Hold on to your hats

Good morning and it is a warm one, although that wind is rather breezy.  The garden is still looking lovely and the broom plant is still flowering.  Poor things must really be confused.

As Paul has gone on his jollies again today we are home alone and what mischief can we get up to, in between doctors appointments, hospital visits and such like.  We shall see.

Here is the wreath that I created last weekend, with a bit of help.

We had a lovely time out and I would certainly make another one next year.  In a couple of weeks time I shall be going to make a real wreath with foliage and I am looking forward to that too. 

The craft room is having a bit of a overhaul. If you fancy grabbing a bargain or two you are most welcome to pop round to see what there is, bring a friend or two with you, kettle will be on.

Isnt this lovely little jar wonderful.

It is another great little swap and it has little sweets inside.  All the swaps are still on show and will be for another week.


There are still some brilliant offers on from Stampin' Up!  up to 40% on some items.  Please click HERE and it will take you straight there.  If you have any queries, please get in touch.  THIS is a link to take you to my email. 

If you fancy a crafty night this Friday, please let me know as there are still a couple of seats available.

Well thanks for popping in, hold on to your hats today and have a lovely Wednesday.  Tracey x

A new week begins

Good morning and I hope that this finds you all well on a Monday morning.  It was a lot warmer today 9 degrees at 6am compared to 0.01 yesterday. Yes I am getting up at silly o clock again but at least I am in bed by 10p, so getting plenty of rest.

The sales have started with 20% off selected items for 24 hours, which ends at 11.00pm tonight.  There is also an online extravaganza which runs until just before 11pm on 26th and then to top it all off, there will be a FLASH SALE on 27th November.

If you would like to shop online, please do so HERE for all orders under £150.  If you add the hostess code GR42UYQF in the little box when you see it, I shall be very happy to send you a little thank you in the post. All orders placed direct with with me will also receive a thank you.   If you have any queries, please let me know.

Another cutie that I received recently, thank you so much.

This is so pretty in real life and if you would like to pop in and see this as well as all the other lovely items, please do.  We are home all afternoon and evening today.

There is a crafting get together this Friday evening and there are two spaces at the moment.  If you would like to book onto this please get in touch as soon as possible. 

Here is another wreath made by Christiana this weekend.  We went over to the 12 events of Hobbycraft on Saturday and met some lovely ladies and everyone made a wreath of some description.  I think this is lovely and for the price of £10 its amazing.  As Christiana will be with her sisters this Christmas we have to get it wrapped up and put into the case, yikes

Well I had best get a move on with some pottering.  I am getting picked up soon.  Thanks for having a read and wishing you a lovely day.  Dont forget to pop in later if you are in the area and, if you need directions, let me know.  Tracey x

Pretty Candles

Good morning and brrrr it is cold again.  Everywhere was all white this morning.  It looked a picture.  Now that the sun is out of course it has all gone.  I was glad to be up so early to see it.

Here is a smashing swap that I received.

I just love the idea and if anyone would like to join me, after Christmas to make a few of these as birthday gifts, just let me know.

A few chores this morning, as best I can and then Christiana has an appointment.  We are then having lunch at a local Christmas Market.  It should start the weekend off just right.

Thank you for having a read an I hope you have a lovely day.

Sweet Treats

Good morning, a quick *wave* to all my wonderful visitors yesterday who certainly brightened up my day, thank you.

So many have asked so I am pleased to say that at the moment I am coping without having my weekly injections.  As I had a steroid injection from the lovely doctor at hospital, it is enabling me to manage.  I havent heard anything yet about the counselling I am to have, prior to starting my new treatment.  Fingers crossed (which I still cant do) that I hear soon and in the meantime, I am waking up each day with a smile.

Just two of the sweet treats that I received

 

These will all be in The Craft Room for you to have a look at so please feel free to pop in for a cuppa.

We are out and about this morning doing a few errands but home all afternoon and evening.  I had best get a wiggle on before my lift arrives.  

Thank you for having a read and wishing you a lovely day.  Tracey x

Midweek Musing

Good morning, 10 degrees today whoop whoop.  Hopefully that will mean a little potter in the garden and get rid of a few dead twigs etc. 

Yesterday was a bit of a mixture.  We spent the morning out doing errands which was really nice and then the afternoon doing paperwork, again that was nice and I feel so much better for it.  I am back to my NO PILES policy again and the 'JUST 2 MINUTES'.  That is where I spend just 2 minutes tidying a room before I walk out of it.  It keeps me sane so it is a good thing.

Lovely visitors Monday after noon, it is so nice just to sit, chat, eat cake and catch up on all that has been happening in each other lives.  I know that social media is such a wonderful thing but so is sitting opposite someone chatting (thank you for the cakes too).

Have you been on the Stampin' Up! site today?  If not you may want to go and have a look as it has been refreshed, whoop whoop.  Click HERE  for a quick link .

Have you heard about the brand new Stamparatus from Stampin' Up!

Here is a quick link for you to find out more HERE

You can reserve your Stamparatus as from tomorrow.  To get more details about this, please get in touch.  I am sure that you will be seeing lots more about this all over the world wide web. As soon as mine arrives, I shall let you know.

Here is another wonderful swap I received from a wonderful lady who welcomed me into her group.  Thank you so much and if you dont mind, I will be making a few of these myself for family presents, so cute

And how about this special swap, definately the WOW factor. 

 



Thank you Sammie, this is wonderful and something else I will be making.  I just need lots of extra hours and more days when my hands are fine.

For those that read my blog on a computer I think you will see that the wallpaper has changed.  I didnt realise that you dont see the same thing when you look on a mobile.  A change is as good as a rest.  I hope to spend some time over the next few days updating other areas of the blog too.  Just a little bit at a time, as and when the fingers will let me.

Today we are having a bit of a girly morning at home, catching up on a few bits and pieces and getting to look nice.  I will be in the craft room this evening after 6ish if anyone fancies popping in to collect goodies, see some swaps or just have a catch up. 

Off to start our day, thank you for having a read.

Wallpaper

Good morning and brrr it really is a cold one  today.  Well I am wrapped up warm and I have put the heating on FULL in the craft room.

What a wonderful time I had in Birmingham this last weekend and a really big thank you goes out to everyone who helped make this possible.  The train journey there and back was perfect, it was all made so easy. A long lunch and a one shop shopping made it even better to travel to our destimation.
 
Well they had some sale items so how could we refuse.

It gets sad when you take photos of the ladies toilets wallpaper but this is just amazing and it was in John Lewis

 

 I met up with some wonderful friends, made new friends and put faces to names that I have only messaged on facebook, the wonder of social media.  We all got spoilt by 'Little Things' because it really is the little things that matter.  This was waiting for me at my dinner table
 
And on Saturday, every one of us was given one of these delightful cup cakes

 

I did lots of swaps and if you would like to see them all,  they will be displayed in The Craft Room very soon.  Here is one that I think is smashing.

A great way to use the stamp set and there was a lovely packet of beverage and chocolate inside.  A great idea for handmade Christmas gifts.

I also got lots and lots of free gifts.  Here are just a few that are here whilst I am having my coffee break

We have been given a few larger plants for our garden from my sister and whilst two have been put in the greenhouse over Winter, the largest, a Flamingo Plant, was put in the ground yesterday.

Well, I had best go and get a bit of a wiggle on, as much as I can wiggle.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a great day.  Tracey x

Musical Backgroud

Good morning and it is a bit warmer this morning.  I have already been outside and we have had the boiler man here who has serviced the boiler.  That is the heating sorted for another year.  The forecast for today is for rain but I can cope with that.  It means that the flowering plants will get a good watering.

Paul has emptied another 12 boxes from the loft into his Shed.  

 The house is really breathing a sigh of relief and I am so pleased that things are finally getting sorted out.  He still has quite a bit of work to do in the Shed to get it all in order but it is looking good.  The next part of the jigsaw puzzle is to get the garage cleared so that he can cut down some free standing book cases for them to fit in the Shed. 

Here is a card that was made last month by lots of lovely crafting friends.

The new Painted Harvest stamp set was teamed up with the Musical background stamp.  I just love this and have a few half finished ones to play with.  Colours used are Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Soft Suede and Always Artichoke.  If you would like to pop in to make one or two cards using these stamps please let me know and I shall arrange a get together for an afternoon.

It was good having a Monday feeling quite well yesterday and it was wonderful seeing everyone that visited, thank you.  I love getting visitors especially as I cant get out and about as much as I like, it means that I can keep up with the outside world. 

Thank you for having a read and I hope you have a smashing Tuesday.  Tracey x

SU Marker backgrounds

Good morning and brrrr it really is a cold morning.  I was the last one up today, I didnt want to leave my warm bed.  Only 2 degrees when I finally made it for a cuppa but the sun is out now and it looks lovely and crisp out there.

Friday evening was Christmas Card and chatter evening and we put the world to rights.  It is now time to start sticking the cards together and getting that pen out.  It wont be too long before we have to post our cards overseas.

Saturday was another crafty one once we had a trip to Costco and visited my friend from Ireland.  Just put a few bits away and tidied up.  Sunday was a full on craft room day tut tut.  We started off with a group of lovely pen club ladies, now called pennys.  We had a play making backgrounds and here is one that was finished.

This was made using Shimmery White Card stock as it has a wonderful finish to it.  Scribbling two coloured Stampin' Up! makers onto an acrylic block and spritzing with water creates a lovely wash.  You then stamp this wash onto your card, making it very wet and sprinkle with salt.  Depending on which salt you use, as it absorbs the water it leaves marks in different shapes and sizes.  You can speed up the process by using a heat gun.  When it is dry you wipe the salt off and you have a background.  Everytime you do it, it will be very different. If you fancy having a go at this please let me know and I will arrange a little get together in The Craft Room.

Once The Craft Room got cleaned up and the salt was all hoovered away,  it was out with big bertha to make some special swaps for my adopted Stampin' Up! family.  When I went to Telford last year a lovely lady Jayne, took me under her wing as I was on my own for dinner.  I was introduced to lots of other lovely ladies that evening and the following day I spent it with Jayne and her friends.  We have kept in touch and met up again in Amsterdam, which was lovely.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone once more this weekend when we shall meet up again and we are doing a special swap.

Today I shall do a bit of pottering, a bit of washing and then it is off to pick up a few bits as I think I can drive today, which is a blessing.  No injection today as the hospital dont have such a small dose one and we are waiting for it to come in.  It could take a couple of weeks I am told.  In the meantime, I shall enjoy the extra 'good' days.

Thanks for having a read today and I hope you stay warm.  Tracey x

Keep the Curvy continues

Good morning.  Up early whilst it is dark, how I do love the dark starts to the day.  It is so nice to take a little walk outside when it is all quite.

Well yesterday my trip to the hospital was enlightening.  The medication I am currently taking is not having the desired effect because my body can not tolerate it and therefore the medical staff can not increase the dose, to give me a better chance at fighting the illness.  So it is all change.  I have to reduce my current medication by  50% for the next few weeks.  I will be going into hospital once a week to have treatment in about 6 weeks.  Fingers crossed that this will help.  In the meantime I have been given a steroid injection to help me through the weeks ahead as it could start to get a little worse.  One of the biggest factors of the change in the illness is stress.  Stress can make the Rhumertoid Arthritis a lot worse so a lot of calm days ahead for me.

This was the little witch which was made by everyone that came for an evening of crafting during October.  She did have a few sisters but they vanished filled with sweets for little niece and nephew.  Speaking of which (excuse the pun), we were over run by little children all dressed up out to 'trick or treat' on Tuesday evening and here was me, no sweets in the house, oops.  They all left satisfied with chocolate mini rolls and kit kats...poor Paul, that was his pack up gone.

Doctors today for Christiana and then a whole afternoon and evening in the craft room.  If you fancy a cuppa, a crafty chat and see what we are working on, please pop in.  It will be lovely to see you.  If you havent been before but fancy a get together, please get in touch and I can let you have directions.

Thanks for having a read and wishing you a lovely day.  Tracey x

The first of the month

Good morning and Hello November.  I have an exciting month planned and lets just hope that I can get do all that is planned.

Starting the month off are Stampin' Up! Blendabilities.  I shall be placing a little order tomorrow evening to try out a couple so if you would like to come and have a go, pop in next week and see what you think. 

Please click HERE to see a short video.

Friday is Christmas Card and Chatter night so if you would like to make a few cards, tags or anything else Christmas related you are most welcome to join us.  If you would like venue details and directions just get in touch.

I am really pleased to say that my leg is improving today which is a good job as we are off to the hospital, again.  It will be an afternoon and evening of pottering so, if you fancy a cuppa and wish to collect any goodies, please do.

Here is a card I made using a whole new petal garden card pack along with the petal garden papers.

I have quite a few of these cards to show you and if you have been toying with getting the card pack, I can certainly recommend it.  For the price of £9 the pack includes 52 double-sided 3" x 4" (7.6 x 10.2) cm cards, 2 each of 26 designs; 20 double-sided 4" x 6" (10.2 x 15.2 cm) cards, 2 each of 10 designs; 2 cardstock sticker sheets; 5 gold foil die cuts. 

I must get a wiggle on now as best I can before hubby comes to pick me up.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you have an amazing start to November x