CHILLY NIGHTS, FROSTY MORNINGS, BUT GORGEOUS SUNSHINE IN THE DAY

Hello everyone

It's a little bit nippy now (sounds very similar to the opening words of an Elton John song) - the sunshine is very welcome, but the cold isn't and this is just the start of the chilly season.  The good thing about this time of year, rather like spring, is that the colours in the garden are beautiful.  Reds, browns, bronzes - quite spectacular and the complete opposite of spring with its yellows and whites.  I have a lot of bulbs still to plant - got behind with them - and have some big pots I want to put them in today so a few hours in the sunshine beckons.

The crafting flip-side of me

I am hoping that by now the winners of my World Card-Making Day competition have received their prizes - I know one has.  I hope you are all pleased with them.  Again, a big thank you to everyone who took part, whether as a maker or a voter and thank you to Make and Craft for sponsoring the competition - I hope your launch day was a great success.  My digital copy of the magazine is excellent and has lots of lovely things to make.  I have had two suggestions for the next competition: 'anything but cards' and, of course, cats.  Any other ideas?  I will put the suggestions into a hat and let one of my cats choose the theme.

Still on the subject of cards, did you read Ally's guest blog post on Friday?  Ally's cards are beautiful and make me realise that I must get into stamping - I have loads of stamps and as with lots of my craft 'things' they are in a box waiting to be used.  I think that in my stack of craft materials there is a 'I must do this' list.  If you would like to join Ally and everyone else who has been a guest blogger, it would be lovely to have you  on board.  Please get in touch: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.

My photographed 'makes' for this week's post are not for my business, but for me from my pottery course.  The first photograph is of the pendant and earrings I made last term, glazed this term and fired last week.  The pendant has a loop at the back and I may just add ribbon or a chain, not sure yet.  The earrings are ready to have hooks added.  I am pleased with the effect the wallpaper and rubbing off some of the glaze has created and glad they are not too heavy.

The second photograph is of one of this term's main projects - a mask.  I haven't yet decided whether to blend the features into the mask, but I am pleased with the nose which I learnt how to create last week.  The lips presented a problem in that I just couldn't get a good shape to them and they still do not match what my mind's eye wants.  I am going to add hair and ears to the mask, so there may be more photographs on the way.

In between various other things this week, I have been busy making stock for my events - mainly concentrating on two ranges of mini-cards.  They sell well and although I have two weeks between the first and second event, the second event is a three-day outing and is followed closely by my last event of the year and I want to have plenty to be able to ring the changes, particular for the three-day event.  I also need to make stock for my wall at Bourne Mill which, despite the high street shops already having them, doesn't have any of my Christmas range for sale yet.  I have to say that I am beginning to be rather concerned at how little time I have left and how very far behind I am.

don;t forget to checkout the other blogs taking part in this week's Handmade Monday.  Always lots of beautiful makes to see and great blog posts to read.  

I had a card order to make for a birthday at the end of this month.  The brief was the recipient likes pink, purple, spiritual things and cats.  I love these challenges, made the card and forgot to photograph it - again!  My customer was very pleased with it, so hard though it was to match the brief it was a success.

The other flip-side of me

I have two new residents who arrived yesterday morning - Monkey (how can you call a kitten that?) and Damon (equally poorly named).  They are ten weeks old; Damon is the little black kitten and Monkey is the grey one.  almost needless to say they are gorgeous, very playful and friendly and purr at the drop of a whisker.  I am not to sure how long they will be with me - they haven't yet been homed but there is a possibility that someone is interested in them.  As you can see, they are quite happy to have their picture taken - or probably fascinated by the camera.

Jazz is fascinated by them, Daisy definitely isn't.  She is not a very sociable cat; loves her home and us and Jazz (most of the time), and that it all she needs in her life - as well as food of course.  Everyone who enters our home (two-legged or four-legged) is a potential friend for Jazz - he bounces up to them and wants to be their best friend.  He is, however, a little concerned by Damon (black kitten) - we feel that he looks at him and thinks he could be a miniature Shadow (the cat who frightens him).  The joys of cat-owning and kitten-fostering are great fun - and exhausting.

I am thinking of adding another mini blog post on Thursdays, specifically in support of Woking Cats Protection.  I plan to feature one (or a pair if they are to be homed in pairs) kittens each week, so watch this space.  I hope you read my post last Wednesday about the gorgeous Simba?

On Friday I went with a couple of friends for my second day trip this year to the Isle of Wight.  The weather was gorgeous - sunny all day (despite the forecast), slightly chilly wind, but a great day.  We did a walking tour of Bembridge - started in the main street and made our way  down various side roads to the beach, then all they way along the beach (great big pebbles, stones and rocks everywhere - so hard going) and then back up some steep steps (no exaggeration here) which came out just to where we had left the car (thank goodness as my legs felt in need of a rest).  We then went off to Old Shanklin for a late lunch (gorgeous crab salad), wandered around the village and then slowly made our way back to the ferry, via Ventnor for a brief look around.  Everywhere was very quiet, which was nice - the ferry crossing was also quiet both ways, which meant speedy loading and unloading.  We are now planning our next trip and considering a Christmas market in Bruges.

I am helping a friend with her spreadsheets tomorrow.  She is not a great computer fan to say the least, and starting spreadsheets from scratch is daunting for her.  Lunch is included, so how could I refuse?  Yes, I know I should be stock making, but..............

I am off  now to work in the garden as this gorgeous weather is too good to miss and my daffodil bulbs are crying out to be planted.  I also have some pansies and polyanthus plants to go in - so may top the daffodil pots off with them - a nice display for most of the winter with the pansies.  I had meant to pot them on, but didn't get around to it, so think it is straight into their final growing place today.

I hope you all have a great day, don't forget to come back on Wednesday for my mid-week post and also on Friday for another great guest blog post.

And finally a couple of gems from this week's searches stats (apart from being intrigued as to how they landed on my blog, I am so curious as to what they were originally looking for):

crafts with bricks and toilet rolls crafts

Jill

THE DAYS OF SUN (AND WINE) AND ROSES

Hello everyone

Yes, I know my title is not quite the correct one for the tune of a similar name, but it seems appropriate for the weather.  The sun has been shining for a few days, the roses everywhere look gorgeous and the odd glass of wine in the garden in the evening helps the title to become almost correct.  Sadly, I understand from the cheerful weather forecaster on the BBC we return to, what he called, normal weather from tomorrow: rain and low temperatures.  Is rain and low temperature now classed as normal for June?

I want to spend as much time in the garden today as possible, the grass (I would love to call it a lawn, but sadly it only pretends to be a lawn) needs cutting (Richard's job for this afternoon), there are plants to be dug up and moved, new plants to be planted and hopefully my order from Crocus will arrive today.  

I have another quirky card order to make and will work on that this evening and memory permitting, I will post the pic on my weekend blog.  I am also making stock for Bourne Mill, and (sorry to mention the word) beginning to make stock for Christmas too.

A short blog post - off to hoe, dig, plant and, as always, weed.  A photograph of Jazz and Daisy in the garden yesterday - Daisy is by the pond and to the left of her I have just spotted a crop of those pesky Mare's Tails!  Jazz is being Jazz - his life is a mix of lounging and even more lounging.

Enjoy the sun everyone, let's hope the forecasters are wrong and we have good weather for the rest of this week.  Don't forget to come back on Friday for another great guest blog post.  I will be back with my Sunday/Monday post.

Jill

UP WITH THE BIRDS (OR RATHER THE CATS)

Hi everyone

I am an early riser.  As much as I try to turn over and grab another 40 winks, I rarely do because of two reasons: cats! Sitting on, purring loudly in my ear, walking across my pillow, sitting on my head!  Not completely their fault this morning though as just after 5.00 am the sun was shining and it was lovely to watch it move up the garden (better than watching a rain cloud move up the garden!).  In the summer (well someone told me this was summer and hard though it may be I am trying to believe them) I don't mind getting up early because it really is the best part of the day.

Did you read my guest blog post this week?  Sources of Inspiration by Linda Kirkbridge is a great post and I really recommend you read it as I am sure it will give you ideas and make you remember things you have used to inspire your work and may have forgotten.  Thank you Linda, and thank you to those who have commented - always very much appreciated.

I am always on the look out for great bloggers to join in the Friday Guest Blog spot, so if you feel a blog post coming on, do get in touch: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  If you are wondering about starting your own blog, how about giving it a whirl as a guest blogger first of all?

In my Wednesday post I mentioned about a sneaky envelope remover striking my card wall at Bourne Mill.  Surprise, surprise could it be the same person who removed one of my pottery makes?  My second pottery makes consisted of four serviette rings and a matching small vase.  Before half-term they were ready for biscuit firing and last week I went to collect them to find one serviette ring had gone missing.  Everyone helped in the hunt-a-serviette-ring task, but we couldn't find it.  Perhaps someone has picked it up by mistake, or perhaps it was so good a famous potter has decided to clone it!  Whatever the reason, I am not happy about it - a missing envelope I can deal with, but a piece of pottery?  However, the good news from my pottery class is that I was able to bring my first piece home following is high firing activity (here is a pic) and I have enrolled for both the morning and afternoon session in September:

I know we shouldn't blow our own trumpets and I am not really going to, but I am pleased(ish) with my first effort.  It looks like a first time pot, but hey, that's what it is and it works for me.  I meant to take a photograph last night with a candle in it, but (as always) forgot and took one against a dark background this morning and it just isn't the same.  I haven't been anywhere near clay for a very, very long time, so feel that this is so far, so good.  This time next year I could be making the tea set to go with the thrones my brother-in-law made for the Queen - so watch this space.

It is Open Studios time and I visited my pottery tutor's studio.  Her name is Jean Tolkovsky and you can see some of her work here.  As it says in the Open Studios brochure: many new pieces in ceramics and mixed media.  Quirky jugs, birds, figures and outdoor objects, in a lovely garden setting.  The photographs on the link do not do Jean's work justice - they are much better in 'real life'.  The Open Studios are 'open' until 24 June and then again on 20 - 22 July and if you live in or around Surrey or are visiting this area, I do recommend you visit as many of the artists as possible.  As a bonus, if you visit more than 4 studios, you will be entered into a prize draw to win £100 to spend at one of the studios.

I am a big fan of garden decoration - some plants are very sculptural but some areas need just that little extra something.  I couldn't resist buying the mother Guinea Fowl and chick from Jean and here they are residing next to my pond:

Some of the artists are running workshops and I have enrolled on the Discover Wirework course that is running on Saturday, 23 June.  This is a 2-hour session which will cover making the 'bits' needed to join the jools and beads together!  No, it doesn't say that in the book, but it sounds good.  About 2 years ago, I decided I would make jewellery - bought loads of beads, fixings, etc, etc and made one necklace and a bracelet and then..................nothing more.  I thought it would be a nice idea to re-introduce myself to this craft and it may be that next Handmade Monday, I will have a piece of jewellery to show.

The weather has been lovely today and I have spent a lot of time in the garden.  As we all know, weeds love rain and coupled with reasonable soil temperature they have been growing at a very speedy rate.  We have a major problem with Mare's Tail and if you are familiar with them you will know that eradicating them is hard work - if you pull one up, in a few days time you will have a crop of them.   We have some growing around the pond (not by choice of course) and because of this we cannot use weed-killer on them, so it is a constant pulling and digging up battle to keep them under control.  However, the nice things that come out of rain and warmth are the gorgeous roses that are currently bursting out into flower.  We have a beautiful rambler called Seagull - masses of flowers and the perfume is absolutely gorgeous.  Like all ramblers, it is very hardy and very easy to propagate - in fact many friends and neighbours have the off-spring of this plant growing in their gardens.  Wouldn't it be lovely to click on this pick of Seagull and be able to smell the perfume?

Another pic taken today is of one of my favourites, Heucheras; this one is a deep, dark red colour.  I just nipped out to check the name and discovered that the label has disappeared - seems to be my week for losing things!  I used to pride myself on remembering the names and variety of plants I had in my garden, but these days I keep the label and place it very close to the plant.  Perhaps I need to re-think this.

I spent Friday with my sister doing one of our favourite activities: shopping.  I am a shoe and bag nutter and as we went to an outlet centre, I managed to snap up some great bargains.  I also bought some large fabric flowers which are really meant to be worn in one's hair or as a brooch.  I am going to use them in my crafting for adding to my willow wreaths - still working on the first one, so don't forget to come back next week and check.

Last but certainly not least, I want to tell you about Blogpinner.  Blogpinner is the brain-child of Mammasaurus and you may remember that earlier this year I guest-posted on her blog.  Click on the previous link to read about Blogpinner, but just to whet your appetite Annie (Mammasaurus) says: wouldn't it be cool if there was a sort of Pinterest but just for sharing and organising blog posts.   I think it is a great idea and signed up first thing this morning (you can see the button to the right of this post and it would be lovely if you followed me on there as well as here).  I am in the process of adding my blog posts to my board, and at the same time I am adding the guest posts that my lovely Friday Bloggers have produced.  so, come along and be a blogpinner - there are some great bloggers on there already, including the lovely Badger Boo.

No new makes for Handmade Monday as still have lots of 'work in progress' but I did post some pics of the mini-cards I have made on my mid-week blog.  Don't forget to whizz over and look at the other Handmade Monday bloggers work - and read their posts.  I love 'em coz it is a great way of catching up with everyone and finding out what they have been up to this week.

Enjoy the rest of the week, I will be back on Wednesday with my mid-week ramblings, and don't forget to read last week's Guest Post and make a big note in your diary to come back on Friday and read this week's one - you will love it.

Jill

BLUE SKY? SUN? AM I DREAMING?

Hi everyone

Sunshine and no rain, how wonderful.  It may only last today, but it is very welcome.  Garden, here I come - as long as I can avoid the mud and flood at the bottom of the garden!  I recently planted lots of shrubs in what we call our front-front garden (it is the 'bit' on the other side of the front wall) and as it is very dry there (trees sucking all the moisture out) and the rain has helped them settle in well.  Amazingly the lilies in the pond are doing well too - you would think they have enough water and nutrients (from the fish) to not need rainwater, but clearly they benefit from it too.  Have just heard on the news that some water companies are lifting the hosepipe ban - just when the last thing you need to do is water your garden!

I did a big spring-clean on my wall at Bourne Mill yesterday - the card packets do get dusty.  I was amazed to find that some 'person' had taken a card out of its packet and pinched the envelope!  I hadn't realised my envelopes were so sought after, clearly collector's items!  The good news is that my cards are selling well  there; I added some new stock, so fingers crossed they will also do well.  I moved everything around and previous experience has shown that this often increases sales - regular visitors think lots of new stock has been added, but there is also the chance they may see cards they missed before.

The weather has meant that I have been able to do a lot of card-making this week and I have concentrated mainly on my mini-cards (always popular at events) and here are a few of my recent makes:

I have concentrated on Christmas ones as I know my supply of them is very low and surprisingly at the last event I took part in people were keen to start buying their Christmas cards/gift tags early.

I know that lots of my blog readers/followers enjoy the guest blogger spot on Friday and I really appreciate everyone who has taken part so far.  Perhaps it is the holiday seasons (er, with all this rain?) but volunteers seem to be few and far between.  I don't really want to stop the guest spot because I hope the blogger does well, and I know I have acquired new followers, so if you would like to join in please do get in touch: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  I am looking for posts of approximately 60-0 - 800 words, plenty of photographs, links to your business, etc.  You are welcome to choose your topic and you know from previous posts that the posts have been varied, information, great fun and very helpful.  It doesn't have to be craft-related, although posts about the craft industry are very welcome.

Enjoy the rest of the week and don't forget to come back on Friday to read this week's guest blog spot.

Jill

CHELSEA (THE FLOWER SHOW THAT IS) HERE I COME

Hi everyone

The best show of the gardening year has arrived.  I love Chelsea - even though it is always busy, you have to queue for certain things and the time you are there disappears far too quickly, it is a fantastic show.  I love to see what designers do for different sizes/shapes and styles of gardens, but I think the most beautiful section is the exhibits in the marquee.  The colours and fragrance are so gorgeous.  Last year we saw some gorgeous 'hats' designed by floristry students - stunning.  If you are going, I hope you have a great time.  My friend and I are going on Wednesday and so far the forecast is for a dry, sunny day - hope it stays that way.

My bags were 'on show' at a Plant Sale yesterday and I went along to meet up with my friend who was organising it and to buy one or two plants - well that was the plan.  I bought some dahlias, some heucheras (which I love), scented-leaved geraniums and some rock plants.  I also bought some marmalade for Richard and a raffle ticket - would you believe I won a prize of a pack of notelets.  My friend emailed me after the event to say my bags had sold well - not all of them, but I am always pleased with all sales and as they are a fairly new addition to my range, it's always nice to get positive feedback.

We went to the Harrow in Compton for a meal with a friend on Friday - it was her birthday so celebration time.  The Harrow has recently been refurbished/changed hands and is looking good.  The food was good, very large portions so next time just one course I think.  It probably wasn't helped by having a snack lunch with a friend on the same day!  I was very impressed: soup, bread and cake all home-made.  Made me feel very guilty as I can always find very good reasons for not making soups, bread, etc.

Despite having dealt with many of the problems that exist in my computer (and there are still a few) this week has still been odd in computer-land.  My midweek post disappeared completely!  It made it to the outside world, Twitter, etc on Wednesday and by Thursday it had fallen off of the planet.  Lesley mentioned on Twitter that my post appeared to have gone AWOL - thank you Lesley, as I probably wouldn't have noticed until I went to post the Friday Guest Blog post.  Then when I came to sort out the Friday post I discovered that the document had become corrupt - yet when I checked it upon first receiving it, all was OK.  It's a weird world in computer-land at times.

My makes for Handmade Monday this week are Father's Day cards.  I wanted to make several for placing on my wall at Bourne Mill, but had commissions for two as well, so they took precedence.  The customers do not read my blog, and have said it is OK to display them on my post as the recipients are not blog-followers either.  One is for a golf-mad dad and another one is for a rugby and football fan.  The third one is for Bourne Mill and I used some material left over from a previous birthday card commission, so double value.

I am in the middle of decorating a willow wreath with beautiful fuchsia-coloured hearts and ribbon.  I bought some wooden hearts from the art shop in Godalming (one of my favourite places) and discovered when I got home that the hints and tips were in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish - er, bit of a problem for me.  However, I emailed the company and they responded immediately (I was very impressed) and sent me the English translation.  I had hoped to have the wreath finished today, but as so often happens numerous other things got in the way.  My Handmade Monday post next week will include pics of the finished wreath but before then don't forget to visit the other blogs taking part in this week's 'event'.

I hope you enjoyed Eva's post on Friday about Cyprus?  We went to Cyprus many years ago and always said we would go back - nothing arranged as yet, but Eva's place looks and sounds very tempting.  If you would like to be a guest blogger on here, please do get in touch: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  I am looking for a blogger to take part on 8 June - so any takers?  Just a reminder, about 600 - 800 words is fine, please include pics as well and don't forget to finish the article with your links to your website, blog, Twitter, etc.  Once posted, it also hits Twitter and Facebook, so plenty of exposure.  I also tweet about the post 2 or 3 times during the day/the following day of the post and it's nice if the person who is the guest blogger does the same.  It's a great way of showing our work to new people and also getting new followers on our blogs.

Back to card-making now as I want to get some Father's Day cards finished too.  Out to lunch in Clandon tomorrow with a couple of friends - we have been trying to arrange a get-together for about 6 weeks and something keeps happening to force us to move the date.  So far, nothing affecting tomorrow's date has occurred.   I will be back on Wednesday with my mid-week post which will be about my trip to Chelsea - really looking forward to it and hope to buy some more heucheras as well as do some celebrity-gardener spotting.

I hope you have a good week.

Jill

THE SUN HAS GOT HIS HAT ON, HIP, HIP, HIP , HOORAY

Hi everyone

The sun has got his hat on and he's coming out to play.  Woo hoo!  Please don't tell me I have been dreaming? It has really been wall-to-wall sunshine for the last three days hasn't it?  Like everyone, I love the feeling being in the sun gives me - warmth, enthusiasm and motivation.  Even the toughest old Dandelion causes no problem, I feel quite cheerful when I chop it's head off!  The only thing in their favour is they are a gorgeous shade of yellow - oh yes, they are supposed to make a pretty good wine too and apparently the leaves should be picked in April and/or May when they are at their best.  Up until last week we had plenty of these 'lovely' weeds so perhaps my make for this week's Handmade Monday should have been Dandelion Wine.  Many years ago we used to make wine quite regularly, but I remember the best home made wine I have ever tasted was one a friend made from Elderberries.  It was soooo good, rich, red and very potent.  Rather like Tom Good's Peapod Burgundy - you only drank one glass of his because it took the skin off the back of your throat, my friend's Elderberry concoction took your head off.

A big thank you to Ann of Tickled Pink Crafts for her great post as my latest Friday Guest Blogger.  If you haven't had a chance to read Ann's post, I recommend you do - apart from interesting details about the background to Ann's business, there are some lovely pics of her work.  Thank you Ann for joining my growing gang of Friday Guest Bloggers (FGBs).  I am playing around with a badge for everyone to place on their blog that will link back to their post on here - a little more promotion for all of us.  Don't forget if you want to promote/write about your business, a particular project you are working on, a hobby or something completely different to what you normally blog about, you are very welcome to join the FGBs.  If you need any further information, please email me on christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.

A thank you too to everyone who commented on my blog posts during the last week - all very much appreciated by me and my guest blogger.

Two of the cards I finished this week were to be added to this week's post - I am embarrassed to say I forgot to take photographs of them.  So, this is stretch your imagination time.  I will give you what the brief for each one consisted of, and you can decide in your own mind what the finished cards looked like.  Card No 1 was for a lady who owns a red Porsche Careera, has 3 Burmese cats (2 cream and 1 lilac), likes red wine, champagne and vodka.  Card No 2 was for a man who likes beer, golf, Bruch Violin Concerto (a beautiful piece of music) and has two ginger and white cats called Ben & Jerry (clearly an ice-cream fan).  Both cards were easy to do and to represent the champagne and red wine I used maps of the growing areas for the back-ground and I was able to download some copyright -free Bruch sheet-music.  My customer was pleased with the cards - hope the people she gave them too were also pleased.

I have a birthday card and a wedding congratulations card to make by Tuesday and I will definitely take pics of them this time and post them on next weekend's Blog post.  Time permitting, I also want to make some Father's Day cards to put on my wall at Bourne Mill on Monday.

My computer is still misbehaving, although I can use it by accessing certain things the wrong way round.  I am re-loading everything from disc and a back-up drive.  In addition to my computer, my car decided to throw a tantrum and had to have new brakes and a roll bar fitted this week.  These things always happen when you least expect them, don't they?  Working perfectly now, thank goodness; I would be lost without my car as public transport is not very frequent were I live.

In addition to decorating gift bags for next week's flower show, I have also been working on a new style (new for me that is) of cards.  I watched a demo recently using 12" x 12" card that was folded and cut to end up with a card a quarter of the original size, and it had two two pockets on the front.  So easy and so effective.  Double-sided card is best, but I used single-side card and added a complimentary paper to the area that was plain.  I also saw a demo for using the outer edge of doilies and I have added this to one of the cards.  The floral card has a tag with a salutation on it, which can be placed in one of the pockets, but they could be used for various things: a bookmark, theatre tickets, money, endless possibilities.  These are still very much work in progress, but I am pleased with how they are turning out.

I am off to enjoy the sunshine as the forecast for the coming week is a little mixed (sounds familiar doesn't it?).  I have a busy week this week, so need to (try to) keep on top of everything.  Don't forget to check out the Handmade Monday gang for great posts and pics of this week's makes, plus very good tutorials are often posted.

Nearly forgot to add that the three-day event I have booked for this year is at the Secretts Garden Centre in Milford and takes place on 16, 17 and 18 November.  Very local to me so travel  and therefore time, will not be a problem.  I already feel I need to be making Christmas cards, bags and boxes as I know the next few months will rush by, so the next month or so could see me adding Christmas cards to my Handmade Monday makes spot.

I will be back on Wednesday with my mid-week post and don't forget to get in touch with me if you would like to be a Friday Guest Blogger.

Jill

APRIL SHOWERS? END OF THE DROUGHT?

Hi everyone

Yes, I know the title is very wrong, but it would be lovely to think that throughout April we will have had enough rain to ease the drought problems.  The in-between sunshine is lovely - unfortunately, the in-between rain is making the grass and weeds grow too fast to keep up with.

I began my pottery course this week and it was great.  Although demonstrations are provided, it is pretty much a workshop situation, which is great.  Everyone can do their own thing, learn something new, get ideas from others.  There are 12 of us in the group, myself and one other person are new; the others have been attending the course for several years, and most of them do the afternoon session as well.  Even though the tutor has been different during that time they have stuck with it.  Some really beautiful work has been produced and I am looking forward to working on one or two things over the next few weeks.  My first attempt will be a slab-pot candle-holder with a difference - certainly different to my experience of slab pots when I was at school.  Not for some time, but I hope to be able to put some pics of my work in my Sunday/Monday post in the not too distant future.

I have been very busy with card-making this week and also received orders for several more - so as much as I love sunshine, will be happy if it does rain a little so that I can stay inside and work.  Of the recent orders, here are pics of a few of them.  The brief for each of these was interesting to say the least:

The recipient of this card, Philip, has a small herd of sheep, works for a car company and is a Church Warden.  Pretty tricky to combine in one card, but I managed it with a downloaded background of sheep (found this on the Crafts-U-Print site) in a field.  I added a car to the little building in the field, a church in the top right-hand corner and also managed to find a shepherd.

This one was for a lady with the nickname of Queek.  Queek apparently is a shopaholic (oh, I can identify with that), drinks whisky and has a Yorkshire Terrier.  The person who ordered the card wanted a BIG 70 added.

This one is for another whisky lover and I have blanked out the bottle details as it had her name, plus other bits and pieces.

Had one of our great family get-togethers yesterday at my sister's with some of our cousins.  We always have a really good time, we all have a similar sense of humour and as we all lived so close to each other when growing up, we don't have to explain who people are, what particular events were, places we lived, etc.  One of my cousins is a very talented artist and I am trying to convince her to become one of my Friday Guest Bloggers so I can share her work with you.  Fingers crossed this will happen in the not too distant future.

If you would like to be a Friday Guest Blogger, do get in touch: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  The topic can be business-related, something you want to talk about/share with others, about your family or pets, I am happy to include non-craft-related posts.  It's a great bit of additional promotion.  You need to be thinking about 600 - 700 words, with 3 or 4 pics (more if your post needs them) and don't forget to add your links: website, blog, Twitter, etc.  Previous Friday Bloggers are very welcome to join in again.

I hope you read last week's post form Jenny who is behind the lovely Rumpy Dog blog posts - they are great and I recommend following the Rumpy Dog blog.  Thank you Jenny for joining the Friday Bloggers Group.

I had an email yesterday from an event organiser in Wallington asking me to take part in a fair in July.  My feeling is that the cost of petrol (it is a 66-mile round-trip), table fees, etc is quite a bit of outlay before selling anything, plus the time the journey would take would make it a very long day.  It would have been nice to attend as we used to live not far from there, but I think travel costs and time are are a big consideration, so sadly I have said no, thank you.

Not too sure where last week went - washed away in all the rain I think, but I need to get a move on during the coming week.  I have an event in Weybridge on Saturday and do not have many cards for sale - although I sometimes raid my wall at Bourne Mill, but would prefer not to do that this time.  So, a week of hard work (well, I can dream).

Have a good week everyone, don't forget to check out the other Handmade Monday bloggers and I will be back on Wednesday.

Jill

SUNNY CHRISTMAS PIE

Hello everyone

What a beautiful day it has been, it may have started frosty but the sun has been shining  for most of the day and it has been warm.  Apparently the temperature is likely to be around 18 - 19 degrees during the coming week.  Oh, so very welcome and fingers and toes crossed we have mild weather and continue into a gorgeous spring and an even better summer.

A big welcome and thank you to my new blog and Twitter followers - lovely to 'see' you.  thank you also to Jill & Georgie of POSH for your Friday Guest Blogger post - your jewellery is lovely and I really enjoyed your post.

The Friday Guest Blogger spot is progressing well.  I am hoping to have a fellow Handmade Monday-er on 2 March, the following Friday will be a fellow blogger.  Names will be revealed on the day .  Don't forget that apart from taking time out to write about something you feel strongly about (craft-related of course), this is a good opportunity to promote your business.

It's been a lovely week.  I had lunch with a couple of friends on Monday at pub by a lake - it looked very good in winter-time, I can only imagine how beautiful it looks in the summer when all the plants are in flower.  I worked very, very hard on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on my website and new ranges  - under pressure really as my first event of the year is in two weeks time.    I continued the de-cluttering exercise, but slightly added to the contents of the garage when I collected two spinning display stands I had bought on Ebay.  On Thursday evening I went out for a meal with another group of friends - we first met around 30 years ago when we were all on an accountancy day-release course at a local college.  We completed the three years of the course and all went on to do accountancy-related work; I eventually moved from 'doing' accounts (although I still do my own accounts) to teaching it.  On Friday I spent the day with my sister and we indulged in a little light shopping.

I spent most of today gardening and when walking around to see how much is either still in flower or about to flower was so pleased to see lots of shrubs had survived the recent frosts - some were well protected and are fighting back to life already.  The Prunus is covered in buds, some beginning to open - very early.  Polyanthus, crocus and snow drops are in full bloom, and daffodils are just about ready to burst their buds.  I love Helleborus Niger and have several in the garden; they flower throughout the winter and less frequently at other times during the year.  They are so beautiful and this is a picture of one in flower at the moment in our garden - the colour is so gorgeous (the only downside of these beautiful flowers are that they hang face down):

In addition to spending this week working and socialising, I indulged in some television viewing too.  I like antique programmes, not the every single day ones, but I have been watching the Antiques Road Trip because they do stop off at some beautiful houses.  Each week a different duo of experts  set off on a buying trip and last week they were touring around the South of England.  On Wednesday I was interested to see one of the experts visited Farnham and even more interesting they visited Bourne Mill.  Imagine my surprise when, having located items to purchase, the expert went to the reception desk and in the background my wall was clearly shown - several times.  I can quite honestly say my cards have been on the television - now, I wonder if I could add to my website blurb 'as seen on the Antiques Road Trip'?

My make for Handmade Monday (yep, it's that time again and as always I am looking forward to reading some great blogs) isn't a new card,but one I made last year.  It didn't sell, so I put it back into stock for my first event of this year.  The main section of the embellishment is woven paper, consisting of two sheets that I cut into wavy lengths.  When I had finished that section I framed the 'picture' and added different colour squares to two corners.  I was quite pleased with the effect and used it on other cards since this one.

My usual Wednesday mid-week blog post is changing for this week as I am taking part in a Multi-coloured Blog Swap Carnival.  I am hosting a post that is completely unrelated  to crafting and the host of my spot is also non-crafty.  My guest blogger's post is lovely and I am sure you will enjoy it.

That's me for this week, apart from the blog posting posting.  Have a good week everyone - enjoy the sun and warmth.  I am working hard this week to make up for my 'time out' last week, but having an away day with a friend on Thursday - some gym, swim, chat and lunch time.

Jill

IT'S NEARLY CHRISTMAS

Hi everyone

OK, OK, I know it isn't nearly Christmas but it's not that far off and I know someone not far from me (my sister) who is champing at the bit to get her Christmas tree set up and decorated.

A very foggy start to today and although I had hoped this meant a a sunny day, it wasn't.  Fog always makes things sound so still and quiet - or perhaps it clogs up my ears and mists my glasses.  The moisture fog creates can look lovely - it collects on spider's webs, branches, and makes some things look really pretty.

I took part in two Christmas fairs this week - one at a school which was very good.  The second one was at a local village hall which was a little disappointing, very quiet for everyone involved, but gave me a great opportunity to make some news cards.  I love startling, strong designs and as I had with me some black, silver and dark red glitter card I made the following cards which are my contribution to this week's Handmade Monday blog post:

I hope you like them - I love glitter card and red, black and silver are so stunning.  I have one more to add, but need to tweak it a little so will post it later in the week.

One final pic is not card-related, but I couldn't resist including it in this week's post - while we were packing for our recent holiday, we left a suitcase on the floor of the lounge.  Daisy, followed quickly by Jazz, decided it was a new comfy place to sleep - the caption for the pic (not a very good one) I feel is 'Don't worry Daisy, if we keep our eyes closed they won't see us and we can go on holiday with them'.

A very busy week ahead - three events so lots of new stock needed, plus sorting out and re-stocking my wall at Bourne Mill and I want to get to the WI Market on Thursday morning to hopefully sell my cards in the future, as I missed it last week. Don't forget to check out my Where Am I section and if you are able to come along to any of the events I am taking part in, it would be great  to see you.

Have a good week and don't forget to visit the other blogs taking part in Handmade Monday.

Jill