Come follow me....

down this hallway into the......

new scrapping room!!!!!

As you can see it is moving along nicely. It will be all ready in time for when workshops resume.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

I am surprised that I can type today, my wrists are so sore from the painting - I did all the cutting in! But who cares right!!!!!! It is happening, uh huh, uh huh!

Do you think I am a bit excited???? Too right I am! And you will be too when you have room to move, more stock & more regular opening hours!!

Back to painting!!! See you all soon.

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone had a fantastic Christmas!!

Here at our place it was non-stop ... as usual, just a tad busier ;-)

Christmas eve tradition saw Jennifer sprinkling Reindeer food on the lawn (rolled oats mixed with glitter), then a walk down our neighbourhood streets to see all the houses lit up ... yes - like Christmas trees!!!! Pelham street, just a few houses down from us is renown in South Australia as 90% of the houses are all decorated. It is so lovely. Every Christmas for the 17 years I have lived in SA, I have walked down the street & admired the time, effort & wonderful Christmas spirit fo this small suburban street.

Jennifer always leaves a note & drawing for Father Christmas, this year drawn on her whiteboard, that she loves so very much (thank's Kim!!)

Kids woke up really, really early & so excited! (Can't imagine whay??) So, we were dragged out to the family room to open presents before friends arrived for breakfast under the Gazebo.

Here is Sebastian & me - he really wanted to go back to bed!!! But don't those little ears look sooooo cute on him...

My theme for this Christmas was Black, Gold & Cream. The table looked stunning - I thought so anyway - plus being 32 degrees, it was warm enough to have it out on the deck. So once everyone had left from out breakfast of ham & tomato on toast, I raced to set the tables - the table runner I only finished making the night before ... nothing like leaving things to the last minute! I was still folding the serviettes into elves shoes when Dad & Mary arrived!

This year we had not only family, but great friends too. Kim & her girls, Lisa, Steve, Sarah & Thomas with Lisa's mum & dad, were "Christmas orphans" this year, so I insisted they all come and have lunch with us - I am so glad they all came, we had such a wonderful day. I always think that Christmas is such a lovely time to share with friends & family and a huge Christmas is so much fun, I can't leave people home alone. It took a bit of talking into with Lisa's mum & dad, but when they left, Barbara came up to me, gave me a big hug & said how glad she was that they had come & not just stayed at home - that is what Christmas is about - sharing not only with those in need, but also within your own circle of friends & family.

Lovely May came too, I knew it would be a hard Christmas for Gavin, Gary & her as this was the first Christmas without Gwen, but I insisted she was to come. She enjoyed herself & with Gary as her chaparone, she didn't have to worry about anything. What a lovely lady and for 94 she is just amazing!

It was so lovely having everyone here and with all the children - they had a ball either playing in the pool or all six of them playing their DS's against each other!

Jennifer received Singstar from Gavin & I and it was the hit of the day - everyone singing away! Steve was given earplugs early in the piece!!!!

Got to skype Peter, Sarah, Mila & new little Poppy over in Vietnam. Dad & I had a great talk to them - got to love that you can ring & see your family across the globe for nothing!

Well, we all ate too much - as usual, had loads of fun & laughter - as usual and will do it all again next year - as usual!!!

Merry Christmas & a happy 2009!

New Scrapping Transport!

When Pam needed to go home early from last night's Scrap'n'Roast she rang her hubby who informed her he had had a few drinks and couldn't come.
Not too worry!!! My darling hubby took her home on his Harley. This is what she emailed me this morning -

"Had to tell you that Dave wishes he had a photo of me on the harley because no will believe him !

What a shame.......I'm thinking my blog should read.....You've had a few drinks and can't pick me up? Thats ok honey i'll find my own way home!

Mwuhahahahaaa"

WELL DAVE - HERE'S THE PROOF!!!!

Christmas Cards at Semaphore Library

Here's a sneak peek of the Christmas Cards that Lisa & I will be teaching at the Semaphore Library on the 23 November from 2-4.30pm. Bookings are essential through the library on 8405 6570 or online.
So book now because seats are limited and the workshop fills quickly! Hope to see you there.

First of the reviews!

Two reviews have been published for the show, still waiting for another from the Messenger.

First from Adelaide Theatre Guide -
http://www.theatreguide.com.au/current_site/reviews/pdfs/2008_whitechristmas.pdf

Second from the Adelaide Advertiser - a nicer review!
White Christmas
From: The Advertiser
October 14, 2008
Until Saturday & Arts Theatre
THE Metropolitan Musical Theatre Co. is 50 years old. It has established a solid reputation as the producer of reliably high-quality productions.
The choice of Irving Berlin's White Christmas as a birthday event is an odd one. Despite the old movie's success, the seasonal suggestion of the title makes for a tough box office in October.
Nonetheless, it is an uplifting song-and-dance show full of classic favourites - I Love a Piano, Blue Skies and How Deep is the Ocean - telling the tale of successful entertainers with so much affection for their old World War II general that they put on a show to save his failing Vermont inn while also falling in love with two showbiz sisters.
Click here to read the full article on the website

News from the Pit

Well I am about to start the second week of the show - and having an absolute ball!!! Can't get the music out of my dreams - guess when you are playing the songs over and over that will happen! Keeping the sandman away whilst in the pit - all of us are on a sugar high... you should see the size of the lolly box that gets passed around in between numbers!

the members of the cast are great - wish I could watch the show, but I will just have to suffice listening to the dialogue and bopping along when we play & the cast sing.

Nice to see familiar faces coming to the edge of the pit to say hello - & a special thank you to my great friend Lisa who dropped over a humongous bag of lollies!! (At work I put on the notice board to only throw lollies & chocolates into the pit!!!)

Once I have had a really long sleep this weekend - back to the scrapping grindstone & begin working on the next lot of workshops.

See you all soon,

Mandy ;-)

Oh Yeah!! The Rumpus Room is happening!!!!...

Woohoo!!!! Gavin started demolition & renovations yesterday to the rumpus room!!! Need I say more?
Here he is taking out the window of the property divide, the kids holding up the stud wall - waiting for me to help lift it in place...after photos, please!
Then the stud wall in place, all being carefully watched over by the really, really cute site supervisor!!!
Keep watching this space for more photos of the progress!
Okay, I must go breath into a brown paper bag now - hee hee!!!! ;-)