Aren't they...

...coming along a treat.

These photos were taken on 1 July 2013 and as you can see, the flowers are starting to fill out beautifully. The splash of colour that they bring is lovely as there is still so much building work going on in the area...

 ...the flowers look so much nicer than all that scaffolding.
There is still a way to go before these reach their best...

 ...but they are coming along nicely; don't you think! A bit of sunshine can work wonders.

 The colours used are the ones that Newham council normally use around the Stratford area...

 ...and they look so pretty. The mass of tiny flowers co-ordinates throughout the town in the flower "trees", hanging baskets and troughs. As they fill out they are certainly becoming more noticeable from the office...

 ...as you can see from the shadows, this was taken quite late in the day.
The last time I showed you the "trees" I mentioned the poor flower beds...

...certainly no 'love' there. Just a year ago this was a riot of colour - how things change.

It will be two weeks since taking these photos before I get to see them again as I am currently flitting between three offices (don't ask - but know that I'm not a happy bunny). I wonder if there will be any change to the flower beds and how much the flowers in the "trees" will have grown...........................

I know I shouldn't have...

...but I couldn't wait.

Yes I know that it is Members weekend at Pinnacle Crafts on 26/27/28 July and I know that during those three days I could get a HUGE 30% off...but they only had 3 of these and knowing my luck they would be gone before members weekend was here.

So yes, I know that Saturated Canary rubber stamps are not the cheapest in the world but I just had to have this little miss - so I made do with my normal 10% discount.

Isn't she super...

 ...Lilliana is my very first "real" Saturated Canary image. I have a lovely collection of digi images but this is my very first rubber one.
The rubber image is very cleanly etched...

...and produces wonderfully clean stamped images as you can see...

...and these were stamped without even bothering to mount the stamp on EZmount or something similar. I just couldn't wait - the stamp got placed on my mat on the desk. I inked it with some memento ink. Placed some white card over the top and then covered it with my acrylic block so that I could press down evenly all over...anyone would think I was in a rush or something LOL

I really should not have bought this as I was trying to be so good saving for Members weekend but I've had a pretty grotty week so I decided I needed a bit of cheering up (my excuse - and I'm sticking to it).

At least this won't pile on the calories (chocolate was my other consideration) and it will last a lot longer.

Might just pick up a Mars bar too - after all, I've got to have something to keep me going whilst I craft.............................................................

Why can't folk...

...leave things alone.

I only posted this photo the other day and I was looking forward to seeing how the flowers bulked up and created a better display...

...as things stand, this won't be happening because mindless yobs wrecked the thing - why?

It wasn't harming anyone and it brought a bit of fun and colour to a very boring paved area of the Southend high street. What fun is there in spoiling things for others - if you don't like something, ignore it but don't deprive others from gaining enjoyment.

It just seems like we live in a culture of 'let's see what we can destroy'...'it's not mine so I can wreck it'.

What an awful outlook to have on life.

Unfortunately, it is becoming all too common as I know from the saga of my front fence.

I was so pleased with the result of repairing and painting my fence (Summer before last)...

...but within no time at all, yobs had damaged two panels even further...I ask again; WHY?

I work damned hard for my money in order to be able to keep things in good repair but it is very de-motivating to put in all the hard work only to have it ruined in the blink of an eye. Since the additional damage to the fence the little 'darlings' have also had a go with black spray paint on one of the concrete posts and a panel.

No-one gives me these things, I have to earn the money for them and put in the effort - so why do they think they have the right to spoil things?

Sorry, rant over but I just needed to get it off my chest..................................................................

Oh...

...bummer!!!

I missed it!

At 66,665 I went to have a look at a new post in my blog reader and when I came back it was 66,667.

Oh well; count down to 77,777 has begun LOL..........................................................................

Oh my...

...would you believe it.

What seems to have been a relatively short time ago I celebrated 55,555 page views on my blog. I thought it was fun seeing all those "5s" in a row.

I was amazed that so many folk would visit my little bit of cyber-space and joked that it would probably take ages to reach the next number consisting of all the same digit - 66,666.

The lovely Paula (Happy Snappy story teller with a camera) didn't seem to think it would take that long but I had my doubts.

Would you believe...at the time of posting this I am just 16 away from that amazing figure...WOWZA!!!

To say I am gobsmacked that this figure has been reached so quickly is probably the understatement of the year LOL

A very big thank you to all you lovely folk out there who drop by for a quick 'looksee' and even bigger thanks to those who leave me comments - I know we all find it difficult to make the time for things like that because life in general can be so busy at times.

When I started this blog I didn't know if I would be able to keep it going but I am so glad that I did because I have had the joy of  'meeting' some super folk from all around the world.

Thank you all for your kindness and support.

**I wonder how long it will take to get to 77,777 ?**........................................................................

What did you do...

...last weekend?

On Sunday I went to a mini-book workshop with Weasel over at the Barleylands Craft village.

This is the fabulous book that Barb wanted us to make...

 ...it is full of pockets and tucky-in places for photos and keepsakes.

The basis of the book is 6x6inch white envelopes with chipboard covers and hidden hinges.

This is the cover of my book so far...

...I don't want to finish the outside decoration until the book is completed otherwise it might get spoilt.
The main aim of the day was to get the basic book completed and try out some different techniques and products...

 ...here you can see the envelope pages attached inside the cover and ready for decoration.

We got to play with glitter paste and masks...

 ...isn't this just a fabulous colour and it works so well on the black background card.

We had so many different die-cuts to play with. These will be used on the front of the book (just like Barb's) and there is another set for the back cover...

...I just need to get my needle and thread out to make the ribbon skirts.

I know Marion (owner of Sugar & Spice) likes folk to come away from the workshops with a finished item but I really didn't want to rush this as it is such a lovely project. I did finish the basic book and got everything cut out and decorated for putting inside (I even made a mini maze book which once decorated will slip into one of the pockets).

The basis for the project centres around the fabulous Craftwork Cards "Tea Dance Collection". We all received an 8x8inch collection pack which contains sooooooooooo much lovely stash...PPs, Candi, Die-cuts...which is far more than is required but means we have lots of lovely stuff left over to play with.

All the pages in my book are now covered with PP and I am working my way through decorating the pages. I'll try to get some more photos done so that I can share them with you.....................................

They're Back!...

...no not the spooky things in the TV (can't remember what film that's from) but strange things containing flowers.

When I visited Southend-on-Sea last week the men were installing this...

 ...a rather large wicker teacup containing pansies and a variety of different types of daisies. To be honest, it is rather strangely placed - it is not in the centre of the paved square and although quite big, it still manages to look lost.
Then on Friday back in Stratford, these appeared...

...yep, the flower trees are back.
Last year as part of the Olympic preparation a circle of these 'flower trees' appeared on the traffic island just outside our office. These are very pretty...

 ...but still in the early stages of growth. They are certainly not as lavish as the ones we had last year but then we aren't expecting the world to descend on Stratford this year; are we!
It is much nicer looking out of the office and seeing these instead of a vast expanse of grey cobbles...

...and with luck (and a bit of sunshine) they should bulk up beautifully.

Let's hope they plant up the round flower beds that are under the trees further to the left of the 'island'. At the moment they are bare apart from the weeds - and perhaps we might get a few hanging baskets dotted about the place. After all, it is only about a month before the first part of the "Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park" re-opens to the public.

We'll certainly be waiting to see what events they have lined up for the area to celebrate the anniversary of the Olympic opening ceremony. Watch this space.........................................