Blogtoberfest? I’m in

I’ve ummed and ahhed about joining in with this month long blogging extravaganza. I have taken part twice before, but decided to give it a miss last year. I need to find my blogging rhythm again and perhaps posting every day will help me do just that.

Here’s what I had to say about Blogtoberfest, the first time I took part:

“The blogging community is a fascinating place, giving little peeks into the lives of lovely folks all around the world. I have found some very friendly and supportive people out there. It’s always thrilling to get a comment from someone new, but it is even lovelier to have blog friends that come back time and time again. In the same way it is always fun to discover new blogs, but equally so to have a collection of blogs to follow regularly. While visiting Mel earlier today, I saw her post about Blogtoberfest and decided to investigate. It may be just the thing to give me a push in the right direction. Watch this space.” *

‘Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.’ Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

‘The more things change, the more they stay the same.’ Jon Bon Jovi

* The full post can be found here.

Me on Monday

It’s been another beautiful day here, after a misty start, with temperatures well beyond the norm for this time of year. Autumn is upon us though as evidenced by the leaf strewn pavements on my walk to the shops this afternoon.

It was a germ fighting (the dreaded “Back to School” cold), soup making (lots of garlic and ginger and a little chilli), Peaky Blinders bingeing (anyone else watch the first series?), energy conserving, physics home work helping (or at least trying to dredge up something useful on the topic of Forces), sitting up sleeping…..

…..and blurry photograph taking (of that soup*) sort of weekend. How was yours?

Waving to Sian in her cuddly jacket. You wouldn’t have needed it here today either.

*recipe to follow

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday? #277

The kitchen table is set up for a session of mass production this afternoon.

One of my friends is hosting a MacMillan coffee morning later this week and I’m donating a batch of cards for her to sell. I’m sticking with a tried and tested (and simple) design that can easily be adapted to make two dozen cards, in a variety of colours, without them looking too similar.

This was the result of last week’s masking class, for those of you that showed an interest. Not my usual palette, but it was fun to work with all those bright colours.

These were the other things we made. I’m hanging onto flowers and sunshine for a little longer, before starting the inevitable “seasonal” crafting.

I’m linking up with all the other deskers over at Julia’s place.

Me on Monday

Well, not quite. This was me on Saturday, outside the Queen’s Theatre, waiting to see my first ever West End musical. I may have been just a wee bit excited.

It was a London journeying, Brixton Village lunching, Covent Garden wandering, juggler searching, National Portrait Gallery viewing, Soho exploring, Beruit Street food dining, Les Miserables watching, late night tube travelling…..

….birthday celebrating, company of friends enjoying, poppy reflecting, train home by the skin of my teeth catching, fun and exhausting sort of weekend.

Monday is almost over, along with my birthday, for another year. It’s been a good one and thanks to Sian it’s all here, in a nutshell.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday? #276

I’m joining in with Julia’s desk hop today (all the info can be found here) and my kitchen table actually has something to show for itself.

Checking through the supplies last night, before packing them for class this morning. Today’s technique is masking. Not something I’ve done very often in the past. Having matching dies makes it a whole lot easier than I remember.

The scraps of green I had, left over from cutting the card bases, were perfect to punch out a few hearts. I turned them into a four leaf clover to wish my nephew luck as he starts a new adventure. Can you believe I don’t have a good luck sentiment in my extensive collection of stamps? Out came the trusty Hero Arts letters to finish the job. A bit wonky, but I think that adds to charm.

I’ll be round to visit after lunch. Have a great day.

Me on Monday….

…..with Teal toes for Marti.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in the US and I’ve painted my toe nails teal, in support of Deb, whose Mom lost her battle with the disease in October 2012.

The Birds & the Bees….

….blowing in the breeze.

Tula Pink is popular in the quilting world and I loved this Tree of Life design from the Birds & the Bees range. When I found a couple of yards on ebay, at a very good price, I snapped it up. It seemed a shame to cut it up into small pieces for patchwork* so I decided to use it to make a dress and of course there would be scraps (quite sizeable ones as it turns out) left over.

Yellow is not a colour that features much in my wardrobe. Not because I don’t like it, it just doesn’t really suit me, but this mustard shade seems to work. I chose the Laurel shift dress from Colette. The front is one piece so other than the bust darts the large scale pattern won’t be broken up. I didn’t have quite enough yardage to match the rows of trees exactly, at the side seams, and I’m hoping that is not going to bug me once it’s sewn up.

There wasn’t any time for sewing over the Summer holidays and I’ve yet to finish my Lonsdale dress. I know, I know! Can’t believe I started it in April. I cut the Laurel out while waiting for my new zipper foot to arrive. I just couldn’t get on with the old one and I didn’t want to make a mess of the zip, when I’ve been so careful to get a good finish with everything else. Postie brought it this morning so I’m all set now and hope to have some finished garments to share with you very soon.

*Look what Florence has done with some of the Tree of Life fabric. Can you spot it in the purple cog? What an amazing job she’s done with the fussy cutting.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday #275

Still nothing on the kitchen table this week. No time for crafting around here at the moment, but I came across a couple of things I haven’t shared before.

These are the ATCs I made for the 5th Anniversary of WOYWW, way back in May. How handy that my cake stamp had five candles. I added mini shaker panels filled with sequins, for a bit of fun.

Next up are the pages I made to go in a Birthday Book for a friend’s 50th. This was a secret project, but she’s received the book now so I can show you. Karen is a huge fan of Marillion, her favourite colour is pink and she is a prolific stamper and card maker. I chose a lyric that I thought would work to include all those things.

I picked two different solid flower shaped stamps, inked them up and misted with water before stamping the background. Once that had dried, I stamped the lyrics around the edges with a Hero Arts alphabet. I clear embossed the words “invisible ink” on a card to complete the lyric on the first page and the word “PINK” for the other page. The vellum envelopes can be opened to read the notes. I’m really happy with the way they turned out.

That’s it from me. Head on over to Julia’s place to catch up with everyone else.

One Photo in Twenty Words ~ Beach

Joining in with Abi’s super simple meme today and I’ve just realised how appropriate my title is.

On the beautifully clean beach at Ayr. Paddling in the water. Enjoying the sunshine. Was it really two weeks ago?

Into our first full week at school here. All was well with the time table. Just as expected. Thanks to those that asked and sent good wishes for my boy.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday? #274

Last Wednesday my view looked like this. We were about a third of the way up Ben Nevis at the time and I was photo bombed by a dog.*

This week the kitchen table is empty and there has been no time for crafting, of any kind, since we got back from Scotland. Luckily I’d prepared for my first card making class of the term before the children broke up.

We made this little box. Pink and ivory with a bit of kraft coloured ink and seam binding. One of my ladies was so chuffed with hers that she’s going to make them for her daughter’s wedding favours next year. I’m pretty chuffed with that.

Today I am going school shoe shopping with my girl, once my boy gets home with his timetable for the year ahead. Fingers crossed that all is as he expects. It will be the first time he hasn’t received it two weeks ahead of the start of term. Something the school do for children on the spectrum. I’ll be holding my breath ‘til then.

If it’s actual desks you want to see, then head on over to Julia’s place. You’ll be spoilt for choice.

* Another contender for #10 in the Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt

Me on Monday

Can it really be September already? It’s that second fresh start of the year and my favourite month of all. Back to reality today. A class to prepare for tomorrow and the last few days of freedom for the children before Back to School on Thursday.

It was a 6am harbour wall walking, sunrise capturing*, farewell to Maidens waving.

Eight hours of motorway driving, wind farm admiring (yes, I love them), holdall unpacking, washing machine loading/unloading (more than once), pizza eating, loom band weaving (late to the party here) and just chillin’ sort of weekend.

How was yours?

Joining in with Sian today.

* a contender for #13: a sunrise in the Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt