Give me....

Strength!   I'll come ome back to that topic.

Meantime a spot of crafting, very unfulfilling crafting.  Guess I wasn't in the mood and it showed!   Was going to make a new page for my AB book,  here is the not so great result,  even worse I'd got it the wrong way round!   I knew it wasn't going to go well when the blue dragon fly fell apart,  guess I should have called it quits then.  But no, decided to plough on, with regret as nothing was working,  the idea was there, but the creativity had got up and flown off.   I was annoyed as the stamping was just right, and I used a rockabloc, which can be a bit hit and miss, well it is with me.

So if at first you don't succeed, plod on. Second version, not sure I am any happier with this, and, by the way it is still the wrong way round!  Made changes,  at least I remembered to get rid of the rogue bit of card,  embossed the script,  only used one dragon fly...   but still not happy with it.  will have to revisit the page tomorrow, when hopefull I'll be in a better mood. 
I was in a bad mood cos of my dear mum, she had been very trying all morning!  I was in a happyish mood when I awoke,  I'd had a good nights sleep,  weather was a bit iffy.   But mum did her usual thing of just remaining inert...  now you wonder why should that bother me?   Well because she has an infection,  it is a long term infection and it needs to be dressed every couple of days.   So until mum chooses to go get washed and dressed I can't leave the house!  Very bloody annoying.  If I ask her to get a move on then I get my head bitten off,  obviously I am supposed to be without feelings.   I have the tricky task of suggesting she attend a day centre - wish me luck.   I know she will enjoy it, she will have company, folk of her own age and it will get her out of the flat.  It will also allow me time to myself to get on with things.   The government sees fit to pay me nearly £55 per week for being a carer, that is 24/7, the minimum wage is £6.08 per hour...   need I say more?    My mother's daily wish, well she wishes it several times a day actually is to 'die'.   That is what I hear on a regular basis, my own mother wishing to be dead!  She says this in a loud enough voice for me to hear,  if I respond she starts arguing,  I have no energy for that,  if I point out she is being utterly selfish she takes umbrage and it is still my fault.  Mean while my sister suns herself in Portugal and my brother has his head in the sand.  Great huh!  Any wonder I was not in a crafting state of mind?   

I wasn't even able to watch Barbara Gray in peace,  mum was still in situ and making barbed comments... 

Then this irony occurred to me.  Explain how there are two pensioners in the UK, who are provided with several substantial residences,  with staff on hand to cater for all their needs,  they get free travel for the UK and around the world,  they are already well off, own plenty of property/land yet the state gives them a very generous payment.   Other pensioners must apply for extra benefits, negotiating the complex system,  free travel has been curtailed and only applied to England,  they must pay for any care they receive,   and worry about the time when they are no longer able to be independent. Mmmm,  something is wrong with this picture.    Yes, Cheers Liz, didn't you get lucky? 

It's the Weekend!

Way hay!    Yep the sun is shining,  it is warm and the Olympic torch has made its way through our town, and city, even took a trip on a ferry!  And how did I spend this momentous day?   A supermarket shop!  

And then I played with Craft Artist Pro.   I realised, yes the penny does take a while to drop, that I could make some banners for my blogs!   So having downloaded the free stuff, I ended up purchasing a few more digi kits.  A bit of browsing and I discovered the official Jubilee site, with official photos.  So more playing,  well it is the only way to learn as far as I am concerned.   As you can see I am getting the hang of things now,  thanks to a bit of telly watching,  tuned in to CnC this morning for the Serif program,  and learned a few bits and bobs.  Stuff I was missing mostly,  it was a case of paying attention to the computer screen! 

I had a bit of fun with this layout,  not exactly my best work, but not bad for a first attempt.   I am more chuffed with the two banners I made for the blogs,  I'll continue to mess around with the program till I get what I want.

So I was crafting, but digi crafting.  Now I'm on the look out for photos of the Olympic torch in our town,  got a few,  but would like one of it on the Ferry, that would be memorable.  I did have a thought about making the effort to go down to the beach to see it, but in my present poor physical state it really wasn't an option.   I can't clamber over sand dunes or rocks any more, not like I did a few years ago for the Tall Ships.  I wish I could.  Still not feeling amused at the thought of further surgery!  

And the Jubilee!   Well good luck to them, but I also look back on the mean spirited lot who were in government in 1977, the other jubilee,  and I was in the army.  We all wondered if we'd get a jubilee medal, but some tight wad decided that they'd ration the medals to one per camp! Charming.  Alls I remember is that it was a Regimental weekend, meaning all leave was cancelled, and a lot of marching and ferrying about of officer types.

Enjoy the weekend folks,  whatever the weather chucks at us!

Interesting!

Well my Craft Artist Professional software arrived today.   Was chuffed as I wanted to get going with some posters.  So as one does, CD inserted into drawer, click okay to instal and... product key... mmm.  Check cover,  check invoice, no product key!    Look on website, nope, no info there.  Check CnC site, and check reviews...  guess what if you already have Craft Artist compact installed you can't access your product key for professional version!   So had to uninstall Craft Artist Compact, and start again, sure enough this time product key for Pro version appeared.  Now a note on the cover would have been handy!  I did also  email Daisytrail and they did get back to me pretty quickly,  but just an NB on the CD cover and all would have been okay! 

So once installed then had to download a few digi kits,  and then try to fathom out how it all worked!  I am the dive in type.  But I did check out the tutorials which are very helpful.   This is what I've made so far, still got stuff to do on it but at the moment it is about trial and error.   Why get this? Well I wanted something as versatile as Microsoft Publisher, but a lot cheaper,  and this certainly seems to fit the bill.  I've tried some CD crafting and not really enjoyed it much,  and this isn't really for crafting, but poster making and stuff like that.  From what I've seen of the digi kits they are well thought out. 

Other than that it was a boring day,  and we were back to the usual weather - rain!  But the dull day did allow me to give the windows a wash.   Got a call from social services,  they are sending me a list of day care centres,  the social worker suggested that mum visit them and see if she likes any, and if she does then they can make the referral.  I've left aside the respite care, one thing at a time I think is best.

Well we have the torch coming our way tomorrow...   for some reason it is going through the posh part of town only!   

It's been a bit warm...!

I've been at melting point all week.  Love the blue sky,  love the sunshine... just a little less heat!    I even risked getting out the summer wardrobe, which usually spells the end of any warm weather - but not this time.  Nope it went on and on,  which has been lovely.   Though hot weather is not great for crafting. One feels guilty for being indoors,  and then it becomes too hot to do any crafting. 

I managed this on Sunday,  not that happy with it, but my patience was starting to run out.  And I don't like straight photos!  So why are my photos straight?  Cos I was doing a scrap lift,  but this needs to be done again.  I like the colours and all the bits, just not how I've used them or put them.  I gave up after this and watched the golf.

Monday and Tuesday were devoted to house stuff.  I also went to the centre to get a new assessment,  been putting it off but had to admit that I needed more help.  I'm not ashamed of asking,  it is the bit where I have to tell mum that is fraught with problems!  Walking on eggshells doesn't come into it, it is more akin to a minefield with eggshells.   When I tell mum there will be an explosion,  then after she's had it explained to her and she has calmed down she will see that I am not about to shunt her off to some remote place.  Rather this is about giving her a better quality of life and me.  Already faced one explosion, when I explained that the Occupational therapy lot would be visiting to see if I can get a walk in shower installed.  This is actually something mum has wanted, but when I told her on Monday that I'd got the ball rolling again she said she didn't need a walk in shower... give me strength!   So wish me luck when I approach the subject of respite care and a day centre! 

Today things had cooled down, and I have a friend with a birthday next week.   Took a trip to the craft shop, any old excuse!   But then spotted this gorgeous Indigo Blu stamp,  perfect for what I wanted.   I made the mistake of buying the kling on mount,  rather than U mount,  NEVER again!   It is rubbish.  Anyway I scored a piece of A4 white card,   then stamped the 3 poppies, coloured them with Aqua markers,  embossed a piece of light green card,  stuck it at a jaunty angle,  place 3 poppies on top using pinflair, stamped the sentiment,  used cut and dry to ink the edges, and put a white border down the edge, and two glittery dragon flies  just needs the happy birthday bit now!  Very happy with the colouring, not used the Aqua markers much,  I did add a few gems to the middle of two of the poppies. 

On Friday we have the Olympic torch coming through,  I just think it would have been more meaningful had the runners been passing one torch,  as it is they are pretty much all flogging them off on ebay.  Yesterday I took at look at the torch webcam,  it was in Wales,  aside from those nominated to run with the torch there were also the coporate types, in this case a few Russian business men - what have they got to do with the London Games?    To me the Olympics has got too big, it is almost out of control.  And why oh why is is shipped round the world?   It costs a fortune to stage it, so why not pick one location, get all the Olympic associations to fund it equally, and stop all this nonsense. 

All for now folks...

Freaky Friday...

Why is it that when you need to wake up early you wake up extra early?    Or I do!    4 a.m.,  that was my wake up time,  a useless time to wake up,  not near enough to a time you could sensibly get up,  nor enough time to get back to sleep - well not when it is warm and sticky.   My fault, left the duvet on,  it has now been abandoned,  back to a cotton sheet and bed cover.

I had to be up for hospital appointment,  been putting it off for last few months, think I knew what was coming.   After the usual delay,  and xrays,   radiographer was an amusing chappie,  he realised I was an old hand...   Short delay before seeing consultant, he is now a friend!   Well he treated mum for over 3 months in hospital, then he got lumbered with me and my busted knee.   Well xrays weren't pretty,  oh the metal knee looks nice,  knee cap is more like the moon surface, and it now has a hole in it!   So my choice was -more surgery or more surgery!  Great...  I've enjoyed the last 18 months,  it has been very nice NOT seeing the inside of an operating theatre!    So more surgery,  I was not a happy bunny.  I needed air con!  Off to retail park,  got lampshade as requested by mum, then decided to buy her two new tops,  she's been moaning about putting on weight and nothing fitting.  So thought I'd take a chance, figured either she would like the tops or hate them...    Actually she liked them!  Success.  I know she would like to do her own shopping, but she can't get around the shop and I can't push her in a wheelchair.    Then I had a bit of 'feeling sorry for myself',  off for more air con in Tesco.   Only one thing to buy - salad!  And I got some Quorn to go with it,  didn't tell mum, she thought I'd given her some barbecued chicken, she was chuffed when I told her it was Quorn,  which is far less in fat. 

Then it was cheer up me time.   So out came the encaustic stuff.   Wanted something quick to do, was not in the mood to faff with papercraft. It was also chance to get in one more practice before the fair tomorrow.  I used the black card and the white wax to get this fabulous effect.   I really loaded up the iron with the wax,  dragged it over the card then with the iron at an angle I 'drew' the spikes.   Honest folks you can't go wrong with this,  and it is so relaxing.   So hopefully I get lots of people wanting to have a go at the fair.   Yes I know we have nice weather, but it can work in our favour, sometimes folk like to get out of the sun!  This will be our 3rd fair, and we have made a few changes,  so hoping they prove to be right. 

Made the tag on Sunday,  everyone seems to like the sentiment on the tag, so thought I'd try to sell a few at the fair.  

I'm melting now,  need a cool shower I think.   Enjoy this lovely weather and have a fabulous weekend.

A waxing time

A rest from the decorating after a very good nights sleep, slept like the proverbial log!   The first task of the day was to make myself look human again,  my hair was an absolute mess and thought it might be a good idea to defuzz the legs.  Mum assumed I'd finish the decorating, but my knee was just too sore for any more standing.

Wanted to go back to the encaustic art as we have an MBS fair next week and I'm launching our new product - encaustic art.  Think it is safe to say I am getting the hang of things,  mostly it is the pressure you need to apply the wax, the temptation is to press hard, when in fact you only just need to make contact with the paper.  The one thing I was still having problems with was the landscape,  so took myself over to the encaustic art    website to review the videos and instructions and realised what I'd been doing wrong - dragging the iron when I should have been pushing it across the page from right to left - doh! 

 So I was happy with the above result.  Next challenge was to paint a sky!  I'm okay doing this with a brayer,  didn't have the same confidence doing it with wax and a iron.  But yep it worked!  Chuffed, got the mix right, white, bit of pink and some light blue,  then kind of a smear across top of paper,  and then put the landscape in after. 

I'd also paid close attention on Saturday's CnC encaustic slot,  watched carefully how the chap loaded the stylus,  which made me realise that I'd been doing it wrong.  So that is the task over the weekend,  stylus work. 

I also did some abstract work, just using one colour, these are fun to do as you really get to mess with the iron to form the patterns.  Trust me there are never two pictures alike!   This one was black on white,   a whole iron full of black wax,  magical to work with,  a pain to clean off the iron!  Will have to remember that for next week.

It was a nice way to unwind after all the decorating.   And I have an art workshop to look forward to this weekend.  

Hurrah!

Yes, yes, yes...    living room is almost done!  The worst bits have been completed,  ceiling and walls.

I thought after yesterday's efforts that I'd get a good nights slumber.  Wrong,  it was a toss/turn night.  Of course you always fall asleep when it is nearly time to get up!    

I had to first clear out the unit,  mum's prized piece of furniture,  top is a cupboard with glass in the doors, lower bit has drawer and another large cupboard.  Of course it has become a dumping ground.  So cleared out the rubbish,  safely transferred mum's ornaments to kitchen,  shifted unit out of the way and finally started painting!  Why does the very last bit always take so long?     I know why I'd left that bit as it is what I refer to as the awkward corner,  horrible to wall paper and just as horrible to paint!    I just feel I am the 'wrong way round' for the painting.   But it got done - yee ha...  a nice looking living room.   Then mum admitted she'd not realised just how bad it was, which is what she said when I spruced up the kitchen.   Just the hall and two bedrooms to go! 

I half tackled the cloakroom, had to venture in there to find some different curtains,  so a few things got sorted,   a start has been made!   Mum approved of the curtains that had once hung in the living room but had been banished for some reason,   I like them as they give a nice splash of colour.  All that is left to do is the radiator and the doors, just two doors to tackle!   Mum even demanded that we get a new lamp shade!    I do know why mum has adopted a 'disinterest' in her home, it is because she feels she is no longer in control of it.    Nothing is done here without her approval,  we did discuss the colour scheme,  though she is happy to trust me.   But at the same time I want to give us both a nice place to live and enjoy.  

Posted a pic of my 'altar' such as it is.  It shows my growing collection of buddhas,  my Native American talking stick and my lovely wooden Angel,  not shown is my Celtic cross, which I got when I was in Ireland,  it is made from peat and is lovely.   All of my crystals are shown,  each has a purpose,  and all get used.    The cloth underneath is actually a scarf, got that from the RainForest shop in Chester, they do sell some gorgeous things in there.   Ooh that reminds me I had promised to go get a new cloth for our MBS tables!  Must do that asap! 

May get some crafting done tomorrow.  Had my delivery of my coated card stock!  Very fast,  only had the email yesterday - well done CnC!   Got to get practising with the encaustic art. 

I do hope that tonight  I will get a good nights sleep.