Have you burnt any yet Mum?

My son has such faith in my cooking!!!!!!!

As it happened, I hadn't. But I still told him they taste better burnt! We were making Welsh Cakes. They are a sort of scone but cooked on a griddle. And, seriously, when cooked on a cast iron griddle they do taste better with a tinge of black on them. Cooking is not my favourite pastime. Especially baking.

I hate the feel of the mixture under my nails and spend more time washing my hands than anything else. So it helps to have a willing helper who loves getting his hands in to this sort of thing. Unfortunately, there is no way I can let him near an extremely hot cast iron griddle so I have to do that bit. Better I get burned than him! Fancy making some? You will need - 1lb SR flour ½lb fat 6oz sugar mixed spice currants milk

Mix the flour and sugar together. Add some spice to taste. Then mix in the fat. When you have a nice even mixture, add some currants to taste then just enough milk to bind it all together. Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick and cut into circles. You then need to cook them on the griddle. This takes some practise. Too hot and you burn them before the middle is cooked, too cool and you dry them out. I just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Keep turning them over until they are a nice colour on both sides and put them on a cooling rack when they are done. As you can see - none burnt. At least, not on that side!!!!!! They are also really nice with apple instead of currants. Just grate up a large cooking apple and leave out the milk. Enjoy!

Puppets and Zion

I was going to be ever so good and try to blog at least every other day. Look how long that lasted!!!!!

Still, I have been busy with other things.

First of all, I listed my Halloween Baskets pattern on Etsy. This isn't a new pattern, I wrote it some years ago but I still love it. I was debating about putting it on eBay as well but with the new rules about ebooks (and the new listing prices) I decided not to. Etsy is so much cheaper to sell from when you are dealing with handicrafts.

Here are some of the puppets I have been working on. Meet Petula Parrot,

Sidney Snake,

and Arnold Aligator. These are the "Jungle Puppets". As always, made from 100% machine washable acrylic so you don't have to worry about them getting dirty. I have listed them all for sale on Etsy. The pattern will be on there just as soon as it is finished.

During the crash a whole pile of my photos got corrupted. Fortunately, some of them were from my A-Z photo journal of Chatteris which means they are relatively easy to replace. I decided to go out to the bank and Co-op yesterday and replace some of the photos. I went to the bank first then started taking some pics.

Wouldn't you know it - it started to rain! So I went to the Co-op to get what I needed only to find I hadn't put my purse in!!!! At least by the time I got back to the town centre it wasn't raining any more and I managed to replace some of the pics from Jubilee Gardens. I actually think they are a little better than before. The dark sky wasn't such a contrast against the black clock. But yesterday wasn't a complete disaster! In the evening I left the boys playing on the Wii and went out - complete with purse!

And I managed a new letter - Z This is the Zion Hall. I haven't been able to find out much info about it apart from this little bit I found online. Another such church (non-conformist) in Park Street was founded in 1819. In 1851 the congregation numbered 485.

However, the sign says 1839. I think a trip to the local museum is in order. And I still need to finish sorting out those Harvest ones.

September Calendar

I have been a bad blogger! Nothing in over 2 weeks!!!!! I hope these pics make up for it.

I thought I would brighten up your desktop this month! This is a photo I took yesterday at the local garden centre. I just can't resist those bright blooms. As usual, click on the pic over in the left column to download.

I just can't resist dandelion clocks! The macro lens allows me to get really close and see all the fine detail. I like the way the narrow depth of field softens it and make it look fluffy. I did get some of a bee on the dandelions but he is blurred in all the photos because he just wouldn't keep still! Better luck next time?????

And, yes its pink, but it was the only rose bush there!

I really don't know where the time has gone. Since Benjamin has come home it has been all go. We went to Cambridge on Friday to do all the Museums. Of course, I didn't realise just how many there were! There are 8 free ones in walking distance of the bus stop and 15 in total. We managed 4!!!!!

But we had a great time. The down side was the 1½ hours on the bus each way, which was actually more than that because of the traffic. But the fare was only £5.50 for both of us so that made up for it a bit.

This is a definate repeat for half term, however, as he also has 2 teacher training days added on to the end of half term, we might do it then when there won't be so many people around.

And I must remember to take the camera next time!!!!!!!!!!!!

Something else I have been doing is working on some puppet patterns. I "lost" the Jungle Puppets in my recent puter crash and didn't realise until I was putting them all back on the puter from the discs. I hadn't saved that one to disc - Silly me!

Anyway, I was sent a US copy of one I had sold and have been using that one the create the UK copy and remake them to take pics. While I was at it, I have altered one or two things to make them easier to do.

When finished, I will be putting both the pattern and the puppets on Etsy and send out the re-vamped copies to the two nice ladies who sent me theirs!

I have also been re-working some of the older pupper patterns. The original ones were made in a totally different way to the newer ones as they have "evolved" somewhat over the years. I have been working on the Pond set. This will also be on Etsy when finished.

Now, I have a jam packed day ahead of me so I had best get off here and get on with it!

Dilemma!

As you may have read, I have to have a major sort out of my crochet stash as it is taking over the house!

I have more yarn here than I can ever hope to use, even if I live to be 150!!! Hence the "Funky Fibre Giveaway" below.

Today, I have started sorting out my thread. I have finally collected enough colours of the DMC Petra to convert all the Scrapping Items I sell on my site from the thread I have been using. The DMC looks and feels nicer, although it doesn't cost more and, in theory, is the same quality.

Now the dilemma. I haven't sold any of the actual items since last summer. Is it really worth the effort of making everything in the new thread to add to the site for sale? Or should I just delete the pages and create a "Sale" page for the stuff I already have here that I made when designing the patterns?

What do you think?

Of course, I could just add a load of pics on here of the stuff I need to clear out and do another stash exchange????????

Whatever I do, I still have a carrier bag of the Twilleys thread to dispose of!!!!!

My patterns have been doing quite well on Etsy. I have also added a few more to Craftjuice - including Christmas ones.

This may seem a bit early but it is nearly September and people who will want to be making these will want the patterns in plenty of time.

When it gets a bit closer to the time, I will add some actual items. I have loads of them in the wardrobe as well! However, as listing stay on Etsy for 4 months, I won't be leaving it for too long.

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".