Out to lunch

I'm officially closing the door for the immediate future. There is so much going on here and at school so rather than constantly feeling frustrated that I'm not really doing much crafting and certainly not blogging I'm taking a break. I will still be looking at my favourite blogs as much as possible, just storing up the inspriation for quieter days.

Perfect Weekend

This is where we spent the weekend and this was where Sunday morning was spent with lots of coffee and knitting - heaven isn't it.

Back to normal this week though *sigh*

Pressie for Mum

My mother in law has been changing her bathroom and has decided to go with lilac. So I followed Susan Anderson's fabulous pattern (you should check out her website, I love her books!) and have made her some cotton washcloths to go as part of gift. I know knitted washcloths, cotton or otherwise, are not common over here but they are part of everyday life in the US so I think she will love them.

Home again

We had the most amazing time in California at the start of the month, thanks in no small part to the time, effort and care that our family put in to our stay. We love and miss you guys, and really appreciate all that you did for us. I'll add some photos and details of our trip over the coming weeks.

While away I started a pair of Monkey socks, these are now finished and I love them. The pattern is great and easy to pick up. I did change the heel and toe construction to my favourites.

Since the rain was keeping us in today I made this canvas for my lovely sister-in-law by way of a thank you. I so wish we lived closer she is such great company.

Hope these showers die out soon or I'll be going back to school with webbed feet!

On a Break

Things here have just been a bit busy and we have so many things that we want to do in the house and garden before we leave on our trip so I'm taking a break (you may have noticed lol) from crafting till we come back in the middle of July. I will still be dipping into blogs during this time but maybe not so often.

Enjoy the start of your summer xx

Beautiful Day!

It's been wonderful here for a couple of days so I couldn't resist grabbing the camera and going for a quick walk up the hill to try to catch the goodness. We are so lucky to live somewhere so pretty!

In the meantime among all the teenage angst with upcoming exams there has been a bit of knitting here, slow and steady, but the back of the hooded jacket and one sleeve are done.

Hope things are good with you too!

A learning piece

I'm really enjoying KC Willis Collage Camp, however I thought I would make one as a starting reference before I get too far into it. This was a learning piece in so many ways, making a sketch in photoshop, image transfer onto fabric, lots of collage and a spot of sewing. I'm pleased with how it turned out. It has a new home though and will be winging its way there soon :-)

Tag challenge

Over on our wee forum Karin set us the challenge of making a tag using a stamp we hadn't used before. I had this background stamp, which looks like lots of twigs, that I hadn't got round to using. Had fun with this one so thanks Karin, it's on its way to you ;)

Forever Friends

Having been inspired by the talented Joanne I gave in to the "cute" and bought a Forever Friends stamp. This is my entry for this week's challenge found here, where the theme is monochrome. The contrast between the teal papers and the blue of the card is not so stark in real life but I'm blowed if I can capture it in the photos.

Holiday Update

It's been a busy but relaxing week, if that makes sense. Got lots of house chores done on Monday, had a great crafty day with Kaz and her daughter on Tuesday, lovely day and lunch out with my great son yesterday and today I'm just chilling!

Craftywise, you've seen the ATC (that turned into a card). I've also been busy working on knitting a lightweight hooded cardigan for the summer months

I've also managed to get some quick gifts made for the "present box" sets of 8 notecards, mix of blank and Thank yous. These are really quick and well received when nicely packaged.

TMTA - togetherness

Been such a long time since I've taken part in any challenges but this one over at TMTA really appealed and as I have a card "block" I thought I would use an ATC as a starting point to make a card for a friend's birthday. Thanks for stopping by :o)

Old faithful

You know what it's like - when all else fails - you go back to things you know and love. I was so happy when Karin set a forum challenge to make a tag inspired by Tim Holtz. Out came the distress inks and crackle paint, masks were employed and a tag was duly made. Hope you like it

Tote-tastic day!

I picked up these great tea towels in the sales last summer and have done nothing with them. Having been firmly told by my family that Mothers Day was only to include things that I wanted to do I decided to blow the dust off the sewing maching and have a go at the totes I was first introduced to over on Joanne's blog. Apart from curtains and cushion covers I haven't done any sewing so I was pleased with these as first efforts. Really handy for quick gifts!

Something new

I've had another busy week, but it was a happy one. Had a lovely afternoon/evening out on Thursday, meeting the lovely Audrey and Kaz for a bit of retail therapy and a great meal. Good friends, good times. I was led astray of course and inspired by the gorgeous jewellry that Audrey and Carrie have made to have a go. For a first try I went for the safe option of a set of beads, all picked out and coordinated for me. But I could definitely see me branching out in due course.

Happy Mothers Day! This was the card I made for my Mum, with her tastes and likes specifically in mind. I know she loves it and that's what counts.

Have a great day all!

Stash Busting

This is a hanging I made with some bits and pieces that I thought I would never use. I challenged some close friends to do the same and will post the links to their sites as they blog.

Flickr

Crafting has been quiet for me at the moment with the exception of a challenge piece that I can't show you yet - hurry up girls!! ;o) Maybe this week........

In the meantime, I'm having a lot of fun browsing and playing on Flickr at the moment, great source of inspiration so I though I would make a mosaic using the questions that Erita has on her blog. I'll post the instructions below the mosaic. This is what my answers gave me. I like it!

To make a mosaic to reflect you

Concept:
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.http://www.flickr.com/search/
2. Using only the first page, pick an image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker. http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php (choose four columns and three rows, also choose individual URL's)
Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your nickname.

Have fun with it and let me know if you give it a go. Enjoy the rest of your weekend x

Valentine

Had a lovely weekend and Valentine's Day - OH surprised me with a bottle of pink champagne and then we had a family dinner planned for the evening, a great time was had by all. Here is the quick card that I made for Jim. Sorry the picture is a bit blurry but the light's not great anyway.

As promised girlies here's a sneaky peek at what is winging its way to you!

ROFL you don't really think I was gonna let you see what was on the inside did you !!!!??? ;o)

Snowy Monday

Well it's been a while, but truth be told been not much to say here, lots of groundhog day type experiences.

Holiday weekend for us here so on Saturday Kaz and I had a great day at the shops, lots of crafty ooo-ing and ahh-ing, but as 2009 was declared a year of stash busting I was very good. Did get the new Craftstamper - looks fab this month and I spotted that the lovely and talented Lana George has a project article in so I can't wait to curl up with a cuppa later on today.

Yesterday Stuart and I went skiing to Glenshee - oh my the conditions were amazing, beautiful powdery snow on a hard packed base, dry and sunny day with no wind. No wonder the place was full but well worth the 5 hours driving!! Camera batteries died on us so no pics today - shame we will just have to go back again!

We came home in some lovely weather till we got to within 10 miles of home - then the snow was coming down hard. We reckon it was only about 2-3 inches of snow that fell but it's still pretty since we don't have to go anywhere today. This was from the garden this morning.

FORUM GIRLIES - BE SURE TO CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR A SNEAKY PEEK AT WHAT IS COMING OUT TO YOU FOR THIS MONTH'S CHALLENGE xx

Pick'n'Mix

Ok so I can't settle to one thing. I have work to do and it's lying on the floor here like the proverbial elephant in the room. Nobody mentions it - we all just step over it. So instead I have cleaned the house from top to bottom, done lots of washing including the hand wash stuff and now updating this. But tonight I honestly MUST get this done tut.

So this week lots of things have just plodded along. Still making lots and lots and lots of these

Also made a card for my lovely mother-in-law, whose birthday it is on Monday. We are really looking forward to getting out to California and spending some time together this summer.


Harry Potter socks are coming along too - just managing to grab the odd ten minutes here and there but I love watching the pattern of the yarn as it takes shape.

Kaz has also tagged me to name 5 addictions so here goes

1) Coffee - not original I know but I can't get through a morning without it not would I want to lol

2) Crafting - but here I am fickle in this regard, I will happily drift from one craft to another but I will always have something on the go.

3) paper - I cannot help but buy beautiful paper. I don't even do so much scrapbooking at the moment, not that I have any burning desire to take scissors to most of it - I just like to take it out and look at it

4) Crime shows - especially CSI (all of them!), Criminal Minds, Law and Order (all of them) etc etc - the list goes on and on

5) Schedules - I hate lateness, some things are just supposed to happen at certain times. I'm sure this one is fuelled both by my parents being hung up on having a schedule and the fact that Jim and Stuart would both be late for absolutely everything!!

I'm always awful at picking people to tag - I don't want to put people under pressure nor do I want to leave anyone out who would want to play so if you feel inclined to play go for it!

Right enough stalling - to the books!

Last day of freedom...

... well for a bit anyway. DS and I went for a long walk round a nearby loch and I thought I would share some of the pictures with you. It's very nearby - we are fortunate enough to have this on the outskirts of the village. It has been glorious too although bitterly cold. Nothing that many many MANY layers of clothes can't deal with. The loch was actually frozen - the ice was so thick! The geese were having an interesting time trying to land.

Ah well time to get ready for tomorrow :o(