Where to start?

There's so much to say, I just don't know where to start. 

Once again I lost my way with everything to do with blogging. I haven't made anything with paper or fabric for ages.....but my love of photography, digital altering, iPhoneography, styling and moodboards has grown.

Over the past few months I have probably spent too much time on Pinterest, Instagram and FB; they are so easy to use.

Things haven't been great for me, health-wise, and when I'm struggling with those issues I can't focus on the whole process of blogging; the planning, composing posts, visiting blogs, sorting and editing photos,.......plus I don't feel I have anything worth saying (or showing). But I may be on the verge of finally getting a diagnosis (after almost three years). More of that another time. 

Anyway, I think I'm ready to start again....

Here are some of the things I'm  LOVING at the moment:

• Hipstamatic: the best photo phone app in my opinion
• Snapseed: a close second
• Instaframe: for grouping photos and adding text
• Instagram: quick, easy....and I've made lots of new friends there
• Digital scrapbooking supplies: especially from Katie Pertiet and Anna Aspnes
• Mood/Inspirationboards:  see http://www.pinterest.com/linvee/inspirationmood-boards/
• Photography/Lifestyle blogs: especially Keeping with the Times, Thoughts from the Desktop, Lavender Bleu, Creating beyond the Layers, The Simple Things, Cider with Rosie, Faded Charm, Kate's Creative Space, Valdirose and my lovely friend Zoe's blog Hymala
• Pinterest: where do I begin? I just adore it...... so much inspiration
• Shades of Grey: (but not 50) ....and yes, I'm moving away from bright colours (really!)  http://www.pinterest.com/linvee/shades-of-grey/
• Shades of White: http://www.pinterest.com/linvee/shades-of-white/
• Styling (Photography):  http://www.pinterest.com/linvee/styling/    ....especially loving those dark backgrounds and shots from above

So what have I actually been doing? 

• Going a bit crazy with Hipstamatic......

I think I like these dried coneflowers even more than the living ones....

• Trying a bit of black and white
  

• Making moodboards .......

 (Apologies to Instagram friends who have already seen some of these)

• Planning Christmas projects .....  I have a tray of bottle brush trees in my art room awaiting transformation:

Last week we went to the Christmas Market at the Derby Roundhouse (organised by fabulousplaces.co.uk). 

It truly was a fabulous day and I was very grateful to feel well enough to enjoy it. 

I was mesmerised by the incredible setting, the attention to detail, the exhibitors (all from Derbyshire and many of them craftspeople), the food, the vintage tearoom, the decorations .......it was very special. And only a ten minute train ride away! The Roundhouse has a fascinating history; it's the world's first and oldest surviving railway roundhouse, built with the help of George and Robert Stephenson. If you click on the link you can see a 360 degree view of it.

We had VIP tickets which meant we received a bag of treats and samples plus we could use the private lounge and have free prosecco and cake. Brian was particularly grateful for this as he was able to relax and read his paper whilst I did a workshop run by Birds in the Attic.  It was so nice to meet Klara there (such an inspiring lady) and we had a lovely time making snow globes.

This was our view of the Roundhouse as we entered..... 

....and here are some other images from the day.

My little snow globe is bottom right.

I can't go without an Angel update........

She has two loves in her life at the moment (apart from me ;-)

• The scratching board we bought from Zooplus for £3.99 (what a bargain....she's never off it!) She's decided its for scratching and sleeping.
• Froggy (the green monster she's cuddling in the first pic). She carries him around the house in her mouth like a kitten.....then fights with him. (Maybe its a good thing she never had kittens ;-)

That's all for now......I'll try to come back very soon to show you more of my snow globes
(I'm currently tying little trees on top of cars). Oh the joys of Pinterest....... :-)

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a great Christmas.
Things didn't quite go according to plan for us because Mum had a bad fall 4 days before Christmas Day and fractured her femur (close to the hip replacement she had done last Christmas.....eeek!)  And no -  the snow and ice weren't to blame - she was just trying to get to the toilet at 6.00 in the morning and stumbled outside her bedroom door.
So as you might expect, I've been rather busy and apologise if I haven't managed to visit your blog over Christmas. I know you'll understand and I promise I'll be with you in the New Year.

Peachy is sad that the snow has gone....he absolutely loved playing in it and we had difficulty getting him back in the house. He looked so funny chasing snowflakes and jumping in the air....

....but Christmas tired him out, poor thing :-)

Hope you're not too tired after all the festivities and you still have some energy left to celebrate the start of the New Year. 

I shall do my best...... ;-)

Merry Christmas!

Had you given up on me? I've had a computer-free fortnight whilst I caught up with some jobs and made some Christmas gifts. Of course during that time the snow and frost provided great photo opportunities in my garden....

...and apparently its not done with us yet :-( 

I used some of my photos for digital art. The one at the very top shows the view from my window. That, and the ones below, have textures from Kim Klassen and DJ Pettitt.

 

Here are some of the gifts I've been making - felted brooches, purses, washcloths (knitted and crocheted).......

...the pink and green cloths are tied up with rhubarb and custard scented soap!

 

I'm quite proud of my flowers as I've only just taught myself to crochet.

I met my friend Clare for lunch yesterday and she gave me this wonderful gift...... a little cat decoration which she had hand-stitched herself. The snowflake stitches and the fish bones are so tiny!! Truly something to treasure...I love it!

I'm off to the shops now to find some dancing shoes for a party I'm going to this evening with my sister. Its all go.... :-)

I hope you all have a truly joyful Christmas.......

Love from Linda xx

Let it snow......

Well I hope everyone is coping ok with the snow...wherever you are in the world (ok; so not my friends in Australia!) I thought we were having a snowy time in England until I saw Patty's photos here - all I can say is WOW!!!! Too deep to even make snow angels!
Talking of which....my current favourite album is Tori Amos's 'Midwinter graces' - have a listen to 'Snow Angel', then search for 'Pink and Glitter', 'A Silent Night With You' and 'What Child, Nowell'......just wonderful. What a voice she has......



There are so many art projects I want to get started on - but for the past couple of weeks I've only managed to make felt flowers .......
.....but after Christmas I will be doing DJ Pettitt's digital art/Photoshop workshop and I CAN'T WAIT!! Click on the picture if you want to take a look.
And I have also subscribed to Suzi Blu's Angel Workshop...so excited about that as well. Again, you can click on the picture to find out more.
Hopefully I can get back to regular posts in January. Mum is getting stronger and will soon be able to manage on her own (thanks for all your good wishes BTW).
So till then.........

Merry Christmas
Happy New Year

to all my wonderful blogging friends.
I wish you love, peace and joy..........

Busy, Busy...........

Life has been rather hectic just recently....mum was in hospital for a while having a (second) hip replacement. She was lucky enough to get a place as an NHS patient in a private hospital but it was quite a long way for us to travel. Now she's home she needs a lot of support and she's missing having dad around to help her. But we are managing ok and I was very grateful that my sister came up to help over the weekend.
I recently did an inchie swap with Rini and can you believe it took my parcel 4 weeks to reach her in Holland! (First class post?!) We got so fed up that I sent her another parcel last week - then, of course, the original one arrived.
Anyway......these are the felted, embroidered inchies that I sent to her.
I've been making Christmas cards in between visiting mum. Used Angelina fibres, Christmas stamps, beads and needle-felted fabric.
Lat night I had fun at the Beetroot Tree Gallery making Christmas tags with my class.
A couple of weeks ago I bought some plain wooden decorations at the German Christmas market in Nottingham.......then painted and embellished them.
And I couldn't resist buying this nougat at my local delicatessen shop (despite the price...eeeek!) I'm thinking of using it as inspiration for a future piece of embroidery! It tasted so good I went back and bought another piece for my mum.
I hope you're all enjoying your Christmas preparations......have fun!!!

Peace........

This is another felted/Angelina piece with an old Christmas stamp stitched in the centre, slightly bigger than a twinchie. I had problems capturing the colours with my camera.....they aren't quite right here somehow.
Have you seen this years stamps? They are similar to this one - and very beautiful. They feature the work of pre-Raphaelite artists. You can view them here.

I've been looking after a poorly husband this week.....and making Christmas tags! The first three have images from Lynn's lovely collage sheets which you can find here. The Father Christmas was cut from a piece of scrapbooking paper....and the 'Noel' tag is really red, not brown!







Before I go, I just wanted to show you my parcel of goodness from Jean....I really love the colours she uses in her work. I'm so happy with our 'trade'; thank you my friend!!

Icicle Gift Box

My lovely friend Lynn has been busy creating collage sheets for Christmas - you can find them in her etsy shop here. I decided to decorate an icicle gift box using some of them.... below you can see it spread out. I used Distress Ink pads for the background and a PaperArtsy stamp. If you'd like the template for the box its here......I'm going to add side flaps next time I make one.
Lynn has created some fabulous tags and gift cards; I recommend you go and see them on her blog (and don't forget to check out her etsy shop too).
I'm in the middle of making some other things using her collage sheets......more tomorrow.

I spent the weekend in Knaresborough with my husband; we were visiting friends who have recently bought a cottage there. It's a really beautiful town with an old railway viaduct over the river. This is the photo I took from the castle.......click on the pictures.

Here's our hotel (right next to the railway station).

We walked quite a few miles with our friends and saw this tiny chapel cut into the side of a rock in 1408. See a better photo here on Wikipedia.

All around the town there are Trompe l'Oeil paintings in false windows....these are on Blind Jack's tavern.

Finally.....a gorgeous bric-a-brac shop with Green Man plaques and gargoyles outside. (You can see the price if you click.)

Our last few hours there were spent watching a wonderful Remembrance Parade go through the town and as we walked back to our hotel we could hear everyone singing 'I Vow To Thee My Country' in the castle grounds. If you'd like to read the rather poignant words, they are here.....