Mr. Penguin

Good morning from a damp Derby. Its only going to be 14 degrees today and rather wet.

I am up very early this morning as the pulled muscle in my arm is getting no easier, in fact I think it is getting worse.  I know that once you have muscular pain it needs at least 6 weeks to sort itself out so today I will be rubbing some gell on it and I will just have to  pong, at least I the pain will be easier.

I would just like to make it clear that I dont do competative and I dont do 'the jones'.  I craft because I enjoy crafting, I enjoy making things for friends and family and seeing the smiles on their faces.  I craft because I have the time to do this and I craft because it makes me happy.  I craft with other ladies and pass on what I know because I want to, I enjoy it, does it have to be for any other reason?  Glad I got that off my chest.

Last night a few ladies came round to do some crafting, it was a great get together and we made a few things.  The first was this little fella

We always start the evening off with a little box.  I love my curvy keepsake box and there are 1001 things that can be made with it.  As soon as I see something that I like made with the die, on the internet, with a friend or at a show, I have a go to make it myself.  I have never said that I invented the animals, shapes that we create and the good thing about crafting is that the majority of crafters love to share what they make and they take it as a compliment if you want to create something similar to what they have done.

The conservatory man came back to smooth the plastic down that he put in all the holes.  What a bl**dy mess.  I have called the Managing Director and he is coming to the house on Thursday afternoon so that I can show him exactly what has happened.  I have already prepared my letter of complaint and on top of that, I have enquired about rouge traders on watchdog!!

Right, I had best get myself sorted and off to work for the morning.  This afternoon I have the pleasure of ironing!!! At least I wont be cold.

Thanks for having a read and have a great day. x

Tuesdays Twitter

Good morning and I hope that its as lovely today as it was yesterday.

The great news is that we emptied yet another box.  The box was full of photo albums and the temptation to go through them all was so strong but I was a good girl.  I just put them away on a shelf that is dedicated to the albums....phew.  I thought that I may have given in and spent hours looking at old photos.

Lots more pictures up on the wall in the kitchen, which hides all the holes. I am not sure when the kitchen will be modernised/decorated so we thought its best to get the pictures out of the boxes and up on the walls so that they dont get damaged.

I also managed to bake a fruit cake for tonight, do all the washing and cook shepheards pie to use up all that lovely veg.  Which means that tonight it is shepheards pie and chips, no cooking, whoop whoop.

For all those Stamperettes that may be reading, could you get in touch as tomorrow is 28th, where did that month go?  Liz is our hostess with the mostess this month.

I have had 2 cancellations for this evenings card making night.  If you are in the Derby area and fancy coming along, please do get in touch.

Paul is having a day working from home and guess who else is coming today!!  The conservatory man to buff up all the white gunk sticking out of the 28 holes......

I have been using the new pillow box die from Stampin' Up!  Its a great size and you can fit in all kinds of treats, I have been putting halloween treats in mine.

I adore this new Stampin' Up! stamp set and whilst I dont usually 'do' Halloween, this year I have and am loving it.  I do hope you like my little treat pouches.

Well I had best get a wiggle on and have breakfast.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful day Tracey x

Monday morning Tah Dah

Sat in the new office he he.  It is a bit strange sat here but that isnt a complaint.  I have to get a few bits and pieces sorted to keep the desk as clear as possible.  Paul has managed to put a few of his books up on the shelf and yesterday we emptied another 4 boxes, which is great.

Sunday was a typical Sunday with the added bit excitement with this

Paul saw it on Saturday and decided to purchase it to have with Sunday lunch.  It is a Romanesco which is a vegetable in between broccoli and cauliflower.  I hate broccoli and I love cauliflower so Iw was very cautious and  you know what, it was beautiful.  So much so that with our Shepheards Pie tonight, we are eating it again.

I think it is coming up to TAH DAH season again so we will start it off with a couple of tah dahs this week.  Here is TAH DAH No. 1.

Isnt it wonderful.  Jane made this and I greatly received it.  I havent seen anything so stunning for quite a while and I cant wait to have a go making a few myself.  Alison, who saw this on Friday night has already been and had a go making one herself (hope to get a photo?).

Just one place left on tomorrows crafty night if you fancy coming along?  Just let me know.

Well I had best go and grab breakfast before going to work.  The traffic wont be so bad as the children are off school so I shall leave a few minutes later today.

The office has moved

Good morning from the new forever home of the computer.  Paul flew home very early yesterday morning and in the afternoon we decided to take the plunge and move the computer from the kitchen to the everything room so here I am today, typing the first blog post from the new desk.  All I have to do now is clean up the kitchen and all the papers, bits of notes, move files over  etc. etc.   in reality, it is a mamouth task and will take a couple of weeks.

 A little of the before and after

I remembered to put my clock back, did you?  I still got up at the usual time so I get to spend the extra hour in the craft room later today.

It is my brother in laws birthday today and here is the card I made him.

I love the Tim Holtz crazy birds and have started to use them for a few things.  I stamped out the image on watercolour paper and coloured them in using watercoloured pencils and loved making this.....the first of many.

Still got a couple of spaces left for Tuesday nights crafty night in Alvaston, Derby if you fancy a night out.  If you do, please let me know.

 Now that Paul's home, I get to do all his washing so off to get that sorted out before hitting the craft room.  Thanks for having a read and have a wonderful day xx

It's the weekend

The weekend is here and I am so pleased.  It has been a long week but it was rounded off wonderfully with crafty night last night.  Lots of lovely ladies spent the evening crafting and it was so nice to see everyone.  It feels such a long time since the last get together and I guess it is.  I shall share what we made later in the week, I dont want to spoil the surprise for the ladies meeting up on Tuesday.  If you would like to spend a couple of hours crafting, I have two spaces available for Tuesday night. 

I mentioned earlier in the week that the conservatory man came.  He put liquid pva/plastic or whatever it was in the damaged holes, all 28 of them and was due back on Thursday to buff everything down so that we wont see them, well he never came back.  I telephone him yesterday at 1.30pm and was told yes Mrs. Anthony (thats me), I will be there in an hour/hour and a half.  No sign of him and, to be honest, I am not sure if he has damaged the white plastic covers inside the conservatory as he didnt us the proper tool to remove the covers, he used this.
 


Just one of the areas that has been filled.

Not a happy bunny about this at all and over the weekend, I shall be writing a few letters/emails.

A couple of cakes that I baked for last night.  I shall be making the pear cake again on Tuesday as it is smashing.

Well I am off to enjoy my weekend.  I shall be placing a little order tomorrow for Stampin' Up! goodies so if there is anything that you wish to add to this, please let me know.

Have a wonderful Saturday and thanks so much for nipping in for a read today.

off colour

Good morning on this Thursday.

Well the Cloudy to Clear sub contractor came yesterday and filled up the 15 holes that the fitter drilled through the actual window frame when they were cleaning my double glazing units  a few months ago.  I was told that the glass units would all be removed and that the bottom would be cleaned and cleared and all debris removed so when he did 2 out of the 10 units and handed me back my hoover, I asked about the other 8.  He got the operations manager out to give him a hand and they worked until rather late to get it done.

But we havent finished yet.  The holes have been filled and today, he has to return to smooth down all the areas that he filled.  Only then will we be able to say if its acceptable or not but the colour sticks out like a sore thumb.  It is so white, he reckons after a couple of months it will fade but I am unsure.

I managed to get quite a bit done in the craft room last night but still not quite ready for tomorrows get together.  Instructions to write, raffle prizes to sort and of course, I need to bake so I will be busy this afternoon / evening too.

Here is a card that I am adding to my little facebook shop

I think it is so cute and will happily make quite a few more.  If you would like one of these cards please, give me a call and I will get one organised for you.

Off to work for the morning, thanks for having a read and have a great day.

Midweek Musing

What a wet and soggy start to the day.  At least it is not too cold thankfully.

I worked for the whole day yesterday and boy, did I know it.  In one way it was good because I managed to get lots of things done and dusted but it made me very tired.  The evening was spent at home, in craft room cutting out curvey boxes....so cute lol.  It was bed by 9 ready to start my day today.

The morning at work soon wizzed past as I was so busy and then it was home to the conservatory repairs.  I got a note stuck on the door, they will be back later.  What a mess they have left already, things do not look good especially when all the white gunk they have put on the window frame is over my back gate.  I will keep you posted.

So today we have a new weekly deal

I shall be placing an order on Sunday so if there is anything that you would like please, do get in touch as I will be really happy to get this for you.  If you need any help, crafting wise, again, please let me know.

Off to continue preparing goodies for Fridays crafty night.

Mondays Musing

After a wonderful day yesterday, I was a little late in getting to bed but never mind.  I am up and about to get ready for the day job.

Here is a card that I sent out recently to someone who made a purchase from me.

 

We recently lost my uncle, who had been ill for a long time.  It was very sad especially as I hadnt seen him for many years, due to family misunderstandings 40ish years ago.  After the funeral, back at the house, we met up with other members of the family we hadnt seen and I vowed to make sure that I kept in touch with them.  After chatting to a cousin on the day, it turns out we have quite a lot in common and lots of coincidences but the biggest one is that she lives next door but one to me.  Well after sharing a cuppa with her last night, I discover that she has all the gubbing to make cards / scrapbooks.  I have told her that I will happily lead her astray he he.

Today it is 2 years since May passed away.  I shall be taking a walk around the crem at lunch time, always blows the cobwebs off doesnt it.

Then its an afternoon of putting away crafty purchases (I was at Doncaster yesterday at the crafty show at the Dome and had a brilliant day, thanks to Lesley and Pam.), finishing 3 projects that I have on the go and getting everything prepared for Crafty Week.  There are a couple of places available for Friday nights crafting night where we shall make a cute little xmas box as well as a couple of cards and tags.  Plenty of chatter, laughter and who knows what else by the time everyone arrives.  Homemade cakes too.  If you would like to come along please, do get in touch.

If you are local to Derby, fancy a cuppa and a catch up after 3pm, I shall be in the crafty space and it will be lovely to see you.  If you need my address, let me know.  Thanks for having a read and have a wonderful day Tracey x

New Home Card

Yesterday just flew by doing lots of chores and catching up with some little bits and bobs that needed doing.

My friend has recently moved and here is the card that I have made and sent to her.

I managed to paint the wood for the bookcase twice but I think it need another coat, so will do that tomorrow.  I also swept around the outside of the house, all the way round and pulled out weeds or sprayed them to kill them, I knew there were a lot but I didnt realise that there were THAT many.  Fingers crossed that the spray works and I can just pull them out in a couple of days.

A few photos from the garden

I started to clean crafty space after Friday nights get together but, I got distracted, as you do.  I made the curvey keepsake box ready for Crafty week and I made the first of the little treats for everyone for crafty week.  I just have to get the cards organised, which will happen tomorrow afternoon/evening.
Do you fancy crafting next Friday night for a couple of hours? If you do, it will be lovely to see you.  Just get in touch and book your seat.

Off to Doncaster today and really looking forward to a day out.  Thanks for having a read and wishing you a lovely day x

Smashing Saturday

Good morning from a rather chilly Derby.  As I am going to be mrs mopp today I dont mind that it is going to be a cloudy day with a temperature of 13 degrees, real feel 10.  I can tell you in about an hour it is going to be real feel of about 30.

Yesterday I really had that Friday feeling which was topped off with a smashing crafting evening.

 Here are are some of the dividers all stamped up and ready for the cards to go inside

We managed to get lots of the cards for the tin made and there are a selection of those that we did in the photo above, we put the world to rights and I had a lovely night.

I did a little baking yesterday and put a up a few halloween bits ready for crafty week.

I mentioned yesterday about putting the clocks back, well its next weekend.  And they do go back one hour so we get more time in bed, whoop whoop.

After my cleaning chores today I shall be doing a bit of weeding.  The pesky blighters have appeared all along the holly hedge so I will give everywhere a good sweep outside (all the neighbours come out to say a quick hello), then I will pull the weeds out /spray them all.  I cant let them get the better of me.

Off for brekky and to make a start.  Thanks for having a read and have a Super Saturday

A busy bee

Good  morning.  I thought the clock was wrong this morning because at 7am it was so dark outside, Winter is on its way.  This must mean that we get an extra hour in bed soon then, must try and find out when.

I have been a busy bee this week and not had a lot of time crafting.  Shelves are going up in the spare in and as Paul has gone to work away for a while, I have been left holding the baby, so to speak.  So over the weekend I have more sanding, filling and painting to do and then, to put the house straight again.

Phase 1 of the shelves, dont those little tv tables come in handy he he .

It was Karens birthday earlier this week and this is the card I sent

Tonight it is cards in a tin class and am I ready, no......I have been so engrossed in other things that when I get in from work today I have to try and find the tables in the craft room, oh yes, they are full of wonderful projects, half way done.  Still, I have the weekend to finish some off.

Thanks for having a read today, I hope you have a wonderful Friday and, if you fancy a cuppa and a chat on Sunday, I will be in the crafty space......crafting

A few cards for the box

Feeling a bit more human today although its strange that both Sophia and Chrsitiana havent been well either.  Sophia has very similar symptoms to myself so I wonder if we have picked up a bug.

I didnt do a lot yesterday, just potter and I guess that will be all I am doing today.

Here are some photos of a few cards that were finished recently, all popped in the box for sale.

 Now that all the boxes are just about emptied from the house move, I am trying to de clutter and only keep the things that I intend to use time and time again.  So I am selling quite a few dies, stamps and lots of 12 x 12's.  I find that I go through phases with crafting and now I am about to move into another phase so a lot of card making bits and pieces are looking for new homes. 

If you would like one of the dies below, please do get in touch.

If you would like to come and have a browse of all the things that I am selling, let me know and we can arrange a day and time. 

Off to have a bit of brekky to see if it makes me feel human.  Thanks for having a read and have a Fantastic Friday

Boys will be Boys

Yesterday was a right off.  I was so ill on Tuesday evening and all day yesterday. I went to bed at 4.30 in the afternoon on Tuesday and got up quite late Wednesday.  I have been very dizzy, feeling icky, headache and lots of heartburn.  Fingers crossed that today is a bit better.

Due to all the cancellations I have received for tonights 'Boys will be Boys' night, I have postponed it until everyone is free.  Here is one of the cards that I made using the Boys will be Boys Stamp set, which was on offer for £12.  If you would like one of these Stamp Sets, please do let me know as there is still one available at the discounted price.

 I had seen something on Pintrest and decide to do a blatent copy as I just loved the layout and the coulours.  I used a base card of Daffodil Delight and teamed it up with Real Red and Pacific Point.  It didnt look quite right so, I  made it again, this time using an aditional layer, a change in the way the card opened and added a couple of matching brads.  The strips of cards are thinner on this version and I am very happy with it.

I shall be making another couple of cards with the same stamp set a little later in the week, when I am feeling better.

If you are waiting for an order, as I am, just to let  that the orders from Stampin Up are taking a little longer than usual as the warehouse has changed location, that mush have been quite a task. Can  you imagine how many items had to go from one place to another, yikes.

This weeks weekly offers are

If you would like anything, please do let me know, I shall be placing an order on Friday this week as there are a few bits needed for Crafty Week.

Thats all from me for today, back to bed I think.  Thanks for having a read and have a wonderful Thursday x

Tuesdays Twitter

I am so sorry for bringing the rain home with me he he.  What a downpour we had yesterday and last night was a wash out, opps.

I got stuck at work yesterday and by the time I got home, emptied cases and started the washing, it was time for tea.  We then had the grandchildren round to visit and by 9pm, I was in bed, not even ventured into crafty space yet, but this afternoon I will.

I managed to get a couple of crafty bits in cyprus

This is for the walls but I dont know where I can put it, Paul will have to move things around a little as my walls are quite busy and I have other bits to hang up too.

Some little stickers for some little boxes I intend to make and some buttons, dont ask what I will do with the buttons, but something will come up.

Here is the card that I made for Christiana on her birthday

and of course, this is the cake she had made. 

 
There were so many cake designs to choose from because now, with the Pintrest App, you can find such wonderful ideas for everything but she was insistant on a bow and she wanted white with pink.  I think she made a great choice.  I would still love to be able to decorate a cake like this and intend to be able to do so in the very near future.

Enough from me for today, *waving* at everyone who has nipped in to have a read, thanks for popping in.  Have a terrific Tuesday,  Tracey x

Monday morning feeling

Good morning from a chilly Derby brrrrr.

We arrived home last night on a very delayed and bumpy flight followed by a speeding taxi ride down the M42 phew.  But once I got my slippers on and had a cuppa I was fine.  Was in bed by 9pm and up this morning at 4.30am, guess I will need a nanny nap later.

The holiday was smashing and just what the doctor ordered.  I have returned feeling positive, ready to make changes and have fun over the next few months.

Here is a very rare family photo of us with the girls and my sister in law, Irini.

This was taken on Christianas birthday at the party we all had and it will be a lovely memory (one to scrapbook).

5p for carrier bags comes into force today.  I will be putting some in my handbag as I always forget to grab one.

I have a boys will be boys card making on Thursday night.  If you would like to come along to have a go at making a few cards with this stamp set, please let me know.  Just bring your stamp set with you, if you have one and some card and we can have a play.  If you dont have the stamp set you can always borrow mine.

Friday nights it is the Christmas Card and Chatter evening again, do let me know if you plan on coming along

Thanks for having a read and I wish you a magical Monday x

Yet another Christmas card

The weekend has just begun and the forecast for Derby is 15 degrees and cloudy.  Here is is 31 phew. I guess we will feel the difference when we get home.

We have had a wonderful couple of days since my last post. A very wonderful family birthday party, a trip out to a little village, jumping the giant waves on the beach.  When we left the beach we saw all the red flags if warning, opps.  We got caught in a 2 minute rain shower and cooked lots of meals for the girls.

Well it is our last full day of our holidays and what a full day we have planned. Off to Larnaca to take back table and chairs we borrowed, to return pots and pans from food cooked by the family, a little retail therapy and to say goodbye to in laws and that is just the morning, really.

Here is another one of the Christmas cards I made from the kit.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for having a read