anita meade - simple.creative.life

Bushfire Appeal final tally

    I am extremely pleased to announce that the Stampin' Up! Bushfire Appeal (which wrappped up on the 31st of March) has raised an incredible

                                     $77,889.63.

That is a LOT of stamps! Thankyou to everyone who took the opportunity to support this worthwhile cause. While the bushfire victims are not on the front of the newspapers anymore, it is important to remind them that they are not forgotten, and that  the community support is ongoing. I'm really pleased to have been able to make a contribution on behalf of my Stampin' Up! customers. Thanks again.

Extra projects using my "Anita Meade Custom Patterned Paper" :)

    Thought I'd just pop in quickly to show you the other projects I made with the "patterned paper" I stamped yesterday. I pretty much used up the whole A4 sheet. This is what I came up with......

    First there was this card....the chocolate coloured satin cord is from my stash.

                 

    Then I scrapbooked this page of the day I met darling Will Boxall, the gorgeous little man who belongs to my my BFF Erica. This was such a special day. When her first son Tom was born I was a month off having Corey and, well, to put it bluntly, I was a little distracted by what was going on in my own life. It was so nice to really enjoy the arrival of Erica & Darren's second baby. I have really enjoyed being a part of his "babyhood". Of course time flies.....if you scroll down a couple of posts you will see Will now.......carrying around a cricket bat and ball and acting like one of the "big kids". Too cute!

 

    Finally I whipped up this Happy Birthday card....always good to have plenty on hand. Aren't these colours just yummy? So warm and cosy.

 

    I realise that the two pages I created with this hand stamped pp are very similar, but you know what.....that's OK! They will go into different albums, they both look good (if I do say so myself) and they capture the stories I wanted to tell. 

    I am up to week 3 of my Library of Memories course. I have almost finished sorting my printed photos and I've made a start on my digital images. Need to really spend some time on this over the next few days. If I don't keep up with Stacy's projects I will lose focus.......I am committed to this process of changing the way I organise my photos and therefore the way I scrapbook. I have my new Library of Memories albums ready and waiting to have layouts put in them. The categories of Stacy's (and now my) system are: All About Us, People We Love, Things We Do, and Places We Go. I have used American Crafts Black Linen 3-ring albums for my library and I have labeled them with metal rimmed tags and four of my favourite cardstock colours. These are the "final home" for my completed layouts. The most challenging, but most exciting part of the system is the bit before this..........the storage binders and category drawers. I have yet to set these up but the wheels are in motion, so I'll let you know how I go.

    We are having rain, glorious rain here in Melbourne at the moment. It is something we have not seen for a VERY LONG TIME! The sound of it pitter-pattering on the roof makes me very happy. We have even turned on the ducted heating this morning for a while........in the first week of March! What the heck is going on with the weather? At least the threat of bushfires has been removed. Cold comfort for those who lost everything, but a great relief for others living in constant anxiety over the next wind change. Still thinking of, and praying for all those affected. Just because their plight is not at the top of the news bulletins now, it doesn't mean that we have forgotten them and their grief and ongoing struggles.

    Also in my thoughts today is my lovely Mama (my Dad's Mum) who passed away in 2005. Today would have been her birthday. So many happy memories of having her in my life as I grew up. She was the epitomy of a traditional grandma and I miss her very much. (Note to self.......scrapbook the childhood memories I have of time spent at Mama and Papa's).

    Thanks for stopping by today. I hope your Thursday is shaping up to be a good one. Hope you find time in it to do something creative! Love Anita. xxx

Batten down the hatches!

    Apparently we are in for some seriously wild weather here in Melbourne today. We all received warning messages via SMS from Victoria Police yesterday. So last night Dan and I stacked up all the chairs out under the pergola and tucked them in under cover and tidied up all potential projectiles from the backyard........just in case.

     I have to say that right now it looks kind of tame out there......sure the sky is quite dark and there have even been a couple of specks of (what I remember to be) rain. But there is only a slight breeze  so far. Maybe this is the calm before the proverbial storm......we will see over the next few hours I guess.

    So while I still have electricity, I thought I'd get on here and post something. Not sure what exactly. Perhaps just my ramblings.

    Friday night saw our final Milo Cricket session and the boys were excited to receive their trophies. It was a lovely relaxing evening shared with our friends the Boxall family. Here's a couple of pictures of our little cricketers.

Corey - what more could a kid want? He already has a trophy AND and icy-pole!

                 

Jayden and his "golden" friend.........

                 

Corey and his buddy Tom hamming it up for the camera. Too funny!

                 

And here's Will.....the littlest cricketer of them all. He just wants to be like the big kids.

                 

And finally, here's the whole gang and their coaches celebrating a fun season of cricket. Soon it will be football season and we'll be back on this oval for Auskick. Hope we get some rain before then! That ground looks mighty hard and dusty at the moment. Ouch!

    We were lucky enough to have my little sister and her fun family here to stay for the weekend. We had a fabulous time as always. Sunday was action packed. We started our day out at the Yarra Glen Craft Market. We were shocked to drive out through the burnt landscape to the Yarra Glen racecourse where the market is held. The fires came so close to the main street of Yarra Glen. How that town is still standing we'll never know. It must have been incredibly frightening to have been there on Black Saturday. Anyway, we wandered around the market for a couple of hours, sampling the sights, sounds and tastes. There weren't as many people there as usual, not even half as many......a sure sign of the impact of the fires on the local community. Despite the obvious devastation surrounding the town it was good to go to the market to regain some sense of normality for the area. In the afternoon we went for a drive to Healesville where we all enjoyed a play at the park and a walk up and down the main street, checking out all the local businesses. Healesville too was relatively quiet......again a sign of the events of the last few weeks. We were happy to go there, spend some money and support the local tourist industry.

   On the two evenings while my sister was visiting she spent several hours making jewellry from gorgeous beads. This is her new passion and I have to say, she is extremely talented. She sells some of her creations in her home town of Jindera, but I have been encouraging her to start an Etsy website to sell here gorgeous earrings, bracelets and necklaces online. When I have better light I'll photograph some of her creations and post them here on my blog so you can see how clever she is.

    Monday morning my boys had to go back to school. Their cousins were happy to come with me when I dropped the boys off. We stayed for a while so Jack and Cooper could have a look around the school. I managed to snap a picture or two with my little compact camera (which is always in my handbag). This is the best of a somewhat dodgy bunch.

  

    Any picture is better than no picture.....I was very slack with my photography this weekend. I've been feeling pretty unwell lately so I haven't had the energy to worry about capturing our every activity. Sometimes you just have to focus on the "now"......I spent my weekend just enjoying my family's company. Thanks for visiting Summers family - we love it when you come to stay. Mwah!

    As is always the case after a few days without creating, I'm feeling the urge to make something.....I get really cranky if I don't get to do something crafty every couple of days. So I'm going to get off this computer for now and see what I can achieve with my day. I'll let you know if it turns out to be something worth sharing.  Thanks for stopping by today.

                                    Love Anita. xxx

Lovely Lucas

    On Monday, the weather conditions were not great. The Warburton valley was advised to implement their Bushfire plans. Lots and lots of people packed up and left their homes, taking refuge in Lilydale and beyond. That meant my lovely friend Joylene and her gorgeous kids came down from Seville and spent the day with me. We had a quiet day at home, just chatting and trying to relax despite the smoky conditions, heat and howling winds. Fortunately, there were no dangerous incidents up in "the valley" and Joylene and her family were able to return home. Having them here was a pleasure....it is always nice to spend some time with the kids of your dearest friends....and Lucas and Amy are lovely to have around.

    Last night I was sorting through my photos (a-la-Library of Memories) and I found this cute one of Lucas and Corey at our "Uni Girls Christmas BBQ" in December 2006. It is such a gorgeous photo of Lucas and I was inspired to create this page about this unique little boy. Hope you like it Lucas!

 

    And just because he could, Corey (who is still home with me during the day on Wednesdays) wanted to be in the photo with this layout. So here he is:

 

A couple of other crazy images I thought you might get a giggle out of.....

 

 

    What possesses children to do these ridiculous things? I guess it's just the sense of adventure in them. Looks painful to me!

    Well, that's about all I have for you today. Still sorting through piles of printed photos (nearly there) and I've started sorting out the digital photos on my computer too. It will all be worth it in the end....deep breath and keep going. Time for a coffee now....and maybe a quick phone call to my sissy.

                        Thanks for stopping by. Love Anita. xxx

Stampin' Up! Bushfire Appeal

    I am proud to announce that Stampin' Up! Australia and New Zealand are contributing significantly to the Bushfire Appeal. Here are the details as they appeared on the Stampin' Up! website:

Bushfire Appeal To help those victims of the bushfires that have ravaged Victoria, join with us in supporting the Bushfire Appeal. Here are the details: From 12 February through 31 March 2009, Stampin' Up! will donate 50 percent of the retail value of all sales from a select group of 10 stamp sets to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfires 2009 Appeal.  Here is a list of the Bushfire Appeal sets:  Stamp Set Item Number  Page Number in Catalogue  Retail Price  Priceless 112312 105   48.95 AUD/57.95 NZD Seeing Spots  108909   89  29.95 AUD /35.95 NZD Baroque Motifs  112380   98 39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD  Live Your Dream  114261   3 (Summer Mini Catalogue) 55.95 AUD /66/95 NZD  Looks Like Spring*  108864   76  58.95 AUD /68.95 NZD The Snowflake Spot*  108934   27  39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD Bodacious Boquet*  108756   80 58.95 AUD /68.95 NZD  Polka Dots & Paisley*  110247   46  35.95 AUD /42.95 NZD G'day Mate*  111973  115   35.95 AUD /42.95 NZD Be Happy*  108744   51 39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD  *These sets will appear on the upcoming list of retiring products, so they will only be available for the Bushfire Appeal--while supplies last.     As an extra incentive for you to support this promotion,I am offering these sets at 20% off the retail price. That's right 20% off all these great stamp sets, and 50% of the recommended retail price goes directly to the Bushfire Appeal. Contact me today to order your sets at 20% off the catalogue price and support this fantastic fundraiser. It's a great way to get more stamps, and feel really good about doing it!

    On the demonstrator website today, Stampin' Up! announced that $15,744.85 has already been raised through sales of these Bushfire Appeal Stamp sets.....in just over 1 week! Think what we can achieve over the next 6 weeks! Contact me today to order your sets at 20% off the catalogue price and support this fantastic fundraiser. It's a great way to get more stamps, and feel really good about doing it!

    You can view copies of the current catalogues by visiting the Stampin' Up! website and clicking on "View online catalogue". Don't forget, too, that if your order totals more than $100 you will receive your choice of the four Sale-a-bration stamp sets completely free.

          Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

                                      Love Anita. xxx

Hello world.......are you still out there?

    I know how fickle blog readers can be.....I'm one of them! No updates for a while and I delete blogs from my favourites list. I know it sounds harsh but, if I didn't remove some from my favourites I'd spend my whole life "checking in" on everyone elses lives and get nothing done! Anyway, you're here....so "Thanks"....I appreciate your patience and loyalty.  Not sure if you'll think it was worth the wait. Perhaps if I post some photos.....

Here's a couple of cards I made last week:

 

    This one is for my lovely hubby for Valentines day. I put it on his lunchbox after he'd gone to bed so he found it at about 5am on Valentines day before he went to work. I also sprinkled pink heart confetti through his lunch box......bet that went down well with his work mates! LOL!

 

    This card is a quick one I whipped up for our lovely mate Jamie who celebrated his birthday yesterday. Hope you had a good one Jamie!

    Well, despite the horrors of the bushfires around here, life does go on. It seems strange to get on with weekly activities after what has happened here in Victoria less than a fortnight ago. But what else can you do?

    The boys went to cricket last Friday and of course, I took a few photos. This is Corey with his cricket coach.....Daddy!

       

           Here's Jayden practising his bowling....lovely action buddy!

       

        And here's Danny helping our little buddy Tom with his bowling.

 

     Notice that, although life goes on, there is still a thick blanket of smoke surrounding the Yarra Valley with new plumes still spotted coming from the nearby hills quite regularly. It is not over yet. We have seen plenty of this contraption, heading out to the hills around Healesville, Warburton etc. It is so loud as it flies over our house. Much louder than a normal helicopter. It is like rolling thunder going over. This thing is huge!

 

    This has become a regular site from my clothesline (not that I'm hanging out many clothes as they end up stinking of smoke if left outside)....

 

    So that, friends is life as we know it here in Meadeville this week. Still thinking constantly of those who have suffered so much from the fires......but trying to "get on with things" as best we can.

    Thanks so much for popping in to visit. I have started my "Library of Memories" course through Big Picture Scrapbooking (see the link in the right sidebar) and I am so excited to get into the system and get it working for me. More about this next time. Off to bed now.....nighty night!

                            Love Anita. xxx

I'm OK.

    Just dropping in to let you know that I am safe and sound after the bushfires here in Melbourne's outskirts. I know I haven't blogged for almost a week and you have possibly been wondering where I got to. Unfortunately my computer got a major virus last Monday and I have been (and still am) without a computer. I'm hoping to be back online mid next week. (Thanks to my lovely sister-in-law for letting me use her computer to let you know I'm still here).

    The events of the last week have been truly devastating. Everyone is still in shock. The worst of the fires happened within a 30 - 40 km radius of our home, with the closest fires only a few kilometres away. Even though we were not under immediate threat, it was still incredibly frightening as we weren't sure what the wind would do.

    The true horror of the events in Kinglake, Marysville and so many other local communities is just unimaginable. Everyone here has been personally affected in some way. Everyone here has family and friends who have lost homes, or worse, lost lives. There have been tears flowing up at the kids school as parents share their stories and comfort each other. There have been 181 people confirmed dead so far, but that number will definitely climb - no-one knows how many people will be found amongst the wreckage.

    While the shock hits home, all we can do is hold our loved ones close, and comfort and support those affected. Thanks to those who have offered prayers and  good wishes from afar.

    I hope that everyone reading this is able to contribute something - however big or small, to the fundraising appeal. Money can never reverse the grief and loss, but the process of rebuilding will be a vital part of the healing process.

    Thanks for visiting. As I said, I hope to be back in full capacity mid-week. Till then, take care and lots of love to you. 

                            Love Anita. xxx

New photos of the ever-changing sky here.

Just quickly, thought I'd share a couple of photos I just took outside. The amazing orange glow is caused by the sunset and the smoke. A tiny drizzle of rain also produced a glorious rainbow. Looking at these photos it is hard to imagine the hell many Victorians have been going through.

 

 

        

It seems calm but.....

    It seems calm but you just never know. Right here it is cool and there is only a slight breeze but the fires are still uncontrolled not too far from home, so I dare not say that the crisis is over.

     My Mum & Dad are safe and sound but, tragically, a very dear friend lost her brother and his wife in their home at Mudgegonga last night. It is just so sad. And the threat, while slightly less imminent, is still there. Any change in wind direction could force the flames back toward the town, so it will be another nervous night.

    Thanks to those who have left messages of prayers and support. I realise that there are extreme weather conditions in many parts of the world right now and others are battling their own challenges. This planet of ours seems to have gone a little crazy right now......I pray that things settle down.

    To all those affected by fires, our thoughts and prayers are with you tonight. Stay safe.

Frightening!

    The fires here in Victoria are absolutely devastating. Entire townships, including Marysville and Kinglake have been completely wiped out. At the moment, 25 people have been confirmed dead but the figure is likely to rise as emergency services get into fire affected areas to assess the damage today. At the moment it is much cooler here but we have been warned not to get too comfortable because the threat is not over. Last evening we ventured outside to watch the worsening smoke.

 

Here is what we could see behind our house......in the direction of Marysville. That is not cloud - it is thick black smoke. Horrifying.....

 

    Spoke to my Mum this morning (they live in Myrtleford). She said last night was frightening - they could see the orange glow of flames from their home. She has all her photos, home videos etc packed in the car ready to evacuate if necessary. The temperature last night at midnight was still 38C at Mum and Dad's. They are still on high alert today as fires burn through Mudgegonga, Rosewhite, Stanley, Barwidgee Creek.....all on Mum and Dad's side of town.....WAY too close for comfort. I have told them to keep in contact today, just so we know they are ok. Stressful times.....the full extent of these devastating fires is still to be realised. Keep up the prayers. This crisis is far from over.