Bright and Breezy

Good morning on this bright and breezy Friday.  The weather forecaster says it will be bright and breezy so it must be.

Yesterday was an up and down day.  I had to go for blood tests and my arm wouldnt stop bleeding.  I had to have quite a few x rays too but by the end of the day I was fast asleep on the sofa (8pm). 

The electrician returned to finish off work he started last year but guess what, after 5 hours of no electricity, he still hasnt finished.  We do pick them dont we *giggling*.  Well if you dont laugh  you just cry. 

My joints are very achy today but I am managing to potter.  Nothing large, just plodding on as you do.  I will be off work until Wednesday and then I hope to return for Thursday and Friday.

I am not quite sure how it happened but I had an oopps moment yesterday.  Opps, the brother scan and cut just happened to fall into my shopping basket and I am so excited. I think I will be needing all the help I can get with preparing for classes and I am sure that this machine will help me.  Anyone that has the machine please feel free to call in and give me a few tips once it arrives as I am not very good with new contraptions.

As it was dads birthday the same day as sisters birthday this last week,  here is the card that I made for him.

a little bit of a close up.  I used lots of different things on this, SU card, Nitwits papers, Penny Black Stamp, SU watercolour crayons as well as SU dies for the circles and the word window punch.  Of course the twine is SU too.

He said he liked it so that was okay.

I will be in and out of craft room today, as much as I can be.  A bit more sorting out, as I do.  If you are free a week on Saturday 28th, please do save an hour or two for a cuppa, cake and a bit of a craft.  More news to follow about this over the weekend.

Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a bright and breezy day....it would be rude not to x

Bookmarks

Good morning and what a soggy one, says the forecast.  Never mind, I will just be pottering today.

As it was my sisters birthday yesterday I made her some bookmarks and put them in a little tin, here they are.

I collect tins, I cant help it.  This is one of hoarding habbits but I do use them and I do give them away with albums in them or like this one, with bookmarks.  I have used mainly Stampin' Up! stamps, inks and card.  Lots of different ribbons and wools.  I hope that she likes these.

So yesterday I was at the hospital for over 5 hours.  The consultant I saw was lovely and very considerate.  She has told me we are going to be working as a team for many months, which was nice.  The staff were amazing and very helpful.  To cut a rather long story short, I had an injection of methotrexate and I have to monitor the side effects for the next week and I have been told not to read up about the drug and the side effects, so I havent.  I should start to feel some benefit in a few weeks time so that is good. I have a lot more appointments for various things and I have made them all for the afternoons, just in case I am at work in the morning.  So it is onwards and upwards today, pottering around.

Thanks for having a read and I wish you a wonderful Thursday, whatever you are up to x

Midweek Musing

Wet and gray but still warm.  That is the forecast for today which is okay by me as it means all my flowers get a good watering and the water butt gets filled up as we nearly emptied it.

Today I am at the hospital, finally.  I hope to find out what I can do to make life a little easier and help get rid of these pains, especially the ones on my feet.  Onwards and upwards as they say.

Today it is my sisters birthday, my dads birthday and my sister and brother in laws anniversary so I have been busy making things.  Today I shall share my sisters card with you

I loved making it and I hope she likes it.

I am placing a Stampin' Up! order later this evening.  If you would like anything please do let me know before 8pm and I shall add it to my little list.  Lots of things still in the clearance and retiring products are around for the next couple of weeks.  I am busy getting things ready for my crafty day on 28th May.  More details to follow but please, do keep an hour free to pop in for a cuppa and some cake.

My green fingers are still green, here are the potato plants that are SO big 

We even have a little flower bud.

The peony tree has done amazingly well

The flower heads are so very big but not sure if they will last in the rain and the wind.

We took the tulips and daffodils out of the planter and changed them over for these wonderful little plants

I do hope that I haven't put too many in the pot, time will tell.

I have lots and lots of tomato plants so if you would like some, please get in touch to let me know.

I will go and get a wiggle on and get a few chores done before I go to the hospital.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you manage to stay dry today x

Merry Moday 20

Good evening, I have had a busy day at work today. As I havent been there for a couple of weeks  I was quite looking forward to going in.  I am being all positive and taking one day at a time.

As usual for a Merry Monday, here is a lovely card that we received at Christmas from Julie

Thank you, its stunning.

I have been asked by a couple of ladies to go through the cards we made last month so on Tuesday, 24th May I shall have a couple of hours making these cards.  If you would like to come along to make them please let me know and I shall make sure that I have enough bits and pieces cut out.  We shall start at 2pm and finish around 4pm.  There will be the usual laughter and chatter and a cuppa with cake at the end of the  session. 

Christiana and I are nipped to Asda for an hour today to return a few bits before coming home via Swarkstone, Aston on Trent, Weston on Trent and Elvaston.

 I have a few special birthdays coming up and cards that need to be finished off as well as those that I need for the next Goodbye old catalogue and Hello new catalogue so I shall spend an hour or two in the craft room, when I have done a little weeding

The Goodbye - Hello Launch is going to take place on 28th May and you can come along and purchase the latest catalogue which is bigger and better than ever, honestly it is.  Make a card, take part in the raffle, have a go at the quiz and sit and natter over cake.  I am hoping it will be a busy day and look forward to seeing you.  If any of my crafty friends feel like demonstrating a small card on the hour, each hour on 28th May please get in touch.  I could do with a bit of a hand on the day.

Right then, I had best get a wiggle on.  Thank you for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful evening, whatever you are up to. x

Birthday Weekend

What a smashing birthday weekend I have had. It all started yesterday morning and will end around 9pm tonight.  I got up yesterday with just a few aches and pains but managed to open all these.

Who is a lucky lady, thank you all so much.

We then had a trip out to Bakewell, somewhere I have never been before and it was a lovely day, not warm really but still nice.  Got home to cake with the grandchildren before settling down with Britain's Got Talent and then Eurovision.

Today we have had pippa for the day and I cooked a Sunday lunch whilst Paul has spent the day is the bathroom.

The little bit of wall has gone, plaster work has been done and the ceiling is now boarded up.  All ready for the next stage on Thursday.

After a little bit of pottering in the greenhouse shortly we shall have a bite to eat and a chilled out evening in front of the box.  Tomorrow I am at work.

Not a lot of crafting over the weekend but I shall be making up for it tomorrow.  After my morning at work Christiana and I shall nip to Asda and then I shall be in the craft room for a few hours and I am really looking forward to it.

Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a lovely evening.

Fridays Post

Good morning from a rather cloudy Derby.  The temperature is quite nice but it is a little windy.  Today is my last day off work as I will be hobbling back on Monday.  All I can do is give it a go and try not to let it beat me.

Yesterday was another day of pottering and I did make a start in the craft room.  It isn't quite finished but it should be later this afternoon.  Christiana and Paul spent the afternoon in town, birthday present shopping.  It is the first time that Christiana will be with me on my birthday in many years so we are looking forward to it.

My house is now looking very much like a bathroom storeroom.  All the towels and bathroom bits are in a corner in the living room.  The shower screen is in Christiana's room, the tiles are in the conservatory and the shower tray in the hall.  Later today the shower panels are due, which will also go in the hall.  The bathroom is changing each day. 

Apart from all the writing on the floor as to where everything will go, Paul has taken out the wall remnents that the previous owners left. The wooden support block is still in but this is due to come out tonight.  We have had a new door frame too.  Bless him, he is trying to fill up all the gaps because you would not believe the size of the spiders that are appearing, *shiver*.  Each night we are hoovering and mopping, trying to keep it all clean as we can (royal we...Paul is doing it).

I have had a new punch from Stampin Up

This is my uncles birthday card for tomorrow and I have used the new banner punch on this card.  It has a matching stamp set too and I am just loving this. Unfortunately I cant show you the actual punch on the blog but I know it is going to be a popular one.

Christiana and I have started a fairy garden,

I am just loving creating this with her.  My acer is looking lovely again this year, thank you Jacqui.

Right, off to do a bit of pottering.  I cant sit at the computer for too long, thanks for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Big Bloomers

Good morning, the sun is out and it is looking like a lovely day is to be had.  It is a bit windy but that is fine.

Today I am still struggling to walk so I am wearing my trainers in the hopes that I can manage for a little longer than yesterday. As long as I sit a bit and then stand/walk a bit I am okay. 

I didnt manage to get the craft room organised yesterday, best laid plans and all that.  The pain in my feet was a little bit too much for me so today I hope to get it done.  The good news is that the hospital appointment has been confirmed for next Wednesday so lets hope I can get sorted out.

I sat this morning with a cuppa and.....MY NEW SU CATALOGUE, oh my.  Lots of nice things, lots carried over and the in colours need to be seen, really.  I shall continue planning and making things for 28th May.  Please keep this date free to join me for a cuppa, cake and a browse at all the new products.

With all this lovely weather, Pauls Pioney tree has produced two amazing flowers, they are so big.

Here is my thank you card for May, which I have forgotten to share with you.

I have to write a few out as quite a lot of goodies have arrived.

Thanks for stopping by for a read and I hope you have a great day.  Tracey

Midweek Musing

Good morning, a cooler one today with rain.  I can cope with that as it is watering all my plants.

I dont know if I should put this but, apart from my feet aching, I have woken up today, pain free *sshh*.  It took a little time to get walking this morning, due to my feet but hay, I can cope with this I believe.

On Saturday night - Sunday morning, the house next to ours was broken into, the car keys taken and the car stolen.  How awful.  We have now added extra security to our house, double checking everything at night time and making sure we are all secure.  I think it is awful.

Not a lot happening in the craft room apart from pottering and sorting out.  As I havent been 100% I havent been making things for the 28th May so, if you fancy a play with some stamp sets, creating a few cards or other products, get in touch to let me know and I shall arrange a play day.  I could do with some help getting display/demonstration goodies ready.

It is Christmas Card Club on Friday night, if you fancy making a few Chrsitmassy bits please, do let me know.

Can you believe the difference in my tree in just a week.  Last week it had some shoots on it and started to look alive but this week, it is wonderful

 My greenhouse antics are doing well.  Here is my bag of potatoes, they are just brimming. 

 All the other veg is doing wonderful but I really do have too many tomato plants.  If you would like any just call in with a couple of empty pots to take them away as I have ran out of pots.

Here is a card I saw on pinterest which I adored so, I just had to go and case it.

As soon as I am able, I shall have a one off evening of Timeless Texture to make a few cards and matching tags. 

Stampin' Up! have lots and lots of retiring products at wonderful prices and not forgetting the clearance rack.  I shall be placing an order in the next few days and if you would like anything, why not pop round for a cuppa and place your order.  The craft room should be clean and tidy by the end of today (Christiana has been in there sorting out a scrapbook).  Lots of magazines looking for new homes, some other bits and bobs FREE too.  I have a few orders that need collecting too so, if you are in the area, it would be great if you could pop in to collect your goodies.

Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Merry Monday Number 19

Good morning from a wonderfully warm Derby.  The forecast today is for another warm day although I do appreciate not everyone enjoys the heat.

Where did the weekend go?  In a flash that is for sure.  I am afraid I have done nothing apart from some pottering.  That is all I can manage at the moment and I am not going to complain about it. Paul took Christiana and I to Mercia Marina on Friday for a change of scenery (I couldnt drive) and that was breathtaking.  The fresh air did me a world of good but on Saturday I had lots of aches and pains. Yesterday was spent pottering with plants in the garden and the greenhouse.

We are eating the rocket and mixed leaf salad that I have grown.  Wow what a feeling that is, it's lovely.  The potatoes and everything else are going mad and I am watering twice a day.  I have even rescued a few plants from the garden and they are coming on a treat in the greenhouse.  The question I have next is, what happens when I go on holiday?  If you fancy popping in to water my plants once a week please do let me know.  Hopefully with family and friends taking a turn, everything should survive.  I am also looking at a watering system too.

As it is Merry Monday, here is a card we received from George H. 

 Lovely isnt it?  Thank you George, hope you are having a wonderful time in New York.

I shall potter with a few chores today and then continue to sort out crafting bits and pieces for sale.  I have quite a few magazines if anyone would like some reading material?   I also hope to catch up with emails and messages but with limited time on the computer (to stop my fingers and wrists hurting), I cant keep up with them all, opps.  If you fancy a cuppa some time today, please call in, Christiana has learnt to make a lovely cuppa.

Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a lovely day, Tracey x

Not what it says on the packet!

Good morning from a sunny Derby.  Wow, yesterday was lovely and warm and  I managed to sit out in the sun for a couple of hours.

Today we have both hands working and pain free whoop whoop.  Right leg and right arm are giving me a bit of jip but I will do the best that I can with them.  Again, it is another day that I cant drive, boo hoo.  Never mind, I will keep pottering on.
 
Christiana opened a pack on baked ready salted crisps to find two packets of cheese and onion crisps in there, oh no.  We shall be writing to walkers today to ask about their quality control!!

Here is another Wetlands card that I have loved for a long time.

 

You stamp out a couple of images from the Wetlands Stamp set, which is not on the retirement list, phew.  You then cut out 3 sections of your stamped images, I used the 1" punch (£10.88 currently and I have one spare if you would like to purchase it).  You use 3 d foam pads to stick it to a 1 3/4" square, which you stick to your card.  A little embossing and viola.

You may have to click on the image of the Laburnum tree but we are just getting shoots and buds on this now.

I will take another photo in a few days to show you how it it getting on.  This is the tree that we had to tie to the telegraph pole and I have been hoping that no one cuts the rope over Winter.  Well it has survived, it is straight and it is doing well, phew.

As Stampin' Up! is in change over mode, from the old catalogue to the new catalogue, I have quite a few of my own personal stamps from SU on the sale dressers.  If you fancy calling in one afternoon or evening to see if there is anything you would like to purchase, please do. 

Thanks for having a read today and I hope you have a lovely day x

I never promised you a rose garden

Good morning and it is supposed to be a lovely day today weather wise.  Up to 18 degrees Christiana tells me.  I guess a little pottering outside may be called for today then.

I didnt get to bed on Monday night as the pain in my shoulder was like something I have never experienced in my life, ouch.  I did manage to sleep a couple of hours Tuesday morning and a nanny nap in the afternoon helped.  I was in bed by 10pm last night and made sure I had painkillers first.  I am so pleased to say that I slept the whole night so feel more human today.  My shoulder is still painful but today my right leg is affected to.  Carrying on as much as I can though.

Here is a card that I wanted to show you, which was made a few weeks ago using the Wetlands Stamp Set.

It has been created by scribbling the Stampin' Up! writters onto an acrylic block, spritzing it and then stamping onto the shimmery card.  The little birds were then stamped on top, once the background had dried.  I shall be showing how to do this in a little more detail at my Goodbye Hello Party on 28th May.  If you fancy having a go, it would be lovely to see you, more details to follow in the next day or two.

The greenhouse is doing really well, my fingers are greener than I thought and I have these tomato seedlings looking for a new home.  I didnt think all the seeds would come through but they have. If you would like some, please let me know so that you can pop round and get them.

Here is a photo of next doors plant which I think is called a sailors button.  It is so bright and cheery,

it also right above Paul's new rose garden.

Thanks for having a read today.  I do hope you have a smashing day, whatever you are up to.  x

May Day Merry Monday 18

Good morning on this May Day Bank Holiday.  Do you remember the maypole dancing?  I do as one year, when I was at the infants school, I was chosen to do this dance and I loved it.  I must remember to ask my mum when and where....

 It is warm in Derby, 13 degrees but very cloudy and gray.  We have already had some showers this morning so I had best get my skates on and start emptying the water butt into the watering can.  The butt is full and I cant empty it fast enough *giggling*  We have lots of plants in the garden that just dont get wet from the rain so I have to go round and water them.

As usual on a Monday, I am sharing a Christmas Card

 

This was made by Denise.  Now I know she didnt make too many this year so I feel very honoured to have received this, thank you, its lovely.

I shall be placing a Stampin' Up! order tomorrow so if you would like anything please, do let me know sometime today.  There are still quite a few things on the retirement list  HERE and dont forget the clearance list HERE for some great offers.

I have an update on my bigshotitus.  I wrote about the pain and discomfort I was in from using the big shot a little bit too much in March.  Well I have been diagnosed with Rhumatoid Arthritis and to be honest, I am devastated.  The doctor has made me an emergency appointment at the hospital and I should be seen in two weeks to get more details, medication sorted and hopefully some respite from the pain.  I know that lots of people have this and continue with a full and busy life but it is just the shock of it.  The doctor wants me to stay off work a couple of weeks until after the hospital visit so I am home pottering the best I can.  Yesterday I got up to just a little discomfort in my left wrist, today I got up to a very painful right knee and swollen/painful fingers on my right hand.  Each day it is another joint that hurts for a few days but I shall not let this get me down, I shall continue the best I can each and every day. I guess things will just take a little longer.

We baked at the weekend (that is the royal we)
 

Christiana loves Victoria sponge cake so I made these mini butterfly cakes for her to try.

 She prefers the mini victoria sponges instead.  Hope to make some chocolate ones as soon as I am able.
I am so pleased that the stamp set Wetlands is staying in the Catalogue for yet another year.  It is such a versatile stamp set and is an all time favourite.  This is one of the cards I have made with it recently.

If you would like to see more cards that I have made with this stamp set, give me a call and pop in for a cuppa sometime this week.  It will be lovely to see you.

Off to see what I can potter with this morning.  Thanks for having a read and please, do have a look at the links to see if there is something you would like to order.  Have a wonderful May Day Bank Holiday x