Too much stuff!!

Since shutting down the shop, I've offloaded as much stock as possible, and three times I've been through my craft room, tidied and sorted it.

I've finally realised what my problem is though, I just cannot bear to use anything pretty!! Anything I've personally bought is just the prettiest and most gorgeous that I've loved, and it's just sitting there for me to continue to covet, stroke and stash away....

I've been working out the best way to deal with my "problem" and I think I will have to open up every packet, so it doesn't look quite so 'pretty' as when it's first presented, and next time I'm faced with a stack of gorgeous papers (currently quite a lot of glittery lovely my minds eye) I'm just going to get scissors and hack at it... once it's cut I'll HAVE to find a use for it.

Ok, time to get the kids off to school, and then *wish me luck* that I can find some crafty mojo within! :)

Back soon xx

This is the 'original' but restored Mill Race underneath the apartments. It freaked me out all weekend filling up and draining through the sluices..... but was beautifully inspiring and calming.

This is the scene from outside and from most of the windows of the Mill Apartments... *sigh* ... sooooo peaceful and quiet

And..... relax once it's all over. I'll hunt out piccies of the weekend and share them,but for now, thats all I got chance to take!!!

Ok, so I can't remember how many classes / projects I said you'd be getting with your money, but I'm pretty sure that we've outdone what we expected!!  With closing the shop we've had plenty of excess stock to need using, so thought we'd do some classes with those as well as the new gorgeous stash in your goodie bags. (And your goodie bags aren't as straighforward as they sound..... all will be revealed)

So here are FIVE layout projects designed by myself and mum, only sneaky peeks I'm afraid, don't want to spoil your fun.  Claire has another two layouts, and a christmas journal.  Mum and I both have another couple of projects for you too.  

I'll post more sneaks when I've photographed them.

Steph x

Venue piccies

We went back to Butley Mills last weekend to finalise all the arrangements, and decide on rooms and where tables will go etc.  Thought you might all appreciate some piccies of the venue, particularly as I'd forgotten just how amazing, beautiful, inspirational and well decorated it was.  I absolutely cannot wait for THREE WEEKENDS TIME!! :)

Not only that, but I'll be sharing some sneaky pics of projects in the next post.... here goes....

Steph x

Inspiration...... Zentangles

Have you ever seen/heard of zentangles? (or zendoodles I've heard them called too)

I first came across these on Chell's blog, and think they're fab!! (she is sooooooo good at them!)

If you haven't seen one, have a look at this...

(found on www.mescrap.blogspot.com)

I'm sure you've all sat and doodled at one time or another, whilst you're chatting, or on the phone, or thinking.... zentangles were born from this sort of thing, apparently whilst the person was doodling she realised the kind of meditative state she went into.

Head on over to google and pop in the word zentangle, and have a look round.... if you're coming on our retreat, why not use your luvverly new notebook to try a few out, see what doodles you do, and what you come up with, ready to swap in November.....

Steph x

Not done much lately...

Got a gazillion things on the go, but been putting in the extra hours I can at work to get some pennies for littlun's b'days all coming up (not to mention the ''C-word") but have put together this page for our September crop

How gorgeous is my 'future sis-in-law'?  I couldn't resist printing this pic out in grayscale, and wanted to team it with dreamy Prima papers, butterflies, glitter and sequin tulle.  Working on something completely the other end of the spectrum too, to keep the girls at the crop on their toes :)

Also on the go, a couple of BTP projects from Kaiser via Merly Impressions.... my baking recipe book, and classes for the retreat in November.  Can't wait for that! :)

S x

Family canvas for a new addition

I think I'm safe enough posting on here, I doubt it'll be seen before it's given.

A friend had her baby last Saturday, I can't believe how quickly it went, when I met her she was only 17 weeks gone.  I'm sure lots of people will have bought clothes and the like, so I like to always make something a little more personal for people on special occasions - something that no one else could have gotten them, so I thought I'd make them a canvas, to remember the date and with photo corners on this to let them change the photo as the little one grows.

The title was cut on my Slice, the calendar turn is a Maya Road stamp set, I've set it to show the date he was born.  I've stitched directly on to it with my bazzill stitches templates and floss (love that stuff!)  The stars were cut on my slice too, and I've added some gilding flakes, which I totally can't get used to - they end up sticking to everything BUT my project! 

Little bit of Prima swirly bling and I'm away.  Papers used are string of pearls bling, and some BG basics manilla pp

I hope they like it... I'm always nervous about giving people things I've made, you never know if it'll be well received or just hidden away somewhere :(  eeeeek