickers

Flowers: Artoz papier

Green brads: Chatterbox

Fabric brads: K&Co Amy Butler

Heart: Heidi Swapp Ghost heart

Pens: Black Staedtler triplus gel liner

White Uni-ball Signo

Feel all pleased with myself now! And on a mini roll (and not the Cadbury's chocolate mini-rolls either although one of those would go down really well now... ;-) )

Dry spell

It sounds like I am not the only one to have lost their mojo recently and I have had nearly two weeks with no creativity whatsoever apart from a few birthday cards which always take me far too long to finish.

What to do?

Start small is the method I chose most of the time. The whole, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" idea. It is not like I don't have a lot of ideas of things to do and projects to start, it is almost like I have too many. But every time I look at my wonderful collection of stash, I just feel overwhelmed.

So start small I did. Do you remember my small CD case calender that I made at the beginning of the year? Each month I print out three small square photos to sum up the month and then make a few notes listing the highlights and there it is - a month encapsulated in a very small, easy way. So, I broke the cycle by completing May's entry and already choosing what I think will be the three photos for this month.
Then I felt compelled to print off my 12 of 12 photos for the month and then, on a roll, I finished my 12 on 12 layout. Pat myself on the back and feel much better. Ok, it is a simple design, almost the same as last month (which is the idea!) but I feel so good that it is done!


I might even now go for the challenge I set Libby et al (see here).