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Sunday 29 July 2012

IT HAS BEEN A HECTIC WEEK

Hi everyone

Did you watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony?  What did you think of it?  Wasn't the lighting of the fire pit spectacular?  I had wondered what all of those brass bed pans (sorry copper kettles) were going to be used for.  I think it was a very good choice to have Sir Steve Redgrave deliver the Olympic Torch to the Stadium and how about the Queen and James Bond?  Both very game jumping out of the helicopter - thank goodness the fire pit hadn't been lit - all in a day's work for Mr Bond.  David Beckham looked good - as always - and very proud too.  Like all sporting events, there will be shock wins and losses, great races run, silly comments by the commentators, but I hope everyone enjoys it.

Have you had a chance to read my latest guest blogger's post?  Thank you Zofia for a great post.  What do you think - are women better blogger's than men?  Zofia's post may be my last guest post for a while - unless any of my followers or fellow Handmade Mondayers (or new visitors?) would like to contribute?  I have been really pleased how successful the Guest Blog spot has been and hope everyone has enjoyed it as much as I have.  Hard to believe it has been running for six months and every post has been brilliant.  Contrary to a recent comment, I feel the guest blog spot did 'take-off' and I am looking forward to posting and reading many more guest blog posts in the future.  So, if anyone would like to join in, please do get in touch on christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  Remember your post doesn't have to be craft-related, it could be about marketing, blogging, event organisation, a hobby you have, travel, or how about a book you have read - or even better one that you have written.

Last week was pretty hectic.  Had a meal in Ripley with friends on Wednesday evening.  The weather was great and we dined outside - sadly the staff seemed to forget the outside diners and service was a bit hit-and-miss at times.  Not too much of a problem really as it was a mostly non-stop talking get-together.  One of the friends I met up with is looking into starting a business making chutneys, relishes and jams - something she is very good at and feels she is ready for the next stage.  Our next group get-together is going to be a tasting of her range - yum, yum.

A couple of weeks ago I volunteered to assist the Woking Cats Protection Group with catching and helping abandoned, unwell and feral cats.  Although we live in the Guildford CP area, I chose Woking because we adopted Daisy from them.  My 'job' will be to set up cages/pens to catch cats and kittens.  I did my first trip on Thursday afternoon with a fellow CP volunteer and we did a return visit on Saturday morning.  My biggest problem will be resisting taking them all home with me!  I know Daisy wouldn't mind as she will be a mum to the kittens, not too sure Jazz will welcome another cat or kitten with open paws though.

After my Thursday cat visit, I met with my bride and groom to discuss their wedding invitations and they signed off on their order.  Although they had a design already (having gone through the process of designing an invitation with another wedding stationer who sadly let them down) they were very pleased with my interpretation of this.  All systems go now and some intensive invitation-making days and nights ahead of me.  Once they have been completed I will ask the couple if I can post pictures on my blog as I would love you to see them.  A little taster: the card and paper are pearlised pale ivory with orange and purple trims, ribbons, etc.  Here are a couple of sample invitations I made recently, but the couple's design is completely different to both of these.



Still on Thursday, a friend and I went to RHS Wisley for the evening.  Wisley rarely opens after 5.30 pm - sometimes they have musical or special events, but it is rare that the gardens are open.  During July, the gardens were open until 8.00 pm on four Thursdays and we had arranged to go to the last one.  It was a gorgeous evening, hot, still very sunny and everywhere looked good.  Surprisingly, it wasn't very busy and on arrival we discovered that a member's only Wine Tasting Event was taking place - not too sure how we missed out on that.  Despite tickets still being available, we were both driving so unable to take part - but we did.  We decided some sit-down and people-watching time was the way to take part.  Surprising how many people think wine-tasting is to get as many glasses of wine drunk in as short a space of time as possible.  Oh, well, they looked happy.  Up to a few years ago, Richard was a professional wine taster, so I took home a set of the tasting notes for him.

The next couple of weeks will be very busy as in addition to the wedding invitations, I have jewellery to make, birthday cards, wedding anniversary cards and a thank you card to do as well.  I am trying to set aside time to make Christmas stock because I am getting concerned that I may not have enough for the events I have booked.  Although the main ones are not until November, my stock boxes are telling me that I need to get a move on.

We have had heavy rain, thunder-storms and a little hail so far today - just like summer really.  I hope it doesn't last too long as I am sure there are many sports that will not benefit from wet weather.  However, there are some very dry parts in my garden that are crying our for rain - tap water doesn't really do anything other than keep plants alive.

It's Handmade Monday time again, so don't forget to visit the other blogs and see what everyone has been working on during the past week.  Don't forget to contact me if you want to give guest blogging a go.  Enjoy the Olympics - I will be back on Wednesday.

Jill

44 comments:

  1. Wow that's one busy week.

    I bet you get a warm feeling doing the charity work. I know I would end up taking all the cats home. I'd be a total nightmare. I could get a spot on 'Pet Hoarders' ;)

    I've made a start on the ole Christmas makes. Never to early to start.

    Lovely invites by the way. Think the four fold open is my fave.

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    1. We rescued two tiny kittens and one of them was a tabby and I have a big weakness for tabby cats. Soooo very hard not to bring him home with me.

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  2. Sounds like you've had an eventful week! Th staionery is lovely and I think the guest blog series was a bit hit,6 months is along time to keep it going so consistently, ive known some very big blogs not have them that consistent. I have an idea of a guest post, i was wondering if I could share my bucket list? what do you think? Wouldnt be just yet as I have a few things on, let me know if you would want me to :) xx enjoy playing with erm I mean helping the kitties hee xx

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    1. That's a great idea, Hannah, thank you. I will contact you. That's a bonus about the kittens, I get to play with lots of them - so hard to put them back in their pens. I am just wondering how long before I give in and bring one home with me.

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  3. Your posts often leave me feeling shattered!! You fit so much into your life. I am glad things are going well for your invitations and good luck with the making of these. I really love the second one of your demos. I hope your charity work goes well - how are you going to fit everything in? Have a good week.

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    1. I think a lot of it comes form always working under pressure and as I left a stressful job last August, think I still feel the need to be extra-busy for most of the time. I like the second one too and the bride & groom did, but had already designed the invitation and decided to go with that.

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  4. You have been busy, love the invitations looking very elegant. Good luck with the volunteer job must admit if Retriever rescue we would have a house full!

    Like you just had thunder and lightening and lost power twice, oh well onwards and upwards have a great week

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    1. It is going to be very hard not to bring a kitten (or two or more!) home

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  5. I always feel exhausted after reading your posts. You are such a busy person! How long will you be able to resist the temptation of all those little Kitties? Lol!

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    1. There was one tiny tabby in the first visit that would have fitted into my pocket quote well.

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  6. Gosh you've been a super busy bee!
    I think I would be tempted to bring all the cats home with me!
    The invitations look really nice and elegant.

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    1. Thank you. It is going to be very hard to resist those little bundles of fur.

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  7. Yhe invitations look lovely and I'm sure the commissioned ones do too x

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  8. Cripes, how do you fit that into just one week? Excellent news about the wedding invite commission, hope that there is more notice next time... but somehow deadlines always race round...

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    1. Thank you - fingers crossed next time it will be months rather than weeks to make them in.

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  9. I love your wedding invites, especially the one with the intricate hearts. You cram so much into a week, its good to know people are looking out for abandoned moggies too x

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    1. My reasoning was that we can't really have any more cats (would love to), but this way I can help those that have no homes, etc.

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  10. how exciting to have such a big order for wedding invitations! Good luck with making them all, i really hope we get a peek :)

    i enjoyed the lighting of the olympic flame too - such a beautiful image/symbol and a great way to kick off the games! x

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    1. Quite daunting, but exciting - wi;l post pics as soon as I can

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  11. Isn't it heartbreaking to see all those cats without happy homes? What a lovely volunteer opportunity for you.

    The second wedding sample is my favourite. Now, what does a professional wine taster do? And does it pay well? ;-)

    Have a super week x.

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    1. Yes, it is - particularly when you see a group of kittens that may have also lost their mum. What does a professional wine taster do? See everything through a rosy glow :)

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  12. I'm exhausted just reading this! What a lovely week. The wedding invitations are so pretty, the first is my favourite, simple but elegant. Have a lovely week. xxx

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    1. I like the colours of the first one, the brown ribbon is beautiful

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  13. Wow your so busy. It would be lovely to see the wedding invitation design.
    I'd be wanting to bring all those homeless cats home too. What a lovely thing your doing. Ali x

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    1. Oh, me too. this is my biggest worry that by this time next year, the cat population in our home may have increased somewhat.

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  14. Very busy week, but it keeps youout of mischief!
    Love pthe invitations and cant wait to see the new ones. Have a good week.

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  15. Wow you have been busy, really like your invitations :)

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    1. Thank you Chris - the ribbon on the first one is gorgeous.

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  16. I did enjoy the opening ceremonies, especially the Queen and James Bond (altho I do miss Sean Connery, would have loved it to be HIM!) :) I loved the children singing too. All in all a good job. I'm just glad I don't live there, I'm not a fan of big crowds.
    Those sample invitations are so beautiful! WOW!

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  17. Like everyone else says - i'm exhausted just reading what you've been up to. How do you manage to find time for blogging too!?

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    1. That's why I need guest bloggers - to give me a good excuse not to blog.

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  18. I don't know how you fit it all in!Love the wedding invitations and can't wait to see what you've come up with for the ones you're doing now!

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    1. At times, neither do I as not great at time management

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  19. Wow! Thanks so much for helping the homeless and feral kitties!

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    1. Could quite easily bring them all home with me, but think Jazz & Daisy might not be so keen.

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  20. Just paying a late hand-made Monday visit :) trying to catch up with people's posts as I've been away for a few days :)

    like the gate fold invitation! the punched heart is great! is it Martha Stewart brand, by any chance? :)

    Wasn't the opening ceremony great? I think we all followed it breathless and stunned :) love the cauldron especially, what a clever design!

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  21. Hope you enjoyed your time away Martha. Yes, it is a Martha Stewart punch - I love her punches. The cauldron was fantastic - a relay beautiful design.

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  22. A new visitor to your blog and I am exhausted just reading about your busy week. Good luck with the invitation process...I am sure your couple will be delighted with the results and I hope to get to see the finished product once the couple give the go ahead.

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    1. Welcome to my blog and thank you for your comment. Invitations going well - next will be the Orders of Service. Getting there, slowly but surely.

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  23. Wow. That is one really really busy week. Can understand about the wedding invites. I did the paper flower decorations(over 100 needed) for my Son's recent Wedding and felt like I was knee deep in them for weeks. Sorry for delay in getting round. Just got my Internet back after 4 frustrating days being locked out of my account. Hugs mrs a.

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  24. Rather like feeling as though your right arm has been removed, isn't it? How did we ever manage without the Internet?

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Thank you for your comment - it is always lovely to have feedback and I hope you enjoyed my post.