THE 'BLUE ROOM' STUDIO NOSTALGIA

- Wednesday, 5 September 2007

If these 'four walls' could speak they would conjure up memories filled with countless moments of joy, sadness, elation, sharing, seriousness, laughter, tears, embarrassment, silliness, accomplishment, damaged teeth, green mambas, Greek connections, Tote-Ally Coolness, {D}amn {F}oolness, friendships in the making and Tha Teacha spinning around the table whilst explaining, advising and demonstrating the means to a well balanced scrapbooking layout. They (i.e. the four walls) would probably also have wished for the luxury of ear plugs protecting their ears from endless banging in attempts to set that eyelet perfectly onto a precious layout.

Then there were also times where they (i.e. the four walls) had to take on the role as detectives, especially when a template or tool belonging to Tha Teacha made their way accidentally into a student's bag or tote. They did themselves proud as detectives when items from the lost property drawer met up with their owners.

But the most remarkable event was most definitely the forming of the TP (Teacher's Pet) Gang(s). Note the 's', indicating that there were quite a few such gangs being formed, the most prominent being the Thursday night TP Gang Inc (incorporating the g(r)eek connection) rivaled by the Botha's Hill TP Gang (special edition) and the Bundu Chicks TP Gang. No wonder the TP Gang Rules were formulated in a jiffy. But what these gangs did not realise, was that all Tha Teacha's students were and still remain pets in their own right.

A massive thanks to each and everyone of my students who have attended class(es) as well as scrap days I have hosted and allowed me the opportunity to share my passions with you. They say that Port Elizabeth is the friendly city, but Durbanites can definitely give the PE locals a run for their many when it comes to friendliness.

I sincerely hope that some of you will visit me in GP (Gangsters' Paradise) just to say hello or even pop in for a lesson or two. Remember - you are always welcome!

- Signing off on Secretaries Day

HERE'S A GLIMPSE AT OUR KLOOF HOME

... inside and out ...

- Thursday, 9 August 2007 (National Woman's Day in South Africa)

Well here's the interior of our home:

{Main Bedroom}

{Main Bedroom} {Main Bedroom - En Suite}

{Guest Bedroom}

{Guest Bathroom}

{Guest Toilet}

{Third Bedroom}

{Third Bedroom} {Study} {Study} {Dining Room}

{Family Room}

{Formal Lounge - currently utilised as scrapping studio}

{Open Area leading to patio, family room, dining room and kitchen}

{Open area - Entrance hall leading to formal lounge on right}

{Open area - Entrance hall leading to family room}

{Open Area as viewed from family room}

{Kitchen}

{Kitchen}

{Kitchen}

{Kitchen}

{Scullery}

{Scullery}

{Kitchen Yard - first door from left: Kitchen; second door from left: Servants Bathroom; third door from left: Servants Quarters currently utilised as workroom}

- Home Owner Signing Off

OUR HOUSE IS ON SHOW - Treasured Moments (Issue 6)

This layout which I did of our house, with the aid of a stencil I designed for Ellie Griffiths (Alleycat Scrapbooking) and her husband Philip to manufacture, was published in a South African magazine 'Treasured Moments' under the 'Teachers' section.

This was the write-up that appeared with the layout in the magazine:

TIPS: This layout was done with a stencil/template that I designed for which I got the idea from an advert on the Durban Pavilion Shopping Centre. Looking more closely at the graphic designs used in magazines and adverts could spark inspiration for your future layouts. MOTIVATION:

We often forget to take photos of our homes and as we move on the memories of our past homes fade. Having done this layout I knew that we will always have a visual memory of this house we made our home.

We have an indigenous garden and the white irises were in full bloom one sunny afternoon and I had to take the opportunity of capturing them. The specks of white formed a nice frame around the photos of our home.

My students were quite proud of me and like they say: 'Now we can also say we know a celebrity'.

- Home grown signing off