Stash In The Attic

My new fad..................Eddie Stowbart spotting!

 

I know some people think I am a little wacky but I just think that having lots of different and sometimes weird interests makes my world a brighter & happier place. If you must judge me, blame my mother-in-law for its all her fault. She mentions this freaky little cult to me back in December when she was visiting. I hadn't even heard of Eddie Stobart. I know I'm bound to have seen the trucks on the road but I was totally oblivious to their existence, probably looking at the clouds in the sky, oh and the road ahead, instead. Then there was the TV series on Channel 5 which I watched from about the 3rd episode. From then on I have been totally addicted to spotting these trucks and yes, collecting the names. How I haven't had an accident by now is beyond me as when I see one of those babies - I simply HAVE to get the name. And if by some terrible twist of fate, the truck is on the wrong side of the road or it’s too dark - well I simply have a fit! All my friends, work colleagues and family think I am insane but the funny thing is they're all at it now too! I often get girls names shouted at me when I walk in the office in the mornings and I did have a rather disturbing voicemail left on my phone the other day. A very deep slurred male voice simply said 'Muriel Jane spotted M11 9.30 this morning'. Ha-ha I am going to change the world and convince people that Eddie-spotting is cool.............(I know I have my work cut out here) I have to admit to being an official 'club stobart' member now. I have lots of spots to update on the website and I'm sure I will move up the ranks pretty quick as Martin spots loads on his travels. Here's a photo to whet your appetite and maybe tempt you into looking out for an Eddie next time you're on the road

 

 
What a beauty! There is one called Sarah Jane but I haven't spotted her yet!

 

Onto other things. I celebrated my 34th birthday back in January.

 
How did that happen - I mean how can I be 34??? I feel about 22 & certainly act it the majority of the time. Debbie came down and bought me some beautiful flowers & the cutest little cake which we had a great time demolishing. I got lots of lovely gifts and some money which I put towards the Mulberry handbag I bought myself just before christmas. I had to have it after seeing Cheryls at work and I had to have it right then. I figured I could get it & then put all my Christmas & birthday money into the fund for clearing the credit card bill. Here she is - a Leah Hobo in Oxblood - very roomy and squishy and I *love love love* it.

 

 

Cards and bits!

So here are some of the cards I've been making - most of the ideas were stolen from online youtube videos demoing things to do with the cricut cartridges so I can't accept any of the credit!!!

 
So these two are really cute - I love the little skunk which was an idea from Robynstamps and I am desperate to get hold of her punny - licious set. As you can probably tell from the photo I had to write my own greeting - not great but hey, it adds to the home-made feel!

I have knitted my first ever hat for a friend at work to take on his skiing trip. He seemed to like it, but it still hasn't stopped people in the office taking the mick out of my hobby (two others have asked for one though)

It was a bit tense as I did think I was going to run out of yarn but luckily I had just enough and the bobble & tassles can be added later!

Other things I have been knitting are socks and a cowl (which I wear all the time - much better than a scraf - no ends to contend with). so my challenge this year is to finish quite a few things off - 3 pairs of socks, one wrap, long cardigan and a shawl. I still have a list as long as my arm of other things I want to start but shall resist the temptation and only start something new when one thing is finished!

This christmas I finally finished the wall hanging I had started the year before. AND I actually managed to get it on the wall before christmas was over - well it is the season of miracles!

 
 
It is a work in progress and I will add more embellishments over the next few years till it is bling-tastic! For now there are a few beads and buttons here and there and a bell or two!

Here are a few other cards.

 
 

Have a good weekend!!!!

Still making - just not been posting!

So lots seems to have happend since July!!! Our holiday to the Maldives was FAB

We went back to Kanuhura and had the most relaxing time. We celebrated our second wedding anniversary out there which was just perfect. I can't believe how the time has flown. I have been quite productive with things other than paper crafts - but all that is changing since my good friend Debbie has reignited my love for my Cricut. She has bought the expression and I treated myself to some new cartridges and have been playing and watching lots of youtube videos for ideas. I must say so far I have scraplifted most of the cards but I am having such fun making them

Christmas was great. Just Martin and I at home this year. We had a very relaxing time - too much food & drink of course - and lots of great presents. My best present had to be my iPad which I am crazy about. I use it all the time instead of the PC or laptop and love that I can take it to work with me & always be able to get online, email etc. I do love my iPhone but after getting the iPad the screen seems titchy! Over the Christmas & New Year period I made a case for my beloved gadget out of some scrummy fabrics

 

 
 We went to see Michael Buble at Wembley which was fab and the supporting act Naturally 7 were just awesome. I now have 'Wall of sound' as my ringtone :-) How they can make those sounds with no instruments is beyond belief!!!!!!!!

 They really do have to be seen to be believed. They are 100 times better in concert & I will definately be queuing up for tickets when they're back in the UK.

I will be back tomorrow to upload more of what I've been making - but to end with, here is the scrummy heart shaped pizza I made after our friend Mark got us hooked on making them - it came out as a heart shape by accident because I am rubbish at rolling out pizza dough but I liked it!

 

New knitting stuff

So I've been AWOL again - but working hard, meeting up with friends & family and enjoying the nice weather by doing some gardening.

Heres some pictures of what I've been knitting

My first shawl from the Easyknits ltd edition Sushi roll shawl-alongs is finished and blocked and ready to wear. It has turned out surprisingly well despite my lack of knitting experience

I've also been working on the next one - the winter berry shawl and I just cast on the Woodland shawl (which is a free pattern from Ravelry) using some yummy Manos Lace which I bought at iKnit a few weekends ago.

I also did manage to get my iPhone 4 on the release date. I was up at 5.40am, on the bus and into town an hour later and at 8.30am I was the proud owner of the little beauty. I must say despite all the bad press it has received I have had no problems with mine and I love it even more than I thought I would (if thats possible) I am sad that people are having problems with theirs but I think the media have gone a bit overboard with slating Apple the way they have.   So heres something for them

 

 

So tomorrow is the BIG DAY. Will I manage to get my hands on the iPhone 4? It won't be due to lack of trying if I can't! I will keep you all posted on developments. I'm hoping having it will make blogging easier as I can do it all on the phone instead of having to take pictures with the camera, upload, la la la.... you get the idea. I am going to get to bed mega early so I can get up & into town to join the queue - sad I know. keep everything crossed for me, argh!!

It arrived

More Tim stuff. My TSV!!! Yay. I have had an unexpected day off work today which has meant I have had time to get using it. Here is the first scrapbook page using lots of Tim stuff.

I used the grungeboard alphas for the title. Painted with Paint dabbers, edged with distress ink. One has some stickles on it and is filled with glossy accents. I covered the back of the vellum quote block with alcohol inks. I used a fragment charm with the kitty sticker behind it. I used perfect pearls on the paw print stamp. Its very simple and not brilliant but at least it has got me experimenting and using my stash! 

I have also used different techniques from the book to prep some tags & ATC's. I have no idea what I'll do to them next but I'm sure I'll think of something. I used the paint resist technique, blended some inks using the ink tool and stamped and used the distress embossing powders. I also tried the shabby chic technique on the red tag.

Now I think it's time for some dinner and settling down to my knitting. I have just signed up for the next Easyknits sushi shawl along so really need to get the 1st one finished. Not far to go now......
 

Blame Tim Holtz

 
He is responsible for me ordering the TSV on Wednesday and for my creativity outburst today. Although my TSV is still in transit, I have dug out my stuff and had a play. I love Tim's style. It isn't the way I usually scrap but I love making mini projects and altering stuff using his techniques and products. I have been looking at fellow UKScrappers projects and as a result I have created this altered box frame thingie. Yes, very technical name I know! I used LOADS of old bits I had, metal charms, fragments, scraps of paper, 7gypsies stuff and microbeads. I even used my alcohol inks which I NEEDED when I first played with them during a Tim Holtz workshop years ago (it may have been Bonanza - not sure). Well needless to say I've hardly used them since so glad to be digging them out again. I used the paint dabber for the brown paint and the old weathered wood crackling meduim and cream acrylic paint for the crackle effect. I am quite pleased with it. I think I may add bits to the outside of the frame but I haven't decided what yet, so any ideas more than welcome.

Also this week my blocking wires arrived from iKnit so I finally got around to blocking my first ever shawl knit with Easyknits BFL in the New Earth colourway. This was specially spun for me by Jon so makes the shawl very special and a one-off.

Its my first attempt at blocking so it's far from perfect but I am pleased with it. Its also big enough to wear, instead of just looking at it and stroking which is all I've been able to do with it up till now!  

Martin is away working again so I have another whole day to myself, the rain is pouring down here so it's definately a perfect time for more crafting of some kind.

The clothes arrived!!!!!!!

And they're so cute. I have worn a few bits already. Martin has just ordered me some of the Melon beads as a pressie!!!

I'm very lucky - I think they are forming part of my valentines present which also consists of 2 DVD's,

And the Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD. I have also been making progress on my Sushi roll shawl KAL by easyknits. I am trying to get this one finished before the next kit arrives (which I can't wait for!!!) I have enjoyed knitting this so much. I have learned so many new techniques, cables and lace work.

This picture really doesn't do the yarn justice and you can't see the stitches very well, but I guess it will be clearer when its blocked and I take more time to photograph it in natural light.

I have also been scrapping an 8x8 album of my hen weekend. Here is the opening page - using up some scrummy thickers letters and other bits from my stash.

Well I'm now home from work for the day & looking forward to spag bol & a nice glass of wine!   
  

 
 

All better now

I have been off sick from work for a week now - back in tomorrow - so thought I'd get you up to date with what I've been doing. Watching lots of movies and TV and DVD's. I am most excited to report that the new Merlin boxset arrived on my doormat this morning so guess what I'll be watching whilst I'm knitting in a while

I can't wait for season 3 to start!!!! Saturday evenings aren't the same without it :)

I have also had a bit of a spending spree over on the Joules website - I swear they should be banned as I love all their stuff and spend a fortune on it. I had to order this

And this..........

And quite a few other bits and pieces. I really wanted these

   
but they don't have them in my size - boo hoo. I have a brown pair which have not been off my feet all winter - they are just fab & the best £19 I have spent recently. If you want to be bankrupt check out their website www.joulesclothing.com 

My sushi shawl is coming on well and I had taken some photos to post to my blog but I have lost my camera under a huge pile of scrapping stuff - I am making an album 8 x 8 with photos from my Hen weekend. I will also share some photos of this when I can uncover the camera.

I have been into Chelmsford today with hubby to do some banking. We had to go to the costa coffee in Waterstones for a lovely cup of hot chocolate. I flicked through some books whilst I was there and one that I really fancy getting is this

 
Most of the books I'm reading lately seem to be historical ficton of some kind so thought this would be interesting. Anyway off to do some knitting.

Sock Knitting

I have made good progress on a second pair of socks for Martin. I laid out all my sock yarn and asked him to pick which one he wanted and he picked Opal Harry Potter Tonks! I was very surprised due to the pink in it but he seems to like it. These socks should have been knitted in time for his birthday but alas progress on the second one has been hampered due to my rediscovering scrapping. I am now aiming to have them finished by Valentines day!

Its official - I have been hit by this cough that is going around and have been having problems sleeping. I am lucky to be here after almost choking on a Halls Soother in the middle of the night. I woke up in a coughing fit, popped one in my nouth, coughed again and then realised that I had swallowed it whole! I am so glad it went down the right pipe as Martin is away and I don't know how well I could have beaten it out of myself!

I have today completed another layout. Yes, you guessed it - using another scrapagogo kit. Thank the lord for kits and sketches because without either of these I'd probably still be searching through my TONS of Patterned papers for the first layout!

We took this photo at Alton Towers last summer. When we saw this sign we had to have Ben pose next to it. There is no doubting that this boy lives in his own little world (a bit like me I suppose) so this was a perfect photo opportunity.

I am now halfway through listening to Breaking Dawn and off to scrap some more before work tomorrow :-(