Flying Free

What is that well used phrase..the best laid plans..lol. Between feeling ill, bad internet connection and cats going walkabout...my plans for blogging daily went out of the window. For quite a few days I've had a horrendous pain but thankfully now it seems to be going. And I can only hope that it doesn't return. And as for the internet connection...well this last episode has been the end and I've decided to leave BT very soon. I'm thinking of trying Plusnet...yes I know that they are really BT in disguise but I've looked into it and they're a lot cheaper, have British call centres and they seem to be honest. For years BT have been telling me that I have over 8 speed. Never in my life have I ever been over 1.5 and most of the time I'm only 0.2..well plusnet admitted that at the moment I'm not going to be over 2 and mostly 1...now if they are part of BT and know this is the truth why on earth can't BT be honest.
My final moment of chaos was Gannie. He had discovered that his Mother was at the bottom of the village. I didn't mind this as he always came home but then all of a sudden he didn't and there was no word of him. Then I put the calls out around the village and kept getting messages that he had been seen but was very nervous. My friend the pa emailed her friend in the lower village and they said that he had been visiting Buster. So it was decided that I would go down on Saturday. Sparkle took me in the van and what a way to have to introduce yourself to new people...please excuse me whilst I sit on your steps and wait for my cat..lol. Busters Dad said they hadn't seen him for a couple of hours..so I decided to call him..and those that know me will accept that a voice of an angel I don't have..lol. Within a couple of seconds I said to Sparkle I think I can hear him and blow me Sparkle said here he comes. He sauntered along the road..talking as only Gannie can and promptly took himself under Sparkles van. And there he stayed...rolling and chirruping away. I had some food which I put down and there he came. I got hold of him and put him in a cat box before he had time to blink. He is now in a cat pen and is protesting most loudly. It turns out that he has been attacked which is probably why he didn't come home..I think that he had gotten himself so scared. He has had his wounds cleaned and checked over and now will have to be penned for a couple of weeks before he has to visit the vets for that most delicate of operations. I've decided that Simon will be having the same op and the same time...that way they can hate me together..lol. What I have also discovered is that Gannie had found himself a little fan club of ladies who had been feeding him..he was obviously visiting them all and getting about 8 breakfasts a day. He is complaining a little that his breakfast quantity has gone down since he came home..but he can just get on with it. At the moment he is fast asleep and quiet...thank goodness..between him and Twinkle..it's quite a noisy house..lol
The piece of work today is a canvas that I have made in the last fortnight. It features stamps from Clarity. I drew the hand shapes and then stamped them over with flower shapes and coloured them with my pencils. In the sky it has the words..flying free...which I created with peeloff waste..lots and lots of tiny flecks of gold. You should be able to see it properly if you enlarge the image. The butterflies are also from Clarity and have been decoupaged up. This entire thing was made on an A4 canvas and the background was created using both acrylic paint and H20s. As soon as it was finished it happily went to a new home. I would like to thank one of my followers who I consider to be a friend for the beautiful card that she sent to me. This lady has encouraged me so much during my blogger journey. With these terrible days of horror in our world, we all have to be strong and my blog has made me so aware that no matter what the press and others have to say..there are still wonderful people out there and I have faith that goodness will win out.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'm going to try and do some work. With the pain and the heat... I'm going to take it slowly...mind you I don't think that I've ever had any other speed..lol. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

A mandala for summer

Today's card is one I made using  only Clarity stamps. I was feeling a bit summery and the weather made me think of the mandalas that the hippies wore in the 60's..so I went with the flow and created this card. I used an ivy stamp and a carnation stamp, stamping both a number of times and then coloured the images with my pencils. I then mounted them onto a card and created the middle. Groovy baby..lol.
As I'm sat here I'm thinking that I'm worn out...what a day and it's not over yet. It was delivery day today and I seem to have turned into a greengrocers. There is fruit coming out of my ears..hopefully it won't all ripen together..I've got peaches, apricots, nectarines and bananas. What I would like to know is what on each has happened to peaches. I can remember them as a child and they were huge and juicy and they would quickly ripen to a perfect fruit. In the last few years when I have bought peaches they have been hard bullets that don't ripen but just go bad. Now all of a sudden we have what they are calling donut or flat peaches..depending where you buy them depends what they are called. I had some a couple of weeks ago and for the first time in a decade they ripened and actually tasted wonderful..so I have just bought some more..but what has been going on and why are the consumers the last to know. 
And to add to all today..the fridge resembles a jenga game..lol. I didn't realise just how much you can balance onto a cabbage. There is officially no spare space in my fridge. The onions are just going to have to fight their own battles in the fruit basket..lol It's days like this that I wish I had an old fashioned pantry..cool and shady with plenty of space for your onions and root vegetables. In the houses I grew up in and also visited they all had pantries..some larger than my parlour today. I can remember the slate shelves and the bins for potatoes and root vegetables.There was always a bowl of eggs just waiting to be used and all the baking ingredients in their own bins.
As I'm writing this the computer keeps moving and it's Raven that is causing the problem. She has decided that she is not moving from me just in case I should decide to open the packet of crisps that are by my side. I was going to have them with my lunch but decided to have them later. Well Raven is crisp obsessed...the quickest way to get her is to shake a packet and she will come running. She is the same with wotsits..and is rather embarrassing as she can eat them quicker than a human...so goodness help anyone with a packet..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then I should do some work. I hope that the weather is being kind to you..the sun has fought it's way through and the mountains are looking at their best. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

A Snowflakes Promise....New Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at A Snowflakes Promise. My one remaining design team. I have been so lucky t work with many wonderful teams and fabulous designers. Today's card is from the wonderful artwork collection at A Day for Daisies . To me there is something so beautiful about the designs. As you all know I do have a passion for witches..as my parlour ceiling reveals...currently there are 6 flying around and 1 Irish fairy. There is another waiting to be returned..she fell down and donked a cat..Sprout thought that the sky was really falling..lol. I love it when it is windy and they really do look like they are flying in all different directions. Anyway back to today's design. She is called the Little Crow Witch. I loved the way that her little crow and her are looking at each other..are they daring each other to give this flying lark a go ? The background is made using Brushos and Pixie Powders..I love mixing the two and seeing what effects I can get. I have used my pencils to colour the witch. I'm thinking that she will be soon adorning the parlour wall.

The weather here today is trying to be fine but goodness knows how long it will last. According to what I have read the weather is supposed to be turning very hot...if that happens then the fan will be making it's appearance on my table..and that is guaranteed to drive the cats crazy..lol. If my table is clear they all think that it should be theirs..there is a certain spot that I call the ignorant spot..and if they can't get their own way over something..they sit in this certain spot so I can't see who I'm talking to. At this very moment Jeffrey is lay to my left..eyes closed and all stretched out and goodness me ..he takes up a lot of space.
I have to share with you the one thing that is slowly driving me insane..the letter o on the computer is not working properly and I have to tap it at least 3 times to get it to work. There seems to be nothing causing the problem..no cat biscuit remnants under the key..lol..it just continues to drive me mad. Sometimes I can be typing away, not really thinking about it and look back and realise that there are no os anywhere. There have been a few times when I've felt like slinging the computer out of the window..lol...mind you sometimes when I get an ignorant person talking to me through the window, I often feel like throwing something at them. There was man the other day who insisted talking to me as if I was thick..he nearly got it..but I held back..his wife nearly got it for patting me on the head when I was out in the wheelchair..so perhaps it's just something they do as a family..drive other people insane..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be doing some more painting.So if you hear about some madly coloured cats in Wales..you know they will be here. Nothing attracts them more than wet paint..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...Day 26

Finally here I am...a lot later than normal...and the reason..we have had no electricity all day. All I can say is that it's been a very dark today in the cottage..lol. To be safe I've stayed in my chair..it's one of the few places that there is light. With the cottages up here being so old the windows have really deep sills so they don't let too much light in...but still I wouldn't swop living here for anything.
For todays page, I have chosen to share this fabulous image from Bugaboo..another version of my dream home. I loved the fact that there is a cat at the side..a large one...we'll take it as Jeff..he's my biggest boy..lol. And an owl in the tree..quite like my house. Ever since I lost Henry a barn owl lands on the roof of my house and I can hear it walk along the roof. A lot of Owl 'experts' have told me that they all have their own routes and my house must just be part of the route..I like to think that he's been sent by Henry. We used to laugh that we should live in a gothic type house..so this image is one that I just had to use.

Well the coffee is calling as I don't think that my caffeine levels are up to scratch yet..lol. Sparkle has been really good..he has a portable gas cooker thing and brought it round to make me some coffee magic. Never has anything tasted as good as that first cup..lol Now I'm off to make dinner..it's sweet and sour tonight..homemade as always...it's miles to the nearest chinese..but anyway..it's still a treat. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween...Day 24

Here I am on day 24 of the 31 days of Halloween challenge. First let me say that I'm sorry about missing off part of the saying...I blame it on cat help..lol. I was trying to photograph my pages for the rest of the challenge and my shoulders were like a cat roundabout. It wasn't until just now I realised that part of the quote was missing. It actually reads..don't make me get the flying monkeys..a quote that I'm sure you all know from Oz. The actual quote on the witch image always makes me smile. So many times in my life I've been referred to as a witch just because I don't follow the norm or fashion and I have to say it's never bothered me. If that's the worst thing that people can throw at me..so be it..lol. So it felt that I had to include this image in my book. The image itself is from the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps. I hope that you will check out their site..they have such a variety of images for whatever you want to do.

I have come to the conclusion that sometimes I can be really thick when it comes to the computer..lol. I have always said that I'm a bit of a techno phobe and am pleased to have learnt all that I have in the past three years. Henry was far better than me and I think that it was because he was never scared of it. Where as I came from a generation that didn't have computers..goodness me we didn't even have calculators when I was at school. I've never had a mobile phone because I'm mostly housebound and I live in one of the few areas in the country that don't have a reception. I think it's because of the mountains. Some people have found a reception if they shim up the second tree down the lane ..but that's never going to be me..lol. Back to where I began anyway..today I finally worked out how to play music whilst doing other things on the computer. Now stop laughing at me..lol..I never thought of it until today. So here I am..music playing...a happy woman. 
Well the coffee is calling and Sparkle has just arrived..so I won't even have to make it..a really happy day. I have decided to make quiche for dinner..with new potatoes and veg tonight and chances are I make 2..so we will be having it with chips maybe the next day. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 21

Today's entry for the 31 days challenge is another page for my Halloween book. The theme I took for this page was inspired by this quote from Edgar Allen Poe. It was the idea of lost love. The images are from two different digital design teams...The East Wind..at the top and Lacy Sunshine..bottom right. The heart stamp at the top right is from my stash and I have no idea where it came from..it is from back in the day when I didn't note down the company and any details..lol. I just thought that the images worked together.I do notice that I have a bit of a tendency to do strange coloured hair..I think that's it's a hangover from my punk days.I changed the colour of my hair every week...I'm amazed that my hair lived through it all. I remember that I had a poncho type wrap but it had long black fringing..it was like wearing a dense spider web. I was known because I painted my face and was pretty outrageous..lol...these days I'm only outrageous on the inside. Saying that my hair has been pink, purple, green and blue in the last 12 months. A man that met me not long after he'd moved in to the village met me on the lane..my hair was pink, Reg was attached to my wheelchair and all the cats were out with us..I think he was a little shocked..lol and proceeded to tell everyone he met that he'd met a very strange woman..lol. I had to laugh because he obviously hadn't realised just how quick things get round a small village and that I've lived here so long everyone just told me. I think now he just lets me off by saying that I'm obviously arty..lol

The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day. My poor leg is having a rest and is up on it's box stool. It really doesn't like being fiddled with in any way. I've decided that it can have a rest this weekend..I have lots of work to do so I'll just stay in my chair and get covered in paint and paper. I'm sure that Raven will love every minute of it. She will be nested on my legs the whole time. It will be a little strange to be doing things that are not Halloween. All my Halloween projects are all finished and ready to blog.I think that Christmas projects are going to hit the ground running. Brace yourself..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then I've lots of printing to do. Luckily the printer is right by my chair..so I don't even have to move. I had to laugh yesterday I saw lots of people who were so shocked to see me out..lol. Three people actually said that they always thought of me in my corner working..that every time they came to visit me I always was in the middle of a project. I don't actually think about it very much..living in the middle of nowhere and being in a wheelchair means that going out is a major procedure and as much as I enjoy going out..I'm always so glad to be home. All my friends know that I'm here and I am so lucky that they come and visit. And anyway I don't think I could put up with cats sulking that often..lol So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween....Day 20

Today's image is another page out of my Halloween Book. To me this is a perfect image that makes me smile every time I look at it. If I had to have a representation of myself...this image from Bloobel would be perfect..so I just had to include it in the 31 Days Challenge. I'm thinking of working with this image again and creating a picture for my bathroom. This was definitely me last night..lol. I indulged in a long hot bath in preparation of my hospital visit...but I do have to say it was anything but peaceful. All the cats have to come into the bathroom to check that I'm ok..and they did. Gannie is fascinated by the bubbles and always plays until he finds my toes...I'm sure that one of these days he is going to end up in the bath with me..lol. Last night Milky arrived in the bathroom and headed off with the towel that I had put down to stand on. She managed to kick it into a ball shape and headed out of the door with it, the little madam.

I was up with the birds this morning and headed off to the hospital. I had my scan on my foot and bless them but what a waste of time. All the lady talked about was my scars and couldn't see what she was looking for. The fact that she seemed to be scanning in the wrong place didn't make any difference. But I have to say that I'm not going again..the pain in my foot is horrible and seems to be going up the bone in my leg. My friend that took me offered to take me shopping but all I wanted to do was to come home, take my tablets and get my leg up. And here I am. I'm just glad it's all over and done.
As I've been joining in with this challenge, I have been so inspired by the other creations made by the other crafters that have entered. I'm still trying to comment but BT are still playing up..they will let me the blogs..some days..but won't let me comment...I'm hoping to get round all the blogs in the next week. During this challenge I entered a competition on the blog of Susan R and was so lucky and actually won...I've never won anything before..so I was so chuffed. Well my prize arrived today and I was blown away with a huge envelope of treasures. A piece of Susan's Art is now on my mantlepiece and wow the goodies are amazing. Spiders, ribbons,papers, jewels and flowers..a treasure trove. I haven't stopped stroking yet..lol. This amazing gift has given me lots of ideas to include in my challenge next year. So thankyou Susan R for such a wonderful surprise win.
The sun is shining here in the mountains today. I'm looking forward to doing some peaceful colouring this afternoon whilst my pain killers do their work. All the cats have protested the fact that I left the house, filled their tummies with Mother is guilty as charged treats and have all left the building. Apart from Raven who is playing hot water bottle..bless her.
Well the coffee is definitely calling today and then it's colouring. I just love it. I use lots of different mediums..acrylic paints, H2Os, watercolour paints and pencils, alcohol pens..whatever I can lay my hands on actually. I think that this afternoon I'll be using my inktense pencils. I just love them..they start off looking very subdued but once you add the water the colours pop. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting

31 Days of Halloween....Day 19

Today I've decided to share another of my pages for the 31 days challenge. It's a page that I drew myself, so that I could use this quote from T.S.Elliot. I have always loved poetry and Elliot is one of my favourites. It was his poem 'The Wasteland', that I first found and just loved the way that he uses words and paints a picture with them. The quote that I found seemed perfect for Halloween..the thought of the unseen feet pressing on the lawn. I remember spending quite a lot of time with my friends sitting in the graveyard..perhaps it was a teenage thing. I think it was mostly because it was the one place that our relatives wouldn't think to look for us at..lol. The local vicar knew that we inhabited the Lytch Gates as our retreat..it had benches..but he never minded. In fact 2 of his own sons were often there as well. 
For my page, I began by painting the background with my H2Os because I wanted that shimmer that they provide...sadly it doesn't pick up quite as well on the photograph. I used purples,pinks and greens to try and give it a look of twilight. And then I just used a black pen to add the trees and the gravestones. I have never found grave yards scary..just a little sad.
The sun is shining here in the mountains today. All the cats are out apart from Raven and Nicademus. Rave is just a homebody. She always has been. She has always been allowed to go out but the furthest she seems to go is on the studio roof. The rest of the time she is either sat by me or on me...and most of the time she's lay on my legs..my personal leg heater,,lol. Nicademus is lay on his cushion. He is seeming to be rather stiff on his back legs today. I think that it's a mixture of his being an older cat, the colder weather arriving and still recovering from the dog attack the other day. But he's eating and drinking well and I think that he just needs a little cosy time.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'm off to do some more sorting. Now tomorrow I will be posting a little later than normal simply because I've got a very early hospital appointment.I have to admit to be dreading it. The one thing that I can't stand is my foot being touched in any way. Ever since my accident, many many years ago the bottom of my foot has been constantly hurting..I don't know what they think they can do now after all this time but I suppose that things will have developed and there may well be new ideas that they would like to try on my trotter..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting
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Left of Center....New Challenge

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is just about to begin and will run for the next week. The theme for this challenge is Butterflies. We are so lucky to have two sponsors for this challenge..Star Stampz and All Dressed Up. As always, rather than go with the current challenge theme..you have the option of going LOC. For all details about that, please check out the LOC blog.

  My first design is from the wonderful Star Stampz. I just adored this image of the Japanese lady. In the original image (below) she is surrounded by a cherry blossom and I just coloured it as it came...adding some butterflies in the blossom and in her hair. I then had the idea of making my own blossom tree..but using small punched butterflies in shades of pink to form the blossom.

Our second sponsor is the fabulous team over at All Dressed Up.I just loved this delicate image and thought that she would be perfect to be surrounded by butterflies. I coloured her with my promarkers and added her to a card with floral and butterfly borders.

I do hope that you will pop over to the LOC blog and take a look at all the fabulous creations made by the rest of the team.
I must apologise for not blogging this week but I have had a horrible week. One of the boys...young Nosey was killed by a dog in the village by a dog that was not on the lead. The incident was seen by a neighbour who waded in and took poor Nosey to the vets, where sadly nothing could be done. The incident has shaken me to the core. For the past couple of years I have blogged about the number of people who come to the village and think that it is fine to not have their dogs on a lead. I have said about it so many times..last year I had 5 of my cats injured by loose dogs and now poor Nosey has been killed. I did lose my temper and the man said not to worry that he would cover all expenses. But since then he has changed his mind. He is only going to pay part of the bill..so I'm left with the rest. After I had lost my temper he left the village within about 5 minutes. I am so angry I don't know what to do. I had the feeling that he would be funny and he's just lived up to all expectation of everyone. I even told him to pay the vet directly and then he couldn't say that I was just after money..which I wasn't..but I still expect him to pay the entire bill. If it wasn't for his stupidity then my Nosey would be looking forward to a long life. I can only hope that Karma will be visiting in the future.

Here is the picture of Nosey and Simon when they were babies. The only consolation that I have is that Nosey was loved from the day he was born. He was called Nosey because that's what he was. He would run and see who it was at the door and was the first of the kittens to do anything. I can remember him now, curled up with Reg..the pair of them all loved up in the dog basket. Gannie in particular is having a hard time wondering where he is. My friend the PA used to call them Tweedledum and Tweedledee because they would go everywhere together and would often be seen wandering down the lane together.
Well the coffee is calling and then I've got some work to do. I'm so behind because of last week..I just couldn't bring myself to do anything. I have lots to do in the coming week..I'm hoping that keeping busy will help me through everything. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Decoupage Delights...Those were the Days

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful Decoupage Delights. It features this decoupaged image from their latest cd 'Those were the Days'. I have found just so many images on this cd that I want to work with...and they are something just a little different. It was created with men in mind but so many images would work for the ladies as well. This image is called The Game keeper but could easily be a number of different characters. I just love the image of the man and his dogs. As with all Decoupage Delights cds, the amount of decoupage that you do is your own choice. Equally the images work as well with no decoupage added..just in case postage is an issue. The backing paper that I've used is one of the two that are given with this image. There are an amazing amount of backing papers on this cd that will be so useful for all your crafting. I do hope that you will pop over to the Decoupage Delights facebook page and take a look at all the other cds that are available. I will be sharing some cards made with the Vintage Christmas in the next few weeks.
The weather here today in the mountains doesn't know what it wants to do..I am just thankful that it's not raining. The clouds are overhead but hopefully will continue on their way past. The cats are all on the studio roof. Yesterday a dog chased Simon up my path and onto the patio. I got really annoyed because the owner hadn't had his dog on the lead..even though he had the lead in his hand. He thought it was all very funny but I didn't. I'm just so fed up with my cats being chased and scared and some dog owners not caring. I'm sure that they'd have something to say if one of my animals hurt their dogs. I mean it's not as if I don't like dogs..I love them and have some dogs come to my house on a play date. It's dogs that have always had an issue with cats and come to get socialised with them. My cats aren't bothered in the house as they have all grown up with dogs and it's lovely to see them with the dogs. But it seems to me that it's the people that are totally to blame. They let their dogs run wild..I always worry that these dogs might get hit by a car..and what would their owners have to say then. And as far as I can see there is no excuse for the owners not to have them on a lead...I walked  or rather wheeled Reg in my wheelchair and we had some lovely times. When I go out now in my wheelchair, all the cats all come with me. I don't even have to encourage them...they just come along...all of them..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then I need to sort out my work pile. I have lots of photos to upload and put into their folders ready to share...lets hope that BT are in the mood. I've done so much sorting in the last couple of days..my legs need to have a little rest..so I've got them up and I may do some stamping later. I steam cleaned the carpet yesterday along with all the rugs..so I'm feeling very virtuous...lol. I'm hoping to do some more in the bedroom tomorrow but I don't want to hurt my legs any more..so I'll see how it goes. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center...........New Challenge

Todays canvas is a design team make for the wonderful Left of Center. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next week. The theme for this challenge is 'Hip to be Square'..hence I used a square canvas.

We have been so lucky for this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at Aurora Wings. I just love the images that are available here and always have such a hard time deciding which one to choose. I decided to work with amazing image of the lady and the owl for obvious reasons. Since I lost Henry, owls seem to play an important place in my heart. 

For my canvas, I began by painting the canvas with my H20s to create a night sky. The image itself I coloured using a mixture of my promarkers and my H20s. I finally embellished her mask with lots of pearls and jewels. The canvas is now living with the bathroom art wall.
The sun is shining here in the mountains today. It is quite windy though and Raven is having a right gallop around the studio roof. She absolutely adores the feel of the wind in her fur and runs round and round looking really happy. All the other cats are asleep or at least trying to, on the studio roof. I think that they are getting a bit fed up with being galloped over..lol.
I had a message last night from one of Henrys friends..it was so nice to hear from him. I have been so lucky that a lot of his friends keep in touch with me..I love hearing their news. Hopefully he will be coming to stop for a few days..he knows most of the cats but will have to meet the young boys..goodness help him..lol. Twinkle, the wild one, has a bit of a thing for him and it's so funny to see. Whereas she will bite anyone else near her..she always made a fuss of him. The last time he came, Jeffrey was still a young kitten..so he will also be in a shock when he sees him.
Well the coffee is calling and I've got a few projects on the go. I hope that you will pop over to the LOC blog and see all the other wonderful work created by other members of the team. Also, pop over to the Aurora Wings shop and take a look at all the fantastic art work. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center...New Challenge

Today's cards are design team makes for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge is just about to begin and will run for the coming week. The theme for this challenge is Quirky or Weird...so that just about sums up most things that I do..lol. As always you have the choice of going LOC. For all details about that, please check out the LOC blog.
For this weeks challenge we have been lucky enough to have been sponsored by the fantastic Bloobel Stamps. I just adore the images and found it so hard to decide on which image to use..so in the end I worked with two..lol. The one above is so understandable for a caffeine head like me and the one below I just loved the details..especially the plant eating her hair..lol. Both images I coloured with my promarkers.

It's been a hectic day here in the mountains.Things have been going in and out of the skip all day. I had the tree trimmed back..it had gone so out of control that it covered the whole patio area...now the patio is clear and nearly ready for the umbrella to go up. It's guaranteed that it will rain for the rest of year as soon as it goes up..lol. The new cottage sign and the village notice board are also going up in the front garden. I have a new sideboard for the parlour...lots to go out..lots to go upstairs and lots to do down and out to the skip..the whole thought is very exciting. A new armchair is coming in for the parlour as well. I won't know myself by the time it's all finished. Hopefully by the next weekend my bedroom will be done as well. Fingers crossed. The cats are still not walking on the new carpet..they all still come in through the window and go round the edge of the room on the furniture and then jump out of the door onto the landing carpet..lol. I know I warned them that if they made a mess I'd make them wear slippers..but I never thought that they'd take me seriously..lol. With all the going on today, they've been back and to all the time. They do like to keep an eye on things.
Well the coffee is calling and then I've got some painting to finish. It seems really strange to be blogging at this time of day but I'm a good girl..well sometimes..and do what I'm asked. I do hope that you will pop over to the LOC blog and take a look at all the fabulous makes that the rest of the team have made. I'm heading for the kettle..so until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Jiggery Makery.....A Dress for Every Event

Today's cards are all design team makes for the wonderful Jiggery Makery. I thought that I would share these three dresses with you, as they represent different type outfits made with the Jiggery Makery designs. If you get the chance, please pop over to the facebook page and take a look at all the wonderful designs, all drawn by the owner Adele. I just love playing about with all the designs of the dresses...it always takes me back to being a young girl playing fashion designer with my pens and papers. I remember that all my dresses had an over skirt and always had to have puff sleeves. In reality I loved puff sleeves and always wanted them on my dresses. I will have to try to find a photo of me in one of my dresses...if nothing else it will give you a good giggle..lol

The sun is shining here in the mountains today..so I have been deserted by all the furry ones..lol. I can see 4 of them stretched out on the studio roof. They were all in for breakfast and disappeared as soon as their tummies were full. Simon, as most of you know, has a problem with his vision...he has no peripheral vision so falls off things an awful lot.All the other cats run up the tree to reach the studio roof but this must have caused Simon problems. So now he runs round to the back of the cottage.up onto the roof and jumps down from the main roof of the house to the studio. All you hear is the thud of him landing on the studio roof..lol. This morning he caused absolute chaos in the parlour. He was trying to jump from my chair onto the table..he managed to take out 2 boxes and 2 pots that were full of pens..and still fell off. He doesn't half give me a right look..as if I'm to blame...lol. Nicademus has really taken to the cat tunnel and can be found there asleep most nights.I am tempted to buy them a scratching post..they have been using the banister for nearly 30 years now..each generation has had a go at it..it now looks like a piece of modern art..lol
Things have been happening here. My skip has arrived and is providing pure joy for the village. Before I had put anything in myself..two people asked if they could put two things in and I said yes..after all these same people have done the same for me over the years. Well no sooner had these two things gone in and there was another two people asking if they could have what had just gone in..lol. I've now managed to get some of my things in and on Monday I'll be putting my bedroom stuff in..a new bed for me...I can't wait. I've decided to do it on Monday because I have a huge amount of work to do..so I can enjoy doing that over the weekend and then get down to work on the bedroom. My cleaner is due later so I'm hoping that he will put some more stuff in for me. I'm also going to cut back one of my trees and provide myself with an arch of shade. The sign for the cottage is now finished so that will be going outside, alongside my new gargoyle. I have a huge green man on the front of the cottage..it was a present from a friend many years ago and is an actual cast from one in Bath. It is funny because it is often used as a clue in treasure hunting..lol. I get the strangest people standing in front of my cottage, clutching pieces of paper, getting very excited. It always makes me smile because they always comment on the cats that sit there watching them. I think that the gargoyle will fit in nicely..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then I should get down to some work. I'm hoping to do a feature for Decoupage Delights running all next week, alongside all my other design team makes..so please watch this space..lol. I've already decided what to do for dinner tonight. We are going to have steak pie with baby new potatoes and cabbage. I do adore cabbage in any form and always have done. I'm already feeling hungry just thinking about it..lol. I may also make some scones. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

JB Crafting Supplies.....Where a thought can take you

Todays creations are all design team makes for the wonderful JB-Crafting Supplies. Yesterday I decided to make a mixed media piece but got carried away and ended up making four finished projects and a large one which is till a work in progress. The first two makes today are 2 small canvasses that I had painted with my acrylics. I added three layered flowers and used a black peeloffs as stems. I finally stamped a different sentiment on both.

Now the two cards below came about totally by accident. I had painted my flowers using my H2Os, using another piece of paper to keep things tidy. When I had finished painting...I looked at the waste paper and loved the way in which the colours had mixed..so I decided to use it. I used one of my flower stamps and stamped the image onto the waste paper. I then cut them out and created two cards using these flowers.

The weather here in the mountains today is wonderful. Yesterday because it was raining I had a lot of cat help with my painting. Hence one of my armchairs is now covered with multi coloured paw prints..lol. I have to say it has created a wonderful pattern..I shall try and take a photo so that you can see..lol. Today because I'm not painting..all the cats are outside sunning themselves. Nosey is the only one that has remained and he is on the shelves, curled up asleep. The catnip biscuits that arrived in the house last week have had to be hidden in a draw...they even go berserk if they can smell the box..lol. I'm seriously thinking of planting some down the path next year..at least they could have their raptures outside. I do have some hidden in the cupboard downstairs as well, ready to put into some toys I have made..goodness help us all.
Well the coffee is calling and then it should be time to watch Joanna Sheen. It is so nice to see her back on the tv. It's an easy dinner tonight..Cornish Pasty and chips..with mushy peas.I just love them and haven't had them for an absolute age..so it will be a treat tonight. So..until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting