MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

I began this week's diary really early, then I got side-tracked!  I had planned to post almost as soon as I had eaten my breakfast, but everywhere outside looked so good that I just forget my diary and rushed out into the garden to play.  Jill has been doing lots of plant moving, so there is lots of lovely soft soil to dig up - even if all I do is dig a hole and walk away from it, it is good fun!

My fellow kittens (and cats of course) are so pleased Jill and Richard moved their wooden pond container because we now have a giant water bowl in the garden - they are so kind to us.  I wonder if any frogs will make their home in this pond??  It does have a lovely lily in the middle, or is that a lovely Milly?

Woking Cats Protection are having a stand at the RSPCA Millbrook Open Day on Sunday, 1 September and Jill will be helping out in the morning.  If you are going to the event, please visit the stand and Jill will be able to tell you how gorgeous I am - oh and she will also tell you about Jazz, Daisy, Coco and Poppy too.  There will be lots of photographs and information about the branch's cats and kittens that are looking for new homes, so please do go along and support them.

The garden is calling me, well the frogs, flies and butterflies are.  I will be back next week.  Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend everyone.

Milly

IS SUMMER REALLY OVER?

Hi everyone

I pride myself on being an optimist: the glass is always half full, good times are on the way, my first million is just two craft fairs away, this month my Premium Bonds will be picked for the £1,000,000 prize - you know the sort of thing.  But this summer has really dented my outlook on life - every day or let's say week, I had hoped for better weather and sadly nearly every week I have been disappointed.  Is it me or has it really been a very disappointing summer?  Out of the sun yesterday in the garden, the wind was very chilly - very autumnal.  The optimist in me is still hoping for an Indian Summer, and wishing that the early mornings and nights are a little warmer than the last couple of days.

Work this week has taken a bit of a back seat.  With Richard on hols we had planned his second week to be one of mostly leisure.  We 'did' lots of leisure but various other things got in the way too.

The crafty bits of life

I hope you had a chance to read my guest blog post on Friday?  Evelyn Taylor has written an article about in-house marketing for the small business - something of interest to all of us crafters who tend to a small business.

It has been a hectic week and I don't have anything to post for Handmade Monday this week, which is really worrying for me as my November events are rushing towards me.  Very frightening really.  I did, however. finalise the Orders of Service with my bride and groom - I was getting a little worried as their wedding is only three weeks away.  They have very kindly invited me to their church service, which I am really looking forward to.

However, my web site has gone live, but due to numerous hiccups and problems with Vistaprint, there just isn't a lot to show for my labours.  Despite reporting to them over a week ago that the text keeps left-aligning (after I have centred and saved it) and the font reverts frequently (again after saving it) to Times New Roman they still have not resolved this.  In fact, I am getting fed up with their emails telling me they have!  Followed by the it was the IT department who told us it was resolved.  In addition to these irritations, I selected the 'wider column ' display only for it to change the background colour - time, after time, after time.  I telephoned Vistaprint yesterday and was advised that this is an IT problem (really, as if I didn't know!) but guess what, I can't speak to someone in that department.  So my website has gremlins, isn't really how I like it, but it was a case of publish or give up, and I didn't dare give up.  It is really just the bones of the site, but more will be added as I make things.  So despite feeling battered and bruised, I would appreciate comments on it - please remember though it is very much a work in progress:

http://www.christmas-pie-crafts.co.uk

Although this is not strictly a craft-related item, I know that many of you either follow, read the guest posts, or visit the blog of the Mad Dog Woman of Shackleford.  Sadly, Lesley's dog Themba passed away yesterday; he had been diagnosed about three months ago with a heart condition.  Lesley has written a brief post about this and I do recommend you read it, but make sure you have your hankies ready.

The other bits of life

We nipped off to the Isle of Wight on Thursday - a lovely island that has a very relaxed atmosphere.  Lots of beautiful beaches and the weather was great.  We spent most of our time in Yarmouth and Cowes and recommend dining at Salty's in Yarmouth if you are ever in that area.  We first found Salty's back in the early 90s and I am pleased to say that the quality of food hasn't changed at all.  In fact, we spent Richard's 50th birthday there and they kindly arranged a cake for him - it was a lovely day.

We have often thought of moving to the Isle of Wight, but feel leaving behind friends and family would be hard.  I know it isn't far, but not so easy to ring up someone and say, do you fancy coming round for a meal is it?

We had hoped to go for a couple of days, but our plans changed following a call from the Cats Protection asking if I would consider fostering 2 kittens.  As you can imagine, I said no - as if!.  They are two little black kittens - a boy and a girl - aged about 8 weeks.  They are a little poorly - not that you can tell, and needed to be kept apart form the rest of their litter.  They are gorgeous and better entertainment that the television.  A friend gave me a basket for them to sleep in, but it was a little too big, so I got a shoe box, put their blanket inside and they were very happy.  In fact, one slept inside the box and the other on top - here is a pic of them in that position, but awake.

Prior to this I had been feeding two other kittens in pen's in a fosterer's garden - she was on holiday and as she lives very near to me it was easy to do the twice-daily trip.

A friend and I went to the RSPCA Chobham Open Day today - it was raining just before we left, but luckily not during the event.  I always try to go as I have adopted cats from them and like to give my support.  One of the nicest bits was meeting up with some of the Woking Cats Protection staff who I have not met before.  I bought some cat nip toys for the kittens and for Jazz and Daisy - they go potty for catnip.

We, or rather Richard, put a new fireplace and fire in the dining room - that was one of his leisure things!  You can imagine he didn't quite see it the way I did.  We sold his car on Ebay yesterday, so temporarily we are a one-car family,.  Yes, I know lots of people live that way, but where we live and what we do means one car is not an option and the moment.  Poor and often non-existent transport and work and social things mean we really do need two cars - I can see some arguments over the next week or so when we both need to use 'my' car.

Richard has the Sunday grumpies because his holiday is over and I know just how he feels - I finished being a wage slave for someone else one year ago and I don't regret it at all.  I haven't done everything I planned to do this year, but hey, there is always tomorrow.

Have a great week everyone, don't forget to check out my Friday Guest Blog post - last week's and this week's.  I will be back on Wednesday with my mid-week shorty post.

Jill

PROCESS OF ELIMINATION

Hi everyone

A little sun, a little rain, lots of wind - summer?

We had a couple of power cuts on Sunday morning.  Nothing out of the ordinary really - we have overhead power cables and the cuts are something we have got used to.  However, late Sunday afternoon just as I was about to print off a whole load of work, my computer and printer stopped!  Despite re-setting everything, it happened about 3 more times over the next couple of hours.  By a process of elimination we think we have narrowed it down to the timer in the conservatory that manages the fish-pond pump.  Our biggest concern was ensuring the fish had sufficient air, but we managed to solve that problem.  We could have done with some heavy rain to put some bubbles into the pond - possibly the one and only time I will wish for rain!

Hard to believe but we are still going through the 'big clear-out' - everything takes so long because of all the excuses I can think of not to sort through and throw things away.  However, have got together a box of books, other stuff and towels which will be delivered to the RSPCA at Chobham tomorrow.  I am always surprised at the things I have kept, no genuine reason for keeping them and I do wonder what was going through my mind at the time.  Oh well, my chuck-outs could be someone else's prized possessions.

As I mentioned in my Sunday/Monday post, I am looking for guest bloggers for July and later on too, so do get in touch if you would like to join in: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  Don't forget to check out the previous guest posts - they are all great and include some brilliant pictures too.

A mini-post today, off to work in the garden - although we had sun and blue skies when I first got up, it has now clouded over so need to get out there quickly just in case the weather changes.

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone - don't forget to check out my Friday Guest Blog post and I will be back with my Handmade Monday post on Sunday.

Jill

THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE............ AND A CRAFTER

Hello everyone

Do you find that no matter how much you plan to do you never ever achieve half or even any of it?  I am pretty bad at not writing down what I should do (sometimes I do and the rest of the time I forget to!) - would it make things more achievable if I was confronted (or frightened) with a list of urgent, must-do's?

I had planned to attend the RSPCA Car Boot Sale at Chobham today (as a seller) and managed to come up with all manner of excuses not to do so!  Too cold, too windy, ground too wet, not enough 'stuff' to sell, too many other things to do - so almost needless to say, I still have the boxes of books, plates, other bits and pieces of china sitting in my hallway!  Do I feel guilty?  A little, but in the immortal words of Scarlett, tomorrow is another day - or another car boot sale if I can find one.  I think in future I am not going to say 'I plan to do...........', think I will change it to 'I hope to do...........' - perhaps that way I won't feel so disappointed when things I want to do don't get done.

I was very pleased to have been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award this week - not once, but twice.  How complimentary is that.  The first time by Rachel of the House of Pinheiro - thank you Rachel.  I went on to nominate 15 other lovely bloggers - so please do check out my Wednesday Post as I am sure some of you Handmade Monday peeps do not yet realise you are one of my nominated Versatile Blogger's too.  I did post a note on all of the blogs involved, but think some of them may have been missed.  My second Award came from Dawn Hart who writes some really great posts and I recommend reading them - thank you for my award Dawn.  In the tradition of the Versatile Blogger Award, I will be nominating another 15 bloggers in my Wednesday post.

Still on the past week, I hope you have all read about Chester and Taffy's cake-making event in my Friday Guest post by Alison of Fiddly Fingers.  On Handmade Monday posts, we have met Chester but can now see what a very versatile cat he is - I can see Alison will have to hire him out as a chef.  Thank you for joining in with the Guest Blog spot, Alison, your tale (or is that tail?) and pics are great.  Alison will be guest-blogging again for me, so keep an eye out for another great post.  As always, if you have a story, topic, new range that you would like to write about/promote, do join in the Friday Guest Blog Spot - contact me on christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.

The dreaded lurgy has struck in Christmas Pie - you know the one that men get soooo much worse than women?  Richard has a cold and a really grim cough - not sure who gets woken up at night with it the most, him or me, or the neighbourhood!  As you can imagine, his ailment is verging on double (perhaps triple) pneumonia.  How lucky we are not to suffer as much as men do!  However, having sounded very unsympathetic, he is quite poorly - or so he keeps telling me.

I haven't completed all of my card orders yet, will post pics as soon as I have.  However, another order placed this week is making me wonder whether Surrey is becoming the English home of Whiskey drinkers!  A second order for a card for someone who likes their Whiskey.  Oh well, as long as these Whiskey-lovers like my cards, I don't mind what their tipple is.

Before I forget - a cat update: Shadow is doing very well and adapting to life without his left leg.  He has had all of his stitches out and has settled into his new home very well - he will be kept in for a very long time though.  Jazz is doing well and still keeps holding up his paw!  Boy, what an attention seeker!

It is Handmade Monday time and in addition to my card orders, I have also begun to add to my other 'new' ranges - still working on what and how and where and why, but I am pleased with this particular one and feel that it would look good in other colours.  I have already bought some gold, pink and lime green material in preparation for my next makes.  I have bound the heart-shape with gorgeous dark red chiffon material strips, then with thin dark red ribbon and finally I added two roses.

Despite the cold and the wind, I am back out to do some gardening - everything grows faster at this time of year than I can keep up with.  The weeds that I looked at last week and thought 'oh I will deal with them next week' now resemble trees!  OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I am sure the gardeners among you know what I mean.

I will be back on Wednesday with my mid-week post to which I will add my list of 15 gorgeous bloggers that I am passing on the Versatile Blogger Award (VBA) too.

Have fun everyone - don't forget to visit the other bloggers taking part in Handmade Monday this week and also the blogs of those  nominated for the VBA this week.

Jill

SUPER SUNNY SUNDAY

Hello everyone

It's the beginning of a gorgeous day as I am writing this - very appropriate for Mothering Sunday really.  The daffodils in the gardens look so lovely - I wonder if any colour other than bright, sunny yellow could represent spring better?  My Forsythia is flowering and a few flowers are showing on my Kerria.  What a beautiful time of year this is.

I hope you enjoyed Eva Godden's guest blog post on Friday?  Eva is an old friend - in the sense of having known her for a long time that is.  We taught on the same course many years ago and are both lucky to now be doing work we really enjoy.  We meet up every so often with other shared 'old friends' and we are also frequent Tweeters and Re-Tweeters.  Many thanks Eva - I am already looking forward to your future guest posts.

The Friday guest blog spot is going well - fully booked up to and including 13 April and one booking for May.  Lots of lovely posts on the way - some craft-related and some not.  If you are interested in writing about a topic that is close to your crafting heart, or on something not craft-related, please do get in touch: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.

Our massive clear out continues.  My biggest problem is that although I know I should dispose of so much, especially as I haven't used it or needed it for years, I am a hoarder and getting rid of things is so very hard.  Any tips anyone?  I have been more ruthless this time around - mainly as I think we are running out of space!  Went to the RSPCA at Chobham this week with a big bag of goodies, books, some old towels and some cat food - how I didn't come away with a few more cats I will never know.

A bit of plugging here: the RSPCA Chobham have a Car Boot Sale on Sunday, 15 April.  If you are local, how about either taking part or going along to buy lots of goodies and have a look at the gorgeous animals there in need of homes?

Had lunch with friends on Friday and one told me about an event at the end of March that she is involved with - it is very local to me and I will definitely be there.  Once I have full details I will add them to my blog.  Who knows, by then my website may be up and running too.  My background is IT (and accountancy) and Richard is always saying that he will take me to A & E to have my computer surgically removed from me, yet I seem to find it very hard to get my website set up.  Lots has been done on it, but not enough for me to feel happy releasing it on to an unsuspecting public.  It is almost as though I feel that spending time working on my website takes away from the time I should spend making cards, etc.  Odd?  Yes, I know - must be the time of year!

Handmade Monday is with us again (tomorrow, I know, but I am keen) and I used to hate Mondays because it meant the beginning of the working week.  It still does in a way, but working for me, not for someone else, so that 'oh dear where has the weekend gone', no longer exists.  Yippee.  While you are checking out the other great blogs participating in Handmade Monday, don't forget to look at Wendy's new 'baby: Handmade Harbour - full of great tips and information for makers.  Well done Wendy - look forward to reading your regular HH blog.

Hannah Blavins (a recent Friday guest poster of mine) opened a topic on the Popular Crafts Forum on Friday asking what everyone had in their 'Craft Bucket' - by this she means what are we  planning to do or what would we like to do that's crafty.  A long list has been drawn up by Phoebe Moore and this thread made me think about what other crafts I wanted to do.

I would love to have a go at glass fusion - the work I saw at the event in Godalming by Fran McCaskill was beautiful.  However, the financial outlay would prevent me taking that up seriously.  When I finished work (well working for someone else that is) I had planned to enrol on a Calligraphy course (did a taster day last summer and loved it), but didn't pursue it - planned to do lots of courses, and got no further than looking.  It seems that the majority of craft work involves a lot of expense, so if I took up something new in a business-sense I would have to be 100% sure of its success and I think that is not really possible in the current climate.  But that doesn't stop me doing something new for fun, so I have enrolled on a pottery course.  I did pottery at school and loved it and have looked frequently at courses that are available locally, and done absolutely nothing about joining one.  My course begins in April and I am really looking forward to throwing some clay around again.

I have had two card orders this week but as I know both of the people who will eventually receive the cards are readers of my blog, I can't post the pics here yet.  My make for Handmade Monday comes from a card kit I bought recently.  The pack contained four pre-decorated cards, with bits to be removed and embellishments to add.  I made up three of the cards, but changed each one to something slightly different: for one I hung the salutation in the 'knocked-out' hole, for another I added the salutation to a ribbon and fixed that to the card and for the third I used the circle that was from the knock out of another card to add something different to the inside of the card.  I hope you like them.

Off now to enjoy some more of the sunshine, dig some weeds up, prune some more shrubs and generally soak up the warmth.  Hope you all have a good week - don't forget to email me if you would like to take part in the Friday Guest Blog spot.  I will be back on Wednesday with my regular mid-week post.

Jill