Thingy-Ma-Jig

Hello again.  I finished this lovely little box this afternoon and I am well pleased with it.  Two friends, Debbie and Sheila, in the UK showed it to me when I visited their shop and kindly gave me the dimensions so I could try one for myself.  They called it a Thingy-Ma-Jig so I have continued to do the same.  The four little 'drawers' can be used for lightwight things like brads, eyelets etc.  Or you could cut some small shapes or alphabet letters with a die cut machine and fill the drawers up before giving it as a gift to a fellow crafter.

My Little Mermaid

Hello Everyone and apologies for my abscence but I have been in a massive fight with my computer, camera and scanner!!! I have had such problems. I was just about tearing my hair out. Nothing wanted to talk to each other and hence I haven't been able to Blog anything. Such frustration!!! Anyway I have managed to get this photo in (tomorrow may be another story). Harold and I spent a large part of our morning constructing this little beauty for our youngest granddaughter, Tayla, who turns 7 on Sunday. A mermaid was her request and I want to send thanks to all the mums and grandmas who trod this path before me and published their efforts on-line. Some of them were a great help as guidance. Thank-you. I have been busy with paper crafts too and hopefully will have a couple of things to show later. Thanks for your patience and continued visits. I was amazed last Wednesday when I had over 100 hits on the one day. I appreciate you looking and if you should leave a comment I am over the moon. See you next time.

A Sunshine-y Day

Good Morning All and what a beautiful morning it is here today in Upper Hutt. Yesterday was just the pits - cold and rainy all day and looking from our kitchen window there was snow falling on 'them there hills'.'It is still there today but looks just lovely with the sun glinting on it. Well my first foray into doing something crafty yesterday afternoon. The first one is for a friend's teenage daughter, the second one for a great niece and the last one a sympathy card for a friend who just lost her husband. I used new stamps on all three - the teenage one was actually a Freebie from the front cover of a magazine. All very basic and simple but hey I've got to start again somewhere. I'm off to try something new this morning - I'm going to a Zumba class with a friend. I'm looking forward to it. I think it will be great fun not to mention good exercise!! I'll let you know how I get on. You all have a good day too and thanks for looking.

More Goodies

My Goodies

Hello Everyone I'm back!!! We have been home just a week and just this morning I found time to photograph the craft goodies I bought overseas. It has been a busy week unpacking and putting away, e-mailing and fighting with the computer to get my photos from the camera into the PC. Anyway I have managed it now even though my usual method isn't working yet. I tried to sort my goodies into groups - stamps, embellishments, cutting dies - you get the idea. It looks as though I can only blog four photos at once today for some reason so I will do more posts after this one until all the piccies are on. My best purchase? would have to be the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals cutting die. They are SO scarce at the moment. Everyone is waiting for them. My two lovely ladies at Monk's Den craft shop in Ashby (Debbie and Sheila (Manic Stamper blog)) ordered 10 of them but were only delivered 1 which they saved for ME!!! Isn't that SOOOO cool. I did a little dance of joy all around their shop I can tell you. I can't believe I have been so disciplined that I haven't used it yet. I've just about done all the must do things now so will be playing real soon.. So many goodies - so little time!! We had the most wonderful holiday but after 7 weeks it was lovely to come back and see our 2 daughters and darling grandchildren. I hope all my readers are well and happy. I hope to have some work to show you before too much longer. My mind is still in holiday mode!!! Bye for this time and thanks for looking.

Nearing the End

Hello Everyone - Well just one more week and we will be setting off for home.  We have had a wonderful holiday doing different things, meeting up with family and friends old and new and the weather has been kind to us too.  This last week has whizzed by and the next week will too no doubt but we are starting to think about getting back home now and life post holiday.  It has been lovey but after 7 weeks we are always ready to get back home and see our girls and grandchildren.  I have bought some great craft goodies and look forward to using them on our return.  Will be back blogging in no time now.  Bye and thanks for looking.

Holiday News

Hello at last.  Today we are half way on our holiday so I guess things will speed up from here on in.  Life has been very hectic and very wonderful.  The week cycling in Italy was fabulous even though we got drenched on the first leg from Venice to Chioggia.  Now I know why there are so many canals in Venice!!!  I was thinking, so much for sunny Italy!!  After that it was hot and sunny for the rest of the week and we enjoyed every minute - well maybe not the two big hills which were on the last day! The long freewheel down into Florence made up for the long WALK up the hills before.  We took the train back from Florence to Venice which only took 2 hours!  I don't know what we had been messing about at. It took us a week!LOL  We had an extra day in Venice before and after the cycling so there was plenty of time for us to wander around all the alleys exploring.  I did buy a beautiful Venetian glass necklace which I love. 

So now we are back in the UK - the SUNNY UK- I have to say.  The weather has been great. We have had a couple of country walks from our log cabin but really not had much time for that so far what with catching up with family and friends etc.  Last Friday I went to a lunch which was a reunion of 'girls' from my year at grammar school.  It was fabulous.  I hadn't seen these girls (except one) since 1964 when I left school.  There were 14 of us.  I had been very nervous before hand but it was just like we had seen each other last week!  Then on the Sunday the same group had a BBQ with partners included this time.  We had so much fun together.  They always have a get together on the first Friday in March every year.  Next March we are going to try to link up via SKYPE which will be great.

On the Saturday between the two reunions we went to a big craft fair at Newbury racecourse. We have been several times before so I knew I would enjoy it, which needless to say I did.  Wall to wall craft supplies - it doesn't get any better than that does it?  Of course I had to buy one or two things - as you do!  So what a fabulous weekend.  It's Thursday now and I think I have just about come down to earth with my feet touching the ground once again.

I have been watching Create and Craft TV this morning (and a few other mornings as well) and have seen a few new ideas, so my notebook is filling up ready for action when we get back.  It's a good job we don't have Create and Craft TV in NZ or I would never get anything done.  It is on EVERY morning!!!

Well this afternoon we are out visiting (again), a meal with a friend tomorrow night, I think Saturday is free at the moment, out all day with friends on Sunday, meal with my nephew and family on Monday night and off down to Brighton on the south coast to spend a few days with another nephew of mine on Tuesday.  So as I said at the beginning life is very hectic but very wonderful.

I thought I was smart before we left putting by Picassa onto the laptop so I could show you the odd photo.  Ha ha - I forgot to load my camera software onto the laptop too!!! Duh!!! So sorry no photos.  Maybe you're glad about that????  I did get some good photos at the craft fair so maybe I'll get to share those with you when I get back.  Am I suffering withdrawal symptoms?  Well Harold keeps taking me to craft shops to stave off the worst of it and I did make a beautiful camellia flower last evening.  I have also been writing class instructions on the odd evening when we have been at 'home'.

I hope you are all well and enjoying life and that I haven't bored you silly with my ramblings.  Take care and as always thanks for looking at my blog.