1 photo, 20 words x

Today I'm joining in with Abi's meme.

Take 6 women, 1 teacher & her 5 students. Multiply by 2 courses and 2 years 

equals friendship and achievement

Two on Tuesday ........................ on Thursday x

Oh dear, another day later. Will I manage the right day next week?

I do hope so. Anyway here is Two on Tuesday................on Thursday for your consideration.

My first is a lovely new blog and podcast site called Books on the Nightstand. I read about this site on Simon Savidge's blog site this week whilst trundling through my bloglovin lists of unread posts. As you may remember Simon's site is a fave place to find about new reads I might otherwise not consider.

This time he has linked to their Bingo card for Summer reading. What an ingenious idea I thought. It sort of inspired me a bit like Rinda's photographic scavenger hunt, in that it'll take me out of my reading comfort zone and perhaps encourage me to be more enthusiastic about different genres I shy away from.

If you go to this link you can generate your own bingo card for your reading too. I've got mine all ready so watch this space. Mine has a presidential biography and sci-fi on it, not my favourite so could be a challenge and a half.

My second offering is for those of us who still go Awwww at cute knitted animals. I love Julie's blog "Little Cotton Rabbits" where not only does she knit beautiful rabbits but now she has broadened into little knitted kitties. Being a kitty lover as you well know, I was excited to see her new designs and have bought the girl pattern to make. Perfect for the inner child in me but also for a little girl I know who might just get one as she's not allowed her own kitty yet.

Picture from: http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/my_weblog/2015/06/miaow.html

I just laughed so much when Julie put this picture up of the cat's heads in the making. I mean really what's not going to make you chuckle about kitties in the baking tin?

Picture from: http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/my_weblog/2015/06/miaow.html

See you soon.

Two on Tuesday ......................... on Wednesday x

Yep a day late, but better late than never right?

Today I am going to be brief and just tell you the two best things that have happened in the last week. Some of you may know this young woman (on the right with long blond hair)...........

Her name is Abi and I met her when we all took Shimelle's Blogging course. Alot of us became blogfriends and now real friends as I had the lovely opportunity to meet Abi and lots of other wonderful women at 2 blog events. The third is happening this September.


Abi was only 16, if I remember rightly, and was therefore still in school and working hard towards exams, being away from home (she was a boarder) and generally coping with everything life throws at you when you're that age. Well, move on a couple of years and she gained herself an auspicious place at Durham University studying for her degree and this past few months she's been finishing her dissertation and taking her exams.

Picture owned by Abi

Not only that, she has continued to craft, sew, knit and blog right the way through. Phew she's determined. To cap it all..........................

Last week she passed that degree with, wait for it, a FIRST!

Yep, that incredible young woman, for that is what she is, has gone and surpassed herself and got a top notch First class degree the clever thing. I am so proud and pleased for her you wouldn't believe it.


Secondly, she graduated the other day.........

Picture owned by Abi

So congratulations Abi, a First and graduation. My Two on Tuesday is complete.

Me on Monday x

Good evening from a sunny Somerset. I've been working all day so hence the late post. I hope you all had a lovely weekend.

For my family, this weekend is always full of eating, cake, present giving and generally having fun. It is my mum's birthday and this year she was 75. Wow she so doesn't look it. It's also Father's Day so we amalgamated the 2 on Saturday and met my sister and her partner at a lovely country pub.

Everyone had a fabulous meal, although some members of the party had eyes bigger than their stomachs so didn't finish their meals, naughty lol.

Yesterday, me, the mother and the father went to the Bishop's Palace in Wells where they were holding a Garden Festival. We spent several hours wandering around the beautiful gardens and looking at all the plants. One of our main questions was how on earth they have such magnificent hostas and what they do with the snails. We had lunch and watched the croquet and the housemartins doing their own version of the Grand Prix. Then went home for cake.

This is a close up of a large stained glass set of angel wings

The cygnets have grown loads over the past few weeks

Two on Tuesday x

It's Two on Tuesday time today and this week we're going all woolly!

Firstly, I found this brilliant post on Craft Blog...........Grow. After reading all of Sian's posts on sock knitting and loving my crocheting times, a bit of lovely wool will go down a treat this week. I mean did you know that camel's produced wool? Me neither!!!

Secondly, I was signposted to Tork Alpaca Shop via my friend Emma of  Lemonade Yarns. I adore alpacas. Don't ask me why, but I do. Look at those faces. What's not to love?

http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/Article_Pages_AboutUs.aspx

Plus they have a strong ethical policy

"From the offset TOFT has been dedicated to British eco-conscious processing. All of our handknitted yarns for retail are spun in the UK. Eco-yarns and locally sourced knitting projects are proving extremely popular, with large brands now releasing their own 'green knitting' collections. At TOFT we do not carry one environmentally conscious yarn line, rather ALL of our yarn and products are ecologically and ethically sound."

The shop is full of beautiful wool and beautiful patterns. I am loving this lovely reindeer for Christmas, maybe in Scandi colours.......

http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/PD.aspx?product=PATTERNS/edwards_menagerie/-Reindeer

or perhaps you'd prefer this beautiful Clemetis beret design to knit..............

http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/PD.aspx?product=PATTERNS/hats/-Clematis_Beret

or maybe even some super socks for Sian..................

http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/PD.aspx?product=PATTERNS/socks/-Chunky_Cable_Socks

Whatever you choose it would be lovely. Plus they have a fabulous Open day on August 1st, anyone want to go with me?

Did I mention I love alpacas?



Insert Alpaca instead of unicorn and you get the picture.

See you soon.

Me on Monday x

This weekend I was exhausted and just a little bit sickly :(

I am currently working 2 days a week at Citizen's Advice Bureau, I go to Group therapy one morning and do stuff for dad in the afternoon and the other two days I'm working hard in college. Pooped is the word of the weekend. Just pooped.

I have basically done some blogposts ready, eaten, watched Miss Marple and not alot else. Oh yes and I am currently babysitting the Mother whilst the Father is away. Mind you that does mean I get tea cooked for me instead of coming home and doing it myself so yay for that. She's promised me "Things your father won't eat". The mind boggles.

Hope you've had a fun weekend.

Find Your Voice 2015 x

Good morning. Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend. Today I wanted to share with you a new free summer storytelling workshop I will be taking part in. It runs over six weeks over on Kristin's site. Kristin is a self-described Feminist scrapbooker and runs an inspiring and challenging blog, shop and runs awesome classes as well as putting herself out there in social media with her Awesome Ladies Project. I have worked with Kristin previously on Find your Voice 2013 and she is truly passionate about scrapbooking, storytelling and being an empowered woman.

So tomorrow, this new 2.0 version of the workshop opens for registration and the workshops hit the ground running on July 1st 2015. Here is what Kristin has to say about this version...............

"Find Your Voice is my FREE six-week summer storytelling workshop. I first ran this course two summers ago, in 2013. It was both one of my favorite projects of all time, and one of the projects that inspired the most people. I’ve had so many people come up to me and talk to me about the impact that Find Your Voice made on their lives that I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing it back for an all new run this summer.

Find Your Voice is about figuring out who you are as a storyteller, what stories you want to tell, what you want those stories to look like, and how to insert your unique creative voice into your storytelling.

Find Your Voice is for scrapbookers, art journalers, photographers, or anyone at all who wants to learn how to harness the power of their creative storytelling.

Join us on July 1st for the Find Your Voice Summer Storytelling Workshop

(Registration & Pre-Classroom open June 15th)"

I will be strutting my stuff on social media as an Ambassador this time around, sharing and chatting with fellow workshoppers so do give me a tweet, follow on Instagram or join the Facebook group. You can find all the links here.

If you'd like a reminder of some of the details from the workshop in 2013 then go to this link and you'll find all my posts from that workshop. Kristin really gets you to did deep into yourself and look at where you are, how you got there and where you're going it to. I found it challenging but so worthwhile.

Come and join us, I can assure you that you won't regret it.

Two on Tuesday x

Happy Tuesday and welcome to another week of Two on Tuesday.

Last week saw the advent of Summer. It actually did get hot on a few days. It also heralded the beginning of my first choice........................

Rinda's Summer Scavenger Hunt.

You cannot imagine the wealth of happy dancing happening down here when Rinda's photography treasure hunt begins. I so look forward to her announcement every year and the day the full list comes out is just so much fun.

Usually I go, Mmh what can I find?

Then Mmh what will I never find?

By the end of the list I normally have a good idea of what, when and where I can take my pictures and hope and pray that I fit it all in.

This years list is just a quirky as always

1. A bouquet of flowers - yes please
2. An ornate door knocker - NT property perhaps
3. A person walking a dog (or other animal) -  Willow? Maybe not!!!
4. People playing a board game or card game - urhm I could stage it I suppose
5. Architectural columns - NT property again maybe
6. A metal bridge - not sure yet
7. A turtle - this one will be a challenge
8. Someone "plugged in" to social media - easy peasy
9. A tent -  could I get into Glastonbury free do you reckon?
10. A college or university -  again know where
11. A cellular tower or television satellite dish -  not sure but I can figure it out
12. A public restroom, bathroom, or toilet -  Dobbies have the best sinks
13. A merry-go-round or carousel - Clarks Village maybe
14. A traffic signal -  easy
15. A flag pole with at least three flags on it - not sure about this one either
16. A panoramic view, taken while standing someplace high in the air - anyone fancy The London Eye?
17. At least two people wearing matching outfits or uniforms - urhm?
18. An overloaded truck, car, bicycle or other vehicle -  anywhere during harvest really
19. A ticket booth -  London maybe
20. A natural body of water -  any excuse to go to the beach?
21. A photograph of you with a sign reading "2015 Summertime Photography Scavenger - ooh the horror lol

So I've spied a few blogs already sharing pictures, look forward to seeing more as the weeks progress.

Secondly, have you read any of Kirsty's wonderful series on her experiences of Guiding?  All last week, Kirsty explored her very personal adventures as a Guide, Guide leader and adventures both here and abroad. Kirsty has had the most amazing opportunities to travel and share her Guiding knowledge whilst inspiring other Guides to do the same.

circa 1974 aged about 9 years old

I have wonderful memories of being a Brownie, Guide and Snowy Owl. As a Brownie, I learnt lots of amazing skills which I still use to this day and other not so exciting ones but how to make a 2 pence piece shine using ketchup springs to mind as we always had to have 2p for the phone in our pockets.
I went on some great camping adventures as  Guide and met people from across the country. At The Queen's Silver Jubilee I was lucky enough to go to Westminster Abbey for a service celebrating Guiding and still have my badge to prove it.

I also found a secondhand copy of The Brownie Guide Handbook in Oxfam which I treasure. Being a part of these organisations helped me to learn about myself, about working as a team and about facing your fears, but most of all about being an incredible girl and woman.

I hope you enjoy reading Kirsty's wonderful stories as much as I did.

Were you a Brownie or Guide?

Me on Monday x

Happy Monday x

This weekend was a relax after the new routine of the week kind of weekend. The weather was lovely again so there was some washing out to dry, some weeding, some dead heading and some sitting outside reading a book time.

There was also a little bit of celebratory stuff, for myself anyway, as I have now gained my Level 3 OCR Business Administration Award, only one more module to go and I'll also have the Certificate. It was also a weekend to reflect on the new role I have taken on in my work and planning for the future. I'm thinking of doing another course come September, part-time again, but undecided as to whether to go forward or not.

There was a bit of Pinteresting, mainly around hair dos as my hair has gotten so long now, I need to learn some new ways of styling it. Yesterday it was a Heidi throwback, two plaits wrapped across my head. I've been looking into messy buns though as my hair is curly so I think I can carry it off.

There was also some creativity involved. A bit of playing with watercolour paints, practising pretty handwriting and finishing off an album for a class I've been doing.

All in all, a lovely time.

What have you been doing?

Two on Tuesday x

Welcome to the first Two on Tuesday of June 2015. Yes, it really is halfway through 2015 already, scary.

This week I wanted to focus on books because, well I love books. You can often find me sitting outside, if it's sunny, sipping tea and with my head in a lovely book. I love the smell of books, Kindle is ok but real live, smell the pages books, you just can't beat them in all honesty.

I read a few book blogs but my favourite is Savidge Reads. Simon Savidge loves books, I mean even more than me I think. He seems to live and breath them. I love reading his blog for interesting tips on new authors and books I wouldn't have read otherwise. But I also adore his blog for a series of posts he calls Other People's Bookshelves.

I am a terrible person, I go to people's houses and the first thing I often see is their book shelves, or sometimes lack of them. I'm not a snob, but I do think a house without books is just not normal. How can anyone live without them? Ok, ok so you can borrow them from the library or friends but you have to have them somewhere. Me, I have books everywhere. They're in the lounge in pine shelves and in my Expedit bookcase in big draws full. They are piled at the side of my bed, the cookbooks are actually in the kitchen and the craft books are primarily in my craft room. But I love reading about how other people organise their collections. Mine are not very organised really. I do have the odd collections together, namely Vera Brittain and Jay Bell books but as for the rest, not counting the cooking or crafting books, they are in a random order across my house.

If like me you want to see and learn about how other people sort their collections then you can find all the posts for the individuals Simon has interviewed here................

Two of my favourite posts so far have been about Lloyd Shepherd, the author's, bookshelves. He has alot of books I have so that's a great start but he also has a wife who hoards books so score twice and the other about Jeremy Largen a book lover and blogger primarily because I love that he has Anne Rice books on his bookshelves and his friends question it. I'd be saying "Brilliant I love her too".


My second is a book called "Cuckoo Song" by Francis Hardinge. I read this book several weeks ago and I was so mesmerised by it that I have also got another of her books in my reading pile called "The Lie Tree". I wrote a review on Goodreads so I'll share that below...........

"I loved this book so much.
Triss is any other girl growing up after WW1 with her parents and little sister Pen. Her brother Sebastian was killed at The Front. But one morning Triss wakes up with confusing memories of having fallen into water. Her parent's seem more distressed than usual and incredibly worried about her health. Her sister Pen is both terrified and angry with her , and Triss herself keeps feeling overwhelmingly hungry, nothing fills the empty hole in her stomach. Then she notices that leaves are falling from her hair and she begins to cry cobwebs. This is where the story becomes an adventure for one family damaged by grief and especially for two little girls, one who knows what is happening and the other who has no idea who she really is.

I thought this story was beautifully told, Triss and Pen are perfectly drawn, sibling pressures explored and the trauma of grief are so perfectly described. But this isn't only a book exploring how grief affects a family but also the changes WW1 caused to one country and the loss of traditions and folklore as this country tries to rebuild itself in the aftermath of so much tragedy".

I would highly recommend it.

So do tell me, do you organise your bookshelves and what are you willing to share as a book suggestions?

Me on Monday x

Brought to you in association with Sian.
This weekend was a mixed bag really. Weatherwise it was really sunny and really rainy. Time was spent in the garden potting up plants bought at the May fair. Having to have plants in pots because of renting and the potential of having to move anytime is always a challenge, but this year I've added some lovely new grasses, a Sedum, some herbs my mum grew from seed and soon tomatoes will be taking up home.

It's also been a tidy up the house ready for the letting agents to do their three monthly check. It is highly stressful for a fleeting visit into the cottage to make sure I'm not doing what I shouldn't.

It's also been a weekend of catching up with washing, blogging preparation and blog reading, writing reports for college and revising for a bookkeeping test, watching birds bathing in puddles and Willow sunning herself and bringing in half the neighbours garden on her tail.

But it's also been a time for sitting and reading, watching "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" and enjoying life in general.

Hope your weekend was fun too.

Using Amy Tangerine's Creative handbook -Blackout poetry x

So we are now on the home leg of this look at Amy Tangerine's Creative Handbook and I have had so much fun and creative joy from completing this project. I never thought that something so simple could really help engage my creativity again.

So Project 4 in the handbook is to create your own Blackout poem. I have seen this idea used before on the Internet, obviously, and primarily by this man, Austin Kleon. He has produced a book full of poems he created by choosing words within newspaper columns and then blacking out the remaining text to make a poem like this.........

Photo Austin Kleon

If you want to hear more about this method of creating poetry, this video is excellent in explaining how many other writers like Austin have used similar ways to create their own art.



For my project, I chose 2 pages of prose from a women's magazine and basically chose words or phrases that jumped out at me. I didn't want to make it complicated so I simply played around with words I really loved or which pulled me in and then blacked out all the surrounding text. This is what one of my final pieces looked like once I'd blacked it out.......

I was quite amazed when I wrote out the poem at how lovely it was and i really seemed to convey some of how I feel about creating things. So here is my poem............

Began with intrigue

once past loved the smell of paint

I loved how it made me feel

Something fresh and brave

Embrace new things

Enthusiasms - the moment, excited

Once big world learning

Indulgent, announced photography

Pictures?

Just go -working, hooked, illustration

Reminded me, unexpected benefits,

Recipe - friends, ballet dancers favourite warm-up

Listen to the silence - creativity and emotions

Transformed into joys

Do the unexpected thing

Surprise yourself

Curious woman

Amazing

So what do you think?

Two on Tuesday x

Good morning and welcome to Two on Tuesday the weekly post where I share things which I have found on the Internet, read, bought or just found inspirational.

Firstly, I would like to share with you a beautiful new kit club from right here in the UK - The Lollipop Box Club. I first read about this club on the beautiful blog of Curlywiggles who had the chance to receive a review sample box. It looked so beautiful that I went off to explore the website and find out more. The founder is Lisa, a crafter, vintage lover and of course a scrapbooker. The club only began last month and each moth the box you receive has a theme. The first kit was Alice In Wonderland.

Lisa describes the club as.......................

A Lollipop kit is a fun monthly kit that’s delivered to you every month.  On the 1st of every month a new theme will go on sale. The contents will vary every month keeping it fresh and exciting for you and full of surprise.  There will be a variety of crafts, vintage findings, cute stationery, a super easy mini DIY kit, handmade goodies, homeware, jewellery, a mystery gift for you and of course a handmade lollipop for you to enjoy whilst opening up your fun kit.  The contents will vary every month, so one month you may not get any jewellery, but you may get an additional piece of stationery.

Our kits are handmade and hand sourced.  The contents and colours may vary.  Each kit is unique in it’s own way which is why we love them so much. They are not mass produced.  We only make a certain amount of kits every month.  A lot of love, care and time goes in to each and every one.

I received my kit this morning and it is so pretty I didn't want to unwrap anything but I have to admit I did and it is even more lovely once unwrapped. The box is all wrapped in twine on arrival and there is a personal note inside from Lisa. And here is how it all looked..............

 First in the theme of Alice, an Eat me lollipop. Hopefully I won't shrink or grow taller once eaten. That would be a laugh.

A really small handmade clip holder which is magnetic so you can put it on the fridge or any metal board. Then a red pen with an origami bunny and a pocket full of punched hearts and some flower paperclips along with a Love rubber stamp. I plan on using the stamp in my parent's Golden wedding pages.

An envelope with red, heart shaped buttons and a roll of washi tape as well as two bunny clips.

A tea party kit because it wouldn't be an Alice theme without one. Inside the envelope are two invites and envelopes as well as a card with toothpicks on the back with a full explanation of how to make little party flags. I feel the need to invite friends round for tea and cake now, not exactly a hardship really.

The crochet heart is a hair clip.

Then an envelope with......................... open me...............

Inside was a handcrafted tag and on the back are 2 lovely hair clips which will be great for my very long hair.

A scroll with two sheets of book paper...........................

An envelope with drink me on...........................

Inside were a range of paper items including vintage pages, vintage playing cards, some sticky notes and a lovely paperclip.....................

Have to say I'm really looking forward to using the kit and for next month. The next kit is called Bon Voyage and looks amazing too................................

Secondly let me introduce a gadget. I am always intrigued by new things which could help me to print out pictures on the go. I have a Polaroid Pogo which prints out small pictures although sometimes I find them a little dark. But this gadget looks intriguing.

It prints direct from your phone via wireless and uses instant pictures, much like a Polaroid, to print your images. The fun part is that via the App you can use a variety of templates to add to your pictures and also add dates and information like where the picture was taken. 

Price wise it comes in on Amazon.co.uk at around £120.00 with the Fujifilm around £13.00 for 20 pictures. It seems to use the same film I have for my camera the FujiInstax mini which is the modern version of a polaroidstyle camera. The pictures are really clear and process virtually instantly.

I wonder if anyone has one of these printing gadgets yet and if it is as much fun as it looks. I can imagine it would be great for scrapbooking away weekends hint hint for September.