Kirsty Allsopp and If.....................

Tonight is an exciting evening for me because at  8pm on Channel 4 the wonderful Kirstie Allsopp is back with another series of Homemade homes. This time she gets a whole hour for fun and frolics and instead of just doing her own home, she is helping other people. I loved the past 2 series and am excited to see what she comes up with for new crafting ideas this time around.

For Shimelle's class, yesterday we were given the challenge of writing a piece inspired by Rudyard Kipling's poem ''If'', the idea being If such and such happened then this would/wouldn't have happened. So here is my attempt:

If I hadn't moved to London to do my nurse training I never would have had the experiences I did as a student nurse,

If I hadn't then moved to Reading I wouldn't have met my friend Sarah or gotten to meet Louise and Di,

If I hadn't moved to Cambrige I wouldn't have had the most fun 6 months ever,

If I hadn't moved to Southampton I may not have met Teresa and started going to church again.

If I hadn't gone to church I wouldn't have the family of friends I have now.

If I hadn't moved to Somerset I may never have become a health visitor again.

If I didn't have Bipolar disease I wouldn't the special relationship I have with Jonathan.

If I'd never met Teresa I wouldn't have taken up scrapbooking.

If I hadn't taken up scrapbooking I never would have met Alex and Tanya.

If I hadn't moved to Wells I wouldn't have found the BEST cupcakes ever.

If I save up enough money I will travel to India one day.

If I have enough time I will read all the books I own.

If I can organise it there will be a blog friends meeting soon, I hope!!!!

If you are free on Saturday evening at 8pm you will at the Celebrating Blog Friendships party, heehee!!!!!!

.....................and as if that wasn't enough, Starbucks are releasing their Xmas menu drinks and red cups tomorrow, whoopeeeeeeeeeeee.

Numbers, pretties and a party.

Happy Sunday to you all, I hope you have a fun weekend. I went off to Harvest festival at church today and was manhandled by my scrapbookie friend Alex into the kitchens to get cups allegedly. In actual fact she wanted to tell me her news, she is pregnant with her first baby. How exciting a scrapbooking babe at last. She is about 12 weeks so feeling sick as a dog but everythig is going ok so far. Yippee. Next I was asked if I would help in creche at church once a month. I thought it was a lovely idea so will do my CRB check,............another one and after Christmas I should start properly with the 0-4 year olds, awwwww.
This afternoon I have been watching''The Event'', anyone else watched this yet. My friend Luke told me it's addictive so I watched the first 3 episodes on 4od, it is actually very good so far. A sci-fi series with political undertones and extra-terrestrials. Will have to see how many episodes I can continue to watch before I throw in the towel, more than 12 and I'm in sleepy town unless it's brilliant.
I also did a layout this afternoon on the numbers theme we did the other day on Shimelle's new class......

 Also here are some goodies I picked up in my fave shops the other day, a cute cupcake money box and some cupcake cookie cutters which may be useful for the blog party next weekend.

And this lovely...................

I loved Sophie Dahl's no-nonsense cookery programme and I picked up her book for £6.25 in WH Smiths. What a bargain! If you are looking for a gr8 programme to watch this week, then Kirstie Allsopp is back with more homemade stuff on Channel 4, not sure which day though, but a whole hour of fun and handmade stuff.

Project Team Ewan

 .....................hi there and thanx for stopping by. I cant believe another month has almost flown by and by Sunday the evening will be darker in the UK. Anyway 2 things today, firstly Melissa has blogged more details about Project Team Ewan which I talked about here. There is now a proper flier and release date..........

It is such an special project and very close to her heart as Ewan was Melissa's friends' son. Please hop over and have aread and support her and the Children's Hopsital if you are able. I know I will be.
In other news, I am thoroughly enjoying Shimelle's new class. It's a while since I actually journalled in a book and this has got the creative juices sort of flowing.So the other day I explained how one of the ideas was to journal using all the letters of the alphabet in a fun way. Lot's of ideas were given and I went with the writing something about somebody, namely my friend Luke. I have already made a LO about our friendship but hadn't gotten the journalling sorted so this is waht I came up with, it's abit mushy, I warn you!!!!!...............

''Everyday I am Grateful to have such an Amazing friend in my life. Yes, that individual is you Luke. Ever since we met, our relationship has become one of Deep friendship and respect. Some People have said it's 'Queer' loving the pun there? But I feel True friends are Rare. Underneath your Cute, Bubbly exterior is a man who has faced insults and trauma for being who you are. Why? because they don't understand what an Xceptiona, Funny and Special Human being you are. You are Zaney, Irrepressible, my One of a Kind Luke. Me, I am your loving friend Jo xxxx ''

I think I have used all the letters in the alphabet in this short letter to my friend. I hope it portrays a small amount of the feeling I have for this amazing man. At only 21 he probably knows me better than anyone and he is my lil nurse student protege, only 6 more months and he enters the realms of qualified nursing status. When I actually complete the LO I will post the pictures.

Hope you're having a fab Thursday, and don't forget to join in on the party hop you have until tomorrow, so far I have 27 names, it would be gr8 to have a round 30! 

Jo xxxxx

New classes and new ideas.

 Before we get started, do u like the new look. Owls are my fave so had to have these but how do I get my title to centre properly. HELP!!!!!!!! I sorted out the rest on my todd arent I clever but cant figure that one out, big hug to the person who can fix it.
So today saw the launch of the brand new Shimelle class 'True Stories''. The only pre-class prep was to get pen and paper ready and the pre-class video again stated pen and paper only required which in this world of grand technology is quite refreshing. I used to love writing letters especially. Every week, one of my days off involved me sitting and writing my letters for the week to grandparents, parents and friends. I used to tingle with excitement when the postman came with the replies and I still have most of my old letters in a box under my bed. It does make me sad sometimes to think I get so few letters these days, and only the odd card but I suppose we have changed. I talk to friends and family on the phone more now and briefly through emails. The most wiritng I do is on my blog and I don't always write there every day.

Anyway Shimelle's class is ALL about the writing. So I have chosen a book which I had had for a while and a matching pen. The prompts today were to think about some questions you may want to answer about yourself, like FAQs someone may want to know. Of course the aim will then be to scrapbook them so I have put my thinking cap on and so far have come up with a couple I feel I can share.

The first one is something which people come out with as a statement about me ''You are such a career woman''.............................. my response in my head other than ''WHAT ARE YOU WITTERING ON ABOUT?'' is usually ''Why do u say that because I'm not!''. I actually find the whole statement pretty offensive and it depresses me that people believe I live only for my career. Then I realise that basically they don't know me at all. My response is normally something like ''Well what else do you expect me to do? I have to earn a living and I haven't been fortunate to get married and have children, and I cant afford to go off and do something else so I have to do something in my job or else I'd stagnate''. So now I have to think of a way to put that question to myself. Mhhhhhh will need to put my thinking cap on again.

The second one is why have you stuck with nursing for all these years and how did it all start? Most people don't realise my grandma was a nurse in the 1930s and she was really the one who encouraged me. Plus I never thought of doing anything else really. So I will do some writing and expand on that one.

I can see this class being quite emotionally charged at times if I let it, so expect some tears before bedtime.



In other news, I have been picking up on various blogsites about this new app. For the Iphone which is being developed by Anam

  

I first heard about it on Rachel's blog and was intrigued and now several other bloggers have picked up on it so in the spirit of blog friendliness here are some factoids................

1. Currently the App will only work on the iPhone, iPad and iTouch - one app for all is what I believe.

2. There will be a Lite aka Free version with 12 sketches.

3. Each sketch has a sample layout and a supplies list.

4. The price will be $4.99 US for the full app and for that you get 104 sketches plus the 12 free ones.

5. The launch date is still early November - I am working towards the 11th of November all going according to plan.



It sounds like an exciting chance for us scrapbookers to have scrapbooking ideas on the move.