How does your garden grow?

Or more precisely, your tomatoes. Ours are growing well, very well for us, but no signs of any starting to ripen yet. They get a lot of sunlight and I am trying to cut back the foliage where I feel I should but I am not sure what else I should be doing!e

We have a couple of different varieties but none of them have ripened yet...obviously waiting and we will have a glut of nice rosy red tomatoes while we on our holibobs probably. LOL

Any tips would b much appreciated.

Thanks

Adele

xXx

London tourist!

Hubby is starting a new project at work, in a hospital just off Harley Street and needed to be present for some work on site at 8am this morning. Seeing as Amelia is staying with her Nan and Grandad for a few days, we decided to make the most of the opportunity and I travelled up to London with him. I took my Kindle and expected to sit in some drafty corridor or at best, a hospital cafe while I waited for him. He signed in and asked the Estates Manage if there was anywhere I could wait, he guided my to the Library, a lovely, fairly plush room with Royal connections, fine artwork on the walls and cabinets displaying jewellery and items of historic value! I sat and read my book in luxury and comfort. Result! LOL

Once Chris was finished we had a coffee and a bite to eat and had a wander around London. It's something I have done so little since moving out of London and then leaving Lloyds Bank back in 1994!!!!EEK despite that it was the first time I walked around and felt like a tourist.

Amongst the places we visited were Neal's Yard, crammed full of people and colour and a place I have only ever seen before online.

After that we strolled along to Covent Garden and watched some of the street entertainment. Where else could you go from seeing a man on a unicycle whip a flower from between the butt cheeks of his fellow performer and then on to listening to the cultured sounds of a string quartet! LOL

After that a quick tipple in a nearby pub before we ventured back home via Ebbsfleet high speed train service. Such a lovely day, just wandering around as and where we pleased with no real agenda.

Suffering this evening though even after a few pain killers and a very long, hot bath of Epsom Salts and Lavender oil! If I am determined not to let the pain stop me from doing some of the things I want to do, then I need to accept the increase in pain that follows! 

Would I do it again if I had the chance.....of course I would. Lovely day with hubby, thank you.

Adele

xXx

Craft Time and Goal setting ideas

As part of my Pain Management Program we talked about setting some goals, now I really struggle with goal setting as my mind goes off at so many different tangents with so many ideas on so many different areas of my life. I feel I am struggling to fully complete any task in what I feel is an acceptable time as I need to break so many things down into smaller, more manageable chunks. I end up feeling that I am not making any progress....yes, I know I am but I do love a bit of impact and that feeling that something is done thoroughly from top to bottom so I can, mentally or otherwise, cross it off my list! I am was a list person, but once again, stopped making lists as it was only making me feel more negative about my achievements, or the lack of them. LOL

Now I started a Journal at the beginning of the year, expecting it to be all pretty and creative but to be honest I am not really using it for anything apart from a habit tracker each month in an attempt to live and happier, healthier and less painful lifestyle...not sure that's working but hey ho!

I have set myself a couple of different goals, some short term, some longer but 2 of my short term goals where 1.To make more time for me to be creative. 2.To try meditation.

I haven't really thought them through properly yet and I need to sit down and throw some thoughts around as to making these SMART goals...but I remember seeing a journalling idea somewhere on the big WWW where they recorded moods I think it was, using little rows of flowers. So, I set to work on a journal page slightly different from my norm.

I am thinking along the lines of colouring 1 flower for every day I manage to spend some time crafting and 1 flower for every crafty blog, as that I way I feel I can record what I have managed to do, however little it may be!

AND what better motivation for a crafter than to treat myself to some new stash, I was thinking of  fairly quick and achievable goals and perhaps treating myself to £10 of Copics or Prismas/Polychromos. One of my fave online shops does free delivery with a £10 spend and has some great offers and super speedy delivery too.

I have cheated and counted my littlle scrappy attempt at pwetty journalling and this blog post and coloured in my first two flowers!! Tee hee,,,,, let's see how it goes.

Bye for now,

Adele

xXx

Prismacolors...still trying!

I am still trying to make progress with my Prismacolor colouring, I'd like to say I am making some progress and that I am gaining confidence with them...but I can't. BUT am I still enjoying trying them out...definitely YES! I still need to add a bit more definition somehow, for  example the facial details where I am too heavy handed with the pencils!

Trying make a note of some of the different colour combinations I am using.

For the leaves:

PC1089 Pale Sage

PC1097 Moss Green

PC988 Marine Green

For the skin:

PC914 Cream

PC940 Sand

PC939 Peach

PC927 Light Peach

PC943 Burnt Ochre

This little fella is still half done...might try to finish it later on but I am still trying to do a bit of decluttering, decorating and generally running around after Amelia. Shattered.com

Bye for now..

Adele

xXx

Prismacolor.....progress???

Well, I wouldn't really call it progress, it's more of a continuation of a poor attempt! LOL

BUT, I have really enjoyed the change and challenge of trying something out of my comfort zone. Still got loads of issues I need to work on but as long as I continue to enjoy the journey I am telling myself the results don't really matter!

I got my Prisma pencils years and years ago and I bought them as seconds and unfortunately some of them are unmarked so I don't know what all the colours are but here is my colour list:

For the hair:

PC914 Cream, PC944 Terracotta, 

PC941 Light Umber , PC947 Dark Umber 

 I quite liked how it turned out. It's a much lighter, fluffier sort of finish to

 what  I am used to with my Copics.

For the pinks:

PC994 Process Red, an unknown pink that I believe will become a favourite, 

PC1018 Pink Rose , PC938 White.

For the purples:

 PC 934 Lavender, PC956 Lilac, PC 1009 Dahlia Purple

So, this morning I have filled a few holes in our conservatory walls and woodwork, done a bit of painting and then gave myself a bit of craft therapy time this afternoon to finish the Saturated Canary image I had started. Now I am eager to try my hand at another image I can wreck with a few Prismacolors!

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

I need help with my Prismacolor disaster!!! EEK

SO, late, late last night I started sorting out my Prismacolor Pencils. I printed off a new 

colour sheet and started organising them into colour groups. 

Then I started playing about with a few attempts at blending...considering  my Sansodor 

(I think that was what it was called) is somewhere in my craft room and probably 

covered in an inch of dust.  I wasn't that impressed with my results so I will NEED to dig out

 that blending agent to try again later today.

After a few failed attempts at blending I decided to jump straight in and try to colour and image. Now one thing I have never tried before is to colour onto Kraft card or some of that lovely "toned" card you can get...and is currently on my wishlist just waiting to see how I get on with the Prismas first though. lol 

It was a bit like trying to run before I could walk. Perhaps I should have stuck to working on white card but I felt the white card I use for my Copics was too flat and smooth and as I was trying to blend the Prismas I was getting small clumps of waxy build up on my test patches.

I chose one of my new Saturated Canary stamps but as you can see I really struggled! I just didn't feel I had as as much control as I do with my Copics and without constantly sharpening, the pencil tip just didn't seem fine enough to give me the detail I wanted and I ended up covering some of the lines of the stamped image. I remember seeing some images coloured this way a while back but I will need to see how this is done without covering up too much detail in the image...eg. like I have done around her eye!!!

Not happy with the skin colour, a bit too pink for my liking so I will have to do some research 

on different skin .combinations.

Oh well, bit of a failure so far but I will not just give in and go straight back into my 

Copic Rut...I WILL persevere.

If you read this and you have any advice, PLEASE let me know!

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

Prismacolor pencils!

After "chatting" with a fellow crafter on a forum, we started discussing our favourite colouring mediums. Although I have used other colouring mediums in the past,, as soon as my first Copics were purchased in 2008(?) I really don't think I have used anything else.

Even after years of hardly any crafting at all, I have come straight back in to my Copic colouring rut!

SO, this evening I have dug out my Prismacolor Pencils! EEK, I feel like such a complete beginner with them-don't think I'll have any images to show you yet, it might take a bit of practising.

Hey ho, practice makes better....so they say...and I do like a bit of a challenge.

Adele

xXx

Crazy Lady vs.Tim Holtz Bird Crazy

Yesterday I was feeling rather low, pain was getting the better of me and I really didn't feel like doing much at all apart from slumping n the settee! I still slumped...but I slumped with my Copics and some images I had already stamped for my latest purchase....Tim Holtz- Bird Crazy!!!

I started trying out one or two different birds and decided to use some wacky colours, some of those Copics that are in my collection but rarely used. It was quite good to look at colour combinations again too as I really need to brush up on which markers bend together nicely.

As I went on, colouring more and more different birds a thought came to mind on how I could use them on a Thank You card for Amelia's School!

I put the cut and coloured images to one side cut to a piece of Copic card to size to layer onto an A5 card. Then I did a bit of masking, a very basic technique but something I haven't done for years!!!

I stamped up a row of four birds directly onto the card to form the back of the "crowd" and then decided how to position the others in front taking the shape of the birds and the colours into consideration. I took a snap of this to use as a reference before starting to colour up the back row of birdies! Once all the birdies were coloured, and one was glittered, I stuck them into their little flock using glue for some and 3D pads for others.

My printer decided it wasn't going to connect up so I ended up having to hand write "Thanks" amongst the flock and instead of the printed insert I had planned, it ended up as a hand written scrawl! 

I cannot remember exactly what the greeting was but it went along the lines of the staff at the school being in all shapes and sizes, some merging into the back ground and other being upfront and all sparkle and shine, but one thing they all have in common is such a positive and caring attitude towards supporting our children.....blah, blah, blah...

I simply LOVED making this card, so quirky, colourful and fun and so different 

from anything else I have really made.

PS....Ssshhh....I still have the Crazy Cat set to try out yet!!!

This card meets the criteria over at:

Colour Crazy Challenge #29

Crafting with Friends #48

One Crazy Stamper - July

A Perfect Time to Craft - July

Crafting with an Attitude #29

Right, that's enough waffle for now...those Crazy cats await! LOL

Adele

xXx

Whoop, whoop!!!

It's been such a hectic few weeks. Cake making for Guide Groups 5th Birthday Party, Craft table at school fair and this week trying to support Amelia for her School Drama Production...we have spent 2 fabulous and heart warming evenings watching our little "Calamity Jane" and we are so proud and amazed by the achievements of all the cast.

I seem to be staggering from one deadline to the next with no let up in between...rather than rest and relax, the minute the school fair was over, I decided to decorate wreck the conservatory!!! LOL Why oh why did I just not settle for a good old fashioned DEEP clean and declutter!

Anyway, crafting has been a bit thin on the ground, in fact all I have managed is to stamp a few images with one of my new stamps and print off a few digi images ready for my next colouring session.

Just pottering around the world of Blog and discovered that one of my recent cards made the Top 3 over at Colour Crazy Challenge!!!!   Thank you so much!!!

This is my entry card.

Oh, I must get sorted and make more time for being creative! 

Hmmm, I think I have said that once or twice before!!

Bye for now, my internet food shopping is calling!

Adele

xXx

I kept these for myself!

I bought this Liberty Print ribbon some time ago and this week I decided to put it to some good use, after all, what use is it sitting in a box? I do struggle with fiddly little clasps so I decided to use magnetic clasps on both the bracelet and the chocker necklace. Yes, it works out more expensive to make but oh so much easier to wear!!! I think this has got to be the way forward for the jewellery I make for myself now!

I might even have to look at investing in some sterling silver findings too!

Adele

xXx

Torn in so many crafty directions!!

With a table at a school fair tomorrow I should be all organised by now...but that is just not me, is it!

I have been so busy enjoying colouring in, especially as I have been SOOOOO naughty and treated myself to "a few" new stamps! LOL BUT I have reluctantly abandoned them to make a few last minute bits of jewellery, and to work on display stuff!!!

Here are a few pics of some of my latest, albeit, unfinished creations!!!!

A bit of a mish mash all ready and waiting.....

Some old stamps from my collection....

...and some new!

I have some digi Saturated Canary images store on my Desktop and external drive which are inaccessible at the moment so I bought a few physical rubber stamps instead!!!

I also bought "Snow Bird" by Stampendous, which was more of a Winter's image with berries on....until I snipped them off in an attempt to alter it into a likkle blue tit...quite pleased with my first attempt!!!

And last but not least......look what arrived in the post this week...cannot wait to try these out, so quirky and a bit different from my usual cute images!

(Still after the dog set too but I will wait to see how I get on with these first!)

Right, best get on, enough waffle for now!

Adele

xXx

Leather chockers/lariats and earrings

Loving working with this flat leather cord! Initially I bought some flat faux leather in some lovely colours but unfortunately I tested it out before I made anything with it and it snapped quite easily-such a shame as I was really looking forward to using the array of colours!

Anyway, just have to make do with the dark brown and black real leather for now. This first set can be either a double wrap bracelet or a single chocker.

The next set is so simple but is one of my favourites for some reason. The chocker/lariat has an adustable/slider bead to help make the necklace adaptable....and I just love the earrings!

Oh well a few more things to add to my collection.

Adele

Leather jewellery set

I am starting to panic a bit now as I feel I have hardly anything to put on my table at the school fair on Saturday!!!!EEK.

I am trying to tell myself it doesn't matter and that I m there to support the school in their fundraising but I know I lack so much confidence I am going to hate standing there expecting people to be interested in my "wares!"

Over the weekend I decided to do a bit of knitting, just a couple of tiny pairs of baby booties  but I really struggled and found myself in so much pain, I think knitting session are going to have to be very short and sweet from now on.

This morning I decided to put my card making to one side and concentrate on a bit more jewellery. (Mainly because I wanted to fill up the back of my revamped suitcase with earrings! LOL)

I ended up making this little leather set; bracelet, chocker/lariat and matching earrings.

Got enough brown leather cord to make another set so I am working on that next!

I feel I am running out of time this week already as I have a few appointments to fit in and I also need to make enough cakes to feed 50 people - hungry Girl Guides and their guests!!!!

Best crack on then

Adele

xXx

Suitcase revamp and jewellery display

A while back I shared some details of some old baggage that I acquired for under £5 each. I haven't done much with them since I last blogged about them but today, one case took another step closer to completion.

Here is the first case as it was when I bought it, after a few coats of paint, some decoupage with ripped up old paperbacks and some PVA it got put to one side but today Chris cut some battening and with a bit of no-nails and some lace I transformed the lid of the case into an earring display case.

I still need to work on using the base of the case for displaying some of my bracelets, I think I am going to need to delve into my fabric stash and create padded rolls to separate the bracelets and to secure them to stop them moving around too much.

I am loving the way it has turned out but once again, I am running out of time to do the things I planned to do! That's life!

Adele

xXx

So it's just me, the dog and my copics!

Saturday afternoon, Chris has just left to take Amelia to her drama and dance club, Jack has agreed to go with them as he reckons we have no decent food in the house.....how to make a 17 year old boy go shopping....refuse to buy chocolate, ice cream, biscuits, cakes.....easy! LOL

Once again, I am sat here colouring...might even venture up into my craft room and work on the 12" square space I have cleared from y worktop!!!

I did manage to complete another few cards yesterday, so I will at least have a few to put on my table at the school fair next week!!! EEK

The first 2 I am showing are something a bit different, I thought they would be quite quick and easy to make but I still enjoyed adding a bit of detail in the inking and embossing. Not really my comfort zone but thought I needed some variety in my stock box.

The 3rd card is much more "my thing" and I loved colouring this little bear. Kept the card quite simple and just finished it off with a little dangly charm.

Once again I am trying to take motivation and inspiration from a bit of blog hopping:

Colour Crazy Craft Challenge - #26 Anything goes

One Cray Stamper - July Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - July

Right, best get up in that craft room before the boys get back with cake to distract me!

Adele

xXx