Snow & New Toy

Hi all, I hope your all nearly ready for the big day at the end of the week.  All or most of our present buying this year was done online, so it saved me having to get it all home.  I just have a few things left to get at the shops this week and the market for the fruit and veggies.

We had our first snow of the season last night, and more during the night - however it was not as bad as what it can be, and certainly not enough to get excited about.

My new toy is my Christmas present from my lovely husband - a laser printer for my craft work, and it is amazing, and can't wait to get playing on it.  The technical info is that it is an Oki C3300n Colour Laser printer, and because you get so many more pages out of the toners on a laser it will in effect reduce the costs of my printing by quite a bit.  This isn't a brilliant picture of it, but I will take one of my own when everything is set up in the craft shed.

I will try to get back on before Friday, but if I don't, may I wish you a very Merry Xmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.  May all your craft problems be little ones.

Background/Layout for this blog

I am at present trying to get over having the flu again - what type i really do not know or care - I just want rid of it.  That and having had a constant migraine for the past week has driven me to utter distraction - hopefully I will get chance to visit the GP next week some time.

Anyway - I was not happy with the background/layout of the blog, and I really can't find anything I like enough to keep there for more than 2 minutes, so I am going to have a go at designing my own - I know - I can here you saying it already - now watch her make a mess of it - well if it goes wrong it goes wrong - it's not the end of the world and I can revert back to this again.  So this is more of a Watch this space and see what happens - ohhh go on have a giggle - you know you want to and you will feel so much better for it.

Sudden Halt called to everything

Just as the title says, a sudden halt was called to everything in the household on 21 October when Chris developed massive effects from his MS. Loss of use of his right hand and arm, right leg problems which caused problems walking. I managed with our GP to get him to a Consultant at Hospital who admitted him immediately, and run loads of tests on him. Finally the MS is confirmed, and significant change from 2 years ago. Along with all the other slurred speech and lack of ability to find the right words when required, which he finds most frustrating. He came out of hospital on 26th, and since then has been to the GP twice - including a visit today. I am keeping him away from anyone else except family at present as his immune system is low, any anything could make him really poorly again.

In the Craft Shed, I am trying to work out the right type of heater, the small heater I bought for the other shed is not enough to heat this much bigger shed, so may be looking at a fan heater, so that the heat gets round the shed easier.

When I get the wireless internet out to the shed, I will be moving my webcam out there, so that I can give virtual tours and use it to make video's of things I make.

Vistors to the shed so far have been 3 cats - Spot, Concord, and Snowdrop, and 1 of the dogs - Kim - but she is requesting something nice to lay on!!! otherwise I think it passes their strict inspection.

Added some cards I have made

Hi,

I have just added a slide show of just a few of the cards I have made in the past - I will be adding to this as time goes on, but for some strange reason it is only showing about 6 of the cards, when there are in fact more. If you can't see them all on the slide show, feel free to click through to my Picassa site to view all cards.

The Building of The Craft Shed

Well I was so tired yesterday that I did not have chance to get back on here with the pictures. But I will put that right now.

This is the shed at the end of work yesterday.

But then Chris decided to have a wander in.


Here are the pictures from today -








This is just the far end half of the Shed - the other half is behind the camera - it's 6ft wide. To the right of the image you can see half of the windows - 10ft of Windows - should let in plenty of light.



This is the Roofing Ceremony - it helps if you know how to stand with you hands on your hips, as my husband demonstrates on the left, and Robin's mate Davo copies on the right. Robin appears to have his head through the roof of the shed - I think he was looking for help with holding the roof panel - one handed help from me isn't much use!



End of work today and it's much better - windows have perspex in them, roof is complete.

By the side of the new shed, you can see what was the old craft shed, holding all the goodies waiting to go into the new shed.

It's getting quite exciting now, as everything seems to be coming together quite quickly now, although I do still have some exterior bits that need wood treatment. Just the doors, roofing felt and decorative trim to go on and it will be ready for moving into.

The plaster came off

Well I went to the hospital today, and they cut the cast off my arm!!!! But don't get excited, they put another one straight back on it again. I've been crying as it has made me so depressed today, and I have to keep it on for 5 more weeks. Instead of just one break in the wrist - at the top of the Radius - I still have that one, but I also have a break half way down the Ulna. I am not allowed to drive for at least another 5 weeks, and I do normally enjoy driving. So my Son Rob is driving my car at present - what ever made me think earlier this year to add him to my Insurance I will never know, but I 'm very pleased I did.

I could really do with a holiday - I don't think I would care where it was at the moment, just away. I know it won't happen, the motor home went some 3 weeks ago, can't drive the car, so we won't even get a day trip to the Seaside this year.

I will hopefully do another post later as I have taken some pictures of the new Craft Shed - mid construction. Rob and Chris have been hard at work this afternoon putting it together, and hopefully they will finish it tomorrow. It's the most excitement I have had for weeks.

Plastered!!!!

This will be a short post as I have to type with only one hand. I have plaster from my fingers to almost the elbow on my left hand, so anything that require more than one hand, is out now untill it comes off. I had a fall in my garden Monday last week, and over the week, the pain has got worse. My Son Robin, took me to Burton's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I have to say it was the quickest waiting time I have experienced at a Hospital. It said on the board 2-1/2 hours, and 2-1/2 hours later, Robin was driving out the car Park. I saw the Doctor, who said he was convinced with the pain I was in that the wrist was broken, however following the X-rays, he could not find the break, so I have to go back next Monday, and in the mean time, another Consultant will view the X-Rays.

I am left handed so as you can imagine it makes life very difficult. The most I will be able to do towards the construction of the shed at present is hold things up.

Moral of this story - next time your about to fall flat on your face, don't worry about trying to save yourself.

I will try to add another Gallery soon, of cards I have made since I started Card Making - well thise I can find the pictures of!!

Waiting for Good Weather

Since the shed arrived on Monday last week, the days when I could get out to do the wood treatment have not been frequent, not when you have other things to do as well, like washing, cooking, shopping, housework - yes I know it's a dirty word for us crafters, but it does have to be done every so often.

I have managed to get most of the panels done though - the other night I was out there till gone 8.30pm thinking oh good now it's all done, only to find the doors had not been done at all. I went to check on the panels on Monday afternoon, and they really do look superb - I decided on Forest Green as the colour and with 2 coats of it, it looks wonderful. Even the original Craft shed, I tried out 2 coats of it on the front end of that, and it looks like a different shed. Regardless of what the manufacturer says, always stir the wood treatment. Our other shed - the one that stores stuff that would normally go in a loft, I used the same wood treatment on this, but did not stir it, it said it on the instructions, so I followed them. Now I do what I think is right to achieve the effect I want.

Whilst doing all this wood treatment, I was imagining what the shed will look like when complete, and I started thinking of the look for next summer – yes I know what summer is – probably one day in June or July sometime. So I am thinking some nice window boxes with nasturtiums and lobelia, and probably for the spring, snowdrops, daffodils, tulips.

Hopefully I will remember to get my Camera back from my Son today, so that I can take step by step pictures.

A new Craft Shed

Well I finally sold the Motorhome - it was a total waste of money, as we were unable to repair it due to Chris's medical condition. But it has allowed me to increase the size of my Craft shed - from 6ft x 4ft to 10ft x 6ft.

It arrived this morning, before I even got back from taking my Son to work. Before it gets put together, I am going to ensure that the base and outside get a good thick coating of wood treatment, this way it will hopefully have a much longer life. Pictures will be shown as soon as they are taken.

Tiara's & Jewellery Slideshow

Most people will know that I have designed many Tiara's - They have been an item of great interest to me for many years. Some of my designs are based around tiara's I have worn or seen during my time as Feltham & Bedfont Carnival Princess 1976, Deputy Queen 1977 and Carnival Queen 1978.

I wore a Tiara for my 1st Wedding in 1979 - then the norm was a very flowery headdress or a Juliet cap. I will get a picture of that tiara and insert it here soon, but basically it was a band of crystals, which had arches of crystals - 9 in all - the more central of the arches had Ivory drop pearls hanging from them.

When I married Chris in 2001, again I choose to wear a tiara, this one I had purchased and kept in store during my Carnival years, but it never actually got used. This tiara, is more what you would associate with mass produced tiara's. It is a metal base, with diamante's on the base, with 5 "Sun bursts" - 4 on the bottom, and one central on top. As with the other tiara I will add a picture of this tiara shortly.

A natural progression from designing and making tiara's is matching jewellery, some of which you will see along with the tiara's. I have also made a couple of Fairy Wands - the pictures will pop up on the slide show.

I thought I had better start showing some of the hours and hours of work I have done in the past. All of the designs are of my own creation, as I said I had years of seeing many different tiara's so plenty of food for thought there, plus I have been drawing my own designs for many years.

I hope you like my Tiara and Jewellery Slide show, I hope to add even more soon.

They have arrived - Welcome Scarlett and Chloe.

Well Folks - the 2 little girls have finally arrived, Jenna had her Daughter on 26 June 2009 - early hours delivered safely by C Section Scarlet weighed in at 9lbs 3oz, and I have to say she is lovely.

Lindsay was due to have her little girl on 4 July, but she was obviously far too comfy in there, as she arrived 10 July 7.54pm (UK time) named Chloe Louise and weighing 8lbs 8oz.

Well - as it is now my Birthday and Wedding Anniversary, and my Husband is taking me out for a meal tonight, I will take myself off to bed - that's the place they put most Great Aunties I think, along with their knitting - except I don't do much knitting - lots of other things though.

I'll probably pop on during the day sometime, but I have 2 dogs to bath as well as get myself ready for the evening. But will come back and give a report of the meal - I'm feeling hungry already lol

Senility

I had this in my email, and I quite like it,

Grant me the senility
to forget the people

I never liked anyway,

The good fortune to run into the ones I do,
and

The eyesight to tell the difference.

as sometimes there are people who for what ever reason are in your life, either by birth, accident or being just plain stubborn. Some of them are nice, polite caring people - who you would love to have as family, and some of them your positive that they are only there to try and bring you down, tread all over you and any feelings you have, not for any other reason than they just can, and if there is a reason why they treat you so badly, they will never ever tell you, but don't dare to say anything bad about them, as of course it will all be made to look untrue as it is another of the games they seem to have time to play. We all have these sort of people in our lives I'm sure - making out your so bad, spreading untrue gossip about you, so that in the end it will hurt you. Well worry no more - next time your feelings are hurt by them take a look at this picture I found - this can be you showing your feelings towards them.

I know this is not craft related, but sometimes we all go off on a tanget, or need to express how we are feeling at that particular time, and this is my blog, so if you don't like it, you don't have to visit again. If on the other hand, you feel this is directed at you, tell me why, and then I can let you know if it is directed at you, but remember it could be multiple people. I know already that people have told lies about me, and sooner or later they will trip themselves up.

Baby Baby - 2 Due so work to do

Yes - 2 Babies are due - 1 each to my Nieces Lindsay and Jenna. Lindsay is the eldest Niece, who already has 3 boys - and this one - Baby number 4 is a Girl - due 4th July - in USA we might even have been able to light a few fireworks, but since we are not, we will have to wait for nature to take it's course. Jenna is my 2nd Oldest Niece, and she was Bridesmaid at my Wedding in 2001 - her pending arrival is her 1st, and will also be a girl, due to arrive any day now. I am sure my Sister is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her 2 Grand-daughters, I know I would be or will be when the time comes for my Son to become a Father.

I am in the middle of making cards for the arrival of these 2 new young ladies to the big wide world, I got rather irate with the eyelet punch yesterday for part of one of the cards, but the application of a hammer made it co-operate, although I have been unable to finish it at present, due to me having a stinker of a migraine again today.

I visited the Doctor today, and he has prescribed me some additional medication, which I have only taken 2 lots so far, and things do seem to be feeling a slight better. I hope to see more progress in this on Tuesday, as we had rather a rush this morning to get to our Doctor's appointment, and then it was dog bath day, and that has taken up quite a few hours today, that and the medication induced sleep that I had to have this afternoon. As long as the meds work, and I get better, I will be able to devote more time to this blog and of course my craft work.

Me and the Bug

Well the Bug and I are getting on fine, so far I have managed to learn how to cut and played around with the settings - it all seemed very easy really. So on Saturday and Sunday, I played around with "Kiss Cutting" - believe it or not, I tried it on what everyone knows as sticky backed plastic - the old Blue Peter favourite - nothing exciting, just typed my name out and then let it cut - after a couple of errors, I ended up with a fairly respectable cut, which I then stuck on my laptop. I quite like it, as the SBP is a gold holographic, and I just cut it to the size of the cutting mat.

I will try again with the kiss cutting, and the SBP, as I feel a few peel-offs could make an appearance now - so watch this space.

Sorry it's not much today, but a major migraine is playing havoc at present, and it is as much as I can do to look at the screen at present.

Bugs and crawlies

Hi Everyone,

Anyone who really knows me, knows I do not like Spiders, Slugs, Snails, Moths - those big sort that come in of an evening when you have the window open. But I am eagerly awaiting the delivery of a Bug at present, I got this via EBay, and it should be with me by the end of the week. It's not a normal sorta bug with a mind of it's own - well at least I hope it isn't. It's a Cricut personal Cutter. I hope also to invest in the Sure Cuts a Lot software, so that I can create my own designs and use them in my card making. I also understand that this machine will enable you to cut your own Rubber stamps - Does anyone know about this or have you tried it - if so let me know, I can't wait to find out more.

I have made some cards in the recent months, so I will upload them as soon as the images are off my phone and camera etc. Hopefully this little bug will encourage me more in my crafting - but it will certainly be a welcome addition to the Craft Shed.

How the Craft Shed came into being

Like most crafter's my stash started in the living room, which was fine for a while, and then in Summer 2008 I realised that in no way was the living room big enough for 2 things my craft stash and living in - especially with 2 dogs and 5 cats. It was starting to look like a scud missile had been let loose in there, despite me constantly re-arranging it all.

So off to the garden and empty the smallest shed - I didn't dare take the big one, I wish I had now, but still it can't be helped. Once it was empty, it was then the process of cleaning it, filling in all the joints and any holes so that mice and other things couldn't get in. This having been achieved, I then set about insulation - Winters here are never very good, it would be a miracle if they were. Once the insulation was in place, I then was lucky enough to be gifted some hardboard via a local Freecycle Group, this was then pinned in place, so I have nice smooth walls - these will be painted in the Spring of 2009, as by the time it was all in place it was far too cold to paint.

The ceiling has been covered with some of the metallic insulation bubble foil, which helps to reflect the light from the Halogen spot lights. The door is also insulated with the same metallic insulation bubble foil. I have some vinyl floor tiles that are also going to be put down in Spring 2009, I want to make sure everything is dry before I stick them down.

Early December saw us having to replace the roofing felt after a stormy night wreaked havoc with what had been on there, and had caused a slight ingress of water. I purchased a small Halogen heater and this heats the shed up very nicely, so the damp was soon cleared up and dried out from the inside with the heater. Once this was done, the big move could begin.