Doing the Do

I have still got use of my fingers so I can now blog!

However, if blogging required the use of my feet, I'm afraid I would be out of it for a few more days. These are Clare Curds feet, she walked back to the Hotel one night in stocking feet. Red, raw and unloved were all of our feet. I think if we had of had a pong-o-meter, we would have broken it

I am completely drained but inwardly charmed by the whole show at Olympia. I got to work with Anita Brook (DO's cardmaking fanatic and teacher of all things bling), Sian Melonie who is the most fastest, busiest, gorgousest and happiest PR girls I have ever met and Clare Curd who makes you leak pee pee in your undies from laughing so hard. A combination of these three people makes for a lovely working environment this side of Watford Gap.

I was quite nervy working my first Design Objectives show because the stronghold of their industry lies with card makers. Cardmaking in the UK makes up for a large proportion of crafting with scrapping being very much in the minority. I think I had a fun job with these students who experienced a smooth transition from small card to big page.

**cheese on toast moment coming up next, so look away if you the cow stuff doesn't do it for you**

I actually "welled up" (quite by accident) at one class when I tried to relay how crucial scrapbooking can be. Not only is it prettifying and artistic but also you double the fun by creating a genealogy that most of us tend to ignore. I got a bit teary when I was trying to explain to one class how much I am obsessed with scrapbooking. It wasn't about "wow, look what I made"but more about freeing that damn hard drive packed with photos and freeing the memories that you will take to the grave if you don't. So with two students in tears too, we could have used our sniffles to stick down the paper!

What also struck a chord with our lovely cardmaking students taking the scrapbooking class was explaining to them that every penny they spend on supplies is for themselves and the benefit of their generations (as you know, Cardmakers tend to make cards and give them away). And through scrapbooking - not only will they fill albums with pages invested with careful spendage of supplies but they can also make a couple of cards with just one page's left overs. I think once people "get that", scrapbooking will begin to grow more rapidly in the UK. It doesnt have to be a niche market - its a hobby that everybody should do.

So not only did we teach 16 classes to almost 320 crafters over 4 days with barely enough room to breathe between class changes (because we spent most of that time laughing, sneaking up chunks of very dark chocolate, copious loo run's, slurping (not quite enough) water) we also spent quality time in the evenings enjoying our company - perhaps being a lil sozzled at times. We talked more than we ate and drank more than we took breaths - so where did time go? It just flew. We met some really nice and interesting people at the show including Anne Parry who came to see us. I have to say I have not met anyone so charming and unaffected in my whole life as a scrapbooker and the refreshing thing was is that we both talked about what means most to us both. Our families. Anna Moore paid me a visit and bought Ellie these lovely things to take to the USA.

She is so quiet and kind and lovely (and Belle freaked right out when she saw them - thank you Anna, you chose the bestest things). We also spent a bit of time with the funky bunny that is Shimelle who graciously allowed us us to tease her UK/ American accent. I have only managed to spend small fragments of time with Shimelle and I always find her so lovely. We met briefly with Jane and Georgina on Saturday who had no idea I was at the show and it was about time I had met Georgina in real life after only getting to meet her on Janes pages. It was also nice to meet with figureheads in the industry such as Amanda Bateman and Dawn Bibby. And to talk and meet with these people in a relaxed manner, it's actually quite less intimidating than we all assume. These girls have an air of confidence which I certainly lack but it was nice to put a personality to a business face, IYKWIM. We spent an evening meal at our hotel with Dawn and JJ after a ridiculous amount of blush Pinot Grigio (my new, erm, **fave**) and it was the most pleasant evening I had enjoyed in the longest while. Why is it that the silliest text jokes make an appearance at a dinner table when we are supposed to be refined and demure? Im not sure neither but by jove, it was rib tickling good.

So when most of the crew had gone to bed, Sian, Clare and I stayed up to just schmooze with the mixed affairs of the hotels guests and **people watched**, took silly photos and danced in our chairs hoping that nobody was watching. You know that kind of experience - don't you? Oh I did feel the pain the next day though - and we lost an hours sleep. Tut, tut, tut.

Before the show started, mind, my sister and I met at my hotel on the Wednesday night. **note that the bed awaits a tired and tipsy lady on return!**Boy did I almost die from laughing a hundred times that night. We started with a lil aperitif in the hotel which cost the earth and they still managed to sneak on an "discretionary surcharge" on top. Im sorry, but nothing is discretionary when you read it in black and white. So to make up for it, we swiped all the olives on the bar top and that lined our tummies before our booking at Foxtrot Oscar, one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants near the Embankment. **Foxtrot Oscar being the phonetic wording for the letters "F" and "O" - which we know is a swear word amongst there!**

Becky and I are familiar with London as we were both serving in the RAF at some point in our careers. Dallying around Kensington was cheaper than we expected but getting to the embankment was a real treat and a half. We caught the bus - THE BIG RED LONDON BUS (love it!) to Sloane Square where people looked dapper and super posh.

Hmmm, ok - tipsy, on the bus, out of focus....... as it should be!We ran through it looking for our restaurant treat and walked like the clappers down the longest road in the world. We finally saw it (took pictures, as you do) and walked in quite excited and tipsy. The whole affair was not as grand as we expected but then we did realise we had chosen the Mcdonalds rung of the Gordon Ramsay ladder. Not that we got burgers but you know - on the sliding scale of opulence, it wasn't exactly Claridges. However the food was indeed divine, the waiter was genuinely French(ish) and cost us less than £75 between us (and yes, that crappy discretionary surcharge was on there on top, so it would have only been about £65) - and we got a bottle of wine with that, so fair's fair. We worked it out that it was cheaper than eating at Planet Hollywood where Sian and the rest of the DO team had 2 fajitas at £20 a portion whereas my steak with snail butter cost £14.50 and buttery soaked savoy cabbage at £3 a bowl - all in a Gordon Ramsay drive through ;)

Here are sone pics of us both although the lighting was pappa-poo, we caught the action at least.

and then back to my room for Coffee to try and pep us up for our next day. We needed, like, a ton of coffee!

It was sad when we wrapped up the show because it was Sian's penultimate day at Design Objectives. She is leaving to travel the world and I'm mad that people like her are allowed to leave when they are so good at what they do. But she is young and happy and adventurous and will see the world whilst there is life in that wee soul of hers. I wanted to take Anita home with me forever so that we would work every show guaranteed and Clare? Well Clare Curd, DO's most prolific show demo girl with funky hair, cool dude specs and cheeky manner... Im sure we will meet again.

I took some wee snaps of flower boxes (on our walk to Olympia from the Hotel) near the end of the show one day and wanted to share them because although London is smoggy and stifling with zero air - these babies live on!Oooooh, talking of DO - they have announced three seriously fool hardy UK guest DT's for the new Creativity Life magazine (over here). With a potential readership of 220,000 - these girls are going to be thrust into mega stardom. You lucky girls xx

Im off to go and find some glue remover as I have a 12 year old poppet not letting me go right now and I need to use the bathroom. And it ain't no fun having an extension of a body clasped to your side when the call of nature springs upon you. I have had a ton of sweet kisses from that little girl today which makes up for the separation but a girl needs a lil elbow room ;)

Calico moment

Gah, this next statement sounds like that proverbial broken record.

But it isnt.

It just that these guys send me the most perfect kits every month to make some pretty layouts for their DT and for me to keep and adore.

The coral, sage and petrol blues in this kit set my heart all a-flutter. The Sasafrasslass papers are adorable and the SEI Dill range is beyond my initial love of SEI's Grannies Kitchen some 4 years ago. The alpha, the bling, the ric rac felt - the whole flaming lot is just the best. I had to force myself to prize open the scissors and murder those papers within an inch of their lives.

Im sure you are all bored to death of me bleating on about these kits and Im not apologizing for it.

They.

Are.

Perfect.

Kits.

This months kit has to be the best of the best (they have always been the best - Tina, you know how it feels, right?). I just don't feel I can convince the world at large just how bloody marvellous they are and how flaming fortunate it is that I get to cut them up and make something that makes me happy - every month.

And I don't get paid to say that, you know. I ain't even going to sell my granny neither!

So, anyhoo....here are some sneaks. The kit goes live at 5am in the morning in Friday (thats midnight Kentucky, USA time).

If you are thinking of buying a kit this month, I bet you all my stash that you will love it.



Going to go and get packed for Olympia - if you are in attendance, do come and take a scrapbook class with Anita and I. Im also meeting a media group tomorrow night with my sister, Bex, in fashionable Kensington (two northern birds in a london wine bar is going to be comical). Probably will get wasted, probably will fall into bed at an unearthly hour. Probably will only take me two glasses of wine to get into that state! Im so weak.
I really can't remember just how long ago I actually had a night out where I got completely bladdered. I think the very last time I got tipsy woo was erm, Bank Holiday Monday in 1999 (do you remember that, Bex?) But fear not, fellow exhibitors, for I have my emergency hangover kit of fresh strawberries, apple juice and tinned peaches on standby - believe me, this concoction fixes you up in 30 seconds flat. 40 seconds at a push ;)

See, nobody will even know that I had a glass or two the night before (except my poor head!)

1hr and 45 minutes

That's a world record for walking a mile - in Belle's world anyway!
We love how Belle shoved her lucky mascot teddy and unicorn necklace in her jacket whilst also wearing the cap that came from Steve Irwins Zoo as part of a sponsor pack they sent her. Without those items she would never had made it - according to Belle.
Laugh out loud.
She did it though, with only 4 rest breaks and each one filled with sugary boosters to get her on her way for the next stretch. We bought this pink collapsible chair about 4 years ago in the USA and it came in very very handy!
We are so proud of Ellie, beyond any reckoning and to us she is a champion. She never complained once and to be honest, it did not feel like an hour and 45 minutes. For Mark and his Pop to metre the walk last week took them 15 minutes but we always knew Belle would be a lot slower than that.
We were joined by so many fabulous people including a wee slot from the Wigan Observer to go in Wednesday's edition. We want to thank the following people for coming yesterday who we believe played a fantastic support role and provided great company for all involved.
My sister Becky and my niece Charlotte (well done Charlotte for completing the course, even without a sit down... gorgeous girly).
My Brother Leigh and his wife Kerry (ahem! who have just got themselves a 9 month booking at the fetus hotel... Im going to be an aunty again!)
My in laws, Pat and Dave
My friend Suzy and her two fun filled nibbles - Beth and Ben
My friend Jane, hubby St and their two minxes - Courtney and Katherine
My friend Sharon, her hubby and wee Harry - who was rolling around in the mud and loving it.
My friend Carmel and her daughter Charlotte (who is the tallest 7 year old in the world!).
And finally but certainly not least, Julie and the girls from Speedy Hire who came along to support us for the walk too. We were completely delighted that they had taken to Ellies plight through our local paper and have held a national collection through all of their offices in the UK. They have raised (so far) £1700 and announced this to us yesterday
bringing our total collect (so far) to
Mark and I sit here stunned, pinned to the chair, jaws dropping to the floor in absolute bewilderment. I say this all the time but we seriously cannot find a word worthy enough of relaying just how grateful we are. Thank you is all we can muster and we have said it 400 trillion times and we will continue to say it until we have run out of breath!
It.
Defies.
Belief.
Hitting our target was beyond anything we imagined. And Belle managed it through some serious hard work yesterday morning - I really don't think she knows just how much £11, 750 is.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you xx

After the walk we invited everyone around to sample my MIL's cakies and Carmel's momma's scones (of which I had to decline cos you know - being wheat free and all (try my new wheat free recipe for yorkshire puds over here) - and almost took a bite out of Ellie's arm to ease my sugar fix). The house was heaving and I just felt rotten that I couldn't have spent lots of time with each individual. I managed to pass myself around, briefly, to everyone inbetween kiddies getting whacked in the face during a marathon session on the Wii! The stinky guinea pigs got a ton of attention and I think Belle's tortoise, Lightening, slept through it all. Belle was such a lucky girl to have all of our friends and family's support.
Most of everyone left after about an hour and my Bro and Sis stayed behind for a few more hours. We had a fish and chip lunch and a bottle of plonk was shared between my sis and I. We were having such a lovely day. The kids were plied wih eatser chocs, we got the playstation out and had a giggle or two. I didn't want them to go when they did, both Becky and I were tipsy and laughing at the most silliest things. And then when they left I got teary. How many emotions in one day?
Anyhoo............
Here are some more picture from Belle's big day - I was really ragged off to find out that I had my ISO on quite high over the past few days and I am apologising about the quality - more out of embarrassment! I must have been cuckoo not to notice such a simple mistake.
Suzy B's kiddies, Beth and Ben pose with Belle
My Bro and sister, mummy and daddy to be!
Belle and Charlotte snuggle and warm up on the sofa.
My niece, Charlotte, determined to use her prized brolly despite being no rain. I love how kids get attached to things like this although we were worried that a gust of wind would take her away at one point.Beth and Ben rest up whilst waiting for Belle to catch up. Yes, she was very slow!My sister and I having pictures taken this time last year?
NO!
But now - thankfully, YES! We both are little tinkers at times and family fall outs are part and parcel of that tapestry. When we finally swallowed our ride at my bro's wedding last year, I think it was the best thing I had done in a long time.
Becks, Belle and I in a very rare grouping. I shall treasure this photo for EVER!
And then this - this little beauty....... I love this picture of these two people so much and the fact that belle has her eyes wide and blue!
And this is a picture of Barry and Andy who came round to deliver sponsorshop money to the tune of £1500. Barry, on the left ran the Liverpool half marathon and collected money from the various clients who are associated with their car sales form in Wigan. Again, mark and I were flummoxed for words - we are grateful and thankful for their amazing gesture.And finally - meet Nibbles. Belle received this soft toy from Suzy B and she has been besotted with him for a whole 24 hours (Belle is a kid who rotates her toys on a 12 hour basis - I think nibbles is in for the long run). I had to take a picture of how she had left him yesterday when she nipped upstairs to feed lightening. Nibbles **may** have eaten a little bit more than she expected on her departure!And to finish off completely - here is a wee kissy from Belle as another thank you from the bottom of all our hearts.

Goin card nuts

I have a ton of left over papers from old scrapbook pages that I made almost 3 million years ago - they are just sat in a box collecting dust. Granted, its looking pretty and slurpilishus but the damn stuff has got to be used. I thought I'd give them an airing this very afternoon and bang the leftovers on a card with some wee die cuts to make cheery little cards for standbys. I made most of these last night whilst the kids had their craft club night at out house - they made cards they wanted (a non-teach night for me - wahoo!) and I got on with chucking some card on card on paper and card with sparkles and stamping too. I even dragged out my redundant punches which are perfect for adding a lil "zyuz" in a corner or two.


I also have a recipe over here at a little blog I made for my wheat free trials and errors. I'm sure I'm going to bore you all senseless with my experiments on this blog. So if you fancy pork mince curry patties for tea this weekend, do pop by.

Im currently, like this very moment, teaching myself how to use my god damn craft robo. I have had the little bugger since November and have hardly used it. Thanks to Tracy Johnson who sent me a DVD of how to get the lil tinker on the go. So I am off to be taught and hopefully, by the end of this evening I will have something that resembles "craft robo-ish-ness".

Belle has her BFF here for a sleepover (belle spent last night at her BFF's, it was WEIRD in this house without her). They have been so good and tomorrow see's a bit of a crafting spell. Good Friday is not traditionally celebrated in this house but I reckon we might go mad an make some chocky easter cards.

Feel a craft robo title coming on - must create.

Making cards

I just have enough time to make cards at the mo - all very quick and simple and as I have a string of birthdays coming up, I have got into cardy action. This card I made doubled as my post for HSMS (which, incidentally, was the word "peg"). I used some funky little die cuts I received from DO as part of the X-cut line. Its so much fun playing with these shapes - makes me want to go shopping! And this card is for the Marie Curie Campaign using a specially designed stamp at Design Objectives. I am not the worlds bestest stamper and I am not a fan of this type of design. But I somehow managed to free the look I was after and became triumphant with a spring-like card to donate for raising funds. I also received a most stupendous donation for the raffle from Ali at Clever Cuts. Their perfect lines of acrylic shapes and stamps are a million miles ahead of when I first got to know Ali a number of years ago. I have watched her business turn into a little minefield of creative explosions - I love how devoted she is to her business, not to mention her dog, Levi. Their clear stamps are the BEST value for money and you can spy her donation below which has a value of £60. Thank you so so much Ali xx
In addition I got my Studio Calico kit today. There is this one piece of paper I just cannot cut into - its just too dee-lish. I think the other Dt girls are having this issue - its so slurpy lish, Im not coping with the fact that I have to use it. Dammit. I was feeling blue because of it coming a little later than usual and when I heard the doorbell go this afternoon I knew what it was. I wanted to catalogue this event to relay how flaming cuckoo I get over deliveries . With that box I got my rolling tote from DO - perfectly timed to travel to London next week (on the train - can you believe it... I LOVE TRAINS and ones that require no changes en route).
I am going to get me a small bottle of plonk and enjoy having a wee beverage (cos I is not driving). What, with my tote on my left, my bag on the right and a tray of dark chocolates on my lap - I can sit back and just think for 3 hours. Oh for crying out loud Kirsty, its only a bloody train ride!
Belle's walk takes place in saturday. She is looking forward to the pitt stops more than anything. I promised her that we would take a whole bag of treats to reward any distance she can manage although she has had some practice to be able to cope. We have a fairly cool number of people coming including my Bro and Sis (to say I am delighted is an understatement), My in Laws, a bunch of friends and their kids - including Suzy B, Traci, Carmel and Jane plus a group of people from Speedy Hire who have done a little sponsor for Belle in their Office at Haydock. There are tea's and cakes at our house for afters so if you are in the Wigan area on Saturday, do join us but let me know if you are coming (so I can cater effectively). I am sad my parents cannot come but they are on a holiday which was pre-booked well before this fund raising. **miss you momma and pappa**
We have also booked our trip this week to Nevada and suffice to say we have very little time to feel prepared for it. If I am completely honest, I wish the whole thing wasn't happening - there has been a lot of tears shed over the whole thing and lots of dark clouds. I even had to ring the DLA this week to inform them of some creepy events as some little nasty gremlin appeared through the cracks only a few weeks back. Lots of behind the scene stuff which would make you a little nauseous - you know? My heart is pounding too fast to cope with how quick it has come around. Not only do we have to change flights once each way (not good, let me tell you that) but we are up in the air with the media. I hate not knowing enough and I hate having too much info to digest. I know that sounds bonkers but I like everything in order and when its not it drives me banana's. Not being in control is bloody awful, isn't it? Through its all I have to try and not lose sight of the beauty of this trip, which as you know is part and parcel of the entire affair. As much as I hate this saying its true - you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette. Pffffft, that really does aggravate me.
We have arranged to stop in a Condo as its far cheaper than $300 a night in a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. We chose this because its better value for money, guaranteed ground floor for access, is on the edge of the desert (and therefore away from the hustle and bustle of the strip). We also chose it as we hate being confined to one room. At least we have access to a kitchen to cook healthy meals instead of eating junk out. And yes, I could have waited to go wheat free after this trip but I am determined to feel better now than wait any much longer! We each have our own room and bathroom, a lounge, dining area, kitchen and patio. I think there is going to be decent heat in the high 70's where we can chill between appointments (Belle does love the warm sun on her back and the beauty of a private patio is that nobody stares at her like they do when we are around a public pool). We have also researched the best places to go for FREE so that we will not be completely depressed between hospital trips. These include the Bellagio Fountains and Circus Circus events at various themed hotels. We have a trip to the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam planned plus the M&M factory for Belle.
Belle has Gastro, Cardiology, Genetics and Paediatrics on the cards which costs an absolute fortune so we are INCREDIBLY grateful to all the sponsorship that you have helped to support.
Lest we be eternally blessed by this happening at all despite the balance of horrors.
Belle is so much looking forward to the approach of JFK airport (where we have to change and is actually a pain in the rectum). We experienced the approach of the New York city silhouette back in 2004 and it took my breath away. You cannot begin to imagine how enthralling that view is. We would have loved to have made an overnight stop in NY for Belle to visit the Central Park zoo but we are at the mercy of time and of course the amazing opportunity of devoting the purpose of our American trip to the Physicians who will see to her :) Another time perhaps, New York is too special never to be left off her list until its checked off.
Talking of Media (as mentioned above) I was in communications with a TV production company today. Whilst the conversation I had was pretty much private we did discuss how hard hitting some documentaries can be and I will never forget The Dying Rooms (38 minute video, please look at it if you ever get the chance) which I watched a few years back and it haunts me to this day. Documentaries like this are bloody awful but also profound in the way they can drill a hole in your heart, thus creating this incessant ache to remind you that shit like this happens - even as you read this blog entry and leave it to go and make a cup of tea or click on a link to something else. I was also recently stifled by another documentary called Bulgaria's Abandoned Children (about 50 minutes) which I often think about and feel powerless to do anything about. I did discuss this video last year and I felt as useless then as I did now.
It frustrates me that I am just this crappy number in a gigantic crowd but I do suffer badly with these incredible thoughts and feelings about such atrocities - why can't I do anything significant or profound or indeed pioneering? Why do I get the feeling that I cannot penetrate the minds of other people to wake up to this awful reality? And the reason why I can't do this is that people have a choice of whether the want to listen or not. And yes, that's fine to a point. I guess lots of people are not passionate about giving a damn or like me, feeling as if they wouldn't be able to do enough to make a difference. Sometimes and I mean this sincerely, sometimes I just hate this sadness I feel from it all.
I am not one of these people that will turn a blind eye to anything. Its like I have to feed my mind whether I will like the outcome or not. I even forced myself to watch a film about the genocide of Sarajevo during the Balkan war the other week knowing that I would hate watching how ethnic cleansing was carried out. Its like the "don't touch, wet paint" theory - you know you shouldn't touch but you do, just in case. Why do you think we punish ourselves like this?
Ok, didn't mean to rant but I feel so much better up heaving this heavy feeling I have on my chest and bringing it out into the open.
I am an aquarius - I am affected like that!!
Something to think about when you get a minute, if anything.

**also, one last thing. If any of you are or know anyone married/had children to soldiers who served in the gulf post 1991 (not from 2005) can you please email me at my address on the left panel - thanks**

Thumbs up to wheat free

oh yes this is riding just fine with me.
So far.
Am of course missing pasta and delicious, soft Warburtons bread like crazy but with rice cakes and gluten free pitta bread as a substitute, I am coping far better into day 2 than I anticipated.
I even bought some of this £1.79 a packet (!!!!)

I first used it to coat my cod before I dunked it in egg and then cornflakes for my breadcrumb free tea. As Mark had lifted Kiev's from the freezer this afternoon, I felt bereft of a crumby coating becuase I couldn't partake for the BREADcrumbs. So those wanting an alternative for wheat free coatings - cornflakes are your answer. So much tastier, crunchier and they never go soggy if you fry in hot oil.

And then I made some fairy cakes to satisfy that carbohydrate fix. The mix just wasn't coming along that nicely, it looked curdled and greasy. I added the zest of one clementine to try and destroy any impending yuk and banged the whole mixture (complete with baking powder for it to rise) and waited and excruciating 13 minutes and 30 seconds for them to cook. I gave the cakies 5 minutes to cool before I peeled back the casing and inspected the composition. They smelled the same and looked the same and the proof was in the eating. I considered holding my nose to quench any disgusting flavours but braved the elements and tucked in.

Verdict?

OMG - they is LUSH. They taste EXACTLY the same.

My wheat free dalliance is turning into a bit of a success. I mean, I have never professed Im a bad cook. I just don't cook. Mark does. But I have to say that I love this new experience because my complacency has driven me into a bored stupor. Feeling further adventurous I then made my cakies into a bit of a spesh pud (jaffa cakes no less). Recipe for quick jaffa's

1. Take one tablespoon of apricot jam and the juice of one clementine and place in a dessert bowl. For ease, heat in microwave for 20 seconds and then mix thoroughly.

2. Then melt 4 squares of dark chocolate in the microwave(and believe me Sainsbury and Tescos own basics choc at only 24p a bar is so much nicer for cooking. My sister swears by it and she is a cool cookster).
**Tip for melting choc in Mic without burning it. Melt 4 squares of choc for 50 seconds on warm, then stir. Place back in Mic for another 50 seconds on warm and then stir again. Do it one last tome for 50 seconds and it will have melted enough to pour (and it won't be scolding hot neither!).

3. Place two cakies on the hot apricot liquid and then run liquefied choc on top.Mark didnt even know the difference and believe me, Mark is a food snob.

I. am. Martha. Stewart!

Anyway... what else did I do today? Aaaah yes. I went to another spin class. I was ill with breathlessness afterwards and couldn't walk. I felt I had been kicked in the butt with steel toe capped boots. Those spin cycle seats are like razor blades and barbed wire. But in a sick and twisted way I felt good. Probably as I was feeling virtuous and smug that I had beaten myself up physically. I then came home just constantly thinking wheat free, wheat free, wheat free. So I go over in my head hmmmmmmmmm Weetabix replaced by oatibix, porridge (erm, reserved on that score), rice cakes (which I love), normal rice, lots of potatoes (you forget about spuds when pasta is so delicious and easier to cook), thank god choc is not ruled out, eat as much fruit and veg (of course, they is not wheat, dummy) and oat bars similar to flapjacks. Im coping. Really coping and yes, its only day 2 but believe me I am normally so weak in the presence of white bread!

And now - fluffy little cakies. Just need bread recipes and ones that don't taste like something from an ICI chemical plant.

And lastly, today,I finished a layout that I am teaching at Olympia. Ive got a sneak of a wee element I am loving right now. Little flowers made from just strips of paper, or in this case - Vellum. This layout is lathered with tiny touches with lashing of paint and PINKNESS.

You can imagine Ellie features heavily on this one!

Finally I have to big up Roz who raised a whopping £260 towards our fundraising. Suzanne auctioned Roz off at their recent Luxurious Angels retreat and Roz managed to sell herself twice at the leisure of two wonderful donations of £100 each. Roz has now to become a slave for a day eat each of the ladies houses. How wonderful is that? Thank you so much xx

And now these. These are a 500mb collab digi kit made by a number of AMAZING contributors and will be released this weekend at Divine Digital, N4D and Heather Manning's store. All proceeds go to Ellies Fund. I dont quite know how to measure how delighted we are. Belle loves the colours - they remind her of Refreshers sweeties. I just bloody love it anyway.

All of that in one swoop.... its wicked!

An utterly fowl day

I'm not lying - it was just fowl.

Literally.

Tee hee.

As part of our lil family "guess where we are going" secret weekend plans, Mark chose our day out for this weekend and we headed out to Martin Mere. Its a stark contrast to the Science and Industry museum that I chose a few weeks back and this trip called to be wrapped up. It was, to coin a phrase - flippin freezing. It was quite a pricey entrance fee too (£8 adults and £4 kids) to just go and look at "ducks and swans" (and the odd beaver - I kid you not) but seeing as there is a lot of work to be done with conservation and breeding, you kind of have to swallow the cost and weigh up the entertainment value. Which was, erm, lacking. Lol. From Belles point of view I think after your first 5 breeds of duckies, they all pale into insignificance. And even though I photographically catalogued every breed for my new wild fowl collection (you know, just in case we have a nuclear war next week and all wildlife - as we know it - are wiped out. I will therefore have a record of every species of duckies for my memoirs).

I feel absolutely dreadful that we didn't LOVE it but we had a ton of fresh air drenching our lungs, the cold pinking out cheeks and we did lots of talking. I think the best part of the day was sitting in this fabbo little hide eating our lunch with the sun warming our bones through the glass.

A new meaning to Foie Gras??

Sunny little corners to brighten the mood

All wrapped up and bearing the chill on our cheeks

This lil swan got a wee bit close for my liking but I love how shiny his eyes ere!

Ok - money may not grow on trees but feathers do! I know it

On the way round the park we did encounter the beaver section but they were not coming out today. As you can imagine its far too cold for any sort of beaver activity, especially in captivity (!). Im glad to see that they feed them British Apples complete with stickers.

And what probably saved the entire day was the pink flamingo's brightening up my little eyes. I love these birdies so much so that Im inspired to make some digi papers including them.I was delighted at the end of our fowl walk to come across one of my fave little friends... this wee robin. He got so close to me, I wanted to pick him up but his nerves got the better of him and he allowed me to snap a couple of pics which polished up the fowl act of ducky boredom. Well anyway, Mark was happy as he had routed out 3 geocaches on the way back, Belle got a little gift for herself from the gift shop (a toy beaver of all things) and I bought the Sunday Telegraph (which as you know is 3 weeks worth of reading material).
Champion.
We got home at 4 and belle had fallen asleep on the way back. She promptly went up to bed for a snoozles and I jumped on the sofa with a blanket to nod off 40 winks. 2 hours later Mark woke us both up to get on with the tea (Ellie was introduced to garlic mussels which she LOVED - hooray) before Dancing on Ice - wasn't it frippin brilliant? I cried like a baby because of the excitement, it was such a good nights telly followed by a new series of Gavin and Stacey on BBC3. I love a good laugh - belly busting ones at that. So that wrapped up the day perfectly.
Sigh.
My cheeks are still pink, I have a hovel of a scraproom to finish tidying, a wheat free diet to fret over and an hour at the gym every day this week. I reckon the mercies of yesterdays fowls are a walk in the park in comparison.

Quackers.

De - everything

I have this bizarre nesting instinct for reasons other than being preggo.

Im de-cluttering like crazy and as of Monday I am detoxing. Well, not the starve-yourself-senseless detox... just pumping my body with a ton of fruit and nice stuff to sort out the sluggy.

I thought about giving up wheat before crimbo and have been studying how the hell I am going to cope without bread. My saving grace has come by the form of Kello's amazing yummo marmite flavoured rice cakes and get this - dark Belgian coated rice cakes. Jeeez, they are frikking awesome and will make up for the fact I have to give up jaffa cakes. I pretty much have to kiss good bye to pasta too. But the alternatives are so much tastier albeit a little bit more pricey. For instance, I bought some wheat free bread yesterday and its a real tiny loaf and cost £1.74 (that's $3.39 or €2.44!!). It scares the hell out of me that the bread has a shelf life of 4 months and is best eaten toasted. Yeah, I know.

My lump in my chest still exists and I've become so sluggish in the past year that the only way to battle it is through cutting out wheat. Its amazing the amount of emails we have had about testing Ellie for Coeliac recently that its become a bit of challenge for myself too. People claim their lives and health has changed dramatically from cutting out wheat. And as I am on a health drive I have also gone back to the gym. I did my first spin class in 18 months on Friday and boy, does it feel like I have been sat on a razor blade all night. I am in agony. However, feeling virtuous overrides any pain or mercy of wheat free diets for the time being.

On the de-clutter front I charged my scrap room and filled 13 Sainsbury's bags with a shed load of "things I was saving for a rainy day" for our local playgroup and a couple of belles friends. I kept lots of packaging and wall paper samples thinking Id use them some day. My magpie manner really gets too much but I can't help loving pretty pretties. But I feel so much better now that my room has room to breathe and take delivery of the lovely new things I have been receiving from Design Objectives. I am teaching at Twisted Thread at the end of the month at Olympia and DO kindly supplied me with some fabulous products as I teach 8 classes over 4 days. Im even being put up in this little gem HERE. Kensington is an old haunt of mine. I used to live in Notting Hill in the early 90's, just off Bayswater Road. Its a stones throw from Portabello Market and Knightsbridge - great nights out and memories from those days will stay with me forever.

On the matter of de-cluttering I also attacked the kitchen cupboards and chucked out medicines from 1994 (!!), sauces two years out of date and baking stuff from the Victorian era (it would seem). Ellies sweety cupboard, which was overflowing from last years Halloween, got a good turf out too and other than resorting to bleaching the kitchen to within an inch of its life, id say our house is now feeling decisively lighter, cleaner and happier.

I also got around to taking pictures of projects that have come back from Magazines lately. These projects were for Q&C magazine where I have been entrusted to look after the photography side of card making. I think the whole idea is to streamline cardmakers into scrapbooking and I love completing the commissions for them. Q&C and Crafts Beautiful are a wonderful set of magazines focusing on lots of colour. I have just designed 15 papers for their next supplement - I am so excited because products design is something Im desperate to get into.

I had a flaming nightmare with these papers. I bought these a while before the project went to print. And as projects go to print the supplies have to be current. And seeing as the shift in scrap supplies changes as quick as the wind direction - I was severely hacked off that these papers were nowhere to be found in the UK. I would love to buy more of these Heidi Grace papers - do you have any? These two cards are so simple but I just love the colours.

I Made this pocket mini album for my bag. The photo's that it contains are my most treasured photo of Ellie and although there is no journalling, the photo just bring tears to my eyes.

And then this Joy Triptych thingy. Again, this current bare essential from creative obsessions was nowhere to be found in any uk shops to list in the supplies for the mag. I know this item is still current but UK shops seem to buy a little bit, sell it and move on to the next new thing. I don't blame them really, us scrapbookers seem to want the latest and greatest thing. This stands up but was a pig to photo, so its laying down and currently resides in Marks office.

I altered this little sailing boat that I bought for £2 at Internacionale. Its one of my favourite little objects in the house right now - we really do "sail this ship together". Pretty Pretty.

And this desk cube was a magazine project. I love these cubes for a desktop or telephone table. And the subject is such a sweety xxThis is the cover of an 8 page book which I received from studio calico to cover. It has taken an exhausting 30 hours to finish because I just wanted it to be perfect for my family. Every page contains left overs from every kit I have received from them and is my way of ensuring every product I use is benefiting their kindness and my shelf for display. The kits I receive are so generous that I keep absolutely everything to one side to use for helping to market their amazing kit club - so whilst I covet this book for my own selfish satisfaction, it was also created the images to give back my thanks to their vision. I will share the rest of the book when I have added a few more key pictures.

And finally some work I did at the retreat last week. I made 2 layouts and a few cards. Ive always made cards from scraps of my layouts and hopefully it might spark off using the same trick too. Its so easy to make a quick card whilst you have all your scraps on the table. that way you build up a bank of cards to give either in an emergency or for the year head. And if you leave them blank, you can use them as thank you's and "just a note's" as and when required.

Look - fiskars lace edging punch. I knew my cardmaking tool of 2003 would make a comeback!

Quick cards made from scrapbooking scraps make me happy. I even dragged out a sizzix die from 200 years ago to finish it off.A lil layout also featuring photos I used for the sub above. These photo arse also some of my favourite from last year.I made the next layout using papers I had won at the Two Peas greet in Anaheim. The colours just went so perfect with the colours in the photo - the girl in the lane. I hand cut that birdy. Birdies make me happy.

And all the while I was beavering about the house like a woman possessed, this little lady surfed her favourite sites, including National Geographic for Kids. She is such a dolly.And here is my SPS for Her Space My Space. Ive been intermittently joining in lately, which is bothering me a little as I love the feeling over this site. The girls are so much fun and support each other so nicely. Our private lives right now consists of hospitals, admin and research and my daily efforts have been lacking. I'll be back to full speed after Nevada, that is for sure :)

Ok - looking back at this post I think I am turning into Martha Stewart.... food, house keeping and projects for the home - laugh out very loud. Ciao xx

Raffleness

Crumbs, we have got a LOT and I mean a flippin ton of stuff for one very very lucky winner.

Ive only had the raffle button on this blog 1 hour and already we have sold 12 tickets. I wish I could buy one and keep the lot myself! Im going to run this raffle until the end of April - plenty of time to buy them when you get a spare bob or two.

I want to share pictures of some of the prizes we have so far and there are more to come. Just take a look at this lil lot of fabbo chipboard.
Embellies, Bare Elements, trinkets and gems - oh yeah!
Kits and paper packs ranging from Elsie to Scenic Route to My Minds Eye, Jenny Cocks and 3 bugs in a rug. Slurp!
Stamps - lots of Fancy Pants gorgeousness and other wee needables.
A flippin MiMi tote - a big one too!
Alphas - a daily essential.
Love stickers and epoxies - you got a ton here!
Tools - lubs tools. LOOK!
I have a list of the donators right here - please show your support by visiting their respective blogs and shops :)
Scrapbook Sisters
The Scrapbook Shop
Banana frog (prize on its way - over £130 of stamps!)
Story of my Life - USA
Sparkle the Imagination
ScrappyDo's
Scrummy Stash Cafe
Scrap Magic
Scrapshed
Make The Moment Last
Jenny Cocks
Laura Fiore
Persephone

And finally I want to share this. 'Tis hardly a piece if art but this piece of paper is like being giving a certificate that states you were actually quite RIGHT and your child WILL get help.

This is the little baby that we fought 6 shitty years fighting for.
I urge you if, like me, you are a mother of a child with needs - keep fighting.

Even if you cry into your pillow every night and nobody wipes them away.

Do it even though you know that nobody in the first stages gives a damn.
Do it as you beat the keys on your keyboard knowing that your email or letter will never get to its final destination or opened by anyone who understands.
Do it knowing that your look of desperation is construed as you being paranoid.

Do it even though those bruises on your forehead hurt like hell. Yep - keep banging your head on that brick wall for a little while longer.

Do it as you keep your head held high knowing that other people think you are an interfering cow.

Do it as you try to pretend that the mothers who run a mile from your approach are doing it because they are "late" getting their kids to an after school class.

Do it as you try to bare the bleeding as your knuckles drive into that cement wall knowing that the answer lies on the other side - its a million miles thick but it IS penetrable because if you have love and hope in your heart - YOU WILL SUCCEED.

And wonder about this...... Are you strong enough to batter the phone lines of the Local Education Authority, your kiddies specialists, the Disabled Living Allowance and any subsequent tribunal services? Can you try and reason with a headmaster who's sole drive is not based on special educational needs? Can you approach a teacher who YOU KNOW realises there is a problem but is the weak link in a chain with absolutely no authority other than losing her job if she speaks up?

Because if you can do any of this, you have my total and utter respect.
Been there, done that and got the ill fitting t-shirt.

And whilst it was bloody awful, that piece of paper is proof that persistence works.

Go Team Wiseman.

No room to breathe

Ok, one day in Hospital is one thing but two days on the trot is enough to drive your to distraction. Alderhey hospital is 20 miles from us and is a nightmare to reach. Then when you get there its a million degrees hot, full of germs, screaming kiddies in pain and Doctors who are running 1 hour late. Believe it or not I am grateful for the appointments to have Belle seen but they usually result in "come back in 6 months". Yest was Endocrinology which proved that Belle is far from reaching puberty and requires a bone age test and hormone injections to determine her state of growth - it will probably be in 6 months time when the appointment will come round. Ok, cool beans I think. At least there is motion.

But today
TODAY.

Neuroscience. The field in which is more geared to Ellie's condition. The field in which has negated her the full attention of her needs. We waited for ever to get to see our Doc and when he did invite us to his office he explained that there would be interruption's as he was on call. FABULOUS. Its not as if I feel crazy enough having to plead with these guys that Belle needs help but interruptions means stopping and starting as I am in mid flow. And when I am in mid flow I really dont want to stop. It breaks the momentum. It breaks my drive and all I bloody wanted, if I am honest is a little bit of interest and continuity.

When the phone calls, bleepers and staff interruptions has calmed a little, this guy peered a little closer. I dont think both Belle and I have experienced a doctor who "peered". Like, edging a little nearer with some kind of interest. And his brows raised when she had to remove clothing to exhibit her rather baby deer-like legs - all crooked and awkward. And how he noticed how hunched she is when she walks. And how thin she is and how undertall she is. And the more he peered the more I thought "shit, he wants to help". My eyes welled at this new experience to be honest. And I was so proud of Belle as she did as she was told even though she was being prodded and poked for the millionth time in her life.

This Doctor promises that he will try to get to the bottom of things but like every other Doc we come across he also added he might not ever find the root cause. But he did remark on her incredibly brisk reflexes despite her lack of muscles. He noted she was on the WRONG form of mobility (we went through hell with that last year and I mean HELL and he tells us this NOW?). And he noticed a curvature in the spine. It was like he was just going to tell me right there and then what the hell was wrong with her because his 3 little "notices" was bloody brilliant. And as much as I sent out the receiving signals and the need in my eyes, I knew that those 3 "notices" were enough for now. And then, OMG..... THEN we discussed the big no-no of all big no-no's. The fact Mark was subjected to anthrax injections, NAPS and depleted uranium during the 1990-1991 gulf war. We feel its important to mention this to all of Belle's doctors because these could have contributed to Ellie's suffering. We know that most Uk docs are skeptical about this. Purely because of "Why would they try and research this query when effectively the MOD and the NHS are governed by the same purse?". We realise its not something that can be looked at from the NHS. But it can if I rally more about it. Somedays I'm proactive into researching it and other times I think - why should I bother? But when Mark and I look at the statistics of children born post 1991 gulf war, it makes us so mad and so cross. They are born with missing limbs and body parts - obviously much worse than Belle so we are the "lucky" ones, if you can call it that. But still, its a common link - one which is just being swept under that proverbial carpet until some interfering cow (me) rakes it up.

I just dont have the courage just yet but watch this space.

So Belle had that very eventful meeting which will mean she has to have nerve conduction testing again (not nice at all, poor little lamb) and MRI tests and even worse, another biopsy. :( But these steps are all in the right direction and necessary. However they have been done in the past and Im so uncertain whether they are absolutely necessary. Do you know what I mean? No, neither do I!!!! Belle was also seen by the millionth physio today who was just so peachy with her. Belle has to have her pushchair upgraded to wheelchair (this is a big step, quite frankly because she will still need us to push as she has bugger all strength in her arms to manoeuvre it herself).
Sigh.
No more NHS for a good while now until after Nevada. Im so positive about both Nevada and this new Neurologist. just wish that all of Ellie's doctors would just sit in one room for 5 minutes to discuss her. Id pay for that little treat. But nobody talks to each other in all 4 departments that Ellie is governed by. Its all medical notes and head scratching. It drives me bloody cuckoo.
Anyway.

Upon coming home Belle received a wee parcel. All we know is that this beautiful little unicorn necklace came from a little girl calle Eleanor. Belle is besides herself with it, she really is a trinket girl. And then on Friday just gone she got this BEAUTIFUL pillow pack stuffed with delicious chocs. Belle loves it so much that she doesn't want to untie the ribbons.
Isnt my girl the most luckiest, happiest lady on this planet? And yeah, those lips are still ruby lush and full of kissy woo woo's. Mwah Mwah Mwah. SWEEEEEEEET xx

Refreshed

I nipped down to Bristol on Thursday en route to Chepstow with a further destination of Bickersleigh (Devon) planned for Friday. It was great to catch up with Mandy Parr before we headed to a class fronted by CD Muckosky at the Chepstow Pink Croppers fabulous event.

This was doubly fabulous for me because not only was it the first quality class I had paid for but it was also a class held my one serious teacher with a whole lot of heart. Quite simply, CD is a true artist and so very nice. I'm delighted I took the opportunity to take one of her classes. To say she had to re-do the whole project again, you wouldn't have thought it - her project was perfect (can you believe her original class got stolen in Holland?). Mind blowing stuff. My project isn't finished yet so I can't share it but it was simply the best class investment I have ever experienced (even compared to one of my own ;))

I spent the evening with both Mandy and Cleo (who incidentally has a very scrumptious kit club and I had to buy her latest offering - you will LOVE it). Cleo also kindly donated a kit for the raffle (added to which lies a MiMi tote donated by Ifa. A completely huge Mimi tote - how awesome?). On the way back to Bristol we called at a chippy for some incredibly well deserved lard. YUM.

The next day I set sail back to Chepstow to meet with Maz of whom I would be going down to Devon with (in convoy, of course). Both Maz and I filled her estate car with just our scrap supplies and en route we even had to find room for a Mark and Sparks lard run. I had planned to finish off a mini book (which I find hard to do at the best of times) plus some layouts and cards. I brought a ton of things I thought I might need and used a possible 5% of what I brought.

On the way we stopped of for Coffee at the local cafe in a real cosy corner of the village before venturing off to the house of all houses! This is the view from outside "said cosy coffee house". And this 500 year old farmhouse is set down a valley with hills of perpendicular proportions. I could have abseiled down much more calmly than being in the ultra careful 1st gear of Maz. She was very good at coping with the descent despite the threat of going butt over bosom and as we turned the corner we were met with relief that the house was more magnificent than we could have ever imagined.

But the kitchen was where we spent of the time because the huge table fit 9 of us comfortably with all our stash, nibbles and drinks.
It was such a pleasant weekend of very lovely friends who came to scrap. No discussion about this and that - just scrapping and happiness. It was so refreshing.
I took time-outs to mooch around the house taking snaps of the rustic and country style charm of the farmhouse's interior and garden - here are my favourites......

It almost broke my heart to leave but looking back it was worth the pain of going back to reality! I got back late last night after a very loooooooong journey and then up early for an arduous trek to Alderhey hospital with Belle for Endocrinology (hormones to you and I). Poor little Belle was frightful of the prospect of blood taking but thankfully none today. On our way back from her appointment, we spent a short while in Liverpool snapping up some books and chocolate to calm little Belles nerves. She enjoyed her mooch around Waterstones and I grabbed a wonderful book about Marilyn Monroe and a book by Arabella Weir, wrote sometime ago called "Does my bum look big in this?". My sister and I read this to each other on holiday in Ibiza some years ago and its "wet yourself" funny. I also meant to pick up a book called "A thousand splendid suns" which the girls at the retreat raved about. Think I will Amazon that one and make do with some positive thinking books I have on the go. They are keeping me afloat - for want of a better word.
Going to go now and stroke my Basic Grey. I have a collection pack of each release plus all of the new BG stamps sent from Design Objectives. Besides being very lucky to have this I also think I should have a word with the man upstairs to give me an extra 5 hours in a day.
Big loves xx

Rafflacious news and new auction

Other than resorting to selling my grandmothers today (who unfortunately are both deceased, so mum - watch it... Im out to sell you, babes), I thought Id update you on some lovely prizes coming this way.
Scrapbook Sisters have donated a large box of scrap supplies on top of the lovely pile of stash I have to my left.
The Scrapbook Shop have donated a Quickutz Die cutting handtool and an alphabet - how lovely?
Banana frog would like to donate some of their very groovacious stamps as well.

I also received a beautiful hand made headband from Clare Stokes. Its the most beautiful object - look:

Its perfect for a bride/bridesmaid who wants something beautifully handcrafted and for that I am going to auction it. Its is made from 6mm and 4mm cream swarovski silk pearls and 4mm rose swarovski crystals on a gold effect band. Its a little treasure, makes me want to get married again. Bidding starts at £1 NOW and will close in 2 weeks.

And finally Bubbly Funk held a silent auction on their website over the last few weeks. They raised a fabulous amount of money almost totally £240. Im so grateful for those that took part, donated stash, bid on stash etc and for the time Caroline spent administrating it all. Thanks lovey xx

And if you would like to leave constructive comments on my blog, please make sure I can write back to you with an appropriate reply - this anonymous business is just way too snoozy. people have just got to stop being to angry. I can recommend some seriously fab chill pills :) Please not that there are much ugliers places to do that kind of business, but please, not here - where I have stat logs of the past 1000 visits to this blog.

Moff to on the M6 now, deep joy.

100% DO-tat? Come on!

There is this niggling soupcon of scrap snobbery when it comes to brand names and yes, for a time, I could have well been a scrap snob (maybe I still am, who knows?). That was until my imagination ran riot one night almost 2 years ago. Since then, I have been happy to make pages from whatever was flat, pretty, rugged, niche, colourful and indeed dull. Its wonderful that entire lines of scrap products match so perfectly to clutch together on one perfectly fluid page - obviously at some considerable cost. But then there are scrap rogues who bang on a ripped piece of corrugated cardboard, a wooden lolly stick and a bit of ink onto a page and still claim its art. And it is.
Its subjective not a flaming competition!
Whatever floats your boat, babes.
There are no hard rules.
Just ignorance, I think.
Its a case of your everyday segregation of those who do, those who don't and those who rebel.

So when the Design Objectives work came my way I thought - "Cacka plop, am I going to have to resort to using gold peels offs and white edged stickers on my layouts? ".
No.
Not at all.

LOOK ->

In through my door came a box bursting at the seams filled with slurp, yum and scrum. It was all Design Objectives stuff including Papermania, X Cut and other such objects to re-acquaint myself with the "back to basic" gems. Included in there were FABULOUS chipboard letters, gorgeous papers, lush stamps, wee die cuts that are totally usable, ribbons, bling brads, glitter and paints. I knew I had to get a page made to prove to MYSELF that working with these products meant that I could change the scrap snob in me because when it all boils down the cost, time and effort - the hobby is about the photo's I'm scrapping and not how much I spent/products used on my page. Scrapping does not have to cost the earth and I think Design Objectives (worth a staggering hundrety million-ess) have cottoned on to the fair price side of the market so that card makers can make the easy transition to scrap booking without breaking the bank (read: husbands wallet - mwahahahahahahhaha). I'm not even going to feel ashamed that in the past I have gushed over a packet of fab brads at £1.45 a pack by Papermania and then smirked at my savings when I put down a packet of brads by Making Memories at £2.50 a pack (with even less quantities in). Doing the maths doesn't mean you are breaking any scrap snob law - you are simply cottoning on to the fact that you don't have to live on the back of US export and UK import ruin of even the basic of scrap supplies when you have it all on your door step.
Saying that, Im not resigned to the exclusive use of Design Objectives. I think I needed to voice my opinions of cut rate basics to add to our increasing newness of every CHA release. It's based on balance - I just don't have the readies for everything out there. Although you can count that Im snagging America Crafts newest thickers line, their papers and their rub on's. Not to mention Fancy Pants, Sassafraslass and Maya Road.

But for everything else, there is Mastercard, I mean Design Objectives.
**With reference to a wee mistruth, apparently it's only a small outlay to open an account with them, you know ;) That's all your Basic Grey in one scrap swoop for starters.

Was sorting through my pictures on my compact flash and found this from 4 weeks back. Its Belle with her two crafting buddies who come to our house every weds for a spot of creation. Belle is so dinky and is 4 months older than the tallest girl and is 8 months older than the girl on the left. In effect, belle is 12 and the other two are 11. Its amazing the height of belle compared to her peers. they do look after her as well which twitterpates my heart. We had the girls around tonight with an added extra, Beth. Beth is belles bestest friend in the whole wide world. The school paired them up because of the difficulties (Beth has Cerebral Palsy which affects her lower leg muscles, similar to Belle.) They have formed a deliciously strong friendship, my Belle talks incessantly about her and it was a treat to have Beth in our company tonight.

Forgot to share some piccies of our day out in Sunday. We went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. We thought we had to pay an entry fee and found out on arrival it was all free. And it was a thoroughly enjoyable day - something for everyone. Mark enjoyed the Air and Space section, Belle had a blast in the experiments corners and I just about exhausted myself around the textiles exhibits.

And this? WOW!

Its a jacket hand stitched from this stuff

Flipping ingenious. I just stared at this for EVER. it was the most cleverest thing I had ever seen.

On the way over to the Electrics exhibits, I spied this very WEIRD hotel through the old iron beams at the rail station crossing. The slight overhang of this Hilton hotel has been the talk of Manchester for a while now and it is weird because it makes me want to straighten it up and make it less freaky. I guess I like it in some sadistic fashion. It just caught me by surprise, I suppose :)

Im off to see Mandy Parr tomorrow and then its over to the Chepstow crop to see my weekend scrapping buddies before we set sail for Devon for a scrap escape. Bliss.

I DO, DO U?

Lets start with the bad news from today, it makes the good even gooder (I think!)

Bad:
For those who are Wii savvy - I lost my pro ball on bowling tonight.
A pro ball (for the non pro ball savvy) is a sparkly ball you get when you have an average score more than 1000.
To say Im devastated is an understatement. Mainly because Mark keeps rubbing my nose in it.
How I cried. It felt I had severed my left arm when that sparkleness was snatched off me by the Artificial Intelligence of the Wii.

Radical, man.

Good:
I officially started working for a new company on Saturday.
Its a weird feeling because it was so unexpected.

I had no idea I'd ever work for this particular group of people.

None whatsoever.

Life throws me some majorly weird lemons and from it I made majorly fizzo lemonade.
Its a super duper opportunity to start with a company who has pathways leading to major changes and I set sail on the happy ship full of enthusiasm, a group of new colleagues who are incredibly driven by the success of its worth and some pretty nifty new products to have a good old play with.

Minus the peel off's though ;)

What's more, I can drink from the endless fountain of Basic Grey and Doodlebug too.

Happy to be a part of Design Objectives. Look -> :)
I DO, DO U?

Ive made some very pretty layouts for Quick and Crafty magazine using their new range of Vellums. Did not see the return of those babies but they have and they are just so perfect for adding a little softness. Im waiting for the paint to dry on my newest layout using 100% DO products and will share that tomorrow. In the mean time, I have been a busy cookie making these for me (and not for a DT or work). I like having the free reign of using my own stuff at times. The "Snoozles" layout below was using a Sassafrasslass kit that I won at a Two Peas in a Bucket get together at Anaheim. I actually won a lot of prizes that night which was wonderful because it was a complete surprise. I have to thank Scarlet for exchanging this prize for some of my other stuff as she already had this kit - so thanks Scarlet. I love this picture of Belle asleep some 3 years ago - those lips!!! Those ruby little smackers!!

And this layout below is an ode to my Sis in law, Kerry Anne. Its her b'day today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I was still feeling the vellum love and dragged out this old sheet of Damask styled flocked vellum from K&Co from around 4,000 years ago. The flowers are a scattering of freebies at CHA and used lovingly to flower up Kerry's personality.

I have a ton of more things to talk about fromt his weekend but as time is getting on and Im up and out scrapping tomorrow, Ill leave you to......... fill in the blanks.