Annies smiles 225

Why does the bathroom make me smile?  Because it has been in the making for the past three weeks and I am just glad to have my bedroom and bathroom back to normal.  Had a door taken out that joined with my craft room so the house is still in a state as that is waiting to be decorated and craft stuff is all over.  Nevertheless I now have a lovely walk in shower and still have retained the bath.

Here it  is:

Two washbasins, large mirrored cupboard over the top, narrow cupboard at side.  The aqua colour was chosen by the wife of the contractor.  I gave her carte blanche to do the decorating having seen what a lovely job she did of my friend's bathroom a few months ago.  The only stipulation I had was that the door and skirting had to remain wood coloured and not be painted white.  The large mirrored cupboard has lights either side which come on when you waft your hand underneath.

The bath and shower - she provided the top two bath towels and the mat which are the exact colour of the feature wall (other walls being grey and behind the shower and around to the bath are panels in a light grey which twinkle when the light plays on them).

I should have pulled the blind down.  This is the window and she painted those three little ducks in the aqua and the grey and then provided a lovely white artificial orchid which I thought was a real one.

Now to see what made others smile by going over to visit Annie first of all.

Jeudi Journal - Orange

Well, here I am after the mix up from last week - hopefully we will both be on the same page next time.

Got the back pain again, own fault, too much cleaning after the bathroom was fitted.  Hopefully a day or two of rest and heat (and medication) will chase the little 'divil' away.  Anyhow, not here for moans so what I am about to show you is the orange page, thankfully done before the back went.  Here goes - the whole page and then each page in more detail:

Sorry the words peter out on the left hand page where the spine bends.  It was either publish it like that or have my hand on which then created a shadow as well.  Oops!  And the page looks decidedly yellow in parts where I have gone in to brighten it up - the original is orangey though.

Now to see what Wendy has done.

WOYWW 419

Very short and sweet today as my back pain has returned.  My own fault as I had a cleaning up session of the kitchen cupboards last Thursday and have been suffering ever since.  Crafting has fallen by the wayside, and yes, it only takes a bit of polishing to send me into nightmare mode again.

My craft room (temporary one) was beginning to take shape since we had moved from the spare room and I had been enjoying doing my Dyary.  I did manage to do a bit of colouring of figures the other day but when I went to take a photo it was open at this page so here is my desk for the week:

Recognise the scruffy green mat?

OK, that is it folks, off now to see what Julia and her Band of Merry Crafters have been up to.  See you next week on here if I don't see you at your blog but I will try to visit those who visit me at the very least.

Annies Smiles 224

One little thing that is a big thing is that my lovely friend in America sent me this tiny die which I have wanted for over a year.

It's only tiny but I have waited for it to be back in stock and was beginning to give up hope when I saw it.  Straight away I emailed Mary and she said "already ordered", bless her, she had also seen it back in stock and was right on my case.  I am so lucky to have her as a friend and I miss her so much.

Want to see what I have done with it?

I did some brayering in yellows, greens and blues and then did a bit of black stencil work and some stamping on some cards.  Placed a multi-coloured card behind each cut out, made a border on another card and mounted on a final one.

We have had some terribly high winds up here resulting in lots of leaves in our garden, the chimnerea blown over, cannot begin to tell you how many times the covers blew off the garden furniture; seems even the pigeons had problems.

These three obviously found their home a bit moveable.  Trees blowing like crazy in the wind - we did have a smile at their sitting on the fence.

Pop along to see Annie and her loyal followers for some more smiles and take a Raspberry Bun with you, fresh from the oven.  Ronaldo (apprentice on bathroom job) loved them and even asked for the recipe for his mum.

Jeudi Journal - Pink

Wendy chose Pink as our next colour to visit whilst resting in China - well, and seeing all the sights of course.  So as it is a very important day for the UK I thought I would be a bit topical and introduce a party of my own "Lily the Pink's Party".  Not sure which one is Lily (think it is the little one - Paul O'Grady can be Lily so why can't this little fella?) but he is flanked by two loyal supporters by the looks of things.

If only real life could be idyllic and pink!

So sad to read about another terrorist attack, this time in the capital city.  I can only hope that with the different cultures showing a united front we can bring about more understanding for the man in the street.

WOYWW 418

It's Wednesday blogging time and once again we are baring our desks for all to see.  Well, those who do have a desk that is.  Mine varies from my knee to the kitchen worktop to the study (which I have taken over with all my craft stuff piled in it - or have I?).

We are finally back in our own bedroom, in our own bed and the spare bed has now become a sort of haven for craft things that were previously in different parts of the house.  So now my craft room is (temporarily) in the study  but still got things all over the house.

Received more lovely atc's so I thought I would show them all together so you can wonder at their loveliness once more:

latest one from Lisa

Top left, reading to right Margaret, Lynne, Shaz, Angela, Dolores, Jo, Jan, Annie, Sandra de (Sorry you ended up sideways on Jan).

Well, that is it from me craft-wise as I am saving something I have been doing, for Friday with Annie, and, of course, my journal page for tomorrow. So let's hop on over to Julia's blog and see what she and the others have to offer.  Toodle Pip for now.

ps final tweaks on the bathroom and then it will be finished.  It's been a bit of a nightmare for Tony and Christine but I had a "reveal" last night and I am well pleased with it - very minimalistic - just hope I can keep it that way.  Photos to follow.

Annies Smiles 223- The Bathroom Goes On

Not a lot to smile about in some ways but a lot in others.  I am housebound in a way because of the work going on in the house.  We have to leave the door open so they can go in and out to the garage and back where most of the materials are stacked so we don't feel like leaving the house totally unattended when the workers are here.  Hence me being housebound.

Various things happened like the plasterer not turning up which threw Tony a day behind with his plans but boy have they worked hard and long when they have been able to.  Only took Sunday off last weekend.  Now I have not to go in (no photos) as Christine has started doing the painting.  I have left it entirely up to her - yes, this duo do the painting as well.  Nothing to do when they leave and they clean up every night so no mess for me each evening.  

Not sure how far they are willing to travel but they come from Formby area, I think, and travel to us in Bolton each day.  Well pleased with them (sorry not meant to be an advert but  ....) - I just keep the "brews" flowing.

Hopefully next week I will have lots to smile about and this week I am smiling because he has got rid of the step in the bathroom.  Split level meant it jolted my hip every time I stepped down from the vanity units to leave the bathroom (loo on the bottom bit, washbasins on the top) but there is a down-side to that.  It was going to be a feature and have led lights in the step that I could change the colour of.  Was kind of looking forward to that but then it will be easier on me now and I am not going any younger.  Maybe a reveal next week!

So picture-wise what can I show you that makes me smile.  Chas has been in the little garden at the front, mown the lawn and is now busy weeding the garden bit.  Such a shame my poppies and the azalea have got battered by the rain yesterday, it was looking lovely.  And the peonies have totally been destroyed.

Just part of the front garden
We 'aint gardeners you can tell

Now to see what Annie and the others have been up to this week.