A Quickie . . .

I did it!!! I managed to squeeeeeeze in another Christmas project. This was inspired from a project by one of the lovely ladies from L B Crafts. It's on the 'Yours Artfully' blog by Lin.
I used my new Tim Holtz dies for the fence and the trees and I'm loving the fact that I'm actually (finally) using my Big Shot. It's on my list of things to do, so I've managed two hits on my list.

Other news...one of the pressies has finally arrived, unfortunately it's not the most urgent one so I've still got everything crossed that it will arrive in time. Still got one more day so you never know.
Okay then, think that's the lot so here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas and as I'm off to the cinema later to see the new 'Focker' film Christmas is well and truly here.
TTFN
Al xxxx

Hee hee - still managing to get to posting regularly. Once per week is pretty good for me.

This is what I've been up to this last week.

Gift tags inspired and slightly copied from Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of Christmas - 2007 (I think).




I've been knitting! And somehow all these pieces here . .



...will somehow and at somepoint end up looking like . . .




Yeah!!! Right!!!

Finally, this is my new and improved craft room. Tonnes and tonnes better and as you all know it's definately improved my creativity. And, I'm finally having FUN!!!






Think that's it for now excpet to be in with a chance of winning some Tim Holtz products I need to mention the L B Crafts blog so here's the link . .

http://yoursartfully.blogspot.com

I think that should work but I've never posted links and other such techno stuff but you can but try.
Thanks all folks
TTFN and if I don't get on again before Christmas - here's wishing you and yours all the very best xxxxx

Hi Blog Followers

Had a wonderfully productive day with my Crafting Friends on Saturday at Hazel Grove and managed to, almost, complete 3 projects. Since coming home though I've finished them all..whooo hoo




This is the finished metal book for my Pop for Xmas, the Baroque (ish) Tree and two tiny birdhouses which I got from Paperartsy whilst at the NEC in November. And, yes, more metal work - ooooo and even more exciting. I painted them with my 2009 Birthday/Christmas Gift to Self of Claudine Hellmuth's Paints . . . pick yourselves up from the floor people the surprises just keep on coming . . .

Been working back from the list today so will follow up later this week with my progress on that. I also need to take photo's of my now workable craft room. These to follow.

Also, some sad news . . . The Car has GONE!!! Finally the Beast has had it's day. My OH really needs a more practical car/van for work and the M3 Cabriolet whilst it's been fun to have it in our lives really isn't suitable for our needs anymore. One sad person at home today .
Latorz xxx

- the Blurb . . .

The top photo is the final project from the ArtsyCraft Weekend in Warrington - again I hadn't quite finished it, but it's all done now.
The Xmas Decorated Letters were inspired and sort of copied (but I couldn't get the same papers) by a project I saw whilst visiting Craft Range in Burnley (love that shop and love the cafe too).
The 'Metal Book' is the result of my experimenting with the metal from 10 Second Studio range - I'm quite liking the effect but I need lots more practice.
The final couple of photos are a WIP - work in progress - which I'm hoping to complete this Saturday at my local crop. It was inspired by a leaflet from Hobbycraft displaying a decorated 'Baroque Tree'. I suddenly remembered I had a tree, purchased from 'Maffiebabe' again from a few years ago. It's laid hidden and forgotton until then.It's all primed up and sprayed with silver glitter paint, just need to add, silver embossing flakes, more glitter and lots and lots of sequins. Oh what fun.
Think I'm up to date then..oh maybe not...got tags to do for Christmas presents, a Christmas Layout with a difference 'lifted' from the L B Crafts blog and an Advent Calender . . .I know, I know I've miseed 8 days, but this is more of a grown up one and my darling son is quite quite happy with the one he's got . . .hmm wait until he finds out whats been hidden in no 24!!!! I've also got some family Cards to finish . . .ohhh so much to do, so much fun.

Loving it xxx

Phew . . . . on a roll now

So the stuff I've done, from the top down -

The Santa Latch Rug - which I have had to confess to having had for approx 10years...but it's done now, made it into a rug and it looks fab (I think).

The other two projects are items which I made at the Artsy Craft Weekend organised by L B Crafts at the end of October. I'm including them in this blog as I hadn't finished them completly and the book thing had split at the spine so I had to get that fixed.
The pink sunk window view - my Mum loved and it matched her new colour scheme in her lounge so it's made it's way over to hers.

There is another project for the Weekend which I've also finished and here it is . . . .

Gosh . . .I'm on Fiy-er



To follow in my next quick post are a couple if WIP - or Work in Progresses. I love that expression.
There is the project for my Dad for Xmas as a little something - it's not the most professional finish but I'm trying out loads of new things and as he needed a little book in order to log his machinery in I thought I would give the old Metal Stuff from 10 Second Studio a go. Hope you like.

Stuff I've done!

Forgot to write numbers on . . .that's another 43 items cleared from my 'List' I've got 195 left on there...watch this space.

Oh My Gosh!!!

Where has the time gone. And, I assure you I've been soooooooooo busy . . . really. And, I even managed to get to the Gym!! Only the once tho - was bored so came home to do some ironing . . .ha ha ha ha not.
So, these are the jobs I've done from 'The List' - still picking away at it. The trick is to try and do a 'big' job as well as all the little jobs rather than concentrating on the little ones. Which are usually better/faster/quicker ways of getting a tick - ho hum still at least I'm getting things done which in turn is freeing me up to . . roll of drums . . . make things - which was the whole idea of me doing this project. Photos to follow on.

So, jobs done

Check if got paper stumps - didn't but have now (purchased)
Pop - metal book for his logging of machines - almost done so going to count it
Metal Work - see above - photo to follow
Use Metal - see above
Complete one project per month and upload piccies to confirm
Dad needs book to list his machines in - metal work
Gym - been once
Bev - been out with
Cathy - been out with
Joanne - been out with
Helen - sent card
Gillian - sent card & text
New school pants - bought, just need to alter
OH - spend time with - been to cinema twice, and tea twice since list started
Child - spend time with - movies for juniors, Trafford Centre
Brother & his Family - spend time with - spending Christmas Day with them
Spa Retreat - Jan 2011 booked & paid for
Christmas Market - 4th Dec - canx due to colds all round
Take dogs out during the day - yup but it's soooooo cold
Use Friday nights better - planning to craft/read/cinema
Sort redundancy paperwork - now filed
Sort insurance paperwork - now filed
Sort JSA paperwork - now filed
Perfume course for 'X' - not really cos got lots of other stuff for xmas
List of peeps to send xmas cards to - get from Mum - all done & posted
Check birthdays in diary - yup and cards got to write
Check have addresses for friends - yup in order to send xmas cards to
Sort cards ready for b,days - yup
More books onto Kindle - wish list started
Back up PC - yup
Replace ink - yup
Get spare ink - yes
Christmas Pressie list - all done and with Mother
OH - need ideas - clothes - having a rethink due to saga with eyes
List what gifts have got - all done and extras purchased
Gap under Patio Doors - checked and isn't one
Check for other gaps that unfriendlys can get in - can't see any others
Strip radiator - all done
Service car - yes last weekend
Find window cleaner who doesn't freak OH out - yes - been twice and OH approved
Front garden - weed and tidy
Little Safe - where's that then - in the garage, need to clean and check still works
Tool box for all the stuff laying around - all put away - think of getting shelves instead.

See!!! Told you I'd been busy!
Love yas xx

Just a quick post as I'm off to Abakhan to get the material to enable me to finish my Santa Latch Rug.
Also; here's the part of the list that I've managed to complete so far. Hoping it will give you a 'taste' of the kind of things that I'm managing to do. Still not been able to print the full list off yet as there's something up with the printer - don't think PC and Printer are talking to each other for some reason . . . maybe I should add it to my list.
So, here's the few I've done;-

The Whole List (and nothing but the list!!) Done Comments
1 Make a list Y This is it
2 Plan to action list Y Have made a start
3 Get it Done Y Okay
4 Keep it Real Y Definately
5 Review/cancel Sarahs Y Done - cancelled by email
6 Clear trolley Y Done and in loft - maybe able to reinstate at some point
7 Check if got metal starter kit Y Yes - in clear box
8 Combine all x-stitch threads Y All done and going back to Mums
9 Put other threads onto bobbins to file away Y All done and going back to Mums
10 Albums that have done - gifts for peeps - ask Mum? Y Have sorted as to what can be given as gifts
11 NEC 4th November Y Done
12 Need list and plan Y All done
13 Split out magazines Y And sorted to take to class and Mums
14 Making Card Magazines - I don't make cards!! Y Take to Class next week
15 Love your Handwriting book - use or lose Y Taking to class next week
16 A4 paper/card - will I ever use Y Gone to Mums (Mum will make my cards)
17 Tim Holtz - embelly box Y Got from NEC on 4th
18 Sort undies drawer Y and OH's done too
19 Review/Cancel Contact Lenses Y All cancelled
20 Learn to Cook I Y Taking to Charity shop next week
21 Learn to Cook II Y Taking to Charity shop next week
22 Learn to Cook III Y Taking to Charity shop next week
23 Contact Kerry Y Via Facebook - waiting for reply 9th Nov
24 See how much Car is worth Y Don't need to pursue this avenue anymore
25 Tax BMW Y All done
26 Do I need the Video player anymore Y Been dumped this wk - 11th Nov
27 Janet Spa Cheque Y All sent and paid up
28 Denise b,day card - 1st Nov Y Card sent
29 NEC list Y Been and done 4th Nov
30 Carolyn & Lee Gift & Card Y Got Married 30th Oct - not had reply
31 Pack summer clothes away Y In suitcase and in loft
32 Winter coat Y Got this week - 11th Nov
33 Get rid of excess keep fit stuff Y Taken to dump
34 Stepper Y Gone to tip
35 Finish Eat Pray Love - taking forever Y Hurrah!!!!
36 Riverside Cook Book - try Y Not got anymore
37 R4 card and games for child Y Has arrived - 11th Nov
38 Load B,day voucher onto amazon account Y All up loaded
39 Brother - xmas gifts for Mum & Dad Y Up to him as to what he does with the information now
40 Photograph room as it is Y Done
41 Upload photos onto pc Y Loaded
42 Load photos onto Blog Y Uploaded
43 Get Kevin - Done! Y Done on 2nd Nov
44 Empty garage Y OH did last w/end 6/7th Nov
45 Freezer - keep or go? Y Keep - started using again for Xmaas
46 Check shed isn't leaking Y Looks pretty water tight
47 Tidy stereo wires with that thing Y Looking lovely
48 Get rid of bed in garage Y Been taken by someone
49 Table into loft Y Put it into shed
50 Clothers drier Y Been taken by someone
328 Utility Room Radiator - doesn't appear to be working Y All hot and lovely now

51 things all done - 279 to go!
Rightie best get the rug measured and persuade my child that the trip to a 'craft' shop will be good for him. lol xx

'Procrastination' - is the thief of time. Apparently if you delay doing something it will take longer to do it later on - so says the Oxford Dictionary of English!
So, what have I done instead of getting stuck into my list....hmmm well, I did some clearing out - unfortunately neither were on my list but my OH's undie drawer (shocking) and his wardrobe are all emptied/sorted and tidied. His wardrobe is even split into clothes order eg, long sleeved t- shirts separate to short sleeved t-shirts. Oh God, is that my OCD kicking in?
I've also managed to visit Hobbycraft and bought the letters X, M & S - I'm hoping I've got an 'A' somewhere in my room for a Christmas project I saw in a shop and loved - Craftrange Burnley. Oh, and took the dogs out, met parents for coffee and toast, done shopping and ironing. I also made a lovely Thai Green Chicken Curry tonight - made the curry paste from scratch. Whooo!!!
So, to tomorrow. Tip first thing then I want to go to B & Q for some different storage drawers for my 'soon to be reorganised' room. (Should probably stop buying new storage at some point?). Am I still procrastinating?
Finally finished my book - I shall chat about that another time, suffice it to say . . I survived - many, many a time I thought about giving up but am really glad I stuck with it. Perhaps I should just leave it at that - 'Eat Pray Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert.
TTFN
Al xxxx

Here's the reason I'm doing my list!! In the hope that by showing these images it should give me the proverbial kick up me bum?

Oh gosh, they really are quite shocking. Luckily it is only the one room that is like this. The rest of the house has . . nothing in it (as my friends would confirm).

So . . . I've not posted for Wednesday, Thursday and well . . .Friday if you look at the time. But. I am currently 'waiting up' for Kevin the Kitten to come home!. Well he didn't come home earlier so of I went to the cinema (Jackass 3D - fab as usual!!) but now I feel like a bad mother cos I didn't make sure he'd got the early bus home before all the fireworks started, and now, I don't know where he is and I really really need to go to sleep. Who'd have pets. Swear they are worse than children, but at least they don't answer back.
Update - Wednesday, did the jobs I said I would (then watched TV for the rest of the day) well, it would have been rude not to. 'Confessions of a Shopoholic' - love ít.
Thursday - trip to the NEC. 2hrs ish to get there . . . fab fab day (thanks Mom) but . . . 5 hours to get home (including a water break at Keele Services or it could have been Knutsford (think it began with a 'K') urgh, (that boy's head is on 'the wrong way round!!'). Sos Mum!!! Just had too.
Have started converting the list to pc friendly. Need to take photos's of craft room ( and yes Anne, it's worse than the photos you saw at Harrogate that time) even though when you visited it all looked good . . . confession time. . . .it was hidden in another room.
PS Still not finished my 'book' and I know I said I would talk about it next time I posted, but, I really don't have the energy. It's not like it's a bad/boring/sad/happy/interesting book - it's all of those. but usually I've read a book in 3-4 days max. I've been reading this one now since I spent w/c 23rd October in Majorca.
I'm now watching create and craft. Need to shout Kevin again then I'll have to go to bed.
Nite nite followers . . . I love you all xxxxx

Ok, so made a start (small) on the list today. Namely got Kevin the Kitten de-nuggeted. He's back home now and my son thinks it's extremely funny dangling an old dried conker in front of him and giggling. I've also reviewed my one and only Craft Kit Subscription (sorry Sarah) and have cancelled that and also my contact lens subs. I just need to follow up with emails and phone calls. I'm afraid I got distracted with the 300+ emails I had on my PC waiting for my attention. (Also on the list).My solution . . . . I deleted all but 4 of them!!! Phew....I had stuff on there that's archived in other websites on the internet so I can always re access them should the time ever arise when I'm stuck for something to do . . . .
I also managed a little Christmas Shopping, well it was too good to miss. A Half Price Toy Sale @ Sainsburys. Perfect for stocking fillers. Lovely.
Oh and I reinvested an e-bond that I'd forgotten to do anything with - seemples!!
Plans for tomorrow involve changing euros back to sterling, cashing in a Gas/Electric overpayment & changing my sons shrapnel savings into whole monies - none of which are on my list but then hopefully Father (Pops) will come round to halp sort the wires in the loft ready for me to continue boarding it out. Watch this space.
I've got 'Wheeler Dealers' to look forward to tonight - think I might carry on with my book - more of that later.
Laterz xx

I'm back and . . . . The list is done - although I added a couple of more things to it this morning. So, I'm going to stop increasing the list and come clean! I have a total of 329 items on my 'To Do List'. Eeeek!

They are a mixed bag of things so I thought perhaps I should just split them into 3 areas of attack.

Art & Craft

Body & Soul

House & Garden

These sub divisions do however need to be split into further segments but it would just get increadibly tedious eg: Art & Craft- covers all my crafty endeavors, to the sewing that I've not yet completed to all the craft supplies, items to alter. knitting, sewing, reading, music, books (and the craft room that I need to sort so I can do these things) and so on . . .

Body & Soul are things like clothes shopping, sorting finances, visiting/emailing/meeting people that I see regularly or for things that I just know will make me feel happy to be doing.

Finally the House & Garden section covers . . . well, all jobs not yet done/finished/started on the house and garden!

See what I mean . . . lots and lots of sub sub sections.

So, the list is 329 items long (330 if I add, at my Friend Karens request, to 'nag' her to get her own blog up and running).

I will attach the list at some point (when I've worked out how to and typed it up of course - currently in long hand) and post photos of my progress. I suppose, too, I know should have a time limit and I know I said in my first post that I would follow my progress for a month. Looking at the list perhaps it should be longer? You'll see what I mean once I post the list and make a start..hee hee

Well, if I was Thirty14 yesterday, perhaps I should keep going until I'm Thirty15?

TTFN xx

This 'Blog' is going to start from November 1st 2010 - when I will be (in my words and in my head!!) 'Thirty 14' ie 44 years old.
It is going to follow a month (maybe longer if I get the bug) of the currently chaotic and non productive life I lead, in the hope that I will achieve more things if I'm to post about them every couple of days.
I am going on holiday in 5 days time and will be taking a notebook with me in order to write a list - refer to Mike Gayles - 'The To Do List' in which Mike makes a list a 'real life' things and makes a pact with himself to complete the whole 1277 items in 12mths. He engages the support of the 'Sunday Night' gang and emails everyone in his email address folder to tell them of his intentions, with the idea that if more people know he should feel less inclined to give up at the first hurdle. This blog will be my slight imitation on this.
Things to do/complete/achieve will all be 'real life' things, nothing like going sky diving/ shark swimming or the such like, just normal everyday things that should be done and well . . . never get done. ~Plus some items from my 'wish list' - see later.
This therefore is my 'mission statement' - make a list. GET IT DONE!!!
Laterz xx