Small But Powerful

St Bathans

2012-02-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

I have a particular interest in history, not any topic in particular, I just find it fascinating, all of it! It was Forbes's idea to head over to the Blue Lake and St Bathans while we were in Cromwell. We had planned an extra day into our trip to have a look around the district, and I had never been here before. I had no idea it was part of the Otago Goldfields, and predictably I loved our wee visit - there was land for sale which I was dying to buy to build a holiday home on, of course my idea of a holiday got squashed pretty quickly, since I wanted to research what was there and try to rebuild it, Forbes said he should have known I'd take a simple idea and turn it on its head lol, that and the bank balance would shriek at the idea. But you know dreams are free! Its so peaceful there and the scenery is beautiful, sigh.

So, a bit of history. 2834Kg of gold was extracted from this area, which encompassed three mines, one of which was the Kildare Mine and it was this mine that later formed the Blue Lake. It operated the highest hydraulic lift in the world at that time with two vertical lifts, one 165ft and one 60ft.

By 1864, 1000 people live in Dunstan Creek. In 1866 the Dunstan Creek was dropped and renamed St Bathans, the original name given by the first surveyor of the district. In the late 1860's it boasted 15 hotels, a number of gambling and dance halls and many businesses. Many of the miners came from Ireland, and there were also 50 registered Chinese miners. Most of the dwellings disappeared after WWII. The sun-dried brick buildings, like other dwellings in St Bathans suuccumbed to the weather after their roofs were removed for their iron.

I love this photo! does'nt the sky look so dramatic in the background?! Thats our beloved 1967 Mustang parked in the front by the way.

The Vulcan hotel was originally called the Ballarat Hotel, built in 1882. Its name was changed after the original Vulcan Hotel further down the street was destroyed by fire. The shamrock you can see in the middle of the facade is an original relic from the times of the rivalry between the Irish settlers from St Bathans, and the Welsh settlers from Cambrian just down the road. Their rivalry was known as "The War of the Roses". Theres also a friendly ghost that is said to have taken up residence in Room1! In 1967 all 22 residents voted for 10 o'clock closing - it was the only place in NZ which had made a unanimous decision.

On a clear gorgeous sunny day the lake apparently is the loveliest shade of blue - a shame the sun was'nt playing ball that day :( You can drive right down to the lakes edge and canoe, speed boat etc in the lake. The colour of the lake is a direct result of the mining that went on.

We did'nt get to see everything and so we're going back. You can stay in the Policemans cottage, which Im dying to do! and wander through the old cemetaries - theres two, one for Catholics and one for Non-Catholics. So much history still to discover, we will back next year!

I discovered when we got here that we had left the memory chip for the camera at home so I only had room in the memory for four photos - the rest was taken up by car photos and there was apparently no way in hell I could delete those lol! When we left here we went to Alexandra for lunch and found a camera store - you can't go to a car show without taking loads of photos. How exciting! Im kidding, really!

Have a good week

The Annual Trek to Cromwell

2012-01-28T20:24:00.000-08:00

Last week we did our annual trip to Cromwell for the Classic Car and Hotrod Show. This is one of Forbes's favourite shows and seems to be getting bigger and bigger each year. 700 cars this year, Forbes's idea of heaven :). I on the other hand go because he goes, not because Im so enamoured with looking under car hoods lol! And I get to catch up with all the girls in the club and do some shopping. There is this shop that Karen and I always go to and never fail to buy something from, most importantly they stock small sizes!, so I love going there, but this time I found they were gone!! Karen said thats it we're going home :) and then we spied it, it had moved! And yes we did grab a bargain, I bought a gorgeous handbag that Forbes doesn't understand why I could possibly need another one, and just quietly they sold quite a few more after some of the girls saw mine!
Im not going to bore you with loads of car photos but when I get the camera fixed - I can't seem to download my photos at the moment - I will show our trip down to St Bathans, but I'll have to save it for a later post because you have to see the photos!

On the scrappy front I have busy trying to finish my class for Scrappin Patch's March Retreat, and I'll show you some sneak peaks when Im done. I've also had a friend at work getting married back home, so had an idea to create a brag book for her as a gift. I know when we got married I was given everyones photos, and ended up with loads of them, so Im guessing she will have the same thing happen. I bought a couple of brag books from the Warehouse, and covered the front. I actually bought two and decorated the other for another friend who has just had her second grandchild, so she could definitely use a brag book!

A friend of mine is very arty, she paints, and she paints really well - one thing Im at hopeless at. I can't seem to do grungy/abstract very well either, probably because it goes against my anal neat and tidy nature :). For her birthday I decided to give a canvas ago, with no photos, just an artsy canvas thing, and Im actually surprised how it turned out. What do you think? She loved it by the way.

Oh and of course a card!

So there you have it, now I just need to go sort out that camera!
Later

O Christmas Tree

2012-01-07T18:19:00.000-08:00

I realise now I forgot to share my Christmas tree pics! I love Christmas, its my favourite time of year. Forbes can take it or leave it, and it was never celebrated which much gusto when he was growing up. I on the other hand love decorating the house, and it always seems naked when the decorations get put away each year. Forbes calls our house Santas grotto when all the decorations go up, which is such an exaggeration - shaking my head - if you compare our house to those that have awesome displays you can go visit, my house is naked!

Some people like my sister theme their trees. Hers is a white tree with silver, glass and white decorations trimmed with white feather boas - it is just beautiful. Im a traditional chick, but only in so far as the decorations. I don't have a real tree, love the smell but the pine needles dropping would do my head in :) so I have a fake tree. the decorations are in reds/burgundys and gold. A lot of my decorations I bought whilst living in London - I have some very special sets that I bought in Harrods, that I just had to have! And no they were'nt cheap at 8 pounds each and came in a set of six, but they're just beautiful - just had to quantify that :). I have an addiction to snowflakes too, so theres a few on the tree.
This year I decided to forgo the tinsel and just covered the tree in decorations - I quite like it. I am a bit of a tidy freak that could be why, grin!

So heres the tree and some of my favourite decorations. There are lights on it I might add, you just can't see them - they up and down the tree instead of around.

The only down side to Christmas this year was the clanger of an earthquake on the 23rd. I was on my way to work when it hit, I actually thought I had a flat tyre so pulled over and then twigged to what was happening - it was like driving on a trampoline that someone was jumping on, quite disconcerting. When the next one hit I was walking to recovery to pick a patient up, walking along the link corridor which is an internal corridor that runs around the side of the building if you get my drift. It looks out over Riccarton Ave. The force was so strong I had to stop walking because I could'nt stand up straight, and the building was swaying violently - for a second there I contemplated jumping out the window because it just felt like the building was going to go. I have'nt been at work for any of the quakes, but I can now appreciate why some people now have a fear of multistory buildings - it was not nice! I guess you just dust yourself off and get on with it as best you can - of course I don't live in the eastern suburbs, if I did my outlook might be different.

Take care out there!

Theres nothing so good as a good book!

2012-01-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

When I was younger I used to read all the time, every chance I got. I would even stick my book under the covers with a torch and read when I was supposed to be asleep - of course I was absolutely certain my mother never knew which of course is total rubbish - she knew everything! These days I tend to only get to read before I go to sleep and since I mostly work afternoons, then it only happens on my days off. Lately Ive been spending any chance I get reading, Ive become addicted again :) I love a good read especially those that are sooooo good you just can't put it down, and then when its finished you're almost gutted.
My niece enjoys a good book I discovered recently which was a surprise to me - just something I would never have picked about her. I don't remember her being a reader as a child. She has introduced me to an author called SJ Bolton, an english author who writes thrillers. They are awesome! I have'nt been able to track them down in Whitcoulls but I have found them online at Mighty Ape and ordered two - they're on their way, Im one very excited chick!
My husband on the other hand is not a reader, unless its a car magazine and then he will read it cover to cover. The other week I was glued to a SJ Bolton book most of the day, just could'nt put it down. Forbes made some comment about sitting doing nothing all day; say what?! I was not doing nothing I was reading! So whats the difference between reading a car magazine all afternoon and reading a book? He did'nt have answer for that, but said I must've been bored - don't think he gets it do you ? :)
I have'nt scrapbooked about my obsession with reading, (maybe I should!) except for the Twilight series and I confess Im reading it again for the fourth time - so much better than the movies, although I still have to watch them!
Im also a bit anal about my books, and now won't lend them out, after happily lending them to people in the past, and they come back damaged or lost or in one case taken by a daughter to read also who then passed it on to her friend and of course I never saw it again! I have learnt my lesson, and I love my books too much to lose any more.

Time to get back into a good book!
Have a good week!

Birthday, Wedding and Christmas Presents

2011-12-18T19:45:00.000-08:00

Sorry in advance, time seems to have runaway from me and two weeks have flown by since I blogged! I have been a busy wee bee and not just at work. You would think that the hospitals would calm down now and surgery lists would decrease, but no thats not how it works, it seems to go the opposite, with trying to get as much through as they can by running extra theatre lists - well thats what they're doing on our ward anyway. I just worked a stretch of four days on, one day off, two days on, one day off and four days on! Phew! glad thats over :)

In between working I have actually found some mojo, and have been busy creating. This time of year is'nt just Christmas presents for me, its a lot of birthdays too and a wedding present I wanted to get finished. Theres lots to show you so sit back and relax!

My niece turned 22 this month - funny because it seems not that long ago I was feeding her a bottle! She had a pretty low key celebration at home, and my gift to her was her favourite bottle of plonk, and a pair of earrings. I had an old wine container at home from a previous Christmas, so I turned that into a gift container using some old MME papers that have been burning a hole in my stash for some time now - quite a satisfying achievement to get rid, sorry :) to use up some of those papers. Ive also used a Tim Holtz ornate knob by drilling a hole through the lid of the box and popping some BoBunny flowers underneath it.

The other item I made was a mini album. Another product I had in my stash for quite sometime - Maya Road heart shaped album. The papers I chose were from Kaisercraft Chanteuse Collection - I used this because it matched the bridesmaids fabric (even though you don't see them in the album) and the dresses of Kims adorable little nieces. I decided to keep it simple since theres not much room in them once you add papers and photos, and as it was I took a 'heart' out of the book, to give it more room. I also wanted to focus on their family, so kept the photos and theme around that.

Ok, so after this I had some other gifts to make. This wooden letter was an order from a friend of mine. Again I used the last of my paper stash, this time BG Bittersweet - this one was one of my all time favourites.

For my lovely friend Karen I try to do something a little different. Shes a scrapper as well, and has a shop in Invercargill called Inkspiration. This year her whole family went for a holiday to Rarotonga, and put some of their photos on Facebook. So rather than buy something I made her a Kaiser flipflop album. She has been a very naughty elf and unwrapped it already lol. And yes she loves it.
Over at Artistic Document I signed up for Secret Santa again this year. My recipient who shall remain nameless at this stage, has been another very naughty elf and with some egging on by her fellow elf friends unwrapped her present early shock horror! Im afraid Ive had to snitch and tell Santa on both of them lol!
My SS does the most amazing tree every year - this year she has hung it upside down. So I decided my pressie had to be a bit different and considering she has enough scrapping stuff to open her own shop lol, I thought a Christmas decoration was in order. I found this metal present in the chemist of all places and thought I could re-invent it. The ribbon and metal tag I already had, and the wee Merry Christmas embellishment on the bow was an old piece in my Christmas stash from Making Memories. The berry bunch on top and the glass bell inside the metal present I found at Crabtree and Evelyn. I love it! Was actually tempted to keep it, but don't tell :)

One of the last gifts Ive made is for a friend of ours who is as obsessed with Dr Who as Forbes and I are. David lives in England so lucky him gets all the new releases way before we do, so he very kindly records them for us and sends them over. We're very spoilt! His wife Emma and I nursed together and I have always sent her something at Christmas, but this year I included David for keeping us updated with our much loved Dr. He has posted a lot of heritage photos on his facebook page so I nicked one of them and made this frame for his office at home. Its pretty safe on here - he doesnt know about my blog :) The frame is Kaiser, the papers are Pink Paislee left over scraps, some Prima packaging, bling and flower, Dusty Attic chipboard, Melissa Frances resin heart, and seam binding ribbon. Ive sanded the frame to make it look a bit more rustic.

Phew! All done, a few other things to share before Christmas - 6 sleeps to go!!
Happy Scrapping

Christmas Crackers

2011-11-28T18:29:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Its not long now til the big man arrives with gifts for all. I love this time of year, thinking of what unique gifts or decorations I can come up with each year. People seem to enjoy the handmade gift more I think because it shows how much effort and thought you have really put into each gift.
Christmas crackers were on my design team list to make this month. This turned into more a chore than I intended. I had originally intended to decorate an old tin I had and fill it with a glass Christmas decoration I had found at Crabtree & Evelyn. Unfortunately I forgot to leave 1/4 of an inch at the top so the lid would fit on again, so it did'nt fit!! What to do? So I chopped off the bottom with a can opener and carried on, so my container turned into a Christmas Cracker.
The paper I have used is from last years Pink Paislee Christmas range - honestly I have so much Christmas themed paper that I have tried to be good this year.....................................................until I saw the new range from The Scrapcake, but thats a whole nother story :)

So heres the end result of my inital mistake :)

and heres a few close up shots.

I have used to Spellbinders Poinsettia and 2011 Christmas Ornaments to decorate the cracker. The bauble ornament has been stamped with embossing ink and embossed with white powder. The stamps are from Waltzing Mouse Stamps. The triple bow is made with a bow maker.
To make the ends of the cracker. I have pleated a strip of calico and used double sided tape to adhere it - hot glue did not work against the metal of the tin. For the paper I would advise to have two strips of 12x12 cut in half and then pleated using an acordian fold method. When I made mine I discovered when it was too late that I only had one sheet of the striped paper to go around each side, when I think it would've looked better with two strips joined together, so I had to make do. So if you do use x2 pieces of paper you would have more of a pleated look that what I have. The edges of the paper are punched with a Martha Stewart border punch. Considering how things went Im pleased with how the cracker turned out .................mistakes and all! :)

So have a go, would love to see what you come up with!

Happy Scrapping
Megan

Welcome.............................................

2011-11-27T16:40:00.000-08:00

To a new beginning! Well thats the plan. Ive been upfront before about my laxidasical attitude towards blogging - for me it tends to be a chore, bit like ironing, I put that off too lol! But now I found myself in the situation where it had been nearly 6months since I had blogged, so time to start afresh and start with a goal I think, so Im going to try blogging once a week, or share everytime I scrap something new.

So here goes.

I must also mention gorgeous redhead I know, who seems to have amazing scrappy talent but also is a whiz on the computer. The lovely Toni has helped me sort out my new blog. She also has a blog I love to read because shes such a great story teller, wish I had her aptitude for blogging, sigh. Go check her out and you'll see what I mean http://www.chickchat-toni.blogspot.com/

At the moment my creative juices are not flowing, and the pool of creativity seems to have been quite stagnant for awhile and in some ways Im not surprised. First I came down with the Flu - that would be the womens' variety, not the mens!, then my Crohns Disease flared up, then I got a kidney stone and reacted to the medication they put you on to pass them, causing me to have an irregular heart rate, and finally now I am well again. All this over the last three months. Phew!
Work also seems to have become a chore. We have had a lot of people leave since the February quake and had hardly anyone apply for those positions, so my shifts and everyone elses are not great. Lots of nights and split shifts and extra shifts to help out. So my problem could just be that is the end of the year, its been a tough year down here, and I need time out. I have a week off at Christmas to spend with family and Im looking forward to it!

In June I became part of the Scrappin Patch family, joining as part of their OTP design team. There are two of us doing OTP, me and Sarah Gough, who makes the most awesome cards and shes just got on board the design team at Zva Creative GO SARAH!!
Needless to say with no creativity I have'nt been up to much. Novembers DT kit included We R Memory Keepers papers Family Keepsake. I thought they looked all patchwork/quilty so I decided on doing a wall hanging. I purchased a frame from The Warehouse, and took the glass out. I added some Melissa Frances resin frames, Petaloo flowers, punched some Martha Stewart butterflies, and a bit of Dusty Attic chipboard. The little houses and trees and popped up using foam magic mount, not that you can tell from my photo! Its now on display in the shop if you want to see it in real life.

Thats all for now, tomorrow Im going to share a Christmas Decoration Ive been making.
Have a great day!