Happy New Year...

...to you all.

May 2018 bring everything you could wish for..............................................................

Santa Dash...

...by one of our team.

At the start of December one of our team dressed up as Mrs Santa and joined Santa dash to raise money for her local hospice. Despite a very soggy day (she said she could really have done with some glasses with windscreen wipers LOL) she completed event and raised £140.

 

She brought her medal into work....

...to show all her colleagues who had sponsored her.

As I sit here creating this post I can't believe that it has been over a month since I last posted - time has more than just flown this year but although the posts have been rather lacking I think time has been well spent on the various causes that I and my colleagues have managed to support.

Back in July my "Craft & Chatter" group completed and sent off 150 mini hats for the Innocent Smoothie "Big Knit" to help raise money for Age UK. When the hatted bottles hit the shelves in the shops this Autumn, we eagerly looked out to see if we could find any of our creations. The answer to that was NO but we all bought items with hats that had been created by other folk. There were certainly some fabulous creations.

In October we were merrily making crochet & knitted poppies...

...which helped to raise just over £180 for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

The group are currently making "Bonding squares" for local Neo-natal units.

The office supported the Newham Food Bank (part of the Trussell's Trust) again this year and as usual I decorated the collection area to make it look a little more festive. There was a fabulous response and we collected far more than in previous years. The Newham Food Bank provided nearly 2000 food parcels last Christmas and we hope our contribution helped them to do even more this year.

Our support of the RNLI is on going and folk regularly bring in books & un-wanted gifts to add to our 'shop' area. Support from wonderful folk on the web has also been amazing - handmade items & cards from Lunch Lady Jan & Shaz Silverwolf  (regulars on Julia Dunit's "What's on your Workdesk Wednesday" over at "The Stamping Ground") all very much appreciated.

Although you would never believe it due to the lack of posts on here, November & December were very busy crafting months. I finished off all my handmade gifts and managed to make all my cards (yes, I failed on the making as I went through the year - but hey-ho it all got done) but the thing that I didn't manage to do was take photos as I went. I was so determined to get everything wrapped the photos were forgotten.

With it being just a few hours away from a New Year, I can't promise that posting will be any better but I'm sure 2018 will be just as busy and just as crafty as 2017..........................................

 

Happy New Year...

...out with the old; in with the new.

2016 has been quite a stressful year but it finally rounded off in a far more enjoyable manner.

For the first time in a good many years, Christmas was actually fun. This was because I wasn't running around like a loon at other folks insistence. The family get-together took place at my Sister's on Christmas Eve (boy were we stuffed after all the fabulous food she served up) and then Christmas Day was a quiet day at home just enjoying the quiet and playing with some of my gifts. It was wonderful not having to quickly open presents and then dash off somewhere at the beck-&-call of others. It may seem selfish but I actually enjoyed being on my own on Christmas Day...in my own home (I can't remember the last time that I spent Christmas Day at home).

I hit the sales after Christmas - not the big store ones where folk have been battling for the large (still expensive) goods. No; I hit my local stores to see what they were clearing out "post-Christmas". I also visited some of the well known high-street supermarkets and picked up some bargains. I am also very organised for next Christmas - I purchased a lot of the 'reduced to clear' gift wrapping stuff and have actually put it all together in a storage box so it doesn't get 'misplaced' by next Christmas LOL

I have enjoyed watching the Harry Potter films each evening and sitting knitting (don't groan but I've already made a start on 2017 Christmas pressies - after all, there are just 357 days to go...).

I will not be making any resolutions as I do not want to set myself anything that could make 2017 stressful but I do hope to get myself a little more organised as that will help to reduce stress levels.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas & a very Happy New Year and that 2017 will bring you all that you could wish for.................................................

I finally managed...

...to catch up with my friend Hilary.

With the way that Christmas & New Year fell this year, there was quite a break between classes over at Barleylands. As a result, Hilary & I just didn't seem to be able to sort a day when we could get together.

Hilary had a parchment class on Friday so it seemed the only opportunity we were going to get.

As she had missed me before Christmas she decided to make me this beautiful New Year card...

...the colour is lovely and there are lots of sparkly bits.

At the moment, there is no café at Barleylands. It was under temporary management up until Christmas Eve and now it is closed for the whole of January whilst the new management refurbish ready to re-open. There is quite a bit of excitement as it is thought that it will be the same folk who run the tea-rooms over at the Tiptree Jam factory (fabulous jams & chutneys). It will be fabulous if they have an area selling the Tiptree produce.

So things to look forward to but in the meantime, nowhere to go and sit over a coffee for a natter.

There is a burger van on site providing hot drinks & snacks but in this weather, who wants to sit out in the cold on wet benches.

Member's weekend will be taking place at the end of January and it looks like Hilary & I will have to come up with an alternative plan of action for our day. We normally 'shop', break for coffee & toast - 'shop', break for lunch and then she has her parchment lesson and I have another browse before going home...just in case I've missed or forgotten something LOL

I'm sure we will come up with something.........................................................................

I was all set...

...to watch the New Year fireworks on the TV.

However, I fell asleep and would have missed the countdown if folk a few houses away from me hadn't started their fireworks a bit early. Some huge explosions and I was awake - just as the 'bongs' started...

...I so love huge firework displays like this but there is no way I would have trekked up to London to battle with the crowds when I had a birds-eye view from the sofa.

The weather this New Year's eve wasn't great - plenty of rain - but folk still seemed determined to see in the New Year with loads of bangs & crashes. Now that always meant grabbing some pots & pans and going out into the street as midnight chimed. The pots & pans were clanged making a huge row and everyone yelled "Happy New Year" to their neighbours. Folk don't tend to do that these days. They seem to prefer letting off very noisy fireworks that seem to consist of lots of 'bang' but not much 'twinkle'.

I live close to the river Thames and usually there are boat horns sounding on the river but either the wind was blowing in the wrong direction or it didn't happen this year - shame.

Things seem to have changed so much.

Do folk still "first foot" ? It is something that I can remember my parents & their neighbours doing but I don't recall it happening since I've been an adult. Are we forgetting the traditions that always went with 'seeing out the old & welcoming the new' ?

Do you still keep traditions linked with the start of a New Year - I would love to hear what you do..............................................................

Welcome to 2016...

...may the New Year bring all that you hope for.

Happy 2016 folks.................................................................................

2015...

...comes to an end in just a few hours.

I considered doing a review of my year but to be honest, if anyone really wants to see what I've been up to this year they can browse through the 200 posts I have made (this will be 201).

Instead, I thought I'd share something a friend emailed to me...

1915

THE YEAR IS 1915 

This will boggle your mind! 

 The year is 1915 “One hundred years ago”. What a difference a century makes! 

Here are some statistics for the Year 1915: 

The average life expectancy for men was 47 years. 

Fuel for cars was sold in chemists only. 

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bath. 

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. 

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. 

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower. 

The average British wage in 1915 was £15 per year! 

A competent accountant could expect to earn £800 per year. 

A dentist £900 per year. 

A vet between £600 and £900 per year. 

And, a mechanical engineer about £2000 per year. 

More than 95 percent of all births took place at home 

Ninety percent of all Doctors had no university education! 

Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as "substandard." 

Sugar cost two pence  a pound. 

Eggs were 10 pence a dozen. 

Coffee was five pence a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and, used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo. 

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason. 

The Five leading causes of death were: 

1. Pneumonia and influenza 

2. Tuberculosis 

3. Diarrhoea 

4. Heart disease 

5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was only 30. 

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet. 

There was neither a Mother's Day nor a Father's Day. 

Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and, only 6 percent of all British pupils went to university. 

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at local corner chemists. 

Back then chemists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach, bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health!" (Shocking?) 

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help... 

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.! In 2014 this figure had risen to 14,249.

In the UK the murder rate in 1915 was 1420. In 2015 it was 537. (Perhaps we are doing something right!)

Can you imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.

So there you have it, a brief comparison between 1915 & 2015. Two very different worlds in some respects - only 8% of homes had a telephone in 1915, in 2015 nearly every PERSON has a phone of some kind. In 1915 the thought of a man walking on the moon was the stuff fairy tales were made of, in 2015 we have folk living in outer space on the International Space Station.

So as the final hours of 2015 slowly tick away, I would like to wish you all the very best for the coming year and if you are unable to be with the ones you love as we welcome in the New Year, I'm sure you will be holding them dear in your hearts and minds.

Happy New Year to one & all......................................................................................

Getting organised...

...for 2015.

The aim being - if I can find it, I might actually use it!

So last night I sat down with a pile of dies and managed to discard this...

 ...a carrier-bag full of unwanted packaging. It's surprising the amount of space all this bulky packaging takes up.

What happened to the contents of that packaging?

I filled two organiser files...

 ...this polka-dot one is currently available from DoCrafts as are the refill packs of pockets containing magnetic sheets.
I have gathered together my collection of these Memory Box cuties...

 ...and have used some of them now that I know where they are (I'm sure I bought the mittens & stockings versions but perhaps that was just my wishlist coming to mind).
I knew I had quite a few Tonic dies...

 ...but I found some that I had totally forgotten about.

I still have my Sue Wilson dies to house - another organiser on the list for "Member's weekend" at the end of January.

Now when Ranger came out with these mini Distress Ink pads I thought it was just a fad and something to encourage us to buy even more stuff - how wrong I was. They are perfect for mobile crafting...these are so much easier to pack in your tote for a crop/class than taking a large box containing the full size pads (it's easier to fit these on the table too).

I love the storage tins...

 ...they keep everything together - all neat and tidy...

...and I do mean everything. The recess in the bottom of each ink pad houses a blending foam pad perfectly...

...so you have a pad for each colour at hand ready for use - how super is that.

My first crop for 2015 is on Saturday 10 January and I'm sure that I'll be more productive by having these things on hand...well...I hope so.

On my recent blog visits I've noticed that several folk have included de-cluttering and organising as a goal for 2015.

I've made a start - let's see if I can keep up the momentum...............................................................

Happy New Year...

...to you all.

Let us raise a glass to bid the old year farewell...

...and welcome in the new.
Wishing you all a...

 ...that brings you everything that you hope for and...

Happy 2015 to you all and I hope you all continue to enjoy your crafting in the coming year................

Bugaboo will be celebrating...

...their 5th birthday.

Note your diaries for a crafting event to look forward to once all the Christmas & New Year frenzy is out of the way...

...it all kicks off on the 17 January 2015 so why not drop in at the Catch the Bug site and play along.

If you help to spread the word about this birthday event you could even be in with a chance to win a prize - but you need to hop over to the site to find out more.

So folks, a week of crafting fun to look forward to - what a great way to start the New Year......................................................................

Happy New Year...

...to you all!!!

Here's hoping 2014 brings you all everything you could wish for.........................................................

Not long to go...

...and we will be welcoming in another New Year.

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have visited here in 2013 - your comments and support have meant so much. Thank you to those of you who felt that you wanted to come back so you decided to follow me - that is very much appreciated.

However you are celebrating the end of the old and the start of the new...I hope you have a wonderful time and I look forward to seeing you in 2014.........................................................................

It's amazing...

...what you find when rummaging through your stash.

A few years ago, any craft forum/magazine/blog that originated from the USA was going crazy for 'Paint cans'. The creations that folk came up with were fabulous and I so wanted to have a go.

At the time, paint cans were not readily available here in the UK and sources seemed to be rather expensive. It wasn't easy to find 'empty' ones either. Making Memories launched some card kits that came in a paint can storage container and a friend received a kit as a gift. She loved the kit but was going to bin the container...I rescued it, brought it home and put it safely away.

During my recent sorting & organising sessions I came across this...

...and as you can see...

 ...it is still looking the same as it did when I rescued it - oh dear! But never mind, I have found it again and I have some ideas that I want to try (hoping that the leaky elbow syndrome allows me to make what I have floating around in my head LOL).

In addition to paint cans - do you remember the craze for clothing labels?

Craft companies brought out loads of fabric embellishments that looked just like the labels you find in your clothes but they were themed and you could find labels to cover just about any occasion - I remember using lots of the Junkitz ones on my scrapbook pages.

Well, tucked inside the paint can I found these...

...a batch of seasonal tags - all created using clothing labels. I really can't remember whether these were done at a crop or whether it was an idea that I found in a magazine but they would have been made at around the time of the paint can rescue.
All the tags make use of scraps, distressing and staples - yep, if you look closely, there are plenty of staples...

 ...there is a general tag and one suitable for Valentine's Day...

 ...Thanksgiving and Halloween are covered...

...and then there is Christmas and New Year.

I think they were originally intended to be journal cards for scrapbook pages so that you could have a common look/style appearing through your album, however, I'm thinking these could be fun toppers for a set of cards.

I wonder what else I'll find of interest as I dig through that stash mountain.........................................

WRYWF...

...the first of 2013.

So what has been 'rocking' my world so far this New Year...

Well...

I did it, I finally went and got an e-Reader.

After much thought and reviewing of the situation I decided that as I'm not much of a "techy" or "gadget geek" I would keep it simple and go for something fairly inexpensive but able to meet my requirements (mainly the ability to enlarge the font size LOL). Price was a consideration too and I was lucky that WHS had their range on offer again for the 'post-Chrimbo' period...so with my giftcard to the ready I went and bought a Kobo-mini. It has a wide range of fonts & font sizes and can store up to 1000 books and the battery-life is pretty good too.

In the couple of days that I've had the thing I've already downloaded about 10 books and read 3 already (that equals my read-total for 2012 - all I read during the year was THOSE three books; you know the ones I mean giggle). I did find that it was better to go onto the Kobo site and print off the user guide as the 'quick basic' thingie that came with the reader was pretty useless for a numpty like me. However, I'm getting there and I'm finding the 'mini' a nice size & weight to hold - no more problems with bulky books to try and cart back & forth on the train each day but I still love the feel of real books so I don't think I'll be giving up on them any time soon.

I haven't done much in the way of paper crafting over this Holiday period (despite my best intentions) but I have made some new scarves in some colours that I found whilst browsing the sales. I also picked up a selection of lurex threads that are working beautifully in my braid making. So overall, I have been crafting over the holidays but not necessarily the crafts that I had intended.

I'm not sure that I'm looking forward to returning to work tomorrow - it's never great going in to see all the stuff that has piled-up whilst you've been off but I have to say...this two weeks has been great. I've spent time with my Mum that wasn't rushed or squeezed in amongst other things and I've had the time to meet up with friends and grab a coffee, hot chocolate and cake whilst having a good old natter.

So that was my first 'rocking' post of 2013. If you would like to know more - hop on over to the lovely Virginia's blog to see what 'rocking' is all about.

Right, where is my train ticket and everything that I need for work...and just how many days is it until next Christmas..............................................

Happy New Year Everyone...

...will 2013 live up to the standard set by 2012?

2012 certainly flew by and not surprisingly...there was just sooooooooooo much going on. Diamond Jubilee, Olympics, Paralympics - just to name a few.

Did you all see the New Year in or were you tucked up in bed?

I stayed up and took loads of photos (thank you BBC for the fabulous vantage point)...I finally worked out how to turn the flash off on my camera (don't laugh - I've only had this one about 6 months LOL)

These were just a few of the shots I managed to grab.

Well after a drizzly 31 December daytime - Mother Nature played fair and the end of the day/year was cold but dry and from the scenes on the TV, everyone in London had a fabulous time. The fireworks were amazing...oh how we have improved since that very damp squib of a display for the Millenium...and I had thoroughly enjoyed an evening of watching Robbie Williams & NCIS (strange mix - but hey!).

2013 has started off very bright but oh so very cold where I am but then you can wrap-up against the cold - damp weather isn't so easy to deal with as it seems to get into everything.

I hope you all have enjoyed Christmas and the end to 2012 (no heavy heads - I hope) and I look forward to hopping around Blogland and seeing what you all come up with during this coming year - Have a Great 2013.................................

Despite my best efforts...

...I managed to miss the last post for some folk so rather than send Christmas cards I sent some of these...
6x6 inch smooth white card blanks with a patchwork of tartan PPs. The PPs are all Basic Grey 'Oxford' range.
The sentiment was hand-written on a white CS panel that was attached with 3D foam pads.

I'm trying to get stuck into a bit of recycling. The Christmas cards are still not sparking any inspiration (thank you for the ideas that some of you have passed on) but I have made a start with the 'chopping up' of my Deco Lady slim-line calendar. The images are lovely and I'm still trying to decide whether to make cards or new calendars with them. I'll let you see what I decide.........................

How I wish...

...I had been there.
As Big Ben began to chime in the New Year the fireworks began - and I sat glued to the TV watching every burst of sparkle and colour. On one hand I would have loved to have been there in the centre of London seeing this all first hand but then again I really wouldn't have liked coping with all the crowds - so I just grabbed my camera and hoped that something reasonably decent would result.
No these are not amazing, fabulous photos but they do capture the memory.
The colours and the overall display were just stunning - we have come a very long way in the past decade as far as our New Year fireworks are concerned...who can forget that feeble damp-squib of a display that was supposed to welcome in the Millenium.
I think the London Eye makes a fantastic focal-point for the fireworks and I always watch in awe as the 'showers' of light explode from or near to this centre feature. If any of you out there were lucky enough to be there, I hope you got some fabulous photos.

Here at home the New Year arrived fairly quietly - there were a few fireworks going off nearby but nothing like the quantity of past years - the heavy rain probably put-paid to that. There didn't seem to be any tugs sounding their horns on the Thames this year either and no-one was out & about 'first footing'.

Today has been a very damp, dull start to 2012 but don't they say "Things can only get better" - I do hope so................................

Goodbye 2011...

...and Hello to 2012!!!
In just a few hours time we will be listening to Big Ben chiming in a brand new year - to be honest it seems only a short time ago that we were bidding farewell to 2010 - where has this year gone?

So what did 2011 mean to me...

My only resolution for the year was to pay more attention to my blog and despite PC troubles, Blogger issues etc. I think I have managed to do that. It certainly helped that back in Apr/May I took the plunge and entered my very first challenge...and won! Coming up with ideas for different challenges helped with the crafting motivation and also brought me into contact with lots of new crafters. The different challenge sites have also encouraged me to try different styles - this time last year I would have said "CAS - me?...never!" but I gave it a go and from time to time I do manage to come up with designs that I'm really fond of (was a great way of dealing with bulk Chrimbo card makes).

I got to try my hand at being a guest DT for Creative Craft World - it was great fun but also scared me silly LOL - how do folk cope with this week in/week out and for multiple DTs.

I've met some lovely new crafty folk via the web and been very lucky to gain lots more followers this year - thank you all for visiting my little bit of cyberspace. For some reason I have been having trouble visiting some of the blogs that I normally follow (She - Rubber Addict, June - Dezinaworld, Jacqui - Cats Whiskers, are just a couple that spring to mind) they seem to 'freeze' and I find I can't scroll through the posts or leave comments - sorry folks.

I've been very lucky healthwise (says she sitting here typing with a heavy cold & cough) - I know many of you out there have had lots of health problems to deal with and I hope the New Year brings better fortune for you all in this.

Whilst health has been okay, life in general has been quite stressful (on-going personal issues that I won't go into here) and work has been a nightmare. The year started with me being one of 3 junior managers - each of us with 10 or 11 staff each. Almost immediately one manager went on long-term sick absence so we were down to two dealing with the same overall number of staff (I managed to end up with the bulk). Come July and the other manager needed to re-locate for family reasons so by August there was just me with 30 staff - to say I have been feeling like a hampster on a wheel is putting it mildly. Never have I appreciated the chance to endulge in fun craft sessions/classes more - Dawn, Andy, Helen & Pauline you don't know what a lifeline you have been - thank you.

Family has brought with it different issues - Mum's health has been up & down but she doesn't let it get her down. Kristy being over in Germany with her hubby Dan not knowing from one moment to the next whether he still had a job has brought home how little control we have on certain aspects of our lives - but it has also shown how important a listening ear, time for a chat...just being there, really is. By the way, Dan is okay, he has been reassigned and the pair of them will be staying in Germany for the next few years - just what they hoped for.

What do I hope for in 2012...

Less stress!!! Although working in the area of the Olympic Park (East London) I don't see that happening any time soon. I am not looking forward to 10 weeks of public transport disruption or the crowds of people all trying to battle their way to various events. I also don't see any easing of things at work this side of Easter.

More crafting!!! At some point this year I want to try and sort out my crafting space and get a bit more organised. I need some decent storage so that I can actually find what I'm looking for and hopefully this will also minimize the duplication of items bought because I 1) couldn't find 2) forgot I had.

I need to take stock of what I want from life and what is important to me. Family, health, security...are all things at the top of the list.

I won't be making any resolutions as such as I don't want to stress-out over doing or not doing stuff.

What I will do is wish each and every one of you a happy, healthy 2012 and hope that what you wish for in the coming year comes your way.

Happy New Year folks............................

Less than an hour to go...

...and we will be in a new year, the start of a new decade.
No parties for me tonight but I will be watching the fireworks on the TV. If it wasn't such a pain to get there & back I would love to be in the centre of London as the Big Ben chimes start to 'bong'. The atmosphere on the TV looks fab. We also seem to have finally got to grips with large scale firework displays - for those who remember the damp squib of a showing that we gave to see in the new century (oh it was shameful compared to the rest of the world) we do now put on a pretty damn fine show.

2010 - did you call it twenty-ten or two thousand & ten? - was a strange year...lots of change at work and at home and boy did the year fly by. There were some sad moments too - an Aunty and an Uncle passed this year so the family has shrunk a bit more and someone I managed for more than two years also passed (early 40s, young family - such a shock).

Despite the rotten cold that I have at the moment I have to say this year has been relatively healthy so I shouldn't complain.

So 2010 has been and will shortly go...there are photos and memories that will gradually appear in my scrapbooking (don't hold your breath - it could take a while LOL) and items that I have made for myself & others. I have found new blogs & websites to visit - increased my cyber friends - learnt a lot of new techniques - and enjoyed my crafting.

One of my favourite stores - Artbase - is no more. Margaret & John decided that this was the year they were finally going to retire...I do so miss the Sunday workshops and my weekly visits. Have a wonderful retirement both of you. I look forward to Emma getting going with the on-line store and wish her all the best for 2011.

Well, 2011 (think this will be "two thousand & eleven - twenty/eleven doesn't sound right) will be arriving shortly. There will be more changes ahead - that is the nature of things.

I don't make resolutions as they are never kept and then I feel guilty - so I don't do them. I do hope to continue to learn more things, craftwise, as the new year progresses. We will also be counting down to the arrival of the 2012 Olympics and as I work in East London where the bulk of this event will take place I will continue to see the preparations taking shape.

I hope you all have a wonderful evening, whether you are having a quiet one at home or out for a full blown celebration. Enjoy yourselves but take care - be safe.

I wish you all - health, wealth, love & happiness for the coming year and hope you get to realise some of your dreams

Welcome 2011!!!

Love Toni xx

Last day...

...of the old.
I will be seeing out the old year very quietly as I still have this rotten flu-like cold. It really has mucked-up my sleep pattern with all this coughing so I don't feel like partying or any such like.

As I look out the window everything looks dull, grey, dirty - typical aftermath of having snow. At least it has warmed up a bit.

For those of you having parties tonight - have a great time!

I'll pop back later to wish you all a Happy New Year...............