Rocking Your World Friday - 18th of 2020

Good morning lovely people tis Friday time for 

Well I think this is week 5 of lock down and ours is due to be reviewed next Thursday, the weeks are still tripping along at a merry old pace irrelevant of the lock down if I'm honest and routine gains ground. 

I took a day's TOIL last Thursday as our boss is insisting that we make sure we run our TOIL down so there is much less at the end of lock down (the last thing she needs is for us to have lots to use after this). 

So I decided to paint out bedroom (on my own as hubby was working), I know crazy right, it seemed like a good idea at the time.  I moved furniture (I didn't I slid furniture but hey it worked), all day back and forth, covering, uncovering and recovering bits of furniture as I made my way around, the biggest issue I had was the gothic handpainted border near the top of the room which was an absolute pain to obliterate, hubby popped in mid morning and said I was doing an awesome job, until I pointed out the gothic arches had had 5 coats of paint and were still as plain to see on the walls. 

Thankfully he finished at 3.30pm, got changed and gave me a hand as I hadn't managed to do the centre of the ceiling and he helped me put another coat on those arches. 

We then sensibly made tea and when we came back the paint had dried considerably and the arches were almost gone, there were just a few areas where it needed repainting. 

Friday was spent doing the minimum glossing and repenning the quote above our bed and we received the new duvet set that I'd ordered, so I swapped the bedding over, it is such a happy cover, I've also ordered it in a different colour way but that hasn't arrived yet, I'm hoping it doesn't fade too much in the wash. 

It definitely has a Morroccan influence, it makes a lovely change from our usual dark covers. 

I'm really pleased now the room is done, the only issue now, is I'm looking around the rest of the house thinking - that needs painting - you can imagine the rolling of eyes that are occurring with hubby at the moment can't you. 

Anyway I've got my sights set on said 19 year old's art room next as I've paint left and he isn't at home currently, but hubby is insisting I have fun on Thursday (when I'm typing this) and set to on the room on Friday as he can finish early and give me a hand and for once I've agreed.

We've been enjoying some fabulous theatre recently, Saturday we watched the Handebards Macbeth which was great although the noise from the traffic in the background when it was filmed a few years ago was a little frustrating at times

And Sunday night we treated ourselves again with some Shakespeare when we watched NT Lives Twelfth Night, which was brilliant, we are looking forward to Frankenstein this week with Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller, apparently they both played the key roles and NT Live are going to swap the recording over mid-week so you can enjoy both, my sister has seen it twice but both times was the same, so is looking forward to seeing the one she never managed. 

Evenings are still being spent being creative, at this rate I'm going to have to open an Etsy shop as I've had to stack them up now as they keep sliding around on my desk. 

First up is a Minnie Mouse book, I was struggling for something for the front page and then realised I could cut down the giant Minnie on the 12 x 12 paper as an image for the front, I added glossy accents to the black pupils and nose and some red glitter stickles glue to the centre of the bow

The book was created with the same principles as the ones I've been done recently, so they fold out from their concertina

You can see from the top that each page is actually a pocket with a pull out tag. 

I had three sets of these square covers to use, so I did another one using an 8 x 8 pack I have

and another that I've added beads to the front, I ended up handpainting the main rose on the front in situ, as it originally had a cream tone which clashed with the papers. 

I am really pleased with all three.  This week I've been working on a frame book and generating the inside myself, the downside being that it has taken a huge amount of paper to actually cover it, far more than these other books, but it is coming together now so hopefully I will get it finished today. 

As those who read this will know my sister who is a nurse is currently working on a Covid positive ward, she came home on Monday morning with a cold, which then turned into a fever and aches and pains, so she went for a test, which came back negative, however, she has had a few colleagues with negative tests who then two days later tested positive.  If she is no better Thursday she may well go for a second test, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. 

Apart from that there have been other positives 

11am coffee time with hubby has been lovely 

I've been a twit with food at night this week, I think others bad habits are rubbing off on me, so I need to sort that out but I have enjoyed having a bit (a lot) of chocolate. 

Me and hubby re-establishing our daily walk - it wobbled when we changed family face time but it is now back where it belongs. 

Good weather at the weekend, meaning we could kick back and enjoy and create. 

Getting house jobs done. 

And that my lovely people is it for this week, I hope you've had a grand week and have managed to stay safe.  If you fancy joining in pop a post together come back and link up and we can come and visit. 

Rocking Your World Friday - 17th of 2020

Afternoon lovely people, I hope I find you well and managing in these strange times.  As it's Friday its time for 

Ok, so the routine of home working is becoming just that, routine.  I'm still managing to maintain the normal waking time routine and even get dressed for work and put my make up on ready for the working day and my days have got busier as we are immensely stretched at the moment as we continue to deliver to vulnerable people at work.   But the positive is that we are geared up to work from home and it has been a relatively quick and simple transition. 

Other than work, I've really enjoyed home cooking meals at night, its always too easy when we are busy and out and about to sometimes manage to cook from scratch, but this enforced lock down has made me realise how much I enjoy cooking from scratch. 

I know I shared this last week bu the photo was in poor light so I thought I'd reshare

Inside each box is a mini book with the same colour way measure 3 inch, 4 inch and 5 inch respectively

I really loved these papers, someone mentioned that they reminded them of fruit salad. 

Hubby bought me a 12 x 12 and 6 x 6 stack of Vintage Lace papers by Crafters Companion for Christmas.  They really are beautiful papers, maybe a little too pretty for my normal scrapbook style, but they make a beautiful mini book.  I really loved the finished effect. 

The inside 

Folded out, I added lots of glossy accents to the flower elements

In fact I enjoyed making it so much, I made another one

Midweek change of papers and I created one using some 8 x 8 papers I'd bought an age ago that are Winnie the Pooh, I cut a couple of the paper elements out for the front cover

Again really pretty papers

And again, inspired by the first, I made a second

With lots of pull out tags and flaps

You can see the pocket element from above

I'm loving how the cactus in the window has just loved being in full sun, it's obviously treating it like a greenhouse. 

Me and hubby also celebrated our 22 wedding anniversary last weekend, obviously we were home alone, but we still made the effort and had a three course candlelit dinner for two that we'd cooked from scratch. 

Although there is no traditional 22nd wedding anniversary gift, there is a modern one which is copper, fortunately for hubby he was on with making me some earrings anyway so I got a gift from him as you can see. 

The rest of the week has been good other gratefuls are

The weather - the blue skies and sun shining makes a real difference if I'm honest, even if it is just grabbing a cuppa whilst we are working and getting 5 minutes to drink it outside. 

11am coffee time (I said we'd got into a habit), me and hubby enjoying our coffee break at 11am. 

All the creative crafting at home

A weekend of Shakespeare to look forward to, NT Live at home have put 12th Night on for the next week and the Handlebards have Macbeth of until Sunday night, so I'm hoping we can watch both of these. 

Getting house jobs sorted and done, I honestly don't think we've ever got so many done.  Yesterday whilst hubby was working I painted our bedroom including the ceiling.  I've finished this morning glossiing the door frame and window cill and painting in the quote above our bed.  

Facetime with my Mum

Catching up with family at 6pm on Facetime each evening 

And that my lovely people is my list for the last seven days, if you fancy joining in pop a post together, come back and link up and we can come and visit. 

Rocking Your World Friday - 16th of 2020

Morning all (look at me actually posting early for a change), I hope you've had a grand week, this was my week on 

Well we have had another strange week, but the strangeness of it is also becoming somewhat normal.  Both me and hubby are working from home still, with me only going in one day per week as part of the precautionary measures as the charity I work for continues to deliver to some of the most vulnerable. 

Thankfully last weekend was glorious (most unusual for a bank holiday in the UK), so we set up outside, hubby made use of the time to do a little more silversmithing.

And I enjoyed crafting outside whilst hiding under an umbrella as I burn so easily. 

We even stayed outside into the evening and sat chatting and enjoying the barmy warm evening and spotted the international space station come over not once but twice whilst we were sat outside. 

I've continued to contact my Mum daily facetiming her, it has been great to keep in contact this way and I know it has helped keep her sanity chip in place over recent weeks. 

Sunday was obviously Easter Sunday and again it was a mighty strange one, I remember Easters of old from visits to church to Easter egg hunts none of which we had on Sunday.  However, it was nice to notice this lovely gesture on our walk on Sunday encouraging everyone to take an little egg on their walk. 

I have continued crafting, apologies for the poor quality photo but this was taken very late one evening.  Using a set of Papermania stacking boxes that I'd had forever. 

A neighbour dropped this little gift off just before Easter, it was such a lovely gesture, she's recently had an op and said manipulating the boxes was good physio for her. 

Me and hubby have enjoyed having breakfast at home together and I'm loving the summer berries that are available at the moment. 

And today's walk (Thursday) the sun is beautiful and the skies are blue 

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

Rocking Your World Friday - 15th of 2020

Evening all, apologies for the delay in posting today, once again I've promised myself all day to post but been busy.  Anyway without further ado it is time take stock of the week and find the silver linings and special moments that create this rocking post. 

So we had a very busy weekend last week, a while ago I realised that said 19 year old's wardrobe needed an additional rail in it because he had a lot more items to hang.  We'd bought the pole but like anything getting around to it had proved slightly more elusive.  With the lockdown, hubby decided to sort which resulted in me emptying the wardrobe and before we knew it things were much worse, but soon with all the sorting it started to improve.  I then found it impossible to leave the rest of the room, and it was a full day of sorting and tidying, but it really does look so much better and should function so much better.  Whilst the lock down could prove testing we like many others are making full use of this time at home to do all those jobs that you rarely get time to do. 

This was the very end of the day when we were shattered and chose to take in the evening sun on the front of the house. 

Sunday was then scheduled as a day of relaxation, we enjoyed sitting outside as the weather was fine, although the breeze was cool so we needed hoodies, but being outside was lovely.  

I've continued to work at home this week, except for Thursday when I went into the office and the evenings have been filled with making mini books again. 

My workplace works with some really vulnerable people including children, although we've had to suspend all the services we normally deliver, we are managing to keep in contact and we've put together lots of food parcels and activity packs this last week.  

It has been a tough week at work a couple of grants are now on hold which isn't good news if i'm honest but I'm bidding as fast as I can to try and get some funding in, fingers crossed it all comes good. 

Today we've been for our walk

A few more smiles my cactus in the front window has flowered

How pretty are the flowers

I also made two more using a single pack of 10 papers, I've not known what to do with these forever but they work really well as a mini book

We like the rest of the cul-de-sac stood and clapped for our amazing NHS yesterday evening at 8pm, it always makes me feel emotional, even more so since my sister is now working on a  Covid positive ward at the hospital she works at, we are as you can imagine a little stressed particularly when the PPE wear appears to be somewhat sporadic.  I'm hoping it will be better for her tomorrow and Sunday when she is on long days, 7.30am - 7.30pm (although her least shift like this she got out at 9.20pm, not that she gets paid for the extra time).  Please offer up some prayers or positive vibes to keep her safe if you can. 

I've been outside today painting some more items ready to do something with, I'm actually getting through that box of alterables that I've been meaning to use forever and hubby has continued practising his silversmithing skills

And that my lovely people was my week, I hope you are managing wherever in the world you are, I hope you are managing to stay safe and keep busy in this crazy world. 

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

Rocking Your World Friday - 14th of 2020

Afternoon lovely people tis Friday time to find some silver linings and positive moments from the last 7 days 

Well we've enjoyed our daily walk in line with guidelines, we are very lucky to live with countryside around us if I'm honest and we definitely don't take it for granted.  We've had one walk which was a little on the cold and bracing side but the rest have been beautiful spring walks. 

We even managed a rather bright selfie

One evening we were late going out, it was actually quieter, strangely I don't think I've ever seen as many walkers, dog walkers, runners, joggers and cyclists as we have seen recently. 

This particularly evening which was quieter we had the most beautiful evening sky which I did manage to capture. 

Me and hubby have managed to work at home, he now understands when I explain to him you work full tilt when you work from home because you don't have colleague or phone call distractions, so the work becomes much more intense.  We are thoroughly shattered today after a mighty busy and somewhat stressful work week. 

I managed a single day in the office as we are classed as key workers as I work for a charity and there is a need to still be there for our client base and the local community. 

On the one day I was in work a neighbour messaged to say she had left a gift on the doorstep, which when I got home was this. 

I've never bought cut daffodils before always preferring to see them in the garden but they have made such an amazing display that I may well buy them again.

The little homemade paperbag had several chocolates in.

I thought it was a really lovely thought, in fact we've all been trying to do our bit this week. 

We were running out of handwash and one of the neighbours dropped me a spare she had off and one picked up some skimmed milk as we couldn't find any locally. 

My flowers from Mother's day are still going strong as well which is lovely they've definitely brightened up the window. 

I realised last weekend that I was most definitely over eating, I think I tend to eat when I'm stressed but after a week of lock down with a potential for this to continue for 12 weeks I thought enough was enough (plus if my Mum is managing to stick to Weight Watchers then I definitely can). 

So we've embraced a healthier eating regime and spent the evenings making mini books which have occupied me thoroughly. 

These are this weeks offerings that I've managed to make, I started with the peachy one (which is a favourite), then the purple one then the one top right before running out of covers that hubby had cut me. 

But I did have some others that were cut that were smaller, so he shrunk my template bless him so I could make the two Christmas ones. 

Inside the front cover you can see the tags on the left and the pocket page on the right. 

Each of them follows the same design, I've got three more sets of covers which I'm going to use up before turning my attention to a new project and that my lovely people is that, I hope you've managed some positive moments and silver linings this week, it is hard to keep things ticking along when normal life is anything but normal but I find minimising the news to a single daily update, making full use of my leisure time, watching films and reading books we love and generally just keeping a positive frame of mind, definitely helps. 

Have a good week, stay safe

Rocking Your World Friday - 13th of 2020

Evening all, so sorry for my tardiness but we have had no internet since Tuesday, I honestly wasn't sure if I'd managed to get this post on if I'm honest, but without further ado it is time for 

So like lots of places around the world we are now on lock down, we are able to shop for food and medicines and go for some exercise which for us is taking shape in a daily walk from our house in a circular route of around 2 miles, so as you can imagine it has been a little on the quiet. 

However here are a few of the silver linings and positive moments from the week. 

Being stuck at home meant that I could put together a homemade scrapbook kit. 

Hubby on the other hand decided it was baking time again, I'm not sure this is a good idea for my waistline if I'm honest, but it always tastes so nom! 

Saturday's walk saw some blue skies

On our walk we've seen lots of properties with rainbows drawn by children in the window, to help when families go out for a walk with children, it's a way of keeping them amused and has definitely raised a smile for me. 

In the meantime hubby despite his silversmithing course being currently suspended managed to continue his studies

And I carried on scrapbooking 

Sunday saw it a little cloudier

But we did enjoy a fire in the evening 

Said 19 year old brought me these for Mother's day 

I really wanted to see my Mum but obviously was concerned about the virus, at this point we were still not on full lock down.  I made her a card after I'd used anti-bacterial spray on my workstation, I also wore latex gloves to make it.  We went over on Sunday, we took our own chairs, flask and cups and set up in the garden well away from her, so we could at least have a catch up which was fabulous! 

It seemed odd not giving her a hug, but if this keeps her safe then I'm absolute fine with that! 

The issues with the lack of internet have proved incredibly testing given that both me and hubby are key workers and with his underlying health conditions he needs to work from home.  However, the silver lining is that we've crafted more, enjoyed some DVD's we haven't watched in a while and have thoroughly enjoyed catching up with everyone since we got back online today! 

I hope you've all had a good week and are managing wherever you are to stay safe whilst still enjoying some positives in life. 

Mr Linky for those that fancy joining in