Feeling Fortuitous...

I am in a crazy "sort out and tidy everything up" mood this week...did the front garden and the shed yesterday evening and moved onto my jewellery and my kitchen drawer today...I have one of those kitchen drawers that I shove everything into and when the front fell off it this morning I knew it was time to empty it and sort through all the crap in there...and I am glad I did!!!

Nestling at the bottom was my beloved Samsung Tocca...which I ruined last year by drowning it in Malibu and coke...sent it away to be repaired and came back in a little jiffy envelope with the cause of death...alcoholic poisoning!!! So was going to finally throw it away but thought I would check it one last time and plugged in the charger...to my amazement the little battery charging symbol appeared...managed to turn it on, inserted the sim and my little baby works again...it still has all my photos, music and videos and texts on it and everything works...I am still in shock but a happy shock!!!

So back to the jewellery...which this morning looked like this...



and now looks like this...



I have five of these boxes, courtesy of the pound shop, full with my arm candy and bling, I can see everything, nothing is tangled and I just know that my Mum is going to be so proud of me ;-)...if only the rest of my house was this organised...no more untangling bracelets in the morning and hunting for the perfect ring to match my outfit...god I am a geek, but it probably means I can have an extra ten minutes in bed every day!!!

Had my gorgeous Tilda and Edwin stamps out last night and all those paper scraps again...I am trying to make up for the fact that I spent over £30 on new papers last week...which haven`t arrived yet luckily...and I created these two cards...





And I have just completed this layout using yet more scraps...this is not going to last you know, using all my offcuts, as soon as I get that parcel from craft obsessions I am going to be drooling over my new papers and cutting into them like a crazy masochist!!!



These arrived today...well my neighbour very kindly looked after them for me until I got home from work...My two new 12x12 albums in Hot Pink and Espresso...they were only £6.75 each and you can buy similar here



Also had a play with the camera in the garden tonight and love this shot of my fuschia`s from one of my hanging baskets.

So I have had a terrific Tuesday, very eventful, great lessons but suffered with my toothache today...have been having crazy Tom Hanks style Castaway thoughts of knocking it out with an Ice skate but am just going to take another Neurofen and hope the pain eventually goes away...off now to play with my Touchscreen Tocca...yep I know I am sad!!!

Hot hot hot!!!

The weather that is, oh my god how lovely would it be to sit in the sunshine all day doing nothing instead of working...its very hard to teach embroidery and jewellery making when you are all hot and sweaty and the rooms you are in have no air conditioning...oooh now that would be lovely.

This morning wasn`t too bad, nice relaxing embroidery class and we were sat in a rather cool room with a lovely breeze flowing through, we made these cards, I had forgotten how much I enjoy prick and stitch cards, and none of my students had done them before so its always lovely to teach a new technique...



However my poor students this afternoon were melting in the heat and Est had designed a rather intricate bracelet with seed beads and beading nylon...muwahahaha.

Taught Mia last night how to make Eton Mess and a fine job she did too, must say I was a bit dubious about her using the kitchen knives but with close supervision she excelled...think I have a little Delia there...

Off now to wash my hands in cold water...yet again...its the best way to cool your body temperature down quickly...well it beats sitting in a bath of ice anyway!!!

Wonderful Walking Day Weekend!!!

Not quite 13 miles but yesterday was Padgate Walking day...a traditional parade that takes place every year, and a bloody good excuse to have a really good play with my new camera too, the girls were walking with their school and as Ella is in her final year this was her last walking day...and she did it in style looking so grown up next to Mia.





The streets of Padgate were alive with music and the atmosphere was electric;





After the walk we all went to the fair...luckily no goldfish were won this year but yes I was completely ripped on all the rides but had an absolute scream...literally, on the twister I really thought me and the kids were going to die...its been a while since I have been on a scary fairground ride...last time I think was when I was about 18 and I remember being on a ride with Jacks Dad and my Brother and they were both screaming for their Mummy's!!!



I have injuries too...the kids were leaning that hard against me in the ride that I have horrendous purple bruising on my shoulder...oh the pain!!!

Being in the dodgems reminds me why I don`t drive...laughing too hard to actually steer them and I think Harry crashed into Ella and I far more than we crashed into him!!!



Now that's my kind of car...does all the steering and gear changing for you and not a bloody clutch in sight...and it comes in pink!!!



I love this shot of Mia mid air, I tried so hard to capture shots like this on my compact but when my new baby SLR takes three photos a second I was bound to get one like this...only had to take twenty to achieve it ;-)



I can`t believe she is screaming on an inflatable slide!!!



Close up of me in the sunshine...outside the pub, taken by Phil...My best friends fella and also my favourite of the "Selfish Lovers"



And here I am with my favourite selfish lover...outside the pub!!!



So we ended up in a local pub when we left the fair, the kids were in their element...bouncy castle, swings and pool...mum was in her element too...my friends were there and they did not run out off wine!!! Got home really late as it was such a lovely evening, apart from a flash downpour which left the bouncy castle a little slippery and everyone running inside with their hands over their drinks!!!

Off now to trawl through the 290 photographs I took yesterday and try to decide which ones I want to scrapbook!!!

I am a Bad Girl!!!

Very very bad!!!

I made a promise...a vow not to buy any more crafty items until I had used more of what I already had......but then I had an email from David and Brenda....and I broke my promise...I am such a bad girl but if you check this out you will see why I faltered and got out my debit card ;-)

Also hit Ebay tonight and ordered myself a couple of new 12 x 12 albums, well if I am honest three in total...oops think I got a bit carried away there but I have about ten pages completed just sat on a shelf needing a home so I really "needed" them...honest ;-)

Despite being such a bad girl tonight I had the most fabulous day teaching jewellery making, two classes today, the afternoon class being at St Rocco`s Hospice where I have the loveliest group of students, some of the staff sat in today too and they want me to run some evening classes for them complete with wine and nibbles...my job is the best...spent the afternoon laughing...proper belly laughs and managed a bit of teaching too!!!

Have a busy day ahead tomorrow, the fair is in town...oh yeah...and I am probably gonna be ripped off big time but it is an excuse to get the camera out and take some fab pics of the kids looking terrified on the rides...muwahahaha...

Off now to check out how many albums I can fit on my shelves without rearranging anything!!!

Scrappy ScrapBooking!!!

Managed to complete two layouts last night, only 8x8 pages but I love this size so much because I can use all my scraps, have made a vow to myself that I am not buying anything new...no nothing crafty anyway ;-) until I have used more of what I have, I discovered packs of Basic Grey and Making Memories papers last night that I had not even opened...Oh the shame!!!

I probably have about 5000 sheets of 12x12 papers and so many of those little 6x6 paper pads, all of which I must have loved at one time...I also found a huge box of scraps, that I am trying to use too...both these layouts were completed using just scraps of patterned paper.

My Guys in Chester last month...using basic grey and crate paper:



My Friend Sarah and I from last Friday, using patterned paper I couldn`t even tell you from what company...that's the thing with scrapbooking now it all seems product related...got to have the latest papers when really it should be about the photographs and the memories:



The journaling around the edges of this layout reads "Registration fee: £12...Cowboy hats: £3...Experience...Priceless!!!"

Took some gorgeous photographs today of the most willing little subject, one of my student`s little baby girl, who may I add did not even complain when I woke her up with my camera flash, she just looked at me in shock then gave me the most gorgeous toothy little grin.

I am off now to play about with photo editing...Geek alert!!!

Hair Today!!!

I love my hair!!!

Jack has "restyled" me...I was shampooed, conditioned, cut, dried and straightened and my hair is so sleek and gorgeous...had a fair bit hacked away, my layers on top are now a quarter the length they were but I love it...apparently I straighten it too much (every day...with hair like mine its far kinder to the world to do this) and use the wrong dye!!!

If you straighten your hair its best to use a semi permanent colour rather than a permanent because the straightening process causes the cuticles to wear away and this is where your colour tends to fade if using a permanent, semi`s contain far more conditioners causing the colour to lock in...hey how scientific is that...so headed over to Boots flicking my glam new hair and purchased a semi permanent "Black Cherry" which no doubt will stain the bath, my neck and my nails at the weekend!!!

So I had a lovely day off in the sunshine...the last day off I had it poured with rain all day and my fake tan ran!!! I finished this layout of me this morning, using just paper scraps. Picture is from Friday night:



Had a little play with my camera this morning too because the sun was shining so beautifully and managed to capture these flower shots from my hanging baskets:





I also managed to buy myself a book on Digital SLR photography so will be referencing that a fair bit I think, I can`t wait to understand all the settings on my new baby and know when to use them. Ooh and I got a new top and jewellery and make up too ;-), well it was pay day yesterday!!!

Jack officially left school today, and also found out that he has got an A in one of his GCSE`s...very very proud Mum...well done Jack!!!


Okay I am off to rub some after sun into my burnt bits...yes I have got burnt again!!!

Tuesday Twitterings!!!

Been having a bit of a play with my new toy, can`t wait to take it out tomorrow and have a proper mess with it...have the day off and I am going to play with the macro and the zoom and quite possibly nip to Waterstones and buy myself a book on photography so I can get to grips with it all properly!!!

So this is the little girl who was far too poorly to go to school today...hmm think she may have made a recovery and will be attending tomorrow...because I have my appointment with "Jack" to have my hair styled....got a text message today to confirm it...how high tech is that!!!

Also made this tonight while I was waiting to leave the house to go to the dentist, had to go for a check up after having the abscess...ended up having an xray, there is still infection present apparently and I have to go back in a couple of weeks for the results and to "see what we can do" the dentists words...why do they speak in code to their dental nurses too...when I asked what was going to happen he patronisingly said "well obviously there is still some infection there as it is still tender"

So I am now thinking oh my god hes going to whip it out as they so pleasantly put it...so back to my arm candy...playing with a few beads and some wire I made this.

I am off now to get a bit of scrapbooking done, I have new papers!!!

Monday Mutterings!!!

Talk about being eased gently into the week, I taught four classes today...one embroidery and three jewellery and I am shattered, had a fabulous day though, we are having a "Time for Yourself" week at work and all the staff get to participate in mini classes that are offered throughout the college, unfortunately I don`t have time to take part in any of these as I am teaching eight of them but met some great people today and was discussing with them that although we all work for the same employer we didn`t really know each other so it was lovely to meet some colleagues and get to teach them too. The result of this...more classes for me, teaching in the evenings starting next week!!!

Also had the dreaded phone call today...from the school...Mia is poorly and laying on the couch as we speak, its times like this that I wonder if being a working mum is really the best thing, I got the phone call from the receptionist, both me and her dad were working all day, my Mum and Dad were off on holiday today and all I could think was my little baby is poorly...Grandad to the rescue...so between classes I nipped to Grandads with a change of clothes, her slippers and her beloved "cassie" the soft toy she takes to bed with her every night...walked in and was greeted with a torrent of vomit all over my trousers...aw bless...so trying to calm her and scrub at my pants at the same time...who said having kids was easy!!!

Just want to say a great big thank you to everyone who sponsored me or has donated to my sponsor fund, my running total is almost £200 so feel like every ache was worth it...going to a fantastic cause and hoping to hand all the money in on Friday.

Off now to chill with the latest Scrapbook Inspirations magazine and work out how I could have possible spent £50 on beads in Hobbycraft this evening!!!

Systematized Sunday....

...Now that is a lovely word wouldn`t you agree...Systematized...(you like that one Geoff?)

I am so bloody organised I don`t quite know what has happened!!!

Most people who know me know that I would like to be organised but it doesn`t happen very often...until today...I slept really badly last night, even though I only had about three hours sleep the night before, I kept waking up and had to get up a couple of times to take painkillers because my thighs felt like they had lead weights crushing them...I can barely walk and am so tired and weepy...I really need to get fit I think ;-)...anyway to take my mind off feeling so bad I decided I would spend the day working...and I have planned every single lesson for this week and completed all my paperwork too!!!

Yes that would be all my lessons and I am also running four mini workshops this week that I have also planned...even I can`t believe how organised I am.

My Scrapbook layout for Thursdays class:



A little tag to attach to the strawberry sundae candles we will be making in my candle making class on Tuesday:



Detached chain stitch daisies on a greetings card for my embroidery class tomorrow:



Crimped wire earrings for my jewellery class tomorrow:





Can you tell the difference in my pictures...was it worth me spending all that money on my beautiful new camera that I have been "playing" with today?

Oh my God I love it, I love the way I can manually adjust the zoom, love how it feels in my hands and I love the noise it makes when I take a picture...I know I am a sad gadget freak....I can`t wait to have a proper play on Wednesday, have the day off and am planning to take it out for a little trip before I have my hair done...oh yes long overdue for a cut and got a half price voucher for one of the posh salons in town for taking part in the Starlight walk...phoned up yesterday and am booked in with Jack who will be styling my hair...I can`t wait!!!

Had a bit of a play with it today, obviously still an amateur but I love these pictures of Ella, who by the way had a fabulous time away with the school and got up to all sorts of amazing activities that I would have loved to have a go at...fencing, quad biking, raft building...but who also bought home the most amazing pile of washing as I predicted...my poor washing machine is exhausted!!!

Strike a pose...



there`s nothing to it...




...Vogue...

Okay I am off now, I have a date, a date with a family size bar of Cadbury`s fruit and nut, a glass of Pinot, a terrible glossy magazine and my quilt...now that's how to relax!!!

I would walk five thousand miles....

...and I would walk five thousand more...That Bloody Proclaimers song has been going round in my head all day and when they wrote that they obviously hadn't actually walked that far because if they had they would know that just 13 miles is enough to make your whole body scream in pain!!!

Starlight sponsored walk completed last night...started at midnight and finally crossed the finish line at 4.30am...oh god it is amazing how one minute your body feels like it going to completely shut down and then the adrenaline pumps through it and forces you on...and the complete and utter shite you talk about with your mates whilst trying to pass the time and ignore the fact that your thighs feel like they are on fire!!! I really feel like I achieved something last night and for such a great cause too...1900 ladies walked and collectively we raised approximately £180,000...how cool is that, the final figure will be released in a few weeks and its estimated to be over £200,000!!!

So here is my lovely medal that we were presented with for completing the walk.



My friend and I raring to go...



and before we left...



Ella captured this quirky pic of me that is begging to be scrapbooked!!!



So I finally walked through my door at 5.30am this morning...the birds were singing, it was daylight and I was sober!!!
Got to bed at just after six and was up again for 10 so now I am flagging a bit especially as I have spent most of the day in town buying fathers day presents, although did end up in the little Italian restaurant with the kids for lunch!!!

However I did pay a little visit to the camera shop and had a very long chat about the pros and cons of a few gorgeous SLR`s with a very nice man who really knew his stuff and didn`t try to con me into spending more money than I needed to. Guess who has a lovely new camera...yep Me...and its a little beauty, the battery is charging as we speak and I can`t wait to play around with my new baby.....



Isn`t she lovely, I got a great deal and a memory card, uv filter and a bag thrown in too...even in the shattered state I was in I can still manage a little eyelash fluttering!!!

I am off now for a very well earned glass of Pinot, sink my aching feet into my footspa...god that sounds so 80`s...and read my camera manual...I did tell you I was a geek!!!

Little Fairies...

...came into my house last night and waved their beautiful magic over my desk to transform it to this...



Well that's what I would have thought if I had come downstairs this morning and saw it all sparkling and gleaming like that...pesky fairies missed me out again and I spent over an hour transforming it from the state it was in last night to this..somewhere I can actually work without hunting under piles of Primas or stacks of paper for my knife or tweezers...and so inspiring was the tidiness...I have created four cards this evening and have a layout in progress too!!! Should try this tidy and organised more often...unfortunately after making four cards and designing the layout it doesn`t really look much like that any more!!!

But I have got these as rewards for my creative disorder!!!

Cute little Edwin...



My lovely little oriental doll...



Beautiful little Tilda...



And there she is again...



Had a great day today, back to work taught a scrapbooking class this morning and Jewellery this afternoon, has been pretty hectic, had several new students turn up at my class this afternoon so sorting enrollments out...more bloody paperwork...but lots of lovely new students even if the class was a little chaotic!!!

I am off in a minute to dig out my Pink Trainers, My Pink Tracksuit and my Pink Tshirt...can you see a theme there...no not the pink the bloody fact that I have to wear a tracksuit and trainers and I have to have photographs taken to prove to all my friends that I did wear them...oh the shame!!! Tomorrow night is my midnight sponsored walk for the local hospice, did I mention I am walking 13 MILES...oh god I am so going to regret that on Saturday!!!

Wish me luck...I am going to need it!!!

Did I Jinx it...

...The weather today...wow hasn`t it been wet, had to buy a new umbrella as I stole Ella`s this morning and it fell apart between Picadilly and Primark!!!

Been in Manchester for the day shopping and chilling...my favourite place to be when I have a day off. Didn`t get my camera as I couldn`t find Jessops!!! Honestly it has closed down and I couldn`t find another one, even though I must have walked my 13 mile marathon route around Manchester today!!!

Did spend a little in Primark...about £40 but two new pairs of shoes were just what I needed as I always say a girl can never have too many pairs ;-), also headed over to Fred Aldous, the little Aladdin's cave for crafters, sells everything crafty and had a really nice chat with a lady who works in there too. Picked up some new jewellery bits and bobs including some gorgeous chain and also treated myself to some chalk inks.

Managed to complete this layout tonight, not the best piccy because I NEED a new camera, picture is of me and my Dad out last Friday night and the title is "33 and still a Daddy`s Girl", the layout is for my class tomorrow: using chipboard on your layouts.



Did manage to take some photographs from the train today...

I love this building but would hate to have to clean the windows!!!


Love this building too, because when I see it from the train I know that I am nearly at the shops!!!



and I really need somebody to come and organise me...honestly just look...there is about three hours worth at least of tidying and sorting to do just on my desk.....

Should really go and tidy and sort it but I want to sink into nice hot bath, sooth my aching sodden muscles and try on my new shoes...again ;-)

The Sun will Shine....

...Tomorrow and if it doesn`t then I will still be happy because I have the day off, I am going to buy me a beautiful new camera...think I have finally decided on this one!!!

It is a little beauty, apparently the perfect introduction to SLR photography and I can`t wait to play, just hoping it is in stock when I go to purchase, that would be just my luck!!!

Had a fabulous day today, a full days teaching at the Oaks centre in Penketh and had even more students turn up at my classes, I am tired though, spent an hour going through Mia`s hair with the bloody nit comb again and then another two hours doing paperwork...new courses mean enrolment forms which means loads of paperwork for me...the only downside to my job, and I have to nip into work in the morning...yes I know on my day off...to hand in all the paperwork and collect my expenses...oh yeah baby!!!

Off now to enjoy a glass of Pinot seeing as I don`t have to get up too early tomorrow!!!

Something`s Missing....

...Its oh so quiet...

...eerily quiet...

You know when that quiet descends and you realise something is not quite right...like when the kids are repainting your carpet with gloss paint, yep one of Harry and Ella's little masterpieces when they were little!!!

Ella has left the building!!!

Surprising how just one child out of four makes an immense difference to the dynamics of the house, she has departed on her adventure holiday with the school and will no doubt return on Friday with half a lake, a forest and god knows what else attached to her clothes!!! I am not sure I even want to put my washing machine through such torture!!!

So no teary goodbyes this morning...I am made of tougher stuff than that you know!!!

I went off to work and had the most marvellous day today, my two new courses started: Embroidery nice and relaxing this morning then a chaotic Jewellery class this afternoon, had about 20 students turn up and it was an absolute blast, I didn`t stop and I loved it. Had about six newbies too...virgin Jewellery makers as they are referred to in my class...!!!

Off now to finish preparing for my classes tomorrow and to try and figure out just how it is that Ella can possible make as much noise as she does!!!

What a Wonderful Weekend

Oh Yes I have had the best weekend for a long time, the weather has been glorious and I have chilled, drank, eaten and shopped!!!

Spent Friday night at a party, a friend of mine is emigrating to Australia and it was her leaving do, and the band performed too, was in a local pub so only had to stagger home afterwards...and my Dad came out too, because I had promised to treat him to a pint...that turned into two but he did reciprocate and bought me a glass of wine, he also wanted to see the band perform because I have been raving about them so much...He liked them...and I am surprised he did because he spent most of my teenage years telling me to "turn that bloody row down"!!!

I love this picture that my bessie friend took of me and my Dad...

So woke up yesterday with a monster hangover...ooh it was bad and I didn`t even drink that much but didn't have too much to eat Friday and was the end of a really busy week so I am blaming that!!! The worst thing about having a hangover is your kids...and the noise they make...and the fact that you had promised to spend the day shopping with your 11 year old daughter!!!

So after knocking back my body weight in water and popping a couple of the little magical neurofen Ella and I finally hit town!!!

The reason I had promised to take her shopping is she is off tomorrow for a five day adventure holiday with the school...going to be quiet in our house...so she had a list as long as my arm of all the things she "needed" and being in the delicate state I was I agreed to all of it...and paid for it too...think my little cashcard was groaning by the end of the day...not sure she really "needed" half of what she did but was just lovely to spend the day with her alone before she goes away, she is turning into a lovely young lady, don`t get me wrong she is hormonal and gobby at times but she is also great fun, has a wicked sense of humour and is pretty intelligent too. We ended up in the little Italian restaurant we love for lunch as a little treat. So her suitcase is packed, her labels wrote and she is giddy with excitement...me I am just feeling a little "oh my baby is going away!!!"

And today has been just the loveliest day...spent the morning working on lesson plans, got two new courses starting this week, Jewellery Making and Embroidery, so had to plan and design those and came up with these samples:

Embroidery...little "corsage" that I have used to embellish a gift bag, sewed a brooch finding to the back too



And Jewellery class...making bead cages with wire...god I love how this bracelet turned out with my scrummy new beads

Then went to the pub for lunch with the kids and rather surprisingly went back to the pub for tea...because it was such a lovely evening and it seemed such a shame to be sitting inside when we could sit in the beer garden drinking...orange juice...yes I was honestly!!!

Feeling all chilled out and prepared for the week ahead, all my lessons are planned and I am looking forward to a whole day off...yes a WHOLE day off work on Wednesday...off shopping to treat myself to a new camera...going SLR finally and considering either the Panasonic Lumix G1 or the Nikon D60....hmm they are both so beautiful....decisions decisions!!!

Also have my starlight walk next weekend, raising money for the most fantastic Hospice in Warrington, where I also run a jewellery making class in the daycare unit, the staff here are so wonderful making the clients stay as comfortable as possible and injecting compassion, empathy and humour into their care. I spent the most amazing afternoon on Friday teaching the most amazing people so if you want to sponsor me to help raise funds for this incredible facility please click on my fundraising link to the right...many thanks.

Off now to work my way through a rather nice chilled glass of Pinot to see out a wonderful weekend.

Cleptomania....

...Yep I have it...apparently according to my students!

Not because I have an urge to steal...honestly...but because if I am showing a student a particular technique with one of their tools then I tend to walk away with it, usually a pencil or a craft knife or a pair of scissors...Its not intentional...Honest

So I have had a really good day today, taught a scrapbooking class this morning, one of those classes where I just didn`t stop, running around like a lunatic, I love classes like that, where everyone is busy scrapping their precious memories and I am playing a part in helping them to preserve them, such an honour and usually a damn good laugh too!!!

Then had another class this afternoon, a brand new Jewellery class with new students all beginners, it is so lovely to teach people with no prior knowledge or experience and watch them walk away from your lesson happy and excited that they have learnt a new skill, and usually wearing a rather delicious piece of arm candy too!!! That's why I became a teacher, and that's what I love most about teaching, that and the fact I can have a damn good laugh with my students...I love my job.

OOOh and guess what...I have new additions to my home...some of my new beads arrived today, ooh and they are pretty, so pretty I don`t want to use them I just want to sit and stroke them and nestle them in pretty little boxes...!!!

Well wouldn`t you...



my new cats eyes...so delicious...



So although I taught two fabulous classes today I have also been working from home before, in between and after...have a Magazine deadline for Monday that I only remembered yesterday...good job I work so well under pressure...cards are all done, and will be in the October issue...as long as I remember to post them.

Off now to tidy this little lot up...

I was so right!!!

...Last nights little look at the bead sites did prove expensive....but I have some lovely little beauties winging their way to their new home as we speak...I am eagerly awaiting their arrival...my jewellery pliers are ready for action to get to grips with my new pandora, lampwork and cats eye beads...oh yes...watch this space!!!

Have been busy this evening preparing for my scrapbooking class tomorrow, its so lovely having ink finally for my printer and having instant access to my photographs...all 53 million of them...well maybe a slight exaggeration but I do take an awful lot of photos...had the camera out tonight, after I sent Harry to the shop for new batteries, I really must invest in some rechargeable`s as it is costing me a small fortune replacing them all the time.

Took lots of pictures of Mia because she looked so beautiful with her hair cascading down her back...the reason it was down is because she has bought bloody Nits home from school AGAIN...been in to the school tonight to inform her teacher that they keep hitching a ride with Mia...Result...nit letters will be distributed!!!

So these are my favourite pictures from tonight...





Completed this layout in about 30 minutes, one of those that just fell together...saw the quote somewhere a while ago and knew it would fit this photo perfectly...

And this is My Dude...who by the way at 16 is the best Dude in the world...Jack has a "thing" at the moment of taking pictures of himself in mirrors with his iphone...he does it everywhere...not sure why but wanted to record it for him...This is what I am teaching tomorrow...multi photo layouts...

Got to tidy up my creative disarray now!!! Nah its just a bloody mess...oooh and there is men in little shorts to be lushing over in the England match soon too ;-).

Beady Envy!!!

Oh yes...there is such a thing, had a jewellery class today and one of my students bought their beads in...OMG, Pandora style, cats eyes, glass lamp work beads...me I was like a child in a sweet shop!!!

Fortunately I was given a list of suppliers for these beautiful little items...hmmm this could be expensive!!!

Finally found my Mojo...was hiding at the bottom of my handbag and came fluttering out earlier this evening in time for me to create this little beauty for my Workshop tomorrow:



God I love turquoise so much...can you tell!!!

I also love purple at the moment too...which is damn lucky because that's what colour my ears are...bloody hair dye!!!

Off to Brillo pad my ears and hunt for gorgeous new beads!!!

Missing Mojo

Oh My God has anyone seen it...my Mojo...It has disappeared!!!

Honestly I have looked in my drawers, cupboards, under the stairs...even had a sneaky peek in the loft but it is most certainly hiding somewhere and wont come back. Have been sat at my desk for about two hours "trying" to plan Jewellery classes and I have created nothing...I kept dropping things and now can not find my tweezers, although I have a sneaking suspicion they are under the Prima flowers that I emptied on my desk...so I gave up with the jewellery and created this little card instead!!!

Which ties in very well with the "Blooming Gorgeous challenge over at Penny Black this week and also this weeks sketch over at Sketch Saturday.

Have been back to the dentist today...my poor little mouth is still very sore, have been given another course of antibiotics and have to go back in about a week to have the whole lot removed...just kidding although I would have gladly paid somebody to do it this morning especially after the six mile taxi ride where the driver talked about nothing but teeth and dental surgery and how his mate had just paid £35,000 for teeth implants...£35,000...I can think of far better things to spend that amount of money on!!!

Had a great day teaching today, although I think every single one of my students was on a mission to make me laugh today...and it hurts so much, you bloody sadist lot...yes you know who you are ladies!!!

So apart from the toothache and the missing Mojo I am in a pretty happy place at the moment, busy with work but I love that, trying to work out if my kids have been sent as a test of my inner (and outer) strength but I love them...well someone has to...and I spoke to someone close today who I haven't heard from in a while and that made my day.

Off now to tidy up those pesky primas, retrieve my tweezers and manipulate my mojo back!!!

Busy little me!!!

God what a day...up at stupid o clock again...bloody toothache...even interrupts my sleep!!!

So had one of those days where you look back in the evening and think god did I really manage to do all that in one day...cleaning, washing, ironing, shopping for teaching materials, paperwork, lesson planning and cooking a Sunday dinner too...Yep I am up for SuperMum award again...although that's in the bag after last nights Eton Mess...oh you should have heard my kids...this simple little dessert was described as "fit" and "mint" simple things eh!!!

Been lesson planning this evening and have come up with these to teach tomorrow...god I am so organised...only trying to take my mind off the fact that my face feels like it is falling off!!!


Beautiful glass beaded bracelet for my jewellery class tomorrow





Turkey stitch, blanket stitch and butterfly stitch techniques for my embroidery class tomorrow...crap picture though sorry...rain equals bad light for photos...although if I have my way the new Panasonic Lumix will be in my tender little hands by next weekend oh yeah baby!!!







Had to "nip" to Hobbycraft earlier to buy supplies for all my new classes, why is it that when I "nip" to Hobbycraft I come out nearly £100 poorer...luckily I bill college for my materials but these two little beauties also fell into my basket ;-)

This book is absolutely beautiful, would not recommend it for beginners though as there are no instructions just jam packed full of the most delicious photographs of stunning beads and beadwork.







And I loved flicking through this book so much that I just thought oh to hell with it I am going to buy it, its full of really innovative craft projects..stamping on shoes for one...now I have never stamped on shoes before...watch this space!!!

Sew its Saturday!!!

I know two posts in one day...well when you have been up as long as I have!!!

Been into town today, retail therapy...just about the best therapy in the world...especially when I got exactly what I wanted, a new pair of jeans. Now I am a bit fussy when it comes to jeans, they have to be tight, I hate bagginess especially on the bum, they cant flare too much and they have to be a certain shade of blue, they have to sit on my hips and they have to reach the floor when I am barefoot...told you I was fussy!!! So the first pair I tried on met all the above criteria and came with the most gorgeous belt too and they were half price...so happy that I bought a jacket too, then a shirt that I totally fell in love with!!!

Then had to do the shopping....BORING.....But I bought some gorgeous vintage style tea towels reduced in Asda came home and turned two of them into a cushion and a little canvas bag!!!

Look...

Kids think I have just about totally lost the plot now..."Mum you bought tea towels and you are cutting them up"

Ella is kicking herself now because she wants me to make her one of the little tote bags...hmmm secretly I made that one for her but I will let her stew a little longer muwahahahaha!!!

Feel like I have a bit of making up to do to them as I have been so horrible with my toothache this week, which is still around although more like a constant dull ache now which is bearable until I eat then I have to be peeled of the ceiling, so I have made them Eton Mess for after tea tonight, saw it on Come Dine With Me last night and though mmmm yummmmy so created them earlier and they are nestling quite happily in the fridge....

Off now to put away my sewing machine for another six months!!!!

This is All Wrong!!!

Totally wrong...It is Saturday Morning...yep Morning 8.30am...yep am... and I am up and whats more I have been up for an hour, made a card and tidied up this....

...which is how my desk looked when I got up!!!

All tidy now though ready for another onslaught of creativity.

So I made this earlier, which fits in very nicely with this weeks weather challenge over at DCM and also the sketch over at Friday Sketchers

I love those papers so much the DCWV Nanas Nursery ranges, so delicious and I am using them and not gazing lovingly at them or stroking their glittery embossed texture!!!

Look see I made another card using them with my bargain 50p stamp I bought on Wednesday...isn`t that angel cute...

I also have a couple of layouts to share...this is an 8x8 of Mia last week...on our way to the train station we walked past "Le Frog" a very aptly named French restaurant and as Mia`s nickname is Frog I couldn`t resist taking her picture outside!!!

And this picture has had me stumped for probably two years now...there is so much colour in it but it was such a poignant moment...sitting in McDonalds in Liverpool with my four in the summer of 2007, there was a lady sat next to us with a small child and the lady kept repeating over and over again "eat your Chicken" in a very very broad Scouse accent...well my kids were rolling about the floor because they love the accent . Needless to say it earmarked the catchphrase "eat your Chicken" every time we have it at home!!!

Okay I am off to investigate what else happens this early on a weekend morning!!!

Tooth Tales!!!

Hey Guess what...I phoned the dentist at 9am this morning and got an appointment...which was damn luck because I was in such a state today at work, apologies to my lady who walked in on me whilst I had my head in my hands crying with pain, waiting again for the painkillers to kick in, not only am I getting really frustrated with this I am bored of it too.

Went to the Dentist this afternoon anyway and I have an infection...why do they always ask if its tender while your head is tilted at the most unnatural angle, your mouth is wide open and they are prodding your source of agony with a super sharp implement!!!

I agreed with him once I had been peeled off the ceiling!!! So yeah infectious me...and super huge red pills, technically known as antibiotics or horse pills as they resemble, Jesus they really are big...ten days of 1000 mg a day...OMG supposed to be going to watch the band on Friday and Saturday night...drinking water is just so not Rock and Roll

To cheer my miserable arse up today I bought these in a second hand sale at work...Spent a whole £2.75 on two brand new stamps and two mini scrapbook kits.







Back teaching a scrapbooking class tomorrow too and will be doing this layout incorporating mini pockets;







Off now to try and swallow one of the Big Red Pills without choking!!!

Summer Sunshine....and....

Is it really only Tuesday!!!

I feel like it should be Thursday at the very least, the four days I had off work seem a dim and distant memory away, the alarm clock keeps waking me up at silly o clock and the weather is absolutely gorgeous, the kind where you want to be pottering in the garden or chilling in a pub garden letting the sunshine warm your skin, listening to a nice chillout album and chatting with friends...Summertime and the living is easy...well it should be!!!

Have already taught four classes this week, had a lovely day today though here did two classes; Jewellery this morning and Candle Making this afternoon, met some lovely students and had the most delicious homemade French Country Vegetable soup in the little cafe, the staff here are all so friendly and welcoming and I look forward to going back.

Got to phone the dentist tomorrow too...had the most dreadful toothache for the past few days...one of those that is probably increasing the profits of Neurofen again!!! Phoned the dentist today at about 3pm for an Emergency appointment, I thought my face was falling off the pain was that bad at that point...drugs wearing off...and the receptionist informed me that emergency appointments could only be made at 9am...okay makes a bit of sense, obviously only so many slots can be held for these appointments but what happens if your toothache starts at 10am...is it only an emergency if you have suffered with it for X amount of hours!!! Whats the betting that when I phone at 9am the line is engaged for twenty minutes and when I finally get through all the appointments will have been taken for the day!!! Okay rant over...Only another hour before my next dose of Painkillers can be taken!!!


Have been doing a bit of cardmaking over the last couple of days and finally finished them all off tonight, not made cards for a while really because I am usually making jewellery samples or scrapbook layouts so was nice just to kick back and chill, finally used some of my new stamps and paper scraps too...

Will have to get used to the cardmaking too because I received a magazine commission this week...for Christmas Cards...Groan...I know, summer heat and I have to design Christmas cards!!!

Okay I am off now to carefully line up my painkillers ready for 10pm!!!