ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY 43RD OF 2017

Hello lovely people it would be grand to say good morning, but I think I missed that deadline, so good afternoon how are you this bright autumnal day (well it's a bright blue sky day where I am at the minute). 

So first up on the positives, is finding time to craft.  I'm a long time crafter and at this time of year there is usually a flurry of activity relating to Christmas gifts.  However, I had realised that when I crafted at the beginning of the year (my favourite time for making Christmas cards), I hadn't quite made enough. 

So without further ado, here I am sorting those pesky Christmas cards out so they don't end up - last minute thrown together, truly dreadful ones that I occasionally put together when time is a pressure. 

I started off with a black and then a white gesso base

and whiled a way a good few hours on Friday painting, throwing paint at things, painting a bit more, it was fab, I wish this morning had been just as fun but alas, job one and job two required a little TLC before I take a week off, not that we've got anything planned, but just a week's break is going to be bliss (until I return to work and realise that it might not have been such a great plan to begin with). 

Anyhow, next up is hubby and the cup of tea brigade.  On a weekend, despite best efforts we rarely manage a lie in, our body clocks are turned to about 5.45am and so no matter what we do we are normally awake at this time on a weekend morning.  Sigh, however, to brighten the mood hubby is rather good and going and grabbing a cuppa or two, yep two cups of tea first thing on a Saturday morning - bliss

Next up I finished off the Christmas cards I had been making, Saturday was spent doing an epic sort out of craft room (including the contents of the cupboard) I was quite ruthless and found all sorts of things I hadn't realised I even had.  I found some half done art journal pages, that once chopped into tree shapes, made great final additions to the cards as you can see below. 

Whilst I was busy sorting the craft room upstairs (because let's be said leave it to hubby to have a sort through and he would probably bin the lot).  

Hubby was sorting out the worktop edge that was driving us mad (had been for an age) and finishing off the worktop where we've popped the computer.  He also made a few more of these for me as I'd run out and had more distress inks that needed them.  Homemade dress ink blender tools.

I have yet to take a photo of the craft room but it looks so much better than before, I had to have a sort of my papers and finally got them onto the shelves I bought in the summer, alas there still weren't enough so I had asked hubby the other week to hack at my old unit to allow me a few more shelves, which he did. 

I got rid of the desk which had become a dumping ground (and my niece commandeered it at the weekend as she thought it was smaller than the one she had and would suit her room better). 

I've got an ample stash of items for rehoming downstairs now, I'm hoping to get chance this next week to get them sorted. 

The rest of the week has been something of a work blur, I took Monday as TOIL (as I'd booked it in my diary so thought I'd make full use), problem was I didn't get done what I had to get done so I ended up working some of Thursday and some of Friday (it would have been easier and better to work Monday in hindsight, but I did enjoy the day off). 

I've been making Christmas books, but can't really share those at the moment given that they are gifts. 

I also went on a day's training which I really enjoyed and to boot was held in the very venue that me and hubby met 27 year's ago, it brought back some happy memories and the training was awesome so win win on that front.

Said 17 year old had an epic volunteering day last week he was gone from just after 9am and arrived home just after 9.30pm.  He was helping set up for a fire, water firework thing in the town that encompassed the canal.  He really enjoyed the day and despite the dreadful weather he said the event went off without a hitch.   However, he refused point blank to get up early on Sunday morning (I can't honestly blame him on that one). 

I hope you have all had a wonderful week, if you fancy joining in pop a post together and pop back and link up so we can come and visit. 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 42ND OF 2017

Morning lovely people, t'is Friday 

So what has this week had in store, well it's been a bit of a mixed bag if I'm honest, but let's start with the positives, a whole weekend (yes that's right folks both Saturday and Sunday) spent arting at the Craft Box with Kate Crane, together with my Mum and said 17 year old - nothing finer than a bit of family arting I'm sure you would agree!

Unfortunately it was also a gloriously lovely weekend weather wise which is a bit of a shame given that we were inside, nevertheless we made the most of the blue skies at lunch time and also made the most of the food and drinks festival occurring at the centre!  Said 17 year old was happy enjoying a buffalo burger on both days! 

Here is the proof of the blue skies although I appear to have clouds in this, but you can definitely see the blue skies!

And here is said 17 year old arting.  He thoroughly enjoyed listening to Kate's instructions and then proceeding to do things his way!  But we had a fabulous time!

My Mum also enjoyed getting into a painty mess (she was sensible on Sunday and brought a pinny aka apron) and unlike other craft classes that we've done in the past she was quite happy just to get on, the class was really relaxed and chilled out and we didn't feel rushed or pressured so win win!

Here is my first page in its work in progress stage!

And here is the finished page albeit under poor lighting!  I've got three other pages to share, but I haven't managed to photograph them yet!

Sunday's blue skies were even better (and I loved the bunting)

See proof - totally blue!

Flowers from hubby!  I love love love the colour!

And more flowers from hubby as I've had a couple of rough work weeks

Up close you can see the absolute beauty in the rose

So Monday arrived and because I'd worked a crazy mad day on Friday (yes I know I don't do Fridays but I thought swapping to Monday was sensible as it means I could have Monday off).  So the question is what to do?  Well the obvious answer was more arting, so I grabbed two old canvases out of the office and set to, throwing paint liberally over the two canvases!  I had a fabulous time!

I managed to catch the roses in different light

It's so strange how the colours change in the different sunshine levels!

The people of Facebook said go and look at the sun - which was a strange thing to tell me to do - but they were right!  The day was so calm, so warm and so weird!  Apparently subsaharan desert sand in the sky had caused the phenomena!

Anyway I carried on arting, I had a place for them to live which was as you enter the house from the porch.  I wanted to put a quote on the same and after much deliberation (aka pratting about) I settled for the Irish blessing that we had in the hallway when we lived in Stafford which starts May the road rise to meet you. 

I split the quote over the two canvases to make it eye level (well my eye level - for those much shorter or taller you will have to adjust your head!) there was already one nail in but I had to put three more in - hubby just rolled his eyes when I told him! 

And here they are in situ, can you believe hubby didn't see them?  Honestly - didn't see them, said 17 year old just said "wow" on the way through so I'll take that as a compliment!

Up close the detail is lovely! 

Anyway Monday night the hurricane Ophelia landed and caused some damage to the outdoor shelter (sad face), so we've got a sheet of the roof plastic to replace, but with storm Brian heading in over the weekend, I see little point in sorting it any time soon, although Ruby next door's cat is less than impressed with the new roof as she'd taken to sitting among the chairs on the deck!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were all busy workdays (nothing new there I hear you say), and I was fit to drop last night when I landed home, but with the weekend looming and a day off on Friday I didn't want to spend the weekend cleaning, so I set to last night when hubby went to collect said 17 year old and by the time they landed home I'd managed to clean the bathroom and hoover through upstairs and down the stairs, so they both gave me a hand to sort the dining room, kitchen and TV room, so the rooms are all clean and tidy - yay! 

I've been up since 5am (yes I will be shattered later) and hubby woke soon after but he's always up around 6am anyway.  We had a very enjoyable cuppa in bed (well two - he is good to me - bringing a second cup up before he left for work), I've chucked PJ's on and headed down here determined to make the most of the day off.

I've set up my gelli plate as I know I've not got enough Christmas cards made, unfortunately the brayers were in said 17 year old's room, so I'm all set up but I've done nothing yet!  Thankfully he's up and about now so before he jumped in the shower I popped up and grabbed the brayer so I'm off arting again! 

I hope you've had a brilliant, beautiful and splendiferous week! 

If you fancy joining in pop a post together pop back and link up so we can come and visit!

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 41ST OF 2017

Good evening - ooh dear yes it would appear that the week has caught up with me yet again, what's 

It has been a mighty strange week, lots of positives a few issues but that's life isn't it. 

First grateful of the week is this young man, he is really enjoying his college course, it is fabulous to see him, chilling and relaxing and sketching - at a weekend - without prompting - now that's my kind of homework! 

Next up a warm dry day so that I managed to get some washing dry last weekend, I honestly thought it would be Spring before I got the line out again!

A little bit of Christmas crafting!  Another mini book finished ready to send on its merry way

Beautiful sunrises, this one was visible when the bathroom window was open the other morning! 

A work colleague providing a much needed breakfast as I'd not had chance - Janet you are a star!

After a tough work day I refused point blank to cook and insisted we go out for tea, was mighty naughty!

I walked back from a meeting in the city centre the other day and got to enjoy some awesome art along the way!

Hubby being happy to help sort the bathroom, it looks lovely now fresh coat of paint, new towels, mats, and shower curtain and yes before you ask I had to go to Ikea again, I'm sure their profits will have increased since they opened due to my visits!

Having a lovely catch up with an old work colleague, putting the world to rights and buying some crafty goodness in the process. 

Catching up with my Mum and my sister and my niece and my cousin all on the same day last week - brilliant day - didn't do anything other than chatting - bliss! 

A lovely thank you card from a friend's daughter for making her a birthday book, its lovely to see her writing change as she gets older and it certainly raised a smile today! 

Hubby buying me some beautiful flowers, a bunch of red roses and bunch of peach roses - absolutely gorgeous in the front window! 

And that my lovely people will have to be that this week, it has been quite frankly 'one of them', I hope yours has been epic and awesome in equal measure, if you fancy joining in pop a post together, pop back and link up. 

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 40TH OF 2017

Good Morning lovely people tis Friday 

So what positives and happy moments have I got to share with you this fine morning. 

Well I had a grand catch up with Mum, brother, future sister in law last Friday which happened to be said brother's birthday.  As always far too busy nattering to actually grab a photo of us all - grrrr!

Anyway after that we headed back on the tram and met hubby on our way because I Ikea is finally (I repeat) finally open, I've waited months for this (they promised the end of July) and because the journey to Leeds is so horrendous I refused to go any more, so I went with a list and came out with a hefty bill! 

We even stopped and grabbed a bite to eat as hubby had been surviving on fruit all day.  I did quite like the flag!  At least we now have one on the doorstep (about time too). 

Next up, the first of the season, Morrisons do a lovely mince pie and I always find that come December food is far too rich and plentiful to really appreciate how lovely a cup of tea and mince pie is, so I've partaken early in this to truly enjoy it!

So mince pie and some TV and we were relieved to have found Russell Howard is back on TV his Good News format almost transferred into his new Sky show - it is brilliant! 

Saturday saw us heading for a morning walk down to the local dam, I love this little bridge and the seasons as the leaves change colour, the water was flowing faster than normal as we'd had quite a bit of rain.

Selfie of me and him, we both look tired 

Next up 17 year old's humour (aka boys humour).  One of the items I bought at Ikea was a Raskog trolley my craft table has got truly out of hand in recent months and has actually prevented me from crafting because there has been no space, so I decided to buy that and some of the little hook on plastic pots you can buy in the kitchen section and this is what he did!  Him and hubby were rolling about laughing! 

Next up crafting time, I started a birthday book a few weeks ago and because I could actually see my desk (finally), I managed to finish it off, I always fight with trying to find co-ordinating ribbons for these bind it all books though! 

This is a typical view of these two, one or the other of them finding something interesting on line to share, it's usually funny videos or stupid people but they always end up laughing! 

Sunday lunch and I decided as we hadn't had a proper roast dinner in forever, that we would have one and I decided that we needed Yorkshire puddings.  The statement on the photo I think sums it up!

And then on to another mini book, as I was in the flow of crafting, I set about making another one (another gift) using a combination of two papers (which seemed to have combined quite well) and used some 8 x 8 cards cut down in various formats for the book base. 

I've had a pretty difficult week at work at both workplaces, I think the statement too much work and not enough hours comes to mind.  Wednesday it reached a peak if I'm honest.  So a glass of vino midweek and a rugby match seemed like a sensible option.

So you'll probably be asking have I resolved the work issues, partially and I'm going to work at sorting some more this next week.  I'm hoping to down tools and have a positive and relaxing weekend at home. 

I'm hopefully catching up with an old work colleague and friend today, my Mum and my sister and that's before the weekend officially starts!

Said 17 year old is off on his placement that he has to do for college, so hopefully he will have lots to talk about at the end of his day. 

If you fancy joining in, pop a post together pop back, link up and we can come and visit. 

HUGS AND KISSES

Just realised I had some layouts in my draft folder that I've not shared.  This one from early 2016 when we went bowling! 

The papers aren't my usual colours but I loved the finished item! 

I hope you are having a great Sunday