Friday, November 18, 2011

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Madeit Handmade Xmas - Homewares




How about buying handmade gifts this Christmas? Here are some lovely items from madeit sellers for around your home.








Enjoy looking!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Oh, The Joy Of Books!!!

I was very privileged to receive a number of books for my birthday last week. I LOVE books, and look how many I received!!! I haven't delved into any of these yet, as I'm still reading "Bonhoeffer". Excellent, excellent book - what more can I say?? But I can't wait to sink my teeth into these... :) (Theoretically, of course)


 If you could choose out of these books, what would you read first?


Liesy came out while I was taking these photos and wanted to pose with the books. How could I resist such a cute smile???



What fun I shall have!!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Book Of My Day #5



Outside my window it's raining and cold. It's been like this for a couple of days now. The rain is good (in some respects) but it does make things look miserable!


I have been listening to not much at all as a working CD player can be hard to find around here.


I have been wearing whatever I decide when I get to my cupboard. I generally don't pre-plan these things!


I am thankful for sermons on God's love that never alters and the fact that Satan is defeated forever!



I am pondering how best to be able to bring Jesus into my conversations with non-Christian friends in a natural way! (I seem to ponder this a lot! Any thoughts?)



I am reading "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" - a biography by Eric Metaxas. Brilliant, brilliant book! If you see me in the near future, you'll be treated to a long discussion on its beauties!! :)




I am creating lots of things for the markets Tegan & I have coming up at the end of October.





I am hoping and praying that I'll remember that God's love doesn't depend on what I do!




I am looking forward to two long weekends in a row. If you're jealous you really should come and live in the A.C.T. :)




One of my favourite things is reading a book aloud as a family! When you have books like "Little Women" and "The Trial" in the go, how can it be anything else but enjoyable?




A picture thought I'm sharing is a friend that I created recently - another post on that to come!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Passion For Fashion 2011 -Done And Dusted!

Saturday came and went! I suppose that was only to be expected! :) I don't really know how to describe the day. It was hard work, kind of fun, but not something I could necessarily see myself doing again anytime too soon.

We had to be at Floriade at 7:00 when we could start assembling the undergarments on our mannequins. (These would protect the mannequins so we had to make sure they were well done.) At 8:00 we could start preparing our botanical materials. Then at 9:00 we could actually put our flowers leaves etc on our mannequins. There were a few hiccups such as I used a lot more gerberas than I had originally thought I would need. Then my flax (the long leaves) tore, and that's when things started turning stressful! :) So I popped my ipod in my ears, turned it on, and chilled out to Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin, and Tenth Avenue North.



 Once I had completed the skirt, the hard part was over. I put my leaves on the bodice, added all the little extras, and I was finished.


The finished product looks great in photos, but if you came up nice and close to the actual mannequin, you could see problems such as the undergarment poking through. If I did try again, there would be things I would do differently, but I'm not sure I'm interested in that pleasure. 1:00 came, and I was finished with half an hour to spare.

Mum, Bethany, and Tegan were there, and we all went and had lunch at APK. (Australian Pizza Kitchen) That was a delicious way to relax after what was quite an effort. 


At 4:00 the judging was over, and we could all come back into the marquee to hear the announcement of the winners.

This one came first place - and it deserved it. It was far and above better than everyone else's. Well done, Lauren!!!


The next two dresses tied for second


And the next two received encouragement awards.



It feels weird now that it's over. The event that the teachers have been banging into our heads all year is over, and what happens now? :) Only one term left, and then I'm a fully qualified junior florist!


A massive thanks to those who encouraged and supported me the whole way through. To my family (and all these photos are courtesy of Bethany). To Liz (the extremely generous lady that I do work experience for) and to Mum, Bethany, Tegan, Sean & Cassandra, Ross & Jen, Dave & Jane, Steve & Belinda, Alex & Katherine, Beth, and Janene who were all there to cheer me on on the day!


Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Only 3 More Sleeps....

Until the fun at Floriade!!


I'll be at Floriade creating my dress from 7:00AM until after 4:30PM. (The gates only open to the public at 9:00AM.) So, if you happen to be in Canberra (and passing Floriade) on Saturday the 17th of September. I'd love to see you! :) I can't promise I'll be the best conversationalist as I may be slightly stressed, but your presence would be greatly appreciated anyway! I'll just do my best, and we'll see what God's plan for the day is!!


See you on the other side!


Monday, August 22, 2011

Book of my Day #4


Outside my window it's dark and cloudy. It had been raining for a couple of days - now there seems to be no more rain, just cloud.


I have been listening to "Passport" by Louie Giglio. One reason why we should be sharing the gospel with everyone - BECAUSE JESUS IS JUST THAT GOOD!!!

(Slight side point - it's a DVD, but I have been listening as I was watching! :) )

I have been wearing three-quartered sleeved shirts rather than many layers as there has been hints of spring lately! Bring it on, I say!! :)

I am thankful for broken CD players. (Well I'm endeavouring to be anyway. Some days are harder than others!)


I am pondering exactly how many gerberas I'm going to need for Floriade. Fun?? Not at all.....


I am reading "One Thousand Gifts" again! I could read this book over and over and still find things that challenge and inspire me!


I am creating a lot in my head but not as much in  practice really!



I am hoping and praying that I'll not only receive/count my gifts from God, but that I'll then pass those gifts on to others and bless others with them.


I am looking forward to back on the 40 hour famine and what it really means to take part. (more on that later)


One of my favourite things is Mum reading "Little Women" aloud to us in the mornings.


A picture thought I'm sharing is my daffodil that a 3 year old friend gave me at church yesterday - Thanks Elijah!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Funerals And Floriade

At CIT lately, all we've been concentrating on are funerals and Floriade. The last 4 weeks we've made different funeral arrangements and visited a funeral home, but now all our attention is turned towards Floriade. On Saturday, there is only 5 weeks until the big day. I have a plan for my dress all worked out, but next week at CIT is when we can talk to the teacher about our ideas in detail. I'm sure I'll know then whether my idea will work or not. My idea is pretty simple so I'm reasonably confident it should work out.

Anyway, here are some pictures of what we've been doing at CIT recently:

Funeral Wreath


Casket Cover


Open Spray



I'll let you know what happens with my idea next week.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

J. R. R. Tolkien - Book Sneeze Review



I found this book to be quite short and therefore to rush through a lot of Tolkien's life. I requested it because I didn't really know a lot about Tolkien but I found at the end that I really didn't know that much more than when I started. It seemed to mention short facts, and when there was an opportunity to tell a story about something that happened in his life, it was passed over. The book is part of the "Christian Encounters" series, but I didn't think it really gave a lot of information about his Christian life, and how his love for God changed his life. He was also a Roman Catholic which sometimes isn't the same thing as a Christian (I think anyway.) Over all, I found it not that informative, and I wouldn't heartily recommend for everyone else to go and read it. But it wasn't a bad book. In short I would give it 4 out of 10.

Friday, August 5, 2011

40 Hour Famine

I’m participating in the 40 hour famine on the 19-21st August. The money raised goes to starving children all over the world. I’m giving up food, furniture, computer, and television for 40 hours which seems so small in comparison to what these kids go without every day.




If you would like to help me out and at the same time help some children, you can donate to me at:



http://40hf.com/ctr1989

Thanks so much!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Patience...

Wisdom from Ann Voskamp

And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me…” ~Mt. 10:38




Take up a cross… Be willing to suffer… this — these are the marks of a follower of Christ.

Perhaps our greatest daily temptation is to be impatient — to refuse to suffer.


Perhaps my greatest daily sin is to refuse to suffer — to refuse to take up the cross of Christ.



Perhaps my greatest sin is refusing to wait on God’s ways — but to want my own will done — now.


Patience is a surrendering to suffering — a willingness to wait — a carrying of the Cross.



Read the rest of the article here

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Holiday Projects

My holidays from my floristry course have come and gone. I didn't accomplish all the sewing I wanted to, but I did have fun in lots of other ways. The sewing I did do over the holidays amounted to making two skirts for myself (which are extraordinarily comfortable, by the way) and finishing off Tegan's quilt/doona cover.

I have been slowly working my way through making a quilt for each of the family. Dad & Mum have one, Cassandra has one, and Bethany has one, so Tegan was next in line. She found a pattern that she liked, and it turned out it was a doona cover pattern not a quilt. Tegan preferred that, and it made it cheaper for me as it meant no wadding, so off I started!



It was quite an easy pattern - my favourite part are the triangles (or prairie points as their proper name is) around each side. I was happy with the finished product, and Tegan said she was too, so that was good! :)


Emily is next in line for a quilt (Lachlan and Angus both graciously declined). The pattern has been chosen, and now I'm just saving up to buy the material.

There's my holiday projects for you! It is so satisfying to finish off a  "big" project!

What did you do in the holidays?

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Book Of My Day #3



Outside my window  is a clear, sunny, but cold day. It's pretty quiet inside my window too as I'm home from church with two sick children, and they're sitting in front of "Tigger's Big Movie".

I have been listening to "Lord I Need You" by Chris Tomlin - a little taste of the words below.

Verse 1:
Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart

Chorus:
Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
I have been wearing my warm winter jacket most days.

I am thankful for Bash-boy and the happy little boy he is (most of the time).

I am pondering ways to be "natural" while sharing my faith with those I love dearly.

I am reading "50 Days of Heaven" by Randy Alcorn. It's interesting to read his perspective on what our eternal home will be like.

I am creating my plant diary for CIT. I'll show photos later - I only have until Tuesday to finish it.

I am hoping and praying that I'll never be happy with mediocre.
I am looking forward to sewing many new items for my etsy store while I'm on holidays from CIT!

One of my favourite things is hearing Bash-man (or Bash-boy or Bash or Bashy or Sebastian Paul Roberts) call me "Cai-cai".

A picture thought I'm sharing  is what comes up every time I turn my sewing machine on, so  I'm back to the dark ages of having to use a pedal to sew not just pressing a button ie I'm using Mum's sewing machine while mine is broken. :)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

5 Books That Changed Who I Am

My sister Bethany tagged me to take part in this. I was reasonably excited about taking part, but when I actually started to think about the books that have "changed" me, I was a little stuck.  Books that have "changed" me - that's a little challenging. there are lots of books that I would like to think have changed me, but I'm not so sure that in all honesty I can say that. Anyway enough preamble, here goes...

1 - One Thousand Gifts

I loved this book! The whole idea of being thankful for every single little instance of life even the hardest ones was a great reminder. The openness and honesty of the writer was refreshing too! If I could choose one book (bar the Bible obviously) that I would really love to see change my life, I'm pretty sure this would be it!
  


                                             2 - Ester Reid


I don't think I could count the amount of times I have read this book. The main character is so much like me, and the way God changes her and molds her is so painful at times but the end result is beautiful. "Content to fill a little space if You be glorified" sums up the book perfectly I think. It's a sad book though.
 
 
 
 

 
                                        3 - Respectable Sins
 
This book is about all the sins we regard as not that bad or "respectable". Sins like selfishness, impatience, pride etc. The author takes a good look at each of them and helps us to see that in fact there is nothing respectable about them at all. You realise how much you need to change after reading it! :)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                              
 
                                    
 
                               4  - The Heir Of Redclyffe    
 
This is an extraordinarily sad book but such a beautiful portayal of Christians trying to live in a way that glorifies God even under the most trying of circumstances. I cry every time I read it.                         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                               5 - My Young Alcides                                                                                This book has such a great portrayal of what true selflessness really looks like - something to definitely inspire change. Oh and by the way it's sad too! :)

Once I started, I found that I could think of lots of books that I would at least like to be changed by. The characters in some, the honesty of the authors in other, but over all, God's powerful help is what will change me in the end!

I now tag: Carley, Deb, Alice, Emma, Chantel, & Sarah

Tag between 3 and 5 people (I tagged 6 since I couldn't help myself)


                                                                    link back to this post.

                                               call the post '5 books that changed who I am’

                                                                             enjoy.