BACK HOME AGAIN

Came home yesterday after a 3 week trip. My workshop was AMAZING and I loved every second. 

So we went to the NE then to York, after a few days there we went to a site at the Metheringham RAF Museum. What an impeccable Caravan Club CL that was. The bird life kept me entertained as did quite a bit of animal life too.

From there we went to the Lincoln Motorhome show and then home. 

Took me ages to get my titchy craft room tidy.

My border needed some TLC too so I had a go at it today

Much better.

So on Thursday I have a workshop with our gorgeous Hels and I can't wait. 

HERE IN LINCOLN

We moved to the Lincoln showground this morning ready for the motorhome show over the next 3 days. 

It's a breezy old place but needs to be considering it is right next to RAF Scampton, home of the Red Arrows. Unfortunately, they won't be flying this show as they are in Cyprus. Never mind.

That's us just over the hedge with the canopy out. Not putting the awning sides on as we are only here til Monday then it's homeward bound. after 3 weeks away I am looking forward to that.

The show starts tomorrow so we will have a good nosey around then off on the bus into Lincoln on Saturday, another look around the show on Sunday and as I said before, home on Monday.

Tuesday will be a catch up day but Wednesday I will be watching our Hels demo her talents and on Thursday I will be at her workshop. Busy week me thinks.

ANOTHER FAMILY BIRTHDAY TODAY

A very happy birthday to my step daughter, Paula today.

She is not only a talented crafter, mainly sewing, but she is also a knowledgeable gardener making it that we have a lot in common and therefore able to have the odd fantastic days out with lots if fun.

Instead of the usual card I made her this instead

Die cut with a Tim Holtz die from an old dictionary it was simply a case of sticking the bits together. You wouldn't believe how strong it is too.

Right, we are off to try and find a food shop. There is nothing within 12 miles in any direction - how do folk survive out here??

A BIT EXTRA

As I said in my last post, last weekend will stay with me forever, it was that special. 

The big canvas gave me palpitations as Finn's was so utterly gorgeous I never thought I could make anything similar. 

See how amazing it was.

But when I couldn't get the glue to work for me, our Lou stepped in to help - xx.

Then when I realised I'd put paper on upside down on the back of my journal, lovely Sue just gave advice on what comments to say to anyone who actually noticed and we all had a good laugh coming up with more.

Annette and I had actually picked the same colours for our journal covers without knowing, so once we did realise we worked together choosing a contrast, that was fun.

The banter with Finn over English words had each class joining in and I reckon she knows a few more words and expressions now!!

All in all what I am trying to get across is the group fun and team work at these workshops. It really is the best.

 

These are Finn's samples, I thought they may whet your appetite. 

WHAT A WEEKEND THAT WAS

Having dreamt of taking a workshop with the incredible Finnabair that dream finally came true thanks to the one and only super organiser that is no other than Sue Tucker. 

Apprehension set in when we were given the list of stash we needed to take as it included photos. For those who know me also know that cameras are prone to breaking when pointed in my direction!!! Help was called for in order to obtain clear quality photos from the web. A big thank you to my son in law, Quentin, (see the right hand side of my blog for his business details) for finding super free images and printing them for me. They worked a treat.

We drove up to the NE last Tuesday and had a few days doing nothing much really. I had booked all 3 workshops so knew I would be tired at the end of Sunday but didn't care a bit.

Saturday arrived and I set off on the 10min drive arriving at 8:15am! That's some achievement for me as early is not part of my life any more. 

The classroom looked amazing thanks to Sue and her A team.

The fun began.

Our first class was just mind blowing. The kits were super generous and I for one drooled over every single piece including the ugly buttons - Finn's words not mine.

Look what I made, I can't believe how gorgeous this is

I really made that, still can't believe it.

So the 4hr morning class was over and after a lunch break we went back in for the next 4hr class.

The kit was similar and just as luscious except we had a massive canvas to work on. I felt a bit of a heart flutter because Finns sample was to die for and I really didn't expect to come close with mine.

BUT look at this

I could cry even now just looking at it. For me this is spectacular too.

The day ran over and I didn't get back to the motorhome til 7;45pm. Tired but happy as Larry.

I hardly slept so I was up and on the road again bright and early.

Sunday was one class all day apart from the middle break.

Again a super kit but the main piece was a journal. We decorated the outside in the morning and some pages in the afternoon.

This the front of mine

And this is the back

Wow eh?

2 different techniques for the pages and mine turned out like this

Had to include my pal Toby

I've tried to put my journal back together but am struggling with the spring thing. I'll get there though.

Here is one of the group photos.

I even won a prize for my name badge

What a weekend to remember. Roll on the next one.

We've left the NE now and are in York until Saturday when I will have a nightmare of a journey to Lincolnshire. We have to cross the Humber bridge and Im scared of iron bridges over water. Reckon I'll be in the bathroom for that bit!!!!

A HAPPY FAMILY BIRTHDAY

Today is my step son's birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

He is an enthusiastic metal detecting bike /puss cat loving caring person. I made him a canvas board card and painstakingly painted a cardboard stand for it in camouflage. Hope he likes both.

The stand turned out really well.

I used all sorts of little 'finds' on his 'card'.

I'm on my travels again today moving sites but when I get more than a minute I'll tell you about the amazing weekend I've just had. 

SHORTER DAYS

It seems the days are shorter in more ways than one ie daylight and hours!! Where has this year gone? When I worked the days were so long but I managed to get all manner of jobs done but now I'm retired, nothing seems to get done and the days seem so short. No sooner is it time to get up but I'm back in bed again!!

The sun is slipping lower and lower and only just reaches my perennial border in the morning. 

The plants are fading fast except the verbena which is still providing goodness to bees and all manner of gorgeous butterflies. 

We managed a couple of evenings in front of the chiminnea and that was bliss. 

I now have 3 weeks holiday starting Tuesday so my garden will look very different when I get back in October. 

I'm off to 3 workshops next weekend with the amazing Finnabair and the equally amazing Wynyard crew. Bring it on.

12 TAGS OF 2014 - SEPTEMBER

September???? surely it's only March! Another year flying by it seems. Well just look at Tim's tag for this month, it is gorgeous. So colourful and so very different. I love it. May just need to get that butterfly die now. I struggled - once again - to make my background. For some reason I just don't seem to be able to make my blending solution achieve the result I want. It's a mystery to me because I have done this technique before with perfect results. Anyway, I continued and tried to make the best of it. I used an old stamp from my stash and the Autumn Gatherings strip die to cut tiny colourful leaves. This was the result:

It's such a change from the grungy style tags and a style I will certainly have a go at again.

CAN YOU BOAST 54years MARRIED

A great big HAPPY 54th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY to my pal Sylvia and her hubby Reg.

What a lot of years and they still adore one another.

I saw a lovely card a little while ago made by the very talented Tracy Evans and liked it so much I made Sylvia and Reg an 8"x8" canvas board to celebrate today.

It's not quite the same as Tracy's card but just to be sure I wasn't stepping on her toes I showed it to her and asked permission to blog it today. As you can see Tracy said yes.

I had no idea how she had made her card but I loved the colours so just literally 'got stuck in' with paints and a brush. 

All in all it was a pleasure to make and I hope it reached it's destination in Devon in time for today. 

HAD TO BE DONE

I've decided that housework really has to take second place to life. Not only that, but the big garden project we undertook in February and March really did my back. Took an age to get over the hard work but despite that, I would do it again and suffer. 

Some jobs didn't get done at the same time but the glorious weather today allowed me to climb to even greater heights! And clean the gutters

Not bad for a 65 year old eh?