And yet another post......

I know- you don't here from me for months then I blog, blog, blog! I have TIME at the moment:) I have been playing with some stamps I bought for the crop for a class on the 11th. They are gorgeous! Anyway, I am doing a 6" x 6" layout for the class and here's a preview. I've used vellum, stickles, and naked chipboard, as well as some lovely sparkly paper. To cover the cost of the stamps and chipboard the class will cost about £1.50- and you get to use the stamps at each crop if you want to. Velum is fab to stamp on and you can curl the leaves up. Fun!

Quotes

Here's a couple of quotes I found while searching some blogs today. I guess laying flat with a bad back again does have it's advantages. I believe there is a reason for every trial and that something good comes out of every challenge. Feeling very philosophical today!!
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered with failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."-- Theodore Roosevelt

Summer garden

How wonderful to come home after a week away and discover that everything has bloomed and blossomed in the garden! A week makes so much difference. I collected a large bowl of the first raspberries too, and it looks like there's plenty more to come. Raspberries and cream- the best ever summer treat. Anyway, I thought I would share these pictures I just took- it's the simple things that make me happy:)

Holidays and homes

I'm back from a week in a country cottage in Devon. We had amazing weather, and it was great to be with all the family. I am pretty exhausted now- and getting in some recovery time today! Having lived in a country cottage with beams etc, I have decided I no longer want one.It's been a dream of mine for many years, but it didn't live up to the expectation. This is a relief for me (and for Kevin who never really wanted to move) because I feel like I can really get on with making our home how I want it to be. After dark rooms and low doorways it felt good to be back to light and airy rooms with no stooping necessary and no damp!! So, while I've been relaxing today I found some fab blogs. LOVE this one www.romantichome.blogspot.com . I stole the photo from there, and this is the look I'm going for. OK, it will be a long term project :) But I'm excited to finaly commit myself to this house for good and I'm ready to invest some time and creative energy in to it. I have never been great at home decor- don't know why, but I am going to think of each room like a giant scrapbook page! We'll see what happens.

more flowers

Jules has made her own version of the fabric flowers. There's some great ideas on her blog www.capturelifecreateart.blogspot.com Have a look!

Fabric flowers

I've loved making these flowers! My idea was to make paper flowers, and I did some, but moved on to fabric and couldn't stop! I roughly cut out the flowers, stitched 3 or 4 graduating sized flowers together by sewing a button on the top, dipped them in fabric stiffener (you can make your own by mixing pva and water half and half) and then shaped them whilst drying with a heat gun. You need to seperate the layers a bit and scrunch it all up! I held the petals in the shape I wanted by using a pricking tool or scissors and dried it till it kept its shape. If you try it, don't get the heat gun too close- there is a risk it will catch fire:( Add a bit of Ranger Stickles around the edge, and a little ink if you like and it's done. Let me know how it goes.

Class

I'm playing with making paper flowers and giving them a porcelain effect- fun! I think it will make an interesting little class for Saturday's crop. If you are coming and would like to do the class all you need to bring is a photo-
5" x 3" or smaller, everything else will be supplied.
On a different note, I came across this quote today. How important it is to enjoy
le petit bonheaur!
"Hope for the moment. There are times when it is hard to believe in the future, when we are temporarily just not brave enough. When this happens, concentrate on the present. Cultivate le petit bonheaur (the little happiness) until courage returns. Look forward to the beauty of the next moment, the next hour, the promise of a good meal, sleep, a book, a movie, the likelihood that tonight the stars will shine. Sink roots into the present until the strength grows to think about tomorrow."
Ardis Whitman
Lisa Bearnson on her blog said she would like to put together a quote book and give a copy to each of her children. What a great idea! There are so many inspiring quotes I have used for strength and inspiration in my life, how great to share those. It will be an on-going project, and I might even include one or two of my own little gems!

Inspiration

Been following a few blogs, and found this on Hiedi Swapp's blog. She never fails to inspire me! It's made with fabric scraps run up on her machine. I'm loving the stitched flower centre. Check out www.heidiswapp.typepad.com for more great stuff. I'm also loving Rhonna's blog. www.rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com again, positively bursting with projects to get the creative juices going! (and I needed that- I've had a dry spell) Ugh!
CROP
I have been researching things to make our crop even better. Karen has found out we may be able to get a grant to help support what we do. To get it we must have public liability insurance, so I have been getting quotes. I've been thinking we need a more structured class/demo plan, and to have more fun things going on. We need a committee meeting soon! I would love to hear ideas from anyone.