Working with Wire

I was browsing through the contents of my craft cupboards and came across a couple of articles I wrote over three years ago for Simply Stamping & Papercraft Magazine. It spurred me on to revive this fun technique and I plan to do a class on wire flowers early in the New Year. I found some black and white seed beads so couldn't resist making a cute bee too. Here are the first few samples

Happy New Year

As I was late wishing you all a Merry Christmas, may I be the first to wish you all A Happy and Healthy New Year!

News round-up

Well, I hope you all had a good Christmas and are looking forward to a great 2010. It's been ages since I posted on here so here's an update to finish the year.

After a long wet Summer and no holiday since February we decided to take a short break at the end of October. The chosen destination was a lovely hotel near Woodbridge, Suffolk, which we used as a base to tour the coast and countryside - so beautiful dressed in autumn colours! Visted all the usual tourist haunts - Aldburgh, Snape Maltings, Framlingham, Southwold and Thorpness. We came home via Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge taking advantage of the 'Park and Ride' to get to the heart of the city without the hastle of parking.
Here are a few pictures!






This short break was so successful we decided to take another one at the end of November. This time we chose Winchester as our destination to take advantage of the Christmas Markets, including the lantern parade and official opening on the Friday night and a beautiful Advent carol service at the Cathedral on the Saturday. Once again the hotel had great facilities including a Spa, gym and pool. We chose to eat out sampling Italian, Thai, a pub-lunch and a dim sum banquet.







We are now counting down the days until we fly out to visit the family in Australia - less than three weeks now! I just hope I will be a bit more mobile as I damaged my knee very badly a few weeks ago being over-zealous in the gym! I have torn/strained/pulled tendons, ligaments, muscles and possibly (though hopefully not)cartilage. Have had X-Rays but am waiting to get an MRI scan to assess the extent of the damage. in the meantime it lots of visits to the Osteopath, ice-packs and plenty of rest with the leg elevated!

Surrey Photos

Another sunny week has past and I'm enjoying this Autumn weather - so different from all the rain and gloom last month. Haven't spent much time in the craft room but have been out and about taking photos. Its funny how you miss all the wonderful views and places right on the doorstep. All the photos that follow are within a 10 mile radius of my home. Keep meaning to get up early and take a picture of the grandstand in the misty morning but haven't made it yet!





After such a dismal August the last week has been fabulous - cloudless blue skies and sunshine all the way. have been out for several walks around the beautiful Surrey countryside and also along the towpath of the River Thames from Kingston. Topping up on the sun before winter sets in and I go back to my usual 'SAD' state.





Enjoyed my walk to Box Hill and the Stepping Stones and also managed to see James May's Lego House before it was totally demolished at Denbies Vineyard




Its hard to believe that his time last week I was working flat out at a craft exhibition at Sandown Racecourse but today I've been relaxing in the garden in glorious sunshine and temperatures of nearly 22 degrees!

It's Summer!

After making all those Christmas cards last time, I've been making cards with a beach theme - boats, sandcastles and beach huts!

Christmas is coming!

I have a Christmas workshop on Monday and thought I would get cracking on making some samples. I'm using Papermania papers and stamps to keep the it simple. It's amazing how quickly the ideas come together when you don't have to hunt for all the coordinating papers. By using a paperstack they are worked out for you and different combinations soon ring the changes. I haven't got the wax seals yet but they might prove a good addition to my collection if I use these ideas for my own cards later in the year.

The collection - 6 of the best

Decoupaged stamped poinsettias on squares of 'holly' paper

torn strips and greetings

stamped holly leaves with dimentional red pearl berries

distressed edged paper with stamped Christmas tree

Season's Greetings with ribbon trim

large snowflake and stamped Merry Christmas

Acting Parish Secretary

For the whole of August I'm playing at being a Secretary in my local church office. Lots to do as the rest of the staff are all away at the same time this year. It makes a change but doesn't give me quite as much time for crafting. I have, however, managed to make a few cards and ATCs so here they are

Home again

Just got back from a rather wet week at 'New Wine' in Shepton Mallett, Somerset.

Unlike some of our friends who had their tents washed away, we were lucky to be in a warm, dry B&B. 2" of rain fell on Wednesday but at least we enjoyed the previous day in Bath with warm sunshine and only a few spits and spots.

Inspite of getting drenched on several occasions, we had a great week.

Where did May and June go?

Here I am again ................. at last

Time certainly passes very quickly the older you get. Its been a busy few weeks for me. The sale of cards, stamps and craft goodies was a little disappointing but I still managed to make £120.

Just as well I made all those cards because, soon after, the decluttering, moving rooms and decorating began .

First - I got rid of my old piano, moved the office stuff around and got rid of 100s of old cassettes and CDs.

Then it was time to get rid of a bed, wardrobe and dressing table from the tiny front bedroom ready to turn it into my new craft room. I had been working in the back bedroom for years but, with 2 single beds, 3 bookcases, numerous filing cabinates and cupboards, it was seriously overcrowded. This room is quieter and looks over the trees and garden so it mkaes an ideal bedroom for us. So much nicer than having the street noise and all night glow from the lights outside

It took 3 days to move all the stuff over to the newly painted front room and with the addition of some home made curtains the black and white craft room was ready for occupation. I have to be very tidy as there is very little room but a place for everything - if only I could remember where! My labelling needs to be clearer.

Its lovely being in such a bright room and although it no longer looks quite as nice as this, it is fairly easy to keep clean and neat. It took ages putting things in new boxes and sorting out mixed brads and eyelets which had been tipped into a shoebox! I can't believe how many silk flowers I've acquired and even after selling loads of stamps my collection is huge.

Having cleared the back bedroom (and found a home for the 2 beds) it was time to plan our new luxury bedroom. It took a month to paint, wallpaper, choose and have fitted wardrobes installed, buy new carpet, lights, curtains and bedding but I'm delighted with the finished result.

John Lewis had a sale which meant I got lots of things 50% off - bonus. I have a huge amount of storage space for clothes, hats, bedding etc. and the local charity shops know me by name now (I even have a Gift Aid card for one)

We have been in the new room for a week now and seem to be sleeping much better. There is a slight problem with the new bed ................... can't get out of it in the morning and keep oversleeping!

Last of all, we demolished one of the old wardrobes and moved the dressing table into the alcove making much more room and can at long last ask visitors to stay! We keep a spare TV up there so I can relax and watch my favourite programmes in comfort while Clive has his sport on.