How I hate...

...con-merchants that take advantage of the elderly.

During the recent gales a passing (???) builder knocked to point out to Mum that her chimney stack was wobbling all over the place. It was moving dangerously so she agreed to have him fix it.

£900 later (apparently should have been £1300 but he gives a discount to pensioners - yeh right).

Despite knowing that it would need to go through the insurance he asked for payment and now Mum has been told that the insurance policy probably won't pay out as the bill has been paid.

But it gets worse...

Mum hasn't been very well (Winter bug) and hasn't been able to get out much so she obviously found this 'pleasant' chap a ready ear for her to chat to. She was telling him about the problem with drainage on her driveway and how the door at the back of her extension wouldn't open.

Next thing we know, he has priced the work - got her to sign for it and made a start after taking a deposit.

Over £8000 for the total job!!!

Mum was then talking about getting him to do other things but we said no, especially as this has wiped out all her savings.

After seeing what has been done so far, I can say he has made a reasonable job of things but it isn't perfect and for what is involved I don't think should have come to more than £4000.

Mum is obviously feeling very weepy about the whole thing and is worried because she now has no savings to fall back on should an emergency arise.

Oh how I hate smooth talking con-merchants.

He is due back Wednesday to finish off the back wall of the extension (which he had already removed and tarped - in these winds - but was still waiting for the door). Mum will not be alone when he calls as both my Sister & I will be present.

The invoice he provided does not breakdown the costings and there is no invoice number (the box has been struck through - obviously not intending to put this work through the books!!!).

The worry is, having seen what still needs to be done to make the building secure we can't go in like a bull in a china shop incase he goes and leaves it as is...

The whole thing is making me feel sick and I can understand why Mum is feeling so upset now that she realises she has been taken for a ride...........................................

We've all done it...

...miscalculated how long it would take to make our Christmas cards.

We either have good intentions to make a few each month through the year so that they are all done & dusted before the last posting date. Or, we start making them in the run up to Christmas and start to panic because we actually need more than we originally thought.

I used to have about 150 cards to make for my own use - family & friends but now I can manage with about 50. Even so...I still end up in a panic as I realise that some cards need to be ready by certain dates.

Imagine having to make several hundred cards for all your loyalty club card holders if you are a retailer.

At Pinnacle Crafts the family take it in turns to be responsible for creating the cards that need to be made and given out at the last Members Weekend - this year was Andy's turn and instead of cards he made hundreds of these...

...there were crates of these lovely crackers by the tills in the shop.

The Christmas cards from the shop always contain the details of the opening times of the store and the dates they will be closed over the holiday period - this is usually part of the card insert that also contains the greeting from the family. For the crackers, these were printed inserts rolled and contained inside the crackers along with a chocolate treat.

Each of the crackers consists of the base die-cut box, 6 matt layers and two die-cut poinsettia embellishments. An insert, a treat and two ribbon ties. Even working on a production-line basis, this was one heck of a lot of cutting, sticking and constructing. A lovely thought - thank you Andy.

So perhaps that pile of still to be finished cards sitting on the stool by the sofa are not so daunting after all LOL.............................................................

Friday saw the start...

...of the last Members Weekend for 2015.

So no lay in for me yesterday morning.

I had arranged to meet Hilary at 8.50am at Pinnacles. Unfortunately, whichever way I go to the Craft Village, I have to pass the retail park.

I gave myself more time than usual but still managed to get held-up at the Noak Bridge roundabout as there were folk queuing round the roundabout trying to get into the retail park and I waited a very long time before a kind lady let me through to go round.

As a result, I got to meet Hillary just by the skin of my teeth - a few moments later Andy opened the doors.

Hilary is always very organised when it comes to Members Weekend - she has a typed list of items she needs to get, would like to get, might consider if she hasn't spent all of her budget. I tend to have a couple of items that I've been planning for and a set budget.

This time I was wanting to grab the Tonic "Diamond Gift Box" - it has been on my 'wish-list' for a while and I also wanted the Sizzix seasonal word thinlets.

Here is the collection of goodies that I came home with...

 ...and you can see that I got what I was aiming for along with a few other bits...

...those crazy birds are something that I've been 'umming & ahring' about for ages. After seeing Kath Stewart's Christmas cards I just had to give in.

The Kaisercraft "Silverbells" paper pack has been something else that I've been considering - I nearly bought it at the September Members Weekend but there was something else that I wanted more.

What you can't make out in the photo is the Groovi Album that I bought to put my parchment plates in and the three new plates that also jumped into my basket.

The morning flew by.

Hilary and I did our usual of breaking for coffee before going back for another browse to ensure we hadn't forgotten any essentials. Then we went for a quick snack before Hilary went off to her parchment class.

With it being the last Members Weekend before Christmas we always get our Christmas card from the Pinnacle crew which details the shop opening times over the holiday period - no card this year but I'll show you tomorrow what we got instead..........................................................................

A birthday treat...

...because I couldn't wait.

Yes, yes, I know...

The weekend of 27th November is Members Weekend at Pinnacle Crafts but I couldn't wait - I wanted to play.

So a new corner punch and a Groovi plate jumped into my basket and came home with me...

...I just fell in love with the lamp-post. Isn't it lovely.
Here is my first effort using the new plate...

...I've added shading to the oval to give a more defined frame and the lamp-post has received a bit of shading too. I'm not sure if the background needs something else but at this point I'm going with the "less is more" attitude so that I don't ruin it.

This aspect of parching I can just about cope with and I actually find it quite relaxing - just like colouring in. So there will probably be a few more cards using these designs on this year's Christmas cards.

Have you tried a new craft this year?

Will it be appearing on your Christmas crafting?..................................................................

Here are just a few...

...of my Christmas mugs.

I can assure you - I have many more.

These few are currently being used...

 ...but I have a whole lot more that need to come out of the cupboard now we are in the run up to Christmas. My Santa mug set (mug/coaster/tray) is one I got last year...

...and is perfect for carrying a gingerbread coffee and a couple of Mr Kipling's Ginger Whirls.

I have quite a collection of Starbucks mugs and I'll have to try and get a photo of all my ceramic "Red cups" that I have collected over the years......................................................................................

This time next month...

...it will be Christmas Eve.

So things are starting to come out of cupboards at home.

The lighting is really 'pants' at the moment but I will try and get some photos of my Christmas mugs.

Small steps but it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas................................................

Now we can really...

...countdown to Christmas.

As a child, it was tradition in our household for the Christmas decorations to go up the weekend nearest to my birthday - so as you can see, my blog is now in its Winter dress awaiting the arrival of Santa.

I would like to say a big warm welcome to the folk who have joined my followers this year - when I started this blog I never dreamed that I would actually manage to keep it going so to have you all as visitors is very much appreciated. Thank you for dropping by and I hope you enjoy what you see so that you come back.

So the blog is all dressed for Christmas but the decs have not gone up at home or work yet.

I will probably make a start at work on 30th November but home might have to wait a little bit longer as I need to have a mahoosive clearing up session before I even think about decking the halls.

How are you all getting on with your Christmas preparations?..................................................

Happy Birthday...

...to Me.

I thought I'd share some photos of some of my pressies.

My folk at work bought me a lovely Yankee Candle advent...

 ...20 tea-lights and 4 votives. Roll on December 1st so that I can see what the first fragrance is.
I received a lovely hand-made card from my friend Hilary...

 ...and a lovely friendship notebook & pen.
Some of the money I received in advance allowed me to buy this cheery chap...

 ...he is full of mini gingerbread men. How yummy...and Mum gave me a new Poinsettia...

...which looks lovely and provides a fabulous splash of colour.

The weather seems to be behaving itself today but it is not wall to wall sunshine. It is chilly but dry.

Mum isn't feeling too good as she has picked up one of these winter bugs that are going around, so we wont be going out for lunch. Still - I had a lovely lunch with my friend Hilary yesterday and we chatted and planned our course of action for next weekend's Members Weekend at Pinnacles.

The shopping list is growing....................................................................

Not the best...

...photos in the world.

However, considering the light they are not too bad.

The station end of the Mall has been draped with lights on the outside...

 ...but the other end of the Mall is still a work in progress.
As you enter the Mall, there are curtains of twinkling lights...

 ...that look so pretty and light the way to the centre of the Mall where there is a large draped arrangement hanging from the ceiling...

 ...I'm sure this will look even more amazing when it is dark outside so you do not have the distracting light from the dome above.
Around the centre of the Mall are these hanging arrangements...

 ...my photos really do not do them justice...

 ...but I can assure you they all look lovely...

...and give the place a Winter Wonderland feel.

A rather strange thing happened whilst I was taking these photos - a security guard walked towards me and I commented how lovely the decorations were, to which he replied that cameras can not be used in the Mall??? "Really" I said, and told him that I wasn't aware of that and there are certainly not signs to that effect. He seemed confused at that point and I showed him the photos that I had taken, which didn't seem to clear his confusion at all. He just smiled and commented "Oh, pictures of the decorations" and walked away.

If he was confused, I was more so as there were lots of folk taking pictures with their phones but I seemed to be the only one using an actual camera...and I was the only one approached by security.

Strange......................................................

The Decorations are up...

...in the shops.

Mine don't start to go up until next weekend.

For a couple of years now, the colour scheme in the Stratford Shopping Centre has been blue & white and this is an example of the trees that have been hung from the ceiling throughout the Mall...

...very pretty but it has become boring seeing the same decorations year after year.

What a surprise to find that this year we have lovely new decorations.

Still keeping with the blue & white but there isn't a tree to be seen.

Unfortunately, the battery on my camera decided to 'die' so I'll have to show you what they all look like once I've recharged things and obtained some snaps.

I need to have a sort through the decorations at work so that everything is ready for going up from 30 November. I can't wait to see the office looking pretty again........................................

Back in 2007...

...I had a rant about BAD Manners.

Despite the passage of time, things do not seem to have improved.

I have a number of pet hates as far as BAD manners are concerned...

1. Personal HiFi / iPods played too loud - HEY 'DEAF-EARS' IF I WANTED TO LISTEN TO THAT I'D BE PLAYING IT ON MY OWN SYSTEM...
2. Queue jumping - Of course we don't mind (doh) we are just standing here for something to do...
3. Barging folk out of the way without a 'by your leave or thank you' - Sorry I'm not a mind reader, I didn't realise you wanted to walk exactly where I currently am...
4. Chewing gum with mouth open and making horrid "splonching" noises - GROSS!!!
5. Elderly folk who think their age gives them the right to be served first even when the shop staff are dealing with another customer - We all have to take our turn...
6. Folk who continue to maintain a conversation on their mobiles whilst at the check-out - RUDE OR WHAT!!!!!!
7. Nose picking - ULTRA GROSS!!!
8. Able-bodied folk parking in disabled parking spaces - Lack of consideration, I hope they never have to contend with this problem when they have a real need...
9. Parents not keeping their children under control and condoning bad behaviour - If you can't be bothered with your kids why do you think the rest of us might be...
10. Folk who put their feet on seats on public transport - I just hope you are wearing something really expensive when you sit down on something yuk...

Oooooooooo, I could go on and on, but it's not very good manners to bore ones readers to death (LOL)....................

A Parcher...

...I will never be.

I have been dabbling in parchment craft since falling in love with some of the Groovi plate designs but a full-blown parcher I will never be.

I am enjoying my 'play' with the embossing plates and when I had a free Parchment magazine with one of my papercraft mags, I thought I'd have a bash at something a little more complicated (???) as there were some lovely designs.

So armed with a white pencil, I traced off the design from the pattern in the mag and set to...

 ...as you can see, I've made a start and will probably be pleased with the finished piece...

...but I'm not sure I'll be going the whole hog and doing all the fancy stuff around the edges (we'll have to wait and see on that bit). The shading is coming along nicely but it isn't perfect and that is annoying me a bit as I want it to look better.

Patience was never a strong point of mine LOL

I will finish this but will probably adapt bits of the design because I can't see me getting much further than the shading.

I adore parchment work but I think I'll leave the masterpieces to Joanne (Pinnacle crafts) and my friend Hilary.................................................................................

Countdown to Christmas...

...can take various forms.

Who doesn't love the surprise of an Advent calendar that either reveals an image - or better yet...a treat of some kind.

The lovely Kerryanne English has provided a free e-pattern over at her blog for a lovely Victorian style Advent box - do hop over and take a look.

Over the years I have had a variety of Advents and have made a few too.

Matchbox Advents are still one of my favourites...

...despite the fact that I then end up with tons of matches that I need to dispose of LOL

My very first advent was a card with doors that opened to reveal Christmas images. It was sent as a birthday card by my cousins in Sweden as my birthday falls towards the end of November. I have had an advent pretty much every year since.

Do you have an Advent calendar and if so, do you prefer chocolates, little gifts or something else - do tell....................................................................

Are there things...

...that mean Christmas to you?

In our family there was the early present from Santa's elves on Christmas Eve which contain a new nightie or pajamas so we could go to bed and await Santa's arrival...all snuggled up in our new nightwear.

Stirring the Christmas pudding mix (and getting to 'lick out' the remains of the mix from the bowl).

Checking the TV listing to see when "White Christmas" would be showing (usually Christmas Eve) because the holidays couldn't start until we had all sung along with Bing, Danny, Vera and Rosemary.

Another Christmas 'must see' was the Tom & Jerry "Night before Christmas" animation - I loved this cartoon as the Clement C Moore tale has always been a favourite.

I have a number of copies of this tale in various formats and love to see the wonderful illustrations that artists come up with to go with the tale. Last week I bought a beautifully illustrated paperback from the 'Nutshell Studios' at Barleylands (a wonderful children's book shop that reminds me of the 'Shop around the corner' from the film You've Got Mail). This week was the craft village's Festive event and all the retailers were sporting Christmas jumpers or fancy outfits - creating a fabulous atmosphere. The Nutshell was all 'decked out' and there was a super display of Christmas books including this...

...it is only 5.5 x 6.5 inches in size (there is a full size version available) but each page is a delight and I couldn't resist buying a copy...for me!
The Night Before Christmas story is printed with silhouette illustrations to support the narrative...

 ...but each page has secret interactive parts that help to bring the story to life.
However, it is the delicate paper-cut pop-up at the end of the book that is amazing...

 ...Santa and his reindeer, speeding off over the rooftops...

...and the last line of the tale "Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good-night!".

Although this is only a small book, it would make a lovely display centre-piece for over the Holidays.

As a lover of books, I can truly say that this is a book that I will treasure and enjoy.

As for the other family traditions - the DVD of White Christmas is to hand, YouTube have the Tom & Jerry cartoon and I'll just have to wait and see what the elves bring this year by way of PJs.......................................................................

It's been a while...

...since "Stella" saw some colour.

I have a lot of Bugaboo digi images but not that many from the 'Stella' range. I tend to reach for "JJ" or one of the cutie type images so I thought it was time to get Stella out again.

Coloured with Copics...

 ...rough cut...

 ...add a bit of bling/sparkle...

...mount on 3D foam - and there you go.

I've made several Christmas cards so far but there are still more to make and time seems to be running away.

How are you all doing with your Chrimbo makes?.................................................................

I have been...

...very frustrated.

For a while now, there have been a number of blogs that I follow where I have suddenly found that I can not leave comments. I have clicked on the comments link - been taken through to the appropriate page - only to find nowhere to enter a comment.

If other folk have already commented, I can see their comments but where there should be a box for me to leave a comment there has just been a big blank space.

On a few occasions I have arrived at the comments and thought all was well only to have the box disappear when I tried to click into it.

Most frustrating...

I really have been at a loss because my techy skills are not good enough to sort this problem out.

However, today I tried a blog that I had been having problems with - still no joy - then I clicked on the Back button at the top of the screen...the comments box appeared and actually let me leave a comment.

Now I know I haven't been the only person having this problem because one blogger posted that folk had been emailing her to say they couldn't leave comments - if you have found yourself in this boat, you might want to try a single click on the Back button and see if it works for you.............................

At the eleventh hour...

...on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month...

...we will remember them..............................................................

The needles have been out...

...and the knitting is in full swing.

This particular yarn - Fleece - is so lovely and soft...

...and one ball just makes a scarf. 18 stitches on size 6mm needles and you have a lovely snuggly wrap for your neck when it is chilly.

Just like with my papercrafting, I have a considerable stash of yarn. So I've been working my way through it and...

 ...these are the latest items off the production line.

Also, just like with my papercrafting, I'm easily tempted by new yarn products...

..."Cabaret" is a super soft variegated DK (double knit) yarn with a tiny touch of sparkle. I couldn't resist buying a couple of balls and have made myself some fingerless mitts to help keep my wrists warm as the weather gets cooler.

For the first time ever, I have an even number of guys & gals on my team at work. Last year I had predominantly gals and just the one guy. This is going to be a challenge when it comes to gifts this year. Soft & pretty scarves are easy for the females but the males are going to be a bit more difficult - so I'd better get my thinking cap on................................................................

Our office will be supporting...

...the Newham Food Bank again this year.

Last year (2014) was the first time that we had been involved and the response from everyone was amazing.

So Friday, I set up the collection corner...

 ...added a few decorations and information cards...

 ...revamped the main box that we used last year...

 ...and re-used the food-list holders that I had made...

...a bit of care with the storage has meant that we can keep to a theme for our collecting efforts.

Within a very short space of time, there was already a few items in the box.

Looks like we should be able to provide another good contribution this year.................................

I would have liked...

...a brighter day but at least it was dry.

On Friday, instead of walking down Church Hill to the station I cut through the church yard so I could get some more photos - and thinking about it, perhaps the more sombre sky was more fitting to the scene.

The splash of red that dominates this corner of the church yard is wonderful and can be clearly seen from the memorial where todays service will gather. There was another lady taking photos and it turned out she was from the local primary school. She wanted photos of the display as the standing poppies had been made by children at the local schools...

 ...they have been arranged as if they are marching to the grave of a fallen warrior...

 ...which has been covered with a blanket of poppies...

 ...and then they scatter...

 ...and spread out amongst the gravestones.

I tried to get photos from a variety of angles...

 ...and I think the following photo is my favourite...

 ...as it captures the feel that was created at the Tower of London in the wonderful display "Blood Swept Lands & Seas of Red".

The standing poppies are made from the bottom of plastic bottles...

 ...and they look amazing standing there in the grass...

 ...leading the eye to the fabulous cascade. The local school children should be very proud...

...their contribution to this display is wonderful.

I sat and watched the British Legion Remembrance programme last night and I have to say it brought a fair few tears to my eyes..................................................

Just a quick one...

...as I have a lot to get done today.

If you missed that yesterday was the first Friday of the month you will have missed the launch of the new Distress colour for November.

Here it is...

...another green to slot into the range - Lucky Clover sits well along side of Pine needles so will be great for your Holiday crafting if you like to stick with traditional colours.

Only one colour left to be announced - any bets as to what December will bring?....................

As we approach...

...Remembrance.

This Sunday will be Remembrance Sunday and the Poppy cascade at St Margaret's Church continues to grow...

...this was the view earlier this week but there were several ladies working there yesterday morning...

...adding even more to this wonderful splash of colour. I do hope the weather eases so that I can get some more photos.

We have had lots of Poppy sellers about in Stratford.

At the station there has been a gentleman with a table of items to purchase for the last couple of weeks and he has been so friendly and cheerful to all the people passing by on their journey to work.
The armed forces were out to support the Underground's day of support for the British Legion so we had sailors and squaddies dotted about the place.

Sainsbury's normally have a British Legion table just inside their entrance but this hasn't been there very often this year. However, Sainsbury's have had some lovely merchandise for the occasion and I treated myself to a pretty fold-up shopper and a travel mug covered in a cascade of delicate poppies. Very apt considering our own cascade in Stanford-le-Hope............................................................

On a bit of a roll...

...with this Groovi plate stuff.

I've been trying different colours of parchment paper and I have to say that for me, some colours work better than others (red hasn't been too successful so far).

I tried the circular vine on normal parchment paper and then again on teal...

...I also shaded the leaves and am quite pleased with how this has turned out.

The plate that got me started on this slippery slope was this Christmas tree...

...on the right is the basic image and on the left is the same thing in a circular frame with a bit of shading & colouring using Distress markers.

I have some pretty mint coloured pearl paper & CS that I think I'm going to try with the tree. If all goes to plan I'll show you the outcome.............................................................