This weeks news...

It's been a busy weekend so far. Saturday was our workshop preview and taster day for the Spring workshops. Obviously there was a Christmas theme in the air.!!

This is my Harry Worth impression..

I have been promising to make Kaz a frock for nearly a year, and I finally got round to finishing it. This is her lady like pose...

In fact I got quite a few of the staff and tutors into frocks, lol

The lovely Teresa and her girls made their usual to die for cakes

and cake pops

and more cakes.

Just check out this absolutely stunning ceramic piece that the lovely Bry and Donna made for me. Every bit of the clock, heart and embellishments are ceramic. Although I am smiling here, when they first presented it to me I was so overwhelmed that I cried. It really is a stunning piece and I am so honoured that it is now mine. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you want to see some more of their work pop over to their website Bad Ceramics.

The lovely Sandra in our matching cardies. I am holding a card with a drawing of me as an angel, lol. It was drawn by the lovely Michelle and it is such a good likeness of me it is uncanny, lol.

Sandy and Kaz

Kate getting into the swing of things

A mahoosive thank you to all of you who came and booked on the workshops, we so appreciate all your support. Also a ginormous thanks to all the staff and tutors who make it all possible.
If you missed out you can go to the website and see all the workshops HERE.

I am in Norway at the moment prepping for 2 full days of workshops at Hobbykunst in Vestby. It's very snowy, very icy, very giddy and extremely exciting.

heres the story so far...

As you can see I have an elf with me on this trip...the lovely Bezzie Su. So far she has been wonderful in her duties, but it is early days lol. I'll keep you posted.

I am still keeping up with Dressember, wearing a different dress every day. Here are last weeks.

Day 9.... Dress Pin up Girl clothing, cardi H&M, boots Office, Petticoat vintage.

Day 10, new to me Betty Paige dress, dress slippers Office.

Day 11, skull dress made by me, cardi Primarni, leopard creepers.

Day 12, new to me Collectif dress, cardi M&S, wedge shoes Schuh

Day 13, new to me dress made with vintage material and vintage pattern, cardi Matalan.

 Day 14, dress Ebay, 70's boots Moda in Pelle, cardi Primarni. knitted beret Matalan

Day 15, Spotty Dolores dress Collectif, cardi Primarni, evening slippers Office, hair flowers Claires accessories, vintage spider brooch, pressie from Kaz.

Day 16, butterfly dress Lady V of London, cardi Primarni,vintage cowboy boots old faithfuls from Daniels, camper van suitcase from ||Sainsbury's.

Okay, I am going to finish prepping, treat Bezzie to some new stripy Elf tights and report back to you all later.

Enjoy xx

Catch up from Reaveley Towers...

Funny old week this one. It started badly with my glasses breaking halfway through a workshop. The lovely Ali quickly drove me to the opticians, because I couldnt see a thing. Whilst getting them repaired I thought I would order another pair, as I am starting to worry that they could break when I am in the States. Everything was fine till I saw the bill...Ooh eck !! Never mind at least I can see.

Then it was the turn of the heating to pack up. Quick call to the Gas board who came out to give it the last rites, and it was pronounced dead shortly afterwards!! I then waited 2 days for them to come give me a quote for a new one. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK how frikkin much ???? Needless to say Our Tom came to the rescue with all his building mates and work will commence at under half the price...Phew!!! Unfortunately it won't begin until next weekend, so I have stocked up on oil radiators, fingerless gloves, and I am wearing all of my Sunday to Saturday furry knickers all at once !!

I have also been making loads of warming stews in the slow cooker. Cue for very smug looks at getting up early to make it, and very awkward moments when I realised I hadnt switched it on , lol. Pride comes before a fall, lol

Last night I warmed the house up as best I could and risked a long soak in the bath. Aah heaven, I closed my eyes and started to relax when SMACK the shower head fell off it's perch and nearly knocked me out!! I didn't know what had hit me lol...

Although paying for the heating will clean me out and then some, I am so grateful that I am finally in a position where I can pay for it at all! This time last year I would have been rubbing two sticks together and I feel so fortunate. Amazing how your fortunes can change constantly going up and down. I have always lived my life unduly concerned with money, as I made it my all to  believe you will always have just enough for your needs. I brought my four kids up on a pittance but always managed to feed and clothe them and budget a little for small treats. Life has been extremeley hard and it is so nice to have a small amount of the pressure taken off. Now, don't get me wrong, I still have not a lot to show for all the hard work but and it is a massive grateful heart felt BUT I am further forward than before.  And I owe it to all you lovely people who support us at Art from the Heart, and my lovely Dylusion fans. Thank you, thank you and thank you. I salute you all.

I am taking part in Dressember this year. You have to wear a dress (some wear skirts) evry day in December. Well nothing new there for me, lol. But this year I am trying to document it as I go. If you are on face book you can follow my antics HERE and this is Dressembers official PAGE. Come along and see the fun.If anyone is doing it as well I would love to know, never too late tostart!!

Also on Face book the lovely Kate Crane has started a group especially for all those of you who do the Calendar art journaling. It is a place to share, swap ideas etc. I have said I will start to do it agin, but I only got till April last time, before commitments over took me, lol.

If you arent already on face book I would highly recommend it, it seems to have taken over from blogging for me as it is so quick to update. There is a wealth of info, inspiration and friendship to be found on there and once you get the hang of it, it is so easy. We also have a shop page AFTH and there is a Dyan page for fans , where they post as many silly photos of me as possible, amongst other things!!!

If you are a fan of my Dylusions range Our Ben has a fabulous offer on in his shop at the moment, and online.

Weekend special offers on Dylusions Christmas Rubber Stamps & Stencils - huge savings to be had, so if you've had your eye on one of these, now is the time to grab one

Offers end at midnight on Sunday 9th Dec

For the online link see HERE

The shop is closed today Sat 8th, but we are opening tomorrow instead 10 - 3pm.

So without further ado I shall leave you with my first 8 days of Dressember.

Day 1...One of my fave dresses from Limb clothing, the fabric is Alexander Henry cowboy fabric, right up my street!! The shoes are from Office ( who are offering 25% off at the moment) and the massive baubles are my own, lol

Day 2... Dress made by me, cardigan recycled, 8 yr old Art boots.

Day 3... Dress made by me, cardigan good old M & S, 4 yr old boots from ?

Day 4... Dress from Collectif (no longer available), cardi from Primarni, Old Dr Marten boots, glasses from the lovely Catherine.

Day 5... recycled dress, originally from Collectifhttp://www.collectif.co.uk/hawaiian-dolores-doll-winter-hibiscus-p-sku5114-c-black.html, Ugg slippers ( mens as it was all I could fit my broken toes into!), hair undecided, lol.

Day 6... Dress from Lady V of London, cardigan from Primarni, tights from Matalan.

Day 7... Dress handmade by me, cardigan  from M & S, boots as before, moustache necklace from Lily Von Pink. Black snood from the lovely Sarah

Day 7... no intention of leaving the house.! Dress a pressie from my lovely friend Spider, cardi Matalan, Belt Dotty P's, hair by Crystal Tips lmao

So there you have it Days 1 - 8. I will leave you with a clip from Crystal Tips and Alistair, see if you can spot the resemblence !!!



Enjoy xx

Workshop Preview Day - 15th Dec - 8-5pm

We are holding our next workshop preview day on Saturday 15th December 9-5pm. We will be previewing our latest workshops for January, Febuary & March 2013. Workshop teachers include Dyan Reaveley, Kate Crane, Sandra Hall, Kaz Hall & Marie McCarthy.

We will also be holding 5 taster workshops on the day taught by Dyan Reaveley, Kate Crane, Sandra Hall, Kaz Hall & Marie McCarthy. The workshops will run for one hour and will cost just £5. They were very popular last time, so make sure you get your place!! 

Details - HERE

Any new workshops booked on the day will receive a 10% discount

Happy Crafting & Hope to see you there!

Art from the Heart

Updates...

Life is hectic as you all know so I want to give the heads up to my January workshops in the States.

I will be teaching at

Guadalupe’s Fun Stamps in Santé Fe on the 5th and 6th 

The Stampin Post in Temecula on the 16th

Stampers corner in Sacremento on the 19th and 20th

Hopefully see you there..

Here's some more Christmas pages from my journal...

 

Enjoy xx