Happy New Year to you all

Hi Everyone, just a quick post tonight before I start hitting the light fandango. I just wanted to say a big thankyou to each and every one of you who have supported us all at Art from the Heart and Blonde Moments. It has been a difficult year for many of us in this industry and it sounds like 2009 will be just as taxing. So your continued support is very much appreciated. I hope everyones hopes and dreams are achievable in 2009, but as my dad used to say "be careful what you wish for"!!.

Happy New year

Shes gonna kill me now, and sneak peeks

Well the Resident bit of Glamour turned 23, how did that happen?? She was over two weeks late when she was born , after lots of false starts, and so when she finally appeared one cold snowy night , I had had so much gas and air that I rang everyone to tell them that I had had a 3rd boy!! She then spent most of the first years of her life dressed in jeans and dungarees. Maybe that's why she is so glamorous now lol

She spent her birthday round at my mums. Mum has been really unwell over Christmas and has needed a lot of support and the girlies have practically moved in there so that she is never on her own. I love them so much and i am a very proud mama.

Here she is opening Maisie's masterpiece.

It is always unfortunate to have a Christmas birthday and so I always take great care over wrapping paper and cards , so that she feels really special.. I thought i had really cracked it this year with some fabulous glitter wrap. Maybe the clue was in the name, but I thought that the glitter would be embedded onto the paper. How wrong could you get?? I was covered in glitter, the studio was covered in glitter, the whole blooming house was covered in the stuff. I had glitter in places that I didn't know possible!! And then to top it off the blooming sellotape wouldn't stick and kept coming off. When you are trying to wrap a large antiquey mirror that can be really frustrating. Thanks M & S , but no thanks.

Everyone always thinks that Jay is really quiet! So I just thought I would share these pics of her on nights out.

Enough said yeah??

I have been working like mad on the new sample workshops for Jan/ Feb. Here's a few sneak peeks of unfinished samples

Cool eh , Dont tell Ben though!!

Birthday tutorial by the littlest Reaveley

I woke up suddenly in a mad panic, thoughts whirring through my head. It was cold, it was pitch black. What time was it.?? I switched on the lamp to find it was 4.26 am. What could possibly have caused me to be awake at this hour?? Ha ha I had suddenly realised that there was less than a week to go until preview weekend. AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! What was I thinking having it so close to Christmas. So I lay there for the next 2 hours agonising over what to do . Would I be ready, should I cancel. In the end I got up, had my first cuppa pf the day and headed straight into my studio at home ( Oh how I love saying that!!) There was only one thing for it, just get on with it!! So there I was 6.30am planning away. It seemed to work, I was full of inspiration and got loads done. Only prob is haven't quite got everything I need at home, so will have to make a trip into the real studio to replenish. Will pop in some sneak peeks as soon as I can, promise.

Had a little break to help " the most beautiful granddaughter in the world" make a birthday pressie for The Resident bit of Glamour. Yup Jay is 23 tomorrow and what more could she want than a flowery bookmark. As you can see from the photos it is all handmade by Maisie. I am training her up to take over from me in 20 yrs time lol.

Her favourite bit is always the gluing. But she even threaded the brads through the tiny holes herself.

So here it is Maisies step by step book mark.

1 Find a comfy position on Mamas knee. Pick your favourite colour of dabber (Sail Boat Blue by Ranger of course lol) and paint the tag.

2 Smother with as much glue as possible and add the flowers.

3 Add the brads through the centre of the flowers

4 Secure the brads on the back

5 Make a hole and thread ribbon through. Tie in a bow ( ask Mama for help with this one)

Front of the finished tag.

Back of the finished tag ( Some help needed with writing!!)

6 Stand back,look really pleased with yourself and admire your handiwork whilst looking as cute as possible

7 We then decided a birthday drawing was needed, so I started it off with a cup cake. Maisie quickly drew a whole party including streamers, balloons, sausages! and a snail eating the cup cake ( maybe I ought to cut her E numbers back down?)

8 Reward yourself with a big bowl of Vienetta.

Hope you enjoyed her tutorial as much as we enjoyed making it. Watch this space for more!!!! lol

Kirsty, does this next shot qualify as arty??? LMAO xx

Christmas in the Reaveley household

Christmas is all about the kids isn't it , and of course I am mama to the most beautiful granddaughter in the whole world - Maisie Lilly. She is not well at all and so didn't wake up until 9am.. It was all I could do not to shake her awake lol. She is not quite 3 and so is still a little bemused by it all as you can see.

Of all the pressies the thing that impressed her the most was the baddies in her Scooby Doo van. I know its blurred but I just love her face on this one.

I was then summoned to pick up the girlie's . Here's the Resident bit of Glamour.

And, of course, The Goddess.

Mr Unbribeable shows his softer side

And here's the one that no one ever sees. Love this photo of Tom but doesn't Maisie look like a little urchin???

No the girlie's never touch a drop!!!!

Here's my favourite pressies of the day. Mr Unbribeable chose this himself.

And how about these from the girlie's, roll on February!!!

And from Ben this is my fave author. I own every one of her books, all in hardback, and was itching to get this one.

And from Tom, you can never go wrong with me , with good old Motown.

And it wouldn't be Christmas without good old Special Toffee, I think I have about 6 boxes now.

Ben's girlfriend Katie came round after tea with more Thornton's .

And my ultimate favourite , a bottle of Baileys. This is the bottle count today so far lol

And then would you believe it Toms girlfriend Laura came round with yet another bottle of Baileys, Yayy!! You can never have too many toffees or Baileys. \Mind you I bet nobody drinks it like I do. On ice topped up with double cream. Luvvly!!!

And here's a little festive leg watch for you. Shimmery, glittery and oh so me. Woop woop!!!!

So there you go - Christmas at the Reaveleys. I am sat here typing this with champagne in hand, so please excuse me if its not up to scratch!!!!

I would like to say a very big thank you to each and every one of you who take the time and trouble to read my daily witterings. It makes me feel very honoured and humble . A very Merry Christmas to each of you. I salute you one and all xxxxx.

Its all about the kids

Here's the promised photos from yesterdays kids class.

First we took a plain wooden spoon and transformed it into a Santa

Love his glittery moustache!!!

Then we decorated a wooden tag. They did all the stitching themselves , even the 5 yr olds. I always think that there is something magical about their uneven stitching myself!

And finally we finished with an old favourite of mine. How does Santa get in the house?? With his magic key of course lol

You see why they had such a good time???.

Just finished off a little extra pressie for Mr Unbribeable ( don't worry he wont spot it the Internet is down at his house ol). I am always left with odd paper mache letters, so thought I would use up some of the ZZZZ,s. It is to go on the wall above his bed , the largest letter is 12" tall. I think it will look really cool.

I have started a few words for my house to go above the plate rack. Here's the first one finished.

Only one more sleep until my favourite day - Christmas Eve. I love that day the best. There,s always lots of excitement in the air.. I wrap most of my pressies on Christmas Eve whilst listening and singing along to cheesy Christmas songs lol. I make sure the house is sparkling and get all the washing and ironing up to date. Doddle this year seen as there is usually only me around in the house. Maisie is coming at tea time and spending the night so that to me is the best gift of all and as the adverts say "priceless".