So I went along to Keen on Crafts on Sunday 9 October and got me a few new skills. A big thank-you to all the teachers who gave so generously of their time, materials and knowledge - you are all stars! Let's take a look at what I learnt then, shall we?

08h30: Candle-making
What a nice way to start the day. This was like being back in kindergarten - fun, fun, fun! First we made white star-shaped floating candles (with a bit of help from our teachers Angelique and Solly of Candle Maker's Deli). While we waited for our floating candles to set, we got busy decorating dinner candles using Candle Pens. What fun! Candle Pens are so simple to use, and so versatile. They retail for R55 each, but apparently last for ages, so you can build up a collection over time. Check out one of my candles below.

10h30: Mosaics
This was something that I'd expected to be more difficult than it actually was. I'm one of those people who can't bear to pop a balloon, so I'd expected that using the hand-held tile cutter would be quite a challenge, but actually it was so simple - just a little pop and voila, your tile is cut! Putting the mosaic together was like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, and I love those, so this was really fun for me. This is definitely a craft I'd like to take up in the new year. Have a look at my mosaic house numbers below.

13h00: Paper lampshades
I felt like a celebrity for the rest of the afternoon after I'd completed my lampshade - everyone kept stopping me and talking to me. At first I thought it may be my autograph they were after, but no, apparently they all wanted to find out about the lampshade I was lugging around. It IS quite pretty, even if I say so myself. But never fear, because you too can make one! Contact Sharon or Greg of The Craft Warehouse for classes and all materials - (021) 552 0882.

15h00: Spiral beading
A lovely relaxing and therapeutic way to end the day - soaking up the warm afternoon sun, quietly stringing beads, one on top of another. What a gentle craft! I've always been fascinated by "advanced" beading and couldn't quite figure out how it was done. Watch out in next month's Gazette for news of a brand-new beading book that's hit the shelves - I'm quite taken with it, and can't wait to get a few spare moments to raid the neighbourhood bead shops.

“Clutter gets in the way of doing what is really important,” says professional organiser
Tracey Foulkes of Get Organised.
Tracey works with her clients to implement organisation in their homes and offices. By first determining what organising solutions the client will be able to maintain and while keeping the focus on simplifying things so that there is time to do everything that is important without the anxiety, together they tackle the organising project one step at a time. The organiser helps you take control of your surroundings, time, paper and systems for life by teaching the skills you need to solve a lifetime of organising challenges.

With 2005 galloping to a close and with old resolutions still pending here are Tracey’s top organising tips to tackle before the new year:

1. Spend a moment to review the year that has just passed and evaluate if you have achieved all you have set out to do. Decide if there are projects you still need to finish, delegate or abandon so that you can move on guilt free.

2. Choose two things that you would like to change in the new year. Write these down as goals, laminate them and place them where the whole family can see them (this helps with accountability). By creating a visual image/representation of these goals you will be more inclined to achieve them.

3. Choose one room of your home (or one area within a room if the clutter is overwhelming) and get it sorted. You will be taking a huge step towards a clutter-free future.

4. Make a decision to make decisions! When we condition ourselves to make immediate decisions we prevent things from building up and becoming overwhelming.
5. Call a family meeting where everyone gets an opportunity to talk (uninterrupted) about what their greatest achievement for 2005 was and what they feel the new year should hold. By taking a moment for gratitude we can move into 2006 with the right attitude.

6. Getting organised is like losing weight. It takes time to put on the kilos and then dedication and a plan of action to lose them. Accept that getting organised is a process. Decide what will work for you and then, one step at a time, work at achieving it. The battle of conquering the clutter brings with it great rewards: reduced stress, increased productivity and more time to do the things that really matter.

Visit www.getorganised.co.za for more tips and ideas to get organised in 2005 and stay organised in 2006 and beyond. Get Organised run national workshops on the basics of organising your home, office and time. They also run a course for people with a passion for organising that are looking for a new career. To find out about the March 2006 workshops and courses call Tracey on 082 739 3385 - Fantastic specials and gift vouchers available for booking before 31 December 2005 (conditions apply).

Always admired the eye-catching, breathtaking quilts made by others? But think you've got two left thumbs? Then this month's prize is just for you! We're giving away a copy of Quilting for Dummies by Cheryl Fall, and if you've read anything in the "For Dummies" series, then you'll know that this is going to be a painless and highly entertaining way to learn a new skill. To enter, send an email to competition@redballoon.co.za with the word 'November' in the subject line, and tell us who wrote Quilting for Dummies. The winner will be contacted by the 9th of December. Congratulations to Mandy Hopkins, Judy Graham and Sylvia Bache, the winners of our September competition. Enjoy using your Candle Pens!

SOAP FOR SALE! One of our readers, Shirna, is no longer making soap, and now has 3.5kg of soap looking for a good home! Mixed colours. R150. Call Shirna on (021) 555 0360 or 083 587 5236. Shamwari Crafts raised a fantastic R600 for the Teddy Bear Clinic during Handmade Hope week (18 to 24 September). Thanks to Angie and her team for the superb effort! Herzlia High School will be holding a craft market/fun day on Sunday 12 March 2006 to raise money for charity. The market will take place at the school from 10am. Stalls are now available for rental at R150 each. Contact Marion Stein on (021) 712 2677 or 083 708 9333 for more info or to book. Sally Ferguson of Betty's Bay has contacted me and asked me to make the following information available. She is involved with a number of accommodation establishments in the area and they are going to be arranging craft and art weekends in Betty's Bay during the off-season, from next year. At this stage Sally is looking for any teachers who would be interested in offering classes during a weekend like this - please contact her on 072 184 1564 or allysan@telkomsa.net to express your interest and find out more. For those of you who agree with me that this sounds like a wonderfully therapeutic weekend getaway, we will be bringing you more information as arrangements are finalised, so watch this space!

Shamwari Crafts will be holding Xmas Beading and Craft Workshops at the Plettenberg Bay Community Centre, Piesangvalley Road, Plettenberg Bay, from 5 to 8 December. There will also be a mini-exhibition of Shamwari Crafts Products, from 9am to 5pm daily, so if you're in the area, stop in and do some shopping. Classes on offer include Beaded 3-D Xmas Tree, Bauble Xmas Mobile, Xmas Sandart Decoration, Advanced Fashion Jewellery, and many, many more. Bookings are essential. Call Angie on 082 441 4779 for more details, or email me for booking forms and class schedule. Jo-Ann Bannister is holding the following soapcrafting workshops at the V&A Waterfront in the next few weeks: 10/12: 10am - Beginners / 2pm - Beginners 16/12: 10am - Health Soaps / 2pm - Kiddies' Soapcrafting for Gifts 17/12: 10am - Out of Africa / 2pm - Out of Africa 18/12: 10am - Xmas Soapcrafted Ornaments / 2pm - Charity Workshop for Children Booking is essential. Contact Jo-Ann at glorioussoap@iafrica.com.