Supercalafragilisticexpealidocious...!!!!

What a fantastic day today, they all worked sooooo hard, me and Ems are so shattered we could sleep on a tightrope. Luckily we ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz.................

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy or should that be Aaaaayyyyyyeeeee ?????

So I,m back from the first day of the Scottish retreat and I have left my camera lead at the hall so I cant upload the thousands of photos I have taken, bummer..!!! We have had a fabulous day. I love it here, they are all soooooooo enthusiastic and eager to learn. This morning we made a cupcake recipe tin with a pocketed accordion pull out. Slight hitch when we found something vital was missing from the kit, but the lovely Sandra , who organises the retreat, saved the day. We alcohol inked the tin which went down a storm. We then started on the painting of the giant snowmen baubles, which had them all quaking in there boots, lmao. What is it about painting that puts the fear of God in you all..?? If I didn't think you could do it I wouldn't attempt to teach you would I. All you need to do is listen to what I tell you and then do it. Simples. Unfortunately a lot of you listen to what I tell you, over process it in your brain and do it differently, lol. What I need you all to do is take your own initiative, throw it in the box and collect it again on your way home..!!!! Well it worked today because you should see the snow men they are frikkin fantabuloso.... I wish I could get the photos on tonight but never mind. I never expected the results that I got, and I am sooooooo proud of them all. It has given them great confidence, which bodes well for tomorrow's sleigh painting.

Today just whizzed by and we didn't get all done that I had planned, so they were sent home with homework, ha ha, and instructions to be here bright and breezy in the morning, ready to start on the dot of nine..!!!! I am going to be really strict tomorrow and work them like crazy, no time for gossip and leisurely tea breaks, I can tell you now.

We haven't even finished this retreat and they are booking for next years. Same time, same place, lol. If you live down this end of Scotland you are quite welcome to join us. I,ll get a contact number for you all, but I wouldn't leave it too late at this rate. One added bonus is all the home cooking. I have never seen so much. Homemade soups to die for, quiches, pastries, salads, butteries(still not quite sure what they are) and the cakes and puddings are out of this world. Luckily I cant eat any of that or I would come home 2 st heavier. Last year I went mad and gave in to the pavlova and the sticky toffee pudding. They were like manna from heaven, but my stomach paid the price as usual, which is not good when you have a 10 hour van drive home..!!! So I am being good (at the moment..!!)

So onto my little tale about the hospitality of the Scottish law and order enforcers. There I was driving along the motorway, in my long wheel based white van, singing along to Gentleman Jim. We had been going through roadworks for ages with speed restrictions of 50mph. Suddenly I saw a police car , at the side of the motorway, up ahead, flagging me over. I had to pull right over and after he got over the shock of seeing a woman driving a van instructed me to sit in the back of his car. I couldn't understand a frikkin word they were saying and had to ask them to speak slowly, to which they were not at all impressed. They asked me what speed I thought I was doing to which I replied approx 53mph. He said I was in fact doing 54mph, to which my reply was, well is that bad, and the answer was , Yes its a 40mph zone. Err wtf, since when, I never saw any signs..!! He then said, ah so you were driving without due care and attention ?? Cant win can you..?? So I just said , fine, I,m sorry, guilty as charged. And then the B*&^(*^&^%s slapped me with 3 penalty points and a £60 fine, as well as berating me for not carrying my driving license around with me, tutting cos I didn't know what a fiscal something or other was, and warning me that I was a danger to society. I thought about telling them I was only a danger to myself and thought better of it. Can you believe the fine though..??? Bu&%$er, Bo*^£$ks and BU%&^er again... When I got back in the van, our Ems said the same as me, what 40 mph..?? Cant understand it because the world and his wife were all racing past me anyway. Anyway such is life..!!!!

Right I need to go pass out now ready for a mega day tomorrow. Don't forget there will be another sneak peek HERE

Enjoy xx

Ha ha the latest post has gone in the wrong place, forgot I started it Thurs, 00ps. Scroll down babes..

Enjoy xx

Another Little Sneak Peak............

Another sneak peak of the new Blonde Moments 'All I want for Christmas' is now online and you can see it - HERE

Next sneak may also include some of the new stamps!!

Thankyou elves, I luuuurve you lots..!!!

Sorry sorry sorry, these would not upload on Thurs so I gave up..!!! And I had no wifi in my room so I am sat in the dining room updating you now. lol.

On Thurs I had lots of little elves appear in the studio who I thank from the bottom of my heart. You all worked soooooo hard and got me out of panic mode. Thank you, thank you, thank you..

Here's the lovely Dawn, packing kits.

The lovely Sue, ( who amazingly came all the way from Liverpool to paint sledges, stayed overnight and came back again today to kit)

The lovely Pam, who nipped off before the camera came out as per usual..!!!

The lovely Katie, who continued with the demo stand whilst panicking she was doing it all wrong. Not at all it was a fabby job, I would have told you if it wasn't, lmao.

And the lovely Super Sarah Super pants who was adding the finishing touches.

So I am in Scotland, at the Macduff retreat. After a 9 hour drive, a spell in a Police car (will tell you later, lol), horrendous rain, it was a fab sight to be greeted by lots of lovely helpers. Ladies we love you. Ok brekkie is just being served and then I start the mammoth weekend. Ooh it sooooooo frikkin exciting, cant wait. Will try to do a bigger update tonight, but its a bit awkward as I have to do it in the landladies house..!!!! lol.

I,ll leave you with a journal page, its from Egypt, but I thought it was apt for the last dew days..!!!

Next sneak peek of the new collection HERE

Enjoy xx

Contractions building nicely....

The Good news.........Look what is sat next to me on the bed tonight...
.

The Not so Good news......I haven't got any frikkin time to read them.....

Aargh its like a form of slow water torture treatment, extremely painful. I could put them out 0f sight, but that would be such a shame wouldn't it, lol...??? I just love books, I practically devour them, and I could fill my own library and arty, journally, collagey, painty books are an added bonus to a shitty week. So I was nearly peeing my pants when I got in the studio to find these beauties on my desk. Oh yes the wonderful, yes wonderful Ben, had opened the delivery and left me one of each of the new ones. he knows where his breads buttered, lol

First of all I,m going to whizz you through my recommendations

Now I really did wet myself with this ONE !!!

and this ONE

This ONE is a real ooh ahh, touchy stroky..

and THIS is going to teach an old dog new tricks

And THIS one ticks all the right boxes, Crafting AND Collecting..!!

And now for those books that, no matter how many we seem to get, they always fly straight out of the door before they even get online. So here's your chance to get in first.

Pure CLASS

THIS has been restocked 4 times now

And I don't think THIS has actually made it out of the parcels and onto the shelves before.!!

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous..

4 th restock this YEAR. !!

We salute the Queen of Journaling, Lynne Perella

Here

and if you haven't go a copy of THIS in your grubby hands yet, then shame on you...!!

So there you go, your essential Summer reading.. All the detailed descriptions are on the links on the website.

Other new stuff which came today was an extremely large restock of Ranger products, including all Tims new releases ,the new colours 0f Distress Stickles and Crackle paint. we also had 3 other deliveries as well!!!!! Look out Macduff its all coming to you...yayys...

Oooooooooooooooh nearly forgot to tell you that contractions started in earnest this morning and we are predicting that I will give birth sometime tomorrow. Woop de frikkin woop, hallelujia!!!.

Yes that right we are launching a new paper range and stamps. Cant tell you much more, but a lot of you have guessed already. They are being launched at The Great Northern Papercrafts Show in a fortnight, but you can see a sneak preview HERE

Ben is going to preview one piece a day for the next week until its great unveiling. So check in each day so you don't miss out.

Lastly I want to leave you with this video of the loovely Judy Wise

She is a fabulous journaller and an absolute inspiration. Just listen to the enthusiasm bursting out of her.

Enjoy xx

must be about time to make you all cry again, surely!!

A big, big thank you for your lovely comments. I really needed them today to outweigh the crappiness I had flung my way. (don't worry, nothing I cant handle and at least I can now, at last, close that particular chapter of my life!!) . Am loving that you are all loving it as well, lol.

Had a fabby workshop today, Zetti Beeswax accordion book.
Here they are in action L _ R Jane, Shelley, and Sandra ( who has just completed her first ever art journal page, and it was gorgeous, just like her)

Jill, Janet ( celebrating her first official day of retirement ) and Sue ( a recent Twitter pal , so nice to meet in person )

They all did a fabulous job and came up with some wonderful creations. Look how ace they all look together.

The paints were Claudine Hellmuth (ne w delivery any day now), the stamps were Tim Holtz, and the images were all Lisasalteredarts.

Bezzie Su turned up at the regular Tues night class clutching her bare Moleskine. After countless excuses and delaying tactics from her and intense bullying and with holding of blu lollies she actually manage to make a start on a spread.

Oh yes , that is her tongue poking out which always helps. She even arrempted a bit of painting and shading. Now addicted to circles so threw some of them on. She even stuck images and a border on. Looking real good. You always feel so much better when you have made a start on one.

As you know it is my mission to get you all Art Journaling, and it is slowly starting, like ripples in a pond. One of my friends , the lovely Derbyshire Ann, sent me a poem today, and I replied telling her she needed to journal, she fired back with the usual excuses but I served a winning ace and came up with all the right answers. Well lo and behold a couple of hours later she flung me another email, laughing her head off and wondering about my psychic abilites. She had order some paste paper for her art class and when she unwrapped, what do you think was in there as a free gift. Yes thats right , a journal, ha ha . How spooky is that. Well she must be convinced now, but last message I got was "I,m still thinking about it" lol

The lovely Lesley has also happened to find a journal and has completed her first page and is so proud. You can see pics on her BLOG.

Heres the poem Ann sent me, and shes right , it just about sums me up.

I am changing.

Slowly becoming someone new.

Twisting, adapting my soul.

To this pain .

Ever painting on the canvas of life .

Ever writing on the book of my being.

I am changing .

Seeing far, my eyes wide open.

To the mystery of another secret!.

By Laura Mercurio Ebohon

So to the gorgeous commentees

Ink Fairy, get yourself over , you know you want to , lol.

Virginia, you sound almost as giddy as me girl.!! Journal in loads of books, all shapes and sizes. I give you permission, lol.

M, awww thanks, where are you from.?

Tracy, mwah

Melanie, thanks for the info but you dont specify where the offer is. I,ve not had a prob so far with the Sharpies or the qty of paint, but I have a sketchbook one as well.

Sharon, 4 more sleeps, yayy.

Wright boys mum, a girl after my own heart.

Lesley, way to go girl , fab first page. Now you are off.

Anne, vodka always helps, it kills all known germs, including the "letsputitoffabitlongercosIdontknowwheretostart germ", trick is knowing when to stop, lol

and finally Sandra, oh you so need to get your butts over here. I know you work real hard too, but this is sooooo therapeutic. Loving your folk art.

So now I am onto more of my journal pages.

So thats me done today. Oops no it isnt, wanted to share with you this video I found on Northern Soulie Sandras blog. It is so powerful and reminds us that throughout the shittier times in life there is always someone very special looking after us. Be warned, you cant watch this and not cry!!!!!

Enjoy xx