Australia

Thought I might share some photos from my trip to Australia (no, I never saw Tim or Mario while I was there) but we were teaching in the same city one weekend.
First, thanks to Alice in Paperland and Highlands Scrapbooking for inviting me to teach.  In every class there were women who had been in class previously with Deb and I when we were in Australia in either 2007 or 2010.  It was good to see you all. 
We had a great time using the Distress Stains...so excited to teach this class again in Oct in New Zealand.  If you are a reader of this blog then you know I LOVE me some Distress Stains, just can't get enough!

Now I know that looking at someone else's vacation photos can be painful so I thought I would focus on a just a few highlights of the trip.

Drive to St Albans
A man selling pumpkins and old junk on the side of the road...looked like a page from a Dickens novel (minus the truck of course)

Settlers Arms Inn at St Albans
beautiful winter day
long line for food
live music in the back
fabulous scenery along the Hawkesbury River

Manly Beach
I had been to Manly in 2007 and loved it so we went back again.  This time we parked at Sydney Olympic Park then took the River Cat (a river taxi) into Circular Quay, then caught the ferry out to Manly Beach. 

 the Manly Ferry leaving Circular Quay

 

Every time I ride on the Manly Ferry I want to start singing, "Don't Rain on my Parade" Barbara Streisand style from one of my very favorite sing along movies, Funny Girl (it's a toss up between this one, Grease and Guys and Dolls).  Lorraine and I tried it but the other passengers were not amused :)  Maybe if I had worn a fur hat it would have gone over better.

 

We lucked out with a day of sunshine, beautiful sailboats and great views of the harbor.

 the boardwalk leading to the beach

We got fish and chips and ate at a picnic table by the beach.  As you can see, everyone is bundled up but it was really quite nice out.

Ice cream on the boardwalk with Ree

Junk'in in Sydney (okay, a little outside the city limits)
On a tip from a reliable source (and an internet search), five of us head out one morning to find a fabulous junking source.
We drove and drove... and drove some more (that would a total of 50 km each way...thank you very much Lorraine). 
Turning off the paved road...to find shed number 5.  Do you see it?  Wayyyyyy back in the back?

Why, lets get a little closer.
There it is, see it in the back with the stolen getaway car in front?
(I think now is the time we hear the faint sound of the banjo music from Deliverance)

If the shed door would have been open, we might have traversed the pot holes back to the shed, but it wasn't so Lorraine put the car in reverse and we hightailed it back to the paved road figuring we get out while we still could...right Ree?

This is me laughing and trying to take a picture at the same time.
Good times girls, good times...

Paper Boutiques - Can't go on a trip without going to a few!
Little Paper Lane 

Darling little shop in Mona Vale, from the window display of hot air balloons to the great customer service, this shop is a must stop.  It might be a small shop but Jayde has stocked it with the best paper choices and some great displays.  I bought this and this.

Paper 2
fabulous paper shop in Surry Hills (near downtown).  It did not disappoint.

sigh...

We did stop at a few more stores in this fabulous eclectic neighborhood.  

Love all the painted doors along the way.

We also stopped for lunch at the Mad Spud Cafe - Three of us had the Whacko Taco and it was yummmmy!

Australian War Memorial:
Absolutely worth the drive to Canberra.   We went thinking we would spend a few hours and instead spent the entire day in the memorial and did not see even half.  Very solemn, yet tremendously inspirational.  So much sacrifice documented in a very personal way through artifacts, letters, and personal photos.  Definitely one of the best days in Australia.

Eternal flame reflecting pool

 Red Poppies of Remembrance

The Roll of Honour is a long series of bronze panels recording the names of Australia's war dead.  

Couldn't help but notice this magnificent oak tree outside the memorial with it's long branches extending out over the landscape, as if to say come and rest here and I will keep you safe.  A fitting end to a great experience at the war memorial.

So I will leave you today with a few of the phrases you might hear when visiting...and mind you, no one ever says, "throw a shrimp on the bar-bie".

mate - friend, buddy, used like we use "dude" or even a greeting for someone you don't know.
bloke - man
sheila - woman
muck up - cause trouble
chalk and cheese - two things/people that don't have anything in common
not the full quid - not too smart
Bob's your uncle - you've got it made
scarce as hen's teeth - something that rarely happens
rug up - dress warmly
windscreen - windshield
punch up -disagreement/fight
brekkie - breakfast
tea - dinner
heaps - lots of something
crooked as a dog's hind leg - can't be trusted
gobsmacked - shocked
lollies - candy
take away - take out food
prezzy - gift
no worries - has multiple uses: for sure, okay, that's alright, no problem....etc.

Thanks to all who made the trip such a great success: Lorraine, Lyle and family, Sally and Anthony and the boys, Pam, Alice, Ree, Shaun and miss Maddy, LeAnne and Donna, Sandra and June (and a special thank you to Andrew, Sandra's husband who took my husband golfing in the Highlands for 3 days while I was teaching) and of course all the ladies in class.  It was the best.

cheers for a great weekend!
paula

A New Chapter

Hi everyone! Paula here...
I am finally back from one of my favorite places on earth, Australia!  What a wonderful experience teaching and spending time with friends...(more on that later in the week).  Thanks to Sande for guest blogging while I was away.  Sande always steps up whenever we need help here at One Lucky Day and we can’t thank her enough.

With that being said, I have a secret I've been keeping and it's finally time to share it...

About a month ago I made the decision to resign from the 7gypsies design team.
Hard to believe it has been 7 years since Deb asked me to create a project for the CHA show booth!  What great thanks I owe her for that opportunity because it opened the first of many doors, from teaching, creating the 7gypsies show booth, and product design.

As you know, when something ends, it creates room for something new.  That something new came in the form an email from a friend.  When I read it, I knew it might just be my “Lucky Day”.  Seriously better than the first parking space at Target.

(insert drum roll here)

I have accepted a job to work with Tim (and Mario) as Creative Coordinator for Tim Holtz Brands.
I know...pinch me...what a opportunity, right?

The Lucky Day opportunity doesn’t end there.  Tim also invited Debbie to be part of the team, so we will be going into this new adventure together.

Now rest assured, the gypsy girls are not going anywhere...you’ll still find us here at One Lucky Day, blogging about good junk, introducing new products and creating inspiring projects.  We’re excited to turn the page and see what’s in store in the next chapter of the journey.  It’s all about the journey, right?

For those of you going to CHA Summer in just a few short weeks, you will find us in the Idea-ology booth #323...so be sure to stop by and say Hi!
We’ll be the girls (and I use that term loosely) with the big smiles.

Trousseau Winner!

THE WINNER OF THE TROUSSEAU COLLECTION IS...

 Julie Loeschke said...

I have been waiting for this wonderful collection ever since we saw the teases for it.This is right up my alley! Would sure love to win! :)

Please email us with your address and we will get your goodies on their way to you.

Thank you to all those who left comments!

See you back here on Friday. Paula is back and will fill us in on all her Australia fun!

deb

Trousseau Collection

IT'S HERE!

We have been patiently waiting for the lovely Trousseau Collection to arrive.  

This amazing group of products was designed by our very own Kerry Lynn Yeary.  It features soft colors and textured surfaces mixed with patterns, photos, found book pages and fine laces.  

Here are a few projects made with the Trousseau Collection

 by Ranjini Molhatra

by Paula

By Kerry Lynn Yeary 

more pics here

We have a little bundle of items we want to share!

It will include:

6x6 and 8x8 paper packs

clearstamp and paper tape

collection sticker sheets

tag inserts

tag envelopes

charming tag envelopes and mini journal pages (not pictured)

If you would like an opportunity to win this bundle of goodies, leave a comment by midnight Monday, the 25th.  We will post the winner on Tuesday the 26th.

Good luck!

deb

Free 1904 Vintage Parisian Receipt download

Hi! Sande Krieger here to do another post for Paula while she is in Australia shopping for birthday presents for Debbie and I (it's in August Paula). So, back in March Paula and I went to Paris and basically shopped, ate, took pictures, walked a million kilometers and saw a lot of art. But I bet you’re wondering, “So …with all that shopping did you bring me back anything?” Well, as a matter of fact I did! I have a lovely Parisian receipt from 1904 out of the estate of Monsieur Peru that I picked up one of the flea markets there. I have scanned it and you can download the hi-res version which you can print out for your PERSONAL use (please do not use on any item for resale).


The download link expires on July 1st, 2012.

look at bottom of page for link to download

Background paper on tag is a vintage document copy

Print on cream cardstock and ink edges

If you are wondering what you can do with it, then you've come to the right blog. Paula copies vintage documents off onto cream cardstock and uses a blending tool with some Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink which makes them look like the original vintage piece. Here is a tag that she did for the Christmas Advent calendar using a copy of a vintage document, you can see the photos above.


Also, if you hop over to my blog I have another of Monsieur Peru's receipts that you can download.


1904 Vintage French Receipt Download. Enjoy!!!

sAvE tHe wOrLd

I have had a love for vintage globes for a long time.  That love grew even more the first time I went to Paula's house and saw her lovely globe collection.

Her collection has two requirements...great color and made before 1948.  This is the part of her collection that fit on top of the entertainment center (there are others scattered throughout her house).  My collection (can you call 2 globes a collection?) is a work in progress and pitiful by comparison...yes, I have globe envy!

Globes add so much to a display.  We have used them several times in the 7gypsies booth.  This one was a globe that the base was broken.

The broken base was removed which left holes in the top and bottom.  I used large vintage buttons to cover the holes, attached to jute to hang and applied a large vinyl "7".  You could do a favorite quote, scripture or your family name.

 We also used globes as part of the centerpieces at each table for the lunch at Gypsy Caravan several years ago.  Between the two of us we had enough small globes for all the tables (Deb contributed 1, Paula the rest).

I have admired what others have done with globes and thought you might enjoy them also.

This artist, Wendy Gold used vintage globes and recycled materials to decoupage and decorate. 

This one to announce a marriage date.

This one showing the family tree.  Check out more of her work at Art on Globes, here.

Nailhead Globe via Etsy

Inspirational messages from My Blessings Unlimited

Love this wall clock from Home Made Simple.  You could do a series of clocks in a group that represent different time zones and label each with the place it represents.

A great tutorial decoupaging your globe with fabric at Luzia Pimpinella

From Patina White

This from The Well Appointed House, but you could DIY with chalkboard paint.

Remember the globe that I mentioned above that we displayed in the 7g booth.  I'm sorry to say it didn't make it back to my house in one piece.  I now have two halves.....I'm thinking of doing this with them!

Have a great weekend and see you next week when our good friend Sande Krieger will be back to do another post.  Can't wait to see what she has for us!!

Deb