Carolyn's world

The Dream - true story

2012-02-21T16:47:00.004Z

October 13, 2007

Opening the door into the dark evening I saw an amiable, well mannered young man with a child and another person. They were looking for the hospital. I pointed in the general direction of distant lights some way ahead but not too far to walk. I happily told them there would be signposts once they got over there.

The evening was black but the woodland trees and shrubs, glossy with sticky rain were reflected in moonlight and a bubbling brook stumbled its way across my view.

Seconds after closing the door it threw open again and Mam almost fell inside. She was breathless as if in a hurry and the sticky rain had coated her hair. Much younger than when we last met, her hair now dark in little damp tendrils. She said “Sorry, I have missed two days but I’ve been depressed”. I told her I had been depressed too, at which our eyes met and I saw her questioning gaze. I sensed the quest for life in her, the yearning search for truth, the excitement and joy of living, the urgency to get things done. The momentary comma in our dialogue.

“I need a book from the library about 16th Century Church of England,” she gasped. It was a strange request and out of the blue but I didn’t dwell on it and instead, struggled to remember opening times at the library. I looked at my watch. It was 7.45pm and I looked out into the darkness again, at the distant lights where the library and hospital were. I looked more closely at the brook now and saw that it had swollen, growing wilder and louder with the sound of thrashing water. Moonlit-cast reflections danced in riotous play and I saw in silhouette, the rocky stepping-stones I needed to cross if I was to get to the library. Was it safe? I took in the nocturnal landscape, noting the culvert into which the rushing water vanished and then the phone rang.

I woke up.

I’m so glad Mam came to visit, even if in my dreams… but I do wish the phone hadn’t rang… Love you Mam, always will and miss you.

Pressed leaves and pastel

2012-01-19T14:51:00.001Z

I finally made the effort to get active in the colour enhancement class run by WWPFG. I chose some very uninteresting leaves that had turned a muddy brown and enhanced them with ground pastels, red, green and orange to give them a makeover. Grinding the pastels got me sooooo messy but it was fun!
I then decide to use them in a picture. I used mount board to colour on, using red and yellow pastels for the sun and orange and brown pastels to suggest landscape lines. I then glued my pressed leaves along the landscape line and an extra one off the beaten track.
A rummage through my stash of frames found just the right one for the picture and I'm thrilled to bits with the finished piece. My daughter came to visit, saw it and wanted it straight away! She even offered to buy it but she doesn't know yet, ahah, she will be getting it for her birthday next month.

I have also submitted my picture to PanPastel UK Challenge Blog. They have a lovely set of pan pastels for blog candy this challenge.

I'd love to hear what people think about it so if you could check a reaction or leave a comment I will be a happy bunny :) Thank you!

Oriental Meets Peeloffs

2012-01-14T20:58:00.001Z

Its two weeks into January and I have finally got creative and made my first card for 2012. It seems to be the season for de-stashing so nearly everything I have used has been hiding in my craft stash for years.

It was fun to use my Crafters Companion Ultimate Pro for the first time and use it to score a gatefold card and cut background papers to fit. It is so simple having one tool to do it all...well nearly all, lol. The colours are not too clear on here but the base card is a sort of very pale pinky peach I've had for ages and the backing paper with tiny hearts is of a darker shade and is from Dovecrafts Princess Fairy Tale decoupage and paper pad.

The insert panel on each gate is a dusky brown card from my scrap box with gold peeloffs added. This peeloff is a Chrysanthemum and the one below is a Chinese or Japanese message (sorry don't know which) but I got them from Joanna Sheen, again, ages ago.

I decorated the inside with three panels of backing paper, which was a Dover sample in bygone days and added a Happy Birthday message to the centre panel using the same tiny heart backing paper as on the front gates. I used outline peeloffs around each panel and insert to make it all look more effective and finished it off with gold tassel handles on the gates.

Considering I'm not a fan of peeloffs or oriental themes, I think it came out quite well! I'm happy with it, says she smiling.

Thanks for looking. Comments are always welcome.

New Year 2012

2012-01-01T23:29:00.001Z

Its the first day of 2012 and I want to wish all my family, friends and followers a very happy new year.

Its a while since I posted but hopefully I will add to my blog more this year.

To begin with I have been blog hopping and deciding which challenges to follow. I hope to contribute to Bah Humbug, ABC Christmas Challenge and the Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog. That should keep me busy and as if thats not enough I have signed up for a class in pressed flower colour enhancement with the WWPFG.

I have lots of 'vintage' pressed flowers and leaves that could do with a make over and the idea of adding colour to a 'vintage look' new collection of pressed flower pictures inspires me. I have used colour enhancement before but am keen to brush up on new techniques and ideas.

Later in the year I hope to add a page to this blog which will be a gallery of my pressed flower artwork with an opportunity to purchase on-line. I'm feeling very positive about 2012 and looking back on 2011 there was much to celebrate. Its far better to build on the positive than dwell on sadder moments, which beset us all occasionally.

My opening picture is one I did several years ago and is entitled Four Seasons Goddess. It is made up of pressed flowers and leaves depicting all the seasons and arranged around an iconic face that is my own artwork. I poured enormous therapeutic energy into creating this picture and I hope you agree that it evokes a lot of strength and energy.

Comments kindly welcomed as always.

Chasing Autumn

2011-10-04T01:12:00.004+01:00

Chasing autumn through the streets

And up the hills where horizons meet

Breezy falls of gold and red

Litter the sky and on pavement shed

Crunching motion rustling by

Flights of colour under a sunset sky

Whirling and swirling in a fierce latin dance

Its like catching the wind - not a chance!

NB: From an original pressed leaf picture and digitised

One from my portfolio

2011-09-18T23:14:00.000+01:00

One from my portfolio. I must get back to making artwork with pressed flowers. I don't know when that will be because my daughter is poorly and needs me right now. I hope she gets better soon.

Xmas Sentiments

2011-09-02T22:13:00.001+01:00

Well this is a record for me! Those lovely people at Bah Humbug Hall set such a tantilising challenge I had to set to it straight away! Luckily I was at the 'Range' yesterday and bought some Christmas die cut sentiments by Anita. I chose one and teamed it up with black mirri card, a gorgeous silver/white glitter card and printed acetate by Kanban luxury reflections. I've been hanging onto the printed acetate for something special and I guess this is it. I finished off with some crystal diamontes on the oval sentiment.
I took the photo at an angle to avoid reflection of the flash and in reality the card sparkles, even through the acetate so the photo doesn't really do it justice I don't think. I hope you like!

I love my visitors to comment so please do so if you can.

Here come the girls

2011-08-31T20:45:00.001+01:00

A great challenge this week from Bah Humbug. It gave me the opportunity to use an image I've been hoarding for ages. Its from an old family photograph taken in the 1930s and includes my mother (bottom right corner).

First of all, I used a scalloped card from Papermania and gave it a red insert and trimmed the top corners. The image was then mounted onto holographic red card and a matching tag made with ribbon and peel off lettering.I framed the image again with outline peel offs and added three little diamantes to the bottom right of the image. I also added some diamond glitter glue to the scalloped edges of the card. A sparkly snowflake embellishment finished off the card.
I can agonise over the design of a card so when I'm happy with a result I make more! This time I used black on gold and cream on green to make two extra cards.

Would love to hear from my visitors, so please comment if you can.

Something New

2011-08-25T09:55:00.001+01:00

The Bah Humbug challenge this week is 'Something New'. That set a problem for me because there is so much that is 'new' in the craft world I would love to get my hands on but I just can't keep up with everything but at the same time I so appreciate the opportunity to do something different. I checked out craft videos on You Tube, new techniques, new ideas and just got overwhelmed with the possibilities.
I decided to make life easier for myself and check out my craft stash for new additions that had never been used. A pack of unopened promarkers were crying out 'use me'. I've had them for about six months but haven't as much as played with them! So for this weeks challenge it is using promarkers for the first time.

I could hardly believe how smoothly the ink flowed and fell in love with promarkers. Oh no! Not enough colours so I had a trip out to Hobby Craft to buy more. I gasped at the price of them but was pleasantly surprised at the check out when I discovered the price had been reduced by 50p each. Yeah!! Maybe its because there are new generations of pens out on the market - well they can wait 'cos I'm more than happy with promarkers for now (smile). I so enjoyed using these pens that I am currently making up another seven of these cards. Wow! My Christmas card box will be overflowing - happy me!

Materials used :

Dover clip art sample used as a digi image

Promarkers

Stardream card stock from Joanna Sheen

Outline peel offs

Vintage sentiments by Flower Soft

Comments are always appreciated.

'Kiss'mas

2011-08-17T15:57:00.001+01:00

I had to use mistletoe for this challenge. It was the first thing that came to mind. So simple to make as well!

I got a royalty free clip art image from the internet and printed directly onto the cards. The resolution isn't good but hey! what can I expect it's a freebie. To enhance it a little I coloured over with Sakura glaze pens, even the red ribbon which you can't see because I stuck a real ribbon over the top...oops! Actually, I think it works better (smile).
I popped the cards inside acetate jackets that I had won in July's Bah Humbug monthly draw, how lucky am I? I made six in total and am really happy with them.
Pleasev feel free to comment. I hope you like them too.

Joanna Sheen August challenge

2011-08-14T21:48:00.001+01:00

The challenge is to use masking. Well that had me stumped!! I did my research and thanks to a Tim Holtz tutorial on YouTube I got an idea. I have no purpose made masks so followed the lead from another Sheenie and used leaves as masks. As I was foraging through my stash of pressed botanics I realised I had done masking lots of times before but I just hadn't given the technique a name!
I chose three small chrysanthemum leaves as masks and laid them on top of a printed background paper. (Freebie me thinks, from a magazine). I used ground pastel chalk to colour on top of the background paper and then removed the masks. Rather than use a pastel fixative I used a spray of Printguard. I have found this method gives the effect of a wash rather than the matt effect of pastel chalk. I then enhanced the outline left by the masks by drawing a squiggly line in brown fine tip pen.
My masking design was finished and all I had to do was mount it onto a Kraft card from Joanna Sheen to create a notecard. I drew a line around the layer with a brown fibre tip pen and hand wrote a message underneath.

Thats another notecard to add to my collection. Please feel free to leave a comment (smile)

Trip to Scotland

2011-08-10T20:32:00.001+01:00

We were booked for longer but only managed two days because of the rain. I'm not an avid camper at the best of times. I'm getting too old for that lark but I did manage to get some photos of the lovely countryside, parks and gardens at Kailzie Gardens and Rosetta camping site near Peebles. I've put them onto a slideshow at photobucket for sharing, click here to view.

Hope you like

Lace Christmas Box

2011-08-01T21:27:00.000+01:00

I'm usually rushing at the last minute to create something for the Bah Humbug challenge but this time I'm rushing early because I need to go stay with my daughter who is poorly. I had to get it finished tonight as I so wanted to 'think outside the box' literally (smile).

The challenge this week is to create something with lace and I chose to decorate a star shaped box. I first painted the box with two coats of emulsion in pistachio. I then threaded a double strand of thin brown organza ribbon through a length of vintage lace and made a gathered skirt for the box I then adhered the top edge of the skirt around the top edge of the box with glue. It was easier than I expected considering I had to attach the skirt in and out of the five pointed star and I secured the ribbon in a bow.
I decorated the lid with a gold pine cone, leaves and dropped pearls and then added some gold glitter to each point of the star.
I enjoyed making my Christmas box with lace. Thank you Humbug Hall for the challenge.

late night ramblings

2011-07-30T00:06:00.003+01:00

We have visitors this weekend so I am cleaning up as if royalty was coming! I'm behind schedule because I've felt so yuk today but I'm not going to get too worried about that (she says). My crafty things will be out of bounds as my craft room will be my guests' bedroom. Thats OK as long as I don't get withdrawal, lol.

To keep the old mojo inspired I sometimes look back at some of my pressed flower artwork and amaze myself.

tropicana10001, a photo by florafinity on Flickr.

Did I do that???? How did I do that???? Must try that again!!!

Like this fantasy flower pic created back in 2002. I love them as much now as I did then, they are like old friends, made at the start of my journey into pressed flower art. I share one with you here.

Hope you like

Bah Humbug Beads

2011-07-27T15:33:00.001+01:00

This weeks challenge at Bah Humbug Christmas item challenge is to use beads. I went for a black and white look using black card stock and a snowflake background paper. I think I made the background design myself but its been hanging around in my puter for so long I could be wrong.

The vintage image is from an old postcard I picked up at the market. Doesn't she look warm and cosy in that big hat! The hat has some kind of tassel on it so I decided to make it more prominent with silver beads. I finished the card off with a silver ribbon and an insert printed off with the same snowflake design but in draft.

Here is a detail

Please leave a comment. I love to hear from you.

Note Cards

2011-07-21T16:34:00.002+01:00

In this age of email and mobile texting, I think one of the nicest things is to receive a handwritten letter from some one. When its in the form of a pretty card its even better!

I have some Kraft cards and envelopes I had intended making into rustic greetings cards using pressed flowers, printed paper scraps and some distressing but that idea has been shelved for the moment. I spent some time playing with them today and decided they would make nice note cards. The C6 size is just right and the rustic colour is different. I thought a black border would work printed directly onto the note card and found just what I needed in my pressed botanical artwork. I gave them a digi twist sketch effect and got rid of the colour and made a digi stamp of the image.

My first attempt looked a bit intense so I lightened it and printed out a faded image. The latter just cried out for colour and so I highlighted by hand with Sakura and Marve le Plume pens. So now I had two cards, one with a dark print and one lighter and coloured. I found an image to use as a topper and mounted it onto the cards and added bronze coloured peel off lines around the toppers.

The problem is I can't choose which one I like the best! I want to make a batch of them but can't decide which to use. I hope someone will decide for me.

Kraft cards and envelopes from Joanna Sheen
Topper image from Crafty Computer Paper

flickr

2011-07-16T16:40:00.004+01:00

bookmarks, a photo by florafinity on Flickr.

Ooooo, this is useful!
I am browsing through my flickr account and discovered I can share direct to my blog. I love the bookmarks I created in 2007. I gave several to friends I meet up with on holiday and I'm touched to know they still use them. Simple gifts yet worth so much in friendship.

Via Flickr:
pressed flower arrangements printed

Acetate challenge

2011-07-06T23:54:00.004+01:00

I had wanted to make some little boxes for this challenge but as is too often these days, I ran out of time.
I was lucky enough to find some acetate jackets in my stash already folded and printed with white wavy frames. I vaguely remember buying them eons ago ! They are perfect for this project and so I added some glittery gold peel off frames directly onto the acetate and mounted some christmas peel offs onto paper, coloured and cut them out for mounting onto the acetate with tiny sticky foam pads.
I love the intense blue of the foiled card I used (for 3yr olds and upwards). Why should kids have all the fun, LOL, and I stuck a white Christmas greeting in the centre then finished it off with thin white organza ribbon.
Hope you like.

ppp penguin

2011-06-29T22:06:00.004+01:00

Its a ppp penguin challenge at Bah! Humbug Hall this week and I so enjoyed making this penguin themed Christmas card.
I designed and then printed the background and text straight onto watercolour card, then added penguin images and a star. I also added some glitter but its not obvious in the photo. The penguin images are just scans that have been given a digital twist. The larger one is mounted on navy pearlised card and the small penguin is a cut out.
Hope you like !

Scarves and Mittens

2011-06-22T19:41:00.003+01:00

Only, I lost the mittens. I hope Bah Humbug doesn't mind that I have substituted a wooly hat for the mittens in this weeks challenge.
I must apologise that I have missed out on so many Humbug challenges, me thinks I will need to make at least two a week to catch up on my stash of Christmas cards. I like this card and may even do four of them! It says to me "the dark days of winter" but the little girl's face swathed in wooly hat and scarf brightens the day.
I have used old gold coloured card and an aperture frame cut down to fit around the girl's image. I used bog standard matt photo paper sold at my local computer store to print the girl's image. I think it has a dreamy soft appearance and am quite pleased with it. I distressed the frame a bit with a distressing tool and some green ink then added gold line peel offs. I touched up the white poinsettas with gold ink to tone them down and added a green ribbon which already had the jewelled embellishments attached. Finally I added the greetings sentiment.
The card is from Joanna Sheen
Girls image is from Crafty Computer Papers
Greetings is by Flower Soft
Ribbon and aperture are old stash.

Hope you like it, please comment if you can.

flowers on gingham

2011-06-19T21:31:00.013+01:00

At long last I have my craft room back in order so that I can get creative in comfort again. All I need now is a new CD player so that I can listen to my favourite music at the same time. I knew my mojo was in desperate need of nurturing so we had a taster session this weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed my playtime and even the long awaited rain couldn't dampen my spirits.

Digging through my stash of paper crafty things I pulled out some pretty pastel blank cards measuring just 5x5". I matched them up with pretty gingham backing papers and a mix of paper flowers I got from Joanna Sheen some time ago. Digging deeper in my stash I found an assortment of embellishments and peel offs and I was ready to create!

Just basic layering and a few adornments were all it took to make my first card and I was so pleased with it I just couldn't stop there. If a basic design is quick, attractive and successful, why stop at one! At least that is how I think and so I got to grips with my next card.

Wow! I was on a roll. I chose green for my next colour although it isn't a colour I would normally go for so it was a challenge and what a challenge it turned out to be! I just don't 'think' green and I struggled to make my next two cards. I don't do cute either so it was a real surprise for me to find myself working with cute bears but they saved the day and came together nicely with the green background.

The green was looking good but my inspiration was flagging and I should have called it a night there and then but what did I do? Went on to pink!

This one just about had me beat! So I made it simple with less embellishments and I think I managed to pull it off with the butterfly. Just a simple peel off stuck on the same gingham background paper and stuck down so that the wings lifted.

Thats when I called it a day but bright and early the next day my mojo was buzzing and I set to creating another card in pink.

It was so easy to do. It all came together
with hardly any forward planning.
As easy as one, two, three!

The images shown here are scanned and may have looked better as photographs. Hmmm, maybe its time to get a new digi camera.
Thanks for reading my blog. Please feel free to comment.

Decorated Verse

2011-04-23T11:01:00.005+01:00

I'm struggling with so much stash in my craft room doing not much more than collecting dust. That has to change and if I can get my act together I hope to use up lots of acquired picture frames with pressed flower decorated verses/prayers and sell them at parish fund raising events. Thats the plan anyway!
My pressed flower stash is ageing but still useable as I found out to my surprise with this latest arrangement. It never ceases to amaze me how pressed flowers and other plant material come to life as an art form. Hope you like!

Mountain Sunset

2011-04-05T09:09:00.006+01:00

Feeling a bit didgery doo this morning due to (I think) overdoing the niquitinelle lozenges so am sitting quietly recovering. My fingers are still twitching so I think that's a good sign and am letting them play with a new blog entry.
I am getting more and more desirous to return to playing with pressed flowers and creating artwork with a digital twist. My latest play is with a pressed flower picture I did a few years back and given a new look. It is called Mountain Sunset. Here it is.

Coming up soon is my son's wedding and I hope to get some wedding flowers pressed. I need to take my presses down with me to Gosport to capture the flowers in their best condition. It will be a long journey from up here on Tyneside, making it a three day trip in all so I hope all goes well. The wedding day is forecast to be warm and sunny - perfect for the wedding and a kick start for pressing just as soon as my new daughter in law will allow me to have the flowers. Thinking ahead... hmmm, I will also help myself to any suitable table decoration flowers after the reception.
Its going to be a great day with a granddaughter being bridesmaid and seeing the youngest and last of my children being wed and am thrilled to have been asked to give a reading during the wedding service.
I'm feeling a bit better now. The didgery doos seem to have passed so I will get busy with other things. I have lots to do!

Crochet and Candles

2011-02-14T18:50:00.006Z

Took some time off this last weekend to get creative and it was all so worth it.
I haven't worked any crocheting for decades but after finding the same ball of white wool squirrelled away in my stash for the umpteenth time, thought it was about time I did something with it. I bought myself a crochet magazine with freebie hooks and coloured wool as a quick refresher and this is the result.
My granddaughter should love it, as her favourite blankie is made from crochet squares fringed around the edges. With this in mind I added a bit of fringing with the left over strands and added it to the pocket. She loves playing with the fringing so she should feel at home in this body warmer. Fingers crossed she will.
Now I have to make something similar for another granddaughter and then a bolero for yet another. My goodness! what have I started!!

When finished, my hands were still twitching for
something to do and I was on a creative roll. I just love it when that happens and I looked for something quick and easy that doesn't really need much planning. A bit like a simple dessert after dinner. I decided to decorate a candle with pressed flowers for my daughter's birthday coming up next week. I used blue verbena and weed pressed from my garden and adhered and laminated them to the candle using botanical glue. Ordinary PVA white glue works but I prefer botanical. Cheap white paraffin candles are not suitable for this project in my opinion. I much prefer beeswax or good quality church candles.

Simple card

2011-01-16T22:24:00.006Z

In response to this week's Bah! Humbug challenge.
Its a simple card using a brass stencil for the banner and a mounted peel off coloured with Sakura and Staedler pens. Hope you like!

Dad at Westwoodside

2011-01-11T23:48:00.003Z

My Dad (William Pears) was born 24 August 1922 at Misson Springs, son of James Jesse Pears and Mary nee Mellors. He had three half siblings, Dorothy, Gladys and Cyril Mellors who never knew their own father(s). JJ and Mary married in 1919. They were aged about 50 and 37 respectively. Two more children were born in marriage, they were James Jesse born 1919 and Reginald born about 1924. The two bedroom cottage he lived in was one of a terrace of three. Water was provided from a well which regularly had to be cleared of dead rodents. Dad suffered from polio as a child and was nursed by his elder half sister Gladys Mellors. The cottage had a long garden in which vegetables and fruit were grown for home consumption and bartering with neighbours. The garden was so long as to need horses and plough to dig it. Dad remembered them using a horse that only had one lung and also being bitten on the thumb by one. The battle scar stayed with him all his life.

Granddad JJ Pears was a farm foreman at that time having worked as a farm labourer for most of his life but had also worked as a Sinker at New Rossington Pit in the early 1900s. Granny Pears supplemented their income by working as a ‘gentleman’s cook’ and was often called to prepare and cook meals at big houses. Left over jugged hare and the like was a welcome supper in the Pears’ household.

Dad went to school at Misson. Schoolchildren from the surrounding area travelled to school on a converted coal wagon driven by a Mr Hedley. The school comprised three classrooms, one each for the infants, juniors and seniors. The Headmaster was a Mr Brell and the Mistresses were Miss Jones and Miss Bradley. Dad thought himself to be quite clever despite only going (as he put it) to a little school. Before school, Dad had his chores to do and these included chopping wood, collecting eggs for a neighbouring farmer and bringing back milk from the farm. His breakfast was very often melted cheese from the oven, spread on chunks of toasted home made bread.
Dad also remembered going to Doncaster on Saturdays with his mother to help with shopping, going to chapel at Misson and agricultural shows at Haxey. His pets included dogs, rabbits, ducks and chickens. I expect all except the dogs were meant for the table eventually!

He had a spirit of adventure and loved to tell stories from his youth. Visiting the game keeper’s bush to see vermin hanging, hunting rabbits, playing along the river Idle, looking for eels and snakes and hiding from the water bailiff with his brothers and friends Fisher, Grant and Jackson. His younger brother Reg fell through the ice on the river and Dad, even though he couldn’t swim, had to pull him out. Dad eventually learned to swim in the Mediterranean during WW11 while serving with the RAF.

In 1938, Granddad started work for Coopers (farmers) and the family moved to a tied dwelling at Park in Westwoodside. An old grey stone house with stone flag flooring, no electricity and an outdoor earthen toilet. There was a coal fired range in the kitchen, the house was lit by paraffin lamps and water was supplied from a tap in an outside wash house. There was no garden as such to grow vegetables but Granddad JJ Pears kept pigs at the rear of the house and chickens at the front. Granny would hang sides of bacon and cure hams in the cellar and her homemade pork pies were in great demand!

Dad said they were surrounded by family at Westwoodside and often spoke of his Aunt Butler who seemed to be held in high regard and so time went on…children grow up and leave home and so it was with Jesse and Mary Pears. Despite living in such poor and hard conditions compared to what we know today there was a quality of life that remains priceless. I had a short glimpse of it when I was a young child. Visits to Westwoodside are now happy memories. Granny, tall and thin with grey hair tied up in plaits, who made the most delicious afternoon teas of home cured hams, pickles, jellies and cakes. Granddad who was a bit scary with his deep graveling voice and huge moustache but most of all, I remember the love that I felt in Westwoodside. Something I will always treasure.

Carolyn Durkin 2011

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE

2010-12-11T23:38:00.004Z

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE
AND TO SEE JUST WHO, IN THIS SMALL HOME DID LIVE

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE -
NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF A FAR DISTANT LAND
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS.
THEN A SOBER THOUGHT CAME INTO MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
T'WAS THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COUL D SEE CLEARLY
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN DISORDER
NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE SOLDIER..
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ,
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED

I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS, WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT
AND SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER, HOW MANY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME?

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED, I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE.
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS"

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE, ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR, SO WILLING TO FIGHT...

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE
WHISPERED "CARRY ON SANTA, CHRISTMAS DAY IS SECURE"
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND - AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A BRITISH PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER STATIONED OVERSEAS.

THE FOLLOWING IS HIS REQUEST - I THINK IT IS REASONABLE.

PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN

CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND MUCH CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES.
LET'S TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY BACK A TINY BIT OF WHAT WE OWE!

simply decorated candles with pressed flowers

2010-12-05T14:50:00.004Z

Small candles in glass holders make an inexpensive and pretty gift anytime.

Make sure to wipe away any excess paraffin or oil on the candle surface using a paint wipe or similar and then make sure the candle is dry.

Paint some PVA glue thinly on the candle where you want to place your flower. Adhere the pressed flowers and then paint over them with PVA to protect and seal. Some colours may change under the wet glue but should return to their natural colour once thoroughly dry.

Flat flowers such as viola, verbena, pansies. lobelia and non-brittle, semi-pliable leaves such as chamomile or small fern like leaves and weeds are all suitable. Thick leaves and bulky flowers are not suitable for this method.

The decoration does not need to be removed prior to lighting but as with all candles, should not be left unattended when lit.

They are so easy to do...enjoy!

scrapbook memories

2010-10-03T11:46:00.005+01:00

These pages were my first attempt at scrapbooking. I tried to capture the lovely memories of my children before they got into being typical teenagers. Thats not fair really, my son was and still is lovely but omgoodness! the girls put me through my paces. They have mellowed since, LOL.

Playing with parchment

2010-10-02T16:08:00.004+01:00

Here are some recent cards made partly with parchment. Previously I have used parchment just for tracing and adding colour and the largest card shown above is just that. After seeing the beautiful work that Pergamano artists can do I'm keen to try my hand at more complicated work and treated myself to a starter's Pergamano kit. So far I have advanced to embossing and adding some colour and am thoroughly enjoying it. The small cards are pretty basic but I think they are pretty. The tall slim card is my favourite. I used a pattern that came with the kit and I think it looks just like Broderie Anglais, which I love! I placed a posy of decoupaged violets within the frame and a little bow to finish. My next project is using a perforating tool and it will be a Christmas card. Can't wait!!
I used a lightweight parchment that Joanna Sheen used to stock but will be using a heavier weight as I get more confident.
http://www.joannasheen.com/craft-supplies/inkjet-printer-friendly-papers-and-acetates/20-a4-sheets-of-translucent-parchment/
I've also got my eye on some gorgeous die cut decoupage that will look lovely with the broderie anglais effect and will be doing lots of repeats of this card design. I'm loving it!
http://www.joannasheen.com/craft-supplies/3ddecoupage-sheets/pack-of-6-floral-reflections-diecut-decoupage-sheets-set-1/

sorry, I can't make the links work.

An Autumn Journey

2010-09-30T12:04:00.014+01:00

(mixed media collage of
pressed autumn leaves,
paper, tissue and gold ink)

Autumn is my favourite time of year. When I was a child I did all the usual autumnal things such as hiking to the next village to find the best horse chestnut trees, returning home with my pockets stuffed full of conkers and then, selecting the biggest and best conkers for my arsenal, sometimes bartering or swapping the finest specimens with friends. Holes were pierced through the conkers with Mam's darning needle and then threaded with string, securely knotted underneath. Only then could I wrap the loose end of string around my fist, find a suitable opponent, take aim and fire! I don't remember being such a good shot but I remember too well, wincing at the pain of having my knuckles crushed in conker battle - ouch!

Another pastime was harvesting hazel nuts. Our local pit wood teemed with an assortment of trees, each having its own seasonal fascination. We knew where the hazel trees were hidden and we would snatch the nuts from branches and crack the shells with our teeth to find the sweet little kernels inside. Spinning jennies were fun to watch and acorns were collected to make into beaded necklaces. Windswept piles of autumn leaves just begged to be jumped into, kicking up a whirlwind of crisp and crunchy motion.

Dark autumn evenings were always best for fun games of hide and seek. With military precision we kids would hide behind hedges or walls, up trees and in any dark recess we could find. The old gas street lamps gave little exposure to our daring escapes back to home base, racing against the seeker in an attempt to thwart his call of 'BLOCK 1 2 3'. Thrilling squeals of delight, bravado, hoops and calls of encouragement added to our enjoyment. Its a rare occasion these days that I hear children playing joyfully in the street after dark but when I do it brings back happy memories. I think there is little to compare to the sound of childrens' joyous laughter.

These days, I love a gentle walk in mellow autumn sunshine, soaking up the peaceful serenity of drowsy nature, bathe in its rustic colours and selectively dwell in positive acceptance on the changes that life and seasons bring.

(pressed autumn leaves. grasses
and late daisies)

Summer Passing

2010-09-01T21:06:00.011+01:00

Some are saying it has been a poor summer but I think it has been pretty good, considering the awful winter we endured. But all good things come to an end and although I hate to see summer passing, it has to happen eventually and already I've noted those tell-tale signs!

Nature has grown in abundance until it can grow no more. It has reached its full potential and is looking for rest. The petunias in the hanging baskets are beginning to look tired and the Virginia Creeper, heavy now in leaf is showing signs of turning red. Its autumn colours gradually creeping in. I love to see the tumble of leafy tendril led vines reaching to the ground. It makes a lovely softening frame to what is otherwise quite a boring garage door.

Our back garden is so overgrown it could be termed 'wild'. We don't have the stamina anymore for heavy gardening so I'm hoping that a good fairy will come along and help us out before next summer. Nonetheless, 'him outdoors' has managed to grow salads, beans and tomatoes along with perennial strawberries, redcurrants, raspberries, plums, cherries and apples. This summer we treated ourselves to a blueberry shrub which should add to our fruit harvest next year.

Although varied, the harvest has not been more than we could eat except perhaps for the redcurrants. My sister managed to pick 5 lbs of them which she made into jelly for fundraising. I in turn added raspberries and blueberries to flapjack mixture for grand kids. Celery and shallots, peas and beans were mixed in small quantities as casserole or stir fry mixes and frozen. Tomatoes were cooked with onion and peppers to make sauce for pasta or as a coating sauce for chicken, pork etc. Glass jars with button lids are ideal containers for storing sauces. Sterilised jars are filled with hot sauce mix and sealed. A vacuum forms inside the jars and the button depresses with a pop. So far I have found this method very reliable.

We had a good crop of cucumbers, which were delicious! Some of the surplus were given away or pickled along with onions and peppers. I have kept a few jars of mixed pickles back for Christmas and will use them as Christmas presents.

Heavens above! I've used the word Christmas and its still summer...just! I have enjoyed being creative with garden produce this year. Still to come are plums and apples. I will let 'him out doors' make cider with the apples or leave them for our Fieldfare visitor if it comes back this year. Meanwhile, I need to look for a good recipe using plums...in abundance.

A few years ago I created a pressed flower picture and called it 'Summer Passing'. The original is in Southampton but I have kept a framed print, which is now hanging on my wall.
Here it is.

Barbara's Wedding

2010-06-30T21:22:00.013+01:00

Here are some pages from my daughter's wedding scrapbook. It seemed to take for ever to complete but worth it in the end. She and her husband are well pleased with it.

The wedding took place at Gretna Green in March of this year and was attended by close
family who had travelled from Newcastle, Hartlepool and Southampton to share in this joyous occasion.

Parents, sisters, brothers and children were all booked into very nice accomodation for the eve and day of the wedding which took place in a little chapel in the the same hotel complex.

The groom recited his reception speech in verse and I used this as part of the scrapbook embellishment.

A disco followed on in the evening and Barbara donned a chinese style dress for partying.

The night was finished off by lighting a chinese lantern for good luck and the happy couple watched it float away across the night sky.

I hope they get to look at their wedding scrapbook for many years to come and relive those happy memories.

What a lovely day

2010-05-31T17:41:00.008+01:00

What a difference a warm sunny day makes! After a good night with my sleep machine followed by sunshine all day I feel like I'm on top of the world. The best day I've had in ages and so productive... for a change.
I spent this morning sorting through a mountain of papers and documents that have been accumulating for too long. Its a job thats been on my 'to do' list and nagging away at the back of my brain like a toothache for what seems like forever. I'm amazed at how much I can shred and I'm so proud of myself for actually achieving this mammoth task after so long. I really think I developed an aversion to anything vaguely connected to paperwork after working in an archive for twenty years.
Morning over, I gladly succumbed to the glorious sunshine and enjoyed an exotic Solero ice lolly while catching a few rays in the garden...yummm! All that sunshine just begged to have some laundry to dry, so who am I to argue about that? Two loads of washing were soon swaying in the breeze. Realising I was on a roll, I filled my salad keeper with three types of home grown lettuce, washed the leaves and gave them a spin before putting them in the fridge to crisp. My OH is so pleased we are actually eating some of his produce!
I can't have a sunny day without enjoying a salad for dinner. I made a tuna and mushroom pizza on a garlic bread base and served it with new potatos and green salad. Very nice it was too.
I hope the weatherman gets it wrong tomorrow aswell and this glorious weather continues.

nb. I can't write a blog without showing a picture even if its got nothing to do with the story. I created this picture several years ago, entirely from pressed flowers on a chalk background. I have since tweaked it using photoshop and given it a craquelaire effect. Hope you like!

Is my mojo back

2010-04-25T18:29:00.006+01:00

I think my mojo is back. Where has it been?? I can't believe its almost a year since my last blog entry,
I made this card for my daughter's birthday on Tuesday. It took me an unbelievably long time I am so out of practice. The lace background and flowers are from Joanna Sheen. The butterfly is a peel off mounted onto card, cut out and coloured with Sakura pens. I cut up an aperture blank card for the inner frame, message mount and butterfly mount and finished off with a touch of silver pen. I hope she likes it.

Colours of Anfi

2009-06-13T20:33:00.030+01:00

We've had yet another trip, this time to Anfi, Gran Canaria. It was hastily arranged as we had decided not to go to Anfi this year but after discovering flight prices had dropped by two thirds...well, how could we refuse?
We were so glad to return to wonderful Anfi and meet up with old friends, bask in the sunshine and enjoy walks in the beautiful gardens that make Anfi so becoming.
Anfi del Mar boasts four resorts in one and I recorded one of our walks around Anfi with photographs, starting at the Monti/Puerto Anfi reception. (Click on photos)

Opposite the reception entrance is the start of a public footpath from where a breathtaking view of Anfi island and marina can be seen. The island is heart shaped and a romantic gesture by the original founder of Anfi, Bjorn Lyng (now deceased). In front of the island is Anfi Plaza and a stage surrounded by palm trees for night time entertainment.

Our path down to the beach area took us through dappled shade, exotic plants and bougainvillea. From here we could enjoy beautiful scenery and admire the colours and landscape of Anfi.

Natural stone features in Anfi gardens. Walls, paths and even seating areas are constructed from stone.
The apartments stand where rock cliffs used to be and are decorated with recycled stone. Norwegians seem to have a fascination for stone and the hills behind Anfi are dotted with numerous piles of stone, each precariously built as if part of some kind of ritual but I never found out the reasoning behind them. Maybe they are stopping places on a pilgrimage. There is a mound of stones at the base of a huge cross on a prominent ridge overlooking the fishing village of Patalavaca, Anfi and the Atlantic beyond. A visitors' book is buried in the stone mound and a few years ago, after a long and hot climb to the cross I was able to write in the book. I wonder if the book is still there...

Guanches, the original people of Gran Canaria used to live in caves and some of them still do, though modern caves are very tasteful with every mod con. I like to think of visitors to Anfi as being cave dwellers because thats basically what the apartments are, even though they are man made and beautifully inspired and well deserve their high rating status.

Our leisurely walk progressed into the mature gardens of Anfi Beach, where nature and stone combine and the pretty trailing geraniums on each apartment balcony adds a lovely accent of colour.

Anfi's team of gardeners keep the grounds perfectly groomed. Thanks to their efforts it is a joy to walk alongside graceful palm trees, water features and flowering shrubs. It is fun to watch out for native birds and lizards living comfortably at Anfi. Mosquitoes don't exist here...thank goodness!

The beach at Anfi was created from sand imported from the Caribbean. It doesn't get hot, so bare feet are protected on this beach whatever the temperature. It is a favourite haunt for Anfi visitors and locals alike and the silver sand and azure blue sea and sky create a serene contrast of colours.

We walked onward along the beach promenade heading for
Anfi Plaza and the island.
There are several restaurants to choose from at Anfi. This one is Mexican, where we enjoyed char-grilled chicken with Mexican sauce followed by ice cream desert. Other popular restaurants and bars surround the plaza area and entertainment stage.

There is a craft market at the plaza every evening and I was thrilled to see a new stall this year. Alma de Canarias creates unique perfume made by Artisans in the Canaries. The stall, decorated with Bougainvillea, (one of the perfume ingredients) is the prettiest at the market and I treated myself to some perfume, perfectly described as a fresh sea breeze blended with citrus and melon. It really is lovely.

At last we made it to Anfi Island and marina where trailing geranium are in profusion. The water is clear and I have seen Sting Rays in the marina channel, burying themselves in the sand, along with brightly coloured crabs and fish in abundance.

I love the colours of
the leaves shown in the centre photo here. A mix of reds, greens and earthy browns. I think they are my favourite of all shrubs
at Anfi. The seating just behind is so typical of stone sculptures at Anfi and one can imagine inspiration was drawn from a fairy-tale book.

Crossing back from the island we returned to Puerto Anfi and made our way through gates heavily decorated with climbing Bougainvillea. I love this adornment and its riot of pinks, reds and whites. My friends will be surprised to see who is beyond the gates at the centre of this photo.

We made our way up the entrance stairs to Puerto, flanked on each side with colourful shrubs and inviting pathways which led to pools, apartments and then on to Gran Anfi.

Our holidays at Anfi wouldn't be complete without meeting up with old friends and dining out. We had plenty of opportunities to do just that. Whether it was for a nightcap after evening entertainment or hosting a get-together in our apartment or meeting for lunch.

Memorable dining includes an Indian meal at the Bahia where the onion bhajis deserve full marks for presentation.

TheTropicana hosted a grand Canarian Buffet with traditional singers and dancers to mark National Canarian Day and it was amazing. I'm only sorry I didn't have my camera with me at the time. What an event!

Ten of us gathered at our apartment one night and as is usually the case after dining, the men had their own round table on the balcony enjoying their comradeship while we women created our own circle in the lounge.

On the last day of our holiday we all went out for lunch.
This time we walked a mile or so along the coast
to Arguineguin and had lunch al-fresco.
The staff at the Apollo restaurant gathered tables together
so that eleven of us could be together and a great time
was had by all as we tucked into delicious tapas, locally caught fish and mouth watering steak.

I'm not sure if we will be able to visit Anfi again... I'm sad at that but have wonderful memories that I will always treasure. With a wistful smile I can look back at the last twelve years as an Anfi Cave Dweller and remember the good times... Adios Anfi...

2009-05-10T22:00:00.024+01:00

Just got back from Duquesa in Spain. John and I spent two wonderful weeks in this sunny Andalusian town staying with our son Drew. Drew's home in Sabanilla is situated near the golf course and only ten minutes walk to Port Duquesa and its marina and golden mile of sandy beach. We spent lots of time walking in the fresh air and eating out and it was lovely to spend quality time with Drew when his work commitments allowed.
This peaceful view is looking out from Drew's balcony. Viewing its perfect stillness around dusk was ideal for chilling out after a busy day. The occasional mozzie was an unwelcome visitor but small lizards were fine and fun to watch.

One of our favourite walks took us from the Marina surrounded by pavement cafes to the sandy beach and along to the main hub of the town, then back in a circular route to the golf course. This photo shows a speedboat super store. I thought it quite funny that speedboats were on shelves, wrapped and ready to go!

The beach is lovely. It was very quiet while we were there with few tourists about but that meant we had plenty of space to explore. A fresh water culvert running into the beach from the hills behind has become overgrown with reeds and grasses making the perfect habitat for water snakes, turtles, frogs and little fish. We enjoyed watching these wild creatures in their natural setting.

This photo of the golden mile was taken
pointing north towards Estepona and the Costas.
It was a beautiful hazy day and the mountains
beyond are just visible. A brisk wind made this day's walk quite invigourating. It certainly blew the cobwebs away!

Further along the beach we came across these
brightly painted fishing boats. I think they make a pretty picture

From here we walked through Sabanillas on
our way back to Drew's apartment. The lovely
little chapel dedicated to San Luis was inviting
but sadly was always closed. I neither speak nor
read Spanish so the notice on the chapel door
didn't make sense to me. It seemed to list
neighbouring villages but I couldn't decipher any
times of service.

The last stretch of our walk took us through some scrubland bordering half finished property developments laid waste because of the economic downturn.
However, nature had taken over and wild flowers flourished bringing a joyful interest to the last leg of our trek.

Wild flowers were in abundance on all our walks. Another walk we enjoyed was along the path skirting the golf course and approaching the hills behind Sabinilla.

The same culvert that flowed out into the beach was now virtually hidden by reeds and wild grasses. Flowers such as wild roses and morning glory competed for space.

Bird song and butterflies completed the idyllic scene as we
walked through sea lavendar, clover and other flowers we
couldn't name and I found myself singing bring flowers of the rarest and blossoms the fairest... and it was as if the shrill call of frogs, crickets and birds joined in with me. It was a truly wonderful walk with nature.

Eating out and visiting markets were very much part of our holiday. We tried various restaurants and pavement cafes. Pancakes with maple syrup and 'moosli' a concoction of granola, roasted almonds and oats finished off with a twist of apple made for an indulgent canadian style breakfast at the Straw Donkey. I'm not a lover of paella but have to admit that the one we tried at Restaurant Alphonso was the best we ever had. Tomato flavoured rice with peas, cram packed with king size prawns, pork, mussels and tiny clams with a huge wedge of lemon and freshly baked bread on the side made this dish a winner!

We hung out at Gibraltar for a couple of days meeting up with Drew for lunch. The brand new Marina development was impressive and its iconic architecure a sharp contrast to the more traditional Victorian architecture of old Gibraltar.

The Cathedral in Gibraltar can almost be missed. Its doors opening straight onto the street and sandwiched between the shops of Main Street. A curious notice on its door reads At the heart of every community are the intelectually disabled and their carers. It deserves a lot of deep thought.

We booked for a couple of days at Tangiers, staying overnight at a hotel with dinner and breakfast and tour guide. I must have been remembering my thirst for adventure in my teens and forgetting my discernment of later years because it wasn't too long before I had misgivings.

A fierce argument between a porter and passenger at the port of Algeciras brought Spanish police running but left me feeling vulnerable. The ferry crossing and approach to the African continent seemed surreal.

So many forms to fill in and passports scrutenised at every opportunity. A party of students from the US on an exchange visit were instructed by their tutor on what to do and what not to do and I was glad to eavesdrop. We were all made to walk through a contraption that recorded body temperature. A little American girl was identified as having a raised temperature and she was taken away in tears with her Mom while the rest of her family looked on in despair. An abrupt ending to their family holiday! This same measurement of body temperature wasn't used at Spanish or English customs.

The tour guide was more interested in selling us carpets than parting with the history of Tangiers. The poverty and squalour and stench in some parts of the old town and market was upsetting

for me and in contrast, I know how lucky I am. Our taxi was awful and stank of dried pee and dogs and we were glad to get out to see the camels. It was just another ploy to get us to part with money and we were even gladder to get back into the taxi and shut the doors in fear of being mobbed by hysterical camel owners and jewellery sellers...help! I did enjoy seeing Bedouin women in their native dress. The photo above shows them selling cheeses wrapped in plaited rush but the same women can only find small spaces to sell their wares and can be moved on by the police. It is also a familiar sight to see Arab women sitting in groups on pavements, hoping someone will come along and offer them work for the day.

We had lunch in a typical Morrocan restaurant complete with musicians before moving onto our hotel which proved to be first class, thank goodness! It had a lovely garden and lounge where we joined with locals to watch the Chelsea/Barcelona football match on TV. After the events of the day I had no wish to venture out again until our departure the next day. Yes, we bought a rug. It was our only means of escape and while I'm happy to help out the Bedouin economy and I love the design of the rug itself, made from colourfully died camel hair and lambs wool, I didn't like the pressure we had to endure to buy it.

Mustapha, our sales person, complete in Arab smock six inches too short showing his thin brown socks and lace up shoes and one blind eye insisted on showing us the view from the roof of the craft centre. We climbed three or four stories to see the view he was so proud of and he pointed out where the French, English and Moroccan quarters were. All I could see were sky dishes as far as the eye could see and I wanted to go home.

Thank God we survived it all and the ferry trip back to Algeciras couldn't come soon enough. It was late arriving in port and thankfully Drew had waited patiently to take us back to Duquesa. I managed to aquire a few bites in Tangiers that turned nasty. A parting gift I could have done without.

We had one more day in Spain before our journey home. We were going to relax by the pool but needed to visit the chemist, then the Doctor's surgery which was closed and then back to the chemist again. Drew was concerned and offered to take me to Gibraltar for treatment but I said no! He works long hours and the antisceptic I got from the chemist would probably stem the infection until I got back to England. Drew and his Dad went out for the evening and I stayed in to pack and have some quiet time to myself and made friends with a lizard on the balcony. Our flight home was good and while there was much to enjoy during our visit with Drew I was happy to be home again. The bites are healing, thank goodness and I'm looking forward to getting back into a routine... now where did I put those holiday brochures?

New Year

2009-01-04T19:29:00.004Z

My first blog entry of the new year. I have'nt made any new year resolutions 'cos I just break them but I have picked up the January card challenge from Joanna Sheen's forum. The challenge is to create a card with a stamped background and here it is.
The card stock, Brilliance ink and floradoodles are from JS shop but the dragonfly stamp I used, I have to confess, is a little foam one that children would play with. Well, grown ups can play too! I quite like it. The topper (my own design from pressed flower artwork) and tag are mounted onto the same cardstock as the background card. I finished off with an organza ribbon bow and a pals sticker.

We had a lovely new year's eve staying with friends. We stayed up until about 5am, gosh, I'm not used to that but our friends were very welcoming and made us feel 'right at home'.

Life will get back to normal tomorrow and I should get my neighbours fix. I have'nt known what day it is, LOL, so will be glad to get back to some sort of normality.

Boxing Day

2008-12-26T20:48:00.005Z

I had the last of my Christmas visitors today. It was lovely to see the grandchildren open their pressies... and the grown ups too of course. We had a buffet lunch and used up the last of the turkey, thank goodness! I got to play with baby and love my pressies.

Its now evening and I have spent some time relaxing with my pressed flowers, creating a simple arrangement. I layered them on a lace background with a contrasting border. I think the arrangement could have been fuller but never mind, I think the design will make nice greetings cards. I'm quite happy with it.
This morning I went to church to see the altar boys and girls get enrolled into the St Stephen Association. They got their medals and certificates and then had a lovely reception in the hall with lots of cakes, juice and goodies. I'm so glad I could share in their celebration.

Talking about celebrations. What a wonderful day we had last Sunday. My youngest grandchild got christened and we followed with a double celebration for the christening and Christmas with lots of family members. It was a great afternoon and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

The temperature has dropped considerably and we are back to minus temps again. Brrrrrrrr! I hope we don't get snow again. Once a winter is enough for me.
Yikes! the dog had a funny turn today. One would think he was drunk, staggering around the kitchen. He seems OK now but I will have to watch him closely. It was strange.

Tomorrow is the last day of my son's holiday with us. He returns to Spain on Sunday. We have all enjoyed his company so much and will miss giving him spontaneous hugs just for the joy of it. I'm not sure he will miss the hugs so much though, he is probably sore with it all...aww bless!

Happy Christmas to everyone!

2008-12-24T21:38:00.004Z

Its Christmas Eve and all is quiet in our household. The Turkey is cooked ready for the customary turkey sandwich when hubby comes home from work about midnight, though I'm not sure I will last that long as I am totally shattered. Pressies are all wrapped and ready for the family invasion over the next two days. I'm a bit disappointed that I won't make Midnight Mass this year but never mind, the family mass for children tomorrow, is always endearing.

Christmas day will be the most relaxing with just four of us for dinner and then Boxing day will see the grandchildren visiting with their parents and enjoying a buffet lunch.

I'm delighted my robin Christmas card got second place in the pressed flower guild contest. My goodness, I didn't expect to get so highly placed. He is a cuty though!