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!

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!



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!

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.

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.

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!

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