WOYWW & California Here I Come!

I'm off to CHA, in LA in sunny California, next weekend so if anyone else is going then please do leave me a message and maybe we can link up there. I'm going with my friend Caz and leaving my DH home alone... all together now, aaaahhh for him, but lucky me and isn't he a love, so I'm taking my laptop so I can Skype, email and blog whilst I'm there.

WOYWW
 (posted early hours of Wednesday NOT Tuesday as listed) 

 Now brace yourselves for the disaster of the year........ my desk in all it's sullied glory, well and truly used and messed up in so much haste by your's truly. Why, oh why,  does it take hours to tidy up but only minutes to mess up?? I hope I have time to clear up before I leave for CHA as I don't fancy coming home to THIS!!!!

I'm one of over 100 crazy crafters who are brave enough to share our goings on in all their raw beauty via the brainstorm of an idea by the glorious Mrs D, our Julia of stampingground blog. Why not nosey along to some or all of the others or even show us your mess too.

Nothing much of crafty interest to show this week as the cards (and the reason I was making the mess) cannot be seen until received by the upcoming birthday folk. The only item, other than the morass that is waiting to be tidied, is the necklace I am in the middle of painting/ transforming with alcohol inks. Cheapskate as you know I am, I often buy quality bargains and alter them to the shades I love. I bought 2 for £5 at the East Shop in Cheshire Oaks and this one needed a colour transformation. 

I hope you had a peek at my photos of the spectacular King Tutankhamen Exhibition in yesterday's post! Well worth a visit and it is touring the World. 

Well....I made best part of two of these adult cloche hats during the drive....

 doh! as a passenger, silly!  amazing what can be done on a motorway in otherwise wasted time!

Making "little things" has given me the urge to get back into knitting bigger things, like cardigans, for my 3 grandees again and I must move that wool mountain I've accumulated before the moths move it for me. 

This time next week I'll be in California so who knows where or what my desk might be but I know there'll be lots to tell and share. Watch this space!

Tutankhamun Exhibiton

Today we went to Manchester, just 45 minutes away from home, to visit the Tutankhamun exhibition, which is on at the Museum of Museums next to the Trafford Shopping Centre until February 27th 2011 . It is so spectacular and I really didn't think I'd say that, or enjoy it so much, because everything in the exhibition is reproduced exactly to the originals and I usually prefer to see the originals! We went because of my husband's lifelong interest in Egyptology and it is one of the most interesting and well staged exhibitions we've ever seen.

There were no restrictions on photography, as there would be in the Cairo Museum, so I panicked when I realised that I had forgotten my camera. It is always in my bag... except for today! Luckily I realised that I had an old digital camera stowed in the car so they kindly let me back in and I snapped away to my heart's content. I'm amazed that these pics came out as well as they have, especially the mask above, as I couldn't use flash and the lighting was quite subtle.

There were reconstructions of the tombs exactly how Howard Carter, the primary discoverer, would have seen them at the first moment he broke through into the chambers and saw them by a single candlelight held through the first small hole in the wall. It was so eerie to imagine how it would have felt then the lights became brighter to see the contents in all their magnificence. After the scene was dramatically set we moved in to browse all items individually, close up and in great detail.

The detail and effect of the reproductions is truly amazing and the exhibits are works of art in their own right.

People were there, who had visited the originals in the Cairo Museum in Egypt, were remarking how authentic everything looked.

It is stunning to imagine that the originals are made of solid gold but the reproductions create a wonderful effect and look so realistic.

We  spent over 3 hours there and may have stayed longer but we were hungry, tired, and there wasn't a cafe! 

I especially love this head dress below

There were hundreds of items displayed but I am just showing some of my favourites. DH wants this throne!

True to form, I managed to find a bargain as they had reduced the calendars drastically to £1!! The exhibition moves to Belgium in Spring and they reckon that nobody would then buy them. They would sell them anywhere just for the pictures and that's just why I bought some.

If there is an opportunity, as it tours the World, to visit this exhibition... just do it. You won't be disappointed.

The Wheel of Liverpool & Weather Stone

This is the Weather stone I gave, just for fun, to my friend Olive for her recent birthday. With it goes a list to check against to tell the weather. I wish I could remember where I saw it on the web to give credit to the person who thought it up. The original one was just a plain stone on a string but I decided to make this stone more suiting to Olive! I did stamp on the stone but it can't be seen in the pic. Hope it gave you a chuckle Olive and I hope it's accurate!!

Hang the stone outside within view...

If the stone is Wet .... rain

  Dry ..... No rain

Stone makes shadow.....Sunny

Stone white on top..... Snow

Can't see stone.... Fog

Swinging Stone..... Wind

Stone jumping up and down... Earthquake

Stone gone.....Tornado

I also made Olive a HangAbout bucket from skeleton fabric I bought. One of those "Saw this and thought of you moments" as Olive adores spooky images like skulls and skeletons so it was perfect.

The Wheel of Liverpool

Last Sunday as we were going to the Shackleton Exhibiton (that is Shackleton of the North Pole expedition) at the Liverpool Maritime Museum we decided also to go up in the World on the Wheel of Liverpool. Quite a spectacle at over 60 metres high over the city and River Mersey. Whilst it was a beautiful sunny day it was bitterly cold near the river and DH wasn't keen on going so high up in the cold wind but relented when he saw that the ride was in air conditioned capsules. 

The views from the top were amazing. The Albert Dock and Liver Buildings beyond....

Beyond the capsule spot the modern RC Metropolitan Cathedral on the skyline. Locally known as the Wigwam and you can see why!

In Liverpool, we have 2 football teams, 2 Mersey Tunnels and 2 cathedrals.... we don't do things by halves...and here's the classic styled Anglican Cathedral, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed the red telephone box. Remember that as it is often a quiz question and you'll find a red phone box situated and working inside the cathedral.

Here's the wreck of the Hesperus alias ME!! The lollipop structure in the distance is the St John's Beacon and Radio City broadcasts from it's studios at the top! The presenters often mention how much it sways up there in the wind.

Looking right into the sun over the Echo Arena but it's just possible to see the yachts in the river and, across the other side, a feint view of the Welsh hills. We can be in Wales within 20 to 30 minutes thanks to the tunnel links under the Mersey.

Pay it Forward!

   I have signed up after seeing this great idea on Doone's blog. 

I promise something hand made to the first 5 people who comment on this post. However to be eligible, you must repost this status, offering something handmade to five other people. The rules are that it must be handmade (homemade) by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011. 
You should be a regular reader on here.
Ready, set, GO!

(I really don't think it matters what you make as long as it's a piece of your creativity... that's purely my opinion, and I, personally, am willing to post abroad. I suppose you need to state this but if you make something light if you ARE posting abroad it will be easier for your pocket.)

The first 5 get a handmade gift, no promises when, but soon, remember you have to do it too- so I shall check before I make it and if you have not paid it forward I shall move to the next person on the list that has commented.

ENJOY- HAVE FUN-MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY

 PAY IT FORWARD!

Talking of gifts, I must show my fab gift from one of my blogging buddies Sam. It took ages via snail mail to get here but I'm so pleased to receive a piece of her artwork. Sam is versatile and ventures into mixed media,....textiles, fibres, paper crafts, and now has been making some great friendly plastic and clay creations. Check out her blog sam21ski Thanks so much Sam for thinking of me!

This is the fab panel she sent me ...

and here is her really effective faux leather tag....

JUST FOR FUN

A brand new challenge and tutorial blog opens next Thursday, help spread the word... go to Sam's Blog and there's a button on my side bar but keep looking!

January Calendar Pages & 2 Blog Awards!

I've made a giant leap, and quite a commitment from me, to join in with making a Calendar Journal and at last I've completed my January pages. I've admired the many examples I've seen through the year and have wanted to start one for so long. Now I've just got to fill in mini notes of this year's happenings so far and keep up each month.  Take a look over at the kathrynwheel blogspot and also at Jill's blog thirdagemusings to see lots of what I should be creating! There are over 70 artists who have joined this year and whilst I don't really know what I'm doing yet and I'm just winging it, I've really been inspired by everyone else.

I chose a snowflake theme, getting so used to snow you see! The pages were dabbed with Distress Inks then splashed liberally with water. When dry, I stamped images of snowflakes in various sizes using several shades of purple and blue inks. The squares, on which I will write my mini journal, are salvaged from my collection of hand coloured card scraps. I hardly ever throw out any bits and now I know they will come in handy for this project through the year.

I had a lovely surprise from Doone, one of my blogging buddies, who has given me an award....the Stylish Blogging Award!! I don't know about Stylish, MOI!? Don't think so, but I'm grateful to be nominated and now I must nominate 4 others to pass it on to. Not only that, I also have to ditch the dirt on myself... confession time... I must tell you things about myself that you may not know.


I also received another award over Christmas from Anne but I didn't manage to follow it up due to all that was going on here so I am passing on, not one, but two awards to these lovely people I nominate. I don't know if I'm allowed to do this but I love breaking rules!
BIG THANKS to Doone and Anne for nominating me!
Sssoooooo...I'd like to pass awards on, in no special order, to.....

 my lovely friend Dot of trollymog blog, who's an angel and makes gorgeous cards.

To Vicki B of alittleinkling... who's blog I love to pop in on and who has such an interesting life.

To Tuire of strange enchantment... another blog I love and who makes such a variety of original art.
Also to Olive of olivesparaphernalia who is so stylish and individual 
and my kind of quirky!
8 things about me, in no special order

1) I love lakes and mountains, to walk and be near the sea but dislike being on a beach.

2) Favourite to eat and drink..... Anything ginger or cinnamon (especially if it has chocolate too) and red wine.

3) Flowers I'd choose... Freesia or anemones in large quantities.

4) Colours of preference.... shades of cerise to purple and turquoise to jade.... so obvious in my artwork!.

(I am Gemini so I always get stuck on two things when making a choice).

5) I try to make something creative every day and I try to do something good, both make me feel good about myself. Nothing in life is selfless!

6) I fear nothing crawly, as long as it isn't poisonous or dangerous, and I have held a rose tarantula and a giant snail (about 10 inches long), snakes and even bumble bees too.

7) My biggest wish is to be near my lovely family and that they are always safe and well. My hope and dream for this year is to move house to be nearer to them. A BIG move, a long way!

8) Amongst the jobs I've had.....I used to be a BBC Radio presenter for 8 years until I retired about three years ago. I loved it, as it involved social action and, as I can gab for Britain, no one ever told me to shut up!


Well that's about 20 things about me under 8 sections.... I told you I can gab and I've proved I'm indecisive!

WOYWW & Mini Corset Album

It should be WIZZ WOYWW.. the days fly by so quickly one to the next.

 Here on my desk I am still busy finishing off my Corset Mini Album that I started in last Saturday's Victoria Stampers workshop. My friend Jayne took the class and her samples are great, (video link to her's in my last post) and she in turn was inspired by Laura Denison's youtube videos and Followthepapertrail. Only a few strawberries to be seen on my desk this time as there is too much going on and too much on it!! But it's a working mess. 

If you'd like to see more than 100 more crafters desks then mosey on over for a nosey to  Stamping Ground, the blog of our illustrious leader ... the lovely Julia who started this bizarre weekly challenge.

The album cover below is made from Grunge paper, embossed and coloured with a mix of acrylic Dabbers, Distress inks, Perfect Pearls and Golden metallic paint, and I coloured the leather flower (a Primani bargain) with alcohol inks. 

Some of the tags for inside the album....still not quite finished.

The inside pages with laced pockets to hold the tags.

Every page has different ways to fasten the canvas into pockets. Zips, safety pins, ribbons, tape measure etc.

All the base pages are recycled from cereal boxes covered with 7gypsies papers

I must add that so many people comment that it sounds a blast at Victoria Stampers.... well it is a superb crafting day once a month and there are now a few places available if anyone within reach of Merseyside would like to join us, even as a guest visitor. People travel far and wide from Yorkshire, Blackpool, Manchester, Bolton to attend, which is a fair indication of what a good time we have. Contact me if you are interested.

News from the Home Front

We are getting a semblance of order back into the house now that the hall decoration is complete

 and the Grandmother clock is unveiled, wound up and ticking, once again, back in it's rightful place. I really missed it's chimes when it was still and all wrapped up during the painting. 

Many years ago we inherited a really old Grandfather clock but when we moved to this house 36 years ago it was far too big, and it needed repair and renovation, which at the time, we just couldn't afford. As a result we sold it to an antique dealer and with the money we bought this lovely reproduction clock, which has been part of the family for all those years. It keeps perfect time and has a lovely mellow chime ......  and I treasure it!!.

Corsets & a Flock of Lambs

Yesterday I had a wonderful, fun, creative day at Victoria Stampers with my good friend Jayne as tutor and a lovely bunch of great crafting buddies. We all enjoyed ourselves tremendously, as we always do, but shamefully, none of us managed to finish her fabulous "Corset Mini Book" project. 

To see a video of one of Jayne's superb finished samples here's the link;

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDhwfL9ixgE

This is as far as I managed yesterday because, there are so many elements to the project and each page is two sided, but to be really honest....we also did so much gabbing, laughing, eating chocolate, drinking coffee and catching up on the 5 weeks since we last met.

 I still have Grunge paper tags to make to go inside each pocket, which were created by the various forms of lacing and fastenings, before I can assemble my book. My cover is partially made and in the top left hand corner you can see the Grunge paper front embossed with a sun ray design. 

I'll post it again when it's complete but do take a look at Jayne's youtube video in the mean time.

Here's a Flock of Lambs especially for Doone 

(who loves superlambananas)

The sun was shining this morning so we decided to seize the day and get out and about. As we were heading to the exhibition we wanted to visit I spotted this flock of Superlambananas near the river front. Why had I never noticed them before? It's a few years since there were hundreds around the city during European Capital of Culture Year 2008 and now just odd ones are dotted here and there but this is a FLOCK!

 

WOYWW 83

An amazingly empty desk.... to start the New Year and first WOYWW.... bar the strawberries! I have been busy drawing a new design for a stamp plate for Stampattack but it's covered up to keep the suspense. Should be pressed in a couple of weeks so watch this space!. It's still a bit cold out in my workroom so I've got my cosy, spotty, green, velveteen throw to wrap round my legs to keep me warm whilst I was drawing.

Wondering why on earth I'm showing my desk ??? Call in on Julia's blog at Stamping Ground to find out what it's all about and you'll get the opportunity to spy on the desks of over 100 other crazy, like minded, crafters.

Mega busy this week as I look forward and plan for our (hopeful) move South. We (well a lovely decorator man) are freshening up the house before we put it on the market and so the hall stairs landing ... the hub of the house, is being decorated, first impressions and all that!...but EEEK! it is certainly taking over the whole of the house. What a mess. I daren't mention the spiders that came out for a breather (but lived to tell their friends)....it was certainly in need of a freshen up.
My Grandmother clock is eerily shrouded in polythene sheeting.

Paint pots everywhere

If it helps me get where I want to be then it's well worth it.

I received a lovely surprise from Sioux recently in return for a little favour I did for her... look at all these wonderful goodies. Far more than I deserve for sure but very much appreciated. Thanks again Sioux!

It always amazes me that no matter how much stash I own, whenever I get such a treat there are rarely any items included that I already have.

Tiny Hats !

We have a new tiny little girl in the family, thanks to my niece, so I have made her some warm hats to wear. I also made a bigger one for one of my grandees as she is growing out of her favourite hat.

I find Mums of today prefer bright colours for their little ones but I sneaked in this cream crocheted wool hat with ear flaps to keep her warm. 

It's a scaled down version of the one I made for my 17 month old  grandee ... below...but the one below is partly knitted. I must admit that I make them up as I go along but with 4 little girls in the family, aged 3 and under, whatever I knit fits one of them. 

The only trouble is that now their Mums want hats too so I'll have to get those 

sizes right!