Friday again (where did that week go?) so hello my fellow Rockettes.
So what have I been grateful for this weeK?
Firstly, time in the house on my own (apart from Max - but more of him later).
It was lovely to eat when I wanted, to craft without interruption and generally just please myself. David has been up in Edinburgh for three days - as we speak he is driving back down (last heard from 40 miles north of Birmingham).
I shall be pleased to see him.
Max for keeping me company and making me smile.
Kindle for letting me read cheap (and, I must admit, trashy novels!) at a click of my mouse. Haven't dared take it into the bath yet - that's where I do a lot of my reading - as some of you may remember I did actually drop a paperback into the water one day last year. Don't think insurance would cover me somehow.
The good news that David's job is safe as his company undergoes yet another "restructuring" - I think that's corporate speak for redundancies.
Strong coffee that helps me face the day - although the cup I've got now is a little too strong even for me (the packet was almost empty so I just tossed it all into my cafetiere for one - big mistake).
A Maze of Memories where Diane and I were at Scrap Club last Saturday morning (LO is in a previous post). We stayed to crop in the afternoon and I'll show you the results at the end of this post. Poor Pat was supposed to be with us but unfortunately is suffering her second bout of a nasty flu like bug. Get better soon partner in crime - I've had to take over crafty sales ordering on her behalf as well as my own - it's a hard job but someone's got to do it.
And that,as they say,is that for this week.
This double LO is for my little brother and was made using his old school photos. For some reason when we were at primary school the photos used to be taken just before Christmas and they would always be in a folder with a Christmas picture on it - I know ours were often sent out to relatives with the Christmas cards. I used papers by Bo Bunny (Winter Joy) from the WeScrap December kit. Buttons and grommets/gromlets were from stash.
I made this tag for January (theme: Valentines) for the Tag Challenge 2011 being run by Helen aka Rumtruffle on her blog.
The tag is from the American Tag Company and is coloured using various TH distress inks - barn door, tattered rose,spun sugar. The metal heart and swivel clasp are also by TH and I also used his Heart and Wings Sizzix die. All other bits and pieces came from my stash.
This LO was made at Scrap Club yesterday using a kit and sketch provided by Christina. All the kits were different so we all had very different LOs by the end of the session. We also had to use stitching and make some flower embellies using stamps and patterned paper. The other 2 flowers are by Bo Bunny and Prima.
The LO is for a challenge on WeScrap where we were asked to write a letter to our younger self, with the benefit of hindsight. My letter is on a tag,hidden behind the photo.
Here is the text:
Dear Me,
Here you are in 1965 on holiday in Blackpool. You have just left Primary School and are about to start Secondary School. You will do well at Secondary School and will achieve the dream of being the first person in the family to go to University. You will not study your first love,History, as planned, but will choose French instead. You start travelling in 1969 and fall in love with France. French Literature and being paid to spend a year in France will change your long term plans.
You will continue to travel, in Europe and California, but always during school holidays as you follow Dad into teaching.
You will wait a long time to meet your future husband (you get married the day before your 28th birthday) and even longer to have your only child (age 35).You will move away from your family which will cause some heartache, especially when Mum dies, before her time, at the age of 71.
You will have problems and regrets but know that your husband and son support you through difficult times.
As I write you are still not reconciled to losing Dad but at least you were with him at the end, holding his hand.
This has been a difficult letter to write as the only changes I would make, with hindsight, would lead to you not meeting your husband and all that follows.
Hi all! I've just found out that the lovely Val gave me this award in December (sorry for taking so long Val!).
The rules are that I must list eight things about myself and pass the award on to four other bloggers.
So....here goes:
1.I spent my year in France in Le Mans and went to the 24 Hour race (in the press box no less!).
2. I was taken to see the inner workings of the lifts on the Eiffel Tower while on a "romantic" visit to Paris (thanks OH!) and still have the postcard to prove it.
3. I used to be an examiner for the NEAB G.C.S.E. in French.
4. Touch wood I have never broken a bone in my body.
5. I was "conned" into going on the Space Mountain ride @Disney World - DS said the best thing about the ride was hearing me scream (I don't "do" roller coasters).
6. As children my brother and I were only allowed a tortoise as a pet. We both now have dogs.
7. I was a bridesmaid three times (2 cousins and my little brother).
8. My A level English teacher said that I was the best producer of red herrings he'd ever met.
And now I would like to pass this award to (in no particular order):
Joanna
Virginia
Janet
Jacquelin
Do visit their blogs - they are all inspirational crafters.
Would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year - may all your wishes for 2011 come true.
I know I should have posted this yesterday but I got a little distracted.
Two football matches to watch - both United and Arsenal were on TV and they both won so the family is happy. My SIL is very happy as Liverpool managed to win too.
My Kindle - I'm in love with this gadget and keep sitting down for a quick read..2 hours later I've read a whole book. Admittedly I'm reading very light stuff at the moment (and Christmassy light stuff at that) but I found some M&B books on Amazon for only £1 (or free!). Back to normal next week with murder and mayhem and some classics - mainly John Buchan.
Scrapbooking - yes, I managed some "me" time in my craft area. I made a LO for a scraplift challenge on WeScrap.
I actually used (oh the pain!) some of my Tim Holtz goodies - paper,tape,ribbon and star.
The rest was from my stash: the jewel tree is a fridge magnet,the wooden heart is a tree decoration, the silver and red embellie was the bow on a Christmas present from my SIL & brother, the other flowers were bought from ebay at least two years ago and the bingo number is from a very old Lotto game that I found at Dad's.
Pictures are of Max wearing his Christmas bandanna - he doesn't mind wearing it but DS refused to take him out with it!
Hope you're all enjoying the first weekend of the year.
Hugs and sparkles.xx
As it's New Year's Eve I thought I'd do round up of my gratefuls for the year...so...in no particular order....
My DS who is growing into a very nice and thoughtful young man and who still hugs me when he thinks I need a hug even though he's 21.
My OH who has supported me through some difficult times this year and who hugs me too. He also puts up with my having taken over the dining room as my craft area without moaning (well, not much!).
Max my bestest friend who makes me laugh and gets me out of the house (even when it's snowing) and who is a wonderful hot water bottle.
Friends who have kept me going this year with thoughtful gestures,emails and messages wherever they live - thank you - you know who you are.
I love all of these people to bits.
Facebook for letting me keep up to date with all of the above and my family in the NE.
Santa who brought me some wonderful pressies this year.
Amazon for not only keeping me supplied with books but for the Kindle...I can now read "on demand" and have just discovered it plays music too - I've finally learnt how to download and transfer music - yay!!
Ebay - for all the weird and wonderful things for sale (esp. vintage earrings).
Various craft websites for keeping me supplied with stash and inspiration.
A Maze of Memories for stash and inspiration too but also a wonderful space to "play" in.
And finally..the GPs, carers and the Hospice at Home volunteers who cared for my Dad and enabled him to die in his own home with dignity. For that I will be forever grateful.
I can't believe it's over!
We had a quiet but enjoyable family Christmas. The last of the presents were delivered on Christmas Eve, the cake was iced and mince pies made.
The Heston Blumenthal pudding was sensational - pleased I didn't sell it on ebay!
I had the odd low moment (missing Dad) but enjoyed myself on the whole.
DS has now gone back to Bristol for New Year - most of his friends from Thame are going to join him on New Year's Eve - wonder if Bristol knows what's going to hit it?
I've also managed some crafting time.
The LO was for a sketch challenge on WeScrap and was made with Basic Grey "Wassail" papers and embellishments.
I finished my Dec. daily journal too. I even found some book rings big enough to hold it together (last year's 52 Q & A are now floating around loose!).
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I'll be back on Friday with my gratefuls for the year.
