Life is more fun

I managed to spend some time yesterday making a scrapbook layout using the a few bits and pieces from the scraps I posted about here.  There is just one strip of paper, a couple of bits of cardstock, a few tags and a piece of adhesive burlap left.  I think I can make at least one more card out of the paper and cardstock.  The tags and burlap will be used in conjunction with other scraps at some stage.

I had great fun playing with stencils from Stamplorations, texture paste, inks and stamps from SU.  It was nice to be productive and just let the page evolve and I actually ended up with something I am really pleased with.

More of the same

I have been making more cards in the same design as I posted a while back.  I love the design and find the colouring of the roses very therapeutic.  I think I will have a go at doing the same with some of my other outline stamps and see what other cards I can come up with.

I think why I like this design is because you can use any colours you want for the flowers and I have a large collection of Stampin' Up! pads I can experiment with. 

New reading material

I picked up a couple of books at one of our local garden centres last week - two for £5.  I've never heard of the author before but they look as if they are easy to read novels and there is a small series of these books.  I bought the first two in the series, The Little Village School and Trouble at the Little Village School by Gervase Phinn.  Has anyone read any of these?

Expectations exceeded

I managed to add a grand total of 1309 stitches to landscape this month which I am really pleased about.  An extra 109 stitches over my monthly target.

I am now working my way back up the left hand panel.  My aim for July will be to get this side finished and move onto the central panel.

Our get together at Moya and Nigels yesterday was wonderful.  It was nice for the spouses to get together and empathise with each other over their wives crafting addictions.  Moya put on an absolutely delicious spread and we were spoilt for choice and certainly didn't go home hungry.

Five days left

Just five more days left in June for me to finish this months Joyful World SAL.   I did manage to add a few more stitches to it yesterday but still have a way to go before it is finished.  I am still optomistic that I will get it done in time.

Yesterday I had my nails done and a relaxing facial.  We also met up with eldest son and his family.  I Treated myself to a new phone, nothing fancy but it was brand new to me and not one of the children's hand me downs lol.  Spent some of yesterday evening working out how to use what I use regurlarly, loading a couple of apps I will use frequently and doing quite well considering I'm not technically minded.

Today we have been invited to a BBQ/buffet depending on the weather with the crafting girls and their spouses.  Fingers crossed it will be dry and we can enjoy being outside in the garden of our hosts.

Hope you have all enjoyed your weekends as much as I have x

Planning for the future

Well the larger proportion of the United Kingdom have voted to leave the European Union.  Obviously not everyone is happy but the decision has been made and we need to face the future with positivity and not negativity.  Que sera sera - Whatever will be will be.

On a personal level I spent some time decorating my personal planner, decorating the pages and adding in my schedule for next week.  I finally got round to using the Alice in Wonderland stickers I bought a few weeks ago.  I also used up the final remnants from the very first Lollipop Box which was called Alice's Tea Party.  I have subscribed to these Happy Mail  boxes from the very first kit and love getting a box of stationary supplies each month.

Up and about early

The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live. ~Flora Whittemore

We were up early yesterday to go and place our vote in the UK referendum.  We pretty much arrived just after they had opened the doors.  As I was up early I took Max for his morning walk along the creek, it was lovely and peaceful, a wonderful time to gather your thoughts for the day.  There always seems to be something new to admire and this time I captured photos of Dogwood Roses, Honeysuckle and the chestnuts that are growing along the footpath.

I wonder what the outcome of the referendum will be when I turn on the TV today.

Stitching completed

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph. ~Author Unknown

I managed to complete the stitching of the gift stitch yesterday and I am relatively pleased with how the new word adjustment has fitted.  I've just got to finish it using something I purchased from The Crafty Kitten.  

Now I must try and crack on with June's  other objectives.

Gift stitch started

The gift stitch I wanted to get done this month has finally been started. The chart and kit came free with a magazine but I am adapting the wording on this to something more appropriate for the recipient.  I just hope I have worked out the spacing of the letters and it is evenly balanced once stitched.

I don't like the hoop that came with the kit neither so I shall be finishing it slightly differently as well.  I do like the chart though and it may use it again in the future for more gifts.  I am hoping I can get this one finished today and then continue with the Joyful World SAL. 

Carry on regardless

Never say, "oops." Always say, "Ah, interesting." ~Author unknown

I managed to add some more stitches to June's Joyful World SAL yesterday evening, mainly the border, a couple of flowers and the first letter of June.   As I was counting down the border I realised I had made a couple of mistakes with the large flower on the left.  I've gone too far now to want to unpick it so will just make a slight adjustment with the word June for it to fit.

It's the first mistake I've made on these for a couple of months and one that thankfully I can live with.

It was nice being at home and having the chance to do some stitching for a change on a Monday evening.

Sleepless night, productive day - how does that work?

I have almost caught up on my stitch schedule with regards to landscape.  I put in a total of 515 stitches yesterday while watching the tennis final and then later the football.  The weather was atrocious, rain all day so what else could I do?

I managed a total,of 338 a fortnight ago so a total of 853 stitches have been added to landscape this month.  If I can manage to add 347 next Sunday then I will have met my June target.

I was pleased to get that many stitches done especially as we had this little chap stay overnight and woke 'us' up twice during the night.  

I always find it funny how it was me that got up to feed Lincoln and change his nappy during the night and yet it was DH that fell asleep yesterday afternoon.  It was never any different when our own children were young but at least then he did have the excuse that he did shift work.  I guess us women just have more stamina!

It's  hard to believe we are two thirds of the way through yet another month - I need to get cracking to try and accomplish some more of this months targets.

Happy birthday

 Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. ~Chili Davis

Inspiration finally came on Friday evening for my son in laws birthday card.  I was browsing You Tube for something else when I was reminded that I had bought the sunburst die a while back and took it from there.  I didn't want anything too fancy for a male card but I did want to use up some of those scraps.  This is the end result.

The quote today is quite relevant for my son in law - likeable as he can be I  don't think he will ever grow up to be a proper adult which saddens me sometimes seeing as he is married to our daughter and the father of our three lovely grandchildren.

Max and DH to a tee

Most pets display so many humanlike traits and emotions it's easy to forget they're not gifted with the English language and then get snubbed when we talk to them and they don't say anything back. ~Stephenie Geist

While out with mum on Wednesday I came across these sweet pictures which I couldn't resist.  They sum up how Max and DH would think perfectly I believe.

Max just loves it when he gets onto a beach.

Given the chance the picture on the left is how Max would like to spend his night times - instead he sleeps in his own doggy bed in his own bedroom because he snores so much! The phrase reads Happy to top 'n' tail, just keep your feet still.   The picture on the right is how I imagine it would be if DH retires before I do.  The phrase here reads Bag of crisps and I won't  mention this "walk".

Midway through June

Know your limits, but never stop trying to exceed them. ~Author Unknown

I have finally managed to pick up needle and thread again and have managed to complete almost half of June's Joyful World SAL.   As with all the designs it is a fun stitch and is so cute.  This is the only stitching I have managed to get done this week so I think June's objectives were maybe a little optimistic.

This week has been extremely busy at work and has left me with very little energy to do anything when I have got home.   I was able to work on this Wednesday evening at our craft meeting at Moya's and it really helped me to relax and unwind.

Trifling about

There were a few of the plain buns left over from the show on Saturday so I thought I would use them up to make a trifle - it's one of DH's favourite desserts alongside cheesecake.  I added some multi coloured candy which the children love on the iced buns and it reminded me of Sunday tea times when I was a child.  In those days my mum used to use the Bird's trifle mixes.

This one was made with a black cherry jelly, chocolate blancmange and whipped double cream  - no good for dieting but very enjoyable.

Bag of scraps.

Get rid of clutter and you may just find it was blocking the door you've been looking for. ~Katrina Mayer, KatrinaMayer.com

I came across this small bag of scraps yesterday evening which I thought I would challenge myself with.  My aim is to try and make my SIL's birtbday card from it - his birthday is on Saturday.   So far inspiration hasn't arrived in my household yet.  I am hoping that today might be the day it does arrive!

I finally got my change of hours agreed at work yesterday so from next week I will only have to work one evening instead of two.  It will be nice to have Monday evenings at home again.

Another book read

We all need empty hours in our lives or we will have no time to create or dream.  ~Robert Coles

I've managed to read another one of the Agatha Raisin books, so two down with at least another 24 to go and find.  I might just take Julie's advice and try my local library.  They really are fun and easy books to read.

Nothing much else to report today, I did a shift swap yesterday and so was home earlier than normal but didn't have the enthusiasm or energy to do much other than catch up on some programmes I had recorded.

The diet starts again tomorrow!

The hour of idleness is the hour of temptation. ~Proverb

A lovely relaxing day yesterday.  I enjoyed having my hands and feet pampered and the nails are a lovely green/blue colour.  I did try taking a photo of them but couldn't get a true colour of them but they are very pretty.

I met up with DH afterwards and we went to The Americano for lunch and shared some Nachos Intensimo.  We new it was a sharing platter but we were still amazed at the portion size which could easily be shared by four people.  We did our best to eat them all but it even beat us in the end.

Not realising just how much we were going to get with the nachos I'd already purchased a couple of their delicious muffins.  We ended up asking for a bag to take them home and we enjoyed them later for our tea instead.

With such a busy day (!) and heavy lunch I ended up falling asleep for a while once we had got back home.  No stitching was been done so I will have to work on landscape during the week so I don't fall behind with my stitching target.

Ooh my aching feet - time for pampering

After being on my feet for the best part of three days, either working, baking or serving teas and coffee my feet are aching sooo much.  So it was good timing that today I  am booked in for a pedicure and manicure to refresh my aching feet and pretty up my nails.  I still have some gift cards for Satori where I get them done so it's  hardly going to cost me a penny either.

The Plymouth Model Railway show yesterday was quieter than normal but still well attended.  It's held in a lovely building, St Andrew's Abbey Hall.

There were some lovely layouts on display but my favourite was this one called Hobbiton which is N gauge and had hobbits/ dwarfs included on the layout.  The details on some of the layouts are amazing. 

DH gave one of the exhibitors a break from his layout - any excuse to play with a train set!

Here are some more of the layouts on show but not all of them.

The cakes sold well so all in all a very good day, but very tiring too.

Early start

I was up at six thirty yesterday to bake two lemon cakes as I didn't feel like making them when I got home from work on Thursday.  My feet were aching too much as it had been a busy afternoon/evening.

Once the cakes came out of the oven it was time to go and collect Harlee-Jay and take him to seen his Auntie Letty and cousin Lincoln.  Unfortunately Lincoln wasn't feeling his best, they think he has a touch of tonsillitis - whenever he cried he could only manage to squeak like a guinea pig, poor little chap.

After dropping Harlee-Jay back to his dad in the afternoon it was time for some more baking, this time small buns, some iced and some as butterfly cakes.  I also made some sultana buns, fingers crossed we sell them all.

No time for stitching yesterday and I don't suppose I will have time or inclination today either.  After the show I  think it will be early to bed as I  will feel shattered.

Everyone needs to dream

One can dream so much better in a room where there are pretty things. ~Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I do that a lot, especially where our garden is concerned.  Earlier in the week I called into one of our garden centres and fell in love with this 'little' hideaway.

A great place to entertain and relax during the warmer days.  Just need a reasonable lottery win to purchase it or some serious saving to get this dream to come true!

Room for all the family to sit round - this is just one end of the inside.  I love walking round garden centres and looking at their displays.

 

I just wish I was so enthusiastic with actually working in the garden LOL.

Fortunately I  am always enthusiastic with my stitching and was able to add some more stitches to Joyful World SAL yesterday before going into work.

Today I need to be busy baking Lemon cakes and buns to sell at the Model Railway Exhibition DH's group is holding on Saturday.  Tea, coffee and cakes I get roped in to doing each year to help raise funds for the group.  A long day but generally quite profitable.  My friend Moya helps me out and also provides delicious cheese and plain scones.

Beautiful sunny days

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The weather really has been quite wonderful the past couple of weeks - will it continue though out the summer months?  I do hope so.  We went for an enjoyable walk yesterday evening, it was so calm and peaceful and the sun was still shining brightly at 9.

I managed to spend some time on June's Joyful World SAL yesterday and the bear is now sat patiently waiting for the beehive and honey bees to make an appearance.