Smile please...

Noah and Ruby are having their school photos today. I love seeing their little faces change over the years as the next photo comes in. This will be the first school photo with just Ruby and Noah though, since Samuel is no longer at the same school after his move up to High School. I have a thing about seeing the 2 little ones together - as I call them. Noah is completely different with Ruby than he is with his big brother. Noah feels VERY competitive in Samuel's company - ridiculous since he is 2 years younger. But from the minute he could get up and follow Samuel, he has tried to do just that. With Ruby it's very different and he is very sweet and a lovely big brother to her - most of the time. And their photo normally reflects this.

So in celebration of Noah and Ruby's smiley faces, here's a little montage of appliques that are all ready to go on a card order. Smile please, everyone :-)

A mere glimpse

My talented friend, Roz, has been helping me out with some new labelling for my Take Away Craft Kits. The final look is a million miles away from my original brief. But because Roz is so talented, she has taken on board everything I have said I wanted and come up with something I am so head over heels in love with that I can't wait to get it all finished, printed and posted on the boxes.

Illustrate My Name

I have recently been approached by a number of stockists to have one or other of my products with them. The latest was from Jodie who has a great website, aptly called Illustrate My Name. It's a great name and does 'what it says on the can'.

Jodie contacted me this morning to let me know that my Personalised Pictures are now up and running on there. I think she's done a great job and they look fab. Thanks, Jodie.

Soup or stew

This icy cold weather that we have been having just gets me wanting to make soup all the time. You can't beat a big bowl of a hearty meal in one. My soups normally consist of opening the fridge, seeing what's in there and chucking it all in together. I hardly ever follow a soup recipe. I decided to add beans and barley to this one. Real winter warmers.

I'm still not sure if it's soup or a stew.

Valentine's Day?

My customers are obviously at least one step ahead of me as I've already had an order for not only a Valentine's Card, but also a Mother's Day card. Have I gone to sleep and missed a month? I could swear it's only the beginning of January. After I got over the shock of realising that some people like to be prepared, I realised that this was a goodkick up my backside to get my designs finalised and out to the few retail outlets that I have.

I had given it no thought whatsever up until now, but with just over a month until the next card giving occasion, some may say I am getting a little bit late.

I used to be very organised. Old friends on Facebook have voted me as most organised friend. That makes me laugh, because since having children I am the most disorganised person I know. My Mum and sister despair of me. Actually to say I am disorganised isn't entirely true. What I am is unable to plan and think ahead. I function on the here and now and what is needed to get through today. Something that is happening in a month's time - forget it - it doesn't even enter my radar.

So hence the shock horrors of receiving orders for Valentine's Day. Maybe I should just forward my calendar 2 months. That way I'll always be ahead of the game. And just to be extra sure - Happy Valentine's Day - oh and have a great Mother's Day too!

Last day of the Holidays

I feel like I've been living in some parallel universe for the past 2 weeks. My usual routines have gone completely to pot. No crafting whatsoever. As for this blog, it has been well and truly abandoned. (I promise to update you on our goings on later in the week.) We have had such a great, relaxing break. Met up with some friends. Spent time just us. Been away for a few days. Enjoyed the gorgeous, crisp, winter weather. But now I'm ready to get back to normal. I've got a few exciting/scary prospects to contemplate and now want to be able to give them some undisrupted attention.

So last night was the last night of holiday. We've all really enjoyed each other's company this holiday, which isn't always the case. We've done a lot of hanging out just the 5 of us. Last night we had one final hanging out together to celebrate/acknowledge this before tomorrow, when everyone is back to school/work proper...

Lovely Surprises

I opened my Chanukah present from Tara last night and what a treat it was. As if the tin itself wasn't present enough. I'm a bit partial to tins. So that was sure to be a hit before it even began. But to be covered in the most gorgeous matryoshkas made it undeniably, unquestionably THE nicest tin I for one possess.


And as if this wasn't enough. I opened the tin up and low and behold inside was this gorgeous matryoshka pin. Now, isn't it the cutest pin EVER? (No, Tara, you can't have it back) It is already fashioned on my bag and is there to stay.

I think I've already mentioned that I'm not bombarded with Chanukah/Christmas presents. Which quite frankly matters not one iota when your one present is as gorgeous as this.

I hope you all have a fantastic holiday and are blessed with people that know you so well that they get it just as right as Tara did.

We are off to deepest, darkest Wales over New Year, so I'll see you in 2009, where I'll be raring to go with all those ideas that are being stored in my head, whilst family commitments take over. xx