Pink Candy by Caroline

Auction for Ellie and then some....

Well half term came and went in the blink of an eye.  Kids had dentist and optician appointments which, when combined with other things on that day, seemed to take the whole day.  Days out bowling and visiting in-laws, a bit of shopping and the week is over! 

Went to Stitches last Tuesday to source some new chippie products for the shop, and whilst I didn't find anything I didn't expect, I did order some lovely Maya Road stuff, which should be on its way soon I hope. It is such a tiring day though, not helped by Darren taking us the long way round to get to the car and at the NEC you know how far away the cars can be!  I reckon I must have walked at least 157,000 miles that day.......

Met a friend for coffee yesterday and as she is not a scrapper it is usually a day for gossip and coffee and completely non-craft related chat, which you need sometimes when its usually 24/7, lol.  Anyways she wants me to do some design work for her and that developed into something much bigger which is quite exciting but I'll have to keep schtum on that a while longer.  If I tell you now I will have to kill you. 

I have a ton of DT work to do as well as CJ's and recipe cards.  Sounds like I am moaning but I am not, I love it all really.  Just wish there were more hours in the day, but don't we all......I will pop up some sneaky peeks when I can.

Don't forget the Auction for Ellie which is going on on the BFF (Bubbly Funk Forum).  Take a look here and it will take you to a couple of links where we are trying to raise a bit of money to  help this little girl. I have had lots of bids in already, but we could do with some more!!  So what are you waiting for.........

That spring feeling........

We started a Book Club on the Bubbly Funk Forum (hereafter know as BFF, lol) and our first read was The House at Riverton, Katie Morton.  I haven't picked up a book for months and months and so was glad to get into one again.  Anyway finished it within 10 days or so and feeling bereft of books I paid a visit to the local library.  Haven't been for ages but picked up three for now.  I love a bit of suspense, occasional horror and books I know with absolute certainty, I will not be able to put down.

Dean Koontz and Stephen King do it for me every time.  I know I am guaranteed a bloomin' good read with these guys.  Anyways, just finished reading Velocity by Dean Koontz.  The only problemo with reading is that it eats into my day and I know I have one zillion other more urgent things to be doing.  But I just have to get to the end of a chapter, and then maybe just start the next one cos its a short one - you get the picture.

I love reading though.  Transports you away for a little bit.  Whether that be into the mind of an old woman or into the mind of a homicidal maniac, either way you are in their lives for a while.  I kinda imagine that when I have finished reading the chapter and put it down for a while, that these characters are suspended insitu until the next time I give them life.  Or sometimes I think that even though I am not reading about their life, they are still living it and going about their daily business.  Ho hum.....

I managed to finish the Feb Sketch for the BFF (do ya remember what it stands for, lol) and so thats another page for my album.  Must try and do more than just one a month though, eh.  Have some yummo pics of the boys to do too, so that is my creative focus at the mo - scrapbooking.  Love it......

Here is the sketch, which, incidentally, I always make up after I have done the layout.  I don't make up a sketch and work the layout to suit, its always the other way around.  Purely so that people can use the sketch in a simple form if they want, and it kinda gives permission for people to scraplift, which when I do a sketch is fine by me......although it is nice to be given credit for the sketch....

Half term now for this next week.  Have such a lot of exciting things planned - dentist *open wide*, opticians*can you see it yet* (in a Rolf Harris twang), hairdressers *oops*.  The kids are gonna love this week I can tell you.  We plan a whole day sorting out the loft too.  We all need to have hands in on this one, as the loft is chocka with all sorts, that once sorted can go to charity.  I reckon there will be enough for them to collect in a van!

oooh, that Spring cleaning feeling is upon us folks......such fun.......:-)

Catch up.......

Ooooh its been ages since I blogged.  Losing Kappa left me feeling a bit flat for a few days and I still feel the loss whenever we bring Wiggy inside at night.  He must feel the loss more than anyone, and we try to give him lots of touchy feely comfort and some warmth from another living thing, which we all need to survive, don't we.  I have always spoken to them lots and I know he knows my voice.  He has started to make a kind of purring noise whenever I speak to him, so cute, bless him.

Anyways, thanks for all the kind words and comments from those of you who read the last couple of posts.  I knew some of you would understand *hugs*......

Nothing very exciting to talk of really.  Jan-Feb are bleak months aren't they.  Although the sun is shining lovely today and I wish it would stay like that for a bit more than just the odd snatched hour here are there, before clouds roll in and make it a murky grey again.  Can you tell I feel a bit sun-deprived.  I'm not on my own there I am sure.

Did a few crafty bits over the past couple of weeks.  I was asked late last year to be a guest designer for January for the Artist Trading Club - a website is due to be live soon, www.theartisttradingclub.com.  Its a club where ATC's are swapped and exchanged and is run by Christine.  I had to do five Black and White with a red accent, so I am looking forward to getting a mix of five back!  Here is the one I did.......

I was also reminded by Linda that I had her CJ to complete, which I did and it was posted yesterday, sorry for the delay Linda.  Kids Cult TV and my theme was The Magic Roundabout.  Linda's theme was 'Best Friend', so I had to do Dougal of course.  I think I did about Dougal in most of my entries into this round of CJ's.  The top is the left hand side of the layout and the bottom the right hand side. 

I also completed an entry in the Retailers CJ, although that was done a couple of weeks ago.  My Favourite Book.  If you have never read Meet Me Under the Ombu Tree by Santa Montefiore, then you must.  I love it and its one of my faves.  I kinda made an extra page in this entry so I could include a pic of the cover of the book, lift it over and there is a write up of the book.  Go get it now and read!  You will be enchanted.....

I made use of some beads I had too and I was able to sew easily into the cork flower too.  A mass of glue bound the beads to make a centre for the flower - you might see better on the close-up.....

It was Rosie's b'day on 2 Feb and I actually made a card!  Must admit I don't like making them, sorry to you cardmakers out there, but I do try and am usually disappointed with what I do.  Part of it is also busting a gut to make something wonderful and then having to give it away, lol!  Is that selfish?  I only bother with cards if I know the person will appreciate it, and only if I have the time.  I am so desperate to get on with scrapbooking that cards come way down the list......

note the little 'hehe' I have inserted in the doodley bits.  Not sure if Rosie noticed.....hehe xx

It was my turn this month to set a cardmaking challenge on the Craft Diner, so go take a look and see if you fancy having a go!

I am in the process of organising a February Scrap Sketch for the Bubbly Funk Forum too, so will update on that once I have finished it!

Well, so much to do and not sure if I have enough ooomph to do it.  Perhaps a cuppa will give me some much needed get up and go...........xx