BOO!

Well we managed a massive 2 visits to our house tonight! Perhaps this sign scared them away, who knows......

As we are tucked away in the corner of a wee cul de sac and only 9 houses upon it, we seem to get forgotten. All our neighbours are drawing pensions as it is and as you know, kids give those kind of houses a bit of a wide berth. I like to think that if your lights are out then don't come knocking. Ours were on but you cannot seem them past the end of the street. I think next year we shall go abducting the local children and force them to take our sweeties!

No matter, we had a great time dressing up and visiting neighbouring streets. My lil lady's grab bag is packed to the rafters with sweeties, chickie and pennies plus with our contribution to the "non visitors" adds extra cavities to that. So all of her teeth will fall out by November but hey, she will be so happy!

Made my first layout yesterday for a dutch magazine courtesy of Corinne Delis. Have you seen how the Dutch scrap? They are streets ahead of where ever I will try to be. I feel very lucky to be asked - so thanks Corinne.

And today I can show a full reveal of the kit at Scrap Studio. The colours are so beautiful this month - I didnt want the kit to end. Crocheted flowers and blling with huge blooms made my eyes widen to the point of popping from their sockets. Loved this kit so much that I want to do it again.

Found out today I didn't make it to the last round of LSS. That's contests for you, you cant win them all (I cant win any!!) but I sure as heck love every page I do no matter if its for kits, clubs, classes or for other people. A layout a day keeps the doctor away.

Or does it?

Went to give blood samples to check for inflammation cell thingies and the phlebotomist found a vein which decided to give up mid flow. So she stuck the needle in further and further and then further. Im sure she was a milimetre from the bone before it dawned on her that I wasn't parting with any blood from my left arm. Mmmm, couldn't wait for her to stab me again and take 3 fat whoppers of syringes of my good A pos. It better come back with a negative for all that!

And finally. David Platt. What a little sod. And whats worse is that I know somebody just like him and all.

We adore them

We, especially she, adores them.

They are my momma and pappi (mum and dad of course, but we use belle's pet names for us - for them!).

Can you see the absolute delight in that little girls face of mine?

And I had to tear her away from them today which makes me a little sad.

I love going to my momma's. She just cracks me up. Big, fat belly laughs of stupidness that absolutely nobody but us would ever understand. No excuses, no airs or graces - just gut busting sillyness wrapped up in love.

Miss you already momma. Miss you just as much, Pappi.

Roll on Christmas Eve when we get to spend 3 days of selfish days of eating crap and laughing at all of us trying to play Wii after a few christmas spirits ;)

Poop-oop-eeeee-doooo

I am wasted on energy.
Laughed so hard today that the walnut juddered in my sternum.
Im also still at my momma's and this PC is pants.
So Im off to bed.
To re-energise.

Weekend at my folks.......

Its time for me to stock up on Momma and Pappi love and where else better to stock up than at their house full of respite and laughter.
Man I have had some reet belly laughs this weekend.
Mark, belle and I ventured over this weekend to mark the start of Belles school hols. Momma and Dad live over by the sea in Bridlington and there is always so much to do. The promenade walk, the beach, the amusements, the fair, the town and the sea air. Love it lots.
I love late nights with my mum as we watch old movies or somehow manage to put ourselves through the best of Torville and Deans run of fame. And we love the movie "Whilst you were sleeping". We know the script backwards but its gotta be done, especially whilst eating absolute lard and drinking an endless cup of tea. And we are always discussing our fave scene before it happens. We tell each other the most stupidest jokes, laugh at each others burps and only tonight I was making some cards and thought Id tape some spare double sided tape over my top lip. I dared myself to pull it off like a waxing strip and was horrified to find about 8 whiskers on there. I had no idea I had a discreet feminine moustache and almost died from both shame and laughter. Then mum had a go and quadrupled my whisker score. My eyes widened from sheer horror..... she too has a discreet feminine moustache. We were bent over laughing so hard, I thought my lumpy walnut would explode. Not long after waxing our upperlip area-age, I decided I needed some pop from the shop. Before I went out, Mum looked at me and saw my top lip area and cracked up laughing. It was red raw and practically throbbing. Who cares I thought and went to the shop anyway.
Mark, Dad and I went out on Saturday night for, like, the first time ever since the smoking ban came in. It was great to go out smoke free and in the company of some crooner doing a turn at the Montfort public house. Mark is not a fan of your average rockerfella dressed up to the nines in a black suit with fake red satin hanky in his top pocket, gangster type shoes and a mullet that can only be described as a Rod Stewart style syrup from 1973. Oh he was really putting on the charm to an audience of 5 in the bar before the throng of over 60's piled in for their weekly pint of black and tan (that's stout and bitter to the untrained bar tender). He was the type of singer that, in between each song, made some derogatory "in joke" with a member of the audience that made no sense to anyone and you could tell because he continued the joke with a nervous laugh hoping that everyone would just laugh anyway - you know what I mean don't you? He wasn't half belting out some fantastic 60's tunes of which I knew words to almost all of them. The guy really got the crowd going with his knees trembling a la Elvis and the odd cheeky wink at some passing bird on the way to the bog.
Dad was in his element regaling stories of his youth. I love listening to my Mum and dad talking about their stint from the late 40's to the present but I espesh love the 60's era of their lives. My Dad was in the Royal Navy and travels west from Norway to New Zealand and so he would tell us all about shore leave and the stuff that only young lads out on the beer got up to. I must write this all down in full one day, I just don't want to forget every little thing he did. Oh I was in love with my night out, I'm such a people watcher. Espesh as we sat opposite the doors to the loo's which had a step down and had me almost choking on my drink as they tripped down it.
Ive so much more to share about my fab weekend with my lovely, gorgeous parents. perhaps more tomorrow. In the meantime here are some snap shots of this weekend that sums up just the best weekend you could ever have:
PJ's all day Sunday whilst the boys Geocache in the rain (mwahahahahaha)
Momma in her nightie all day too (its like I get validation for my slovenliness when she is also in her nightwear on a dreary day) Hum, Momma? You didn't brush your hair - I LOVE IT!
Mark scanning far away shores for our dream holiday next year. Maldives is on the Menu thus far but Im pinning my hopes on a Safari for Belle to enjoy.
My SPS for Her Space- My Space. Fortch I can laugh at myself - I look like I have one tooth!
I love to catch Belles feet dangling off chairs, spesh when she has groovacious socks like these.
And now its late after watching the most funniest movie ever - Rita, Sue and Bob too. As I am a yorkshire lassy, I can vouch for the "feel" of that film. Talking of Yorkshire, my mum burnt the yorkshire puddings today but once doused in beef and onion gravy - they were blummin gorgous.

Deck your Chest...

...with lace and ribbon, tra-la-la..la-la.. la-la-la..laaaaaaaaaa

You spend ages decorating the little buggers - but do you check?

This is my page of, ahem, SUPPORT for this worthy cause here

Normally I say "Thanks for Looking" when I upload. Now Im not so sure (Dad, Brother, Mark etc......blush!).

Scrap Studio and stuff

All these studio's!!

Scrap Studio's turn today.... me is a happy scrapper.
Lots of pages made for my albums.
Hooray.
All full of the bestest scrappiest of yumminess this side of t'Pennines.

I also happen to be in love with Mandy's kit vision. Kits put together with My Minds Eye's Bohemia range echoes the warmer side of Autumn. There are a few extra kits aside from the subscription reserves. Grab one whilst there a a few left - I promise you will not be disappointed with the fabric brads, gorgeous buttons, swirly chipboard, blinging ruby gems, silk blooms and papers. Its one of the dreamiest kits I have had so far and used to the hilt. Sigh. Kits come and go and I love them all so much! And whats more, the hunt is on for guest DT's all the time. fancy having your work displayed in their monthly glossy magazine? Ooooh the glamour!

The layout below is for the LSS, round 3. Im keeping my fingers crossed its good enough to get into the final round next week. Ill bust my intestines if I do. Mmmmmmm. Not one to be disheartened (much!) I simply cannot compare to the work on the gallery over here. I am just one of those girls who is sucker for those type of layouts. They are heartbreakingly amazing - really they are.

And finally.

Have any of you scrapped your bazongas/breasts/boobs/top trees/knockers (I LOVE that last word!) Its all in aid of breast cancer and the aim to promote women into regularly checking their mammory glands. I mean - they are permanently attached, a constant reminder of your feeding days, growing pains, naughty nights of fun - why should forget to check them? We brush our teeth as a matter of course, why not give them a little attention before any small changes become big changes? Did you know that 1000 women in the UK die every MONTH from this diease. That is not good. Anyhoo, get your layout done by the 31st and be in for chance to win some wonderful prizes donated by some of our fave suppliers/manufacturers. Ive even donated a kit made from my very own supplies (choc bar included!) So get your 36D's (or whatever) over HERE.

Done my check today - have you?

Studio Calico

This months kit was just as juicy as last months kit. I'm so happy that I get to play with really fantastic products, with all mixed up manufacturers products that you just wouldn't think of buying in one shopping spree and yet matches so harmoniously in one effortless swoop.

I imagine that some people think I have to/I am bound to/I ought to say such nice things about these kits. After all I am employed to do the kits justice and on a great deal of trust. But seriously, I wouldn't have applied for a dreamy DT like this if I hated the content or their philosophy. Plus the other DT girls are all hard core "focus on feature" designers whose attention to detail is awe inspiring. I still don't think I match their standards - I urge you to click on the links to the left here of the Studio Calico DT and have a look at their sneaks too.

Anyway.
These are my little teasers.

April and Scarlet, Studio Calico's owners love us to show sneak peeks to whet the appetite of their kit clubbers. The full revelation of the entire kit goes out on the 28th and then its a mad rush for a first come, first served opportunity to grab this cleverly-put-together boxes of delight. I managed to make 8 projects with one sheet of card stock and 4 papers untouched along with some embellies to make more and more stuff.

I'm so inspired by these kits - question is.... are you?

She. Is. Excellent.

Parents evening, for us - in the past, was usually the same.

In primary school we got the the same thing - Ellie could do better, Ellie struggles with this, Ellie doesn't sit still (she can't and never has... involuntary muscle spasms you know, they were so insensitive). Ellie fidgets. Ellie is a likable child but she can't cope with the workload. Blah blah blah.

I'm not going to lie about her abilities and I never have, Ive always explained it straight on my blog (for my own prosperity).

Not that she is a let down.
No way!
Just that some kids get it and some just don't.
Ellie generally doesn't.

So I wasn't expecting too much of Ellie at the parents evening tonight. Ellie plods on, we accept that. Anything less we can address but anything more is a bonus.

ANYTHING MORE?

How many excellents can a child get on a record sheet? (School and address erased for obv reasons)

Those exasperating 5 minutes with her form tutor, Mademoiselle Biggins were precious, joyous, exhilarating. You could have bottled up the beam on Belles face and ignited a thousands flames from it. My child was a champion for those 5 illustrious minutes and remained to be so jubilant afterwards.

Belle works well within her ability. Her ability is very low but she is really trying. She is trying because she loves the school she attends and the school love her. They have amazing systems in place for her, nothing is too much trouble, all questions answered.

My child will grow because of this school. She won't mark time and just "be" and not sat in a corner trying to keep up. That is SO a thing of the past.

Despite some ugly behind the scenes stuff here at home - this evening has put a ki-bosh on the whole damn lot. It kind of puts your life into amazing perspective and allows you to focus on the good things in life.

Ellie is the good thing in my life. Pure, beautiful, unaffected, understated, amazing Belle.

However, one thing is kind of slightly misting the whole affair. There is a lump at the base of my breast bone which is piercingly painful. Its all related to this horrendous chest pain I have had since Christmas. Have to go and give bloods (again) tomorrow to check it out. Am very concerned but nothing on the scale of "I'm going to die". The doctor hurt me tonight when he prodded with his proddiness. I was trying to make light of everything and he was so good that he was drawing various diagrams as to what it could be. I was laughing at his drawings. Doctor he is, artists he is not. He was laughing along with me, easing my concern. I think it was nervous laughter more than anything, on my part anyway. Conversation spins to what I do for a living and I said I was a photographer. (did a shoot today but I was not feeling too brilliant - pulled it off though). So this crazy Doctor started saying he was interested in photography and that he wants a decent camera and needs to go on some course.

I started to think......
"Erm, hang on a momento - I'm the patient..... Please care for me Doctor Prod!"

But we was just so good about everything, he knew my eyes were wide with fear about this lump. Its about the size of a walnut at the base of my sternum. Don't worry about me though!! I'm just saying! Because Im not ill, I'm not sick. I'm just experiencing pain. And he has me laughing. And he can't draw.

Laughter really s the best medicine.

So the shoot today - it was fun. Pain aside, these guys were great

These two (brothers) had me in fits. This is one of those candid shots, which I love. The guy on the left is 15 years old - he is such a big strapping lad. Rugby player, no less!. His brother, in the red is 16 and is on leave from army college. Its nice to see brothers get on like this, it makes my job such a pleasure to see happiness likethis.

The whole family really were a pleasure to be with. And the baby - OMG. Such an absolute heart stealer. I want him. NOW. Will take him as payment for the shoot - I really would. Cluck Cluck.

Taking photos like this reminds me that life can be beautiful.

Card makin'

Sometimes I just get sick of scrapping.

Don't get me wrong, I do luuuuuuuuurve scrapping but often I need diversions before I actually think of allowing my BG to jump out of its storage box and commit holy patterned paper suicide in my waste paper basket. Or can you imagine my BG taking a hike over to my Paper Adventures box and mixing with the likes of its horribleness from 3 years ago? My BG would so do that to me, I know it. And imagine having the BG police raiding my house and placing me under arrest for undue care and attention of its well being? Well, sod the BG police today - I made cards (and yes, I made a Christmas card - sh*t!)

As our surname is Wiseman and there are three of us, we always sign our cards from the 3 Wisemans. Love it! **on that note, my cousin's surname is Topp and there are four of them - and they sign their cards from the 4 Topps!** Anyway, I was shopping t'other day in that gorge lil craft shop when I spied the stamp that made this card, it has the 3 Wise Men on camels and I just fell in love with it. And I don't "do" stamps. So to all my family that read this (well, Mum, Dad and my Bro) - you have just seen your card!

I also bought those sandwich embosser thingies from Cutterbug. Holy embossnations! They are super wizzyfabbo and I can see many a card being zyuzed up with this baby. Can I just add that photographing white on a bright day is poo. major poo and I refuse to follow photographic rules when Im in my PJ's at 4pm in the afternoon. Humph.

Anyway.

My Digi classes went out tonight. Im so proud of them because the entire course will focus on beginners right through to advance in 6 bite sized chunks. Crystal Blake converted my photoshop efforts into Elements and she has no idea how much she has been a GREAT help. Loves ya Crystal xx You can still buy the class if you like by taking a look here. The classes will be sent from me direct and not from the site. Once the initial 6 weeks are up, then you can buy the whole tutorial in one chunk direct from the site. And CoCo, I need your email addy hunny xx

This weeks see's Belle getting fitted for her horrible (but essential) shoes. These were ordered 4 months ago and in light of the boot fiasco that I mentioned yest, I got a call from the Podiatry team saying the order had got lost. The fitting coupled with more physio and the fact she breaks up from school on Friday makes me a busy momma and belle a very tired baby. I am becoming very concerned right now because she is sleeping an awful lot after exertion. She always sleeps after physio, for 3 hours I may add but yest we went to do a bit of girl shopping. She walked about 2oo metres in between using her buggy and came home and slept through X factor (which is unusual for her) and slept through Stepmom (one of my favvo movies) before waking up and demanding coffee!. I spoke to Marko about it, because as you know if your baby is a little unwell you think they are dying. Growth spurt came the natural reply and I hope he is right. I do worry about that little girl, so much it make me sick. Sniff.

Oooh check her out, eating chips and drinking coffe - the shame!

High School is so good for her

We had a bit of drama last week, the day before the wedding.

I sent Ellie to school in a pair of Ugg style boots.

They were black, (not tan) so the colour was not an issue.

However the boots were.

I had no idea that a pair of £10 boots (which are like air on her poorly little size 10's) would cause such a kerfuffle but they did. I was mortified at how the school damned them and deemed them high fashion and not suitable.

My only response was sorry, but belles feet just kill her in shoes.

Which they do.

Their reply was - well, they cant do much damage as she is in her wheelchair all day.

Nice, I thought. Like I needed a reminder.

I wrote a letter outlining my concern that Belle is not a fashion conscience lil girl who is NOT into make up, boys and music. She is not in a gang, or clique or misbehaved. What could belle possibly do so bad to get a bit of a grilling.

CRIMES!

I wanted to let Belle wear the boots for comfort and not for fashion. Perhaps yes, they are high fashion but when it comes to comfort Id send her feet wrapped in roll mop herrings if that's what it took for her feet to be comfy.

And her issue NHS ugly shoes (that are late in coming) will not be so frowned upon then.

Oh what a nightmare.

So the letter goes into school and a meeting is made.

Whilst Im at the meeting lots of little things crop up that I wanted solutions for. I was expecting to be met by the heckles of yesteryears nightmare of primary school.

But no, I was met by two of the most considerate of teachers who just want to make all our lives at school so pleasant. I couldnt ask for more at her High school. They are polite, conscientious, eager to help and understanding, empathic, helpful and willing to put 110% into Belles care.

Well, that was it.

I felt like crap after sending that letter but then again, I wouldn't have been writing this down and relaying the information so energetically.

This is one for blogging - a memory of problem and solution with a happy outcome.

I love highschool, belle loves high school.

Never thought Id be typing this - ever!

So anyway.

Yesterday.

Met my friend Jaimie over at Courtyard Crafts at Brimstage hall.

Never been there before, Its slightly out of my calling for an LSS of 35 miles.

But I was awful surprised at how quaint it was, set in a courtyard (no trading standards problems there, then is there?) in old buildings with little rooms upon little rooms stuffed with delightful craft supplies.

I can't reveal how much I spent, Mark reads this blog.

Hi Hunny.

Ahem.

I haven't been live LSS shopping for ages.

Well, actually I did.

Back at Scrap Camp, but that got knocked on the head. It was the last time I actually stroked paper.

Jaimie and I ate in this cosy wee restaurant with home made cakes and flowers in the rafters.

I JUST LOVED IT.

You must go. The staff are gorgeous and make you spend - but spend wisely of course.

Its all necessary darling.

**couple of questions answered from comments this week**

Digi courses are not compulsory for you to sit every Sunday and do. They are sent in bite sized chunks to deal with one at a time, in your own time.

The other digi class comp winner went to Beth Hepworth. Beth knows, I forgot to announce it. Sorry. Well done Beth.

3 days to go

Until the release if my first Digi class on Sunday.

I know Ive said this a gazillion times but I find it amazing how many people want to learn. If you would have asked me a year ago about digi scrapping, I think I might have turned my nose up and said "Huh, I much prefer paper. Digi scrapping is for geeks".

Wrong, wrong, wrong.
You can scrap.....
in bed with no mess. No glue, no scissors, no scraps.
on a plane (like I did on the way to Barcelona)
in the car when Marko is driving (damn that Ellie is still too young to drive).
on lil weekend breaks
on the loo, if it takes your fancy.

Digi scrapping also teaches you nifty tricks that you can tie in with your photo editing, you can make your own embellishments once you know the basics and you can also hybrid scrap.

So do you wanna do it digi?
Go here if you do.............

Families

The best bit about the wedding was seeing members of my family that I haven't seen for moons and moons. I love my family so much, I can't explain how it pains me to be so far apart from them most of the time. I'm not as close to some as Id like to be (relationship wise) but there is some unwritten rule that its OK to not be in constant contact and that at gatherings like weddings etc, you can pick up where you left off without feeling guilty about the lack of contact....... you know what I mean?

Here is my cousin Andrew and his family - Jake, Shauny and Julie, how wife. Shauny is 14 and is taller than me. That scares me. I take from my mothers side "my lack of heightage". Stumpy, is what my hubby likes to call it. Blah blah blah. Nice surprises come in small packages I say!

Next come some of the kids from our families. Shauny on the left is my cousins daughter, Stacey (14) is my cousin, Marybeth (11) is my cousin, Jake (11) is my cousins daughter and Emily (15) is my cousin and my god daughter. There were lots more family members running round and not in the snap. I will treasure this photo though, it makes me smile and feel grateful to be part of a huge family.

Here is my Uncle Morris, Marybeth, Emily and my Anny Janny (Aunty Janet). I am going to love this picture forever because love the happiness in this photo - especially as its the day after the Leeds Rhino's whupped St Helens ass in the rugby league final the night before. These guys are Leeds Rhino fans in the extreme. And I mean EXTREME. I'm talking obsessed Rhino fans.

Marybeth gets my vote in the "young photographer of the year". She was dying to use my camera and snapped Belle and I before we left the wedding festivities to go home. Great Job, Marybeth!

And as we dropped Stacey off at home, we bumped into her Brother (my cousin) Darren. I havent seen him in 4 years and I screamed when I saw the size of him. Look at the state of my size and Stacey for that matter. He is so flaming tall. He didn't come to the wedding as he was working so you can imagine my shock as I got glimpse of him after a heavy night on the pop! Mum - do you see the size of him? He could pick you up!

More albums to fill, mantel pieces to be decorated..... love my family xx

Holy Smokes

I managed to move on a step to the 3rd round of the Effer Dares "Last Scrapper Standing". Like I expect to win? Yeah and monkies will definately flee from my butt (from where my head is permanently wedged??!!). I'm up against the mammouth talents of Celine Navarro for starters so I'll take each step cautiously!!! And anyway, its just a game, right? This was the layout that made it through.

The task was to scrap 7 random facts, so I chose these monster sunnies as they have so many stories to tell (travels, cost, uses!). I handcut the birdie and stencilled around various number 7's in the paint block and the pink borders are cut from the Hambly brickwork transparency.

Also I have to give praise and thanks to Karen (or is it Lily?!) at SCRAPSHED. I am on a dire deadline that needs stuff urgently. I know shopkeepers cannot wain to everyones whims on a daily basis but if you are ever on the tightest of deadline, may I suggest this shop? Ordered a some supplies this afternoon, posted this afternoon! AMAZING! She has done the same for Jane Dean recently and Mandy Parr at Scrap Studio. Give this shop a flamin rosette and make it golden and make it read "Top Shop!"

Scrap your bosoms??!!!

Crumbs... gotta love that (if you are male of course).

The girls over at "Its a Creative World" have given up their time to run a competition (with a charitable lilt) about scrapping your bosoms/breasts/boobies/bazongas (choose one). Love the whole idea and raising awareness for Breast Cancer. There is nothing seedy or dirty about it (although these days anything that anybody does can be interpreted otherwise, sigh......) I simply beg you to go and check some of the work submitted thus far. I'm going to have a go myself, for fun and to support the girls and have also offered a prize to one of the lucky winners. Its a fantastic cause with a little tongue in cheek attitude.

Have had emails asking me where are the photos of me in my "rather colourful" outfit at my bros wedding. Well, as I was stuck behind the camera all day there are a total of 3 of me in my outfit. Unfortch, my sister is averse to having her face dotted about the net so I cannot even show you because she is also in those 3 pictures. BUT! I will get Mark to take a picture of me in it because I want to scrap the outfit and my crazy hat that went with it. The only photos I have of me at the wedding, without people who don't want to be on the Internet, is the one you saw yesterday (I was in my evening regalia!).

I have a ton of things to do this week, some good, some great, some fabulous. Ive a couple of shoots to do and have had a booking rolled off the back off yesterdays photos, which is encouraging. I now have 6 weddings next year to work on which I cannot wait to do. I don't think that its something I always want to do as you have very limited time to get the shots you need when a gazillion people don't listen to you unless you shout your head off and sound like a fishmongers wife. Its to be run with military precision - so Im on the look out for a megaphone for my next wedding which is in March!

I'll leave you with another favourite from the wedding......

As promised...

Now that my loving brother and his equally delightful wife have viewed the entire gallery, I can now share some of my personal favourites from Saturday's wedding.

What has made me such a proud sister (if not proud photographer) is the response to these photos from them both. So much so that had Belle, myself, Leigh and Kerry were in immense tears of joy this afternoon.
I set their gallery to their "first dance" music (DJ Sammy's cover of Bryan Adams Heaven). The tears rolled once more and will do again and again as I have made their photo album into a DVD too (LOVE my Mac iDVD for that).

I have posted these pictures for all the couples who have booked their weddings with me next year and for our respective families to take a peek of a small number of snaps from the entire shoot. I hope they love them as much as I do.

For wedding bookings for portrait shoots, please visit my website at www.kirstywiseman.com

A shower of the papery stuff......The top table.....My Momma and Poppa........ love these two yummy beings.The clan of Mccune - and I believe they were TRADITIONALLY dressed under those kilts, wink wink!The ushers and fathers..........I also happen to have this as a joint favourite.......I LOVE THIS ONE - my brothers face is a picture...... (literally!)In the grounds at their Venue at Tall Trees, in Yarm......My little cherub - not an official photo but one of my favourites.......Oh maybe this is another absolute favourite... help!Ok, little bit arty now....... love that they chose white gold for their ringsCandid shot of my bro - in anticipation of his nuptials!My yummy hubbyThe shoes......And last but not least.... my bro and I at the evening reception.
Perhaps I may have some more tomorrow ..........

I love these two people

I DO!
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!
My bro - Leigh and his beautiful, flawless, wonderful new wife Kerry-Anne.
It was my honour to be their photographer, a dream to see my little girl as a bridesmaid and a knee trembling day seeing my Mark as an usher in his morning suit (YUM!).

I cried buckets, mum cried buckets - even my dad cried buckets. Leigh broke down as he spoke sentiments to his wife during the after dinner speeches, Kerry wept taking their vows - the whole room was filled with immense emotion as these two special people in my life got married yesterday.

More pictures to follow xx

We are bonkers

Whoa!
Take 3 girls, add a party atmosphere and abuse Mac's photobooth and what do you get?
Love my family, love cousins, aunties and uncles and parents.
And thats before the wedding.
Yehhhhhhhhhh aaaaaaa.
**pic of Belle, me and my cous - Stacey (who informs me that she doesnt have a spot, its a lip piercing)
Had so much fun with my family tonight (pre wedding) - am so happy!
More pics to follow xx

Is there anybody there?

Im lost in my own head right now. Im like, feeling somewhat spaced out.
For 6 solid, ankle swelling hours I have trawled the streets of Wigan for wedding attire.

Fastenators just don't sit right on my head so have opted for a hat with a plumation of feathers to match my jewel coloured outfit of purple (WTF?!), petrol blue and fuchsia. I know!!!! A real menagerie of colours fit for a digi kit! Im thinking Zandra Rhodes, Im thinking late 80's bedding, Im thinking ecstasy and crack cocaine cocktail fuelled shopping.
So are the feathers on my new bonnet going to interfere with the lenses ?- Nope.
Is the outfit going to make me sweat like a hot mamma at a bbq wearing nylon? - Yep.
Will I win the best dressed award? - Nope.
Do I care? - Nope
All I need now are some lash extensions and Im tickedy boo.
I need sleep.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

At long flamin last!

Can you believe what this lil lady is doing?

PHYSIO.

P

H

Y

S

I

O

Im just besides myself. Actual and real and much needed and long awaited physio.

We moved here 4 years ago and NOW... JUST now she is getting it. HOORAY for physio and hurrah for Belle learning to use the RIGHT muscles to get up the stairs. This picture is so new to us (Mum, can you see her doing it... can you?)

Belle generally goes up on all fours and down on her bottom. Or if I push her, right leg dominant going up and left leg dominant going down (two hands on the banister).

Its not really safe for belle to go up the way you or I do it because her muscles and bones are just not "right". Forcing her to walk up the stairs like you or I would only compounds the problem. But waiting 4 years to suss out her weakest muscles is a tad too long isn't it?

No matter, here we are, in physio.

The trampette is not like Belles trampette. This one is firm with no "give". Its how its supposed to be - belle was not impressed! To make a bounce, it would mean her using new muscle groups.... she isn't ready for this yet!

And for the blog police - I ask belle if I can publish these photo's. Remember, this blog is for MD sufferers too.

This is a picture of her in the lift on the way out of physio........ pmsl!

So anyway, after 20 minutes hard grilling Belle falls asleep in the car on the way home and has a snooze for half an hour when she gets back. It really knackered her, little lamb. She woke this morning with a little aching feeling, the lil thing had used some new muscle groups. Im liking this - new muscle groups!!!! HOORAY!

So Belle has a new programme at the physio for the next few weeks to work on her balance (which is screwed) and then she starts rebound and hydro therapy at the same unit. Lets skip all the way to happyland, shall we? Im hoping her aches disappear for Saturday as she is a bridesmaid at my brothers wedding. Good times coming for us, so excited.

Anway, I prommed to show you the layouts I did for Scrap Camp. This one below was using the one and only BG Mellow range. Technique was to use as many as possible on one page - techniques that is!. Ripped, rolled, paint, inked, sewed, acetate, decoupage, mounting, ribbons, buttons and die cuts. I kept it pretty simple to appeal to all styles, I really like it. Duh, I would say that!

And this wee book here using Scenic Route Sumner range. Its made with paper bags as pages interleaved with Kraft cardstock and hand made tabs across the top. Its such a cutie book and dead simple to make.

And that my friends is it.

Im off wedding attire shopping in the morrow with a new hair cut, spray tan and lash extensions (or perhaps not, Im photographing the wedding and they will only get stuck in the viewfinder). Anyhoo, shopping is shopping and one needs her beauty sleep to prepare for it.

Studio Calico

I forgotted to add these .

Studio Calico's sell out kits are just buzzing right now. They are in such demand that you can't subscribe. You have to order on a certain date and hope you get a kit from the huge demand that pours in the moment they go "live". Its a fun but fair way to get your hands on them - try them out here for their november kit (probably goes on sale at the end of Oct... peep out for it). What I like about these kits is the variety of manufacturers products that magically match to the keen eye of April and Scarlet - the owners.

This layout was masked heavily with a butterfly mask and splattered with orange paint - I love this layout, its something new for me.

This layout is about Belle pouting - something she can do with those rosebud lips she possesses (cow!).

The next layout was using BG recess and Elsie papers. Jane dean once did a layout about a house, and although its somewhat different, I knew Id get round to doing one with a house on it. Ive stuck our heads on flowers....... it makes me laugh!

Anyone who remembers mark and jack bombing the pool on our holiday pictures will appreciate they are now scrapped and journalled forever! I love these papers and felt the need to cut them into waves. Simple but I really really like it.

Before you close off from this blog post, would you bear in mind yesterdays post and Heathers brilliant ink to this site here.... www.mogilinoorphans.co.uk Ive had a couple of emails asking that, because people think Im in a "position" to do something about this - can I just add that I dont think I can swing that much as really, Im no big name in this industry (but thanks for the confidence boost!). I had an email suggesting I should write a book and put the proceeds to this charity. I would if I could but publishers in this country have no faith in scrapbooking as a whole. Do you think we should all petition for doing something like this? Im not going to forget this and even if I reap a measly £100, perhaps it can provide a few books to pass away the maddening boredom of being kept in a cement building with no colour, no love, no hope, no nothing. I can only do so much, can't I? Im a small number in a big sum. I feel so bloody useless. Im going to sit here and cry. Its driving me mad. One part of me wants to go out there and take pictures and sell them to every newspaper in the world and pass the orphanage goods/toys/medicine/clothes in lieu with the money. There is no way you can trust giving them the money, is there? Another part of me wants to sell all I own in my stash room, another portion of me tells me to sell my soul to the devil and plan to go to hell just so that I can ease their suffering. I really would do what it takes to make these beautiful children happy and loved and nourished.

Having watched The Dying Rooms some few years ago based on the orphanages of abandoned girls, I never thought Id see anything like it again (China has a one child per family regime, girls are considered useless and are therefore abandoned on roadsides in favour of the family trying for a boy who can grow up to bring money into the household). Did anyone see that? If you saw that then you need to see this programme again in November (its filmed by the same team of The Dying Rooms), when its being rescheduled for prime time TV. You have to watch the Lost Children of Bulgaria.... YOU HAVE TO.

Ketchup

Love going away but hating having to ketchup. Bleh, hate unpacking and putting my stuff away, I really want to stay in one place forever. But then Id miss out on fun and meeting new (and old) friends.

Scrap Camp 2007 was a busy affair - the weekend went so quick. I taught two classes (twice) but failed to take a picture of my projects (promise to do that tomorrow). I used BG Mellow papers (which arrived in the nick of time - phewey!) and Scenic Routes Sumner range. I love these paper so much, Im really going to use them again. I got to meet Grace (who is incredibly dinky, I thought Rhonna Farrer was dinksville!).

She is here mid class surrounded by busy, inked up students. I also met Cleo whose cheeseholing in her layouts is legendary.

She is gorgeous, isnt she? She is part of Scrap Studio's DT as well as the sultry looking Ruthy babe here.

Mandy did a cracking job despite some very challenging if not arrogant behaviour from the Hilton plus other hell raising disasters.

Its true of the saying that everything comes together at the last minute. Thanks Mandy for not only giving the girls a good time but also the teachers as well.

I met up with Jane Dean (no picture, boo hoo) whose classes went down a storm as ever. Also I met up with my friends from Chepstow who always manage to blow away the cobwebs and have me bent over with medicinal laughter. Talking of laughter, I haven't laughed so hard as when the girls played games including Blind Mans Bluff scrapping and dressmaking using blue roll. Oh my spleen still hurts.

And to top off the whole event, I was presented with the good company of this lil dude - Samuel.

Isnt he just....oooooooooooh edible? He belongs to Michele Grant who I havent seen in like 463 years. You don't know how much love you feel when your arms are filled with a beautiful baby. He is such a good little boy with a shock of black hair and tiniest features. Im sure he has been on this planet before because he looks so knowing and serious! Ooooooooo, my ovaries are dancing right now but sadly, we cant have anymore children. But thats cool cos we have this lil lady who is just my BABE.

We went to take pictures in the street (tonight) that leads up to ours as the trees are looking stunning right now. I missed this little girl over the weekend.

She came down with me on Weds as she had Thursday off school. Ellie fell in love with little cutie. This is Martha, Mandys dog.

Belle is just fascinated with her. And I mean obsessed. Oh the pain you see in their eyes as they plead for a dog is heart wrenching. But not yet. But then again, she is a beautiful pooch. Oh those heart strings kill me!
So. Anyway.

Ive been doing lots of stuff today - ketchingup, you know? Found this amazing chipboard company via Mandy and had a little chat with them. Amazing chipboard things are about to hit the shops. The are made in the UK at amazing UK prices. They are coming soon - very soon. Excitingly soon. SCREAM!
Finally I want to talk about something that really affected me last night. I feel I have to share because Id like to know how you are affected by things like this. I got home late last night. Mark went back to base and I watched TV as I couldn't sleep. Only I wish I hadn't. Or actually, perhaps I should - which I did. I cant deny that what I watched on BBC4 last night shouldn't have been allowed to be ignored by me. It was literally soul destroying. The lost children of Bulgaria was a documentary about abandoned, disabled children and how horrifically they are "cared" for in cement buildings by "nurses" who do not provide the human touch that children crave or the soothing words an orphan needs to hear to get them through the cold day. Instead they clean and feed (at least that's a plus, right?) the kids like robots and those poor kids are left to suffer in their own bed sores or the rocking motion of their demented bodies. I wept buckets as I saw a child sat in a corridor with the saddest face and the most saddest eyes and I wanted to pack my things up there and then and go to him. He is a beautiful child and you could see it. But he is unloved and uncared for and sits there, in his chair - everyday with no smiles for him, nobody to stroke his cheek and nobody to say hello to. I know this kind of thing happens, I'm not stupid to think that we live in a perfect world. But seeing that programme hurt me (like it was designed to).

And there was this little girl, well actually she was 13. She was called Vasky and she was so thin. She looked exactly like Ellie (body wise) and she was in so much pain. She was crooked and so fragile and crying and yet so quiet - do you know what I mean? They showed pictures of her at 4 years old when she was entered into the home and she looked like a normal 4 year old. But 9 years in a place like that and its obvious there has been neglect. But what can I do and would me campaigning for it actually do anything about this appalling cruelty? Should I erase it from my mind and live the life we lead with love and comforts and food - should I? I can't. Im racking my brains to try and think of something I can do. I really want to go and take that poor boy from that corridor and collect Vasky from her prison bed and bring them here and give up everything I do to have them. Does that kind of reality exist? I am so affected by it. I just care and I feel like its a taboo thing to do.

And breathe ....

Pick
Pack
Chit
Chat
Teach
Learn
Laugh
Cry
Cava
Cave in
Snip
Snap
And
Sleep ........... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Scrap Camp was so much fun.
Photos to follow.
But first, I need to rest my weary feet and recoup from wearing myself out from laughing so hard.

Blogging under the bed

Louis Louis Louis is just a great photographer. Can you believe that before this shot was taken, the very same camera was out papping Katie Tunstall? Its like A list to Z list in 24 hours.... feel sorry that Louis got the bum deal by coming up North. This is a typical shot he took of me blogging with my lil lady absorbing some of my fave haunts out with me (taken in the reflection of belles vanity mirror). I still have no idea why I was chosen for this scheme - www.ukathome.co.uk, an insight into daily lives for a one week project. Not complaining as its for a great cause and a book which will be something belle can place amongst all the others she has under her bed! Have you seen the amount of crap she has accumulated? That hard-to-throw-out-even-though-its knackered kind of crap. She is a hoarder just like me.
Anyway.
Got back from the Hozzy this avvo after an excruciating amount of bone manipulation on Ellies part. She was breaking her heart from the pain and over stretching - so much so that I came over to the bed where two physios were measuring her limbs and massaged her into a relaxed state. The poor kid was shaking like a leaf before they applied a gazillion electrodes all over her legs, hips and spine. Eventually she warmed to the physios who were treating her so kindly and she performed like a real catwalk model, up and down the special Gait Lab runway (see THIS to appreciate what Im talking about). WE wont get the results for 8 weeks now, once the specialists in neurology, orthpeadics and geneticists have battled it all out and figure where she goes from here. I wasn't in the least suprised to find her fast asleep within 2 minutes of getting back to the car. She was knackered - the most worked she has ever been in her life. Im so proud of this little girl you know, she just fills me up until my cup runs over.
Gotta go - a gazillion things to do and like, erm, 3 seconds to do them in.

Actual Shopping

Cannot remember the last time I actually went and shopped and used my cash and touched stuff and admired it all. That was on Saturday of course but still, Belle and I got to do the girl stuff with style. I found these dinky resin coasters for 80p (for 4) which will make fabulous mini book covers. Ive used my crop-a-dile through them and yahooooooo... treats! The wooden letters were a steal at £1.50 per piece.I saw these little wooden thingymabobs and knew they would be perfect for cards and the odd colourful layout - I loves wooden things like this. they feel nice and smell gorgeous.And I got this lamp in readiness for our house renovations next spring. I want our lounge in very darks browns and jades (think Ro'z bedroom wall paper inspired us on those colours) and the wall paper I have spied is a whopping £56m a roll. Me thinks one wall will be covered at that price. Infact, I might just take a sample and frame it and leave the rest of the walls painted choclate (so I can lick them). This lamp only cost £12, I think I might go and buy it a sister for elsewhere in the house, it leaves pretty flowery patterns on our hideous artexed walls. I also saw this little boat. The conversion is almost complete and Im so delighted with the ways its turning out. Even Mark gave me a little smile on its progress. men are such imps when it comes to compliments, I swallow them up whenever I can - they are RARE! If its not green, camouflaged, grunting like a heavy drilled squaddie - then he aint bothered. Its hard to imagine how Mark survies with two flowery fluff girlies in the house. Perhaps its my attempt to tap into that feminine side that men hide in their left kidneys.
Today saw me go back to the gym AGAIN for a Christmas countdown. Ive been going to the gym sporadically over the last two weeks but I decided to give it a "proper go" because I have gotten quite weighty with my chest illness and fatigue. The dangling carrot is Marks last Christmas ball at his Mess function in December and I'm not normally the gushing wife at these sorts of things but of course will support him on his last one (he retires from 22 years in the Army in April and by retirement I dont mean 60 yeas old! Most guys in the Army retire at the age of 40... thank you!!). I do rather fancy a pretty little Monsoon number and at the moment, it looks like Id only get into a marquee. Must press on with the gym and beat myself up a little (ok, a lot!). I came home tonight looking like ribena berry. Honest to god, there were a ton of skinny girls there not even breaking out in a sweat, chewing gum and looking about them to see who was looking at them (mainly the male species). And there was I, puse, soaked to the grey flannel tshirt with delightful matching sweat patches, hair stuck to my face and clinging on for dear life. I will be one of those skinny girls one day, I know it! I feel like I have lost 23 stone but know its only like 2oz (probably hair loss, from fright of catching sight of my rear end in the mirror).
So did you catch "The Riches" tonight?
I saw an ad for it the other week and I said to Mark "Hey, he looks like Eddy Izzard" and duh - it was. Eddy Izzard just does not DO an American accent. And I just can't take him serious in a serious role. My sister introduced me to the world of Eddy Izzard in his comedic roles years ago and I have to say Im scared of this new Eddie. I'll give him a chance, poor thing. With that I have to say that Minnie Driver plays a fabbo part, can't wait to see how this pans out. They are lovable rogues, if you can say it like that - its doing the rounds in the US so maybe some of my american freinds can tell me how its going. So Monday nights are reserved for TV, that with Thursday and Greys Anatomy....why, I'm almost a couch potato!
Anyway.

Tomorrow see's us at the biggest and bestest part of Ellies exploratory investigation with regards her disabilities....... ever, ever in her life - EVER!. I am quiet excited actually but Belle is a little apprehensive as she has to have electrodes attached to her feet and legs (whilst in a little swimsuit - hope its warm!). She gets to walk across a special carpet and in a room surrounded by computer equipment that will pick up every milimetre of how she walks, transfers it to a computer which will then determine her past, present and future of her abilities. Sounds so very hi tech and I guess it is. This day will surely go down in history and I am going to make sure she gets all the love and support she needs to get through this with a glimmer of hope and a lot of smiles. I just sometimes wish belle could appreciate how important this is for her and although it doesnt really matter (to her its another "poke about" and feeling quite used) It might just help her frame her little self and be more interested. What goes through that little girls mind is beyond reasoning and I must allow her to have her thoughts for her own memories. But as you can appreciate that as a Momma, you wish you had insight.
Whats a momma to do, ey? Well, momma scraps a piccy of belle looking all gorgous - forever.

Toooooooooooooodle oooooooooooooooo xx