Rachel Greig

Don't fall off your chair! I'm actually posting!

I'm long overdue for a blog update! Ginny's not so subtle (but welcome) hints to update my blog make me smile, and make me feel wanted!!! And it's not that I don't have anything to say - quite the contrary - life is so full right now, but I don't quite know where to start.

How about with a layout? Aussie Scrap Source did a product spotlight on Hero Arts stamps and asked if I could show a couple of layouts... this was one of them. This is not a new layout of mine, I had originally entered it into the Hero Arts Contest a while back, and it was awarded a prize (rubber stamps - the best prize ever, right!?) I miss the Hero comps! I wish they'd bring them back, I loved the challenge of them. Shari, Jennifer, please bring them back!! Anyway... Check out the Aussie Scrap Source blog for all the other layouts from the DT.

I've been busy prepping for my classes in New Zealand at the end of March, and have also been teaching a few classes at Erina this week. We've also had fun with a Flat Stanley from my friend Robin's niece. I have lots of photos of that - so will leave that for another post!

And now to bring the post full circle, here's a little piece of mail art that I sent over to Ginny for her Empty Mail Box contest. Full details of the contest are here. I decided to send over a little bit of Australia! I am amazed it actually arrived intact, and I quite like that some of the sand seeped out - gives it more texture!! :) Ginny has received some amazing entries - go check them out on her blog!

Well, it's just turned midnight, time for me to turn in.
Night!

Mr DS does Ireland!

Evonne has updated her blog with some Mr DS beauties! Go check them out here!

Macro Winner & MR DS Update!

It was fun reading your guesses for the Macro photos... all of you were so close! I'll have to get even more obscure from now on... Here's the detailed list of what they all are:

#26 - Lamington with flag (for Australia Day)
#27 - Cold Tap
#28 - White Gerbera
#29 - Mail/Letters
#30 - Fridge Magnet
#31 - Raindrop on leaf
#32 - Rose (a real one)
#33 - Bowling Ball (I love this shot! The ball looks surprised ;)
#34 - Top of a pineapple
#35 - Chuppa Chups (from Video Ezy to be exact!)
#36 - Bust (Strauss. Sits on my piano)
#37 - Raindrop
#38 - Flat White/Latte
#39 - Birthday Cake

Winners are Samantha B and Sarah! I will send you both out a pack! Woo Hoo! Special mention to Erin for guessing the pineapple!! You were the only one who guessed that one!

Onto other news, Sarah from Scrapbook Savvy has interviewed me for their website, which you can read here!

And an update on MR DS - he has been played with, and Evonne says she will update her blog any day now with her creations! So who's eager to see what an Irish lass has done with our Aussie DS bloke? (Of course he's an Aussie now... I mean, with a name like MR DS). Anyhow, I will let you all know when Evonne has updated her blog!

Happy Valentine's Day! I'll leave you with a little Valentine goodness... (from the Paper Salon Smitten Collection)

Night!

Guessing Competition

CHA is in full swing now, and I can share with you a canvas that I did for the Ranger booth. 24 artists were given one Distress Ink colour palette and a canvas, and we all had to create whatever we wanted - but only with the one Distress Ink colour (and black & white). Mine was Brushed Corduroy. I was really pleased with how it turned out, and I've seen photos of some of the other canvases and they were awesome! I'll try and source a photo of the booth to show you ALL of the colours together in one display. I bet it looks amazing.

And... time for a little guessing competition! I updated my Macro 366 album last night and left off the descriptions because some of them look a little obscure... so I wondered if any of you can guess what they are or where/why they were taken? Have a look from 26th Jan - 8th Feb (images #26 - #39) and leave comment with your guesses. Some of them are obvious, but others may get you thinking. The person who gets the most correct will win this goodie pack! So start guessing!

Thanks also for the birthday wishes from my last post! I had a wonderful day :)

Happy Day!

This is my handmade birthday card from Stew that I received this morning :)

And here are 34 things that are making me happy today...

1. My Mum calling me this morning at precisely 9.05am always makes me happy. That was the time I was born 34 years ago!
2. Eating Lindt & Sprungli chocolates before breakfast makes me happy. They were from Zoë! She helped me polish them off! (They are my faves!)
3. Having eggs on toast cooked by Stewart makes me happy.
4. Waking up to balloons in the living room with streamers and banners always makes me happy.
5. Handmade cards and presents from Stew, Ethan & Zoë makes me happy.
6. That today is raining and 18 degrees makes me happy. I'm so used to hot birthdays! Today I can wear jeans.
7. Seeing the kids get excited about my birthday makes me happy. They love celebrating everyone's birthday - everyone gets streamers and balloons all over the house no matter how old you are!
8. Brown paper packages wrapped up in string make me happy. Thanks Mum!

9. Sushi for lunch makes me happy.
10. Heading out to dinner tonight with Stew & the kids makes me happy.
11. The marble mud cake for desert will really make me happy!
12. Getting to spend the day with Zoë makes me happy. (Ethan's at school, Stew's at work.)
13. Hearing from friends makes me happy!
14. Receiving a Mr Dick-sticker birthday card from Sarah today made me happy (and the fact that I opened it while waiting in line at the post office made everyone else around me happy too!!!! LOL)
15. Knowing that I am having tonight off work makes me incredibly happy. Love doing what I do, but looking forward to not going into the studio tonight. 
16. White gerberas and yellow roses given to me today from Stew make me happy.
17. Wearing pink bed socks right now (gift from Mum) make me happy! They're so soft! Zoë had them on before me (and they looked like tights on her!)
18. Working on Darkroom Door stuff makes me happy. Thank you for all your emails and comments here. I am extremely excited about the stuff I am doing, and I'm looking forward to this new adventure.
19. My products with Stamp-It are being exhibited at the CHA Trade Show in USA this weekend. That makes me really happy! Just wish I was there to see it! 
20.  Knowing that I'll be making a lot of layouts soon, and cards, and books, and whatever else.... makes me happy! Who doesn't like a little farting and crafting? Oops, I mean arting and crafting.
21. Seeing Zoë's face when I booked her into ballet classes today - made me happy. She has been prancing around our house in her leotard and tutu for ages, and has been asking to go to classes. She was so excited today when I told her she starts Monday!
22. Fresh bananas make me happy.
23. Hearing new music makes me happy.
24. Wearing my favourite black t-shirt makes me happy. (not wearing it today though - it's in the wash!)
25. Reading blogs makes me happy! So many wonderful things to look at and read from my friends! Check out the links over there on the left side bar for some great reading and inspiration!
26. Receiving a DVD to add to my Tom Hanks collection makes me happy! Thanks Ethan. He originally wanted to buy me the Namco Museum PS2 game (cause he knows we'll both love it), but it's still on order at the game shop. I'm not really into PS games, but love some Galaga and Pac Man!
27. My morning walks make me happy. I love the fresh cool air.
28. My favourite shorts are starting to become a bit big (as is my watch!) which makes me happy, but I really love these shorts and don't want to have to use a belt! (Stew just says to go buy new clothes... perhaps I should take him up on that!)
29. Receiving this photo in the mail today from my Grandma made me really really happy. This is me with my cousins Adrian & Brad and our Uncle Paul (who died not long after this photo was taken.) I only knew him for 11 years, but he was such a positive influence for me in that time. I miss him. Adrian & I had so many great adventures with him - so many laughs. We still laugh today while remembering all the funny stuff he taught us, like how to grow a moustache from tomatoes, and how to share chocolate properly, and the treasure hunts he sent us on. He was only 25 when he died. When he traveled through Europe, he wore a rust/cream coloured scarf, and just before I left on my Europe trip my grandma gave me that scarf to take with me to wear too. And yes, that's me with the straight blonde hair in the photo!

30. Booking flights for this years trips make me happy :)
31. Teaching my first class for the year on Wednesday and having fun with all the ladies made me happy!
32. Seeing Ethan move into his Yr 1 classroom and saying that he's happy and loves his new teacher makes me happy!
33. Making chocolate slice makes me happy. I have no idea how #28 happens when there's slice in the house, but hey, I'm not complaining! 
34. Enjoying time with friends and family on the back deck makes me really happy!

Hope you're all having a great day too!

As one door closes...another one opens...

On Tuesday night I closed the door to my RGP online shop, and changed a few things around on the Rachel Greig Photography website. The shop had been a part of my website for about 5 years and throughout that time has sold a range of my photography, scrapbooking and rubber stamping supplies. I have loved packing every single order, getting to know the customers, receiving feedback and especially seeing what some customers had made or done with the products.

To each of my customers - thank you. Your support has meant so much to me, and I know the closing of my shop has come at a surprise! However, all of my current products are still being distributed by the companies listed on the new Products page, so if you had any queries, I'm sure they would be only too happy to help! (Just click on their logo, and it will open their website in a new page)

By closing the RGP shop, it means I'll now have more dedicated time for more photography and designing new products with new companies. Many of you have already noticed one new company on the products page!

Darkroom Door will be opening soon in Feb/March, and will be bringing you lots of new supplies for your cards, layouts, invitations, mixed media, home decor etc. As the name suggests, the products have a definite 'photography' feel about them and over the next few weeks I'll be able to give you a few sneek peeks as to what's behind that door! I'm really excited about it! If you'd like to be the first to know about the new releases, you can sign up to the Darkroom Door Newsletter on the website!  

So like I've always said throughout my life, as one door closes, another one opens... enjoy the ride!

Happy Thursday!

(Edited to add: some email browsers are not showing the email address to send to when you click 'Subscribe to newsletter'. If you are experiencing this problem, click here to subscribe. Or email news@darkroomdoor.com )

Quick update...

Busy week here... with no time for blogging, but wanted to jump on and let you know of a few things that are going on...

1. Astarte's Mega-zine #5 is out now! All about Dreaming! My photography article is all about Infrared Photography, both traditional and digital.

2. The shop on my website will be closing in about 24 hours! Forever! Feels a bit strange, as I've had that shop on there for years. But I need to do this to move into a new direction. My photography website will then be an information and gallery site only. So if you wanted any of my products at rock bottom prices, don't walk, RUN over there cause they will be gone soon! (Note: some of these products will still be available from Stamp-It or your LSS. It's just my online shop that is being closed.)

3. Papercrafting With Photos is released on Tuesday! I have some projects and a photography article in there :) I also have a spare issue - so I'll do a giveaway on my blog in the next couple of days. Keep an eye out.

4. I need to update my Macro 366 album. Will catch up with that soon too!

Happy Sunday!