Saturday 31 December 2011

2012 .... Here we come!

To say I'm happy to say goodbye to 2011, is an understatement. It's been a sad sad year for me, and I can't really believe I'm entering a new year without Mum & Dad, but I am, and I have to make the best of it. What it has shown me, is that we have to grab hold of life and enjoy it the best we can. So I'll be starting the new year with hope & a positive attitude. My Moto this year is .... Never save anything for best :)

I would like to say a big thank you to you all, for the kindness and support you've all shown me. My blogging friends rock!

Happy New Year to you all .... And cheers, here's to 2012 being amazing.

Thursday 1 December 2011

Advent Time

I'm gently putting my foot back in the door and blogging again.  Firstly, I can't thank you all enough for the lovely kind comments and emails that you've all sent to me regarding the loss of my parents.  I still have very bad days - of which yesterday was one.  But on the whole, days are better and I'm starting to look forward to Christmas. So that's a good sign.

A few things I'd love to share with you - firsty, is the new addition to our family.  Yup, Eddie is now living with us - he was Mum & Dad's dog, although I did walk him and he knew our house fairly well, but he's really settled in well and he's just the best thing to happen to Simon and I this past few months.  Everyone that meets him, falls in love with him, he's just adorable and so loving.  So lying on his new bed, with his new red collar on, he kindly posed for photos for me.  

The only downside of him is .... he follows me EVERYWHERE! he's always two steps behind me - and if I come down from upstairs (where he's not allowed) ... honestly, you'd think he hadn't seen me in ages, he jumps around just like a puppy!  We laugh and say he's a bit like the film "50 first dates" ... he forgets he's just seen you.  I feel so bad for him, he won't settle down and just sleep - no he wanders around with me all the time.  Still, I can't complain, hes far too gorgeous for that, and we love him to bits :)


 Also, I am such an amazing Christmas fan, so first thing this morning, I opened our Advent Calendar, and of course - Eddie had to have his as well. Which was followed very quickly with me opening my day one of the crop Advent swap.  So HUGE thank you to my Santa for the most gorgeous Websters Papers .... yes, I did squeel when I saw them.


I've not been crafting at all but I'm sure once I get back into my blog reading and seeing all the amazing creative ideas my blogging friends have come up with, I'll be using those papers very soon. Also, I hope you all don't mind too - but I opened my google reader to find more than 1000 posts, so please don't think me rude, but I've decided to start afresh from today. 

Friday 14 October 2011

A little break

I would just like to give you an update as to why I haven't visited any blogs these past few days.  Sadly, I lost my wonderful father on Wednesday.  It was sudden and unexpected, and also not even 4 months after losing my mother. 

So I'm having a bit of time away from the computer to come to terms with it - I do truly understand he's happy now and with mum - he really couldn't live without her.  His heart was just broken with her loss.

Next week is the funeral, and then I'll be back.  Take care all xx

Thursday 6 October 2011

Fabric Choice

Well just to keep you updated with my quilt ... the fabric choices have been made, I have bought my wadding and I've picked my pattern.  Nothing too complicated, I need this to be as simple as can be, and it needs to motivate me to do it :) The pattern is from the Material Obbsession book, which just has the most gorgeous pictures in it ... it's one of those that each time you turn a page, you fall in love with the next quilt more.


Anyway - I'm ready to go.

I aslo want to show you a layout I did last month of hubby - The photo was taken on the day we went to Buckingham Palace, and the train was packed - goodness knows what people thought of me, sitting on a seat taking photos of this man lol.

I'll be back later this week too, I know shocking huh .... but I've seen on quite a few blogs recently, they've shown their month in pictures - well I have so many pictures from last month, and I thought it might be nice for me to look back on too.

Saturday 1 October 2011

31 days ... and counting

I’m a procrastinator ... I never used to be. My friends will tell you – I was one of those annoying people that had cards ready to be posted a month before birthdays etc – I had filing all done and dusted before you knew it, and Christmas ... well, that was done and wrapped by the end of October, and I had everything on my lists ticked and done before you could say ... "who's for coffee?" So what on earth happened?


Well, enough is enough – I have a head that is full of ideas – sometimes so many, I feel it could burst! I still write my lists, but sadly I do roll over lists, with items that just never get ticked off. I admire women that seem to do it all, and do it with such ease. So today, it’s the 1st of October ... and I’ve woken up in the little house, with weather that's just so glorious, and a positive attitude. Already this morning, I’ve done my blog reading, and I’m ready to go out ... sadly, I have to wait for the rugby to finish, and by the sounds that hubby is making, I’m not sure he’ll be in such a good mood, but hey, I’m still not giving in.

And so this morning – on part of my blogging tour – I came across .. “newly creative” blog and well, on it a link to 31 days to .... so of course I clicked and followed and oh my, all these amazingly creative people with a plan to do something for all 31 days – well, I’ve checked out most of them – but the one that appeals is the 31 days to a handmade quilt – there were others that appealed too, and some I certainly will follow, but this is the one I’m going to try my best to keep to.

Don’t worry, I won’t show you every step of the way! But maybe it’s the push I really need. I have a quilt that I would say is 30% done, hanging over my sewing machine ... and I have enough gorgeous fabric to make probably a dozen quilts ..... or at least that’s what Hubby says! So I’m going to give it a go. I’ll keep you updated with how I do.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

28 days!!!

oh my word .... it can't be! yup, it has, it's been 28 days since I last posted .... tut, tut - I will now go and stand in the corner and hang my head in shame.

To be honest, I have no idea why I haven't blogged, it's not like I've not had lots to share with you all - firstly, I had a birthday, so I'm now 23 ..... yes, if you read my blog, you'll now be thinking .. hey, hasn't she been married for 23 years!, and the answer is yes ... it's funny how that has happened, but it has - so there lol.

And well for my birthday, my lovely hubby took me to Buckingham Palace to see Kates dress. I can not tell you how excitied I was - and I sure wasn't dissapointed, ohhh it is so very, very beautiful.  Sadly, you weren't allowed to take photos inside, in fact they made me put my camera in a bag.  Still, I really enjoyed my day.  I've also attended a couple of crops, and got to spend a day at the little house.  Something we've not been able to do for a while ... so all in all, its been an ok month so far.

Something I also do as soon as my birthday is finished, is start getting ready with all my Christmas bits. So out comes the lists and the box of christmas crafts, but I'll share that with you on another post.

As you may have noticed I've been playing at updating my blog too, I hope you like it, I still have some bits to change and add, but I think I like it:).  I even had a go at changing the shop blog - no stopping me now. 

Anyway, I'll leave you with me looking as pleased as punch ... I get to see the dress, and I have a starbucks coffee .... life is goooood :)


Thanks for stopping by, and not forgetting me :)

Wednesday 24 August 2011

The completed craft room

Well it took long enough, and I'm rather shocked at just what stash I had, but then every crafter says that, right?  Anyway, finally on Sunday, I finished the room - and with an armful of goodies given to next door, who's just been bitten by the scrapping bug - I can finally move in my gorgeous room.

The room was decorated and finished about 5 years ago, and my clever hubby built the shelving from a picture I pulled out of an old Creative Keepsakes, and as I'm sure you'll understand, every now and then I have a need to re-organise.  But I think this will keep me happy for the rest of the year :)





 But for now, I'm just going to stand and stare at my tidy room :)

Thursday 18 August 2011

Crop Layouts

Just to prove I do actually do something at crops other than chatter and help keep Starbucks afloat, I'd thought I'd share with you a couple of layouts I did at the last Saturday crop.

The first is explaining, that I've finally joined Facebook - I'm still working my way around it, and I'm not quite addicted to it as some said I'd be, but to be honest, these days I'm trying my best not to be so obsessed  with the computer and actually get on with more crafty fun.  But, that's not to say I still don't spend a far bit of my time either attached to my laptop or ipad. 

The second layout was about me going to work for my husband! .... I go ever so often into London with him, and do the admin work in the office - but this particular day, although I went with the idea to do that - he first took me to breakfast at the most amazing place called, Cecconi's and then if that wasn't enough, all I managed to do in the office was go with him to a couple of meetings, where he told me to wait in Costa's for him until he'd finished and then I left him to go and meet some friends for the Vintage Fair! ... I'm thinking soon, he'll cotton on that more of a hindrance in the office than any real help.


As to my craft room clear out ... well that's still a work in progress, but I'll be back soon to share what I've done with it.

Sunday 14 August 2011

Big Clear out ... and scrapping

I had a fabulous day at the crop yesterday, even managed 2 and half layouts, plus as Jo will no doubt tell you, I did spend quite a bit of time in Starbucks and Sainsburys ... plus the ladies room, cleaning up my blouse after the starbucks cup leaked all down the front of me! But I did manage week 2 weekly challenge over on UKS - which was to use a sketch provided, use a star, a group of photos and use the letter "H" in the title. So here it is my take on it

Now onto other matters! ... I wanted to show you the before photos.  I did a bit more scrapping today, to suddenly realise I was again spending far too much time looking for what I wanted, and also that I'd hemmed myself in to such a small space, when I have a lovely big desk.  So in a funny five minutes, I decided enough was enough, and I was going to have a clear out! Plus I have gorgeous stash, which I don't use because it's hidden away.  So I thought I'd share with you my room at this moment in time.  I'll be back later in the week, to hopefully show you the finished article.  And when I say "hopefully" - as I now I wonder, if maybe I should have done a small area at a time .. oh well, might as well roll up my sleves and get on with the job.

So here you are in true Blue Peter fashion ... the before shots.





Hope you're all having a great weekend, and I'll share with you during the week the other layouts I completed at the crop, and also how I'm getting on with my clear out, but now I better get back to clearing :)



Sunday 7 August 2011

The first of my Everydays!

As I said in my previous post, thanks to a video of Shimelles, I want to capture the everyday moments in our lives ... and well, this is one everyday moments that happens throughout my day!

Yup, Google reader.  I'm a firm believer in that if you blog, you should take the time to check out, and reply to other peoples.  We all like to get comments, and I like to give a little thank you back to my friends that inspire me.  So here it is the first of many everyday moments from me.

The layout was actually created for a challenge over on UKS, where you had to scrap in blue, use products you'd been keeping for special and in a size that you don't normally scrap in. Well, 8.5 x 11 was totally new to me, but do you know, I really enjoyed it.  I think, I'll be shopping for that size album soon :)

Ok, back to clearing up and sorting out my craft room for more scrapping ... goodness, what has got into me :)





Friday 5 August 2011

Where did those years go?

I know people say the older you get the quicker time seems to go!  But I can honestly say I don't believe I can have been married 23 years, I mean how is it possible when I'm only 23 in my head lol.

We had a beautiful Wedding  and its still is so fresh in my mind - I remember nearly every detail. But 23 years ago it was, last Saturday - and I still haven't really scrapped the photos - but I did make a start on it, with this layout - you may have seen it over on the Gotta Craft blog, but for those that didn't, here it is :)

I've actually started feeling a lot more creative recently, and even managed two layouts at the crop last night - that's unheard of for me, but I watched a video of Shimelle's over on the Ali Edwards blog recently - and she really got me thinking about scrapping the little moments in our lives.  I know I started to with my daily coffee a few months back, but she has made me think of how to look around me and scrap my everyday - so I'll be sharing those moments with you ..... I hope you don't mind :)

Sunday 31 July 2011

A Vintage Affair

Vintage is hip! ... well that's for sure, judging by the Vintage Fair at South Bank on Friday. 

I'd like to share some of the photos from the day.  Of course I won't share them all with you ... I went a little mad clicking my camera at nearly everything, but a word of warning ...this is still a photo heavy blog post :)

I truly had just the most amazing day, just wandering around, soaking everything in ... my husband on the other hand, who luckily didn't come with me, just said ... "so Vintage Fair, isn't that just another word for Jumble sale!!!"













Monday 18 July 2011

Explore ... has started

I've often signed up for classes but never really completed them ... I'm sure I'm not alone there.  So when I signed up for Shimelle's latest class "Explore" - I set myself a challenge, to actually try my best to follow the prompts as they appear and, as often as I can actually join in the chatter on her forum.

So here we are, Day 1 of Explore!  Yes, I've made my playbook, and taken my self portrait! eekkk ... and even written my Note to Self - so, so far, so good.  Now I do think that some of my journaling is going to be kept quite and to myself so that I can really express how I feel - but I would like to share my first page with you.

NOTE TO SELF:

18 July 2011: that's the date I'm starting Shimelle's "Explore" class - I need to get my creativitiy flowing! I've been lost for some time now, and with Mum's passing, it's just magnified things. So Jump in - that's my new motto!

Our first task, was to do a self photo - and although I did one at the beginning of the year for my "one little word" class (which is another thing that I've not done anything with) today's me, is a completely different person than I was on the 1st January. I'm not happy to be in front of the camera and as such I tend to like to photograph family members, pets or even houshold ojects - but this is a new me, who wants to do so much more - I want to learn, I want to be more creative - I want to explore who I really am, and what I'm capable of.

So Jump In Sandra! .... and don't worry if you mess up, it's only paper!

Ok, there it is is ... and also, I'm going to share my photo with you ... and well, this really is me - as I am normally and that is Nosey! ... you see, I was taking my photo in the mirror and then a delivery van pulled up outside, and true to the person I am - I had to have a little look see, and as I did - I clicked in error!  ... so of course, if it's about Explore - well, in a way I was exploring the outside lol.



and here is my front cover of my book - I first picked out pinks, as normal - but then realised I was going to try something different, I may well still add some more and tweek it a little, but for now, I'm happy with it.

Thank you for all your recent kind coments, it's meant a great deal to me - and please, feel free to nag me, if I don't do as I say, and keep up with the class :)
















Saturday 16 July 2011

Back into the world of blogging

Its been a very difficult few weeks for me recently.  Some of you are aware that I lost my mother on the 1st July, and it's taken me quite some time to come to terms with it - but this isn't a sad post, instead I just wanted to explain why I've been awol recently.  I am slowly getting my act together, and I hope you all won't mind but I think I'll start my blog reading again now and afresh ... I don't think I'll be able to play catch up with past posts.

I would just like to share this poem with you from Patience Strong, who was a favourite of my grandmothers.

Life and Death

When blossom breaks on bush and spray, God speaks
to all who grieve. There is no death, He seems to say
Look up, have faith, believe.
Our loved ones pass beyond our sight. We say that
they have gone. But they are somewhere in the light -
where life and love go on.
So when you see the flower hedge, and green leaves
on the tree, remember that it is a pledge of immortality.


And I'd also like to share a layout I did a couple of years ago of my wonderful mother ... I was truly blessed to have been her daughter.

Monday 20 June 2011

An Amazing Day

Last week, we were lucky enough to be invited out for the day to Heston Blumenthal's restaurant, for a Taste menu, then a boat trip down to Windsor for an evening of horse racing ... oh it was out of this world! 

The food, well I can honestly say, was just the best I've ever tasted - and of couse I took photos ... the first picture is 'Pome Dores' Pork Meat Fruit, Apple and Grill Bread.  The apple looked amazing, and then you cut into it ... oh WOW



This was then followed by Tea-smoked Tea with Soda Bread, after which was Pork Belly with Peppered Lion, followed by Champagne & Granny Apple Granita - and then Sherry Trifle and hand made Petit Fours .... I remember to photograph the Pork and Trife, the rest I couldn't wait to eat!



Shockly enough for me, I've already scrapped the restaurant, but I've taken so many more photos - I think a mini book will be in the making very soon.



I'll save the boat trip photos and horse racing for another post, otherwise you'll be sick of me being so excited over the day :) 

Wednesday 1 June 2011

A little bit of Everything

This really is a post with a little bit of everything ... I suddenly have so much I want to share with you all.   

I love getting post ... proper post! Yes, I love emails, skype and all that but there is something really special about getting an envelope with your name handwritten on it, especially when you're not expecting anything. So imagine my delight when these came out of the envelope.

A big thank you to Michelle, for really making my morning - that's so very kind of you.  Inside reads "just because you love all things pretty".  Isn't she talented, and oh so so sweet :)

Ok next; I set myself  many challenges each year, some I manage, some I get nowhere near, but one of them was to read more - and not just magazines!  I used to read so much when I used to commute by train to work, but now working from home, I don't' tend to.  Anyway, I joined a reading group, and have so far read some very good books, some of which I wouldn't normally pick up - well the latest, is The Crying Tree, and one I would recommend.  When I first read the back, well I thought, goodness I'll cry through all of this, but that wasn't the case!  So a quick recap, from the back;


Irene Stanley thought her world had come to an end when her husband found their 15 year old son, Shep murdered in their Oregon Home.  DanielRobbin, who had spent his teenage years in & out of trouble, gave himself up to the police and was given the state's harshest sentence; death by lethal injection.

Now Nineteen years later, as the superintendent of the state penitentiary prepares to execute Robbin, Irene Stanley must reveal something she has been hiding from her family.

Her revelation stuns her family and cracks open the secrets that surrounded her son's death.  Secrets that reveal how little she understood Shep, her husband or herself.

Now it's not as morbid as it sounds, and the book jumps back and forward though time - but doesn't really touch on the actual murder, which probably helps.  It's more about how the family deal with it, and also how the prison warden copes with the event he's facing, and finally how the mother deals with the loss of her son and the true events of that day. If you're looking for something a little different, I would recommend it - I'm now looking forward to my next read, especially as I have a super bookmark too :)

And finally, although I posted this layout on the shop blog - I do want to share it with you too, as I love the photo.  It was taken on Easter Sunday, so before THE wedding!  And Simon suggested going up to London to see the flags - well, it was amazing, were were in Regent Street - and right there at the lights was a mini, a taxi and a Bus, all next to the flags. You couldn't get anything more British LOL.  So I dashed to the middle of the road and took the photo - and I'm so pleased I did. 


Ok, enough talk from me.  Goodness, I don't think I've ever done a blog post with so much chatter :)