HAPPY 2009 EVERYONE!

Well that's it, 2008 is almost over............................ my how the years race by now, they used to go much slower I'm sure!

Looking forward to a fresh start and renewed vigour for the year ahead.

Can I just say this has been my first year in blog land and I have loved every minute of it. I have been inspired by so many of you out there and look forward to another year sharing with you all.

Have a good one xxxx

So what resolutions will it be this year?

Xmas has been and gone, my belly is still full up!! After much indulgence recently my thoughts are now turning to the New Year and what my plans for it are. The usual things spring to mind, work on body, improve health, i.e. stop smoking which would impress my niece immensely and be more organised! Why do we always choose the dark dismal days of January to change our lives, is it because we need to punish ourselves for all the weaknesses we had in the run up to Xmas? Or do we just need something to focus on and occupy our minds.

Apart from the above mentioned reso's I shall be adding a new one of 'get my ass into gear if I really want to make a go of earning money from my creativity'. Now don't get me wrong this could be the riskiest reso of all, yes even more so than giving up the 'weed'! For starters my timing is way out, everything around us seems to be crumbling under the weight of the CRUNCH! People aren't spending on luxuries anymore and want cheap cheap cheap. So why would anyone want to start out on their own in this climate..........because I think local and handcrafted are things people turn to in times of trouble as it gives them a sense of security and comfort, a nod back to the days when people didn't worship at the altars of the big corporate.

So I must procrastinate no longer and get on with it, it's now or never. I will have to get a real job very soon and would love to be able to have the luxury of only needing to look for a part time one to boost my creative earnings.............................. of course if I give up the weed as well I will need less earnings to start with ;o) Wish me luck!

Anyone else putting together a list............ lots of luck from me to you x

The house is ready for Santa, do you want to see....

I just adore nighttime at this time of year, everything looks much nicer by the gentle glow of fairy lights, including myself!!

Fluffy stockings for Santa to fill!

Twinkle Twinkle!!

A fave ornament
and my new fave ornament bought this year..

My mum got me this cute snowman family at TK maxx

Got this idea for using paint cards as tags from A Spoonful of Sugar, think they work well.

And lastly a few cards made the new Anna Griffin papers I got from QVC.

Have a lovely Xmas and hope to see you all again in blog land in the new year xxx

Oh my oh my, it's been a long time!

17 days to be precise!! I really didn't mean to stay away soo long but things just seem to have snowballed (excuse the pun) over the last few weeks. There I was thinking the big day was ages away when all the time it has been lurking round the corner.

We are trying to keep to a minimal xmas this year rather than all end up with endless lists and a negative bank balance. It's working out really well, we all put down ideas for gifts upto £15 and have to say apart from my other half (who are the most difficult to buy for) all gifts have been secured and now await in a pile in the back bedroom for wrapping. This is the part I love to do, presentation is key and being a crafter I have stacks of stuff to choose from to pretty them all up. Promise to post some piccies of the finished wrappings.

Have also been busy at my local charity shop, we opened Sundays for xmas run and have to say it has been very successful. Think people are being a lot more careful where they shop this year and I have really enjoyed seeing so many of them come into the shop and find something they like at very little cost. The kids section has been particularly popular! We had a lovely family with two twin boys who must have been 3 years old, they were dressed the same and both had matching ruck sacks on and beanie hats. They were just fascinating to watch as they rummaged round the shop. Needless to say they found the lower shelves of the brick a brac section far more fascinating than the toy section much to their parents dismay!

Made a few cards recently, some of them were done using my recently purchased mini stamp sets from Pink Petticoat. Have to say I am in love with these and shall be buying loads more of them! She had a lovely blog giveaway of an MM Slice last week, I would have loved to have entered but hadn't had much practice with my set then, and anyway the competition was really stiff, the winner's entries were just out of this world! Anyway here are a few piccies as I am sure you have all had enough to read for the moment ;o)

Think my colouring skills need to improve!

The 3-d embellishments are from Anna Griffin and velvet to the touch, I just love her stuff

Have no idea why this has rotated, oh well you get the general idea!

Be back soon, hope your xmas run up is going smoothly ;o)

Pink Smarties

Who can resist tubes of all pink smarties, me that's who! Sad I know as they all taste the same but to poor them into my glass bowl and see them glisten just makes me smile ;o) Only downside is they don't stay in the bowl long enough!!

Pink and Turquoise

I seem to have a thing for these two colours at the moment. They just work so well together don't you think.

Made this one for a friend of my nephew's 18th.

My sister changed depts at her school recently and this was to thank the staff for her lovely gifts. One of them was a crafter also so she said it had to be nice and classy, think I managed to meet the brief!

Antique Irish Crochet

Since my last post I have been busy entertaining my aunt who is over from the states for a couple of weeks. We are all having such fun with craft things. She is extremely talented and until recently has been making miniature porcelain dolls and handmade clothing to 1/12th scale.

This work has proved too intricate for her now and she has moved into the world of reborn dolls, a craft to which her previous skills are easily transferred. She came over with this beautiful hand crocheted christening gown to finish and was talking about really wanting to do some antique irish rose crochet. So on to the world wide web I hopped in search of patterns, firstly I found a couple of sites that had some beautiful antique patterns that they sold on CD that were taken from their original pattern books, my aunt was sooo pleased with this find.

Further searching uncovered some sites that had kindly put up some intricate irish patterns that you could download for free, together with indepth instructions as the terminologies they used back then, some of these dated back to the late 1800s!! To say my aunt was excited was an understatement. Needless to say we are off out tomorrow to find some of the very fine thread she will need to start on the Irish Baby Bonnet pattern.

http://www.antiquecrochetpatterns.com/baby-bonnet.html

Magical Xmas Decs!

Took a trip to my local garden centre with my mum for our annual look at all their lovely decorations. They really do have the best and such a large selection. Here's a few pics of some of their displays.

This was in part of their kiddies section

I just loved these jack in the box type decorations, such fun!

Beautiful winter wonderland setting

And this is a close up of part of the tree!

and even closer, look at the gorgeous little ice skate!

This stunning lady was £130!!!

and lastly a fairy who seems to be pondering about something.

Magical!!

Isn't she pretty!!

Did a shift at the charity store yesterday and look what I found to dress my Lolo in...............

The net skirt has no less than 8 layers in it, it completely stands up on its own!!!

The fur stole and rose brooch were stashed away in my drawer and were perfect to go with the skirt. Now if I were a tad younger I'd be out in this skirt with a funky top and some pretty boots ;o)

If I could turn back time..........

well all at once on the many clocks in my house ;o) A few of them are intelligent enough to do this time adjustment automatically but most of them need help from a human being! Sadly that human being (me) is not overly bothered about helping them out! So in my house, for a while at least, there are many different time zones, some spring, some winter, some just plain wrong! Hey does this mean I get to time travel in my own house............................... ttfn

My favourite Childhood book, ahh the memories...

Do you have a book from your childhood that stands out from all others with the lasting impression it made on you? For me it was "Little Women and Good Wives". I remember reading this book and the longing I had to be living in the world of "Jo" and her "sisters". It all seemed so warm and secure, images of them all chatting away whilst carrying out intricate embroidery around a warm log fire, the sound of a mantle clock ticking in the background and smells of baking wafting in from the kitchens. Oh how I wished to be there with them, sometimes it felt like I really was, but then I would awake in the mornings to find myself in my 60s family home my sister just across the room from me asleep in her bed. Now why the reminiscing you may ask? well I was in my local charity store today with my mum and we were looking for interesting cookery books to display on her new kitchen shelving when I spied some old leather bound books on the shelf above. I picked the nicest looking one up for a look and to my surprise it was a 1954 edition of you've guessed it "little women and good wives"!!

I squealed with delight and began to stroke the cover, flicking through the pages and breathing in the aroma that only old books have. Straight away I was back there with Jo and her sisters, aah the comfort that brings! Still smiling at my find I paid for the book and stowed it safely in my handbag, my mind filled with the anticipation of reading this at bedtime. I might even have to put on my most vintage nightwear in honour of Jo and her sisters! Childhood books and lasting impressions, what were yours?

Don't you just love last minute orders.... not!

Had my day planned out yesterday, knew the things I needed to get done, whether they do or not is a bit hit and miss, but I had my plan and that was what counted! Doing quite well working my way down the list, a little bit sidetracked but not much. Then I get a text on my phone around lunchtime, go to investigate and it is from my darling sister, can I knock her up a 60th birthday card and matching gift bag, oh and by the way need it by this afternoon!! So there was my plan, well and truly out the window as they say! Anyway I did my sisterly duty (how could I not) and went into my craftroom and started looking for inspiration, no idea what colours/style she goes for so just went with what came to me and this was the result. Hope you like it, really hope the birthday girl likes it!!

Wow someone already has a copy of Sew Hip magazine!!

Was just catching up on some of my fave blogs and the lovely Lululollylegs had posted this article.... http://lululollylegs.blogspot.com/2008/10/hip-hip-hooray.html. I want my copy now!!

It's been a while...

Sorry bloggers, I've been very lapse lately, almost 2 weeks since last post, shocking!

Have been busy sorting out my new storage area for my growing collection of fabrics and also just started helping out at my local Cancer Research Charity Shop. The people at the shop are just lovely and make the best tea going, some of them have been working there for over 10 years as volunteers, see there are still caring people in this world. I must admit it is a bit of an eye opener working there, things you don't realise, people actually steel from the shop, they change price tags over (as if things aren't cheap enough already), and some seem to think the donation bags are for putting their household rubbish in!! That aside though it is a nice thing to be doing and most customers are lovely, it's great to see what they buy and find out what they are going to be doing with it. There is a very big downside to working there though................ and that is all the stuff I keep bringing home as I get to see it first hand before it hits the shop floor. The other ladies did warn me of the temptations and how their lofts are brimming over with "oh I'll get that it's soo cute I can make so and so with it.....". There is just no hope for me now ;o)

I was on another blog the other day and saw this book featured

http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-cant-believe-it-its-just-like-book.html so just had to pre order it.

There is also a new magazine for sewers hitting the stores end of October called Sew Hip and you can see it here , bit pricey at £6.00 an issue but will definitely buy first one to see what it is all about.

http://www.sewhip.co.uk/issue1.html

Time flies..........

where does it all go I wonder, it simply disappears before you've realised it never to be seen again. It all started with a craft day on qvc on Tuesday, 17 hours of live shows, heaven. Like some obsessed woman I sat there in front of tv with computer on in my PJs excitedly watching for items that I just had to have! This I did non stop for 7 hours before realising I'd run out of milk and was still undressed! I looked at the rest of the planned shows and picked one that I wouldn't mind missing as my chance to go out and get supplies. (I did get dressed first, honest) There surely must be a cure for this affliction that I have ;o) But I love it, I just love to watch programmes about pretty papers, ribbon and embellishments dreaming of all the wonderful things I could make with it. I love to walk around stationers or any stationery dept in a store and just wonder at all the lovely paper, pens, files and the like.

When did this obsession with paper start? Well I know I have always written lists for everything (something I inherited from my father) and then when I got my first job as PA and found myself in charge of the stationery cupboard for the Directors I would order everything and stock up like there were going to be rations or something, and that was just plain old white and buff stationery!! I've always had more pens than is really necessary for one person and just how many notebooks does one really need? At least now I knock up my own pretty journals for a fraction of what I used to hand over for them and although they are not always perfect they are the best things ever that I have written in.

So to go back to my original title, paper makes time fly for me!! What makes time fly for you?

A few pretty things and my first bag attempt

I have just received my first purchase from an Etsty shop Inspiration Cottage of Silver German Glass Glitter! Wow it is soo pretty I can't stop taking photos of it as you can see.

This photo has a lovely set of glass bottles that I found in my local charity store the other day for the grand cost of £1.99, bargain, made me smile for the rest of the day! And guess what I could store in them............ yep glitter.

My beautfil glitter on my mantlepiece, I know, I am sad but can't help it.
Oh and here it is on my dish of roses!
This is my first attempt at making a lined bag, I used up some old calico curtains I had laying around that were originally from Ikea so figured it wouldn't have cost me much if I messed it up. The bag rings came off an old bag of mine that was destined to be thrown out. I do like recycling things it feels so much better than buying from new all the time, much more satisfying. The rose was made up out of an old jean leg and was really a bit too thick as it was difficult to mold and stitch, will use lighter weight fabric for others but really enjoyed making it.

Am now on a mission to find some more glass glitter in an array of vintage colours to fill up my pretty jars.

Saw this over on http://hysteri-cal.blogspot.com/ blog and just had to have a go myself!

What Karen Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Hmmm, think that is me, mostly anyway ;o)

Wednesday Update

Was in the mood for making up some cards today and thought I'd post some piccies, they are fairly basic cards but I do like them for their simplicity. I am meant to be making things out of my fabric finds but haven't got my head round that yet. Hopefully inspiration will hit me in not too distant future!

On Sunday just gone it was a glorious day so I went off to visit Woburn Village with my friend. Such a quaint lovely little place, felt like I was on hols. Drove through the edge of the safari park to get there which was amazing as the deer and stags are all around you grazing in the fields. There were some beautiful buildings there and two that particularly took my fancy were this Interiors shop and an Antique store

England is such a pretty place when the sun shines!

Oh yes and all my ebay items sold so am happy bunny!