Oh Happy Day...

Happy Birthday Bubby Boo! This gorgeous lil cherub turned 6 whole years old today. Where the flip has the time gone?!

And of course cheeky photo of the day award goes to the birthday boy himself! Flippin nutjob!

Floodwatch- well the water ran out today, they reckon it will be at least 5 days til they can get in to sort it out, but realistically more like 7-14 days. Watch for the swarm of flies following me about!

*touches wood* we still have power, fingers crossed it stays on. The emergency services, RAF and army have been working tirelessly all through last night and today to try and prevent any more water getting in to the sub stations.

I was stunned at the news today. The river I was taking photos of today has completely burst through its banks. The bone dry road I was stood on yesterday while taking the pics (in my last post), is now thigh deep. That was in less than 24 hours. The river is expected to peak in the early hours, and I seriously hope it will start to calm down then.

Gordon Brown flew in by helicopter today, to be fair though he did get down on the ground and visit one of the badly affected areas. A promise of more money for the clean up operation was made too.

The thing that has struck me most is the bizarre atmosphere. It is SO strange, and I have no idea how to begin to put it into words!

Thank you for your messages, we are fine, honestly. I do hope it stays that way, but we can cope without water, and power if it comes to it (although a real 'mare for people with no gas, as the water from the emergency bowsers that the military delivered has to be boiled). We are in a very fortunate way compared to so many others. I did spend the early hours of Friday morning lifting loads of stuff up higher in my scraproom, I am only just sorted from the last flood, so figured I may as well get stuff out the way as I had a bit of warning this time!

Lots of love everyone, and stay safe and dry -x-

I don't think I have ever updated so often! LOL!

I guess that's what comes from not knowing when you are going to have internet!

Brave or stupid? Ventured out of the house earlier for a while! This is what I saw...

That used to be a field- there were too many scenes like this, but much to my amusement, lots of people were boating in the fields!

That is the river, complete with burst banks, the bit of hedge you can see was where the bank was originally...another view below

Took that one from the car as we were driving through behind this van

and lastly, the gridlock...the bridges were covered with people, police galore, and news crews. Basically that is another part of the river (across the road from the above pics) and it had burst its banks there too, so all the roads were closed off. Nice to see a bit of blue sky though!

quick update while I have internet again.

The water situation is worse still. We are still ok here, the helicopters are out in force again, as are the RNLI.
The water is going off shortly, the processing plant is flooded and they cannot clean any more water, so once this is gone that is it. Everyone has been out panic buying, there is NO water in any of the supermarkets, grown men are pushing children out of the way to grab the last bottles off the shelves. People are trying to get through the floods to get emergency standpipes and bottles through for drinking water, but obviously that is no easy task. Not sure how long it will be off for, Sky news are saying wednesday night at the mo, but who can tell?!
Will try and update here as and when I have internet connection, it is easier and quicker than going round the forums!
Take care all -x-

Back, but not long how for.
Our town has been hit really badly by the flooding (the front page of the Sun today showed a place about 5-10 mins from me-if you have seen it- yes it really is that bad!). All the rivers have burst their banks, around 200 families in the area and neighbouring towns/cities have had to be rescued by helicopter and the whole place is madness (I couldn't even buy a loaf of bread today, lots of supermarkets were shut and those that were open had hardly anything.)
Poor poor Mart was stuck in it. He got on the motorway at 2pm yesterday afternoon to go and see his Dad, and arrived here at 7am this morning after having slept on a roundabout. Poor love was shattered, cold, thirsty, hungry and aching. And he didn't complain one single bit bless him. A couple of hours in bed, followed by a hot bath numerous cups of tea and some much needed food (he hadn't eaten/drunk since yesterday lunchtime) and he was fighting fit again. I spose he is still one of the very lucky ones.
Several friends were stuck in it (including a breast fed newborn with no Mummy in the car poor lil mite) another friend picked Mama up to take her to the car to feed her and they just could not get through. It took them over 5 hours to do a five minute journey (poor Dad had been stuck in the car with three screaming girls for 7 hours- then the car broke down too!).
Still we are all safe and warm now, unlike some poor souls. If I could get through to help the less fortunate I would be there like a shot, but they are not letting anyone through.
I hope Angela (omg I have seen Stratford) Jo (omg seen evesham too) KT and Boo are all ok and safe, and anyone else I know in the surrounding areas.

Consequently I have had no internet since yesterday morning, just checked it quickly now and found I have a connection, but no idea how long it will last so figured it was safest to blog incase it goes again. I haven't felt this cut off for a long time!

Lots of love to everyone and stay safe -x- Oh and if you have emailed me I will get back to you as soon as I can, I have loads to sift through!

so I am back yet again!

Have had a really difficult couple of weeks, and really needed time to reflect, and, well, just be.

Onwards and upwards (I hope).

HUGE thanks to Ali, who called me out of the blue. Just to lend some support and a friendly ear. I love you SO much girlie, and of course it was lovely to talk to you, much love to you and yours (and am hoping you are an Auntie now?!) -x-

Hard to say what I have been doing really. Bit of this, bit of that. Made a few bags, here is one I made, and am waiting for more stuff to arrive.

I am really amazed that I can actually sew! You see, years ago I caught what I though was the sewing bug, and got bought a brilliant singer machine for christmas. I figured I was never destined to be a seamstress. You see, I could never get a single good stitch from this machine, and neither could anyone else who tried. My Great Grandmother was an amazing dressmaker. She would see a dress, coat, or anything in a shop window, go back home and have one knocked up in no time. All of my Mothers clothes were made by her.

I secretly hoped there was something in the genetics, but alas, 'twas not meant to be.

That singer machine was overhauled and serviced, to no avail.

So a few weeks ago, I figured I would give it another go...but not on my machine...oh no, on my Great Grandmothers vintage Singer.

OMG it works like a dream.

It is one like this:

It sews every single stitch with the perfection one would expect from a modern machine like mine. Ok, so it has no fancy stitches, you can't reverse, it has no seam markings, and no fancy electric stuff...but you know what? It is SO totally worth it. Because now I CAN SEW! I really can! There is something quite satisfying about turning that old handle.

And of course it looks so darn pretty sat on my studio desk!

The next project I am tackling is an Amy Butler number...watch this space!

RIP Baby George.
Taken way too soon, finally laid to rest
God bless -x-

back again,

but only briefly.

It's been a funny old time since I last blogged.

Bathroom is pretty much finished, just decorating to do now, then the heated towel rail to go on.

Had some really dreadful news last week, I don't feel it is appropriate to blog about it, but it's hit really hard, and left me feeling so thankful for what I do have, and made me realise a lot of what I want to have. Big thanks to Flossie for really being there for me, and for saying exactly the right words at the right time- love ya hun -x-



I played along with the digi dares again this week, it is just too easy to scrap on the laptop, in fact I finished this in bed last night lol! (click for larger image)



So this was the dare from Janet:

Growing up, the song UNANSWERED PRAYERS by Garth Brooks was one of my favorites. The key phrase in the song is, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” I am sure we have all had things in life that we really wanted but didn’t get. Although it was sad/difficult at the time we can now look back and see why NOT getting it was the best thing that could have happened. So come on, scrap about the best thing you DIDN’T get.
DARE FLAIR:
– Use a quote or song Lyric somewhere on the page– Use at least one scanned-in item (ticket stub, CD sleeve, etc)
OR–
Try a technique that you have never tried before and tell us what it is (so we can tell you how great you were at it!)

So, this layout is about my first parrot Baloo. Anyone who knows me even slightly will know about my passion for parrots- most specifically African Greys. The short story: I wanted one for years and years.
I bought the cage, the whole setup, and just by chance I wandered by a reopening of a large pet store. I vowed never to buy animals from there, but went in for a look.
And there he was. I could not walk out of that store and leave him there. Fingers poking in the cage, staff trying to teach him to swear, the wrong diet. Just couldn't do it. So I bought him. Picked him up the next day, and settled him in. We bonded very quickly, I have never known anything like it. Sadly, Baloo was very very poorly, and died just 12 weeks later. It totally ripped me apart. He was with the very best avian vet in this country, and I swear I prayed so hard for him to get better. He lost his fight, and is now in a better place, free from pain and suffering.
Ok, so I may not have made any difference to any other parrot, but I am so glad for the time we had together. I loved him more than anything else, and looked after him properly. I feel I 'saved' him from having a miserable end in a shop with no real mummy.

So- back to the layout!

The journaling reads:
We had just twelve short weeks together before you lost your fight.
My heart was totally shattered, but I have always maintained that I was so happy to have given
you 3 months of happiness, all the love I had and the best possible care, rather than leave you where you were on your own with no particular person chucking a bit of food at you as and when. I am so thankful for the time we had together, I learned so very much from you my bubbabaloo xxx

I shed a fair few tears doing this layout- but I think it is healing to do :)

I used the title 'What good have you done, by saving just this one' which is also from a Garth Brooks song, 'The Change'. Beautiful lyrics, gorgeous song.
Had nothing relevant to scan in tho :(
But I did try something new- I used blending, embossing and shadows on the journaling (never done that before and probs never will again lol- just played!) and burned marks onto the parts where the staples go into the paper/photo-it's subtle- but I think it works.
Oh and another new thing for me- using a clip then erasing the part it covers to look like the clip was slid onto the photo. If that makes ANY sense at all lol! Not so good with the words today pmsl- I blame the weather!
Credits: Paper; Katie Pertiet, brush; Jason at designfruit, staples; Gina Miller, stitched corners; Sarah Batdorf, clip; Shabby Princess, font from two peas (I think- sorry!)