Jeudi Journal - Coffee

 Well, the title might mean something to some of you and send you to the kettle or coffee machine but I suspect Valerie in particular could be reaching out for a cup.  This might just be a reminder for her that she is due for one shortly.

The Snarky comment from Tim Holtz this week is "Some days I rely heavily on coffee and my ability to ignore reality."  For this I decided to paint my page cream (as in coffee and cream?) and put some coffee stains dotted, in "Ground Espresso" Oxide ink, here and there.  I then sketched in a coffee cup and saucer and decided to leave it simply as a sketch and not use any colour.

I think we all have days when we like to escape reality by ignoring the things we don't like or want to happen - and maybe a good steaming cup of coffee helps along the way.

"Patsy was a mum, of three youngsters, the youngest had just started school at five years old, then there was an older brother at seven and another girl at nine.  Life was hectic to say the least.

It was a Friday and the children were all delivered safely to school but on returning home Patsy looked around her kitchen.  Dishes were piled high in the sink, there was a pile of laundry to be done sitting on the floor by the washing machine and looking through the window she could tell the garden was in need of a bit of weeding and general care.

She knew that upstairs were four beds to be changed, no doubt there would be some tidying to do because as much as she tried she could not get the children to tidy all of their toys each evening.  John, her husband, needed his shirts ironing ready for Monday morning and he had arranged for them to have babysitters Saturday night as he wanted to take her out somewhere nice.

She sat down wearily as she thought of all the jobs piling up.  "Some days I rely heavily on coffee and my ability to ignore reality" she said out loud.  There was no one to hear her, but she did feel better for that she thought as she dreamed of a fairy with a magic wand whirling around her home and all the jobs being done in the wink of an eye."

(Sorry, can't do it shorter)

I am linking to Art Journal Journey where the theme is 'come fly with me' - the two little fairies near the bottom of the cup are what Patsy is wishing for - to do her housework.

WOYWW 738

 It's WOYWW time once again - time for us to have a nosey at one another's desks.  Are you ready WOYWW'ers?  We just need Julia to set us off and then we can start running around the internet.  You are all invited to join in with the regulars, just take a photo of your desk and link in with Julia.

Yesterday I was at a funeral three and a half hours away so that meant going down the day before and an overnight stay.  It was Chas' brother who had passed rather suddenly and my favourite BIL.  I don't sleep well in a strange bed and so had very little sleep.  I will link up some time today but when..... rather depends on me and Sleep.

So what have I to show you?

Yes, I have been making some more of those DL owl cards with the mice.  This is Jo Rice's design not mine but i have enjoyed making them  that's four in total now.  The top one is my own and maybe I should have taken a scan of it on it's own so you could see it clearer - it might feature again next week.

Right, this is short because I am tired and it is Tuesday evening, past my bedtime (I had to catch up with Cooking with the Professionals).  Hope to see you all in the morning complete with your desk.

Jeudi Journal - Awesome

 This week the Snarky Comment is "Listen, before I had my coffee I didn't know how awesome I was going to be today either" and these two sisters are featured for Alison's Challenge at Art Journal Journey which is 'Come Fly with Me'.  

Sian and Lara are sisters, sharing the same bedroom in their parent's house.  Most of the time these two get along just famously and are often seen going out partying together on the town.  It was a Friday night and they were off to a house party in the wealthy part of town and so they wanted to make a good impression by looking their best, especially as the local heart-throb twins Ben and Bart, were known to be attending.

Getting ready in the bedroom Sian, the eldest girl, was wearing her newest accessory, a little pom pom hat with a tiny butterfly perched on it.

"Wait until you see what I am wearing" she shouted to her younger sister.  "Although I say it myself I do look rather fabulous tonight."

"Are you wearing your new shoes?" shouted Lara from the bathroom.

"Yes," replied Sian, "and they match my hair and hat so well.  I really do feel awesome."

Just then the door opened and in walked Lara.  Now both girls were lovely and slim and could get away with wearing almost anything but Lara had the edge somehow.  She was much taller than her older sister, with lovely long legs which she showed off whenever she could.  Tonight was no exception.  But rather than wearing a skimpy skirt she had the latest fashion in tights on ... and ... wait for it ... a pair of exquisite silky fairy wings which matched the jewelry she was wearing beneath her right eye.

"Listen, before I had my coffee I didn't know how awesome I was going to be today either" she said as she walked in the bedroom.

Her sister gaped, was this really her younger sister?  "Gosh, I am going to have to up my game" she thought, "My little sister is turning into a real beauty."

I wonder how they went on at the party?

WOYWW 737

It's Wednesday again, time for a nosey around desks for the WOYWW'ers who meet up regularly.  At last I have some stamping to show you.  Do you want to see my desk?  It has something interesting on it - I couldn't wait to get going on something with my new Owl stamps from Lavinia.

Did I show you the other week what I had bought when I went for a quick visit down to Ruthin?  Maybe not as I was absolutely shattered, having taught the day before.  Still it was lovely to have a run out in the car after staying in for so long but maybe two days out together were a bit much.  Anyway, here is my desk:

Here are the cards I have been making

The one below needs mounting 

Well, that's it for this week hoping to make some more cards with these cute owls and maybe a couple more samples for the next workshop.  Got a funeral to go to next Tuesday and certainly not looking forward to that one, for several reasons. 

Jeudi Journal - Childish

 Today the Snarky Comment is "I'm not childish, you're just a big doody head" and we have to include something to do with "Flight" to include our page in Alison's theme which is "Come Fly With Me".  Alison gives us lots of ideas to use in our pages and one I have chosen today is hot air ballooning.  I've never been up in a hot air balloon but I would like to - unlike ....

"Sam was excited.  His sister and her friend were taking him for a ride in a hot air balloon.  It was soon to be his birthday and this was a gift from his sister and younger brother.  His brother was underage and unable to go along for the experience but he had chipped in with his spending money to pay for the experience, on the proviso that they brought him back some sweets and some photos taken from the air.

He was so excited he had hardly slept the night before.  Mother had packed them some sandwiches and given the girls the usual talking to about how they had to be responsible, especially to look after Sam and make sure he was safe at all times.  Megan, his sister, was seventeen and considered herself totally responsible, after all she did love her two younger brothers.  Her friend, Charlotte, was just two months older and so between them mother thought things would be ok and she signed the parental slip for her young son.

Off they went, in high glee, Sam chattering away and skipping along the pavement as they made their way to the bus.  In no time at all they were at the field where it was all to take place.  Sam was a little disappointed as the balloon was pink and white candy striped and he would have preferred it to be in the colours of his favourite football team. Blackpool.  

"Not to worry" said Megan, "once we are up there, way way up in the clouds, you won't notice what colour it is and it may even look orange when the sun catches it."

Sam and Megan chatted non stop, both were so excited.  It was then that Megan noticed her friend Charlotte was ever so quiet.  Turning around she saw that Charlotte had flopped herself on the ground and was propped up on one elbow.

"What are you doing" she enquired.

"Not going in that thing" replied Charlotte.  "There is no way I am going up in that now that I have seen it.  Sorry, but wild horses would not drag me in that basket."

"But you said you would come along and it is for Sam's birthday" said Megan.

"Don't care, I cannot and will not set foot inside that, that, contraption."

Sam began to cry.  He had wanted to ride in a balloon for so long, he had read all about it and now it looked as if he was not going to be able to.  If Charlotte did not come along he knew the weight would not be as calculated previously and therefore the trip would be cancelled.

"Oh for goodness sake, pull yourself together and stop being so childish" said Megan to her friend.  "I never had you for being a softie and ruining Sam's treat.  Besides which you have paid to go on the ride.  You really are acting like a spoilt child!"

"I'm not childish, you're just a big doody head" replied Charlotte as she turned over so her back was facing them all.

Luckily the man in charge had an answer, he simply added some ballast to make up the weight and Megan and Sam sailed off into the sunset leaving Charlotte feeling a little uneasy on the ground.

Thank goodness she had not spoiled Sam's birthday treat afterall."

WOYWW 736

These Wednesdays come around awfully quickly at the moment.  It seems not long ago we were rejoicing that Spring was with us, then that Summer had begun and now we are on the other side of this lovely warm season.  I say that tongue in cheek as it has been raining steadily most of the afternoon and early evening.  So glad we are not having temperatures like Arizona though (111 - 113 apparently).  Phew!

Well, Saturday saw me teaching a class at our local Stamp Club.  The tutor pulled out at the last minute, quite by chance I saw her comment under a message saying she would not be able to come.  Panic!  So as Chair this year I had to think on my feet and luckily I had my class for next month partially ready so was able to step in.  More photos next week as I have not got around to taking them as yet, but here are two that I took along as finished samples.  We were decorating these tiny 3" tins.

I can show you the birthday card I made for my friend as it is her birthday today "Happy Birthday Ann".

Now, having shown you my 'makes' I think it is about time I showed you my desk.  The aftermath of my teaching session (ie nothing put away) but a picture of three of my latest stamps, done whilst stamping the ones I had bought from Lavinia's new collection.  I just love these owls but I do wish they were a wee bit smaller.

Most things are self explanatory to most of you.  The tin with thme clear top contains lots of little bits and pieces for the ladies to include on their work for next month.  The punches have been lined up for ages - again for next month but the corner rounder was for this month so can be put away now.

That's it for this week, It is late Tuesday evening when I am typing this as we have been running late all day.  Should have had new patio doors fitted yesterday morning so we were up, breakfasted, showered and things moved (mainly down to Chas), before 9 am which is when they should have called.  By lunchtime we rang up to be told the fitter had rung in sick but nobody had told the woman to ring us.  Was I cross!!!  Unfortunately she had a strong Scottish accent and I found it difficult to understand her.  

Anyway, finally tonight after waiting all day for someone to come it was just after 7 pm two guys arrived and put the new doors in.  So I cannot see me getting up early in the morning and writing my blog.  Thank goodness these two were conscientious and wanted to do a good job - they had started at 6 am.  And one was celebrating his birthday!  How I wish I had made a cake!

Jeudi Journal - People

 "Today was going great until ... people" is the Tim Holtz Snarky Comment for this week that Wendy and I decided to use along with Alison's theme at Art Journal Journey, 'Come Fly With Me'.  I chose to go with 'birds', but not the pretty feathery kind that we love to see, but the quirky ones that Dyan Reaveley uses and which is another condition of our journaling (Wendy and I).

I decided to go with it quite literally and based my page on two birds meeting up and being disturbed by - People!  Fortunately I found a piece of paper in my stash which was a lovely pale blue sky and some clouds.  It is now fully decorated and stuck in my journal.

"Polly had been out shopping, food shopping that is.  She had got quite a good selection of worms and grubs from the local bird market and the seed shop had some lovely sunflower seeds which her kids just loved.  

It was a lovely day, perfect for the beginning of the new month, July, and she had been along to the local travel shop to ask what deals they had on for when the kids finished school.  It was always a problem what to do with them in the summer recess so a holiday seemed the perfect way to set it off.  

She had also met with Betty Blackbird who had told her about a scheme some of the parents were hoping to set up during the holidays.  It sounded great fun and there would be lots of activities to keep her three occupied and happy when they came back from the beach holiday she had planned.

As she turned the corner by Canary Wharf she bumped into an old friend, Petra Pigeon.  Poor Petra was looking awfully stressed, her tail feathers sticking out like sore fingers.

"What on earth is the matter?" Polly asked.

"Oh don't" said Petra, "I was walking along, minding my own business when I overheard these two women talking.  They were discussing digging up the gardens near to where they lived and replacing them with concrete walkways.  Just imagine what that will do for us.  No trees, no flowers, nowhere for us to go.  Today was going great until ... people."  And with that off she scurried, she just couldn't wait to get home and tell her family."