A class from...

...ATDML by Jane Hewitt.

I have to admit that I had totally forgotten about a recent ATDML cybercrop until I saw a lovely creation over on Virginia's blog.

Jane's class was to create a folio - along the lines of the ones designed by Tim Holtz that can be bought. So I thought I'd have a play.

Here is the basic folio...

 ...doesn't look much until you open it up...

...and then you find a mass of pockets, flaps & pages that you can decorate however you wish. This one will eventually be decorated in greens & lemons - I have the papers but I sort of got distracted.

I had a pack of 8x8 kraft card blanks and they were perfect to use for this project.

Having already made one folio, it was quite a quick affair to put this together...

...using the G45 "A Christmas Carol". At the moment only the outside is covered with PP but there is no decoration and I haven't even made a start on decorating the inside - so it is a 'work in progress'.

Jane's basic idea is fabulous and her instructions are easy to follow so why not hop over to ATDML and have a look...and perhaps a little play. The folio is a great size and can be adapted for lots of occasions.

I promise I will show you both of the folios when they are finished..............................................

Have a wonderful Easter...

...and don't forget to "Spring forward" those clocks.

The Spring flowers have been appearing all over the place and at the moment the Sun is trying very hard to break through the cloud - so fingers crossed that today will be a pleasant day (weatherwise) as the forecast for the coming week is very damp.

I hope you all manage to get out for those egg hunts or at least manage to tuck into some chocolate over the weekend.

Happy Easter everyone..............................................................

Oh dear...

...as if I didn't have enough yarn already.

I just couldn't resist.

I actually went in to buy a couple more balls of the green yarn but they are currently out of stock - then this caught my eye...

 ...so a ball or SIX came home with me. Six balls makes a nice size throw and I didn't want to be hanging around for more stock to arrive if this colourway also proved to be very popular.

The lavender throw is completed...

...and the way the variegation worked-up is so pretty. I was also able to join the balls in, keeping the colours following correctly by just checking each of the balls as I needed them - some I used from the middle & some from the outside...but it worked.

Here is the throw on the chair by my PC, sorry the light isn't very good at this time of day (the Sun is on the other side of the house)...

...but I think you can see how the colour shading has worked. With the yarn being intended for babies, it is lovely and soft and great for snuggling under.

I hope they get more of the green is soon. In the meantime I think I've got plenty to keep me busy............................................................

What a dull & gloomy...

...Sunday.

As I look out of my window there is really nothing to support that today is the first day of Spring.

So I thought I'd share some spring-like coloured yarns that I am currently crocheting with...

...they are DK soft baby yarns in gentle variegated shades.

The central ball is a pretty mix of lavenders and this is the last ball for the item that I am making. I've started on some of the green yarn but I still can't decide whether to keep to the greens or to mix in some of the yellows - I'll have to decide soon as I'm coming to the end of the present ball that I'm using.

I like throws especially for those evenings when it isn't really cold enough to have the heating on but a bit too chilly without it. I have a number of tartan fleece throws but thought I'd make some pretty crocheted ones. I'll let you see once I've finished..................................................................

Aren't they...

...Dinky.

When I went into The Range it was clear that they had originally had a much larger stock of the Gorjuss collectible stamps but this was all that they had left...

 ...just 10 of the 20 designs that are currently available - so I grabbed them.

It is always difficult to judge size from a photo unless there is a reference....

...so I stood one against a standard individual packet of crisps (the 25g size) and as you can see they are much smaller than the normal Gorjuss stamps.

I hope to get some of them inked up this weekend for a bit of a play...............................................

So much for...

...my trip to the seaside.

The sun was out - lovely.

However, I'd forgotten about the change to the C2C timetables since December - not so lovely.

So yes, there was a beautiful blue sky...

 ...with fluffy clouds on the horizon...

...but I had to wait for almost half an hour for a train and boy was it chilly.

The only 'up side' to the new timetable is that most of the services heading away from London during the morning go all the way through to Southend Central - so no platform hopping at Pitsea.

Southend was beautifully bright & sunny but unless you could keep in sheltered areas it was cold.

I had forgotten how the high street is all hustle & bustle on a Thursday due to the stalls of the street market - after all, it is 3 years since I was managing the team at Southend. Gosh time has flown.

Of course, being in Southend I couldn't pass up on a quick nip into The Range and I did come away with some of the new Gorjuss collectible stamps. I have a bit of a 'love/hate' relationship with the Gorjuss girls - I fall in love with the images but am often disappointed with the results of my colouring as they are quite big stamps. The collectibles are a cute smaller size so I'll give them a go.

Perhaps not having to go to Southend on a regular basis is a good thing because to get from the station to the office I have to pass too many tempting shops - at least in Stratford I have the option of walking straight to the office without going near any shops LOL

Back to my own office today and then it is the weekend - yay!!!

Unfortunately, it looks like Mother Nature is saving on the electric at the moment as it looks pretty dull and murky out there. I'd better wrap up well - have a good day folks.........................................

Happy St Patrick's Day...

...to all whole celebrate the event.

Last year when I was having a sort through my stash I found this PP...

...as St Patrick's Day had been & gone I put it to one side, intending to come back to it when I found the photos from a family gathering that had taken place on St Paddy's Day, many years before. I still haven't found the photos (doh!!!) and now I can't find the PP - go figure.

Perhaps I should speak nicely to the 'little people' and ask if they can give me hand to find them.

Have a great day everyone..................................................................