All set...

Can't stop!
I have to leave to catch a plane in.... 2 hours 50 minutes.
WHAT???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holey moley!
OK well, didn't get to go to bed then. Oops.
I'll sleep on the way there in the car and on the plane. RyanAir permitting.

And while I'm on the subject I shall make time for a mini rant!!!! Does any other airline insist that your handbag has to go inside your cabin luggage??? I'm sure they didn't use to do this. You could carry on one small bag, plus your handbag. I'm SURE.

Well this time I had everything packed, then Luvbug read out the notes to me. Well, bum-in-a-jockstrap to them! I've had to take lots of stuff out. Me and Luvbug are leaving some of our presents to each other behind just so we can fit presents to other people in!!!! Grrr.

AND I have several small creatures to sneak on board... a couple of dragons, a few bears......and THEIR packing of course....

I'll be online over there, so I'll nip in here another time and answer your messages from my last post (oops sorry) and THANK YOU Kristen for the award!!!

BTW, I NEARLY completed the list in my last post. I have still to finish what I was making for Luvbug. I suddenly realised that if I could squeeze some crafty stuff in my case, I could finish it over there, and that would give me 4 extra days! GREAT! The BIG problem was deciding what crafty stuff to take.... I concluded that whatever I took, I would want something I had left behind :) Once that little gem was out of the way I stopped fretting about it and just shoved a few things in a bag. Hope it turns out ok!

And I hope my future mum-in-law has a hairdryer I can use, as that had to be sacrificed to make room for it all.

Happy Christmas, every one! And a great new year! Sorry for the lack of flashing images and Chrsitmassy stuff in this post. No time. You can have some falling snow. There. Enjoy:)

Running out of time!

Pollarded birch trees in Colchester last winter. I like this photo: it seems to sum up cold, short days :)

My mum always has an enormous A4 size diary, preferably a day to a page, though not essential. She doesn't write in it every day, but most days. She records who phoned, where she went, things like that. Not huge essays, just a sentence here and there. Then she clips in receipts from her shopping and appointment cards for the dentist, quotes from tradesmen, that sort of thing. Stuff you might write on a calendar, in it goes. Birthdays are written in, and, with time, what she bought and when she sent it.
She also sticks in clippings from papers and magazines that made her laugh. These are mostly fat animals stuck in, on or under things. If it snows, and big snowdrifts make the papers, the photo's go in. If we have a heatwave, the headlines get clipped and glued.
I think that if my mum were online, and exposed to the wider crafting and scrapbooking community, she'd be hooked. She's a natural; the original scrapbooker, no fancy papers or accessories. Just a big diary and a stick of glue. She has about 18 years of them.

By October, the spine of the diary has given up the ghost. The thing is bulging and usually held together with elastic. These last few years I've spent about £15 on a fancier one as a present for her, one with a big strong spine, ringbound, stronger. Or so I thought. It still falls apart from the weight of the contents!

SO! This year I have bought a ring-bound A4 diary for about £7. I want to take it apart, add in some pages and wallets for receipts and keepsakes, etc. and then put it all together using big book rings. I'll make a cover and tie it shut with a big ribbon.

OK. I have all the ingredients. I started on it tonight..... I have to deliver it Saturday. Yes. THIS Saturday. We're going to Ireland after that.

I also have to squeeze in an appointment with the dentist, dye my hair and get it cut (if there is a hairdresser in this entire town not fully booked up the week before Christmas!) and finish something I was making for Luvbug. Oh! And I have to pack, too.

Erm. I'm not going to do it, am I?

Secret Santa Cards

Well, the cards are all in the mail! I hope you all get them in time. I held off for as long as I could to give everyone time to send theirs in. Some didn't manage it, so I have made a couple of extra ones to send out.

Here's the gallery. Enjoy!


I've followed Debbie's blog, Passion For Crafts, for some time, so I knew she made gorgeous cards- but this one she made for the swap is exquisite! The photo doesn't do it justice but gives you an idea of its "wow factor" :)
....close up on the stamp, embellished with sparkles....


Lorianna's card, with tag and beautifully coloured ladies:
Sally In Norfolk's card uses the Iris Folding technique (hooray! A pusscat!):

Mrs Nesbitt's card- it doesn't show well in the photo, but this uses fabric and sparkles:

Miss Peach's card- again, the photo doesn't do it justice- there is amazing clear embossing on this card!:
-a cute wee photo of herself inside......

Stardust's card.... Stardust drew my name in the swap, and I was completely stunned by her card! So much work went into it- look at Bob and Dilly! Such tiny stitches, and so much detail. It really looks like them!!!
Poopsie Blue's card (great recycling of a CD!!!!):

Freebird's card, her original drawing :) wonderful!
From Chewy, a brilliant Bear pawtrait!!!!

Chalky's card, using some of her photography:
.....and a knitted stocking inside :)
Sandy's card is an amazing pop-up!
And a few from me:

Thanks to everyone for taking part. It was great fun and a real privilege to see them all. Such talent! I hope they all arrive safely!

Eleven cards...

An order for 11 cards, which had to include one for a little girl who loves pink :)

The photo's aren't too good as I took them in artificial light, but I need to get them mailed out today! I've used some of the lovely hand-coloured papers that Julie sent me the other month on some of these. Thanks, Julie!! They are gorgeous, and great fun to use. If you have another clear out any time...... :)

-this snowman card and the cat card below have some of Julie's papers in the background. On the cat one I've tried a bit of decoupage :)

All the pictures are stamped and then I've used Derwent Water-Colour pencils....
I love this "House Mouse" image.
I wonder if they will notice how I drew the mousie's ears into the shadow :)

More of Julie's paper on these next 3....

Hope the recipient likes them!!!


Secret Santa Cards...

I am sending these out this week! A few people didn't manage to get theirs done after all but never mind, I'm making a few extra so that no one misses out. Once they 're all winging their way I'll put photo's of them all on here.

This will make you smile!

Bumblevee put me onto this one!

Enjoy!

Counting down to Christmas....

I don't feel Christmassy at all. Maybe because I have been playing with glitter for 3 months already :)

I have done most of my Xmas shopping. I hate crowds and pushing and queueing so there's no way I'll leave it to the last minute. But this year I did it all in a couple of days- some things from the Craft centre and some online.

This weekend brings my first pressie drop-off visit, when I go to see my dad. So! It suddenly occurred to me last night that if I was going to start wrapping stuff I needed some gift-tags:)

I made these from some scraps of Indian Cotton paper, some stamps, glitter & glue pen:
I sat up wrapping stuff and now have to make some more!

Then came the jewellery. I had bought some from crafty places and some was secondhand. Either way, none of it came with a decent box. This meant I would have to either go out and buy a empty box -don't like that idea!- or make one. I didn't think I had the skill to make a good enough one from scratch, so I went through the house looking for boxes :)
I covered them with some Laura Ashley papers (becoming my favourite), and embellished them with fabric brads and 3D stickers.
I really like them! I just hope they aren't disappointed when they open them! LOL!

I have to get on now- I have a commission for 11 cards!!!!

The heating engineer is here, by the way -horrayyyyy!!!-

The 100 Questions Meme

Busy? Best move along.
Nosy? Read on....

I picked up this meme from Cherrypie's blog and decided to give it a go as it is as good a distraction as any from what I really SHOULD be doing :)

Here goes.................


1.EVER BEEN GIVEN AN ENGAGEMENT RING?
Yes, twice.


2. LONGEST RELATIONSHIP?
My current, and as far as I'm concerned, FINAL one! We fell in love nearly 8 years ago and have been together 5 years 4 months.


3. LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED?
Four drawings of Odie and Garfield, a belated birthday pressie from my two nephews, Alex (8) and Dominic (5), budding artists.


4. EVER DROPPED A MOBILE PHONE?
What kind of question is this? Of course I bloody have! All the time.... So???


5. WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU WORKED OUT?
May, before the sponsored run that ripped my back!


6. THING(S) YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON?
How much is alot? As a percentage of what is mine, I would say food and, for the last 6 months, artists' materials :)


7. LAST FOOD YOU ATE?
Does my chewing gum count?
If not, sausages, Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower, spinach, red cabbage, thick yummy gravy over the top. Slurp.


8. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Level of intelligence. After that, back and shoulders :) but if they have nothing up top I wouldn't notice anyway. Not that I would. I'm engaged. Stop asking me things like that.


9. ONE FAVORITE SONG?
That one about seeing clearly now the rain has gone.


10. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Colchester


11. HIGH SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED:
St John Fisher RC Comprehensive Crap Pile


12. CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER:
Tesco


13. FAVOuRITE SHOP:
Uhmmm.... Bob T Bear would insist Tesco because of the rides on the trolleys (trollies?). Not sure. Maybe Boots.


14. LONGEST JOB YOU HAD:
That's not fair! Lot of redundancies in London through the 80's and 90's! Constantly having to move about, so I would say maybe 3 years.


15. DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF DICE?
Probably. Somewhere. There's probably an old German tank around here somewhere.


16. DO YOU PRANK CALL PEOPLE?:
Never. Except, OK confession time :) when I left my last job, mid breakdown after 9 months of bullying, I looked up the bullying bitch's phone number and rang her in the middle of the night.

A couple of times.

:)

Oh, and I filled in lots of those forms in the back of magazines so that she would get lots of embarrassing junk mail too.

Am I evil?


17. LAST WEDDING YOU ATTENDED?:
Have only been to 2.
My eldest brother's when I was 14 and a bridesmaid.
My other elder brother when I was 21 and not a bridesmaid.
I was invited to a friend's last year but declined. I find big get-togethers and celebrations very difficult.


18. FIRST FRIEND YOU’D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY:
Wouldn't call anyone. I'd sit on it for a few days. Then I'd go and tell my mum. It would have to be face to face, so that I could catch her.


19. LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIEND(S):
Don't really have one. There is a friend I see that I've known since we were about 8, and I saw her about 3 weeks ago.


20. FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT:
Uhmm.... I don't go to them. But if I wanted a junk food 'treat' :) I'd go for a McChicken Sandwich.


21. BIGGEST LIE YOU HAVE EVER HEARD?
"Things can only get better" -Tony Blair, 1997


22. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?
Oh, dark, definitely.
Or bald.
What, you didn't like Yul Bryner???


23. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL MOST OFTEN?
Mum.


24. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Temp job in the summer holidays age 16: for a Stockbroking firm that I can't even remember the name of. I was in the printing department. Learned alot and enjoyed it. Ah those were the days... no DTP!!!


25. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS SURVEY?
Wasting time on the internet. Browsing Amazon. Chewing gum.


26. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Put me back to how slim I was before the antidepressants put 2 stone on me!


27. WHY DID YOU FILL OUT THIS SURVEY?
I've had tags in the past that have asked for facts about me, and never got round to fill them in. So I thought this would probably cover everything.

ANYONE STILL READING THIS??? :)


28. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
Physically? Eyes.


29. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?
Not notice!


30. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
None. Never have.


31. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?
Nope.


32. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Sometimes. If my hands are hurting it turns into spider trails.


33. WHEN DID YOU LOSE YOUR VIRGINITY?
You nosy bastard.


34. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Only occasionally.


35. DO LOOKS MATTER?
Not looks, no. Cleanliness does though. Washing, grooming. Stuff like that.


36. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
I usually end up biting the inside of my mouth.


37. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?
Bed.


38. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
Yes.
Except dentists.


39. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Que, moi?


40. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT?
IN A WHAT????????????????


41. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
Henna (young nephew of partner's clan, couldn't say Helena), Luvbug.


42. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
Raspberry Ripple


43. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE?
2 visible and 2 still up in the gum.


44. CAN YOU COOK?
Yes.


45. WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE?:
Don't drive.


46. BEST DATE YOU’VE EVER BEEN ON?
I was always too nervous to enjoy them, I think.


47. LAST TIME YOU CRIED?:
Yesterday morning.


48. MOST DISLIKED FOODS:
Liver and kidney.
Oh! And celery. WHY DO PEOPLE EAT CELERY? It tastes like ear wax.


49. LONGEST SHIFT YOU HAVE WORKED AT A JOB?:
Maybe 12 or 13 hours, when in a stockbroker's preparing for a big privatisation.


50. FAVOURITE MOVIE(S)?
Midnight Run, Apollo13, The Usual Suspects. I like old black and white comedies, too- e.g. Ealing Comedies like The Lady Killers, and US ones like Abbot and Costello, which I haven't seen in years.


51. CAN YOU SING?
Only quietly,when alone.


52. LAST FIGHT?
Never.


53.ONE THING YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT:
Bob T Bear (esq).

:)

I would like to be able to say my keys, but.... been locked out too many times!!


54. FAVORITE ITEM:
Engagement ring.
(The second one.)
(Threw the other.)


55. LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER?:
PC - because it has a quieter mouse than my partner's laptop.


56. DO YOU SMOKE?
No. Did for a few years, mid twenties.


57. SLEEP WITH OR WITHOUT CLOTHES?
With. Recently this has inclulded socks and jumpers, too :)


58. WHO SLEEPS WITH YOU EVERY NIGHT?
I don't always sleep at night. I tend to veer towards nocturnal.


59. DO LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS WORK?
Can do. You have to want it to though.


60. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE?
Never!


61. DO YOU LIKE COFFEE?:
Not much. Have to be in the mood. I'm a tea-aholic. I'm British.


62 HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?
Scrambled to within an inch of their lives, so that they are getting brown at the edges.


63. DO YOU BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY?:
No.


64. LAST PERSON ON YOUR MISSED CALL LIST?:
Don't know. There was a call, but no number popped up.


65. WHAT WAS THE LAST TEXT MESSAGE YOU RECeiVED?:
Really can't remember.... does this mean I'm old?


66. NUMBER OF PILLOWS?:
One very flat one.


67. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW?:
Green slipper socks, grey jog pants (the type that never leave the house) and a brown fleece.


68. CAN YOU PLAY POOL?:
Nope.


69. DO YOU LIKE MAPS?
I like old, old ones, yeah, they can be quite interesting. But if you mean just road maps, then no. I don't own an anorak, either.


70. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?:
Spring. The days get longer and longer and everything stretches out in front of you...


71. WHAT TIME DID YOU WAKE UP THIS MORNING?
Went to bed day before yesterday, 11pm.
Woke up yesterday morning, 3am, partner doing olympic snoring.
Haven't been to bed since.... and it's... nearly 1am...ooopppsss...22 hours...


72. BEST THING ABOUT WINTER?:
Glitter in the carpet :) and warm spicey smells in the kitchen. Excuse to eat thick soups and stews with dumplings.....


73. LAST TIME A COPPER GAVE YOU A TICKET?:
Never.


74. DO YOU THINK PIRATES ARE COOL OR OVERRATED?:
The King of the Pirates in the production of Pirates of Penzance that we saw in the summer was sex on a stick. Sorry, Luvbug, if you're reading this, but he really was. Despite the Russell Brand looky-likey.

HAHAHA :)


75. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND?
Mad rush- 2 hour drive to Mum's for Saturday, then driving from there for another hour to my Dad's on Sunday, then a 3 hour drive home. I am looking forward to getting into my own bed on Sunday night and going "Phew!" I hate rush-about times and days that are too booked up!


76. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE:
Happy. Healthy. Young.


77. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST REGRET?
I don't really have any because I see it all has having been one long thread to where I am now- if I were to go back and change anything then I might not have met my partner etc etc...


78: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
A few times.


79. ARE YOU SMILING?:
Yes :)


80: DO YOU PREFER TO SMILE WITH A TOOTHY GRIN OR A CLOSED MOUTH?
Unfortunately it usually turns into a toothy grin, which is tough cos I have 2 fillings at the side that look dark and they often show :(


81. DO YOU MISS SOMEONE RIGHT NOW?
Stop it.
I'll cry.


82. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE?
Somewhere warm and friendly. Singapore was nice.


83. DO YOU HAVE A HIGH SEX-DRIVE?
What's that?


84. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?:
No.


85. NIGHT OR DAY?
Night Owl on speed.


86. PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
Clarinet. Hasn't been out of its case in years, though.


87. DID YOU GO ON VACATION LAST MONTH?:
No.


88. DO YOU HAVE SISTERS/BROTHERS?
2 brothers, 1 sister.


89. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO JAIL?
No.


90. DO YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE ANYONE IN PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW?
My old cat, Figs.


91. FAVOuRITE SPORT?
Sport is a waste of energy, time, space and money.


92. YOUR HAIR COLOuR ?
Dark brown with white ones coming through because I need to dye it again :)


93. YOUR EYE COLOR ?
Blue-grey.
They change! True! The happier I am the bluer they are.


94. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES?
Yes, for distance, not often.


95. YOU LIKE SUSHI?
In very small amounts if dunked in something tastier than Sushi.


96. LAST THING YOU WATCHED:
CSI.


97. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Easter. Sunshine, flowers, chocolate.


98. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
I wouldn't do all that again. Even if I were suddenly left on my own.


99. STRANGEST PLACE HAD SEX?
SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


100. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THIS SURVEY?
Have a cup of tea!


Anyone else want to have a go??? Ah, go on!!!!

The moon's baby

Took this photo last night from a little way up my road, about 6.15pm. My partner was on his way home, rang and said, "Look at the moon! It has a baby!"

The "baby" is Venus! Over towards the top right from it is Jupiter.

The view wasn't like this for very long. In fact, when I had started to take pictures, Venus appeared much closer to the moon, like it was tucked just in behind. In the time it took for me to put new batteries in the camera and make a quick call to my mum telling her to go and look, it had "moved" to this position. All my other pic's had camera shake or blur. I am so pleased that I got at least one!

WOW. I wish I had had a telescope!

Oh wow! Look what we won!

Well, I've given away blog candy myself (sorry for delay in posting, Michelle, it's on its way to ya!) and I've entered for other people's without luck :( ......and then, along comes Bob T Bear (esq.), enters for a freebie, and wins first time!!!! Would you believe it??!!! LOL!

Catherine Young, a wonderfully talented artist and mum to all the Bumpkin Bears (-website link. Here is their blog link: Bumpkin Bears Blog), has started to sell her own prints of Bears and to celebrate their launch onto Etsy, she was giving away this beautiful, mounted print:And Bob has won it!!!!! He is over the moon, he is. Been frolicking all afternoon. How wonderful! It's like Christmas has arrived early. It has given me such mood boost!!! LOL! THANK YOU, Catherine! SO much!!!!

We already know where to hang it- alongside my pawtrait of Bob and Chewy's brilliant watercolour of him.

Here is a link to Catherine's Etsy Store, where you can see all her prints, and some of her handmade Bears, too. She is about to launch her own Christmas cards and I'm sure Bob will be queueing up with his shiny penny collection to place an order :) Do pop along and have a look, and support this brilliant artist!