Doesn't time fly!

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted! Things have changed a lot here at home... I am no longer working outside of it for a start. It was great fun to get out and about but it was making to big an impact on my own businesses so I took the decision to stop and oh boy am I glad I did! I now have time to do things at home and in our garden as well as the lure of the workshop. This is particularly true at the moment as I have taken delivery of my kiln!!! I am so excited about it and have booked some more classes to make sure I can carry out everything I want to do. I got the kiln from Sigrunn Kilns and can thoroughly recommend them. Karen there has been a real sweetie and her husband to! Thanks to them both for all the assistance!

Well I have participated in my first Twinchies swap on UKS run by Annaliese. I am not the best at altered art but do enjoy it and the swap was quite challenging as it involved making 20 Twinchies! Anyway I have put added some pictures of mine although goodness only knows what happened to the others... they seem to have disappeared!

Saturday Crop

I had a smashing time yesterday! I went to a crop hosted by Ellie of Modscraps and was made to feel very welcome by everyone. I was so unprepared for it, having been up most of the night with a dicky tummy form the take away we had on Friday night it is surprising I got anything done but I did manage with some help, thank you to those that put themselves out for me... I am really grateful! Some of the others there are so obviously talented it puts my efforts to shame, good job I know I have lots to learn!

I participated in the class held by Jane of Fiskarettes. We did 'flocking' and it was great fun, well the class was but we did make an awful mess I can tell you! Thank goodness we didn't have to clean up behind ourselves! I am really looking forward to the next class in May, wonder what the class will be in this time?

I have taken a photo of one of my layouts but can't find the photo for the other for the life of me so I have had to ask for another from my daughter so can't show you that layout just yet. Shame really as it is the flocked one... naive but pretty. As always my photography leaves a lot to be desired but this is the best I could do today. The card, both black and white is textured... it's all spotty and fabulous, there is a diamante buckle and the scroll is finished with Glamour dust... shame you can't see it all properly.

Well, I already know what tomorrow brings... tidying! I am the worst at making a mess when I am in my workroom, one day maybe I will learn not to do it, God willing!

Workshop or Studio?

That is the question... it is the place I work in and does contain my shop but someone called it my studio on Saturday and it does sound better doesn't it? We shall see... as long as no one calls it the shed I don't mind really! Been working hard in there this week as I have some more shelves and have been sorting things out to go on them and putting more stuff in the bin. I do try to be careful and use all my card, saving all the bits and pieces to use on another project but there always seems to be so very much of it I wonder if I should just throw it out and start again ... what a waste though and it is a sure thing that I would want it as soon as it's gone!

I had a wonderful day on Saturday, I went to a class in PMC. The tutor, Chris Pate of Touchmark Studios, is great and the others in the class were fun to be with to. I made the pendant and earrings shown in the photo. It is much prettier in real life but I am useless at photography and I find jewellery really hard to get good images of. It was a really fabulous day, we even had lunch together which consisted of homemade soup (2 choices) and homemade bread with a delicious chocolate tart and raspberries for dessert, yum yum! I enjoyed the day so much I really need to do some more. It takes me back to when I was able to make sugar flowers and will prove to be a great substitute for that art. We are now going as a group to do some soldering... mucky work and I didn't enjoy it at all last time but it is a necessary evil so do it I shall. Already knowing the others will make it more pleasurable and having Chris as my tutor this time will also help loads! Anyway, back to the point of this posting. I now have room for a kiln and other paraphernalia so I shall be saving hard to get one and can't wait to be making some more pieces. It is a fabulous feeling that I shall actually be creating something of my very own. Not only that but all the tools I have from sugarcrafting will work really well with this so I already have lots of equipment to hand. I just have a few things to buy so I really can think about purchasing the kiln. Now all I have to do is decide which one....

Fun day today

I really did have some fun in the workshop today, actually it makes a change for me as lately things have been really hectic.

My daughter has moved into a temporary house and I decided to make a card... I know it is only temporary but I think it might cheer her. She adores black so I made it plain... with a bit of glitter! (well you have to don't you!) The chandelier image is from Pink Petticoat, very pretty!

Again from the Pink Petticoat download I bought was the standard lamp. I used Laura Ashley paper available from the Paper and Lace shop for the background. It is a lovely paper and flocked to... just like wallpaper! I coloured the lampshade in with Sakura pens which will be available from Paper and Lace very soon!

Finally I made a card that I intended to be for Mother's Day but to be honest the one I put on the other day was the first I have made since I lost my Mum... don't really want to do them now and this is the first time since Mum went that hubby hasn't had to go buy one from a shop... shock horror! The pretty background paper is Smirk from my store and the flowers in a vase print was again from Pink Petticoat and was a freebie!

The best thing about a shop...

...is the chance to try out the new stock ... and I have! I made the fairy card using the new Smirk range. Lovely papers and embellishments... my biggest problem was in deciding which ones to use! The embellishment is from a pack and is a shaker one... lots of lovely beads encased in the frame which makes the fairies wins shimmer. The papers in the packs are really pretty to... oh decisions, decisions! I used the funky flowers to... a lovely screw top pot filled to the brim!

The other card was made using the Laura Ashley range. I mounted the paper on some of the velvet paper (also available on Paper 'n Lace). It is a beautiful burgundy velvet and goes so well with the flock paper I used from the pack. I think I made a mistake with the Laura Ashley embroidered brad (again from P&L) ... I should have gathered up the ribbon before putting it on but it's to late now... maybe next time! The little tag is also from the Laura Ashley range.

Finally!

I got to spend all day in the workshop today! It has been a nightmare time with all the computer trouble I have had so most of my time has been spent sorting that out. Losing one is bad enough but I think my bad luck went into overdrive when I lost 2! Anyway I managed to find a new one with XP on ... needed that as most of my programmes wouldn't go on Vista.

I tried something new today... foiling with a laser printer and I confess I am very happy with the results! It looks fabulous even though you can't see it photograph the flowers are foiled. You can check out the projects on The Crafty Computer Paper site for more information... well worth it I promise! I have taken some photos but as the glue was still wet the wording looks a little 'ripply' I just had to share the technique with you!. All in all a good day spent joyfully!

Great Day!

I was anticipating a great day in the workshop... lots of ideas and things to do but then I had a phone call. It was from a friend I haven't seen for so very long, well over 15 years! It turns out she has moved just up the road to me and she came for coffee. Not a good day work wise but it was fabulous to see her and we chatted for hours! So long in fact her husband rang to make sure she was ok... she was quick to tell him we had a lot to catch up on!
I do have lots I want to do though, I really must make my wedding stationery portfolio up and I am very excited about doing things towards that. I also have some lovely beads and things that I want to make up into all things pretty so I do have lots to get on with. I think tomorrow will be a 'work day' although not for myself so I won't get anything done then either... time is marching though so I really must apply myself! Time management was never my strongest point though. Oh er, bad girl aren't I?
Tonight I am going to make a start on my card site. It really needs some changes to be made and I think I have finally sorted out what I will do... but then again I might decide I prefer it as it is... time will tell!I do have the site on several computers now though so I can play and then discard if I don't like the final result, thank goodness!
Well it's off to put away the shopping now... great eh?!