Happy Christmas . . .

wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas

Lesley x

reunion weekend in Plymouth . . . . . .

the last 2 weeks have been a little busy . . . our friends came over from Oz.  We then headed off to Plymouth for 4 nights which incorporated a hospital reunion and a catch up with more friends.

The sun shone for the majority of the weekend except for the Friday morning when it rained  . . a lot.  These weekend a lots of fun but very tiring, these days it takes me a week to get over them!!  lol.  They only happen ever 2 years and the last one was the 11th.  So we've been going for the last 22 years, so perhaps that's why? 

Saturday we had a mooch round the Hoe and took the ferry over to Mountbatten

Saturday nights tables before we all sat down

Elaine and I at Royal Willaim Yard Sunday morning

speed boat racing in the sound on Sunday morning

Lesley x

New baby card . . . .

Yesterday Cameron came for the day and after lunch although dark clouds were looming and I could hear thunder in the distance I thought we could beat the rain and take a trip to the park.  Well I was wrong!  On arriving at the park it started to rain and after a brave attempt on Cameron's part to play in the rain we eventually had to abandon the trip and return home.   Now I should have listened to my son who said make the trip in the morning as it's going to rain in the afternoon.  But I thought I knew best :) 

Friday I went out with a crafty friend to PDA where I bought some new card suitable for Christmas card a lovely red suitable to make poinsettias and a pine  colour suitable for holly leaves.   But whilst getting ready to post a new make I realised I should have also bought some blue similar to dark blue I used in the card below.  Looking on the bright side though I'll have to make another trip at a later date!!

Yesterday was also world card making and day so I did manage to put a few cards together.  

Now I don't make many cards larger than 6 x 6 but over the past few weeks I've made two 7 x 7 ones the second being a new baby one.  So whilst out Friday I bought some 8 x 8 to try out.  

Today I'm off with my friend to a craft day starting at 10 am and thoroughly looking forward to it.  Especially as we are trying some new craft items.


Lesley x

Happy St Georges Day

Happy St Georges Day!!!

Well you'll be pleased to know Joe is recovering from his 'man flu' aka cold although it's left him with a bit of a chesty cough.  My knees are improving - yipeeeee!!  I've had a raft pf appointments this week culminating in a consultant Rheumatology appointment to review my meds.  Ended up with a steroid injection which hopefully will resolve the last little bit of my knee & foot pain.

I* met with the ladies from Long Eaton earlier in the week and we made some wonderful cards that I'd prepared for them.  One we did involved using washi tape and some fussy cutting and some matting and layering and of course last but not least adding some glitter detail on the flower using some stickles.  Unfortunately the glitter detail is difficult to see due to my photography!!

All 3 are slightly different and 2 I used for a recent birthday and retirement 

well the sun is shining and I've loads of jobs to get done today so I'd better get a wiggle on!!!

Lesley x

We've just returned from 4 nights in Tavistock Devon, the main reason for going was to attend the 60th birthday party of a friend I started my nurse training with in Plymouth back in 1975!!  Where have the years gone I ask myself.  sue has also taken the opportunity to retire, well semi retire to be exact.

Although I've been to 'Tavy' many times over the past 40 years I  never realised what a wonderful place it was until this weekend.  There is so much to see and do. I think Sue and her husband are very lucky to live where they do.  Although Sue and I keep in touch, because of the distance we don't see each other as much as we would like.  I'm looking forward to being able to see more of Sue and Glenn in the future!!

Joe and I also managed to pull in a visit to an old haunt of our, Badgers Holt where we had a lovely Devon cream tea.  The place hasn't changed much. There were several Peacocks their all strutting there stuff!!

This is the card I made for my friend

The weekend weather was lovely, I only needed to where a cardigan too.  The Queen Head Hotel we stayed at was in the heart of Tavistock and was an exellent find.  I checked out trip advisor before I booked it and they were all glowing about it.  the hotel more than met our expectations.  I would certainly stay there again and recommend it as a place to stay.

Lesley x

  

Not too old to visit Santa . . . . .

This was one of the cards we made at our crafting day last Monday at Long Eaton, I loved the patchwork effect we got with this project.

The sun is shinning again today so I'm going to make use of the solar energy to put some washing on.  Although yesterday was very windy it didn't stop us girlies having a great day out  at a Vintage fayre at Uttoxeter Race course & a trip to the Heart of the Country near Swiffen.

then last night saw Joe and I out a the French classes Christmas soiree & buffet with entertainment at the Jonty Farmer where we all had a jolly holly time.

Hoping for a quieter day today - but me thinks that might not be on the cards as the grandchildren are coming latter to help decorate the tree!!!

Happy days

Bokeh a new technique . . . .

 

It’s my day off today and I’ve been at Long Eaton crafting most of the day.  We did lots of crafting,  chatting and of course sharing ideas and of course a bit of cake at lunchtime.  Unfortunately one of the ladies that usually comes has only just come out of hospital so could join us but we all wish her well and a speedy recovery.   I’m glad I was inside today and although it has been sunny there has been a bitter wind and it’s very cold outside!!

When we met up back in March we all tried out a new technique which I found on u tube and appears to be a current trend in crafting.   the word Bokeh  is a photographic term; defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".

 

I made the stencils for making the ‘blurring’ in acetate and punching out circles.  The back ground is roughly inked in one colour and then you add the ‘burring effect’ using white, pink, yellow and aqua chalk ink applying it with sponge daubers.   I was very pleased with the affect and so were the ladies.

 

The pink card I’ve tried something new on as I saw this technique used at a recent craft fair, where the acetate is cut just a little wider than the card so it can be posted flat, but one out of the envelope that end is tucked under a border trim so that you get a small amount of bowing which give the card a bit of dimension!!

The green Bokeh card is the only one  not having an acetate overlay.

 

Lesley x

Shabby chick!!

 

We I am coming to the end of a busy 2 weeks and boy am I looking forward to the weekend!!  2 days of pure relaxation!!!!

I am off to Christmas card club Friday evening with my friend.  I’m not sure how much crafting we will get done, but it’s a lovely way to catch up with everyone

 

I made this card for Pat’s birthday at the end of January using some freebie papers and items from my stash!!

 

I have recently found a little gem of a cafe close to home that does the most amazing food.   This place won’t do my figure any good or my slimming World diet though!!   I organised an afternoon tea last Monday for the girls I meet up with on a Thursday quiz nights.   But before I booked it for the 7 of us I thought I’d better go and try it out so a few weeks ago  I took Joe their to try the afternoon tea.  

Here we are last Monday enjoying our afternoon tea!!

the girls voted it the best afternoon tea ever!!!.  Even better than the ones experienced at Morley Hayes, Horsley Lodge and Betty’s in York!!  We can’t wait to go again!!!

Happy New Year . . . . . . .

 

 

Happy New Year Everyone

Happy Anniversary . . ..

 

How wonderfully sunny and warm it’s been recently for the month of September.  Life has been quiet just recently but I’ve been doing a bit of crafting and crocheting.  I will post some pictures of my crocheting efforts in the future.

Some friends of ours celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary recently and this is the card I made for them.   We celebrated it by going out with a group of friends to the

 

Fox and Hounds at Cox Bench.  The meal was delicious I had a pan fried salmon with new potatoes and salad.  The desert was naughty but very nice,  a fresh strawberry cheesecake .

 

have a brilliant day

Lesley x

Sun Sun Sun!!!

 

Well what a lovely day it is – when I arose early I knew it was going to be a great day.  Sadly I had to go into work at 8 to sort a few bit out that I couldn’t leave til Monday.  I’ve been a bit absent from blog world over the last few weeks as life has been  a bit busy for me.  Hopefully the next few months will be a little quieter!!

I’ve seen my amazing daughter this morning and had a coffee with her and last Wednesday Joe and I went for dinner with Matt Nicola & the grandchildren.  What more could I ask for.

I’m still harvesting cherry tomatoes and cucumbers from the greenhouse and the peppers whilst small are growing.  My biggest one though was snaffled by a slug, I only found it Monday and it’s a gnawed away the bottom of it grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

Samantha's friend & her husband had a little baby boy a few weeks ago called Harry and this is the card I sent to her.   He is a gorgeous little boy and I was fortunate enough to meet him when he was less that 24 hours old

Between us Samantha and I made a basket of goodies for her and baby and back in June Samantha asked me to make a pram blanket for her.  I took the wool and my knitting needles away to France in June and voila!!!  You can see in the bottom picture the basket weave type pattern.  This is the second time I’ve made this and I just love doing it.  The wool is a velour type so it is soooooooooooo soft.

 

Lesley x

crafty days . . . . .

 

This is another one of my altered MDF hearts that I made for my daughter as a little house warming gift.

I’ve just purchased some more hearts as I rather like making these in fact I have 4 more in the process of being made   

Well the last 2 days have been really sunny sadly though yesterday I was at work so couldn’t really make much of the day

But today I made up for it and spent all day crafting with some amazing ladies in Long Eaton.

 

My daughter asked me to make her a wedding card as she and her husband were doing to a wedding back in July.  I liked the one I made so much that I made another one very similar as I was also in need of a wedding, as  Joe and I were invited to an evening reception a few weeks ago as our neighbours daughter got married. 

Lesley  x

I’ve finally done it!!

 

After a year I finally completed to cards that I started at Craftwork cards a year ago when I went with Pam and another crafting friend.  (I still have 2 more though that I need to put the finishing touched too )  Bad Lesley!!!  But better late than never.

 

I have since made a card in a box using this lovely Time Flies papers.

Well the weather has been glorious this week lets hope it continues.  We’ve sat out several times this week in the day and evening and the washing has been drying wonderfully!!

We had a real surprize last Tuesday, Elaine my friend in Australia who we stayed with on our recent trip their, well her daughter and husband and 2 children swung by to see us.  It was so lovely to catch up again.

well have a bright and sunny weekend

Lesley x

Such a lovely day . . . . . . .

 

Well the last couple of days have started of with a bit of sunshine but then turned into warm but dull overcast days – but the washing has dried so it can’t be that bad.

Today we have a surprize visit from my friend’s (who with stayed with in Oz) daughter and family, it was lovely catching up and her youngest Patrick now 6 months has grown so much since we saw him in April.

Well I did say it’s been a month of birthdays, well here are 2 more, I bought a decoupage kit from Hobby craft!!! *@*’###@~**.  I often don’t have very good experiences when I visit Hobby craft.

I do love the 2 cards that I made from the kit and with a bit of glossy accents I was rather pleased with the out come.  Both were for very good friends.  But generally I am not a fan of Hobby craft as often they don’t have what I want to buy and I think they can be rather expensive, but I do  know lots of friends who love the place so it could just be me!!

 

My recent project life order has just arrived so I can’t wait to open it an have a look

Lesley x

Miranda Hart’s Show.

 

Last week my daughter took me to see Miranda Hart at the Nottingham Arena as an early Mother’s Day present as I won’t be around on Mother’s Day.  I will be on my hols!!  It was just over 2 hours of side splitting humour.  She was certainly a very talented lady and I love her in her role as ‘Chummy’ in the series TV  Call the Midwife.  There was a group of 10, 5 daughters accompanied by the magnificent mothers!!!  I would certainly go and she her again and would thoroughly recommend going to see her show.

 

This card was given to me by a very talented fellow card crafter Doreen (waving at Doreen) when I went over to her house a couple of weeks ago to do a work shop for 5 lovely ladies from Long Eaton.  Looking forward to the next one in early May.

Lesley x

Big thank you to family and friends !!!!

 

Thank you to all my friends and family who were kind enough to send me cards on my birthday.   Thought I’d share some of the cards with you.

 

I received some lovely presents and Spa day voucher, lots of wine, some crafty bits and pieces, a beautiful owl broach, Yankee candles,  and a gorgeous bonsai lamp just to name a few.

thank you all

Lesley x

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

 

HAPPY  NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIENDS

 

 

Well my friends 2014 is nearly upon us. I hope that the New Year brings you, health, happiness and joy. I also hope it exceeds all your expectations.

 

Lesley x

Christmas celebrations continue!!!

 

Saturday night we met up with friends for a curry at Moza and just as we are to leave the house it pours down with rain!!! Now girls you know what rain does to your hair and I’d been at the hairdresser at 8:30 that morning being beautified!!!  With the rain came a blustery so couldn’t use a brolly!!  So you can imagine what my hair looked like when I arrived at the restaurant!!!  Luckily I’m not a vain person!!!  lol

Friday night was the girls Christmas get and secret Santa exchange together hosted by Anne.  it was a lovely night and as usually Anne did us all proud.  I took my reindeer noses to share with all the girls there.  Yvette is 50 tomorrow so there was cake and celebrations!!!

Yvette blowing out her candle

 

Barbara just luuuurved her Secret Santa present

Lesley x