Shimelle Sketch - 25 May 2011

I'm a regular visited to Shimelle Blog, and love her designs and sketches, but I've never got around to either completely one let alone uploading one, but I did this, really quickly and love it.

I've kept to the sketch and also to Shimelle's example layout.

Thanks for stopping by .

Twisted Sketch No. 103

This is the twisted sketch No. 103 with the twist being 'Stop'

and here is my take on it, I've turned the layout around to best suit my photo. I have used this photo before and its a rare one were Jon is actually looking at the camera, all be it behind James's sunglasses.

Used Studio Calico March 2011 kit

Used the new Tim Holtz mini gear dies.

Also did some shadow misting with my cloud punch as a template.

Let me know what you think, please leave a comment.

Thanks for stopping by .

R.I.P. Nannice

31 July 1965 to 26 May 2011 (age 45)

(Sorry can't get this photo any bigger)

My dearest friend pass away on 26 May 2011. To think last week we were together, her son, daughter, grandson and another friend, enjoying spending time together, that I knew would be the last time I would see her alive. In a strange way I'm releaved that she will no longer be in pain, but my heart aches beyond belief.

We have been friends for 35 years, we have been through alot together, highs and lows, and we have both had alot of highs and lows over these years. There has been times when we have not spoken for a while, for no real reason other than everyday life, but we both know that we were only a phone call away.

She supported me when my mum died, when my brother died, she was their when I got married, had James, moved to Birmingham all big and eventful times in my life - and more. We talked about deep things as well as all the silly things that happens in our lifes. We'd phone each other up and cry over the phone, just to knowing that we where their for each other gave us some strength to deal with whatever issue we where going through - we where there for each other, offering unconditional love and support no matter what.

My godson and his sister and family have been truly amazing, I don't know how they have cope with all the day to day things that they have gone through over the past 8 weeks since she was diagnosed with Cancer.

So I've cried and cried and now I ache for a friendship that will never be, I will truly miss her and feel so honoured that she choose me has her best friend for life.

R.I.P. my good friend, keep smiling down on me, I'll miss you more than words can say.

And the date is ...

15 June 2011.

For some of you out there, you will know that I've been waiting to get a date to have an operation, and now it has been confirmed as 15 June, 2 days before my 16 years wedding anniversary, and less than 4 weeks time.

The operation in question is an hysterectomy. I've been having some 'women's problems' - as my DH was saying to by DS the other day - for a while and was coping quite well until earlier this year. But if truth be told I think for the past 18 months, or more like 2-3 years, I've not been my true self, I know I still laugh, join in with things, doing all my crafty things, but there has been days and even weeks where I've been so down that I could just curl up on the settee and sleep all day, well for most of the time this is what I did, or even cry for no apparent reason.

I've been having injections over the past 4 months, with one more before my operation, which has helped the problem, but has sent my body into a menopausal state and has been giving me 'hot flushes' which are very strange and just come on at any given time. When I started these injections I was reading the leaflet to DH and it said 'may be prone to mood swings' he just looked at me and said 'nothing new there then' - LOL. So hopefully this operation will bring me back onto a more even keel.

I was keeping things to myself, well some my closes friends knew, but after telling a few 'other' friends I'm amazed at how many people have had the operation, or have been going through the same thing as me or similiar, and it doesn't get talked about, so I thought I'd fill you all in. Maybe reading this, you might think its a strange thing to write on a blog, but like life in general its not always happy things that happen to people that gets blogged about, if that makes any sense.

I know its a common/routine operation but nevertheless its still very frightening, and I don't know how I will be after, but with some people who have not had the operation telling me that I will be up and running - so to speak - in 2 to 3 weeks and others who have telling me that it will be a couple of months (someone said 6 month to a year - ahhhh !!!) before I feel right, I'm struggling to cope with it all. I swear that when women are going to have a major operation like this they should be offered counciling just to get things off their chest, it OK talking to your Consultant but you only have a limited amount of time with them and you have other practical things to talk about.

The fact that I won't be able to drive for a couple of weeks is going to send my stir crazy, especially when I'm used to just getting up and going. Some of you know I can do at least 3 crops a month - something that I've reduced over the past few months, but this is mainly due to the other things happening in my life, but it is giving me an idea of what it will be like over the summer months. I'm not planning on doing must scrapping over this period and have not got anything booked until November, which by that time I will be back hopefully to full strength and raring to go.

I've cancelled my girlie holiday in September, this was due to having the operation and other factors, but again, something that was hard to do, and spending time with the girls the other weekend, knowing that they have booked and are getting all exciting just make me wish I was going.

But there you go ... I'm sure I will be able to cope with it all in the long run ... well really I have no choice do I, and I've got some great friends who are willing to visit and cheer me up.

Thanks to everyone who has wished me well and I hope that I will be able to blog about the operation after its all over, but scrapping will have to wait.

xxx

It's amazing what you find when ...

you start to have a major clearout, which still is an ongoing project, I came across several layouts that I had started but not finished, either they needed a title or just that 'thing' to finish it off.

So here are a few of the ones I've managed to do so far.

Photo of James when he was about 2, he did and still does love to read.

Products Used: Studio Calico Jan 2011 Kit, Stamps - Unity - branch, leaves and owl, SC Book stamp;

Photo of Jon, taken by our wedding photographer as part of our Wedding package.

Product Used: Studio Calico December 2010 kit

Now this one was a real struggle to do, I wanted to use the paper has it was a sheet that I wouldn't normally buy, but has it was in the kit I wanted to use it. I got the inspiration from Susan Weinroth over at Studio Calico.

Product Used: Studio Calico - Feb 2011

Then in a moment of madness, I decided to hand stitch some of the lines on the rainbow sheet, I was thinking of just 2 or 3 lines, but onces I started I had to do all 9 lines,

Now adding this ruler sticker to the bottom of the picture, was to hide my punched border which hadn't matched up correctly.

A quick layout of me and James enjoy an ice-cream last year in Matlock.

Product Used: Studio Calico Jan 2011 Kit

This one I did over the National Scrapbooking Weekend

Product Used: Studio Calico - April 2011 Kit

Then on Sunday, I did 4 layouts at my crop in Solihull, one was on the previous post here, then I used the Scrapagogo May 2011 Sketch,

and this is my take on the sketch, I've turned the layout around

Products used: Studio Calico March 2011 Kit

And the final one for the post is this one, I found this photo of James, in my craft room clearout, it was taken 2 years ago and he has really changed over these past two years.

Products Used: Studio Calico March 2011 Kit

I used a star mask with Mr Huey Mist, and a stamp that Julie had (happiness), bakers twine and the lovely bee stamp from Studio Calico.

I've still got a few layouts to finish off and upload but they will have to wait.

Thanks for visiting again, please leave a comment they are much appreciated.

A weekend with the Girls

The other week I visited Preston for the weekend, to celebrate one of my friends 50th birthday, so it was great to get together and catch up with them all, especially having them to talk to about my friend Nannice, we all went to the same school together, grow up together and Kath (the birthday girl) even worked with her for a while, so it was good to be able to talk about her to people who know her, and also I was able to talk to them about what happening with me, which is alot better face to face and not over the phone.

They all said that I looked well, but it not what the outside looks like it how I feel, I did have to have a nap on Friday, and on Saturday I went to bed for an hour, but when I woke up I felt alot better, so hopefully after my Op I will start to get some of my energy back and not feel so consently drained.

So apart from visiting Missy shop, we had lunch out and had a great night at Kath birthday party, here are a few snap of the weekend. I didn't take has many photos at the party, due to the fact that we spent the most part chatting, but being with Kath celebrating her day was what it was all about.

So we had lunch at a local Italian, which was yummy

Susan & Me, my friend since we were 8yrs old, and Christine sister.

Christine, me and Susan

Then on Friday with Christine being a Beauty Therapist she did my toes for the party ... I just love being pampered. Sorry for the poor quality of photos they were taken on my iphone.

Then on Saturday it was time for us girlies to get together and have a good old chatter and celebrate Kath's 50th. Mark and Ian was with us (Mark took the photo) but we had to have one with just us girls.

Kath and her sister had done loads of cupcakes, instead of having a big cake.

Come back soon to see some 'catch up' layouts.

Twisted Sketch No. 102

The sketch is

This is my take on Sketch No. 102 with the twist being play. I've used Studio Calico March 2011 Kit

I used some Bakers Twine to represent the swirl on the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by.

If you go down to the woods today ...

Well down to Preston and visit my niece's wonderful vintage shop. Its called WONDERLAND VINTAGE BOUTIQUE on Friargate, and its a little treasure trove.

Right to start with she not really my niece, she one of my best friends gorgeous daughter, Melissa (Missy), but I love that she called me 'Aunty Jackie' along with my other friends childrens and I always get a kiss and a hug which makes me feel special. Right sentiment over - let me share her lovely shop with you all.

Missy and her friend Joanne, have opened this wonderful shop and the choice of shop name is just that its a Wonderland of 'bits and pieces' 'nicks and nacks' 'this and that' and it well worth a visit, not only to have a mooch around but to buy some of the lovely vintage finds in the shop.

So here goes I took loads of photos and even sabotage some of Missy's charms that she had just received and was busy making some necklaces with.

Lovely charms that Missy was making into jewellery

Around the shop, they have decorated with great care ...

pages from books

Sheet music, LPs and singles (vinyls to the under 30's - lol)

A wall of ornate mirrors

Jayne (Missy) Mum relaxing while I took all these photos - lol

On the wall of the changing room they have covered it in vintage pictures, such a great touch

Lovely bird cages handing around ...

I would love to own this mirror, but can't see it fitting into my house.

The counter is a 'old' sideboard, which again they have covered in vintage photo

and had a great jar of hat pins

So as well as vintage clothing, they have some great vintage items around

Cake stands - with jewellery

Displace cabinet, full of vintage china ...

A large trunk - full of silk scarves that are at an amazing price of £4.00

all houses in the 1970- 1980's had one of these telephone chairs, if your where lucky enough to own a telephone ...

They have a great range of vintage clothing for both men and women, with a range of new items from Pop Boutique which looks so cool. They also stock shoes, belts, sunglasses and bags.

They have done a range of scented candles in china cup and saucers for £6.00

And a final photo of Jayne - trying to look serious for the camera in some Nana Myskora glasses (sp?)

The girls have really throught about how they want this shop to look and they are done an amazing job, they don't have a blog or website, but who know what they will have in the future, it you want to keep upto date with them they are on facebook page here (added this incase the link doesn't work www.facebook.com/wonderlandvintage)

Well that all about this lovely shop, so if you are in or near Preston, Lancashire do pop in and who knows you could grab yourself a great bargain and come out with with lovely vintage finds.

Thanks for stopping by ...