Just over ten years ago my beautiful mum lost her brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

My Mum was an amazing woman who I aspire to be like.. Born into a very poor family as the daughter of a preacher she spent much of her childhood moving from Rockhampton to Kingaroy as well as Boonah and Lismore.  Mum’s mum was always ill and passed away while they lived in Lismore when Mum was only 12 or 13.  I so admire the mother she became despite having had her mum in her life for such a short time. 

My mother along with her sisters sang on the radio program which my Grandfather conducted on Sunday afternoons – I’m thankful that she passed that musical talent on to me and I to my children – what a blessing that has been to our lives – as I often say ‘music is food for the soul’!

When my Mum married my Dad in 1955 she had to give up the school teaching (that she loved) as women at that stage were not allowed (or at least encouraged) to work after they married.  So my dear mum took up her position as a farmers wife – and quickly learned to milk cows (by hand), turn hay, ride a horse and manage a household...all without complaining!!  All under the watchful (and critical) eye of her mother and father-in-law who lived on the farm with us!!

In 1969 when I was 4½  my family were involved in a near fatal car accident just one mile from our house – due to a couple of teenagers drag racing up a hill.  My Mum was pronounced dead by the ambulance officers who attended the crash but thankfully our neighbour (mum’s best friend) encouraged them to get her to the hospital – that night 100’s of friends and folk from local churches held prayer vigils through the night and miraculously my Mum lived.

Over the years that followed mum suffered severe migraines but hardly complained...she sewed our clothes (including my sisters and my wedding and bridesmaids dresses), came and helped us when our babies were born and most importantly taught me how to live by faith and love and care for others.

As we approach Mother’s Day I’m sure you like me will have many memories –if you’re a Mum yourself take time to make your own memories and enjoy this special day with those you love.

Thanks Mum for all you were to me, you’re always in my heart!

Barbi

Cardmakers Corner
In addition to our regular cardmaking classes and workshops we also have a Cuttlebug class on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday morning fortnightly– the cost of each class is $17 which includes materials and tuition (from Norma our Cuttlebug Expert) to make 3 cards - you’ll need to bring your cuttlebug machine and cardmaking tools with you.  Bookings are essential.
Regular Cardmaking Classes are held at the following times :-
1^st and 3^rd Monday nights 7 – 9pm and the 2^nd and 4^th Monday nights 7.30 – 9.30pm as well as Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings 9.30 – 11.30am fortnightly –with the alternate Friday mornings being a Friendship Group where you can utilize the workshop tools and punches to create your cards or layouts in the company of others, share ideas and have fun – cost is $6 for the morning.  Morning tea and supper is included in our class cost of $14.00.
Also there’s a class held on the third Wednesday night of the month 7.30 – 9.30pm and a Cardmaker’s Friendship Group on the Fourth Saturday of the month from 10am – 3pm, where cardmakers and scrapbookers alike can come and create together – cost is just $6.
It is a requirement that you supply your own ‘consumables’ ie scissors, cutting mat and adhesives and ink pads (we sell all of these items and recommend double sided tape and mono aqua glue for our card classes) when attending any of our classes and workshops – both adults and children’s classes.

Confetti Club.
Our Kid’s Class is affectionately known as the Confetti Club – each Wednesday afternoon  - both during the school year and over the holidays we hold a class from 3.30 – 4.45 where children can come and have fun producing beautiful craft projects. We do scrapbooking, cardmaking and ‘off the page’ projects such as mini books during the class.  The cost each week is $10 which includes the cost of materials.  Each child needs to supply their own adhesives (glue and doublesided tape) and scissors.  A paper trimmer is also handy to have and can be purchased (along with the other items) from our store.  If you’d like to join the Confetti Club phone or email as bookings are essential.

Cuppa and Craft for Cancer Research - We would love for you to join us for a cuppa and crafting to raise much needed funds for Cancer research.  We’re planning some lovely ‘make and takes’ and there’ll be a delicious morning/afternoon tea as well.  You can join us on Friday, Monday or Wednesday morning May 25, 28 and 30 from 10-11.30 (note card classes will not be held that fortnight).  A gold coin donation would be  appreciated and bookings are essential.

Date Claimers for May
May 12 – Card Class with Annette from Blossies – Create 4 beautiful cards.  $20
May 18-20 – Weekend @ Daisys Retreat
May 25,28 & 30 - Cuppa and Craft for Cancer Research
May 26 – Monthly Cardmakers Group
May 26 – Basic Grey Page of the Month class
May 31 – ‘Craft in the Chapel’ Drysdale Funerals National Park Rd Nambour 9- 2pm
June 9-11 – Scrapbooking and Papercraft Convention 9am-5pm Admission $14 adults.

The story of Mothers Day is the story of firm determination of a daughter - Anna Jarvis who resolved to pay tribute to her mother, Mrs Anna M Jarvis and all other mothers of the world. Anna Jarvis dedicated her life to fulfill her mother’s dream of a day recognizing and honoring mothers.

Though never a mother herself, Founder of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis is today recognised as the 'Mother of Mothers Day'. An apt title to define the remarkable woman's ceaseless devotion to her mother and motherhood in general.
Anna Jarvis: Childhood
Anna Jarvis was born in Webster, Taylor County, West Virginia, on May 1, 1864. She was the ninth of eleven children born to Ann Marie and Granville Jarvis. Her family moved to Grafton when Anna was a year old. It was here that the Anna did her schooling and enrolled at the Augusta Female Academy in Staunton, Virginia. After finishing her academics, Anna returned to Grafton and did teaching in a school for seven years.
Anna Jarvis: Inspiration for Mothers Day
Anna Jarvis got the inspiration of celebrating Mothers Day quite early in life - one day when Anna was 12 years old, her mother Mrs Jarvis said a class prayer in the presence of her daughter, to conclude the lesson on 'Mothers of the Bible'.  It included the following -"I hope that someone, sometime will found a memorial Mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it."
Anna never forgot this prayer. And at her Mothers graveside service, she recalled the prayer and said, "...by the grace of God, you shall have that Mothers Day."

Anna Jarvis: The Struggle for Mothers Day
After the death of her mother in 1905, Anna Jarvis resolved to honor her mother. She became all the more serious in her resolution when she found that adult children in the US were negligent in their behaviour towards their parents. The desire of her mother that someone would one day pay tribute to all mothers, living and dead and appreciate their contributions made Anna desire even stronger.
In 1907, Miss Anna began an aggressive campaign to establish a National Mothers Day in US. On the second anniversary of her mother’s death she led a small tribute to her mother at Andrews Methodist Church. By the next year, Mother's Day was also celebrated in the city of Philadelphia.
To give shape to her resolution, Miss Anna Jarvis along with her supporters began to write hundreds of letters to those holding the positions of power advocating the need for a national Mothers Day. A fluent speaker, Anna used every platform to promote her cause. Though the response was cold initially, she achieved a breakthrough by gaining the support of great merchant and philanthropist, John Wanamaker of Philadelphia. The movement gained a fresh impetus with his support. In 1909, forty-five states including Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico observed the day with appropriate services. People also wore white and red carnations to pay tribute to their mothers, according to the tradition started by Anna Jarvis. Anna chose carnations because they were her mother's favourite flowers. White carnation was her most favourite because it represented the purity of a mother's heart. A white carnation was to be worn to honour deceased mothers, and a red one to honour a living mother.
By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state of the Union. And in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the second Sunday of May.
Mothers Day is meant to give due honour to the women who gave us birth and life and is celebrated to share our feelings of love and respect with our mothers.

Each month there is a Collection Tin on our morning tea/supper table where you can make a contribution to our chosen charities.  In May we’ll be donating to assist the Queensland Cancer Fund – Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Appeal – if you’d like to donate a gold coin when you’re having your cuppa we’d be really appreciate it and will pass it on to the charity. In April we donated $87.60 to assist local families affected by Cystic Fibrosis.  Thank you for helping make this possible.

Congratulations to the winners of our monthly draw for a $20 Gift Voucher – April – Karen Geppet
To enter simply fill your Daisy Card and when you use the discount accrued we’ll keep your card along with your phone number .  At the end of each month we draw a winning card from the jar and contact the winner to collect their Gift Voucher.

From our Kitchen….

Thanks so much to everyone who has provided recipes for our next Recipe book (to be released later this year) – if you’ve not yet sent yours in – it’s not too late simply email them to us at info@daisychainscrapbooks.com or post or drop them into the store...thanks
It’s getting cooler and that means ‘Soup weather’ – here’s a yummy minestrone style soup you can try – tastes great with warm buttered bread rolls!

Minestrone Style Soup
In a large pot sauté a heaped teaspoon of garlic and a chopped onion.  When onion is translucent add two or three bacon rashers (chopped) and two sticks of celery finely diced.  Saute briefly then add a quarter of (finely sliced) cabbage, a coarsely chopped zucchini, a can of kidney beans, a heaped cup of uncooked macaroni and a can of tomato soup.  Then fill the empty can with water and add two or three cans full of water as well as a heaped teaspoon of vegetta (or a vegetable stock cube),  a beef stock cube and a pinch of salt.  Bring this mix to the boil then simmer for about an hour.  If desired add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste for a fuller flavour.

Sue’s Reviews
Just recently we’ve been ‘revisiting’ some of our favourite products from the past.  One of the many being ‘Glossy Accents by Ranger.. this wonderful ‘medium’ doubles as an adhesive being ideal for gluing glitter, sequins and other ‘non-porous’ products to layouts and cards.  It also drys crystal clear and is fabulous when added over the top of painted or inked chipboard shapes – as it gives a glossy ‘glassy’ finish.  Available in a large bottle for $11.95 or a smaller ‘trial-sized’ bottle for $4.95 – it’s worth having in your tool kit…why not give it a try!

Digital Camera Classes - Do you understand the features on your digital camera? Do you use your camera with confidence?  If you don’t but would like to – why not book into Jenny’s Digital Camera Course in September. Jenny has been running this course for a number of years now – and the response we’ve had has been overwhelmingly positive. 
Class numbers are limited so make sure you reserve your spot by emailing Jen at jennyschimak@bigpond.com

You may not be aware that Jenny  is planning to spend 3 weeks in Tanzania at the end of the year (in conjunction with her Nursing degree at the Sunshine Coast Uni).  We are assisting her with her fundraising efforts by hosting a ‘Scrap 4 Charity’ in July – please check next month’s newsletter for the date.  There will also be a selection of Craft items for sale in the store that day with all proceeds going to Jen’s Tanzania Trip – if you are unable to come for the day please feel free to pop in and browse her stall and hear more about what she’ll be doing in Tanzania.

20% off

 Basic Grey Papers & Embellishments 

(Valid – 1^st – 11^th May, 2012)

Must be presented at time of purchase
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20% off

Stamp Pads and Embossing Powders

 (Valid - 12^th – 21^st May, 2012)

 Must be presented at time of purchase
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20% off Scrapbook Albums

 (Valid 22^nd – 31^st May 2012)

Must be presented at time of purchase
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Amazingly, another month has passed us by. Can you look back over the time, and say you achieved? Can you look back and feel like you can tick things off your to do list, or that you started or even finished projects that you’ve been meaning to tackle for ages.

I’m so pleased that I’m able to look back over the month and say that I achieved and completed things I’d set out to do.

I love how in this life we have so many choices. We are truly living in the lucky country and have many options open to us at any given time. I try to analyze situations and often wonder what exactly determines the decisions we make, why suddenly am I able to feel that I do have many opportunities in front of me. Aside from the obvious fact that as my children are getting older, I’m able to become more of my own person, and that I can now look at things differently, because of the increasing levels of independence, I am able to take care of my ambitions and dreams too. 

I’ve decided that it’s the choice between ‘passive’ or ‘participate’. There are times in our lives, and I’ve had years of it, where life is something that happened to me. Yes, of course I’ve made decisions along the way, many right ones, and of course a few wrong ones too (life’s valuable lessons). But basically I was a passive person. Happy and content enough to travel along and deal with whatever life offered me within the parameters that God gave me.

But now I participate! I actively manipulate the choices around me and am happy to take a stronger role for myself. Possibly, manipulate isn’t the right word, but instead of looking at things and thinking they may be fun, or a good idea, I now say, ‘yes’. I can do that.

The future is so bright, and so full of opportunities, far too many things to do, that being passive isn’t even a consideration.

So in your life’s plan, are you passive or are you a participant? If you want to change, what action can you take?

There is no right and no wrong way to be. The main thing is that you’re happy and that it works for you and your family. 

Everything has its time..... 

Jenny