In the money!

Well, this combination of Etsy and CraftJuice seems to be working very well for me!

I have sold 12 patterns over the last 3 days. Just wish I could do it all the time then I wouldn't have to worry about jobs and CRB checks!!!!!

This is the latest one I have listed on Craftjuice. It is actually the first pattern I ever wrote for sale. It remains my best selling pattern.

I have also made loads of them for sale and they have gone all over the world. It looks great in blues for a baby boy.

I have started sorting out those cupboards! Honest!!!

I found I bag of thread left over from making the wall hangings. I didn't realise there was so much. I can make another 2 tops from it - at least!

I also found the bag with the new denim skirt in. I stopped making this when I started losing weight. Although the doc wants me to lose another 4 stone, I can't see this happening. So I might just get on and finish that. I could do with some new clothes!

Doesn't leave a lot of time for Scrapping though! And I have a pile of new stash to use that I got through the Crochet Embellishment Swap! I also bought some on the weekend. Not much, just some handmade papers so I can scrap the last 4 silk paintings I made.

So much to do and so little time!

First Day of Peace.

It doesn't really seem all that strange. I am used to Benjamin being in school while Mark is in work.

But the thought of 2 whole weeks of being on my own from 7.30am to 5.30pm is a little daunting.

I am, by nature, more of a loner. I enjoy my own company and generally find that I don't have enough of it when it is the school holidays.

But, somehow, I get the feeling that I am going to get too much of it over the next 2 weeks.

It isn't as if I don't have plenty to do. Mark has been nagging me to sort out my cupboards. I am a dreadful hoarder and people keep giving me stuff which I can't possibly throw away as I am sure I will use it at some point.

However, this rather large bag of oddments of chunky yarn and heavy weight upholstery fabric, what on earth am I going to use those for????? It just has to go!

Anybody want it?

Thanks to everybody who voted on Craft juice. I really need to explain how it works.

When you submit an item, it goes on the "Upcoming" page. When you have 5 votes it get promoted to the "Popular Crafts" page, which is the main Craftjuice page. You can still get votes when it is on there.

I submitted my Snakes and Ladders today. It has 4 votes already so hopefully will be promoted soon.

It is a great place to showcase your crafts, whether you are selling them or not. Unfortunately, the pictures need to be online already. I was hoping to link to them from my site but for some reason it didn't work.

That is why the one of the Scrapping Babies didn't have a picture. I ended up adding it to Etsy and using the pics from there. Unfortunately, this meant entering it twice and I have no idea how to delete the one that didn't work. The one that did work is now on the front page and has 9 votes!

Pattern Finished!

And I am sooooo pleased!!!!!

I am pleased that it is finished.

And pleased with the way it turned out.

And especially pleased at the time it took. That had to be the quickest ever pattern I have done from start to finish!!!!!

So here it is!

I have added it to Rainbow Valley.

This week has been an odd one. Benjamin is staying with my parents in Penarth and it is sooooooooooo quiet around here!!!!!

Mark is off work but has spent a lot of time down the shed so we haven't been out much. Apart from yesterday when we were out all day. We went to visit a friend, then did some shopping. We now have a new patio set and I have some trainer socks in colours to clash wonderfully with my red trainers!

I am hoping it is going to brighten up a little soon. I am thinking about going to the garden centre to see if they have any of those little lanterns for tea lights left. They would look lovely with the new patio table.

If not, I will go next week. Mark will be back in work and Benjamin won't be home for another 2 weeks.

What am I going to do with myself?????

Horses and Ducks

Yes, you guessed it, more Baby Scrapping stuff.

But first, an important announcement.

My pipex site is continually getting hacked and I have no idea how. I think it is down to the server as I know the files on my computer are clean.

So, I have deleted everything on it. Now all the pages do it give you a link to the new site.

Hopefully, this will stop all the problems.

If you have a link to my site anywhere on your site or blog, please click on it and go to the new site to update your links.

Here are the Rocking Horses I have been working on. I wasn't sure how to do them but am really pleased with the way they turned out. They only have two legs, not four, as this would have made them a bit bulky for the page. But they do have two ears so you can face them either way.

And somebody suggested Ducks! No prizes for who!!!! I hope to have all of these up on my site for sale very soon. The mittens and booties set are already there, along with the Teddies.

I am also considering adding the words "baby boy" and "baby girl" to the page.

But all of that is going to have to wait a few days. Tonight we are off to Cardiff to take Benjamin to stay with my parents. I have no idea how long he is going for! We will be back tomorrow but them Mark has the week off so I won't be around much.

I just hope I have time to get to the beach in the morning!

Naff Idea????

I thought it was a great one!!!! Thanks Annette! So here are some nappies, along with a Moses basket - a suggestion from somebody else. Any more?

More Baby Stuff

I have been working on more baby scrapping stuff. Here is the complete Boy set. It is all made in the new thread I have been slowly stocking up on. I will still be selling the stuff made with the old thread for now as I still have a huge stash of it. The problem is that I can't replace it when I have used it

I have been slowly stocking up on a range of DMC Petra. Unfotunately, I don't have the range of colours in it yet. I need to sell more of the older stuff to afford the new ones!

These are some accessories I have been working on. I could really do with some inspiration here as I can't think what else to make!!! Any Suggestions?

And here are some cards we made on the weekend. We used wallpaper I bought in a clearance sale for 50p. I did the top 2 and Benjamin did the bottom 2. We were quite pleased with the results, having never done decoupage before!

New Silks

I wasn't going to post these until the customer had collected them but as she couldn't come last night and I had the pics all ready to post today, I thought "Why not?"

This one is my favourite of the two. To make it a little different I crocheted lace beaded stars. I did the silk as if I was going to bead them to give the white background and I am quite pleased with the result.

This shows a close up of the medium star.

Here is the other. I crocheted rainbow coloured stars for this one which I scattered about.

I am thinking of adding the stars to my site to use for scrapping.

What do you think?

Everything's coming up Roses.......

More good news!!!!!

I went for the interview last week for the "Activities Organiser" at a local nursing home. He said he would ring me back that afternoon but, after a week of not hearing, I assumed that I didn't have the job.

However, this morning I had a call to say I did!!!!!!

There is one minor problem, I need a CRB check. I am in the process of having one done for a position of relief dinner lady at Benjamins school and can't believe the time it is taking!!!! Now they tell me that there is somebody else with the same name born on the same day so they want photos and finger prints to prove which one is me!!!!

I have asked the nursing home to delay applying for their one until this one is sorted out, or at least in the process!

Still, at least I have a job!

And I have been making more of those little teddies! I will put them on my site asap, complete with all the other baby scrapping stuff!

Fame and Fortune!

Well, Fame at least! Here is the bit about me in Scrapbook Inspirations. And there is more on their site with links to both my site and msn group.

And for all you "Pinkaholics", here is the girl baby set.

And here are some teddies. Now, the thing is, I only have a boy so I need somebody the scrap the girl set for me.

I will send you all the stuff in the picture, all I need in return is a good quality jpeg for both the pattern and my site.

I know there are a few new baby girls out there so who is going to offer.

Nearly there!

My puter is all fixed again. And I think I have installed all the programs on it. However, I try to do something and find I have forgotten one. I suppose that will be happening for a while yet!

Two I have remembered to do are my posh printer with the card reader and PSE. So here is the promised layout!

It is an 8 inch one which i have done for my "sort of" catalogue and I have used some of my recently acquired stash!!!!

The baby stuff will be available from my site soon but, if you can't wait, you can always email me!!!

And talking of my site.......... I have decided to change it over to Lycos. I am getting so fed up of it being hacked. I know the files on my computer are clean but I am getting loads of emails telling me that there are viruses on there.

I did make some preparations when I thought I was going to lose the internet, so it isn't a whole load of work. I have the domain name set up, so all I have to do is forward it to the new site.

This means that if you have a blog roll on your site, you will need to change it. Just click on mine for the new coding. Before the pipex site is completely deleted, I will be putting a message up which will come up in the iframe to give you a bit of warning.

I have set up new Gmail addresses and am in the process of changing these over as well.

But there is some good news!!!! I am in SI this month and can't wait to see it. They will be putting my Rainbow pattern on their blog along with links to my site!

The problem with computers....

....is that they go wrong!!!!

Yes, mine isn't working - again!!!!

Mark will tell me that it is because I expect too much from it and make it work too hard.

But all I was doing this time is a virus scan. Honest! I left it running while I went out and when I came back, it had rebooted. Very strange, as normally Norton leaves a report of the scan and doesn't reboot.

Since then, Norton hasn't worked and I keep getting the "Blue screen of death" every five minutes. It has taken me all week to back up my files when this keeps happening. At least I have been able to sew beads on while doing this and one of my new silks is finished.

So now I am on Marks. Fortunately, I can still blog and blop but I can't share any pics. So those waiting for the Baby Girl set are going to have to wait a little long. I have used the boy set I made on a LO of Benjamin. I promise to share loads of pics when I am able.

Its typical really, Mark is back in work and enjoying his new job so I have more time to do what I want to do again. Then the puter breaks so I don't have time to do any of it. And I have soooooooo much to do!

Also, I am really excited because I am going to be in Scrapbook Inspirations next month. I am not entirely sure what they are doing but it will be a news story with links to the free Rainbow pattern and to my site. Maybe, I can start earning some cash at last!

Chasing Bumble Bees

Yes, that is what I spent most of yesterday afternoon doing! Just as you get set up for the perfect shot, they fly away!!!!! But, here are some of the results.

I have also been working on some Baby scrapping stuff. What do you think? And for all you "pinkaholics", the Girl set is in progress!

Good News!

Mark has a new job!

Its lower wages but we don't really care. Especially if I get the one I am going for next week.

Benjamin report was good so, although he is a pain at home, he is doing well at school.

Just thought I would let you all know!

More Stash!

I had this lot ages ago but with everything that is going on, I haven't got around to posting about them. Its more stash from my crochet embellishment swap.

This lot is from Donna. Chipboard to try. I have never used it before so this could be fun!

And this lot is from Jay. Loads of lovely stuff to have a play with.

And, finally, the Ribbons I won in the photo comp on UKS. Unfortunately, I haven't done any scrapping in over a month. I don't seem to have the time or the inclination. I just seem to have stress. Lots of stress.

Mark is really getting me down because today is the day he gets dismissed and he isn't sleeping again. Benjamin is getting me down because he is being a little S***. And, on top of everything else, I thought I had another ear infection only to discover it is toothache not earache - it hurt in the same place!!!!!

I managed to get an appointment at an emergency dental clinic yesterday afternoon and it cost £16.20 to get my tooth taken out. Today I feel like I have been kicked in the mouth but it is soooooooooo much better than the pain I have had the last few days.

One good thing is that my dearest has gone out for a "sort of" interview with one of the plumbers before going to get dismissed at Watertight. Apparently there is some work there and he may be looking to take somebody on permanently as somebody has just quit to go self employed! Mark says it will be a means to an end, give him some experience and money while he builds up his own business. I don't think he is looking at it as a permanent thing. At least, I hope not as I am convinced self-employed will be best for him.

And I am trying to update my "Sage" experience. It is 10 years since I have used it and so many of the jobs I have been looking at require it. I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall here.

I tried Learn Direct and was told they didn't do it. So I googled. And a Learn Direct page came up!!!!! I phoned the freephone number on it and was told they did do it - and at the local centre that had told me they didn't!!!!! I gave up.

Two days later a letter came from Learn Direct detailing the course and the local centres I could do it at. So I went along to the Chatteris one at the time it said they were open on the letter and weren't open. The Library assistant told me to phone the March one.

So I did (although they had already told me they didn't do it) and was told that they didn't do it. I explained about the phone call and the letter from the main office and she looked it all up on the computer and it said that she couldn't register anybody on the course.

I am very tempted to phone Learn Direct again and tell them how useless they are!!!!!

In the meantime, I have downloaded a free 30 day trial version from Sage and got some books from the library. Now all I need is some peace to work through it. And if I need another 30 days, I can put it on Marks computer as well!

If you have read all this, you are very brave! It just seems like a lot of whinging!!!! Hopefully I will have something more cheerful next time.

Full Frontals!

Sorry but after the last post it just seemed appropriate! LOL

However, I know these "full frontals" are ones you have been waiting for. Sorry, the pics are not the best but I did them quite quickly and, as the silks have been collected, I can't do them again. So, here are my latest silks in all their glory! I was rather pleased with this one. And I have some paper and ribbon with stars on so I needed something just like this to scrap!

This is a close up of one of the mini shooting stars. I bought the star beads for Christmas tree earrings!

And a close up of the other beads

And now the snowdrops. Unfortunately, I didn't take any close ups of this after it was mounted so you will just have to do with one from before.

I wasn't as happy with this one but there is only so much you can do with white flowers. However, the lady who ordered them was pleased with them and wants two more with Rainbows and Stars on. But she would prefer them different rather than all similar.

I was wondering about incorporating crocheted stars.........

And, while I am here, some more good news.

I entered some of my silks in and Art Exhibition for Chatteris Medieval Fair and sold the Dolphins!!!!

Still no news on the job front though.

A sign of the times?

Yes, I know I have an extremely warped sense of humour but this really tickled it!!!!

I was looking for some of those typing practise sentences. Like the one "The quick red fox jumped over the lazy brown dog". It isn't for typing, it is for my son to practise his handwriting.

So, I typed "typing practise phrases" in to google.

At first I was totally astounded at what came up then my sense of humour took over.

Nearly all links on the page were for a program called "Cybersex Typing Tutor" to help you practise typing with one hand!!!!!!!!!

I finally found what I wanted by entering "handwriting practise sentences".

Getting there slowly

I certainly don't seem to be doing anything fast!

On the job front, I have applied for loads and not heard anything back. I really need something so that we have a wage coming in while we build the Plumbing business up.

At least we finally got to see somebody who gave us a bit of help and I am going back to see her this week for help with my CV. We also have an appointment with "Fenland Enterprise" (although they are not called that anymore) to find out about setting up in business.

That is going slowly as well. Mark had a couple of jobs last week but nothing so far this week. He is a bit down about it.

Still, the good news is that the snowdrops are finished as well and Mark has made me all the frames for them. I just need to mount them now. So here is another sneaky peak

The light at the end of the tunnel.

I haven't blogged in nearly two weeks! Apart from not having the time, I didn't have the inclination.

Mark got told on the Thursday after the last post that it was him who was going to be made redundant. Then they sent him home on "Gardening Leave". This meant he has been home since then driving me loopy. Of course, it would have to be at a time when I have a lot to do anyway, both on line and off.

He wasn't too bad the first couple of days but as time when on I could see he was getting more and more stressed over the situation.

We spent the following Monday and Tuesday rushing about and getting no where! The Job Centre is as much use as a chocolate teapot and people just don't return your calls. All we wanted was some help with a CV. Neither Mark nor I are any good at selling ourselves.

On Wednesday he had to go to work for a "Consultation meeting" at 10am then had an appointment at an employment agency in Huntingdon in the afternoon. So he went for lunch at his Mums.

He came home in a bit better mood from the meeting. They told him how much he would be getting and, if he starts a new job while he was still working for them, they won't penalise him by reducing his payout. He has worked out that we will have enough to pay the bills for the next 3 months as long as we don't spend anything else.

I was looking forward to a days peace but ended up with a sort of interview at 10.30am. It was actually more of an informal chat. It is only part time but looks like a fun job and right up my street. It is activites organiser at a local OAP home. Wonder if I could get them scrapping????? I have filled in the application form they gave me and am now waiting to hear from them.

Now he just needs to find a job.

Well, maybe........

I want him to be a plumber. He knows the trade, he has worked in it for the last 6 years. He actually knows more about the products than the plumbers. He has to, to be able to sell them to him. He designs bathrooms for both the retail and trade customers and has fitted ours - which is so posh it belongs in a 10 bedroomed house!!!!

He is very dubious about it. Actually, its more of a case of being scared. He has never been in the position where he doesn't have a payslip at the end of the month and the thought of not having one is scary.

His other problem is that he is the only one who doesn't know how good he is!!!!!

He went out the other night to meet up with some plumbers after I had insisted that he phone some of them to do a bit of networking. One of them turned around and told him that he would be "Unfair Opposition" as he knows too much. So finally, he has agreed to give it a go. After all, what has he got to lose? He is out of work in 6 weeks anyway!

I haven't been idle even though I haven't been online much.

My domain name has finally been sorted out after a lot of hassle. It is www.enfys.me.uk I have made new banners and updated them on my links page with the new addy and the new location of the banners. I have put them all in Photobucket.

I am in the process of uploading everything to free web space. Then, if things do take a turn for the worse and I lose the internet and the current site, the banners will still work and all I will need to do is get the domain name to forward to the new site.

I have finished the pattern for the Rainbow and sent all the information off to Scrapbook Inspirations - complete with the new domain name.

I now need to make a whole load of new business cards with the domain name on.

Its just all go!

The lady who ordered the silks from me came to pay me a deposit and bought the "Four Seasons" at the same time!!!! She also liked what I have done so far and will be wanting another two of the Shooting Star. I have finished beading that one, want a sneaky peak????

Ups and Downs!

My life seems to be full of Ups and Downs at the moment.

First of all, there is the prospect of appearing in Scrapbook Inspirations. I still don't know any details but have to have all the info to them by June 25th.

Then I won the UKS photography competiton. Totally unexpected but very exciting!

FenVAC are holding a one day art exhibition at March Town Hall on Saturday, 14th June as part of the March Summer Festival celebrations and I was asked if I would like to participate.

After all that hassle with Tesco they refunded the service charge. Big deal! I thought after that headache they caused me. However, in the post this morning came a £10 gift card and another apology. That will pay for the veg this weekend.

And last, but by no means least, I have had a commission for two silk paintings from the lady who bought the one from the local florists. She wants one with Snowdrops and one with stars and rainbows.

So guess what I have been doing today! These two pics are painted and backed. I have basted white behind the snowdrops and star so that they stand out. Of course they still need quilting and loads of beading before they are finished.

And now the Downs!

Last Thursday Mark had a letter "inviting" him to a meeting to "discuss how the downturn in trade affects his role in the company." That meeting was this morning. After making us stew all over the weekend about whether or not he would still have a job after today, we still don't know. He and the other manager were told that one of them would have to go and there are certain criteria they have to follow to decide which one. We will know Friday.

Bloomin' Lovely!

Rain doesn't stop play when it comes to flowers! After being very dismayed about that cat having my poppies, I am please to announce I have more! I took this first picture last Thursday and, as you can see, more buds with one about to open.

This picture was taken Friday. And, this morning, there are four nice strong buds. Lets hope they stay that way as this looks ever so pretty when there are a few open in different colours.

This is the Mimulus in "Highland Orange". It hasn't had a lot of flowers but they are a very striking colour.

The "Highland Yellow" has loads more flowers on it. They are the same colour as Primroses. They are not as bright as the orange ones but they certainly cheer the place up.

And the Thyme is out in full bloom. Its delicate tiny pink flowers stand out against the green beautifully! I did take loads more but that is all I have time to edit for now!