... New Term ...

New workshops start again this week with fridays class being totally sold out!! There are still places on Saturdays class though - The Christmas Sleigh. For more info click here.

Just packing kits for my breakfast classes at the Great Northern Paper Crafts Extravaganza on the 20th/21st September. I'm sold out on the Sat but still have a few places available on the Sunday. You can get early entry into the show, a 1 hour workshop, coffee and cake - yes cake!!!

In my workshops we will be using my favourites - the pearl pigments. Dry, wet and even spritzed for stunning shimmery results. My workshop also includes a discount voucher and a little goody bag. For more info and to book click here.

I know i promised you sky high red heels but i thought i would throw you a curve ball instead. Black leather biker boots. I saved up a long time for these and lived in them all last winter. When i found them again it was like seeing a long lost friend - Luvvly!

...Scotland ScrapAttack...

Well friday started off extremley wet and miserable but the further north we drove the nicer the weather became. Was this an omen we wondered!! The drive went brilliantly, and we had the classroom and the shop all set up by 9.30pm. A record!!

Then round to the B and B, which i have to say is the nicest B and B i have ever stayed in. It was absolutely gorgeous and the owners couldn't of been more friendly or helpful. If you are ever in that neck of the woods you need to stay at the Mansfield.

The classes went brilliantly, nobody holding anybody up, nobody rushing ahead- it was just right. The hall had plenty of light and everyone could see and hear what was going on. Many a laugh was had especially when they realised that i have this uncanny knack of being stood right behind them the minute they do anything wrong!!

My only complaint was the food. The table was groaning with delicious home backing whispering our names. And for someone with lots of intolerances it was torture. I did give in on the Sunday with Fionas pavlova - I just couldn't help myself - mind you i did leave some for the others.

I had to judge all the challenges - a job i hate because the standard is always so high it's really hard to just pick one. One of my favourites was a mini book made out of a pair of earings - yes thats right earings. Really ingenious - I can feel a class coming on.

By sunday night everyone was really tired but extremley happy. And on that basis we have already set a date for next year - 7th and 8th September 2009. If you book before the end of October there is £10 discount off the total.

There was a lot of interest in my creative art journals and so next year there is probably going to be an extra workshop tucked onto the weekend for all you journal junkies. I think you can book it with or without the weekend - not sure - you know what i'm like!! I will give you a link tomorow. So thats it - its all unpacked and put back into the shop and studio ready to go again.

Bought a fab high pair of shoes yesterday (As a treat for all my hard work lol) and they are red - yes red!!! Not completley sure they are me. I'll photo them tomorow and see what you all think.

Freebie Friday - Blog Candy

Hi all,

We haven't had a Freebie Friday for a while as we've been so busy, so I thought it was about time to have one.

We have 20 sets of Blonde Moments Minasie Moo Papers to give away free of charge. All you have to do is pay the postage!!
Each set of papers has 2 of each design, so 16 sheets of paper per pack for £2.95 saving you £7.05...
Striclty one freebie per person, per household, per credit/debit card

Click HERE to see how to get yours

Thanks Dy xx

Away we go...........

Yes spot the mistake 08 - 08 is August not September Duh! I thought things were going too well! Still keeping up with the journal though. Here's one wondering where summer went - if indeed it actually came!

Well the vans packed and ready to go for an early morning start ( much to Emmi's disgust seen as she is out tonight ). Because Ben is injured, we are leaving him behind, so he will be at the studio Friday and Monday to answer your queries. Doubt he will make Saturday as he will still have to cheer on Harrogate in their first game of the season.

Probably won't blog now until Tuesday as I will not have access to the computer, so expect a bumper blog then.

Dy xx

Th Journal Continues......

Ok, so the inside front cover is done, lots of grunge and tags. I'm really pleased with it. When I'm finished I realised I had put 08/08 - so there's a challenge! I am going to try and do a journal entry every day for the whole of September. There's nothing stopping me really. The pages are prepped, the books ready and of course I have all the time in the world!! There is the snag, but I am determined I am going to take that time every day for me. Shall we place bets on how long before I falter ha ha. First two journal pages are done, so feeling smug at the moment.

I have spent all day packing kits for the McDuff retreat, really looking forward to it. It's back to school time in our area and so all my kids classes start again this week. First lot will be arriving in about 20 mins - yey - have really missed them. This term we are making the wooden houses. Some of the kids are doing them for Christmas and others are doing gingerbread houses! Mind you as usual a lot of the girls have requested pink Blonde Moments houses to put on their dressing tables and to fill with bits and bobs. I'll keep you informed with pics of there progress.

Shoe Watch

I'd forgotten about this pair until I went routing around last night. These were an old favorite and with a lower heel much easier to last on all day.

Ongoing Journal Work....

Well I didn't go bowling or to the seaside. Two reasons - awful weather and torn shoulder ligaments from football ( not me I hasten to add). So unexpected chill out day. Quick flick round the house and then onto the journal cover. I had life putting the journal together, lots of mosaics of paint effects, Blonde Moments crackle and family photos all held together with Blonde Moments Ultra thick. ( Hopefully a flip recorded demo coming soon of this). Pink fluff, metal embellishment ( Tim's new tokens ), rub ons and everyones desert island favorite to complete the look - Glossy Accents! I am really pleased with it. At the moment the back of the cover just has a basic paint effect on an altered book cover, but as I said it is a 'work' in progress. By tomorrow that should have been transformed with tags and grunge board - I'll let you know.

Countdown to McDuff

Only 5 more sleeps until the Scottish retreat I am teaching at. I'm not sure if there are any more places left, but if you are fed up with the miserable weather, come and treat yourself. The projects are on my earlier August posts.

Shoe Watch

How about these killer beauties. When I've got these on I'm over 6ft and have to walk carefully - like a lady you know! Patent is massive this year and these shoes always make me laugh because I feel as though I've covered them in Glossy Accents!

That's it, I've just finished the latest masterclass article for Craft Stamper. This one is all about Ultra Thick embossing. I've made some cool Christmas ornaments and canvas, also jay's done a gorgeous mini album. If you haven't seen Craft Stamper lately. Take a look, it's a really cool magazine now. I think Jay has an article in this month - not quite sure - you know what I'm like for losing track. Anyway it just needs typing up, packing and posting out just in time for the deadline. I'm always right up to the nose with deadlines, I'm sure all the editors bring it forward for me, just in case!

Spent all last night ripping, sticking and painting. I've decided I need a journal and this time one with ready prepared pages, so that when inspiration hits I can just go for it. I made it using a Donna Downey technique with old newspapers - it is time consuming, but really cool. I'll tell you more about it at a later date. As you can see from the photo it is really raw at the moment, but soon I will be adding painty and pastel backgrounds. It has taken all my determination not to play with it all day. I made a pact to finish the article and play tonight! I'll keep you up to date as I go. I am thinking of doing an online journaling class later in the year - let me know if you are interested.

Yey, yey, yey. Took a delivery today of my flip camera. I have been trying to source one for ages. While I was over at Ranger U, Mario tried every store he could think of, but they were all sold out. Well I finally tracked it down (thanks Mel) at amazon and whey hey it's white and pink. It's actually a camcorder for idiots and oh yes even I have worked out how to use it. Its main use is to provide video demonstrations of techniques on the blog. So watch this space.

Sale day tomorrow. The studio has been turned upside down and there are bargains galore. Get yourself here as lots of things are greatly reduced. Blonde Moments papers 50% off, Love Elsie 30% off and many more bargains to be had.

The lovely Ben will be on hand to assit with all your enquiries, but unfortunately will not be able to do any rugby tackling as he has torn his hamstring. He says he will be fine as long as I do all the running around for him. Hmmm wonder how long that will last! Both girls are working at a wedding, so there will be a new face Caralyn ( who by the way is a wizz with a needle and thread and runs a thriving alteration business. I'm giving up buying new and I'm just going to tart up the things I've got already - It'll be like having my very own Gok Wan as a mate). Also the gorgeous Pam will be on hand to point you in the right direction.

The sale is only tomorrow 11-4pm and I'm having Sunday off. Woo, not sure what we are doing as it is a toss up between seaside and ten pin bowling. I'll let you know later...

Dy xxx