Sew

I am making very large curtains for my lounge atm, so lots of sewing stuff laying about in my dining room!

Now I am 48

I thought i would have a little look at my new years resolutions, and maybe update a little, as it is 3 months since making them, and it was my birthday, time to take stock!

Just lately I have tried to clear out a bit of 'clutter' in my life, and have given up the little things that were beginning to get in the way and irritate. So I have given up Spanish lessons, being a school govenor, and Rosemary Conley exercise classes.

So now I have my job, which I am quite enjoying really - loving the money to spend on stash whenever I want, and like the sense of satisfaction I get from cleaning! Just last week I changed from doing Friday morning to Thursday evening. It does mean I have to go in twice on a Thursday, but then once I am finished at 8pm on a Thuirsday that's it for the week, and a 3 day weekend! I think it's going to work out Ok. Only trouble is, I got dreadful backache after doing the 2 sessions!!! I expect it will pass.

I have my crafting, which I am loving more and more. I still love scrapbooking the best, and although I still have a lot of projects on the go at once, I have signed up for Shimelle's latest class at www.shimelle.com. It's called When I grow up. Watch this space, I will let you know. So now I have given up the little things, i actually will have lots more time for scrapping and other projects. I am doing some small swaps, inchies and ATCs, but am not going to let them get out of hand. I have 2 ongoing CJs, well 3 actually if you include the Crawley crop one, but after these I won't do any more for the time being.

I want to spend more time with my camera! I am trying to find a forum with perhaps a weekly challenge, and some inspiring tips. I love the ideas on http://herspace-myspace.blogspot.com/ and will continue with that for the time being, and I am really looking forward to going to to natalie's Photogrpahy course on saturday. I must check out the West Dean photogrpahy courses, and maybe an adult education course for September. I really want to make the best out of this camera, and improve my photography. I do think it has improved just by having my digital compact and taking loads more photos already, but now I need to get technical!

Health. I want to lose some weight. It is a glorious sunny day outside today, and I made a veggie soup for my lunch. Just got to not eat those biscuits! I am sure with all the exercise I do, 3 hours cleaning and at least 1 hour dog walk per day it should be easy! I want to lose 1 stone by the end of June, that is 3 months time. 1lb per week, it's do-able.

I still have AIFHS. I could do more and challenge myself with this, or I could just carry on with membership secretary. I am sort of in between atm, sometimes chipping in with discussion. But there are some persoanlity clashes, and that scares me!!!! I will definately carry on with m/s for the time being. I also want to do far more family history. I spent £90 on a subscription to www.findmypast.com, and I must make good use out of it! It goes really well with scrapbooking, and I have loads of ideas for my heritage album.

Well it's such a gorgeous day, I think I'll take my camera out now!

Bottle

This is for the http://herspace-myspace.blogspot.com/ challenge. A Bottle. This is a gorgeous bottle of handwash given to me by sarah for my birthday. I just love the way the sun shines through the bottle. I placed it on the carpet where the sun was shining in through the window, and experimented with different settings on my camera. I like this one best.

My birthday!

It's my birthday today. I am now 48. That sounds awfully near to 50 for my liking! I had a fab new camera from DH. A Nikon D70s, a fabby dabby Digi SLR. Here are some photos I have taken today. A couple of Merlin in the garden. Our old film camera couldn't cope with the black fur, but digital shows every single hair! And the grass is such a natural colour.




















Hellebore foetidus (I think!) in the garden, taken on the macro setting













Here' the box!!! Full of goodies, and I have a fab camera bag too!











Here's the man himself, reading the quick guide. Mum and Dad came round this afternoon, so we have sat in the lounge for ages today. After they went I surfed the photography forum on Uks, and found some really helpful things, such as photoblogs, and challenges. I am going to try and spend some time this week to find a good one or two to stick with. What I'd like is a photoblog with perhaps a weekly challenge, with tips.

A long shot of the garden from the back door of the conservatory. It looks good from here doesn't it?

Quite a restful day, doing different things, just what a birthday should be. Other presents: from Lucy some special oil and vinegar, from Nicholas a Richard Ashcroft CD (which is really fab), from Mum and Dad a crop a dile (cuts through chipboard like butter, but I haven't mastered eyelet setting yet!) From Angela, some lovely body lotion, from Sarah, 2 storage boxes, hand soap and exfoliating gloves! From Pam, coriander seeds, from Lorraine 3 polyanthus plants. And I had a whole load of birthday ATCs and cards from the Tandites (Tanda stamps forum), they are gorgeous. I'll photograph them tomorrow and upload.

recent crafting

Asian ATCs for monthly swap on Tanda Stamps forum. I couldn't decide which 2 to send, so I've sent 3! (I've sent 1,2 and 3, decided not to send 4, cos it is not so good!) One for Wendy to keep. I've used Paper Artsy stamps, stamped onto paper coloured with distress inks (one of my fave background techniques!), then cut out and mounted on to HOTP Ephemera paper (blue 2 and 3) or home made background with PA maple leaf stamp (1 and 4).












More inchies! Oh I love making these! These are for a swap on UK Stampers. Background is painted stripy with twinkling H2Os, another fab background! I decided to do a 'garden' theme, using up some of my garden embellies from a swap last year, and pics out of an old gardening book, and pics out of an RHS magazine. One or two are stamped as well, eg the buzzy bee one (my favourite!) Also used beads, prima flowers, doodling, glossy accents. Can't wait to do another set!

RHS Wisley Garden

I took Mum and dad to RHS Wisley Garden in Surrey last Friday. I used maurice's camera, but am not totally happy with the results, all a bit blurry I think!

Wisley was incredibly busy in the car park! They are building new access for the new greenhouse, so lots of car park was inaccessible, and consequently the rest was full up! We thought we were going to have to turn round and go home! Dad needed the loo, so wewent back into the car park, and I spotted a space right in the top corner. PHew! Luckily Mum had bought sandwiches, so we didn't have to negotiate the crowds in the restaurant.

We went to the rockery, saw the meadow with it's naturalised bulbicodums, and this gorgeous 'river' of crocuses. The alpine house was at it's most spectacular, as you can see here. We didn't spend long, only 2 hours including a trip round the garden centre! Still a lovely day out, one of my most favourite places for a day out.

Just a quick one ....

Just a quick post, looks like I run out of time always doesn't it? Off shopping in a mo, then I'll have tomorrow (Wed) all free for crafting. Just seen a fab minibook demo'd by Shimelle http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/. Might have a go at that.

I really ought to do some scrapping, seem to have spent all my craft time lately doing inchies, ATCs and birthday cards! But now I am suffering from withdrawal symptoms! I've just become team leader of the scrapettes over on UKs and I haven't made any points yet this month!!

What a beautiful day!

What a fab time I had making these inchies yesterday! They are for a RED inchie swap on tandastamps forum. I took a bit more trouble with them this time. The background is painted with twinkling H20s, then I gold embossed some stitiches, zigzag and crosses with my banana frog stamps. Then I found little pictures, and cut words from old books. Great fun!












Oh the sun is shining today! It is lovely and warm, and it really feels like spring has sprung. We went for a lovely walk along the beach this morning. That and a cup of coffee afterwards sure helped clear the slight fuzzy head from last night! We went out for a meal with S&S, old friends. Trouble is, M and S were showing off to each other and pretending they could still drink like they could when they were 21! So M's hangover was much worse than mine! I felt muzzy headed more from lack of sleep through indigestion than drink.





I pottered in the garden for an hour, then we had a lovely roast lamb dinner. Sat at the dining room table which I had cleared. Just about to go and make it messy again!

DH has gone away for a couple of days on business, so I can craft tonight without feeling guilty!

A Clear Day!

WOOHOO! I have a clear day!! DH took the dog for a run this morning, and my friend has cancelled coffee (although I was secretly looking forward to just sitting for a bit and chatting!).

What shall I do? Not spend all day on here!!!

I could:

Clean the house
do some gardening (although it is still very wet out there!)
Clear my dining room
Make a BIG dent in my list of craft projects to do
Go shopping ( new shoes, new trousers etc)


I need to:
Get the washing and ironing done
Go food shopping
Buy a birthday present for my niece

Be back later to tell you what I did do, off to have a shower now)

craft stuff

Here are some of my cards for the Emily Falconbridge challenge. (I do think that is a great name!)
week 6 Love is just a confectionof pink hearts and flowers
week 7 muddy boots, cos that's all I seem to wear atm what with walking the dog! I'm going to do a 'Muddy Walks' LO soon, and took some oics this morning. They haven't come out very well though, cos my camera is pants at taking photos in bright light. Might have to use DS's pics.
week 8 I miss ... My Youth 1970s! Pic is of me aged 17 on my Puch maxi moped. I met DH through bikes, cos Dad made me do a motorcycle training scheme, and DH was the trainer!
Week 9 My inspiration is COLOUR. I decided on this becasue once I've picked the photos I pick the colour to match the photos, and it's that that makes a good LO and makes the photo look so good. I think anyway.



This is my Lo for Jackie's Wild West CJ over on UK Stampers. We have all been very slow lately on these, and nothing has moved for several months. Have to admit I've had this CJ for about 2 months! I ordered all my cowboy stamps because of this. And this is my first attempt at brayering! I used a Big Juicy inkpad, and the colours are fab! I really like the cowboy silhouette stamps too. I used a bit of shrink plastic on the brown ribbon.

Beth's Portsmouth crop minibook

Here are some photos of my minibook from the class that Beth took at her crop on Saturday. The whole point was to try out some new techniques, which I certainly did! The front cover has a textured surface, achieved with tissue and PVA glue! Then painted with acrylic paint, and I have highlighted the texture with a metallic rub-on. Beth used nail varnish.

This is the first time I've tried Japanese stab stitiching as a binding. It's easy! I was really pleased that my holes lined up OK, and the stitching looks great!

I finished the book yesterday, and decided to use BG Hang 10 papers, and make it a masculine book, with photos of DH on his BMW R1200GS motorbike, which he bought last year.

Here is my 'window' page.

There is a minibook inside the pocket. There is a photo later on to show the minibook.

On the LHS, I have glued a whole photo. The RHS is made from 2 pieces of acetate, painted roughly round the edge, then joined togther with eyelets, sandwiching a photo. I think this is very effective.

Here is the 'fold-out' page. I will do some journaling on the flaps. Again, I have attached a whole photo.

Inside of mini-minibook

It was a really good crop, with classes both morning and afternoon. Very well organised, easy to get to (only 45 mins from here, and I didn't get lost!), lots of great company, great venue, and there is a fish and chip shop just 2 mins walk away for lunch!!!

Stamp Galaxy cyber birthday event

Fabulous classes! Now I have finished them, I am really pleased with what I have achieved! I have not done stamping on tissue properly before. What a great technique! Got to use my new aquaflow brushes, and my ancient water colour pencils. I am really pleased with this tin, especially the top. The bottom inside has not come out very well because it has a thick layer of glossy accents type stuff. (Too thick actually, I poured it out too quick!) The lovely flower stamp came in a misc bag of stamps from eBay!

These next 2 are stamping onto tissue then adhering it to a bazzil chip. I really like the distressd look of the butterfly one, achieved by rubbing all over with a nearly dry chalk ink pad in light brown.

This is my Bazzil chip brooch! I really like the chip, but am hopeless at adding the beads, in fact, 2 have dropped off already! I am going to hang it from my AMM tote. The stamp is one of the 'retro ladies' from Tanda Stamps.

I was having a lot of difficulty with my Lippy Chick book! I couldn't get it to fold neatly! After playing with my hardly used bone folder, I have managed to get it to fold. The diagonal pieces fold in front, and the top and bottom fold behind the middle piece.

The pics are of DD Lucy prancing about in her ballet gear one evening. She looks fab! especially up on point! In fact, she is really pleased with the book too.

I haven't yet decorated the back, and have lots of pics pf her feet in different ballet positions to go there.

Paper is Blonde Moments, letters are QK 'Lucy', and flowery stamps are banana frog.

Thanks to Kym, Kristy and Sid for fabulous ideas, and very helpful instructions.

weekend antics

Quite a busy weekend. Sat morning, DH went out to do his advanced motorcycle training. He was out for 3 hours! I thought, great, I will do my SG cyber thingy while he is out, and then go out with him in the afternoon. But they didn't post any classes until lunchtime!! I did make a start on 3, an altered mint tin, a bazzil chip brooch, and a Lippy Chick book. Well, I don't think I read the instructions properly do I? I have gone wrong on all 3!!! The mint tin I put beads in the lid as well as in the bottom, and the lid wouldn't shut! I had to scrape them off with my craft knife, and all the paint as well! The brroch is OK, but I can't do the beads, I have no idea how to do them, so they don't look very good! And they will probably fall off! The Lippy Chick book won't fold properly- I think I have spoilt that. Oh well, it's all a learning curve. I feel quite frustrated that I haven't had time to finish them, but that's becasue:

Sat afternnon we went into town. I bought some new shoes (for work), and we have bought home another load of samples for curtains for the lounge. I am optimistic that we will make a decision this time. In the evening, we went out to watch a Mass Concert Band concert. it was the Adur, Littlehampton and Bognor Regis bands all together. Our friend Andy plays the trumpet in the Adur band. It was quite good, they played some stuff that I knew(!), but I miss the strings!!! Give me a bit of violin any day.

On Sunday we went to see John in his new bungalow. It is vbery nice indeed. It feels very homely, and quite enough space for one person. It is in a very unusual setting, next to hadlow Castle. It has a very tiny garden, with a large wall, but it doesn't feel oppressive. Behind the wall is the castle, and a huge tower or folly! The bungalow is tucked into a corner, so the appraoch is in front of the neighbours bungalows, but I think that makes it seem very snug and secure.

The kids were left instructions to make tea, but Lucy put the chicken in later than I asked, and Nicholas was a in a very bad mood with his computer, so had not doen the vegetables. When I made him do them he forgot the brocolli, even though I had put it out right next to him, so we didn't eat until 7pm. No time for crafting in the evening:(

Sad day

Toady is the funeral of Adrienne Reeve, a very inspiring and gifted teacher. She taught Nicholas in year 7 at West Park C of E school, and was one of his favourite teachers. She had the gift of making every child feel special. Nicholas says 'she liked maths, I like maths, she was very enthusiastic, which inspired us children'. She taught Lucy science in year 7, and she ran the netball team of which Lucy was captain. Lucy was not so keen as Nicholas, but she still feels sad today. Lucy says 'she taught me to play netball, and she inspired me to play more sport. She remembered my name!'

Adrienne was one of the teachers that inspired me to try teacher training. Most teachers at the time told me not to go into teaching, Adrienne and Jenny Colcohoun told me it was the best job in the world, go for it! Unfortunately, my teaching career never took off from 1st base - I lasted 8 months in training. But I will always remember Adriennne's enthusiasm and love of children (older children though - she didn't like young children!) She died of cancer aged only 43. I am thinking of all those children who will miss out on having her as a wonderful teacher.

lost!

I went to Kelly's crop in Plumstead yesterday. My goodness did I get lost! I started off going up the A24 to drop Nicholas off at work, and decided to go across to the A27 at Shoreham to get to the A23. Up the A23/M23, stopped off in Crawley for Nicholas's parcel at City LInk, and joined the M25 ok. I even went the right way on the M23!! But, I left the m25 for Bromley on the A20 instead of the Bexleyheath turning A2! (DH has made the point that they both begin with B!!). It took me ages to realise what I'd done. So back to the M25, and off at the A2. I followed Kelly's instructions, but quickly went wrong, not sure how, so I just followed signs. I did rejoin the A207 at one point, but not sure where I was in relation to where I should have been iyswim! Anyway, I finally got there at 12.15!! But we had a fab day. It is a very nice church hall (I love church halls and all the community things that go on in them!) Kelly made us lunch - a very nice jacket potato with beans, cheese and salad. Kim from Stamp Galaxy was there with stuff from her shop, so lotsa shopping (especially when she said I could pay by paypal!!) Although there weren't many of us, it was a lovely atmosphere. I will go again in a few months time. Kim gave me different directions to the A2, but I still got lost, don't know how? I got on the A2 at Greenwich, and got home in a hour and a half - not too bad. All this in our hired CRV, with gears and it's a diesel! I did fill it up once, and you may laugh when I tell you I drove on the A2 for quite a while before I realised I was only in 3rd! (It has 6 gears, why does it need so many? I am so confused by lots of gears)

I did 2 LOs for Nicholas's album. I am quite pleased with them. I'll show you tomorrow. I bought some fab stamps from Kim, and I'll show you those too.

Today I am knackered, and am going to go to bed in a min (9pm). I have to go to work tomorrow, and get up at 6am, YUK, especially as it is half term for the kids. I don't suppose either of them will take the dog for a walk this week! Today all I've done is a huge mountain of ironing! (I so hate ironing, and I always leave it till the weekend!) Actually that's not quite true, I have just spent quite a long time surfing the net, and have made my list for things I need for Kim's Cyber Birthday celebrations (cyber stamp) www.ukstampers.co.uk

Universities

We have been looking at universities for DS this week. We went to Southampton on Tuesday, and Bristol on Wednesday. We have already looked at Surrey (guildford) and Bath. DS wants to do Computer Science. In fact, his primary school teacher would know that was what he would do! He has always been fascinated by computers, right from when he first had a go on our Amstrad, and used to fill the screen with X's and then hold the delete button down , and watch them all disappear! He's come a long way sonce then!

Here is my summary of these unis:
Bath, gorgeous town, lovely gree campus, accom right there next to the uni. Good reputation, and the degree course seems good. Year in industry very well organised, and well - liked by students and cos. Offer AAB
Bristol. City uni, very vibrant city, lots going on. Very fine reputationCS dept, very young, fun, lively (showed us lots of games!) Downside, accom quite a long way from uni. Offer likely to be AAB.
Southampton. Campus a bit grim, staff a bit distant. CS is in electronics dept, so degree slanted that way. Research led, but staff seem to like this better than their students. Accom a long way from uni Offer ABB
Surrey. Lovely campus. Quite near home. Staff friendly, approachable. Course: perhaps more business slanted. Year in industry well organised. Not so high up the uni pecking order, good insurance choice becasue of lower offer BBB.



Car crash update: We have a new Honda CRV as a hire car. Trouble is, it's manual (ours is automatic), and diesel!!! I have to remember not to put unleaded in it!!!! Ins cos are talking to each other, and our car is going to be repaired. I am quite pleased that they are going to try and repair our car, becasue I'm not sure I want a new car just yet. I really like our CRV, even though it is so juicy on the petrol.

Craft: Not done any this week. I did order some more bags and some large book rings, and I have finished sorting my ribbon. Just gor to use it now! I really ought to do that CJ entry, and organise my stash to take for Kelly's crop tomorrow.

car crash!

I am so pleased with these 2 LOs. I did them at the Brighton and Hove crop yesterday. 'Family' is scraplifted from jhansen on UKS, 'Stinky', and Lizzie and Harry (my maternal grandparents) is scraplifted from Caroline on UKS 'button page'. I couldn't resisit doing this, becasue Mum gave me a whole load of old buttons recently, and these are them! I suppose they are vintage buttons, and the colours are subtler than new ones, so really go with the vintage photos. The photos are of my maternal grandprents probably taken about the time of their marriage in the 1920s. The 'Family' photo is taken on my dad's birthday 1998 at a family get together, that is me and DH(who took the pic), my brother and DSIL, and their 2 girls.

ON the way home, I was involved in a car accident! Luckily noone was injured. For those that know it I was on the A27 just west of the Holmbush Centre, going west up the hillat about 50/60mph, when suddenly there was a stopped car in the middle of the road (broken down)! I braked hard, and didn't hit it, but someone hit me, and then someone hit them! So bit of a pile up really. Looks like the car could be a write off cos the back wheel looks all wonky. Shame cos we really like this car (Honda CRV), except for ther fact it uses too much petrol.

Ooooh I had a great day today! I went to the Brighton 'Creative Stitches' exhibition, and met some new friends from tandastamps craft forum http://www.tandastamps.com/forum/index.php

There's Tasha (Chicken Licken), Burnice (Angel), Me (linda321), and Linda (Lindy Lou). We had lunch together, and a great chat, all about ATCs and 'Inchies' - our latest craze. I also saw Lorna and Sue from my Brighton crop. We have a crop tomorrow, so looking forward to that.

Here's what I bought..... DH promised me a lamp for my birthday last year, and it's nearly my birthday this year, so I bought one. I'll try it out later. I'm also looking forward to using my brayer, the water pens, and the new stamps are for the inchies. I also bought lots of ribbon and buttons.- not that I'm short or anything, but I never have the right colour......

Off to have a play.

disappointed

Oh I'm disappointed this morning, we have no snow! The weather forecast last night was full of dire warnings for 7" os snow for most of England, especially the SE. Well, we had rain all last night, and when I cycled to work at 6am it wasn't even cold! I think North of the downs has some snow, but worst hit is north of the M4. Loads of schools shut (why?), roads blocked and general chaos as does happen whe we have a single flake of snow in thsi country. I suppose we just don't get enough to warrant snow ploughs etc.

Oh well, here are my first 5 cards from the Emily Falconbridge challenge http://www.embers.typepad.com/

We are using a pack of cards to make an art journal, one for for each week of the year. Emily is giving a prompt each week. There is a chat thread on UKS http://www.ukscrappers.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=148596
which is just brilliant! It is so great to share work with other like minded people, and to get comments. I just need to finish the backs of the cards. Atm they are uncovered, and I think I'll cover them with some pp and journal a bit more from each week.

been a busy girl

I've been too busy to blog! During January I did a huge amount of sorting out, my bedroom, the lounge stuff (that was in the conservatory), and the cupboard in Lucy's bedroom. Plus all my stash!!! I now have all my scrapbook papers, card, stickers, and small bits of card sorted into fabby Cropper Hopper storage, and they are all sittting on my lovely new CH trolley! It is wonderful to be able to scrap, and then put things away before I start again.

Hence, I have been on a roll with the scrapping this week. I finished my garden album!!! YIPEE! There are about 3 Los that I HATE, but I have decided not to change them atm becasue I want to move on.

Today I have been doing Kelly's scraplift challenge on UKS. Kelly came up with this fab idea, and asked for LOs we thought she should scrap. There are some gorgeous LOs there. I was going to do my 2006 album with them, but that meant sorting and ordering photos, so Im doing more to DS's album, which is 8 x 8.

'West Park' is scraplifted from Heels by juliebee, and 'Playing with Nanny' is scraplifted from 'Mine, mine, mine, by Kirsty.


Here are 3 of the LOs I completed for my garden album. Autumn Tinges and Pretty in Pink are October, and the other one is obviously November!!! I am trying to use up all my primas - they are one of those things that gets left in the packet and never used. One good thing about sorting stash is that it stuff that has bee forgotten comes to my attention again. I am using lots of brads atm. Need to use more embellies! Some of the embellies on the garden LOs come from the garden swap I did on UKS last spring/summer, and the tag was from a calendar swap also on UKS. They are gorgeous, all my tags, but I have found it difficult to incorporate them into LOs.