Very Clever!

Not me of course - I'm talking about one of my sons(actually they are all far more clever than I LOL!)
He went through a tough time last year when his partner walked out on him and my two lovely grandchildren, now he is at last using his talent and the other week this fabulous canvas went up on his wall.

It is huge!!(a square metre I would think) As you walk past it appears to move! I am just so proud of him as he has done this in the little spare time he gets!

My little tatty flowers are in total contrast with this!

These are similar to some I gave to some crafting buddies at the weekend - they are such fun to make and I can sit and sew them on my knee in the evenings!

Off for a fun filled morning now, Chris

Sorted - almost!

What a great weekend I've had! After my disappointment at not being able to attend Hels' workshop on Saturday it turned out to be all's well that ends well -almost! 


House viewers came ...and went(still on hold with that one)after which hubby and I headed to "Better Bathrooms" in Manchester(we had a VERY bad experience with the Bathstore and I refuse to ever enter one of their doors again! Buuuut! on stepping through the doors of 'BB' hubby's light turned on - up to now he has left most of the choosing to me. The range is fantastic and if we hadn't already bought so much from one our great DIY stores we could have spent all our money there! We did however find fantastic taps and tiles (and the short bath - finally) and hubby surprised me with his choice and we totally agreed on our purchase -YIPPEE!!


Anyway - enough ranting about domestic stuff - Sunday came and saw me charging driving sedately up the motorways to DB Studios for a workshop with the fantastic Hels Sheridan. I set off early with the intention of catching up with some crafting buddies during the lunch break and it really was great to meet up with Joanne and Gez again - I was also able to sit next to my friend Sarah during the workshop! It was especially good to finally meet Hels too as I have followed her blog for a looong time! Her samples were amazing! The only stupid thing is - took my camera, but no photos of the event at all!!
  
I have never known an afternoon fly so quickly and it was all over far too soon! It was great to learn new tricks with distress inks and stains. 

Hels explained techniques so well and I can't wait to try some of them out! 

Gez brought me this fantastic ATC, I love this girly!

It was a really great afternoon.......except for one thing! I had always thought(maybe naively)that crafters looked out for each other but one mean spirited crafter (must have been, or why else would they be in a craft shop) helped themselves to a shed load of Hels' personal craft supplies. It took the edge off totally ruined what should have been a happy experience for all and I hope whoever did this gets their just desserts - YOU ARE A THEIF!!!

I'll be back later with an amazing piece of art work(not mine)!!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

So little time!!

The weeks just seem to be running away with me! I have been quite industrious what with one thing and another. Some sewing projects and a little bit of teaching and a little journaling along with being 'project manager'(I like that - bestowed upon me by a friend!)at our flat. Things are coming along nicely both with the work done and with getting on with the downsize. We are also having a steady amount of viewings for our house - as my son said 'you only need the right one one to turn up'!!
Here's some more of my car journal

a prepared page

a page I sat and did while my grandson was looking for Eddie Stobart names and numbers 

another prepared page

the original page
Must go now, need food. Looking forward to a workshop with Hels Sheridan this weekend(and to meet up with some crafty pals too) Thanks for looking, Chris

My Weekend

I enjoyed making little sketches (inspired by a page by Amanda Kavanagh in 1000 Artist Journal Pages) While away at our caravan at the weekend with 2 of our grandchildren I started this

It looks a little different now..

I used my neocolours this afternoon after showing a very nice couple around our house - I hope they buy it - they seemed nice enough to live here!
Not sure whether I should have coloured it but Hey Ho!
Thanks for looking, Chris 

And now for....

...something completely different! The book in my last post has loads of inspiration - as well as being an amazing collection of different styles of journaling! 
This page recently caught my eye

and led me to have a go at this style.

This was a bit of a cheat really as I haven't visited any of these places, the photos were in the weekend supplements and I sat doing this on my knee one night while having one eye on the TV!
The lamp is there because it was one of my light bulb moments(they are few and far between LOL) 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to journal
We went away to one of my favourite places (our caravan) this weekend with two of our grandchildren and doodled a bit in quite moments(there weren't many) but didn't manage to paint anything in, so will come back to show you my page when it's complete.(No idea why I can't start at the left!!)

Thanks for looking, Chris

Balancing Act!

A bit of a strange week, had to say "bye bye" to a special piece of furniture which put me in an extremely bad place, then been back and to to meet plumber, flooring man, kitchen man(my son actually) and then searching for bath, tiles etc...

So what more could I do - a journal page! I've had some time to myself this week and I already had the background that I prepared way back last July. Used a magazine image, a jewellery catalogue I picked up in House of Fraser last year and some Crafty Individuals paper.


I also had time for something else inspired by a page in here

I bought this book last year in the hope that I would use it for inspiration, I'll be back to show you another time, for now off for another appointment!!


Thanks for looking and for your encouraging comments, Chris

March pages

A bit rushed to get my March pages ready - at last we've had a viewing - although I have nasty feeling nothing will come of it!
Last month was a flurry of tidying, sorting, taking deliveries, meeting tradesmen, going to meetings and loads of paperwork:(

A sort of rainy/sunshiny page made by using distress inks on a mat and misting before 'smooshing', journal squares were mop-up paper with a bit of splashing a waterbrush over the end of neo-colours.
Stamps on the left are PaperArtsy, stamps on the right are Sheena Douglas a "A little bit sketchy" and my freebie from this months Craft Stamper.


Here are my completed February pages - note that it now does say February!!

I do love taking part in this challenge, set up by the extremely talented Kate Crane, take a look at her blog here and prepare to be inspired!


Hoping to get to see lots of March pages. 
Thanks for stopping by here, Chris