Puddles...

What a miserable wet rainy day. Is that it? Has summer gone forever? Never mind shoe watch I can feel welly watch coming on. Here's today's beauties. With rain and puddles like we have had today it's good to be high up off the ground!!

Spent the day prepping for tomorrows alcohol ink class. I love using alcohol inks and as you can guess my favorites are the brights - Natures walk set, wild plum, butterscotch and stream - total Blonde Moments colours. You never know we might even be able to bring out some Blonde Moments colours in the alcohol ink range - oooh the brain cogs are whirring as I speak.

Because I am prepping and not teaching I can play whatever music I like in the studio. At the moment I can't get enough of Sharleen Spiteri's new album - Melody. It is very 60's and very soulful. Her voice is totally amazing and at this rate I will probably wear the CD out. Here's a list of my top 5 Cd's at the moment in the order I play them.

1, Melody - Sharleen Spiteri

2, Rockferry - Duffy

3, Mamma Mia - Movie Soundtrack

4, Out on the Floor - Northern Soul Floorshakers

5, Greatest Hits - Jim Reeves (I know this one always surprises everyone).

DY xx

Scottish Retreat and today's class......

Today was craft day. It's a day where everyone can catch up on the projects they have missed. Great for the students manic for me!! Today's projects included:

1x 7gypsies minibooks
2x Xmas book in a tin
1x Wooden car clock
1x Blonde Moments birthday book
1x Large jigsaw
2x Ultra thick xmas ornaments
1x Technique album

Yes all that going on at the same time!! No wonder the studio looks trashed at the end of it. Craft day is one of my ladies favorite days and many of my favorite ladies were on it. Jeanne is always a big hit because she always brings chocolate!!

Today also brings important news about the ScrapAttack retreat at McDuff in Scotland. It takes place on the 6th and 7th of September. It will be the only time this year that I will be north of the border as for the first time in 10 years I won't be attending the Hobbycraft show at the SECC - Sorry. This means if you want to catch up with me that's where you will need to come.

It is 2 days absolutely packed with fun and here are the fabby workshops I have planned for you:

1, Technique mirror

2, Xmas Atcs and purse

3, Wooden Xmas tree

4, 7gypsies accordion book

5, Smile mobile

6, Wooden waterfall book

And wait for it................................we will also be bringing the shop - Yes you can get your hands on all those fabulous goodies. So no excuses GO, GO, GO....

To find out more click HERE or ring Sandra at Crafters Haven on 01261 818150 or 01261 832402. I will post sneek peeks asap

Thanks

DY

xx

ScrapAttack Weekends....

Ok here are the dates for the next 3 ScrapAttack weekends. Yes I have finally found the time to sit down and work it out !!

The dates are:

Sept - 26th, 27th and 28th 2008
Nov - 28th, 29th and 30th 2008 - Christmas themed
Jan - 9th, 10th and 11th 2009

For those of you who are unfamiliar with ScrapAttacks here's what happens. You spend the whole weekend doing project after project, I feed you until you burst, you laugh until you cry and a jolly good time is had by all! You will complete a total of 7 projects in all ranging from mini books to altered items as well as picking up lots and lots of hints and tips. All you need to do is book your own accommodation (A list of hotels etc will be sent out to you on booking). All this for £150 - this includes all kits, materials along with meals and snacks in the studio. Word of warning - these are always popular, so don't leave it too long before booking. Ring us a the studio on 01423 873739 to book your place.

Here's yesterdays shoe watch. These were an absolute bargain at £9 in the sale. You can't get better than that and still working four trends - wood, patent, peeptoe and TBar. What more could a girl ask for !!

Sundays Class............from Blackpool!!

Sunday was a great day. 8 ladies travelled all the way from Blackpool to do a days workshop with me. They were a lovely bunch and we had a great laugh. It's always important to enjoy yourself and if you live near Blackpool they meet every Tuesday night to do craft (not sure if they actually ever get anything done though, ha ha!!).

If you are interested in having workshops tailor made for your craft group or group of friends then don't hesitate to contact me. I have cut down on the number of shows I will be exhibiting at and therefore should have more weekends free.

Yesterday saw me and Ems traveling round the warehouses stocking up on essentials. We decided to pop to Meadowhall (To return things, not to shop) and disaster struck. I had just filled up with petrol to come home when the car broke down again!! The AA were duly called and we settled down with drinks and mags ready for a long wait, when suddenly everything was working again. Apologies to the AA, thanks to the lovely garage laddie for giving us a push and a big thanks to the gorgeous guy in the Range Rover for giving us eye candy to ogle over!!

I will post again later today with the dates of the ScrapAttack weekends and tomorrow I will give you news of the big ScrapAttack retreat in Scotland..

Catch Up...

Well I've got a lot of catching up to do haven't I? Sorry for the lack of blogging recently, but I haven't stopped for the last few days....So here goes

First of all congratulations to everyone who managed to get hold of our gorgeous Blonde Moments Sugar Dumpling papers on Freebie Friday. All have been picked, packed and shipped, so you should receive them tomorrow......Well done

Sat night saw me tripping the light fantastic with my good friend Carolyn - Yes I know another dress (It's becoming quite a habit now isn't it!) Big apologies as I forgot to do shoe watch, but as you may have guessed - very black, very high and very wedgy!
Bumped into my girlie's when we were out - far too brown for my liking. Great night and nice to let our hair down - mind you not a lot for that with my hair as I've had it all cropped short again. Nice and cool for the summer...

Car Troubles.....

Friday night - Disaster

Car conked out at Sainsbury's. We had to wait one and a half hours for our Tom to come and rescue us. Never mind, we spent our time wisely - in Starbucks! As many of you know it's one of my fav places.

Blog Candy....

Freebie Friday

Here's news of some blog candy that I am giving away. I have 20 double sets of Blonde Moments Sugar Dumpling papers (16 papers in total worth £10 and can be combined with any other products you order). All you have to do is click the link, pay the post and packaging and they are yours. When they are gone they are gone!! Enjoy...

Sugar Dumpling - Freebie Friday

Return of the goddess...

Joyous news, the girlie's are back from their hols all bronzed and gorgeous. Bad news - what on earth happened to the lovely tidy house?

It is lovely to have my Emmi (all round goddess) back at work as girlie chats just weren't the same with Ben!

Today's shoe watch

My outfit today consists of a dress - yes you heard me correctly - and leggings, so I have teamed them with a classic pair of M&S ballet pumps. Always a welcome change from my usual skyscrapers!

Will post later today with dates of more ScrapAttack weekends and our new weekly special offer!!

Oops.....

Oops just realised this picture was missing from yesterdays blog....

Ps Shoe update, with all that socialising and tottering around on ( and sometimes wobbling off) heels and wedges. Here are todays 'tootsie coverer's' - Well a girls got to have a break sometimes....

My new blog....

Hi there,



Sorry I've been missing for a few days ( and I was doing so well wasn't I). We were having a lot of problems with the last blog, so we've had to move it. ( Unfortunately we have now found the old site to have sabotaged, so nobody can access it and all old posts are lost forever. I just want to say to whoever did it, you have to live with what you've done and I will just move on anyway).


Moving on, yesterday my lovely friend ' the gorgeous' Kirsty came to visit me and we had a fabby day all round She is an angel and if you don't already, you need to read her blog - Here - She is hilarious, like a female Peter Kay! When I was reading her entry about coyke (cake) in London I couldn't see for laughing! I had tears streaming down my face, I was clutching my stomach because it was hurting and finally understanding why people would want to purchase tena ladies. I tell you that girl is wasted she is so, so talented. She brought her gorgeous new doggie Eddie who promptly decided he was king of the castle and growled if anyone dared to enter his territory...

I know I said that I was going to get to grips with tipping out my studio whilst the girls were away and I have had plenty of time on my hands. Well I obviously fibbed because I haven't touched it ( How disgraceful eh). Do you know what I've done instead? Socialised. Yes me Dylan, complete workaholic actually took time out. I think I've socialised more in the last five days than in the last five months with both friends and dates. ( Men, they are like busses - you wait for ages and then they all come along at once). I am being taken to William and Vic's in Harrogate, so thought I had better be really good all day long. I shot to the supermarket before work and stocked up on soft fruits. Fruit is not really very good for my stomach, but i'm ok with soft fruits occasionaly, so I chose my favourites, raspberries, kiwis and blueberries. The idea being if I'm good all day I can be indulgent tonight. I'll let you know.

I have spent the last two days doing all the really essential class prep work. Cutting of pages, making holes, packing kits etc, but now it's done and I can get on with other stuff. I finallyfinished the sample for the daisy D 6x6 album class on the 7th August. I'm really pleased with it, here is a little peek......

Ps Shoe update, with all that socialising and tottering around on ( and sometimes wobbling off) heels and wedges. Here are todays 'tootsie coverer's' - Well a girls got to have a break sometimes....

Uggs and things...

Oh no is that it? Is the summer finally over? Yesterday it was all about peeptoe sandals and floaty tops. Today it's back to jumpers and my trusty uggs.

You can say what you like about uggs - I know they are not the most flattering of fashions, but by god they are the comfiest. They are like walking on cotton wool, pure heaven! I feel I need some comfort at the moment as I have just realised that in the last seven days I have worked 86.5 hours! How bad is that? No won people twll me I don't have much of a life. (Note to self - calm down). I do have the oppertunity to take it easier over the next week as I have no classes scheduled in. This week was earmarked for CHA in Chicago, but we have since decided to postpone the Blonde Moments launch until January, so really there was no real need for me to be there. How will they manage without me? Who will provide Tim with bananas all day? Who will get drunk with the lovely Alain ( he who mustbe obeyed). Who will get windy and bubbly with the gorgeous Mario? Do I sound gutted that I am not going? Yes of course I do, but I reall, really couldn't justify it, so I will sulk quietly and turn green with envy at any one else that is going!!
Having some spare time will hopefully give me the oomph to tip out the studio and my working areas which are long overdue a sort out. I seem to come back from shows, dump everything, not have time to sort it out and shoot off again. Now I am struggling to find anything. As many of you know I am lucky to have a massive studio, but it seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Just through all my junk and it is now starting to drive me mad. I would start it today, but you know what, I have just decided to give myself the rest of the day off.
Bye for Now
Love Dy ♥♥♥

Busy, busy class...phew!

Phew what a day. We have just finished the technique mirror class, 32 tiles of ten techniques all mosaiced onto a mirror frame. Action packed, technique after technique! It required alot of concentration by all and could have gone horribly wrong, but worked out fabulous. Everyones mirror was stunning, much to the suprise of many!! At one point you could hardly see the table as there was so much equipment on there. It took us nearly as long to clear up as it did to teach! Overall it was well worth it.


I am writing this whilst sat in one of my childrens classes. They are totally engrossed in their stitching, so I am at abit of a loose end. This week school ends and so do all three of my childrens classes. What am I going to do without them? I will miss them so much over the summer.
Talking of missing people, Jay and Emmi have gone on holiday today. To sunny Greece for a whole week. What am I going to do?

1, I will be able to get in the bathroom
2, I will be able to find all my make up
3, All cups and plates will stay in the kitchen
4, My clothes will stay clean and ironed in there proper place.
5, I will save so much time and petrol by not having them around
6, I am going to be so bored!!

They only went today and I miss them already. How bad is that? They are 20 and 22 years old - how long does this go on for? I don't really want to know what they get up to, but I hope they have a fantastic time.
Today at work I am wearing my fave ever shoes. I'm a child of the 70's and I just love big clumpy wedges. I have tons of pairs much to the disgust of the kids. These are pretty special. Working all the trends - wood, peeptoe, t-bar and mustard bows.........all that for "12 hows about that!!
Love Dy ♥♥♥

Tab Book Kit

So here it is, a new mini book kit. It is a wooden 8 page tab book decorated in Kelly Panicci papers. It is quite limited and when it's gone, it's gone. You can buy it -HERE-. I had real fun doing this even though it's not my usual colours. The kit contains full step by step instructions and colour photos of each page.
Many of you are wondering what happened to the jigsaw kit. Don't worry I just got slightly waylaid and you should here news shortly - In the meantime - enjoy.....
Love Dy ♥♥♥

Good Post Day

have just had a wonderful surprise in the post. A package from my good friend in America - Mario (Tim's right hand man). I knew it was from him as I recognized the writing and I suspected it was something stupid as usual, so was very wary about opening it/ Surprise, surprise it was lurvly. A box of Timothy's tea bags all wrapped up in lurvly Timothy ribbon.

They take the mick out of me because I could give up food, but I couldn't survive without lots of cups of tea. I am also rather odd as I drink tea with cream in. Yes cream, single, double, jersey, whipping or even extra thick. I don't mind as long as it's fattening, cholesterol boosting cream.I also have certain mugs that I drink from. My ex right hand woman Nicki (Who emigrated to New Zealand) bought me as a leaving present, 4 gorgeous mugs. I have 2 at work and 2 at home. With my favorite mug, quality tea bags and lots of cream, what more could I ask for? In fact I think I'm going to have one now as it must have been at least 10mins since the last one!!Love Dy ♥♥♥

Busy Weekend

Wow what a busy weekend. I have just finished a techniques retreat and what a fab time we have had. Its very intense with a lot to get through. Here’s a idea of some of the techniques taught. Pigment pearls, crackle paint effects, colour wash, distress inks, ultra thick and alcohol inks.Everyone had a really fun (if very messy) time. I kept everyone going with lots of sugar and carbs!!And of course music was playing all weekend.
Those of you who know me well know that there is constant soul and Motown playing in the studio, but this weekend we also had a new addition - ABBA!! I went to see Mamma Mia on Thursday and it was absolutely fabulous. I think it has got to be the must have film of the summer. So therefore we had to rush out and buy the sound track. It is sung (sometimes badly) by the cast and you just have to sing along at the top of your voice (or is that just me?) how embarrassing that you realise after all these years you are still word perfect. And I have to confess I can never think of James Bond in the same way after seeing him in a tight cat suit and platforms!!I hope youv'e had a good weekend, whatever you were up to.Tomorrow I will have news of a fab mini book kit. It’s quite limited so you will have to be quick.
Love Dy ♥♥♥