Busy Bee

Well its the start Of The Great Northern Papercraft Extravaganza tomorrow. The stand is up and almost prepared. Just waiting for the display boards to go up and we are done. All the class kits are finished. I am fully sold out for tomorrow, and then some, but I think there are still places available for Sunday. If you are interested you need to ask at the show tomorrow.

While we were finishing packing everything up , on Thurs, we also had the pleasure of Maisies help and assistance. As fast as we were packing it up she was getting it out to glue and stick lol. She had her hair in the cutest of plaits, and is starting to look so grown up.

She was on a mission to do some sticking, and gathered up her supplies.

And let the sticking commence!!

And what comes after sticking? Stamping and painting obviously!!! C,mon Auntie Jay , I finished ages ago.

Auntie Jay , are you sure you know what you're doing...???

Maisie was 3 this week ands so we had a little party tea. Because I can only eat certain things she made sure I had a hedgehog of sausages and cheese. It took her an hour to create this.

A Party isn't a party without snacks , is it. . .???

And what a better way to end the day than with some more painting. . . ???

The best ladies in the world.

Had a brilliant class today. It was the altered canvas. I was a bit worried about teaching this class, because I can only lead people by the hand so far and then its up to them. Everyone has a creative streak inside, its just a matter of finding it and bringing it to the surface. After collaging a canvas we applied glaze after glaze of Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Line paint. Now I know I go on about this paint but I really do love it. You can build up layer after layer of glazes without muddying the colours, and it is so packed with pigment that the canvas's take on a glowy ethereal quality. Although the class was intense I can honestly say that every ones canvas was indeed a work of art, even the beginners. I would have been proud to have created any of them. What always amazes me is that although they all start off with similar colours ( I only allow them to start with 2 lol) the end results could not differ more .

Ha ha , love a clean,tidy working area!!!

The lovely Jayne and Pat.

The lovely Ingrid and Anne.

The lovely Ann and Jan, newcomers who have now caught the bug

The lovely Pam (aka Kitchen Fairy) and Christine.

The lovely Pandora and Janet.

I know it was frightening at the time ladies but top marks for perseverance.

A couple of thank yous now. As you all know I love , love , love white lilies. So look at the size of this bunch from the lovely Pat. They were nearly bigger than her, lol, and are absolutely gorgeous.

And the lovely Jayne brought me this fabby mug which must have been made especially for me.

I,ve said it before and I will continue saying it. My ladies are the best. They are the kindest , thoughtful, understanding and enthusiastic bunch of women I could ever wish for. Thank you one and all.

And on to my regular Tues night ladies. What a crew we are, lol. Its more like a social and chinwag than anything. An open house with the kettle always on. Invariably there is always a crisis going on amongst the ranks , and sometimes its not me, lmao!!!! We have all become linked with each others lives and friendships have blossomed. Unfortunately not a lot of work seems to get done at times but, to be quite honest, I dont really think that's the point of it. Big hugs to Ali today , love ya lots.

I have decided to introduce them to the delights of silk painting. I had told them how therapeutic it was, but neglected to tell them how nerve racking the gutta outlining could be. Still they all rose to the challenge as you can see.

And hopefully this is what they should look like next week....!!

OK big appointment with the accountant this morn, need to get my business head kicked into gear. Oh the Joys...!!! xx

Farewell my lovelies

Had a great last day of the Fabby Dabby weekend. The classes seemed to flow without too many hitches!!! Pam did a fantastic job with the food as usual, and all too soon it was time to say good bye. Everyone was exhausted but happy.

Here's the lovely Sue and Barb, only best friends can bicker and take the mick like them!!

The lovely Pam (expert vine drawer, much to her surprise) and the lovely Christine , who has just completed her third weekend!!

The lovely Steph and Marie, both from the other end of the country.

And the lovely Janet with of course , my kitchen fairy Pam. Yes I think in this picture I am actually asleep standing up.

Marie left me this wonderful thank you card from one of my favourite artists. Teesha Moore.

Think this saying just about sums it up don't you. . . . . ??

So what better to do after a hard weekend teaching. Oh yes whack the Northern on and have a hard nights painting lol

Enjoy !! xx

Anarchy amongst the ranks!!

Ha ha there was nearly a mass walk out of the students today.. We had 3 projects completed and had just started on the 4th, which was the following canvas. They were really enjoying themselves, paint effects done, background stamped, when they suddenly realised all the vines were hand drawn. Soooo was I gonna draw them on for them?? Was I heckerslike..!!! They were going to learn how to do it themselves. Aaaaargh mass horror, a few even stopped breathing for a few seconds.

I swiftly took them through a step by step masterclass on vine drawing to which they were suitably unimpressed. But with the combination of locking the studio door and severe bullying they gave it a go.

And look at the results. Every single canvas had a beautiful hand drawn and painted vine on it. When the canvases are fully finished you wont see that much but but I was suitably impressed by them. Although it was well out of their comfort zone they showed true grit and succeeded. Way to go girls.

From L-R Marie , Sue, Barb, Pam, Pam, Steph, Chris and Janet.

They seemed a nice quiet bunch when they arrived yesterday, but that illusion was quickly shattered and they have been giving me jip all day lol. Bet they wont tomorrow when they are knackered and I am working the a***es off them lol.

Tomorrow is gonna be a toughie really, seeing as it is Mothers Day. I just want it to disappear and never happen, but I know how important it is to my kids. To all you mums out there have a fabulous day. To all those with mums, make sure they have a fabulous day. And to everyone else , you are fabulous already, just enjoy... xx

Tag ,you're it.!!

Well the lovely Sue from Spain tagged me yesterday. The idea being I had to take a photo of myself there and then. No brushing of hair or touching up of anything. Well I read this at about 1.50 this morning whilst sat in bed. Very glamorous I,m sure wearing my Rusty Pickle scrapping T-shirt!!! You can tell I was on my own in there cant you lmao. Look at that sticky up hair, no make up!!! Not so long ago there wouldn't have been a cat in hells chance of me rising to the challenge, but seeing as I have spent the last 4 wks looking like a bag of s**te, I figured one more photo wouldn't matter lol



In fact this is probably the best I have looked in all those four weeks!!!

Now all I have to do is pass this on... I get sent a lot of Blog awards and I always feel awful because I don't know what to do with them lol. But this one is easy, I just have to tag 5 more people to do the same. So here goes...

Got to be the gorgeous Kirsty Wiseman who pulls the gurniest face at the best of times. She can do this standing on her head lol.

Next its got to be Zoe, the lovely Mrs Wonka, for no other reason than it will give me an excuse to go pester her loveliness.

Next its my old roomie in America, the Ranger chick, Wendy Vecchi. C,mon girl you can do it lol

The next tag is for a great friend of mine who has just sold her business to become a crafter again. Oh the joys!! Its the gorgeous Sue of Paper Paradise..

And last but not least, a new friend Cal. Now this is one completely bonkers chick who will definitely be up for the challenge.

So go check out their blogs shortly and see if they are playing ball or not lol.

Me and the Goddess have spent all day making kits ready for the Fabby Dabby weekend which got off to a flying start tonight. Everyone is always quiet on the first evening, its a mixture of tiredness, apprehension and the unknown!!! But it never lasts and quickly deteriorates lol

Normally the wine usually sets them off, but not tonight, it was watered down nearly all round. Now there's a first.

Need to show you a couple more pressies. Marie has travelled all the way from Cambridge and came bearing dress patterns. Yes you heard correctly, dress patterns. I love them and they will come in soooo handy as I am planning a beeswax collage class in the near future. Watch this space!!

Christine brought more goodies for my survival basket. A baby handbag sized bottle of Bailey,s and four chocolate cups to drink it out of. How cool is that ...??

Well it would have been rude not to try it out , don't you think. . . . ??? You place the cup in its own little case, fill with Baileys, knock it back and eat the chocolate cup. Yayy!! that's my kind of shots. . . . .


And finally , my great mate, Little Julie, bought me this heart pendant. Its a silver heart broken in two and crudely stitched back together with wire. That's still how I feel, I know its there and I know eventually it will almost heal itself. But for now it feels as those its only big tacking stitches that are holding it all together. One jolt and it could all collapse . .

See you tomorrow for more weekend fun and frolics. xx

Gratitude for gifts

I,ve got lots of thank yous to say today. First of all big thank you to Maggie who came to the Ranger weekend for letting me have these lovely ATC's. Sorry I didn't have any left to trade.

Also big shout out to Cal who is a bit of a pocket dynamo and kept us laughing all weekend. She has written a stunning write up of the weekend on her blog. I am sooooo pleased that she enjoyed herself so much. She went a little mad and after playing with the Claudine Hellmuth paints only went and bought all 15.!!! She's played with them already and made a triptych canvas set as a pressie for her brother. Guess what of..!!! Ha ha you'll never, it is peas and mushrooms......l0l. Go look for yourself HERE Claudine herself has left a comment. Way to go Cal!!


Had a great workshop yesterday , making the fabby stamped Star Book. We seemed to laugh all the way through. We had a bit of a late start due to the appalling fog, but quickly picked up the pace. You can almost smell the concentration can't you ..? lol.

Suzy and her mum Jean can always be called upon to liven up a workshop, and to bring pretty shoes. Look at these beauties, How impractical are they...???

Raine didn't bring shoes this time, instead she appeared with a gorgeous altered handbag.

More thank yous to be said. Look at this gorgeous tag from Val. The saying is really meaningful, isn't it...?

And Raine (with help from daughter Emily) made me a stunning digital box and book of shoe quotes. How cool is that...?

ONE MORE SLEEP till the fabby dabby weekend. Yayy!! Here's some more sneaks.

Hope those of you who are coming are getting all fired up.

OK, its 1.32 am (yes Su I know I should be asleep lol) and I still have to paint my nails. I am a nightmare when doing my nails . I apply 6 coats altogether, lol.

1 x OPI nail strengthener ( one of my desert island products)

1 x Nails Inc base coat

2 x OPI Black polish ( Light My Sapphire - bought in bulk whenever I am in the States)

1 x coat Nails Inc topcoat

1 x coat OPI Chip Skip

Its always applied last thing at night and I have to go to sleep with my hands peeping out of the top of the duvet. Luckily I hardly move when I am asleep. But I keep thinking that one of these days I will wake up with the pillow stuck to my hand...!!!! If you think that's bad I also have the same routine for my toenails.

Well I,d better make a start as I have to be up at 6.30 to meet The Goddess at Asda for the mammoth weekend shop. Oh the joys..!!!! lmao. xx