Quilling 'Eck!

I cannot believe that nobody has ever let me know about the wonders of quilling paper. It's flippin' marvellous stuff!

I started making my own little pieces of crockery and pots, etc for the dolls house project I'm working on (Adventure Into Miniature blog) using strips of paper I cut out of parcel paper... then discovered people had been using this very same idea for AGES using quilling papers. I was amazed... and pretty dumbstruck that I had never thought of this at all before now.

Well, I guess this post does explain a little as to why I've been absent from the blogging world... but I really haven't been obsessed with my dolls house and miniature stuff - I truly have been busy and quite ill too. There is no possible way that I will catch up with everyone's blog now, and so I will try my darndest to start reading everyone's posts regularly ... tomorrow. Today is just another day that's overwhelmed with 'stuff' to do *lol*.

I'll just show of my quilling paper creations - and some of these will be seen here before reaching my dolls house blog (even though there's only one follower there *lol*).

The smaller pot here is less than 1cm wide.

A selection of paper pottery. The squares on the craft mat are 1", so you can imaging how tiny these pieces are.

A close-up of the 'earthenware' pottery mixing bowl and large jug. The wooden spoon was crudely cut out from a cocktail stick.

The urn has been painted gold to match the bathroom.

So... more amazing uses for my scrapbooking stash... HobbyCraft must be getting worried with me not spending there any longer *lol*

**Update: Just remembered the blog candy Christmas Mini Album giveaway... I'll draw that tomorrow - and sorry for the wait!

WOYWW 130

Wednesday finds me sluggish, tired, and a bit "bleugh!". New medication from the hospital... not very good at all :(

Still, things could be worse, time for me to get my blues packed up and sent away, for today is "What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday" - hosted as (nearly) always by the wonderful Julia at the Stamping Ground.

To be really honest, this new miniature dollshouse has somewhat taken over my desk - and my life! It's so addictive... however, I really am using my papercrafting 'skills' (for want of a more apt word *lol*)  in trying to get this dollshouse together on the cheap :)

So... here's the desk with the dollshouse (still in bits) and a whole load of dust, sawdust, paint, brick-mix and a lot of other mess that has me sneezing a LOT:

And, I ashamedly admit that the floor is even more of a mess - and this is AFTER I had a quick tidy-up *lol*

I'm just in the middle of colouring the inner doors from a white plastic to something that may look a little more like wood. I've seen people do this with acrylic paints, a whole chunk of time, and a LOT of effort. I used alcohol inks :) Rust and Espresso mixed, and applied with the felt after it's been roughed up a little, gave a pretty good effect - "Yay!" for TH and his incredible alcohol inks - is there anything you can't use them for, I wonder? I've also used the same ink combination to 'stain' all my coving, architraving, bannister spindles and newel posts... it's so much better than actual woodstain, it's something I already have handy... and it really could have been designed just for the use of staining little miniature bits of wood!

I'm downloading and printing patterned papers to use for wallpaper, and have already done this for the hallway flooring. Even the extra room I've built has walls made from my scrapbooking and papercrafting materials. Not that I'm a skinflint... really... but better to use what you've already got... right?

Here's the spindles, newel posts... and also the white plastic doors in the background (now looking wooden enough for a bit part in Hollyoaks *lol*)

Well, I really should get round to 'seeing' all the wonderful blogs I've missed whilst my brain has been on vacation and housework/hospital trips/cats, kittens,dogs/etc have swallowed up all the hours each day... and I have a ton of posts to add to my other blog (Adventure Into Miniature)... Anyone got a spare few hours to sell...? Either that or a willing teenager who will work for coffee *lol*

In the meantime... whether you're playing along with WOYWW, or just mooching around (ah, the pleasure and freedom of the mooch*lol*), please do have a wonderful Wednesday... and the rest of the week too!

A Little Bit Of Crafting...

I missed WOYWW this week - I was at the hospital getting measured up for new wrist splints. It's so annoying, having this part of me that stops my body from working the way I want it to... especially now I've extended my hobby needs. I have this urge to make dolls house furniture using the same techniques and materials I use for scrapbooking... but working in 1:24th scale (also known as 'half 'scale because each half an inch represents one foot) just isn't possible for me... it's too fiddly.

I did try though... I wanted to make a little travel chest, but it's ended up being slightly too big for my needs, and slightly too small for what my Mum could use it for (my Mum has a 1:12th scale dolls room). It did look kinda cute though...

The wee mini trunk measures about 4cm across, and is less than 3 cm high - I've shown the two pence piece against it so you can gauge the size. I was so tempted to make a mini album to go inside it... but Bethany wanted it for her bedroom instead, to keep her earrings in :)

That's all I've really had time for - though I have made a few tags for the "Autumn Swirls" album. Tuesday was CallieCats vet appointment, and she sailed through the operation. No more kitties for Callie! She's gained over 6 ounces in just two weeks, and looks amazing! This is Callie today, just one day after her operation...

As for Bella... well, she seems to have found a place to hang out and cause mischief now we've stopped her climbing the Christmas tree...

... and, yes, that IS my craft desk she's sat on *lol*

I really will try and get around to paying visits in blogland... as soon as I have more than ten minutes to spare at a time!

No Time To Catch My Breath...

Guess who went to Dunelm Mill...?

ME!

Lou and myself took my Mum down to the shop at Park Gate in Fareham on Thursday, and she loved it! I bought a few little things...

In two small aisles at Dunelm Mill, I found more treasure than I have at any other big retail store.

On Friday it was time for Craft Club at the local church hall, and one of the ladies there presented me with my very own little bear. It's something she does for everyone... only, when I first joined the group, I didn't get a bear :( Apparently, she was looking for the perfect one just for me. She makes the little clothing pieces herself in bright happy colours. What a lovely little gift to welcome someone, don't you think?

Then on Saturday it was back to Dunelm Mill with LouLou, her daughter Lisa, and my Mum ... plus her credit card *lol* We had such a giggle! On the way home, we stopped off at a craft and card shop Called RS Cards & Crafts. Run by Roz and her daughter Sarah, this is a little piece of heaven hidden away in Bursledon. Roz is AMAZING! A brilliant woman full of enthusiasm and information... and I came away with my Christmas pressie from Hubby to me. Wanna know what he bought me? A 1:24th scale dolls house! I love it so much! Hubby also bought me a few little pieces (it's possibly the last time I'm ever aloud out of the house with his credit card and details *lol*)... and I went shopping on EBay and bought a few more - but I'll be popping straight back to see Roz and to purchase more from her shop too.

And so on to today... where I said "Goodbye" to the little kitties. Duchess went last night, and she's now called Ronnie and settling in beautifully with her new family. Rosie is now Matilda, and she has found a loving mummy called Claire just around the corner from where I live, and Essex (who may or may not be changing his name) lives not too far from Ronnie near the New Forest with Andy and Debbie and their family. I've just recieved a called from Andy... Essex was curled up on their bed asleep, and has really settled in amazingly well. So... happy news for the kitties. Of course, Bella hasn't gone anywhere at all... she's still here with us, wrecking the Christmas tree, and is part of our family now.

So... lots happening and no time to get anythig done - though any shopping that involves crafting materials is always a guilty pleasure :)

I'll leave it for tomorrow to find some time to catch up with all those wonderful blogs I've been missing lately... and have to say a special "Thank You!" to Helen for letting me in on the wonderful world that is Dunelm Mill *lol*

WOYWW 128

"...wwWWWWHHHOOOOOSSSSHHhhh..."

Did you see that?

THAT was another week rushing by :)

Oh, yes... it's time to join Julia at the Stamping Ground, and her band of  Merry 'Makers' across the globe for

"What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday"

My desk today is just a mess... I'm working on the "Autumn Swirls" album (still), and haven't cleaned or tidied my craftroom (still), let alone even looked at a vacuum cleaner (still!) for over a week *lol*

See... it's all 'samey-samey' at the moment... with nothing really getting done at all. I'm still looking after CallieCat - making sure she's okay and she's having her medicines every day... though she is pretty much back to normal.  The kittens need their litter changing twice daily - at least - and fed three times daily too... it's just taking up so much time! I did manage to cover a paper leaf (centre, near the bottom of the photograph) with crackle accents... and it's taken eight hours to dry so far, with the middle being slightly tacky still. Maybe I used a bit too much? *lol* If I carry on crafting in this way, the album may well be finished in time for NEXT Autumn :D

I shall be so happy when I complete this project... the only real problem being that I am at a complete loss as to what to do next. I do have a couple of little metal wire handbags that I shall make mini albums for - but I think I need to think up a new paper crafting challenge for myself... which could take some time.

Anyhoooo...
wherever you are, whatever you're doing... and whatever and whomever you're doing it with... make sure this Wednesday is a fantastic one!
Oh, and don't forget to click on the photograph of the Christmas mini-album in the side bar (right) and add your name to the post you're sent to, for a chance to win the mini album. Tell as many people as you like about joining in - the more the merrier!

Autumn Swirls

It's getting there... slowly. I finished the basic mini album for the Autumn Swirls stand, and just need to decorate the spine of the book and the inside. It only has five pages - but that should be enough to hold at least 30 photographs by the time I've finished :)

The album fits snuggly on the base, without anything being (too) squashed.

The spine of the album needs a leafy decoration - and you can just see here where I've ModPodged the crocheted doily as well as the roses.

I shan't decorate the back of the album, as I don't think it needs it really :)

I was really happy with the effect ModPodge had on the decorative roses - it's made them stiffer, and the colour more intense. I also added a little gold bee to the album cover  to co-ordinate with the bee on the drawer. The album front is also a photograph frame.

I'm so pleased with how this has turned out so far... and am going to enjoy (slowly) finishing it too.

My Gift From Karen (PurpleHouse)

Well, I said I'd post a piccie of my gift I received... it was the album from Karen that she made for the mini-album swap over at the DoCrafts site. When I opened the package, I found a beautiful box carefully covered in green material with jolly Santas all over, and tied with a gorgeous ribbon. As you can guess, I was impressed before I even opened the box :)

So much work went into this amazing little album - and the colours are perfect for me... sort of traditional with a modern twist. As for the Christmas pressie I received (yes, a present was included also!) - it was a stunning little calendar, and a sweet mini stamp set. I am such a spoilt woman *lol*

I just have to share this little album - please do click on the photograph below to see more detail - it's full of vellum pockets and little tags, the cutest embellishments and expertly applied glitter (I really love the glitter in this album!). If you can, take a peek at the close-up of the first page... it's a little envelope with a card inside. On the card is a key, and inside the card it reads "Santa's Magical Key" - GORGEOUS!!!! So, so me... I love it!

And here's my special pressie...

So, Karen, if you get a chance to visit here, I want to say a huge "Thank You!" which is easier to type than actually say at the moment due to the huge grin on my face :)

What A Day!

Today is a day that I don't think I could live again, even if I wanted to! Don't get me wrong... there's been a couple of good things that have happened today - but a lot of stress too.

It started out so very well, when a parcel arrived for me. Ooh... thought I.  I hadn't ordered anything, so I was really excited to recieve something that I knew hadn't cost me anything *lol*.

I'll reveal all in a later post - suffice to say that my gift is STUNNING!

It's not the only gift I've received lately... I've mentioned my friend LouLou a few times - she's the kind of friend who not only knows where the bodies are buried, but helped dig the hole to get them buried in the first place. This woman is my 'sister from another mother (and father)' *lol*  On our way to visit Argos, we discovered  a Dunelm Mill store! This place is highly recommended by Helen at It's All Fiddle Fart, so we had to go in and have a nosey around.  Lou sneakily bought me something as we were browsing... she knew I liked it, and popped it in her basket without me seeing. What an amazing friend she is:

She bought me this gorgeous wicker heart, and some border stickers that I thought looked very 'Art Nouveau'.

I photographed them on my desk this afternoon... and then went to check on my CallieCat who'se been a bit under the weather the last couple of days. What a shock I had when I found her! She was curled up on Bethany's bed - where she'd been for the past two days. Her eyes were sunken and cloudy, she couldn't move let alone stand up by herself, and just by picking her up I could feel that her temperature was much too high. My poor baby! Hubby had just come home from work, and Beth was due home soon.... so I phoned the vets and made an appointment straight away. I then had to phone Beth to arrange for her to go to a friends house straight from college as we wouldn't be at home.  Out came the cat travel box from storage (under the stairs), and in went Callie. We knew then it was serious, as she didn't miaow or struggle at all when we placed her in the cat carrier - and she hates that little plastic box! Hubby and I went to a new vetinary practice we'd heard about called Vets4Pets and they were wonderful! The staff really put us at ease, and the vet was so gentle with out precious cat. Callies temperature was 40.9 - which is very high apparently, but the vet gave her a couple of shots and some sound advice, a contact number just in case she got worse in the night, and a real peace of mind.  By the time we got home, Callie was trying to get up and walk... she ate some food and had a drink (she hadn't eaten anything for nearly three days!) and managed a disgusted look at me (she doesn't like that box at all! *lol*). She's curled up resting outside Beth's bedroom door now - looking much much better.

Her ears are pricked up listening to what's going on around her, and her eyes are bright and clear - and her breathing is no longer shallow and slow. I am so relieved to get my baby back home, getting well.

So... everyone finally gets home and settled... and the kittens now have to be fed and have a run around.

Bella decided she was going to act just like her cat-mummy, and found the space between the glass coffee-table top and the base...

... and then she and Rosie (Aurora Blaze) 'discovered' the Christmas tree.

Oh, dear.

At first it was a simple matter of hitting the baubles on the lower branches until they fell and rolled around on the floor, and then chasing them all over the front room. I thought I was being clever by putting the more expensive and breakable decorations further up the tree.... not so. All I have managed to do is entice a certain two little mischevious kitties to climb up the middle of my tree!

Shortly after this photograph was taken, both kittens were having a competition to see who could get the highest up the middle of my 6 foot-tall Christmas tree. Bella won by default, as I plucked Rosie off the tree first. They both managed a respectable 4 foot climb though... impressive really! *lol* I think our treetop angel had better watch out for little furry visitors!

Well, apart from a very poorly daughter with an ear infection, a hubby who's in shock with having to pay the vetinary care bill, a home that's had to be de-flea'd (again!), and a house that needs a good clean from top to bottom... this has been my day.

Please, please let tomorrow be more quiet.

Which I expect it wioll be after we've taken Callie back for her check-up at the vets... and the dog... and all the kittens too.

Okay... maybe a good rest on Sunday instead then :)



Mini Album Up For Grabs!

This is the first of my November 'blog candy' give-aways... the Christmas Album that's supposed to be made from cardboard toilet roll inners - but mine is made from kraft cardstock. Details of the mini album are here:

http://patchworkapples.blogspot.com/2011/09/cardboard-tube-mini.html

The front cover looks like this...

So... here's the 'rules':

You DON'T have to become a follower, nor be a 'regular' visitor here. All you have to do is add a comment to this post and wait 15 days for the draw. That's it :)

I'll post the winning name on my blog in 15 days time... That'll be the 25th November, and will try to contact the winner.

So please do tell anyone you think might be interested in 'winning' this little mini-album, and force them to add a comment to this post *lol*

If you need to contact me at all, my e-mail details are in the right side-bar.

Thank you!

Oh, For Goodness Sakes, Blogger!

Yes, there are problems with my comment posting on Blogger ... again! On some blogs when I hit the 'comment' button, I'm just flipped back to the main blog page. I have no idea how to sort this one out - so if my usual inane and random comments are obvious in their absence, then it's really not my fault! *lol*

A quick note to everyone who went to visit my Mum's blog, Tatter Natter:

Thank You!

She is such a talented woman - and as soon as that Star Of David mat is finished, I want to see it on her blog - it's going to be GORGEOUS!

WOYWW 127

Wednesday already? What's happened... where has the last week gone? Actually, where has the past year gone?

I have had no time spare in the last few weeks to do anything really - and I'm so behind on what's been happening on other people's blogs... oh, the guilt! Trips to the hospital, doctors, parents, friends and shopping has taken up all my days - and the rest of my spare time has been used up with ... oh, my - can I even type the word here...? ... housework! I've cleaned out the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom so that they're all ready for theYuletide season. I've scrubbed, polished, vaccuumed and thrown away so many bin bags full of rubbish that it wouldn't surprise me if the bin men took one look and decided to go on strike again. I'm even late on putting up the decorations this year. Every November 1st, the loft is raided, and Christmas begins! I only managed to get the tree up on the 7th this year! Yes.. I know... I've been told a thousand times already that I'm a bit of a Christmas freak. Anyway... here's my tidy-ish desk today:

And yes, that really is a little gold Christmas tree on my desk :)

I've made the front cover of the album (bottom middle) and decided to ModPodge the roses on the stand too, as I discovered tat the colours really 'pop' with a bit of a varnish (middle).  Lots of Christmas magazines and brochures - I have two main pressies left to buy and then the main bulk of it is all done, but I do love looking through these publications just to see the pretty Yuletide glitz.

So, a quiet and simple desk this week for me on "What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday"... pop on over to Julia at the Stamping Ground if you want to see more workdesks - or add your name to the ever-growing list and join in the nosey fun :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday all!

Just a quick add here... the photograph is awful because in real life you can't see all the horrid wires... but here's my tree all decorated and ready for December 25th...

I don't do tinsel... I leave that to people who can colour co-ordinate *lol*

A New Blogger On The Block!

Just a quickie post tonight, to say that there's a new blogger on the block!

You've all seen my Mum's wonderful creations that she's made for me, and that I've posted here... but it's well past the time when the creative genius that is my Mum  needs a blog all of her own :)

Tatting is a form of lace making that uses a shuttle instead of bobbins... and my Mum is a self-taught tatter (can you tell how intensely proud I am of her?!)

As the weeks progress, she'll be posting photographs of her tatting creations (you really have to see the Star Of David mat she's making... GORGEOUS!), and sharing the life and loves of a handbag addict (she really is seriously addicted to buying handbags *lol*). Oh... this is also the woman who is more well-informed and capable of using new technology than I am... she has a better phone (read 'better' as 'so complicated I couldn't even answer it'!), a computer tablet-thingy... and probably already has in mind what technology-based pressie she'll be getting next.

So... please do pop over to Tatter Natter and say "Hi!" to Margaret... she'd really appreciate a warm welcome from some of the nicest people in the blogging community (that would be YOU who's reading this *lol*).
Hmmm... now all I need to accomplish is getting my Dad on here too - if it's got an engine, it's got potential as far as Dad is concerned. Maybe I could tell him that Blogger is a site all about motorbikes and beer?

WIWOYWW

Also known as...

"Where IS What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?"
I already had my post all written out and ready for today (it was 4am Wednesday morning, and I was bored! *lol*).

I waited until 6am to add a linky on the widget (the usual time, roundabouts, for a WOYWW post)... no Julia.

Maybe, thinks I in my tired and fuddled state, Julia has decided that with the clocks changing she'll change her post time too. 7am comes along... no Julia.

Is it my computer, I wonder?

Nope... everything else seems to be working in an okay-ish manner.

Is it Wednesday? I wonder.

Yes... I've checked already - asked my youngest daughter as she was making her way through the door to go to college.

"Is it Wednesday?" I ask a bleary-eyed Hubby as he wakes up at the alarm call. His reply of "Grrmphhuuulllrrpppgrrrmmmmm" I took to mean something along the lines of "yes".

The last posting at the Stamping Ground was on All Hallows Eve... did the goblins come and steal our Julia away? Did she find the spell to actually make a broomstick fly? 

Did Julia... oh, I can hardly bear to even think it, let alone write it... BUT, could a tired and needing-of-rest Julia have overslept and forgotten it's WOYWW?

Oh, my!

In all seriousness... Julia, I do hope you're okay?!


On a brighter note... I finally decided (I think!) on the design of the mini album that'll sit on the book-base (Autumn Swirls). Yay! Now I just have to find a bit of inspiration for the inside... and some time when I want to do something else other than sleep, sniff, sneeze, cough, and feel sorry for myself (all at once... which is kind of scary *lol*).

WOYWW 126

It was a dark and lonely night, as she sat alone in a cold room... a vigil of her own makings. The importance of what lay ahead  bore heavy on her shoulders, the responsibilty was hers alone. What drove this woman to such extremes? What was it that made her sit here, with no company save for the moon peeking from behind a looming cloud... what was so important that she gave herself this task? So long - hour after hour - she sits. Waiting. Until... The sky in the East held a faint glimmer... the hue that gave rise to a new day, a new dawn. The lone woman turned her head toward the growing light, and smiled... finally her wait was over. She could finally, and at last...

...

... publish her "What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?" photo and post.

WoopWoop!

Oh the fun I have thinking up new ways to introduce the WOYWW challenge *lol*  Julia at the Stamping Ground (who hosts this wonderful weekly event) must think me quite insane. And she could be right *lol* But if you read her blog, you'll see that she probably understands this sort of madness quite well (in a good way... really!).

So, what is on my workdesk this Wednesday? A mess. A big, jumbled, missing-mojo, can't-create-for-toffee, sit-for-hours-staring-into-nothing sort of mess.

The makings of a paper-bag album that I know already I shan't be using on the "Autumn Swirls" book-base - including kraft cardstock, corrugated cardboard, 'Vintage Photo' distress ink... and my rhubarb and custard boiled sweeties (helps with concentration. Really!). Oh, and a few Halls Mentholyptus to clear my blocked nose. Yes, on top of all my grumbles, I have also managed to catch a rotten cold *lol*

This is a photograph I'll have to hide from Darling Hubby... he's a keen-eyed man, and will notice  the computer turned on, with my purse laying next to it. He'll put two and two together, and come up with something a LOT lower than what I really spent online shopping...Oops! Time to hide the bank statements *lol*

My notepad lies open - though falling off of the table - with not a single word written down... my mojo really has disappeared. Of course, this could be a good thing, which gives me a few hours to tidy up and vaccuum the craftroom, make the bed, clean the toilet, do the dishes, and sort the darks from the lights in the washing pile. Only I haven't done it... any of it. I spent yesterday in bed with a box of tissues and Jeremy Kyle on the television. The early hours of Wednesday found me adding a bit here and there to the book-base... just a hanging charm of some keys and a clock face:

And a little gold-coloured bee to the drawer:

That's it... nothing else has been created or made - or even thought of!

So... what's on YOUR workdesk this Wednesday? Time to share folks... I want to have a nosey around, get some inspiration, and find out on whose desk my mojo is vacationing to :)

Oh, before I go off and have a snooze, thought I'd share a photograph of a really cute kitty. This one has turned up twice in my house in the past week - but she's such a pretty-kitty!

In fact she's such an adorable feline, that I think I'll keep her *lol*

Of course, it's my baby-gurl dressed up for a Halloween party at a friends house - the second time she had to dress up as a cat for a party in the past week. Funnily enough, her boyfriend went to the Haloween fancy dress party too... they made quite an odd couple that night...

... and Connor was so NOT impressed with having his photograph taken whilst dressed as Scooby-Doo. It didn't help that Hubby kept asking him if he wanted a Scooby Snack. Still... they do look cute together :)

That's it for me now... I have to wake up Beth so she can go off to college, and make sure Hubby's new alarm clock wakes him up too - and then I'm off to have a nap until Jeremy Kyle is on the telly at 9.25am. Oh, a morning of slovenly bliss!

Y'all have a wonderful and amazing WOYWW now!

Mini-Album Stand

THIS POST INCLUDES A LOT OF PHOTOS - ALTHOUGH RESIZED TO BE QUITE SMALL, THEY MAY STILL CAUSE THE PAGE TO LOAD SLOWLY. I APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

I have finally finished the stand (or the base) that will hold another mini-album. I think I'll call this one... "Autumn Breeze", or maybe "Autumn Swirls".  It's taken me a while to create... not only because the rheumatoid arthritis really is slowing me down lately, but I kept changing my mind about how I was going to finish the top of the stand! Remember all the stuff I bought to go on top... and then I changed my mind and made a little configuration box instead...?

Rejected! *lol* In fact, I have used NOTHING which I bought with the idea to use it on this stand... and made something completely different instead.

I used my new Tim Holtz Sizzix die "Autumn Gatherings" (657454), and spent a huge amount of time sanding and inking up each leaf after die-cutting it out of Co'Ordinations cardstock (I used distress inks: Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Dusty Concord,  and a lot of Vintage Photo).  I also used some paper roses I bought at Pickwell, and blackberry vine picks (that I can't remember the manufacturers name to! Sorry!), as well as a crochet doily I shimmer-misted (with copper, ruby and purple) and part of a small lacy wrap I chopped up and 'dyed' with "Espresso" colour wash (also by Tim Holtz, Adirondack). Here's some photographs to show the full 360 degrees, as well as the inner compartment (not shown well in the photograph), the drawer, and the top. I was so keen to get these photographs online, that the ModPodge hasn't dried properly yet, and it shows a bit milky-white where this has happened.

 I forgot to mention the little owl too... he had such a cute expression on his polystyrene face that I had to use him *lol* It's a shame the photographs don't really show the swathe of leaves at the front - they're all swirled like a rollercoaster track - I wanted it to look as if the wind had caught the leaves and they were swirling about in the air. Although it doesn't resemble it at all (I think), I got my initial inspiration from Patti Carrow. She was sent a beautiful (gorgeous, magnificent, amazing... get the picture? *lol*) mini album and stand made by 'Fred'. Patti's album and stand are definitely Vintage and a little Shabby-Chic, whereas I wanted mine to be all about Autumn. Isn't it strange how you can get inspired by something, and yet that inspiration leads you into a completely different direction?  You can see Patti's album by her friend Fred HERE. I can't imagine anyone seeing this amazing creation, and not being inspired by it in some way. I can't wait to start the album to go on my stand now.

I'm just hoping that, after uploading all these photographs, that my internet stays on long enough to get it all posted. I have been trying to get online and post comments over the past three days... but have been thwarted by internet chaos! Thank goodness blogger saves posts in 'draft' when the page disappears! I'd be pulling my hair out if I had to do all this again :)

I recall promising a kitten update too...

This evening I sneaked into the dining room looking for Duchess, Essex, and Rosie... and I couldn't find them anywhere! I had been feeding Bella, and she'd fallen asleep in my arms (well, in my hands really - she's such a tiny wee thing), and I wanted to see if the others were hungry too. I searched the room... in the basket - no. Litter tray? No. Behind the door, under the sideboard, stuck behind the bookshelf? No, no and no. Under the table? No. Oh... wait a minute...  There they were - in a small basket that I keep their toys in! All three of them were snuggled up - Duchess all snuggly and warm (and squashed) at the bottom...

It didn't take Bella long to decide she wanted in on the snuggle-fun too...

Daft little munchkins, aren't they?! *lol*

WOYWW 125 ... and a catch-up!

Another Wednesday, another desk... sounds like a Country & Western song to me :)

Still not joining in on the fun that is found at the Stamping Ground, with "What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?". Well, pop on over to Julia's and add your name to the ever-growing list of nosey-parkers around the world who, each Wednesday, tire of wondering where their mojo has drifted off to and have a sneak around other people's ideas and creative spaces instead *lol*

Last night was 'Craft Club' at the wondrous and magical place that is Pickwells. Did I mention cold? Well, it was darn cold there last night too... so I kept warm by hobbling around the shop, discovering magical and amazing things to buy. This included: more charms, the "Snow Flurry" PATP set (oh... it's sooooo beautiful! - and the last one in stock, so I had to buy it!), as well as some 6x6 Christmas papers, a DoCrafts 'top note' die set, some wooden leaves, Tea Dye Distress Ink (and re-inker), and some Prima flowers. All on my desk - somewhere around the bottom right of the photograph I think.

So, onto what else is taking up craft space on my desk today...

Covering my desk is a whole load of things that I had considered placing on top of the book-stack base of my new project (far right)... Dolls house furniture, bird houses, straw hat, boxes, wooden blocks... I even had a wreath. And what's been chosen...? Well, none of that actually. I made a little configuration-like box that will be home to a little owl, a basket and a few bits of 'stuff'... and something else I'm working on too that involves a coat hanger.  I don't consider anything I've bought a waste... it will all be used in one way or another... eventually :) AND... it was all bought 'on the cheap', so no big loss.

Time for a quick catch-up? Then read on...

CallieCat and babies are all doing VERY well... so cute and adorable! I'll post some piccies in the next few days.

The 'Big Bash' went really well - who knew a house full of teenagers could be so well-behaved? Okay, so they were a little loud. Oh, alright... I admit it - they were a LOT loud *lol*... but so much fun!  In our house we have a bit of a tradition known as "The Gorm Shot"... basically, you pull the most awful face you can when a photograph is taken... great for unusual wedding photographs, and brilliant if you can get the vicar to join in at a Christening *lol* So... 17 teenagers sat down for a photograph... and I got 'gormed'!

Several people chose not to have a photograph taken... spoilsports! *lol*

Sadly, the following day I recieved a phonecall from my eldest daughter... Little Sox, her black and white kitten (from CallieCats last litter) had been hit by a car and killed. She is devastated, and I've been around to her home to help her sort through a few things. Sox was her baby... she went everywhere with Naomi - either in her handbag, or with a little harness on. They did everything together, and now poor little Sox is no more.  I'm sure Naomi will get over it... and have another cat (in time)... but for now she and her fiance Dan just want to remember their 'Baby Kitty'.

My Internet Service Provider (ISP) has had a few problems... my e-mails are just not getting through to me. My mail box remains empty... and then every few days I get a huge influx of all the mail that's been queueing up! Some of it is just gobble-de-gook... but my ISP has promised to sort it out very soon. So, if you've mailed me in the last couple of weeks... SORRY! I am trying to get round to answering e-mails... when I get them, and if I can understand them *lol*

Well, with parties, craft club, shopping trips and visits to a distraught daughter, my time online has been somewhat lacking. I promise I'll try to catch-up with everyone... though I can't guarantee that I'll be able to comment on all the posts I've missed. Please, please accept my apologies for this.

In the meantime... if you're still reading... Have a productive, happy, and fun-filled Wednesday... and the rest of the week too!

Coming Soon... (but not just yet)...

Well, I sorted out a bit of my stash drawers yesterday (I must have been unwell... delirious even - tidying up??!! Atrocious behaviour! *lol*)

At some point in early November, I'll be giving away some stuff - not a lot, just some handmade flowers really. I'll also sort out giving away the LRMA Christmas mini album too...

So, you've been forewarned.

It'll be the same 'rules' as before... no becoming a follower if you don't want , no leaving comments on loads of posts... just leave a comment on one post to say "Yes, I'd like that" when it's been written, and then I'll get my beautiful daughter to pick a number from a hat. So you know what's coming...

 Handmade flowers, some acetate (or rather, heavier plastic) butterflies, and a few flowers in a packet.

And the cover of the LRMA Christmas-theme.

So... tell your friends and bloggers that November I'll be giving these away... and hopefully we'll have a little blog-post party and someone (or sometwo) will be happy :)

I'll keep you posted...

just remember NOT to leave any comments for the giveaway on this post... I'll sort out posts and whatnot later on *lol*

To be honest, this post is more for my benefit... if it's down here in black and white (or green and black and a few other colours, in my case) I'll not forget about it - and if I do happen to forget, someone can give me a swift kick up the jacksey and ask "What about that stuff you promised to give away?".

Just don't wear hob-nail boots... thankee kindly *lol*

Fiddle Fart Joy

WARNING... PHOTO-HEAVY - SORRY!

The heading of this post does make sense... honest! I am so happy to have recieved my gift from Helen today.  The woman has to be a mind reader... I had these little Christmas postcards that I wanted to use... but I can't find them anywhere. Then, lo and behold... Helen's packet arrives, and there's a set of the postcards inside! Amazing! And talking of amazing... you all have had a peek at Helen's blog recently...? She's been Fiddle-Farting (see... post header making sense now? *lol*) away at Halloween and once again (as always) doling out the brilliant ideas and fun projects. Go See!!!

Here's my gift from her, which I shall be sharing with my friend LouLou - but not the felt flowers (sorry Lou!) because they may be headed straight for my new project :)

I thought I'd best update everyone on the cute fluffiness that is "The Kittens".

I have to feed them twice a day just to help CallieCat out... she's all worn out, poor wee mummy-kitty.

They are doing well, and are about normal for their age. Ready for the mugshots? I couldn't take a photograph of them all together, as they were exploring all afternoon - in separate directions.

First we have Duchess ... she's going to be a matronly, loving, big fluffy grey ball... and my future SIL's Mum will be taking her on:

She's also very shy and it was so difficult to get a photograph of her at all! I had to play down the brightness and up the contrast so you can see her in this photograph.

Next we have the last born... the little surprise that popped out sometime around dawn the day after all the other kittens had been born. I named her "Aurora Blaze" Aurora means 'the dawn', and she has a little ginger blaze on her forehead. Rosey, for short:

Isn't she adorabubble? She's a squealer... but loves her cuddles too.

Next is the only boy of the bunch... now named "Essex"... because he's grey like a cloud, but with a lot of silver linings. Anyone under the age of 40 may not realise the connection... think "Eddie Moon", Eastenders, David Essex... and "Hold Me Close".  How I love that song!

We're hoping he'll be a churchyard cat, and have a happy home with the Rev. He's playful, and loves to crawl and hide under things - like my wooden chest he's under here.

Last, little firstborn "BellaBella"... the runt of the litter. She only miaows when she hears my voice, and then toddles towards me... she's so tiny and adorable, I may just have to keep her...

As you can see (I hope), BellaBella isn't actually a pure black cat... she's a black tabby. She loves to curl up in my hand and fall to sleep. I swear I could take her anywhere and she'd be content just to sleep tucked into my cardigan... and she's only 3 weeks old!

So.. they are my "Moggy Crew"... all doing well and being happy.

And Mummy-cat Callie is doing okay too...

Keeping watch over her little balls of fluff.