Callaloo Soup

Documenting Kierans First Christmas

2009-12-02T18:21:00+01:00

For the last few years I have planned to do a December Daily album, based on Ali Edward’s phenomenal idea. In 2006 I had my album all ready by November 25th, but didn't manage to complete daily pages. In 2007 I got my album finished the around mid December, started journaling but got bored of having to catch up on the days I missed so I stopped. Last year, I again got gung-ho in November and was ahead of the game, but didn’t manage to journal one single day! I think I was too caught up in all the crafting I did, plus I was pregnant and tired. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Things are different this year though. it’s Kieran’s first Christmas and I am excited to record it all. Since he won’t remember a thing, I think that some day in the future he will appreciate having a record of his first holiday season.

I quickly pulled my album together on Monday and Tuesday. To keep things as simple as possible I pulled a bunch of Teresa Collins die cut pages and chipboard bracket covers made for the Bind-it-All. Thank goodness for my hoarding tendencies (and thanks to my sister Vernell for having sent them to me sometime last year!)

I only had one sheet of Christmas die cuts, so the rest of the album is made up of pages from the Travel set, the Damask set, the Destination set and the Journal It set.

The pages and covers come with explicit instructions on how to punch and bind them together, regardless of the page shape and size, so it was pretty easy going to make. I managed to get it bound yesterday while Kieran played quietly for about 15 minutes.

As you can see I basically just alternated the page types then added the numbers. I kept the album very simple, since I really didn't have a lot of time to pull it together. As I am completing each day, I will probably add an extra embellishment or two.

And confession time: I only had up to page 14 done yesterday, but decided to go ahead and bind it, since I worried that if I waited to complete all the pages, the book would just sit there in a pile and never get used.

For the cover I also went to my stash and found a Christmas themed monthly scrapbooking kit from last year. I’m also using other bits and pieces like the numbers and labels from my stash, and letter stickers from my “Write” basket (where I keep all my journaling supplies). I’m also using Thicker number stickers in a variety of colours to change things up from the red numbers.

Here is Day 1!

I doubt I will get to post my pages every day. I’ll be happy just to get them done! But I will definitely share more pages throughout the month, and also in the flickr group.

I’m really excited to keep up with the journal this month!

Just the Ticket!

2009-11-07T16:45:23+01:00

There are certain things that just make me happy. Some are very simple (chocolate), others more difficult to pull off (travel). This layout that I did for the October Write.Click.Scrapbook gallery, tries to capture some of my favourite things.

It might be difficult to read the labels, so here they are, along with some links to favourite related websites.

Scrapping - well duh!

Write.Click.Scrapbook

Photography

Crafting

Travel

Blogs - double duh!

Flowers

Chocolate - dark only please

Bernachon

Richart

Okay everybody, hit me up with some links to your favourite places please. It's not like I have enough things to do online right?

Over The Next Three Weeks

2009-11-03T17:03:30+01:00

This blog will come to life again - yes, we are reconnected to the outside world again. It's been over a week in fact, but things have been crazy since the move (see below)
More scrapping will be done
and crafting
and sewing
and taking of photos

We survived the move with only a few casualties: Kieran's chest-of-drawers and our coffee table were chipped, Lucas' computer fell, but lived to see another day. The main casualty was I think my creativity. And energy to do anything more than just make it through the days. And the nights.

Ah the nights! Kieran's top front teeth started coming through just after the move, and to put it mildly it was bad. We pretty much didn't sleep for two weeks. We also think that the move, which meant he was no longer sleeping as close to us as before, was a factor in all this.

But things will change from now on. I feel somewhat less like a zombie, and have even started to have ideas pop into my head again. Plus my new creative space is almost squared away, and as you know, that makes a huge difference. There are less boxes of random stuff surrounding me, and we even have curtains up in the bedrooms!

So I don't know if you missed me, but I am back at last! Oh and that layout? It's part of the new November Gallery on Write.Click.Scrapbook all about Family Stories.

Dear Internets

2009-10-03T12:00:00+02:00

It appears that we will have to be apart for an undetermined period of time. You see I am moving house today, and to date have no clue when we will be reunited again. I am hoping it is sooner rather than later, but since our INTERNET company requires all our relocation info (including proof of the new address) sent to them by SNAIL MAIL, I expect it will be longer than we both desire. Oh internets, parting is such sweet sorrow. I vow to do my best to pop in to see you somehow. Until we meet again,

Yours in bits and bytes

All About Design

2009-10-02T17:56:12+02:00

The October Write.Click.Scrapbook gallery is up and features the team's design secrets. Here's my page, based on a grid layout.

Take the time to read the post introducing the gallery, and then have fun browsing the layouts!

Giveaway Alert!

2009-09-18T15:05:47+02:00

I'm giving away this awesome kit today at Craft Gossip, compliments of Shabby Chic Crafts. If, like me, you make a December Daily album to record the holidays, this is a great kit! Hop on over there to find out how to enter!

No More

2009-09-14T18:23:43+02:00

...sleeping on the sofa bed

...people slamming the entrance door and scaring/waking up Kieran

...creeping around the apartment when K is sleeping so as not to wake him up

...tiny alcove as a bedroom/nursery

...pink and black bathroom

...creaky hardwood flooring

...not being able to stay up late while the others are sleeping

...not being able to scrap while Kieran is napping

...not being able to have friends over for dinner

Yes, we are moving! Last December I made peace with the fact that we wouldn't be able to move for a while. But the truth is it has been hard having any sort of a life with three of us in this apartment. The way it is laid out just isn't convenient for a couple with a baby, at least not for longer than a few months (the first few months all you want to do is sleep anyway!) Now that Kieran is more active, and I am no longer a total zombie, we really need a better place. And we found it! A two-bedroom where the bedrooms and the living room are at opposite ends of the hall. With a door between them! In theory this means that noises shouldn't disturb Kieran when he is sleeping in his room. That has the potential to change so much! Plus the location is closer to Lucas' office, also a huge plus. Of course moving there also means no more....

...lovely shaded garden for BBQs - the cats ain't gonna like that!

...awesome neighbourhood that is like a little village in the big city

...super sweet neighbours (well maybe our new ones will be sweet too!)

...high ceilings

Ok. I can't think of anything else I will miss. This is definitely a change for the better. I still won't have a scrap room, but I have plans for a cute scrap corner. We'll have a balcony and the cats will just have to deal. The thought of Lucas getting home earlier makes me very happy, and now when Kieran starts crawling/walking he'll have more space to explore. Actually, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Now all we have to do is get our crap together to move in about a month. Let the de-cluttering begin!

5 Months (and 2 days)

2009-09-13T18:19:40+02:00

* He can prop himself up with his arms when sitting now. But he still falls forward or to one side if he isn't balanced

* It's all about his feet now, he's fascinated by them!

* We have some trouble getting him to sit in his tub (the baby spa, tee hee). He wants to stand and hold on to the sides

* We're seeing more and more deliberate playing with his toys. He reaches for them, and tries to get to them when out of his reach. He can also play nicely by himself for longer periods.

* When on my lap in front of the computer nothing on my desk is safe!

* A short book can now hold his interest, so we do a little reading in the morning. And he "helps" me to turn the pages.

* He had a playdate with Ian, my friend Lucy's son, and they had a lovely time together!

* He's growing so fast I put him in clothes just to make sure he wears them once before they are too small.

* I discovered the hard way that the vacuum cleaner scares him.

* He's more interested in the cats now, before he would just ignore them, but now he follows them with his eyes when they walk past. I think they are in for a fun ride soon!

* He's now giving us hugs and cuddles when we hold him against us.

* I'm convinced he recognises the camera and poses when he sees it!

We are having a wonderful time seeing his personality blossom and grow!

Sunday Smile

2009-09-06T11:51:23+02:00

Momentous occasion in the Fournier-Clouden household!

Looking forward to the weekend.

2009-09-04T13:45:03+02:00

This has been a somewhat trying week as we work on figuring out what is keeping Kieran from sleeping properly. Apart from waking up to nurse, he's been pretty fussy all through the night. We think it might be due in part to teething, but we also started back using his sleep sack again, which we believe makes him feel more comforted and safe. So even though the nights might still be difficult, I am really looking forward to the next two days of having Lucas home with us. On the list so far:

Scrapping of course. I need to work on some projects that have been on my list for a while
Running errands including getting Kieran his first tooth brush!
Baking - I'd like to make some oatmeal muffins for breakfast for the coming week; and if La Poste decides to delivers the box from my sister I might also make cupcakes! (She sent me cupcake liners yay!)
Giving my hair a good conditioning treatment a la Yvonne
Submitting to a couple scrapbook magazines
Going to meet our friends' new baby!

Can all this be achieved in a 2-day period? I'm gonna give it the old college try! What are your weekend plans?