Another page

Another grey day here today, though I think it has warmed up a bit. Today I also got the bead I had ordered from A String of Beads. I can't post a picture yet as the beads are gifts for my daughters, one of whom is here as a little girl. She's grown now! It has been really busy at school as we are a teacher short as one of them is off ill. Although I don't teach - just do Network support -- it makes it so much busier in my office when one of them is off.
The weather was damp when I went out at lunch time, though not raining properly, and has stayed that way. Manannan's Cloak has been spread over us today. Legend has it that it hides the island from enemies and therefore prevents invaders landing, as land cannot be seen, so Manannan Mac Lir, the Celtic God of the Sea spreads his cloak and mist descends on us! I don't dislike these grey days - soft weather the Irish call it - and I agree with them - all colours are muted and softened, and everything always seems so much quieter than usual when its misty.

This is another page in I have in my special scrapbook. The papers are HOTP and I just love the Heritage feel of the Layout. I have added a few pages to my slide show from this album.

TFL.

Todays quote - -

- - from a Fancy Word for Simple
One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.
-A. A. Milne

I just love this - its just how I feel about my scrapping stash! I have it all in boxes and bags scattered all over the place as I have no where to store it properly. Its completely disorganised at the moment and so when I want something it is just like a Treasure Hunt - cos I keep finding stuff I thought I'd used or lost!! Makes it very time consuming finding anything - so I spend more time FINDING than scrapping!

Never mind though - I know my little cottage can't run to a scrap room, and to be fair I wouldn't want to live in a different type of house as this one fits me like a glove. I will have to try to find a photo to upload.

Happy scrapping - -

Oh I am so glad that the evenings are getting lighter, I feel so much more alert going home, and feel that I have so much more energy when I want to doing anything after we have had our evening meal.My aim is to FINISH an album before I get too distracted and start another!!So with this in mind I have got my Heritage Album out again. This is another LO from it, of my eldest daughter as a little girl.
TFL
edited to add - I seem to have saved this as a draft instead of publishing it!! So dozy of me!

A grey day - -

Got up this morning to grey skies - nevertheless we went for a walk only to discover that it's much colder than it looks. Still it was good to get out in the fresh air, and I do so love Gansey Bay. The beach was empty and on the horizon it looked as if brighter skies were heading our way (they weren't!!) - so am back home again and scrapping instead.At least that was the idea, however I have only managed one page!This is a page for my heritage album, which has family photos in it. It is an 8x8 album from HOTP and am using lots of soft muted colours in it. It has a mixture of b/w and colour photos at present but I think I might split them into 2 books and try to sort it a little better before I post any more of the pages.

And for FlapsiHapsi I include the rest of my "confessing" pages.

I must Confess - -

I am a week behind on this but I have now finished my little album and got to take some pictures of it.
It is 6x4 landscape layout, and the base of the pages are in various shades of green Bazzill CS with Banana Frog stamps and green primas.I used the glittery letter stickers the same way Shimmelle did. I punched a hole just in one corner for a green bookring and trimmed it with a bit of ribbon and another flower. I have never written or stuck anything on my photos before, so this was a big challenge for me - even though it was a small project. I did enjoy the process - so thanks again to Shimelle for the free class.Just a couple of the pages and completed album.
TFL

My Mallorca trip

I went on a girly holiday last half term (November) with friends from school and these are some of the pages.The album is still a work in progress and is 6x6 so I have adapted the design of My Ornamental memories album. The photos are all "snapshots" so the album is more about the memories than brilliant photos.

We stayed in a villa in Cala San Vicenc for week right at the end of the season. We did a little bit of touring but not much and enjoyed trips to Pollenca, Puerto Pollenca, Inca and Alcudia, as well as swimming in the pool and walking around th local area.

These are just a few of my pages. I haven't done the journalling pages yet but have all my souvenirs collected to add to alternate pages in the album.
TFL

Here we go round - -- -

Todays quote from A Fancy Word for Simple

I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days during their early adult life. Darkness would make them more appreciative of sight; silence would teach them the joys of sound.
-Helen Keller

I liked this quote especially as I am trying hard to look and listen more. I do know that now silence is on occasions an absolute necessity for me.Doug drops me off at school each morning and we rarely actually speak much on the journey in - so I think this quiet must be fairly important to him too.
I looked very hard at the sky this morning - really looked as it was so beautiful. We drive towards the sunrise and the sky was rose, violet, amethyst turning to vivid flaming orange. It glows like a lantern over the landscape and the starkness of the bare branched trees are such a contrast it takes my breath away. The real beauty of course is that this is a changing and living picture as the sun rises higher in the sky!

Slide Show- Take 2 -

- - I did it!! I have added my very first slide show of my work to my blog! I know I work with computers, but I am not good with web stuff at all, so am feeling really pleased with myself. It's a good job it's so simple to do - otherwise I know those whizzy support types would be calling it a UIC problem!
Anyway just a little bit about the album; it is a class I signed up for with BigPicture Scrapbooking in December, and took all the photos for over this festive season. The album design is very simple, and at 6x6 works beautifully. I added the swirly stamping myself to make it slightly more decorative and I used my favourite (and very well known) flowers. The album is a K & Co Christmas Album, so I also used their papers too. I am very happy with it, as it now holds photos of decorations, some of which are so fragile they may well get broken in the future, that are very special for me and our family. They all hold memories and I know for certain that my eldest daughter(and probably the others too) will read this little book in the future some time and be glad I made it.I hope so anyway

Slide Show - take 1

It's been a funny day at work today, I haven't stopped running around school all day yet feel as if I haven't achieved anything!! Enough about that though.
I have just made my very first slide show on Slide.com - to add to my blog hopefully, but I can't figure out what to do yet - so watch this space. It is a collection of photos of my Ornamental Memories Album, so I do hope I can master attaching it to this site.Off now to see if I can manage it.

A Gift from New York - -

just look what my friend Jamie has sent me, along with a lovely letter - a delightful collection of goodies! She is so kind! Thank you Jamie!!
I met Jamie through Shimelle's Christmas Journal Class,we exchanged emails and I wrote to her and sent a Christmas Card. She is busy setting up a little business venture, so please look here to see her work, so am touched that she found the time to share some of her lovely stationery and send them to me.

I Have to Confess - - -

- - - I did make a little album!! I even used my photos as the pages!! I can't post it yet as I still have to finish my little bits of journalling. It is 6x4 as that is the size I print my photos, and I have used Banana Frog stamps too, but not Scribble Flowers as I don't have them yet (I am saving up for my next sets, so I have used my Paisley set. I just love Bev's stamps!My Confessions are
I own shoes I have NEVER worn!!
I love the paintings of Jack Vettriano
I own far too much costume jewelry
I am rubbish at finishing projects!
I really envy anyone with a dedicated hobby room!
I will post my pictures as soon as I take them and add a link to Shimelle's blog.

Chilly - -

- - had to go into Douglas today on a training course and boy was it cold!! The wind has changed direction and it is bitter! They are promising us more storm force winds, and colder weather with possible frost. My poor bamboo in the garden is already suffering from windburn damage on its leaves! sadly the poor plants all over the island are mixed up by the unseasonally warm weather we have had so far this year - my primroses are out already and I had roses flowering at Christmas - just to give you an idea of how upside down everything is.
The photo is of Scarlett, from a couple of years ago.

A Sunny Sunday on the island - -

- - a beautiful day today, though quite a cold wind. Beautiful blue skies and puffs of cotton wool scudding across the sky, the sea is all sparkly and twinkly in the sunshine and the beach is empty!!Love these solitary moments in time - I get back to the cottage with my head fizzing with new LOs for my scrapbooks - which usually only get finished in my head!! have so many that I want to do but just know I'll not make them! I am finishing the Ornamental Memories album I signed up for with BPS site. I only printed out my photos this week, and I feel that the design is a little too simple for me - but it has come together quickly and I really like the idea of scrapping my Christmas Tree ornaments and telling their stories.Anyway here is one of the pages. TFL

Tranquility

There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden, or even your bathtub.


--Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Todays thought from A Fancy Word for Simple - - -
Sunday is very often my day of peace, as on many occasions I have the cottage to myself - or it usually feels like it. as often only Rhiannon will be in-in her room. I potter about in the quiet, and usually get to do a bit of scrapping.I do know that silence is essential to my well-being, and this - most tranquil of my homes gives it to me by the bucketful.Often the only sound to disturb the peace is the birdsong, from Cheeky or the busy little birds in the garden! Mostly the two go together!!

This home of mine wraps me in its peace and silence when I am here alone, and I love living here. The thick walls muffle the sounds of the worst of the weather that my island has thrown at it, however stormy and wild the wind might be.So indeed I do NOT need to go to India!

And here is another page


- - from my little Inspiration album. Which is why I came online in the first place and got distracted by Shimelle and her new class. I have lots of plans for this weekend, I hope to finish my Ornamental Memories album, which I signed up for with BigPicture Scrapbooking, before Christmas, didn't get to do (except download for future use,) BUT I did take lots of photos of my decorations, so am able to print out my pictures to go with the journalling - - and make another page for the 8x8 Calendar Album. Now need to get my supplies ready for the new class - so excited! I find Shimelle so inspirational

A new class from Shimelle - -

So excited, just thought I would update my blog and before I did I went to Shimelle.com and discovered a new class!! Sounds such fun - so can't wait to see what happens next!I must finish what I am doing now before next weekend so I can join in!!

A High Wind in - - -

- - no, not Jamaica - but here on my island again. Trees down, and roads blocked - up on the mountain at Tholt-y-Will, on the radio as I came in to work, and the wind is again sounding like Vulcan or maybe today it should be Thor, (as its Thorsday!! Sorry)playing ten pin bowling above my head!!
Well - Scrapbooking has finally arrived on the Isle of Man! There is to be a Scrapbook Class in the Craft Section of the Royal Manx Show!!! Toot Toot!! Living in a largely agricultural community means that the "Shows" are a very important part of the summer for us, and for this hobby to have "made it" into one of the classes is just such fun!!
My good friend Brenda has put in a new class, bless her!! She truly is a star, and is such a talented lady herself - she paints, sews, makes cakes and cake decorations, is a gifted photographer, a brilliant architect and can turn her hand to any craft and make a good job of it. Along with her husband Philip she organises quiz nights for the local school and churches around her home so she truly is a talented lady - and she fits in a full time job as well!!She has seen my albums and Journals and created a new class just for the hobby! What a star!! Of course you do realise this means I will have to submit at least a couple of pages for her - if not a whole album! I will announce it in the next Crop Newsletter to try and drum up some support. Scrapbooking being added to the existing categories recognises the growing interest in this hobby and entries are accepted for quilting,knitting,embroidery,cross stitch,painting,drawing,photography,cake baking,cake decorating,cardmaking - - I could go on but will stop here as I am sure you get the idea. Quite excited I am!

- - and today the sun came out

- -to make it bright and cheerful to look at if a still a little cold. I think the wind has changed direction again! The town looks so much better in the sun and the harbour was all sparkly at lunch time when I went out.Have been sorting through stuff on my desk and came across this card. A watercolour print by a local artist sent for my birthday - I kept it cos I liked it. I love the island's beauty.I wish I could paint!

- - Its raining

- - therefore it's Crop Night on a little island! our first Crop of the New Year, so it will be so great to see all my crafting friends again. It seems an awful long time since our last meeting! I really don't know what I will do tonight though, as am not at all organised!! And my "word" for the year ( I am trying to join in with Ali Edwards prompts - see here) is simplify - which for me includes organisation and preparation!! Never mind - Doug will say I am running about like a headless chicken when I am gathering my supplies later!!! :D :D - LOL at the thought - I am so predictable - always on the last minute. C'est la Vie!!

Thought for the Day

You don't need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating. -- Barbara Sher

I really do need to take notice of this quote - it doesn't only speak to me - it shouts out loud and dances up and down to make me take note! I have made start - I have started my next Scrap project - I am going to make an 8x8 layout for each month, use it as my calendar and at the end of the year put the Layouts in an album. To this end I have created the document I intend to use and printed out 12 copies for the twelve months, on white card.
All I need do now is the January Layout. I have chosen the photo(this one) I am going to use, so am off now to scan and print an extra copy.This has really got my heart beating and kick started my mojo! If this keeps me scrapping the way the Christmas Journal prompts did I will be so proud of myself! Wish me luck.

I know I am a behind - -

Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson



- - but I really like this quote so I have been thinking about it. I adore my "spare moments", it gives me time to enjoy the view.I have too many that I don't use well I know - but those I use to be creative, relax, listen to the birds,listen to music are all my favourite bits of my day too. I am going to make a concious effort to use my spare moments to their fullest in 2007!

Completed Christmas Journal

Well - I have managed it - a completed Journal! of sorts anyway. All the pages are in, but as I am out of ink for my printer, I cannot put in the final journalling yet. It has been a really great experience and I have enjoyed it immensely. I have journalled alongside some very talented ladies, all over the world and feel very honoured to have been part of the same as them.Please see the sidebar for just a few of them. Thank you Shimelle - it has been a real pleasure and am feeling so sad it is over. I do hope there is a new class soon!Thank you to everyone who commented on my work and dropped by my blog.TFL

I was reading Scrapdolly's blog on Friday and she mentioned this, so as I thought it sounded interesting I went to investigate on Ali Edwards Blog, and thought I would try it out. After much thought - and lots of discarded ideas I am going to try and SIMPLIFY as many aspects of my life as I can. I hope to be able to apply thus one word to - organisation (of my home so that my stuff WILL fit into the storage I have!!!), my work (so I don't get too overwhelmed when we have a minor/major crisis), my scrapping (so I can achieve more)and make progress, everything really. Wish me luck as I am notorious "faffer" - always takes me ages to make progress - specially with housework. I get distracted along the way so do need to simplify my working methods to get through. Anyhow I am resolved to try it anyway.

The WORD for the year - - -

I was reading Scrapdolly's blog on Friday and she mentioned this, so as I thought it sounded interesting I went to investigate on Ali Edwards Blog. I have decided to "give it a whirl" and see what I can do. I have chosen SIMPLIFY as my word. I do think I really need to focus on better organisation, to simplify and de clutter so that I can actually FIND stuff I want,Oh to have a room JUST for my crafting stuff!! One of the disadvantages of a small cottage!! I am really going to try on this one - so if you read my blog please give me a nudge now & then to keep me on track!!This picture is the table being used for its correct purpose!!!

A little trip out.

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
-Henry David Thoreau

Take some time today to notice the details. Look at the simple things in your day and see the fancy. You might be amazed at what you notice.

This Quote is from A Fancy Word for Simple and when I saw it I knew I would try to apply it to one of our drives. Anyway I tried to apply it to today and really see the scenery as we drove.

Doug has taken me for one of "our drives round the Island" this afternoon. The very first of the year, and it is some time since we have been out like this. I always enjoy it so much, whatever the weather.
Today was bright, with blue skies when we set off - but as soon as we hit the Sloc the soft feathery fingers of mist drifted across the road, floating by almost, and as we climbed it thickened steadily until we were unable to see the hillside and crags or the road in front of us.It always amazes me how mist turns the world silent, mysterious and other worldly and deadens all sound. But low & behold - as we reached the top of Cronk-Na-Eary-Laa - it just vanished as if it had never been and there we were, in the sparkling blue again! - and bright sunshine making the moorland green and fresh, the brown, drying fronds of bracken are a bright russet, and the yellow gorse flowers quite golden and is filled with colour ! I love my Island world - so much variety in so small a space!!
Dropping down into Purt Ny Hinshey, the sea was dancing and sparkling as the sunlight hit the waves , and we stopped at Fenella beach car park and walked round the castle,looking for the seals before strolling up to the town to call in at The Bonded Warehouse - a favourite Antique/Collectables centre. Nothing for us today though, so back to car and on with the drive! The picture is of the harbour and you can just see the castle in the background.
The coast road on this western side of the island is very much our favourite route. I love going through the villages and past the "Big House" that is Bishops Court before coming in to Rhumsaa. We stopped at the Swimming Pool Cafe for a snack and cup of coffee before venturing into the town to the shops. I like the shops here very much, it is a small town with no "big names" from the UK High streets, so has lots of independent shops - a great bookshop, and delish fancy goods shop (The Tide)that is a feast for my eyes and the Craft centre has goodies in it that I can't get from my nearest Craft Shop so I have come home with some bits & bobs for scrapping! Doug also found a sports shop with stuff he needed, so he came home happy too! Altogether a lovely afternoon.

Still playing Catch up with the journal

I have completed another couple of pages for the Christmas Journal - here they are. On the 23rd Doug spent the bulk of the day chopping wood, so had to include it in my journal somewhere. I gave me the chance to include a favourite poem anyway. I do need to do another page for this day as it is my eldest daughter Lydia's birthday so will finish that side tomorrow. The other picture is for the 3rd Jan, and the prompt was to pick ONE moment from this Christmas & write about it. I chose the look on my son's face when he was given his present - he just wasn't expecting the gift we gave him, which was digi SLR camera - as his birthday is also in December it was a "joint" present.Thanks for looking.

January Weather

A better day today, though still very windy. The skies are blue and I have been out for a lovely walk this afternoon. It is clouding over again, so looks like we might have a touch of rain on the way. I have worked this morning and completed the bulk of the tidying up, so I'll finish everything off tomorrow. That will be my last day of peace & quiet as the children return to school on Monday so all will be back to normal again. I do love my job though, and on Tuesday its our monthly crop night, so it will be good to see my friends again - seems ages since our last meeting!

Journal prompts

Have been pointed to a site which look really interesting by fellow Christmas Journal class members, so thought it would try and join in with it.This the website A Fancy Word for Simple. I think it might be fun.

Back to reality - - -

Reality strikes today as I have returned to work. It is nice to see some of the girls again though, and catch up with them. Still very wild & windy here today so Doug has gone out windsurfing again.I think that it may be too windy really today - but I am no expert.He goes back to work tomorrow. The waves are really crashing against our shores and in my office I can hear the wind howling above my head. On the corridor it sounds like the pagan gods (like Titan or Vulcan) are playing skittles. The wind just seems to roll along the roof like a giant ten-pin bowling ball.
I did make a real start to tidying my desk - I can actually see it now, as it is no longer covered in computers & papers relating to their issue. It is always so frantic on the last day of term, that my desk always looks like it has been hit by a bomb.
So nice to feel organised again.
I have also made a start with some New Year letters, including the next one to my new penfriend JAMIE in New York, who I have written to as a direct result of the Christmas Journal Class (with Shimelle - thanks Shimelle I now have a new friend.
Still putting the finishing touches to my Journal, so am off now to do a bit more.

Christmas Day Pages for the journal - - -

I have finished Christmas Day pages in the Journal. The photos haven't come out very well really as you can't read the journalling, it says - -
Christmas Day 2006. Lydia came round in the morning, in the afternoon we all went round to Rosemary & Carl's. Mum & Dad are staying with them. A lovely family day.

Hidden journalling also include and is tucked away on tags. It says - -

A Tale of Two Christmas Trees. As usual we have spent our Christmas with my family. On the Day itself we went round to my sister's house in Derbyhaven for a magnificent Christmas Dinner cooked by Carl. We also had the pleasure of the company of Lydia's housemate Lisa & her small son Tyler, joining us for the present giving after we had eaten. Imogen & Tyler took the parcels round to everyone - being the youngest!! After we played Charades, and Subject & Object before we all wended our separate ways home.The trees are mine & my sisters.
On Boxing Day they came to our house and we had a lot of fun after we had eaten playing similar games - Subject & Object again, "Psychic Mind Reading", and the Spirit Moves - with mum & me & Rosemary "reading" each other's minds. Lots of laughter and people trying to guess how it was done. Ben brought his new girlfriend to meet us - she probably thinks we are all QUITE mad!! She seemed to enjoy herself at our party though. Hope he brings her to us again soon.
TFL.

completed pages includingChristmas Eve with the Journal

My Intro page for my Journal along with several other pages I have completed and added to it. It has been so much fun to do this, just wish I had kept up better than I have! Still working on it anyway. Thanks for looking.

A New Year begins - - -

New Years Day - I can't quite believe that another year is finished. Where, oh where, does the time go to? A year seemed endless when I was a little girl but now!! no time at all. I haven't done half of what I wanted to get done and yet I have had a very creative year. I have taken 3 of Shimelle's on line classes, with albums to prove it!and 2 BigPicture Scrapbooking classes, made 7 mini albums for friends who I holidayed with at October half term, made a scrap canvas (my first)at crop class - many thanks Hayley, joined in with 2 CyberCrops on UKS, run 2 classes at our crop and 1 at school and continued working on a variety of albums of my own, heritage, book of me, holidays & travel, and each of the children's albums.
In between I have had 2 holidaysone, one with B & R joing ing us and one with friends from work, gone to the theatre and the cinema,been dancing (though not as often as I would have liked as the local dance folded), arranged Social Club activities for work and generally enjoyed life here on the island, going for drives and walks to appreciate its beauty spots.All in all a good year I think.

I have added a few more Journal pages. TFL