Taken from the Website

I have been awol for a few days, staying in a new place that had me completely blown away when I saw the pictures.

I saw this hotel, alerted by an email, and knew I/we just had to go there.  Afterall it was in a place we enjoy visiting - Paris!  My friend Cath laughed at the thoughts of me visiting her favourite city and staying all the time in the hotel.  I assured her that was not to be but that I would enjoy early nights (we don't go for the high life) in one of these rooms.

You must look at the suites they have - if only ..... a bit too expensive!

This is a picture of the room we stayed in taken from their website (and posted in advance of us arriving home today).

Can't wait to see what they mean by a levitated bed.

Be sure to check out the whole of this hotel including all about the dining and bar area too.  The url?  www.sevenhotelparis.com

Au revoir!

A Weekend in September

In September (18th/19th) I am teaching one element of a project organised by Paddy in Prestwich.  Not sure how much I can disclose about it but there are some six tutors involved in the whole project each doing a different section/technique on the finished article.

There's Paddy, of course, who will be leading the project, then there's Sarah (perspex), Kay (paper), Becca (fabric), Helen (mixed media), Paddy (metal) and myself with clay.

I need to get myself up to Paddy's Stamping Place (Butterstile Lane, Prestwich - tel: 01617985115) to get my clay (it will be Makins I will have to work with) so I can get on with my own sample which is at the moment hidden away in a suitcase.

Hopefully, as time goes on I can tell you a bit more about it and maybe do one or two sneak peeks.

A Catty Card

This is a Birthday Card for a Catty Friend of mine.  Not "catty" in the sense of "not nice" but a real cat lover.  In fact she is one of the nicest persons there is and such a talented lady to boot.  What else could I make for her but a card with a cat on?

Again I have used Rusty Hinge and Tumbled Glass for the background (memo to self - must use other colourways with the new Distress Inks) and I have painted sections of the cat with Twinkling H2o's - yes, still not found my Promarkers.

The stamp is one of my all time favourite ones from Paper Artsy as is the little owl sitting at the top corner.  Not quite sure who the sequin waste stamp is by - maybe it was one of Katy's Corner stamps from way back.

Yet Another Birthday Card

It seems as if there are lots of birthdays coming up at the moment.  I took three (or was it four) cards to the club on Saturday which I didn't upload and now have had to make another today.

This is a card for a friend on one of my groups - it is more of a forum than anything.  Hope she likes it.

I got the words for this when I was in America earlier in the year and have struggled to use them without a cute image going alongside.  That is until my friend, Cath, sent me a card with some of the words from the plate on.  I did ask her permission to post my rendition which follows her idea and this is it.  

The children's words on the plates are fabulous and I do like this one.

As usual my Distress Inks were used to make the background and the flower spray was stamped using Brilliance Thyme.

A Birthday Card

Made some birthday cards last week but never got around to uploading them so here is one I have done today.  It is also my submission for Lots to Do Challenge which is hats and or crowns.

I love these 20's ladies and these stamps from my friends Roy and Alison just beg me to use them.  The background of the lady (who was masked) is Rusty Hinge and Wild Honey with a crackle stamp over the top using Archival Sepia.

The mount uses Tumbled Glass with the Wild Honey to bring out the blue in the dress.  Painting done as usual with my Twinkling H2o's.  I was going to use my Promarkers, well give them a go, but cannot find where I have put them.  Ah well, must have a tidy up and find them for next time.

As Promised - the Talented Sue

Remember the young lady who took hold of the mallet from Danni at the auction?  Well her mother is Sue and I fell in love with her work.

Perhaps I should explain.  When you go to the PPD's you are encouraged to take some work to sell.  You put a price on your items and, if you are good and your things sell, you make up most of what you have spent on the course.  Needless to say, my work is not good enough YET to sell but this year I am determined to do more claywork.

Back to Sue - she had some necklaces for sale and I fell in love with a turquoise one.  Also liked a brown one.  Dilemma!  I bought the turquoise one because it had a matching pair of ear rings.  Wish you could see how beautifully it shines and glimmers:

When I saw Chas that night I thanked him for buying me the necklace and ear rings and he handed the monies over.  What a guy!  That meant I had money in my pocket for the brown one:

Yes, I know they are similar but I just love them.  Not to say I didn't love other people's work - I wanted lots but had to draw the line and these were amongst my favourite pieces.

If only Marta's bracelets had fit my large wrists .... they were exquisite ... maybe I should email her and get her to do a larger one.  Mmmm.....

Found My Bracelet

I thought I had lost my Chrysanthemum Cane bracelet but when I went to take a photograph of something else it was in the bottom of the box.

This was the cane we did with Allison - should have had red in with it but I missed it out as I wanted it blues and greens.

My very talented friend, Irene from Chester, showed us how to do the Sutton Slice and this is my little square using one of the moulding mats.

Sorry it is a bit blurry

Irene had some fabulous BIG rings for sale but the one I wanted did not fit on my finger so in a matter of two or three trices she made me one.  I have tried to take a photograph of it but I keep shaking with only having one hand to use on the camera so I have taken it on its side.  It really is a perfect oval in reality.  Recognise the stamp all you rubber stampers?

Tomorrow I will show you the fab necklaces I bought that had been made by the talented Sue - I just fell in love with her work.