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.

Time to return

Hello everyone..I hope that you are all well and will forgive me for going absent for such a while. Thank you all so much for all the messages, emails and notes...it has meant so much to me to realize how much you have enjoyed my blog. I felt that everything was changing..with most of my design teams closing and everything else that was going on..I just needed some time to think about what I needed and where I wanted to be. I can't say that I've managed to reach any fantastic conclusion but have realized that crafting is such a huge part of my life..I don't want to give it up and I also love to share what I do..so here I am back again on my journey...and hopefully you'll join me.
And now for my first make on my journey. The card above was one I made for a Clarity Worldwide Challenge on facebook. Even when I was supposed to be having a break..the need to craft often crept in. The challenge was in March and the theme was 'A man's world'. I began by thinking about what to do and remembered an elderly Uncle who had a thing for kipper ties. And the more I thought about it..the more I giggled and then just had to make a card that featured them..lol. I have to admit that my Uncle had some really risky ones but even I thought that they would be going a little far..even for me. So I made the ties using some of my Clarity stamps which was the rule of the challenge and I was so amazed when I won. I was so excited you would have laughed at me doing a happy chair dance..lol

I am so happy that today the sun is trying to shine here in the mountains today. We have had quite a few days of torrential rain, with the wind blowing a hooley. And I have had to live with a cottage full of sulking cats..lol. They all seem to blame me when the weather is anything but perfect. Most of them are outside today..in fact the only ones that are in are Tank and Nicademus. I have a collection of cuddly bears on the couch and Nicademus has made himself a nest among them. It can come as quite a shock to anyone sitting on the couch when he suddenly decides to move...you can't see him at first because he blends in so well.He has been the cause of quite a few exclamations..lol. Tankie is sat to my left..she has decided that it is her right to be by my side all the time. So far she has managed to get covered in coffee, glitter and acrylic paint but she doesn't seem to mind to much.
Well the coffee is calling and then I will be ding some painting...no doubt I will be sharing it in the next few weeks. Sparkle has just arrived...he must have heard the coffee alarm going off..lol. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting...it's lovely to be back.

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 has just begun and will run for the next week. The theme for this challenge is Christmas Colours. I have chose to work with red, green and gold but of course you can use whatever colours are your favourite at this time of year. And of course, as usual, you always have the option of going LOC. For all details about that, please pop over to the LOC blog. In last weeks challenge we had 3 entries that were LOC and they were fab.

We are so lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at Kenny K. Why not pop over and take a look. There are lots of different styles and you are sure to find one that you love.

 I'm here in the mountains being driven slowly insane by the cats..all wanting to go out and then wanting to come back in because it's so cold. Gannie of course has an awful lot to say because it's quite frosty in places and he still hasn't got the hang of the crunchy stuff..lol. Nicademus keeps going to the window..looking out and then running back to his cat tunnel.  bought the tunnel as a toy for the cats and Nicademus has taken it over. Now he won't let anyone else go into 'his tunnel'. except for Obie who has been his concubine since she was 4 weeks old. She took one look at him and it's been love ever since. It's quite funny to see them both squeezed into the tunnel. At the moment Simon and Raven are wanting to go out..I know if I let them, they'll be back within minutes. I have a feeling that it's going to be one of those days..lol
Well the coffee is calling and then it's back to work.The cats are already twinkling with glitter..lol. and it's nearly time to get it out again. I'm still working on my list and finally I can see an end in sight. That is unless the phone rings again.I may even get to make my own cards sometime this week..lol. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

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 has just begun and will run for the coming week. The theme for this weeks challenge is Fair Maidens. As always you have the option of going LOC...for details about that please check out the Left of Center blog. We are so lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at MoonFlower designs. I chose to work with ths beautiful image of an Oriental maiden. The background was created using my distress inks and a stamp. The image was coloured with my H2Os..and even though it doesn't show in the photo has a lovely shimmer to it. I do hope that you will pop over to  MoonFlower Designs and take a look at the beautiful and unusual images that they have available.

I got quite a shock today when I came onto Blogger..it had all changed and I've still got to take some time and work it all out. And you all know that computers aren't really my thing. Ever since I began this blog, t has been a learning journey and I'm so glad to say I still love it. I haven't been blogging much in the last couple of weeks purely because I've been knee deep in paint, glitter, snowmen and holly. I'm trying to get all my Christmas makes finished...but there seems to be no end to it all..lol.My own Christmas cards are slipping further down the list as people keep ringing for other things. I have the feeling that I may be all glittered out by Christmas. That will probably not last for long though..you know how much I love the coloured stuff..lol.
It's certainly got colder here in the mountains. The cats are all out at the moment..making the most of it being dry. They are all in come dinner time and the biggest cat flap in the world is now closed after 6 p.m. And they are all horrified by the fact. Gannie has been shocked by quite a few things lately..especially the frost. Being one of the youngest he had never seen white frost before and goodness me but he had a lot to say about it..lol. The first time he went out and saw it and put his paw on it..he ran back to the window sill and spent half an hour telling me. He then spent the rest of the day going in and out checking to see if it had gone. Goodness only knows what he will be like f it snows..lol. Sparkle and I were talking, remembering the first time that Icabod saw snow...it was so funny..he was trying to get from one side of the road to the other without touching any snow. He would take a giant leap and then disappear in the snow..only to reappear and leap again. When he finally made it home , there was no going out for him until the white stuff had all gone..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then it will be back to the paint. I've about 10 projects all on the go and all at various stages..so whilst one is drying, it means I can continue on another. The hardest thing is keeping the cat paws out of the wet paint. I'm sure that word gets out and they all come running. My work table is becoming a beautiful rainbow of paw prints..I may let it sit though and put a layer of varnish over it..a one off piece of art..lol. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

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 has just begun and will run for the next week. The theme for the challenge is Creepmas/ Christmas. And of course, as always, you have the option of going LOC. Our sponsor for this challenge is the fantastic Karleigh Sue. This card is inspired by the non pc 1970s..I have been watching some 70s based videos and can't quite believe what we considered ok or funny back then. Even though some of it just seems wrong a lot was really funny and seemed to be a lot freer..before the world went over the top pc. The backing paper is also 70s inspired..bold design and bright colours..I just love it.

I hope that you will pop over to the LOC blog and take a look at all the wonderful creations made by the rest of the team. I'm always inspired by all the other ladies..they always put me to shame but inspire me to go further and try harder,

What a week. I am amazed that I have managed to find myself a way out of the glitter, ink and card pile. I have been ensconced in my corner beavering away. Yesterday I couldn't move..I had so many projects around me drying..the cats spent the day driving me insane. As soon as the paint palette comes out the cats arrive around me. My table is becoming beautifully coloured by paint and paw prints. Even though I have kept working all last week ...my list of things to do doesn't seem to be going down..lol. My Christmas cards seem to be heading further away...I'm trying to finish all the things for other people before I start my own..but the phone keeps ringing. It's as if the rest of the world has just noticed that Christmas is coming soon. I may end up white haired by the time it arrives..lol At the moment all the cats are outside...no doubt causing chaos around the village. I had to smile yesterday..Sparkle went for lunch with his son and his Grandchildren and I just had to smile. His little grand daughter had painted his nails. Sunshine will love this..when he came round his nails were pink and sparkling..such a good look on him..lol. I wish I had taken a photo now. Well the coffee is calling and then it will be back to the grind..lol. I'm really loving every moment but just wish that I had more hours in the day. I shall hit the caffeine and then back to the glitter. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center...New Challenge

Finally..I'm here. After a weekend of fighting with Bt..they have finally decided to let the village onto the internet. They have played with every ones connection and we've all been on and off like yoyos and yet they demand the same money here as they do for people with a full connection. Well that's my moan for the week..lol.

Today's picture is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the coming week. The theme for this weeks challenge is Fairytales and as usual you have the choice of going LOC. For all details of this, please check out the LOC blog. We are so lucky this week to have been sponsored by the fabulous team over at A Day for Daisies. I just adore their images and always find it so hard picking which image to work with. I finally decided to work with this image which is called a kiss for my unicorn.

 For this picture, I began by creating a background using my Brushos. I then coloured the image using a mixture of my H2Os, Inktense pencils and my promarkers. I added pearl embellishments using the Imagination crafts..Just Pearls. I was really impressed how easy they are to use. I finally added some glitter..which you know by now I just had to do...lol

The weather here in the mountains is getting colder by the day. Nearly time to get the vests out. The cats love it because it's dry at least and are all out. We had some hail yesterday and that just proved just how quickly the cats can get home when they want to.It was like a cat train coming in through the window. I've had a lot of work come in over the weekend..so I think it's got to the point where I may need to make a list and just work my way down it. I've also had a major sort out..to help with all the work that has come in. The cold weather makes my legs not want to move very far at all..so I needed to ensure that my paints, pens and papers are all close by. Then I can put my legs up and work away. Sorting all that out was a job all on it's own..but I'm really pleased that It's all done.
Well the coffee s calling and then it will be time to get on with some work. Sparkle has gone to hospital to see the consultant who did his operation. I will be on edge until I know what he said. Fingers crossed that everything goes well. I will be back in a bit though with another design team make..so until then...take care and happy crafting

Decoupage Delights...Christmas Designs Day 3

Today's card is a design team make for the wonderful Decoupage Delights. For this card, I decoupaged the image and then mounted the image onto some purple and then some gold mirri. I used some paper from my stash and mounted that on some more mirri. I found this image to be so classic that I just couldn't resist it.If  you get the chance, please pop over to the Decoupage Delights and take a look at the fantastic cdroms that are available.
It's been a busy day already today. I spent a while last night stamping hundreds of images. Some I have to admit ended in the bin due to cat help..lol. Their timing is incredible...as soon as the wet ink comes out, they just can't help jumping on it. They were quiet all day until the ink came out. It's as if a bell has gone off somewhere and they're all running in and out. I'd just sat down this morning to start colouring and the phone rang. It was a gentleman who gets me to make a card every year for his elderly Father. He comes to me for the card because there are not a lot of things that this elderly gentleman likes apart from large gardens..so that's what I've provided for the last 10 years at least . And I always provide the Christmas card..that always have to be vintage..so Decoupage Delights has filled that gap for quite a few years now.
Most of the cats are outside..it's bright and cold outside..so they don't mind as long as it's not raining. Nicademus has decided to stay in..I think that's because of his stiff back legs. The cold always seems to affect him and he just curls up on the couch. He's my oldest cat now and he's 12 now..it doesn't seem 5 minutes since he arrived with his brothers and sisters to be rehomed. Henry just fell in love with him..so he just became part of our family.
I heard a great thing this morning. There are builders just up the road from my cottage working on a drain. I heard a shout.I've found summat..and then one of the builders said..it's a sovereign. Much excitement ensued and it turned out to be a sovereign from 1874. The last thing I heard was one of the builders saying Google it. It made me laugh. The sovereign must have been dropped when the chapel was built..probably by one of the mine owners..I couldn't imagine any of the workers having one.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll be getting down to searching out an image for the elderly gentleman's card. An hour sifting through images should sort my problems out. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.

The Crafting Musketeers....New Challenge

Todays card is a design team make for the wonderful team over at the Crafting Musketeers. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the next month. The theme for this month is Christmas Wishes..so I hope that you will pop over and join in the fun. There are some fabulous prizes to be won..for all the details of those, please check out the Crafting Musketeers blog. Our sponsor for this month is the great team over at Sunsational Stamps. I got to work with ths cute owl...I decided to do a little of a zentangle on him. The more I do zentangling..the more I want to do. It is one of the things that I find so relaxing..and as Sparkle often says..at least it keeps me quiet..lol

I feel as if I've been working for ever today..lol..and a lot of it has been done in my chair. I got up early and moved some furniture..very slowly I have to admit and then the shopping delivery arrived. The cats were made up as it was their favourite delivery driver who brings them treats and stays to fuss them all. I put all the shopping away..playing fight it into the fridge. I always end up with a packet of tomatoes in my hand saying where are these going to go..lol And then I cam to pay some bills online. That has taken me longer than I can believe. I began at 11.30 and it has taken me until now..2.15, to pay 2 bills. All thanks to BT. I wouldn't have minded but I was trying to pay my phone bill..lol. The internet connection was on and off like a yoyo. I have to admit there was much shouting and I'm always tempted to throw the computer through the window. There is no point at all speaking to them..you might as well just bang your head on a brick wall. At least it's all done now and I can finally get down to work that I enjoy..some crafting.
All the cats are outside apart from Raven..who is as always sat on my legs. I think that my legs will be up for the rest of the day. My right knee is playing up..I don't know what has set it off..perhaps it's the weather. It is very bright here but very cold. The sky is blue and the birds are singing but you definitely need a vest..lol
Well the coffee is calling and after a little caffeine hit..I'll be back with another design team make. So until later..take care and happy crafting.

31 Days of Halloween.....Day 28

Today's pages are from my Halloween book which I have made for the 31 days challenge. If I knew more about computers I would have put them side by side as they appear in the book but my skills on the laptop are not the best..lol. The thought of these pages was my memories of Halloween parties with my friends. A lot of alcohol and food was consumed and we always had a great time. All the ladies that I've used are from the fabulous team over at Lacy Sunshine. When I began the pages I just couldn't decide which lady to use..so I did all three..lol. I just love all the little details in the images.

Here in the mountains today the mists have come down and it's drizzling. All the cats keep looking out of the window in disgust..lol. I'm feeling very virtuous today as I gave the parlour a good hoovering. And I can honestly say that the cats were disgusted with that as well..lol. Jeffrey spent most of the time battering the hoover and the rest of the time he was trying to eat any cat biscuits off the floor before I hoovered them up. One of my old dogs Hilly hated the hoover even more than Jeff and every time I put it on she would attack it. I used to have a dyson and she once ripped the front bumper off it in temper. I wouldn't have minded but she wasn't a big dog and the dyson was quite heavy..she was determined to get her own way..lol.
Well the coffee is calling and then I'll get down to some work. I was intending to get my brushos out yesterday but I had visitors and thought that they wouldn't appreciate being covered in multi coloured pigments..lol. So I'm all ready to get messy and really looking forward to it. 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 23

Todays image is from the amazing SLS Lines and I thought that she should have a place in my 31 Days challenge. I just think that she looks so calm.I have coloured her with my promarkers and mounted the image onto some black card. Every time I make an image and have coloured it, finished it and have photographed it, I always look at it after a while and become aware of what I would have done differently. I think that next time I will use my paints and use some gems on her as well. I think that forms part of why I love digital images so much..you can always print another out and go again.

I have to say it's fairly cold here in the mountains..so much I have a blanket on my legs..plus cat of course..lol...and a shawl round my shoulders.It does seem to be coming to the point in the year when the biggest cat flap in the world will have to be closed. All that means is that I then become the gatekeeper and spend most of my time opening and shutting it. The cats always seem to wait until it's shut and then come and tap on it..lol.
I managed to get lots of painting done yesterday, so I was really pleased..but still have more to do. The hardest thing is doing the details due to all the cat bypass that keeps happening over me. If I was sat here doing nothing..they wouldn't come near..but should I get my watercolours out..there they all are.
Well the coffee is calling and I'll be back tomorrow with my next make. So until then..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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31 Days of Halloween...Day 17

I just can't believe that it's already day 17 of the 31 days challenge...the time seems to have flown. Well todays page features the this fabulous piece of artwork from the wonderful team over at SLS Lines.The paper in the background is the tune for a piece of music called Up and down the broom, which I found and I thought that it would be perfect for using at Halloween.The piece of music as far as I know is a traditional Irish tune.

It's looking a little grey here in the mountains today. It was raining heavens hard this morning and all the cats were sat in the parlour sulking but it seems to have stopped now and most have left the building. But looking at the clouds, it won't be long until they're all back. The reason that most of them are sulking though is the fact that they havefinished the cat biscuits...every single one of them. Now it's not as if they haven't got wet food..they have plenty..but the fact that they won't have any biscuits until delivery tomorrow, has sent them all into a tail spin. But I am putting my foot down..besides all their wet food..I think that 12kg of biscuits a fortnight is quite enough. And I wouldn't mind but that's with extras and scraps as well..lol
I've just had a phonecall from the council about getting a dropped kerb. It seems that yet again I'm going to be involved in a pass it along moment.It seems that Highways is not responsible, despite the fact that other departments say it's down to them. So it seems as if I will go round and round until I'm back to Highways again. And so it will continue. From what was said it seems that grants are available with another department even though it is highways who will have to do the work. I think I'm about to check out the law as I have been given to believe that every pavement by law should have a dropped kerb but we don't have a single dropped kerb in the village. I'm waiting to hear from a local councillor about the law and then I suppose I'll be speaking to all the same people again..lol. The gentleman that called me today was involved with the problems with my path flooding due to the state that a pavement was left and it only took him 10 years plus to sort that out.. I'm beginning to feel as if I know him very well..lol
Well the coffee is definitely calling now and then I'll be waiting for a visitor. So until tomorrow...take care and happy crafting.

Left of Center...New Challenge and 31 Days of Halloween...Day 16

Today's page is a design team make for the wonderful team over at Left of Center Creative Challenges. A new challenge has just begun and will run for the coming week. The theme for this weeks challenge is Halloween..so it's the perfect place to share all your Halloween creations. It was that thought that made it also perfect to join in with the wonderful 31 days challenge. I just loved this image of the witch and her cat. It came from our fabulous sponsor...Sami Stamps. I painted the image using my inktense pencils. I just love the way that the lines in the image just flow/

The sky is a perfect blue today here in the mountains today but I have to say it's really cold. I'm sat here with my winter blanket on my legs and a cat on top..lol. Milky has decided that she is having the prime spot today and because of that Raven is in the middle of a good sulk.With Milky on my legs..it's like having a living hot water bottle..she is radiating a lot of heat..lol. All the others are outside..no doubt causing chaos. When I got up this morning, all the cats were standing around in the parlour demanding their breakfasts. You can always tell when it's a little colder...their food intake increases with the decrease in temperature...lol. One of the Tesco delivery men absolutely loves my tribe and when he knows that he's bringing my delivery, he always brings them a bag of treats..bless him. The only trouble with that is that the rest of the delivery men get looked at in disgust.
Well the coffee is calling and I hope that it perks me up a bit. I seem so tired today for whatever reason. I'm not normally like this..perhaps it's just that Sunday feeling..lol. So until tomorrow..take care and happy crafting.